Such a pretty cover and when I saw The Tasmanian Colony I wondered if there would be Tasmanian shifters. LOL Nope, but we have plenty of other magical creatures, like witches, vampires and dragons, along with a human. Of course, she will fall in love with one of them, and I was counting on that. I don’t mind some things being predictable, especially when an author creates a fantastical world with compelling characters.
Harriet never stood a chance, once she met HIM.
I love a good supernatural story. Maggie Tideswell lured me in with the blurb, but the story kept me hanging on, facing the same dangers that Harriet did. I thought, what an odd name for a fantasy character and it put a smile on my face as I tried to conjure an image of what she looked like. Not the older woman that I first had in mind, that’s for sure.
Her being the only human makes her a target. Will she allow herself to be turned? I am curious to see how it will play out, as she has fallen in love with a vampire.
I want to thank Maggie Tideswell for the opportunity to read His Brother’s Mate and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A witch, a vampire colony, a dragon shifter, and one little hotblood…
She doesn’t belong there. She is just an ordinary 26-year-old girl with no special talents or superpowers, except for an affinity for sick animals.
Yet, suddenly, because she liked a guy she knew nothing of and wanted to explore her options for a future with him, she finds herself in a vampire colony with no way of escape. Her friend abandons her, leaving her at the mercy of his brother, who just happens to be the most gorgeous man she has ever seen.
Bestselling international author of spooky paranormal romance, urban fantasy romance, and fantasy romance, Maggie Tideswell has a passion for romance. She combines things that can’t be explained with sweaty bodies and rumpled beds in a way that will make your toes curl and your hair stand on end.
Maggie lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband Gareth and a cat called Auntie. She just can’t do without perfume, her tea and the internet. She is nearly as passionate about food as she is about creating alpha heroes every woman will fall in love with, just as she does, every time.
Follow Maggie on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggie-tideswell
Subscribe to Maggie’s Ghoulies & Ghosties newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/h4o5m6
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
And that about sums it up. How many lives will be lost? Will I lose one of my favorite characters? Can the Fourth Wing stay whole?
Violet Sorrengail will be put to the test again and again, personally and professionally.
Once I started I didn’t want to stop reading. Unputdownable does not even begin to describe Iron Flame. It is riveting, engrossing, mind blowing, overwhelming…and looooooong, so be sure and put aside a lot of time. Lock the doors and hunker down in your favorite reading spot with your favorite beverage.
There is so much I want to say, but this is one of those times when I think less is more.
The cliffhanger ending is not unexpected. The problem is, waiting for my turn at the library.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
Published: November 7, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books
ABOUT REBECCA YARROS
Screenshot
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.
Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.
I love to read books that I can relate to real current events and An End To Kings by Ryan Schuette does that in a fantastical way. He includes things like political upheaval, civil liberty and climate change. Ryan Schuette’s master storytelling makes this an epic fantasy you won’t want to miss and I am excited to pick up where we left off in A Seat For The Rabble.
I love the illustrations. Illustrations always add something extra for me.
Political intrigue arises around every turn. No one can be trusted and some of the betrayals broke my heart for the characters that it happened to. One sticks out in a big way…
Sara is one of my favorite characters and her tragic life breaks my heart. She is a good person and too young for the horrors brought to her life. She is a child, struggling, facing things beyond her years. I have feared for her since I met her, especially when she lost the one person she could count on.
Zur had been kidnapped and Lorana was determined to find him. I thought there might be more to him than we see in the beginning. The same goes for Sara and the Mad Lady. I feel they will play a prominent role in what is to come for the Kingdom. What that role will be is yet to be determined.
Eden, what the hell?
Anyway, let’s get into the conflict that rages, as the rebels unite to get their Seat, but how can you band together when you can’t get along? When people are pushed into a corner with nothing to lose, they will fight back.
Because the king died without naming his successor.Jason must prove his right to wear the crown for the Kingdom of Loran and will have to face the Kingstrials. I love that the king’s daughter, Lorana was ruling the kingdom, though no one ever acknowledged it. After all, they cannot have a Queen as a leader…can they? For now, she is tasked with keeping the wolves at bay until a king is crowned.
