Review: The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde



Author: Mary Anne Yarde
29243164Publisher: CreateSpace 
Publication Date: 28 Feb 2016 
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.” So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.
Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon whore with her claws in a broken, wounded king.
Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.

Guest Post: 5 Great Books That Were Terrible Movies by Caroline



It’s a great feeling when you finish a deliciously wonderful novel. You’re still hovering in its marvelous universe you lived in for a while. It’s my favorite feeling and definitely why I read books. The next best thing is fantasizing about the likelihood for a movie remake once you close the covers (assuming there’s no sequel, of course).

While movies like “The Hunger Games” and “The Imitation Game” are pretty good likenesses of their wordier counterparts, sometimes the page doesn’t make it quite to the script. Here’s a list of five stellarly horrible movies that were excellent reads.

Ella Enchanted

“Ella Enchanted” was easily my favorite book in elementary school. I don’t know what sort of magic Gail Carson Levine wove into her stories, but everything about it was simply divine in my eyes. A strong-minded heroine? Check! A reimagining of fairy tales with a more satisfying end? Double check! Plenty of magical creatures? Absolutely!

What went wrong with the movie adaptation was Anne Hathaway (Hugh Dancy was the perfect Char, I have to admit) and all of the modernization, including the mention of malls and musical numbers. They went the way of Disney without Disney expertise and it failed. Totally 100 percent failed.  


Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban

If you ask a true Harry Potter lover, they’ll say the first two Harry Potter movies were the most accurate and everything went downhill from that. I’m one such Harry Potter lover. I’ll admit that the first two are easier to recreate accurately because they’re smaller (and maybe also a little bit more boring), but that’s not the point. The point is Alfonso hurt the Potterheads.

Let’s start with the opening scene where Harry is practicing magic (illegally) in his bedroom. It was unnecessary and completely wrong for the universe. Move on to the fact that they never did a good explanation of the Marauders, turned Tom the barkeep into Igor, and completely left out the major beef between Snape, Lupin, and Sirius. It’s a good thing I read the books (repeatedly), otherwise this movie would have made absolutely no sense at all.

Cinderella
 
Disney’s live action remake was, admittedly, one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. The dresses, the set, Helena Bonham Carter—all great. Which makes me almost hesitate to add it into this list, but not quite.

I don’t know who was in charge of the script, but it was seriously lacking. Without the charming animations, the music, or a script that was believable, the whole movie just fell flat. Well, except for when I was hysterically laughing (Prince Charming’s pants were not a good idea). After this, I don’t have much higher hopes for 2017’s Beauty and the Beast remake, even if Emma Watson is leading the cast.

The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown’s instant hit was really well written, intriguing, and then poised for a movie starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Paul Bettany and the perfect Sir Ian McKellan. When watching the trailer, it seemed that absolutely nothing could go wrong. The problem is, it did. 

With a lackluster and rushed plot, even Tom Hanks couldn’t deliver a convincing line the whole movie through. That which is a lot to say for the veteran actor, who has been the best thing since sliced bread in absolutely everything he’s ever been cast in (don’t believe me? Watch his films streaming on Netflix from anywhere and you’ll understand). While I give total props to Paul Bettany’s Silas, I felt convinced that Teabing and the Church weren’t thinly veiled villains with no substance. Who even likes a 2D bad guy anymore?

The Secret Life of Arriety

A loose adaptation of The Borrowers but with the excellence of Studio Ghibli behind it, I was so pumped for “The Secret Life of Arriety” before anyone else even knew how to say Arriety. I’ve also been in love with Kiki’s Delivery Service since I was 8 years old and figured that in the vein of “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “The Secret Life” would find its own place on my favorites shelf.

Yet between the voicing actors, the script, and the lackluster magical element, I felt bereft of the usual splendor and enchantment that Miyazaki films usually fill me with. Maybe it was because it was directed by the genius himself. Maybe it was because “The Borrowers” isn’t exactly my favorite book. Regardless of the reason, I’ll take a pass. Instead watch the delightful documentary on the famed Japanese studio (also available on Netflix for a limited time).

