Tag Archives: fantasy fiction

$10 GC – Sushan Portal by Gloria Pearson-Vase @goddessfish @rvwriter

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SHUSHAN PORTAL: BEHIND THE HOLLYHOCK HEDGE

Gloria Pearson-Vasey

GENRE:  Science Fiction/Thriller

BLURB

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.

CONNECT WITH GLORIA

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS FOR SHUSHAN PORTAL

Amazon US / Amazon CA / Indigo / Booktopia / Waterstones / Abe Books

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The Spotlight Is On The Flying Barons Of Negriponti @pumpupyourbook @rtamayo2004

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In the ruins of a fallen Empire, the first ever female pilot takes part in a flying boat race to free her people from the foreign oppression…

Title: The Flying Barons of Negriponte (The Aether Empire Book 1)

Author: James Calbraith

Publication Date: September 20, 2023

Pages: 134

Genre: Historical Fantasy/Candlepunk

They killed her father. They took her ship. But nothing will stop Ikaria’s vengeance.

Forty years since Constantinople fell to the Venetian flying citadels, high-altitude Aether racing is the favoured pastime of bored, wealthy Latin nobles. Ikaria, proud daughter of a legendary Aether engineer and one of the best racing pilots in the Aegean, is determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s mysterious disappearance at the end of the last Grande Regatta of Negriponte.

Driven by the thirst of vengeance and pursuit of engineering excellence in equal measures, Ikaria vows to win the next Regatta herself – and to find out what really happened to her father. But there’s a catch: a new Imperial edict bars her, and anyone not of noble blood, from taking part in Aether races. To her rescue comes Sire Mikhael of Chiarenza – an enigmatic handsome young Greek turncoat in the service of new Latin masters. His motivations unclear, the source of his funds and supplies a secret, Ikaria nonetheless agrees to accept his help: together, they set out to challenge the supremacy of the six Hexarchs, the infamous Flying Barons of Negriponte.

Pick up your copy of The Flying Barons of Negriponte at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJKXXQB1 .



Book Excerpt:

A black-headed gull landed on the bowsprit. It glanced around, confused as to why a small, sleek sailboat suddenly appeared in its path in the middle of a billowing cloud hundreds of feet above the surface of the sea. Its eyes met Ikaria’s; the bird squawked in indignation and spread its wings as if to protest this sin against God and nature. A sudden, violent gust pushed it off the spar. Still squawking in disgust, the gull continued on its way while the boat pushed onwards, deeper into the cloud and out the other side.

A white-washed dot of Saint Elijah’s chapel appeared among the rocky outcrops, marking the eastern end of the Chalcis Pass. Ikaria reached under her tunic and took out a small brass key, inlaid with a piece of ruby glass, hung on a silver chain at her neck. Gingerly, she inserted it into a slot in the side of the Caput Chamber and turned it a quarter to the right. A conduit linking the Inhibitor Retort with the Tribikos Manifold hissed, indicating a forming air gap. She turned the spigot in the nozzle, releasing half a dram of the Inhibitor into the Sublimation Aludel. It took another few moments for the reaction to start. She turned to the Hygroscope and observed the four liquids behind the pane of rock crystal: a mixture of quicksilver, aqua fortis, brine and fish oil, each coloured with a different hue of vitriol, indicated the proportion of gaseous Quintessence – the Naviferous Aether – in the air under the hull. The liquids bubbled behind the crystal, reacting to a sudden change in pressure, then stabilised at the new levels, layer upon layer, at their respective measuring notches carved in the crystal pane. And then – a new layer emerged where there shouldn’t be one: a fifth, ruby-coloured liquid filled out the unmarked space between the quicksilver and aqua fortis.


– Excerpted from The Flying Barons of Negriponte by James Calbraith, Flying Squid, 2023. Reprinted with permission.




About the Author

James Calbraith is a Poland-born Scottish writer of history-adjacent novels, coffee drinker, Steely Dan fan and avid traveller.

