|
She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.
– Annie Dillard |
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Riversong Books Publication Date: November 15, 2017 Pages: 295 Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon SynopsisSixteen-year-old Niena wants nothing more than to attend an elite bardic college, but when the dragon that shattered the empire awakens again she finds herself on the run, through the fey realm of Fairhome, to the city where she was born. On her trail are her army veteran grandfather, thrown into a commander's role he doesn't want, the lord of the fairies, trying to steer her to his own ends, and the husband she won't meet for fifteen years. If she kills the dragon, she'll save everyone she holds dear. But if she kills the dragon, she's cursed instead to become it. About S.D.Stephen Reeves was born in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama, but grew up in a small community just on the edge called Madison. His writing career began during a boring math class in college and has blossomed over the last couple of decades into something decidedly not boring. His works have been published in numerous zines including The Blotter, Chantwood, Yellow Chair Review, and The Writers Drawer. Stephen has also reviewed books for Oxford University Press, including Micheal Newtons Victorian Fairy Tales. Curses of Scale is his debut novel, written over the course of four years in the inspirational country of Switzerland, where he now resides with his wife, two cats, and an obsessive Pomeranian. InterviewWhere do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea? S.D.R: Seems to be rather a mishmash of things. Characters? Often are inspired by people that stand out to me. Locations? Moving to Switzerland has definitely helped with inspirational landscapes. The city of Shenan for instance, is loosely based off the Bellazona. As far as the plot, part of me wants to be silly here and say 'Alcohol,' but the reality is usually the development of the characters drive the creation of my plot. How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? S.D.R: It may sound a bit strange, but I tend to have conversations with my characters. Imagining them to be real, flesh and blood beings helps me to get to the meat of who they are. Thankfully my wife is around to keep me from being locked away. Beyond that, they have pieces pulled from regular folk I encounter, and my own madness. Marny for instance, was based off one of my wife's friends whom I met during a early Empire period (1805) re-enactment, his particular personality of the old-gruff-captain just struck me. The plot just, sort of develops along side. Sure, I often have a general idea of where I am going, but how I get there is a bit of a journey. Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? S.D.R: Most of the time I write when I feel like it, however lately I've been writing a lot during my lunch breaks where I work. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? S.D.R: I have found when trying to market my book that while researching similar novels was helpful, it always came down to trial-and-error. So keep that in mind when you get emails promising to help you sell thousands of books, and what not. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? S.D.R: This is a bit harder to explain. I just feel a need to do it. Some writers will say that they have so many stories they want to tell. For me, it is a bit different. I have some many characters I would like to put to a story. How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? S.D.R: I try to keep myself separate, but there is always going to be some cross over. What has helped shape and improve your writing? S.D.R: Reading critiques, not of my own writing, but of others. Beyond this I would say writing, has helped my writing. What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? S.D.R: Right now I am reading a piece of literature for another author. Can't say that I would recommend it yet, but I am very picky. Personally I would suggest "The Bear and the Nightingale," by Katherine Arden, if you like historical fantasy. Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective? S.D.R: My novels tend to not carry a specific, singular message. At least not intentionally. What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand? S.D.R: A laptop, with a mechanical keyboard if I can. Connect with S.D.
