Dark Creation (A Dark Reflections Short Story
#2) By Kelsey Ketch Release Date: April 30th, 2021 New Adult Dark Fantasy Short Story
Summary from
Goodreads:
Long before Charissa began
her murderous rampage through history, she was a young woman living in ancient
Alexandria.
Oppressed by society and
cursed by the color of her hair, Charissa had hardly seen the world beyond the
four walls of her home. So, when her husband leaves for extended military duty,
she takes the opportunity to tour the city her brother once loved. Little does
she know the Fates have other plans in store for her when she runs into an
exotic woman in the Rhakotis District. The encounter will change her life
forever.
Kelsey Ketch is a
young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist in the state of
North Carolina. During her free time, she can often be found working on her
latest work in progress. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and
reading.
For more information, please
visit her site at kelseyketch.com.
Too Young to Die in the Garden of Syn by: Michael Seidelman
Too Young to Die in the Garden of Syn (Garden of Syn Book #3) by: Michael Seidelman YA Fantasy Chewed Pencil Press
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Summary: The
stakes could not be higher in the epic conclusion of The Garden of Syn trilogy.
Synthia (Syn) Wade discovered a secret world
known as the Garden, where illness and death do not exist. Because of the
tragic events that occurred in the Garden, Syn vowed never to return, even as
cystic fibrosis threatened her young life. But when Syn faces the ultimate
betrayal and a malicious adversary closes in, she is forced to escape her world
and reluctantly return to the Garden.
However, her ruthless foe is not easily
thwarted. Flanked by a deadly army, this dark force manipulates its way into
the Garden with the goal of ultimate destruction. Facing great adversity, Syn
must risk her life to protect the Garden and all those living within its
borders.
Will Syn save the Garden and those she holds
dear from the storm cloud of evil? Or will she discover that no one is Too
Young to Die in the Garden of Syn?
When Michael Seidelman was growing up, his passions
were reading, watching movies, enjoying nature and creative writing. Not much
has changed since then.
Working in Online Marketing for over ten years,
Michael felt it was time to pursue his passion and began writing The
Garden of Syn trilogy.
Michael is excited about the upcoming release of
the third and final book in The Garden of Syn series and
beyond the trilogy, he has more books in the works that he can’t wait to share
with the world!
Michael was born in Vancouver, BC Canada where
he continues to reside.
Stephen Henning has been writing his Class Heroes novels since 2011 and I have been with him all the way. I have come to love these characters and am always eager to meet a new superhero and learn of his powers.
Stephen Henning has created some wonderful characters and scenarios in his Class Heroes series and I think that many teens and young adults, especially, would love meeting them….and I have too.
From life experiences, Deenpal Mander believes that life is governed by chance.
Deenpal hears of Sir Michael Rosebud, who is offering anyone with superpowers a $100,000 check and a home on Liberation Island, a safe haven from those who would want to exploit them. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I feel, if something is too good to be true, BEWARE. You’ll have to read the book to find out, but…
I feel so bad for Deepal. He is a young man, naive, homeless, no family left, with a superpower that puts him in danger…and, of course, he is going to run into someone that has that exact agenda and uses every wile he has to possess Deenpal, as if he is merchandise to be bought and sold.
He meets Richard Ratchett in Manchester and…I don’t feel real good about this.
I feel a sense of danger throughout the story, and, like Deenpal, am having a hard time figuring out who to trust. I worry for him and am eager to see what Stephen Henning has in store for him. Chantelle was a wonderful surprise. Sometimes we can all be too quick to judge.
I love the moments of paying it forward.
As I got closer to the end, I kept checking how many pages were left. I wondered how he was going to bring this story to a close. Would there be a cliffhanger? NO.
Each book has given me a wonderful glimpse into the fabulous characters and their superhero world, all the while drawing me in further. He does wrap each of his stories up,so I feel they could stand alone, but isn’t it always best to start a series from the beginning?
Stephen Henning ended Jesus of the North in a good place, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next story, How To Start You Own Country. Hmmmm…..
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Jesus of the North by Stephen Henning.
4 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
Deenpal Mander arrives in Manchester (UK), to attend some very special X-Factor-style auditions, which have been organised by Sir Michael Rosewood to try and find people with super powers. His special ability brings him to the attention of crooked construction boss Richard Ratchett, and puts him in danger from the world of organized crime. Can Deen find a way to escape an evil people-trafficking network? And if he does, is accepting Sir Michael’s friendship really the salvation that he thinks it is?
