Blog Tour [Review]: Never Say Chai by Kirsten Weiss ($10 Giveaway)

September 3, 2024September 2, 2021 by Leah@WSP

Today we’re featuring a cozy mystery, Never Say Chai by Kirsten Weiss. Have to admit, it was the “Tea & Tarot” bit that got me interested in joining this blog tour. Plus the story seemed fun, so I dove in. I’m glad I did!

Read on to know more about the book. Don’t forget to enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win a a $10 Amazon or B/N GC!

Never Say Chai
It’s Halloween season in small town San Borromeo, and Abigail and Hyperion are determined to make Beanblossom’s Tea & Tarot spooktacular. But when Hyperion’s boyfriend, Detective Tony Chase, is arrested at Beanblossom’s for murder, the duo is certain someone’s playing a nasty trick. And when the official investigation turns into a witch hunt, the stakes to unearth the truth are raised…
But a clever killer has plans to squash their investigation… and the two amateur detectives. If they don’t solve this puzzle—and fast—it will be out of the cauldron and into the fire for them both.
Never Say Chai is the fourth book in the Tea and Tarot cozy mystery series. A fast-paced and funny cozy mystery, packed with quirky characters, pets, and murder! Perfect for fans of Jana DeLeon, Janet Evanovich, and Donna Andrews. Buy the book and start this hilarious caper!
Tearoom recipes in the back of the book!
Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, Google Play, or Kobo.

About the Author

Amazon bestselling author Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop. Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Connect with Kirsten Weiss: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub | Email

Fun and fast-paced mystery

I liked it. This was a fun read. Light, humorous and fast-paced with interesting characters.

Abigail and Hyperion seem like such a fun duo and I enjoyed their banter and dynamics. This is the fourth book in the series but it can stand on its own. Sometimes though I did feel like I missed out a lot on how their friendship and partnership became what it is, but that didn’t really take away from the story. It just made me curious about what happened in the previous books.

The story is not really deeply complicated, but it’s intriguing enough to make you keep reading. The book manages to keep you guessing til the end.

Overall, this book was an easy and enjoyable read. I liked the little tarot bits sprinkled in there. If you like cozy mysteries or want something light that you can breeze through, you might enjoy this one.

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

Read An Excerpt

There are some things that should go without saying. For example, don’t leave a coffin in your business partner’s driveway. It’s just not done.
But there was a coffin in my driveway. And it had wheels. I looked from the black coffin to the yellow bungalow. Yep, it was my house. Just above the peaked roofline, fog blurred a watery sun.
“Do you have any idea why there’s a coffin in my driveway?” Because there was really only one person who would put one there. I tore my gaze from the wooden coffin to Hyperion. “And why is it on wheels?”
He shifted his weight. “Didn’t I mention the coffin race?”
“No.”
“Why’d you think I had a t-shirt cannon?”
“I still have no idea why you’ve got one.”
“For the coffin race.” He patted the coffin’s hood.
I waited.
“I entered Beanblossom’s in the race,” he said patiently. “We’re going as the Death card. I’ve got a scythe and everything.”
“A scythe at high speeds. What could go wrong?”
“It’ll be like in one of those Italian medieval morality parades. Did you know those parades most likely spawned the Tarot’s major arcana cards?”
“Oh, boy.”
“Or was it the Renaissance?” He shook his head. “They were in Italy. I know that much.”

Giveaway

Kirsten Weiss will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Visit the other tour stops for more chances of winning: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2021/07/book-blast-never-say-chai-by-kirsten.html

Blog Tour [Review]: Planet Dead by Sylvester Barzey

September 3, 2024June 3, 2021 by Leah@WSP

Today we have horror fantasy Planet Dead by author Sylvester Barzey. I don’t read a lot of zombie novels and though I’ve watched a few movies, I never really considered myself a fan of zombies. I liked the look of Planet Dead though and wanted in on this tour.

Well, I’m glad I joined because this book was pretty good! Read on to know more and check out my review!

