Monday, February 23, 2015

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway ~ Incite ~ Erica Crouch


Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Erica Crouch's Incite. This is the second book in her Ignite series. If you'd like to check our my reviews of Ingite and Entice (a prequel novella), just click on the titles. Below you'll find all the information about the book, my review, and a giveaway!


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Incite
Ignite Series #2
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
Earth is in ruins, and the war of Heaven and Hell has spilled over into the mortal world. In the frozen wasteland of the apocalypse, Azael and his band of cohorts search for Pen 
and Michael with orders to kill. Little does he know that his sister has incited a rebel army of her own. 

Angels and demons alike stand side by side, ready and willing to fight for a future they didn’t realize they could have. Change doesn't come easy, though. Pen is wary of joining New Genesis's 
revolution, but when Azael shows his hand and Pen learns all that he holds over them, she chooses to fight back, no matter the risk. She only has to survive, one hour at a time.




Hell now rules in Heaven. Earth is turning into a frigid wasteland where humans are dying at the hands of demons, if not the cold. Pen and Michael are on the run with angels and demons both on their heels. And a little band of rebels, inspired by Pen and Michael's choosing something different, are asking them to join forces against Heaven and Hell. Azael, the King of Hell, is determined to find Pen and Michael before anyone else -- in hopes of being the one to end Michael and save Pen.

I marveled at the dichotomy between Azael and Pen. One reveling in his evil but missing the one who saw goodness in him, the other so bent on being good and yet believing she might be beyond redemption. Az wanted to see the bad in Pen - I think it made him feel better about his choices. Pen wanted to see the good in Az.

Crouch creates such beautiful prose. Her descriptions are so vivid and paint gorgeous images -- even in a post-apocalyptic world. The version of Hell she's created -- blue, cold, and icy -- is so unique, as is the rest of her mythology. Crouch also quotes classic literature such as Milton's Paradise Lost, and poetry such as James Joyce and Robert Frost. Not only did this complement the story but it warmed this English Lit major's heart.

Incite is full of thought-provoking suppositions. Watching as angels and demons realize they have free will - seeing them question their ideas and beliefs, question even the existence of God, was fascinating. That angels and demons would band together, fight for a common goal seems ironic. Along with the grim landscape of an Earth encased in ice and the gore and violence perpetrated against everyone made for a visceral and exciting read. The only reason I'm not rating this higher is that the story dragged a bit in the middle. It was necessary setup but I felt it could have been shortened so as to move the story along to the action sooner. I'm very eager to see what comes next, who will rise and who will fall, in the epic battle I feel certain is coming.







a Rafflecopter giveaway





Erica Crouch is a young adult and new adult author from Baltimore, Maryland. She has a strange blended aesthetic of cute and spooky, and her books reflect her ever changing mood. (You may find romance, you may find gore—sometimes both in the same book, but probably not at the same time. Probably.)

Erica is the cofounder of Patchwork Press, an author-powered publisher of middle grade, young adult, and new adult titles. She is the head of editorial services and design, with nearly fifty projects to her name. Find a complete list of Erica’s books at ericacrouch.com.

20 comments:

  1. Squee! I was looking at the cover and was like, holy crap those are wings! I love the way they did that! I think I remember your first review, but I know I never managed to pick it up. But I just love this concept, better add to my wish list - 3 solid reviews means its gotta be good!

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  2. Oh this looks awesome! And reminds me of Dante's Inferno, what with hell being an iceland. I'm also really intrigued by what you said about Azael wanting to save her... Even though it dragged a bit, I'm glad you enjoyed this one!

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  3. So glad you enjoyed this one. I am definitely adding this book to my tbr pile ASAP so I can read this one day. Great review! Sorry it dragged a little but that didn't seem to make it any less awesome!

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  4. Angels books are so not for me, but I have absolutely no problem with the other side of this coin. I really like the premise of this book, demons taking over Heaven, cool! It seems like this novel features exactly the type of out-of-the-box writing that I enjoy, and I didn't realize that Erica Crouch was such an accomplished author. Thanks for the intro!

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads

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  5. Happy you enjoyed this one! I have the series (so far) on my kindle, so it makes me want to read!

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  6. The prose and writing that makes you think sounds great

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  7. This really is a great, thought-provoking series!

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  8. I think it's unique and beautifully written, Laura.

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  9. I know you're not exactly a fan of angels, Carmel, but I think you might enjoy this series. Demons being bad...and angels having existential crises. ;) Oh, and Crouch doesn't hold back on the gore. It's good stuff. I'm happy I could introduce YOU to an author. ;)

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  10. Thanks, Sharrice. I think this is a series you'd really like. It's very well written. :)

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  11. Thanks, Jessica! It really is a good read. And I totally forgot about Dante's inferno being an iceland (my ancient and medieval lit professor would be disappointed! ;) There's just so much going on in the storyline and I'm probably missing stuff. The series is fascinating!

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  12. All her covers have been great! I really hope you pick up this series sometime, Berls. It's well worth the time....fascinating and such beautiful prose! I think you'd like it!

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  13. Wow... It has been ages since I read an Angel book... I might have to get to it and dive into this series! A shame it dragged a little, but the characters seemed well developed and kept you entertained!


    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal
    Palace

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  14. It sounds wonderful! I love this type of concept, and I think I'd really enjoy it. I can get the slowing down in the middle too and the reasoning behind it, but I can also understand why you marked down for it a bit. I'm not the biggest fan of the cover, but I'm still very interested in this one. Great review!

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  15. This series sounds really good, Brandee! I love well-done angel / demon stories, and this one seems very different. I think the fact that the human race has to really fight to survive makes it different, too. Often, angels are in charge, but with the demons, I'm sure anything goes.
    I hope you're having a fantastic week, my dear! Only 77 days left - that's 11 weeks, you know? *BIG HUGS*

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  16. Thought provoking can be good :) I haven't heard of this series before, but it sounds pretty good. Glad you are enjoying this so much!

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  17. Naomi, this is a great series! Truly. And you know, the drag could have been my mood, too. You never know. :)

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  18. Ooh, I think this is definitely one you'd enjoy, Jaclyn. It's just so unique. I was so excited when this one showed up in my inbox. This cover isn't my fav of the 3, but you probably would like the first 2. I did, anyway. If you decide to read it, I'd love to know what you think. :)

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  19. It is different and really well-written, Lexxie. I think you'd enjoy it.


    My week is going okay - I've had a sick kiddo though. And my mom arrives tomorrow for Jax's musical. It'll be busy and it's snowing again. I know you're heading out tomorrow. Enjoy your time with your family!!! Oh, and we're down to only 75 days now! Woohoo! **BIG HUGS**

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  20. It is thought-provoking, Lorna. Especially this installment. But the writing is so beautiful and the story and characters well-crafted. Can you tell I like it? *haha*

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Now you know what I think...what are your thoughts??