Jack Templar and the Lord of the Demons (The Templar Chronicles #5)

Jack Templar and the Lord of the Demons (The Templar Chronicles #5)

With two of the Jerusalem Stones in hand, Jack and his friends must race the clock to find the remaining Stones as Ren Lucre's Creach forces gather strength. With two of their group now with Creach blood flowing in their veins, the team will be tested as never before. They must unite together if they have any hope of surviving their journey to the Underworld and their battle with the vicious Lord of the Demons. The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.

Grab Your Copy Now!

Amazon

About author Jeff Gunhus:

Jeff Gunhus is the author of the Amazon bestselling supernatural thriller, Night Chill, and the Middle Grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book of the series, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His book Reaching Your Reluctant Reader has helped hundreds of parents create avid readers. Killer Within is his second novel for adults.

As a father of five, he and his wife Nicole spend most of their time chasing kids and taking advantage of living in the great state of Maryland. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel. If you see him there, sit down and have a cup of coffee with him. You just might end up in his next novel.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Giveaway:

Enter below for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash. Ends 8/28/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Nightborn (Thrones & Bones #2)

 Two weeks until Nightborn releases on July 14th! That's enough time to check out the first book, Frostborn, before picking up the sequel. Check out my review of the book below.

About the book:
From the author of "Frostborn" comes Book 2 in the acclaimed Thrones and Bones fantasy-adventure trilogy for fans of Lloyd Alexander and Brandon Mull. 

Karn Korlundsson is a gamer. "Not" a riddle solver. But in order to rescue his best friend, Thianna Frostborn, he will need to travel to the faraway city of Castlebriar (by wyvern), learn how to play a new board game called Charioteers (not a problem), decipher the Riddle of the Horn, and tangle with mysterious elves. 

Meet Desstra. She's in training to join the Underhand--the elite agents of the dark elves. When she crosses paths with Karn, she is not all that she appears to be. 

Everyone is chasing after the horn of Osius, an ancient artifact with the power to change the world. The lengths to which Karn will go in the name of friendship will be sorely tested. Who knew that solving a riddle could be so deadly? 

The novel includes instructions for playing the board game Charioteers. Visit ThronesandBones.com for additional games, maps, character profiles, and more!

Find it on:   Goodreads  Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Review:
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Frostborn, the first Thrones and Bones book, I knew that I had to read Nightborn, the second book in the series. Lou Anders' world intrigued me, and I wanted to see where he would take readers next. Luckily for me, the publisher sent me a copy to review. (Click here to see my thoughts about Frostborn)

Readers can enjoy the second book in the series without reading the first book, but I wouldn't recommend it. Lou Anders sets the foundation of Karn and Thianna's friendship in the first book, and it is the main reason Karn is so adamant about saving his friend, especially since Thianna is very different from Karn.

Nightborn takes readers further away from Karn's home. We discover more of Anders' world, and see different cultures incorporated into the storyline. Readers also learn more of the world's history. There is even a timeline in the back of the book that breaks down the history.

The story opens up with new characters, and an interesting twist to the capture the flag game. Readers learn that this is the "final exam" for the characters, and Dessetra is not going to lose! When graduation comes, she is forced to go on a special mission before truly graduating and joining the Underhand. Karn, on the other hand, is adjusting to his new normal. He's now a local celebrity after the events that happened in Frostborn, and he is stepping up to be hauld of the farm. Too bad he is taken and forced on a mission to retrieve a special item and find his friend Thianna.

Just like in the first book, Karn and Thianna have "bad guys" that they have to defend themselves from. Anders again incorporates mythical characters, this time elves, as key characters in the story. But this time, the dark elves are going after the same horn that Karn and Thianna are.
  
Desstra was my favorite character in the story. She is cunning, and the way she thinks is similar to Karn's way of thinking. Unlike her counterpart, Tanthal who uses the people around him and isn't afraid to hurt or kill them, Desstra shows compassion and mercy. Desstra isn't perfect though. She befriends and then betrays Karn. But when Tanthal tells her that she has to kill him, she finally does what is right, even if it means giving up on her lifelong dream. I look forward to reading about her in the third book and seeing how Anders continues to shape her character.

The story is wrapped up completely by the end of the book, just like in the first book. It ends with the characters setting out to explore more of the world. Thianna hasn't found out the history of her mother, after all. Now she has a worthy travel companion. I am interested to see how important Karn's role will be in the third installment.

