Cover Reveal Fridays: Warcross by Marie Lu!

What's better than a cool cover? A cool cover for MARIE LU'S NEW SCI-FI NOVEL! If you've been here a while (or if you're my friend on Goodreads) you know that Marie Lu is one of my favorite authors so I'm very excited to share this beauty with you. Unfortunately, this one comes out in October (*cries*) but we all know it is worth the wait. 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu—when a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths.

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all. 

Preorder! Make a countdown! Share, share, share!

Cuddlebuggery: Best Series Blog Hop

The Legend trilogy by Marie Lu is the best series out there. No doubt in my mind. I know everyone has their favorite and you might not agree with me. However, my goal is to make you want to read this series by the end of this post:

First of all, I think you should read the synopsis if you haven't already:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.  

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. 

Action! Suspense! AND romance! Still not convinced? But it sounds so awesome! Fine, I'll tell you a little bit more about it. 

The one thing that I can't live without is a strong female character. Luckily, June is my everything.  She's tough, brilliant, ruthless, and focused. She might even be a little bit difficult to love sometimes. But I love her, flaws and all.  Then there's Day. I could sit here all day and tell you why I love him as a character but all I'm going to say is this: Day's journey is beautiful and tragic. There's no other way to describe it.  I think you'll have a hard time not falling in love with them.

If you're concerned about the age of the main characters, don't be! That's one of the reasons I didn't read this series sooner and I regret it terribly. They are not immature or annoying in any way. If anything, both of them are so mature that you'll even forget that they are only fifteen. 

If amazing characters are not enough for you, how about this: You won't see anything coming. Honestly. The story takes the most unexpected turns and the most brutally painful twists you'll ever read. Period. 

Another aspect that I really like is how the romance doesn't overpower the story. If anything, the relationship between Day and June takes a backseat.  Yes, it is one of those complicated relationships that we all love to hate. I can't even tell you how many times they broke my heart.  I do hope that you'll allow them to break yours, too!

Just know this:

You WILL cry. I'm sure of it. If not during Legend (which I did), and if not during Prodigy (which I also did), then definitely as you read Champion.  I love a lot of series and I had a difficult time choosing my all time favorite. However, none of them made me cry the way I did during the final book in this series. Not even Allegiant. It wasn't a pretty cry either. It was more of an ugly why-did-you-do-this-to-my-heart-it-hurts-so-much kind of crying. You've been warned. 

If you're ready to experience the awesomeness that is the Legend series but don't own the first book, you might be in luck! 

Giveaway: One (1) Paperback Copy of Legend by Marie Lu (US Only) 

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Note: The use of Matt Smith's face was intentional. Who can say no to that face? NO ONE.