Growing up in communist Poland on a diet of powdered milk, “Lord of the Rings” and soviet science-fiction, he had his first story published at the ripe age of eight. After years of bouncing around Polish universities, he moved to London in 2007 and started writing in English. Now lives in Edinburgh, hoping for an independent Scotland.

His debut historical fantasy novel, “The Shadow of Black Wings“, has reached Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finals in 2012. “The Year of the Dragon” saga sold over 30,000 copies worldwide.

His new historical fiction saga, “The Song of Ash” has been on top of Amazon’s Bestseller lists in UK for months. 

Connect with James:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | Wattpad | Quora

 


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Review – A Dream Of Blood And Magic by Olivia Boothe @TheOliviaBoothe

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Olivia Booth is a must read author for me, ever since I read her Hell’s angel series, which I highly recommend if you love apocalyptic/dystopian fiction. A Dream Of Blood And Magic, we are dealing with vampires and witches. Vampires vs vampires. Witches vs witches. Vampires vs Witches. Vated Ordo vs Sisterhood. Good vs Evil.

We begin with the Prologue. I love Prologues…don’t you? Allorn, a realm outside Earth, 5,000 years ago

Rayne wasn’t only fighting to save herself. She was fighting to protect her daughters from the most ruthless queen her realm had ever known. The queen had no idea there were two daughters, twins. To through the queen off the scent, they separated the girls. Rayne says:

“I don’t know how to be without you, Enid. Who will sing sone with me at night? Or tease the lily hoppers by the pond?”

Enid leaned in. “When the wind brushes against your cheek, sister, it will be me sending you a kiss.” As if speaking in a silent language only they could hear, they smiled and embraced one last time.

That was soooo sweet and soooo sad. What will become of them?

Present Day, New York City: We are at the underground club, Requiem run by Luther, an evil vampire. As he drains the last drop of blood from his blood host, there is a knock on the door. His debt has come due and Lilluth is there to collect. She is a member of Vates Ordo, the most powerful dark arts witch hive in the world.

As long as Avery could remember, people had thought her crazy. She shares a home with her best friend, C J. They have much in common, alone and raised in a series of foster homes.

Avery’s dreams are nightmares. She spends many hours drawing detailed images from them. They feel more like memories than dreams. A crow crashes through her window. She mends his broken wing….and her life is changed forever.

Kane knew something was wrong and headed to New York. The ‘family’ will come together. Luther, Kane and Azael. All of them desire Avery for different reasons. Where Avery, a Spirit Marked Witch, ends up depends on the winner of the battle to come.

I wrote and highlighted so many notes, I am having to decide which to share and which to toss out. The battle for dominion over the realm is fought to the death. Who will be left standing will not be decided until the end.

As Avery’s magic awakens, the danger increases, through no fault of her own. The Prophecy has come true.

A Dream Of Blood And Magic by Olivia Boothe is told from multiple points of view. Each character has their story to tell and it didn’t take me long to figure out what side I stood on. Olivia is not afraid to kill off her characters. Even though I knew some would fall, I was crushed at one in particular.

Olivia Boothe can pen a story that captures my heart and mind. The tempo and pacing of The Spirit Marked Witch kept me reading until the last word was read. I was so engrossed in the story, I never saw the end coming. Avery shone through Olivia’s words as she grew into the Prophecy. Her innocence may have been swept away, but her maturity and sense of right and wrong will carry her through the worst of times. I can understand some of the cruelty, but her mother? I am eager to meet the other guardians that will come to protect her. I know I have already seen the second one. There are those that will stand beside her, and those that want to use her, and I can hardly wait to read more of her story. The series does need to be read in order…and I intend to be there at the end.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Underworld meets Kingdom of the Wicked in this forbidden love, rivals to lovers, high stakes, slow-burn gothic contemporary fantasy romance.

A SINISTER DARKNESS BREWS, SOWING THE SEEDS OF WAR. AND AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL IS A YOUNG WITCH WILLING TO RISK IT ALL TO SAVE THOSE SHE LOVES.

