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Blog Tour [Review]: Dread Pirate Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #2) by Shami Stovall (plus a Giveaway!)

September 3, 2024November 6, 2019 by Leah@WSP

Whoa! Today we have Dread Pirate Arcanist by fantasy and sci-fi author Shami Stovall. It’s the sequel to Knightmare Arcanist, which I reviewed (and enjoyed!) a few months ago. I can’t believe it’s here and I feel so lucky to be part of this review tour.

Read more about the book, check out my review and enter the tour giveaway for a chance to win a gift card to your favorite bookstore!

Dread Pirate Arcanist by Shami Stovall
Continue the Frith Chronicles with the second book, Dread Pirate Arcanist!
While protecting the newborn griffins on the Isle of Landin, Volke Savan and his adopted sister, Illia, run afoul of the Dread Pirate Calisto, the same cutthroat who carved out Illia’s right eye. As a master manticore arcanist, Calisto’s strength and brutality are unrivaled, so when Illia suggests they bring him to justice, Volke wonders if they’ll have what it takes to fight the corsairs on the high seas.
A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.
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
Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon.

Great storyline, fantastic world-building and character development; An exciting and action-packed sequel!

Dread Pirate Arcanist starts off months after the events of the first book. Volke, Illia and their fellow apprentice arcanists travel to the Isle of Landin. The Frith Guild have been tasked to provide protection during the island’s griffin bonding ceremony. What is supposedly an easy assignment, however, becomes something more when they run into serious trouble involving pirates! And not just any pirate, but the Dread Pirate Calisto who happens to be the same pirate who made Illia an orphan and cut out her eye when she was a young child. Naturally, Illia feels strongly about this guy and wants him to pay for what he did. Unfortunately, Calisto also happens to be an extremely powerful and strong master arcanist, and bringing him down will take so much more than all their powers and skills combined.

Wow, this was fun! I finished this book in a day. Like the first book, this is such an easy read. The writing is smooth and very descriptive, and the setting and situations are imaginative. The story is so creative and fantastic, and flows at a great pace. It’s never boring, each page is as interesting and exciting as the next.

In this book, we find out more about the wonderful magical world that our characters exist in and we find out more about the magic system. We are introduced to the concept of magical trinkets and we meet new magical creatures, both beautiful and terrible ones. It’s all very fascinating and fantastic really (I love it!). Also, most of the action occurs in the high seas (because pirates, duh!) so that itself is pretty fun and exciting.

We also learn more about our characters. We find out a little bit more about their past and where they come from, so we understand their motivations even more.

Volke is still as great as a protagonist can be – flawed and vulnerable, full of self-doubt, but with an unrivaled sense of honor and inner strength.

Illia shows some fire in this one, as well as some incredible recklessness, which annoyed the hell out of me, but she also learns and grows from the experience.

We also find out more about Master Zelfree and how he works and it shows us why he is a real master arcanist. He’s actually one of the most interesting characters in the group and he’s right up there with Volke as my favorites in the series, maybe even topping that list.

The rest of the characters – Zax, Atty, Hexa, Adelgis and their eldrins (the mystical creatures they’re bonded with) – are also developed more in this book and it’ll be interesting to find out even more about them in succeeding installments of this series (please let there be more! Lol!). They, including Master Zelfree, of course, have all really come together nicely as a team.

Like I said above, this book is an exciting and action-packed sequel with a great story and amazing characters. Needless to say, I really enjoyed reading it. If you like reading about fantasy, adventure, great and fearsome villains, mystical creatures, pirates (magical pirates!), friendship, family, honor and magic, then you’re going to love this one. :)

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 Knightmare Arcanist (book one) here.

