Showing posts with label LGBTQ. Show all posts

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Tar and Bone Review Spotlight

We're back in Achten Tan, but this time we are going back in time with new characters and a new adventure! Check out Tar & Bone by Debbie Iancu-Haddad!

Tar and Bone by Debbie Iancu-Haddad is the prequel to the Sands of Achten Tan series. We’re going back in time to link up with Kamal and D’or. Before they became G’ant and Tar-tule riders. In Tar and Bone, we get to discover Achten Tan and two friends before they became friends.

Tar and Bone depicts a desert scene in which a city is surrounded by bones and a moat of tar is in the background. In front of the city is a giant turtle and a giant ant. Each of these creatures is a “guardian” of the city of Achten Tan. In front of the tar-tule and the g’ant are the two main characters of this story, Kamal and D’or. Kamal is light while D’or is dark. They appear to be complete opposites, but they will complement each other and balance each other out.

Tar and Bone is a standalone prequel to the Speechless in Achten Tan. This book introduces readers to characters who will be depicted in Speechless in Achten Tan. Told from a dual POV this story will alternate between Kamal and D’or.

Kamal will be the first character that readers meet in this book. He’s found injured and alone in the desert. He’s a gnome child, but the woman who finds him, she withholds the truth of who and what he is. Instead, she takes him home, adopts him as her own, and raises him. His leg which was severely injured, never heals correctly which leads to him having a disability.

Kamal’s dream is to become an An’cher. It's not an easy goal with a problematic leg, but it’s one that he’s determined to achieve. Only so many cadets are accepted each year, so Kamal has to do his best if he hopes to get accepted in. With his disability, he’ll have to work twice as hard as everyone else, because to be a part of this team you must prove yourself worthy of it.

D’or is a half-elf. D’or’s father is a G’ant rider, but D’or chose the path of being a Tar-tule rider. He has no idea that he even has powers until one day, a group of bullies pushes him just a little too far. With his magic unleashed it brings down danger upon him and his family. A cult wants to “guide” him in the path of an evil wizard, while a group of elves wants to murder him for having these strange powers.

Tar and Bone details how these two boys meet and gradually become friends. Readers will like how things aren’t perfect between these two boys. There seems to be a bit of a “rivalry” between the An’chers and the Tar-tule riders, but they all know that they must work together for the protection of the city.

Tar and Bone details the trials that Kamal must endure in order to achieve his dream. What he doesn’t expect along the way is to find himself falling for the cute Tar-tule rider, D’or. Sparks definitely fly between these two characters, but they aren’t the only ones who have a few hearts in their eyes when they look at each other.

Tar and Bone is a story that is relatively appropriate for most readers in their teens as this is a YA book. Despite there being a scene or two that takes place in a “brothel” this book is still teen-appropriate because author Iancu-Haddad keeps things very PG. You don’t get any inappropriate content in this book.

Tar and Bone is an engaging story that draws readers in and will leave them eager to continue discovering more about Achten Tan. The scene that Achten Tan is set in is a desert land with a city set in the middle of the bones of an ancient leviathan. Surrounded by a moat of tar this city is isolated but unique. Elves, gnomes, and humans all call this place home. Predominately though, this city is called home by elves and humans.

We get to watch the development of the friendship between D’or and Kamal. Initially, it will be disappointing how the two treat each other. The usage of slurs to describe each other, and the way the author showcases how both boys are uncomfortable with who they are.

Tar and Bone has magical elements sprinkled throughout. D’or discovering that he has magic, and the dangers of it. An evil wizard who is on a quest to gain more power, and D’or is his newest target. There is also LGBTQ representation in more ways than one.

Tar and Bone is a fantastic addition to the Achten Tan series and whether you have read Speechless in Achten Tan or not, this is a great book to start with. It gives readers the background to work with and move forward on with Kamal and D’or which will have readers eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series and wanting more Achten Tan stories to fill in all the gaps.

Readers who love a good fantasy novel with massive “sea” turtles, giant ants, magic, sweet romance (no spice), and a gripping storyline this is the book and series for you.

