Blog Tour: Kelly Keaton's Darkness Becomes Her (Review, Interview, & Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Review:

Darkness Becomes Her is like nothing I've read before. It's spooky, charming, and intriguing. A book that has one of the most unique plot lines I've read in the last few months, which proves Kelly Keaton to be one fabulous author, in my opinion.

Darkness Becomes Her tells the story of Ari. Ari's felt different than most people not only because of the fact she's been in foster care the majority of her life, but with her teal eyes and silver hair it's hard to call herself "normal." Add in the fact that she just discovered her mom killed herself over delusions, Ari has never felt more lost in life. She decides the best way to get answers about her past and her mom, is to go back to her birth-place, the newly rebuilt city of New Orleans called New 2. There she meets a group of misfits just like herself, as well as a possible romantic interest, but is everything as it appears? And when she finally does figure out the secret behind her mother's delusions, will she be able to handle it, as well as everything that it means for her and her new friends? Only time will tell in this action-packed novel!

One of my favorite parts about this book was the main character Ari. She's someone who is fearless and not afraid of getting her hands dirty when it comes to saving her life and the lives of her friends in New 2. I thought the way Kelly Keaton presented Ari's feelings over the death of her mother, as well as the secrets her mother took to her grave, were done in a realistic way, even with the paranormal aspects contained in the book. Adding to this, I loved Ari's friendships with the other teens and kids of New 2 because each were distinguishable, as well as likable, and brought something truly special to the world contained inside the pages of New 2. I specifically liked Ari's bond with Sebastian and the little spark of romance that came with it.

Another aspect of this book I enjoyed was the plot. As mentioned before, it was action-packed and unique, making Darkness Become Her one un-put-a-down-able book! I loved finding out more about Ari and her background, as well as the story of New 2 and its leaders, with each twist, turn, and new plot line that came with the story. This is truly one story that will manage to blow your mind time and time again!

Kelly Keaton's writing was also fabulous. She did a great job of fleshing out the plot lines and characters, as well as making their story truly jump of the page with the setting at hand.

In all, Darkness Becomes Her is sure to become one huge hit in the new year, and because of that I highly, highly, highly recommend you pre-order it. You wouldn't want to miss out on the all mind-blowing now would you?

But ward of warning: the ending will leave you dying to read the sequel!

Grade: A+

Darkness Becomes Her is now out!