0 Comments
Genre: Fantasy Publisher: KDP Publishing Date: June 4, 2018 Pages: 465 Format: Paperback Add to Goodreads Buy: Amazon SynopsisThe natural world was dead. Archaic gods and legends withered away, forgotten by mankind in their lust for industrial advancement. The Time Fathers of Panagea kept their divisions’ times in check, but they couldn’t keep the land from crumbling beneath their feet. Nicholai Addihein rules the Southeastern division’s world of coal, steam, and iron. An impulsive decision soon bucks him from his status as a respected leader when he stops his division’s time to save his love, Lilac, from an untimely death. He finds committing the ultimate taboo comes with the ultimate punishment: the Time Fathers want him killed, and the already fragile earth deteriorates even faster, leaving millions dead. Falling from grace lands Nicholai in the company of Captain Kazuaki Hidataka and his crew of outcasts. While safe from the Time Fathers at sea, Nicholai is at the mercy of the captain and his crew. But when a discovery unveils the existence of the last Earth Mother, Umbriel, and the foundation of lies in which the Time Fathers are built, an uprising begins. Through bloodshed and revolution, there is no good or bad: only doing what one thinks is right. The Tree That Grew Through Iron showcases the intricate balance of mankind’s relationship with his environment, and himself. RatingReviewI received this Book from the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review.This has been one of my most favourite reads, ever. To say I devoured the book would be an understatement. I had to convince myself to slow down and live life outside of the book but it didn't stop me from thinking about it! I think that hardest part of reading this novel was knowing that the path that we, as a general population, and our political leaders are on the same path that those of the dead world of Panagea's world. A world dominated by men who make the rules and hold the reigns tightly, despite the obvious balance of the world being out and the citizens are dying. Nicholai He broke all the rules to save the love of his life. Stopping the Southeastern division's time in order to find a way to save her. He clearly grew up not knowing really how to survive the outside world. But his knowledge of how division's work and the behaviour of the leaders came quite in handy for him. He was quite lucky to find Kazuaki Hidataka and his crew. A group absolutely willing to do what it takes to overthrow the leaders. What they find is the hope to restore Panagea to its former glory. This was a phenomenal epic fantasy full of monsters, myths, spells and the battle to restore a dying world. This, for sure, has become a favourite that I will recommend over and over! About the AuthorMcKenzie Austin has always enjoyed her relationship with the creative arts. Like any whirlwind romance, she finds the ebbs and flows of the artistic process as challenging as they are rewarding. A tattoo artist by trade, McK is intimately familiar with the art world. Writing has always been the most ambitious undertaking, however, as her inherent demand for quality often keeps her from publishing her works. She resides with her family in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and hopes to publish a follow up to The Tree That Grew Through Iron in the future. Contact McKenzieGenre: Fantasy, Historical, Romance Publisher: Waterside Press Publication Date: October 9, 2018 Pages: 200 Add to GoodReads Buy on: Amazon, B&N SynopsisWhen the world collapses from a Golden Age into one of chaos and strife, mankind’s salvation lies in the hands of eternal Emissaries — guardians chosen to protect the secrets of a sacred, ancient civilization and to guide humanity back to enlightenment even as its darkest hour approaches… A timeless tale of love reborn through the ages. Marcus has past life memory and his soulmate Theron does not, but the two lovers are bound by an eternal and unshakable bond. As a series of catastrophic events nearly destroys their world, the two along with a chosen few become Emissaries destined, over the course of 13,000 years and through many reincarnations, to lead humanity into an era of peace and prosperity as foretold by the Elders of their race. But the forces of evil have taken possession of one man, Helghul, who relentlessly pursues Marcus and Theron through time, determined to destroy them and ruin all hope for salvation. The Emissary, Book I in The One Great Year Series, tracks Marcus’s epic adventure across centuries of human civilization to present day, where envoys of darkness gather around them threatening to bury the life-giving secrets of Atitala forever. Good and evil come to blows and the future of mankind hangs in the balance. “For every soul there is a theme, a path that must be followed, lessons that must be learned…” About the AuthorsRene DeFazio and Tamara Veitch are a husband and wife writing team. Rene is an actor, producer and author. Tamara studied English, History and General Arts at Simon Fraser University. The co-authors have been writing together for nearly a decade. In 2012 they received Honorable mention from the New York Book Festival and The London Book Festival. In 2014 they were each awarded an Empowered Writers Award at the World International Peace festival In Vancouver BC, Canada. Tamara and Rene continue creating The One Great Year Series and traveling the