Monday, February 23, 2015

Blog Tour: Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott ~ Review & Giveaway

http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/2015/02/tour-schedule-salt-stone-by-victoria.html

Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood, #2)Source: Print ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott


What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.



Review...


If you know me at all, you know I have the biggest obsession with Victoria Scott. She is one of my favorite humans, and I love her face. So I thank baby goodness every day that her books are amazing, because otherwise things would be kind of awkward.

But yeah, I adored Fire & Flood. Sat down, read it in two or three days, died wanting more. And then BAM. I got more. And this is hard to say, because Fire & Flood was my favorite read of 2013, but...I loved Salt & Stone more than the first book. I didn't know that was possible, because I was so entirely taken by Fire & Flood, but it happened. 

In Fire & Flood, Tella was a realistically flawed character with so much personality being inside her head was kind of like a fun little game. (And then shiz got REAL and I died. But I digress.) In Salt & Stone, Tella is still her cute and amusing little self, but with some experience under her belt. She's trying to do some standing and leading on her own; she's trying to be stronger than she was before. And you know what? She is. She totally, absolutely 100% is, and I respect that more than words can describe. 

In Fire & Flood, I wanted to write love letters to my dear Guy Chambers. In Salt & Stone, I actually wrote those love letters. Because I legit claim him as mine, you cannot have him #sorrynotsorry. But honestly, he's a pretty stubborn guy. He has his ways to do things, and his plans, and he takes it all seriously. As he should, considering The Brimstone Bleed is no walk in the park. But he does have a couple difficult moments that made me want to hug him REALLY REALLY HARD to get him to hush himself. Lovingly, of course. Because he's mine, remember that? (Advice: REMEMBER IT.)

Victoria Scott's writing was superb yet again. She nails Tella's voice, and the entire story is crafted so that everything feels intense and important, as if I AM in The Brimstone Bleed and I need to get my act together because sitting in my room eating snacks ain't saving anybody. It was so easy to fly through this story, even faster than I did Fire & Flood. There's some laughs, some tears, some more tears, and a punch in the face courtesy of Victoria Scott. But you know. It was all okay. Sort of. My heart just got ripped to shreds, like, twice. I'll live.

The romance made me want to slap Tella because Guy is, ahem, MINE. She needs to back her tiny self away. JUST KIDDING. I heart Tella. Honestly, their romance hit a snag or two, but even while it was stuck on those snags there was still sweet things happening that made my heart glow all happily. It's the little things--not just the kisses, though those are so fun, too--that make this romance in the midst of a serious race for the Cure. Guy and Tella are such a fabulous couple, and I truly adore them. Their romance in this book is wonderful.

Oh, and the Pandoras! Goodness, they are the best. And they're so sweet and kind and helpful. I love them so hard. If you're hoping for more Pandoras going into this, you're going to get them! (Though a certain AUTHOR puts them through crap. But it's okay. Mostly.)

Overall, I could not have asked for a better sequel to Fire & Flood. Higher stakes, more Pandoras, lovely romance, and great character development all meet in Salt & Stone to create a fabulously written story I adored. Sweet goodness knows I'm already dying for whatever Victoria Scott's got coming for us next!


5 stars - A fierce and amazing story that set my heart racing. I could not have asked for a better sequel!



**About the Author**


Victoria Scott is a teen fiction writer represented by Sara Crowe. She's the author of the FIRE & FLOOD series published by Scholastic, and the DANTE WALKER trilogy published by Entangled Teen. Her books have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets including the UK, Turkey, China, Poland, Germany, Australia, Israel, Taiwan, Brazil, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

Victoria lives in Dallas with her husband and hearts cotton candy something fierce.

Author Links: 





**Giveaway**


Five finished copies of Fire & Flood (which is GORGEOUS, y'all)
US only




**Tour Schedule**


Week One:

2/16/2015 - Mary Had a Little Book Blog ~ Review

2/17/2015 - a GREAT read ~ Review

2/18/2015 - Two Chicks on Books ~ Interview 

2/19/2015 - Falling For YA ~ Review

2/20/2015 - Fiction Fare ~ Review


Week Two:

2/23/2015 - StuckInBooks ~ Review (HI!)

2/24/2015 - MEREADALOT ~ Review

2/25/2015 - Reading YA Rocks ~ Interview 

2/26/2015 - Curling Up With A Good Book ~ Review

2/27/2015 - Mundie Moms ~ Review


10 comments:

  1. I agree with you completely! I enjoyed Salt & Stone more than the first book as well and I was so proud of Tella in this one! Great review.

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  2. I have never heard of this book until I saw your post on twitter. Now here I am, a new author to possibly love and two new books on my TBR and Wish list shelves on goodreads!! I LOVE finding new books to read and look forward to!

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  3. I've had this on my wishlist since I first read the blurb

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  4. Love the cover! Can't wait to read this series :)

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  5. I'm a huge, huge fan! I've been looking forward to this book for a year now and I'm so E-X-C-I-T-E-D!! Thank you.

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  6. Thank you! I've heard good things about your books. :D

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  7. thank you for the chance... Sounds like a great book.

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  8. Loved the first book so much. Maddox is just so cute. Cant wait to read book two.

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  9. I am a HUGE fan of ALL her books. I would read her grocery list... seriously :D

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