Leah@WSP

Spotlight: Dark Matter by Alyssa Huckleberry (and a $10 Giveaway)

Dark Matter by Alyssa Huckleberry

How’s it going, friends? Today, we’re featuring Dark Matter by author Alyssa Huckleberry. I haven’t been reading much this year (not for lack of trying) but the few books I finished were mostly fantasies, so I was happy to join this book blast for something sci fi (my other favorite genre).

Read more about the book below, check out the excerpt and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $10 gift card. Enjoy!

Dark Matter_Cover ConceptAbout the Book

“Survival is light years away.”

Earth is dying. The only salvation for humanity is colonizing space, yet so far that has failed. The last hope for survival exists on a planet light years away…and the mission is fraught with danger. Teenager Selina Alois leads a group of six high achievers who pass the exam of a lifetime to earn a position on the precarious expedition. As the mission launch approaches, dark secrets are exposed about the planet. Further digging reveals a sinister plot that not only risks humanity’s fate but also puts Selina and her team to the ultimate test.

Add this book on Goodreads.

About the Author

DarkMatter_Author-PHoto

Alyssa Huckleberry grew up in San Diego as the oldest of four children. After earning a business degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Alyssa spent a short time working in finance before transitioning to work in education. Today Alyssa works as a fifth grade teacher and she LOVES her job!

When she isn’t teaching or writing, you can find Alyssa running, reading, practicing yoga, traveling the world, or spending time with those dearest to her. She loves spending time outdoors, growing in her faith, and learning new things (hence, the great amount of time spent reading, traveling, and going on adventures!). A true lover of whimsy, she also believes everything is better with a latte in hand.

Alyssa’s first novel, Rescuing Racei, was published in 2004 (while Alyssa was still a high school student) and later won the San Diego Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel. Since then, Alyssa published three other books to complete the series: Stealing Splendiferous, Magicus, and The Maleku Map.

The Struggle is Real was an inspired piece written for an adult audience as a stand-alone work. Her latest novel, Dark Matter, is written for a young adult audience. It is the first book in what will be a science-fiction series imagining a future of space exploration!

Connect with Alyssa here: Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Buy Dark Matter: Paperback | Kindle

Read an Excerpt From Dark Matter

“We don’t have much time.”

The first words out of my mother’s mouth were not what I had expected. I had expected to find
both of my parents home from work early; I had expected them to want to talk to me; I had expected an endless stream of questions. But not this.

The urgency in my mother’s tone told me this was more than a melancholic response to my impending departure—this was much more. Frowning with concern, I looked from my mother’s knitted brow to my father’s taut jawline. I stood frozen in place, hesitant even to close the door behind me.

“Come in,” my mother rushed on impatiently. “We really don’t have much time.”

Obediently, robot-like, I took a segmented step. My father pulled me forward and deeper into the
kitchen until the door clicked shut behind me.

“You need to listen very carefully to what we’re about to tell you,” my mother told me sternly.

“We won’t have a chance to say anything twice. What you hear, you must never repeat.”

“If any of us are caught sharing this information, we’ll be executed,” my father cut in, voice low
and grave.

Giveaway

Alyssa Huckleberry will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Visit the other tour stops and leave a comment for more chances of winning. You can the tour dates and participating blogs here: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2020/07/book-blast-dark-matter-by-alyssa.html

Cover reveal: The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani ($25 Giveaway)

TheftofSunlight - header

Hi, friends! Today we have the cover reveal for The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani, who happens to be one of my favorite fantasy authors.

Theft of Sunlight is the first book in a companion duology to Thorn. The main character, Rae, is introduced in the short story, The Bone Knife, which is included at the end of Thorn. Btw, the Thorn ebook is currently on sale for only $2.99. Get it here!

Anyway, without further ado, check out the gorgeous cover below! Also check out the blurb and an excerpt. And, of course, enter the cover reveal giveaway for a chance to win $25 worth of books! Enjoy! :)

Theft of SunlightTitle: The Theft of Sunlight
Series: Book 1 in a duology in the “Dauntless Path” world
Author: Intisar Khanani
Cover Artist: Jenny Zemanek
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: March 23, 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen (US/CA), Hot Key (UK)
Price: TBD

I did not choose this fate. But I will not walk away if I can make a difference.

Children have been disappearing from Menaiya for longer than Amraeya ni Ansarim can remember. When her best friend’s sister disappears, Rae knows she can’t stay silent any longer. She finds the chance to make a difference in an invitation to the palace.

But Rae struggles to fit in with the lords and ladies of the court. Instead, she finds unexpected help in a rough-around-the-edges thief named Bren who always seems to have her best interests at heart. Soon even Bren can’t help her, and Rae must risk her life and well-being to face an evil that lurks in the shadows of the darkest hearts.

Add this book on Goodreads.

About the Author

Intisar-Khanani-Author-Photo

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. She has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. She is the author of The Sunbolt Chronicles and Thorn (HarperTeen 2020).

Connect with the author: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Read an Excerpt from The Theft of Sunlight

I wait, listening for the sound of someone entering the house. Anything to indicate I need to hide what Niya’s doing. I can hear a woman calling to her children somewhere in the distance, and the general sounds of the town: a wagon creaking its way down the road, chickens clucking in someone’s backyard, and, faintly, people calling Seri’s name.

