Autumn Death Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for Autumn Death by L.A. Brown -- a gorgeous witchy fantasy you can now read on Kindle Unlimited!

Autumn Death is the first book in the Bird Girl Witches series by L.A. Brown. Autumn Death is a YA coming-of-age fantasy novel that tells the story of a young woman using her psychic abilities to ferret out evil that is wreaking havoc in her hometown. Young women are turning up murdered, and evil is running rampant creating havoc wherever it goes. Thanks to her insights Arabel has unintentionally made herself a target. Will she be able to evade death?

Autumn Death is an engaging YA fantasy novel that draws the eye with a stunning cover. A young woman's face with a crow taking up the left side. It almost gives the impression of her being a shifter, but she's not. The crow, as readers will learn is simply her familiar. Surrounding the young woman's face and the crow is a myriad of reddish-orange flowers. The cover is simply stunning, and readers will understand the underlying meaning of the color of the flowers later on in the book. 

Autumn Death draws readers in with Arabel joining a friend at a celebration in the village. It is meant to be a happy time, but it quickly turns dark with a mysterious grey mist that permeates the surrounding area. Not everyone can see this disturbing mist, but Arabel has the sense that it is something dark and evil that hints at something worse to come. It's not long before this is brought to revelation with the striking of a celebratory fire that reveals a grisly sight to the revelers. 

Autumn Death is truly engaging. Arabel is an interesting character. She's 17, but she honestly reads like she's older than that half the time. She reads like a highly mature character, most of the time. Once the romance angle of the story spins up (which it does rather quickly), she behaves a touch more like a teen. 

The drama that author Brown has playing out on page is truly interesting. Arabel is frequently in "battle" with a grey darkness that repeatedly threatens her life. When we say threatens we mean verbally and "physically." It's a wild ride of drama when we get the magic elements. It really builds the intrigue and will work to keep readers engaged in what is going on. 

Have to say that we weren't the biggest fans of Arabel becoming sneaky primarily in the pursuit of her relationship with Eli. Author Brown paints the time period as one of "propriety" and concern for one's reputation. Arabel holds to this mindset briefly, but it's not long before she casts it aside to pursue the path that she wishes. 

We will concede that the author ties it to another aspect of the story concerning Arabel's family. It literally treads the path of "like (insert specific parent), like daughter. Not sure if we really liked that, because it's locking Arabel deeply into behavior similar to that other individual instead of allowing her to be her own self. 

The backstory with the grandmother is rather interesting. It paints a picture that allows readers to better understand, to an extent, her grandmother's behavior. However, it is also heartbreaking at the same time. You'd think that the grandmother would want to do differently to preserve the relationship with her granddaughter. Unfortunately, it gets to a point in the story that neither grandmother or granddaughter are interested in preserving or mending their relationships. Will this change as the story progresses? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself. 

We get some fascinating creatures in this book, but I really wanted more. This book has a lot going on for it, but I felt like there were some missed sequences here and there throughout the book. I could have been reading a little too quickly and missed them, but I don't think I did. 

Autumn Dreams is an interesting novel that gives readers fantasy with a touch of paranormal. You get quick romance that hints at more, but stays relatively chaste with just giving readers intense kissing. 

As this novel draws to a close, the story does get wrapped up. I wouldn't have minded it continuing with Arabel and Eli, but it's a good story with lots of drama that did it's job of keeping me engaged to the end. 

4 /5 Stars

Autumn Death (Bird Girl Witches Book 1)

Publication Date: November 13, 2024

Genre: YA Dark Fantasy/ Witches

Tropes:

The Supernatural, The Outsider, First Love, Love is the Answer, Coming of Age, Ancient Secrets, Backing into Darkness, Body Switching, Dark Family Secrets, Crime in the Family, Found Family, Fated Mates, Forbidden Love, Creepy Settings, A Foreboding Atmosphere, Mysterious Things are Happening, Magical Secrets, Fantastical Creatures, Magical Systems, Training Sequences, Powerful Artifacts, High Stakes, Happy Ending, Hereditary Witches, Hauntings

The Magnet draws them to their death!

In book one of the Bird Girl Witches series, the mystical realm of The Korvids is being terrorized by a dark force, and a young, psychic girl may be the only one who can stop it.

Arabel Spade is just 17 years old, but holds the gift of extraordinary supernatural abilities. When a series of brutal murders rock her hometown, she is determined to use her powers to solve the crimes and protect her people.
But tracking the killer puts her on a collision course with the sinister Dorojenja - evil sorcerers intent on putting an end to her investigation, if not her life. As the bodies pile up, Arabel must navigate a web of secrets, betray her cold-hearted grandmother's wishes, and forge alliances with mysterious magical factions like the Travelers.