world researching with their children. They are grateful for the support of their faithful readers and hope you truly enjoy your journey into the world of The Emissary. Connect with Tamara and ReneGenre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: On the Fly Publications Publication Date: March 5, 2018 Pages: 440 Add to Goodreads Synopsis SHADOW IS AZH’NAHN, A POWERLESS MAGE born into a culture that prides itself in sharing the earth’s powers. When he chooses a life of voluntary exile to preserve his family’s honor, Shadow receives a mysterious call to witness the unearthing of kotrakoy, treacherous telepathic beasts with four wings and four rows of teeth. As he watches their unholy resurrection with great horror, kotrakoy open their minds to his and offer a glimpse into what life would be like wielding a mage’s powers. As Shadow races to warn his people of the impending threat, he stumbles into an unexpected romance, an unwanted leadership position fraught with treachery, and the creepy Mists of Ishmandool. Soon a superstitious tech race begins bombing his people and magic evolves, leaving Shadow’s people crippled and defenseless. When he announces that he's unlocked the secret to the new magic and the key to defeating enemy troops, few are ready to listen. To be fair, his solution suffers a few fatal flaws, the least of which is that it risks the complete annihilation of his people. Worse, it’s unprecedented and UNPROVEN. Where to Buy About the Author Drew explores what happens when technology clashes with magic. He’s been compared to Ursula LeGuin (Harry Potter’s biggest influence), Elaine Cunningham (queen of dark fantasy and Forgotten Realms), and Fydor Dostoevsky (godfather of Crime and Punishment), but he takes his greatest pride in the fact that he can juggle more balls than any other author on the planet. His books feature post-apocalyptic genetically engineered humans joining forces with magically empowered aliens (Moon 514), superstitious steampunk societies warring with a magical society temporarily deprived of its magic (Unproven), high-tech assassins trying to distinguish memory implants from reality (Assassin Hunter), drug enhanced magic systems (Slice), psionically gifted dragons, telepathic griffons, symbiotic vampiric vines, and entrancing world building. He aims to deliver thriller pacing a la Dan Brown and tightly outlined Brandon Sanderson-esque plots all while exploring deeply personal character growth. He accidentally found himself a bestselling author in YA SFF Steampunk (#1) and Action & Adventure (#2)(Unproven) and SFF Anthologies (#1)(5 Blades) and a Top 5 Author at SciFiFantasyFreak.com (Moon 514). Currently, Drew’s working on a screenplay for Unproven (as a teen animated series) and Sea Dragon Apocalypse (a technothriller-epic-fantasy-mashup). Connect with Author Interview Where do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea?
DB: I find ideas everywhere (books, movies, advertisements, history, science articles, etc.) but often, the most inspiring ideas for me come from fantasy art. The first scene from Unproven came from a painting I found where a group of people come across what appears to be dinosaur bones but they are intact as if on display at a museum - but they are half buried. I started asking myself questions about the painting. Who were these people? What were they searching for? Are those dragon bones? Why are they intact but half buried? About the same time, I came across an article about microraptors that really inspired me and voila, I began writing a story about the unearthing of kotrakoy, the cursed beasts of Ali'ikiswan. How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? DB: I attended FantasyCon. An editor there complained that no one was writing about conflicts between tech societies and magical societies. I spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about that and researching a tech society that wouldn't overwhelm a magical society if they were at war. By surprise, I ended up writing about a steampunk society warring with a magical society, but that wasn't creative enough for me. I wanted something more interesting than a simple political conflict so I started looking for a character I hadn't seen in literature I'd read before. Brandon Sanderson thinks like this so I took a page from his book, so to speak. I ended up with a self-exiling, powerless mage who stumbled upon the scene I described above, which in turn became one of a few precipitating events to begin a war between the two societies. My characters are often based on someone. I usually pick a few of my own traits to create a foundation for my main character. I find this allows me to more intuitively know how he or she will react to events and it allows me to write more authentically. All of us have several character traits so it is easy to choose a few and rotate for each book. I took a course by David Farland about character development that helped me tremendously with Unproven. I spent time with each character, asking myself who they were most like (using people I know). Then, I asked questions about how they felt about what the main character was doing, how loyal they could be to the main character, how their motivations aligned with the main character and how they might run into conflict with the main character's aspirations. After exploring these and many similar questions, I ended up with characters that were fairly well flushed out and with subplots that made the story much more interesting. Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? DB: Both. When I can write every day, I usually feel very inspired and happy to write. The only times I'm not inspired to write are when something bad is happening in my personal life that keeps me from being able to slip into fantasy land ... and frankly, that takes a lot. So, I try to keep a schedule. When I'm not on a schedule, I find myself getting more and more anxious to write so when the time arrives that I can sit down to write, I'm more than ready and the juices are flowing. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? DB: There are many things required of authors in today's society. Even if you find a traditional publisher, you'll likely need to learn how to market on your own or else your sales may lag. My advice is to take a step back, look at the big picture, and learn everything there is to learn about the industry, whether that is how to write an engaging query letter or how to use effective keywords on Amazon or how to avoid using too many plot cliches while keeping your story grounded in familiar tropes that audiences are looking for. Everyone has their own unique weaknesses so don't be afraid to find yours and tackle it. For me, that's been marketing and not writing too high brow. For others, it may be writing a story that is truly unique. Whatever it is, don't allow yourself to be blind to your weakness or to use excuses that allow you to remain in that weakness. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? DB: I took a creative writing class in high school and realized that this was something I really enjoyed. As life's journey progressed, I found myself telling bedtime stories to my children and wanting to write them down so I wouldn't forget. Then, I started writing on Wattpad with my daughter to support her efforts. By surprise, I found myself #2 on Wattpad and writing furiously to publish at least one chapter per week to keep fans happy. That was it. I was hooked. I don't know what inspires me to write. I could say art or stories or other things that inspire stories in me but what inspires me to want to write in the first place ... that is too deeply philosophical for me to answer. What makes you like chocolate? I don't care for chocolate but many people are really passionate about it. I've written a dozen books. I literally have five or six others in progress (some non-fiction as well as fiction). I focus on one to ensure it gets finished but others are very close to my conscious mind, begging for their turn. I don't know what makes me like that. DNA. Spirit. OCD. All three. Who knows? How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? DB: Both. What I relish the most about writing is putting myself in someone else's head and trying to think like them. Even when I base a character on myself, I give him/her traits that are very different from me and I put them in situations I'd never be in so I have to think like they think. For instance, I'd never really think, "which spell will help me get out of this situation safely?" but when I'm writing, I think those thoughts frequently. I first realized this was a very enjoyable thing about writing when I wrote a chapter from an aging black dragon's perspective. That was probably the most engaging chapter I've ever written from an author's point of view. It changed my world. What has helped shape and improve your writing? DB: Masterclasses and the Great Courses and other writing course. I'm constantly taking new courses to hone my skills and to make me think from a different perspective. What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? DB: Tagana. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it or not. It's a best seller so it must have something worthy of attention but it's a bit slow moving right now. I know better than to give up on a novel like that (though I did give up on Name of the Wind because it didn't feel like it had a plot after 100 pages) so I'll keep reading but so far, it's only okay. A few months ago I read This Mortal Coil. That was a fun read and it was mostly very creative. Bonus Questions: Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective? DB: My novels definitely carry messages, though I don't always plot them out. Unproven, for example, deals with mental illness as a subplot but I never planned that. It just happened. My wife had been recently diagnosed with a severe mental illness so it was hounding my subconsciousness, I guess. Other themes can similarly be unintentional. Usually, I discover them while doing a broad edit and enhance them so that they are more meaningful and usually, I try to keep them subtle anyway. What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand? DB: Scrivener. Hands down. Genre: Novella, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Publication Date: October 25, 2016 Pages: 136 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads Synopsis I should've let him drown. That's what any normal Mer would have done. Of course, if I was like the rest, I wouldn't have been lurking around that party yacht, trying to catch a glimpse of the humans. My people will kill me if they find out--literally--but I can't help going back every time he shows up. And he's offering me everything I've ever wanted: A chance to see land. Those stormy blue eyes don't hurt, either. Now I have