{intl' GIVEAWAY} Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

Kirsty Eagar appreciation week is the brain-child of Nic @ Irresistible Reads and Linds from Bibliophile Brouhaha  ~ for all the insiders info check out Nic's post <3

When Nic was brainstorming ideas I knew I wanted to be involved as Kirsty is one of my absolute favourite Aussie YA authors. I have already posted reviews of her two books on inkcrush (Saltwater Vampires and Raw Blue) but I really could go on talking about them ~ in particular the brilliance that is Raw Blue ~ because, wow, I love that book and Carly and Ryan like crazy). So here's what you'll find on inkcrush this week:

I have two Kirsty Eagar week posts  

• this one, where I share some guest readers thoughts on Raw Blue and host an international giveaway O.o
• plus a post this coming Friday about Aussie YA books which feature protagonists who are older than the average YA (there are surprisingly a lot of Aussie YA books set after school years ~ just like Raw Blue)

(For other posts and giveaways in the Kirsty Eagar week see the schedule)

Nic of Irresistible Reads sent one copy of Raw Blue around the world to pass through the hands of some very awesome girls in our book club. They have graciously allowed me to share snippets from their Raw Blue reviews so you guys can see how Raw Blue continues to impact and touch readers around the world. 

Here's five girlies chatting it up *welcoming round of applause*

Raw Blue @ goodreads

Arlene: I can’t remember the last time a character made my heart bleed with paper cut precision. 


I’ve said this so many times before… Aussie writers have this gift. It’s a magical ability to catapult you into a fictional moment that feels so damn real and full of raw emotion that you can’t help but fully connect and when it’s over you feel like you fell on your ass because there’s no more pages left for you to grab onto. It’s like a tight embrace that makes you feel there… in the moment… and when it’s done and releases you, all you feel is the space around you and nothing comes close to that moment when you were in the story. Truly in the story. That my friends is what Raw Blue accomplished. from Arlene (in the US)






Flannery: Carly is 19 and Ryan is 26—their relationship feels more adult and this book definitely fills that awkward void of literature that exists between YA and adult. And Ryan? Swoon.

I think something I truly enjoyed about this one was that it honestly felt Australian. The language, the personalities, the descriptions, just everything. I want this book published in the US but I want NONE of it changed or adapted. I had to look up with bitumen is and so can you. To change anything would rip the Aussie heart out of this book.


This book made me feel like I was reading a Melina Marchetta book. Sometimes the descriptions were painfully beautiful, the characters were delightfully flawed, and the dialogue was almost always spot-on.  I hope you can get your hands on a copy! 

I am beyond grateful that the lovely Nic shared this book and I will definitely be acquiring a copy soon. Hopefully Penguin USA will get with the program and publish this here.  From Flannery (in the US)






Olivia: Everything feels so honest, so real, everybody is painted with intrinsical, well-set strokes. There is a lot of old and new pain and hurt and fear and shame and brokenness. Hope glimpses through temporarily like a ray of sunshine in murky water: Mainly in the shape of people who care fo Carly inspite of her prickly exterior - Danny, Hannah and Ryan - and in the form Carly's contentment when the surf is good.

The writing style is superb, too.  From Olivia (in Germany)

Janina: Often dark and painful, but with just the right shimmer of hope in between. Fleshed-out secondary characters with lovable quirks and “special abilities” (how cool is the synaesthesia thing??) and a main character whose voice is raw with pain and desperation, but also so distinctly her. The Australian vibe is in every sentence, the writing beautiful – forming an unforgettable setting. From Janina (in Germany)

Tina: Raw Blue is such a powerful and haunting story. You can not help but be completely invested right from minute one till the very last page, hoping against hope that this character will eventually find the peace she so desperately needs.


Overall, I thought this book was simply amazing. It's intense and touching and heartbreaking and even though I usually tend to stay away from this type of heartbreak-reads, since it takes days to get over it, I'm still very happy to have had a chance to experience this outstanding gem. From Tina (in Canada) 

Oh ~ aren't those five girls lovely reviewers?

THANK YOU to Arlene, Flannery, Olivia, Janina and Tina 

for allowing me to share your thoughts about Raw Blue on inkcrush :D

I have, courtesy of the lovely Kirsty Eagar, a signed copy of (the brilliant) Raw Blue to give away

Isn't is gorgeous?

I will post this to anyone, anywhere

All entry requires is name and email 
However, this lovely signed copy was bought and donated by Kirsty herself, I have some additional entries available as a way of helping promote the awesomeness that is Raw Blue :D 
(for those of you who love the extra entry scene ;)

Open Internationally

Open for one week, closes Sept 7

Winner via random dot org

[Raw Blue is also internationally available through fishpondworld.com with free international postage]

In other, completely unrelated, news ... I have *just* returned from camping on the lovely Yamba River where I was blissfully lazy, technology-free, muddy (we spent a couple of stormy nights in the tent) and sunburnt (in between the rain, we had some sunshiny patches). I have missed you all and hope to catch up on my emails and bloggy world soon :)

x Nomes