|
She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.
– Annie Dillard |
Genre: Science Fiction, Steampunk, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Publisher: Inkitt Publication Date: October 30, 2016 Pages: 217 Add to GoodReads Buy on Amazon, Kobo, B&N Set in London during the latter part of the 19th century. An experiment goes wrong at The Oxford Academy of Science, giving certain people extraordinary powers which turns them into 'Espers'. An institute is set up to teach Espers how to control these power, and stop corrupt Espers from abusing theirs. Nathan and James, two agents from the Institute team up with Freya, a young Esper whose brother (gifted with the strange ability to manipulate emotions) is abducted by a ruthless Baron. The group has to fight against a dark threat to protect the fragile peace of Victorian London... And the rest of the world. I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.Honestly, I really struggled with this book at first. I think that's because it was very close to the idea of X-Men. I do like the idea of the Institute being a safe place though. I think most superheroes need a safe place. However! I absolute adored the Victorian Steampunk theme. It actually fit the superheroes against super villains perfectly. Despite the plot being a little iffy for me, it did have well fleshed out characters with Nathan being a large part of the show and a good amount of sassy-ness from him. He did make me giggle from time to time. Egan Brass (aka Ryan Attard) is the author of the Esper Files, the Legacy series, and the Pandora Chronicles. Hailing from a faraway island, it wasn’t long until Ryan began creating his own imaginary friends and writing down their adventures. As Egan Brass, he writes the Esper Files — a tale of super-powered individuals set in a steampunk universe. He also dons a cape and a mask, and spends his free time learning Victorian insults in order to both confuse and enthrall his foes. He’s also one to write his bios in the third person. Connect with Egan (Ryan)
0 Comments
Publisher: Solstice Shadows Publishing Publication Date: May 30, 2018 Pages: 400 Add to Goodreads About the Book
Enter the Other World at your own risk…
What if you found out that you weren’t exactly…human? Myah Sullivan is suddenly living that nightmare. There are Others in the world, dangerous, supernatural creatures that make her mind spin and cause her to question the reality she’s always known. Oliver King is her savior, a vampire who tries to show her the way. Through her journey she learns far more than she ever thought she would about herself, and about the past. Soon, she discovers that there is so much more to meeting Oliver than mere happenstance. Can Myah accept her new reality, or will she retreat into that normal, safe world she once thought was her own? Where to BuyInterview
L: Who or what inspired your novel?
ML: In many ways, Blood Instincts is about accepting yourself, even if there are parts that you weren't aware of at first. I just thought that...well, what if the character found out one day that she was different from other people? What if it was a big secret, something fascinating yet dangerous? How would she cope with that newfound knowledge? And so, the second book of the Blood at First Sight Series was born. L: What would you say is the genre of your novel? ML: This is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy with a slightly futuristic angle. L: Why did you pick this/these genre(s)? ML: Are you kidding? I love paranormal anything! Sign me up! I think I was a goner for supernatural stories from childhood, when my grandma told us ghost stories by the campfire. But mainly, I really fell in love with the genre when I first read The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause at the age of thirteen. That seriously blew my mind, and I was hooked on paranormal romance, even if it was a YA story. L: How did you develop your plot and characters? ML: As with any book I write, I develop both during the writing process. Random scenes come to me, and the details just fill themselves in over time. I also write a major outline to help me along the way. When I'm done writing a novel or story, though, I work on a full character worksheet, defining even more about the individual, and I start to add in those elements wherever necessary. L: Who or what inspired your protagonist? ML: I've known a lot of family members who are extremely practical, and aren't so open-minded about life. You could say that Myah is a blend of all of them, with a touch of putting myself in her shoes. L: Who or what inspired your antagonist? ML: The unsavory characters and elements in the story just came from my imagination. I tried to create people or aspects that would be off-putting enough to the heroine, things that might deter her from delving into the new world she found. L: What was the most difficult part to write in the book? ML: I think when any awakening occurs for a character, whether it's redemption from past mistakes, or learning some strange things about yourself, it can be a challenge to convey it well enough so that anyone can grasp what you're trying to express. L: What was your favourite part of your book to write? ML: I don't want to give much away, but it was a lot of fun to bring new creatures into this part of the series, to describe them and imagine the wonder a character might experience. L: Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write? ML: For now, I write part time. The rest of the time I am not only doing the business side of being an author, but I also host three blogs.