I swallow and glance back at Niya.

She looks up. “It’s not working. I don’t know if it’s me or . . .”

“Here,” I say, catching the end of one of my braids. “Try my hair. See if that works.”

Niya takes the bit of hair I snap off and bends over her bowl again. I grip my skirt with my fists and hope, hope that it’s Niya’s magic that isn’t working, and not . . . not that Seri is truly beyond our reach.

“It’s working,” Niya says, her voice flat. I look down to see the leaf has turned, the silver needle glinting brighter than it should as it points straight toward me.

I raise my eyes to Niya’s. Seri isn’t just missing. She’s somewhere even magic can’t find her.
She’s been snatched.

Giveaway

Intisar Khanani is offering $25 of books from The Book Depository (open to folks anywhere The Book Depository ships, winner chooses the books).

Enter the giveaway here: http://booksbyintisar.com/2020/06/22/cover-reveal -the-theft-of-sunlight/

Blog Tour [Review]: Plague Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #4) by Shami Stovall + $25 GC giveaway

tourbanner_Plague Arcanist

Today we have Plague Arcanist, the fourth book in the Frith Chronicles by author Shami Stovall. I love this series – because it’s pretty awesome – so I’m happy to be a part of this blog tour.

Read on for more about the book, check out my thoughts about it and enter the blog tour giveaway. :)

Plague-Arcanist-coverPlague Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #4)

Deserts. Rogues. A secret hidden in an underground maze.

Every moment counts as Volke Savan races south to the city of New Norra. His goal: find Theasin Venrover, the famous artificer who may have a cure for the arcane plague. Separated from most of the Frith Guild—and even his sister—Volke must rely on the crew of the airship, the Sun Chaser, to help him find Theasin in time.

To complicate matters, the desert city of New Norra is steeped in mystery, and the massive maze under the streets could potentially solve all of Volke’s problems. With hunters after him, and dread pirates in the port, Volke finds himself forced to choose between equally terrible options…

Continue the Frith Chronicles with the fourth book, Plague Arcanist!

Praise for the Frith Chronicles!



“Perfect for those who enjoy the Codex Alera series, the Homas Wildus series and the Harry Potter series. Stovall is quickly becoming a name I look for.”
- Seattle Book Review (for Knightmare Arcanist, Book I)



“Dread Pirate Arcanist is a brilliant novel from start to finish.”
– Coffee Pot Book Club (for Dread Pirate Arcanist, Book II)



“Marvelously entertaining!”
- The Prairies Book Review (for Coliseum Arcanist, Book III)

Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon.

Another awesome magical adventure; another wild and fantastic ride!

This series just doesn’t disappoint. Plague Arcanist is another wild fantasy adventure.

In this book, Volke travels with some new companions to find a cure for the plague. First they get to a desert city called New Norra, where they uncover something sinister. Then their search for the cure takes them farther to even more dangerous places among dangerous people.

Damn this book is awesome.

The amazing writing and pace is still there. So many exciting and intriguing things happening but they don’t feel out of place or unnecessary – to me, anyway. I enjoyed all the little subplots and storylines. They just made me want to keep reading.

The characters are great as always. Fleshed out well. Volke is with a different group of people this time and it’s so much fun to see how they all become loyal to each other. We also read more about ‘old’ characters and, you know, some things become just a bit clearer. You get some really good dastardly villains, too, and it all balances out.

The world building is still amazingly awesome. I have no other way of describing it. It’s incredible and fantastic. So many interesting and exciting characters, creatures, places, histories, stories, and magic things. I just love all of it.

Like with the previous books, the last few pages are INSANE. I kind of had an idea about a thing that happened at the end, but it’s still so thrilling and extremely cool.

Read this series. READ IT.

Note: I received a review copy of this book as part of my participation in the tour. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

Read my reviews of the previous books:

About the Author

Shami Stovall

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction, with several best-selling novels under her belt. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

If you would like to find a full list of her novels and audiobooks, you can do so on here.

Connect with the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Email

Read an Excerpt

I had never seen an airship up close before.

Even in the dying darkness of dawn, this airship—the Sun Chaser—was everything I had imagined and more. It had the appearance of a sailing ship, specifically a brig. Brig ships prioritized maneuverability, and while they were large, they were also long and sleek. Typically, brigs had two square masts to hold the sails, but this ship was different. Sixteen sails were positioned on the sides of the ship, jutting out like fins.

Winds whipped through the woodland trees, rustling the leaves.

The Sun Chaser flew at a slow pace, descending lower and lower, arriving with the first light of day. The oak wood used in the airship’s construction shone with an amber brown. While sailing ships were often damaged by shipworms—sea water parasites—the Sun Chaser had no rot or damage. It was more beautiful up close than from afar.

I waited for the Sun Chaser at the edge of the royal hunting grounds, just outside of the Thronehold castle. Chaos still reigned supreme inside the city as everyone scrambled to deal with the aftermath of the queen’s assassination.