Planet Dead
Genre: adult, horror, fantasy/paranormal
Diversity tags: author of color (black author); poc representation (black female lead; bipoc characters; lgbtq+ characters)
Publication date: 06 August 2017
Publisher: Self-published
Cover design: Ravenborn Covers
Synopsis:
When the world goes to hell in a zombie handbasket, you find out that true evil hides among the living!
Catherine Briggs is having a messed up year. Her car got stolen. Her family thinks she’s dead. There’s an unwelcome late night visitor at her door.
Oh yeah! And the world’s become infested with zombies!
Catherine is on a mission to find her family, no matter the cost. Yet, fate seems to have other plans. Flesh eating zombies, Killer Clowns, and a number of other batshit problems await her in… Planet Dead: Bloodthirsty
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mature language, blood & gore, sexual violence, violence
Add this book on Goodreads.

About the Author

Sylvester Barzey is a best selling horror and fantasy author who grew up in Bronx, NY and was later transplanted to Lawrence, GA. A military veteran with an addiction to all things horror, Sylvester’s goal is to shine a spotlight on BIPOC characters within the horror/fantasy genre.

Connect with the author on Website, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Facebook.

Fast-paced and exciting with a really kickass protagonist

Wow, this was a wild ride. Very fast-paced, has a lot of exciting and terrifying things happening, super action-packed to say the least, and with a very badass protagonist, Catherine Briggs, who we meet right off the bat.

I really like Catherine Briggs. Physically and mentally strong, no-nonsense and very determined to find her family. She’s smart and knows how to fight. She really, truly is a badass, but she also has a vulnerable side to her and that was pretty cool, too. She’s hardened by everything that has happened to her, but she still has a lot of good in her.

There’s some hard core violence in this and some events that are truly horrifying and none of them have anything to do with zombies. It’s actually part of what I love/hate about zombie books, movies and shows – it’s the evil that people do to each other that gets me. That’s the real horror of it all and Planet Dead doesn’t shy away from it. I thought it was done well.

Overall, this was a gripping read for me. The twists were really something. I kind of saw one of them coming (ugh, that “Mrs. Briggs”), but I enjoyed how it all played out. I’m excited to read the rest of the series.

If you like zombie stories, you’ll probably enjoy this one! If you want to start or try reading about zombie stories, this is a good place to start.

Note: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher and Caffeine Book Tours as part of my participation in their tour. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

Follow the #PlanetDeadTour and check out more reviews of the book! You can find the tour schedule here: https://caffeinebooktours.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/planet-dead-tour

Blog Tour: Bolder Guilt-Edged by Janice Tremayne (plus an ebook giveaway)

September 3, 2024May 26, 2021 by Leah@WSP

Today we have Bolder Guilt-Edged, the third instalment in the Zack Bolder supernatural suspense series by author Janice Tremayne. I reviewed book one, Bolder Blindsided, back in January and it was not a bad read.

Read on to know more about the book, check out my short review and read an excerpt. Enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win an ebook copy!

Bolder Guilt-Edged (Zack Bolder #3)
A demon hell-bent on playing psychological games to torment its victims. A guilt-edged past comes to the fore to be relived again. Can Bolder overcome his mental suffering and destroy the voracious demon?  
In the Australian ghost town of Ravenswood in North Queensland, a gruesome suicide occurs after the famous annual Halloween ball. Bolder is called in by Detective Wellock to help track the evil incarnate responsible.  
However, has Zack Bolder met his match? Can a trained parapsychologist by the Church withstand the guilt-edged torments of the demon? This poltergeist dangles psychology as its weapon by tempering that frail part of the mind to those that get in its way. Bolder is taken back to relive dark secrets—ridden and guilt-edged.
  Can Bolder overcome this tempest of the mind and save the town before more people take their lives?
Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Janice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning ghost and supernatural writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in fiction-supernatural and was awarded the distinguished favorite prize for paranormal horror at the New York City Big Book Awards 2020.