L: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
ML: I am from a small town in the Midwest, particularly a little spot in Indiana. I was raised in a Victorian era farmhouse, and was the youngest of three kids. Our parents thought it would be cute to give us all 'M' names. Needless to say, all of my teachers compared me to my siblings. I spent a big part of my teenage years trying to establish my identity. To form my own opinions and be...well, me. Pretty much from the age of nine, I knew that I wanted to be a writer; furthermore, that I wanted to get published. Not for fame or anything, but simply because I had all of these stories in my head that had to be put on paper. In college, I pursued a Creative Writing degree. I loved taking all the workshops and helping my fellow writers improve their work. Of course, so many of them, including my professors, taught me a lot too! L: Who or what inspired you to be an author? ML: I think some of it came from the fact that I'm a bibliophile. I all but consumed books as a child, and that continued on into adulthood. I knew I wanted to be close to literature in some way, either through writing books or owning a bookstore. Eventually, it just made sense to write. L: What are you currently reading? ML: This time I grabbed a book from my TBR pile, an older title and a novella collection by Nora Roberts. It's called Winner Takes All. L: What are some of your favourite books or authors? ML: I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward. Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires is a close second. I also have a weakness for any romantic magical tales, historical romance and most types of contemporary romance. Now and then, I find an indie author that is quite enjoyable. L: What are your future projects, if any? ML: OMG...there so many! Don't get me started on the nearly 125 works in progress I have going. Beyond the five series already established on the market, I have plans for six other series and many standalones. First and foremost, though, I am working on a romantic comedy novel which will be part one of a six-book series. L: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? ML: Hang in there. I know the journey is tough, and it seems incredibly daunting. Persistence and perseverance has always been my motto, and I hope it helps you too! L: What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books? ML: Readers can contact me through my website or blogs, private message on Facebook, send a tweet on Twitter, or tag me on Google+. 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: Monster House Books Publication Date: November 28, 2017 Pages: 250 Add to Goodreads About the Book
Beauty. Romance. Power. It’s all in the eye of the BEHOLDER.
At last, Elea has found the love of her life. Unfortunately, the evil Tsar Viktor is about to unleash an army of twisted mages bent on killing everyone Elea cares about… including the man who’s stolen her heart. So what’s a powerful witch to do? Why, organize a league of magical warriors, of course! Elea recruits and trains a fighting force to take down the Tsar. That’s challenge enough, but on the eve of battle, Elea realizes that her true enemies may be far more powerful than even Viktor: The deities Oni and Yuri could be out to destroy her as well. With major battles brewing on two fronts, Elea’s not sure that she’ll win, but with true love to inspire her, she’s certainly ready to fight. Excerpt
It was never a good idea to spy on the gods, as a rule.