The Frith Guild would help with the fallout. Master Zelfree, Hexa, Zaxis, Atty, Gillie, Guildmaster Eventide—even my adopted sister, Illia—they would all do what needed to be done, no doubt in my mind.

After a deep breath to calm myself, I removed my guild pendant and dropped it in the grass. I wasn’t one of them anymore.

I had been infected.

Giveaway

Shami Stovall will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other tour stops for more chances of winning! You can see all the participating blogs here: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2020/05/blurb-blitz-plague-arcanist-by-shami.html

Review: Coliseum Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #3) by Shami Stovall

Coliseum Arcanist

Today we have Coliseum Arcanist, the third book of the magical fantasy series the Frith Chronicles by Shami Stovall.

I’m a big fan of this series. Imagine my mild panic when I found just a few days ago that the fourth book is already out! That means the third book had been out a while and I missed it! Anyway, I went and grabbed the book so I could read it before I get to the fourth one.

Read on for more. :)

Coliseum-Arcanist-coverColiseum Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #3)

Adventure. Competition. A duel to the death.

While on a journey to the famous city of Thronehold, Volke Savan learns of the Sovereign Dragon Tournament. The massive celebration involves hundreds of arcanists competing for fame and glory, and Volke is determined to win.

Dark forces dwell in the city, however, and rumors of the legendary world serpent spread amongst the shadows. Whoever bonds with a god-like mystical creature will gain magic beyond compare, and the queen’s guards suspect cutthroats will use the chaos of the tournament to hide their plotting.

Unsure of who to trust, Volke investigates the terrible rumors while advancing in the ranks of the tournament. Unfortunately, the true villain may be closer than he realizes…

Continue the Frith Chronicles with the third book, Coliseum Arcanist!

Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon.

Fantastic, exciting and action-packed. Awesome continuation to the series!

This series just keeps getting better and better.

In this book, Volke the Knightmare Arcanist (and our main man really) and the rest of the Frith Guild travel to the great city of Thronehold for some very important business. It turns out that a huge arcanist tournament is also happening while they’re there so some of the apprentices decide to join. The young ‘uns are eager to put their stuff to the test against fellow arcanists. But of course, the tournament is not the only thing happening. They’re in Thronehold for a reason after all and they can’t lose sight of their real mission as dark things are also on the move.

This is a fantastic third book.

Amazing pace, not a single boring page (for me, anyway), so many interesting and unpredictable things happening, but it’s never too much or too chaotic.

The characters are great as well. I mean, not perfect and not everyone’s playing big roles, but all the young Frith Guild arcanists are really growing into their own. Volke is still a pretty admirable and likeable main character and you just can’t help but be on his side.

We also meet new and intriguing folks and encounter some amazing magical creatures. The world building is incredible and the magic system is just really cool. I enjoyed reading about what different arcanists and their eldrin can do. Really fascinating stuff.

The last few pages are a wild ride and, yes, the book kinda ends a bit abruptly, but it’s such a fun read. If you like fantasy, magic stuff, magical creatures, adventure and all that, you might like this series.

Note: I purchased my own copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

Read my review of Knightmare Arcanist (#1) here and of Dread Pirate Arcanist (#2) here.

About the Author

Shami Stovall

Shami Stovall grew up in California’s central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family earning a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.

As a child, Stovall’s favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was at that moment Stovall realized story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world and she hopes you enjoy.

Connect with the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Spotlight: The Edge of All Worlds by Matt Betts + giveaway (US only)

TourBanner_EdgeOfAllWorlds

Hello, fellow homebodies! Times are weird and scary, but we’re doing what we can, right? So, let’s have fun on the interwebs a little. How about a book spotlight and a giveaway then? :)

Today we’re featuring The Edge of All Worlds by Matt Betts. If you liked the story of John Carter of Mars, you might like this one because it’s set in the same universe. I haven’t read the John Carter series though I did buy a seven-novels-in-one set of the Barsoom series on Kindle because it was on sale. I like the movie though and I have seen it a few times.

Anyway, read on to know more about Carson of Venus, read an excerpt from the book and enter the paperback giveaway (US only). Enjoy! :)

EdgeofAllWorldsCoverAbout The Book

Carson of Venus is back in the first novel of groundbreaking Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe series!

When a mysterious enemy attacks his adopted nation of Korva, Earthman Carson Napier discovers his own arrival on Venus years ago may have unknowingly triggered the strike. The invaders’ trail of death and destruction leads Carson and his beloved princess Duare headlong into battle against a seemingly invincible, primordial race. But that is not Carson’s only challenge, for an uncanny phenomenon has entangled him with two strange individuals from beyond spacetime. Will Carson be able to solve the mysteries of his past and the enigmatic visitors before the entire planet descends into chaos?

Also includes the bonus novelette “Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun” by Christopher Paul Carey, introducing Victory Harben, the ERB Universe’s newest heroine:

The very principle of physics behind the Gridley Wave has mysteriously failed, cutting off all communication between the hollow world of Pellucidar and the outer crust, and now inventor Jason Gridley must seek help from his brilliant young protégé, Victory Harben. Together they recover timeworn records from deep in the ruins of a dead Mahar city, hoping to use knowledge of Pellucidar’s former reptilian overlords to jumpstart the Gridley Wave. But when their experiment goes terribly wrong, Jason and Victory suddenly find themselves drawn into the inscrutable machinations of an ancient evil.

