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.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

The Veiled Heir Review Spotlight

I can't think of a better novel to read than The Veiled Heir this summer, and we'll be celebrating the release all week!

 The Veiled Heir is the first book in the Heir of Atlantis series, and this adult romantasy is an epic book to check out for the summer.

The Veiled Heir grabs your attention first and foremost with a gorgeous cover. Readers are treated to a gorgeous underwater scene with beautiful fish swirling around in the water with bubbles floating around them. As the title of the story takes center stage on the cover, tucked away under the letters is a crown and an intricate trident. Both are elements of the queendom that will be the focal point of this story of discovery, love and revelation.

The Veiled Heir is the first book in S.T. Fernandez’s An Heir of Atlantis series. Readers who enjoy fated mate stories, elemental fae, and a dynamic retelling of Atlantis are not going to want to miss out on this story. It is going to grip you and keep you page-turning to the end.

Asherah has lived her life as a human. It’s the life she’s known and what she believes what she is. She’s always known that something was different about herself, but could never really put her finger on it. However, things are about to change. A night out at the bar with friends is about to create a shift in her life that she’s in no way prepared for.

Things are clearly strange for Asherah when she’s walking home, and it appears that she’s about to be a victim of assault. A fateful phone call from her parents winds up being her saving grace, but it only delays the inevitable. Instead, it puts in motion a chain of events that will see Asherah lose her beloved mother, and thrust her into a world that she is no way prepared for.

The Veiled Heir is an engaging novel that follows Asherah as she learns the truth about who she really is and who her family truly is. It’s heartbreaking that she has to learn all of this on the heels of her mother’s death, but that’s just the way it’s gotta be for her. What author Fernandez shows readers is that Asherah’s mother had a specific plan in place, but Fate had other plans.

We understand why Asherah’s mother chose to raise her as a human, but it’s asking a bit much to say that there was never a time to begin to teach Asherah about her fae heritage. It would have been different if there had been active threats against her life throughout her childhood, but that doesn’t appear to be the case from how the storyline plays out. It’s only when Asherah is revealed as the heir that the threats to her life and person really begin to start raining down like hail.

The Veiled Heir is told from the first person POV and primarily focuses on Asherah, but there are chapters that throw the focus to Draevyn. Draevyn brings some depth to the story through his POV as he is the first to truly begin to acknowledge that there is something between him and Asherah. They both feel something when they see each other for the first time, but it’s him who is shown as “falling” first. It’s a thin line as to who truly “falls” first, because there is little resistance on her part, so it’s really about a tie. LOL!

The Veiled Heir has an engaging storyline, but it could have done with more push back on how often Asherah gets her way. Her constantly being allowed to have Draevyn as her guard when the issues begin to crop up...it takes away from the story. For us, it’s just too convenient that there isn’t more push-back on him being reassigned or there being more push-back on him being assigned as her guard in the first place. With the story sticking hard and fast to them getting their way in this there needed to be more of a push for answers especially from Draevyn to explain since he knew what he was feeling.

The “bad guy” in this book is just one of many, but oh boy are you going to enjoy despising this one character in particular. She’s got the world’s biggest ax to grind, and grind it she does. Things only intensify when she sees that she’s going to “lose” Draevyn to Asherah. Let us tell you, this woman is unhinged to the highest degree, but the good news? You’re going to learn exactly what her damage is, and it’s more than just a quest for power.

The Veiled Heir has multiple plot lines wrapped up in this book. You have the romance (and yes, there are many steamy scenes in this book) between Draevyn and Asherah. You have the chaos between Asherah and the jealous scorned former lover of Draevyn. You have the chaos brewing between the queendoms but especially concerning a specific one who believes that humans are meant to serve the fae as a new ice age is threatening the world.

Yes, this book is throwing everything at you and the kitchen sink with a prophecy that is waiting to be fulfilled. Hey, it all works together to create quite a dynamic storyline. There is some side story that could have been left out, but author Fernandez is looking to create the dynamic that Asherah is looking to be a different type of queen in comparison to those who came before her.

The Veiled Heir chalks itself up to be a great summer read for those looking for their next summer novel. One thing is for sure when you reach the end of this book? You’re going to be eye-balling the author with this one question – “When is book two going to be ready?” We need answers, so join the club! LOL! Hate cliffhangers? Well, this one really isn’t that bad, but it will leave you twisting in the wind. LOL!