The battles are savage, a brutal and bloody slaughter. The betrayals and cowardice allow tragic injustices to occur and more than one leaves me speechless. Ryan Schuette’s ability to pump up my emotions to a point where I want to throw my ereader against the wall makes me hesitate, putting the book down to pull myself together, then picking it up again….because I HAVE to know what happens next. On and on I read, wondering who will live and who will die.
An End To Kings by Ryan Schuette is intense. It has everything you can possibly want in an epic fantasy. And that ending, I can hardly wait to see what will become of my favorite characters in the next book. It is sure to be an amazing adventure.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of An End To Kings by Ryan Schuette.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In the highly anticipated conclusion to A Seat for the Rabble, former NPR reporter Ryan Schuette returns to Odma, a richly detailed world not unlike our own. Riven by social injustice, wealth inequality, and ancient magic, the Kingdom of Loran stands on the brink of war . . . and the bastard prince, Jason Warchild, means to save it.
With an army of Cloudlanders at his back, Jason marches to the Kingstrials, where he must kill his rivals—including his zealot uncle, Shaddon—to claim his father’s crown and return peasants to power. But winning this deadly game will take more than martial skill and an army. If he fails to win all three Trials, he’ll need the fractious Worthy Assembly to crown him directly—or he’ll lose the kingdom, along with his head.
As class anger festers, Jason’s allies find themselves embattled. At the capital, Princess Lorana Eddenhold navigates her realm’s troubled politics to stamp out plots against her half-brother, even as she dreads Prieslenne Edenia’s return. In the west, Rathos Robswell risks his life to persuade the Loyal Company’s firebrands to cease their infighting and see the bastard prince—along with the dream of a just realm—through a crucible of swords, dragons, and griffons.
Only supernatural forces seem to see all ends. Accompanied by a sorcerer, Zuran races against time to confront the real evil . . . the one exploiting chaos in a kingless land.
Praise for A Seat for the Rabble and An End to Kings
“From its electric first pages, Schuette’s epic adult fantasy debut grips with a rich, tense, multi-perspective story of a kingdom in unrest. . . . A journalist, [he] writes crisp, compelling scenes that demonstrate an understanding of power, conflicted loyalties, and the ways that history—both ancient and recent, true and made up—powers contemporary conflicts.” —BookLife by Publishers Weekly (Grade: A)
“Schuette’s extensive world is an enticing one. Religion, class systems, and past events play large parts in the conflict. . . . Griffins fly; swords cleave; and the unsuspecting are sometimes slaughtered. . . . Yet the fighting and feuding are matched in such a way to keep the intriguing plot moving swiftly. The competing interests make for a curious, highly detailed, engrossing fantasy.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Masterful storytelling and epic worldbuilding make this a must-read for fans of political fantasy. Ryan Schuette weaves a complex world of political intrigue, class conflict, and the pursuit of power in this enthralling epic fantasy.” —ALEXANDRIA DUCKSWORTH, Independent Book Review
“If you like getting marooned in a book, so far removed from real life that there’s no need for rescue, then A Seat for the Rabble was made for you! . . . [It’s] a sumptuous feast for the mind.” —NICKY FLOWERS, Indies Today (Rating: ★★★★★)
Genre: Dragons, Fantasy, Fiction, Mythical Creatures, Sword and Sorcery
554 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2024
Series: A King Without A Crown, Book II
ABOUT RYAN SHUETTE (from his website)
Schuette:Pronounced SHOO-tee
Hi there. I’m a writer, editor, illustrator, and resume consultant with past lives in politics, foreign aid, nonprofit management, and the lingerie industry. I’m also a reporter who’s written for National Public Radio, Al Jazeera America, and numerous other media outlets. In 2015, PBS’s NOVA recognized a feature of mine for NPR as one of its top 10 stories in science education that year.
Fun facts about me: I’ve met three presidents (including the one in the photo), written a novel, and lived and worked for a year in Uganda as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. While in Uganda, I freelanced as a reporter, bounced around several countries, and got malaria a few times (wouldn’t recommend it). I also took a short course in international law at the University of Oxford.
I’ve started and run both a nonprofit and company, and just recently decided to make good on a few life goals by writing an original fantasy fiction novel and drawing cartoons professionally. I’ve lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and hold a master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University.
Life is short, so make sure you spend it doing something you love. Bonus points if it improves our species.
