Exclusive Sneak Peek at A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray + Giveaway (US/Canada)

FIREBIRD SERIES

by Claudia Gray

Today we’re super excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU, the first book in the FIREBIRD series, releasing in paperback on November 3, 2015. Before we get to the excerpt, here’s more about the books in the series!

About the Books

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU (FIREBIRD #1)

Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black in this epic dimension-bending trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray about a girl who must chase her father’s killer through multiple dimensions.

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You, the first book in the Firebird series, explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.

The second book in the series, Ten Thousand Skies Above You, also launches on November 3 in hardcover.

To learn more about this book and see our review, go HERE.

TEN THOUSAND SKIES ABOVE YOU (FIREBIRD #2)

In this sequel to A Thousand Pieces of You by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray, Marguerite races through various dimensions to save the boy she loves.

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents’ invention, to cross through to alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurt the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked, and his consciousness is scattered across multiple dimensions.

The hunt for each splinter of Paul’s soul sends Marguerite racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each dimension brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with every trial she faces, she begins to question the one constant she’s found between the worlds: their love for each other.

To learn more about this book and see our review, go HERE.

Are you ready to start reading?!

My hand shakes as I brace myself against the brick wall. Rain falls cold and sharp against my skin, from a sky I’ve never seen before. It’s hard to catch my breath, to get any sense of where I am. All I know is that the Firebird worked. It hangs around my neck, still glowing with the heat of the journey.

There’s no time. I don’t know whether I have minutes, or seconds, or even less. Desperately I tug at these unfamiliar clothes—the short dress and shiny jacket I wear have no pockets, but there’s a small bag dangling from my shoulder. When I fish inside, I can’t find a pen, but there’s a lipstick. Fingers trembling, I unscrew it and scrawl on a tattered poster on the wall of the alley. This is the message I must pass on, the one goal I have to remember after everything else I am is gone.

KILL PAUL MARKOV.

Then I can only wait to die.

Die isn’t the right word. This body will continue to breathe. The heart will continue to beat. But I won’t be the Marguerite Caine living in it anymore.

Instead, this body will return to its rightful owner, the Marguerite who actually belongs in this dimension. The dimension I leaped into, using the Firebird. Her memories will take over again, any second, any moment, and while I know I’ll awaken again in time, it’s terrifying to think about . . . passing out. Getting lost. Being trapped inside her. Whatever it is that happens to people traveling from another dimension.

It hits me then. The Firebird really works. Travel between alternate dimensions is possible. I just proved it. Within my grief and fear, one small ember of pride glows, and it feels like the only heat or hope in the world. Mom’s theories are true. My parents’ work is vindicated. If only Dad could have known.

Theo. He’s not here. It was unrealistic of me to hope he would be, but I hoped anyway.

Please let Theo be all right, I think. It would be a prayer if I still believed in anything, but my faith in God died last night too.

I lean against the brick wall, hands spread, like a suspect’s on a police car right before the cuffs go on. My heart hammers in my chest. Nobody has ever done this before—which means nobody knows what’s about to happen to me. What if the Firebird can’t bring me back to my own dimension?

What if this is how I die?

This time yesterday, my dad probably asked himself that same question.

I close my eyes tightly, and the cold rain on my face mingles with hot tears. Although I try not to picture how Dad died, the images force their way into my mind over and over: his car filling with water; brownish river lapping over the windshield; Dad probably dazed from the wreck but scrambling to get the door open, and failing. Gasping for the last inches of air in the car, thinking of me and Mom and Josie—

He must have been so scared.

Dizziness tilts the ground beneath my feet, weakens my limbs. This is it. I’m going under.

So I force my eyes open to stare at the message again. That’s the first thing I want the other Marguerite to see. I want that message to stay with her, no matter what. If she sees that, if she keeps running over those words in her mind, that will awaken me within her as surely as the Firebird could. My hate is stronger than the dimensions, stronger than memory, stronger than time. My hate is now the truest part of who I am.

The dizziness builds, and the world turns fuzzy and gray, blackening the words KILL PAUL MARKOV—

—and then my vision clears. The word KILL sharpens back into focus.

Confused, I step back from the brick wall. I feel wide awake. More so than before, actually.

And as I stand there, staring down at my high heels in a puddle, I realize that I’m not going anywhere.

Finally, as I begin to trust my luck, I step farther into the alley. The rain beats down harder on my face as I look up into the storm-drenched sky. A hovercraft looms low over the city like yet another thundercloud. Apparently it’s there to fly holographic billboards across the city skyline. Astonished, I gaze at the hovercraft as it soars through this strange new dimension, 3-D advertisements flickering through their motions in the sky around it: Nokia. BMW. Coca-Cola.

This is so like my world, and yet not my world at all.

Is Theo as overwhelmed by the journey as I am? He must be. His grief is nearly as deep as mine, even though Dad was only his adviser; more than that, this is what Theo and my parents worked for these past few years. Has he kept his memory as well? If so, we’ll be in control throughout the trip, our minds piloting the selves born in this alternate dimension. That means Mom was wrong about one thing—which is kind of staggering, given that every other theory she’s ever had has just been proved true. But I’m grateful for it, at least for the moment before my gratitude disintegrates in the hot blaze of anger.

Nothing can stop me now. If Theo made it too and he can find me—and I want so desperately for him to find me—then we’ll be able to do this. We can get to Paul. We can take back the Firebird prototype he stole. And we can take our revenge for what he did to my father.

I don’t know if I’m the kind of person who can kill a man in cold blood. But I’m going to find out.