Join Arabel's epic journey of magic, danger, and self-discovery, as she battles for the ultimate fate of The Korvids.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

TWs:

Three murders which happen off-page, but the bodies are found on the page. These murders are not described in detail, but it is mentioned that the bodies are naked and posed in a sacrificial manner. There is also a murder by drowning, body possession, and a murder by a vicious Death Ribbon spell. There are also ghostly attacks on our heroine and a kidnapping. There is a lot of romantic desire, but no sexual activity outside of kissing.

BGW Series blurb: Four teen witches must destroy an ancient evil to fulfill their destiny and avert a treacherous curse

 

Zipline: Aftermath Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for Zipline: Aftermath, the exciting follow-up to P. Anthony Michael's thriller Zipline!

 Zipline: Aftermath by P. Anthony Michael is the continuation of the Zipline series where readers are introduced to a group of friends out to have their last “hurrah” before life and responsibilities began pulling at them. This last trip was meant to be a fun zipline expedition down a mountain. However, it turned into some much bigger. Zipline: Aftermath continues the story of this group of characters, and their lives since that fateful weekend at the mountain.

Zipline: Aftermath stays true to the elements of the first book with the same color scheme for the cover. With this cover, we get a man in uniform kneeling while behind him is the outline of a city. On either side of him are glowing eyes. On one side, the eyes are glowing blue, and on the other side, the eyes are glowing orange.

Author Michael brings Zipline: Aftermath to readers two years after the end of Zipline. The friends survived the mountain, but several questions still remained. What really happened up there? What are the implications of what happened to Neal after being attacked by two different creatures up on the mountain?

Neal and Gail are married in this latest installment. Neal has joined the police force, and he’s doing a lot of good. He’s getting the bad guys off the streets and racking up quite the reputation. He’s focused on doing good, and making sure that only the bad guys go down. This has gained him both good and bad attention from the other cops on the force.

It sounds like a good thing, right? Neal uses his newfound abilities to accomplish a safer neighborhood for the people where he calls home. Working to make sure that his pregnant wife has a safe place to live is a benefit of all of this as well. But what happens when Neal starts having bizarre nightmares? Well, that’s where this story gets interesting.

Zipline: Aftermath explores the aftermath of Neal having two warring sides inside of him. He is using his new abilities to hunt criminals, but what he doesn’t know is that something is about to start hunting him in turn. Author Michael is going to put Neal to the test when the danger follows him home.

Compared to the first book in the Zipline series, Zipline: Aftermath is a step above. This novel gives readers some horror elements but focuses more instead on the suspense and thrills. A killer is roaming the streets targeting the homeless. Things get more complicated when a reporter is targeted and killed. So readers get the sense that this reporter saw something that they shouldn’t have and paid the ultimate price.

Readers get a sense of rivalry between Neal and a fellow cop, Lieutenant Clay. Neal is creeping up on Lieutenant Clay’s arrest record, and that creates a bone of contention between the two men. It’s more one-sided than anything, but Neal gets the sense that there is more going on than meets the eye.

Zipline: Aftermath is an intriguing novel that does a good job at drawing the reader in. Author Michael weaves a story that encompasses more than just Neal’s work life, but his home life as well. All of the group show up in this novel, but the story focuses mostly on Neal. That doesn’t mean that Neal’s family and friends don’t get drawn into the chaos, because they do.

When it comes to the “horror” aspect of this installment to the series, it’s there at random places in the story. However, it isn’t the focal of the story. Zipline: Aftermath is more about the suspense and drama. This book is told from the third person point of view, and works on emphasizing just how unique Neal has become.

As Zipline: Aftermath draws to a close, readers will get a sense of a solid conclusion. Author Michael is going to throw in a few answers to questions that were left to linger at the end of book one. But while you get some closure, you are also getting the sense that there is more to come. So, we’ll see where things go from here.

4 stars

ZIPLINE: AFTERMATH

Publication Date: August 1, 2024

Genre: Thriller

Gail and her friends may have escaped the mountain, but now they all have to deal with the AFTERMATH. Two years later, all have entered the workforce. Neal and Gail are contentedly married, and she’s pregnant with twins on the way. But Neal is unsettled as special abilities emerge, which he has to learn to embrace. Worse yet, he’s having strange visions of gruesome murders that actually happened as if he was there. Now Neal, Gail, and friends are wondering if he is truly going rabid. As they dig deeper into the mystery, they find the truth is far worse and more insidious than anyone could imagine. Aftermath is a mystery suspense continuation to Zip Line that will grip you from beginning until the very end.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Tour Organized by: 

@RRBookTours (IG)

 

A Court of Bones and Sorrow Spotlight

Happy release week to author Alex Frost AKA Maddox Grey! A Court of Bones and Sorrow comes out on October 29th, and we are in love!