Pros:

Engaging storyline
Interesting characters
Fascinating creatures
Sweet romance

Cons:

None of merit

5 out of 5 Stars

Tar and Bone (The Sands of Achten Tan Book 1)

Publication Date: August 24, 2024

Genre YA Fantasy Adventure (Ages 12 to 18)

* Magic
* Adventure
* Disability & LGBTQ rep
* Friendly Giant ants!
* Non-European Setting
* A weird Desert town in a ribcage.
*No spice 🚫🌶️🚫

Thirteen-year-old Kamal has been waiting his whole life to join the An'chers - the giant ant riders who protect the desert town of Achten Tan. Despite his disability, a crooked leg caused by a childhood injury, he's determined to succeed in the try outs and become a cadet. To overcome the challenge, he strikes a bargain with an unexpected ally.

D'or is a half-elf with a dark secret. When the young giant Tar-tule rider agrees to help Kamal, his hazardous magic and the enemies it attracts put both boys in harm's way.

Now they must evade the fanatic high elves who see D'or's very existence as an abomination, and the dread sorcerer C'naga, whose interest in the boy threatens to lead them both down a dark path, from which there is no return.

Tar and Bone is a standalone prequel story to Speechless in Achten Tan. It includes themes of friendship, coming of age, and making tough choices. PG content is suitable for younger teen readers.

GET IT ON AMAZON

Thursday, June 13, 2024

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.

PREORDER ON AMAZON

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

A Cure for Magic Review Spotlight

We're celebrating the release of A Cure for Magic this week! Make sure you get your copy on May 28th!

A Cure for Magic is the first book in Talia Greer’s The Ardor Magic Cycle series. Author Greer will endeavor to take readers on a journey as a young woman discovers that consequences of a traumatic experience that unleashes magic in her veins. A power struggle is ensuing and it is up to Marika to not only survive, but reclaim what is rightfully hers.

A Cure for Magic will draw your attention with it’s beautiful cover. A hand, palm up with magic appearing to stream up out of it in wisps of varying colors. It’s quite beautiful to look at it and it draws you in. You can’t help but wonder what will the story held within these pages detail? What appears to be purple water drips down, and it raises the question...is the primary power of the main character water-related? Well, the only way to find out...is to take a dive into this story.

A Cure for Magic details Marika’s story. Marika is a princess living in the royal compound. Life appears to be good for her. She has her family, her privilege, and all the comforts she can benefit from. The only fly in the ointment? Her uncle Juri. You’ll witness his abuse of an ardor, a magic weilder. It seems strange, right? That a non-magic user is bringing harm to a magic weilder. It seems like it should be the exact opposite, but that is the twist that this story carries.

Immediately you’re getting red flags from Juri. He’s unsympathetic. He’s callous, and cruel. He’s not the one in charge, yet his behavior makes it seem like he holds more than power than appears on the surface. What is going on here? When Marika dares to speak up concerning the ardor’s situation and forced endurance of cruel subjugation...no one really does anything. Why? Marika’s father is the king. Is he really that powerless?

The dynamics in this story aren’t as black and white and straightforward as they might appear. You’d think that magic should rule, yet it doesn’t. You’d think that king holds the power, but it appears that the uncle is the one with the power since no one really wishes to stand up to him. Why? But even that is not the full extent of the truth. So, what is the truth concerning all of this? Well, the good news is that answers come, but they are slow in coming.

The next thing that you know in A Cure for Magic, Marika and her brother are on the run. Why? The royal compound is on fire. It is made to appear that it is a group of rebels who have instigated this attack, but the red flags still wave. Why? Well, you’ll see when a particular character joins Marika and her brother. It’s a bit too convenient that things are playing out the way that they are. But this is the flashpoint for Marika as well. This incident...the hints of loss...will be what awakens the ardor in her own blood.

The storyline for A Cure for Magic holds a many interesting elements and aspects. It’s enough to keep readers coming back for more of the storyline. However, Marika as a main character is a mixed bag. Marika is shown as a character who has been coddled and pampered. She’s had to lack for nothing, and pretty much wait for nothing. Now, all of that has changed. Now, she is a young woman on the run, with a price on her head, and she’s having to go through an adjustment period.

