YA Scavenger Hunt (Spring 2016)

Welcome to my stop on the Spring 2017 YA Scavenger Hunt! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a number clue. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our grand prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team (the red team). But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours! 

My name is Sarvenaz Tash and I'll be your host for this leg of the hunt. I'm the author of the John Hughes goes to Comic Con novel The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love (an Amazon Best Book of the Year, YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers) and the Woodstock Festival romance Three Day Summer.  And at the bottom of this post I’m also including a separate giveaway for a signed copy of both of those books!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt or to find a full list of participating authors in case you are stuck. There are five contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all. I’m a part of the RED TEAM–but there is also a pink team, a gold team, a blue team, and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of books.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE:
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the red team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, April 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST 
Today, I am hosting author Sara B. Larson!

Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY trilogy: DEFY, IGNITE, and ENDURE, and the forthcoming DARK BREAKS THE DAWN. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband, their children, and their Maltese, Loki. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day (while mourning the demise of naptime) and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction. You can visit her at www.SaraBLarson.com.

ABOUT SARA'S BOOK: DARK BREAKS THE DAWN

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT 
Here are the first two pages of DARK BREAKS THE DAWN - the first teaser released online!

An eon of peace, a world of joy,

Until it was shattered, by one foul boy,

A youngling at sixteen, Drystan his name,

For the first blood spilt, came his dark fame.

Banished he was, with followers in tow,

Power taken, as the final blow.

But cursed we were, immortality lost,

For the deeds he did, this was the cost.

Take heed, and follow not his path,

Or curse be restored, and removed, that we hath.

Peace is required, for life to thrive,

Those who seek power, from our shores we must drive.

Balance is required, such a thin knife,

That binds us all, and gives us life.

—draíolon nursery rhyme

The jeweled forest blurred into a tapestry of color as Evelayn sprinted away from the castle. She whipped past the trees and bushes as though she was made from the wind that pushed at her back. The sentries unlucky enough to have been assigned to guard her—or, more accurately, to trail her—on these

early morning runs were already falling behind, their harsh breathing cutting across the gray-tinged stillness of dawn.

Good, she couldn’t help but think, as she kicked up her heels and pushed herself even harder. What she really wanted right now was to be alone, something nearly impossible to achieve. Inside the castle, on the grounds, even with just her sentries, she knew her duty. She knew the part she had to play. The queen had taught her well.

But she’d jerked awake this morning after yet another nightmare, only to realize that nothing had changed. Evelayn had found it harder than ever to don the mask that she was usually so adept at summoning. The queen must always appear calm, unruffled. Your subjects will look to you; your actions will determine theirs. Her mother’s words, and Evelayn had lived by them her whole life. After all, she would be the queen one day. Hopefully in the very distant future.

But what kind of queen would she be without her full power?

Evelayn’s lungs burned hot for a moment, her throat went raw with suppressed emotion. Her sentries were no longer visible—or audible—but still she struggled for control. It was all she knew; it was her only defense against the rising panic.

Because it was her eighteenth birthday and nothing had changed.

She hadn’t planned on running today, but after pacing in her room for a few minutes, Evelayn couldn’t stand the silence or the tightness in her belly any longer. She’d pulled her lavender-streaked hair into a

ponytail, yanked on her soft, supple running boots, and splashed water on her pale face. Evelayn had tried not to scowl at the dark circles beneath her violet eyes when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Too many sleepless nights, worrying about the war. Worrying about her mother.

Queen Ilaria had promised she’d return from the warfront for Evelayn’s birthday and the ceremony that was to take place that night. Evelayn could only hope her mother was going to keep that promise. She didn’t want to see another Draíolon, didn’t want to talk to anyone, except her mother.

Without even realizing it, she’d run north of the castle, skirting the city of Solas, heading for the high ground that would enable her to watch for her mother’s arrival. It was a longer run than normal, and Tyne, her lady-in-waiting, would certainly be concerned, upset even, if she came to Evelayn’s room and found it empty . . . but certainly she was at least allowed this, wasn’t she? A brief escape as she tried to come to grips with the fact that her full power hadn’t manifested—that something was wrong with her. The future queen of Éadrolan.

ENTER THE CONTEST 
Click here to to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Sara B. Larson, and 18 other YA authors! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 24. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the red team and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on the red team’s hunt, you need to check out the next author, Kristi Helvig.

MY GIVEAWAY

Enter below to win a signed hardcover of The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love and a signed paperback of Three Day Summer. (This contest is U.S. only).

a Rafflecopter giveaway