Anders created another board game, Charioteers, for Nightborn. Just as he did in Frostborn, instructions, pictures, and rules are included in the back of the book. Readers can create their own board and play just as the characters do.

All in all, Nightborn is an adventurous story that is fun to read. It is perfect for middle graders, teens, and even adults. There is action and mystery.  It shows how true friendship is meant to be.

About author Lou Anders:

Lou Anders's research on Norse mythology while writing Frostborn turned into a love affair with Viking culture and a first visit to Norway. He hopes the series will appeal to boys and girls equally.

Anders is the recipient of a Hugo Award for editing and a Chesley Award for art direction. He has published over 500 articles and stories on science fiction and fantasy television and literature.

Frostborn, which Publishers Weekly described as “thoroughly enjoyable” (starred review), is his first middle grade novel. A prolific speaker, Anders regularly attends writing conventions around the country. He and his family reside in Birmingham, Alabama. 

You can visit Anders online at louanders.com and ThronesandBones.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter at @ThronesandBones



 

Frostborn (Thrones & Bones #1) review

About the book:
Meet Karn. He is destined to take over the family farm in Norrøngard. His only problem? He’d rather be playing the board game Thrones and Bones.

Enter Thianna. Half human, half frost giantess. She’s too tall to blend in with other humans but too short to be taken seriously as a giant.

When family intrigues force Karn and Thianna to flee into the wilderness, they have to keep their sense of humor and their wits about them. But survival can be challenging when you’re being chased by a 1,500-year-old dragon, Helltoppr the undead warrior and his undead minions, an evil uncle, wyverns, and an assortment of trolls and giants.

Review:
A couple of weeks ago Lou Anders was on the blog discussing the many elements that are incorporated in his book Frostborn. Now it's time to reveal my thoughts about the book...

My first thought before starting the book was, "A middle grade adventure book? O yes, I'm up for it!"

Kids (or adults) who claim that reading is boring should pick up the Thrones & Bones series. The opening chapter has readers riding with Talaria on the back of a wyvern. But not just riding, trying to escape. With pursuers right on their tail, Talaria and the wyvern must dodge projectiles being shot at them. Will they come out of it alive?!

After the action packed first chapter, Lou Anders, calms the story down and introduces Karn, one of the main characters of the story. Readers soon discover that this boy has brains. After Karn, we meet Thianna who is brave. Since she is only half frost giant, she has a thirst to prove herself to the other full blooded frost giants.

Thianna and Karn meet when each of their dads take them along for a gathering between the Norrøngard people and the frost giants. The two realize they don't have a lot in common, but are forced to survive together when  both run into each other while eascaping from separate evil foes. 

The story has multiple points of view. It is mostly told through Karn's and Thianna's viewpoints. I love how distinct each character's personality is. As they encounter obstacles on their journey, each one chooses to handle the situation their distinct way. For Thianna, it is physical, hands on, with a show of force. Karn, on the other hand, analyzes the situation and sees ways to outmaneuver an opponent to best him or her. You have brains and brawn with this duo!

The way both characters' situations are resolved are ingenious. Karn knows he won't be able to win in a physical fight, so he devises a plan to win another way. Thianna might be able to match her foes' physicality, but her enemies don't want her specifically, but rather something she has. With help from another character, the item won't be able to fall into her enemy's hands. 

By the end of the book, the plot line is wrapped up. Then Thianna decides to explore more of Lou Anders' world and takes off. Want to see what happens next, you have to pick up book two of the Thrones and Bones series, Nightborn.

All of the fantasy elements Anders incorporated in this book, made it fascinating. (You'll definitely check out his thoughts on creating Frostborn by checking out his post: Trolls, Dragons, and Draug... Oh My!) The book has no foul language and only very mild violence, so it is perfect for the middle grade target audience. It can also be enjoyed by boys and girls. I highly recommend it.

As an added bonus, Anders breaks down the Thrones and Bones game rules in the back of the book. There are illustrated examples of the game board and the moves each piece can make.  Readers can create their own game and actually play it with another player. 

But if you want a more digital gaming experience to go along with the story, check out the Knattleikr game!

About author Lou Anders:

Lou Anders's research on Norse mythology while writing Frostborn turned into a love affair with Viking culture and a first visit to Norway. He hopes the series will appeal to boys and girls equally.

