Bunny's Reviews

Thursday, September 22, 2022

A Lesson in Death Spotlight

Welcome to the book tour for the gorgeous, genre-blurring book, A Lesson in Love and Death by W.H. Lockwood! Read on for more details and a chance to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card!

A Lesson in Love and Death (Endymion College #1)

Expected Publication Date: September 26th, 2022

Genre: Cozy Horror Romance/ Dark Academia

Anna James dreamed of only two things in life: to read books and to not die.

The day she is offered a scholarship to study literature at the beautiful, exclusive and gothic Endymion College, is the happiest day of her life, but soon after arrival, Anna finds it is nothing like the brochure.

Instantly thrust into a dangerous conspiracy, sent to live in a haunted dormitory with a captivating rival, Anna struggles to keep control of her only chance at a better life and to maintain her already tenuous grip on reality.

Things soon go from bad to worse when a séance goes awry, and finding herself pursued by a terrifying spectre, Anna finds comfort and a kindred spirit in her professor of literature: young, devastatingly handsome and completely off-limits.

Anna must find a way to fight both her desire and a relentless supernatural force out for blood, all while completing her work on time to hold on to her precious scholarship.

Darkly humorous, crushingly awkward, deeply romantic, Endymion College: A Lesson in Love and Death is a celebration of the books we love and an action-packed, supernatural, feminist, horror story all rolled into one.

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Teaser

“Name?”

“Anna James.”

“Anna… Ah, I see your roommate has already been and got her key. One moment.”

The handsome yet bored-looking man disappeared into a dimmer and smaller room, only to return seconds later with a faded envelope. “So, we have a small problem, Anna. Your key is missing. Whoever had it last year didn’t bring it back. But it’s all right. We found this one. Except it comes with a warning.”

The man, clearly amused, leaned close in a conspiratorial manner, and raised one expectant eyebrow at Anna as she took the faded envelope from him. The words ‘Do Not Open’ were written across the front in beautiful cursive. Anna’s big eyes and delicate fingers traced over the words.

“Don’t worry, it’s not as sinister as it sounds,” he continued. “In here is, or should be, a skeleton key. It will open all the doors in your apartment. Which is fine, because there are only two, but one of those is the old hanging door.”

“Hanging door?”

“Hanging door. You’ll see when you get there. You’re on the second floor. There used to be a staircase leading up the exterior of the building to the door. That staircase has long since rotted away, and now only the door remains. A hanging door. A door to nowhere.” He smiled a dashing smile and Anna couldn’t decide if he had gone insane with boredom or if he was flirting. Or both.

“Oh, I see.”

His tone and face changed in an instant. “Do not open that door. I don’t care what happens. Don’t let the air through, don’t look at the view, don’t touch the thing. Health and safety, you know? It’s rotting in its hinges and it could fall out at any moment. I shouldn’t even be giving you this, but, well, I know how it is. You can’t always rely on your roommate.” He tapped on an old, laminated map that was stuck to the counter with brown, peeling sticky tape. “You’re in the old building, here.”

“Older than this building?”

“Oh yes. A good two hundred years older. Go back the way you came and straight across the courtyard. Your building is opposite this one. You will be in the east wing, so turn right when you go inside. You’re on the top floor at the very end of the building. You have the corner view.”

Anna was absolutely delighted. She signed for her key, thanked the man, and made to leave.

“Ms James?”

“Yes?” As Anna looked at him, she noted a strange intensity in his manner, in his stormy, blue eyes.

“That key—that’s our little secret. Really, I probably shouldn’t have given it to you. Don’t tell anyone and don’t let anyone else borrow it. Not even your roommate. And whatever you do, don’t bring it back here…”

Pre-Order Here!

About the Author

W.H. Lockwood writes feminist gothic and historical fiction, dark academia and cosy horror, all with a romantic twist.

Raised on a diet of Point books and Pepsi, only willing to leave her den to attend chess club at public school, W.H. Lockwood started writing at a young age and has kept this passion throughout her life.

Always a voracious reader, she obtained an undergraduate degree in literary studies from a gorgeous sandstone university, following that with a master’s degree in publishing and editing, then another master’s degree in astronomy, thus uniting her two great loves of the arts and science, leaving her utterly unqualified to cope with the real world.

