Blog Tour: Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

Welcome, welcome to the first stop on the ELUSION blog tour. I could not be more excited to share with book with you guys. Written by the dynamic duo of Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam (both of whom I have met and adore), this book is a stunning book that I loved immersing myself in.

About the Book:

Title: ELUSION

Author: Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 400

Pub. Date: March 18, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

Review:

I first heard about ELUSION back in September of 2012 when I heard Claudia Gabel speak at the Baltimore Book Festival. I remember jotting down her book and making a mental note to research it later on because 1) the book sounded cool and 2) Claudia was a total sweetie. Having met Cheryl Klam a few months ago, I can honestly say awesomeness attracts awesomeness and that's why this pairing works well as a writing team. 

Let's first talk about our narrator, Regan, who is strong, spunky, and fun in all the right ways. She knows her mind and goes for what she wants. Sometimes to her detriment, but it makes her such a great character to sink into and follow. She is the heart and soul of this story, working tirelessly to unravel the mysteries surrounding Elusion®.

The world building is mind-blowing. I am SciFi stupid, people. Even with a diagram, I am usually hopelessly lost, but Gabel and Klam brought out a vivid, exciting world where anything was possible. Admittedly it took me a few chapters to understand some of the futuristic jargon, which made me desperate for a glossary, but after awhile I became acclimated with the words and if I can do it, anyone can.

ELUSION is a great read for science fiction fans. Gabel and Klam definitely left me craving more with that ending (that ending!). I cannot wait to see what these two come up with next!

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

About Claudia and Cheryl:

Claudia Gabel was born in Roanoke, VA, raised in Binghamton, NY, and moved to Manhattan after studying abroad in London during her senior year in college. She received her Masters of Arts degree in English and American Literature from Hofstra University, and planned to pursue her doctorate, until a side-job as an editorial assistant at a large book publisher permanently redirected her career course. Claudia worked as an editor in the adult divisions of several major publishing houses, then made the move to children's books, where she hoped to inspire, educate, and entertain young readers. Along the way, she began writing novels of her own. Her first series, IN OR OUT, was based on her experiences as a freshman in high school. She wrote her mash-up novel, ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES, for readers who were looking to indulge in a fun twist on William Shakespeare. And her latest novel, ELUSION, co-written with fellow author Cheryl Klam, is a glimpse into the near-future, where a girl discovers that a popular alternate reality app is not exactly what it seems. Claudia lives in New York City with her husband Ben.

To contact Claudia, try:  
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  | Tumblr   

Cheryl Klam is the author (along with Claudia Gabel) of the young adult futuristic thriller, ELUSION. She is also the bestselling author of several other novels for adults and teens, including THE PRETTY ONE, which was nominated for an Isinglass Teen Read Award. Her work has been published in more than a dozen different languages. She grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan. When she was a teenager she starred in Sam Raimi's first short horror movie, later appearing as a "fake shemp" in Raimi's cult classic: THE EVIL DEAD.

To contact Cheryl, try:  
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  

Giveaway Details:

5 Prize Packs of a hardcover copy of the book along with an "Equip" (wristband, earbuds and Visor/sunglasses.) - US Only

1 finished copy of ELUSION - US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week One:

3/10/2014- The Irish Banana Review- Review

3/11/2014- Fiktshun- Guest Post

3/12/2014- Jenna Does Books- Review

3/13/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

3/14/2014- Fire and Ice- Interview

Week Two:

3/17/2014- Supernatural Snark- Review

3/18/2014- Bookish- Review

3/19/2014- The Book Cellar- Guest Post

3/20/2014- Parajunkee's View- Interview

3/21/2014- Fangirlish - Interview