Friday, May 4, 2012

Until I Die Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway



I'm super excited today to be a part of the blog tour for Amy Plum's Until I Die, the second in her Revenants series. Amy is joining me on the blog to answer a few questions, and she is generously offering up a signed paperback copy of Die For Me as well! Woo hoo! 

This tour started on April 21st and will run through May 12th, so be sure and check out all the participating blogs for reviews, interviews, guests posts, excerpts and lots of giveaways. You can find the full list of blogs on Mundie Moms, and all the details for both this stop's giveaway and the grand prize giveaway are located at the bottom of the post. 

Welcome to Supernatural Snark Amy!

Let’s say you’re in Vincent’s shoes, struggling between the need to be with the person you love most and the need to save innocent lives. Are you the type to constantly agonize over a decision while analyzing every possible outcome, or are you the type to make a choice and stick with it?

I am very impetuous, and make instinctive, split-second decisions and then hold on for dear life. This gets me in trouble sometimes, but my brain just doesn’t work on an analytical level.

Is there another city other than the amazingly atmospheric Paris you think would have suited Vincent, Kate and company equally well should Paris not have worked out as you were writing?

I never actually thought I’m going to set DIE FOR ME in Paris. From the beginning Paris was one of the main characters, almost as important as Kate and Vincent. In fact, I’ll give Paris third ranking in order of importance behind those two. I would love to write a book set in New York or Rome, but this particular story could only be set in the City of Lights.

If the teenage version of you was sitting in a café in Paris and noticed a good looking boy a few tables over, would you have the nerve to approach and start a conversation or would you simply admire from afar?

Approach a cute straight boy? Absolutely not. Even the adult version of me wouldn’t have the guts to do that! I would admire from afar, but wouldn’t even have the courage to be blatant about it. I would totally be hiding behind my book.

In most paranormal stories, immortality comes with a hefty physical and emotional price. If you were offered immortality tomorrow not knowing the specific price (i.e. feeding from others as a vampire or self-sacrificing as a revenant) you would pay for it but were told you would meet the absolute love of your life in one hundred years, would you take it?

That’s an interesting question because it is very rare that you hear of immortals who had some sort of choice in their fate. I would bet you that 95% of them would say that they wouldn’t choose the destiny they were given. However, knowing that you would meet the love of your life...that’s one hell of a carrot. I admit that I would decline the offer. But if it were forced upon me, I would resist destroying myself if I knew that my future held love.

Can you tell us which of the characters was the first to pop into your head when the idea for Die for Me came to you?

Kate. I knew I wanted to write a paranormal romance, and was sitting in my usual thinking spot (the bathtub – lots of bubbles) when this sentence popped into my mind: “Ten days after I got my driver’s license, my parents died in a car wreck.” And all of a sudden Kate existed as an practically fully-formed character in my mind. After that, I set myself the task of figuring out what kind of supernatural creature she would fall in love with.

Just for fun, let’s say both Kate and Vincent make lists (a la Ross’s laminated list from Friends) of characters from other books they’d be allowed to kiss should they ever meet that person. Which young adult characters would be in the top spot for each of them?

Neither Kate nor Vincent wanted to participate in this exercise. (They’re still a new couple – they only have eyes for each other.) But when forced to give me a name, Kate chose Jace Wayland from Mortal Instruments. He’s the opposite of Vincent looks-wise, but there’s just something about those tattoos and sauciness. Vincent said he would settle for Katniss Everdeen from Hunger Games for her kick-assness, but only because she’s fictional so there’s no real chance of it happening.

What was your favorite part about returning to the world of revenants when you sat down to begin Until I Die?

In DIE FOR ME I had a whole world to set up, so I wasn’t able to delve very far into the revenant mythology without overwhelming the reader with too many details. In UNTIL I DIE, I’m able to add more Revenant Rules, so the reader will understand a bit more about these beings and how they work.

I also couldn’t wait to delve deeper into the characters’ personalities. When I finished DIE FOR ME, I actually felt lonely. I had been hanging out with the characters every day, and they felt like friends to me. So UNTIL I DIE was like a reunion. I got to see everyone again and get to know them better.

If you were to harness all the emotions and events of this second installment and reduce them to a single color, what color do you think would communicate the totality of Until I Die to us best?