to decide. Is it worth risking everything I've ever known, everything I've ever believed, to follow my heart? How can I say yes? But how can I possibly say no? Includes Legend of the Mer, the creation short story that started it all. Readers of clean young adult fiction will enjoy this modern sweet romance with all the charm of The Little Mermaid. Where to Buy My Rating Review I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This was a decent retelling of the Little Mermaid (Disney, not the Brother's Grimm). Skye, too, couldn't let Vince drown. Rescuing him thrust her into his world and him into her world. Sometimes it takes living in one another's "shoes" to really understand what each other's life is about. Skye is bright, intelligent and compassionate. When she should have done as she had been taught, she found her humanity and saved the boy. Trading places taught Skye the lessons she needed to go on in life. Vince is a rich, spoiled party boy slowly dying. Although he clearly had friends, he was very lonely and I feel like Skye was one of his first true friends. However the romantic interest between Skye and Vince was really quite bland. I know this was a clean romance, but there was no spark there. It was a little too innocent for my liking, I feel. But for those who enjoy a clean romantic fantasy read, this is a decent enough one. About the Author Angel Leya focuses on creating clean young adult fiction with a touch of magic and romance. It also happens to be what she enjoys reading, and she blogs regularly about her latest reads. With a tendency towards writing different shades of fantasy and light sci-fi, her stories are intended to transport readers into worlds of possibility and wonder. When not writing, you can find her daydreaming about her stories and searching for her own adventures. Feel free to drop her a line any time. She hopes you enjoy her fiction as much as she enjoys writing it! Connect with Angel
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Inkitt Publication Date: November 27, 2017 Pages: 208 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads About the Book
Evil comes in all shapes and sizes. It's up to three kids, brought together by extraordinary circumstances, to save their school from a monster hiding in plain sight...before it finds them.
When Theo Aldrige loses his family in a gruesome murder, he sinks into a bottomless pit of depression. After a failed suicide attempt, he meets Sally and Reuben - classmates of his who are also in dire straits. Sally is dying of a rare disease that steals her sleep, and Reuben is struggling to relate to the people around him while hiding the darkness of his home life. One day, the three unintentionally discover that they've acquired powers that seem to fix their worst flaws. Where did these abilities come from? And how do they control their newfound powers without being exposed? While trying to make sense of these changes, the new friends come across a disturbing secret in their very own high school. A force of destruction that only Theo, Sally, and Reuben can stop. Where to Buy
Rating
Review
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was thoroughly impressed by this story. The novel was written well. Although the concept of the story was not new, the author handled that well and managed to put a new spin on the idea. It was awesome. I also enjoyed the unique characters and how each managed to connect with each other, the blossoming friendships and the realization how much they needed each other.
Sally She seemed like the invisible girl. Quiet, kept to herself. Having spent a better part of her life trying to avoid the spotlight while suffering from an inability to sleep. She also tried to avoid the spotlight due to bullying. But I enjoyed watching her blossom, start to trust Theo and Reuben. It's like her new magical skill woke up the real Sally. Reuben He is a loner and a troublemaker. Which is interesting because troublemakers like to draw attention to themselves, and rarely are loners because of it. He had this larger than life personality. But oh man, once you find out what his home life was like, it was no wonder he struggled so much. Theo Oh man, Theo. He was the most broken. A former jock with all the glory. Losing his family wrenched all of that out of his hands. He battled so much depression and even contemplated suicide while living with his foster family. My heart broke for him. Jane Although Jane isn't a part of the group with Reuben, Theo and Sally, she's also going through her own changes. She's even more of a ghost than Sally, which means very few people would notice any changes about her. Not-Jane then comes along and livens things up for her. It will be interesting to see how these two fair with the other three in the future. So I definitely recommend giving this a chance. Hopefully it garners the same interest that I had in it. About the Author
McKenzie Rae is the author of the book Dysfunctional: Origins. She attended the University of Minnesota where she received a Bachelor of Science in technical writing, however, she's been writing fiction and telling stories since she was a kid. Currently, she works as a software system tester and uses her spare time to continue writing fiction. Origins is her first published novel, with many more novels waiting in the wings. McKenzie lives in a Twin Cities suburb in Minnesota surrounded by family, friends, and her cat.
