Title: Wisteria
Author: Bisi Leyton
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: Aug 2012
Number of pages: 275
Cover Artist: Olivia SmithWisteria by Bisi Leyton:
Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two
options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known
safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with
well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain
death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to
survive among the hordes of living dead.
Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The
Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his
Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as
Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen
before, but somehow knows.
Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious
blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back
to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.
Praise for Wisteria:
“I love the buildup of this story, getting to know
the characters and watching their connection grow. I had no idea which way the
story was headed and I was kept in suspense right up to the very end! It has
plenty of action and a fascinating plot and I can’t wait to see what Bisi
Leyton has for us next!!”
“There are a lot of great things in this book, so
much more than zombies and a struggle for survival. At it’s base core it is
about star-crossed lovers, literally and the supporting characters roles… Ms.
Leyton brings to Wisteria a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, dystopic world
with a twist to the paranormal romance angle!”
“The book was full of nonstop action from the
beginning until the end, and I did not put it down until I had finished it. I
loved the book.”
Excerpt:
As
she walked back to the ridge of the roof, Bach’s heart went with her. Someone
had tried to hurt her. Tried to damage what belonged to him, and who he
belonged to.
He
started to feel dizzy from the volumes of strangle weed planted in the front of
her house.
“Thank
you so much for coming and for the guitar. It’s perfect.” She gave it back to
him.
“No,
it is yours, Wisteria.” He refused to take it. “Do you not like it?”
“No,
I love it. It’s so beautiful.”
“Then
keep it.” He kissed her neck. Knowing—hoping—his touch would soothe her pain,
but he hadn’t come here to comfort her.
“Bach.”
She used her instrument as a shield as she moved away from him. “It’s a bad
idea. You won’t understand.”
“You
are right. I do not get why you would refuse something you apparently love,” he
whispered while rubbing her forearms and taking in her scent.
“If
I accept your kindness, then I’ll have to face the consequences. I don’t know
if I can face those.”
“You
cannot face accepting my kindness, or is it accepting me that you cannot face?”
“Um…?”
“Tell
me that you do not feel the same,” he whispered. “That the moment you first saw
me that I did not get inside your head. Tell me that you do not think about me
all of the time when we are not together?”
The
dark-eyed girl did not answer.
Wishing
he could will her to speak, he pressed her against his chest. Briefly, he
noticed a black spot at the base of her neck, where he had kissed her, and then
it was gone. “Okay, Wisteria. Then tell me that you want me to leave, and that
you do not care if you never ever see me again.” He felt like someone else was
speaking for him, once again. The questions became pointless as he found
himself still planting kisses along her neck and the sides of her face.
“I
can’t tell you that, Bach,” she replied softly, her voice breaking. “Because
it’s not true.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.
Desperately
wanting to kiss her luscious-looking lips, he leaned into her.
Wisteria
reached up to him, tugging his head down as she stood on the very tips of her
toes, seemingly just as eager to taste his lips.
“Wisteria,
I cannot.” He broke away before it happened. “I do not want this.”
* * * * *
Wrapping
her arms around herself, she moved away from him. Once again, humiliated and
feeling foolish. “Goodnight, Bach!” She strode angrily to the side of the roof
in order to climb down.
He
grabbed her and held her back
The
guy came here just to tease her, yet again! Didn’t
he know he was hurting her? Didn’t
he care? “I’m
tired of all this nonsense. I’m actually tired and need some sleep. I’m done
with this. All of this!” She should’ve left the roof when she saw him appear.
“Let go, so I can go.”
“Wisteria,
it is not that.” Exhaling heavily, he released her. “My people could kill you
if they knew I wanted you.”
This
wasn’t at all what she’d expected him to say. “What?”
“I
am in love with you. I do not know why, but I am. And it is selfish, because I
just want you for myself.” Sadness filled his eyes as he spoke.
“Why
would they do that to me?”
“Because
you are human and because we see humans as Terran, or dirt people.”
“And
you believe that too? So why are you here, living among us, if we’re so
disgusting?”
“You
are not disgusting. You are beautiful.” Rubbing his temples, he seemed troubled
and bewildered. “I came to Terra as a rite of passage. To be considered a man,
to take a journey and experience the wild.”
“The
wild?”
“I
chose Terra, or Earth, because I came here as a child. Your people treated me
so badly in the past. When I learned about the Nero disease, I wanted to see
your world.” He paused. “You were right when you said there was something wrong
with me.”
“Bach,
it cannot be that bad.” Stepping up to him, she stroked her fingers along his
biceps.
The
sweet motion made him smile at her, but he still looked distressed.
“Like
about Garfield, you let him live with you. And now you’re here with me.”
“You
are not like the rest.”
“Neither
are you. You’re not so cold and cruel like Enric or patronizing like Felip.
They think they’re better than us. You just hate people because you’re a jerk,
Bach.”
“Ha.”
Bach laughed. “A jerk?”
“You’re
a big jerk.” As the final word rolled from her lips,
he kissed her.
She
was stunned for a second. His lips tasted like a strange, tantalizing spice.
He
squeezed her against his larger frame and rested his right hand on the small of
her back.
She
fidgeted, unsure about what to do with her hands. She tried to kiss him back,
but she struggled because she was so short.
Book Trailer:
Audiobook Excerpt:
Audiobook Excerpt:
Bisi Leyton was born in East London in 1978. She grew up in
London, Nigeria and the States, listening to the stories life and love from
aunts, cousins and big sisters.
She lives in London, but has worked around Europe
including France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She has a
fondness for reading graphic novels.
Links
Links
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