Black Moon Rising (The Library #2) Blog Tour (review)

The Black Moon Rising Blog Tour is stopping by today with my review of this second book in The Library Series by D.J. MacHale...

Black Moon Rising

(The Library #2)

By D.J. MacHale

October 3, 2017

Random House BFYR

Source: ARC from pub for review

The next fast-paced, thrilling adventure from bestselling author D. J. MacHale! Check out a book and fall under its spell . . . literally.

Marcus is an agent of the Library--a place filled with tales that don't have an ending. Mysteries that won't be solved until Marcus and his friends Theo and Lu step in to finish them. Before it's too late.

Because mysterious accidents are disturbing a middle school in Massachusetts. Windows shatter for no reason. Bleachers collapse at a pep rally. Most of the students think they're just having a string of bad luck, but Marcus suspects something a lot more dangerous. Something like witchcraft. When the black moon rises, this story must come to an end . . . one way or another.

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Read my review of book 1

Fresh from his first spooktacular and exciting paranormal adventure,  middle-schooler Marcus is back as an official agent of the Library...except this library is filled with stories that have no endings and it’s up to agents like Marcus to battle supernatural forces and finish those stories.

And one of those stories is happening live at a middle-school on Massachusetts, where strange, dangerous events keep happening. With the help of a little Library magic, Marcus and his two BFFs, Lu and Theo, travel to the unlucky middle-school to unravel the mystery and find themselves in some wicked witchy trouble!

Author D.J. MacHale returns to his creeptastically fun and thrilling middle-grade The Library series with book two, Black Moon Rising. Like book one, Black Moon Rising is wonderfully fast-paced, action-packed, and bursting with laughs, chills, and captivating supernatural elements!

Middle-grade readers will appreciate the brisk and never dull pace, sure to keep them eagerly turning pages. MacHale’s clever storytelling, and use of multiple POVs, is the perfect mix of suspense, twists, humor, and engaging character interaction. Marcus, Lu, and Theo make for a diverse, eclectic, and super likable trio. Each of these main characters brings something unique and valuable to the team, and they’re a lot of fun to get to know.

Once again, the magical, otherworldly Library, full of its unfinished stories and ghosts, makes for an imaginative and deliciously spine-tingly setting that young readers will have a blast exploring with Marcus and his friends. I really love the way MacHale brings both classic and fresh supernatural elements/beings together, to create a genuinely spooky atmosphere that is just the right amount of thrills, chills, and laugh-out-loud fun.

MacHale does a great job of wrapping up one mystery in Black Moon Rising, while weaving together a few more that I can’t wait to see unravel!

Both fast-paced, delightfully frightful, and awesomely twisty and turny books in this series are perfect Halloween reads!

MY RATING

4/5 cupcakes

D. J. MACHALE is the author of the bestselling book series Pendragon, Morpheus Road, and the SYLO Chronicles, as well as Voyagers: Project Alpha and Black Moon Rising (The Library, Book 2). He has written, directed, and produced numerous award-winning television series and movies for young people, including Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Flight 29 Down, and Tower of Terror. He lives with his family in Southern California. Visit him at djmachalebooks.com.

Review: Curse of the Boggin (The Library #1) by DJ MacHale

Curse of the Boggin

(The Library #1)

By DJ MacHale

September 6, 2016

Random House BFYR

Source: from pub for review

Enter the Library, where no one knows how the stories end . . . and finding out will be terrifying.

There’s a place beyond this world, beyond the land of the living, where ghosts go to write their unfinished stories—stories that ended too soon. It’s a place for unexplained phenomena: mysteries that have never been solved, spirits that have never been laid to rest. And there’s only one way in or out.

It’s called the Library, and you can get there with a special key. But beware! Don’t start a story you can’t finish. Because in thislibrary, the stories you can’t finish just might finish you.

Marcus O’Mara is a 13 year old guy at a crossroads. He constantly finds himself in trouble at school, with his friends, and with his adoptive parents. Marcus doesn’t believe things can get any worse for him…until they get worse.

Much worse.

He begins seeing strange and impossible visions; gets thrown into paranormal danger and is haunted by a mysterious ghost with a singular goal: to give him a key.

It’s a key that opens the door to a mysterious library. When that door opens, the incredible adventure for Marcus and his friends begins as they learn the truth about Marcus’ past and uncover the strange world of unfinished stories that are found on the shelves of the Library.

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*************************************************

Thirteen year old Marcus O’Mara is a good guy who more than occasionally finds himself in trouble with his parents, his friends, and especially at school...and now he’s found himself in BIG trouble, the supernatural kind. Marcus starts to see and experience strange things, then a ghost gives him a key to a mysterious place called The Library. The Library is home to unfinished stories being finished by ghosts. But there’s an evil presence that wants to destroy The Library and may just destroy Marcus and his friends in the process.

Curse of the Boggin, the first book in D.J. MacHale’s newest middle-grade series, is a fast-paced adventure full of thrills and chills. Bursting with imagination and creativity, Curse of the Boggin has a lot of intriguing and unique supernatural elements, amusing storytelling, and likable characters. MacHale creates a spooktacular, yet fun, atmosphere and world. The Library, with its exciting unfinished stories, irresistible secrets, and resident ghost, make for a captivating and whimsical setting. Young readers will love exploring this mysterious place with Marcus and be delighted by all its surprises and information it has to offer.