Happy Halloween fellow readers! Thank you for stopping by to check out my post/stop for the A Court of Bones and Sorrow tour! Congratulations to author Frost on her latest release!

The original intent was to have a review for y'all today, but where I was supposed to get the book sent me the wrong file, so I'm unable to have a review for you today. But! I promise that I'll have one for you in the future! So, stay tuned and come back soon! Please check out the other reviews and spotlights that can be found on IG! 

#currentlyreading 

A Court of Bones & Sorrow (Lunaria Realms Book 2)

Publication Date: October 29, 2024

Genre: A Why Choose Fantasy Romance

- Why Choose Romance
- Rivals to Lovers
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn Romance
- Queer Nonbinary Love Interest
- Variety of Relationship Dynamics
- Vampires, Shifters, Furies, and Fae
- Fantasy world full of monsters

Nothing can be trusted in Lunaria.

The gorgeous and charming Prince Draven wants to court me. There’s just one catch – he's the enemy. Further complicating matters, I’m already entangled with two others, and harboring confusing feelings for a third. Marriage is the last thing on my mind, especially with a traitor.

But between the increasing boldness of the monsters roaming our lands and the obscured truths nestled in our history, I don’t have much of a choice. Desperate for answers, and with the Prince holding the key, it's time for game of deception to begin.

Seduce the Prince, learn his secrets, don’t let him learn mine. And most importantly, don’t die.

Our survival depends on unraveling the lies around us and the clock is ticking. With every bit of knowledge we gain, it becomes harder to tell friend from foe. And if I trust the wrong person, I might doom us all.

A Court of Bones and Sorrow is the second book in this spicy new why choose romantasy series. There will be no choosing between the sweet golden retriever love interest or the wicked ones. This story will ends on a cliffhanger and contains MF, MM, and non-binary/F relationships and is intended for mature readers only.

CW:
- Explicit sex scenes and just general reminder that this is why choose : )
- Blood drinking courtesy of vampires

GET IT HERE

Kindle Unlimited/Amazon → https://a.co/d/3818vqh

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

 

Soulbound Spotlight

 

We're celebrating the newly released Soulbound by Amelia Cole, which is the gorgeous follow up to Shadowbound! Read on for more details!

Welcome to the book tour for Soulbound! 

The intent was for me to be doing a review spotlight for you today, unfortunately, I never received the book, so instead, this will be a spotlight for Soulbound. Hopefully, I will eventually be able to get the book on my own and come back at a later time to share my thoughts with you on it. 

Be sure to come back soon for my review for Shadowbound, which is book 1 in the Druadan Legacy series! 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the tour! 

                                                    Soulbound (Druadan Legacy Book 2)

Publication Date: October 8, 2024

Genre: Why Choose/ Sci-Fi Dystopian

*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Why Choose/Reverse Harem
*Dangerous Mythical Horses
*Age Gap
*Sci-Fi Dystopian Western
*Spice
*Slow burn

The hidden history of the druadan is emerging from the shadows…

During the attack at Meridian, a shocking truth was revealed: my sister leads a rebel group hellbent on stealing the last druadan egg. By sheer chance, I managed to save one, but as it begins to hatch, the three Master Riders—Heath, Logan, and Carter, with whom I've developed undeniable feelings—and I must surrender the egg to Circuit officials.

To keep the egg's survival a secret, Circuit shuts down Meridian, forcing us to relocate to Blackhawk Station. There, ancient secrets await, holding the key to understanding the rebels' desire for the druadan foal, my connection to it, and the bond I share with the three master riders and their stallions.

However, tensions escalate as Logan finally faces trial for his rogue stallion, and civil unrest engulfs Venovia, with strikes and violent protests pushing the country toward war. I must tread carefully. The long-buried truths I unearth at Blackhawk could prove the world's salvation—or the catalyst for utter ruin.

See Amelia Cole's website for CONTENT WARNINGS: Druadan Legacy series is intended for 18+ readers.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Tour Organized by: 

R&R Book Tours 

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

Since We're Here Spotlight

 

It's release week and we are thrilled to be touring this adorable and spicy romance by Chrissy Hopewell!