Anders is the recipient of a Hugo Award for editing and a Chesley Award for art direction. He has published over 500 articles and stories on science fiction and fantasy television and literature.

Frostborn, which Publishers Weekly described as “thoroughly enjoyable” (starred review), is his first middle grade novel. A prolific speaker, Anders regularly attends writing conventions around the country. He and his family reside in Birmingham, Alabama. 

You can visit Anders online at louanders.com and ThronesandBones.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter at @ThronesandBones

The Tale of Willaby Creek releases today!

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Welcome to the release event for The Tale of Willaby Creek by Victoria Lindstrom! This is a middle grade adventure fantasy that has just released! 

About the Book: 

A magical tale of amazing sacrifice...

When a violent windstorm strikes an enchanted rain forest many of the woodland creatures of Willaby Creek are stranded, injured, or lost forever to the frenzied force of the tempest. Basil, a black bear full of doubt and fear, becomes the unlikely leader to head the woodland creatures' rescue. He is joined by Daphne, a spunky blue dryad; Oliver, a wise horned owl; Elbert, a noble elk; and a host of other creatures that inhabit the enchanted rain forest.

Dangerous twists and turns in this animal adventure fantasy cause Basil to discover a courage, and a conviction, he never knew he had. The answers to the ancient mysteries in this magical tale emerge in an extraordinary finale under the tall timbers of the hidden hinterland.

Add to your Goodreads shelf

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A note from author Victoria Lundstrom:
For seven years my husband and I owned a cabin on the shore of Lake Quinault, near Willaby Creek. We spent many weekends enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the Olympic National Forest. While there, we saw: Black bears, Roosevelt elk, eagles, herons, river otter, raccoons, one bobcat, and a host of other little critters.

In December 2006 the Hanukkah Eve Windstorm hit the Pacific Northwest causing severe damage to parts of the Olympic National Forest. One afternoon following the windstorm I wondered: What happened to all the animals? After that, a seed of the story that was to become The Tale of Willaby Creek tumbled into my mind.

As writers, we are told to write what we know; the setting for The Tale of Willaby Creek is definitely a familiar place to me!

Willaby Creek Falls

About the author:

VICTORIA LINDSTROM is a full-time writer, a voracious reader, and the author of the children's picture book, The Scandinavian Santa. She loves to wander through the woods, capture the beauty of Nature in photographs, and visit museums and fine art galleries. She and her husband, Michael, live near the shore of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. You may visit Victoria at: www.victorialindstrom.com

Facebook   Twitter @AuthorLindstrom   Goodreads   Pinterest 

Giveaway:

Enter to win one $50 Amazon gift card (INT), one hardcover copy of The Tale of Willaby Creek (US) and an ebook of The Tale of Willaby Creek (INT) as well as 3 bookmarks (US)

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Trolls, Dragons, and Draug… Oh My!

Today you are in for a treat! I am super excited to have Lou Anders on the blog discussing his book Frostborn. I heard him speak about his book several weeks ago, and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The story didn't disappoint. First, check out what Frosborn about.

About the book:
Meet Karn. He is destined to take over the family farm in Norrøngard. His only problem? He’d rather be playing the board game Thrones and Bones.

Enter Thianna. Half human, half frost giantess. She’s too tall to blend in with other humans but too short to be taken seriously as a giant.

When family intrigues force Karn and Thianna to flee into the wilderness, they have to keep their sense of humor and their wits about them. But survival can be challenging when you’re being chased by a 1,500-year-old dragon, Helltoppr the undead warrior and his undead minions, an evil uncle, wyverns, and an assortment of trolls and giants

Website   Twitter   Facebook   Goodreads   Thrones & Bones Knattleikr game

Amazon    Barnes & Noble
 

Lou Anders guest post:
Now, check out Lou talking about the different elements he incorporated in Frostborn. Without any further delay, here's Lou!

My novel Frostborn, which goes on sale in paperback today, takes place on an imaginary world, in a country called Norrøngard. It’s not a historical place, of course, though I modeled it heavily on Norway and the Norse culture. I believe strongly that credibility in fantasy comes from getting the small details right. Your readers will buy into a talking dragon as long as they believe that you got the exchange rate correct for arctic fox pelts and goat cheese. That’s why you won’t find any horned helmets in Frostborn. This may shock you, but the Vikings never actually wore horns on their head!