About the Author

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

Read an Excerpt

Today the griffins of West Landin would choose who to bond with. The city officials gathered before the dawn, prepping for the evening celebrations. I watched from afar on a rocky cliff that overlooked half the isle, the pre-morning winds disheveling my inky black hair. I had never visited the Isle of Landin before now, but I had heard amazing tales of their fearsome griffins since I was old enough to remember stories.
My pulse quickened with anticipation. For fifteen years, I had imaged bonding with a mystical creature and becoming an arcanist. Eight months ago it had become a reality, but it hadn’t yet sunk into my heart and gut. Giddiness twisted my insides with each new breath.
While the citizens of West Landin would have to prove themselves to the griffins in a Trial of Worth, I had already been tested and found worthy.
I turned to the shadows next to me, well aware that my mystical creature—my eldrin—lurked in the darkness.
“Luthair,” I said. “Do you know much about griffins?”
“They are stubborn beasts,” he replied from the void of my shadow, his voice more sinister than his true demeanor. “And griffin arcanists are strong, courageous, and skilled at combat.”
“Amazing.”
As a knightmare, Luthair lived within the darkness, merging with it like salt in water. He didn’t need to materialize to speak, and he could slink along next to me without anyone knowing. While some would consider that creepy or unsettling, I enjoyed his presence and trusted him in all things.
I returned my attention to the sprawling city. Unlike the Isle of Ruma, where I grew up, West Landin housed thousands of people, had a massive port, and had constructed a seaside fortress to deter pirates. Their cobblestone roads, twice as wide as home, snaked beyond the city limits to a valley filled with sheep, goats, and horses.
When the sun rose, the oranges and reds of dawn cascaded over the island, washing it in a familiar glow. The Isle of Ruma had wonderful dawns, just like this one. The nostalgia overwhelmed me for a moment, so powerful it almost hurt.
I missed my adoptive father, Gravekeeper William.

Giveaway

The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon/B&N gift card! Enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the other tour stops for more chances of winning: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2019/10/review-tour-dread-pirate-arcanist-by.html

Blog Tour [Review]: Hanami (#1) and Hazakura (#2) by V.C. Buckley (plus a $10 Giveaway!)

September 3, 2024October 29, 2019 by Leah@WSP

Today we’re featuring Hanami and Hazakura (the sequel!) by author V.C. Buckley! This is a series in a genre that I don’t usually review, but lately I’ve been trying to be more open to contemporary fiction (you know, young adult, new adult, etc.) so I jumped at the chance to join this blog tour. I’m also pretty psyched because the author is from Manila! Gotta support my fellow Filipina, you know. :)

Read more about the books below and check out my review. Then enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win a $10 gift card to Amazon or B&N. Yay!

Hanami by V.C. Buckley
“I am no princess… I am Yakuza,”
SAKURA SHINTANI is the heir to the Dragon Clan—Japan’s most notorious crime dynasty. But can she keep this fact a secret from the annoying brats of Oniyuri Academy?
She must try to master her demons while trying not to hurt anyone. But having the face of an angel puts her on everyone’s radar… including the arrogant heir to Asia’s most powerful tycoon, KENJIN KIYOHARA. He senses the danger, but Sakura is too interesting to be left alone.
Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon, Barnes&Noble or Kobo.

An easy read, interesting characters, fun and exciting story

Holy cow, I finished this book in less than a day! The prose is descriptive and flows easily, the characters intriguing and the story exciting, so this book was such an easy read.

I like the main character, Sakura. She’s definitely a strong heroine, but also imperfect and has a vulnerability that is reasonable and even relatable. Her love interest, Jin, is also interesting in his own way, but it’s Sakura who really captures your attention. I like how their love story evolves throughout the book.

The plot twists are great. I just think that the reveals or resolutions to some of the crucial points in the story are too easy or simplified. Like some are a little bit glossed over, then sort of explained later on. Maybe I just wanted more intrigue and action. They are some pretty interesting twists though and I truly enjoyed them.

Lastly, I love all the Asian elements in this – the setting, the culture and traditions, the sport (kendo), the food. Made me hungry, tbh. Haha.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this one and couldn’t wait to get to the next book (review below!).

Hazakura (Hanami #2) by V.C. Buckley
Can love last for a mafia princess?
find out in this riveting sequel to HANAMI…
KENJIN KIYOHARA, the son of Asia’s most powerful tycoon has finally won the heart of SAKURA SHINTANI, the heir to Japan’s most notorious crime dynasty. But their new love is threatened as Sakura’s trigger-happy oppositions see Kenjin as her ultimate weakness, making her rethink the decision to be with him. But Kenjin is determined to stay by her side, even if it might cost him his life.
Add on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon.