These days, W.H. Lockwood works as a professional editor and can often be found aimlessly wandering through the coffee shops and bookstores of the beautiful city she calls home.

WH Lockwood | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Facebook

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card, visit any one of our instagrammers!

Book Tour Schedule

September 19^th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

@books_inthecity (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books_inthecity/

@fblackthornbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/fblackthornbooks/

@leirajadewrites (Review) https://www.instagram.com/leirajadewrites/

@louturnspages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/louturnspages

@the_pageling (Review) https://www.instagram.com/the_pageling/

@bhaneereads_ (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bhaneereads_/

September 20^th

@hauntedbycandlelight (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/hauntedbycandlelight/

Riss Reviews (Review) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

@creepylilbookworm (Review) https://www.instagram.com/creepylilbookworm/

Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.com/

Ecce.Libri (Review) https://eccelibri702630676.wordpress.com/

Lecari’s Live Journal (Review) http://www.lecari.co.uk

The Starry Library (Review) https://thestarrylibrary.wordpress.com/

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

September 21^st

@amber.bunch_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

@booktreasuresau (Review) https://www.instagram.com/booktreasuresau/

@itsabookthing2021 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/itsabookthing2021/

@takealookatmybookshelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/takealookatmybookshelf/

@mysticforestcrafts (Review) https://www.instagram.com/mysticforestcrafts/

@NerdyFoxReads (review) https://www.instagram.com/nerdyfoxreads/

@pluvioreads (Review) https://www.tiktok.com/@pluvioreads

@wolfesbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/wolfesbooks/

September 22^nd

@bri_serena_reads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bri_serena_reads

@wicked_bibliophile (Review) https://www.instagram.com/wicked_bibliophile/

@fariha_binte_islam (Review) https://www.instagram.com/fariha_binte_islam/

Gwendalyn’s Books (Review) https://gwendalynbooks.blog/

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Review) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

@happily_undignified (Review) https://www.instagram.com/happily_undignified/

@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dreaminginpages/

Rambling Mads (Review) http://ramblingmads.com

@rainbowbookdragon15 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/rainbowbookdragon15/

September 23^rd

@bookish_elise (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bookish_elise/

@ems_literarycorner (Review) https://www.instagram.com/ems_literarycorner/

@margiebythebookcase (Review) https://www.instagram.com/margiebythebookcase/

@mels_booksandhooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/mels_booksandhooks/

Misty’s Book Space (Review) https://www.instagram.com/mels_booksandhooks/

@bookswithstacie (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bookswithstacie/

I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

The Safe Game Spotlight

Welcome to the book tour for The Safe Game by Wes Verde. Read on for more details!

The Safe Game

Publication Date: July 22nd, 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Crime Thriller

New Jersey, 1928.

The Cons – Roy, Urbane, and Victoria – made a living by separating fools from their money and rarely stayed in one place for too long. Keeping food in their bellies and a roof over their heads often meant hopping from one game to the next, barely staying ahead of the law or poverty and sometimes both.

That was until the day Roy – the Idea Man – thought he found a big score; one that would put the Cons on Easy Street. No more scraping by. No more hungry nights in the cold or picking pockets in desperation. Maybe even enough to get them out of this life for good. But things were never that simple.

When a tragic death brings the law snooping around, the Cons find themselves running afoul of cops, gangsters, and other powerful people – ones with secrets.

The Cons have gotten out of scrapes before, but their luck may soon run out and this particular game may end in luxury, a jail cell, or an early grave.

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Excerpt

Today she was on fire. Heads started to bob and the group pressed closer, trying to get a better look at the device.

With her work done, Victoria fell quiet. The excitement of the crowd was properly kindled now. A contended grin curled up her full lips. To Urbane’s surprise, her sharp eyes suddenly found his. At first, he thought it might be a fluke. Or perhaps his supposedly concealed location had been somehow compromised. Before he could stress himself over the matter, she winked. Then, all other thoughts fled. Just as his face started to heat up, she returned her attention to Roy. It was his turn to bring it home.