It’s a tug of war to get to a place of liking her as a character. There are moments of where she shows some strength of character, and then she immediately turns around and assumes a royal’s attitude. She reflects quite often on how things were for her when she was entitled princess. She wants to fade into the background one minute, then when no one acknowledges her, she gets an attitude about it. It’s like...pick a lane princess. Either you want to be noticed and possibly exposed...or you don’t.

A Cure for Magic is fantasy storyline forward which is nice. There are hints of romance scattered here and there throughout the story, but the romance is secondary. So, for readers who want a more focused story, without all the romance muddying up the story, then this book is for you. For readers, who want more romance...well, you might find some disappointment, but you could still find that you enjoy this book.

Marika gradually develops as a character through the pages. There are some surprises mixed in here and there. Remember, this is the first book in a series, so there will be no conclusion when you come to the end of this book. Is there a major cliffhanger? No. It’s a soft ending with little tension or drama to speak of honestly. It would have been nicer to have a moment of tension or drama to leave readers eager for more, but this is what you get. But it will be interesting to see where Marika’s story goes from here.

4.5 out of 5 stars

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

A Cure for Magic (The Ardor Magic Cycle Book 1)

Publication Date: May 28, 2024

Genre: NA Fantasy Romance

💜 A Messy Bisexual Princess

👑 Black Royals

📕 Dark Academia

🔥Elemental Magic

💖 OT3/Throuple

🔮 Magic Training

🏕️ Only One Tent

🙊 Hidden Identity

Marika Cyran is destined to rule, if she survives her own power first.

When rebels attack the royal compound, Marika learns the true price of her family’s legacy. The same deadly magic her ancestors outlawed now runs in her veins, and her royal blood paints a target on her back.

Desperate to learn her powers before they destroy her, she takes shelter at Nella University, hiding her true identity. But it’s not quite the sanctuary she’s hoping for. Argent, the roommate she’s paired with, is a prickly woman who seems to despise her. The same rebels who want her family dead flourish here under the guise of a student society, and their most popular member, Harland, seems a little too interested in her dangerous power…and Marika herself.

When a spark ignites between all three of them, it complicates Marika’s quest for control. To stay is to spit upon her family’s memory. To leave is to forfeit her once chance to corral the unruly magic. And to do nothing is to risk being consumed by the very forces she seeks to understand.

A Cure for Magic is the first book in a New Adult romantic fantasy trilogy featuring dark elemental magic, hidden royals, and a medium-heat romance that is secondary to the plot. Perfect for fans of dark academia and the Netflix adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow & Bone.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Sorrow's Forest Review Spotlight

A big thank you to Noly for designing and creating the banner!

**Welcome to the book tour for BBNYA* Novel of the Year, Sorrow's Forest! This twisted fantasy horror novel is sure to be a gripping story that you're not going to want to miss!**

Welcome to Sorrow's Forest. Enjoy your stay, because you won't be leaving...alive.

Well, normally that would be the truth...that is until young Mackie King goes into the forest at the age of ten years old on a dare. It's dangerous to go in. Why? Because nothing that goes in comes out alive. In fact, they never truly find a body. What the forest delivers to the town is a pile of bones on the edge the forest when it's ready. You just never know when. You just know that one day, someone goes missing into the forest and that one day you'll find their bones on the edge.

But Mackie King is different. On his foray into the forest, he discovers a little boy. Well, Blue appeared to be a child, but he was a young demon. When the forest decides it wants to "keep" Mackie for his trespass, he makes a run for it and "steals" away Blue with him. Where does the story go from here? Well, we're going to jump years ahead, but with some looks back at the past.

Sorrow's Forest is the first book in Kaitlin Corvus's Sorrow Forest series so buckle up because there is the promise for more and we're here for all of it.

Sorrow's Forest focuses on Blue and Mackie as they go about their lives. Blue is gay, but he's also opportunistic when it comes to the attention he receives. He'll take it from anyone, but his preference is the guys. One thing we love about Blue especially, is that he's himself 100%. He wears make-up, dresses how he wants, and has a "devil may care" attitude.

Does he suffer at the hands of bullies? Yes. Does he allow any of it to deter him from being him? Not a chance. We love it. Mackie doesn't let him go it alone though. He stands up for Mackie when others simply want to stand around and salivate over the drama that plays out.