Another easy read, with interesting plot twists, still a fun and exciting story

This was as easy to read as the first book. The writing is also descriptive and flows easily. The characters are even more (or have grown more) interesting than in the first book. However, though the story is still as exciting as the first one, for some reason, it felt slower. I’m not sure why, maybe it was just my mood while reading it.

Anyway, Sakura is still a badass. And Jin is well, still Jin. He’s a little unreasonably (in my opinion) jealous in this one though so I didn’t like him as much, but he redeems himself so it’s fine.

The plot twists are also great, but, like in the first book, I think the reveals and resolutions are way too easy and convenient. There’s a tad bit more action though, so that was fun.

Overall, I still enjoyed reading this one and I’m still interested to read more about Sakura’s story.

Note: I received review copies of these books as part of my participation in the tour. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

About the Author

V.C. Buckley was born in an isolated government facility and shipped off to an Island in Southeast Asia where she grew up braving tropical thunderstorms and warding off evil villains. At sixteen she was discovered by an agent and jetted off all over the world. Her stories come from gritty moments of her childhood to the glitz of her travels. She now lives in Manila with her husband, two kids and an herb garden that has hijacked her balcony.

Connect with the author: Website – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – Goodreads – Bookbub

Watch the Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhONdkI9y64

Read an Excerpt from Hanami

Jin rolled his eyes, settling his gaze back on the girl. He wasn’t surprised with their reaction.
The new girl was hot, but so what? It took more than a pretty face to get his attention. He wasn’t that easy to impress, and he was certain she’d be throwing herself at him anyway. Just like everybody else. He was sure this girl wasn’t any different from the love-crazed hyenas that stalked him.
Jin pushed back his shoulders, seeing her start towards him with her eyes still trailing on the ground.
Already? Jin thought, suppressing a laugh. He crossed his arms, waiting for her to get closer, and sure enough she stopped right in front of him. She was even prettier up close. Asian but with a hint of Caucasian mixed in.
“What?” he asked, smirking. He already knew what she might say: whether he was Kenjin Kiyohara, the sole heir to Kiyohara Industries? The questions were all the same. He thought she would have at least waited until class was over like the rest of them.
“Move your feet. You’re blocking my way,” the girl said in a sharp tone. She shifted her gaze up at him like a threatening knife. Her topaz-colored eyes darkened, sending icy tremors down his back. He felt as if he’d been hit by a curse as his mind turned blank.
When she finally looked away, Jin was able to regain his senses. He tucked his legs out of her way, and she passed, leaving goosebumps in her wake. His eyes followed her, waiting to see if she’d look back, but she never did. Jin’s hands were trembling. His thoughts became jumbled while he struggled not to look anymore.
What was that? What just happened? This was a first for him. He couldn’t contain himself. His presence had no impact whatsoever. Instead she looked like she wanted to kill him!
Jin took a deep breath, replaying the moment in his head. Who was this girl? She sure got his attention, all right—and it left him in pieces. He fought the urge to look back again.
This girl…Jin thought. There was something about her. He couldn’t shake off the feeling. She seemed dangerous.

Giveaway

V.C. Buckley will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour and comment on the tour stops for more chances of winning: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2019/08/review-tour-hanami-by-vc-buckley.html

Spotlight: Weathernose by Maram Taibah

August 28, 2021October 21, 2019 by Leah@WSP

I don’t do a lot of bookish spotlights these days unless it’s for a blog tour, but today we’re featuring a fun adventure fantasy novella, Weathernose by author Maram Taibah.

Read more about the book below and check out where you can get your own copy of this fun and light-hearted story!

Weathernose, Maram Taibah
Kids are just too damn smart these days.
In the Cerulean Universe, the world is only just awakening to scientific discovery and invention. There’s no room for an old-fashioned weatherman like Tart Morning. And now, thanks to a ground-breaking invention called “the weathernose” – a machine that calculates weather predictions, Tart’s career is on the line. His only choice is to destroy the weathernose, but the machine’s smug little inventress, Cypress Korkul, is far too clever for him.
In his scrambling efforts to keep up with the times, Tart finds himself willing to go to ever more dastardly lengths. How far is he willing to go to get his job and his old life back? What will he find out about Cypress – and himself – along the way?
Add this book Goodreads. Get it on Amazon.