The Veiled Heir is a gripping romantasy and an overall great start to this series. We can’t wait to find out what happens next. If you love ocean stories, discovered heirs, stories of Atlantis, and “mermaid” style characters then this is the book and series for you to check out.  

                                               The Veiled Heir (An Heir of Atlantis Novel)

Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

🧜‍♀️ Elemental Fae
🧜‍♂️ Fated Mates
❤️‍🔥 He Falls First
🌴 Atlantis Retelling
🌶 Spicy
❤️ Love formed through grief
🦈 Scales
💕 Prophecy
🧜‍♀️ Battling Realms
👑 Queens Rule

Heir to a Fae throne she didn’t know was hers. A daunting task to save humanity. A passionate love nurtured through her grief.

Asherah Delmar led a happy and quiet life. Her career as a marine biologist was about to take off, but her mother, Neleah’s, sudden murder stopped her life harshly in its tracks. When she discovers her mother’s true identity, the world as she knew it begins to unravel.

After escaping Neleah’s assassins, Asherah is thrust into an ancient world she thought to be a myth. She finds herself surrounded by a different type of sea creature unlike any other—the Water Fae. Asherah must step out of her mother’s shadow to become what she never dreamed she could be—the heir to the Queendom of Atlantis. With the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders, an inexplicable connection to the Commander of the Guardians, Draevyn Eliron, may be the only thing holding her together.

In this magical underwater world, Asherah must learn to embrace her Water Fae abilities while fighting for her throne and saving the human race. But not every Fae wants to save the humans. A council seeks to dethrone her, the rebels are determined to kill her, and Draevyn’s hold on her heart threatens to consume her.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

 

Welcome to Fae Cafe Review Spotlight

WELCOME TO FAE CAFÉ is like Holly Black’s tricky FOLK OF THE AIR schemes meeting your grandmother’s freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. With a sweet, comical romance and relatable slice-of-life moments colliding with manipulative fairy games and deathmatches, this book puts a spin on the typical fae stories readers know and love and aims to be the coziest rom-com fae book of all time.

 Welcome to Fae Cafe is a fantasy rom com that brings together a human and an assassin prince. Kate Kole is just simply minding her own business, scoping out the competition, when a rather aggressively rude male (turns out to be a fae) brings a dash of disorder to her day. Well, when things turn...physical, the situation goes left, and Kate is guilty of...muuuurder. *Gasp* Well, this is officially the beginning...of the end. No, we’re just kidding. This is the beginning of Kate’s and Cress’s story that buds an unlikely romance, with some rather humorous moments sprinkled throughout.

The blurb and cover for this book promise a lot of fun to be found within these pages. The book’s cover depicts a young woman, and a fae male sitting together drinking what we can assume to be coffee. The fae guy appears to be quite taken with the young woman. However, is it reciprocated? The cover definitely gives off cozy vibes, but will they be found within the pages of this story as well? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out.

Welcome to Fae Cafe by Jennifer Kropf is absolutely an interesting story, for the most part. As you read this book you get to learn about who Kate Kole is. Of course, you’ll have to exercise quite a healthy amount of patience since Kate flutters back and forth between interesting and just down-right annoying. Sorry not sorry but her abuse of adjectives is enough to drive a sane person to the nearest abandoned asylum. LOL! No, seriously. It’s like she doesn’t know how to simply pick up a dictionary. They still do exist in this fiction fantasy realm, right? Well, we hope they do anyways.

This story alternates between Kate and Cress. It’s easy to tell who the chapter is focusing on by the headings of each chapter that will either have a female depicted character, or a male depicted character. Though Cress’s were typically the ones we looked forward to the most since he got a sword and ivy swirls. Plus, honestly, Cress is just more interesting as a character.

As Welcome to Fae Cafe unfolds we get to learn about each of the characters in this book, but Cress’s story is more interesting. Cress’s story has more backstory and gives readers a better idea of who he is. Is he an arrogant character? Honestly, yes, he is. However, he isn’t the only one. LOL! To be honest, Kate is, too. They are the definition of two wrongs don’t make a right.

