Talisman of El Blog Tour & Book Blast ~ Guest Post by author Alecia Stone & Review

Tour Schedule

Talisman of El by Alecia Stone

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human … 7 billion.
Others … unknown.

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He’s afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him … because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago – the day before his dad died.

Char­lie doesn’t know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn’t belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

Book Trailer

Author Alecia Stone

Alecia Stone is the author of Talisman Of El (Centrinian, 2012), the first book in the Talisman Of El trilogy. She graduated with a BA in Film & TV and has worked in television for a short period of time before branching out into storytelling. Alecia loves anything and everything paranormal. Her fascination with all things supernatural sparked her obsession with books, particularly young adult fantasy fiction, which she has never grown out of. She was inspired to become an author after reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen at the age of fourteen.

In 2008, Alecia started working on Talisman Of El, a contemporary young adult fantasy fiction inspired by people who disappeared mysteriously, including, but not limited to, Amelia Earhart and Percy Harrison Fawcett, who went on an expedition in search of an ancient lost city. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys going to the movies, listening to music, and travelling.

Talisman Of El is her first novel. At present, Alecia lives in England, United Kingdom with her family.

Blog Tour Giveaway
3 Print copies of Talisman of El
Open Internationally
Ends 2/18/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hello again everyone, Paul here. I am so excited to be involved in the Talisman of El Blog Tour. If you missed the Book Blast and giveaway, click here. Today we are fortunate enough to have author Alecia Stone guest post for us. I was in charge of picking the topic so I hope you enjoy it.

Author Bio:
Alecia Stone has been in love with anything and everything paranormal for many years. She grad­u­ated with a BA in Film & TV and has worked in tele­vi­sion for a short period of time before branch­ing out into storytelling. When she isn’t writ­ing, she enjoys going to the movies, lis­ten­ing to music, and travelling. Talisman Of El is her first novel. She currently lives in England, UK.
Links:
Website: http://www.aleciastone.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TalismanOfElTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/Alecia_Stone
           Amazon: http://amzn.to/WCVQt3
Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5227478.Alecia_Stone
Talisman of El by Alecia Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks Alecia for the wonderful guest post. Paul here, and I personally find fantasy stories with religion mixed in to be powerful and exciting. I actually can only think of one other such book (along with Talisman of El) that does it so well. The key here is that it’s part of the fictional story. It holds the awe inspiring and intimidating feelings still, but it is certainly fictionalized to be part of Charlies tale. Thanks Alecia and now for my review. I am thrilled to have been able to read Alecia Stone’s paranormal fantasy the Talisman of El. Before I get to my review, here’s the Goodreads blurb:
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human … 7 billion.

Others … unknown.

When 14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He’s afraid to tell any one. No one would believe him … because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago – the day before his dad died.

Charlie doesn’t know why this is happening. He would give any thing to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn’t belong in the world he knows as home. He belongs with the others.

What I liked: The characters. First and foremost for me in a book are the characters. Ms. Stone nailed it. I connected with all the characters. I love Charlie and Alex. The camaraderie amongst “the gang” was great. Her characters are detailed, realistic, and complex. Some of the best one’s I’ve come across in a long time. I also love how she inserted light-hearted moments throughout the story. They occurred at perfect moments during the danger, seriousness and peril to lighten things up a bit and remind us that these are just kids. A few of my favorite such moments were Alex’s line when Charlie wakes up naked after falling in the river, “I had my eyes closed the whole time,” she teases, implying she undressed him. Charlie, needless to say, is mortified until he realizes Alex is joking. Another is the comment that Arcadians sure have the Goth look down pat after meeting yet another intimidating individual. I also loved, loved the Biblical backgrounds woven into the story. This isn’t easy to do and here it was done so well that it really added impact and power to the story. Everyone can relate to archangels and demons and the power and fear they inspire right?

What missed: A couple of misses for me here to note. First, the vivid, detailed descriptions missed a bit for me. I readily confess it might be possible that I was so into the story that I didn’t slow down enough to absorb everything, but sometimes they were lost on me. I know that everything in Arcadia needed describing but I had some difficulty visualizing everything. Again, that may be my fault. When I read it again, I’ll go a bit slower and see if that makes a difference. The other miss is the fact that I missed Alex throughout the last third or quarter of the book. She is one of my favorite characters and she was absent. Not much could be done about this in the context of the story, I understand. I just liked her so much I wish it could have been different.

Overall: A great read. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. The Biblical aspect really set this book apart from most fantasy books. I loved it. I am so very happy that I will get to enjoy more adventures with these characters. I mention that because I was THRILLED to finish the book and not find a cliffhanger. Sure, it is apparent there has to be more books, but I felt fulfilled. The story was completed. I don’t need to wait for the next one to finish the tale the author began, which I cannot tell you how much I appreciate. My advice, buy the Talisman of El today!

I’d like to remind everyone of the wonderful things happening here right now before I go. Swing on by the Follower Love Giveaway Hop for a chance to win YA author Jessica L. Jaster’s book Delta Project: Hide. Don’t forget to enter Sunshine Syndicate tour and huge giveaway Be sure to Head on over to the Jack Templar: Monster Hunter Book Blast Giveaway too (again, not the same as the tour giveaway). Then there is the Silver-White Book Blast giveaway offering a generous $100 prize, so make sure to stop by. One last piece of great news, you can also win a Kindle Fire, a $10 Amazon gift card or a great middle grade book by treating yourself and your kids with a special gift this Valentine’s Day! Love Middle Grade Actually is a sample of 14 exciting middle grade stories that you will love, and I am proud to be a part of.Click here to download the book Love Middle Grade Actually. And it is FREE through the 11th.