Early reviews

“What a cute, witty and fun novella! I finished it in one sitting!”

“It was laugh out loud humor, lighthearted, and very colorful. It reminded me of my childhood and how seriously clueless adults are and that we are all human and that kindness matters.”

“Easy read, all of a sudden you stop reading the lines, and you become part of the story. Perhaps a bird flying over and seeing all that is written. A beautiful and light-hearted read for adults as well as children.”

About the Author

Maram Taibah is a fantasy writer, born in Montreal, Canada. She was raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which, at times, was the most unimaginative place. This pushed her to escape into books at a very early age and from there into the craft of storytelling.

Maram is not only a fiction writer but also a screenwriter and filmmaker. In 2014 she made her first short film Munkeer and in 2016, Don’t Go Too Far, both of which were screened at the Cannes Short Film Corner.

Maram currently lives in Kingston, Ontario. She loves coffee, long walks, and karaoke nights.

Connect with her on her Website, on Facebook and Instagram.

You can get your copy of Weathernose on Amazon.

The Original Rider-Waite Smith Tarot

August 28, 2021October 19, 2019 by Leah@WSP

The Original Rider-Waite Smith Tarot is the first deck I ever owned. When I became interested in tarot, I naturally went to the internet for resources and found a lot of lovely blogs by experienced readers and practitioners. Most, if not all, mentioned that every beginner should study the classic Rider-Waite Smith deck from which most decks, books and systems are based on. Seemed like sound advice, so I went and bought myself a deck at the bookstore. That was about three years ago, I think.

I didn’t start playing around with the deck until a few months later because I was basically in the “witchy closet” and unsure and scared about getting caught with a tarot deck. Crazy, right? Anyway, I tried to do a “one card a day” study where I would pull a card and scrutinize that card for a few minutes, but for some reason I would get a headache after. Maybe I was forcing it? I don’t really know, but I stopped after only three cards and the deck went back into hiding. LOL.

It would be a year before I started thinking about tarot again. I picked up the Practical Magic deck, a collage deck by one of my favorite tarot sources. The PM deck is pretty awesome and it opened me up to learning about the cards again and learning how to use them for self-discovery, introspection and reflection. It wasn’t long before I picked up another deck, the Mesquite Tarot, on an impulse. After playing around with those two decks for a couple of months, I suddenly felt ready to take on the Rider-Waite Smith deck.

Deck interview with the Rider-Waite Smith deck

I wanted a fresh start with the deck so I decided to do a tarot deck interview. I used this tarot deck interview spread by Little Red Tarot and it yielded some pretty interesting results.

1 – Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?

King of Swords – “Cutthroat Communicator”; authoritative, strategic, intellectual, logical; exhaustive research before decisions, wields clarity of thought like a superpower.

This basically tells me the RWS deck is definitely no-nonsense and straightforward. It also tells me I would be really forced or “encouraged” to analyze and think about things to understand the message of the cards. Sounds about right.

2 – What are your strengths as a deck?

Six of Wands – “Victory Dance”; optimistm, victory, self-belief; all about achieving our goals and winning, “encouraging you to keep going”, “we can and will overcome”

I love this. This tells me that this deck believes in me and believes in encouraging me to keep going, to be resilient in my pursuit of tarot and that it will be with me all the way.

3 – What are your limits as a deck?

Page of Cups – “Beautiful Dreamer”; romantic, caring, visionary, sensitive; “spiritual seeker”

I wasn’t so sure about this one. Perhaps, it means the deck is limited to how much the user (me!) is open and willing to understand. That this deck is only as useful and/or powerful as the reader is as caring or willing. Does that make sense?

4 – What are you here to teach me?

The High Priestess – “Intuition”, “perception, guidance, hidden knowledge”; “the answers lie within”, let your intuition flow, connect back to yourself

Oh my gosh, right? This just tells it to me straight. The deck is here to help me connect to my intuition. To find the truth, the answers within. To learn how to go inward. And isn’t that what we use the cards for? I was amazed that this is the card that showed up for this question.

5 – How can I best learn and collaborate with you?