About the Author

Claudia Gray is a pseudonym. I would like to say that I chose another name so that no one would ever learn the links between my shadowy, dramatic past and the explosive secrets revealed through my characters. This would be a lie. In truth, I took a pseudonym simply because I thought it would be fun to choose my own name. (And it is.)

I write novels full-time, absolutely love it, and hope to be able to do this forever. My home is in New Orleans, is more than 100 years old, and is painted purple. In my free time I read, travel, hike, cook and listen to music. You can keep up with my latest releases, thoughts on writing and various pop-culture musings via Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, GoodReads, Instagram or (of course) my own home page.

If you want to contact me, you can email me here, but your best bet is probably to Tweet me. I don’t do follows on Twitter, but I follow everyone back on Tumblr, Pinterest and GoodReads.

Giveaway Details

One winner will receive a copy of A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU.

Entering is simple, just fill out the entry form below. Winners will be announced on this site and in our monthly newsletter (sign up now!) within 30 days after the giveaway ends.

During each giveaway, we ask entrants a question pertaining to the book. Here is the question they’ll be answering in the comments below for extra entries:

What do you think of the first chapter of A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU?

Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway:

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Tags: A Thousand Pieces of You, Chapter Reveal, Claudia Gray, Exclusives, giveaway

33 thoughts on “Exclusive Sneak Peek at A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray + Giveaway (US/Canada)”

Susan says:

October 20, 2015 at 6:58 pm

After that first chapter, I’m ready to read this book.
Jenna Freedman says:

October 27, 2015 at 4:18 am

YES PLEASE.
Dianne Barahona says:

October 27, 2015 at 6:18 am

That first chapter has drawn me in already! I WANT MORE! :D:D:D:D
Mengenal Penyakit Emfisema Yang Diakibatkan Batuk Menahun says:

October 27, 2015 at 9:01 am

Good Information and Thanks 😀
Kalani says:

October 27, 2015 at 10:21 pm

I love it! I really want to read this! 😀
Bahaya Menjadi Perokok Pasif, Siap Mengancam Kesehatan says:

October 28, 2015 at 1:29 am

Information fun and thank you
Danielle D. says:

October 28, 2015 at 8:51 pm

That first chapter was really good! Now I’m hooked! 😀
Lillian Lozada says:

October 28, 2015 at 10:25 pm

The 1st chapter was enough to pull me in! I can’t wait to start reading this series 🙂
danielle hammelef says:

October 29, 2015 at 1:31 am

I love the writing! Wow! You are inspiring and I love the voice.
Gejala Radang Tenggorokan Dan Pengobatan Yang Alami says:

October 30, 2015 at 7:28 am

Information fun . . Thanks
maggie says:

October 30, 2015 at 8:14 pm

The first chapter is really good!
shelby says:

October 31, 2015 at 4:42 pm

The first chaper makes me want to continue to read the rest of the book!!
Cameron says:

October 31, 2015 at 6:11 pm

I WANT MORE. That’s all
Alice Wu says:

October 31, 2015 at 8:00 pm

Ugh, I LOVE IT!!!
Reava says:

November 2, 2015 at 2:38 am

Can’t wait to finish reading more!!
Shiro says:

November 3, 2015 at 3:23 am

The first chapter makes me want to read on and find out what happens!!!
bn100 says:

November 3, 2015 at 4:03 am

not sure
Agustina Gonzalez says:

November 3, 2015 at 7:57 am

interesting! i want more
Semakin Bertambah Usia, Kualitas Sperma Menurun says:

November 3, 2015 at 8:49 am

Informasi yang mengasyikan
mich says:

November 5, 2015 at 4:13 am

😮 the first chapter has my little hair raising with goosebumps. The first chapter right of the bat shows this is a good book. It’s already going straight into the book rather than having this slow beginning. Love it already.
Julia Rolling says:

November 9, 2015 at 11:26 pm

I loved the first chapter (and all the chapters after that) 😀
Linda Romer says:

November 10, 2015 at 1:28 am

That was brilliant ♡ A Thousand Pieces of You sounds great! Thank you
Cindy says:

November 10, 2015 at 1:53 am

Wow, that chapter was amazing! So totally ready to read the book now. 🙂
Gina says:

November 11, 2015 at 7:38 pm

I love the cover! the book sounds so exciting!
Emily says:

November 13, 2015 at 4:32 am

Wow, the first chapter leaves me wanting more!! Very intrigued.
Skylee says:

November 13, 2015 at 5:18 am

I obviously need to read the first book and this one, wow.
Melanie Garcia says:

November 14, 2015 at 2:36 pm

That was an amazing chapter. I so want to read this book now. It caught my interest right away.
Sydonyia Crossman says:

November 17, 2015 at 6:17 pm

Riveting!
Mar Erives says:

November 17, 2015 at 10:19 pm

I want to read more! The first chapter has me hooked!
Stacy says:

November 17, 2015 at 10:46 pm

Very well written, drew me in to the story, I cannot wait to read more.
Carolina Voight says:

November 19, 2015 at 3:42 am

Great introduction! Once I began reading those first few lines in Chapter 1, I was immediately hooked. I love that the girl is again, another strong-willed character! I love those types of books. It’s also very descriptive and I can imagine all this. I can’t wait to read more of this book!!!
Lillian says:

November 19, 2015 at 10:48 pm

I love the fast paced beginning and cannot wait to read the rest of the book!
Pengobatan Liver Secara Alami says:

November 23, 2015 at 12:47 am

Semoga kita selalu bisa untuk berbagi