Amazing! My favorite post-apocalyptic book since the Hunger Games! I loved the characters, the action, and the well-developed world. It also has a nice sprinkling of romance mixed in there.

Definitely need to read this book!

Day is a street-smart boy who has no government identity. He spends his time watching over his family and causing chaos for the local military. He has become a Legend for some of his amazing capers.

June is the only person to ever get a perfect score on her aptitude test. She excels in all her classes and is treated like royalty. When tragedy strikes and Day is thought to be the culprit, June goes under cover to find this boy and bring him down.

I loved reading this book and coming to know these two drastically different, yet similar characters. I loved the perspective change in the chapters and that the font changed to match the characters. It was a subtle yet appreciated touch.

Although it sets up for a sequel there is definitely some finality to the story, which I like when I'm picking up a book. I highly recommend this book and enthusiastically gave it 5 stars.

So the reason I decided to blast this book series is because of the cover of the second book I'm really into books about archery, so it grabbed my eye. So I'm going to post book 2 before book 1 just so you can see what I mean. Make sure to check out the sale on both books and scroll to the bottom for your chance to win an Amazon Gift Card!

THE DEFIANCE (Brilliant Darkness, Book 2)

It hasn’t been long since Fennel, a Sightless Groundling, and Peree, her Lofty Keeper, fell in love and learned the truth: the Scourge, and their world, are not what they seem.

Fenn and Peree are determined to guide their people to the protected village of Koolkuna, but first they must convince them that everything they believe is a lie. An impossible task, especially when someone seems hell-bent on trying anything–even animal sacrifice and arson–to destroy the couple’s new bond and crush the frail truce between the Groundlings and the Lofties. Not everyone wants to uproot their lives in the forest, and those who stay behind will be left terribly vulnerable.

Fenn and Peree’s resolve to be together, and the constant threat of the Scourge’s return, push both groups to the breaking point. Unable to tell friend from foe, Fenn must again decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to ensure the future of the people of the forest.

Only this time, the price of peace may be too high to bear.

*AMAZON BIG DEAL SALE*

FROM 1/17 to 1/23 THE DEFIANCE will be just $1.99

Grab your copy on Amazon

Praise for The Defiance

“Fans of The Scourge, you will not be disappointed with this sequel. The Defiance was thrilling, romantic, and full of surprises. Loved this book!”
– Imagine a World, blog review

“I had very high hopes for this follow-up novel, and Henley DEFINITELY delivers in her sophomore release!”
– Booking It With Hayley G, blog review

Excerpt from THE DEFIANCE

The morning passes quickly. There was more wood to move into the storeroom in the caves this morning, new stores of salt meat and dried beans to deliver, and our herbalist, Marjoram, told me she has some poultices and teas she wants me to bring in. Marj was underprepared for the accidents and illnesses resulting from such a long confinement last time. She won’t make the same mistake again.

There’s plenty of space in the storeroom—it was almost empty by the time we left the caves after the Reckoning. It’s an easy job to stow the supplies neatly along the natural stone shelves. My stomach rumbles, anticipating a midday meal, as I cross the cavern to the storeroom carrying the second-to-last load of wood. Even the lingering stench of crampberries doesn’t deter my appetite.

“Fennel.” The word whispers across the cave.

I freeze. “Who’s there?”

“Stay away from the Lofty. Groundlings and Lofties aren’t meant to be together. You’ve been warned.”

I can’t tell anything about the speaker—man, woman, their age. But quiet as the person’s words are, it’s hard to miss the implied threat. I drop most of the wood, keeping one thick log as a potential weapon. The person is between the passage out and me.

I hold the log firmly in front of me, trying to tame my wild breathing so I can hear. Fear strangles my thoughts. An indefinable amount of time passes. Finally wrestling the courage to move, I step forward, keeping the log at the ready.

And I cough.

The air is wrong, and not simply human-waste wrong. Something else. There’s light where there shouldn’t be, and . . . smoke. That’s what I’m tasting and smelling.

There’s a fire in the passageway, and it’s blocking my way out. Terror doesn’t steal through me. It rips my head off.

THE SCOURGE (Brilliant Darkness, Book 1)

Seventeen-year-old Groundling, Fennel, is Sightless. She’s never been able to see her lush forest home, but she knows its secrets. She knows how the shadows shift when she passes under a canopy of trees. She knows how to hide in the cool, damp caves when the Scourge comes. She knows how devious and arrogant the Groundlings’ tree-dwelling neighbors, the Lofties, can be.

And she’s always known this day would come–the day she faces the Scourge alone.

The Sightless, like Fenn, are mysteriously protected from the Scourge, the gruesome creatures roaming the forests, reeking of festering flesh and consuming anything–and anyone–living. A Sightless Groundling must brave the Scourge and bring fresh water to the people of the forest. Today, that task becomes Fenn’s.

