13 on Halloween (Shadow #1) by Laura A.H. Elliott

13 on Halloween (Shadow #1) by Laura A.H. Elliott  - ★★★★★

Within the covers of 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1), Laura A.H. Elliott has brilliantly exemplified the narcissism and the varying levels of maturity that sometimes plagues tweens. Twelve year-old Roxie still loves jumping on the trampoline, but those types of juvenile tendencies take second place to her discovery of boys (especially Hayden, the cutest guy in the eighth grade), make-up, and the changes a young woman's body undergoes when she becomes a teenager.

Overshadowing absolutely everything else in Roxie's world is her obsession with becoming a 'peacock' or one of the popular kids. Periodically, her pre-tween self rears her head and longs for a life where her brothers still joke with her and her mother is her closest confidant. As quickly as she has those types of thoughts, she switches back to the person willing to risk anything and everything to become Queen Roxie.

Roxie's thirteenth birthday... her first ever birthday party changes everything. With it, the party begins, astral projection becomes possible, and the world changes.

I should mention that I listened to 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1)'s audiobook and found the narrator to be as talented as Laura A.H. Elliott. I wasn't sure what to expect from an indie author when it came to this format. I was not disappointed. After listening to 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1), I can tell you the professionalism was comparable to that of the traditionally published books... only it didn't cost nearly as much. 13 on Halloween (Shadow #1) was $1.99. Every other audiobook I've ever bought has costs between $25-$30. I will definitely be looking for other indie author's books to 'read' via audiobook. Their stories are as good as traditionally published books, and they are extremely affordable.

YA Indie Carnival - Kindle Serials

Kindle Serials  - This week, the sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival are sharing our opinions on the serial novel phenomenon. For me, it's a little too new to do anything more than regurgitate the information coming straight from Amazon's Kindle Serials website: Kindle Serials are stories published in episodes. When you buy a Kindle Serial, you will receive all existing episodes on your Kindle immediately, followed by future episodes as they are published. Enjoy reading as the author creates the story, and discuss episodes with other readers in the Kindle forums.

I'd be lying if I said I was not intrigued. Amazon has done some amazing things for indie authors. I'm sure this will be another of those diverse opportunities that I'll only get on Amazon. At the same time, book writing is the weaving of a story. If I publish one chapter before the end of the book was finished, I might miss a great opportunity to foreshadow something that will happen later or to go back and develop the characters, settings, and storyline in a manner that makes what they eventually do more believable. I think of my books as quilts that are stitched by hand. Each word a thread. Each chapter a patch. Each book a blanket. You can not sell the quilt one patch at a time without a plan to make that patch the beautiful quilt it could someday be.

In fact, the mere thought of putting something out there that could change for the better by the end of the story is anxiety producing for me. I even have a hard time doing it with my beta reader.  I worry that he will never get to see the story through the eyes of someone reading the clean and edited version for the first time. While these serials would be edited, they may be missing the evolution of the story that only comes through when you begin tying the beginning chapters to the middle and end of the story. 

I should also mention that I worry a little bit about the coordination of the editing. For example, if I commit to having a book a month released. I would have two weeks to write, one week for edits, and one week to format and release. If my editor can't get to it right away, my deadline (my promise to my customers) is shot. My work ethics prevent me from missing goals/timelines. I'm here for my customers. It's not now nor will it ever be the other way around.

My writing habits and my need to meet established goals make it impossible for me to pursue a serial using an unfinished book. Instead, I believe that I may pursue this avenue with Dark Angels of the Cross,... but only after the book has been written and edited. At that time, I will determine how much of the book will be released and at what intervals so that I can release a product I can be proud of without disappointing the many fans of The Warrior Series. The best news of all is that this plan will go a long way toward minimizing the tension/stress between my editor and me. She's awesome, but constant deadlines without regard to her other clients could be try even a saint's nerves.