The deeper the story goes though, the more engaging it becomes. You're going to get scenes with Mackie's father who appears to be deteriorating. Is the forest calling to him? Will he answer? Strange things are happening around the town. Some changes will be subtle while others will be very much in your face. They are all hints that something big is coming.

Queen Sorrow is waking up...and she's hungry.

This book is enticingly good. The author lures you in with good pacing that keeps you engaged in the story. Then they sprinkle in random happenings that pull you to the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. When a particular character goes missing you fear the worst. Then you're given a glimmer of hope. Will it end well? Is there reason to hope?

Well, to find out the answer to that particular question...you'll have to read Sorrow's Forest. It'll be worth the read though! Trust us on this one!

Now, the big question here, right? Is this book going to end on some wild cliffhanger? The simple answer? No. The book gives the appearance of being a standalone, but there are hints of more to come with there being unfinished business between the characters. We are hoping for more, but we'll have to wait and see!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Kaitlin Corvus, and @The_WriteReads for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Length: 272 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Age Category: New Adult

Date Published: 15 July 2022

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/fMdPSJV (Canada)

https://a.co/d/5HFziiW (USA)

https://amzn.eu/d/0LDPt4y (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60891841-sorrow-s-forest

The StoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6ee0d609-4032-4fce-9735-7cfe708c7774

Blurb

Sorrow’s Forest teems with beasts, some ugly, some beautiful, all unnatural. A ban restricts travel beneath her branches, existing for as long as Lakeview Township has, and most who disobey do not return.

To win a bet, twelve-year-old Mackie King enters the forest, and in its depths, he discovers a boy-like devil. Then he steals him from the trees.

In as little as an hour, the devil names himself Blue and fits seamlessly into the Kings’ life. No one seems to remember he wasn’t always there. Only Mackie knows the truth.

Now, Mackie and Blue are grown, Queen Sorrow has awakened, and she wants her devil back. She’s willing to tear the town apart to reclaim him. Mackie has always been resourceful, but it will take every bit of ingenuity he and Blue possess to thwart Queen Sorrow and her minions, save the town, and free themselves from the shadow of the bittering forest.

Author Bio

Kaitlin Corvus is from Ontario, Canada. The north holds the best part of her. She writes about nobodies, monsters, and gutter glitter, loves the stars, the deep dark sea, and a good horror mystery.

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Bound by Scars and Secrets Review Spotlight

To celebrate the release of the sequel Bound by Promises & Lies in February, we’re going back to the beginning with Bound by Scars and Secrets!

Bound by Scars and Secrets is Sienna Archer's first book in her Realms of Magic series, and it's a book that you're not going to want to miss!

Bound by Scars and Secrets lures readers in with a gorgeous cover that showcases as spear, and small sparks of magic surrounding the character. It is but a small prelude of what is to come hidden within these pages.

Bound by Scars and Secrets details the story of Alathea as she simply fights for survival. She is protected by the Sancta, whom she etches the "truths" into stone for. She and her sister were seemingly abandoned by their mothers. But why? Alathea has magic inside her, but magic is forbidden. It is taught that it is evil, to be feared, and hated. Only "Truths" are allowed to be spoken and anything else will see you hauled away in a wagon, never to be seen again.

Alathea has a sister, Soli, whom she wishes to protect from the world, but when her sister makes a choice that will impact them both, Alathea will do anything to protect her.

This book is a page-turner, that will keep you coming back for more. The dynamics between the sisters is interesting. Soli is more out-going and determined to take on the world, while Alathea is the exact opposite. It's understandable because Alathea has seen what magic can do. She fears it now, and even more so since she's been taught through the "Truths" to fear it and shun it.

Fate has other plans for her though. Not just her though...her and her sister. Her sister will be the catalyst that draws her in and tugs her into a realm where magic is everything and is needed if she is going to protect the place that she once called home.

Packed with twists and turns this story is going to lead you on quite the ride. Alathea will grow little by little, but you'll also get some hints of romance between not just one, but two characters. Where is this going to lead? Only way to find out is to dive into this story and see for yourself.

This is a YA novel, so things are kept pretty much nice and easy. No steamy scenes or anything like that. You get blushes, glances, and fighting against feelings, but that's all part of the fun really. Remember, this book is part of a series, so there will be an ending that leaves you wondering...what happens next? Good news though? Book 2? Coming soon! So you won't have to wait long!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Sienna Archer, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! I look forward to what comes next!