Since We’re Here: A Grumpy Sunshine Irish Romance

Genre: Romance/ Interconnected Standalone

Publication Date: September 9

• Grumpy sunshine

• Irish setting

• Close proximity

• He falls first

• Fish out of water

• Main characters in their 30s

• Just once to get it out of our system

• Pet sheep

• Open door/ medium spice

Nine messy breakups, nine jobs lost. When restaurant manager Maddie Hart learns that number ten—a surf instructor based in the Caribbean—is cheating on her, she changes her destination flight (but not the contents of her suitcase) to Ireland. She’ll delay disappointing her family and figure out how to get her life back on track, while also planning her oldest sister’s pre-wedding Irish road trip. Except the groom-to-be’s best friend isn’t replying to her emails.

Ex-pro soccer goalkeeper Patrick McNulty has deep roots in the seaside town of Dingle, Ireland. He’s got clear priorities: be there for his aging parents, support his sister and nieces, and take over the family brewery while also managing his pub. None of that includes dating, because after one disastrous engagement, Patrick is done with relationships.

When the sunshine-y American tourist who asked him to kiss her in the pub turns out to be the same woman emailing for help planning a road trip, Patrick vows to keep it platonic. Especially after his pub manager quits and Maddie jumps in to help. Their sizzling chemistry leads them to sleep together just once, but it’s not nearly enough for either of them.

Maddie knows her future isn’t in Ireland—or with Patrick. And he needs to stay focused before his carefully planned life unravels with the distraction of the American tourist. The Irish road trip is their last chance…Will Patrick be able to convince her (and himself) that fighting for number eleven is worth the journey?

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

The Shadow of Polaris Review Spotlight

We're celebrating the release of The Shadow of Polaris by D.L. Houpt. Time to bump another book on your TBR list!

 The Shadow of Polaris is the first book in the Heir of Darkness series by D.L. Houpt. This fantasy romance novel is a slow build, but it’s worth hanging in there. Once the groundwork has been laid you’re in for quite a ride with this novel.

The Shadow of Polaris begins with Elpis and her nephew. He’s the king. He’s hurting and upset. Why? The Elders have spoken, and even he cannot go against what they have told him. Elpis has been declared guilty of killing her sister. She’s now “The Queen Slayer.” She’s condemned to live out the rest of her life locked in a tower. Giving Rapunzel vibes, right? Wait for it, this is no Rapunzel tale coming your way.

Elpis spends years locked away in this tower. Don’t worry you don’t spend chapter, after chapter, after chapter reading about how the years whittle by while she sits there and longs for the life she used to have. Author Houpt spares readers from that. LOL! You do learn some things about Elpis and what her life has been like locked away for these past few years.

There is a mild theme of abuse in this novel. It only appears a couple of times in the story, but it’s something readers should be aware of before diving into this story too deeply. Elpis has people who “take care” of her, and make sure that she remains in her tower. Her “chambermaid” is one such individual, but this toady of a woman takes pleasure in exerting her “power” over Elpis.

The first quarter of this book is slow in pace. There isn’t a lot of drama, action, or anything really to spice things up and give this book the jump-start you might be looking for. However, if you are patient you’ll soon find yourself getting to the good stuff.

Author Houpt throws Elpis a twist that no one really could have seen coming...a chance. It’s an odd occurrence, but it suits the story perfectly. With this chance that Elpis is given comes even more danger than we or she could have imagined. There are monsters roaming the land, and Elpis comes face to face with one. In the process though she makes a discovery that will truly benefit her. Cue the introduction of animal companion.

As The Shadow of Polaris continues you will constantly find yourself wondering...when is the other shoe going to drop? Elpis has managed to find a safe haven, but how long will this last? The storyline begins to point to trouble brewing and it all starts with one simple act of wanting more “freedom.” We get it, we’d go stir-crazy, too, but when you’re being hunted...it pays to be smart.

Once you get to about the 30% mark in this book the storyline really begins to pick up and come together. Elpis is having strange dreams, encountering one of the gods (goddess) themselves. She discovers the prophecy mentioned in the blurb, and we readers get some delicious backstory! But there are secrets swirling everywhere and you won’t be able to help but suspect that the Elders are hiding secrets as well.

Hoping for some romance? Well, it’s there. It’s a slow build romance, that ignites sooner rather than later. It’s a mix of “slow-burn” meets “getting to know you a bit, first.” But apparently, Elpis isn’t to be too favored when it comes to the romance department either. Watch for little hints that author Houpt is going to drip here and there. Not everything is as it seems.