Finally, I'd like to point to a book that is #14 on this week's NYT Best Sellers List. Because You Are Mine Part VI: Because You Torment Me by Beth Kery. It may not perfectly fit the serial methodology, but it is not a whole novel. The fact that the book is short and the readers are being forced to buy each individual installment at the same price as some indie novels has not kept this book from making onto the best seller list. Please know that I am in no way endorsing this book. I have no idea what it is about or anything about its author, I am simply showing you an example of a serial-like book that proves this avenue can be successful. Since Beth Kery's experiment has gotten her on the best sellers list, I suspect many others, including myself, will follow her path.

Now, take a few minutes to see what my fellow members have to say about serials:

YA Indie Carnival - Indie Opportunities

My fellow YA Indie Carnival members and I are sharing lots of great stories about the wonderful opportunities presented each and every day within the life of an indie author. This is one of those subjects where the answers are endless. Being an indie author has allowed me to achieve goals I'd never dreamed of accomplishing... open myself up in ways I'd never thought possible... and meet people I'd never have the pleasure of friending otherwise. 

Eighteen months and three published books later, I can easily say the most important opportunity has come in the form of great new fans, friends, followers, and fellow authors. I get new notifications on a constant and consistent basis. Most of those people chose to do little more than send me a notification and quietly follow my posts and/or reviews. The rest read, review, and rate my books. Regardless of their activity, I'm eternally grateful for every person who has reached out to me. I try to make sure to thank them all and let them know how important their feedback is because they guide me toward the author I want to be. 

I would be lying if I didn't admit it was AMAZING to make it onto several of Amazon's Best Sellers Lists. Don't get me wrong, I have dozens and dozens of more goals as it relates to best seller lists, but my accomplishments so far have meant a lot to me. 

Being an indie author has helped me to understand the importance of a good review. As an avid reader and frequent blogger. I've made it a practice to post reviews anytime I read a book that I LOVE. I don't feel the need to write about a book I don't like or demean the author who wrote it; therefore, my book reviews are always honest yet overwhelmingly positive. I won't apologize for following my mother's most important advice, 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.' The reason I'm mentioning my reviews is because of the satisfaction I get when another author reads them and is impressed enough to share it with their fans. That acknowledgement is as exciting as anything else I do in my indie author career. The two most memorable shares - because I adore these authors and their books - include Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus, and Julie Kagawa, author of The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1). Without being an indie author, I would not have begun posting my reviews, and I would still be anonymously reading and recommending my favorite books to a few of my closest friends rather than thousands of potential readers.

Don't forget to visit my fellow authors' sites:

1.	Laura A. H. Elliott	2.	Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.	T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series	4.	Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
5.	Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog	6.	K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
7.	Gwenn Wright, author of Filter	8.	Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
9.	Ella James	10.	Maureen Murrish
11.	YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings	12.	A Little Bit of R&R
13.	Melissa Pearl

Future Releases - Fall 2013

I know it seems like the fall of 2013 is forever away, but it takes months to write a book... and months more to write two. I plan to release Worth Dying For and Worth Living For next fall. Until then, I'm sharing the book covers--courtesy of Claudia Lucia McKinney (Phatpuppy Art)--and the synopsis for each. ENJOY!

Worth Dying For,Underwater Series #1 To Be Released 12/1/13

Isis, future Queen of the Coral City, lives a fairytale life and loves it all the way down to the last preordained detail. Others might resent a life so structured, but Isis thrives on knowing she was born to marry Set, bare his children, and spend her days reigning over the world she loves.
 

When the flaws deeply embedded within her enchanted world begin to surface and war threatens her kingdom, Isis realizes her dreams may never come true... that there may not be a world to rule if her enemies have anything to say about it. Determined to fulfill her destiny, protect her family, and preserve her city's peaceful state, Isis petitions to become a frontline soldier in the Underwater War.
 

General Coeus—Set's twin brother and a man who hates everything Isis is fighting to protect—reluctantly agrees to train and prepare her for the battle. Early on, she wonders whether his training methods will kill her before she ever steps the first foot onto the battleground.

As war grows closer and the preparation sessions between her and Coeus become more intense, Isis's visions for her picture-perfect life turns upside down, and she begins doubting everything she has ever been told. With Coeus' declaration of undying love, she understands that a life filled with love and happiness—rather than friendship and duty—is the only one worth dying for.