Cress has come to the human realm after one of his assassin brothers was killed. His agenda? Revenge. While Kate may be insanely incompetent, she has some helping nudges along the way that have her enslaving this fellow assassin brothers who came to the human realm with him.

There is some humor in what Kate does concerning them, but unfortunately, for this reader, it wears off rather quickly. The intended humor element we mean. Kate insists on taking things too far for our liking. She never stops to consider how she would feel if someone subjected her to the things that she forces them to do. Now, to be fair, the author does come back and have Kate express some remorse concerning her actions. But for us, it’s just too little too late.

Cress and his fellow brother assassins bring the majority of the humor to the storyline. Unfortunately, Kate just brings...more than a little annoyance. To be fair, there are moments of where we like her. But then she typically shortly there after does something that proves to be irritating and that little bit of liking we had towards her...evaporates like steam. Are we being biased against her? No, not really.

Typically with any book we come into each one with the intent to immediately like the FMC, but Kate just drives that dry pretty quickly.

Now! With that being said, Welcome to Fae Cafe honestly does have some redeeming qualities. The question begs though...why do the heavier rom com elements take place in the final 30% of the book?? We wanted more of it throughout! We wanted more give and take between the characters. As it is, it’s Kate giving in spurts, but doing most of the taking. Plus, we wanted more of her backstory. It just wasn’t enough. We also wanted more focus on her working to open the cafe. We get spurts of attention to this here and there, but it all ends up flashing by once she enslaves the assassins to do her bidding.

While this book was heading towards 4 star territory, the author probably had an idea that there would be readers like us who would be preparing a mildly scathing review. LOL! Well, this book has some major saving grace with some really well done twists, surprises and unexpected elements sprinkled thoughout this book, but especially towards the end. So just go ahead and settle in. Think that you’re getting to the point of putting this book down for whatever the reason? Just hang in there. You’ll be happy that you stuck with it.

We will warn you of this though...grab some tissues and just have them on hand. Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen for quite a while, but after the 65% - 72% mark of the story...have them nearby. You’re going to need them. This author intends to bring a tear or two to your eyes.

This book has an interesting ending, but the good news is that it seems like we’ll be returning to the Fae Cafe sometime in the near future. This is good news, because honestly, Cress has unfinished business and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Welcome to Fae Cafe is an interesting fantasy cozy rom com that despite the irritating behavior of certain characters, is a lot of fun to read. We look forward to returning to them in the future.

4.5 out of 5 stars

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

Welcome to Fae Cafe (High Court of the Coffee Bean Book 1)

Publication Date: October 2023

Genre: Cozy Romcom/ Fae Fantasy Elements

There are ten golden rules if you want to survive an encounter with a fae:

1. Don’t ask their name.

2. If they ask you what your name is, lie.

3. Avoid looking directly into their eyes.

4. Don’t invite them to your book club.

5. Don’t instigate a snowball fight.

6. Never let them burn their mouth on coffee.

7. Don’t ask them where they’re from.

8. Don’t tell them where you live.

9. Never mention their queen.

10. Don’t try to kill them with an ordinary human gun.

If you fail to do any of these things, enslave them immediately.

On a cozy fall morning, Kate Kole is nestled in a coffee shop in the city of Toronto reading her favourite novel when she accidentally kills a guy who's being rude to the coffee shop's cashier. Unfortunately for Kate, the person she killed was a fae assassin of the North Corner of Ever, visiting the human realm in secret.

From there, four deadly fae assassins come to the human realm to hunt her down for breaking a fairy law and killing one of their own. Leading them is Prince Cressica Alabastian, the most feared and deadly fae assassin of the North and heir to the North Corner of Ever.

After the assassins arrive in the human realm, things go terribly wrong. To Prince Cressica's horror, his assassins unwittingly get roped into running a cozy café on Kate Kole's behalf. To blend in, the fae assassins are forced to learn how to do basic human activities like cleaning up after themselves, driving without road rage, reading popular fantasy books at book club without getting into alpha male fights over what they’re reading, and in general, be nice, all to blend into regular human society.