When a mysterious crow crash-lands through Avery Jaxon’s Brooklyn apartment window, awakening the elemental magic dormant in her veins, Avery soon discovers her entire life has been a skillfully woven lie, and that even her new avian friend holds secrets of its own, including the answers to her shrouded past.

But pulling back the veil is only the beginning. An ancient prophecy has been set in motion, thrusting Avery into a centuries-old supernatural war between witches and vampires.

Seeking to harness Avery’s rare and ancient power, the most notorious dark arts witch hive in the world is on the hunt to find Avery before she’s captured by Kane, a vampire sworn to protect humankind from the next Spirit Marked—a foretold witch with such immense, raw magic, it will threaten to destroy all life on Earth.

Now, to save humanity and protect her friends, Avery must learn to control her potent magic, all while building an alliance with the warrior vampire sent to seize her. Their destinies are more entwined than either could have ever foreseen. But despite the magic that binds their paths and the enigmatic attraction growing between them, Avery struggles to trust the man born to be her enemy.

However, Kane’s not the only vampire thirsting for the honeyed taste of Avery’s blood…someone else also seeks to wage a war against her heart.

In the end, Avery must not only grapple with the painful truth behind her family’s past, but she’ll need to accept the journey laid out before her. For not only do the lives of those she loves depend on it, but so do the lives of every mortal and immortal creature alike.

Intended for audiences 18 years+ Please check the author’s website for a full list of CW/TW

  • Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Magic, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Witches, Vampires
  • 429 Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication June 12, 2024 by Three Brothers Press

ABOUT OLIVIA BOOTHE

REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY, COMPLICATED & SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.

Born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey since the age of eight, Olivia always dreamed of becoming a story teller.

If you enjoy deadly-hot romance novels with deep, layered plots, she’s your gal. Because it’s not just about the first kiss and the happily ever after, it’s about everything in between.

In addition to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, Olivia is currently working on an adult contemporary fantasy.

Fun Facts: When not locked away in her writing tower at the wee hours of the night, Olivia works a government 9-5 job and manages a house full of males (a husband, three sons, and a doggo named Hunter). On occasion, she summons her tribe for a night of wine and shenanigans. Dark chocolate is her kryptonite, she hates/loves to ugly cry during movies, and is a die-hard Bon Jovi fan.

Don’t forget to subscribe to her newsletter to receive exclusive news and updates such as book releases, giveaways, sales, events, sneak peeks and bonus material for upcoming projects.

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Bookbub

MY OLIVIA BOOTHE REVIEWS

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Review – Grimmword: The Witch In The Woods by Michaelbrent Collings @mbcollings

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MY REVIEW

I felt like I was visiting worlds like Grimm (the TV show), Harry Potter (that speaks for itself), and Stephen Henning’s Class Heroes series. So much fun for me, so I feel middle graders would love to go on fantasy adventures with the twins, Willow and Jake. And, how about that amazing cover created by Alexander Jansson. I have an affinity to trees, so it speaks to me.

I am very familiar with Michaelbrent Collings’ thrillers, and I am a huge fan of his. This is a step outside his normal genre, but all I had to do was read the blurb to put a smile on my face. With his ability to spin fantastic stories, I anticipate an entertaining read. Good writing is good writing, so the fact this is middle grade fantasy instead of a dark and dangerous thriller, doesn’t put me off in the slightest. I feel Grimmworld will be easy to read, so I can relax and enjoy the fun.

Willow and Jack Grimm are twins, living in Los Angeles and they are happy with their lives. Their parents tell them they will be moving to New Marburg, Idaho. What? From glitzy glamorous Los Angeles, their friends, the beach, the library, to a town only a select few have ever heard of, will be a huge adjustment.

Their parents are scientists and will be working at the Tank. It’s all very hush hush.

I love that Willow and Jack are friends as well as siblings. They are opposites, that complement their abilities, which they will need when they enter their new world. The combination of their skills will allow them to overcome the obstacles put in their path. Their teacher seems to have it out for them. What a way to start their new life.