Source: Simon and Schuster's Galley Grab program

~~~

Interview:

I also had the chance to ask Kelly a few questions, so without a further ado...

In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens should consider picking up Darkness Becomes Her the next time they see it in stores or online?

Well, I'd say please consider if... 1) you're into paranormal creatures and mythology, especially Greek mythology. 2) you're into post-apocalyptic-like settings and semi-dystopian stories 3) if you're into heroines who are independent and can take care of themselves, but who have a soft side too.

Darkness Becomes Her tells the story of Ari so would you mind telling us a little about her? Also, if you could offer her any type of advice what would you say?

Ari is tough because life made her that way. She's a product of one foster home after another. She's learned to keep her heart out of the equation and she's learned how to fight and how to deal with whatever issues come her way. She's an expert at disconnecting herself from pain. Inside, though, she is very lonely. She wants to know who she is, where she came from, she wants to find a place where she can just let her guard down, be at peace, and know she is accepted and loved. And right now, she's too scared to hope that's possible.

I guess if I was giving her advice, especially in the beginning of her journey, I'd tell her that it's okay to be different, that I'm proud of her for surviving her childhood and growing into a strong young woman with a admirable sense of right and wrong. I'd tell her to listen to her instincts and her heart. To be open and that she'll find that place where she longs to be.

The majority of Darkness Becomes Her takes place in New 2, the rebuilt city of New Orleans, which leaves me to wonder the following: why did you not only decide to set it there, but construct a whole new New Orleans around the remains with New 2?

I chose the city because I LOVE it. And when I write, I want to write about the things I love and find insanely cool and exciting. New Orleans has so much character. It's haunting, mysterious, the architecture is gorgeous, there's Mardi Gras and cemeteries, voodoo, so many flavors and cultures colliding. It's a rare place where it seems like the veil between the living and the dead is very thin. But, I wanted to go one step farther and make the city even more haunting, more lush, and mysterious, more raw and dangerous, more like a frontier town -- alluring to those seeking sanctuary and opportunity.

In Darkness Becomes Her, Ari feels that one of the main things that sets her apart from everyone else is her teal eyes and silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, which leaves me to wonder the following: why did you choose to have Ari have those characteristics specifically?

Honestly, Ari appeared in my mind fully formed with the white hair and the strange eyes. Kind of like how Athena burst forth fully grown and armed from the forehead of Zeus! I just had this vision of her and then everything else came together. I think in very visual terms, and I saw her in this gray, decaying, lush world, in her dark clothes, fighting, her white hair flying about as she moved with deadly grace. Yet she held a sadness, too. I'm not sure I chose her at all. I think she might've chosen me, LOL.

Besides Ari, who was your favorite character to write about in Darkness Becomes Her? Why?

Athena! Because she is so bad and psychotic and manipulative. That kind of character is extremely fun to write! Violet comes in a close second. Oh, how I love that strange little girl!

What was one of the most challenging aspects of writing Darkness Becomes Her?

Probably presenting the myth I chose in a way that didn't turn the book into a horror story, and to present Ari the way I saw her in my mind.

How did the title Darkness Becomes Her come to be?

I think I came up with the title around the time I started thinking about Ari, or it might've been a little before. I like to play with titles the way other people doodle or do crossword puzzles. If I'm bored, sometimes I'll just flip through the thesaurus... I have a *ton* of titles in my notebook! But anyway, I knew it fit this story perfectly and my editor agreed, so it stayed.

With Darkness Becomes Her's release date fast approaching, do you have any plans on how you'll spend the day?

I'll probably work on revisions (for the sequel) and hope it distracts me from the nerves! I have the launch book signing that night, so I'll be getting ready for that and then its off to Barnes & Noble.

You also write adult urban fantasy under the name Kelly Gay, so what made you decide to make the switch to YA with your Gods and Monsters series?

It was the story that made the switch. I didn't think too much about genre or markets when I was writing it. It was just an idea that I was really excited about and wanted to pursue. I thought as I was moving along through the story that it was older YA, but I let my agent decided what route to take and what publishers to go after. For me it's all about writing the stories I'm passionate about no matter where they might fall in the market -- though one thing that will always remain is the paranormal elements. I can't seem to write anything without it!

What's up next for you book wise? Also, is there anything else you would like to add?

I have my third adult book coming out August 30, 2011, and then the sequel to Darkness Becomes Her will be out Feb 2012. I have an AWESOME title for this second Ari book, too. I cannot wait to share it! It's spooky and just perfect for the book! And I'll just add a big thank you my readers! And to you, Lauren, for having me! :-)

~~

No thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I seriously can't wait to see what will happen next in the New 2 world! :)

Now what are you waiting for? Go and buy your copy of Darkness Becomes Her! I promise you won't regret it one bit.

~~

Giveaway:

Now for the part you've all been waiting for...the giveaway!

Thanks to Kelly I have ONE copy of Darkness Becomes Her to giveaway, and better yet this contest is open INTERNATIONALLY!

Here are the official rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ This contest is open internationally.
~ It will end on March 11, 2011!
~ Please fill out the following form to enter.



Other stops on the tour:

Larissa's Bookish Life - Guest post/Giveaway - February 18th 2011
The Bookish Type - Interview/Giveaway - February 20th 2011
The Book Butterfly - Interview/Giveaway - February 21st 2011
Paper Cut Reviews - Interview/Giveaway - February 22nd 2011
Fantastic Book Review - Book Summary/Excerpt/Interview/Review/Giveaway - February 21st-24th 2011
Dark Faerie Tales - Interview - February 23rd 2011
Wicked Awesome Books - Interview - February 25th 2011
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf - Interview - February 25th 2011
Girl about Books - Interview - February 26th 2011
Good Choice Reading - Guest post - February 27th 2011
Once Upon a Twilight - Grand-prize Giveaway - February 28th 2011