Hoping for some serious steam to heat up the pages? Well, on that front you’re going to be disappointed. Author Houpt rates the steam in her novel as “one pepper” and we agree. There are no highly detailed scenes depicted on the pages. You’ll have to use your imagination, but you probably won’t get far, because the scenes are short before moving on.

Brace yourself for twists, and turns, premonition-like dreams, creepy monsters (we loved every second of that), and the gods working to bring about chaos. Okay, okay, only one particular goddess with a nasty attitude problem. LOL! Elpis is connected to it all, and she is going to have to figure out her part in all of this if she is to save lives from being lost.

The Shadow of Polaris is an engaging fantasy romance novel. There is a nice amount of world-building, twists and turns, and an ending that will leave you eager for book two. This is a good start to the series. Yes, the beginning is slow but it is absolutely worth it all because the rest of the book will keep you glued.

Looking for your next fantasy romance novel/series? Well, you’ve found it. So don’t miss out and grab your copy today!

4.5 out of 5 stars  

The Shadow of Polaris (Heir of Darkness Book 1)

Publication Date: September 3, 2024

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

🐺enemies to lovers
🗡️black cat/golden retriever
🐺animal companions
🗡️meddling gods
🐺morally grey FMC
Spice – 🌶️
World Building – 🏛️🏛️
Violence – 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️

When winter and spring coincide, darkness’s heir brings the light of truth and the fall of vanity. Only embers of life can destroy visions of death.

Following the accusation of her sister’s murder, five years ago, Elpis was sentenced to a life in the Tower outside of Ursae. Banished, far across the Northern Flatlands, to an eternity of unruly abuse and mind numbing isolation.

Now, broken and beaten, she receives an anonymous gift that will alter her fate forever. Haunted by nightmares of a malevolent goddess, Elpis must unravel the secret of an ancient prophecy and tame the shadows rising within her in order to take back her freedom.

With enemies at every turn, Elpis must choose her allies wisely, and learn that sometimes, freedom may come at a price.

Trigger Warnings:
Suicidal thoughts, self harm, and self hate

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

 

Through Fire and Ruin Review Spotlight

To celebrate the release of Beyond Ember & Hope on September 14th, we're going back to the beginning to the start and touring Through Fire & Ruin all this week!

There are pre-order incentives if you order Beyond Ember & Hope now, and this book one is on sale for only $0.99 until release day when the trilogy is complete!

 Through Fire and Ruin is the first book in authors Jennifer Becker’s and Alice Karpiel’s new adult fantasy romance series. This book is a slow-burn romance novel with multiple POVs throughout the storyline. You’re going to meet some interesting characters and others who will try your patience, but this is just the beginning of this series.

Through Fire and Ruin has an interesting beginning that draws readers in rather quickly. Fae are known to humans, but thanks to a treaty there can be no crossing over of the two into the other’s world. Fae are “locked” into their world and humans are “locked” into Earth. There is a portal that bridges both worlds, but crossing over is something that no one survives. Well, those who belong to their specific worlds. But what if you were something more?

This division of the worlds seemed like a good thing, especially when you reflect on the fact that humans were enslaved to the fae in Liraen. However, when a plague begins killing humans and no cure in sight through the human scientists what if their very salvation lies in the land of the fae? Only one way to find out, and it won’t be an easy journey.

Lora is one of the characters that will be focused on in this book. She’s been living her life as best that she can with the fear of the plague running rampant. No one knows how it spreads, but if you’re expecting extreme precautions to be utilized you’ll be disappointed. It’s nice that there aren’t any extreme precautions being taken because it would definitely throw a kink in the story.

Lora is written as an “average human.” When we say this we mean that she’s living her life, helping out here and there at home. The plague is there in the back of her mind, but until it strikes close to home, she has little interest in pursuing a path of finding some form of help. But with a family member coming down with the sickness she’s prompted to take action. Not necessarily for the greater good of the world as a whole, but primarily for the family member in need.

One interesting aspect of this book is that Lora is part fae and she’s aware of this fact. In most fantasy novels you’ll find that the character has no idea of this other part of themselves, but Lora knows about it and will use it to her advantage. Which is a good thing otherwise this would be a rather short story. LOL!

While we have Lora on Earth and about to cross over into Liraen, the authors introduce readers to Amira who is a princess in one of the kingdoms of Liraen. Amira is the exact opposite of Lora. As you read this book you’ll learn that Lora seems to be a moderately tempered young woman, but the more you learn about her the more you’ll see that she is a rather temperamental individual.

