Available on Amazon in March 2013. Design by Austin Designworks.

Bel:

Cover

Jaroslaw Kubicki’s art and Astred Hicks’ know how have made, not only Shine Light, but this entire series into an artistic feast for the senses. It’s visually appealing, but the texture of the cover is something special. This really is an element the people who enjoy the ebook format should consider.

There aren’t many books on the shelves at this stage with the attention to detail as The Night Creatures Trilogy, so to own all three in paperback makes me feel privileged.

Characters

This is the wrap up book and the characters have travelled their personal journeys to get to this point; as you can expect they aren’t who they were in Burn Bright. It is up to you as to if you like who they have become.

Favourite

Rollo. But you’ll have to read to find out why.

Least Favourite

Emilia. I know where she was coming from and why she is the way she was, but I still wanted to kick her.

Beginning

Naif and her friends prepares to go back to Ixion.

Storyline

Naif rallies the troops to deal with the issues on Ixion.

Ending

HA! Do you actually think I’ll tell you.

Thoughts

This was a short book, but so much happens that there isn’t a wasted page. Action sequences are strong and easy to follow. If I had to have someone at my back when the … hit the fan it would be Naif, 100%.

Quote

“What the Fross?” Whispered Kero

Lisa:

Welcome to my review of Shine Light by ….who is it by again? Just kidding! By Marianne de Pierres!

(Yes, this is my first official book review in the new year of 2013! I can’t believe we survived the Zombie Apocalypse!)

Cover

Come on, each one of these books in the Night Creatures series, has that smooth and buttery feel to it; I love it!

Characters

Even though Shine Light has a lot of characters, it didn’t introduce many new and important characters. Most of the main characters the reader would already know from the first book in the series, Burn Bright, or would have been introduced to them throughout the second book, Angel Arias.

Favourite

If you asked this question to many other readers, I feel that the majority would lean towards Naif due to her being a strong and leading female character. Who doesn’t like one of those?!

But I actually have to go with Lenior! Your eyes might be bulging out of your head right now, but keep them in there for a bit longer and listen (or read) my reasoning. He is a man of evil and terror, killing people that live on Ixion, just like the other Ripers and Grave Elders. But he pushes all that aside to help this girl he loves; though most of the time he doesn’t show it in the normal ways a man would. He puts himself on the line, he worries about Naif, and he goes out of his way to help her, and try to keep her safe. Safe from being killed by others like him, and that’s why I adore him.

Least Favourite

I don’t believe I have a least favourite in this series. In Burn Bright I liked a lot of the characters, and throughout the second and third book I enjoyed reading and watching those characters develop and change.

Beginning

Naif isn’t on the island anymore. She finally escaped in Angel Arias, by a hair, and had no plans on coming back to the island. Until, that is, she found that the Grave Elders, and Ripers, who run and terrorize the island are killing the people who reside on it, for their own needs. To save her friends and others, Naif heads back to Ixion on a pirate ship.

Middle

Getting back to the island isn’t the hard part, but what is, is convincing not only her friends but others about what’s really going on, on this island of forever darkness…and dealing with a man she loves, but can’t stand at the same time.

End

Personally I thought the ending went by really fast, maybe because I was reading at lightening speed to see how the story ended, or because I didn’t want the story to end, either one of those. And since the ending was so kick…butt, I don’t want to say or comment on it, because I don’t want to give it away!

My Thoughts

After reading Burn Bright, it became one of my favourite books. I loved Angel Arias as well, and due to all the enjoyment I got from the first book, I had unrealistic expectations for the second. But Angel Arias reached every single one of those expectations, but yet I still favoured Burn Bright. After reading Shine Light, Burn Bright is still a good book, but Shine Light is now my favourite in the Night Creatures series!

Krista:

Cover

The cover is brilliant! The artwork for this series is what originally drew me to pursue getting a copy of Burn Bright. It represents a dark tale with a very strong, young female lead character. The artwork is beautiful and represents the feel and appeal of the story. All three covers are amazing, and I love the colours.