“Now, I’ve been given strict instructions by Treasury Department officials to accept no less than two thousand dollars for this device,” he intoned formally.

This was met with groans of disapproval and one or two boos and justifiably so; one could buy a small house for that amount of money. It was a far higher bid than in previous towns.

Feigning surprise, the Idea Man continued. “You understand, surely, that such a sum would be recovered in a matter of weeks if the prescribed regiment is followed?”

Urbane wondered if that was right. Knowing the scam – game – he had not previously given much thought to its premise. Having lost sight of Victoria for the moment, he quickly did the math in his head and came up with about fifty days. This was with the assumption that the machine was operated every five hours… and that it was not a scam.

As one who dealt in numbers and concrete reality, this world of deception was foreign to him. How people could believe such an outlandish proposition boggled his mind. A naturally curious sort, Urb simply could not fathom the lack of such in others.

Outside, Roy let the groans begin to subside before he extended the olive branch.

“Hang on, now. Hang on. Well… it will mean some hard questions from my superiors. Maybe even some shady bookkeeping on my part. But if that is asking too much, perhaps a discount might be considered. Just for the hard working folks of Lawrence, mind you.” In a quieter voice, he added, “But I must implore you to please keep this just between us. I could go as low as twelve hundred dollars.”

Again, boos. Though, fewer than before. In the end, Roy was obliged to drop the bid twice more before a collection hat started passing around. Urb shook his head, astonished. Roy and Victoria could steer a crowd the same way he could tickle a lock or build a mechanism. For the price of a decent used car, these people had accepted this deal that should have been too good to be true – of course it was. The crowd soon divided into two factions, apparently debating how the forthcoming riches would be allocated.

One man emerged as the representative of the group, holding the collection hat. Urbane’s eyes went wide. It was more cash and coin than they had made in the past three towns put together. If properly budgeted, it could well be enough to carry them into summer. The crowd shifted and he caught sight of Victoria again. She had also glimpsed the considerable sum. Like Urb, she bit her lower lip in anticipation. Seeing the curve of her face and the swell of her hips, he nearly forgot about their windfall and most everything else for that matter.

And he was not the only one to take notice. Would-be suitors were not an uncommon issue. As a professional hazard, Victoria tended to attract male attention like iron filings to a lodestone and today was no exception.

It was a young fella. The excessively confident ones often were and Urbane frowned as this one fixed Madame Charmer in his sights. She inspired many emotions: infatuation, longing, lust. Urb was a thinking man, but after six months of living and working in close proximity, even he could not fully resist her allure. Watching others make the attempt for her affection, even knowing they were doomed to fail was not good for his heart.

Though entirely capable of rebuffing such attempts, it seemed Vic had not yet detected her latest admirer. As the young man drew closer, Urb realized too late that something was off. This fellow had none of the telltale signs of one about to ask for a date.

At the same time, another speaker fired a bombshell question directly at Roy.

“How is this not counterfeiting?”

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Wes is an engineer by trade, a busybody by habit, and a lifelong Jersey boy.

Writing has been a hobby in one form or another since 2006 when he started drawing 3-panel comics. When he is not putting words down, he is picking them up; the “to-read” pile only seems to grow larger.

A fan of nature, he spends as much time outside as possible.

Wes Verde

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

A Kingdom of Flame and Fury Review

I am so excited to share A Kingdom of Flame and Fury with you all today! Read on for an exclusive excerpt and a chance to win a signed copy of the book!

A Kingdom of Flame and Fury is the first book in Whitney Dean’s The Four Kingdoms series. Prepare to meet Queen Raven. She wasn’t born into the kingdom that she now rules. As a small child, she was chosen by the king to be his heir. No one understood why, but when he died she assumed the role that she was given. For years, she has harbored a secret...a dark secret. She has dark magic, something that the people of her realm fear. Yet, somehow her secret is spreading throughout her kingdom. Someone is telling the people that she has not only magic, but dark magic. She has managed to control her magic, but it is growing stronger and it’s craving for blood grows as well. Where is this going to lead her? Throw in a dark stranger who begins to stir memories in her, and her world is about to start unravelling.

