Fate of Water and Wind Review Spotlight

To celebrate the release of Wrath of Suns and Shadows this week, we are going to back to the start! Check out Fate of Water and Wind by Lashell Rain!

 Fate of Water and Wind is the first book in the Osparia series by Lashell Rain and readers who enjoy epic romantasy novels are not going to want to miss out on this book.

Fate of Water and Wind lures readers in first with a truly beautiful cover. Readers’ attention will be captured by the beautiful dark turquoise, blues and black that dominate this cover. A wing, black as night spreads it’s way across the cover of Fate of Water and Wind from the left. While swirling up from the bottom, to the right and cresting toward the center is a cascade of water. In the background are trees and branches that fill the void created by these two images. They are all symbols of what readers will find in this book concerning the characters and situations they will find themselves in.

Fate of Water and Wind is a multiple POV novel that focuses mainly on Emelyn. Both Emelyn and Ace lost much in the war that ravaged their lands. But the war has been heavier on one particular race in the process. The Ember Fire Fae are on a quest for power and they intend to bring subjugation to all of the people in the process. But they fear the prophecy of the Peacebringer. But who is this mysterious Peacebringer? That is a question that many have sought to discover the answer to, but none of done so...until one selfless act toward another creature...reveals a secret long held.

Now, everything that Eme has known has been upended. A place that she once called home is no longer home, and the people her family once cared for turned on her in a heartbeat. Now? The danger is marching to the place of the one other person that she cares about and will threaten to take even that from her.

Fate of Water and Wind is a truly gripping romantasy novel. One thing I feared was that we were going to get saddled with an overly sassy and snarky character. Thankfully author Rain has sympathy for us readers and gives a pretty well-balanced character.

Eme is an interesting character, who despite the amount of loss that she has experienced in her life comes off as pretty well balanced. She has a heart and it shows. Especially when she performs an act of kindness that she didn’t have to do. My favorite scene in this book? It’s probably the scene that plays out with that act of kindness and the revelation that follows. The revelation? Yeah, it had my jaw on the floor. But at the same time...it leaves you and Eme with a question that appears to be left unanswered, but it isn’t.

Now, as this book is a romantic fantasy novel you can expect romance and some sex scenes. The scenes give you details, but not anything overly graphic. So readers, those of you who have the belief “the steamier the better”...this won’t be the case with these scenes. Sorry. LOL! You get a couple bites of sexy-time deliciousness and then the story moves on whether you want it to or not. LOL! We can all commiserate together later.

Fate of Water and Wind altnernates POV between Eme, Ace, Kade (Fire Fae), and the shadowy man who has a deeper connection to Eme than she will be ready to realize. The story, as we said earlier, is the primary focus of the story. We get several chapters with Ace, and let me tell ya, he gets up to quite a bit of fun with the ladies. LOL!

Kade, while he only gets a handful of chapters is a truly interesting character. I would have loved to have more chapters focusing on him, but that’s not the case with this book. There is something about Kade that leads me to believe that there is more to him than meets the eye. He’s dangerous, but author Rain lets readers know this one fact – Kade may be dangerous, but his sister? She’s much, much worse.

That being said! Kade’s sister, Valla, doesn’t make an appearance in this book, but we get hints about her. We’re hoping that Valla will make an appearance in book two, because just the hints about her character is building a lot of interest and intrigue.

We get a nice variety of fantasy creatures throughout this book. We get fae (of all kinds), dryads, orcs, Brownies, and towards the end of the book we get to see our first dragon. Cue excitement, right?! LOL! As this book draws to a close the intensity really begins to ramp up. You’re going to be page-turning through the final chapters where you will be left wondering – “What happens next?!” Well, while this is just book one, we are celebrating the release of book two, so you can go out and grab it as soon as you finish book one and dive right in.

