Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Surviving exile and imprisonment should have been a victory, but the battle is just beginning. With a new awareness and tenuous control of her growing power, Janir returns home to find half the Brevian High Lords want her dead.
When Saoven is ordered by his king to remain close, it seems the elves suspect her as well. To make matters worse, whispered rumors claim that a Stlavish noble house, the Vanmars, are plotting to invade and Karile is sure that Janir’s childhood home is a part of it.
Ensnared in the machinations of kingdoms, Janir must confront the power that is her heritage before everything she loves is destroyed.
I added The Secrets of the Vanmars by Elisabeth Wheatley to my TBR on 10.16.23 and I received it from the author. I have been reading Elisabeth Wheatley’s stories for some time now and I don’t know how I missed this one. I’ll be remedying that as soon as I get caught up on my review books. The Secrets of the Vanmars is the second book in the Argetallam Saga. It’s a teen/young adult novel of fairy tales and folklore and sword and sorcery. I love getting lost in a fantasy world and Elisabeth Wheatley makes it so much fun.
Beware. These are not your nice and gentle, pretty merpeople, but HE stands out from the rest, at least in Alex’s eyes.
She doesn’t know…
He’s forbidden to tell…
Could the old legends be true?
Is there one special woman, waiting for him to find her?
Could she be human?
It’s hard to come up with new and unusual moments in a familiar tale, but Alice Renaud succeeded. I was quickly drawn in by the world and characters. Some hot romance is in order and, even though it was heavy, it was also sweet and innocent. I loved this wonderful adventure in Alice Renaud’s fantasy world. An easy read and it left me wanting more. Just proves, predictable can be very enjoyable.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Merman’s Choice by Alice Renaud.
4 Stars
For centuries the shape-shifting mermen of
the Morvann Islands have lived incognito among humans. But one of them, Yann,
has developed some bad habits. Like rescuing humans, even when doing so risks
revealing his true nature. When he fishes Alex out of the sea, he doesn’t
expect her to reappear eight months later, and turn his life upside down by
asking him to be her guide.
Alex is determined to fulfill a promise to her
dying grandmother, by gathering pictures and stories of the Morvanns. But she
soon discovers that, on these remote Welsh islands, legends have a habit of
becoming true!
Over the course of a few days, Yann and Alex grow
close. But some mermen hate humans. Their hostility, and Yann’s secret,
threaten to tear the couple apart just as they are discovering that they are
soul mates. Can Yann overcome the obstacles in his path and make the right
choice?
I immediately began reading Music for a Merman by Alice Renaud, after finishing Book I, A Merman’s Choice. I was so enchanted with the world Alice created, I had to know what comes next. I love that, without looking at the blurbs, I anticipated it would be Rob Regan’s story to be told next and I am really looking forward to it.
Rob Regan is a rookie cop….and a merman. A warrior of the Regan Clan.
A woman, lying the in the middle of the road, right in front of a digger that is part of a development that many in St-Sulien opposed. I love how Alice Renaud incorporated our current social media and click happy culture. These touches of realism add those elements that make a book special to me.
Oh yeah. I am buckling my seatbelt for a bumpy ride, when I visualized Charlie’s seductive smile. I think Rob will have his hands full and I anticipate some laughs along with some lovin’.
I love that Alice Renaud created characters that are opposite of the characters in Book I, A Merman’s Choice. It keeps the stories fresh and exciting. I do love a spunky, flirtatious, snarky girl having fun with the shy, naive, hunkalicious cop.
Even though I know where we’re going, Alice Renaud throws in a surprise or two along the way to a happy ever after.
Who’s next? We have done two of the three clans, so I foresee someone from the Dooran Clan being spotlighted next.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Music for a Merman by Alice Renaud.
4 Stars
“Rob Regor knew that humans were trouble.
All the shape-shifting mermen of the Morvann Islands knew it. And human women
were double trouble, especially when they were lying on the road in front of a
digger.”
Rob has a mission. Go to the mainland. Work as a
policeman. Find out as much as possible about the mainland humans. Report back
to his father, the head of the Regor Clan. It should be easy.