She is an emerging Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her recent publications, Haunting in Hartley and Bolder Blindsided, reached number one in the Amazon kindle ranking for Occult Supernatural, Ghosts and Haunted Houses categories hot new releases and bestseller. Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing ghost and supernatural novels for new adult readers.

Connect with the author on her website, via email or on Facebook.

Review: a fast-paced and easy read

Bolder Guilt-Edged is another interesting supernatural mystery. It feels very similar to the first book – same type of setting, a few scenes that felt the same, similar plot – and maybe that’s just because the books are part of a series that basically tackles the same thing: eerie and supernatural mysteries in small towns known for ghost stories.

One thing different from the first book though is that we get to find out more about Bolder’s back story and the reason why he does what he does. Actually, the book kicks off with that so that was really interesting to read and elements of it are interspersed in the whole book.

We also get to read more of Bolder and Wellock’s dynamic, which is quite fun and amusing though I wish Wellock did more “sleuthing.” Sometimes he just felt like Bolder’s bodyguard or assistant with a gun. I’d like to read more about him uncovering clues and what not instead of just going with what Bolder says. Although I can’t blame him about that since Bolder’s the one who’s tuned in on the paranormal. I don’t know how Wellock can do more when it comes to their cases, but I’d love to see more of him being a detective. (Sidebar: I love procedural TV shows, so maybe that’s why I want to see Wellock shine. LOL.)

Anyway, this wasn’t a bad read. The ghost encounters are gripping and there was a scene (or two) that’s the stuff of nightmares. It has quite a closing scene, too. I mean, yikes!

If you like supernatural mysteries, you might like this one!

Note: I received an ebook copy of this book as part of my participation in this blog tour. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read an Excerpt

Bolder handed him the book of prayers and marked out the section containing the love of worship. “We plan to compel the negative energy to leave her body and direct it to another place—to cross over to the other side. We are lightworkers, remember? Not exorcists.”
“I can at least bless her with holy ointment … can’t I?”
Bolder nodded and said, “Well, why don’t you start with that first?”
Father Brennan walked toward Kelly as the old rustic timber floors creaked underneath. He opened his small container with holy ointment and brushed his index finger across it. Then he gently marked her forehead with the sign of the cross.
“In the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit … amen.”
Kelly jolted as though something had bitten her and her body trembled for a few seconds. She was still sleeping but aware of what was going on around her.
“What was that?” said Bolder.
“What was what?”
“You mean you didn’t see it? The dark shadow that was standing beside her.”
“I didn’t see it … but I felt something gripping my hand.” Father Brennan was perplexed.
An ominous image of a woman in a faint white dress glided across the bed—motionless and stoic but holding her stomach with both hands in hurtful prose. Within seconds it was gone with barely enough time for Bolder to capture a glimpse of it.
“I sense something else in the room,” Bolder said.
A pulsating wave of energy screeched from within, penetrating the bodies of Father Brennan and Bolder. They shook from the sensation—there was no movement or breeze, and the windows to Kelly’s room shut. But it still required they hold their balance as the snappy spiritedness vibrated their eardrums with a ringing noise.
“Whatever is in here is not going to give up with prayers of love,” said Father Brennan. He was ready to launch into a full-blown exorcism.

Giveaway

Janice Tremayne will be awarding 5 digital copies of the book during the tour! Enter via the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the other tour stops for more chances of winning! Find the tour schedule here:
https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2021/03/vbt-bolder-guilt-edged-by-janice.html

Blog Tour [Review]: In The Jaded Grove by Anela Deen

September 3, 2024April 28, 2021 by Leah@WSP

Today we have In The Jaded Grove by author Anela Deen! This is a good one, folks! Not gonna lie, it was the cover that first caught my attention, then I read the synopsis and was even more intrigued. Anyway, I’m really glad to be in this tour and I can’t wait for you all to read this book!