Connect with McKenzie
About the Book
Strafe Rocknus has suffered hard losses in his life, but now things are looking up for the college graduate.
He has a sizzling girlfriend, good friends and a bright career ahead of him. But one day, Strafe awakes in a mysterious cavern, discovers an ancient artifact, and unwittingly ignites a war that spans two worlds: his own, and one he never knew existed. With the abyss of the unknown before him, Strafe enters the swirling darkness. Desperate, he must navigate a new and hostile world on the brink of catastrophe, and learn the truth of who he is, while facing a darkness with the power to destroy everything Strafe has ever cared about. Soon, he will discover that his greatest strength comes from those he fights for. Where to Buy
About the Book
Strafe and his friends have become the most wanted fugitives in the world. They have no other choice but travel to Crotona, to convince Eternia’s leaders of their innocence before they are hunted down.
But first, they need to stop the Senti from gaining the powerful Guardian Key. Guided by a mysterious visitor in his dreams, Strafe and the group press on, despite the danger. But even with their new-found powers, will it be enough to take down their ruthless adversary? As tensions in the realm reach a boiling point, lives are on the line at every moment. Strafe is getting closer to freeing his family and getting back home, but it will only come with great sacrifice. He will face the greatest challenges of his life, and fight against not only an enemy, but an ideal. Strafe must rely on his friends and instincts to guide him. His fate is in his own hands... but he doesn't have to fight alone. Where to BuyCover Reveal
Available late 2019/Early 2020 on Amazon!
About the Book
How do you deal with pain that nobody can see?
Strafe, Yessa, and Zixin have returned to Earth. Strafe believes he has found peace, but the battle to save his family has just begun. Zixin’s nightmarish past has left him in a fragile mental and physical state. The scars of his past continue to haunt him. When Strafe sees the self-harm beginning, he knows he can’t save Zixin alone. A mysterious group offers help, but it doesn’t come without a sacrifice. The abduction of Yessa's parents forces her to decide whether to stay with Strafe or go find them. She finds a possible solution to find her parents by joining the new Space Force branch of the military. She is torn between those she loves. Leaving could mean the end of her and Strafe. Unknown to Strafe and Yessa, something has followed them back to Earth. It is hunting them. Its thirst for blood and death is abhorrent. It leaves no survivors in its wake. It wants revenge. Strafe will fight not only to save his family, but to stop this new hunter from taking everything away he cherishes. The Venerate Saga continues! About the Author
Troy Dukart is the author of the Venerate Saga series (The Venerate Order, The Venerate Redemption, and the upcoming The Venerate Salvation. Troy grew up outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota: Twin Cities. Troy is recognized by Toastmasters International as an Advanced Communicator Silver and Advanced Leader Bronze. He's lived in Japan as well as California. He loves to travel. He currently lives in Minneapolis. Make sure to stop by his website and sign-up for the newsletter to stay in the know!
Connect with Troy
Contest
First 400 to get 10 friends to sign-up will get a FREE paperback, Advanced Reader Copy of my new book!
Viral Campaign launching in November 1st - December 1st, 2018! Sign-up on this website: [Enter the Contest] How to win:
Check out www.venerateorder.com for more details! Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press Publication Date: March 15, 2018 Pages: 252 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads About the Book
Alyssa D’Yaragen is just an elf trying to make ends meet. Thankfully, working as a freelance thief – a runner by the street name Lysistrata -- pays more than she would make in a month selling cell phones to retropunks at her antique shop. Though she’s low-tech, she has an advantage over her fellow larcenists. She has magic.
Logan Turner, a techie and fellow runner, offers to bring her in on a high paying run stealing data from megacorporation Americorp. She accepts, partially for the payout, mostly for the challenge. Things get complicated, though, when her ex-boyfriend Tristan McCullough shows up with apologies – and, infuriatingly, the perfect recon opportunity for the Americorp job. Adding more fuel to the bad-decision fire is the mysterious Seraphina Dubhan, and Alyssa finds herself falling hard for the enigmatic elf. But when Alyssa suddenly becomes the target of mystical attacks, things stop being about the money and become all about survival. With others caught in the crossfire, she needs to find and stop the attacker before the Americorp job is ruined and she – or one of her friends – pays the ultimate price. Where to Buy
My Rating
4.75
Review
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a wonderful blend of fantasy, myth and future. I love anything Fae, even though Alyssa is actually an elf. Close enough.