With a temper like no other, and deadly power that's unmatched, Prince Cressica seeks to get revenge on Kate Kole. But as he aims to strike where it will hurt her the most, the Prince finds himself enchanted by his human target in more ways than one. And when the darkness of the Ever Corners comes knocking at the human realm's door, he needs to make a choice that could cost him everything.

With coziness for days, WELCOME TO FAE CAFÉ is a new spin on some of the most popular fae fantasy tropes, in a setting where fae most definitely don't belong. If you like fantasy and you like rom coms, this may just be your cup of tea. (Or coffee.)

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON & OTHER FINE RETAILERS

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

 

Of Darkness and Ruination Review Spotlight

 

Of Darkness and Ruination is the first book in author Rachel Fallon’s The Star Queen Chronicles. Readers, if you’re eager for a book that gives a strong FMC who finds her own power, and stays strong even in the face of a tyrant then you are not going to want to miss out on this book. It’s a real page-turner that will keep you glued to the pages and begging for more. 

Of Darkness and Ruination grabs your attention first and foremost with its gorgeous cover. The gorgeous colors that reflect the focal kingdom of this story. Let’s work from the top down shall we? The first thing that greets you with this cover is the stunning aurora dancing in the sky. As you descend downward you are treated to the sky shifting into hues of pink and purple with dragons seeming to soar and streak across the sky. At the base of this cover set against the beautifully blended colors of pink and purple is a gorgeously glittering silver castle. This cover just truly captivates the eye and draws you in.

What this cover holds inside? Is an epic story set in a fantasy world where fae are the rulers and humans? Nothing more than slaves. A story spun to the humans that the “Old Gods” forsook them and that the new ones created the fae to rule over them. So, since the fae were “blessed” with magic, they are deemed better than the humans. So, every year, when the humans come of age at 21, they are put through a “Placement ceremony.” Born in the Sunrise Kingdom? You will not be allowed to stay there with your family. Nope, you will either be selected by another or, if you’re not chosen, your new home will be chosen for you.

Intrigued? There’s more. Author Fallon weaves a tapestry of a story that will have you glued to the pages as our heroine, Asteria, goes through her Placement ceremony. You immediately get a sense of high tension when she catches the eye of one of the fae from Dusk. You’re not going to quite know what to think initially, but trouble? Trouble is brewing and it won’t take long for it to rear it’s ugly face.

One thing is very evident, even in the first few chapters of Of Darkness and Ruination and that is this – Prince Cyrus is the WORST! No, seriously. This guy is a real piece of shit. We’re not kidding. LOL! He wants Asteria, and he doesn’t care what he has to do to get her. He will give the illusion that he’d prefer her coming to him of her own free will, but don’t let that fool you. He’s not the patient type. Which makes him all the more dangerous.

Prince Cyrus is a character that you are absolutely going to love to hate. Think that he’ll be the only one? Great news! He won’t be! LOL! Author Fallon describes Prince Cyrus in such detail and shows that he’s a multi-faceted character. He’s more than what meets the eye, but in this case...where he lives...he has to be. Besides, he’s a huge part of the court intrigue.

Asteria is also very multi-faceted. There is so much more to her than meets the eye. What you will be shown is her beauty, her strength, and her short-temper. Normally, when we read that a character is “sassy” or has a “short temper” we’re immediately put on guard. Sometimes a character gets portrayed as overly “sassy” but it’s accepted. While Asteria does have quite a bit of sass, and her temper gets the better of her from time to time, she’s still an overall likeable character.

One thing that you will especially be drawn to when it comes to Asteria is her overall character development throughout the story. She’s frigid and cold in the beginning because of her life experiences growing up. But with each chapter, especially in the first part, her walls gradually melt. In Part 2 is when she truly blooms like a nightflower. It’s a delight to read.

The first half of the story focuses heavily on Asteria’s time in the Dusk kingdom. You get to see how they function, and the devious elements that swirl all around. While you get some shifter elements, seeing Prince Cyrus shift into his Pegasus form or even do a small shift, you don’t get a lot of magic. Weird, right? Wait for the explanation concerning this, because it’s coming...in part two.

Part two is where things really ramp up. The “big bad guy” makes an appearance and pretty much takes over the story with Asteria. It’s absolutely delicious. King Calix is really something else. He’s gorgeous, perfect, and fighting for a change. He and Asteria come together to set the pages on absolute fire. In more ways than one. LOL! Plus, he’s a dragon shifter! Yes! We finally get the dragons promised us and not just little teasing bits.

