Ignited (Donovan Circus #4) by Liz Long Review

Hey readers! Ethan here with yet another review for you guys. This time, I am reviewing the fourth installment to one of my absolute all-time favorite series. I have been raving about this series for well over a year now so I know you guys have heard all about it. I'm so ridiculously pumped to be sharing my thoughts on this one with you all today. On the chopping block? Ignited, the fourth novel in the acclaimed Donovan Circus series by the amazing Liz Long. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel about our author:

"Maybe I had to accept that the Donovan Circus no longer felt like home."

 Lucy might've beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus - and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike. During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. 

When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers' household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It's everything the Donovan Circus isn't, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected. 

With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she's meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they've built?

          

About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. Her newest book A Reaper Made is an NA Paranormal tale of a Reaper using magic to save her family from demons. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website  I  Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Amazon Author Page

*****

My Thoughts:

It isn’t often in the life of a bibliophile that we come across an author who forever changes our lives. Sure we may read 5 books a week and rave about them every waking moment, but how often do we as readers come across a novel or series that resonates with us deeply that it forever changes your bookish life? Not often. Last summer, I was whisked about to the Donovan Circus, I entered the center ring, and to this day I have never looked back. Four incredible novels later, I am so excited to still share the excitement that I felt on that fateful day I read Liz Long’s opening lines.

With so much Donovan Circus under her belt, could Ignited really live up to the hype?

Yes. So much yes.

I’ll just go ahead and say that Ignited has well surpassed the others and has rooted itself as the strongest novel in the series. Long’s writing has definitely improved with each passing installment.

When it comes to the plot of Ignited, I was a little leery, but it really panned out in a huge way. Lucy is once again thrown into the line of fire when she joins forces with Gifted-Mobster Augustus Rivers, but in her attempt to play the dangerous double agent, Lucy discovers the dark side may not be all she feared. In this incredible installment of the series, Lucy must decide where her true alliances lie. Has Sheffield and his rag-tag bunch of ‘freaks’ been completely honest with Lucy, or is there a flipside to the impending war she’s fought so hard to control? Friendships will be tested, alliances will wane, and Lucy will truly have to come into her own if she’s going to make it out of this journey alive.

I’m going to stay away from talking too much about the plot as with intricacies Liz has created with this one, massive spoilers would be abound. I will say that I’ve deemed Donovan Circus book four as ‘The Dark Lucy Saga’ as we truly get to discover an entirely new side of Lucy in this novel. A side that I’ve been hoping for since we first met her in book one. As anyone who has read the series will well know, Lucy has undergone extreme change and emotional distress since joining with Donovan and the gang. Ignited finally sees Lucy coming to terms with the events of the past and her journey to overcome the darkness is truly an emotional tale.

I think my favorite part about this entire series is the complete ensemble cast. Long has done an incredible job of introducing a cast of dozens of characters while making them memorable, but not overbearing. Each character plays an important role to the series, but never steals the spotlight away from the mail conflict. Ignited introduces us to a handful of new characters that really come into their own in this story and will be of vital important throughout the remainder of the series. Donovan Circus fans rest assured that our favorites are still in tow with a lot of story to tell in Ignited. We also see the much anticipated return of Gabriel and a huge shift in the personal love lives of Lucy and Keegan. The cards have been dealt, and Donovan Circus will never be the same as they pick up the pieces in the aftermath of Hunted.

As I mentioned previously, Ignited is by-far the most emotional installment of Donovan Circus so far, Long really pulled out all the stops. Long hits on a plethora of important themes such as life and death, forgiveness, struggling with truth, trust, love, loss, and trusting your instincts in a constant battle for Lucy to decipher the difference between right and wrong in a life that’s been completely unfair to her at times. Any reader will thoroughly enjoy to this installment and can easily related to the hardships faced by Lucy on multiple levels.

One of the most important things about this series has always been the setting. Long took strides in this installment to bring the story back to its’ circus roots. The excitement, the light hearted fun, and the thrill of the traveling show are gone. Replaced by darkness, mourning, fear, and tension. It’s not the same circus we entered four novels ago, but the setting is back and better than ever. If I had to describe Ignited to someone who had never read the series, I’d much relate it to a 70's spy film with a modern day 'James-Bond-Meets-the-X-Men' feel. I think readers will be pleasantly surprised by the direction Long has taken with this fourth installment.

