Showing posts with label steampunk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steampunk. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Monday, December 15, 2014
{Blog Tour} NERO'S FIDDLE by A.W. Exley -- with review and giveaway
Welcome to my tour stop for Nero's Fiddle by A.W.Exley.
This is the third book in the Artifact Hunters series.
This is the third book in the Artifact Hunters series.
This is a New Adult Mystery Steampunk series with a good dose of adventure and romance. The tour runs Dec. 15-19. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.
Friday, August 15, 2014
{Blog Tour} STORMS OF LAZARUS by Karen Kincy
Welcome to my tour stop for Storms of Lazarus by Karen Kincy. This is the second book in the Shadows of Asphodel series. This is a new adult dieselpunk romance and is now available! The tour runs August 11-22 with reviews, interviews & a few guest posts.
Check out the tour page for the schedule and more information.
Check out the tour page for the schedule and more information.
Friday, July 4, 2014
{COVER REVEAL} Storms of Lazarus by Karen Kincy -- with giveaway!
Today we're bringing you the cover reveal for Storms of Lazarus by Karen Kincy. This is the second book in the Shadows of Asphodel series. This is a new adult dieselpunk romance and releases in July. Check out this stunning cover and then enter the giveaway!
(I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK, GUYS! I loved book 1, SHADOWS OF ASPHODEL. WHEEEE!)
(I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK, GUYS! I loved book 1, SHADOWS OF ASPHODEL. WHEEEE!)
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
{Featured Book of the Week} A.W. Exley's NEFERTITI'S HEART
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| http://www.malloryrock.com/promos.html |
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
{Blog Tour} NEFERTITI'S HEART and HAPSHEPTUT'S COLLAR by A.W. Exley, The Artifact Hunters series
Monday, December 30, 2013
{Blog Tour} Chasing the Star Garden by Melanie Karsak -- with review, excerpt, and giveaway!
Friday, December 13, 2013
{Release Day Blitz} THIRD DAUGHTER by SUSAN KAYE QUINN
(The Dharian Affairs Trilogy #1)
Publication date: December 13th 2013
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk
Read on for an excerpt, giveaway, and my review! ||||
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
{Blog Tour} SHADOWS OF ASPHODEL by KAREN KINCY with review and giveaway!
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About Shadows of Asphodel:
When Ardis discovers a man bleeding to death on the battlefield, she knows she has to walk away.
1913. In her work as a mercenary for Austria-Hungary, Ardis has killed many men without hesitation. One more man shouldn’t matter, even if he manages to be a charming bastard while he stands dying in the snow.
But when he raises the dead to fight for him, she realizes she must save his life.
If a necromancer like Wendel dies, he will return as a monster—or so the rumors say. Ardis decides to play it safe and rescues him. What she doesn’t expect is Wendel falling to one knee and swearing fealty. Ardis never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer, but it’s too late now.
Ardis and Wendel forge an uneasy alliance underscored with sexual tension. Together, they confront rebels, assassins, and a conspiracy involving a military secret: robotically-enhanced soldiers for a world on the brink of war. But as Ardis starts to fall for Wendel, she realizes the scars from his past run more deeply than she ever imagined. Can Ardis stop Wendel before his thirst for revenge destroys him and everyone else around him?
Find the book:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Thursday, September 26, 2013
TOMORROW COMES MEDIA presents: THE BOXCAR BABY by J.L. Mulvihill
Born in a boxcar on a train bound for Georgia. At least that is what Papa Steel always told AB'Gale. But now, fifteen years later, the man who adopted and raised her as his own is missing and it's up to AB'Gale to find him. Aided only by a motley gang of friends, AB'Gale train hops her way across the United States in a desperate attempt to find her papa and put her life and family back the way it was. Her only guide is a map given to her by a mysterious hobo, with hand written clues she found hidden in her papa's spyglass. Here is the Great American Adventure in an alternate steampunk dystopian world, where fifteen-year-old AB'Gale Steel learns that nothing is as it seems, but instead is shrouded in secrets and mysteries ... and that monsters come in all shapes and forms.The Boxcar Baby is the first book of the Steel Roots series.'
