Blog Tour:Ethereal Fury (Gemini Rising #1) by Jessica O'Gorek {Excerpt + Review + Author Interview}

Author: Jessica O'Gorek
Title: Ethereal Fury
Series: Gemini Rising #1
Publication Date: April 13th 2013
Publisher: Cogent Publishing
Rating: 4 stars



Synopsis

BEWARE! THE PLANET IS WOUNDED... THE GEMINI ARE RISING AND OUR TIME ON EARTH IS LIMITED

Angry at the human race and its methodical destruction of her resources, Mother Earth recruits souls who have just left their bodies to serve Her, and turns them against humanity. Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings, picked from these possessed humans, emerges. A powerful, rising force proceeds to carry out Mother Nature’s plan to systematically destroy towns, cities, states… and eventually, the world. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between a human girl, Violette, and Onyx, a lead Gemini, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.
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Excerpt

Onyx floated near the window of Violette’s room. He observed her sleeping face. The new scratches on her cheeks and dirt under her nails were a painful reminder of the mess he’d made. Everything had gone smoothly until he’d been unable to resist a little touch. He’d just wanted to feel her before he ruined the one chance he would ever have to get close to her. He had planned on taking over Slate long enough to proclaim his love for Eleanor and thereby ruining the boy’s hold on Violette’s heart. A nasty plan, but better than having to live with the thought of Slate having her to himself. 
He never thought his reaction would be so explosive. Her hand had been so soft, warm, and the look in her eyes was liquid desire. When he’d led her up on her knees, his craving to be touched by her had overwhelmed him. It was like giving into a carnal sin, allowing a human to have power over him. For any human to get this close to a Gemini, in a peaceful fashion, was unheard of. A shameful need had begun to work its way into his psyche. The fire leapt out of control and turned into an incredible rage, a rage so whole and powerful, he had been consumed with Slate’s human adrenaline when he had attacked her. How could this lovely, weak little creature have such an influence over him? He considered this longing to be an inadequacy within himself, one that he could not conquer. He was then determined to kill both her and Slate. He had lost his temper. Never before had he felt he would wither away if he didn’t take a soul. He’d always been able to pick and choose his victims, but Violette had unknowingly chosen him. The thought of facing Tork with this information drove him to the grim conclusion that he had no choice.
Looking down at her now and how peacefully she slept, he was so very glad Slate had broken free long enough to chase her away. She did not deserve the fate he would’ve given her. His guilt was eating at him now. He had to destroy this place, but he was not sure he could leave her to perish. Frustrated, he sank to the cot beside her and laid his head down on her belly. She slept soundly, oblivious to his silent apology. If he stayed away from her, he could not hurt her. So he would follow Slate and learn where his strength to fight him off stemmed from.
"Sleep, little one," he whispered, and sank through the floor, on his way to the cellar. 

Review

The story

We are all aware of global warming.We also know who is responsible for it.We are,of course because we can't appreciate the planet that we consider home.Well,that's about to change because even if we can't believe it,we're not alone.

Mother Earth won't survive much longer if the pollution and destruction of the planet continues so she recruits souls who have just left their bodies to serve Her and turns them against humanity. Some of these people took advantage of Earth and its natural resources like Oliver,an oil tycoon, who after his death became a paranormal being called Onyx and belongs to a clan named Gemini.

Their purpose is to protect Mother Earth and in order to accomplish that,they will kill every single human that stands in their way...

The characters

Oliver was an ambitious engineer that after years of work,was the first person to strike oil in the Niger Delta.Years later,he's one of the richest men alive but all the money and the fame can't save him from a heart attack.He thought he'd died and he did but his soul didn't and now he belongs to the Gemini and he must serve the one thing he didn't respect,Earth.

In the beginning,you'd think that Gemini are here to help Mother Earth survive which is a good thing but they are willing to kill everyone in order to do so without taking into consideration that they also kill innocent people like little children.Oliver didn't care about people as well but that changed when he met Violette.

Violette is a seventeen year old orphan girl who lost her parents in a fatal fire.Now,she lives in a church with other girls just like her and goes to school there too.She's pure,innocent,young and sweet.Everything that Onyx isn't.Maybe that's what attracted him to her in the first place.

But Onyx isn't the only one that cares deeply about Violette.There's also Slate,who used to agree with everything Father Darius told them about these demons that possessed people and that they should destroy them once and for all.Little did he know that the Gemini want the same thing for them.Just because Slate agreed with Father Darius,didn't mean that he actually thought it was the right thing to do.

Verdict

I liked reading Ethereal Fury because it was something I had never read before.It's also about a sensitive subject that we should all take into consideration because whether we like it or not this is our only home,for now.

Author Interview

Thank you so much for answering my questions Jessica!

Ethereal Fury is your debut YA novel. Tell us, how was it to write a novel and have it published?

Writing Ethereal Fury for me was like getting to put on paper the people that had been running around in my head for quite some time. I’ve always had this helpless feeling about not being able to help the environment and stop people from doing bad things to it so this was actually a moral weight off of me. I was finally able to contribute something larger than myself to the greater good and just hope that others will get the message and follow suit!

How long did it take you to finish it?

It took me six months to write the first book and two years to get half way through Book 4. It also took me two years to get it to the point where it was “manuscript acceptable.”

Was there a moment that you said, "I give up"?

Nope. Never. I am so not a quitter on anything that means something to me. Once I care, once I have a vision of what I want something to look like, I have to get it out, whether it’s through my writing, my art work, or my voice.

What do you like most about writing for this age group?

They are young and impressionable and I love the challenge of being able to catch their attention and keep it. If I can get a message about the state of the environment across to them, and they carry it through to adult hood, maybe they will be avid tree huggers and activists for Mother Earth!

Have you ever thought of writing an Adult book? And what genre would that be?

Actually, Gemini Rising started out as an adult novel with some very erotic scenes. But… my daughter wanted to be able to read it and she is only 13, so guess what? Yep, I had to go back through and edit out all the heated scenes and tone down some of the other disturbing messages. It was not easy! So the answer is, yes, I have written in other genres and I enjoy it.

When can we expect the sequel?

I need your help and support before I can give you a date! When I asked my publisher that same question, their answer was, “As soon as Book I becomes a best seller!” 

What are you currently reading?

The last in the Mortal Instrument Series, City of Lost Souls.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I am half way through Book IV right now and have taken a break to promote this one.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I love you and I would be nothing without you. If you ever have any questions/suggestions about my books please do email me! I love answering your questions and getting your feedback!

Thank you for your time!

Jessica O'Gorek

I was born in Chesapeake, Virginia on April 19th, 1979. I was raised within the American Indian religion and was taught great respect for the earth and all its living beings. Powwows, sweat lodges, vision quests, you name it, I’ve done it. I was the weird kid who would confront kids on the playground in elementary school when they squished a bug. I would very sincerely tell them what they were doing was morally wrong and then I would pray for the bug to come back as a butterfly in its next life.

I grew up admiring my father, Barry Weinstock, as an author. He took me around the country to different places so he could research and write his Wilderness Survival books. One of his greatest works, “The Path of Power,” was written with a great medicine man, Sunbear. When I was twelve I started

hand writing novels. My first one was two thousand pages. My dad always encouraged me and would rave about my writing. He gave me the confidence I needed to keep writing and follow my dream. My daughter, who is twelve, is currently working on her first novel. I hope to continue the legacy.

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