Read more about In The Jaded Grove and check out my review below! :)

In The Jaded Grove (by Anela Deen)
Author: Anela Deen
Genre: new adult, portal fantasy
Diversity tags: author of color (biracial); poc representation (filipino main character); lgbtqiap+ representation (queer secondary characters)
Publication date: 15 April 2021
Publisher: Fine Fables Press
Cover artist: Jenny Zemanek
Synopsis:
Simith of Drifthorn is tired of war. After years of conflict between the Thistle court and the troll kingdom, even a pixie knight known for his bloodlust longs for peace. Hoping to secure a ceasefire, Simith arranges a meeting with the troll king—and is ambushed instead. Escape lies in the Jaded Grove, but the trees of the ancient Fae woodland aren’t what they seem, and in place of sanctuary, Simith tumbles through a doorway to another world.
Cutting through her neighbor’s sunflower farm in Skylark, Michigan, Jessa runs into a battle between creatures straight out of a fantasy novel. Only the blood is very real. When a lone fighter falls to his attackers, Jessa intervenes. She’s known too much death to stand idly by, but an act of kindness leads to consequences even a poet like her couldn’t imagine.
With their fates bound by magic, Simith and Jessa must keep the strife of his world from spilling into hers—except the war isn’t what it appears and neither are their enemies. Countless lives depend on whether they can face the truths of their pasts and untangle the web of lies around them. But grief casts long shadows, and even their deepening bond may not be enough to save them from its reach.
On-page Representation: Filipino (main character), secondary sapphic characters
Trigger and Content Warnings: Violence, trauma, grief, death of a loved one (in the past – not on page)
Add this on Goodreads.

About the Author

A child of two cultures, this hapa haole Hawaiian girl is currently landlocked in the Midwest. After exploring the world for a chunk of years, she hunkered down in Minnesota and now fills her days with family, fiction, and the occasional snowstorm. With a house full of lovable toddlers, a three-legged cat, and one handsome Dutchman, she prowls the keyboard late at night while the minions sleep. Coffee? Nah, she prefers tea with a generous spoonful of sarcasm.

Connect with the author on Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and on her Website.

Incredibly fast-paced, exciting and well-written fantasy

I don’t read a lot of fantasies with pixies, fairies and fae, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I’m glad now that I decided to give this book a go. I really enjoyed it!

In The Jaded Grove is incredibly fast-paced, which I really liked. There’s always something interesting on every page. The writing flows well, so I found it pretty easy to read.

I like the characters – complex enough, likeable and even relatable. Jessa and Simith both carry a lot of pain in their hearts and it was beautiful to read about them working with it and through it. The secondary characters, Jessa’s friends, are also great and I would actually love to read more about them. Also, I love that the main character Jessa is Filipino. I enjoyed the bits about the culture thrown in.

The book has amazing world building (another thing I absolutely love in fantasies). I like the author’s take on fairies, pixies, fae and trolls. It’s something I didn’t really expect so that was interesting to read.

There are very real and serious themes running through this book – grief and trauma, war and oppression – and they’re handled well and not overwhelming, for me at least.

I’m not entirely sold on the ending, but the whole book was so engrossing that I didn’t mind so much. If you like portal fantasies with complex characters and lots of action (lots of fighting scenes in this one), you might enjoy this one!

Note: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher and Caffeine Book Tours as part of my participation in their tour. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.

Also, please bear with how this review is written – present and past tenses all jumbled in! I can’t get it right at the moment, but I hope you get what I’m saying. LOL. Read this book! Thats all. :P

Favorite Quotes

Okay, these aren’t exactly actual quotes but the lines that struck me most in the book were the snippets from existing poems by well-known authors.

And into the forest I go,
to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir

Beautiful words.

Yet if hope has flown away,
 In a night, or in a day,
 In a vision, or in non,
 Is it therefore the less gone?
 All that we see or seem
 Is but a dream within a dream. 
 - Edgar Allan Poe

I commend the author for choosing these because they were just so apt and beautiful. I also appreciated the reading recommendations the author gave at the end of the book.

