Giveaway & Review ~ The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown.

Thanks for stopping by my tour stop for The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown. This is a YA Fantasy book that released in January 2014. This is the first book in the The Semei Trilogy.  This tour will run March 10th-21st and consist of reviews, author interviews, guest posts, top tens and a giveaway.  Stop by the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

Book Title: The Wolf's Cry 
(Book One in the Semei Trilogy)

Author: Natalie Crown

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: YA

Length: PDF is 199 pages

She is his weakness.

And she will ruin everything.

Kammy Helseth's idea of adventure never amounted to more than getting a boat across to the mainland and finally escaping to London. That was until she stumbled through the mouth of the forest into a world beneath our own, the world of the Semei.

Her only wish is to find her way home but when Jamie, her best friend, is taken into this new world of shapeshifters and Crystals she has no choice but to stand up to her fear and to remain beneath the surface. Hunted by Bagor, King of Alashdial, and those that are loyal to him, Kammy finds herself in the company of a group of outlaws led by Jad, a Prince with a bitter past and a similarly bitter demeanour.

They overcome age-old prejudice to find a way to work together. But Bagor knows a secret about the Crystals that threatens to change everything. Kammy and Jad must find a way to thwart the king and to save Jamie, but that is just the beginning. For Kammy is in possession of a Key and the fate of countless lives, both human and Semei, may rest in her hands.

Book Links: Goodreads |  Amazon 

Excerpt:

Kammy and Irena

The wind rattled the windows and Kammy glanced back at the darkness, entertaining the possibility that her grandmother was out in the storm. She let out a sigh of relief when she heard a muffled curse. Laughing to herself, Kammy straightened and started to fill the kettle.

Irena came striding into the kitchen, her trim figure clothed in a pair of old dungarees and a red jumper. ‘Kam, I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.’ Her grey hair was pulled up into a scruffy bun and there was a line on her brow that told Kammy she was incredibly frustrated. She dropped herself into a chair at the table and huffed.

Smiling, Kammy pulled two mugs from the cupboard and asked. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘That bloody wardrobe. Heavier than I thought.’

‘Gran,’ Kammy groaned, placing the mugs down with more force than she had intended. ‘I told you that Harry offered to help, if you really must move the thing.’

Irena waved a hand, ignoring Kammy's words completely, and fixed her moss green eyes on her granddaughter. ‘You look ill.’

Kammy snorted. ‘Thanks.’

‘Seriously Kam, you look ever so pale.’

The kettle began to whistle. ‘I am pale. This is what I always look like.’

Irena’s silence was not comforting, and Kammy focused on making the tea. She placed the mugs onto the table and Irena thanked her. Kammy sank into the other chair and curled her fingers around her drink.

She sighed, ‘Go on, and say it.’

Irena stared, and then shrugged her innocence. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Jamie stopped here by the way. Did he catch you?’

Kammy was suspicious. Her Gran was usually quick to pick at the various aspects of Kammy’s life that she disagreed with, namely her tendency to spend her time alone. Jamie and his importance to Kammy seemed to be the only thing they agreed on in that regard.

‘He found me just as that started up,’ she looked out the window. When she turned back to her Gran, she flinched. Irena’s eyes were alight in a way that Kammy knew all too well. It was a look that made her feel as though all her thoughts and feelings could be drawn out of her on a string.

‘You should have gone back to his for once. You’re seventeen. You shouldn’t be stuck around here all the time.’

‘I didn’t know you were so keen to get rid of me.’

Irena raised a thin eyebrow. ‘It is my life ambition.’

Kammy laughed. ‘I might have gotten stuck in the village. I had to come home.’

‘You could have stayed at his.’

‘Gran.’

‘Kammy.’

Kammy was in the mood to be stubborn, but she had never been able to outmanoeuvre her grandmother when it came to stubbornness and she did not suppose she would start now.

‘His mum hates me.’

Irena’s eyebrows disappeared altogether. ‘Helen? Why on earth do you think that?’

Kammy slouched back in her chair and mumbled, ‘Because she does.’

‘That is ridiculous,’ said Irena, and her tone told Kammy that there would be no arguing such a statement. So, Kammy took a sip of tea and stayed silent. Her Gran could believe what she wanted about Helen Powell but Kammy knew the truth. Jamie would never admit it but he knew it too. We don’t want you here, Esme had said. Kammy folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on top of them. She had never understood it and she was sure that she never would.

