Blue Moon (The Immortals, Book 2)

“Alyson Noel surpassed all my expectations. Not only is Blue Moon an amazing sequel; it sets the bar for the rest of this series very, very high! When I reached the last page of this one, all I could say was ‘wow!'” ― Teens Read Too “It is the mark of a daring writer to defy expectations and Alyson Noel does that to the power of ten in Blue Moon . I guarantee you will have no idea what's coming in the second book of the series while Alyson Noel surprises you with a big, fat twist and leaves you wanting more, more, more.” ― The Book Chick “A mesmerizing tale of teenage angst, love and sacrifice with plenty of crossover appeal…The startling but satisfying ending shows that Noël knows how to keep her audience hooked. Ever's supernatural struggles are a captivating metaphor for teenage fears about love, relationships and growing up.” ― Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) “ Blue Moon was incredible. If you thought Evermore was full of suspense and unknowns, just wait until you read Blue Moon . Noel surpassed all expectations…The plot was insane, and I mean that in a good way. Noel took this novel in a direction I was never expecting, resulting in an emotional roller coaster ride that I never wanted to end. It was so cleverly pieced, so intricately meshed, I never saw it coming. Fabulous.” ― The Story Siren “One of the best books I've read this year… With immortal lovers, trustworthy friends, betraying fortune tellers, and freaky identical twins, what more could you ask for? Blue Moon has me begging for Shadowland ! I can't wait for the next in the series.” ― The YA Book Blogger “The Immortals Series is so unique; it's like a breath of fresh air…Noel knows how to pull you into her world with beautiful imagery and mesmerizing words. Blue Moon is a page turner that will keep you reading until the last page. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, Alyson throws in another twist making it impossible to put this book down.” ― 5 stars! Fantastic Book Reviews “This heart-pounding sequel to Evermore is a must read!” ― Mind Of A Bibliophile “Teen angst and the paranormal make a combustible mix...Getting hooked on this new series, The Immortals , is guaranteed.” ― Romantic Times Magazine on Evermore “ Evermore will thrill many teen fantasy-suspense readers, especially fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series ... Noël creates a cast of recognizably diverse teens in a realistic high-school setting, along with just the right tension to make Ever's discovery of her own immortality--should she choose it--exciting and credible.” ― Booklist on Evermore “Beautiful main characters, tense budding romance, a dark secret, mysterious immortals―what more could you ask from this modern gothic romance?” ― Justine Magazine on Evermore “When I got a copy of Evermore , I sat down to read it, intending to only read a chapter or two. Instead, I blazed through the first hundred pages before I knew it...and then I didn't want to put the book down. Except I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. So I picked it up the next morning and finished it. Now I can't wait till July for the second book to see what happens next.” ― Blog Critics Magazine on Evermore “Get ready for a wild ride that is filled with twisting paths and mystery, love and fantasy. . . The writing style, story, and characters are a bit like Meyer and Marr's popular books, but written with a new twist and voice. And after reading the book, you too will probably want your own Damen, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.” ― The Book Queen on Evermore “Readers who enjoy the works of PC Cast and Stephenie Meyer will love this outstanding paranormal teen-lit thriller.” ― Midwest Book Review on Evermore “I found myself unwilling to put the book down, even though I had to at some points, because I wanted to know what was going to happen…Ever was so real and her emotions were so believable that it was a little creepy. It's like Alyson Noël is actually a grieving, lovestruck teenager. She got Ever completely perfect. And by perfect, I mean delightfully flawed and deep.” ― The Frenetic Reader on Evermore “ Evermore is a wonderful book that I believe would be a lovely addition to any library . . .Definitely a book that fans of Stephenie Meyer and Melissa Marr should add to their collections. Definitely engaging and will catch your attention the minute you open to the first page!” ― Mind of a Bibliophile on Evermore “Alyson Noël creates a great picture of each and every character in the book. I am a fan of the Twlight series and I recommend this book to those who like the series as well. It is a very quick read, with all the interesting twist and turns.” ― Flamingnet Book Reviews on Evermore “I loved this book. It really keeps your attention though out the story, because the puzzle gets pieced together bit by bit, but you don't know exactly what happened until the end. The only thing that disappoints me is that the second book won't be published for a while. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.” ― Portsmouth Teen Book Review on Evermore “This is the first installment of The Immortals series. Ms. Noël pens a well-detailed story that makes it easy for the reader to visualize both the characters and the world around them. Evermore has a familiar theme that attracts readers, but inside this book you'll find that the author has added some unique details that sets it apart.” ― Darque Reviews on Evermore “ Evermore 's suspense, eerie mystery, and strange magic were interestingly entertaining...I found Ever to be a character I could really respect...Recommended.” ― The Bookworm on Evermore “ Evermore was a great way to lighten my reading load this winter and provided me with a creative, magical story that I really enjoyed. This is the first in a series for Noël and I think she may have a hit on her hands . . . Evermore has good and evil, likable characters, vivid descriptions and a good story.” ― Planet Books on Evermore “I fell into it easily, and loved the world Noël created . . . The fact that Ever had psychic powers was truly interesting. They flowed neatly through the book and I felt Ever's pain. .trust me, this book was really good. I couldn't put it down. Alyson Noël created an amazing new world, and after this book I am so curious to see where it heads because honestly, I have no idea.” ― Reading Keeps You Sane on Evermore “Ever is an easy character to like. I really felt for her because of all she lost and what she struggled with daily... Evermore was a really fast, engaging read with some great characters. It is the first in a series, so I'm eager to see if we will learn more about Ever, Damen and friends in the next one...it's sure to be a great read.” ― Ninja Reviews on Evermore “The writing here is clear, the story well-defined and narrator Ever has an engaging voice that teens should enjoy.” ― January Magazine on Evermore “Alyson Noël created a well-detailed story that makes it easy for the reader to visualize both the characters and the world around them. Evermore has a familiar theme that attracts readers, but inside this book you'll find that the author has added some unique details that sets it apart and will surprise you.” ― The Ravenous Reader on Evermore “This young adult novel ponders immortal love and the knowledge that "revenge weakens and love strengthens." Fans of the Twilight series should love it.” ― Orange Coast Magazine on Evermore “Noel writes an emotional, thoughtful book that made me cry in a couple of places. Evermore was an easy novel to get sucked into, and I wanted to get back to it as soon as possible. If you love Stephanie Meyer, you will LOVE this book.” ― Night Owl Romance on Evermore “ Evermore is a fresh and original work that...branches out and explores new ground. Definitely recommended.” ― Cool Moms Rule! on Evermore “I totally LOVE Alyson Noël's Evermore ...Noël has delivered a deliciously fresh new series that will be the next new thing that has every teen and even adults everywhere hooked and waiting for more...This is a keeper and a book that you have to go out and buy right now because if you don't you will be missing out. People will be asking if you have been living under a rock if you don't give Evermore a try, and that is just not acceptable.” ― Talk About My Favorite Authors on Evermore Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Faking 19 , Art Geeks and Prom Queens , Laguna Cove , Fly Me to the Moon , Kiss & Blog , Saving Zoë , Cruel Summer , and the Immortals series including Evermore , Blue Moon , Shadowland , Dark Flame , and Night Star , as well as the Immortals spin-off series beginning with Radiance . With over 2 million copies in print in the US alone, her books have been published in 35 countries and have won awards including the National Reader's Choice Award, NYLA Book of Winter Award, NYPL Stuff for the Teenage, TeenReads Best Books of 2007, and Reviewer's Choice 2007 Top Ten, and have been chosen for the CBS Early Show's "Give the Gift of Reading" segment, and selected for Seventeen Magazine 's "Hot List" and Beach Book Club Pick. She lives in Laguna Beach, California. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Blue Moon The Immortals By Alyson Nol St. Martin's Griffin Copyright © 2009 Alyson NolAll right reserved. ISBN: 9780312532765 one“Close your eyes and picture it. Can you see it?”I nod, eyes closed.“Imagine it right there before you. See its texture, shape, and color—got it?”I smile, holding the image in my head.“Good. Now reach out and touch it. Feel its contours with the tips of your fingers, cradle its weight in the palms of your hands, then combine all of your senses—sight, touch, smell, taste—can you taste it?”I bite my lip and suppress a giggle.“Perfect. Now combine that with feeling. Believe it exists right before you. Feel it, see it, touch it, taste it, accept it, manifest it!” he says.So I do. I do all of those things. And when he groans, I open my eyes to see for myself.“Ever.” He shakes his head. “You were supposed to think of an orange. This isn’t even close.”“Nope, nothing fruity about him.” I laugh, smiling at each of my Damens—the replica I manifested before me, and the flesh and blood version beside me. Both of them equally tall, dark, and so devastatingly handsome they hardly seem real.