When it comes to storylines Of Darkness and Ruination gives it all to you and more. You get the enemies to lovers trope in spades. You think that things are going to head in one direction, but author Fallon is literally like...nope! Wait for it! It’s coming! Of course, you can and should watch for clues that author Fallon will drop here and here throughout the book. These breadcrumbs will tease your appetite for more and make sure you stay engaged in this novel.

When it comes to POV for Of Darkness and Ruination, this book is mainly told from Asteria’s POV. Of course, in part two, author Fallon treats readers to a few shifts in POV. Great news, right?! We get a couple from Prince Cyrus’s and then a couple from King Calix’s. It all weaves together in those particular moments to give readers...more. So that we get to get inside these characters’ minds no matter how briefly.

As this book draws to a close you can expect more than a surprise or two. Author Fallon has quite a lot in store for readers, and then ending of this book teases readers with exactly that. War is coming to Celesterra. The question is...who will survive it and how will it impact the fae and human alike? One thing is for certain...you’ll be eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Star Queen Chronicles.

Pros:

• Engaging storyline
• Dynamic characters
• Steamy situations
• Page-turner
• Well detailed

Cons:

• None of merit*

• *We will say this...there is some content in this book that may be “triggering” for some readers, so be sure to read the trigger warnings and be well-informed about what it is that you are getting yourself into if you are sensitive to certain subject matter or content.

5 out of 5 stars

Of Darkness and Ruination is the first book in a compelling new adult romantic fantasy series featuring contrasting light and dark love interests and the delicate line of balance and chaos for a magical land. Plus fae shifters, court intrigue, resistance to slavery, a shadow daddy love interest who can shift into a dragon, and a heroine finding her own power and fighting for what she believes in. Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Jennifer L Armentrout, Clare Sager, Nisha J Tuli, Carissa Broadbent, Chloe C. Peñaranda, and Raven Kennedy!

Author: Rachel Fallon

Publication date: April 4th, 2024

Cover Artist: @violet.book.design

Blurb:

Starlight in her veins, and a soul that calls for darkness.

On the magical continent of Celesterra, all humans are enslaved to the ruling fae...

Asteria Zagreus, a mortal young woman enslaved on Celesterra, must face Placement Day, the one day where all humans, at the age of Twenty-One, are placed in new kingdoms and given new masters to serve. Come Placement Day, Asteria is forced into the Dusk Kingdom and given to its Prince, Cyrus Tynan. When she refuses him and his desires, Asteria realizes she has only one option: escaping her enslavement and finding something thought impossible—freedom. Asteria must begin to play her own game within the court...and with the Prince of Dusk Kingdom himself.

Enemies come from all sides, however, and the merciless ruler of the Night Kingdom, King Calix Atarah Erebus, starts making his move against the Dusk Kingdom. Yet, darkness calls to Asteria in mysterious ways, and an equally mysterious soldier makes her question who the real monsters are—especially when it comes to a brutal king and a callous prince. With a bloody war brewing on the horizon, Asteria must decide who the true villain of her story is. Her choice, and the consequences of it, will ripple out across the continent.

Chaos rises, resistance gathers, and a soulmate bond is tested, while Asteria begins down a path that will change the course of history…

Amazon Order link: https://amzn.to/3TmRugl

Add to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205525063-of-darkness-and-ruination?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=6ojJwRAfco&rank=1

Tropes:

Enemies to lovers

Fated Mates

Celestial Kingdoms

Elemental Magic

Light/Dark Themes

Found Family

Court Intrigue

Slavery Resistance

Fae Shifters

Morally Grey Shadow Daddy who can shift into a Dragon!

Secret Heir

Gods and Goddesses

Forbidden Love

Balance/Chaos Themes

FMC Finding Her Own Power

C O N N E C T W I T H R A C H E L 

Instagram Goodreads Newsletter Amazon

Rachel Fallon is a writer and cat mom from Massachusetts who’s been obsessed with making up stories all her life. Always one to daydream and with an incredibly active imagination, she’s spent her life making up stories in her head and watching them play out like movies.

