Destiny Gift Blog Tour: review & giveaway
We are one of today's stops on the Destiny Gift Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.
Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert
Series: Everlast, #1
Publication: April 9th 2013
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.
A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.
To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.
About the author:
Juliana Haygert
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
I haven't read many paranormal titles classified as "New Adult" so Destiny Gift was a welcome change. Nadine is a student attending NYU thirty years into the future and this world is a pretty dark place. NYU has a security force and tries to protect the students. Nadine has been having visions of one guy and other visions of powerful god-like creatures battling. When she actually bumps into her dream guy in real life, he says he doesn't know her. Not only is there no tie between them, Nadine realizes this guy named Victor is not at all like the one in her head. Then she meets bad boy Micah and things get interesting.
I thought the first half of the story was slow going. I tired of reading about Nadine's everyday life of class, home, fantasizing about hot guy. Halfway through the story picked up and held my interest. A love triangle turned intriguing, there were a couple of sweet twists, and the tension increased. Though I wasn't a huge fan of Nadine at the start, by the end I did like her. There were times I wished the danger factor was revved up just to show us life in this dystopian Big Apple. I also wanted more details about places so I could imagine them better. With this being the first in a series, I have faith the author will continue Nadine's story with a quicker pace now that the foundation for her world and conflict have been introduced.
For a New Adult title, I'm glad this focused more on the story and not on sex. There were hints at romance since there are two hot guys in Nadine's world, but the emphasis was on building characters and plot. I enjoyed the author's writing style and applaud her creativity. Mythology, a love triangle, a post-apocalyptic world and a girl with incredible power to bring back light to the world are all parts that make Destiny Gift an intriguing read. Check it out. Recommended for YA readers and adults.
Rating: 3
Cover comment:
Dark and kind of cool. I like it.
Book source:
I received a promotional copy in return for my honest review.
Giveaway:
Grand prize giveaway. Prizes are listed on the Rafflecopter, the paperback prizes are open to US only, the others are international.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Great review Laurie I've never read anything but contemps in NA so far so this is a good change. I also like that it doesn't focus on just being YA with sex because those are getting tiresome. Another I'd recommend is Game Set Match--though it's a contemporary. Anyways, glad you enjoyed this one even if it was slow to start. :)
ReplyDeleteI"m glad you liked it! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE the NA genre! I love that it's not as tame as YA, yet not all porn either. the sex scenes that I've read in NA are very well done, not tacky like a lot of Adult ones I've read. I love adult novels, but some are just too Bogged down with all things sex. lol. excited to read this one, thank you for the chance to win it <3
ReplyDeleteI like that it is an exciting time in a person's life that has so much change.
ReplyDeleteYes I've read a few titles. Since I'm 22 the characters in NA is closer to my own age and they attend university in stead of high school.
ReplyDeleteyes, the characters
ReplyDeleteI've read some NA books and I really like them. The transition from youth to adult is such a crucial time and it's always full of adventures.
ReplyDeleteStephanie
steph0828 at hotmail dot com