While I’m not so much of a snob to say that I don’t love it when my favorite book titles become movies (I love what Jackson did with “Lord of the Rings”), I am a little discerning in my taste and definitely prefer the films where major plot points aren’t left completely out of the story arc. Is that too much to ask?

Do you have any other movies based off of books that you’d like to add here? Are there any thoughts you have about the books listed above? If so, please leave a comment below with what you think!

About the author:
Caroline is a coffee and internet addict, splitting her time between writing about the latest and greatest in entertainment and adding more and more pins to her Netflix & Chill Pinterest Board. She loves to read and hopes that you’ll find a new book to read today!
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Review: Hour of Mischief by Aimee Hyndman



Author: Aimee Hyndman
26205179
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: September 7th 2015
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

Born in a whorehouse in the slums of Fortuna and burdened with a prosthetic arm, seventeen-year-old JANET REDSTONE doesn’t think she owes the Clockwork Gods anything—which is why she makes a living stealing from their temples. But when she lands her team in prison, making a pact with the God of Mischief, ITAZURA, is the only way to right her wrongs and free her friends.
Janet doesn’t trust Itazura as far as she can punch him, but with her soul in his hands, she has no choice but to do what he says. The clockwork gods and the bad-tempered elder gods of the ancient past are locked in a game of cat and mouse and the human realms are caught in the middle. If Janet can’t somehow convince the gods to step in a save the world, humanity is in an abyss of trouble.
Using her unconventional wits, an impressive tolerance to alcohol, and a strong right hook, Janet has to convince the gods that humanity is worth saving. Unfortunately, it’s a lot more difficult to stop an apocalypse when you’re slowly being driven crazy by the Lord of Mischief, especially when he starts growing on you.

Release Day Launch | Excerpt : Torn (Wicked #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

TORN - RDL banner

The highly anticipated second book in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Wicked Trilogy is available today! Be sure to grab your copy of TORN!



TORN - cover

Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same.

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her.


Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him?


But as the Fae Prince begins to close in on Ivy, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself.


iBooks ** Amazon ** Kobo

"You need this book. You need this series. It's paranormal at its best. It's New Adult at its best...Can I give this book more than 5 stars? I would if I could." ~Valerie, Stuck in Books




TORN - RDL Teaser 1





EXCERPT:


I lifted my right hand, reaching for my iron stake out of instinct, even though I knew it would do no good against the prince.
“You shouldn’t do that.” His voice was deep with what reminded me of an English accent. “I know you want to, but it would be very, very unwise of you, Ivy.”
My hand twitched.
Creepy Prince smiled slightly. “Your friend has been very helpful.”
That got my hackles up. I slid my sunglasses onto my forehead and forced my tone to stay calm and level. “I’m sure she has. Speaking of Val, happen to know where I can find her?”
His lips curled in a semblance of a smile as he stepped closer. The prince was tall, taller than Ren, who was pushing six foot two. My entire back stiffened as I forced myself to hold my ground, even though every instinct demanded that I run and run super fast, because he had almost killed me once before. Correction. He would have definitely killed me if he hadn’t realized what I was and had, I guessed, healed me.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, instead of answering my question, his pale blue eyes fixed on mine.
My hand curled into a useless fist. “That is extremely creepy to hear.”
That cold smile returned. “Why don’t we talk? There are seats across the way.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
The slow smile increased but never reached his eyes. “Oh, I know it is.”
Fine hairs rose on my arms.
“What exactly can you do right now?” he said in the same coldly polite voice. “Refuse me?” Creepy Prince laughed, and it wasn’t a bad sound. Again, it was something that was just cold, as if he were mimicking what a human would do. “You can’t.”
“I can.” My palm itched to grab the thorn stake secured under my pant leg, but I held still. I might be reckless, but I wasn’t stupid.
“Really? I will have to beg to differ on that. You see, humans surround us. So many of them, and I have an extraordinary appetite.” His eyes appeared to glimmer as his gaze slithered from the top of my curly head down to my toes. “A rather impressive appetite for many, many things.”
“Okay. First off, ew.” My lip curled. “Secondly, I don’t want to hear about any of your appetites.”
One dark eyebrow rose. “Oh, but you should know that I could kill twenty of these humans in less than five seconds and feed on the rest, leaving them to believe that it was this little red-headed girl who murdered these innocent people.” His voice dropped even lower as he leaned in and icy air brushed my cheek. “You deny me this, those lives will be on your hands, little bird.”
Anger flushed hotly as my eyes met his. There wasn’t a single part of me that doubted anything he said. He had me. God, I hated to admit it, but he had me.