Until he has to arrest Charlie. Rob can’t fight his
attraction to the sexy eco-warrior, and it puts him on one hell of a collision
course with his family and his Clan. Will he break the rules – or break her
heart, and his?
Unfortunately, I got behind. Hurricane Sally came through with a vengeance and we were without power for five days. I WILL get to this ASAP, because I do LOVE my merpeople.
Caltha the fierce shape shifting
mermaid has no time for romance… but Jonty the warlock has a few tricks up his
sleeve!
Caltha Dooran is the
toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three
Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and
asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say
no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they
soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities
pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two
souls together?
Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now and the third, “Mermaids Marry in Green,” will be released on 1 November. Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS “Mystic Desire” anthology, out now. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested!
I have read Abigail Owen’s The Shadowcat Nation Series, The Svatura Series,The Fire’s Edge Series and now, The Inferno Rising Series. I even met her at the RWA Convention in Las Vegas a few years ago. I’ve tried to find the photograph, but I have so many and did a bad job of organizing them, so I am on the case…I will find it.
The Blood King is book II of the Inferno Rising Series and I am lovin’ every minute I am in their world. We have love and romance, danger and battles that have me flying the unfriendly skies, swooping, flipping, feeling the wind blowing through my hair, freezing, the feeling of freedom…well, everything has it’s good and bad. LOL
Saying Skylar is feisty is putting it politely. She doesn’t make it easy for anyone to get close to here but her sisters. They are Phoenix and they are highly desired for their abilities and because dragons believe whoever has a Phoenix will be high king.
Of course, I am looking for some romance…How about you? When Skylar meets Ladon Ormarr, the sparks start flying and never quit. I love how he ‘tames’ her. LOL Like that can be done. It won’t be easy , but they ride the rollercoaster of love to a happy ever after.
Maul, what can I say about Maul. Have you ever met a Hellhound? I love him!
Battles will be fought, lives will be lost. The battles are fierce, betrayal abounds, enemies become friends, new alliances are made, and their world becomes a better place. Saying a better place just popped into my head and I was going to change it, but seeing the place we live in now leaves me wanting, I’ll take fantasy land any day of the week.
I loved the haters to lovers premise, and the snarky banter, with sexual tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. BEWARE…it does get HOT.
I love that Abigail Owen has Skylar saying she had always wanted to fly with the Blue Angels. Now, as Sklyar watches the dragons in formation, she feels as if she is. I salute you Blues! They are very familiar to me. I love how she describes the dragons as moving together, like a flight of birds.
Well, this is the first time in a long time that I scrapped my notes and WINGED it. LOL
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Blood King by Abigail Owen.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr must keep his throne at all costs. And now, with war on the horizon, he’ll need a miracle. Luckily, the fates have dropped Skylar Amon right into his lap.
Except he may have met his match.
The feisty Amon sister has no fear — of him or any other dragon shifter — is brash, doesn’t stick to protocols, and regularly offends his warriors and advisers.
Skylar also has no intention of sticking around. She doesn’t believe in the whole destined mates thing and believes all dragon kings to be dangerous. But if it means taking out the High King who murdered her parents, she’ll put up with Ladon… temporarily.
But the fates have other plans. And when Skylar disappears in the middle of a battle, Ladon will burn down the world to find her.
ABOUT ABIGAIL OWEN
Award-winning
paranormal and contemporary romance author, Abigail Owen was born in
Greeley, Colorado, and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in
Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are
the center of her universe.
Abigail grew up consuming books and
exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of
Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career
related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric
(Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing
without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Monsters do not exist. There is nothing hiding in your closet waiting for the lights to dim and your eyes to close. Santa Claus isn’t real, and neither is the Tooth Fairy.
From the lips of parents to the ears of their maturing children, these confessions have been passed down from generation to generation. Marcus believed in the world’s magic, and was crushed after learning it was a lie. With no good deeds rewarded, or bad behavior punished, he wandered through life destined for mediocrity.
That was before he awoke in a world surrounded by mythical beings, and thrust into a conflict between humans and the nightmares they created.