ABOUT STEPHEN HENNING
I
began writing the first Class Heroes book on my laptop in February
2011, but these stories have probably been continually playing in my
head since I was aged five or six, when I would act them out with toys
and with my friends. I then branched out into using pencils, colouring
pens and paper, moving on to writing pads and then my first computer.
So, as you’ve probably gathered, I have always enjoyed making up stories and the super-hero genre has been one of my favourites.
The CV-type stuff is that I went to Sheffield Hallam University to
study English. I then trained and briefly worked as a journalist in
Salford. After that, I moved into publishing – which was great. An
interesting and fun industry to be in and fascinating to see how books
are put together and sold.
After that I started doing technical writing, which led me to start
my own business with my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. My love of
writing, generally, led me back to writing fiction. Our company,
Elucidox Ltd, publishes the Class Heroes books.
If you want to know a bit more about me, what kind of super powers I
have and the kind of super villains I have to tangle with on a daily
basis, then feel free to watch Rage. This is a short film, that took a
long time to make. It’s a simple day in my life :-). Actually it’s just a
fun movie that I made with the very kind help of some of my best mates.
We had a laugh doing it, hope you like it too. And if you do, then why
not explore the super world of the Class Heroes books?
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
To escape the war in her underwater kingdom, the noble daughter of a murdered king must flee to Alaska. Doing all she can to keep her younger sisters safe, Aazuria tries to assimilate and work among the Americans, with her feisty red-haired bodyguard at her side. This refuge holds pleasant surprises, for the princess meets a somber gentleman in a dark corner who promises to show her his world.
Trevain Murphy is a successful crab fisherman who has spent his life building an empire above the sea, but knows nothing of the greater empire beneath the surface. When a graceful dancer captures his attention, he becomes fascinated with her old-fashioned speech and unique mannerisms. Learning that her father has recently died, he cannot resist extending his kindness in offering to guide and protect her.
As it becomes clear that the dark-haired woman is much more than she seems, Trevain is unprepared to uncover the staggering secrets behind her innocent facade. Neither the captain nor the princess can imagine that their lives will become forcibly entwined as a common enemy threatens both of their worlds…
I added Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva on 11.15.12. I will read anything mermaid, so grabbing this one was a no brainer. And we get to take a trip to Alaska. How about you? Do you have a love for travel? What would you do if you saw a mermaid? Would you tell everyone? Would you keep it to yourself? I have been in many bodies of water, but have yet to see one. -:)
Book Title: Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet by Jennifer Carson Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages Genre: Children’s Picture Book Publisher: Vinal Publishing Release date: December 8, 2020 Content Rating: G for everyone.
MY REVIEW
Dragons Don’t Dance by Jennifer Carson is a cute book with wonderful illustrations and a story line most of us adults can relate to, and it sends a message to the youngsters. Dream big. Even if you aren’t the chosen one, don’t ignore your passions. It takes people of all kinds to make up this world and being different is a good thing.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragons Don’t Dance by Jennifer Carson.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Esmeralda Dragon works the spotlight at the City Ballet, but what she really wants to do is dance. Encouraged by her friend Harold to audition, Esmeralda takes a leap of faith only to discover that she doesn’t quite fit in with the other ballerinas. But Esmerelda isn’t ready to give up–and neither is Harold! A whimsical picture book that challenges body image expectations.
ABOUT JENNIFER CARSON
Jennifer Carson lives in Michigan with her husband, four sons and
many furry friends. She grew up on a steady diet of Muppet movies and
Renaissance faires and would occasionally be caught reading under the
blankets with a flashlight. Besides telling tales, Jennifer likes to
create fantasy creatures and characters and publishes her own sewing
patterns. Her artwork and patterns can be seen online at
thedragoncharmer.com.
Jennifer’s work has been featured in national magazines including:
Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy
Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.Jennifer’s work has been featured in
national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine,
Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.
Unicorn Island by Donna Galanti is a beautifully written coming of age fantasy for a young girl looking for her place in the world…and she finds it in the most unlikely place. It was easy to like Sam and when she looks out at the view from her attic bedroom window in Foggy Harbor, I felt like I would enjoy living there too. I love when an author gives me more than I anticipated and leaves me with a smile on my face.