*Apologies to the author and the tour for my late post. Due to heavy rains my internet is currently out, and I didn't have the means to properly post this on my schedule date/time.

Bound by Scars & Secrets (Realms of Magic #1)

Publications Date: August 16, 2023

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance/ LGBTQ2+

✨Ya Fantasy
✨Found Family
✨Sisters Story
✨Slow Burn
✨Unique Magic and World
✨Epic Fantasy

He’s a mage who charms. She’s a sorceress who kills. Raised to fear magic, Alathea hates them both—especially when they become her only chance to find her missing sister.

17-year-old Alathea has kept her sister safe and the forbidden magic in her veins controlled ever since their mothers fled. But when Alathea’s sister disappears, a mage with a glowing spear outs her magic. On the run, Alathea receives an impossible offer from the mage: He and the sorceress will deliver Alathea to her sister if she crosses to his monster-reigned realm and accepts a magic destiny herself.

To get her sister back, Alathea will have to decide: Can she stop hiding and trust the enemies she hates…or will her animosity burn into something else entirely?

Bound by Scars & Secrets is the first book in a YA fantasy series with a slow-burn queer love triangle, realm-crossing adventure, and unraveling family secrets. If you liked A Court of Thorns and Roses and These Hollow Vows, you’ll love this fast-paced story by Sienna Archer.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Sienna Archer believes romance should be epic, adventures magical, and the best characters are the ones who grow. She writes books featuring diverse characters and strong female leads that make readers laugh, shout, and cry.

Sienna Archer

Book tour organized by @rrbooktours

Friday, September 22, 2023

Shadow Gaze Review Spotlight

We're celebrating the release of Shadow Gaze by Yara Gharios this week! Available on September 19th!

Shadow Gaze is the first season of the Silver Series by Yara Gharios. Shadow Gaze compiles the first three serials from the original, and publishes it all together for readers who prefer to read serials in one big book so that they get a better experience. At first glance of this book's cover, you get the sense of paranormal, drama, with a mix of fantasy mixed in. The character displayed looks like a real bad-a$$ and someone you'd be interested in learning about. Question is - does the author deliver on what the cover hints at?

Shadow Gaze had a rocky start for this reader. You get back and forth chapters between past (so many years into the past) and present day. Initially, I didn't get the premise of the "past" chapter. It paints the picture of when Silver aka formerly Shiloh, crosses paths with Levi and Quinn. As you read this first chapter, you learn a few things about Levi and Quinn. But it's not long before Shiloh (soon to change her name to Silver) enters the picture. She's being hunted, and her hunters? Are hot on her heels.

What happens next? Well, it's bizarre. There is no explanation for what happens, but Levi does what he believes is the right thing. Quinn on the other hand...is more reserved. The author gives no indication as to why Quinn is more reserved and hesitant to help, but you just have to sit, wait, and hope for an explanation to come.

When the story shifts to the present day, it feels like there is a bit of a disconnect. I say this because there was nothing to connect the first chapter to the next one. So, I decided to take a step back from the book for a minute and come back to it. Once I did that, the story actually started to flow better for me.

Silver is an interesting character, but you're going to have to be patient in learning about her past, who she is and much more. The author gives these facts in small pieces to keep you coming back. When the blurb says that Theresa or "Reese" is strange...believe her. This girl gets kidnapped, and rescued and is just way too calm for it all. She's too excited! LOL! Most people would be traumatized, but she bounces back with the enthusiasm of a pre-teen. I honestly forget that she's supposed to be attending college with how she acts.

There are some elements that don't make sense about this book. Theresa's quick desire to trust Adam. Silver deciding to along with the decision to allow him to come along? Why is there no skepticism? Why doesn't Silver fight the suggestion instead of just giving an incredulous look to Theresa and then caving? This is just in the first few chapters. It's a touch bizarre. I know it's meant to lead up to more later in the book/series, but regardless...it's a real headscratcher.

This series has potential, and so it will be interesting to see where it all leads and how things continue to unfold when it comes to Silver and her "new" friends.