Knight of Wands – “Fire cracker”; spontaneous, charming, adventurous, energetic, pursuit of passion and creativity; take risk, to boldly put yourself out there and go for what you truly want. Also a reminder to engage our brains.

This tells me I can learn and collaborate best by being open and passionate about it, by being unafraid to take risks and go for my truth. Also to rein in all that energy and passion so I won’t burn out.

6 – Potential outcome of our relationship

Nine of Cups – “You can get what you want”; blessings, accomplishment, emotional contentment; happy conclusion and plans coming to fruition.

Oh-kay. This basically tells me I can achieve what I want or I can do what I desire with this deck. That this deck can help me in my study of tarot, and help me connect with my intuition and inner power. That is, if I really want that.

So there you go. The Rider-Waite Smith doesn’t hold back. Maybe I did have reason to fear it a little bit, but doing this interview spread really helped me gain a new appreciation for this deck and has made me look forward to using it more.

Today’s rambling: I kind of miss the blogging of old

July 28, 2021October 4, 2019 by Leah@WSP

I’ve been in a major blogging and reading rut for the longest time, right? I mean, I’ve done a few book reviews and spotlights here, but I don’t post as much as I used to, back when I was at the height of my book blogging or whatever. And it sucks ’cause I actually like my blog for what it is. It’s just hard to keep up sometimes.

Anyway, since I haven’t been inspired to write about anything, I decided to do a little cleaning up instead. I went back in time to check my very first posts on this blog and my gosh it’s been such a trip.

I went back to my oldest posts to either:

delete them (I have so many useless posts I can’t even)
switch them to private (some posts are downright embarrassing and I haven’t decided yet whether to edit or delete them, or keep them in private for whenever I need a laugh or something); or
edit them (apparently I used to blog in all lowercase and it annoys me now and I can’t stand having these posts stay that way haha; I’m not done with this one, it’s so tedious. Gah.).

Reading my old blog posts was such a laugh trip. I can’t believe I wrote those things and PUBLISHED THEM ON THE INTERNET. I mean, WHAT? Haha.

Seriously though, I kind of miss those old blogging times sometimes.

It was fun. It used to be so simple. And it was personal. I’d write about random things, random thoughts, stuff that happened that day, and it was just that. A short update of my life, an insight into my head – my god was I weird (still am, btw, ahaha huhu). And sometimes I had interactions with friends – some I knew personally, some I met in the blogosphere – in the comments. It was just plain fun. (I get why LiveJournal was so big back then, even though I never got into it.)

I started blogging to de-stress from work and it really did help. It was just cathartic. Also, as I mentioned above, I didn’t care about things like proper capitalization and what not (annoying though, I mean, why didn’t I??? Seriously. LOL.). I didn’t care whether anyone read or cared about what I wrote. There was some sort of freedom with it, I guess.

Then it became harder to blog right around the time I upped and quit my corporate job and went freelance. I became too busy trying to earn a living and get settled in as a work-anywhere girl. I also became more self-conscious about what I wrote because my posts would reflect on me as a freelance writer. Not long after that I also got book blogger burnout. Too many books to review, too little time. All my fault really for taking in so much.

Anyway, I’m still hopeful about this blog. I don’t know if I’ll ever blog as consistently as before, but I know I’ll keep on trying to fill this space with stuff. And I don’t really care who reads it or not. I think. Haha.

Okay, rambling over. I still have silly “all lowercase” posts to edit.

T-Shirt Thursday! Yay!

July 28, 2021September 12, 2019 by Leah@WSP

Goodness, I haven’t done a T-Shirt Thursday in ages.

But I remember spying a few cute and cool ones in my inbox a few weeks back (you know I’m subscribed to a few graphic tee newsletters), so I decided to do a little bit of browsing.

Here are some of my latest favorites. Enjoy! :)

-1UP by Pedro Josue Carvajal Ramirez (Threadless) – I love art about classic video game stuff so I find this really cute. I miss this game. Do you miss this game, too?

It’s A Living by Michael Buxton (Threadless) – I just found this funny. Heyo, all you home-based, remote workers out there, whatup? LOL. What?