At the end of the book, Donna Galanti shares some history on unicorns, wyverns, veterinarians, the pirates of the Carolina’s and Ocracoke and Assateague Islands, where the wild horses roam free.
I loved this wonderful story and am so glad there is more to come.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unicorn Island by Donna Galanti.
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS
Beyond the mist lies a magical secret waiting to be discovered. Unicorn
Island is a middle-grade illustrated novel series about a young
girl who discovers a mysterious island full of mythical beasts and darker
dangers! When Sam arrives in Foggy
Harbor, population 3,230, all she can see is a small, boring town that’s way
too far from home. And knowing that she’s stuck there all summer with her
grumpy Uncle Mitch only makes things worse. But when Sam discovers a hidden
trapdoor leading to a room full of strange artifacts, she realizes Foggy Harbor
isn’t as sleepy as it seems. With the help of a new friend, Sam discovers an
extraordinary secret beyond the fog: an island of unicorns whose fates are
intertwined with hers.
“An accessible and fast-paced magical adventure.” – Kirkus
Reviews
“An all-too-human, enchanting middle grade fantasy novel.” –
Forward Reviews
“What begins as realistic fiction turns to a fantastical
tale of magical rescue. Fans of unicorns and magic in the real world will enjoy
this adventure.” – School Library Journal
In New York
City, lights twinkled across Sam’s ceiling all night long. She had never felt
lonely there,
knowing the
city was awake with her. She could already tell Foggy Harbor was different. It
looked like
the loneliest
place ever. Why would anyone live here on purpose? she wondered.
The driver
pulled into the bus station. A neon sign that should have flashed Foggy Harbor
Parking
was missing
most of its letters. BOR . . . ING. Some sign, she thought. I’m
already bored here.
“You got someone
picking you up, Miss?” the driver asked as he pulled her suitcase from the
luggage compartment.
Her t-shirt
clung to her in the heavy, muggy air. Sam checked her phone for the address Mom
had given her: 1 Foggy Way.
“My uncle lives
a block from here,” she said, pointing at the street sign.
The driver
nodded and pulled out of the station, leaving her under the broken sign. Sam
texted Mom one word out of duty: ARRIVED. With no choice but to find her new
home, she adjusted her backpack and popped up her suitcase handle, dragging it
along. It clickety-clacked all the way down the quiet street.
Uncle Mitch’s
stone house sat at the end, alone and secluded, hugging the ocean. Its sloped
roof pierced the murky sky. One light glowed in a back window. Crickets trilled
around the house, creating an eerie buzz as waves lapped the shore.
Sam crunched
over the walking path made of shells, then thumped up the front porch steps and
rang the doorbell, eager to escape the empty night.
After a few minutes,
the door was yanked open. A tall man with curly black hair and a bushy mustache
loomed over Sam, the porch light deepening his frown. “Yes?”
Sam swallowed
hard. “Uncle Mitch?”
His eyes grew
wide and he pulled her inside, slamming the door. “Samantha? What are you doing
here?”
Cool air washed
over her from a ceiling fan that whirred above, and she shivered, shrinking
under his glare. Then she remembered what Mom had said: He’s the only family
we’ve got.
ABOUT DONNA GALANTI
Donna Galanti is the author of the bestselling paranormal suspense Element Trilogy and the children’s fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series. Donna is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine, a writing contest judge at nycmidnight.com, and regularly presents as a guest author at schools and teaches at writing conferences. She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna also loves teaching writers about building author brand and platform through her free training series at yourawesomeauthorlife.com. Visit her at donnagalanti.com.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends—she’s an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan’s brother Thaddeus told her Rourk’s name because his visions warned him she’d need Rourk’s protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.
Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan’s side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.
An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan’s family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle…without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?
I added Coexist by Julia Crane to my TBR on 11.9.12. I read a lot of young adult novels and love getting lost in a fantasy world.Cant ask for much more than a prophecy, fate, battles…and I think a little romance may be in the works.
Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler is my introduction to his writing and I am so happy to have met him and his characters. I loved the book and look forward to reading more of his work. I think I waited to long after reading Knight’s Ransom to write the review, because I don’t feel it reflects how I truly felt.
Ransom had been taken hostage by King Gervase. Now, the king is dead and he’s going home. He had met Claire while he was a hostage and she is the one who gave him his name, Ransom. The king had raised them both as if they were his own. Claire is very outspoken and I think Ransom will have his hands full with her. Will they become a couple. I don’t know yet, but I am going to find out.