Worth Living For,Underwater Series #2 To Be Released 12/1/13

 

The brooding Coeus, twin brother to Set, hates the life he is forced to live. Making him even more rebellious is the fact that Apollo, his ruler and father, is intolerant of anyone who questions his antiquated customs... especially when that person is his very own son.
 

As the youngest twin, Coeus missed the honor of becoming the future ruler by seconds. He does not begrudge his brother's destiny. He does however resent the fact that Set's status as the oldest automatically makes him the man who will marry Isis, the most beautiful women in The Coral City and the only woman Coeus has ever loved.
 

In defiance of his father and their Piscean traditions, Coeus' refuses to marry his betrothed. Furious, Apollo sends him to the frontlines of the Underwater War. Coeus, who has a death wish, welcomes the chance to die for his kingdom because he knows that death would at least be honorable.
 

The last thing Coeus expects to find in the middle of the battle zone is Isis, but she is there, leading by example and fighting hard to protect the Coral City and its customs. After spending time with her and falling even deeper in love, Coeus decides to make her see what he sees... a life where they are together is the only one worth living for.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

★★★★★

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) is one of those books that takes you - first - by surprise and - second - for the ride of your life. It is anything but another vampire book. It's a romance that leaves you wanting more... hoping for more. 

Equally amazing for me is the fact that Julie Kagawa wrote The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1).  I read and loved The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, and The Iron Knight. If I didn't know Julie Kagawa was the author of both series, I never would have suspected. Everything about them (the writing, the characters, the switch from fantasy to paranormal) is so different.  Don't get me wrong, The Immortal Rules is as good as any book in The Iron Fey Series. This book just shows how versatile Julie Kagawa can be and what a wonderful author she really is.

Allison Sekemoto reminds me of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1). She does what she needs to do to survive and protect the few people she loves. Then, there's Zeke. What can I say about him? Morally and ethically he's her equal, but unfortunately, he's been brainwashed his entire life to hate that which she's become.  I don't want to give anything away, so I won't elaborate.  Just trust me on this.  Allie and Zeke's journey is one worth taking!

YA Indie Carnival - It Takes a Village

This week, the sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival are talking about the people who tell us when our plots gets weak, make our books look intriguing, polish our words, and format our pages... the people we can't live without. Beta readers, book cover designers, editors, and formatting specialists. As any author can tell you, there are many who offer their services, but all are not created equal.

Beta Readers: This person is one of the most important people in the writing process. For me, my beta reader takes time from his hectic schedule to read the unedited versions (without saying one word about all of my typographical errors) of my book-in-progress and provides valuable feedback.  I'm absolutely sure my beta reader assumes I'm going to get rid of scenes/characters/ settings when he suggests I do so. Instead, I do exactly the opposite. When he mentions he has a problem, I go to work to make the scene more realistic/haunting/passionate/happier... whatever it takes to change the scene from 'you've got to get it out of there' to 'it's the best scene you've ever written'.  If he tells me I will never make the readers like a certain character, I create redeeming situations that suddenly makes it impossible for the readers not to have feelings for that character. If my beta reader doubts my ability to create a fantasy world, I begin building one from the ground up. No detail too small. I don't stop weaving, building, and creating until he finally admits the scene is unforgettable...  the hated character is lovable... my fantasy world is believable. I'm truly grateful he does what he does, and he allows me to bounce ideas off him (sometimes in the middle of a boring meeting through the passing of notes ✿◠‿◠).

Book Cover Designers: I know there are probably millions of book cover designers, but for me and in my eyes, there is only one. Claudia Lucia McKinney (Phatpuppy Art). Claudia is talented, amazing, and kind. I've written about her so many times, I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing me gush, but I couldn't be more pleased that I found her, that she's my book cover designer, and that she is my friend. I should also mention that she is wicked fast. Usually, I tell her what I'm looking for or the changes I would like her to make to an existing piece. Before humanly possibly, she has a design back to me, and it is always perfect. As long as I'm an indie author and Claudia is designing covers, she will be my book cover designer.