A huge lover of fantasy and romance, she’s always read stories and watched movies and tv shows where the two are intertwined, even dating back to childhood. She craved the chance to tell her own story full of fantasy and romance, and the rise of romantasy opened the door to her dreams. Still, she believed that she would never have the patience for sitting down and putting her thoughts into a full novel, until she began writing stories online. The encouragement she received and several requests for her to write her own novel, caused her to reassess. While working her office job full time, she made room for writing (and of course reading) whenever a moment could be spared. She quickly found that this story just flew off the page, and the expensive world contained within The Star Queen Chronicles was begging to be told

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelfallonauthor/

Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelfallonauthor

Grave-Reaping Guardian Review Spotlight

We're celebrating the release of Grave-Reaping Guardian by Everlyn C. Thompson! Read on for more details!

Ready to continue Theo's story? Well, then get excited! Because our former human, now turned fae is 

back and things...well, things haven't really improved for her per se, but hey! She's making some progress! Unfortunately, someONE or rather...someTHING (?) is being a "blocker" when it comes to her romantic aspirations, but hang in there...things begin to shift...just a little. LOL! 

Theo has shown quite a lot of development over the series to this point and its been quite a fun ride. In book one readers found Theo just looking to take time for herself, but that peace kept on being interrupted by a couple of men and a "dog" who just viewed themselves as "keeping an eye" on her. Well, thankfully, for her, LOL! Things have leveled out more or less. Things are progressing with her new love interest, but is there potentially more on the horizon? Hmmm...guess we'll have to wait and see. 

Author Everlyn C. Thompson writes an engaging story that takes you on a fun ride as you follow along with Theo's story. She's still acclimating to her powers, (which is no easy thing), but of course, one can expect that time isn't waiting for her to get everything under control. 

The characters in this story are absolutely engaging. There was a moment here and there where someone rubbed our fur the wrong way, but the author knew exactly how to draw us back in and keep us coming back for more. Want some steamy? Good news! There is a scene (or two LOL) tucked in here for your viewing pleasure. 

One thing is for sure - between the evil fae queen (no love lost there), locating a missing castle...picturing Howl? We were! That must have been a lot of fun tracking down! LOL! And yes, taming a dragon king...special care was made to avoid being roasted with ketchup, this book brings a lot to the table and leaves the door open for more. 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Everlyn C. Thompson, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! 

                                    Grave-Reaping Guardian (Grave Reaper Series Book 3)

Publication Date: March 25, 2024

Genre: Urban Fantasy

⭐ Curvy FMC
⭐ Forced Proximity
⭐ Family Found
⭐ One Bed
⭐ Touch Her & ☠
⭐ Fae Guardians
⭐ Surly Vampires
⭐ Homeless Shifters
⭐ Broken Ghosts
⭐ Evil Fae Queen

When the gate between Earth and Fairie blows up and traps Theodora Edwards in the mystical realm, she must work together with her guardian and the dark prince to locate and safeguard a magical key that powers the Light Court. While learning to properly use her fae magic, Theo is forced to fend off an abduction attempt by wraiths, locate a missing castle, tame a dragon king, and have a friendly chat with the dead queen.
But with all of Theo’s efforts going toward protecting those she loves, she struggles to find time to explore the possibility of a romantic relationship—and the insecurities that come with it.

Content Warnings:

The themes and tropes explored in this book include a curvy FMC with low self-esteem regarding her body. If you find self body-shaming triggering, this series probably isn’t for you. If you find the subject of infertility triggering, again, this series probably isn’t for you. The intimate scenes (books 1 & 3) are intended for 18+.

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About the Author

Born and raised on the beautiful Canadian prairies, Everlyn prefers to spend her time outdoors with her family kayaking, skating, fishing, and hunting. She loves reading and writing about vampires, witches, fae and zombies that get to find their own version of happily ever after.

Everlyn C. Thompson

Book Tour Organized by @RRBookTours

 

A Storm Rises Review

A Storm Rises is the first book in Rose Garcia’s new series, Bloodline Legacy. Readers who are looking for an upper YA/New Adult series to dive into will absolutely find this fresh series worth checking out.