Kaiju Road by Pigboom Kaboom (Threadless) – I don’t care what anybody says, I love the Pacific Rim movies. They’re just fun. I don’t get why the jaegers and kaijus have to do hand-to-hand combat first before the robots can bust out their cannons and swords, but hey, it’s entertaining, right?

Duality by Radiomode (DesignbyHumans) – I might have featured this here before or maybe not. This design makes me a little sad because it makes me think about what we’re doing to the planet. Right?

Magic Symbols For An Alchemist by EVA3 (DesignbyHumans) – Anything that has to do with magic, I’m all for it! This one’s neat.

And that’s it.

Thanks for reading. Bye! :)

Images via Threadless, DesignbyHumans

Cover Reveal: Thorn by Intisar Khanani (plus a $25 Giveaway!)

January 27, 2024July 8, 2019 by Leah@WSP

Today we’re celebrating the new cover of Thorn, a fairy tale retelling by one of my favorite fantasy authors, Intisar Khanani! Yayyy.

Intisar Khanani self-published Thorn back in 2012 and I even had the chance to review it. I loved it and I have been a fan of Intisar’s work since then. The novel is being re-released under HarperTeen and I’m excited for everyone else to discover this book.

Check out the new cover below! Then read an excerpt and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a Thorn-inspired prize pack and a $25 gift card (for one US winner) or a $25 gift card (for one non-US winner). Enjoy!

About the Book
Title: Thorn
Series: A standalone in the “Dauntless Path” world
Author: Intisar Khanani
Cover Designer: Jenny Zemanek
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: March 24, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Price: US $18.99 (Hardcover), US $9.99 (e-book)
Synopsis:
A princess with two futures. A destiny all her own.
Between her cruel family and the contempt she faces at court, Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life. But when she’s betrothed to the powerful prince Kestrin, Alyrra embarks on a journey to his land with little hope for a better future.
When a mysterious and terrifying sorceress robs Alyrra of both her identity and her role as princess, Alyrra seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl.
But Alyrra soon finds that Kestrin is not what she expected. The more Alyrra learns of this new kingdom, the pain and suffering its people endure, as well as the danger facing Kestrin from the sorceress herself, the more she knows she can’t remain the goose girl forever.
With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds and ultimately must decide who she is, and what she stands for.

Advance Praise for Thorn

“Thorn is a lovely atmospheric fairytale fantasy about a girl and her found family. I loved it!” – Gail Carriger, New York Times-bestselling author of the Parasol Protectorate series

“Intisar Khanani is in my top five favorite authors writing today. A stunningly talented storyteller whose lyrical writing just blows my socks off every time I read her.” – Grace Draven, USA Today bestselling author Eidolon

Book Links

Universal Book Link (All Stores): http://books2read.com/thorn

The following links will direct readers directly to their “local” store for their territory:

Amazon: https://smarturl.it/thorna
Apple: http://smarturl.it/thornit
Barnes and Noble: http://smarturl.it/thornbn
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/thornk

About the Author

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

“Princess Alyrra,” the king says. I rise and lift my eyes to his. He studies me as if I were a prize goat, his gaze sliding over me before returning to my face, as cold and calculating as a butcher.
“We have heard tell of you before.”
“My lord?” My voice is steady and calm, as I’ve learned to make it when I’m only half frightened. For all my prayers, there’s no sign of softer traits in the man before me.
“It is said you are honest. An unusual trait, it would seem.”
Dread curls tight in my belly. I force some semblance of a smile to my lips. There is no other answer I can give that my family will not despise me for. My brother has gone rigid, his hands pressed flat against his thighs.
“You are most kind,” my mother says, stepping forward.
The king watches me a moment longer, leaving my mother waiting. Just when I thought I might finally escape my history, how my family sees me, I find I am mistaken. There is no better future to hope for now. The king has come for me, knowing full well I am nothing to my family.

Giveaway

In celebration of the cover reveal, the author will be giving away a THORN-inspired prize pack including a great snowy owl enamel pin, a gorgeous “quill” style calligraphy pen set, a hand-painted watercolor feather on a page from Thorn, and a “fairy dust” candle. The prize pack plus a $25 Gift Card will be awarded to one US winner. She is also offering a $25 Gift Card to one non-US winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall (and a $25 Giveaway!)