A Kingdom of Flame and Fury is engaging from the very beginning. You first find yourself in a dark forest, and that will pique your interest and have you page-turning for more. Raven is an engaging character. She is a truly multi-faceted character, I mean this literally, too. LOL! I love and appreciate her mostly humble mentality when it comes to her being the queen of this realm. She tries to do her best for her people so that they have all that they need. She listens to them, and she intermingles with them as well, so that she can always keep her finger on the “pulse” of their lives and needs.

There is a nice variety of characters from her best friend, Cade, to an evil queen in another realm. This other queen has her own agenda, and your curiosity will drive you to find out...what is her end game? Why is she after Raven? The author will drop hints here and there throughout the book, but you have to keep reading to figure it all out.

Brace yourself for some steamy romance. I can never get enough of the steamy. LOL! Of course, the author teases you with it as well. Just when you think, in certain scenes, that things are about to get hot and bothered, it’s a total tease scene. You’re either going to laugh or groan with frustration. LOL! It’s all fun though so I’m not going to complain too much.

Whitney Dean packs a lot into this book, and when you come to the end you’re going to be chomping at the bit to find out what happens in book two. Good news! You can pre-order a copy now! So, after you purchase and devour book one, make sure you go ahead and grab book two so that when it comes out you can just dive in and continue the storyline.

I’m choosing to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with Raven as secrets come to light.

Thank you to the author, Whitney Dean, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A Kingdom of Flame and Fury (The Four Kingdoms #1)

Publication Date: May 26th, 2022

Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Dark Romantasy

At ten years old, Raven was mysteriously willed to be the next ruler of Seolia, a kingdom nestled within the realm of The Four Kingdoms. Orphaned as a baby, she has spent fifteen years ruling over a kingdom she believes she did not earn all while hiding secrets: she possesses dark magic and she thirsts for blood. Now at almost twenty-five years old and with a sudden addiction to stealing life, Raven must fight through her new procured darkness to save her soul, but when a mysterious stranger arrives in her kingdom, she starts experiencing vivid dreams that detail who she truly is. As she slowly starts to unravel her story, what she uncovers at the end of the spool will change the course of her life and her kingdom forever.

A Kingdom of Flame and Fury is book one in a steamy and thrilling new fantasy series: The Four Kingdoms

This is book one of an epic dark fantasy adventure series and contains scenes of graphic and mature content. Reader discretion is advised.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoopx-gsoyY

Excerpt

I was quiet for a while. Five drinks in and the thick liquid was replacing my blood. “I think I’m in love.” My words were slurred as they tumbled out. “She has purple hair.” Her hair was black, but I saw it when it was purple, and it looked so real.

Arthur chuckled as he cleaned out a glass left by another patron.

“Are soul mates real?” I had never believed in them, having spent at least fifteen years fucking my way through the female population of three of the four kingdoms. Nothing I felt ever resembled love. Or like. More like tolerance.

“Soul mates and twin flames are rare, and they’re both destined to be together.” He leaned his forearms down against the bar top and looked at me. “I think my wife was mine. I never looked at another woman like I saw her. It was something else.”

“What’s the difference between soul mates and twin flames?”

Arthur smiled at me, probably because he couldn’t understand what I said as I tipped back my sixth glass of rum. “Soul mates can be anyone. A friend, a lover, someone you met briefly.”

Raven wasn’t anyone.

“Twin flames are two halves of one soul. There’s an intense connection that can’t be replicated. There’s pain associated with flames, both people mirroring one another. When you find your twin, you can’t be apart from them without going a little mad.”

Mad, as in getting drunk in a pub mid-afternoon because I couldn’t be with her? If so, I was mad.

“How do you know so much about them?” He didn’t seem like the type who would believe in things like this. I didn’t think I could ever be one, either. Yet, here I was, getting wasted in a pub because I was wholly convinced that purple-haired demon was meant to be in my life.