"Drama! Action! Romance! Twists! Torn had it all...Torn was a perfect continuation of the Wicked Saga." ~Kim, Kimberlyfaye Reads



TORN - RDL Teaser 2

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans…

Don’t miss the first title in the series, WICKED


WICKED - cover


About Jennifer L. Armentrout:


#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Author Photo--JLA_J. LynnHer dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.


She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.






TORN - Available Now







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Review: Between the Bleeding Willows (Demon Hunter #1) by D.A. Roach



Author:  D.A. Roach
29382653
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Publication Date: February 26th 2016
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

At eighteen years old, Cassidy has suffered more loss than most... At the end of her senior year, her boyfriend, Jace Peters, was killed in a car accident, and her grandmother died only weeks later of a heart attack. Emotionally lost, Cassidy desperately searches for an heirloom her boyfriend was wearing in the crash-her mother's gold ring. But during her search, Cassidy discovers more than her ring. She finds a gate to the Demon Realm.... A battle is brewing, and Killian-head of the Demon hunters-preps his Clan for the approaching conflict. They've been working to secure the gate between his realm and the mortal world. But it's been nearly impossible since Rya-a voracious demon on a quest to expand her power-devoured the soul of his Clan's necromancer. Now Rya is possessed with the necromancer's powers and she may break through the gate at any moment. Apparently Rya isn't the only one Killian has to worry about... When Cassidy accidentally crosses into the Demon Realm, Killian can't understand how a human girl survived the transition. Now he has to find a way to return her to her own world, or risk her being caught in the crossfire, which is a complication he definitely doesn't need. Once back in the Human Realm, Cassidy readies herself for battle. She signs up for Krav Maga classes, where she meets Tyler Romaitis-a handsome, tenacious, humble guy. He seems almost perfect, but nothing is ever that easy. And as the balance between good and evil shifts, Cassidy finds herself-and her ring-at the heart of the conflict for the survival of mankind. 

Book Blitz | Interview | Giveaway: Bottled by Carol Riggs


Bottled
by Carol Riggs
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: July 7th 2016
Clean Reads

Summary :
At seventeen, Adeelah Naji is transformed into a genie and imprisoned in a bottle. For a thousand years, she fulfills the wishes of greedy masters—building their palaces, lining their pockets with gold, and granting them every earthly pleasure. All that sustains her is the hope of finding Karim, the boy she fell in love with as a human. When at last she finds a note from her beloved, she confirms he has access to the elixir of life and that he still searches for her. 

But someone else also hunts her. Faruq—the man who plots to use her powers to murder and seize the life forces of others—is just one step behind her. With the help of a kind master named Nathan, Adeelah continues to search for Karim while trying to evade Faruq. To complicate matters, she begins to experience growing fatigue and pain after conjuring, and finds herself struggling against an undeniable attraction to Nathan.

As Faruq closes in, Adeelah must decide just how much she’ll risk to protect Nathan and be with Karim forever. How much power does she really have to change her future, and what is she willing to sacrifice for an eternity of love? If she makes the wrong choice, the deaths of many will be on her hands.