An electrifying original read, Liz Long has crafted her most enthralling and spectacular novel yet, Ignited is not to be missed!

With all of this being said, it should come as absolutely no surprise to any reader that I am granting Ignited by Liz Long a near-perfect 5-star review. I couldn’t be any more proud to call myself a fan of this series if I tried. Huge kudos to Long for knocking this fourth installment out of the park! I highly recommend this series to any fans of urban fantasy, paranormal, and upper YA/New Adult readers. Don’t miss your chance to add this series to your TBR today!

*****

Click the covers below to see my 5-star reviews 

for the rest of the Donovan Circus series

          

Alright readers, that's all I have for you today on the topic of Ignited by the incredible Liz Long. As you guys all well know by now, this is one of my hands-down all-time favorite series and I am so excited to share my love of this one. It's been an incredible journey and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Liz does with book five. With war on the horizon, we may be seeing the close of this series soon and I, for one, am not ready to say goodbye! Stick close for all Donovan Circus-related news. Special thanks to Liz for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Ignited (Donovan Circus #4) by Liz Long Cover Reveal

Hey folks, Ethan here with a post so exciting I can hardly contain myself! TODAY is cover reveal day for one of my most anticipated reads of the fall season! Any of my regular readers will tell you that Liz Long and this series are one of my all time favorites! It's not to be missed! Without farther adieu, here's the long-awaited cover reveal to Ignited!

Title: Ignited (Donovan Circus #4)
Author: Liz Long
Release Date: October 30, 2015
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Self-Published

Lucy might’ve beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus – and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike.

During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers’ household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It’s everything the Donovan Circus isn’t, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected.

With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she’s meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they’ve built?

Liz Long

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

*****

Be sure to add this series to your TBR, every page is full of amazing! This definitely won't be the last you hear of Ignited. Be on the look out for all kinds of fun leading up to release day! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Gifted (Donovan Circus #1) by Liz Long Audiobook Available Now!

Hey everyone! Just a quick promo post here to let you guys know that one of my all time favorite reads is now available in audiobook format!

What book is that? Gifted (Donovan Circus #1) by the incredible Liz Long. Here's a bit about Gifted and Liz as well as the buy links!

Even in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift.

Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could be: new friends, a potential love interest or two, and a place where she can be herself.

When troupe members begin turning up dead, however, Lucy is suspected of foul play. She must not only prove her innocence but also realize the full extent of her power. To find the real murderer, she must uncover the truth behind her father’s fiery legacy while figuring out whom to trust within her new circle. Little does she know the history of the Donovan Circus and its enemies might actually destroy the entire gifted world.

     

 About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series. Burned is the second adventure. Her second book Witch Hearts, a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers, is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback.

To learn more about Liz, visit her website: http://lizclong.com.

Find Liz Long

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Liz Long’s Goodreads *

Any of my normal readers will tell you that this is one of my ALL time favorite series and I am so excited to hear it's available in audiobook for the very first time. Any of you Audible users out there really need to check it out, I promise you won't be disappointed!

While you're out there searching Donovan Circus related things, head over and give Liz Long a shout out, tell her Ethan sent ya!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Hunted (Donovan Circus #3) by Liz Long Review

Hey readers, Happy Thursday! I've got an awesome post for you guys tonight. A review of the third installment of one of my all time favorite series, written by one of my all time favorite people. It's a win-win, right? Head for the big top and secure your seats, this three-ring circus is about to take off with Ringleader Liz Long at the helm. Come one, come all, up for review tonight is Hunted, book three in the Donovan Circus series! Here's a bit about the novel and our author before we get to my thoughts.

Lucy Sullivan finally belongs with the gifted Donovan Circus. Members are finding their rhythm, even the new folks from the Grayson Circus who joined after the last attack. Lucy feels like a trusted leader who can win the gifted battles and prevent humans from discovering their existence.

When tragedy strikes camp, a distraught Sheffield sends Lucy and her gifted team to hunt down the enemy – Alex, a Chameleon with a wicked ability for war. He’s out for blood and won’t stop until Lucy and her friends are dead.

This time, it won’t be Lucy’s gift that is tested – it will be her morality. To save her circus, the price will be greater than she ever expected. This time, she will lose someone she loves. And it will change everything.

