Exalted Tour!

Hey everyone!  I'm super excited about what is going on today because it's Ella James' Exalted tour stopping by here today!!  I've got some awesome goodies in store for you and there will be cool stuff given away on here!!   For those of you who are stopping in for the first time and you don't know about Ella James and her awesome Stained Series, refer to here and here!   Exalted is the last book in the Stained series, and if you haven't read it yet, there is a chance you can score the series on here FOR FREE!  Yay!!!  Let's get down to the good stuff!! 

First off a scene from Exalted!!!!!

Her stomach heaved and her throat constricted. She couldn’t breathe, and yet her mouth made little aaaha, aaaha noises. Like someone in a horror movie.

Calm yourself.

She was able to stand still, to press an off button on that most frantic part of herself. She clenched her fists and stood there, breathing fast in through her nose.

Do you know why the successful Candidate is known as The One?

When she didn’t move, but only breathed, the voice was louder. ANSWER. ME.

“No,” she whispered. The figure didn’t move. Just a dark spot in the corner. Blacker than black, and dense like fog. Just looking at it made her feel like dying. She recognized it as that familiar dementors-in-the-building sensation from being around Edan—but this was magnified so much it made her desperate to escape it.

Julia looked around the small, mud room for doors, for windows, any exit. She heard a soft, dark laugh before she felt the rumbling of that voice inside her head.

Long ago, I was called The One. The Alpha and his—  worshippers thought it unsafe to mutter my name. To name any adversary. So I was called The One, and I was banished to the earth. My Adversary, my mutinous cohort in a rebellion of the Authorities, my fellow banished, became defined by me. The Adversary. He tried to gain control of the earth, but I succeeded, banishing him to another realm: the depths. Do you know what the name ‘The One’ signifies?

Julia shook her head, and the voice inside her mind returned.

There is only one me. Why would one like me share the name with you, a mere descendant, many times removed from true power?

Julia held her breath.

Because in the end, you will be me. I will pour my power into you, and you will be the perfect vessel. Made of me, your body will recognize my power. Accept it. Do you know how you were chosen, girl?

Julia shook her head, feeling warm tears trickle down her cheeks.

I saw to it that a list of Candidates fell into the hands of each generation of… what was that name? Oh, yes. Swosen. So creative. The shadow in the corner writhed. They consorted with Samyaza. Released the names. And your Hunter and his mentor, well, they hunted.

Most of my descendants are unable to contain their gifts, making it easy for my sons and me to locate them. But you were different. Your parents had restraint; they rarely used their gifts. I did not kill them; they died naturally as feeble humans do. Your gift ignited for the first time in the presence of…another descendant, older and already tracked by my sons and me. You were stubborn, and after that burst of power, which we assumed came from him, you never used your gift again in such a way. You fell through the cracks.

And then one of my sons saw you in a vision, consorting with a Nephilim Hunter. They have many gifts, my sons. Too many gifts. I cannot silence them, and I cannot use their decrepit bodies as a vessel.

Julia’s heart sank.

“But y-you can u-use me?”

The shadow trembled at her voice. Quiet, he ordered.

She nodded tearfully. I’m sorry.

Fog rose from the floor, billowing around the dark spot.

You are The One. You are nothing. You are me. You were chosen, descendant, because your gifts are altogether unremarkable. A healer? Not even gifted with the ability to See.

The fog-swathed darkness rearranged itself, then writhed closer, making Julia freeze. I leashed you. Why not? What do you matter? And with the leash, I gave you some of my gifts. Just a fraction. A fraction of a fraction of a fraction. You managed them without grace or talent. Most of my power was translated by your simple mind into mere prophetic dreams. Not even truly prophetic. Details missing, pieces rearranged. You are truly one of the least remarkable of all the ‘Chosen.’ The words were spoken with disgust.

‘Chosen’ was my son’s genius. Truly, you are merely my descendants. The descendants of a powerful celestial Authority, commodities to track and collect by way of your birthmarks. 

Do you know what I was called, by the ones that worshiped at my feet?

Julia shook her head.

I was known as The Exalted One.

Silence pressed on her. And in the silence, the shadow pulsed like something vast and primal.