Characters

I couldn’t be more proud of Naif, her character development throughout the series is a constant. With everything that is thrown at her and the determination and unending days of fighting, she never falters on what is in her heart and what she believes is true and right. We see many characters come and go throughout the series, several die and several stop in just for their purpose to leave the reader not knowing where their story ended up. But all have brought this series full circle and I don’t think there could have been a better ending.

Favourite

Naif is by far my favourite character, but there are so many that are dear to my heart that it seems unfair to name just the main character.

Lenoir, Liam!, Suki, the Uthers, all great characters.

Least Favourite

I of course have never been much fan of the Ripers, but that Cal! Man, talk about close-minded, she ruffles my feathers.

Beginning

Jumping right into the story from book two we find Naif and her group making plans to re-enter Ixion. Who will be going, staying and what has to happen. With some dialogue to refresh the readers memory on where we left off in the last book.

Storyline

Naif must find her brother and his group again to get all of the fighters on Ixion to rally together to fight the Ripers and Night Creatures. They can only win if they get the upper hand and get as many of the baby bats to rise up and fight; to realize that there is something wrong with the island and stand against it.

Ending

It was a perfect ending. I stayed up until 1am to finish reading the last half of the book because it was so intense. I miss this series already and can only hope that there will be more! Please!!! I don’t want to go as far as saying there was a twist ending, but with the story behind the darkness of Ixion… I would never have imagined that in a million years! Very sci-fi fun and engaging.

Thoughts

I was apprehensive going into the book because I really do not want this series to end. The world is so imaginative and dark and I just didn’t want to leave it. I tried to take it slow and savour it but as the story really got going I just couldn’t stop. I was amazed at the imagery that is brought to the story. An incredibly dark world, with evil people and creatures varying from harmless to incredibly dangerous. From characters like the deformed Liam, to the mysterious Uthers and the different people on each Island. I feel that we barely even got to see a corner of this world and I want to visit each Island. I feel like a part of this whole story is missing and I want more! Naif was by far the best main character ever, she was perfect for the lead voice and I’m proud of her, up into the very last page.

Quotes

It had seemed so mysterious when she’d first come. Sinister but beautiful: a place like nothing she’d known, redolent with musk and moonflower and haunted by strains of music that fired her senses. Back then she’d found it hard to resist its lure, but now she felt only apprehension and a desire to make Ixion safe.

Despair threatened to overwhelm Naif as she held the gentle creature’s paws. Nothing she had ever seen before had made her as sick to her stomach, or feel as hollow from its sheer callousness. Even in Danskoi, she had not been as appalled.

She pressed the bleeding wound on Naif’s hand to her own wrist, mingling their blood. “Now and forever,’ she said with humbling formality. ‘You are my family.”

We’re excited to share some new reviews for SHINE LIGHT.

ReadPlus say ... “Marianne de Pierres has created an unforgettable world with characters fans love.”

Bug in a Book are in agreement … “de Pierres has woven a darkly intriguing story that has gone from strength to strength. This is a fitting conclusion to this trilogy. I loved it and wanted to go with Naif all the way.”

Book’d Out also enjoyed the final book … “The Night Creatures has proved to be an exciting and creative series blending fantasy and science fiction. I am sure fans of the series will be satisfied with the climax and will no doubt hope de Pierres shines on.”

Tsana Reads says … I recommend this series to fans of speculative YA who might be looking for something a bit different.

Booky Monster gives it the thumbs up … A unique and spellbinding conclusion to one of the  freshest Australian YA series I have had the delight of reading.”

Also the winners of out CODE BREAKER competition are April Mary Hobson and Elyse Robens – CONGRATS!

For those of you who were following the competition, below is the meaning of each strip of code (and I apologise for some of my typos in creating the code!):

“I WATCH THE YOUNG FEED THEIR LIVES TO THE DARK AND KNOW ITS HUNGER WILL NEVER BE SATED” – RUZALIA

“THE ANSWER IS IN THESE BOOKS. EVERYTHING I WOULD EVER WANT TO KNOW” – C(H)ARLONGE.