‘I’m just concerned Kam. Since you finished school, you’re either at home, at work, or at the beach. You’re quite predictable.’

‘You are full of compliments today.’

‘I always thought you wanted to get away from this place.’

‘I do.’

‘Then do it.’

Kammy clamped her teeth together and stared at her lap. She made it sound so easy.

‘Kam?’

‘You hate it here too. So why don’t you leave?’ The words escaped her with more sharpness than she had meant and Irena’s stare softened.

‘I’m old.’

Kammy shook her head. She felt the years of bitterness filling her up from her toes. ‘You weren’t old ten years ago, we should have left then. Mum might have liked the mainland. There might have been something…’

‘There wouldn't have been.’

Kammy caught herself and closed her eyes. After a long moment she said, ‘Sorry.’

‘Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should have left anyway.’

Kammy peered up at her Gran and for a second Irena looked old and weary of the years behind her. Kammy felt an instant of blind panic and when Irena reached a hand across the table, Kammy took it and held on tight.

About the Author:

I grew up in a village called Swilland, in the countryside of Suffolk, England. There wasn't much around, other than farms and fields, but for the most part I loved it, and I still do. I’m a passionate person by nature. I don’t just LIKE things, I LOVE things. Whether it’s a book, a film, or a sports team. Once I decide to enjoy something, I enjoy it to

the MAX.

I’m a terrible cook. I prioritise essential social media work over keeping my flat tidy, because I know best. I

Onto my love of reading and, consequently, writing - it was my dad that played a big role in encouraging me to read. He didn't push me towards books necessarily; he simply read a lot himself. Then I would pick up his books and read them after him. I was reading high and epic fantasy from a very young age. I guess that might explain why I have always

loved adventure stories with magic and intrigue and princes and

princesses in.

I was aware that I wanted to ‘be a writer’ from a very young age. I was

convinced I would be the first best seller that hadn't reached double

figures in age yet! I wrote about the Danshees, furry creatures that

lived through a mirror. I wrote about a Sand Bottle that transported a

boy into a world of magic. I wrote about a sick girl finding a music boy

 that healed her, but transported her back in time. (Wow, I always have

loved alternate universes…)

When I was eight I wrote my first novel called The Land of No Return.

Despite the title, I am determined to return to it one day. I feel like I

 owe it to my past self. So, as you can see, I have always been writing.

 There have been times when I have gone weeks without scratching down a

word. Then there are days where I churn out multiple chapters and only

my body’s silly desire for sleep and/or food can stop me.  

I write because I enjoy it. I write fantasy because I enjoy it. I try my

 hardest to put something of myself into my writing. I like to think my

characters have depth, I like to think that my fantasy worlds reflect

upon the real world in some way. You guys will be the judge of that but

even if you don't agree I know that I at least try and I can do no more

than that.

These days I live in North London and I love it. I work full time and

London is a hectic city. Juggling work, writing and a social life is

tough but nobody is forcing me to do it so I can't complain. The dream

is that writing will be my career one day but it doesn't matter if I

never quite make it. I love writing too much to ever pack it in.

I am desperate to get a dog. My mum suspects I miss my cats at home more

 than I miss her. I am a devout Arsenal/Ferrari/Rafael Nadal fan. I get

all mad when confronted with a case of social injustice and then I get

all mad when people take the fight for social justice too far. I mostly

keep those thoughts to myself and simmer with rage. I watch good TV and

bad TV, because I can. What I can’t do is enjoy bad books (subjective

opinion of course). I just can’t.

Find the author:

Website/Blog |  Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

2 $50 Amazon Gift Cards (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


My Thoughts:

The Wolf's Cry was a hugely imaginative YA fantasy. There were so many things that I really liked about it.

1. It was clean. ~ It is refreshing to read a book every now and then that isn't loaded down with profanity or obscenity. 

2. There were shape shifters! Enough said, right?

3. The world that Natalie Crown created was unique. It was very impressive and in many ways, I was blown away by it.

4. The characters were great.

Now, the things that I did not like. :-(

1. I had a few moments of confusion when the pov seemed to shift. ~ It was probably just me as reading while having a major head cold is not all it's cracked up to be!

2. There were a few spots that seemed a little slow.

3. There wasn't really a romance. :-( However it feels like one may develop in another book from this series. :-)

Over all, I'd say this was a fascinating start to a new YA series. :-)

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my opinion.

This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions

Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.