Follow the Kindred Realms Tour! Check out Caffeine Book Tours on IG for more tour stops and reviews of the book.

Book Blast [Review]: Realm Of Dragons, Fight For The Crown by L.C. Conn

September 3, 2024April 23, 2021 by Leah@WSP

Today we have Realm of Dragons: Fight For The Crown by author L.C. Conn! I like fantasy and I like dragons, and I just felt like joining this blog tour.

Read on to know more about the book and read an excerpt! Then enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win a $25 gift card. Woot!

About this book
The Realm of Dragons is in peril from hidden plots and conspirators, which threaten not only the crown, but the dragons that are at the very heart of it.
Teagan Loinsigh, long ago banished from her magical home of dragons now lives on Earth. Her dreams and memories of the great creatures are put down to fantasies and an overactive imagination, until one day she comes across a creature so unlike any other in the land she lives in. A baby dragon.
Muniath Magaoidh, a Dragon Warden fallen so low by a failed mission, must be brought back from his despair to retrieve what is lost.
Scetis Mordha, alone in the world since he was a child. Finds himself in the middle of intrigue and conspiracy against The Realm of Dragons.
Tying them all together is a dragon. Not just a dragon but The King of Dragons.
Can these four save The Realm of Dragons?
Add this book on Goodreads.

About the Author

L.C. Conn grew up on the outskirts of Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Her backyard encompassed the surrounding farmland, river, hills and mountains which she wandered with her brothers and fed her imagination. After discovering a love for writing in English class at the age of eight, she continued to write in secret. It was not until much later in life that L.C. turned what she thought was a hobby and something fun to do, into her first completed novel. Now married, L.C. moved from New Zealand to Perth, Western Australia, and became a stay at home mum. While caring for her family and after battling breast cancer, a story was born from the kernel of a dream. The first book of The One True Child Series was begun, and just kept blooming into seven completed stories, which have garnered great reviews. She continues her career with more stories waiting in the wings to be released.

Connect with the author via email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads or on her website.

Interesting fantasy about dragons!

This was a good read. I don’t know what I was expecting or if I was just in the right mood for this story, but I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It turned out to be quite interesting and when I had to take breaks from reading (because, you know, life) I found myself thinking about it and getting impatient to get back to the story.

I thought the writing flowed well and the pace was steady. I like that it was basically three stories (Teagan’s, Muniath’s and Scetis’s) that eventually came together. I like the characters, the main ones and most of the supporting ones. I thought they were hashed out well enough, though sometimes maybe a bit too good to be true, but I didn’t care. I liked the whole story and the dragon lore. There were some pretty good twists in there, too! If you like fantasies and dragons (like I do), you might enjoy this one.

Note: I received a copy of this book as part of my participation in this book blast. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read an Excerpt

“I don’t understand, what do you want to do?” she asked, collapsing to the hot rock.
“Stand before the fiery pit. Face your fear and grow into who you were meant to be.” His voice boomed not only in her mind but echoed off the circular cavern.
“I’ll die,” she whimpered.
“No, you will not. Now stand,” he commanded.
Slowly she got to her feet. Sweat dripped from her body in rivulets, stinging her eyes as she wiped her face on her sleeve to clear it. As she did, Gremlin moved and the full heat from the lava hit her. She stumbled back, but he supported her with his neck, holding her up. The fiery liquid turned her skin first red, then it started to blister. Teagan screamed at the pain and with fumbling fingers began to tear at the remaining clothes she had on. Now standing nude, her body shook as the outer skin burned away. It melted from her body, slipping, and exposing raw flesh underneath. A scream she so desperately wanted to release caught in her throat.
“Into the lake.” Gremlin commanded.
Each step she took was laboured. She tried to stop herself but found her body would not respond. Her mind screamed at the thought of the agony and death that she was sure awaited if she obeyed the Dragon King. But she went. Standing on the precipice, in a gap of the wall, the scream at last escaped her lips as she stepped down into the rock from the centre of the world.