“COME. COME. NEED YOU. TASTE YOU. NEED YOU.” LEYSTE TO RETRA

“YOU UNDERSTAND THE BOND OF FAMILY, NAIF. EM AND JARROLD ARE MY FAMILY. I MUST LOOK OUT FOR THEM.” MARKES

“I WILL WATCH FOR ALWAYS.” LIAM TO SUKI

“WHY ARE YOU SO FROSSING ANGRY, NAIF?”  JARROLD

“I WILL PROTECT YOU ALWAYS.” SUKI TO LI(A)M.

“YOU HAVE GROWN INTO A WOMAN, LITTLE SISTER. AND I HAD NOT NOTICED.” CLASH TO NAIF

“FIGHT OR DIE.” EVE TO THE CURSED LEAGUE.

“OUR SPECIES MUST SURVIVE.” VARONESSA

“OUR RULES ARE FEW BUT ABSOLUTE.”

“NAIF, NAIF … COME TO ME …’ LENOIR

Today the tour goes to Paranormal Angel Blogspot where I talk about  Dark Eve. And yesterday we stopped at the Kylieverse where I shared more about Clash.

Hope you’ve been enjoying the tour and the insight into some of my thinking about the characters. Let us know what you think so far!

Shine Light is coming… pt 3

The Creatures of Ixion

Shh… do you hear it, Baby Bats? Those murmurs in the shadows? The whispers of sightings in the wild? Well, allow me to confirm the rumours; it’s all true. Shine Light is suddenly emerging, more and more each day. Blogs, reviews, tweets and Facebook statuses all dedicated to the third and final instalment in the Night Creatures Trilogy. There are those who already have the answers, who know the fate of those burning bright on Ixion – and those who no longer do.

We’ve already revisited the people, the characters we’ve come to love (here and here) but what about the creatures? What about those who lurk in the shadows, what are their motives? Is there such a thing as pure evil, or is there more to it – are there personal choices and decisions at play here? How are the Ripers and the Night Creatures connected? Where are they from? What do they want? Why are the Ripers so threatening when they insist Ixion is for pleasure? And just what is the connection between the Ripers and the elders on Grave? For those who’ve read Angel Arias, a few of those questions have been answered but with that knowledge came more questions, more intrigue. So here’s a little reminder of those creatures, something to whet your appetite while we wait to be one of those who have their own copy of Shine Light to blog, review and tweet about…

Ripers

‘…pale as a dead person alive, eyes cold, hair flowing long and blacker than the night…skin tight… like a skeleton clinging to its flesh…’ The Ripers are the Guardians of Ixion, the enforcers of pleasure – but do they hide behind a more sinister plan?

And just what is it about the god-like Lenoir – the leader of the Ripers – that causes the little twists in Retra’s stomach?

Uthers

Mysterious creatures that live just beyond the corners of sight, the Uthers serve the Ripers, sparing all on Ixion from the mundane.

Night Creatures

‘Come to me,’ the Night Creatures whisper to Retra, urging her to leave the well-lit paths. ‘See you. Follow you. Want you.’

mandy

Hey there, Baby Bats! Welcome to part 2 of our countdown to the release of Shine Light, book three in the Night Creatures Trilogy. If you missed out on part 1, you can catch it over here. Here in Australia, we only have around twenty sleeps to go ’til the big day. And if you’re familiar with books one and two (Burn Bright and Angel Arias), you’ll know that’s twenty sleeps too many.

Okay, so last time, I gave you a quick little memory jog of some of your favourite characters. Here’s a handful more:

Rollo

With his freckled skin and red corkscrewing curls, Rollo is easy to find in a crowded club. Also from Grave, Retra first meets him on the transition to Ixion. But is Rollo really on the island of ever-night for pleasure, or does he have his own agenda?

Eve/Dark Eve

Runs the Cursed League with Clash. Blunt faced, tall and broad, Dark Eve wears a leather vest and pants – with silver daggers hanging from the chains around her belt. In hiding from the Ripers, she survives outside normal means.