The elves have made themselves known to the human world and live side by side with them. Some favour the human world and have embraced the tech. I loved that Alyssa lived double lives. First life was owning a store front selling relics of the past and her second job is as a cat burglar. With her elf abilities, she was on a fast track to becoming one of the best. At least until she is put up against Logan who teaches her a few things. When Logan was introduced, I was worried this was going to become one of those stereotypical new adult novel insta-love but the fact that Alyssa had no interest in Logan beyond working with him, that completely derailed all of that. There was romance and I enjoyed that Alyssa toyed with the idea of either giving her ex another try or go for this sensual lady, Seraphina. She ended up picking Seraphina and the romance was quite evident without it taking over the whole story. I appreciate when authors do not turn their female leads into gooey pots of melted marshmallows when there is love involved. It's just too bad that Seraphina duped Alyssa. This is a fun story full of twists, turns, elves and fantastical assassins. I definitely recommend this to any urban fantasy readers. About the Author
Sarah Madsen is an author of many things, including novels, short stories, and RPG supplements. Slytherin. Consumer of gin cocktails and overpriced lattes. Enjoys dying her hair a different color every week and spending way too much time playing video games. Her debut novel, WEAVER’S FOLLY, a cyberpunky urban fantasy, is forthcoming from Curiosity Quills Press in Spring 2018.
When she’s not at Starbucks, you can find her on Twitter (@UnfetteredMuse), Facebook (facebook.com/SarahMadsenAuthor) or Wordpress (unfetteredmuse.wordpress.com). Publisher: Wyndham House Publication Date: November 7, 2016 Pages: 250 Format: PDF Add to Goodreads About the Book
Giovanna has served the Holy Mother Church since the day they burned her at the stake. As a member of the Sinistra Dei, a secret order within the Catholic Church, Gia excelled at the art of assassinations.
Lately, the biggest crisis Gia has had to face is a long night at work. That is until her quiet world begins to unravel when her commander, and former lover, sinks into insanity. Before she can come to terms with his illness, and centuries of secrets and lies, dark immortals terrorize the French Quarter. In the face of new enemies, old fears, a rising death toll, and the unexpected evolution of her supernatural powers—Gia is forced to choose between duty and loyalty to save those she loves. Where to Buy
Rating
Review
I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was quite an interesting urban fantasy. It was a new take on vampires and their existence. I definitely enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the characters being created mainly to work for the Vatican. Even more interesting that they can sink into a form of madness that makes them a threat.
Gia is a strong character. Despite the pain she endures and will endure. The tension between Lochlan and her, plus the tension between Lochlan and Torben is very apparent. I enjoyed the love and patience of Torben. What man will truly wait centuries to be with the woman he loves? Really quite formidable. I definitely would love to read the other's stories to see how their personal stories and how they came to be where they are today. If you are looking for a different take on vampires and enjoy a little sexy romance, this is a good place to start. About the Author
Kathryn M. Hearst is a southern girl with a love of the dark and strange. She has been a story teller her entire life, as a child she took people watching to new heights by creating back stories of complete strangers. Besides writing, she has a passion for shoes, vintage clothing, antique British cars, music, musicians and all things musical (including theatre). Kate lives in central Florida with her chocolate lab, Jolene; and two rescue pups, Jagger and Roxanne. She is a self-proclaimed nerd, raising a nerdling.
Genre: Romance, Supernatural, Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Inkitt Publication Date: October 26, 2017 Pages: 234 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads About the Book
Clara has been chosen and her fate will be fulfilled.