Not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing, but for this reader...she pushed more than a few buttons. The constant demands for answers, refusing to have any ounce of trust in Eyden, the fae trader she meets, and leans towards being highly argumentative. You’d think that in a world where you have to hide what you are, you’d exercise more caution than she does. We get it, she wants a cure to help her family, but 1) getting caught and captured and 2) alienating one of few people willing to take a risk to help you...aren’t smart.

Amira falls on the opposite end of the spectrum of Lora. Amira reads almost like a human version of Fluttershy. LOL! (I’ve been watching a lot of MLP with my daughter, and it feels like it fits her perfectly.) Amira is yet another challenging character who gets placed in the spotlight of this book and series. Amira has experienced trauma in her life, and the deeper the story goes the more you will learn about her and what she’s been through.

Readers should be forewarned that there are some abuse elements in this book and potentially the series as we celebrate the release of Beyond Ember and Hope which will be available September 14^th. Amira has a rather unhealthy relationship with her brother, and we all breathe a sigh of relief when he exits the story here and there. Don’t hope for or expect Amira to ever really stand up to him. Can’t say for sure she’s done so in the past and paid the cost, but it doesn’t seem like something she’ll ever do. We just wish that she wasn’t such a frail character. It gets exhausting to read how “sensitive” she is to so many things.

When it comes to the pacing of this novel you’ll find that it’s slow to moderate at best. Through Fire and Ruin is told through third person perspective throughout this book. The majority of the story goes back and forth between Lora and Amira as they both struggle to stay out of danger. It’s no easy thing for either woman.

There are interesting plot twists scattered throughout the novel, but we recommend patience as the personality of the characters seems to be the dominant focus of it all. You’ll learn about a king, looking to be high king, who will potentially be the downfall of all if he wins the upcoming contest. We would have liked to focus more on that, but it’s not viewed as a primary element of the storyline.

Hate cliffhangers? Well, it’s okay, because books two and three are available or will soon be! So, while you’re waiting for book three, you can grab book two and find out what happens next. It’s a mild cliffhanger honestly, so even those who hate cliffhangers shouldn’t complain too much. LOL! But it will be one that honestly makes sense in how book one comes to a close.

The romance is slow-burn, and the drama is also more on the slow-burn side, but Through Fire and Ruin does have some good elements. We just wanted the two FMCs to be more tempered, and more balanced. As they are written it’s one extreme to the other almost. It will be interesting to see where things go from here, and how long certain secrets will remain locked away.

Be sure to grab your copy of book three on September 14^th and find out how it all ends for Lora, Amira and those they have come to care about!

4 out of 5 stars

Through Fire And Ruin

Publication Date: May 2022

Genre: NA Fantasy Romance

• Slow burn

• Sizzling banter

• Enemies-to-lovers

• Reluctant allies

• Masquerade ball

• Forced proximity

• One bed

• He fell harder

• LGBTQ+ characters

• Multiple POVs & romances

• Fae, witches, badass humans

• Thrilling plot twists

• Corrupt politics

Some lies are ruin

For centuries, humans have been at the mercy of the fae. With the border between Earth and Liraen spelled shut, humans have no desire to entangle themselves with the fae world again. But what if they are humanity's only hope?

LORA has been warned of the fae her entire life. Yet when a deadly virus sweeps Earth, Lora risks everything to find a cure. Spinning the perfect lie, she makes a deal with Eyden, a mysterious fae trader. As Lora struggles to keep the promises she has made to both her family and Eyden, she is forced to dig deeper into the twisted world of Liraen - her web of lies unravelling.

AMIRA has spent years trapped by her brother in her childhood palace. Her engagement to the soon-to-be High King of Liraen is her only hope for the freedom she has been longing for. As the future Queen, she seeks to finally leave her painful past behind. But she soon discovers that the palace holds dark secrets - bringing up memories Amira had long since tried to erase.

As power games are woven, promises are broken, and desperate lies are revealed, Lora and Amira both find themselves at crossroads. Will they risk it all and face ruin?

GET IT ON AMAZON

COMPLETE SERIES

 

Dream Walker Review Spotlight

 Welcome to the book tour for Brittany Gossin's Dream Walker! Read on for more details!

 Dream Walker is a young adult/coming of age romantic fantasy novel that will grip you from the beginning, but then allow you to settle in for a mostly engaging storyline. Get ready to meet Ella as she works to discover who she is and protect those she comes to care for, but only after tragedy strikes.