That said, I was never one to follow the rules. All of which was why I now stood in a hilltop ringed with skulls, staring out over a deserted landscape. A shiver of foreboding rolled across my shoulders. This place gave new meaning to the word bleak. Ashen soil stretched off in every direction. Charcoal-colored clouds wheeled overhead. A freestanding archway made from chipped stone loomed nearby. The thing looked like a ruin, but it was actually a magickal gateway called the Skullock Passage. Soon, this archway would also serve as my supernatural keyhole for spying on the gods. Quite possibly, I’d be killed in the process. Considering my situation, it was a risk worth taking. I glanced up at the darkening sky. Almost time to begin. Any minute now, a slash of blood-red light would appear by the horizon, marking the arrival of the Martyr’s Comet, a heavenly body that showed itself once every two thousand years. Unfortunately, the Martyr’s Comet had all sorts of dark legends surrounding it, such as the prophecy that whoever was the strongest Necromancer alive when the comet appeared, then that same Necromancer had to die when the comet vanished. This particular legend had changed my life from bad to worse. First, the bad part. About two months ago, my one-time Mother Superior, Petra, informed me of the Martyr’s Comet prophecy, including the bit about the strongest Necromancer dying. That was certainly bad news; some poor mage was supposedly doomed. Second, the worse part. Then Petra shared that I was the strongest Necromancer alive and she planned to end my life when the comet vanished. In other words, about three days from now. As I said, worse. Of course, I’d no intention of dying any time soon. I just needed more information so I could foil Petra’s schemes—hence my spying expedition. A flicker of light appeared at the horizon. My gaze locked on the spot. Was that the Martyr’s Comet? I squinted into the darkening sky. The brightness clearly shone white, not red. Only a shooting star, then. A weight of disappointment settled on my shoulders. In some ways, I was looking forward to the comet’s arrival. With it, there came additional powers over gateways, especially for mages like me. Tapping into those extra abilities, I’d turn the Skullock Passage into my personal spy-hole. Take that, Petra. A small cloud of dust began spinning on the ground nearby. The particles whirled in curlicue shapes that were too perfect to be natural. Magick. My heart lightened. Perhaps my mate Rowan was arriving. I had expected him to magickally transport here any second. Sadly enough, blue lights sparkled deep within the haze. A weight of dread settled into my bones. Someone was casting a transport spell, only it wasn’t Rowan. My mate was a Creation Caster, so his power came from life and his magick glowed red. This brightness shone blue, which meant the visiting mage was a Necromancer like me. Damn. Most likely, Petra was sending yet another messenger my way, asking me to fulfill the Prophecy of the Martyr’s Comet and die willingly on the comet’s last day. Meeting these messengers was never pleasant, but it wasn’t particularly dangerous, either. Petra wouldn’t try to kill me until the Martyr’s Comet was just about to disappear. Small comfort, really. Within seconds, a wisp of a girl materialized beside me. She looked about sixteen years old with large brown eyes, pale skin, and raven-dark hair. The image of her skull had been magickally marked onto her face in dark tones. Her clothes were long black robes decorated with a few ties, which was the formal dress for a Sister, the lowest level of initiated Necromancer. The girl spied me, gasped, and fell to her knees. A small puff of dried earth flew up where she landed. “Greetings, my Tsarina.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. All Petra’s messengers fell on their knees when they first laid eyes on me. It was rather unsettling. I wasn’t this girl’s Tsarina, and even if I were, bowing and scraping weren’t my idea of fun. Where to BuyAbout the Author
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press. Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. Connect with ChristinaGiveaway
You could Win
mage locket witchy bracelet skeleton earrings copy of CROWNED Publication Date: October 31, 2017 Pages: 238 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads About the Book
Shelby King is tired of living in her sister’s shadow. Just because Christina is the most powerful caster in school doesn’t mean Shelby’s any good at magic; she’s a scribe, like her mom, and everyone expects her to write spells for her sister, the way her mom always has for her dad. But Shelby’s spells fail spectacularly, and by the time she’s a sophomore, Christina won’t touch them with a ten-foot-pole; their parents aren’t much better. Shelby is fed up, and she decides to show the world she doesn’t care if she isn’t as good as her stuck-up sister, or as talented as their powerful parents. In fact, she decides it’s time to break all the rules, magical and otherwise, and she starts sneaking out to meet Jeremiah Smallwood, the second-best caster in school at illegal pop-up spell battles around town. She may not be able to scribe for him, but she doesn’t mind letting him think that she could; Shelby’s been half in love with Miah as long as she can remember, but he’s never paid attention to her until now, and she’s not going to risk her chances worrying about a pesky thing like the truth. But when Christina rats her out to their parents, Shelby can’t control her anger, and words come pouring out of her that she can’t take back even if she wanted to, threatening Christina’s future…and Shelby’s own chances with Jeremiah. It’ll take more magic than Shelby’s ever dreamed of to set things right, but no scribe has that much magic…right?
My Rating
4.85 Stars
ReviewI received this eBook from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Shelby is a scribe.