After her sister dies, Meara Deleaney invites her bereaved nephew, Jackson, to accompany her on a book tour to Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Fearful of leaving the security of her apartment, Meara bolsters her courage by recalling the imaginary dragons she and her sister slew as children behind the hollyhock hedge.
As they travel in a motorhome from park to park and bookstore to bookstore, Meara and Jackson are unaware of the manipulating forces intent on preventing their return home. They do, however, realize they are being stalked and therefore welcome the company of another touring author, criminology professor Bartholomew Wolfe.
A long-standing professional relationship between the authors builds to romance and a persuasive invitation to seek shelter at the professor’s lodge. However, to reach the lodge, Meara—now accompanied by her nephew, niece and mother—unsuspectingly travels through a portal which exits in a future dimension near a fortress.
From there, the family is escorted under guard through dangerous territory to a lodge where metaphorical dragons lie in wait, and security comes at a price.
EXCERPT
As bedtime neared, Meara was reaching for the television remote when the screen went dark. Simultaneously, the cabin lights dimmed to battery mode, the refrigerator switched from electricity to propane gas, and the microwave blinked off.
Meara and Jackson went outside to see if the power was out in the whole campground. It was an ideal summer night perfected by the sound of rolling surf, a sound they expected to later lull them to sleep in their motorhome haven. A breeze swept the scent of campfire smoke into the ocean-scented air. Small animals could be heard scuttling through nearby shrubbery, rustling twigs and leaves.
When it became apparent there was no generalized power outage, Jackson checked their electric outlet. The motorhome’s electric cord lay unplugged on the ground.
“Pranksters again,” he muttered as he bent to plug it in.
However, at the motorhome steps, Meara and her nephew came to an abrupt halt. On the vehicle’s bottom step lay a long-stemmed rose bearing an attached note.
Someone had stealthily placed it there in the brief time they were outside. Someone had been watching, waiting for the right moment to leave the rose.
No longer did the sound and smell of the ocean seem soothing. No longer did the scent of campfire smoke seem inviting. No longer did the rustling of twig and leaf seem friendly. They looked around nervously and saw no one.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Gloria Pearson-Vasey weaves contemporary issues into her novels, and likes a story – be it literary fiction, historical fantasy or science fiction – to be authentic and end on a note of hope.
A member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, Pearson-Vasey has also penned non-fiction books on autism and pilgrimage.
The author feels blessed for experiencing the joy and chaos of merging child raising with career, camping, travel and pets.
She lives in a picturesque Ontario town, and enjoys reading, music, country drives and time with family and friends.
I am excited to be back on Dragon Shifter Island, seeing I enjoyed my first visit so much in Dragon Craved. I mean, hunkalicious dragon shifters, a police officer eye witnessing a hit and run and being kidnapped by one of the hunkalicious dragon shifters…I can’t help but see sparks flying and plenty of laughter, seeing Scarlett West’s writing style weaves some fun amongst the danger.
This time, in Protected Dragon, it is Falcon’s turn to share his story. I do love a damaged character who can turn into a silvery, flying dragon. I envy Emma, when she gets the opportunity to take to the skies with Falcon.
There is so much more to the story than just a hit and run. Emma doesn’t know it yet, but she’s a draca, a human that shares dragon blood and able to become a mate of a full blooded dragon. They are so important to the clans, because dragons are dying out Draglings…how cute is that. I want to read about baby dragons.
The dialogue had me, at times, laughing out loud, so beware of reading in a public place.
Saaamokin’, fiery hot sex sets my reader on fire! I love that Emma didn’t jump right into the sack, even though she had met Falcon in the first book and was verrrry attracted to him.
Sarnai is Emma’s best friend, her only ‘family’ she has left. They bring her to Dragon Island to protect her, but she gets caught in the crossfire. I think we know who’s story is next. How about it Torin? Are you ready to tell your story?
I highly recommend anything written by Scarlett West. She writes of vampires, werewolves, and the fae bureau of investigation, sure to capture a fantasy lovers’ heart.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragon Protected by Scarlett West.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Can they deny their attraction long enough to catch a criminal?
