Title: The lost truth of April Dark Author: C. Iron Publishing Date: 29.08.2020
MYSTERY. MAGIC. ADVENTURE.
And a long gone identity.
An entertaining and uplifting tale of dark secrets.
As April’s world is shattered by an anomalous disease and her eventual death, April regains consciousness in a mesmerisingly magical world, which is strangely familiar.
The path to discovering the truth, however, demands tremendous courage from April, forcing her to get involved in the bitter conflict between Makrav – an evil occupier of many kingdoms – and the insurgents, among whom April finds unexpected friends.
But as the journey gets more complicated and dangerous, what hunts April most is that it seems her past has more to do with Makrav than with the insurgents…
What April doesn’t know is that she’s running out of time to do what she has come back for, and that the truth is far more complex than anyone would expect…
Will April get ahold of the truth, or will the truth get ahold of April?
Today is my turn for book tour đź’™. The lost truth of April Dark is an interesting book about a girl who dies and wakes up in a different world where having magic is something normal. She has a lots of adventures while she tries to find out the truth about her and this new realm.
I like the author’s writing, the book is easy and fun to read. It’s a bit too childish for my taste, but the world building is captivating. There are some dark secrets, twists and an unpredictable ending. Thank you Lovebookstours and the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
C.Iron spent her childhood immersed in fantasy and mystery stories. Later on, she graduated in English Philology and continued doing what she likes most – writing. When she is not dealing with her passion, she can be found at the archery range by an enormous lake practising traditional archery. Currently, she teaches adults as she loves spending time with people.
Title: Hall of Smoke Author: H. M. Long Publishing Date: 19.01.2021
Hessa is an Eangi: a warrior priestess of the Goddess of War, with the power to turn an enemy’s bones to dust with a scream. Banished for disobeying her goddess’s command to murder a traveller, she prays for forgiveness alone on a mountainside.
While she is gone, raiders raze her village and obliterate the Eangi priesthood. Grieving and alone, Hessa – the last Eangi – must find the traveller, atone for her weakness and secure her place with her loved ones in the High Halls. As clans from the north and legionaries from the south tear through her homeland, slaughtering everyone in their path, Hessa strives to win back her goddess’ favour.
Beset by zealot soldiers, deceitful gods, and newly-awakened demons at every turn, Hessa burns her path towards redemption and revenge. But her journey reveals a harrowing truth: the gods are dying and the High Halls of the afterlife are fading. Soon Hessa’s trust in her goddess weakens with every unheeded prayer.
Thrust into a battle between the gods of the Old World and the New, Hessa realizes there is far more on the line than securing a life beyond her own death. Bigger, older powers slumber beneath the surface of her world. And they’re about to wake up
OMG! I loved this book so much! From the beginning I fell in love with the main character, Hessa, and her world. It reminds me of The unspoken name by A. K. Larkwood. Definitely one of my favourite books so far.
The story is absorbing, you’re stuck in its pages till you find the ending. The Viking inspiration gives an unique note to the story. It’s something new, something fresh, something unexpected. The plot is unpredictable, while Hessa is questioning her faith, you are trying to solve the mystery. But trust me, it’s useless!
It was a great adventure and I can’t wait to read more books by the author. Thank you TitanBooks and H. M. Long for the amazing opportunity to have this book on my bookshelves.
Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.
Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who’s mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.
Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery’s most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.
Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross…and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.
Fortunately I wasn’t! I enjoyed Cast in Firelight, I liked the main characters and the world building. The plot was pretty interesting. I was intrigued by the powers, the Touch and the Gods. There are a few who can control all the nine powers, so it’s easily to find out who Adraa and Jatin are if they are hiding. But they are good at keeping their secret.
What I didn’t like it was that at every sentence one of them had to ask himself/herself if the other one found out their true identity. But ignoring that, the story was captivating. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Thank you TBR and Beyond and Dana Swift for the e-copy.
Have I changed myself forcefully, to the point that I have lost myself?
Mood Board
You seem like the kind of person who always has an opinion.
Dana Swift started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. While in college, Dana competed as a saber fencer and learned a thing or two about fighting, parrying and how it feels to fall in love with your sparring partner. She currently lives with said husband in Miami, Florida.