Slate gray. It’s pretty dark. I’d say black, except it is shot through with a little bit of hope, a lot of passion, and some funny bits from our usual suspects.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions Amy! More information on Amy and her books can be found here:

Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

GIVEAWAY


For this stop of the tour, I have one signed paperback copy of Die For Me to give away on the blog! To enter, please just leave a comment on this post with a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open internationally and will run through midnight EST on Friday, May 11th after which time a winner will be chosen and announced on the blog.

WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

In addition to individual giveaways on each blog, there will also be a grand prize giveaway for the entire tour. How do you enter you ask? I'll let Amy tell you:

Each day of the blog tour you will find one or more words in bold. Collect all of them and put them together in the right order to form a riddle about UNTIL I DIE’s plot. The blog tour ends here on my blog on May 12. At that point, send me the riddle and your name will go into the hat to win this gorgeous Longchamps bag:


But that’s not all. After the complete riddle has been posted here on my blog, you will have two months to email me with the ANSWER to the riddle (after reading UNTIL I DIE). If you answer it correctly, I will send you a signed book plate to stick inside your copy of the book!


WORDS FOR THIS TOUR STOP: Two ways

79 comments:

  1. This sounds like a fantastic series and I'm looking forward to starting it.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  2. * Slate Gray ... black, except it is shot through with a little bit of hope, a lot of passion, and some funny bits ..*
    That is probably the best Q & A I've ever read!

    You know, I fell in love with Until I Die, and I'm already captivated just reading about Die For Me. This series, the Revenants, is so richly gothic it's like literary chocolate :D

    Thank you & Amy for the sweet giveaway~
    Mary DeBorde M.A.D.
    zenrei57 at hotmail dot com

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  3. Die For Me has an unique story and amazing characters. When I read the book I wanted to learn more about the Revenants and I remember that I was searching on google for hours.
    Thank you for the giveaway!

    artgiote at gmail dot com

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  4. i'm really looking forward to reading this book! thank you for the contest!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

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  5. With each leg of the stop, I'm getting more excited for the release!

    randomactsofbooksandmore(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. This is a fab interview Jenny! I would so not be able to approach a cute boy sitting away from me I would totally be hiding behind my book too! This sounds like an amazing series! I must get onto Die For Me asap! The covers are gorgeous! :)

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  7. Love this interview and your question referring to the Friends episode with the laminated list....my friends and I talk about that episode all the time. It's hilarious! Anyway, I love that Jace from Mortal Instruments is on the list- he'd be on my too! :) I just finished Until I Die and really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing this interview.

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  8. LOL Amy, you're so like me! Approach the cute boy? Umm, nope, I will hide behind my book too and smile shyly if he glanced my way! x) If he was any one of my guy friends, I'd be totally okay with it but for stranger guys, I just can't do it! That kind of kills my dream of wanting to meet a cute French boy when I go to Europe next year LOL but I'm stubborn to hope! And Jace and Katniss? I don't think they could choose more awesome characters for their lists ;)

    Adorable interview, you two! <3 I ADORED Die For Me and Until I Die, and I can't wait to be able to read If I Should Die too! :)

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  9. Jace and Katniss? Nice picks. I can totally see Kate or Vincent kissing them if they had to pick. :D
    Interview was awesome!

    thunter_5@yahoo.com

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  10. I loved the first book so much, I even bought it on Audible so could listen to it...:D Crossing fingers. I loved Amy's answer for how the characters popped in her head, I can totally see this being a bubble bath, sipping wine moment....the book is like a hot bubble bath sipping wine feel.

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  11. I love the books where I feel like I've been hanging out with the characters, and I miss them too when the book's finished! Sometimes I am reluctant to start a series that is still in progress because I want to read them all at once... loved this interview :-)
    scottliz (dot) anderson (at) gmail (dot) com

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  12. I am so excited about this sequel!! The covers for both are so pretty. I want the red dress.

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    1. doh! emial address is heather.c.self @ gmail .com

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  13. Die for me looks good :)I'm looking forward to reading it.Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!

    Janhvi
    justjanhvi at gmail dot com

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  14. Oh my. I have been nagging (yes nagging) a friend of mine to read this book! He hasn't yet. I have gotten him into a book store and I plan to drag him to one again and shove the book in his hands.

    moiraethefatesATgmailDOTcom

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  15. Can't wait to read it. Been hearing so much about it!