Fate of Water and Wind by Lashell Rain is an engaging fantasy novel filled with thrills, drama, and romance. You’ll be eagerly looking forward to book and discovering what happens next as Eme learns who she is and begins the process of working towards helping those who need her most.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Lashell Rain, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next!  

Fate Of Water And Wind: The Osparia Series Book One

Publication Date: February 2023

Genre: NA Fae Fantasy Romance

• Multiple POV

• Fantasy Creatures

• Fated Mates

• Morally Gray Males

• Chosen One

• Enemies to Lovers

How do I bring peace when I’ve never known it?

For over a century, as war waged, Emelyn and Ace have been in hiding and constantly moving, knowing that Ember’s emperor is searching for them with the suspicion that Ace is more than a Sky Elf. But the truth has been revealed and now Emelyn has to save a world she doesn’t have a place in. When a mysterious man of shadows saves her, claiming to be with the rebellion against Ember, Emelyn can’t deny the draw she has to him—in particular the way his shadows touch the deepest parts of her soul.

Fate of Water and Wind is a sexy, action-packed and captivating new adult fae fantasy romance story and is the first installment of The Osparia Series.

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Trial by Sorcery Review Spotlight

 

 Trial by Sorcery is the first book in Richard Fierce’s Dragon Riders of Osen series. This book follows a mildly handicapped character who must face the challenges ahead of him if he has any dream of becoming a dragon rider like his father.

Trial by Sorcery is sure to capture readers’ attention with a large red dragon dominating the cover with a brave dragon rider astride it’s back. In the background is a city as the pair soar over top perhaps in flight to a fight that they intend to win. Is the soldier pictured our main character to be? Or is this another soldier who has earned the right to be called dragon-rider? The only way to find out? Dive deep into this story.

Trial by Sorcery is the first book that we have read by Richard Fierce, but it quickly reminded us of another author who tells a similar style story. Author Fierce depicts Eldwin’s story, and Eldwin has a handicap. His right arm and hand have been brutally crushed. While mangled he can still utilize his hand, but things are harder for him.

This reminds this reader of Sarah K.L. Wilson’s Dragon School series. The difference? Author Wilson’s character has a handicap of the leg. Both of these authors create challenges for their characters, but it appears that author Fierce takes enough of a different route to create some familiar similarities but enough difference to make his own story truly unique.

Eldwin’s father died fighting in the war. His sacrifice was honored by his family being granted the title of “noble.” That’s not all they got, but what good is land if it is useless? So, Eldwin makes the choice to make the journey to the city to take his shot at becoming a dragon rider...like his father.

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes though. Author Fierce will be quick to point out another character that will catch not just your eye, but Eldwin’s as well. Who is this girl? The only clue we’re going to give you about her is this – pay attention to the things that she says. For commoners...it’s strange talk, which will be your first clue that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Trial by Sorcery is an interesting novel, but the pace of it will move pretty quickly. This book contains some obvious plot elements that we the readers will see coming a mile away. While the character(s), unfortunately, will be blindly walking into trouble. How will it all shake out? You’ll have to read to discover this for yourself.

There will be, of course, dragons. Do they get to take the center stage? Not in this book. In this book, Eldwin, and his new female friend, will be the focus of it all. That and the foreshadowing of a bigger danger looming ahead of them all. The mystery element of what’s to come is a large driving force of this story.

Don’t get too comfortable though with how things appear. Author Fierce is sure to drop in a surprise twist or two that you just won’t see coming. Sadly, these will only take place closer to the ending, but since this book is part of a series/serial it makes sense.

Yes, just as this book is getting good...BAM! The ending comes rushing up at you like a runaway freight train. There’s no stopping that. We’re sure that even Eldwin wishes that he could stop the way that things are going, but at least he has a touch of foresight to plan ahead and prepare himself somewhat.

Where are things going to go from here? Well, we’ll have to wait and see. Do we have any intention of continuing this series? The short and dry of it is...yes. Eventually. For the time being, we will just to have patiently wait to find out what happens next. Not because the next book isn’t available! Because it is! It’s just simply this – for this reader...funds are tight...and for us to purchase book two...it has to be a financially sound decision, and at this time...it’s just not.