Marcus and his two best friends make for a quirky and eclectic trio. Each young character has an enjoyable and unique personality that readers will find relatable and likable. And, of course, MacHale offers readers a thoroughly spine-tingling and devious supernatural villain that will thrill and chill!

My final thoughts: Curse of the Boggin is an enthralling, humorous adventure that sets up the series nicely. I look forward to reading future books!

4/5 Cupcakes

D. J. MACHALE is the author of the bestselling book series Pendragon, Morpheus Road, and the SYLO Chronicles, as well as Voyagers: Project Alpha and Black Moon Rising (The Library, Book 2). He has written, directed, and produced numerous award-winning television series and movies for young people, including Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Flight 29 Down, and Tower of Terror. He lives with his family in Southern California. Visit him at djmachalebooks.com.

Voyagers Series Launch Blog Tour {review and giveaway}

I'm out-of-this-world excited to have the Voyagers Series Launch Blog Tour stopping by today! Voyagers is a thrilling new multi-platform series that will consist of six epic books penned by six awesome authors...

Project Alpha

(Voyagers #1)

by D.J. MacHale

September 1, 2015

Random House Children's Books

The action is on the page, on your device, and out of this world! This multiplatform series is part sci-fi, part eco-mystery, all action-adventure. And you don't have long to wait -- 6 books are coming all in one year! 

Earth is about to go dark. Without a new power source, life as we know it will be toast. A global competition is under way to determine who will join the secret mission that might just save us all. Project Alpha is a contest of physical challenges, mental puzzles, and political alliances. The battle is fierce, and only four kids will make the cut. The Voyagers will journey to the far reaches of space, collecting unique elements and facing unbelievable dangers. The future of our planet is in the hands of four kids. Sure, they’ll be the best in the world . . . but can they save the world?

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To learn all bout the series, to watch the trailer, and more visit VoyagersHQ

Earth is running out of resources and in a hundred years the planet will go permanently dark...so Project Alpha is born. A world wide competition is created to find eight young exemplary individuals. These eight 12 year olds will then participate in a rigorous competition and be dwindled down to just four. Four winners. And the prize? A place on a spaceship headed to deep space in search of elements needed to create a new power source, world-wide fame, a chance to save the planet, and ten million dollars. The competition is the fierce, the contestants are all worthy, and the whole world is counting on the outcome...can four kids really save the planet?

Voyagers is a new multi-platform series that will span six books with six different authors, and can be experienced both on the page and on the internet, with each book containing interactive puzzles. Voyagers: Project Alpha is book one in the series and is penned by author D.J. MacHale.

Voyagers: Project Alpha is a cinematic, action-adventure packed thrill ride that sets up the series and introduces its characters. MacHale does a great job of creating an exciting and entertaining series opener that will captivate and engage young readers. The story is wickedly fast paced, with no room for slow, boring bits, which is perfect for middle-grade readers. And the world within the Voyagers, with its out of this world high-tech gadgets; inventive ideas; and unbelievable places, is extra super cool! Voyagers: Project Alpha is definitely bursting with imagination, thought-provoking sci-fi elements, and plain fun action.

And although the story moves fast, MacHale makes sure each vital character is properly introduced and explored. The series gives readers eight very different, yet completely engaging characters, to like and connect with. I think middle-grade readers will especially love the fact that the heroes of the story are young characters that they can totally relate to.

Fascinating new worlds, awesome gizmos and tech, giant dinosaurs, heart-pounding adventures...Voyagers: Project Alpha has all this and more.

my final thoughts: I had a lot of fun reading this book and was easily swept away by its out of this world premise that promises big thrills. Voyagers: Project Alpha is an awesome first book in what is sure to be a blockbuster series. I definitely can’t wait for book two!

MY RATING

4/5 yummy cupcakes

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D. J. MacHale is the author of the bestselling book series Pendragon: Journal of an Adventure Through Time and Space, the spooky Morpheus Road trilogy, and the sci-fi thriller trilogy the SYLO Chronicles. In addition to his published works, he has written, directed, and produced numerous award-winning television series and movies for young people including Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Flight 29 Down,and Tower of Terror. D. J. lives with his family in Southern California. 

Win 1 of 3 hardcover copies of

Voyagers: Project Alpha

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Giveaway and Excerpt: SYLO by D.J. MacHale

Today, thanks to Penguin/Razorbill Books, I have a giveaway of and excerpt from SYLO by D.J. MacHale!

SYLO

by D.J. MacHale

7/2/13

Razorbill

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Does Tucker Pierce have what it takes to be a hero when the U.S. military quarantines his island?

Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come. 

It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.  

#1 New York Times bestselling author D.J. MacHale brings his brilliant plotting and breathless pacing to SYLO, the first in this ultimate end-of-the-world adventure trilogy.

D.J. MacHale

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You can check out the excerpt of SYLO below or visit this link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/138759458/SYLO-Excerpt

SYLO Excerpt by Penguin Young Readers Group

Win a galley/ARC of SYLO by D.J. MacHale!

Thanks to Penguin/Razorbill I have one galley copy to give away.

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