Things and people are not always what they appear to be and first impressions and assumptions can be misleading, as with Mr Eli.

Of course, we have the age old question, just because you can do it, should you?

I love that Willow and Jack are Grimmwalkers. I have been watching Grimm on TV and it allowed me to let Michaelbrent Collings stretch my imagination and travel to Grimmworld with him and the kids. We have monsters of every persuasion, fairies and witches and more.

“The Brothers Grimm weren’t ‘fairy tale guys.’ They were Grimmwalkers like me…People who see the truth…”

You will never look at mushrooms the same way.

Instead of a chip on her shoulder, Willow has a cricket. LOL

I love a book that allows me to let my imagination run wild and be there in the moment. I love to let an author take me wherever they want me to go, see what they want me to see and Michaelbrent Collings has that ability. I loved being in his magical world as he brought it and the characters to life with his mad writing skills. The impossible becomes possible in The Witch in the Woods of Grimmworld.

The first adventure into Grimmworld, The Witch In The Woods by Michaelbrent Collings, may be over, but Willow and Jack have a new reason to return…….

At the end of the book is a Reading Guide and Discussion Questions.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Twins Willow and Jake Grimm are not prepared for the bizarre gadgets and scary changes in their new home of New Marburg, the location of the top-secret Think Tank where their parents now have jobs as scientists. In this town, people jetpack to work, robots direct traffic, and senior citizens duel with laser swords.

Yet nothing compares to what happens the day after lightning strikes the twins’ house. Their school building transforms around them, becoming a medieval castle—complete with moat, drawbridge, and a dangerous giant who looks strangely like the school’s overly aggressive hall monitor.

Barely managing to escape before a massive beanstalk lifts the castle above the clouds, Willow and Jake learn that their ancestors, the original Brothers Grimm, were more than storytellers. They were Grimmwalkers, able to travel from our universe to the universe where all fairy tales dare born.

Somehow, Willow and Jake have been transported to Grimmworld as well. But before the twins can figure out how to get back to their own universe, they discover that their best friends, Hank and Pearl, have morphed into the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel and been captured by a candy-obsessed witch deep in the Cursed Forest.

Now, aided by a mysterious wizard with shimmering golden eyes and a befuddled, talking naked mole-rat named Chet, the twins must trust in each other, believe in themselves, and find the courage to face their darkest fears in order to save their friends, return to their family, and maybe—just maybe—save the world.

  • Genre: Children’s, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Fiction, Folklore, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Young Adult
  • Format: 302 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published: March 6, 2024 by Shadow Mountain Publishing

ABOUT MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS

Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally-bestselling novelist, multiple Bram Stoker Award nominee, produced screenwriter, and one of the top indie horror writers in the United States.

He hopes someday to develop superpowers, or, if that is out of the question, then at least to get a cool robot arm.

Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that’s a low bar to set), and also cooler than he is.

Michaelbrent also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentC… and can be followed on Twitter through his username @mbcollings. Follow him for cool news, updates, and advance notice of sales. You will also be kept safe when the Glorious Revolution begins!

STALK MICHAELBRENT: Website / Twitter

MY MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS REVIEWS

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Books About Books – The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown @GarethJohnBrown

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

This is The Book Of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.

Cassie and Izzy worked together at Kellner Books for more than a year and they had become fast friends. Izzy cautioned Cassie about using The Book Of Doors indiscriminately. They don’t know what dangers could be involved. What can be used for good can also be used for bad.

Drummond Fox was The Librarian, but because of the dangers involved, he has hidden his library in the Shadows. Even he can no longer access it.

Each book endows the beholder with a special power. Of course, there are those who are book hunters that want to make money, others want power, and others want to protect the books from the world.

A motley group of friends face unspeakable dangers, some will die…sorta…

Where did the books come from? That was a surprise, but in hindsight I see it.

I love books about books, magic and danger, quirky people who come together in the most unlikely ways, and surprises that pop up as we travel through the doors pages.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?