THE FIRST UNIVERSE OF ITS KIND

A century before the term “crossover” became a buzzword in popular culture, Edgar Rice Burroughs created the first expansive, fully cohesive literary universe. Coexisting in this vast cosmos was a pantheon of immortal heroes and heroines–Tarzan of the Apes, Jane Clayton, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Carson Napier, and David Innes being only the best known among them. In Burroughs’ 80-plus novels, their epic adventures transported them to the strange and exotic worlds of Barsoom, Amtor, Pellucidar, Caspak, and Va-nah, as well as the lost civilizations of Earth and even realms beyond the farthest star. Now the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe expands in an all-new series of canonical novels written by today’s talented authors!

About the Author

MattBetts_Author pic

Matt Betts worked for years in radio as an on-air personality, anchor and reporter. His fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. His work includes the steampunk novel, Odd Men Out, urban fantasy crime novel Indelible Ink, and his recent cryptid/horror novel White Anvil: Sasquatch Onslaught. His current release Carson of Venus: The Edge of all Worlds continues a series begun by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Connect with the author: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Get the book: | AMAZON

Read an Excerpt

Fire and ash blackened his armored bands, but he advanced without the appearance of concern. The black smoke rippled off him as he stepped from the fiery mess. Each step of his large feet seemed to hasten the floor cracks that still moved in our direction.

“Stop!” I shouted. “This is a grand fight we have going on here, but if you advance any farther, you’ll shatter this floor and hurl us both to our deaths.” He continued forward as if he hadn’t heard me, one heavy step after another. I looked to the broad strip of white rock that encircled the room, hoping it would be sturdier than the glasslike material that composed the floor.

At that moment, the whole building seemed to shake. There came a tremendous cracking sound, and the section of the flooring upon which I stood lurched down several feet with a sickening screech. I flung myself to one side and grabbed a thick section of the clear floor, holding on with one hand as I watched the great chunk of glass upon which I had just been standing twist and turn on the way to the ground far below.

Fingers bleeding, I clutched the sharp edges in order to keep myself from following the broken section down. The sounds of combat around me fell away until I heard nothing but my own breathing, ragged and desperate, fearing the slightest breeze would cause my fragile handhold to break free.

Copyright © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All rights reserved. All logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Used by permission.

Giveaway

Enter to win a physical copy of the paperback of Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds. Available for the continental US.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the other tour stops: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2020/04/book-blast-edge-of-all-worlds-by-matt.html

My checklist for 2020

SMM_MRBLE PNY 3 by Her Creative Studio

New year, new list, right? Well, not exactly. I always have the same things on my yearly list of things to do or be, but that’s just how it is, right? Every year, every month, EVERY DAY is a chance to keep trying. And, well, you know, writing down things makes me feel more accountable about doing them, right? Right? :)

Well, okay, here’s my list then. :D

The projects I want to accomplish this year

1 – Get back to yoga and use up my current class card before it expires on October. – I haven’t been to a yoga class in about three months. The studio where my sister and I used to go to closed down and the next closest one where we can use the shared class package we bought is a few minutes farther. Honestly, it’s not really that far but I’ve just been having a hard time getting off my lazy butt and actually going. So that’s on this list. I gotta get back to yoga.

2 – Read 20 books. – Last year my goal was to read at least one book a month, but I managed to finish 20. Although, if we’re going to be technical about it, it was 9 novels and 11 comic books. This year, I want to see if I can still reach that same number. And yeah I will still count comic books. I have so many unread books (physical and digital) that sometimes it feels criminal that I’m not reading any of them at any given time.

3 – Finish my little tarot journal project. – I took an email tarot course last year and was planning to create my own “little white book” but I wasn’t able to get to it and finish the course the way I wanted to. Now I want to go through the course again (I still have all the emails) and finally finish that project. I mean, I already have all the materials I need and I’ve been making little plans in my head about how to do my journal spreads. I just need to get to it.

4 – Sew at least one thing using my sewing machine. – I’ve had that old sewing machine for years. My mom gave it to me, but I never sat down to learn how to use it. I have a list of the sewing projects that I want to do, and though I keep adding to it every time I think of something, nothing ever gets checked off. I need to make time for it. Seriously. So this year my goal is to just finish one, at least one, sewing project.

5 – Do weekly strengthening exercises for my knee again. – I really should be doing this regularly and consistently and forever, but I stopped and I have start it up again. I mean, I should if I want to keep practicing yoga and maybe start running or something. I want to add some sort of cardio activity to my life, that’s all. And I can’t do that if I’m worrying about my knee giving out or whatever.

So, those are the major projects I want to accomplish this year. I also intend to do the usual important stuff like EAT HEALTHY and DRINK MORE WATER and WRITE MORE. I just feel like these things are a given already and they’re in my mind all the time. I just have to do better.

Do you have a list for the year?

This list was inspired by THE CHECKLIST BOOK by Alexandra Franzen. Get the book at your local bookstore, local public library, or order it online: .

Blog Tour [Review]: A Company of Monsters by Shami Stovall (plus a $25 Giveaway!)