September 3, 2024June 27, 2019 by Leah@WSP

Ohai! I’m here again with my review of Knightmare Arcanist by author Shami Stovall. It’s my second book by the author and this one’s a young adult fantasy. Not gonna lie, even though this is YA (I’m not usually a fan), I jumped at the chance to join this blog tour because I really enjoyed the last book of hers that I read (see my review).

The story of Knightmare Arcanist centers on a young outcast fighting for his dream of becoming more than what the world thinks he is. It doesn’t sound too different from most YA fantasies, right? But, hey, this was pretty fun and I enjoyed it!

Read more about the book below, check out my review, and check out the interesting excerpt. And of course, enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win goodies. Yayyy..

About the Book
Magic. Sailing. A murderer among heroes.
Gravedigger Volke Savan wants nothing more than to be like his hero, the legendary magical swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma. First he needs to become an arcanist, someone capable of wielding magic, which requires bonding with a mythical creature. And he’ll take anything—a pegasus, a griffin, a ravenous hydra—maybe even a leviathan, like Ruma.
So when Volke stumbles across a knightmare, a creature made of shadow and terror, he has no reservations. But the knightmare knows a terrible secret: Ruma is a murderer out to spread corrupted magic throughout their island nation. He’s already killed a population of phoenixes and he intends to kill even more.
In order to protect his home, his adopted sister, and the girl he admires from afar, Volke will need to confront his hero, the Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma.
A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.
Add on Goodreads. Buy on Amazon or B&N.

Good story, interesting characters, cool magic concept, promising start to a series

This book was fun and I enjoyed it.

Volke, apprentice to the gravekeeper, belongs to the lowest of the lows in his island and is doomed to remain so for the rest of his life. He longs to rise above that and become an arcanist, a wielder of magic like his idol, master Gregory Ruma, but to become one he has to bond with a mythical creature. He ends up bonding with a knightmare, a rare creature of shadows. But there is something wicked happening to magic everywhere and the knightmare’s suspicions point to the great Ruma. To protect all that he holds dear and to protect magic itself, Volke has to not only master his new powers, but also find out the truth about Gregory Ruma before it’s too late.

I was in a pretty okay mood when I started this book and I finished it in a day. The book is an easy read, well-paced. I didn’t get bored at all. There’s a lot of action and good scenes with different characters. The plot is also interesting and well drawn out. It’s a great start to a series that still felt like a complete story.

The characters are interesting and well developed. Each character is distinct and complex in his or her own way. Even the non-human characters. I like their interactions because you can see how different and “real” they are. I actually like all of the teens in this book and that’s a good thing for me because I have a tendency to get annoyed with young characters.

I also like the magic concept. It’s unique and refreshing. I like the idea that magical creatures can choose the person they can grow in magic with. And that they develop a trust and dependence as both the creature and their chosen person grow stronger, more powerful – or even the opposite – together. It’s pretty cool.

The book is basically about young folks coming into their own and into their magic and doing great things. I would love to read the next in the 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.

About the Author

Shami Stovall relies on her BA in History and Juris Doctorate to make her living as an author and history professor in the central valley of California. She writes in a wide range of fiction, from crime thrillers to fantasy to science-fiction. Stovall loves reading, playing video games, entertaining others with stories, and writing about herself in the third person.

Connect with the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Read an Excerpt

I outlined a fresh grave for the cemetery as bells rang from the isle’s tower, signifying the start of the celebrations. The soil reeked of ammonia and rot, but the crisp morning breeze washed the scent away, dispersing it over the ocean. I removed my shirt, allowing the wind to cool me while I worked.
Every ten years, the people on the Isle of Ruma gathered to watch the fledgling phoenixes bond with a few chosen mortals. Lamplighters did their duty despite the glorious sunshine, each lamp’s fire representing the flames of phoenixes. Merchants cleared their horses and carts from the main road in anticipation of the crowds.
This was my second Day of Phoenixes. A decade ago, on my fifth birthday, I missed the bonding ceremony to attend my father’s trial. He was convicted of murder, but because he hadn’t been born on the island, he was taken to the mainland for final judgement. That was the last time I saw him.
Although the last Day of Phoenixes had been inauspicious, I intended to change that. Once I had finished digging a shallow grave, I would make my way into town.
I slammed the shovel’s head into the dirt and scooped deep. The cemetery sat near the edge of the island, far from those gathering to observe the hopeful students trying to win the favor of the phoenixes.
Tradition stated that anyone who handled sewage, waste, and dead bodies wasn’t allowed to attend the bonding ceremony, which was just my luck. After my father was sent away, I could’ve been given to any profession for apprenticeship. I could’ve gone to the carpenter and learned the craft of woodworking, or I could’ve gone to the silversmith and learned the art of fine metal work, but misfortune hounded me like a shadow. I was given to the gravekeeper, slated to dig corpse-holes until the end of time, forever exiled from the festivities.
I still intended to go. Even if it meant ignoring the traditions of the isle—something unheard of on our tiny spit of land—no one could stop me from proving myself to a phoenix. No one.