That’s correct—not a single horned helmet has ever been found in an archaeological excavation. Horned helmets were just an embellishment added by Scandinavian artists centuries after the fact, a misperception still perpetuated today. With apologies to Skyrim, How to Train Your Dragon, and the new female Thor (all of which are awesome), wearing handles on your face when going into battle is a really bad idea. In fact, as I’m fond of telling students during school visits, horns on helmets are as bad an idea as capes on superheroes (and we’ve all seen how that played out in The Incredibles, haven’t we?) That’s just one example of how I tried to be accurate to the history in crafting my fantasy.

The other place where I’ve tried to be accurate is in the portrayal of the supernatural. That may sound wonky— the idea of believably rendering the impossible. But I wanted to stay close to Scandinavian mythology. It’s a pet peeve of mine, in fantasy books and particularly in role playing games, when someone mixes up their monsters. I don’t want to go delving into a dark dungeon only to find a mummy in one room and a frost dragon in the next! In crafting the entire continent of Katernia, of which Norrøngard is just the westernmost corner, I’ve tried to make the monsters as regional as real world animals. So you won’t find gargoyles outside of Escoraine or Tatzelwurms beyond Nelenia. The sphinx of Neteru have wings. The sphinx of Thica do not. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

For Frostborn, this commitment to “monster realism” meant that we have trolls in Norrøngard, the quintessential Norwegian monster. We also have linnorms, the Norse equivalent of dragons (just as fierce but a little more serpentine that the traditional European variety). And we have draug (the “au” is pronounced like the sound in sauerkraut). Draug are often called “Viking zombies” but that’s not exactly correct. They are actually undead Norse warriors, buried in mounds below the earth, who like dragons enjoy dwelling amid all their hoarded treasures, and who enjoy messing with any living  person unfortunate enough to walk by their grave. Some can shapeshift, and some can swell to enormous size, but they are all bad news. The draug are some  of the scariest monsters in Norse mythology and writing them in Frostborn was a real joy.

To get all these details of culture and mythology right, I spent a lot of time researching. I studied what the Norse peoples ate, how they paid for what they bought, what their naming conventions were, what their values and prejudices were, how they dressed, how they lived, what their world looked  and felt and smelled like. I watched about twenty hours of a university professor lecturing at a podium on the Vikings, read books (both fiction and nonfiction), combed the internet, watched documentaries, researched sword fighting techniques, consulted experts, and even traveled to Norway on a research trip. All told, I think I’d filled a Scrivener folder with about 65,000 words of notes before I ever started thinking about plot. But this stuff is all tip of the iceberg, things that I have to know to build the story, but which only needs to bleed into the narrative in bits and bobs. It’s homework, basically, but if I’ve done my homework right, then it adds texture to a book that is fun and fast paced, at times humorous and at times scary, and at all times believable. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of pleasure, and as the Vikings (and thus the Norrønir) say, “No lamb for the lazy wolf.”

About author Lou Anders:

Lou Anders drew on a recent visit to Norway along with his adventures traveling across Europe in his teens and twenties to write Frostborn and Nightborn, combining those experiences with his love of globe-trotting adventure fiction and games (both tabletop and role- playing) However, he has yet to ride a wyvern. With the addition of characters Desstra and Tanthal, Anders hopes that his second book in the Thrones and Bones series will continue to appeal to boys and girls equally.

Anders is the recipient of a Hugo Award for editing and a Chesley Award for art direction. He has published over five hundred articles and stories on science fiction and fantasy television and literature. A prolific speaker, Anders regularly attends writing conventions around the country. He and his family reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

You can visit Anders online at louanders.com and ThronesandBones.com, on Facebook, on Tumblr, and on Twitter at @ThronesandBones and @LouAnders.

Find Lou   Website   Tumblr   Twitter   Pinterest   Instagram   Goodreads 

Moon Rise releases today!

About the book:
Just because the battle was won does not mean the war is over. Aein, Lars, and Finn are sent back to the swamps to protect the one object which may save their pack. But in the recent turmoil, the border has been left unguarded and nightmarish creatures are slipping through. There is a reason why two people must always be there to hold the boundary, a lesson which Aein, Lars, and Finn are about to learn.