Buy Links:
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About the Author
Carol Riggs is an author of fiction for young adults (and adults!) who lives in the beautiful green state of Oregon, USA. Her debut novel, The Body Institute, released Sept 2015 from Entangled Teen, exploring body image and identity. Her fantasy YA, Bottled, will release from Clean Reads on July 7, 2016, and her sci-fi YA, Safe Zone, will release from Entangled Teen in October 2016. She enjoys reading, drawing and painting, writing conferences, walking with her husband, and enjoying music and dance of all kinds. You will usually find her in her writing cave, surrounded by her dragon collection and the characters in her head.


Interview: 
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a writer of young adult novels who loves to write books with a twist of strangeness, magic, or unique plot. I began writing in high school, dabbled with it some more in college, and finally got around to writing seriously years later when my daughters went off to kindergarten. I love dragons and collect them. I adore music of many different kinds, from rock to classical to Celtic to folk. Even opera (don’t gag, now).

2. What are some of the early books you wrote?
I wrote 13 novels before my debut, involving magical mazes…a strike of lightning zapping a teen girl into the 1960’s—into the body of someone she didn’t like. Teen twins separated at birth but accidentally dating the same guy one summer. A girl, kidnapped as a child and forced to be a palace slave for a Rajah with 13 daughters. A teen journeying with a Ferm, a rare creature whose eye color changes with its mood. Five classmates transported on New Year’s Eve 2020 into alternate dimensions created by each character’s dreams—and nightmares. I had a ton of fun, even though none of these books got published.  

3. What made you decide to write BOTTLED?
From watching "I Dream of Jeannie" as a young girl (yes, I am that old), along with "Bewitched." I loved the magic of those shows, except sometimes Jeannie drove me nuts with all the scrapes and tangles she got her master into. BOTTLED is a more serious tribute to the enchantment of the show. Unlike Jeannie, however, my genie has limited powers; she isn’t able to reach her goals by using her abilities. She has to find ways to work around those limitations.  

4. Do you enjoy writing to music? If so, do you have a go-to playlist?
I actually do not/cannot write to music; hence, no playlist. I find that my words and sentences have rhythms of their own, so music (especially if it has words) messes me up. It’s too distracting for my one-track brain. I can use music beforehand to set a mood, but the only sound I really like to hear is the sound of pouring rain outside my window…it’s very soothing—a white noise that drowns out the real world and gets me into the writing zone. 

Review: A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #1) by Amanda Bouchet



Author: Amanda Bouchet
27015399
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date:  August 2nd 2016
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…
Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

Excerpt Reveal: Torn by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Torn Excerpt Reveal Banner_edited-1

 

The highly anticipated second book in #1 New York Times Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout's Wicked Trilogy is releasing July 19, 2016, and we have an excerpt for you! Check it out below, and be sure to grab the first book in the series, WICKED, which is on sale for $.99 for a limited time!

 

EXCERPT

  My fingers tightened around the slender remote. “I was thinking that if the prince can sense me, why hasn’t he showed up here?” “I don’t know.” Tink came down to the coffee table and started marching across it. I’m not the prince, but if I was the prince, I’d be buying time.” “Buying time?” I scooted to the edge of the couch. “Yeah, because he’s got to win you over.” Tink swiped up the straw he’d had in his Coke. It was nearly the size of him. “That’s basically what he has to do if he wants to impregnate you.” I cringed, like a full body cringe. “Please do not use the word impregnate ever again.” “Why? That’s what he wants to do.” He started dancing with the straw, the kind of dancing you see in the clubs. Hips gyrating all over the place. “He knows coercing or tricking you isn’t going to get the deed done, so he’s probably trying to learn how not to be a sexed up dickhead.” “Sexed up dickhead?” I repeated. “Uh-huh.” Tink dipped the straw as one would a dancer. “Remember when I was telling you how I saw the prince getting it on with three females once? He’s totes sexed up. And he’s a dickhead. In other words, he has no empathy or compassion. No humanity.” “Most fae don’t.” Tink twirled the straw. “Yeah, but the ancients are worse. They’re as far away from human as you can get. He’s going to have to work on wooing you.” I slowly shook my head. “That’s…” There were no words. “That’s what I’d do.” Tink dropped the straw and whipped around toward me. “Or he’s plotting something major and any moment he’s going to knock down the front door and storm the place.” “Wow.” A fine shiver curled down my spine. “That’s really a relaxing thought.” He zipped over to the couch and sat on the arm. He tipped his head back and stared up at me. “Don’t worry. I’m here to protect you.” I just looked at him, because other than ordering shit off of Amazon, the only strength he had was the unique ability to annoy the crap out of me while somehow still managing to be endearing. Tink grinned. “Trust me, Ivy. The Prince is not going to want to mess with me.”   TORN - cover

Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same.

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her.

Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him?

But as the Fae Prince begins to close in on Ivy, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself.

TORN iBooks Exclusive Preorder

 

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans…

Don’t miss the first title in the series, WICKED, now just $.99 for a limited time only!

 

WICKED - cover

 

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo

  Author Photo--JLA_J. LynnAbout Jennifer L. Armentrout: #1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.  

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

 

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Review: Ophelia Adrift by Helen Goltz



Author: Helen Goltz
30054281
Publisher: Atlas Productions
Publication Date: July 1st 2016
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

In her wildest dreams, Ophelia Montague never imagined she would leave the city, her friends, her school and move to a seaside village. But when her parents die in an accident, that’s just where she finds herself – ensconced in a rambling house on the beach, with her uncle Sebastian, his boarder – nineteen-year-old Adam Ferrier, and two Great Dane dogs named after shipwrecks. By the ocean's edge she meets Jack Denham who seems to command the sea and the moon—and if he has his way—Ophelia, too.

Book Blitz | Excerpt | Giveaway: Zero by Morgan Dark

25376893
Title: Zero

Author: Morgan Dark
Release Date: June 28th 2016
Publisher: Rubiños 1860

Summary:
 Kyle Bradford is the envy of Drayton College, but everything takes a turn when a dangerous shadow, hidden in the darkness, starts to stalk him. From then on, his life falls apart. Unjustly accused of being the main suspect behind the robberies terrifying high society, he is forced to prove his innocence. And to do so, he has to find the real culprit: Zero, an infallible criminal who keeps his identity hidden under a silver mask. What Kyle does not know is that his enemy is keeping a secret. A secret he would sacrifice everything for. 

Buy Links:

PROLOGUE
The police were the last to arrive. Five patrol cars. They got out of their vehicles, some of them with pistol in hand, and quickly regrouped on the stairs leading to the Los Angeles Opera.
By that time, the curious onlookers were already there. Most of them were upper class. Exclusive spectators who, just half an hour earlier, were watching the world premiere of Macbeth, and were now chatting amongst themselves, speculating on the incident that had just taken place.
The journalists were there, too. As soon as the news leaked, on-call editors came out charging and were now banging on the main door, armed with their cameras and microphones. Their group included a young journalist fresh out of college reporting on the occurrence for a local television station.
“It appears that another robbery has taken place. This time, at the Los Angeles Opera. Owned by multi-millionaire Marissa Grossman, the Empress Diadem has disappeared. For the time being, there are no witnesses. The thief's identity is still unknown, but it is believed that he may be…”
“Look!” shouted someone from the group of curious bystanders. They were pointing toward the rooftop of the Opera.
There he was: dressed in a form-fitting black suit, a hood covering his head and his face hidden behind a silver mask with a smile frozen in place. Like a shadow blending into the dark of night. Not a soul was unaware of who the unknown man with that arrogant gaze was or what he had done over the past few months. Even so, his presence provoked a certain strange fascination that immediately drew everyone’s interest and attention.
“That’s him! Yeah, that’s him!”
Murmurs of alarm quickly rose up from the crowd of onlookers and the journalists pointed their camera lenses toward the Opera rooftop, trying to snap the most perfect picture possible of the mysterious individual. The police were the last ones to react and, at first, the only thing they managed to do was bring order to the impromptu crowd. 
The dreaded one-hundred-million-dollar thief. The same one who had spent the last six months stealing objects of countless value. A slippery ghost who committed impossible robberies and disappeared without a trace.
Nobody knew his real name, because his true identity was a mystery. The media had christened him as "Zero" because the name was the closest thing to what they knew about him: nothing. Since they hadn’t come up with anything better, the police kept using the nickname. Now, everybody called the shadow the same thing.
“We need more forces! Tell all units in the area to come immediately. Get moving!” shouted Lieutenant Brown. A hoarse voice came from his throat, annoyed by the humiliation and anger. Once again… Once again, he had managed to slip past them… How was it possible?
The day before, the police station had received a message sent by Zero himself, telling them that his next target was the Empress Diadem: a sparkling 16th-century diamond, ruby and emerald tiara. But he didn’t say when or where the robbery would take place. Like always.
It wasn’t the first time the Lieutenant had received one of these warnings. The only difference was that, this time, he had moved heaven and earth to stop it. He had sent his best men to escort Marissa Grossman to the bank where she kept the diadem and then back to her mansion. He also assigned surveillance patrols and sensors with alarms all over the house. He was convinced that if the robber wanted to commit the theft, he could only do it at the Grossman’s house where, in theory, it would be easier.
But he never showed up. Zero didn’t come. The Empress Diadem remained safe and sound and the officers went back to the station, where they were received with cheers and applause. For the first time, they had prevented one of his thefts… Or at least, that’s what they thought until the Opera director had called them to say that the jewel had vanished from its owner’s head during the second act of Macbeth. Under Marissa Grossman’s seat, they found a silver coin: the robber’s unmistakable signature.
From the rooftop, Zero contemplated the scene unfolding at the building’s entrance. He was totally calm, delighting in the confused look on the police officers’ faces. He hadn’t the slightest doubt that they must be wondering how he had done it and what plan he had come up with this time to take off with the Grossman family’s valuable relic in a place so full of people, without getting caught. They could keep on speculating.
They would never find him out.
Five minutes, he calculated. That was how long it would take the officers to pounce and trap him. He had just enough time to slip away before they surrounded him. After that, Lieutenant Brown and his men would search the city, like they always did. They would go into the surrounding homes. They would search the few businesses that still remained open. They would create quite a stir, trying to find him. When they were finished, Zero would already be far away. Maybe peacefully sleeping in his bed, as if he hadn’t the slightest to do with the fact that he would be the day’s most important news tomorrow.
Just that easy. Just that simple.
Another impeccable robbery. The twentieth one in less than six months. Not too bad. Not bad at all, in fact. He stepped away from the edge of the roof and put the Empress Diadem away inside his suit for safekeeping.