Emma Getting kidnapped by a dragon shifter was not part of my job description. I needed to be investigating a crime, not spending time with one of my suspects, tempting though he may be.Too bad he’s determined to stay involved and protect me from the stalker I inadvertently acquired.
Falcon As a dragon clan enforcer, I will risk everything in the line of duty, except my mate.With my clan and job in jeopardy, I should walk away, but she incited an undeniable hunger in my dragon, one I should resist. But there’s a problem.Someone is hunting her, and I have to find out why… before it’s too late.
If you love broody alphas, sassy heroines, and hot paranormal romance with a heart, Dragon Protected is for you. Dragon Protected is a standalone in Dragon Shifter Island Series. The books can be read alone but best in order.
Grab this steamy dragon shifter romance that’s bound to pull your heartstrings.
Scarlett West writes steamy, paranormal romance featuring sexy Fae. Deep characters and hot romance are her thing.
An avid reader and writer who will never stop dreaming, Scarlett has traveled to many countries and been on tons of adventures. She draws her stories from these places, life experiences, and her grand imagination.
Besides writing, she’s a hobby herbalist and a dancer. If she’s not by the computer typing these things up, she can be found in a forest, on a mountain, or by the ocean.
Scarlett West would like to thank her three F’s: Fans, Family, and Friends. Thank you forever for your support.
I can see where the title came from and it fits the book perfectly. Once, you meet Krell, you will know what I mean. He comes from no where, had nothing, but maybe that was Recknor’s plan. Recknor is the god of the seas and skies. Paladins are champions of the gods, but Recknor thinks they are nothing but trouble. If that is the case, why did he choose to raise a paladin?
A holy warrior going out to work his will on the world.
Krell is naive in the ways of the world. Deserted on a desert island after the first shipwreck, he had to learn to fend for himself. Olgar was on the dock when he was rescued the second time. Hmmm…is this all part of Recknor’s plan?
Krell is such a fascinating character. He does not see himself as a leader, though there are those that will follow him, does not seem himself as a lover, though there are those that would give themselves to him freely, only sees himself as himself. Others see him as arrogant, stubborn, prone to act without thinking, never shying from danger, but diving right into it. I loved when he got his first understanding of the difference between the haves and the have nots and his sense of justice is awakened.
There are many laughs to be had at his expense over his arrogance and stubborness. I laughed right along with the characters, of which they all played a pivotal role in Krell’s life.
“You think we can survive?”
“Of course he does. His arrogance makes it impossible for him to see any other outcome.”
:”I am here to be Recknor’s sword, to keep his followers alive, and to slaughter his enemies”
We have monstrous beings, ocotpus bats, sea devils, orcs, halflings, fey, magical talents, and a battle to be won. The sea devils made me think of the blob with teeth and claws. We even have a dragon named Fortis, who has bonded with Krell. Can you imagine a tiny dragon curling up in your lap conveying his feelings of happiness to be with you to you? He is only ten inches tall right now, but what will happen when he is full grown? He brings treats, like a cat, to Krell’s doorstep. How cute is that?
I have visions running through my mind of what is to come from their bonding and the ongoing story and I can hardly wait to get to the next chapter in their lives. I see so much coming and I am going to love watching Krell grow into the man Olgar and Recknor believed he would become. Krell is a fabulously written character that grows and develops along with the story. He has come to realize he can make his own family, choosing and meeting those who will come to lay their life down for him as he would for them. So many varied, high strung, strong personalities.
Krell’s story is far from over and I look forward to seeing him again in Futility Of Defense by Bryan Cole.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don’t worship their deity.
So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can’t help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn’t called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.
All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood…
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2022 by TellWell Talent
Series: Beginning Of Arrogance, Book I
ABOUT BRYAN COLE
Bryan Cole is a long time fan of the fantasy and science fiction genres, having grown up reading and watching everything he could find in those domains. He has had a long career in the enterprise software space, delivering countless presentations and technical sessions to customers all over the world.
His love for stories about heroes, villains, magic, and dragons has never dimmed, and in 2022 published his first book is Beginning of Arrogance which is a story about what it means to be a paladin in a world where the gods are manifestly real.
Bryan is a complete optimist on the outside, believing that anyone can accomplish any task they set themselves to. He’d suggest that he’s a great example, since his first published book came out of nowhere to all of his friends and family!