Goodreads   Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Kobo   iTunes

Excerpt:
And then, without a word of warning, Finn bent down and pressed his lips against Aein's, his stubble rough upon her mouth.  His arms engulfed her, wrapping her so tight, she wasn't sure where her body ended and his began.  She felt herself melting, the heat chasing away all the horrors of the swamp.  The kiss was desperate and urgent.  It devoured her whole.  It was as if he needed to fit a lifetime of regrets and passion into that one moment.  It was as if he didn't trust she would be there for him ever to touch again.  When they parted, he rested this forehead against hers so he was still just a whisper away.

"Don't you dare die on me.  Don't you dare be the one I find in a heap, slaughtered by some monster because I wasn't fast enough getting back.  Don't you dare.  Live."

About author Kate Danley:

Kate Danley began her writing career as an indie author in 2010. Since then, she spent five weeks on the USA Today bestseller list, has been honored with various awards, including the Garcia Award for Best Fiction Book of the Year, and her Maggie MacKay series has been optioned for film and television development.

Her plays have been produced in London, New York, Seattle, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. She has over 300+ film, television, and theatre credits to her name, and specializes in sketch, improv, and Shakespeare. She wrote sketch for a weekly show in Hollywood and has performed her original stand-up at various clubs in LA. She learned on-camera puppetry from Mr. Snuffleupagus and played the head of a 20-foot dinosaur on an NBC pilot. She lost on Hollywood Squares.

Find Kate:   Website/Blog   FB Author Page   Twitter   Goodreads   Newsletter

Enchantress of Books Blog Tours

Jack Templar and the Lord of the Demons cover reveal & giveaway!

Today I'm excited to help reveal the cover of the fifth book of The Templar Chronicles, Jack Templar and the Lord of the Demons. This middle grade fantasy story promises to be filled with tons of action and adventure. The book releases on August 4th, but is available for pre-order on Amazon right now. Check out the cover and synopsis below, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!


About the book:
With two of the Jerusalem Stones in hand, Jack and his friends must race the clock to find the remaining Stones as Ren Lucre's Creach forces gather strength. With two of their group now with Creach blood flowing in their veins, the team will be tested as never before. They must unite together if they have any hope of surviving their journey to the Underworld and their battle with the vicious Lord of the Demons. The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.

Pre-order Your Copy Now!

Amazon

About author Jeff Gunhus:

Jeff Gunhus is the author of the Amazon bestselling supernatural thriller, Night Chill, and the Middle Grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book of the series, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born.

His book Reaching Your Reluctant Reader has helped hundreds of parents create avid readers. Killer Within is his second novel for adults.

As a father of five, he and his wife Nicole spend most of their time chasing kids and taking advantage of living in the great state of Maryland. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel. If you see him there, sit down and have a cup of coffee with him. You just might end up in his next novel.

Website   Twitter   Facebook

Giveaway:
Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.Ends 6/15/15

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Ensnared cover reveal and $25 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Welcome to the cover reveal of Ensnared by Kriston Johnson! Ensnared is the second book in The Legends of Elyndia series. The first book is Awakened. This is a young adult fantasy and will be available in August 2015.

About the book:
Facing monstrous demons, a ravenous dragon, and a malicious faerie queen are the least of Jade’s worries. 

It has been a fortnight since Jade confronted Draven, and he has emerged from the battle more terrifying than ever. Armed with a new plan and fueled with unrelenting determination, Draven casts a dark spell and calls forth new players that no one ever expected, bringing him one step closer to opening the portal to The Fathom.

Back at the Citadel, the people are divided and succumbing to the dark magic that threatens to encompass the entire realm. To unravel a tangled web of hidden truths, Jade plays a dangerous game of her own and works in secret to uncover something the Council is refusing to share. But the more she learns, the more she begins to question if she is doing the right thing.

Jade vows to bring an end to the madness she feels responsible for and works to harness her elemental power, but unforeseen consequences arise. Her power is growing beyond what she can control, and it’s on the verge of destroying her from within. 

Was learning to use her magical ability the beginning…or the beginning of the end?

Goodreads             

Check out book one, Awakened, available now!

