Blog Tour Stop: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau -- A Review & Giveaway!

Be sure to check out the other stops of the tour for exclusive interviews, guest posts, and more!
Blog tour hosted by Vade Mecum Blog Tours.

June 3 Nick's Book Blog (author interview)

June 4 Little Library Muse (review)

June 5 Bookworms' Avenue (guest post)

June 6 Literary Meanderings (author interview)

June 7 Court Reads and Reviews (review)

June 8 Ink Skies (review)

June 9 Drugs Called Books (guest post)

Title: The Testing
Series: The Testing
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Placement in Series: 1/3
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Format: e-galley
Blurb:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Watch the trailer:

About the Author

Joelle Charbonneau began telling stories as an opera singer, but these days she finds her voice through writing. She lives near Chicago with her husband and son and when she isn’t writing, works as an acting and vocal coach.

Connect with Joelle Charbonneau

Joelle's Twitter

Her Website

Joelle on Goodreads

Review:

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
Sorry, I had to get that out. But it's true. I loved every second of The Testing - so much that once I got halfway I stayed up until 4am so I could finish it. I just could not stand putting it down without knowing what was going to happen.
Things start out innocent enough in The Testing. Malencia Vale (Cia) is looking forward to her graduation because a) it means she is an adult, and b) she is hoping to get chosen for The Testing. When graduation comes by and no announcement is made, Cia is disappointed. No one from her colony was chosen. But then later that night a Testing official shows up and Cia finds out that she is, in fact, chosen for The Testing, as well as three of her other classmates - one being Tomas, the charismatic, good-looking, and smartest guy in her class. She is ecstatic. But then her father warns her to be careful. He too was chosen for The Testing when he graduated, and though he does not remember anything that happened before he entered the University, he tells her of the dreams that have haunted him ever since. And so Cia joins her three other classmates to journey to where they will take The Testing, with only a single bag for her belongings and her father's cautioning words to carry with her.
The book doesn't keep us waiting for any action or suspense - things begin to escalate rather quickly from there, and we along with Cia begin to learn just what is up with The Testing. Our first hint is when one of Cia's classmates chosen for The Testing asks what happens if she doesn't want to go. The consequence for refuses to take The Testing? It is strongly hinted that it is death. And things don't stop there. Bad things begin to happen at The Testing, and if it weren't for the fact that I was reading the first half of the book only on my breaks at work, I probably would have read it all in one night. I was pulled into Cia's world, into her mind, worrying with her throughout the story. What terror would happen next? Would she make it through The Testing? What happens to those who fail? For over a hundred students are chosen from different colonies for The Testing, but only twenty or so are chosen to attend the University. Nothing is clear for Cia, nor for the reader.
The book delivers incredible suspense and is full of mystery. I don't think there was one part of Cia's Testing that I was sure she would make it through. I tried rooting for Cia and for those she trusted, but I was too busy biting my nails and trying not to skip ahead to make sure all would end up well!
Fans of The Hunger Games, the Divergent series, and The Maze Runner trilogy will love this book. It is full of survival-based adventure, mystery, and so many twists and variables that you cannot possibly know what will happen next. As for Cia? She is right up there with Katniss, Thomas, and Tris. She has to pull out all the stops and use everything she knows to get to where she wants to go, and when it comes to her survival, it's her gut and core instincts she has to trust. Her choices are admirable, and her loyalty strong. I am anxious to read what happens next (we readers are left with quite a cliff-hanger, folks!) You won't want to wait for the sequel, that's for sure!

Rating: Solid 5/5
Recommended for: Anyone who loved The Hunger Games/Divergent/The Maze Runner and post-apocalyptics and dystopians in general. You'll want to get this one in your hands if you haven't already!

Check out the sidebar for a link to the FREE copy of the prequel, watch the book trailer, and more!

Fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter a giveaway for your chance to win 1 of 7 copies of The Testing!