With his home world on the brink of destruction, and the population of legends losing their grip on sanity, Marcus has little time to bring peace between the opposing factions. Aided by an unlikely band of “fictitious” creatures, he reluctantly sets out to unravel the mysteries of Godsworld.
I added Godsworld by Alden Scott to my Goodreads TBR on 10.6.12. I have no idea why I added it, but after reading the first paragraph of the blurb, I think I will enjoy it. I do like a good fantasy and ‘fictitious’ creatures sure does sound interesting. How about you? Do you believe in monsters?
Join Us for this Book Series Tour from Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020!
“A Wrinkle in Time meets The Princess Bride.” – Review by Lee Lee Thompson, The Perpetual You Magazine
“Chute’s novel weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages.” – US Review of Books
“Fast and bizarre… Never a dull moment.“ – Foreward Reviews
SERIES DETAILS:
Series Title: The 8th Island Trilogy by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs) (368 to 448 pages) Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: Jun 2018; Oct 2019; Apr 2020 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Series Description:
The 8th Island Trilogy includes Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun.
Over the three books, we follow the adventures of a quirky family, the
Wellsleys. The main characters are frumpy senior citizen Archie, his
daughter-in-law, Tessa, and his ill fourteen-year-old granddaughter
Ella.
Archie, searching for his missing son, accidentally transports his
family—and a cruise ship full of people—to a magical planet. There, they
uncover the truth: all worlds are dying. Yet hope is not lost. A way to
restore all that will soon be destroyed is revealed, along with the
realization that Ella will play a role no one could have
imagined—especially not her.
On the mysterious island of Jarr-Wya, many races of
creatures battle for dominion and magic lurks around every corner. When
the world falls dark, that is when bravery must shine the brightest, and
the Wellsleys will reveal the strength they never knew they
possessed—as well as the power of love to save the day.
Books in the 8th Island Trilogy:
Book Details:
Book Title: Above the Star by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs), 368 pages Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: Jun 2018 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Book Description:
When frumpy senior citizen Archie goes in search of his missing son in
the Spanish Canary Islands, he stumbles upon a higher mission: locating a
magical cure for his ailing fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Ella.
Using a portal-jumping device called the Tillastrion, Archie and a
stone-headed creature named Zeno are transported to Jarr-Wya, a
magnificent yet terrifying island in a connected realm―along with Ella
and her strong-willed mother, Tessa, who accidentally stow away on this
not-so-secret quest.
What they find on Jarr-Wya is an island tortured by a wicked Star
anchored in the sea, and a raging three-way battle for dominion between
the stone-wielding Bangols, the fiery Olearons, and the evil Millia
sands. Ella’s wit and resourcefulness emerge in this new world, while
Tessa is forced to confront her long-buried secrets and a confusing new
love triangle. When Ella is captured, Tessa and Archie―with the help of a
company of peculiar allies―set out to save her and unravel the terrible
mystery of her cure. A mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night adventure of
three unlikely heroes, Above the Star reminds us that even the smallest
act of bravery can transform our lives and the fates of the worlds
around us.
Book Title: Below the Moon by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs), 448 pages Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: Oct 2019 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Book Description:
Ella Wellsley is not your typical teenager. Cancer left her mute, but
not powerless. Trapped in a parallel dimension, Ella rallies her
strength to join her family―her mother, Tessa, her grandpa Archie, and
her magical boyfriend―in locating the cure to her illness. This cure is
entangled in the fate of all worlds, and threatened by the presence of
an evil Star anchored in the sea. The Star has thrown life everywhere
into chaos―and it is Ella who holds the key to unlocking its mystery.
Caught in a web of betrayal, mistaken identities, secrets, and love
triangles, Ella, Tessa, and Archie must overcome their troubled pasts to
ensure a future for all worlds. On this journey―armed with unearthly
abilities and unexpected allies―each member of the Wellsley family will
learn the power of love in the face of their greatest fears.
Book Title: Inside the Sun by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs), 384 pages Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: April 2020 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Book Description:
All worlds are dying, and it’s up to one broken and dysfunctional family from Earth―the Wellsleys―to save the day.