In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It’s a book – an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .

What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.

But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals – individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.

Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons – a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .

Because some doors should never be opened.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Books About Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Time Travel
  • 416 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication February 13, 2024 by Transworld Digital

ABOUT GARETH BROWN

Gareth Brown wanted to be a writer from a very young age, and he completed his first novel as a teenager. That novel wasn’t very good and he’s been working on his writing ever since. For the last twenty years he has worked in the UK Civil Service and the NHS while writing in his spare time.

When not working or writing, Gareth loves travelling, especially the whirlwind first few hours in a new city and long road trips through beautiful landscapes. He enjoys barbecues, patisseries, playing pool, and falling asleep in front of the television like an old man.

Gareth lives with his wife and two excitable Skye terriers near Edinburgh in Scotland.

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Recknor’s Paladin – Beginning Of Arrogance by Bryan Cole

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MY REVIEW

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.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
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!

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Complete Set – Daughters Of Saraqael Trilogy by Raine Thomas @Raine_Thomas

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Amber had a rough life, abandoned at 3 years old, passed from one foster home to another…until she found Mrs B and Gabriel. Sure we have all the teenage angst from Amber, but there is something different about her. She is only half human, having power surges that put others in danger. As she discovers who and what she is, meets people that can give her answers, I am drawn deeper into her world, curious to meet the others and see what dangers she will face as she will Become who she is meant to be. I love the characters and the battle she faced near the end of the book. 3 Stars

Saraqeel’s three daughter, the first ever born on the Estilorian plane, had all been sent to the human plane over a week ago in an effort to keep them safe.

Estilorians no longer feel emotions and it made me think of Lucifer, trying to decipher humankind. Gabriel had chosen himself to go back with them to learn all they will learn about being human. We met Amber in Becoming but in Central, we will meet the others. Olivia has a natural affinity to nature and can even talk to animals.Skye makes me smile. She is innocence and child exuberance. Dancing her way through life. She is emotional, passionate. The world made me think of Avatar, with each classes’ homeland floating in the sky. Of course, we have villains and there are plenty of them to go around. 4 Stars

In Foretold, we learn about Kate, the girls mother. Each girl has a significant other and talent that will be necessary to survive The Prophecy. Amber is skilled in combat, endowed with a magical sword Olivia has a love of learning and a gift with bow and arrow. Skye has endurance, flexibility, thinks fast and is good with darts and star blades…and holy light. Even Skye’s innocence is a power. As I get to know the characters so well, I become more invested into what happens to them. The battle will be fierce, but they are ready. 5 Stars

DAUGHTERS OF SARAQEEL TRILOGY

I do stumble over young adult novels, at times, but I was drawn into Daughters Of Saraqeel by Raine Thomas by the synopsis. I am loving this series, so far. I have The Complete Daughters of Saraqael series and look forward to reading it, beginning to end.

Each novel gets progressively better.

Each novel spotlights one of the girls. We will have love and romance, though the men have no clue what they are doing, they will learn. We have villains and danger and it will take the sisters and those who support them to work together to put down the revolution coming their way. The Prophecy will be fulfilled.

There wasn’t nonstop action throughout the trilogy, but there were moments of fierce struggle, danger and lives lost. I loved watching the girls, and the Estilorians grow and teach each other that being different is not a bad thing. The characters and world building were amazing, keeping me enthralled, as each book did its part to create the whole.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

**Optioned for movie rights by multiple-award winning producer Chase Chenowith of Back Fence Productions.**

This complete set includes all three books in the award-winning Daughters of Saraqael trilogy (Becoming, Central and Foretold). Follow three half-human sisters through fantastic adventures, enchanting romances and an epic battle to save their race…not the human one.

BECOMING
Ancient gods, avenging angels and other beings of myth and legend all have one thing in common: they exist. They’re called Estilorians. Amber Hopkins is one of them…well, half of one, anyway. If only she knew it.