Krista-Belle

The red-headed lover of Kero, and a friend to Retra. She just needs to learn to stay clear of the Ripers…

Kero

The leader of the White Wings, Kero owes Retra for her bravery – or stupidity. Can he help her find Joel?

Lottie

‘I burned too bright. I saw too much…’ and inadvertently she also gives Retra answers.

Charlonge

Patient and gentle with the baby bats at Vank, Charlonge sees what is outside the visible and is a keeper of secrets… including one of her own.

Ruzalia

‘Ruzalia…. Hair redder than fire and her blade as quick…’ Ruzalia and her crew of pirates kidnap from the barges heading to Ixion. Some say it’s a rescue. Others say she’s perverted and cruel and uses them as pets. Is the truth somewhere in between?

So … if you’re up to date and have read Angel Arias, you’ll have the answers to some of the questions posed above – and if you’re like me, you’ll have another fistful of questions you’re dying to know the answers to. For me, the fascination lies with Ruzalia. What’s her real story? And then there’s Dark Eve. What’s the connection between her and Ruzalia – is there more to it than we’ve been led to believe? Just how does Eve manage to exist the way she does? How do she and the others who belong in her gang – The Cursed League – survive away from the Ripers and the rules that govern Ixion? We’d love to hear your thoughts below (but remember – no spoilers please!)

Stay tuned for more info on the gangs, the places and the creatures of Ixion. In the meantime … Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.

Mandy

Counting Down to Shine Light…

Okay, Baby Bats, it’s official. We’re in countdown mode to November 1^st – release date for Shine Light, book three in the Night Creatures Trilogy.

Since way back in March, 2011, we’ve been hanging out to learn the fate of Retra/Naif, her friends and family on Ixion and Grave, the Ripers and the Night Creatures and of course, Naif’s relationships with both Markes and Lenoir. And then there’s the mystery of Ixion itself – the island of endless night, ever-youth and never sleep. The place where the biggest rule of all is to ‘Listen well, baby bats. Burn Bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.’

The only person who knows the answer to all these questions is author Marianne de Pierres – not even those of us here at Burn Bright Headquarters know what she has in store for our favourite characters. Now, of course, would be the perfect time to re-read Burn Bright (bk 1) and Angel Arias (bk 2). In the meantime, while we’re waiting with baited breath for November 1^st to roll around, I thought I’d make it easy for everyone with a handy little guide over the next couple of posts to help us catch up with a few of the characters, the gangs, the creatures and the places we’ve all come to love – all without spoilers in case you still need to get up to speed with Burn Bright or Angel Arias (and if that’s the case… get reading!)  :)

Today, we’ll start with a few of the people…

Retra/Naif

Raised in the strict Seal Enclave, Retra must find her way on Ixion where modesty is sin. In search of her brother Joel, she risks all to find him. In the process she learns dark secrets about Ixion… and herself.

Joel/Clash

Retra’s older brother, whose disappearance to Ixion leads her there. But will she find him? And will she likes what she finds?

Markes

Also a baby bat from Grave, the breath-taking Markes makes an instant impression on Retra and many others on Ixion with his musical gift. It also quickly brings him to the attention of the Ripers.

Cal

Cold as the colour of her ice-blonde hair, Cal immediately has it in for Retra. Is she simply a bully, threatened by Retra’s calm Seal composure? Or is there more to her behaviour than that – something to do with the musician Markes?

Suki

From the women-only town of Stra’ha, the wickedly funny Suki becomes an unlikely but loyal ally to Retra… ‘In Stra’ha, we only need men for their spermies, otherwise… pffft.’

…ah, Suki. Everyone needs a Suki for a best friend. My fingers are firmly crossed that everything turns out okay there. What about you? Which characters are you most looking forward to finding out about in Shine Light? (No spoilers please, Baby Bats)

-mandy

Look what Marianne received today – which means only a couple of weeks until it’s in shops!

What is there to say other than thank you, thank you, thank you to Random House, Jaroslaw Kubicki and Astrid Hicks! LOVE!