Only then did he realize that he wasn’t alone.
A silhouette stood between him and his only escape route, blocking his flight.
“We finally meet face-to-face.”
They didn’t need to get any closer. Or for the moonlight to illuminate the newcomer’s face, hidden behind a strange shadow. Zero was fully aware of who he was. He would recognize that raspy voice anywhere. His name? Dimitri Cooper. The best detective in Los Angeles and officially responsible for his capture, specifically entrusted with the task by the Government.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Detective,” said the robber, as if their meeting, far from being a setback, was an excuse to have a pleasant chat. Dimitri didn't answer. He removed his pistol and aimed at Zero.
“I’m afraid this will be our first and our last meeting. I had a hard time finding you, although I finally did.”
 Zero was unfazed when he saw the gun was aimed at him.
“We could say that I’m not too friendly with the police.”
“You’ve been stealing from innocent people for half a year, and you still have the gall to make those jokes of yours.” Dimitri motioned for Zero to move toward him, and held his pistol more tightly. “You can come over here so I can cuff you now. And don’t try any funny stuff.”
“What funny stuff would I try?”
“Just put your hands in the air!”
Zero obeyed.
“Now, start walking if you don’t want to get shot.
For a fraction of a second, the robber glanced at his suit's right-hand pocket. He could see the outline of a small, rounded object inside… He made no move to grab it. He just stared at it, as if thinking about something.
“Let’s get a move on!” brayed Dimitri.
He brought his attention back to the detective and slowly walked toward him, calmly analyzing his rival’s appearance, so different from his own: his emotionless countenance was chiseled in stone, with metallic gray eyes that looked like they could drill through him. He was wearing a trench coat that reached his knees, his police badge hanging from one side of his belt while his pistol holster hung from the other.
He stopped just a few feet away from him. 
“Good. It’s over. Finally.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Before Dimitri could move, Zero rushed the distance between them and kicked his pistol. Dimitri couldn’t hang on to it and it was lost in the darkness. In the blink of an eye, Zero rose up like a giant behind the detective and grabbed him by the neck, immobilizing him. He had moved so quickly that it seemed as if time had stopped and he was the only one able to move from one side to the other.
“I think I remember you mentioning something about me being trapped, or something like that.”
“You’re fast.”
“I wouldn’t be the one-hundred-million-dollar thief if I wasn’t.”
“That’s true. But you’ve got a defect that trumps your speed.”
“Oh, I do? And what might that be?”
“You’re too sure of yourself,” Dimitri said while closing his fist and then, forcefully, punched his enemy's stomach. Zero hissed out in pain and surprise. He doubled over, instinctively releasing the police officer. Now he was the one without time to react.
“Did you really think it was going to be that easy?”
The robber’s eyes gave off a sinister glint that made the hair on the back of Dimitri’s neck bristle. He moved back. They had never been so close. In fact, he doubted that anyone had ever managed to get so close to the legendary criminal. But now that there were just a few feet between them, now that he was right in front of him, he felt like running away and escaping. 
He had been on the force for too long to be intimidated by a criminal who wasn’t even armed. And yet…
There was something different about him. His presence. His mere existence. Whoever he was, this robber gave off…a strange aura. He wouldn’t even know how to put it into words. How he moved and the power he held was disturbing, frightening. Attractive… but as gloomy as the Los Angeles nighttime sky.
While Dimitri was lost in thought, Zero took the opportunity to recover from the blow and counterattacked. Just as swiftly as before, he pounced on his rival and grabbed his arm, spinning around and throwing him over his back. The officer fell on his side and, for a few seconds, the only thing he could see were stars dancing around inside his head.
His brief period of reflection had cost him dearly. “You shouldn’t have gotten in my way.” 
“My duty is to arrest you. You, and everyone else like you,” Dimitri groaned. His entire body hurt. And he had a broken rib. Or two. For sure.
“I’m not like everyone else.”
“Yeah, I think I’ve realized that tonight.”
“You’d better stop chasing after me. You'll be the one who ends up getting hurt."
“There’s an easy solution for that. Stop robbing, turn yourself in, and I’ll quit bothering you.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I…”
Zero’s words were left hanging in the air. Something drew his attention away. A small black object, fallen at the detective's feet. His gloved hand shot like a lightning bolt to his right-hand pocket. The circular object that was there before had disappeared and, in its stead, there was a remnant of ripped fabric, shredded on the side. His shoulders tensed imperceptibly.
“What’s wrong? Looks like you’re worn out from fighting,” Dimitri mocked him.