It was a strange journey that led him to writing, but decades of building business presentations gave him a surprising amount of practice in crafting words and conveying emotion (an often overlooked aspect of selling), and he finally made the time in 2022 to take the hundreds of pages of random notes, stories, and adventure ideas he had and committed them to the page.
“Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. Being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway.”
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Pick up a pen (or sit down in front of your keyboard) and write! Everyone has a story and you never know what you can create if you don’t try!
Isn’t that a beautiful cover for Unleashed by Aria Glaski. It depicts the story inside to a T, and I love it when that happens. I feel the author does the book justice by representing it as it is. Unleashed is a bit on the dark side, so adult warnings apply.
We start with a map. I love maps, referring back to them as I travel through the pages.
I have been reading Aria Glaski for a while now (See my review links below) and she writes some great books BUT I will say, Unleashed seems outside her norm, and I was surprised at how quickly I became engrossed in the story. Unleashed is by far my favorite Aria Glazki book. AND, it’s a series. It could end here, but I am so very happy it doesn’t. Oh, yeah!
It starts with a one night stand…is there such a thing with a dragon? I doooon’t think so. Who can say no to that animal attraction?
I realize it is very difficult to come up with an original idea for an oft told tale, but Aria Glazki did it. I love that the main character, Tia, has been living as a human for hundreds of years to avoid the ritual. The ritual where her and her brother would fight to the death. She won’t do it. But, what if…
Azur was determined to find her and bring her back. It is a duty she must fulfill…
Seraphina is so much more than he bargained for and he is rethinking his position, but a cow does follow the herd and he makes a mistake. She is kidnapped out from under him.
Things are not as she imagined in Azhidar Zher…and neither is her brother.
I thought it was interesting that Aria Glazki pointed out a similarity to us humans. There is a double standard, one set of rules for males and another for females. Guess who makes out the best?
Sexual tension permeates the pages and I devour the words as Azur devours Seraphina.
Sure, many things are familiar, but Aria Glazki did an amazing job bringing a fresh look into the life of dragons. It’s not all lollipops and rainbows, but it’s not all war and killing either. We always have time for some romance, right?
Aria Glazki shares her thoughts at the end of the book :
…never intended for it to become Fantasy…..I wanted to play around with dragons…Alas, such is the life of a “pantser” – the story goes where it wants…
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unleashed, Defiant Dragons, Book I, by Aria Glazki.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A one-night stand with the sexy new dragon in town could force her into a fight to the death. Still, worth it?
Tia’s been hiding among the humans for hundreds of years, evading her so-called birthright. But when a hot new dragon arrives in her city, she doesn’t run fast enough. The pull to be with her own kind is just too strong. Too bad the newcomer is determined to drag her back for the ritual she escaped.
Did she say “ritual”? Make that “fight to the death.”
Azar never dreamed he’d be the one to find her: the spoiled, selfish royal who doomed all the dragons. Only it turns out the Zubir’s sister is nothing like he was told. She’s fierce, shrewd, and stunning, and she throws everything he believes into question.
The one thing Azar knows without a doubt? Bringing her home is dragonkind’s only hope.
— Unleashed is a sizzling dragon shifter romance featuring a strong heroine fighting magic and politics to save a species that wants her dead. Then there’s her one-night-stand-turned-hostage, igniting all sorts of sparks she can’t ignore. Too bad even a dragon can end up burned.
Genre:
336 pages, ebook
Expected publication September 27, 2023 by Anika Press
ABOUT ARIA GLAZKI
Aria Glazki’s first kiss technically came from a bear cub. Though no fairytale transformation followed, she still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is. So now Aria writes heartfelt romances about relatable people overcoming real-world obstacles to build love that lasts.
I don’t see Dragon Craved by Scarlett West listed as erotica, but the sizzling hot sex put it in that category for me. I do love my dragons fiery hot and Knox fits that category to a T. Amelia knows she is in trouble whenever she gets near him, because she feels the heat too.
Amelia’s sister, Ivy, has broken dragon law. Amelia brokers a deal, offering herself in her sister’s place, wanting to give her sister another chance in getting her life together. So, it’s off to Dragon Shifter Island for her to serve her sentence.