4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the author, Yara Gharios, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next.

Shadow Gaze (Silver Series Season 1)

Publication Date: September 19, 2023

Genre: Urban Fantasy

⭐Supernatural Beings
⭐Bad-A$$ Female MC
⭐New Adult
⭐Forced Proximity
⭐Grumpy/ Sunshine

Shadow Gaze is the first season of the Silver series, which combines the first three episodes, already digitally published, as well as an exclusive bonus episode titled Rebirth.

Set before the timeline of the main series, Rebirth follows the titular Silver in the early days of her life as a supernatural. Shedding her human identity, she starts over at her skinwalker friends’ sanctuary for supernatural runaways where she has to navigate complicated new relationships while mastering her mysterious powers. Meanwhile, back at the estate, Adam struggles to come to terms with his own supernatural existence and adapt to his horrifying new reality.

Series Overview

After months of captivity, Silver ran away from the evil vamphyr that had turned and imprisoned her. Shedding her old identity, she went into hiding and spent years in training. Knowing full well that her old Master has been looking for her, she has been preparing herself for the day when she would go back to her old prison and carry out her revenge.

However, nothing in the world could have prepared Silver for the hybrid and the human that were forced into her life one day. The hybrid, Adam, could report her back to her old Master at any time, but their shared history puts them on the same side—for now. Tolerating the human, on the other hand, presents a huge challenge.

Bubbly, energetic, and raging with excitement about everything supernatural that she discovers, Theresa has the complete opposite reaction a normal human should have to the secret world of vamphyrs, werewolves, and skinwalkers. At first, Silver was intent on keeping the girl safe, since she made it her life’s mission to protect humans. But the girl’s overactive imagination and string of never ending questions are a constant headache and keep derailing Silver’s plans.

Nevertheless, no matter how much Theresa pesters her, the one thing Silver will never reveal to anyone, least of all her two unwanted stowaways, is the secret behind her having silver pearls for eyes.

Available Here!

About the Author

Lebanese writer Yara Gharios has been making up stories for as long as she could remember. She was a double–major undergraduate student studying both Translation and English Literature. Under the pen name Sahar Ghayar, she wrote several novels in her free time since she was 11 but didn’t actively pursue publishing them yet. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Leeds with an MA in Writing for Performance and Publication and started working as an Analyst.

After a small publishing house came across one of her stories, written in French intermittently when she was 13 to 15, they signed her for a one–book–deal. She released her first novel at 17 in her home country through traditional publishing. It was only when “Masked SheWolf” garnered some attention at online reading websites that she considered self publishing.

Yara Gharios

Book Tour Schedule

September 18^th

http://rrbooktours Kick-off

https://www.instagram.com/nvl_reads/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/niks.bookshelf/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/fathomsamidstthelines/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainfantasyworld/ - Feature

September 19^th

https://www.instagram.com/creepylilbookworm/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/TheWoollyGeek - Review

https://tarasbookishblog.home.blog/

https://www.instagram.com/tees_corner_ - Review

https://www.thesexynerdrevue.com – Feature

September 20^th

https://www.instagram.com/katslovesbooks/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/bookish_lady_night/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D – Review

https://starsbooksandtea.com/ - Review

September 21^st

https://www.instagram.com/Thatsmutbookbabe - Review

https://www.instagram.com/squeakeysundergroundlibrary/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/booked_by_megs/ - Review

September 22^nd

https://www.instagram.com/books_and_ashley/?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg%3D%3D – Review

https://www.instagram.com/mommyandherbooks/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/theoriginal_b00k_nerd/ - Review

https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/ - Review

Book Tour Organized by R&R Book Tours

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Take My Hand Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for Sydney Dell's Take My Hand. Read on for more details!

Take My Hand is a K-pop based fictional novel that follows the emotional drama and turmoil that a girl group by the name of, Star Power, faces. Their youngest member, their maknae, Eunkyung is fighting an inner mental battle that she appears to be losing. Cyber bullying as been getting to her, but it’s more than just that. She’s faced some bullying from within the group as well. When things finally reach a head, it all comes out in the worse way possible. Her girlfriend, Hyejin, is determined to keep her by her side for as long as she can. But her quest for answers will lead her in a direction she could never have expected.