Cancer-ridden Ella celebrates her fifteenth birthday beneath an
enchanted mountain, but it is what lies even farther below―the
mysterious Star in the sea―that demands she grow up quickly. While Ella
grapples with the sacrifice she must make and the lies she is forced to
tell, her mother, Tessa, is hell-bent on protecting her.
Through bizarre encounters, love-sick Tessa realizes that she is not the
lonely orphan she believes. Her husband, Arden, and father-in-law,
Archie, are not the only ones with magical bloodlines. This revelation
changes everything. As Archie chooses to embody his unexpected ancestry,
he learns that leading the charge in the ultimate battle against evil
won’t be as easy as he thought. He’ll need his family―and the strange
allies he has gained―by his side to give Ella enough time to set things
right.
Can they defeat the unstoppable Millia sands―and another unexpected
foe―before everything they hold dear is destroyed? Or will their
adventure tear them apart for good? The finale to The 8th Island Trilogy
will hold you spellbound until the final page, and long after.
Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning author, artist,
photographer, art curator, filmmaker, and public speaker. She has
received over 40 noteworthy distinctions for her visual and literary
work. Her award-winning fantasy series The 8th Island Trilogy includes,
Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. The series has been
described as “A WRINKLE IN TIME meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE” by The
Perpetual You magazine, and “Fast and bizarre… never a dull moment” by
Forward Reviews. The 8th Island Trilogy “weaves STAR WARS-like
characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for
blooklovers of all ages” – US Review of Books. Chute’s bestselling
memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy
After Loss, was a top Kirkus title of 2017 and received a plethora of
other literary distinctions. The memoir was accompanied by the feature
documentary of the same name, which has screened internationally for the
last three years. Chute received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and
Design from the University of Alberta, Canada, and studied at Media
Design school in Auckland, New Zealand. She graduated valedictorian with
her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in
Cambridge, MA, USA. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker. She has
presented on art, writing, bereavement, and the healing capacities of
creativity around the world. Contact the Author/Artist for bookings
info@alexismariechute.com When not in her art/photo studio or at her
computer, Chute loves to spend quality time with her family, read
fiction and non-fiction, watch reality TV, paddleboard, and canoe. She
is not a winter person but lives in frosty Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
with her husband and their three living children.
I shared Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber for a tour, but I didn’t read and review it until the author asked me if I would like a copy. Of course, I said yes and I am so glad I did.
I have a thing for trees and love the cover. How about you?
I was first drawn to Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber when I saw the cover. I love trees, whether real or fantasy.
What would you do if you are ambling along a familiar trail, and all of a sudden, you find a tree that was never there before? I think I would run, but before they can decide to do the same, things begin to change with every step they take and they are whisked away, into another world.
Sarah, Dana, Ciara and Megan are in for the time of their lives and I am along for the ride. Katie Zaber did a fantastic job creating a world filled with wonder and magic. I quickly became immersed in her world, created in vivid detail with characters I immediately became involved with.
Of course, we have to have one who is in the spotlight and that will be Megan, though all peripheral characters have very important parts to play to make this book a whole. Each has their own personalities and talents that will come in handy. They are tight and their ‘family’ grows as the adventure moves along.
Action and adventure abound and they find their destiny in a place they never could have imagined. Of course, we have to have a bad guy, and he hits very close to home, but there is someone involved who never shows their face. Are they there to save her, or want her for themselves. AND why do they want her? I am curious about who this ‘person’ is and maybe I will find out in the next book, which I hope Katie is rapidly writing.
As I searched around, Ashes and Blood is the only book I have seen by Katie Zaber. If this is her debut novel, she did a bang up job and I can only imagine what is to come. I plan on being along for the ride.
If you are looking for a story to get lost in and escape the real world for a while, I highly recommend Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“I’ll start at the beginning. Long ago, before roads, before we built structures, before medicine was discovered, before the government was created, before man gained any knowledge, there were The Five. Independent from each other, The Five had a mutual respect for one another. They knew their roles in the world and their duty. They were gods…”
An adventure begins when an otherworldly tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends. The environment morphs around them, transferring them to an exotic planet. Stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague, a chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment period.