“My wife did,” he answered. “She read often. A lot about how magic used to live in our realm. Mates and flames are a rarity, and they used to be treasured. When they existed, there would be celebrations for days. At least, that’s what her books used to tell her. I haven’t met any, nor have there been any pairings in a very long time. It always intrigued her, so she’d sit on one of these stools every night and tell me about them, or anything else she read.” There was a sadness in his voice as he recalled time spent with his wife, whom I assumed he lost. “Do you think your girl with purple hair may be one of those to you?”

I swished the rum around in my glass as I thought about his question through my unfocused mind, laden with alcohol. “Twin flame,” I said. “I think she’s my twin flame.”

And if they were such a rarity, I was determined to do nothing but treasure her.

Available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble

A Kingdom of Frost and Fear is Now Available for Pre-Order

Giveaway: Signed Copy of A Kingdom of Flame and Fury (US Only)

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About the Author

Whitney was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas and raised in Allen, Texas. She resides in a quaint little town in Arkansas with her husband and two children, along with her labradoodle, Simba.

Her love of reading came from the Harry Potter series when she was seven years old, and frequent trips to the most magical place on earth. Because of it, the fantasy realm has taken up residence in her brain for a very long time.

While her writings include real-life pain and angst, she is a fan of happily-ever-after's and always strives to bring that forth in her stories.

Whitney Dean | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon

Book Tour Schedule

September 19^th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

@caffeinatedbibliophilia (Review) https://www.instagram.com/caffeinatedbibliophilia/

@balancing_books_and_beauties (Review) https://www.instagram.com/balancing_books_and_beauties/

Balancing Books and Beauties - https://balancingbooksandbeauties.wordpress.com

@wraithreads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/wraithreads/

@margiebythebookcase (Review) https://www.instagram.com/margiebythebookcase/

@thenerdybookreview (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/thenerdybookreview

September 20^th

@its_b.e.l.l.e (Review) https://www.instagram.com/its_b.e.l.l.e/

Gwedalyn’s Books (Review) https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/

@gwendalyn_books_ (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gwendalyn_books_/

@biblio.jojo (Review) https://www.instagram.com/biblio.jojo/

@stepintothepages (Review) www.instagram.com/stepintothepages

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Review) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

@itsabookthing2021 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/itsabookthing2021/

See Sadie Read (Review) http://sadieforsythe.com/wp/

@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dreaminginpages/

@amber.bunch_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

I Love Books & Stuff (Spotlight) https://ilovebooksandstuffblog.wordpress.com

September 21^st

@libraryofash (Review) https://www.instagram.com/libraryofash/

@wickedbeebooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/wickedbeebooks/

Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.com/

@genoviareadingco (Review) https://www.instagram.com/genoviareadingco/

@bookishly_kenia (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bookishly_kenia/

@mels_booksandhooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/mels_booksandhooks/

Bunny’s Reviews (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

@books_inthecity (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books_inthecity/

September 22^nd

Misty’s Book Space (Review) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

@the_pageling (Review) https://www.instagram.com/the_pageling/

@mysticforestcrafts (Review) https://www.instagram.com/mysticforestcrafts/

Riss Reviews (Review) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

@bookswithstacie (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bookswithstacie/

@booksintheirnaturalhabitat (Review) https://www.instagram.com/booksintheirnaturalhabitat

@junk.journal.librarian (Review) https://www.instagram.com/junk.journal.librarian/

better_0ff_read (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/better_0ff_read/

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

Freelance Writer, Janny C (Spotlight) https://freelancewriterjannyc.com/

September 23^rd

I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

@what.kerry.reads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/what.kerry.reads/

Latisha’s Low-Key Life (Review) https://latishaslowkeylife.com/

Rambling Mads (Review) http://ramblingmads.com

@savs.books (Review) https://www.instagram.com/savs.books/

@wolfesbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/wolfesbooks/

@_toris.thoughts_ (Review) https://www.instagram.com/_toris.thoughts_/

@gryffindorbookishnerd (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/

@dany.alvy (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/dany.alvy/

Sophril Reads (Spotlight) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

The Prism Effect Review Spotlight

To celebrate the release of the second instalment in The Skylight Series by author J. Wint, we’re going back to where the adventure began with The Prism Effect! Read on for more details!