About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. Her newest book A Reaper Made is an NA Paranormal tale of a Reaper using magic to save her family from demons. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website  I  Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Amazon Author Page

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My Thoughts:

"...there must always by hope, Lucy Sullivan."

                                                                                                                                -Elias

Freaks. Abominations. God's mistakes. For years, those who are different have been persecuted. Sought out and exploited for their differences. Laughed at, mocked by the public. Not anymore.

If book have taught me anything, it's that we can only truly expect two things out of life. A beginning, and an end. Everything that happens from Point A to Point B is merely a page filler. Whether you live a life of excellence, or a life hiding in the shadows, each person has a story to tell. Not many can tell that story as well as Mrs. Liz Long.

For fans of the Donovan Circus series, Hunted is everything you are looking for, and then some. Heartache, turmoil, justice, mystery, and enough tension to slice through a tin can: hold on to your top hats people, this series is going places!

Last summer when I met Liz, it didn't take me long to fall in love with Lucy Sullivan. A spunky, brave, intelligent young woman with quite the secret: she's a firestarter, and she's not the only one. The world of Donovan Circus is full of some of the most 'gifted' individuals imaginable, but how does the series hold up after its' third installment?

Picking up shortly after the close of Burned, we see immediately how much our heroine, Lucy, has grown over the short time it has been since she returned to Sheffield Donovan's troupe. In near-full control of her powers, Lucy is out for blood: justice and revenge are coming, Donovan style.

It's remarkable to me just how much story Liz Long can fit into such few pages. While readers may take note that Hunted is the shortest book in the series thus far, I can assure you that it is by no means any less fulfilling. These pages are filled to the brim with as many emotions as a novel can hold.

When it comes to plot, Liz Long does not disappoint. Each and every page of this novel packs a punch, leaving you breathless. You will not be able to put this one down (side note: I literally couldn't stop reading, my beta-version didn't have chapter divisions! Haha!). Liz digs deep and answers some hard questions that readers have been wondering about for three books now. Finally, we're beginning to see what's really happening in the 'gifted' world. The agenda is big folks, much bigger than we thought.

While the plot took a couple of twists that I was not expecting, I wasn't disappointed at all. Some reviews have commented on the deaths of a couple of key characters in this one, but I believe that any true fan of this series can come to understand why these actions were necessary. TRUST ME, I was more upset that I care to imagine at one point, but at the end of the day, all sacrifices were made for the greater good, and with Liz Long at the helm, each emotionally draining scene was handled with grace and elegance.

Like it's predecessors before it, Hunted deals with a number of hard hitting themes. Family, loyalty, maturity, love, staying true to yourself, sacrifice, and so many more themes are explored. Unlike the other two stories, this one is so much bigger than just Lucy. For the first time, we really get a look at the big picture and see how the actions of a few are really effecting the 'gifted' community as a whole. Lucy has to make some extremely hard decisions in this novel, but with an excellent head on her shoulders, she manages to handle it all and live to fight another day. But will she be able to come to terms with her inner demons to tackle the task at hand?

Hunted is the first novel in the series that really takes us away from the fields of the circus. The Donovan gang is on the hunt for Alex and his minions, searching high and low for any leads. Their journey takes them from inside the security of the Donovan grounds (or are they really secure...?) and deep into Appalachia to help secure the future for 'Gifteds' everywhere. The hunt for Alex is on!

Liz's writing style continues to amaze me. Nothing is too heavy and everything has exactly the right amount of emotion. Like I mentioned before, this story isn't an easy one to read, but I believe that it may pack Long's best punches yet! The witty dialogue and well developed settings and plot lines in Hunted really help to showcase the amazingness that is Liz Long. I have no doubt that one day we'll be seeing Liz's name in lights!

The tone for Hunted is much darker than its' predecessors. And with good reason. Lucy and the gang aren't out for fun, their out for blood. Unfortunately, Lucy and the gang have learned the hard way that fooling around isn't going to solve their problems. It's only with precision and unwavering bravery and intelligence that the team is going to pull out of this alive!