Editors: This is one of the biggest trial and error aspects of my indie author career. Here's what I've learned. I'm an author who wants to be pushed, challenged, and made to be better. I want my editor to take the gloves off and tell me what I need to do to make my book phenomenal. I may be an anomaly. Also, it is very difficult for some people to give negative feedback.  Rather than make an author angry or be confronted with the reality that they are being paid to give negative feedback (when it's warranted), many editors edit the words as they are written instead of envisioning ways for those words to be more powerful. I had a slow start when it came to finding the right editor for me, but I can tell you without a doubt in my mind, I have the perfect editor now. Cassie McCown with gathering leaves. She doesn't let me settle for good enough, and I appreciate that in ways she will never know. When I get a good review or a positive comment about my books, I find myself wanting to share them with Cassie because I know how hard she works to help me get my books ready for publishing.  The comment I made about Claudia can be said for Cassie. As long as I'm an indie author and Cassie is editing, she will be my editor.

Formatting Specialist: Well, I'm my formatting specialist. It is not a task I enjoy, but it is one I've come to embrace with the help of Smashwords Style Guide. I'd like to say anyone can format their book and have it ready for iTunes (for an ebook) or CreateSpace (for a paperback book), but it took me lots of work to become mildly proficient at this chore. Eventually, I will turn this responsibility over to someone, but that won't happen until I find another Claudia/Cassie. Until then, I'll keep formatting specialist on my list of job duties.

Now, take a few minutes and see what the other members have to say about the people they enlist to help them.

1.	Laura A. H. Elliott	2.	Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.	T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series	4.	Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
5.	Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog	6.	K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
7.	Gwenn Wright, author of Filter	8.	Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
9.	Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.	10.	Ella James
11.	Maureen Murrish	12.	Valerie Sloan
13.	YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings	14.	A Little Bit of R&R
15.	Melissa Pearl

YA Indie Carnival - Audiobooks

This week's YA Indie Carnival is all about audiobooks. Audiobooks are professionally narrated and produced recordings of today's most popular traditionally published books. Of course, any book can be made into an audiobook, but the costs associated with creating the recordings were historically prohibitive for most indie authors. At least, that was the case until Amazon began promoting acx Audiobook Creation Exchange.

 

acx Audiobook Creation Exchange pairs producers, narrators, and authors together in order to work toward a common goal, the creation of an amazing audiobook. Making this avenue enticing is the fact that authors have the option of splitting their royalties or paying the narrator and producer's negotiated fees, ones determined by the hours spent creating the audiobook. I haven't yet approached the creation of an audiobook, but I have every intention of doing just that before the end of the year. I do know one indie author, Laura A. H. Elliott, who has taken time make an audiobook for 13 on Halloween (The Shadow Series #1), and she recommends the process highly.

There are lots of reasons I'd like to have my books made audible. First, many people are visually impaired and need the audiobook in order to continue enjoying a pastime that gives them the chance to slip into amazing worlds of fiction.  Second, there are people who listen to audiobooks as a matter of convenience. I'm one of those people.  For me, they are the only way a daily two to three hour commute in Houston traffic can even remotely be bearable. I'm usually so lost in the story that I'm irritated when I get to work or home because I have to stop the story playing out in my head. As an added bonus, audiobooks give me the opportunity to 'read' books I would never have had time to read with my already grueling 100-115 hour work/commute weeks.

Join the rest of the YA Indie Carnival sponsors and find out their opinion of audiobooks and acx Audiobook Creation Exchange.

1.	Laura A. H. Elliott	2.	Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.	Heather Self	4.	T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.	Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga	6.	Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
7.	K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed	8.	Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
9.	Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga	10.	Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
11.	Ella James	12.	Maureen Murrish
13.	Valerie Sloan	14.	YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings
15.	A Little Bit of R&R	16.	Melissa Pearl

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5 Stars)


I'm embarrassed to say that I purposefully avoided Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) for a long while. I'm not a fan of the whole Cinderella story being told and retold. Mistake. Big mistake. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) is so deep and so unique that there is barely any way to compare it to Cinderella... or any other book.