Giveaway

The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Enter away using the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment on the other hosts’ blog posts; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

Spotlight: Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall (plus a $25 Giveaway)

July 28, 2021June 18, 2019 by Leah@WSP

Hullo! Today we’re having a book blast for Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall. It’s out now and available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Yay!

I joined this book blast because I read one of the author’s books, The Ethereal Squadron, not long ago and I really enjoyed it. I’m also posting a review of Knightmare Arcanist next week, so watch out for that.

In the meantime, read more about the book, check out a cool excerpt and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $25 GC!

About the Book
Magic. Sailing. A murderer among heroes.
Gravedigger Volke Savan wants nothing more than to be like his hero, the legendary magical swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma. First he needs to become an arcanist, someone capable of wielding magic, which requires bonding with a mythical creature. And he’ll take anything—a pegasus, a griffin, a ravenous hydra—maybe even a leviathan, like Ruma.
So when Volke stumbles across a knightmare, a creature made of shadow and terror, he has no reservations. But the knightmare knows a terrible secret: Ruma is a murderer out to spread corrupted magic throughout their island nation. He’s already killed a population of phoenixes and he intends to kill even more.
In order to protect his home, his adopted sister, and the girl he admires from afar, Volke will need to confront his hero, the Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma.
A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.
Add on Goodreads. Buy on Amazon or B&N.

About the Author

Connect with the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Read an Excerpt

A flash of rain pelted the entire city, but only for a few seconds, as though the heavens coughed and forgot to cover their mouth. The man secured his pack shut, protecting his vegetables.
“Oh, this again,” he said.
“Does this happen often?”
“Storms happen frequently enough,” he replied. “This ain’t no storm, though. It’s those flashy arcanists. They like makin’ a show. Just you wait. You’ll see somethin’ good yet.”
Making a show?
I headed toward the docks. Despite the creeping chill, I moved with energy and purpose. Crowds of people clogged the roadways, making travel by foot damn near impossible, even for an arcanist. Frustrated, I jumped onto the wheels of a nearby carriage and used the extra height to pull myself onto the roof of a building. The A-frame roof made for a steep trek, but the tiles were easy to grip, even when wet.
Once on top, I turned my attention to the nearest pier.
A tremendous flash of lightning lit the sky. Thunder chased after, strong enough to rattle the windows and pierce straight to my bone. Luthair shifted through the shadows as another round lit the sky. I knew some arcanists could control the weather, but I had never seen a demonstration so showy before.
A flurry of snow soon followed, but like the rain, it lasted only a few seconds. People lifted their hands in the air, trying to catch the snowflakes as they approached the earth. Most evaporated before anyone could hold them, but I managed to catch a few on my tongue.
The ocean waters beyond the docks swirled into whirlpools. Two cyclones of saltwater rose upward, forming pillars of ocean as thick as forty oak trees, each stretching straight to the sky.
Rapt by the show of magic, I almost didn’t notice the massive leviathan snaking through the ocean. Its shiny scales glistened with each new flash of lightning. The serpent-like body must’ve been as long as ten galley ships and as thick as a three-mast sailing ship. Although the mystical creature never lifted his head out of the water, I already knew who he was.
Decimus—Gregory Ruma’s legendary leviathan.

Giveaway

The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Enter via the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other book blast stops and comment on the blogs for more chances of winning. The tour stops can be found here.