It shouldn’t take me long to rid your body of your spirit. I will scoop you out and push myself inside. I will pour my power into your vessel, use it to remove the barrier the Alpha erected to keep me from my throne. You will be used up and I will remain whole. And I will be Exalted once again.

I know that if you looked on the tour stop page that there was supposed to be a review for Exalted today too, but that had to be pushed back a few days so keep a look out! :) BUT...

I was lucky enough to have the awesome Meredith from the series stop by for an interview!  I love her, and really wanted to know more about her, and now you will too!  Thanks so much for stopping in Mer to answer my questions!!

Hey Meredith, thanks so much for stopping by today! I know your adventures have been crazy of late, but has there been anywhere around the world you have seen lately that you really want to go visit again if you can? Believe it or not, I liked them all. Scotland and Switzerland were great. I would also love to go with Carlin to Spain.

When did you find out about your special abilities and how did you become a candidate? My aunt and uncle used to dream about me a lot when I lived with them. Sooner or later I realized I remembered the same dream one of them had, so it was more like we were meeting in another place than just dreaming. Before that I always knew what people were feeling.

What would your perfect boyfriend be like? *big grin* Ian Somerhalder. For sure.

While you were a candidate, did you ever dream of having a normal job someday? If so, what did/do you want to be? Counselor would be the most obvious, but I’d really like to be a clothes designer.

What is your favorite meal to eat? Mmm. I love all food. Especially French omelets and gummy bears. But not together!

Finally, tell us two things that can always cheer you up! Sparkly manicures and The Vampire Diaries.

Thanks so much again for stopping by!

Thank you for inviting me! See you in Exalted!  

Exalted is the last book in the Stained Series by the awesome Ella James!  If you haven't read the series, what are you waiting for!?  I have talked about her on here before and I cannot tell you how much I love her books!  All Stained blurbs are below for your information!



EXALTED (Stained Series Book Four):
Ripped apart by the betrayals of two friends and ensnared by their respective celestial captors, Julia and Cayne are poised to fulfill their fatal role in The Three’s return to power. Their Chosen friends will move Hell and Earth to win their freedom, but how will they fight fate when more sinister forces take control? The net will come down. Someone will be sacrificed. A dear friend will die. And a mighty celestial battle will play out on Earth, with everything—and everyone—at stake.

ABOUT ELLA:
Ella James lives in Alabama with her amazing husband, energetic baby, and mopey dog. Her books have been nominated best debut novel and best sci-fi/fantasy at utopYA Convention 2012, received a Flamingnet Top Choice Award, and been featured on numerous Amazon bestseller lists. She is the author of the popular Stained Series, the Here Trilogy, and Before You Go—all YA romance—and has four more titles forthcoming in 2012.

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Also: The winner of this contest will get a Stained bookmark!  Woot!

A look at the rest of the books in the Stained Series!

STAINED (YA paranormal romance):
After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia's home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.
*Nominated best debut novel at UtopYAcon 2012.*

STOLEN (Stained Series Book Two):
With Cayne's fate in the hands of his enemies and Julia spirited away to the covert Stained compound, the two are separated by impenetrable walls and a gulf of unanswered questions. Soon Julia learns the truth about the Stained and the plans they have for her, the compound is attacked, and a new group is running from an unwanted destiny, searching the globe in pursuit of the knowledge that just might save them all.

CHOSEN (Stained Series Book Three):
Julia has been chosen. While at the Stained compound, she was tapped as The One to win the war against the Nephilim and leashed with an illness that worsens each day she is away from The Three. Determined not to return to the frightening Chosen leaders and desperate to escape her fate, Julia and her friends journey to the Swiss Alps, home of a rogue Chosen clan. In this snowy haven, all hell breaks loose. Someone is traitor. Someone changes sides. Someone is dragged to Hades. A new romance blossoms. An old romance is damned. And The Three will stop at nothing to recover the weapon that will help them regain power.

GET IN TOUCH:
To find out more about Ella’s projects and get exact dates on her upcoming releases, friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesbooks and follow her blog, ellajamesbooks.blogspot.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.