Amazon Links for The Boxcar Baby:
Print Version
http://www.amazon.com/The-Boxcar-Baby-J-Mulvihill/dp/1937929205
Kindle Version
http://www.amazon.com/Boxcar-Baby-Steel-Roots-ebook/dp/B00E4WTEP2
Other eBook formats:
Nook
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-boxcar-baby-j-l-mulvihill/1116032138?ean=2940148741633
Kobo
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-boxcar-baby
iBookstore
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-boxcar-baby/id691148915?mt=11
About J.L. Mulvihill: Born in Hollywood and raised in San Diego, CA, J.L. Mulvihill has made Mississippi her home for the past fifteen years. Her debut novel was the young adult title The Lost Daughter of Easa, an engaing fantasy novel bordering on science-fiction with a dash of steampunk, published through Kerlak Publishing. The Boxcar Baby, the first novel of her Steel Roots Series, was released by Seventh Star Press in the summer of 2013.J.L. also has several short fiction pieces in publication, among them "Chilled Meat", a steampunk thriller found in the Dreams of Steam II-Of Bolts and Brass, anthology (Kerlak Publishing) and "The Leprechaun’s Story", a steampunk urban Fantasy found in the anthology, Clockwork, Spells, & Magical Bells (Kerlak Publishing)
J.L. is very active with the writing community, and is the events coordinator for the Mississippi Chapter of Imagicopter known as the Magnolia-Tower. She is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA), The Mississippi Writers Guild (MWG), as well as the Arts Council of Clinton, and the Clinton Ink-Slingers Writing Group.
Author Links:
www.elsielind.com
http://jlsbooks.blogspot.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~mulvijen/site/
https://www.facebook.com/JLMulvihill
https://www.facebook.com/mulvijen?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/SteelRootsSeries?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Haunts/417536915003428?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/ClockworkSpellsMagicalBells?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/Imagicopter?ref=hl
A_TiffyFit's Review: I received my e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review for a book tour.
AB'gale, a 16 year old girl, is the Boxcar Baby. She is called that because she was found as a baby in one of the boxcars of a freight train by her Papa. He named her AB'gale because the boxcar was labeled as such. She's commonly called "Abby" or "Abbygale" by others who do not know her.
One day, Abby's world goes to hell as her Papa has gone missing, not returning from his last job run over five weeks ago. With her grandmama's blessing, she sets off to the big city in search of her Papa. Upon her arrival at the train station, all she received were lies: that they had never heard of such a man nor did he ever work for the train station. However, Abby had noticed her father's yellow steam wagon parked on the lot. These lying men, the station master and his cronies, soon make it disappear after seeing Abby notice it. Unrelated to her search for her Papa, Abby inadvertently helps catch a murderer and his mother.
Events occur one after another upon her return to the farm. The men of the "System" takes away grandmama and captures Abby. She's then placed in the "working house" where the poor are placed - locked up and forced to labor endless hours in sweatshop factories. Abby's faced with numerous humiliations and abuses at this place, headed by Mrs Marc, a heartless monster of a woman who totally lacks empathy toward any of the girls. Even the girls as young as four are under the abuse and miscare of these horrid human beings called women!
But, not for long. Not for the high-spirited Boxcar Baby who has been educated by her papa and grandmama. Abby recalls all the lessons she learned and uses them to assist her escape along with her new friends whom she calls her new family. They bonded at this institution and helped one another survive against Mrs Marc and her two vile assistants.
Along their adventurous escape, the girls meet up with two of the men who lend their hands in assisting Abby in finding her papa. The girls meet others helpers along their route, too, and Abby is constantly reminded not to trust anyone, soon learning why she cannot. However, she and the girls also meet a few who she can rely on and do!
Abby discovers on the road to the find Papa just what kind of man her papa truly is or was. Although she already knew how loving, kind, and caring he was, she learns that there are many number of people out there in the world who believe the same of him as she does. Her papa has helped many of the poor and homeless people in whatever ways he could. He allowed the hobos to ride the train when other conductors/engineers would not. This and other kind acts built a great number of people to believe in him, to revere him, speaking of him with greatest respect. His reputation as a good man is widespread. Abby was proud of her papa and hoped to be just like him. And she shows that she is on that same path while she adventures to look for him.
Abby encounters a few other havocs and mishaps while searching along with some fairytale-like mysteries. Instead of becoming disheartened as others might, she becomes more resolved and determined to find her papa and solve the mysteries associated with his disappearance. Why is the law looking for him? Why was her family thrown off the farm? What were these bad men looking for at the farm? And much more.