I think my absolute favorite part about Hunted was the incredible character development that we see. Lucy was very heavily showcased in books one and two, so book three was a great opportunity for readers to learn more about our supporting cast. Including some of my favorite characters, Gabriel, Keegan, Elias, and Nikolas. I will make one complain for this novel when it comes to the characters, we don't see nearly enough Gabriel. Gabriel, the empath and sometimes love interest to Lucy Sullivan (one of my favorite characters). I will say that Gabriel still does play an important role in the story, but I'm crossing my fingers for lots of Gabriel in the next book in the series. Keegan and Lucy's relationship really grows a lot in Hunted, which really adds some heart to the story. Nikolas really stepped up his game in this story and Long does an incredible job with his storyline.

As you guys may remember, Elias has been my favorite character since day one and I am very excited to say that he plays a HUGE role in Hunted, in fact, maybe the most important role. Just saying. We finally get some much needed back story on his role in history, as well as how his powers developed and some of his emotional personal history as well. Elias fans will not be disappointed.

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone, that I absolutely loved everything about Hunted. I may be bias, but this may have been my favorite installment yet. Not only does Liz write an incredible story, she also blows her universe wide open with this novel and shows that there is so much more out there in the 'gifted' world. Long's possibilities are endless when it comes to this series. I can't speak for anyone else, but I can definitely say that this guy will be a fan of this series until the very end. This being said, it is my great honor to grant Hunted by Liz Long a very well-deserved 5-star review! Here's to the next great installment in the Donovan Circus series! Does anybody have any info on book FOUR?! Kudos to you Liz Long, Hunted was everything I was looking for and more. I could not be more proud to be a fan of this series!

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Check out my reviews of Gifted and Burned, the first two novels in the Donovan Circus series by clicking on the covers below!

          

Alright folks. What do you think? Does Hunted sound like your kind of read? As any of you regular readers know, Liz Long is one of my favorite indie authors. She's been an incredible supporter of mine and she and this series have become extremely special to me. It was a great day when I met Liz and I cannot wait for all the bookish memories we've yet to make! If you guys love a great read and are looking for something a little outside the 'norm', I've got your new favorite author right here! 

Be sure to add Hunted to your TBRs today! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

-Ethan

Hunted by Liz Long Release Day Launch

Ladies and Gentlemen, step right up and prepare to be AMAZED! Today, I am BEYOND EXCITED to present to you, the release day launch for one of my most anticipated releases of 2015, Hunted by Liz Long! As you guys know, this is one of my ALL TIME favorite series and I am PUMPED to share this release with you all! Get ready, here we go!

Hunted by Liz Long
(Donovan Circus #3)
Publication date: March 20th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

  

Lucy Sullivan finally belongs with the gifted Donovan Circus. Members are finding their rhythm, even the new folks from the Grayson Circus who joined after the last attack. Lucy feels like a trusted leader who can win the gifted battles and prevent humans from discovering their existence. When tragedy strikes camp, a distraught Sheffield sends Lucy and her gifted team to hunt down the enemy – Alex, a Chameleon with a wicked ability for war. He’s out for blood and won’t stop until Lucy and her friends are dead. This time, it won’t be Lucy’s gift that is tested – it will be her morality. To save her circus, the price will be greater than she ever expected. This time, she will lose someone she loves. And it will change everything.

PURCHASE LINKS

___________________________________________________________________

Haven't read the first two in the series? No problem! You can get the first adventure, GIFTED, for only 99 cents on Amazon, B&N, and iBooks!

 

In Gifted, meet Lucy, a Firestarter who just wants to be normal amongst the freaks. She can control fire, though she’s quick to discover that power doesn’t always bring good things. Her famous father may have created a fiery legacy, but their good name is threatened when Lucy’s framed for murder. Felix Hardy, an old “friend” of the show, offers another side of the Donovan Circus story, one her father never told her. As she struggles to clear her name, Lucy will discover that maybe some things are better left in the past.

  ___________________________________________________________________ 

BURNED is just $2.99 on the same platforms. Get it for your e-reader today! Burned picks up right where Gifted left off, in a new city and ready to get back to work. When Lucy is attacked on the grounds, it’s discovered her enemy had friends – big ones. Medved, a Shapeshifter known as “the Bear,” is intent on the gifted world’s exposure to humans. To build his army, he needs Sheffield and Lucy out of his way. Sheffield sends Lucy and her friends to form an alliance with the Grayson Circus members, who have as many quirks as the Donovan group. Not all are who they seem and Lucy must choose who to trust before Medved kills them all.