The Prism Effect is the first book in J. Wint’s Skylight series, and this book is going to grab you the minute you start reading. Jet Stroud, from a young age, has been affected by a rare condition: ephebus mortem. No one with this disease lives past the age of twenty-four. Jet doesn’t know much about his condition, because it is so rare, but the things that he does know...they aren’t good.

The Prism Effect, when you start reading this book, is going to sweep you away. This novel is going to pull you in and keep you page-turning to the very end. J. Wint starts the story with a mysterious event that piques your interest in what is happening. Then the author leaves you craving more information and digging deeper into the story to find out what is going to happen to Jet next. Will he meet the same twisted fate as those that have come before him?

As you read this book questions will bombard both Jet and you, the reader. Jet will wonder, is he going crazy? Is he hallucinating? What is really going on around him? As if dealing with his rare condition isn’t enough, he’s going to have to deal with bullies, too. Can’t the guy catch a break? Apparently not. Let’s face it, the deck seems stacked against him at this point.

Good news? He’s actually able to make some friends, but will the friendships be able to stand the test of what they are all about to face? There are a couple of characters who will disappoint you as you read this book. Much like the school, you’ll want to think that because Jet shows up with another from his area that they’d be friends. Nope! You’ll figure it’s just one of those “aloof friendships.” You know the type – we’re friends but not friends...the “don’t talk to me in public” type. Shockingly, no, but things do shift after awhile.

As you read this book, the author will pull you further and further to the edge of your seat. Just be careful that you don’t come to close to the edge and fall off. LOL! Jet is an interesting character, and he meets some interesting new people. When he starts seeing strange things, of course, no one wants to believe him. But the truth is he has to push forward regardless of whether they do or not.

The science fiction and fantasy elements of this book are breathtaking. You get a bit of backstory as to what has transpired with Earth to bring it to the level of where life on the surface is no longer sustainable. I would have liked more, but you get just enough to stimulate your imagination. This is important since a couple of the characters are identified as having lived in caves. That particular element is really going to pique your interest in why someone would say that.

When you get to the end of this book, you are going to be eager for more. Good news? You don’t have to wait to get book two! So, when this book ends you can go and grab book two and dive right in and continue with Jet’s story and the revelation that he receives at the end of book one. Trust me, your jaw is going to be on the floor.

I am choosing to rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with these characters. The twists, turns, the suspense, and much more. This book is a page-turner that will keep you coming back for more.

Thank you to the author, J. Wint, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Prism Affect (The Skylight Series #1)

Publication Date: September 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy/ Sci-Fi

LIFE has never been easy for young Jet Stroud.

He is affected by a rare condition known as ephebus mortem, also called the youthful death, and legend says it will kill him before his twenty-fourth birthday. To make matters worse, the legend also claims that its victims become delusional as they grow older.

However, things take a turn for the better when he is unexpectedly accepted into the renowned Skylight University–an orbiting system in the Earth’s atmosphere. At first, he doubts the legend and begins the semester hoping to learn more about his strange disease. As the school year unfolds, he meets a group of students like him and they band together. Soon, strange things start to happen–mysterious shadows follow them, bizarre holographic prophecies appear that only they can see, and haunting voices cloud Jet’s thoughts. He begins to struggle on the blaze pitch and with his studies. The small group of students threaten to splinter apart as the semester races to a close and Jet wonders if he will survive. In the end, he uncovers something about himself so profound that it will change his life forever.

Excerpt

“Jet?” she asked. “Everything okay?”

He didn’t respond, still gazing in the direction of the fountain. She snapped her fingers in front of his face to gain his attention.

He blinked and looked at her. “Sylvant, over there next to the fountain... do you see it?”

It was the heat mirage again. It shifted around the base of the fountain, blurry and transparent. But it was too cool for a heat mirage, though it looked exactly like the ones he’d seen on hot and humid days.

She glanced in the fountain’s direction while pulling him out of the street. She shook her head. “No, I don’t see anything. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Jet looked at her defensively. “I’m fine, thanks.” He walked towards the fountain with the mirage in his sight. Sylvant followed, the heels of her shoes clicking across the vacant intersection. Jet stepped up to the fountain’s basin for a look around, but the mirage was gone.