Meanwhile, Joey, her long time friend, is furious at his horrid mother for turning in AB'gale whom he's "always loved." They've been the very best of friends forever. Although Abby doesn't know about his love for her, she cares deeply for him - her emotions aren't defined and labeled as Joey has known, always. But, of course, it's alluded to that she does! ;)
So! The adventures are to be continued at the end of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Some of the language used is old-fashioned, some is more modern. The girls' innocence and ignorance of some subject matters such as sex is refreshing, although that lends to the ambiguity of the time frame.
Overall, I would describe this book as thoroughly engrossing and a good read. I'm looking forward to the sequel. I must see this to the end to see if Abby succeeds in finding her papa and what exactly it was that he was involved in that would cause people to seek him out or capture him or make him run. And I need to know what happened to grandmama! And I need to know how the Boxcar Baby is gonna shine; it's obvious that she is special and I want to know why and how the magic plays a part. Argh on waiting ;)
AB'gale, a 16 year old girl, is the Boxcar Baby. She is called that because she was found as a baby in one of the boxcars of a freight train by her Papa. He named her AB'gale because the boxcar was labeled as such. She's commonly called "Abby" or "Abbygale" by others who do not know her.
One day, Abby's world goes to hell as her Papa has gone missing, not returning from his last job run over five weeks ago. With her grandmama's blessing, she sets off to the big city in search of her Papa. Upon her arrival at the train station, all she received were lies: that they had never heard of such a man nor did he ever work for the train station. However, Abby had noticed her father's yellow steam wagon parked on the lot. These lying men, the station master and his cronies, soon make it disappear after seeing Abby notice it. Unrelated to her search for her Papa, Abby inadvertently helps catch a murderer and his mother.
Events occur one after another upon her return to the farm. The men of the "System" takes away grandmama and captures Abby. She's then placed in the "working house" where the poor are placed - locked up and forced to labor endless hours in sweatshop factories. Abby's faced with numerous humiliations and abuses at this place, headed by Mrs Marc, a heartless monster of a woman who totally lacks empathy toward any of the girls. Even the girls as young as four are under the abuse and miscare of these horrid human beings called women!
But, not for long. Not for the high-spirited Boxcar Baby who has been educated by her papa and grandmama. Abby recalls all the lessons she learned and uses them to assist her escape along with her new friends whom she calls her new family. They bonded at this institution and helped one another survive against Mrs Marc and her two vile assistants.
Along their adventurous escape, the girls meet up with two of the men who lend their hands in assisting Abby in finding her papa. The girls meet others helpers along their route, too, and Abby is constantly reminded not to trust anyone, soon learning why she cannot. However, she and the girls also meet a few who she can rely on and do!
Abby discovers on the road to the find Papa just what kind of man her papa truly is or was. Although she already knew how loving, kind, and caring he was, she learns that there are many number of people out there in the world who believe the same of him as she does. Her papa has helped many of the poor and homeless people in whatever ways he could. He allowed the hobos to ride the train when other conductors/engineers would not. This and other kind acts built a great number of people to believe in him, to revere him, speaking of him with greatest respect. His reputation as a good man is widespread. Abby was proud of her papa and hoped to be just like him. And she shows that she is on that same path while she adventures to look for him.
Abby encounters a few other havocs and mishaps while searching along with some fairytale-like mysteries. Instead of becoming disheartened as others might, she becomes more resolved and determined to find her papa and solve the mysteries associated with his disappearance. Why is the law looking for him? Why was her family thrown off the farm? What were these bad men looking for at the farm? And much more.
Meanwhile, Joey, her long time friend, is furious at his horrid mother for turning in AB'gale whom he's "always loved." They've been the very best of friends forever. Although Abby doesn't know about his love for her, she cares deeply for him - her emotions aren't defined and labeled as Joey has known, always. But, of course, it's alluded to that she does! ;)
So! The adventures are to be continued at the end of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Some of the language used is old-fashioned, some is more modern. The girls' innocence and ignorance of some subject matters such as sex is refreshing, although that lends to the ambiguity of the time frame.
Overall, I would describe this book as thoroughly engrossing and a good read. I'm looking forward to the sequel. I must see this to the end to see if Abby succeeds in finding her papa and what exactly it was that he was involved in that would cause people to seek him out or capture him or make him run. And I need to know what happened to grandmama! And I need to know how the Boxcar Baby is gonna shine; it's obvious that she is special and I want to know why and how the magic plays a part. Argh on waiting ;)
Please visit the other hosts on this tour for interviews, author Top Tens, etc!