Title: Mina and The Undead Author: Amy McCaw Publishing Date: 01.04.2021
17-year-old Mina, from England, arrives in New Orleans to visit her estranged sister, Libby. After growing up in Whitby, the town that inspired Dracula, Mina loves nothing more than a creepy horror movie. She can’t wait to explore the city’s darkest secrets – vampire tours, seedy bars, spooky cemeteries, disturbing local myths…
And it gets even better when Mina lands a part-time job at a horror movie mansion and meets Jared, Libby’s gorgeous housemate, co-worker and fellow horror enthusiast.
But the perfect summer bliss is broken when, while exploring the mansion, Mina stumbles upon the body of a girl with puncture marks on her neck, clutching a lock of hair that suspiciously resembles Libby’s… Someone is replicating New Orleans’ most brutal supernatural killings. Mina must discover the truth and prove her sister’s innocence before she becomes the victim of another myth.
I saw this book everywhere on Twitter and because of that and because of the amazing cover, I had to read it. The synopsis sounds interesting, just good reviews on Goodreads, apparently it’s a horror book and it has vampires. What can I ask for more?
But, after reading the book, well…. Apparently i could ask for more. I was ready for a horror book which it wasn’t. For me it was more a thriller or a light horror. I’m a big fan of horror movies and stories so my expectations were high. I wanted more dark moments, twists and more blood.
But the story has some good parts too. What I really liked was the “old school” vampires references, not the ones who sparkle in the light. And that it’s not about a teenage love where she wants to become a vampire to live forever with the love of her life.
I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. However this doesn’t meen you will not enjoy it. You should try it if you like vampires and dark secrets. I received an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Book: A Crown of Echoes by Brindi Quinn Genre: New Adult Fantasy Publishing Date: June 11, 2020
“I’ve wondered what you taste like for so damn long. You taste better than I ever could have imagined… my queen.” He shouldn’t be calling me that. Beau was his queen. And I had a problem. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way.”
Queen Merrin might be the least queenly queen in all the realms. After all, queens don’t typically sneak out at night to drink with their guards. When her best friend and neighboring queen, Beau, goes missing, Merrin won’t leave rescue to the knights. She sets out from the civilized world and into the wilds to retrieve her lost friend, but with ancient hexes, stolen power, and a mountain of giants’ bones, Merrin stumbles into something much greater than a simple rescue mission. Get ready for a swoony whirlwind of dark magic and forbidden romance, as Merrin finds strength in the whispers of the forest and comfort in the arms of a guard with tantalizing abilities.
In the absence of understanding, people create stories. To cope with fear.
Another book wins my heart with its gorgeous cover. Look at it! It definitely screams read me. So I read it.
At first, I didn’t know what to think about it. The story sounded too childish, like two girls who play in a tree house thinking they are Queens. But after Beau’s missing, the plot turned to be pretty interesting. I like that Merrin is not just a queen. She couldn’t just stay and wait. She became a knight to save her friend.
But what I really liked was the narration because it looked like I was with Merrin in her castle drinking hot chocolate while she was telling me a captivating story. So it is better if you read this book with a cup of your favourite hot beverage.
Thank you TBR and Beyond and Brindi Quinn for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Once in a while someone asks a question that makes you question much more.
“Not just another vampire romance.” – Amazon Reviewer
Brindi Quinn is a fantasy/paranormal author from Minnesota specializing in world building and romance. She is an advocate of quirky love and firmly believes that banter makes the heart grow fonder.
Since 2011, Quinn has written over a dozen young adult novels beginning with her debut epic fantasy series, Heart of Farellah. Her works often blur the lines between paranormal romance, science fiction and fantasy, and her series have been hailed as addictive, unique reads within the YA genre by reviewers across platforms. Her bestselling series, The Pursuit of Zillow Stone, made it to #12 in the science fiction romance category on Amazon.
Quinn has a bachelor’s in general communication studies and is contracted through Never & Ever Publishing. She considers herself an avid fangirl, indulging heavily in video game lore and good SF TV.
Be sure to catch her latest epic fantasy series, A Crown of Echoes.
Title: Spirits of Vengeance – The Stone of Spirits Author: Andrew John Rainnie Publishing Date: 04.12.2014
The first book in the Spirits of Vengeance series, Spirits of Vengeance – The Stone of Spirits, takes place in the distant land of Enara. A religious zealot named Lord Malenek marches across the continent of Amaros, cleansing the world with his army of vengeance spirits.
Standing in his way is an unlikely adversary – Kamina Elloeth, a young tree elf who inadvertently becomes entangled in Malenek’s plans. She embarks on a quest with her ghostly brother and a mysterious Ishkava Ranger to find an ancient artifact, one which may hold the key to saving the world.