He stoically bore the pain and stood up. He couldn’t afford to sit in a corner and nurse his wounds. He had to stop this criminal he had been chasing for months. Moving forward, his heel drew dangerously close to the object under the robber’s gaze.
“No!”
The police officer froze, bewildered. He looked down at the object at his feet. Intrigued, he bent down and picked it up.
“Now what might this be?”
“Don’t touch that.” Zero wasn’t acting as calm as he had been before. One could almost feel the tension emanating from his body.
“Put it down!”
Like a cat, he jumped at Dimitri. He moved too abruptly and the object slipped from the detective’s hand. It arced through the air before plunging to the ground.
It hit the rooftop, cracking like a whip in the air. Almost at the same time, Zero let out a piercing shriek. A metallic taste filled his mouth and something liquid started spilling out over his chin. Blood. He let out a groan and closed his eyes to contain the sudden pain punishing every part of his being.
“Meddling policeman,” he muttered. His head was spinning as he staggered.
Dimitri held him up, not understanding what was happening. The pain he saw shooting from the robber’s eyes was no performance act. Zero was hurt, but how? He remembered banging into him, but not hard enough for him to be in such a state...
No matter what, he had to do something. He wanted to catch him, and that had been his goal for six months now. But he didn’t want his death on his conscience. Not his death, or anybody else’s. He couldn’t leave him like that. He took a radio from his trench coat and started giving orders, never leaving his prisoner for even an instant.
“Attention, this is Officer Dimitri speaking. I need a medical team. I repeat. I need a medical team. I have an unconscious civilian on the Los Angeles Opera rooftop."
“Who are you calling unconscious?” mumbled Zero. The object that fell from his pocket was just a few feet away. He tried to take a few steps toward it. Dimitri stopped him.
“Don’t even thing about moving.” He held on to his arm more tightly and added, “I already told you that this would be our first and our last meeting.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Have you seen yourself? I highly doubt you can escape with the state you’re in.” Dimitri couldn’t help but appreciate the irony of the situation. Before, Zero had given him the chills.
His presence was almost supernatural. Now, he looked like a helpless, vulnerable kid… His gaze came to rest on the silver mask. It perfectly fit its owner’s factions, hiding his face from the hairline to the chin. After so many weeks chasing him down, so many sleepless nights because of him, he still didn’t know who was hiding behind the disguise.
He hooked his fingers behind the titanium hooks holding the mask to Zero’s face. Zero started to squirm as soon as he understood his intentions.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Are you afraid I’ll find out the truth?”
Dimitri released the titanium locks and the silver mask fell from its place, revealing the famous thief’s identity. They observed one another in the darkness. Two enemies, finally face-to-face after countless chases and escapes. Neither of them spoke a word. They merely regarded one another. The detective couldn’t believe what he saw. As far as he was concerned, Zero felt a wave of anger rising up in his throat, consuming his pain and turning it to fury.
They had found out his secret… They had found out who he was…
“That’s impossible…” whispered Dimitri. “I know you…” 
Zero grabbed the tranquilizer dart gun hidden on his leg. Before the detective could utter his name, before he could even say one syllable, he shot him in the neck. The officer immediately dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
The thief bent over and picked up his mask. He put it on again. But he knew full well that it was too late now.
He knows…
Six officers burst onto the rooftop. Lieutenant Brown was with them, anxious to avenge how ridiculous Zero had made him look at the Grossman’s house, at any price. They aimed their guns at him.
“Put your hands where we can see them!”
Zero ignored the order and looked for the circular object that he had lost. It was too close to the police officers. It would be impossible to get it back without getting riddled by bullets while trying. But if he left it behind… If someone touched it… He hesitated. What should he choose? He knew that no matter what he decided, he would regret it. So he opted for the lesser evil.
He took out one of the smoke bombs he only used when urgently needed and threw it to the ground. A gray cloud spread over the rooftop, covering everything under a dense fog.
When it had cleared, the circular object was right where it was before. But Zero had disappeared.


The Author:

Morgan Dark
Morgan Dark is one of the most original teenage literature writers. Always enveloped in suspense, as of yet no one knows her true identity. She began writing ZERO after a hooded man robbed her in her New York apartment. Included amongst the stolen items was her favorite ring. After ZERO became one of the most awaited teenage books in 2015, her ring showed up in her house again… in black envelope with no sender.


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