Tour Schedule and Activities:
9/23 Come Selahway With Me Contest
9/23 Fantastical Adventures Through the Paper Realm Review
9/23 The Flipside of Julianne Top Ten List
9/24 Jess Resides Here Guest Post
9/24 Beagle Book Space Promo Spotlight
9/25 Sheila Deeth Guest Post
9/25 Spellbindings Promo Spotlight
9/25 Lost Inside the Covers Review
9/26 A TiffyFit’s Reading Corner Review
9/26 Azure Dwarf Promo Spotlight
9/26 Rachel Tsoumbakos Character Interview & Review
9/26 A Daydreamer’s Thought Author Interview
9/27 Armand Rosamilia, Author Guest Post
9/27 Kayla’s Reads and Reviews Promo Spotlight
9/28 WTF Are You Reading? Review
9/28 Bee’s Knees Reviews Guest Post
9/28 Word to Dreams Promo Spotlight
9/29 The Cabin Goddess Interview
9/29 Illuminite Calginosus Promo Spotlight
9/29 Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews Character Interview
9/29 JeanzBookReadNReview Guest Post
9/29 Book and Movie Dimension Review
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Book Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
by Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: September 2012
Length: 313 pages
Edtions: print and ebook
Source: Purchased
A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire
A_TiffyFit's Review: I had been meaning to pick this book up and read it for several months now. When I received an ARC in the mail of KINSLAYER, Book 2 in The Lotus Wars series, I started to try and carve out time for Stormdancer. *kicks myself in my ass* I seriously needed to read this earlier. Months and months earlier. MONTHS AND MONTHS EARLIER. As I write this, it's currently 6:34AM. My eyes are bleary. My body is protesting. But my mind and my heart are wide awake. And all because of this book. I started reading a few hours ago intending to put it down and get some sleep. Yeah, okay.
You could sum up this book in one word before you start to geek out: WOW! And then you have to geek and rave. From the very first few pages, you're immediately thrown into this...steampunk feudal Japan. It is a horrifying dystopia where the air and land are ruined, driven by the Lotus Guild to make their machines, killing the land and its people. The poor cover their mouths with cloth and squint their way through the harsh sun; the rich have mechanical breathers and fancy goggles to ensure they don't get black lung. The skies are burnt red. There is nothing alive or organic in Kigen.
I love when authors don't explain every little thing you may not be versed in and just immerse you into their world. That's what a glossary is for. Instead, jump into this world, experience it with my character, and let me hold you under my spell for a few hours. Oh, boy did I!
The world may as well be in front of me, I think I may have coughed a couple times as we were given the description of the black choking rain, the poor mother obviously dying and her little girl standing next to her. The characters are so real they could spring from my kindle and I wouldn't be surprised. Their emotional interactions are palpable. My eyes teared up at Yukiko's memories, and then again when she's fighting with her father, Masaru. So, you have this marvelous setting and these incredible characters that leap from the page, and so much action and intrigue!
Yukiko is a wonderful heroine. She is strong, resourceful, sympathetic, smart-mouthed, feminine, and petulant. Yes, petulant at times as you would expect a 16 year old to be. But her petulance is justified as she doesn't have all the information. She isn't whiny and doesn't do that "why me!!!!????" crap. She's a thinker, a reasoner, she listens, she processes, she acts.
The fight and action sequences are intense, detailed, and kept me glued to my kindle. There were only two things that made my face scrunch up briefly in a question. The mad shogun/emperor is fighting a war against the gaijin or foreigners, right? So, the samurai with the jade green eyes? I'm half-asian. That side of the family doesn't come with green eyes (yeah okay I'm semi quoting the movie Big Trouble in Little China. Shush!). So is he part-gaijin? Or is he Impure? Diachi and Kaori also have grey eyes. Same question. But really, WHO CARES? This was an amazing, five star read for me. I loved the action, the characters, the setting, the plot, the mythology, the story telling, the steampunk dystopian fantasy flavor, all of it. Go. Run. Get it.
P.S. Jay Kristoff says on his website that he doesn't believe in happy endings. Life & death are part of this crazy thing we call life. I was well-satisfied with that ending. WELL SATISFIED. And while it may not qualify as a happy ending, it was an amazing one. I don't know if I want to sleep or launch into Kinslayer right now.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Blog Tour: WEATHER WITCH by Shannon Delany
Title: Weather Witch
Author: Shannon Delany
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publishing Date: June 25, 2013
Editions: print and e-copy
Length: 336 pages
In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!
Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!