CENTRAL
Life on the Estilorian plane proves stimulating to scholar Olivia Murdoch. But then, she isn’t aware of the dark plans brewing with her at their center…

FORETOLD
Centuries after The Great Foretelling, Skye Tomaganuk dreams of a fairytale romance. But the evil Mercesti have their own plans, and the foretold battle to come stands in the way of her happily ever after.

  • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Sword and Sorcery
  • 954 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published December 25, 2012 by Iambe Books
  • Series: Daughters Of Saraqeel (#1-3)

ABOUT RAINE THOMAS

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of more than 20 bestselling romances spanning contemporary romance, Sci-Fi romance, and YA fantasy romance. She’s a hopeless romantic with a background in the fields of mental health and wedding planning…two areas that intersect far more than one would think. She’s also a book fiend, grammar nerd, and editing Red Queen, depending on who you ask.

Be sure to follow Raine on BookBub (https://www.bookbub.com/profile/raine…) to be among the first to learn of any sales, and hop over to her website for your first free read!

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Review – Andrea Pearson & The Koven Chronicles, Books I & II @andreapearson2

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Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been following Andrea Pearson for some time now. I love her sense of humor, which comes out in her writing style. Her books deal with danger in a light hearted manner. That is not to say that her characters don’t take the danger seriously, because they do.

Here’s an example:

She whacked me once as if chastising me for not obeying sooner, then scrambled off as I stretched.

Lizzie is talking about her cat and I couldn’t help but smile, letting a picture run through my head.

Lizzie is an Arete, a fourth born child with special powers, a Fire Impeder. She is able to micro manage fire, right down to individual molecules, preventing the sparks from igniting

Humans are aware of supernaturals, because they have been here before.

“…demons from other planets have come out of sheer curiosity. I’m worried they’ll like it enough to stay.”

They are back, because a Prophecy given many years ago said she would be born and would be a danger to all the demons. From the hellhounds to the fire vampires. I mean, aren’t regular vampires bad enough? Now, Andrea Pearson has to crank them up. 🙂

She must go the Alaska to learn of The Prophecy, found in the Akashic records. The Shade Amulet will help protect her.

Wowzers – he smelled good.

There is a triangle, of sorts, between Abel, Cole and Lizzie. When she lets Cole know there is another man she has feelings for:

“Good. Don’t underestimate the need a man has to conquer.”

I feel this is very much for teen and young adults and was a spin off of another series, though the description does not say that. The characters keep referring back to previous events and I feel like I’m missing out on something. That won’t stop me from continuing on to the next story in the Koven Chronicles, The Black Masquerade.

In a note from the author she states that every time someone leaves a review, Lizzie punches a hound in the face. See these hellhounds are a series problem, I’m all for that.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Who’s more dangerous—the brooding, attractive man she’s partnered with or the things they’re hunting?

Lizzie Ashton thought being a professional Fire Impeder was dangerous, but using her magic to stop bombs, guns, and fires before they start is nothing compared to what happens when Abel, an intense man she’s worked with previously, storms back into her life.

Abel needs assistance with a dangerous task that only Lizzie can do. She hesitates to accept his job offer, as what little she knows of his dark past unnerves her, despite their moments of attraction. But when the local police department calls her in on a disturbing murder investigation, Lizzie must put aside her misgivings and partner up with Abel.

Luckily, she has the Shade Amulet to help her. But as more people are murdered—and closer to Lizzie’s home—the case quickly becomes personal. Is this job worth her life?

If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat fantasy action, slightly snarky humor, and a hint of romance, you’ll love the first book in the pulse-pounding Koven Chronicles. The Shade Amulet will thrill you to the core. It will keep you up late into the night, devouring its pages. Grab it now.

  • Genre: Demons, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghosts, Paranormal, Supernatural
  • 272 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 11, 2017
  • Series: Koven Chronicles, Book I

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

We pick up where we left off in The Shadow Amulet.

