BLOG TOUR: Review and Interview for Shadows by Paula Weston

I'm so excited to be apart of this blog tour for Shadows by Paula Weston. I adored the book and also got the opportunity to chat a little with Paula and do an interview to share with you guys!


Review: 



Book: Shadows by Paul Weston 
Series: The Rephaim #1
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Acquired: Netgalley & Tundra Books, in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Goodreads Description:

It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series, is a standout paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Cassandra Clare.


My Thoughts:

This book is AMAZING and I can NOT stand having to wait for Haze to come out. I finished this book in a day, practically one sitting. It was just so good. I was immediately sucked in. Shadows took me into an entirely different world that I never wanted to leave. 

Gabby is a young girl that recently lost her twin brother, Jude. All she can recall is that there was a horrible accident and that she is not on good terms with her family. She moved Pandanus Beach to start over and hopefully bring some happiness into her life. The only problem is the terrible nightmares she keeps having about fighting monster and demons with a handsome guy. When out one night with her roommate, she runs into Rafa, who looks exactly like the guy in her dreams. She is then told that everything she thinks she knows and understands is not what it seems. Now she has to figure out who to trust and who she is before the past catches up with her.

This book took me through a world filled with Rephaim, mortals, demons, and monsters. No one is who I thought they were or what I expected them to be. Paula Weston did an amazing job of building this world. She had a way of giving me every little detail but not where I felt like it was nothing but detail. The characters are amazing. Gabby is battling with who she is now and who she was told that she was before the accident. She does a really good job of coping and coming into her own throughout the book. She has some help along the way, mainly from Rafa. But not so much help that you see her as a damsel in distress. She is very independent and is determined to take care of herself and keep the ones she cares about safe at all costs. 

Rafa…oh how I love Rafa. He is so snarky and sarcastic (some of my favorite qualities in the male lead). He comes in and shows Gabby what’s real and what’s not. The relationship between him and Gabby is portrayed in a way where you know there is something there, and that it’s deep, but it doesn’t take over the entire story. It also isn’t your typical “they are automatically in love” relationship. The story actually has great build to any feelings that Rafa and Gabby begin to have for one another. Rafa strengthens Gabby in all the best ways and Gabby makes Rafa more caring.  Everything about them made me root for them throughout the book.

I’m so thankful that the ending wasn’t a huge cliffhanger that will have me DYING until next year. I’m so ready to see what all Gabby and Rafa uncover with what really happened with her and Jude. I seriously urge everyone to go read this book, you will NOT be disappointed. :)


Here is some info about Paula from Goodreads:

I'm the author of the Rephaim series.

I'm also an avid reader and blogger, a huge fan of Australian literature and fantasy/paranormal stories, a closet comic reader and TV addict...and I'm borderline obsessed with the Foo Fighters.












Interview:

Q: What inspired you to be a writer?

A: I’ve been addicted to reading from as far back as I can remember. I started writing my own stories when I was in primary school (elementary school), but it took until my mid-twenties for me to write my first full-length manuscript. I loved the process and knew then I wanted to be a novelist. But it took five more manuscripts, two plays, a short-listed short story and a pile of rejections before I was finally a published author 16 years later. There’s nothing like that feeling of being lost in a story as a reader and it’s an even deeper experience as a writer. I love creating my own worlds and characters, and telling their stories – and hopefully entertaining readers along the way.

Q: Do you remember what book made you fall in love with reading/writing?

A: The first time I can remember being completely caught up in a story as a child was when I read an Australian book called Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park (in which a young girl is transported back in time). Not long after, I read The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and then devoured the Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew novels (both mystery series involving teenagers). Those books made me look for magic and mystery in the world around me, and started my life-long habit of daydreaming at inappropriate moments.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Shadows? 

A: Shadows started as a scene in my head that I couldn’t stop thinking about. It involved a girl and guy who were attracted to each other, but who had a complicated history that only he remembered. I knew there were paranormal elements in how she’d lost her memory and that they were part of a wider conflict. When I started researching world-building options to work out their story, I came across the Book of Enoch. It’s a two-thousand-year-old text that talks about angels being kicked out of heaven for getting a little too friendly with human women (a book not considered doctrine by mainstream churches). I got to thinking about what would happen if those angels got free again and fathered children. And then what the consequences would be for those half-angels, and how that could relate to my two characters. From there, the world of the Rephaim was born and Gaby and Rafa’s story came together.

Q: Rafa was personally my favorite character in your book, but who was your favorite character to write? 

A: I enjoy writing all of them, but I’d have to say Rafa is my favourite too – particularly as the series unfolds. He tends to react on instinct without thinking about the consequences, whether it’s in conversation or in battle. But he’s completely thrown by the way Gaby acts towards him and he’s not sure how to react to her any more – and that’s fun to write.

Q: I love Gaby's tough personality and how protective she is of her friends, what made you go with such a strong female character instead of a "damsel in distress" type? 

A: I’ve always been drawn to strong female characters – providing they have moments of vulnerability as well. I think a character is strongest when they face challenges at a time they’re least equipped to do so. For me, it’s how they react in these situations that makes them tough: not because they’re fearless or a badass fighter, but because they have to dig deep to deal with whatever’s thrown their way. Gaby has had a rough time – and gets thrown in the deep end a lot in this series – but I never wanted her to be a victim. And I certainly never wanted her to have to rely on a guy to save her. Her relationship with Rafa is complicated and messy, but they at least treat each other as equals.

Q: How many books can we expect in this series? 

A: There will be four books in the Rephaim series. Some of the big questions are answered on the way through, and others won’t be fully resolved until the last book.

Q: Would you want these books turned into movies if given the chance? 

A: How cool would that be? I have no idea what the likelihood of that is, given the vast number of books out there that would make great movies, but yes, I would be okay with it if it happened. Particularly if Joss Whedon or Sera Gamble were somehow involved…

Q: Are you currently working on anything else?

A: The Rephaim series is my entire writing world at the moment. I’m about to start work on revisions for Shimmer (book 3) and have made a very early start on the first draft of Book 4. I do have an idea I plan on exploring beyond the Rephaim series (YA, paranormal, but not angels), but I’ll definitely finish the fourth Rephaim book first.

This or That:

Q: Indoors or Outdoors? 

A: Outdoors. I’m certainly not your classic outdoorsy person, but I love the feel of the sun on my face and the grass between my toes, particularly if I’m near Australian bushland. That said, I do spend most of my life indoors at a keyboard.

Q: Physical book or ebook? 

A: Physical book (but I have a kindle for travelling).

Q: Heels or Flip flops? 

A: Flip flops.

Q: Writing with pen or typing? 

A: Pen for notes and brainstorming, keyboard for writing.

Q: Sweet guy or Bad boy? (Fictional characters only of course)

A: I’ve come to appreciate the sweet guy more as I get older, but a bad boy – with layers and depth – is still hugely appealing.

Thanks SO much Paula for the interview, and thank you Slyvia from Tundra Books for allowing me to be apart of this blog tour. :)

Find Paula on her site here.
Twitter: @PaulaWeston

Make sure to leave Paula some love in the comments section.