But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shannon Delany is a speaker, author, farmer, mother and wife. She frequently should look busier than she does, but luckily she writes very quickly and many of her farm animals are mostly self-sustaining. She is often plagued by new story ideas (which she loves) and ideas for new art projects she fully intends to do between everything else. She loves to travel, has no respect for bullies, and briefly managed a talented musician as a result of her love of music. She is a lifelong learner and is happy to talk to nearly everyone and darn near anything! She has recently become a radio host for Authors on the Air where she interviews talented writers, publishers, and agents and generally has a good time!
GIVEAWAY
Shannon Delaney will be giving away the following to XX lucky winners:
- a signed copy of Weather Witch
- a Weather Witch coffee mug with special goodies (all connected to the story)
- signed copies of 13 to Life and Secrets and Shadows
- a handcrafted mask
- a special metal and crystal bookmark
- a mini top hat
- a silhouette of their own profile cut and matted by me (it'll take a few weeks after getting their profile before I can get it to them, of course).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Marion Kruse was one of several characters who crept out of the shadows of my mind and
essentially said, "My story also needs telling." Here is just a bit of Marion's part in WEATHER
WITCH, taken from Chapter Nine.
The young man no longer stuck to the shadows, no longer waited until nightfall to work his
magick--or mischief as those Grounded would claim. He was tall and broad of shoulder with
dark hair and gray eyes and a coolness about him that made people think of first frosts and
snowfalls. And with good reason.
Because Marion Kruse was a cold-hearted young man.
Truth be told, He wanted nothing more than to return to a simpler time. A time he didn't wander the roads and towns doing small things to amuse himself and set others to wondering.
He wanted nothing more to be back at his mother's feet, reading books about pirates and scoundrels that made her laugh and tell him and his brother to never grow up to be wicked--that goodness was its own reward.
He wanted nothing more than to grow fat on Chloe's generously proportioned biscuits and call
her "nanny" again. Nothing more than to go fox hunting with his father and friends (even that
frustrating pretty boy Rowen Burchette) and dance with an attractive girl.
He wanted nothing more than to go back to before he'd been Made.
But Marion had been taught that going back was nigh unto impossible.
essentially said, "My story also needs telling." Here is just a bit of Marion's part in WEATHER
WITCH, taken from Chapter Nine.
The young man no longer stuck to the shadows, no longer waited until nightfall to work his
magick--or mischief as those Grounded would claim. He was tall and broad of shoulder with
dark hair and gray eyes and a coolness about him that made people think of first frosts and
snowfalls. And with good reason.
Because Marion Kruse was a cold-hearted young man.
Truth be told, He wanted nothing more than to return to a simpler time. A time he didn't wander the roads and towns doing small things to amuse himself and set others to wondering.
He wanted nothing more to be back at his mother's feet, reading books about pirates and scoundrels that made her laugh and tell him and his brother to never grow up to be wicked--that goodness was its own reward.
He wanted nothing more than to grow fat on Chloe's generously proportioned biscuits and call
her "nanny" again. Nothing more than to go fox hunting with his father and friends (even that
frustrating pretty boy Rowen Burchette) and dance with an attractive girl.
He wanted nothing more than to go back to before he'd been Made.
But Marion had been taught that going back was nigh unto impossible.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Liesel Schwarz's A Conspiracy of Alchemists
A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel SchwarzMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: Received from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was a fun, well-paced steampunk fantasy romance! I thought it was a strong start to a new series that I will be snatching as soon as available. It starts off with intrigue and action and keeps it up throughout the book. I loved the absinthe fairies and the inner monologue of Adele as she travels with Elle on her adventure.
I've always liked Wonder Woman and the archetype of strong, self-efficient feminine leads without them acting as if they have something to prove. Elle Chance is this kind of character. She is self-sufficent and able to stand on her own, but doesn't have that self-aggrandizement that can be so annoying. She questions Marsh and his motives from the beginning, which was smart in my book as why ever would you trust someone with your life and the life of a loved one based on his word alone?
Marsh, as her counterpart, is likeable with the tiniest hint of "hurt in the past" that makes you want Elle to fix him. Dashing, gentlemanly, and never condescending.
I enjoyed the turns of mythology in regards to oracles, the fantasy of magic with warlocks, and the steampunk ships, creations, mechanicals, and alchemists. The ending was satisfying even though it left you with heart palpitations and wanting the next book RIGHT NOW.
A Conspiracy of Alchemists publishes on March 4, 2013. So get it now and join me in the "wait, when is the SEQUEL?!"
View all my reviews
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
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