I am tired just reading about all Lizzie’s activities. How she finds time to juggle several men on to of all her work calls and searches for answers to her personal dilemmas, amazes me.

We have hellhounds and fire vampires and Lizzie puts pressure on herself to save the whole town. Of course, she has some helpers, Abel, Alex and Cole, but Justin? I feel he is too perfect. Am I jaded from reading books about so much betrayal, or are my spidey sense spot on? We shall see.

I was suspicious about the ball. That night was magically deadly and the action was frantic. I have been waiting for the excitement and Andrea Pearson delivered at the end of The Black Masquerade. It was better than the first book, but I still wavered between a 3 and a 4. I am looking forward to reading more of the series and loved the action at the end, so 4 it is.

Andrea state that Lizzie will punch The Shade Amulet for not working properly for every review written. So, here is my review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

There’s nothing like a ghost visiting you while you’re waiting in line at the grocery store. Unfortunately for Lizzie, that isn’t the only supernatural visit she’ll receive… When an angry ghost named Angelo threatens Lizzie and sets her house on fire, she knows the time has come for her to step fully into her role as destroyer of evil supernatural creatures. But things turn out to be much trickier than the amulet doesn’t function as she thought it would and fire vampires with unknown motives have set up camp in a nearby canyon. Not only that, but the effigy that is distracting hounds from devouring her is still on the loose, and its shade owners want it back. They hand her an return the effigy, or they’ll command it to destroy her. And yes, it’s something they can do. Will Lizzie keep the ghosts happy while performing her sanctioned duties or will the hounds catch up to her before she’s safe? Find out now by downloading this edge-of-your-seat urban fantasy by bestselling author Andrea Pearson now!

  • Genre: Demons, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghosts, Paranormal, Supernatural
  • 272 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 11, 2017
  • Series: Koven Chronicles, Book I

ABOUT ANDREA PEARSON

Andrea Pearson is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast who plays several instruments, not including the banjo, and loves putting together musical arrangements. Her favorite sports are basketball and football, though several knee surgeries and incurably awful coordination prevent her from playing them. Andrea Pearson graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders. She acted as the executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half and frequently gets invited to teach marketing and promoting at writers conferences. Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life – it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she’s happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.

Receive several free books when you join Andrea’s Readers Group. For more information, click here.

Andrea also writes nonfiction books for authors. To learn more about those, and her marketing courses, please visit selfpublishstrong.com

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MY ANDREA PEARSON REVIEWS

  • Shadow Hunter (Midnight Chronicles)
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Review – Nutcracker: Journey To Candyland by Tony Bertauski @tonybertauski

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I feel compelled to share that by purchasing the book, you have donated 10% of the profits to Ben’s friends. Ben, not Tony’s son but another lost soul with the same name, had many friends and they started a community program after his death. I found this so amazing, I had to share. It is obvious he impacted many lives and will be sorely missed.

https://www.bensfriendshope.com

https://amzn.to/45JtS8D

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Every time I crack open a Claus novel by Tony Bertauski, I know I am going on a magical adventure. Nutcracker is the eleventh novel in this stand alone series and is just as entertaining as the past novels I have read.

After the death of their parents, Marie and her brother, Fritz, are taken in by her Aunt and Uncle. Vern has many personalities, but Rinks has only one, and it’s not a pleasant one. She wants….everything and doesn’t care much what she has to do to get it.

This wonderfully fun fantasy of magic and childish delight is fraught with sadness and it comes through in Tony Bertauski’s writing. I love that he made me try to put myself into Rinks shoes and see why she was so unhappy and vindictive, trying to see her life from her perspective, try to walk a mile in her shoes, to empathize with Marie and Fritz with their loss. Marie tamps down her sadness over the loss of their parents and Fritz no longer speaks.