Dream Walker by Brittany Gossin is one of those books that lassos you from the beginning, hits you with some jaw-dropping moments and then shifts forward to the world we are all familiar with.

Dream Walker begins with a world at war. Nightmares are running rampant and destroying everything in their path. Their power has grown to the point that keeping them at bay is becoming harder and harder. A difficult decision for the Queen is at hand, and it is one that she must yield to...or else all will be lost.

The story transitions at this point to the Earth realm that we are familiar with. Ella is a high school student. She’s awakened from a terrible nightmare of her own. The scene that plays out will grip you and have you wondering...is this real? What happens if this thing that hunts her harms her in the dream? Will it transfer to the real world when she wakes? If she does at all?

Cue loads of tension and drama, right? Those are the best kinds of books the ones that keep you on the edge of your seat and page-turning to find out what happens next.

Of course, author Gossin allows the story to settle in for awhile after some chaotic scenes that play out. Ella suffers a horrific tragedy that forces her on the run, but with a little help she escapes death, but one question remains and it will continue to go unanswered for a time.

As Ella embarks on unlocking her magic she is going to have quite the road ahead of her. Accessing her magic won’t be easy and she’s already been given a clue that something will keep her from it. Of course, she doesn’t pay much attention to this mention because she feels overwhelmed in the moment.

While there are surprises along the way, the pacing of the story slows down quite a lot. We’re going to get moments of turmoil and chaos as Ella and others like her are thrown into the deep end to prepare themselves for the fight coming, but there is also a sense of underlying drama. There is someone looking to exploit them and this one safe place. Who is this mysterious person? And who is their inside helper? Like Ella doesn’t have enough on her plate to deal with. Things just keep piling up.

Wondering where the romance angle comes in? Well, it sparks pretty quickly. He’s older (by a few years), but wait! What’s this? Is there a second potential interest? Why yes! We think there is! Who will be the one who gets the girl?! Well, you’ll just have to read to find out. Though it is weird for Ella to talk about/think that Ethan has shared “so much” with her in private. He’s shared a thing or two here and there, but this girl needs to slow her roll. She’s acting like he’s been sharing his life story with her until someone else shows up. Not the case at all and it makes her sound...a touch delusional.

Ella is an interesting character, and she’s growing little by little, but I need girlfriend to get her head in the game and stay focused. She’s got a big fight ahead of her, and it’s coming from more than one front.

Dream Walkers has a lot of good things in it, and it’s an engaging story for sure. I loved the horror elements especially and the dynamic cast of fantasy characters. Readers who enjoy a good romantic fantasy novel will not want to miss out on the beginning of this new series.

Dream Walker (Realm of Dreams #1)

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Genre Romantic Fantasy

• Found family

• Secrets and betrayal

• Closed-door spice

• Magic, fae, elves

• Dragons and demons

• Slow burn

In the aftermath of a harrowing nightmare, seventeen-year-old Ella Windsor must face a chilling reality as the wounds from her dreams appear on her body. To add to her terror, she witnesses the intrusion of a nightmarish creature come to life, lurking on her high school campus.

Faced with no choice but to escape the nightmares and search for why she’s the only one who can see them, Ella ventures into the mysterious Astral Realm. Alongside Ethan Wessex, a stunningly gorgeous Lieutenant of the Queen’s Astral Guard with his own air of mystery, Ella discovers a realm on the brink of war.

Azvameth, the King of Nightmares, harboring secrets of his own, seeks dominion not just over the Astral Realm but every waking world. With the assistance of other dream walkers, including the devastatingly handsome Cole, a Fae Prince, and Rhea, a feisty Elven female, each armed with latent magic, Ella may prove to be the missing piece in destroying Azvameth and saving her precious Mortal and Astral Realms.

In this epic romantasy, Ella grapples with love and betrayal, torn between the mysterious Ethan and the potential true love of Cole, all while embarking on a journey of self-discovery and found family. The nightmares have awakened, but so has she.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON & THE AUTHOR’S WEBSITE

 

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

The Collection Review Spotlight

 

We're celebrating the release of The Collection by K. Kirchberger! Grab a copy on July 23rd!

 The Collection is an adult fantasy romance that is just the beginning of author K. Kirchberger’s dynamic series. Prepare to embark on a journey into Hell as one woman’s quest to find her friend will become something much more.

The Collection intrigues readers with a beautiful cover depicting a pair of midnight black wings on display. The wings are set on a mostly black background with a golden glow illuminating them from behind. There is a lovely golden filigree design set behind them as well, giving them the sense that the wings are on display. This image absolutely builds intrigue as to what readers will discover within these pages.