Clara Evans’ needs a fresh start. Exhausted from the taunts of her classmates and the neglect of her careless foster parents, she is counting down the days until graduation when she can move away and leave her miserable life behind. When swoon-worthy Jay Woods transfers to Ford High School, Clara’s eyes are opened to a universe she never knew existed. As the life she once knew shatters and ancient secrets are revealed, Clara must learn to control her newfound powers while defeating a raging darkness that will change the world forever. Could “The Freak” from Ford High be the key to saving the human race? My Rating
2.75 Stars
My Review
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This concept of a story has been done more times than I can count. This had so much potential if it had been refined more.
Clara, as a main character, is pretty cliche. The orphaned child with negligent foster parents, kids who hate her at school, she has one friend and then the attraction of the cute boy who seems to know her best friend. Before the boy, mind you, the story dragged painfully. With the boy, the story sped up way too fast and I was lost a couple of times. I thought it might have been a malfunction in my eReader but it wasn't. Suddenly! Clara is humanities only hope against dark forces. She has to learn to wield her powers and be able to defend herself with all levels of combat in a matter of weeks. Uh, no. This is not the Matrix. Fighting and knowing how to defend yourself takes time. The rest of the people in the story had been training since they were children. But Clara was able to take them down. Unless her powers involved fast learning of fighting and strength. She also faced a lot of trials during learning to fight and learning her powers, which made the story veer off into too many scenarios, I found. And then the cliff hanger. The weird cliff hanger that ended the story. Honestly, if the author had taken her time and refined her story, edited some ideas out and kept with the original story line, this would have been awesome. But maybe I'm just picky about these stories and hope they can expand on the concept more. Where to Buy
About the Author
Lauren Chow was born in Oxnard, California and raised in Marlton, New Jersey. Lauren has always enjoyed reading and was inspired to write her own stories with encouragement from her friends. She secretly started writing her junior year at Cherokee High School and decided to go public with her writing in 2017. Lauren is eighteen years old and enjoys art and social science. Lauren continues to write as she attends California Lutheran University to become an art therapist.
Connect with Lauren
Publisher: Chewed Pencil Press Publication Date: April 26, 2016 Pages: 268 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads About the Book
Synthia (Syn) Wade is a teenage girl who struggles with cystic fibrosis, an incurable life-threatening disease. One day she is pushed into a pond by an unseen figure and wakes up in a new world – a mysterious garden where illness and death don’t exist.
Welcomed by the garden’s residents and now free of her symptoms, Syn decides to stay. But, before long, she realizes that this apparent utopia holds many dangers and dark secrets. Surrounding the garden is a fog that Syn is warned never to enter. She encounters bizarre creatures that defy reason. And always lurking in the shadows is a masked woman - a woman who may have a connection to the disappearance of Syn’s parents many years ago. A woman whom no one will speak of, but whom everyone fears. While No One Dies in the Garden of Syn, Syn will soon discover that some fates are worse than death. My Rating
My Review
I received this eBook from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
From the premise of this novel, I was looking forward to reading this. It seemed really quite interesting, a parallel world where people could exist without pain or sickness. I am sure there are terminally ill and permanently ill people out there who have dreamed of worlds like this.
However, I did have an issue with the pace of the story. It tended to drag in many places which slowed the story down to a snail pace. Although Synthia's curiosity was quite refreshing and she didn't just agree to ways of those in the garden. Yet, at the same time, there was nothing remarkable about her either. This is a debut novel, so there is plenty of time to expand on Syn's personality and give her a little more depth as well. If you enjoyed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Alice in Wonderland, this is similar to those stories. Don't let it's similarities fool you, either. It does hold it's own and has it's own creativity. Where to Buy
About the Author
MICHAEL SEIDELMAN is an unapologetic bookworm and movie buff with a background in Online Marketing. No One Dies in the Garden of Syn is Michael’s first YA novel, with many more to come. He is currently hard at work on the second book in The Garden of Syn Trilogy and resides in Vancouver, BC.
|
About
Hello Book Dragons! The Book Promotion Directory lists blogs and book promotion providers to help Indie Authors promote and market their books.
Buy here 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
|