  ___________________________________________________________________ 

About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website  I  Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Amazon Author Page

Any of you guys who follow this blog regularly know that Liz Long is probably one of my favorite people on this planet. Not just author. People. She's incredible. Seriously. In addition to becoming one of my favorite authors, she's become a great friend. I am beyond honored to help present this release day launch for a series that is very near and dear to my heart, for multiple reasons. I am lucky enough to have been selected as a beta reader for Hunted and I loved each and every second of it. It may just be my favorite book of Liz's yet! I cannot wait for everyone else to get their hands on it and fall in love with it as I did! Don't worry everyone, you'll be hearing lots more about this incredible read in the coming weeks! :)

In the mean time, ADD IT TO YOUR TBR!! 

Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Waiting on Wednesday {23}

Hey everyone and welcome to my weekly Waiting on Wednesday meme post! This is just a once a week deal where each Wednesday I post about one book I am looking forward to reading and then link it up to the host blog, Breaking the Spine, where I can be connected to over 200 other readers and bloggers who are looking for a new read! My friend Kim from kimberlyfayereads participates in this meme each week and it has always looked like a great time. Below you will find the book cover, synopsis, Goodreads link and my reasons for waiting on this read! Enjoy!

This week's WOW is... Hunted by Liz Long!

Title: Hunted

Series: Donovan Circus #3

Author: Liz Long
Genre: New Adult/Paranormal 
Release Date: March 20, 2015

  

Lucy Sullivan finally belongs with the gifted Donovan Circus. Members are finding their rhythm, even the new folks from the Grayson Circus who joined after the last attack. Lucy feels like a trusted leader who can win the gifted battles and prevent humans from discovering their existence. When tragedy strikes camp, a distraught Sheffield sends Lucy and her gifted team to hunt down the enemy – Alex, a Chameleon with a wicked ability for war. He’s out for blood and won’t stop until Lucy and her friends are dead. This time, it won’t be Lucy’s gift that is tested – it will be her morality. To save her circus, the price will be greater than she ever expected. This time, she will lose someone she loves. And it will change everything.

*********************************************************************************

Why am I waiting?

Do you even have to ask?

Any of you who follow this blog regularly are well aware of the writings of Liz Long. I have a slight obsession. I met Liz last year at UtopYA, by chance, and immediately fell in love with her Donovan Circus series. I am OBSESSED with all things Circus. I have such an unnatural pull to this kind of thing that I couldn't resist. I am so glad I took the plunge, because this series quickly became one of my all time favorites. A group of adults living in a modern-day circus where the 'freaks' are really just gifted individuals? Talk about unique! Seriously, this entire series is unlike any I have ever read. I cannot speak highly enough about it. I flew through the first two novels and have been begging Liz for book three for months now. I finally got a glimpse of it a few weeks back and it was amazing. I cannot wait to see the finished version! This novel is extremely special to me and will forever remain close to my heart for a number of reasons, but I absolutely cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this one! I've been waiting FOREVER to make it my WoW, but the cover was just released yesterday! What do you guys think of it?

I'd also like to add that Liz is one of the greatest authors I have had the incredible pleasure of working with. In addition to being one of my favorite authors, she's become a great friend of mine. She's great to her fans and never misses an opportunity to chat about the book world! You are not going to want to miss this one, add it straight to your TBRs!

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What are YOU waiting on this week?

Check out this week's host post at Breaking the Spine by clicking here!

Thanks for stopping by, Happy Reading! 

-Ethan

Burned (Donovan Circus #2) by Liz Long Review + GIVEAWAY

Hello readers and Happy Tuesday to you all! I just returned home from a mini-vacation to the awesome state of Georgia! But vacation definitely didn't stop me from reading until my eyes burned! After you guys LOVED my review of Liz's first Donovan Circus novel, Gifted (click here for review+giveaway), I knew I needed to get to cracking on book two soon! So, today I am going to be reviewing for you guys the second awesome novel by one of the fantastic indie authors I had the great pleasure of meeting at UtopYA a couple of weeks ago, Mrs. Liz Long! While this isn't Liz's newest novel, it is her second novel in a series I HAD to check out! Today, we're checking out Burned by Liz Long! Never heard of it? That's okay, because by the end, I can promise you that you'll be wanting to know you YOU can get your hands on a copy for yourself!