Facing her fears, Kamina will journey across oceans and deserts and do battle with legendary creatures to unearth the power hidden within the Stone of Spirits.
For the fans of Lord of the Rings and The Shannara Chronicles I found your next read and it’s called Spirits of Vengeance!
I missed so much reading such a complex story with amazing characters. I love the author’s writing style and that you can see what’s in every character’s mind. Every person has his own interesting personality that makes you curious about their story.
I love the idea of Spirits of vengeance. It reminds me of the Army of the Dead from LOTR. I could even see this book as a movie or a TV show! (please make it) I don’t know why, maybe because of Shannara, but Callaghan is my favourite character and i can see Manu Bennett as the perfect actor for this role.
All in all, Spirits of Vengeance won my heart and I think every fantasy fan should read this book. I mean it has everything you want from an adventure story.
Thank you so much Andrew John Rainnie and Love Books Tours for this amazing opportunity!
Andrew John Rainnie is a writer, filmmaker and graphic designer from Renfrew, Scotland. He studied English Literature & Film at the University of Glasgow and later went on to complete a Masters in Screenwriting at Bournemouth University. He has written and directed several short films, music videos and promotions for local charities. He currently lives in Glasgow with his wife Lisa, their two cats, Brando and Niro, and their dog Amber.
Title: Beautiful Beast Series: Beautiful Queens #1 Author: E. J. Hill Publishing Date: 08.06.2020
My name is Kalista. They call me the beast.
Kalista has been cursed by a powerful sorceress and is now a prisoner in her own palace. As petals fall from an enchanted rose, her fate and the sorceress’s victory draw nearer. But Kalista refuses to be defeated so easily and uses her own magic to push against the bindings. Yet what if it is not enough and the only way the curse might be shattered is through the help of another?
When Arawn crosses into the beast’s domain, he has one motive: revenge for his brother’s death. But as he draws nearer to the beast and is surrounded by invisible servants, magical banquets, and an enchanted forest, he realizes that this beast is much more complex and much more human than he first thought.
As their paths intertwine, Kalista must risk opening her heart to another, while Arawn must learn to see past his hate and prejudice. Together, they struggle against spells, wolves, and time itself to break the curse. If they fail, Kalista will fall asleep and will never again wake.
I can’t remember reading any Beauty and the beast retellings and I know there are a lot of them. So when I saw the opportunity to read Beautiful Beast I took it. I was more curious about the differences between the real fairytale and the retelling.
First of all, the beast is a girl. I didn’t expect that, so it was a great surprise. She doesn’t have horns, fur or 3 hands. No, here is something deeper. I liked Kalista, she is a great character with dark secrets. Unfortunately “Beauty” , I mean Arawn wasn’t my favourite. He seems too boyish.
In the first part of the book, there wasn’t so many differences. I was a bit disappointed because I was looking for something else not the same story but with different main characters.But I was wrong! The story turned to be really captivating. There are even some new fairytail characters that make the world seem bigger than just Beauty and the beast’s world.
I really enjoyed reading the book and now I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next and what will be the next fairytale retelling. I received an e-copy for free of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Glimpsed by GF Miller Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy Publishing Date: January 5, 2021
The way he says our names, he might as well have been introducing Loki to Thanos.
Perfect for fans of Geekerella and Jenn Bennett, this charming, sparkly rom-com follows a wish-granting teen forced to question if she’s really doing good—and if she has the power to make her own dreams come true.
Charity is a fairy godmother. She doesn’t wear a poofy dress or go around waving a wand, but she does make sure the deepest desires of the student population at Jack London High School come true. And she knows what they want even better than they do because she can glimpse their perfect futures.
But when Charity fulfills a glimpse that gets Vibha crowned homecoming queen, it ends in disaster. Suddenly, every wish Charity has ever granted is called into question. Has she really been helping people? Where do these glimpses come from, anyway? What if she’s not getting the whole picture?
Making this existential crisis way worse is Noah—the adorkable and (in Charity’s opinion) diabolical ex of one of her past clients—who blames her for sabotaging his prom plans and claims her interventions are doing more harm than good. He demands that she stop granting wishes and help him get his girl back. At first, Charity has no choice but to play along. But soon, Noah becomes an unexpected ally in getting to the bottom of the glimpses. Before long, Charity dares to call him her friend…and even starts to wish he were something more. But can the fairy godmother ever get the happily ever after?
I’m only interested in people’s future. The past is not relevant.
