Shh, I am Reading
  • Home
  • About Me
    • General Inquiries
  • Policies
    • Review Policy >
      • Genres I Read
      • Rating System
    • Privacy Policy
  • Request a Review
  • Challenges
    • Past Challenges >
      • PopSugar RC 2019
      • PopSugar RC 2020
      • PopSugar RC 2021
    • This or That 2022
    • Alphabet Soup 2022

She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live. 
– Annie Dillard

The Provenance: Astar's Blade by Joe Lyon

4/26/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publisher: LYONIC LLC
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Pages: 323
Format: ePub
Add to GoodReads and Storygraph
Buy on: Amazon

Synopsis

All his life, Almon knew, the Plum-Kilmer family had been haunted by spirits of the dead. For over 250 years, the ghost had cursed his family, but not Almon. Thinking the curse had finally run its course and may have skipped him. when the ghost finally does come, it strains his sanity. Unprepared, in growing madness, he is driven to the mountains. There, the ghost waits for him, either trying to save him or lead him to his doom.

This is the story of the Provenance, the Origin of Gods, Ghosts, and Demons who created an imperfect world. The story of forbidden knowledge, of unseen forces designed to stay hidden from mortals. If you continue, be warned, they know when they are being observed, and powerful enough to curse those foolhardy enough to be the observers.

So, open the pages carefully, dear reader, and prepare yourself, for the Provenance.
 ​

Review

I received an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

This book is definitely what it said it was going to be: the build up of the history of the Gods, Demons, Ghosts, all designed into the Provenance. Therefore, it is a bit of a slow burn, which is not a bad thing, personally. I don't mind a slow burn because the history was fascinating. I was a little bored by the Twin Gods, but Ehlona made up for it. She was the most human of all three of the Gods. Her sorrow as the Witch was incredibly relatable. 

This is a book filled with exceptional world building and it touches on all of the ideas of a birth of a religion, the balance of Good versus Evil. An awesome beginning to an epic fantasy if I do say so myself. 

Rating

Picture

​About the Author

Picture
 ​Joe Lyon was born in Springfield, Ohio, on May 13, 1965. He grew up creating monsters and characters for his stories and home-grown comic books. In this his first fictional epic fantasy series, Astar’s Blade, Joe creates a world some have called “wonderfully epic with great texturing and grand scope worldbuilding.” Joe has a master’s degree in business administration, is a former Military Intelligence School graduate, and is a US Army veteran. As a musician and prolific songwriter, he has written over 100 songs, a book of Poetry entitled Poetry is Cool, and the first book of the Astar’s Blade series: The Provenance. Joe currently lives in Aiken, SC, with his family.

Connect with Joe

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Instagram
0 Comments

Owl Eyes by Molly Lazer

4/21/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Retelling
Publisher: Fire & Ice YA
Publication Date: March 20, 2018
Pages: 264
Format: ePub
Add to GoodReads & Storygraph
Buy on: Amazon, Indigo, Kobo​

Picture
Nora knows three things: she is a servant, her parents are dead, and she lives in the kitchen house with her adoptive family. But her world is torn apart when she discovers that her birth father has always been right there, living in the house she serves.

This discovery leads Nora to more questions. Why was she thrown in an ash-covered room for asking about her father? Why is a silver-bladed knife the only inheritance from her birth mother? Why is magic forbidden in her household—and throughout the province of the Runes? The answers may not be the ones Nora hoped for, as they threaten a possible romance and her relationship with the adoptive family she loves.

With the announcement of a royal ball, Nora must decide what she is willing to give up in order to claim her stolen birthright, and whether this new life is worth losing her family—and herself.

Picture

I received a copy of this book from the author for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

I know I have said this before but I honestly love fairy tale retellings. Even if some of them can be hits or misses. This book, in my opinion, is a definite hit. 

Now, don't mistake this for the syrupy sweet Disney version of Cinderella. This is a darker, Gothic tale where the main character Nora is incredibly realistic; she let curiosity break her of the mould that would have truly held her back. Even at the cost of following in her mother's footsteps. 
I really enjoyed that the love of her adoptive parents and her friendship with Jack was an anchor, and kept her from diving too deeply and learned what she needed to know of the outside world. 

This was one of those stories that I wished didn't end, it was just that good. I will definitely revisit this story for years to come. 

Rating

Picture

Picture
Picture
Molly Lazer is a former associate editor at Marvel Comics, where she worked on books such as Fantastic Four, Captain America, New Avengers, and cult favorite comic book Spider-Girl. After returning to graduate school to receive a degree in education, she began a career as a high school reading, writing, and drama teacher. She also serves as a professional critiquer for Comics Experience, helping aspiring comic book writers finesse scripts for publication. In 2016, Molly received a MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College. Her short stories have been featured in numerous literary magazines including Gone Lawn, LIT, and Silver Blade. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and twin sons. Owl Eyes is her first novel.

Connect with Molly

Website | Facebook | Twitter
0 Comments
    Picture

    About

    Hello Book Dragons!
    I'm Leticia, I'm 37 from Ontario, Canada.

    My blog has moved to Shh, I am Reading on Wix . Please contact me there. 



    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Leticia has read 3 books toward her goal of 50 books.
    hide
    3 of 50 (6%)
    view books


    Picture
    The Book Promotion Directory lists blogs and book promotion providers to help Indie Authors promote and market their books.
    Buy here

    I'm Listed on:
    Kindlepreneur


    Quote of the Month
    "The cosmos is within us. We are all made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself."
    - Carl Sagan

    Archives

    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017


    Professional Reader

    RSS Feed

    web counter free
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About Me
    • General Inquiries
  • Policies
    • Review Policy >
      • Genres I Read
      • Rating System
    • Privacy Policy
  • Request a Review
  • Challenges
    • Past Challenges >
      • PopSugar RC 2019
      • PopSugar RC 2020
      • PopSugar RC 2021
    • This or That 2022
    • Alphabet Soup 2022