   Goodreads   Amazon

 

About author Kriston Johnson:
Kriston Johnson lives in Southwest Washington with her husband, teenage son, and miniature Australian Shepherd. Her home rests at the fringe of an old growth forest that she insists is the home of Jason Voorhees. Her husband thinks that’s a ridiculous assumption, because everyone knows it’s really Bigfoot. Every summer Kriston participates in the annual pilgrimage to Faerieworlds, a real life faerie realm here on Earth, and has an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars, The Vampire Diaries, and Iron Man. 

Find Kriston:  Blog   Facebook   Twitter @KristonJohnson

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Ends June 3, 2015

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Marked (Servants of Fate #1) book review

About the book:
In a broken landscape carved by environmental collapse, Boston paramedic Cacia Ferry risks life and limb on the front lines of a fragile and dangerous city. What most don’t know—including her sexy new partner, Eli Margolis—is that while Cacy works to save lives, she has another job ferrying the dead to the Afterlife. Once humans are “Marked” by Fate, the powerful Ferrys are called to escort the vulnerable souls to either eternal bliss or unending fire and pain.

Unaware of Cacy’s other life, Eli finds himself as mesmerized by his fierce and beautiful partner as he is mistrustful of the influential Ferry clan led by the Charon—who happens to be Cacy’s father. Cacy, in turn, can no longer deny her intense attraction to the mysterious ex-Ranger with a haunted past. But just as their relationship heats up, an apparent hit takes the Charon before his time. Shaken to the core, Cacy pursues the rogue element who has seized the reins of Fate, only to discover that Eli has a devastating secret of his own. Not knowing whom to trust, what will Cacy have to sacrifice to protect Eli—and to make sure humanity’s future is secure?

Review:
The book opens with Cacy's first trip into the portal (veil). Then it flashes years into the future. Eli and his sister and changing cities for new jobs in a dystopian world. Dangers are all around them, but Eli's sister's research causes discord for the Ferrys and Ker. This puts them in even more danger. 

Though I've red stories about reapers, ferrys, psychopomps, etc.,  I enjoyed how Sarah Fine explained their role in her fictional world. Not only did Fine describe their roles, but she took readers into the veil to actually experience it. Even better, readers experience the veil from Cacy's point-of-view as well as Eli's. Cacy's knowledgeable about the veil and knows what dangers are there, while Eli accidentally found his way there. He did not know where he as the first time, and it was fun to see how he interpreted the new dimension/world.

This is definitely geared towards adults. There are several scenes where author Sarah Fine builds the sexual tension between the characters before anything formally happens with Cacy and Eli. It was nice to see a guy turn down the advances of a girl he really likes instead of taking the first opportunity to get with her. It made me like and really respect Eli. However, since this is an adult paranormal romance book, there is sex in it. It's done tastefully and isn't too vulgar.

There were basically three sections of the story. Eli finds out what Cacy is. He accepts that he loves her for who she is, but has to make a difficult choice. (Can't tell you what that is because it would be a spoiler!)  He makes the choice and has to live with the consequences.

There are traitors in the book. There are rouge Kers (the creatures that actually "mark" people for death). He/she/they have marked people before their time. There are traitors in the psychopomps organization too. Though some are discovered in the book, not all are. Readers will have to wait at least until the next book, Claimed, to find out more.

The book was well written. It drew me in and gave a good mix of description and action. The uniqueness of the plot made me want to keep reading. It isn't just a romance story. It has a ton of action and some mystery to it.


About author Sarah Fine:

I’m the author of several books for teens, including Of Metal and Wishes (McElderry/Simon & Schuster) and its sequel, Of Dreams and Rust (coming in August 2015), and the Guards of the Shadowlands YA urban fantasy series (Skyscape/Amazon Children’s Publishing).

I’m also the co-author (with Walter Jury) of two YA sci-fi thrillers published by Putnam/Penguin: Scan and its sequel Burn (which will be published in 2015).

My first adult urban fantasy romance novel, Marked, will be published in January 2015 by 47North/Amazon Publishing, with the sequel, Claimed, coming in March 2015.

When I’m not writing, I’m psychologizing. Sometimes I do both at the same time. The results are unpredictable.

Find Sarah:  Goodreads   Website   Facebook   Twitter   Tumbler   Pinterest

Guardians of Terath: Seeking Sorrow cover reveal & giveaway!

Welcome to the cover reveal for Guardians of Terath: Seeking Sorrow by Zen DiPietro! This is a modern fantasy with sci-fi and romantic elements. It is being published by Soul Mate Publishing on March 25 and will be available for preorder on March 14th.