Or well, she is supposed to be a scribe but her skills haven't quite emerged yet. Shelby lives under the shadow of her caster father (who works for the Caster Force which polices caster and scribe communities), her mother's excellent scribing abilities, the family's long line of caster's and scribes, and of course her sister who is considered the best caster in high school. Shelby is meant to be Christina's scribe but her spells are a bit of a disaster. Which doesn't bode well for Christina and her Caster Level Threes that are fast approaching. The second best caster, Jeremiah (or Miah) is recently single and has his eyes on Shelby. Even though his actual intentions are purely selfish to better himself at caster battles. However out of sheer luck, one of her spells actually works and she begins to test her abilities by creating a side job selling spells to normal folk. Highly frowned upon in her caster/scribe society. And during one fateful night, Christina learns just how powerful Shelby's spells are with a unique twist. So, this starts out a little cliche. Kind of like Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Freaky Friday and Mean Girls all rolled into one. However I did enjoy that Shelby's idea of rebellion was to wear neon pink to school as black and dark colours were the norm. Heh, that was my normal wardrobe in high school. Primarily still is dark colours. Despite the cliche starting, the twist is a wonderful surprise and throws the book into a whole new outlook. So definitely give it a read, if you're a fan of a good young adult with an awesome twist. Where to BuyAbout the Author
Award-winning author Jen McConnel writes NA, YA, and nonfiction. When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure.
Giveaway
- Name a character in Book 2
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Publisher: The Narcissistic Rose Publication Date: November 1, 2017 Pages: 316 About the Book
For the last five years, Fawn has been the star soprano of a secluded opera house, forced to sing for her kidnapper.
His daughter, Devi, waits patiently in the shadows, hiding a face so horrible that no one who’s seen it will look at it again. As Fawn plots her escape, whispers spread through the shaded corridors of dark sorcery, warning her that she must flee by the next opening night. But when Fawn draws close to the exit, it’s Devi who’s standing in her way, leading Fawn to suspect that Devi has something to gain if she fails. (a dark reimagining of Swan Lake) Excerpt
The musicians set up in the orchestra pit and start warming up. The off-key kaleidoscope of music rises into the warm and stuffy air. I stand on the back edge of the stage, watching dust motes drift down from the rafters.
The first rehearsal. Time is dwindling much too quickly. The urge to run for it is imprinted on my bones. But my jailer waits for me nearby in the darkness, like always. I know from experience how quick he is. Muted footsteps sound from behind me. I spin around and force a wide grin on my face, expecting Dillion. I find Andrew instead, and my forced smile melts into a real one. “You’re here.” I scan the shadows behind him, but there’s no sign of Devi. He came alone. Good. I was afraid he might have run off to spend some time with the little monster. “I missed you at dinner. I hope you can join us next time.” He returns my smile with a warm one of his own. “I can certainly try.” His eyes roam the backstage area. Parts of old sets are tucked away close to the walls, collecting dust. Parts of new sets sit drying in the middle of the room. The thick scent of latex paint sticks to everything. “Where did you run off to earlier?” I ask. “I am sorry to have scared you away.” His smile starts to fade. “You didn’t scare me. I just . . . worry about her.” Irritation punches me in the ribs. “Yes, I worry about her as well. She’s so guarded. It’s so hard to get close to her.” My throat tightens. Why do you even care? A haunted look passes through his eyes. “Yes, it is.” He clears his throat. “Is this the first official rehearsal? Are you excited?” Excited is not a word I would use about anything pertaining to my life. “Yes, very much. I love the new music. It’s so emotive and beautiful.” “I can’t wait to hear it.” His gaze flickers past me to someone on the stage. I turn and see Dillion standing on the other end, surrounded by singers and dancers, watching us, his expression guarded. He nods when he catches us staring and turns to say something to the dancer closest to him. They both laugh. “You and Dillion seem like you’re getting along well.” Andrew’s gaze shifts back to my face. I wave his comment away. “Yes. Viktor wants me to make him feel welcome and special. It’s all very shallow, though.” I watch him closely and decide to test the waters on his end. “I’d much rather spend that time with you.” About the Author
Krystal is the author of supernatural and paranormal fiction, living in the Tennessee Valley with a collection of swords and daggers. When she's not hoarding stuffed pandas, hourglasses, and Hello Kitty replicas, she can be found in YouTube hole or blogging about books, writing, and random things at KrystalSquared.net.
Giveaway
- Ends November 9th
Blitz hosted by:
|
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
|