TourBanner_A Company of Monsters

Woot! First post of the new year! And first book review, too!

Today, I’m excited to feature A Company of Monsters by author Shami Stovall. It’s the sequel to The Ethereal Squadron, which I read (and enjoyed!) last year.

Read more about the book below, check out my review, read an excerpt from the book and enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Cover_A Company of MonstersA Company of Monsters  (Ethereal Squadron #2)

The year is 1917, and the Russian Empire is on verge of collapse.



Florence Cavell—codename Geist—takes her special forces team of sorcerers into allied territory in an effort to hunt down spies and keep the Russian royals alive. If the Russian Empire falls, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians will turn their full attention to France and Britain. That can’t be allowed to happen.


Unfortunately for Geist, the enemy has sent the Eyes of the Kaiser, specialists who hunt and destroy sorcerers. And they came prepared to eliminate not only the Russian royalty, but the Ethereal Squadron as well.


Praise for Ethereal Squadron:

“In tense, precise prose that skillfully conveys detailed descriptions, Stovall delivers this engrossing story of fantasy adventure with utmost precision. The Ethereal Squadron’s riveting fantasy world will fuel readers’ imaginations and leave them crave for the next book in the sequel.”
- The Prairies Book Review

Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon or B&N.

Exciting and action-packed sequel, terrifying and great magic concepts, interesting characters

This book was just as awesome as the first and I really enjoyed reading it.

A Company of Monsters continues the story of Geist and her unit of sorcerer operatives. This time the team heads to Russia with a mission: to get some magic houses or families of sorcerers to safety before the enemy gets to them first and kills them for their powers.

This was a great continuation to the series. Definitely more action-packed than the first book. It focused more on only a few characters, but that was fine. It was still chock-full of interesting plots and twists.

I can’t say much about the historical context of the setting because I don’t know much about it, but the way the author took that part of history and used it here was really well done. The author set it up so well that you can really see how challenging it was for the team to go about their mission. And those challenges made for exciting bits in the story.

Geist as the main character has grown a lot since the first book. She still has doubts and sometimes questions herself, but she has become a good leader and her team really respect her as their commander. The book doesn’t dwell too much on each team member but you can see that they all have grown in some way and have their roles in the group.

My favorite character in this book though is one of the “villains,” who was also in book one. He’s such a complex character and you kind of feel for him even though he’s not exactly one of the good guys. I’m really curious about where Stovall’s taking his story.

As always, I loved all the magic stuff – the magic system, the plotlines, even the terrifying concepts. Very fascinating stuff.

I can’t wait to read more about Geist and her team and about where their story’s going.

If you like historical fiction and stories about magic, you might enjoy this book (and this series!).

Note: I received a review copy of this book as part of my participation in the tour. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

Read my review of the first book, The Ethereal Squadron, here.

About the Author

Shami Stovall

Shami Stovall grew up in California’s central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family earning a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.

As a child, Stovall’s favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was at that moment Stovall realized story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world and she hopes you enjoy.

You can contact her at the following: Facebook | Twitter | Website

Read an Excerpt

Blick turned to Geist with a coy smile. “The grand duchess wants to see you alone? You’re a real charmer.”

She shook her head. “Now isn’t the time for games.”

“I bet the duchess asks you for a dance.”

“For both our sakes, I hope she doesn’t,” Geist quipped.

Battery turned to her, his brows knitted together. “Wait, you don’t know how to dance?”

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and stared. The collective silence bothered Geist more than the question. Of course she knew how to dance! It had been one of the many lessons taught to her by tutors from all around the world. That wasn’t the problem.

“I’m sure the grand duchess will want a man to dance with her,” Geist drawled. “I was taught the steps for a woman. You can see how this will go poorly.”

“Oh,” Battery muttered. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He tapped his chin for a moment before smiling. Then he stood and held out his hand. “Well, it should be a simple task to teach you the opposite steps. I can help.”

Tempted by his offer, Geist got to her feet, though her whole body felt cold and distant. She didn’t want to risk exposing herself for some recognition from the tsar. She just wanted to complete the operation and leave.

Battery kept his hand out, but Vergess pushed it aside. He stepped in front of Geist and held out his hands.

“I’ll do it,” he stated.

Of the two options, Geist preferred Vergess’s instruction. Then again, she didn’t want to learn how to dance in front of her squad. Stumbling around like a drunkard wasn’t high on her list of team bonding.

Geist hesitantly placed her hands on top of Vergess’s. He turned them around. “You hold the woman’s hands,” he said. “You control what’s going on.” Then he nudged her, as if urging her to start the dance.

The others got out of their seats, moved the furniture to the edge of the room, and then leaned against the wall. They watched with amused half-smiles—even Defiant, who squinted the entire time. It was enough to twist Geist’s stomach into knots.

Please, God. What have I done to deserve this?

She started with a few slow steps. Vergess urged Geist to go faster, even though they had no music to work with.

Which meant everything happened in painful silence.

While Geist enjoyed her close proximity to Vergess—especially since no one could complain—she couldn’t enjoy a second of the event. She stutter-stepped around, hesitated for a few seconds, and pulled Vergess along by the hands, knowing full well she looked like a childish amateur. I’m such a fool, she thought, unable to look Vergess in the eye for fear of ridicule and mockery. Why am I even doing this?