The first thing that readers will notice when they first glance at this book will be the sword that takes up the majority of the cover. Wreathed in blue light and puffs of magic, it is sure to draw the eye and pique the interest of many a reader. This fantasy series whispers that there is more to be discovered within it’s pages. The sword is a key element that will take some time to be discovered later on in the story.

A Storm Rises begins the story with a prologue that will detail the loss of a particular character. While there is a loss, author Garcia also shrouds in shadows the child that comes from this tragedy. If you pay attention though you’ll see other minute clues that will aid you as you delve deeper into the story. While the prologue is filled with waves of sadness, it is not the end. It is merely the beginning of what is to come.

As this story pushes forward readers are taken in a different direction than what one would expect. We say this because the characters we were introduced to first were royals. So then, why are we in a completely different place that in no way resembles a palace? What happened? Well, the author wants readers to meet Mateo Vela. He is a lowborn – part fae, part human. He and others like him are looked down on by the royals. Truth is...they are struggling. Sickness is ravaging their people, and help is hard to come by.

But Mateo has made a decision to join the Summit Range Hunt. If he wins? It will mean blessed help for his family. He’s thinking about the Hunt that he has managed to earned a place in. He strongly believes that he has a good chance at winning it. What he doesn’t know is that should he lose? There will not be any second chances. Why? Well, the rules have changed...and they’re not in anyone’s favor, but those who are in power.

As A Storm Rises progresses the story alternates between chapters that focus on Mateo and chapters that focus on the Princess, Avalynn Stromm, daughter of the High King. As you read more about Avalynn and her family, you’re quickly going to develop a severe dislike for the King. The Stromm bloodline has a rather dark history that swirls around a quest for power and the desire to hold onto it no matter the cost.

While the day of the Summit Range Hunt draws closer things quickly begin to shift and change. There is a change in the lineup for the contestants, deals are struck behind the scenes, threats are made, and alliances are struck. Mateo is going to find that sublanders are despised by almost all the people and he’s going to have quite the challenge ahead of him. Of course, you can expect that he’s not going to let that dim his determination.

A Storm Rises isn’t an action-packed novel, but it will do a decent job at keeping readers engaged in the storyline. The back-and-forth between Mateo and Avalynn is interesting to say the least. Avalynn has been taught to look down on those deemed beneath her. Yet now, her father has tasked her with the job of making sure that Mateo comes in last. Should he come in last it will mean more than just that his family goes without the help they so desperately need.

A Storm Rises has many secrets written in that author Garcia has expertly hidden throughout the book. For the majority of the book, the story will focus on Mateo and Avalynn simply fighting to survive the hunt. Secrets between the contestants will come out, and one by one they will fall. An exciting element of the story surrounding the hunt will be that despite Avalynn’s edge she’s still going to struggle. This fact adds another level of intrigue to the story.

Readers hoping for romance will absolutely find it. The romance angle in A Storm Rises moves pretty quickly. It is a true “enemies to lovers” trope though without the “instalove.” It is simply that the two characters fall for each other rather quickly. Is there more to be found in the romance angle? The answer is yes, but it’s left up to the reader’s imagination with a discreet fade to black moment with just a hint of where things lead.

It’s the final chapters of this story that will truly kick things into high gear. The quest for the truth and answers will be on! Author Garcia has hidden the truth’s revelation for the end and it is going to truly surprise you! So get ready, because you’ll be eager for what the author has in store for you. These are twists that, odds are, you won’t see coming. A few things you’ll have figured out, but the rest will definitely come as a surprise.

While the characters aren’t the most engaging, the storyline manages to make up for that for the most part. Readers who prefer when the title of the book ties into the storyline will be disappointed that this is not the case for this book. A Storm Rises blends together touches of modern or familiar aspects with old world elements. Though it’s safe to say that the story leans more toward old world with just a few elements of the familiar/modern.

A Storm Rises ends on a mild cliffhanger. Author Garcia will leave readers with questions as to what comes next. This book absolutely ends with an interesting twist that will have readers patiently waiting for book two to find out how things unfold from there.

Pros:

• Interesting storyline
• Twists
• Romance
• Magic
• Secrets

Cons:

• Lackluster characters
• Rushed romance

Cover Score: 8.9

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to the author, Rose Garcia, for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next.