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  16. Loved the book! The ending was Ahhhhhh! And thanks so much for the giveaway!

    bwitbite at gmail dot com

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  17. I can't wait for Until I Die! I'm so excited to read it. Thank you for the interview!

    molly(dot)frenzel(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. Even though I didn't like the book as much as others, I loved Amy's description of Paris. And yeah, I would never approach a cute guy from afar. I'd be a bumbling idiot. :)

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  19. I met Amy at the RT convention in Chicago and loved getting until I die early. I can't wait until the next book because this one was rather sad. The ending is quite a shock.

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  20. I love the covers for these books! I haven't started this series yet...been waiting for the second book!

    Thanks for the chance!
    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

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  21. I've wanted to start this series for awhile. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Cambonified[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  22. I loved the book and the covers are amazing! I can't wait to read Until I Die. Thanks for the giveaway:)

    ebbith0115[at]gmail[dot]com

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  23. This serie look great!!!

    Glassheart18ca@hotmail.com

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  24. "Approach a cute straight boy? Absolutely not. Even the adult version of me wouldn’t have the guts to do that!"
    That is one thing I love about books. We can be part of worlds where things happen that might never in real life. But how much fun are they to read about?!
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

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  25. Great interview! I don't think I would have the courage to approach a cute boy either. Not now and definitely not a few years ago! Hiding behind a book and admiring from afar sounds like a plan. ;0

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  26. What an awesome way to run a blog tour!

    I love the idea that once you read the book you can still win something with the nameplate!

    Great Interview!

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  27. I haven't read this series yet but I love to start, I have heard so many wonderful things about it. Thanks for the great giveaway!!!

    bridget.howard@hotmail.com

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  28. I say this everytime but I really enjoy your interviews. I liked reading how this novel was born a bubble bath and that line about the parents dying...interesting. I really want to read this series. I love the covers, and I love reading about Paris, plus I hear this one is even better! Great giveaway, too.

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  29. That was an awesome interview. You did not ask one question that gives away any of the plot and I loved the one about the list of who Kate and Vincent would kiss. Only you would think of that one!LOL

    Heather

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  30. This is a great interview - probably one of the best I've ever read. So interesting that an entire series could come from a sentence as, well, basic sounding as that first sentence! My imagination just isn't that fully-realized. Also, I'm very excited to dive deeper into the Revenant mythology. As a reader, one of my favorite things about ANY paranormal-type book is the mythology behind it.

    LOVED this interview, ladies. Loved it. Thank you both so much for the giveaway as well.

    asheley.tart@gmail.com

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  31. I loved the interview and I like the blog! :)

    barnett.caroline1@yahoo.com

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  32. What a great interview! I can't wait to read this one. I enjoyed the first one so much. I'm glad you set it in Paris. It was fun "walking" the streets with the characters. Made you feel as if you were there!

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  33. LOL love this interview, so fun to read! :D And thanks for this giveaway.

    mosslili@web.de

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  34. Great interview! I loved Die For Me.
    doodlesbookblog at gmail dot com

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  35. Amy I liked the fact you "felt lonely" when finishing Die For Me and then it felt "like revisiting with familiar friends" when you got started on Until I Die. Books that touch the author that deeply are ones this reader loves to "feast" my eyes on.

    I have not yet had the pleasure of reading Die For Me, it is in the top ten on my wishing to read soon list so thank you Jenny and Amy both for a chance to start the series.

    Jackie B Central Texas

    jacabur2008(@)gmail(.)com

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  36. Thanks for the great post and giveaway! I've read such awesome reviews for this series. It's on my wishlist :)

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. Very fun interview. The book sounds good.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  38. A great interview & giveaway thank you!!

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  39. Awesome! I love the cover, and I can't wait to read it.

    mikioyamata(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  40. I have head good things about this series. I know someone who LOVED book 1 :)

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  41. I loved Die For Me! Vincent and Kate and Jules!! I love Jules;)

    Great interview;)

    Thanks so much!

    ccfioriole at gmail dot com

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  42. Amazing interview Jenny :) !! Jace and Katniss are among mu favourite characters ever !!
    I read Die For Me when it came out and absolutely loved it so I'd loe to win a signed copy !!! Thank you so much for this great opportunity darling !

    ninie2310@hotmail.fr
    Hugs.