Giveaway

L.C. Conn will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Get your entries in via the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the other tour stops for more chances of winning! You can find the schedule here: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2021/03/book-blast-realm-of-dragons-fight-for.html

Review: World Serpent Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #5) by Shami Stovall

September 3, 2024March 31, 2021 by Leah@WSP

Today I’m reposting my review of World Serpent Arcanist, the fifth book in the Frith Chronicles by author Shami Stovall. Yayyy.

Okay, I read this book in December last year but I realized a few days ago that I don’t have the review on this blog. It’s on Goodreads, but since I have my reviews of the first four books here, I thought I should also have it here, too.

Anyway, read on for more about this fantastic continuation to the series!

World Serpent Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #5)
Death. Destiny. The rise of god-arcanists.
Volke Savan has reunited with the Frith Guild just in time to help fight the Second Ascension, a group of power-hungry dastards bent on controlling the newly created god creatures. The world serpent is the first on their list, and if the Second Ascension manages to harness its power, the world will forever be changed for the worse.
But the Frith Guild has another plan. They intend to beat the Second Ascension to the world serpent and have it bond with someone trustworthy—a mysterious man who Guildmaster Eventide believes will usher the world into an era of peace.
As Volke struggles to improve his magic, and also become a mentor for a new knightmare arcanist, he realizes that this may be one adventure the guild never makes it back from…
Continue the Frith Chronicles with the fifth book, World Serpent Arcanist!
Add this book on Goodreads. Buy on Amazon.

About the Author

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

Does not disappoint. Another fantastic ride!

Great continuation to the series!

Volke is great as always, growing nicely into a skilled arcanist and into an even more genuinely good guy. I’m not a big fan of his, er, romantic links, but I do like the potential of one possible pairing.

The book is mostly about Volke since he’s the main character after all, but I would have liked to read more about the other characters, his pals from book 4 mostly – Fain and Adelgis. I mean, all Volke’s friends are in this, I just wanted to see more of them also growing into their magic.

Speaking of magic, this book is full of it and more. We get the usual stuff I’ve come to expect from this series – interesting magic concepts, fascinating creatures and lands, exciting fights, awesome twists. The twists at the end are pretty cool. I mean, I’m sure everyone who has read the series was probably thinking about this thing in some way or other, but what actually happens is just wild. It was nicely done, methinks. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

If you’ve been enjoying the other books, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

If you like fantasy and are looking for a new series to binge, I say pick up this one!

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

Read my reviews of the previous books:

Review: The Theft of Sunlight (Dauntless Path #1) by Intisar Khanani

September 3, 2024March 23, 2021 by Leah@WSP

It’s finally here! The Theft of Sunlight by author Intisar Khanani releases today and I’m here with a review of this amazing book.

Theft of Sunlight is the first book in a companion duology to Thorn. Some characters from Thorn appear in Theft, but the main character is Amraeya or Rae, who first appears in The Bone Knife, a short story included at the end of Thorn. I loved The Bone Knife so I was excited to read Theft.

Read on for more on the book and my short review! :)

Title: 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.
Purchase The Theft of Sunlight: IndieBound | Bookshop | Other Online Retailers

About the Author: Intisar Khanani

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

Purchase The Theft of Sunlight: IndieBound | Bookshop | Other Online Retailers

Awesome characters, creative and compelling story

Intisar Khanani is one of my favorite authors of all time because her writing is beautiful and she creates such interesting stories with incredible world building, complex and engaging protagonists, equally complex and intriguing supporting characters, and very real themes. The Theft of Sunlight has all of these, that’s why it was such a blast to read.

At the center of Theft is, of course, our main character Rae who has navigated through her entire life as a woman with a physical handicap, but she doesn’t let her own personal challenges get the better of her. We see her step out of her comfort zone, realize how much more capable she really is and come into her own. I love her interaction and dynamics with the other characters, especially the thief Bren. She gets into so many interesting and, more often than not, dangerous situations in her determination to find the truth, but she doesn’t let setbacks or fear stop her from doing what she believes is right. She’s pretty cool is what I’m saying.

