Once Upon a Twilight!: Blog Tour: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin + Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on The Walled City tour for Ryan Graudin. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tour.

The Walled City
Author: Ryan Graudin
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: November 4th 2014
Review Source: Little, Brown

There are three rules in the Walled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife. Right now, my life depends completely on the first. Run, run, run.

Jin, Mei Yee, and Dai all live in the Walled City, a lawless labyrinth run by crime lords and overrun by street gangs. Teens there run drugs or work in brothels—or, like Jin, hide under the radar. But when Dai offers Jin a chance to find her lost sister, Mei Yee, she begins a breathtaking race against the clock to escape the Walled City itself.

Two words: mind blowing.

Just WOW.

I started with a WOW and after reading the author’s note… WOW

The Walled City was incredibly dark, faced-paced and just oh-so-good.

There are three rules of survival in the Walled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife. And if you don’t follow these rules, good luck to you buddy, you are dead within seconds.

Three rules. Three lives at stake. 1 countdown.

First we meet Jin Ling. The girl with a deadly secret. If anyone finds out she is a girl living on the streets of this dangerous city - she is dead. Luckily, she is fast. Faster than any strong men. This girl has given her “freedom” to keep a promise… a promise to her sister. A sister that was sold by their father. Her goal is to rescue her sister and leave without getting caught.

Then there is Dai. He is broken and desperate. His guilt kills him softly. He will do anything and everything to complete his mission. He will break the rules, knowing he is at risk for his life. But when one has lost everything, what else is there to live for?

Finally, we have Mei Yee. Sold to the brothel, Mei Yee is one of the many slaves stuck in the Walled City. She has been forced into things girls her age shouldn't experience. It was devastating to read her parts.

The Walled City was captivating yet some parts were difficult to read. When I read this place existed… OH GOD, THE NIGHTMARES! I wouldn’t survive a day in that horrible place. The author’s note killed me. Human trafficking suck and it must be stop. We need to make a stand and do something.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. Though some parts were hard to read, it was very engaging. I recommend this to a mature young adult audience.

Ryan Graudin grew up in Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Creative Writing in 2009. She is the author of All That Glows and The Walled City. She resides near Charleston with her husband and wolf-dog. You can find her online at www.ryangraudin.com.

Her work is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.

(1) Grand prize pack: It includes: A finished copy of THE WALLED CITY, rice candy, a miniature lucky cat, a traditional Chinese paper cutout of a dragon, and a pamphlet from the real Walled City Park! US ONLY

(9) winners will receive: A finished copy of THE WALLED CITY. US ONLY.

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