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (7)

(It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Each Monday participating blogs post about which books we are currently reading and our reading plans for the week. You can sign up at Book Journey by clicking here)

Looks like I'll be sticking to two books a week from now on. It's easier to handle and gives me time to do other things (like work and write). (Although wouldn't it be grand to be able to read, like, five books a week? Hah!)

Last week I finished:

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Quick thoughts:

This book. Is. Amazing. Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner will LOVE The Testing. It got to the point where I stayed up until 4am finishing the second half of the book because I could not put it down.
It's one of those.
Look out for a review to be posted closer to the release date of June 4th, 2013

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Quick Thoughts:

Oh, Dante Walker, how I would love to have one. *Pleading look at Victoria Scott*
I love his obnoxious, I'm-better-than-you attitude, but I also hate it, but I also love it.
Witty writing, intriguing story. Definitely looking forward to the sequel, The Liberator!


This week I will be reading:

Proxy (Proxy #1) by Alex London
Format: e-galley; Pub. date: June 18th, 2013
Blurb:
Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

Origin by Jessica Khoury
Blurb:
Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.





One book on living forever, and one book on living a life that is not your own. Should be an interesting mix this week!

What is on your reading list this week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (6)

(It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Each Monday participating blogs post about which books we are currently reading and our reading plans for the week. You can sign up at Book Journey by clicking here)

Last week I finished:

Ironskin (Ironskin #1) by Tina Connolly
(see my review here)

Scrap by Emoty Sharplin
Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book, and I'm hoping the sequel happens, because it left it way open for one. If you love fantasy, you will love Scrap. The main character, Tucker, is great. Kick ass female with a fun and amazing attitude. She was so fun to read about, and the other characters in her life were great as well. The plot was so intriguing and the book was full of adventure.
Full review to come closer to release date.
Look out for this one coming May 17th (my review will likely be up the same day).


This week I am reading...

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Blurb:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

I'm only a few chapters in, but am already loving it!

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
Blurb:
He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

This one sounds like such a fun read, and I'm already loving Dante - even though he's coming off as a complete jerk and someone I honestly don't know if I'd want to interact with in real life (this might be a lie). ;) The writing already is witty, and I can't wait to finish this post so I can read more!

And that's about as far ahead as I've planned. Look out for a review of Scrap coming in a few weeks, and expect a review on both The Testing and The Collector in the near future (The Testing's review to be posted closer to release date of June 4th).

What are you guys reading this week? Link me in the comments!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (5)

(It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Each Monday participating blogs post about which books we are currently reading and our reading plans for the week. You can sign up at Book Journey by clicking here)

Last week I finished:

Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin.
I posted a review yesterday (ha-ha), which you can read here.
I really enjoyed this book and rated it 4/5 stars, and I'm looking very much forward to the sequel. Anyone who loves action- and adventure-filled apocalyptics/post-apocalyptics/dystopias will enjoy this one.






It was not a productive reading week, I'll be honest, but I'm midway through Scrap by Emory Sharplin (e-galley), which I am enjoying immensely -- fans of Tamora Pierce's novels and Morgan Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms will love this one!.

Apart from Scrap, this week I plan to read:

Ironskin by Tina Connolly

Steampunk Jane Eyre meets Beauty and the Beast is the best way to describe this novel (the first in a steampunk fantasy series). I started this last night and so far it's great. I've never read Jane Eyre and I don't see myself ever doing so (just never been a fan of the 'classics' - fought my way halfway through Pride and Prejudice before giving up entirely), but for those like me, I can assure you it is not necessary. It's the steampunk fantasy parts that drew me to it.
Expect a review on this one for sure.

Click for Goodreads blurb.

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau (e-galley)
I plan to read this one once I finish Scrap. The Testing is due out June 4th and sounds really interesting:

Blurb:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.


So I'm hoping this week will be more productive than last, especially since I really need to start making a dent in my TBR pile. The fact that I buy a few books a week certainly doesn't help! It's a disease, I tell you. But not one I want cured.

So what are you all reading this week?
And if you've read any of the above, let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts (the non-spoilery ones, of course). Leave me your link to your IMWAYR in the comments and I'll be sure to return the comment love <3
:)