“I swear… it was here,” he said.

“What was here? What are you talking about?” she asked.

“There was a… a shape, or something like a mirage here, just now.”

Sylvant cleared her throat. “Why don’t we go inside. We need to talk about this.” She flashed her sister’s journal in front of his face.

Jet hesitated. He wanted to understand what he’d just seen as much as he wanted to hear about the journal.

The shape suddenly reemerged near one of the alleyways, steam momentarily cloaking it. Then, the sunlight dimmed and turned everything a shade of rust.

“There. It’s there!” he hissed at her. “You can’t see that?”

She peered toward the alleyway. “Jet. You’re starting to worry me.”

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“Jet, I’m trying to understand, but I don’t know what to say.”

“I’m going after it,” Jet said. “I want to prove to you—”

“Whatever it is, let it go!” Sylvant looked down the dark alley and back at him. “We can talk about it inside the café, alright? My first concern is your safety.”

Jet could see the uneasiness in her expression. “Sylvant, I’m asking for your help, not your protection.”

It was growing darker, and an unsettling stillness seemed to descend around them. Sylvant recovered her composure. “As a professor to a student, it’s my responsibility to look after you. You need to come with me.”

Jet watched the mirage move down the alleyway and vanish into the steam. “I can take care of myself. I’ll call you later, Sylvant. I promise.” He sprinted down the alleyway, leaving her behind.

Plumes of steam gushed from the buildings lining the alley and hid the fleeing mirage. The sunlight was nearly gone, making it difficult to see. Jet had to stop a few times to see where he was.

The chase came to an abrupt halt when the alley ended at a brick wall. The mirage was gone. Jet backtracked, looking for signs of it. He noticed a ladder on one building and climbed up three stories and onto the rooftop. He skirted the parapet and stopped to regain his bearings.

The sunlight flickered and dimmed, like someone sliding a gossamer drape in front of it. Jet looked at his watch, surprised to see there should still be half an hour of daylight left. What happened next made the hair on his arms stand up. One of the system’s outer belts crossed slowly in front of the sun, casting a long shadow over the cityscape beyond. The eclipse’s shadow inched eerily across each building, engulfing the city in darkness. Jet had read an article about the event, something called a skylight eclipse.

His skin grew cold as the eclipse overtook him. From the rooftop, he watched the leading edge of it creep doggedly across the pitted field and towards the dimly lit factory in the distance. Fleeing just ahead of the eclipse was the shimmering mirage.

Jet leapt over the building’s parapet and onto an adjacent rooftop. He scrambled across a metal bridge spanning the alleyway and sprinted across the field.

He entered the abandoned factory minutes later and slowed to a halt, kneeling against a storage tank to catch his breath. He could hear equipment running in the distance, which seemed odd since the factory appeared to be vacant. A rust-colored smog from old chemicals still lingered in the air. Rogue weeds grew up through cracked concrete, and above him, a maze of catwalks and pipes cast a kaleidoscope of patterns onto the pavement.

He crept further into the factory, searching for the mirage. The ground below his feet quivered, and the sound of equipment grew louder. Tremors accompanied a dull scraping noise that sounded like metal grinding on metal. Something big moved below the surface. He placed his hand on a storage tank and felt it vibrating rapidly.

Jet followed the thrumming for several minutes before stumbling upon a vast clearing. Rusted sheet metal walls rose up to create a circular pit. Sand and dirt covered the ground, and tumbleweeds piled along one end like skeletal remains. In the center stood an oddly shaped contraption that resembled the smokestack of a ship. Its bow pointed skyward like a steel chimney with steam spewing from it.

An uneasy feeling settled over him as he hid in the shadows. He was in the middle of nowhere and chasing a mirage. It was getting late, and the eclipse had him on edge.

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About the Author

Wint graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He is a licensed architect and LEED accredited professional who believes in a strong, sustainable community. As a student of architecture, he developed a love for design and continues to push for creative solutions.

As a child of the 70’s, he developed a love for cheesy science fiction movies, and later became an avid fantasy reader. His youthful influences—combined with his college experiences and background as an architect—have propelled his work as a writer to create the Skylight Series.

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