And as if having a strong, admirable and relatable woman for a main character isn’t enough, Theft also has a story that’s compelling. Children are disappearing and there’s something dark and twisted behind it. There’s also some cool magic stuff, but it’s not overwhelming (though I’m hoping there will be more in the next book!). This book is a bit long, but it has some exciting bits that make you want to keep reading until you get to the *brutal* ending. LOL.

So there. I highly recommend checking out The Theft of Sunlight (and Thorn, if you haven’t read it yet). I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one!

In the meantime, I am patiently waiting for my pre-ordered physical copy to arrive. Woot.

Note: I received an e-ARC of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour [Review]: Bolder Blindsided (Zack Bolder #1) by Janice Tremayne + paperback giveaway (US/UK only)

September 3, 2024January 1, 2021 by Leah@WSP

So we’re kicking off the new year with Bolder Blindsided (Zack Bolder #1) by author Janice Tremayne!

Is it weird to start the year with a random book spotlight? Nah, right? I thought this book was intriguing that’s why I joined this blog tour and the post schedule that I happened to snag was this day, the first day of the year. I’d like to think that’s a good thing. Maybe it’ll mean I’ll be reading and reviewing books a lot this year. Hah! We shall see. ;)

Anyway, read on to know more about the book. Check out the blurb and my short review. Then if you’re in the US or UK, enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book! Enjoy!

Bolder Blindsided: A Zack Bolder Supernatural Suspense Thriller (Book 1)
An Australian alpine ghost town. A priest turned supernatural detective. A missing persons cold case. Will bolder track down the voracious demon?
When Detective Wellock hushers in Zack Bolder to investigate a missing person case in the Australian ghost town of Walhalla, they form the most formidable tag team of supernatural investigators, working for the police branch for unexplained crimes. Perched amongst the alpine area, this tourist backed ghost town is renowned for its gold mining past and stories of hardship, deprivation, and death. It becomes a perfect setting for an unexplained missing person’s cold case.
When Bolder realizes every demon has a weakness—it’s blindside, he confronts the demonic presence, head on for an ultimate encounter to save the town. As this evil entity is sly as a fox with more turns that a two-mile car racetrack, Bolder must be at his best to overcome the devil that has cursed the town since 1876.
Can Bolder uncover the curse that strangleholds the town and thrust out the evil entity before more innocent people go missing and suffer an imminent fate?
Bolder Blindsided is the first book of the Zack Bolder Supernatural Suspense Thriller Series. If you like a fast-moving, energetic, and nail-biting supernatural suspense thriller guaranteed to raise your heartbeat, then you will love this story by 2020 USA Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Finalist in Supernatural Fiction, Janice Tremayne.
Pick up your copy today and meet Zack Bolder!
Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book on Amazon US or Amazon CA.

About the Author

Janice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning ghost and supernatural writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers’ Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in Fiction-Supernatural.

She is an emerging Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her recent publication, Haunting in Hartley, reached number one on the Amazon kindle ranking for Occult, Supernatural, and Ghosts and Haunted Houses categories, for hot new releases and bestsellers.

Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing ghost and supernatural novels for new adult readers.

The concept of writing the Haunting Clarisse series was spawned over a cup of coffee many years ago, and she has not looked back since. Her books contain heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking ghost and paranormal experiences that deliver a new twist to every tale.

Connect with the author on her website, via email or on Facebook.

Super fast-paced, interesting supernatural detective story

This is a quick read with pretty straightforward writing. The text sometimes feels weird and not quite smooth in some places, but it doesn’t take away from the story. The whole thing is fast-paced and kind of reads like a sprint because there’s always something happening on every page.

Bolder and Wellock are a fun and interesting duo but I feel like more could be done with their character development. There seems to be so much more behind their individual back stories and how they started working together and it would’ve been nice to read more about them. I mean, we are given quick explanations, but a deeper dive would be nice. Maybe we’ll get more of that in the next books.