Fenn will have a Lofty Keeper, Peree, as her companion. Everyone knows the Lofties wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an arrow through the back of an unsuspecting Groundling like Fenn, but Peree seems different. A boy with warm, rough hands who smells like summer, he is surprisingly kind and thoughtful. Although Fenn knows his people are treacherous, she finds herself wanting to trust him.

As their forest community teeters on the brink of war, Fenn and Peree must learn to work together to survive the Scourge and ensure their people’s survival. But when Fenn uncovers a secret that shatters her truths, she’s forced to decide who and what to protect–her people, her growing love for Peree, or the elusive dream of lasting peace in the forest.

A tale of star-crossed lovers, strange creatures, and secretive, feuding factions, THE SCOURGE introduces readers to a rich and exciting new world where nothing is as it seems.

BOOK BLAST SALE

From 1/17 to 1/23 The SCOURGE will be on sale for just .99 cents!

Grab your copy on Amazon

Praise for The Scourge

“Looking for a trenchant, imaginative, beautifully written novel to read? Look no further: it’s The Scourge, by A.G. Henley.”
– Sarah Cloots, former editor at Greenwillow Books, imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books

“The prose flows smoothly and easily but there are much deeper issues lying beneath the surface of the story that are captivating and will hold the interest of readers of any age . . . I was quickly transported into the world of The Scourge and plummeted breathlessly toward the resolution. This is a very good book and a good look at just what science fiction can achieve when in the hands of a capable writer.”
– Josef Hernandez, Examiner

“From the moment I started reading this book I was hooked . . . The Scourge is not only a story of survival; it is also a story of awakening, love, family devotion.”
– ReadingDiva, blog review

“Lovable and relatable heroine? Check. Swoon-worthy, kick-butt hero? Check. Compelling romance that makes your heart melt and toes curl? Check. Captivating story and fascinating world? Check. Eagerly anticipating the next book? Check, check, check.”
– Refracted Light Reviews, blog review

Excerpt from the THE SCOURGE

“Are you ready, Fennel?” Aloe asks. I nod. She embraces me, and whispers in my ear. “Don’t forget—never forget—you are protected. The Scourge can’t harm you. Remember that when you’re afraid.”

“I’m afraid now.”

“Then remember it now.”

She leads me to the passage that will take me back to the mouth of the cave. People touch me as I walk, murmuring good luck. Eland clings to me, followed by Calli. Her tears moisten my cheek.

“Here, Fennel.” Bear’s voice is even rougher than usual. He presses something silky into my hand, his fingers lingering on mine. “The foot of a rabbit, for luck.” It’s a charm, left over from the old days, before the Fall.

Then his hand is gone, and everyone is gone, and I stand alone in the passageway.

I start walking, rehearsing in my mind what I’ll do when I leave the caves, as Aloe taught me. Take the path to the clearing. Walk along the edge of the clearing. Find the sled track, and follow it down to the water hole, where the sled waits. I go over the number of paces it should take to complete each part of my trip, repeating them to be sure I remember. Then I try to wipe my mind clean.

I try not to think of the cries of the creatures the night before. I try not to think of the many stories I’ve heard about the flesh-eaters tearing apart their victims, or the agonizing transformation into one of them—half human, half dead. Instead I focus on the cool, lumpy rock under my hand, or the musty smell of the passage, or how many steps I have left until I reach the mouth of the cave. Anything else.

But it’s impossible.

My heart is a desperate animal, smashing against my rib cage. My shivering now has nothing to do with the cold. I sing—another trick Aloe taught me—but the closer I get to the mouth of the cave, the slower I walk and the softer I sing. Then I stop walking and singing altogether, trying to work up the courage to take the last few steps necessary to reach the sunlight.

Something’s thrashing through the forest, coming closer. I hear shrieking, like the dying people of my imagination. I tuck the rabbit’s foot into my pocket, and tug a scarf Aloe gave me up over my mouth and nose, preparing for the stench. For a moment I wonder if my protection will hold, but I push the thought away. It’s the gift of our Sightlessness, as I’ve always been told.

I think of Eland huddled in the gloom of the caves, eating the salty dried meat, waiting for his water ration. That does it. I take a deep breath, and step outside.

The creatures surge around me. Their howls pierce me. Even through the barrier of the scarf, I can smell their putrid breath. Something brushes my sleeve and I cry out, wrapping my arms tightly around my body like a shroud.

What if I’m not protected? What if everything I’ve been told about my Sightlessness—everything I’ve believed about myself—isn’t true? The Scourge will consume me, as they have so many others. Or worse, I’ll become like one of them, only knowing hunger, thirst, and the yearning for flesh. I yank the scarf down; it’s suffocating. I wait, shuddering, for biting mouths and tearing hands to find me.

I have increasingly seen acknowledgements in books for beta readers, and I wasn't entirely sure what a beta reader was. Doing some serious Wiki-pedia searching I discovered that, although I've never used the term, I have some wonderful beta readers. In this post I wanted to first off explain what a beta reader is, as far as my understanding goes, what great things have come because of having other people read my writing, and as always express my gratitude for my wonderful 'beta' readers.