“What am I going to do with you?” the real Damen asks, attempting a disapproving gaze but failing miserably. His eyes always betray him, showing nothing but love.“Hmmm . . .” I glance between my two boyfriends—one real, one conjured. “I guess you could just go ahead and kiss me. Or, if you’re too busy, I’ll ask him to stand in, I don’t think he’d mind.” I motion toward manifest Damen, laughing when he smiles and winks at me even though his edges are fading and soon he’ll be gone.But the real Damen doesn’t laugh. He just shakes his head and says, “Ever, please. You need to be serious. There’s so much to teach you.”“What’s the rush?” I fluff my pillow and pat the space right beside me, hoping he’ll move away from my desk and come join me. “I thought we had nothing but time?” I smile. And when he looks at me, my whole body grows warm and my breath halts in my throat, and I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever get used to his amazing beauty—his smooth olive skin, brown shiny hair, perfect face, and lean sculpted body—the perfect dark yin to my pale blond yang. “I think you’ll find me a very eager student,” I say, my eyes meeting his—two dark wells of unfathomable depths.“You’re insatiable,” he whispers, shaking his head and moving beside me, as drawn to me as I am to him.“Just trying to make up for lost time,” I murmur, always so eager for these moments, the times when it’s just us, and I don’t have to share him with anyone else. Even knowing we have all of eternity laid out before us doesn’t make me any less greedy.He leans in to kiss me, forgoing our lesson. All thoughts of manifesting, remote viewing, telepathy—all of that psychic business replaced by something far more immediate, as he pushes me back against a pile of pillows and covers my body with his, the two of us merging like crumbled vines seeking the sun.His fingers snake under my top, sliding along my stomach to the edge of my bra as I close my eyes and whisper, “I love you.” Words I once kept to myself. But after saying it the first time, I’ve barely said anything else.Hearing his soft muffled groan as he releases the clasp on my bra, so effortlessly, so perfectly, nothing awkward or fumbling about it.Every move he makes is so graceful, so perfect, so—Maybe too perfect.“What’s wrong?” he asks, as I push him away. His breath coming in short shallow gasps as his eyes seek mine, their surrounding skin tense and constricted in the way I’ve grown used to.“Nothing’s wrong.” I turn my back and adjust my top, glad I completed the lesson on shielding my thoughts since it’s the only thing that allows me to lie.He sighs and moves away, denying me the tingle of his touch and the heat of his gaze as he paces before me. And when he finally stops and faces me, I press my lips together, knowing what’s next. We’ve been here before.“Ever, I’m not trying to rush you or anything. Really, I’m not,” he says, his face creased with concern. “But at some point you’re going to have to get over this and accept who I am. I can manifest anything you desire, send telepathic thoughts and images whenever we’re apart, whisk you away to Summerland at a moment’s notice. But the one thing I can’t ever do is change the past. It just is.”I stare at the floor, feeling small, needy, and completely ashamed. Hating that I’m so incapable of hiding my jealousies and insecurities, hating that they’re so transparent and clearly displayed. Because no matter what sort of psychic shield I create, it’s no use. He’s had six hundred years to study human behavior (to study my behavior), versus my sixteen.“Just—just give me a little more time to get used to all this,” I say, picking at a frayed seam on my pillowcase. “It’s only been a few weeks.” I shrug, remembering how I killed his ex-wife, told him I loved him, and sealed my immortal fate, less than three weeks ago.He looks at me, his lips pressed together, his eyes tinged with doubt. And even though we’re merely a few feet apart, the space that divides us is so heavy and fraught—it feels like an ocean.“I’m referring to this lifetime,” I say, my voice quickening, rising, hoping to fill up the void and lighten the mood. “And since I can’t recall any of the others, it’s all I have. I just need a little more time, okay?” I smile nervously, my lips feeling clumsy and loose as I hold them in place, exhaling in relief when he sits down beside me, lifts his fingers to my forehead, and seeks the space where my scar used to be.“Well, that’s one thing we’ll never run out of.” He sighs, trailing his fingers along the curve of my jaw as he leans in to kiss me, his lips making a series of stops from my forehead, to my nose, to my mouth.And just when I think he’s about to kiss me again, he squeezes my hand and moves away. Heading straight for the door and leaving a beautiful red tulip behind in his place.Excerpted from Blue Moon by Alyson Noël.Copyright © 2009 by Alyson Noël.Published in July 2009 by St. Martin's Griffin.All rights reserved. This work is protected under copyright laws and reproduction is strictly prohibited. Permission to reproduce the material in any manner or medium must be secured from the Publisher. Continues... Excerpted from Blue Moon by Alyson Nol Copyright © 2009 by Alyson Nol. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Read more