The Collection focuses on Kenna, a young woman who has a sense that this year’s Collection will be different. She believes that her time has finally come to be chosen, though it’s something that she has always hoped to avoid. However, with it just being her and her horse Willow, she sees little for her to lose. Though there is her best friend Sora whom she would dearly miss.

While Keena’s senses are spot on, it’s not her name that gets called. Instead of being like most and simply weeping and mourning the loss of her friend Kenna takes action. She decides to enter Hell herself and find her friend. Whatever court her friend may end up in Kenna intends to join her. But will it be that easy?

The Collection starts out gripping and engaging. The time for the Collection is coming and readers get a sense that Kenna will be chosen. So, it will come as a surprise (for we tend to forget) that Sora’s name is called instead. The story moves rather rapidly for the next couple of chapters. Kenna determinedly sets off to catch up with her friend. But while she makes it to the gate, nothing is what it seems. She’s obviously allowed to enter, but the price? It’s her mortality, and she’s on a clock. Guess she better hurry, huh?

As The Collection moves forward author Kirchberger keeps things interesting. You’re going to be expecting Kenna to wind up in a “waiting room” area, but she finds herself quickly in one of the courts. Things start out simple enough for her. We would have liked something to truly challenge her, but when you break it down...she might have failed before her quest even truly began.

While Kenna is at a disadvantage, relatively speaking, things overall go in her favor. For immortal creatures Kenna seems to have hit the jackpot on those who are willing to be kind to her or at least just down right decent. She comes across one or two who could be viewed as “hostile” but that real drama doesn’t begin to play out until much later in the story.

The Collection is told from the first person POV. The story focuses heavily on Kenna as she joins with another immortal who agrees to help her after she does an act of kindness for him. Thanks to his taking her under his wing (so to speak) her path forward seems like it should be a pretty easy one. We appreciate that overall Kenna isn’t an overly sassy and mouthy character. Honestly, it would truly be unnecessary and rather off-putting.

Readers who are will be waiting and looking for the romance will be made to wait. Author Kirchberger chooses to build and develop this aspect of the story between the characters. This adds a nice slow-burn element to the story which will keep you coming back for more as you wonder...”When are they going to finally cross that line?” It’s worth the wait, and the burn is absolutely delicious.

Hoping for some steamy scenes? Well, there really isn’t much to be found on these pages. You’re not getting any on page steaminess to drool over. Instead you get scenes that play right up to a certain point before it’s basically a “fade to black” and you get to use your imagination instead. No fun, right? LOL!

While Kenna is busy falling in love, that doesn’t stop her from her quest of trying to find her friend. Granted she does get more than a little “distracted” but who can blame her? Of course, while all of this is going on chaos is brewing in other parts of Hell. This chaos won’t remain where it is, but has every intent on spilling over, which you’ll see the deeper you get. Watch for the clues, because they are there.

When you draw closer to the end of The Collection, author Kirchberger has more than a few surprises in store for readers. But the biggest surprise will be the closing pages. It leads readers to look forward to the next book in this series. Will it continue Kenna’s story? Or will get Sora’s and learn what all she endured during the Trials? One can only hope.

For now, if you’re looking for a delicious adult fantasy minus the steamy scenes then this is a book for you to pick up.

4.5 out of 5 stars  

The Collection

Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance

• Loyalty

• Found love

• Protective MMC

• Strong friendships

• Hidden identities

• Immortals

Once a year, a draw is held in the capital that requires four mortals from each town be given over to Hell. The mortals are taken to Hell where they will either become an immortal in one of the four courts, or perish in the trials.
One mortal is sent to the vampire’s Court of Blood. One goes to the Court of Moon, court of the werewolves. A third is sent to the Court of Spell, with the warlocks and witches. And a final mortal, always a female, goes to the Court of Song, court of the sirens.

Twenty-three-year-old Kenna hasn’t had her name called since she became eligible five years ago. She knows in her heart that this year will be the year her world changes. But it isn’t her name that is called out for Collection, it is her best friend Sora’s.
Not willing to be without Sora, Kenna quickly follows her through the gateway to Hell before it closes. Not knowing which court Sora was Collected for, Kenna must brave all four as a mortal in order to find her friend. Lucky for her, she gains the help of an alluring stranger who holds more sway in Hell than she could have hoped for.
As their fates intertwine and her heart falls fast, Kenna learns navigating a foreign and dangerous land like Hell isn’t easy, and if she isn’t careful, it could cost her everything.

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