While settling into new, promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus on Megan. One dark night, after an epic, magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange world, and it is oddly more like her own than she ever would have expected.
ABOUT KATIE ZABER
Katie Zaber is originally from Southern New Jersey. Her childhood home is just minutes from the Long Beach Island Bridge. When not writing, Katie can be found at wine tastings, sun bathing at the beach, going for hikes, screaming at Six Flags, reading, or in her favorite place, her kitchen, baking desserts and breads. She currently lives in Morris County, New Jersey with her boyfriend.
Taste My Wrath Debbie Cassidy (The Iron Fae #1) Publication date: June 18th 2020 Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
A dead earth, a handful of survivors, and a game that could wipe out humanity.
I was one of the few humans to be saved by the shining ones. Powerful beings who came from the stars just in time to stop the annihilation of mankind.
But they’ve been here before.
Earth was once their home and humanity has another name for them. Fae.
Now we live in iron cities paying for haven as workers and conscripted warriors.
We owe them after all.
Until they ask too much.
The Regency Tournament is about to begin. A test of prowess for the shining ones to determine which House will rule their people for the next century.
And we humans? We’re the prey.
But I didn’t survive earths almost destruction to be hunted like a beast.
If I’m going to go down, then I’ll be taking these pointy eared wankers with me.
And I have an advantage. A shadow companion—protective but tough. My mentor has trained me in the art of survival. With his smooth dulcet tones in my head, and his shadowy form at my back, I’ll no longer be prey.
And when I hunt the shining ones, they won’t even see me coming.
An Urban Fantasy Romance adventure. Experience the magic of the Fae set against a Post-Apocalyptic back drop in a dystopian world.
Debbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head – in a totally non psychotic way of course. She writes Urban Fantasy, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.
Isn’t this such a cute cover for Bad Fairy by Elaine Kaye?
Title: Bad Fairy
Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book One)
Author: Elaine Kaye
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Fantasy Middle Grade
Length: 66 pages
Age Range: 8-12
BLURB: Thistle Greenbud is not a bad fairy. She
simply doesn’t like rules, and it’s just her luck that her homework is to
create a new rule for the fairy handbook. But first, she has more important
things to do. Like figure out how to get back at Dusty and Moss for playing tricks
on her.
Before she can carry out
her plan, though, disaster strikes and she finds herself working alongside the
very fairies she wanted revenge on. Can they work together and trust each
other, or will things go from bad to worse?
As we watch the boys,
the wind picks up, making the fern lay flat, exposing us. We gasp and make a
dash for the closest tree. Behind it, we huddle together.
“Boogles! A branch just
hit me,” Weedy says.
The sky turns black.
Wind swirls dust and leaves, and spits pebbles at us. This is not good. We have
to get going now or else our payback will get blown away.
“Let’s go!” I scream and
lead the group from behind the tree, but the wind makes it hard for us to move
forward.
Rose and Lilly grab
hands as they run, screaming, toward the creek. Lacey stumbles over a fallen
twig, landing flat and hitting her face hard on the ground. When she doesn’t
move, I race to her as sand and pine needles prick my skin.
I help Lacey to her
feet. Luckily, she only has a few cuts on her face. A tiny bit of blood streaks
down her forehead. She looks at me. Fear is bright in her eyes. She needs help.
We all need help. I peer toward the creek. The boys are still there, frantically
trying to lift the bag full of stones.
Shouting a warning and
waving my arms, I hurry to the creek, trying to get their attention. Finally,
Dusty sees me. He looks as if he’s been caught with his hand in the pixie jar.
I point to the sky and
wave them to come our way. Rain starts to fall. Dusty pulls Moss from the
creek. Fat drops of water pelt my head and wings as I wait for the boys to
reach me.
“It must be a twisty!”
Dusty screams. “We better find shelter.”
GIVEAWAY:
3 Signed Paperback Picture Books –
Pea Soup Disaster, Doctor Mom, The Missing Alphabet
Eligibility: International
Number of Winners: One
Giveaway Ends: July 1, 2020 12:00am Eastern Standard Time
Elaine Kaye is the author of A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster. Bad Fairy is her middle grade debut and the first of A Bad Fairy Adventure series.