For the past few years, she had trained, killed, and fought in a bloody war, yet the thought of playing the man in a ballroom dance was the thing that crippled her confidence. She had no idea what she was supposed to do, and half the time she continued to slip back into the role of the woman, secretly hoping Vergess would just take over so she could be done with the “lesson.”

“Relax,” Vergess whispered.

So damn easy to say.

And it didn’t make things better that the others were muttering amongst themselves.

Then Blick snorted. “You’re terrible.”

Geist ripped her hands away from Vergess and turned away. “Yes. I agree. We should stop this.”

“What?” Blick said. “We don’t want to risk offending the tsar and his family, remember?”

Victory wheeled on his younger brother, a scowl that could wilt plants. Blick chortled, in no way intimidated.

“You should practice,” Vergess said. “Just try again.”

“Why don’t you try explaining what she’s doing wrong?” Dreamer interjected.

“She can learn by doing.”

“A proper teacher uses every tool to teach a student.”

“Yes, well, perhaps explaining the dance isn’t my forte,” Vergess barked. “Why don’t you tell her?”

Dreamer shook his head. “I don’t know how to dance. That wasn’t a skill taught to eunuchs.”

“Then perhaps you shouldn’t offer advice on matters you know nothing of.”

The odd argument got the others tense. Vergess and Dreamer stared for a long moment,
but after exhaling, both men turned away. Vergess returned his attention to Geist and held out his hand, ready to practice again.

“Why don’t I try?” Victory said.

He walked around his chair, one arm still in a sling, but he held himself like only a gentleman could. Then he offered his good hand and smiled.

With his aristocratic upbringing, Geist figured Victory would know best. She exhaled and took his hand. The look Vergess gave her when she passed—it was fleeting—was like he wanted to object, but couldn’t.

“You don’t need to worry about the grand duchess discovering your secret,” Victory said. “She won’t have her hands all over you. That’s improper.” He motioned to his hip. “You place your hand here. She will place a hand on your shoulder. And while you may come together in the dance, I doubt she will notice anything through the layers of formal clothing.”

“Th-thanks,” Geist muttered. The simple explanation did put her at ease.

Victory continued, “The key to leading a dance is to control everything from your torso—the core momentum coming from your center of gravity. The woman may be holding one of your hands, but she’ll feel the way you shift from your torso first.”

When Victory swayed side to side, Geist felt the movement. It dawned on her then, like someone pulling back the curtains to reveal the truth. Dancing did come from the torso. Why had she been trying to pull Vergess by the hands? It seemed so foolish now.

“You try,” Victory said.

Although she still felt ridiculous, Geist attempted to lead Victory around the room. To her surprise, he began humming. Although she had never considered his voice soothing or lyrical, the pleasant melody he provided for their faux dance reminded her of a quiet evening in London she once shared with her mother and younger brother, Dietrich. It made it easy to keep pace and focus on the footwork. Much easier than silence.

The others whispered among themselves, but Geist didn’t feel as ridiculous as before. At least I’m actually dancing.

Halfway around the room, Geist stared up at Victory, closer than she had ever been with him before. He had a slight scar over his right eye—one that altered the way his eyebrow grew and affected his eyelashes. He had gotten the scar when they fought the German U-boat. A decision Geist had made. During the fight, a piece of glass had dug its way into his face, and Cross didn’t get a chance to heal Victory until weeks later.

Then Geist glanced down at Victory’s arm resting in the sling.

That was my fault, too.

Victory paused his humming to say, “And if the lady makes a misstep, you apologize.”

“Really?” Geist asked as she returned her attention to him.

“Of course. As the gentleman, and the lead, you take responsibility for all mistakes. Always.”

Shaken by Victory’s words, and the scars on his body—all due to her mistakes—Geist continued to keep his gaze. It took her a moment, even while they danced, to whisper, “I’m sorry, Victory.”

She didn’t say anything else, but the look Victory offered in reply told her everything. He knew what she meant.

Instead of saying something cutting or hurtful, he gave her smile. “A gracious lady will always accept the apology. Everyone makes mistakes.”

Giveaway

Shami Stovall will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Enter below! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! The tour dates can be found here: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2019/10/review-tour-company-of-monsters-by.html.

2019 Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop: Win a $5 Amazon GC

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop 2019

It’s that time of the year again, folks! A huge thanks to everyone who drop by this space in one way or another. You guys rule! And here I am again doing this giveaway to say thank you.

Enter using the Rafflecopter below! Don’t forget to visit the other blogs in this hop so you can also join their giveaways. :)

Good luck and happy holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway hop is hosted by Bookhounds and runs from December 15 – 31. Visit the other participating blogs for more giveaways!

Book Depository: Ordering from the Philippines (Updated Oct. 26, 2021)

Book Depository

Update 3 (Oct. 26, 2021): Added an FAQ section to address a few questions that keep coming up :)
Update 2 (Oct. 20, 2020): Got refunded for the second book I ordered just before lockdown, but said book also turned up at the local post office and I had to go pick it up
Update 1 (Aug.14, 2020): Got refunded for one of two books I ordered just before lockdown

Thought I’d share my experience with Book Depository because I’ve googled about this a few times. Why not add my own experience to the internet, right? LOL. Okay, here it is.