There is so much to love that I'm not sure where to begin. I think I will start with the fact that Marissa Meyer created a heroine who is physically impaired. Those very flaws are those which make her the most endearing. Cinder's fixation with hiding parts of her that have made her who she is forces you cheer for her to embrace it, shout her pride from the highest rooftops, and trust that anyone worth loving will not care.

I can't help but believe that this story could and should be an inspiration for people of all ages who are suffering from their own deformities, stumps, and burns. As a former pediatric intensive care nurse, I understand how important it is for those young adults to have role models, even if they are fictional characters.

Making Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) as wonderful as anything is the layering of this story. Marissa Meyer does not shy away from anything no matter how uncomfortable. She reinforces our beliefs that 1) all relationships are complicated, 2) world health is every one's responsibility, 3) social injustices are unacceptable, 4) unconditional love is a basic necessity, and 5) world (universe) peace is worth dying for.

I highly recommend everything about Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1).

YA Indie Carnival - Indie Words of Wisdom

The YA Indie Carnival sponsors are sharing words of indie wisdom this week. Anyone wanting to take the bold step into the self publishing world will be interested in our advice, suggestions, and recommendations.

An indie author could easily be labeled as a jack of all trades because self-publishing turns them into the writer, editor, cover designer, format specialist, publisher, and marketer (depending on the book's phase). These roles have taken me down new and undiscovered roads every single time I've published a book. Some great. Others disappointing. No matter the outcome, the uncharted territory has made me stronger while teaching me valuable lessons that will be with me as long as I continue my self-publishing career.

The most important lesson I could share with future indie authors is to 'know when to ask for help'. If you can't do something yourself, you can't settle for good enough. Network with other indie authors and find someone who can do whatever needs to be done in a professional and timely manner. The more polished and finished your book, the more you will sell. It is important to remember that the expectations of an indie author and his/her self-published book are exactly the same as they are for books published through traditionally published companies. Only, we do (or contract) all the work ourselves.

For me, there are two people that I trust and depend on. The first person that I met and have come to adore is Claudia Lucia McKinney of Phatpuppy Art. She is my book cover designer. I'm not a artist; therefore, it's impossible for me to do any of the wonderful things she does or for me by making my books intriguing through a reader's first glance. As such, I happily turn that role over to her and know she will give me a design better than anything I could have ever imagined. On top of being talented, she's just a great friend.

The second person is a woman who makes the difficult job of editing much easier. Cassie McCown, a freelance editor and blogger (her site gathering leaves) did a phenomenal job editing Guardians of the Cross and Enemies of the Cross. My virtual meeting of Cassie was accidental and at the same time meant to be. I've learned more from her than she will ever know, and I appreciate every ounce of feedback she's provided to me. Having someone like her in my corner makes everything about self-publishing easier.

Don't forget to stop by my fellow author's sites and read their words of wisdom.

1.	Laura A. H. Elliott	2.	Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.	Heather Self	4.	T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.	Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga	6.	Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
7.	K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed	8.	Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
9.	Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga	10.	Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
11.	Ella James	12.	Maureen Murrish
13.	Valerie Sloan	14.	YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings
15.	A Little Bit of R&R	16.	Melissa Pearl

Shadow Slayer (Shadow #2) by Laura A.H. Elliott - Release

One of the best things about being an indie author is the way we come out in masses to support each other during releases. Today, I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to add my voice to the world of indie authors, bloggers, readers, and fans everywhere who are celebrating the release of  Shadow Slayer (Shadow #2) by Laura A.H. Elliott. Laura and I have worked together as co-sponsors of the YA Indie Carnival for the last year. She's proven time and time again that she is morally and ethically and creatively the real deal. She is here to stay, and I'm convinced we will all be reading her stories for years to come. Show your own support for a woman who is not only an awesome indie author but also a wonderful human being. ENJOY!

Shadow Slayer (Shadow #2) by Laura A.H. Elliott

 

Shadows will do anything to become human.

You see their influence everyday.