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  43. I'm reading Die For Me now and i think the plot is really amazing. I would love to have my own copy of Die For Me. Thanks for the giveaway! =D

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    1. ops! forgot to add email.

      hikaru105.bookworm105@gmail.com

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  44. Great series!

    ladyinblack20@gmail.com

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  45. Need to start this series!
    NewBorrowedUsed(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. Great interview - and gotta say - I LOVE the cover. :)
    nicnac63 AT hotmail DOT com

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  47. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.i'm dying to get my hands on until i die.

    missymoo-09@live.com.au

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  48. Great interview and thank you for the giveaway :)

    blacathy@yahoo.com

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  49. Thank you for being on the blog tour!!

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  50. Thank you for the chance to win Die for Me! I can't wait to read it!

    spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

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  51. I've had my sights on this series for a long time. Thanks for the giveaway!

    scr15[at]duke[dot]edu

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  52. I love this series, thank you for the chance to win DIE FOR ME
    hannaharomatic@hotmail.co.uk

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  53. I've had this book & now series on my to-read list for awhile now. I can't wait till I get my hands on it! Hopefully soon. Wonderful interview! :)
    DeAnna Schultz
    sacredmoon1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  54. Another addition to my wishlist, hope I get lucky. Thanks for the giveaway.

    yumihamano@gmail.com

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  55. Awesome post+giveaway! I loved what reading what Amy Plum had to say, after all, you had pretty darn good questions! :)) lol.
    Ahh I would kill (well..metaphorically) for a signed copy of D4M!! :D *crosses fingers*
    Contact:tjtbernardo@yahoo.com
    Thank you!! <3

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  56. Awesome post+giveaway! I loved what reading what Amy Plum had to say, after all, you had pretty darn good questions! :)) lol.
    Ahh I would kill (well..metaphorically) for a signed copy of D4M!! :D *crosses fingers*
    Contact:tjtbernardo@yahoo.com
    Thank you!! <3

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  57. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  58. Woah, I would love to get it!!!
    The interview is great & I want more and more to read it, now! :D

    quer.kreuz(at)yahoo(dot)de

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  59. Thanks for the giveaway! Great interview!

    brookea_2006 at yahoodotcom

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  60. Thanks for the great giveaway!! I can't wait to read these!

    stephward84(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  61. Thanks so much for the giveaway. =)
    nstswimmergirl@cableone.net

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  62. Friends! I still watch re-runs of it :)

    I'd admire cute boys from afar too. Then they can just be perfect in your head. Thanks for the giveaway, Jenny!

    ayareader@hotmail.com

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  63. I just finished Until I Die today. I loved it! It avoided second book syndrome.

    alisoncanread at gmail dot com

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  64. I'm still waiting on my copy of Until I Die to arrive. I can't wait to get stuck in it, but Slate Grey? That does not bode well for Kate and Vincent. I hope I don't cry :(

    Gabbie-ethela(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  65. I'm a FANENANT♥ (Get it?) ;P

    Ujala_1998@hotmail.com

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  66. I just loved Until I Die and wouldn't want the story to be set in another city. Paris is mesmerizing. But I'd also love to read a story by Amy Plum set in Rome!!

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  67. Thanks for this amazing giveaway! I would love to win this book!

    susanw28 (at) mindspring (dot) com

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  68. Great book. I would love to have one of my own.
    veraycarter@sbcglobal.net

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  69. Great book. I would love to have one of my own.
    veraycarter@sbcglobal.net

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  70. I'd love to read Die for Me, because I love Paris. :)
    Thank you for the giveaway!
    cayce006 at yahoo dot com

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  71. Oh, wow. This sounds like it's worthy of being read. Thanks for the great interview!

    treechanie(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  72. I would love to win a copy of this book! Sounds like so much fun. Count me in!

    Emily
    theninjalibrarian(at)gmail(dot)com

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  73. I would soooo love to win a copy of this book!!! Thanks for the chance

    june111(at)att(dot)net

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  74. I still really need to read Die For Me so thanks for the giveaway!

    aroomwithbooks(at)gmail(dot)com

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  75. I LOVED Die for Me! Can't wait to read Until I Die! Thanks for hosting!
    hannahsue10(at)gmail(dot)com

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  76. "Until I Die" was still a really good book. I am glad I read it and after the ending I know I will get the third book as soon as it is on sale. The writing is excellent (if occasionally too much for my liking) and I strongly believe that the next book will be amazing. It has a great set up in this book.

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