Marie and Fritz find the gift, after a visit to their Godfather, and their adventure into Candyland begins. Is it a dream? Another one of their Godfather’s inventions? I love the creativity involved in the creatures and action that takes place. It is so hard for me to describe what happens inside Candyland without spoiling it, so I will leave it to you to find out for yourself

I always wonder how an author comes up with such a fantastical story and I can only attribute it to their vivid imagination. Their ability to open their mind and let the magic begin is a gift to us readers. The best thing is that I end the book with a smile on my face.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The 11th standalone novel in the Claus Universe.

Once upon a time, there was a toy store filled with magical playthings and fantastical stories. But not anymore. That was a long time ago.

When Marie arrived, the place was cobwebs and empty shelves. Little dry pellets covered the floor. Aunt Rinks called them dirt balls. They weren’t dirt balls.

The place didn’t feel like Christmas. Nothing did anymore. What Marie wanted, she couldn’t possibly have. A leaky air mattress and a self-absorbed aunt was all she got. But Christmas wasn’t about what you wanted; it was about what you needed. Godfather told her that. That was when he told her the tale of the nutcracker.

“You must find the princess,” he told Marie. “She’s been waiting for you.”

It was a story, nothing more. Marie didn’t believe in fairy tales or Christmas spirit anymore. Certainly didn’t believe in a wooden soldier and a cursed princess who needed saving. Until she discovered the gift.

Marie and her brother, Fritz, find a small box hidden in the old toy store. When they open it, the real journey begins. Marie discovers the nutcracker is more than just a silly toy. The princess isn’t a metaphor. The nutcracker shows Marie a truth hidden inside her.

They’ll have to hurry to save the princess. When Aunt Rinks finds the gift, she aims to take everything they’ve discovered for herself, to leave Marie and Fritz with nothing and the princess still cursed. The journey, however, isn’t a game. It will reveal Marie’s true nature.

What happens next is not what anyone wanted for Christmas.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Teen and Young Adult
  • 452 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication November 1, 2023
  • Series: Claus Universe #11

ABOUT TONY BERTAUSKI

Tony Bertauski

Get my books FREE. Tell me where to send them at http://bertauski.com

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I’ve written textbooks on landscape design, but that was straightforward, informational writing; the kind of stuff that helps most people get to sleep. I’ve also been writing a gardening column with a humorous slant. That takes a little more finesse, but still informational for the most part.

I’m a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I’d rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That’s the sort of stuff I wanted to write, not the assigned reading we used to get in high school. I wanted to create stories that kept you up late.

Fiction, GOOD fiction, is hard to write. Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it’s only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

MY TONY BERTAUSKI REVIEWS

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Not For Me – The Eight Reindeer Of The Apocalypse by Tom Holt #TheEightReindeeroftheApocalypse #NetGalley

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I want to thank NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read and review The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse by Tom Holt. I mean look at that cover…and the title?

https://amzn.to/3EJeheh

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Everything about The Eight Reindeer Of The Apocalypse by Tom Holt appealed to me. The great cover, the fun title and the intriguing blurb. BUT…

I had a couple of moments when I smiled but I kept trying too hard to make it work for me.

It depends what ereader I look at but I got to 1/4 to 1/3 of the way through and gave up.

Tom Holt is a prolific writer that has a lot of readers who enjoy his work, but I don’t think I am one of them. Was it the writing style? Is satire not for me? Either way, just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
1 Star (DNF)

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Tom Holt’s brilliantly funny new novel set in the world of The Portable Door (now a delightful movie starring Patrick Gibson, Sophie Wilde, and Christoph Waltz).

The team of commercial sorcerers at Dawson, Ahriman & Dawson can help with any metaphysical engineering project, large or small (though by definition they all tend to be pretty large).
 
They can also create massive great puddles of chaos that might one day swallow up the entire universe.
 
Take, for example, the decision to recruit a certain bearded fellow whose previous work experience mainly involves reindeer and jingle bells. It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but is he really the best person to save the world from Tiamat the Destroyer, who has literally gone ballistic? 

ABOUT TOM HOLT

Tom Holt (Thomas Charles Louis Holt) is a British novelist.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt’s works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of “straight” historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker. You can find him at http://www.tom-holt.com

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