You say things you don’t mean or do things that aren’t like you.

You look, different.

Friends you’ve known forever suddenly never call.

 

Synopsis:

 

As a freshman, Roxie just wants to fit in which is impossible because she barely runs into her friends at her huge high school. Adrianne’s disappearance and Hayden’s attention rock Roxie’s world. But nothing rocks it like the most gorgeous guy at school, Drew. And nothing is more important to Roxie than astral projecting back to Planet Popular to solve the mystery of the map. But that changes when Drew invites Roxie to homecoming. Hayden warns her that something’s wrong. Why would a guy like Drew like Roxie anyway? Drew must want something. Hayden’s right. Drew is…different. Planet Popular was just the beginning. Part of a bigger world, the Shadow World. There’s a war brewing between the world of humans and the world of shadows. When the shadow invasion begins at Roxie’s high school, she’ll not only fight for her life but the lives of her family and friends, when she discovers she’s the Shadow Slayer, the one human who can save Earth from the shadow onslaught. But, Roxie can’t even kill a spider. Oh yeah, there’s an evil English teacher, an enchanted play, a sword of Sandonian steel, a homecoming of horrors, and seven magic words too.

Tempest Teaser:

I pull some blush and mascara out of my makeup bag. I’m late, as usual. No one else is in here with me and it’s too quiet, too quiet for opening night. I try extra hard to keep the makeup off my dress, wedging scratchy brown paper towels all along my shoulder strap to protect it.

I glance over at one of the open, empty lockers. My sword hides in locker number 316, a row away from me. I thought about slaying every one of the shadows that had invaded in dress rehearsal but there was no way for me to ride the bus and sneak my sword in to school without a million eyes on me. Without getting noticed by some teacher who’d confiscate it and expel me for bringing a weapon to school. I had so much stuff to take for the play that Mom offered to give me a ride at the crack of dawn this morning. I hid my sword under my dress. Mom was so scattered because of her big meeting she didn’t notice anything and since it was so early no one was in the halls to give me a second look when I hid my sword in my locker. Note to self: early morning is a good time to hide stuff at school.

I stroke one cheek and then the other with blush and remember standing with Drew at the bonfire. The last night we went out as boyfriend and girlfriend. The last night he was human.

On your 13th birthday, you get the call. By your 14th birthday you find out what the call is.  

Everyone I know is in the audience tonight. Ally, Mom, Dad, Brian, even Mitch because he came home for my birthday. We’re having our family dinner tomorrow night since tonight the cast party’s at Drew’s house, unless I decapitate him first.

“Roxie five minutes!” Hayden yells into the girl’s locker room. As usual I’m the last one out. I sweep my hair up to the side and try to remember my first line. For some reason it’s the one I always forget.

All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come

To answer thy best pleasure...

I open locker 316, grab my sword and just as I step outside of the locker room Wanda runs up to me and starts talking non-stop about her nerves and how they’re getting worse and worse.

“What’s that?” she asks. I stop cold in my tracks at the backstage door.

“There are lots of words for things that don’t exist––the unseen. Like monsters and aliens and dragons and vampires and ghosts,” I say sort of in a trance.

“Yeah, so?” Wanda says, wringing her hands.

“If they don’t exist, why are there words for them? All the stuff I thought was crazy really isn’t crazy at all,” I say, finally getting what Drew was trying to tell me at the bonfire at the estate at homecoming. What the human Drew said before I danced with his shadow. My role in the unseen, the shadow world. Still, I don’t know so many things. Like, what happens to a shadow once I slay it? And where do humans go when their shadows invade? How can I save my human friends?

“Roxie, I caught you! I was so late because Brian’s car got a flat. He fixed it so great, I couldn’t believe it. It’s like he went to bad ass school or something,” Ally says, laughing.

“Ally. Finally!” We hug. I swallow hard. Brian. Fixed. A. Flat. I mean it’s not brain surgery but believe me, if it doesn’t have an LCD screen Brian doesn’t think it exists. He doesn’t know how to fix a flat. O.M.G. Brian is probably a shadow too.