Kaye has worked as a
library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine
State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu,
Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
“I’ll start at the beginning. Long ago, before roads, before we built structures, before medicine was discovered, before the government was created, before man gained any knowledge, there were The Five. Independent from each other, The Five had a mutual respect for one another. They knew their roles in the world and their duty. They were gods…”
An adventure begins when an otherworldly tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends. The environment morphs around them, transferring them to an exotic planet. Stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague, a chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment period.
While settling into new, promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus on Megan. One dark night, after an epic, magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange world, and it is oddly more like her own than she ever would have expected.
Read an Excerpt
Megan
Today has been a whirlwind, and I’m not looking forward to tonight. I’m positive the elite members of society will flaunt their latest ensembles. A competition among the wealthy to win a proverbial pat on the back for the best dressed. A sport for the rich. They won’t work up a sweat—that’s for the poor. Instead, they compete with wits and money. Women prancing around wearing cage ball gowns, adorned with priceless jewels. Their main goal is to uncover juicy gossip while competing for the wealthiest bachelor. Men swirling this world’s version of expensive scotch talk business and watch women swoon. It can’t be very different from Earth’s aristocratic affairs, not that I ever attended. Movies and the internet displayed enough information to know what to expect.
I had assumed it would be a rather humdrum affair, but my opinion changes quickly, standing before the colossal golden doors. Realization hits me. I am so naïve.
It feels like I’m walking into a fairy tale, but the darker Brothers Grimm version.
Beautiful, handcrafted, golden double doors depict a grand party. Intricate artwork chiseled into the doors displays two long banquet tables of food, roasts on fancy platters, piles of vegetables, and dainty desserts. Between the buffet tables, people adorned with masquerade attire dance. They wave, inviting everyone to the party. Guests laugh, drink, and enjoy themselves under the watchful king. The artwork depicts the king having fun, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he studies everyone, meticulously watching individuals, judging their personality, appearance, and demeanor while in his presence. A crooked smile peels his lips back—it hints at his sly and cruel nature. I can’t help but look at the doors and realize this is a perfect portrayal of what awaits me.
Instead of a warm welcome, it’s a stern warning.
About the Author
Katie Zaber writes new adult fiction. With multiple projects spanning from being transported to an alternate universe, to past lives, reincarnation, and trapped souls, to prophesied pregnancies—there are more stories to tell. She lives in North New Jersey with her boyfriend.
From my TBR: Escape From Samsara by Nicky Blue is the first book in the Prophecy Allocation series, but does stand alone. At the time I created this post, the book was free…so be sure and check it out.
Just looking at the cover makes me think this could a FUN one.
Escape From Samsara by Nicky Blue is all about Barry, a gardener that believes he is a ninja, and his wild adventure to find his missing father, with a talking bush to help him, all the while Nicky Blue’s twisted comedic personality shines through the written words.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
He thinks he’s a deadly ninja. He’s not. He’s Barry Harris and he still lives with his mum.
Barry’s been patient, but after twenty-seven years of trimming hedges for people he hates, he’s had enough. All he wants to do is to find his missing father and to discover his inner ninja. But life’s not done with throwing him curveballs.
A fatal mistake catapults Barry into the adventure of a lifetime. With talking hedges, samurai ghosts, meddling psychotherapists, and an inexplicably non-linear time pattern conspiring against him, Barry must do battle to save his hide, unleash the ninja within, and rescue his father from an ancient army, a dark sorcerer and a raging inferno.
What is the mysterious Prophecy Allocation Department?
Where is The Before and After?
Even more importantly, Will Barry’s underwear hold out until he has saved the day?
ABOUT NICKY BLUE
Hi, I’m Nicky, I am from Brighton in England. I grew up fascinated by books like Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected and t.v. shows like The Twilight Zone. I have a passion for writing sci-fi and dark comedy. Stay updated with my work and get two of my free ebooks at: nickyblue.com/read