First off, let's start off with the official synopsis and cover for Burned! 

“Tell Sheffield that Medved is hunting him…the Bear is coming.”

Nearly a month after Lucy Sullivan saved the Donovan Circus from certain death, she discovers that Dr. Felix Hardy wasn’t the only bad guy around. When Lucy is attacked on home ground, Sheffield Donovan reveals that there are bigger foes in their world, gifted that use their powers to kill others – including her own family, as she learns from her ringmaster mentor. Medved, a Russian thug and powerful Shapeshifter, is intent on outing the gifted world and will stop at nothing to succeed.

In order to survive, Lucy and her friends must travel to another show, the Grayson Circus, for help. The uneasy alliance with owner Albert Grayson comes with potential new friends and dark secrets about their competition, including a troublemaker named Mel and an old flame of Lucy’s father. Lucy must also contend with her feelings about Keegan and Gabriel, as well as learn how to contain her rampant emotions or risk setting the entire place ablaze.

Will Lucy be able to save the Donovan Circus again? Or will Medved and his men slaughter everyone in their path on the way to gifted domination?


 **Add Burned on Goodreads**


Can we talk, yet again, about this cover for just a second. How cool is that?! Seriously one of the coolest covers I've ever seen. The covers from this series are ultimately what spoke to me while checking out Gifted! Cover is circus-themed, with a burning Ferris Wheel right smack dab in the middle of the cover, what more could you ask for? Seriously. Another one that's going on my list of favorite book covers! If I ever write a book, I know who I'm contacting, just saying! 


*I just talked to Liz about her book covers and this was the response I got:


"GIFTED cover was done by my BFF Erica Dickson (who also did the Witch Hearts cover and will do [UPCOMING NOVEL] one), but BURNED was done by a good friend of mine and the Art Director of my company, Caroline McKean. I actually won a cover from a designer so I'm debating on whether to ask her to do [Book 3 of Donovan Circus]. We'll see, that's a little ways away :) I'm extraordinarily lucky to know such talented people!!"

Now that we've read the synopsis and seen that AWESOME book cover, let's learn a little bit about out author, Liz Long:


Liz Long

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series. Burned is the second adventure. Her second book Witch Hearts, a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers, is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback.

To learn more about Liz, visit her website: http://lizclong.com.

Find Liz Long

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Liz Long’s Goodreads *

Before we get to my thoughts, check out the official book trailer for Burned here:

 

Pretty cool, huh? Book trailers are always awesome to watch!

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My Thoughts on Burned:

Confession: I binge read Burned, I should probably be ashamed. But I am not. I'm Ethan and I have a problem: I. Love. The Donovan Circus Series. Everyone reading this. Be you a man, woman, child, teen, adult, American, Russian, or from another planet: READ THIS SERIES. I cannot stress this enough. If there was a 6th star, this novel is it!

I already explained my love of all things circus and paranormal in my last post, so this one will be a little shorter as I am going to jump right in with my thoughts on Burned!

When it comes to new characters, Burned has it all, PLUS some. The book's new villain, Medved, is really a bear, literally. Medved is a Russian Shapeshifter who prefers to shift into a giant bear to slaughter his enemies. Medved doesn't play around, he is the Genghis Khan of the gifted community! Pillage and rape, slaughter with no consequences: that's Medved! And here I thought Felix was a scary enemy! Liz and I have actually talked at great length about the character of Medved. I won't go into any details here so that I don't spoil anything in her future works, but this guy has one MESSED UP back story making him seriously evil. During a recent conversation with Liz, she had this to say about the development of Medved's character: "Honestly, my first and most important thought for the villain was that he would be truly gifted this go, as opposed to a human wanting to be gifted. I also picked a gift we hadn't really seen much of other than Fin's quick change up. To me, a Shapeshifter can obviously be just as dangerous seeing as how they can transform into whatever they want. I wanted the biggest, scariest thing that could be a rational threat and a bear was the immediate choice. Can stand on 2 legs, be ferocious on screen, and match up to Medved's human personality. I wanted this villain to be the opposite of Felix in every way. Where Felix had brains, Medved has brawn. Felix is obsessed because of personal reasons and wanted to control everyone - Medved seriously does just want chaos with a gifted reveal to the world." What an insight to Liz's mind! Medved really is a very complex character and I really enjoyed reading all about him. I really hope that Liz shares some more of his story with the rest of her readers eventually! 