So from what I can gather, a beta reader is someone who reads your work before it goes to the publisher. It can be another author, or a trusted friend. They give honest and open feedback that will often change the direction of the story, before it goes to the publisher.

While writing The Exile, I shared the first part with my wife only. I was pretty worried about and insecure about my writing and I knew she would be gentle with her feedback. After getting feedback from her and making some huge changes to my book, I then started reaching out to other people for feedback.

I know that grammar is not my strong suit so I first shared my work with my father-in-law. The feedback I received from him has been irreplaceable. He pointed out inconsistencies, asked good questions, and suggested some rewording for clarity. He actually didn't do too much with the grammar or punctuation of the book, but instead focused on the content.

Before I sent the book to publishers I also had a handful of other people view parts of the book and a very select few saw the entire book. I asked for feedback about the content, characters, setting, and overall story line. Some of the feedback I received I did not end up using, but many of the things people said, helped a lot.

When I first started sharing my writing, I was scared by what people would think about it. Honestly, some times I still feel that way now that the book is available. I was also somewhat hesitant to get feedback from people because I liked my story the way it was. By sharing it with others I came to realize that sharing my work helped to overcome both of these feelings. I am now getting more and more excited to share my book with people, and I am happy when I get constructive feedback that helps my stories become better.

I honestly don't think my book would have made it very far without the wonderful people who read and gave feedback on it when it was in the first stages.

Here is a look at the latest Matt Archer book. Check out the entire list below and as always enter to win the Amazon Gift Card! Two easy entries by 'liking' my facebook page and following my twitter.

Matt Archer: Bloodlines

When seventeen-year-old Matt Archer set out on his last mission in the Australian Outback, he thought it would be like every other hunt.

Not even close.

After only two days on the ground, his best friend is possessed, a long-lost family member has returned and hidden truths have come to the surface. Add in a coven of witches bent on bringing about the end of the world and, well, this trip has started to suck. Badly.

As his power and strength continue to grow, so does Matt’s concern that he’s becoming more and more like the creatures he’s been charged to hunt: a monster.

Faced with some of his biggest challenges to date, Matt has to decide what he needs to protect most—his family, his team…or himself.

Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex J Cavanaugh, post for January.

First off it's already almost noon and I'm just getting this posted, so sorry to anyone who visited my page before noon today, looking for the IWSG post.

My most recent insecurity is that I'm starting a new book series, now that I have finished writing my first trilogy. The Stones of Power was the first piece of fiction I have ever written, and I thought it might be the only story I ever wrote. It was challenging and time consuming, and I don't think of myself as being overly creative, so I didn't honestly know if I would have another idea that could be fleshed out into a book, or a series.

Now that I have an idea for a new book, and I've started writing it, I'm feeling the insecurities that come with writing something new. Are the characters believable? Is the setting described enough, too much? Do I feel like I know the characters? Are the ideas I'm picturing in my mind making any sense on the paper? There is also the fact that I have a book out there, so I need to consider how the readers will react to this new story/characters/setting etc.

So this year I'm setting a goal of getting this book completed. It is a modest goal, because again I don't know if I'll have any other ideas beyond this book, and I don't want to force a story. I still don't really consider myself an author, because I have no intentions of dropping my current job, and I don't consider myself overly creative. It blows my mind when I think of people who have more stories and ideas than they have time to write, my problem is quite the opposite. I have one idea, and I get stuck in it and I'm worried I won't get another idea.

So anyway, my current book is without title, and without much of anything more than an outline and about forty pages of my initial draft, here's the beginning: I am insecurely sharing something that is so rough I haven't even read over it since I put it down on the page. (This is a huge step for me)

Tentative Beginning of my WIP Prologue:

                It was the first day of summer, the day of the third harvest. It was the only day of the year when the King himself would come down into the valley. Those who lived in the valley were up extra early, if they were able to get any sleep at all, and they waited anxiously for the King’s arrival. Most years the villagers would line up by families standing in front of their cabins or shacks. Boys tried to stand straight and girls clung to their mothers sometimes unable to stifle their tears.

The King would then ride into town on his tall white stallion followed by a small contingent of his soldiers. There was a time when he would address the people, telling them of the great quality of life among the soldiers of his army. He would tell them of wealth and visiting far off places, and a life of adventure and honor. Now he simply dismounted and walked down the lines of people snatching any child he wanted for his army without question.

Many of the families starved their children for weeks to make them look as scrawny as possible in hopes that the King would not take them, but that did little good as all other villagers did the same thing. Although he said each family would only need to give one child, those words were also proven to be empty promises from a tyrannical liar.

In answer to his decades of abuse, this year the workers in the valley gathered and lined up to meet him, but it was not how he expected.

This year I resolve to write longer and more meaningful posts.