Note: I do not work for Book Depository so I cannot answer any specifics about your orders from them. Best to go to their website and send them an inquiry if you have questions about your orders. :)

First, what’s Book Depository?

It’s an online book retailer that offers free delivery to over 130 countries worldwide. They ship from the UK and Australia, and their prices are only slightly higher than other retailers, but I’m assuming that’s to cover shipping.

You can pay via credit card or Paypal. Based on my experience, if you pay via Paypal, the address where you’re sending your order need to match your Paypal address. I once tried to use Paypal to buy a book that was going to someone else, but it wouldn’t push through so I had to use a credit card. Something like this happened to me before, but on a different online shop. (It was a Big Cartel shop; Big Cartel is a platform for artists and makers.) I couldn’t use my Paypal to order something that I wanted shipped somewhere else. I think it’s some kind of check and balance thing maybe, which is good, but also kind of inconvenient for me, personally. Anyway, there’s that.

My Book Depository History

The first time I ordered a book from Book Depository was in 2012. I ordered a huge book for my father and I think it took almost two months before it was delivered to my door.

Book Depository’s shipping info (for the Philippines) estimates 7-10 business days if shipping from the UK and 10-14 business days if shipping from Australia. I believe that’s a fair estimate, but I think it’s because our local postal system leaves much to be desired that it takes so much longer for stuff to get delivered.

I ordered four more times after that but they were for other people (winners of my blog giveaways) and I’m not sure how long it took, but I’m pretty sure they all got their books. I’m assuming that because I didn’t get any complaints.

The next time I ordered something for myself was in 2016. It was the Q&A A Day for Writers Journal and I think it also took over a month before I received it. I ordered three more times after that — all books, all cheaper than what was available in local bookstores at that time (I took advantage of the sales and promos) — and it was more or less the same. More than a month before the books arrived straight to my door. I never had to go to the post office.

That time I ordered a deck of cards, not a book

Middle of September I purchased an oracle deck. It was on sale (almost 50% off!) so I just had to get it. The deck is available here in the Philippines but I figured I was getting it for so much less. I wasn’t sure that it would get delivered to my door, but I was willing to risk it. The deck shipped out from the UK end of September.

Fast forward to sometime this month (November), more than six weeks later, and I still didn’t receive the deck. I thought about calling our local post office, but I couldn’t find a working phone number. I decided to haul ass to the post office and inquire in person.

I wouldn’t advise doing this though if you don’t have a parcel notice from your local post office. I obviously didn’t have one, but a few months ago my hubby managed to pick up a package from the post office without a parcel notice, so I thought it wasn’t going to be a problem. (Edit: I asked him about it after I published this post and he said he had a tracking number from the sender so the post office was able to locate his package.)

I live in Taguig City, by the way. The main post office is an old structure and it’s pretty cramped inside. The parcel section looks chaotic, but they do have some kind of system for organizing the packages. I mean, they know where to find things as long as you have a tracking number or a parcel notice.

Picking up my package at the post office

This bit might deserve a whole other post, to be honest, but I’m putting it here. You can skip this part if you don’t want to read my rambling about my post office experience.

So I went to the post office and asked about my package. The guy at the parcel section asked for a tracking number. Oops. I told them that I ordered my stuff in September and haven’t received any parcel notice. I also asked what kind of tracking number they were looking for and he explained that the sender usually provides a tracking number, but in my head I was already sure that I didn’t have one. I took out my phone and pulled up the email from Book Depository and it only has the order number — pretty sure that wasn’t it.

Anyway, the guy asked where I lived and when I told him he went over to another section where some guys were organizing mail. He asked this other guy to help me by checking if there was a parcel notice for me. It took about two minutes but they found it! Apparently, it was just there, ready for delivery to our building. The other guy handed it over to me and said something about delivering only once a month. Huh? They only do delivery once a month? Is that what he meant? I wasn’t sure and I didn’t ask anymore because I was itching to get my package. I thanked the mail guys and went back to the parcel section.

So, back at the parcel section, I gave the parcel notice to the guy and he looked for my package on the shelf near the door. (So I was just practically standing next to my package and didn’t know it.) He found it and told me to pay at the admin section. I paid PHP112 bucks (storage fee or something) for my parcel. The last time I picked up a book here (I won it from a giveaway and it was mailed by the author), it cost 100 bucks, but that was a few years ago. Anyway, I went back to the parcel section to get my package, thanked the parcel guy because he was actually super helpful, and headed home.

And that was it. My stuff from Book Depository took more than six weeks to land in my hands.

Update 1 (Aug. 14, 2020): Ordering during the lockdown

March 2020, I ordered two books the day before we went into lockdown due to COVID-19. It just happened to be the last day for a discount code and I decided to use it. Anyway, most of the world went on lockdown and I saw Book Depository’s advisory about the delivery disruption. I thought my order would be cancelled (per their advisory), but then later I received two separate emails (two days apart) that my books have been shipped. I figured my order got through before they officially stopped delivery to the Philippines.