Anyway, the story is cool and exciting and, though I wasn’t terribly blown away, I enjoyed reading it. I’d read more of Bolder’s adventures.

If you like mystery and detective stories that involve hauntings and demonic possessions, you might enjoy this one, too!

Note: I received a copy of this book as part of my participation in this blog tour. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read an excerpt from Bolder Blindsided

The ghost wore a red-and-blue-checked shirt with suspended loose-fitted corduroy trousers, covered by an oversized sack coat and wavers for shoes—a type of waterproof gumboot. It had a white handkerchief tied around the neck and a broad felt hat. It peered with a skinny, sunken face, white and devoid of any existence. With an elongated nose and red bloodshot eyes—Gazza knew it was not from this world.
Gazza was a panderer, a good-looking guy that liked to mix with beautiful girls—he was not a fighter. And yet, he realized he was going to confront the most significant battle for his life. He stood firm, upright and arms folded—a natural reaction as his defence mechanism kicked into overdrive. But that could not hide his vulnerability as he trembled inside in fear for his life.
He continued flashing his torchlight at the phantasm circling him with prancing eyes, ready for its next move. Whatever happened to Jamie, I’m next, he thought.
The icy cold wind blew a gust across the mining shafts, and the moonlight made way for darkness as the clouds rolled in suffocating any virtue of hope. It was pitch black, and his torchlight was starting to fade slowly as the battery life dwindled. He tapped on his torch to get back the light he so desperately needed, but it was only temporary. The phantom continued circling and stomping on the hallowed turf, peering at him with penetrating eyes—ready to make its move. His phone torchlight was his next best thing, but that power source was also dwindling.
The phantom lifted a gold miner’s pickaxe and raised it into the air as a glitter of light reflected off the tips of the sharp end. Gazza instinctively covered his face by raising his right arm. The phantom came for him, and with an almighty swoop, the pickaxe fell on Gazza. He screamed for help, just like Jamie did—but no one was there to hear his final plight to the world. Had the demon murdered Gazza or taken him, prisoner?

Giveaway

Janice Tremayne will be awarding a paperback copy of the book (USA & UK) to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other tour stops and comment for more chances of winning! Find the tour schedule here: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-blast-bolder-blindsided-by-janice.html

Release Day + Review: Brambles by Intisar Khanani

September 3, 2024December 7, 2020 by Leah@WSP

Brambles by Intisar Khanani is out today! Brambles is a prequel novella to Thorn and gives Alyrra’s account of what happened years ago before the events in Thorn.

Read more about this story and check out my short review. Enjoy!

Brambles (Intisar Khanani)
In the kingdom of Adania, everyone knows what Princess Alyrra did to earn the court’s contempt, her mother’s disdain, and her brother’s hatred.
She betrayed her own.
Yet, the truth hides another story, one of honor and honesty, of a princess gambling her own life for another’s. It’s a tale of courage and consequences, and a choice that can never be undone.
A short story prequel to her multi-starred fantasy, Thorn, Intisar Khanani’s “Brambles” gives Alyrra’s account of what really happened all those years ago, and how a few critical days turned her life into a daily fight for survival.
Add this book on Goodreads. Get this book here.

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

My quick review

Brambles is a very quick read. I finished it in just a few minutes because it’s really short. Also, I’m already familiar with the characters and the author’s words flow so smoothly and easily (as always).

This is such a short story but it makes you feel so many things. It shows how strong, honorable and kindhearted Alyrra has always been even from a young age. You’ll find yourself rooting for her and absolutely hating everyone who makes her life so difficult.

Brambles is a good set up for Thorn (if you haven’t read Thorn). It makes you want to read more about Alyrra and her adventures. If you’ve read Thorn, Brambles provides a nice background to some things about Alyrra’s life.

Note: I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Get Brambles for 99cents here.