Readers who enjoy fantasy novels with looming evil returning, fantastic dragons, and strong characters...don’t miss out on this book or series. We’re sure that you’re going to enjoy it!

Pros:

• Engaging Characters
• Engaging storyline
• Dragons
• Twists and surprises

Cons:

• Not enough character development and detail

4.5 out of 5 stars

Island of Forever Spotlight

 

Welcome to the book tour for The Island of Forever by Jeremy Harrison. This one has all kinds of Peter Pan vibes, and mythical creatures!

The Island of Forever

Expected Publication Date: June 18, 2024

Genre: YA Fantasy/LGBTQ+

🌴Coming-of-Age

🌴First Love

🌴Hidden Identity

🌴Chosen One

🌴Friends to Lovers

🌴Peter Pan Vibes

🌴Fairies and Merman

He’s his own worst enemy—and their only salvation.

Seventeen-year-old Max Greenfell grew up hearing stories about the Island of Forever—a beautiful paradise of intrigue and magic that was once controlled by a destructive shapeshifter who killed everything in his path. When monsters roamed its sandy shores, and the island’s magic began to dwindle, a hero emerged to overcome the evil and restore the land.

But all good stories have an end—and fairy tales are just that—or so he thought.

When a strange storm sweeps through his town, Max finds himself washed upon the shores of the fabled utopia. Faced with bullying and overwhelming anxiety at school, he finds solace in the island’s allure, creating a better reality to confront. But his arrival has disrupted the world’s balance, threatening to unleash the shapeshifter once more.

With help from a snarky merman and a pistol-wielding fairy, Max must embark on a dangerous adventure to ensure the island’s safety. Returning home will be a challenging journey, requiring him to confront his deepest emotions, confide in his closest allies, and survive an encounter with his greatest foe: himself.

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A Dream of Blood and Magic Review Spotlight

We're celebrating the release of A Dream of Blood and Magic, a gothic fantasy romance by Olivia Boothe! Pre-order now or get you copy on June 12th!

 A Dream of Blood and Magic is the first book in Olivia Boothe’s Spirit Marked series. Prepare to take a deep dive into the start of a series that will keep you coming back for more. Readers who enjoy “fiesty” female characters, dark and complex vampires, and tons of magic are not going to want to miss out on this book.

A Dream of Blood and Magic kicks things off by first luring in the reader with a gravitating cover. You get the title of the book depicted in the middle of a red background enclosed with white swirls with strange symbols depicted at intervals all around. This is set on a pitch black background with feathers and bits of glass swirling all around. It draws you in and makes you want to know what secrets lie inside.

When A Dream of Blood and Magic begins readers are thrown into the past. This setting of before technology is one that will spur readers on eagerly to discover what is going to happen next. A mother, cast out of her coven for choosing to forsake one of the rules of her sister witches. In doing so, she has birthed twin girls. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to live in peace. No, something is coming...and it will threaten to tear this small family apart.

What is coming? Well, whatever it is, it’s something to be feared as you will note when you begin reading this book. Readers who are hoping that things stay in this era lacking in technology and more mundane will find themselves a touch disappointed.

After the prologue, the story will shift forward to a more modern time period where readers will be introduced to Avery, one of the three main characters of this story.

Avery is an interesting character overall. She’s been through a lot. That seems to be the trend with most FMCs. Rough childhood, in and out of foster homes because she was viewed and declared as a “problem” child. However, as you get to know her, she will show more than a little of her stubborn nature, and at times, disregard for others. Some, there is some truth to the accusations leveled against her.

But there is something unique about her. She has visions and dreams, and the things she sees...she draws. The drawings she yields are truly interesting. They are of things that she should know nothing about. To be fair, she doesn’t until the veil is ripped away from her eyes, so she is about to be thrown onto the world’s biggest learning curve. Good luck Avery! You’re going to need it!