So we went on lockdown and our postal services closed. Weeks later they began operating again, but a whole lotta mail and packages still weren’t being delivered (I knew this because the PHLPost social media pages were full of inquiries and complaints). I just assumed that my books arrived in PHLPost but were buried somewhere in storage.

In June, I emailed Book Depository and asked if they can give me a tracking number that I can use to track my package with PHLPost. They responded that they do not have tracking codes for their free standard shipping. Oh well. I kind of figured that but I wanted to be sure. So, there was no way for me to track my parcel with PHLPost but I was willing to wait a few more months to give our postal system a chance to get through their massive backlog.

Anyway, a few days ago I received an email from Book Depository that one of the books I ordered was returned to them “as the postal service were unable to deliver to the address provided.” They apologized that it took so long and refunded the item. They also offered a 10% discount as a gesture of goodwill. The refund appeared on my card two days later. How fast was that, right?

The book that got returned/refunded was the book that supposedly shipped out first (based on the shipping confirmation email I received from TBD). I actually felt relieved that the book wasn’t lost in storage in the Philippines. As of writing this (14 Aug 2020), I haven’t received an email about the other book getting returned/refunded, but I’m really hoping it also gets returned so I won’t have to think about PHLPost misplacing it.

Update 2 (Oct. 30, 2020): What happened to the other book

When I didn’t hear anything about the other book, I decided to email Book Depository again and ask if, by any chance, it also got returned to them. I emailed them on Aug. 28, but their first response referred to the first book that was refunded so I had to clarify. After a few back-and-forths they finally replied that the second book was not returned to them, but that a refund has already been processed for it (that email was dated Sept. 25). I didn’t ask for the refund, mind you, but I thanked them anyway because by then I figured the book was lost. The refund got credited back to me that same day.

Fast forward to a few days ago when I decided to check our mailbox in our building. I rarely check our mailbox because we don’t really get urgent mail. Anyway, lo and behold, there was a parcel notice from our post office. The date stamped on it was Oct. 6. Gah. To make a long story short, I went to our post office yesterday, paid the PHP112 fee and got my parcel, which, as you probably guessed, turned out to be the missing book. Wow. It only took seven months.

I thought about emailing Book Depository about it, but then what would that do? Will they tell me to return it? Too expensive for me to send it back to the UK. Will they ask for the refund back? I doubt it. I didn’t ask for the refund – they processed that on their own (it was probably easier than trying to find a missing book). And from what I’ve read on other blogs and reviews, they’re quick to refund or send replacements for lost books (and sometimes the buyer ends up with two copies – the replacement and their original order which arrives later). So yeah, I’m going to keep this one.

So, is Book Depository worth it?

I still think it is, if you’re willing to wait and if your local post office is somewhat organized and efficient enough. I mean, using services like ShippingCart also takes a while, maybe not as long, but they cost a bit more. I think Book Depository is good for books and other paper items that you can’t find in the local bookstores.

[Before the pandemic happened] I haven’t had any problems and I only had to go to the post office once, and that was for a non-bookish item. The one time I had to go to the post office was for a deck of cards. I’m still not 100% sure that books will always get delivered to my door because our local postal system is a bit inconsistent.

[Oct. 30, 2020] I don’t think I would order from Book Depository and use my local address while we are still on any level of lockdown or quarantine or during this whole pandemic for that matter. Our local postal system is still quite slow and I hate picking up stuff at their office. Also, Book Depository is not delivering to the Philippines as of this second update. If I really really really wanted to buy something, I would consider using a shipping or forwarding service (if I deem that whatever I’m buying is worth the additional expense).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Note: These are based on my personal experience and if other people have shared instances that are different from mine I have noted them down. Feel free to read through the comments to see other people’s experiences with Book Depository. :)

Do Book Depository orders get delivered straight to your door?

Pre-pandemic (that is, before March 2020): Yes, most of my book orders from Book Depository were delivered to my door by the local postman and I did not have to pay anything upon delivery. The one time I had to pick up my parcel at the post office was when I ordered a deck of cards and I paid a PhP 112 fee at the post office.

Pandemic Year 1: In Oct 2020, I received a parcel notice from Philpost and I had to go to the post office to pick up my package from Book Depository. I also paid the PhP 112 fee.

Pandemic Year 2: Based on a few comments from this year (2021) and from other feedback I’ve read on different channels, some people have either 1) received notices or emails from Philpost about their parcels and were asked to pay custom/delivery fees first before they get their parcels, or 2) received their parcels at their addresses and were asked to pay custom/delivery fees by the one handling the delivery. (I have not used my PH address for Book Depository orders this year so I have not experienced any of these.)

How long does it take for Book Depository orders to arrive?

It can take 4-6 weeks or longer. Sometimes it can take months.

Does Book Depository give you a tracking number for your order?

For deliveries to the PH: As far as I know, NO, they do not provide tracking codes for their standard shipping.

In July 2021, I ordered a couple of books and had them sent to a US address. Book Depository sent tracking details for the USPS tracker. I don’t know if they alway do this for US deliveries or if they also do this for deliveries to other countries.

. . . . .

Have you tried Book Depository? How was your experience?