Take My Hand is not a book that I would recommend for readers looking to dive into a K-pop novel looking for something fun, bright, and romantic. Take My Hand leans toward showing the darker side of the K-pop world where bullying tends to go unnoticed or unacknowledged until it’s too late.

This story is told from multiple perspectives, so you really have to pay attention to each of the chapters, because sometimes the story sticks with the same character, and then other times it shifts to one of the other girls in the group. Allowing you a moment to get inside their respective heads and better understand who they are each dealing with the fallout of one from one of their group members.

The author touches on other characters who have ended their lives, and how the Eunkyung herself is struggling so hard. So readers who are sensitive to this subject should probably avoid reading this book as it might be harmful to them in some respect.

The way that the story is told is, at times, hard to follow. The characters and the way that they are depicted tends to be chaotic. A sudden outburt or wild action will take place that will leave you wondering how did this particular situation come to play out the way that it does. Some of the dialogue is stilted and it doesn’t flow like a real conversation theoretically should. The majority of the conversations flow like they should, but there are some that leave you wondering what is going on.

You will get some backstory here and there in the story, but what you don’t get is how it all begins...from the beginning. That would have been the best option for this story, because then it could have flowed from the beginning of the girls’ debut and moved forward. As it is, you’re dropped into the middle of the chaos and then get jumps and skips into the past. One thing that I was hopeful for was seeing how the relationship began between the two girls. Unfortunately, you really don’t get that. You get a scene that is drenched in tragedy, and it’s like Hyejin immediately falls in love with Eunkyung during all of that chaos.

While certain aspects of the story are hard to follow, the author does manage to keep you engaged in what’s going on with the characters. You get the air of mystery as Hyejin is determined to figure out who or what has pushed her girlfriend to this breaking point in her life. Then you get alternating chapters that give you insight into how the other girls are dealing with the entire situation as well.

One element that remains true throughout this story is that it is heartbreaking to learn of all the things that Eunkyung has had to endure. It’s almost like a twisted serious of unfortunate events that have plagued the poor girl. Add in the fact that she’s in a romantic relationship with one of the members, and must keep it secret. That has to weigh heavy on the mind, because the author gives a few examples of other characters (not connected to the group) who have fared poorly for being gay and in a relationship. For those who are familiar with K-pop most companies forbid relationships, and so the girls were playing with fire even before things escalated.

The ending of this book leaves it open-ended, which may mean there will be a second follow-up book to continue the girls’ story. Without revealing any spoilers it would be interesting to see what comes next, because of how the book closes at this time. Hyejin is learning things, but discovering the whole picture is something that will take more time than she currently has. Because as we all know, time is money, and a group that isn’t making money? Well, they tend to get sent to the “basement” and are forgotten until their contract is up. What will the future hold for Star Power? We can only wait and see.

Take My Hand is author Dell's debut novel.

Soft 4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Sydney Dell, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next.

Take My Hand

Publication Date: July 7, 2023

Genre: LGBTQ Romance/ Action/ Adventure

Celebrity Cho Hyejin has been living the K-pop life that so many fans can only dream of. She is dancing happily with her group, Sky Power, and is even dating the youngest, Eunkyung. Other than having to hide her relationship, she is the famous idol she’s always dreamed of being. Then the day comes where Eunkyung tries to end her own life. Her girlfriend of several years refuses to believe that this was only a spontaneous decision. As the beloved maknae spends her time fighting for her will to live, Hyejin is hunting for answers– answers for why suicide was thought to be the only way out. However, all information comes with a price.

In a million years, Hyejin never could have predicted where her search for the truth would lead, all while she’s struggling to deal with her girlfriend’s deteriorating mental health, a world that grows more hostile with every passing moment, and the weight of her group’s reputation resting on her shoulders. The future of Sky Power is more uncertain than anything and Hyejin is about to break. She wants nothing more than to be happy with Eunkyung and if this includes exposing an awful darkness within the K-pop realm, she is willing to take the risk.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Sydney was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She became interested in the world of K-pop at a young age and learned about both the bright and dark sides. When writing, she is often interested in action-packed plots, as well as LGBTQ+ stories that are representative of the community. Take My Hand is her first novel.

Sydney Dell