I love a cute rom-com story, especially if it has some magic, and Glimpsed is definitely one. Also it has a lovely cover that catches your eyes and because of that and because I’m a big fan of fairytales retellings I had to read it!
The story is pretty interesting, it has something new – a modern Godmother, with characters that are easily to fall in love with. I really like the main character, Charity. She is selfless, she cares for her Cindy and her/his happily ever after and she could do anything to reach it. Her moments with Noah are so delicious. My favourite troops are enemies to lovers so I devoured the book.
All is all, it was a fun easy read and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to read it. Thank you TBR and Beyond and G. F. Miller for the eArc in exchange for an honest review. At the end, all I will say is that in these hard days we all need some cute and funny love stories. So if you haven’t read Glimpsed yet, then you should!
Some people are worth-breaking your heart over.
G.F. Miller can write 80,000-word novels, but ask her to sit down and write 250 true and meaningful words about herself and she is likely to have an existential crisis. Who am I, really? She ponders. What do I want to be known for? Does anyone even read the back flap or visit author websites?
But eventually she will pull herself together and tell you that…She married her college sweetheart and is mom to three littles who routinely make her heart burst and her head explode (it’s a messy business, love). There are puppies big and small residing at her house (you’ll be seeing a lot of them if you follow her on Instagram). She’s been to a dozen countries, but not nearly as many as she would like. She loves learning all the things. She cries at all the wrong times. She makes faces at herself in the mirror. She believes in the Oxford comma. And she’s always here for a dance party.
Twinkle follows Tess Lee and Jack Miller after two years of marriage. Tess is a wildly successful and world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore our innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jack is a federal agent. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. As they both heal from past trauma, their epic love, fostered by their ability to truly see one another, has brought them true happiness.
However, when an anonymous threat is made against Tess’s life, everything changes. Will they learn to lean on each other, or will they fall apart into the darkness? Their friends are along for the ride: Omar, Tess’s sarcastic best friend, who calls her Butterfly; the female president of the United States, who Tess visits regularly to discuss politics and bake cookies; Joe, Jack’s friend from the Bureau, who understands the sacrifices he’s made; and Bobby, Jack’s younger friend, who never fails to lend a calming presence.
Twinkle is a novel about the nature of doubt, the struggle to feel worthy of love, the relationship of the small part to the greater whole, and the ways in which love – from lovers, friends, or the art we experience – can help us move from trauma to healing and redemption. Written as unfolding action, Twinkle is a poignant novel that moves fluidly between melancholy, humor, and joy.
Patricia Leavy, Ph.D. is a bestselling author. She has published over thirty books, earning commercial and critical success in both fiction and nonfiction, and her work has been translated into many languages. She is also series creator and editor for ten book series with Oxford University Press, Guilford Press, and Brill/Sense, including the ground-breaking Social Fictions series. She has received numerous accolades for her books.
Recently, her novel Film won the 2020 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction, her novel Spark won the 2019 American Fiction Award for Inspirational Fiction and the 2019 Living Now Book Award for Adventure Fiction, and her Handbook of Arts-Based Research won the 2018 USA Best Book Award for best academic book. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2016 Mogul, a global women’s empowerment network named her an “Influencer.”
In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In addition to writing, Patricia loves art, movies, and travel. She resides in Maine with her husband, daughter, and their dog.
Title: Of Silver and Shadow Author: Jennifer Gruenke Publishing Date: 16.02.2021
Ren Kolins is a silver wielder—a dangerous thing to be in the kingdom of Erdis, where magic has been outlawed for a century. Ren is just trying to survive, sticking to a life of petty thievery, card games, and pit fighting to get by. But when a wealthy rebel leader discovers her secret, he offers her a fortune to join his revolution. The caveat: she won’t see a single coin until they overthrow the king.
Behind the castle walls, a brutal group of warriors known as the King’s Children is engaged in a competition: the first to find the rebel leader will be made King’s Fang, the right hand of the king of Erdis. And Adley Farre is hunting down the rebels one by one, torturing her way to Ren and the rebel leader, and the coveted King’s Fang title.
But time is running out for all of them, including the youngest prince of Erdis, who finds himself pulled into the rebellion. Political tensions have reached a boiling point, and Ren and the rebels must take the throne before war breaks out.
Jennifer Gruenke is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, where she studied communication and writing. She grew up among the redwoods of Northern California, and now lives in Charlotte with her books and the houseplants she hasn’t killed yet. If she’s not writing or reading, you’re most likely to find her in a cafe, music venue, or the aisles of Trader Joe’s.