The point of views bounce back and forth between Ransom and Claire.
Ransom wants to become a knight and leader, but the path will be fraught with danger and intrigue.
There is something special about Ransom and when he is at his lowest, something good comes his way.
So much betrayal, political machinations, kings fighting, always fighting. Seems to me they need to find something else to do. Maybe they have too much spare time and desire to dominate.
Ransom makes difficult choices, but his loyalty can never be questioned. He is caught in the courtly machinations going on, young royals being easily manipulated, then betrayed, sons going to war to depose their father as king, brothers fighting each other.
There are many characters and not all will survive, but this is Ransom’s story and it will be told over several books. I do like when an author is not afraid to kill off his characters, though some will be missed, others I will be glad are gone.
Medieval history is stretched and twisted in this brutal world, brilliantly spelled out through Jeff’s words. I am hooked and can hardly wait for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A brutal war of succession has plunged the court of Kingfountain into a power struggle between a charitable king who took the crown unlawfully and his ambitious rival, Devon Argentine. The balance of power between the two men hinges on the fate of a young boy ensnared in this courtly intrigue. A boy befittingly nicknamed Ransom.
When the Argentine family finally rules, Ransom must make his own way in the world. Opportunities open and shut before him as he journeys along the path to knighthood, blind to a shadowy conspiracy of jealousy and revenge. Securing his place will not be easy, nor will winning the affection of Lady Claire de Murrow, a fiery young heiress from an unpredictably mad kingdom.
Ransom interrupts an abduction plot targeting the Queen of Ceredigion and earns a position in service to her son, the firstborn of the new Argentine dynasty. But conflict and treachery threaten the family, and Ransom must also come to understand and hone his burgeoning powers—abilities that involve more than his mastery with a blade and that make him as much a target as his lord.
ABOUT JEFF WHEELER
Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times (for The Thief’s Daughter, The King’s Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and Prism Cloud) and have sold more than 4 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German.
He is also the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a quarterly e-zine featuring amazing short stories, novellas, and sample chapters.
You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences.
He welcomes hearing from readers: jgwheels /at/ gmail dot com
If you are interested in purchasing signed
copies of his books for friends, family, or your own collection, please
e-mail: WOJWbooks /at/ gmail dot com
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Librarian’s note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B005EIO02C.
Frey’s life is a lie. She doesn’t remember being bound from magic. She didn’t intend to get entangled in Council business.
But she did.
And
now she’s on the run. As the Council trackers pursue her, Frey
discovers a world beyond their lies. With the aid of a stranger, she
fights to reclaim her true identity before the others hunt her down. If
they find her, she will burn.
I added Frey (Book I of the Frey Saga) to my TBR on 11.1.12 and grabbed it from Amazon on 10.1.12. That makes me wonder if I won the book and waiting for a giveaway to be over before I added it. I do love reading Young Adult novels filled with magic, so this should be a good one for me.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Born a goddess. Controlled by the Fates. Can Macy’s love for her soul mate survive the bonds of time… and death?
17-year old Macy Lockhart is as far from normal as any one girl can be. The problem is, she doesn’t know it yet.
After a bloodstone pendant is mysteriously left on her door, Macy’s life begins to change in ways she’d never dreamed. And while she will eventually come to realize that nothing is ever what it seems, that her life is a tangled web of lies and the Fates themselves pull the strings, for now she is left with only the explanations that they offer her.
Macy is led to believe that if she doesn’t return to a previous doomed life, one in which she served as Queen Cleopatra ‘s handmaiden, the fate of the entire world will be threatened in a way that would destroy history as we know it. She learns that she has lived thousands of lives, each one ending tragically…but none as tragic as this one.
After returning to ancient Egypt, she is faced with heart-wrenching decisions. Unless she interferes with Fate’s plan, the very thing she was born to protect, her soul mate will die leading Marc Antony’s forces against Rome. Can she really stand aside and watch the love of her life die all over again?
In this fascinating novel-length prequel to The Bloodstone Saga, Courtney Cole sets the stage for an epic journey that will have readers holding their breath until the very last page of the very last book has been turned.
I added Every Last Kiss by Courtney Col to my Goodreads TBR on 10.29.12 and downloaded it from Amazon on 10.26.12. I probably won this, but I do love books that deal with Goddesses and enjoy reading Young Adult. Does have a pretty cover and it makes me curious. How about you?