Knox runs the prison and having a human there creates chaos, but he has a personal issue with her. She is the first human to set foot on the island and Knox has to babysit her. He fights his attraction to her. No way can she be his mate, though his dragon says otherwise.
I love all the internal mind talking between Knox the human and his dragon. It had me cracking up. His dragon is like a child and only knows that he wants Amelia. She belongs with him.
You must protect our Mili. Keep her safe. We will not be the same if something happens to her.
Mili? My dragon had given Amelia a nickname.
It doesn’t take long for Amelia to figure out that all the shifters around her can feel her emotions and thoughts. I found myself smiling and I think I even blushed a few times as her and Knox’s thoughts kept turning to smokin’ hot sex. I loved their verbal foreplay. She takes no guff from anyone, even though she is so much weaker than the dragons that surround her.
Humans and dragons can’t mix, but there is a draca legend that says certain humans have been imbued with the ability to mate with dragons. Lucia, a female ancestor, had seen how dragons would be on the verge of extinction and sent out her essence. It would remain dormant until dragon numbers were low enough to make her dragon magic come to life.
Dragon Craved is a different kind of dragon story and I loved it. I find it’s hard to create something refreshing and original, but Scarlett West has managed to do that with the Dragon Shifter Island series. The best part of all, Knox is a water dragon. As they fly through the water I thought, how cool is that. And she can breathe, like a mermaid.
I could go on and on, and I kinda did….
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragon Craved by Scarlett West.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Loving a dragon means breaking all the rules…
Amelia
When my sister gets in trouble at a dragon shifter bar, she’s at the mercy of their courts. As a lawyer, I negotiate a trade, now I’m taking her place in their prison.
Knox is the dragon sheriff overseeing my unit. He is moody, sinfully hot, and a man whose attention I don’t want. But no one told me about a dragon’s sizzling touch…
Knox
My job at the dragon prison has always been tough, and it gets worse when Amelia is assigned to my unit. When my alpha commands me to produce a child with the last female on earth I have any business wanting in order to replenish our population, I have no choice but to agree. Except I despise lawyers.
I planned to keep it professional, but my dragon burns for her like no other. There is no doubt I want her. I crave to protect her, and I need to make her mine–even if it means risking everything.
Expected publication June 8, 2023 by Passion Press
ABOUT SCARLETT WEST
Scarlett West writes steamy, paranormal romance featuring sexy Fae. Deep characters and hot romance are her thing.
An avid reader and writer who will never stop dreaming, Scarlett has traveled to many countries and been on tons of adventures. She draws her stories from these places, life experiences, and her grand imagination.
Besides writing, she’s a hobby herbalist and a dancer. If she’s not by the computer typing these things up, she can be found in a forest, on a mountain, or by the ocean.
Scarlett West would like to thank her three F’s: Fans, Family, and Friends. Thank you forever for your support.
Book Title: The Old Dragon’s Head byJustin Newland Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 257 pages Genre: Historical Fantasy, Supernatural Thriller Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd. Release date: November 2018 Content Rating: PG-13 +M. Mild sex and cruelty. Mature themes.
Book Description:
The Great Wall of China may be constructed of stone and packed earth, but it is home to a supernatural beast – the Old Dragon. Both wall and dragon protect China’s northern borders from Mongol incursion. Just beyond the fortress of Shanhaiguan, the far eastern end of the wall protrudes into the Bohai Sea – that’s the Old Dragon’s Head.
Bolin, a young man working on the Old Dragon’s Head, suffers visions of ghosts. The local seer suspects that he has yin-yang eyes and other supernatural gifts. Bolin’s fief lord, the Prince of Yan, rebels against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor. In the bitter war of succession, the Mongols hold the balance of power. While the victor might win the battle on earth, China’s Dragon Throne can only be earned with a Mandate from Heaven – and the support of the Old Dragon. In every era, a man endowed with the powers of heaven – the Dragon Master – is born. Only he can summon the Old Dragon, providing he possesses the dragon pearl. It’s the year 1402, and neither the Old Dragon, the dragon pearl, nor the Dragon Master, has been seen for twenty years. Bolin’s journey of self-discovery is mirrored by that of old China, as both endeavour to come of age. When Bolin accepts his destiny as the Dragon Master, heaven sends a third coming of age – for humanity itself. But are any of them ready for what is rising in the east?
JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical fiction and crime, to supernatural thrillers and mystery. His stories deal with the themes of war, religion, and evolution and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe.
Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he found his way to the creative keyboard and conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.
Next came the historical fantasy, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.
His next historical fantasy, The Coronation (Matador, 2019), speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.
His fourth, The Abdication (Matador, 2021), is a supernatural thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.
His work in progress is a two-book series, The Island of Angels, set in Elizabethan England, and is an epic tale of England’s coming of age. The first novel, The Mark of the Salamander, travels with Sir Francis Drake across the wide open seas of discovery from 1577-1580 and is due to be published in September 2023. The second, The Midnight of Eights, culminates in the repulse of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
He regularly gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts. Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.
Did someone say dragons? I love stories about dragons and getting lost in fantasy worlds, but it took a while for me to get involved in the story and connect with the characters.
Quen knew she was not like others, with two different colored eyes and…well, that’s a secret. Did her father want her hidden because she’s a shapeshifting Rajani sorceress dragonmancer destined to destroy the human world?
Her curiosity and need to know what Kovatha Imbica wanted with her father, made her leave her home and walk into the desert, searching for answers. What she finds is more than she could have expected. She finds a friend, a love interest, Mishny (who cracked me up and, most definitely, is not a friend), Nivi, mages, dragons, and so much more. There are those that want to love her and help her, and those who want something else from her. Will she be able to save herself and merge her souls, or will the curse be the end of her?
The world building takes us across the desert, to the mountaintop, into caves and villages that hold intrigue and danger.
I think the fact I read Season Of The Dragon on my computer may have lessened my enjoyment. Also, I feel this is for teens and young adults, so the hot dragons and sexy scenes that I long for are absent. My three star review does not stop me from wanting to know what comes next.
At the end of the book is a list of pronunciations for the names and words that are probably foreign to you, a glossary of terms, and an explanation of the religion and mages.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Season Of The Dragon by Natalie Wright.
3 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
From award-winning author Natalie Wright, a sumptuous world of mages and rogues, dragomancers and dragons, myth and mystery, and court intrigue.
“A dazzling epic fantasy kickoff that rewards and upends reader expectations.”—Editor’s Pick, BookLife Reviews
Quen wasn’t born to save the world. She was created to destroy it.
Quen Santu works for her father tanning hides, waiting for her tides to turn. Everyone she grew up with has already committed to a herdclan. But Quen was born cursed with a second, shadow soul. Sensing the oddity within, animals run from her—an untenable trait in a herding culture. On the cusp of her twentieth year, Quen is at risk of becoming pesha—no one.
Then, a dragon kills her father. The murder turns Quen’s life upside down and dashes her hope for an honorable life. As her anger grows, so does her untapped power. Fueled by a quest for vengeance, she joins a vigilante group of rogues hunting the beast. But her journey soon reveals a terrible truth: beyond the safety of her desert village, she has caught the attention of dangerous eyes. And now, she has become the hunted.
At the end of her journey, Quen’s fate will be sealed. Can Quen overcome her curse and unite her warring souls? Or will her shadow soul consume her—and everyone she loves?
The fate of her homeland—and all she loves—hangs in the balance.
ABOUT NATALIE WRIGHT
Natalie writes Epic Fantasy and Science Fiction novels, short stories, and microfiction. Her newest novel, Season of the Dragon, is forthcoming in March 2023 from Menaris Books.
Natalie is the author of six published books, including the award-winning Sci-Fi series H.A.L.F. (Human Alien Life Form). She also authored Emily’s House, a story that was featured by Wattpad with over 2 million reads and counting!
In addition to writing, Natalie also co-hosts the Tipsy Nerds Book Club podcast: The best of Sci-Fi & Fantasy—with a twist! You can download the popular SFF podcast free wherever you get your podcasts. Read the book, grab a cocktail, and join the conversation: http://tipsynerdsbookclub.com.
Natalie is also a freelance content development editor and a judge in the international NYC Midnight writing challenges.
Natalie appears on panels and exhibits at book festivals and comic cons throughout the US. She has an adult son and lives in Arizona with her husband and two cat overlords.
You can check out her travel schedule on her blog (link below) to see if she’ll be in a city near you.