Villains aside, Liz gives us a whole new circus fell of people including a new Unbreakable (and love interest for Delia) and a family of Lightbringers who really play a super important (and very emotional) role in our story! One awesome character to watch for (and maybe my new favorite) is Elias. I won't say anything else about him to prevent spoilers, but watch his character!  Miss Nance also gets a huge promotion in the cast of characters for book two and I am really excited to see what book 3 brings us for her story!

**Note: to anyone who may be confused by the lingo in this review, Liz has an awesome Gifted glossary written up on her official website. I encourage all fans of the series to check it out at http://lizclong.com/books/the-donovan-circus-series/gifted-glossary/!

Burned deals with several big themes throughout the novel, but two of the biggest are what actually help to drive the plot in some of the most important ways. One, Lucy's coming to terms with the events of book one. While many have remarked that the events of book one should have messed Lucy up mentally, book two explores just how much the events did mess Lucy up. The events of book two can only add to Lucy's mental problems and I can't help but wonder what's in store for her psyche... The second theme is the "Lucy-Gabriel-Keegan" love triangle which actually comes to a halt in book 2 of the series. Lucy actually makes a decision (although I am still on the fence about how I feel on that front). Like I said in my last review, Liz does not make the romance the forefront of the story, but it plays a large role in the development of the plot so I really liked the way it went.

On that note, I do have to say something about the romance part of this novel. There IS a sex scene. *GASP* Before you freak out, hear me out. Honestly. One of the most well written "love" scenes I've ever read. Liz is not a fan of writing sex scenes so she does what's called the "black-out" method, which allows the reader to fill in the blanks. Liz merely "implies" what happens without giving ANY explicit details. That means this book is still safe for many genres and age groups, however I still place it within the upper YA-NA category!

One of my favorite scenes from the novel features Lucy interrogating a group of the Greyson Circus' clowns with hilarious results. Including a nod to passing around the "community flask". Liz definitely has a sense of humor and plays off of some strong stereotypes which is hilarious.

The storyline of the novel actually finished up with a very interesting ending that paves the way for several more books in the series. After more emails from Liz, I can happily report that book three is well on its' way to coming to us! We can hopefully expect it next Spring! I can't speak for anyone else, but I will say with certainty that this fanboy will be reading every one of the Donovan Circus books. I will also say this again from my first post: another thing I really could not stop thinking about while reading this is the enormous possibilities this series have if it were adapted into a television show. I often think about that with books and think that this would DEFINITELY go over great as a TV series. To any TV people out there *flashing light here*!

Overall, another absolutely amazing book from Liz Long. Burned is everything I was expecting, and much, much more. It isn't often that a series gets better with each passing book, but Liz Long has definitely hit a home-run out of the Big Top with this one! I cannot WAIT for you guys to check out Burned for yourselves! Be sure to come back and let me know what you think! Also, hit up Liz on Twitter or an email and let her know what you thought of the novel! She is such a great lady and is so awesome to her fans. My biggest regret is not spending more time with her at UtopYA when we met a few weeks ago. Liz is very quickly becoming one of my all time favorites! Keep a watch on Liz Long everyone, one day she'll be the author on everyone's mind, I have no doubt!


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Alright guys, now that you've read all about Burned, you probably want to know where you can get your hands on a copy for yourself! As of right now the book is available in both ebook and print format from Amazon! Here's a promo graphic for where you can get your copy of Burned today! Feel free to share/use this graphic! Click the graphic to be taken to the Amazon page!

What would an awesome review be without an even more awesome giveaway to follow? You read that right, it's GIVEAWAY time!! Up for grabs this time are 2 ebooks of Gifted (book one in the series)! 4 super easy entries available. You guys know the routine! Fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright guys, that's all I have for you on the topic of Burned by the amazing Liz Long! I would really love to hear from anyone who reads this incredible novel so we can talk all about it! After you read it be sure to review it on both Amazon and Goodreads! Review always are huge helps to authors. Recommend this to friends, they won't be disappointed! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan