[Blog Tour] Shudder by Samantha Durante: Review + Excerpt + Giveaway

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Shudder (Stitch #2) by Samantha Durante

Release Date: June 15th, 2013

Publisher: Self-Published

Format: Paperback

Pages: 348

Source: Author, in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Amazon/ B&N/ Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis:

-- Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy --

It's only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling...

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante's shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

 

Review:

The Story

I liked this story a lot. In a way much more than the other one because we are able to get a little more dystopian goodness this time around. But I will say that missed the crazy twist ending from that last end. Really through me off!

The Writing

The writing is great as always! And now that its in a different setting (than a college) it makes  more sense and fits more.

The Characters

I really like that we get to know the characters better this time around. Which really helps with the alternative POV's.

I like to know my heroines and I really got to know Alessa better this time around. Which was great because one negative factor for me from  Stitch was that I really had was indifferent towards the characters.

The Good

List 'em:

1. The writing
2. Improvement on the characters
3. More adventure and dystopianess? (I know, that's not a word)

4. Creative
The Bad

List 'em:

1. Slow sometimes
2. Like to get into characters more

My Final Thoughts

Good Book! I do recommend. Though it was better than the first although if you don't read the first book you be very much behind :)

Excerpt:

 

The crunch of broken glass outside the dumpster broke Isaac’s train of thought. Alessa looked up at him with alarm and he just held her tighter in his arms, his ears straining to track the movement of the sound.

The noise moved back and forth, back and forth, as if someone were pacing only steps away from the dumpster. Isaac held his breath, his pulse pounding in his ears, his skin crawling with every snap reverberating through the empty dumpster.

And then suddenly the noise came faster, like more sets of feet tramping across the pavement in a violent rush. His ears pricked at the intrusion of their snarls and growls, eerily raspy and shrill at the same time. He couldn’t place the sound at all – it was unlike anything he’d ever heard.

Squinting in the darkness, he tipped his head back and strained the muscles in his neck, hoping for a glimpse through the crack in the lid of the predators beyond.

There was a quick flash as a hulking mass darted past the front of dumpster; Isaac jumped, quelling the gasp at his lips. Alessa convulsed under his arms, her face still buried in the front of his coat.

For a moment everything grew quiet. Isaac fought the tingling in his limbs and willed himself a statue, not daring to move or breathe, his senses prickling at the slightest hint. Had the hunters left?

BOOM, BOOM.

The force of whatever had just landed on the lid thundered through the dumpster, the walls and floor ringing with an earthshaking rattle. Isaac and Alessa flinched as one, him bearing down instinctively over her curled, trembling body as the center of the ceiling crumpled inwards under the weight of their attackers.

From above their heads, a magnificent piercing howl penetrated their hiding place, resonating off the walls of the hollow enclosure and chilling Isaac to his core. Any sense of security that Isaac had felt was shattered with that nightmarish wail; whatever it was that wanted them was directly above their heads.

BOOM.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

A series of crashes shook the dumpster from the sides, Isaac and Alessa lurching away from one thunderous bang only to be bombarded from the other side with the next.

BOOM.

Another jolt from above and a savage grating snarl sent Isaac jerking to the floor, his eyes wide with terror as he gaped at the buckling ceiling. This was no wolf, and no cougar – this was something far more dangerous.

He seized Alessa in his arms and said a silent prayer for mercy. The only thing they could do now was wait to live or die.

Giveaway:

Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!

Author Bio:

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her

cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series. Learn more about Samantha at www.samanthadurante.com



Haven’t read the first book in the series? Check it out on Amazon and Goodreads. Just $0.99!

Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante

Stitch (Stitch Trilogy #1) by Samantha Durante
Release Date: August 1st, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Format: Paperback
Pages: 314
Source: Author (in exchange for an honest review)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Amazon/ Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis:

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results. (Add on Goodreads)

Review:

The Story

God, its going to hard to write this review without MAJOR vagueness. Mostly because the book is just one GIANT spoiler. But I going to try.

This story had a VERY slow beginning. I'm talking about half the book slow. But it did start to pick up pace with a crazy twist that in hindsight isn't to different from the plot of most post-apocalyptic/dystopian books.

Still I it give me more reason to be interested in the book than how it started, which of course had its purpose.

The Writing

The writing was good. Almost too good at times, if that makes sense. What I mean is most of the characters dialogue was so nicely written, I was kinda like "Who talks like this?", so of it was so intelligent that I couldn't imagine real teenagers talking like that. But obviously that just a minor complaint.

The Characters

For a while I didn't have any feelings toward the MC, Alyssa. She was just...there, I didn't hate her I didn't like her or ANYTHING. And I'm told all these things about her character that are supposed to make her interesting but I need PROOF that its true, you know.

The other characters were more of the same. Nothing that really drew me to them or made me care what happened to them. None of the characters were interesting or engaging really till the end.

The Good

The twist. Even though I probably should have seen it coming it did surprise me. I was about to give up on the book till I got to that part, actually. So it was interesting enough to keep me reading :)

The writing was excellent and very intelligent and engaging.

The Bad

The beginning was SOOOOO SLOW. Usually I forgive this but it took too long to get to the interesting parts. I understand that it takes time to build up a story and the characters but it can't take more than half the book.

The dialogue was a little annoying and hard to read sometimes. Only because I can't imagine teen or someone not in their forty's talking like the characters were talking

The characters held no real interest for me. And great characters is what makes a great book. There was nothing there that lead me to believe that these characters are people that I should invest my time in. Even though I started to like the MC towards the end I still have to talk about the book as a whole and in the beginning I wasn't feeling it.

My Final Thoughts

Despite some of the negative comments I actually did like the book and look forward to the next one. It had the type of ending that made promises for a better second book! Especially now that all the boring stuff is out of the way and we can get down to the great dystopianess. And as for recommendations.... I would recommend it. More so to those who like dystopia.

Tell me if you found the review helpful in the comments section!

Waiting on Wednesday #6: Shudder by Samantha Durante

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It basically   showcases what books, bloggers are looking forward to. This week I'm waiting on:

Shudder (Stitch #2) by Samantha Durante

Publisher: Self-Published

Expected Release Date: June 15th, 2013

Add on Goodreads

-- Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy --

It's only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling...

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante's shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning. (Add on Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting:

Isn't this cover gorgous?!?! So simplistic, yet... ugh! I just love it. I'm actually only halfway through the first book right now, but I am already SO excited for the second one!

Happy Reading,
                 Chloe

           What are you waiting on this week?