A Dream of Blood and Magic shifts between Avery and two other characters – Kane and Azrael. Kane and Azrael are vampires...and brothers. Yes, true brothers, not the “we were sired by the same vamp so we’re brothers.” There is some dark history between these two and it’s not pretty.

An ancient prophecy has been put back in play and now Azrael has been loosed from his prison. While he’s rediscovering the world, Kane is on the hunt. But they aren’t the only ones. Two factions of witches are about to clash, and boy is it going to be epic!

A Dream of Blood and Magic is packed with drama, tension, and a lot of magic. Avery becomes a mixed bag of a character. You’ll be drawn to her one minute, and then you’ll find her irritating the next. Well, that was the case with this reader. There is one particular moment where Avery, for us, showcases herself as a selfish and self-absorbed individual.

Why do we say this you ask? Well, she knows her friend, C.J. C.J. isn’t known for calling her more than once in a row. However, instead of Avery taking a minute to stop and think, she ignores the second call and dismisses it until her friend leaves a voicemail. To most, that isn’t a big deal, but Avery and C.J. understand each other. So, for Avery to do that...for us, is a red flag. She completely forgot what her friend had JUST spoken to her about earlier that day.

Avery is a mixed bag of a character. She’ll want people to leave her alone, to respect her privacy and all that. But the minute someone says something that pricks her...she is quick to flare up, lose her temper, and reign down chaos as her magic is unlocked little by little. The good news? She feels remorse, but it doesn’t stop her from still lashing out at people for having the audacity to not know her past.

Despite all of Avery’s shortcomings, the author refrains from making her completely unbearable. She gradually grows as a character, but she could do with a lot more. Less self pity, and more on just being better.

Azrael and Kane are two interesting characters. They are like two sides of the same coin. You just don’t really know what path either of them is going to land on. With Azrael you hope for the best, and with Kane...you just don’t know. He’s a bit of an enigma, but the deeper the story goes the more it seems he’s meant to be...good?

Prepare for some twists and surprises in this book. You’ll be hoping for the best only to find it all getting derailed and falling into absolute chaos. It’s absolutely delicious to be fair. LOL!

Reader...hoping for some romance? Maybe some steamy? Sorry, you’re going to be left wanting. There are sparks, but no smoke and fire just yet. The author promises more in book two, so for now...we’ll just have to wait and be content with a yummy shower scene with Avery as the voyeur.

For the start of a new series, A Dream of Blood and Magic starts off like a fire bursting into life. It settles in and mellows for a minute, but the deeper you...the more the fire catches and will turn into a page burner. Don’t miss out.

Pros:

• Engaging storyline
• Interesting characters
• Good amount of detail
• Keeps you coming back for more

Cons:

• Want more character growth

4.5 out of 5 stars

A Dream of Blood and Magic (Spirit Marked Book 1) 

Publication Date: June 12, 2024

Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance

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

Series Tropes:

• Vampires, witches, and other supernatural creatures

• Chosen One

• Forbidden Love

• Rivals to Lovers (Meant to be rivals who become lovers)

• Forced Proximity

• A bargain that leads to more

• Spirit-Bonded (fated mates)

• Slow Burn (couple doesn’t become an item until book 2, but the tension is built in book 1)

• Found Family

• High Stakes quest

• Portal Magic

• Elemental Magic

• Time Travel

• Spirit Guardians (familiars)

• Good vs evil

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+

Triggers:

• Blood and gore

• Death and violence

• Explicit language

• Some sexually explicit content

• Stalking

• Abductions

• Mention of young girls being trafficked for blood

• Animal death (vampire killing a boar and drinking its blood)

• Commentary on childhood trauma due to losing parents at a young age and having a bad experience being in the foster care system

• Commentary on mental health due to childhood trauma, such as feelings of abandonment, betrayal, and issues with authority

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