About Guardians of Terath: Seeking Sorrow:
 An earth-like world of high-tech humans faces the reality that their world is not as safe as they thought it was. Five people are thrown together to quietly get to the bottom of an unfathomable mana event that must stay quiet. If the population of Terath becomes aware of the truth, it will spark a civil war. That war would pit the majority of the population against the powerful minority with the ability to harness and manipulate mana. The resulting cataclysm would decimate the population and tear apart the foundation of society.

The five people chosen for this must reconsider everything they thought they knew about mana, even as they learn to trust one another’s abilities. They must embrace everything they never wanted in order to prevent the devastation of their world. One of them will be forever changed. Love will be denied, badassery will be unleashed, and Terath will never be the same. 

Even success comes at a price.

Find it on Goodreads

About author Zen DiPietro:
 Zen DiPietro is a lifelong bookworm, a fantasy/sci-fi writer, a dancer, and a mom of two. Also red-haired, left-handed, and a vegetarian geek. Absolutely terrible at conforming. Particular loves include badass heroines, Star Trek, British accents, baba ganoush, and the smell of Band-Aids. Writing reviews, author interviews, and fun stuff at www.womenofbadassery.com. Very active on Facebook, Twitter (@ZenDiPietro), and Pinterest. You can also find her on Goodreads.

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Sceadu book trailer and giveaway

About the book:

All this while, Matilda’s shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it lunged out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.

Nine year old Matilda ends up with a century old book through a series of strange coincidences. And disappears. Her brother and cousins are forced to suspend their hostilities and pursue her to Sceadu, a land inside the human shadow. Once there, the reluctant visitors find themselves chased by the vicious Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. However, everything changes with the revelation of an ancient prophecy that foretells the doom of the world they left behind.

With the stakes suddenly raised, the children must now navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges, and unlock the secrets of the shadow. But can they do it in time to thwart the plans of the treacherous Hefigans? Or will they succumb to the guile of a ruthless enemy who is equally determined to destroy mankind?

Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.

Find the book:  Book website

Book Trailer:

About author Prashant Pinge:

Prashant Pinge is a published author of short stories and books in the genres of children’s fiction and young adult fantasy fiction. He also writes historical fiction and romantic comedies. His book, Raja & the Giant Donut, was shortlisted for the Economist Crossword Book Awards in the Children’s Writing category in 2011.

Prashant lives in Mumbai, India, with his wife, Avantika, and son, Arjun.

Find Prashant:     Author website   Author Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Goodreads

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Uncovering Cobbogoth book blast

About the book:
Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister.

When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter-sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before its too late to share her own.

Find the book: Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Praise for Uncovering Cobbogoth:
“With a fascinating protagonist in Norah Lukens, a fully realized, never before seen fantasy world, and a fast paced, compelling story, Uncovering Cobbogoth establishes Hannah L. Clark as a major new voice in American fiction. The richness of the story and the scope of the world she’s created screams for a film adaptation. This is a fantasy novel for everyone, even readers not usually drawn to the genre. Highly, highly recommended!”
-Bryce Clark, author of Red Shirt Kids

“This book takes you on a wonderful ride, bringing myth and legend to life. The characters are full and flawed, with a sweet romance woven through the adventure.”
- Annette K. Larsen, author of Just Ella

“Uncovering Cobbogoth is an Icelandic tale that will appeal to many Harry Potter series fans […] For those who’ve missed the Harry Potter world, here’s a pretty good alternative!”
- Sharon Haddock, For the Deseret News

“A friend of mine recommended this book […] I checked it out and I was so pleased! I love this book. I can’t wait to read the next one [...] and I am encouraging my daughter to read it as well. If you like fantasy with a little mix of science this book is perfect. I had such a hard time putting this book down just so I could deal with real life and working on promoting my own book. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book.”
-Pamela Hall, author

Author Hannah L. Clark
Hannah L. Clark lives with her husband and their son in the Rocky Mountains. She has always known she would be a storyteller. In 2006 she graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in English and immediately began writing Uncovering Cobbogoth, the first book in a seven book series based on Clark’s mythological brain-child, the Icelandic Legend of the Cobbogothians.

Clark loves her family, running, mythology, laughing, soulful bluegrass music, road-trips, studying alternative medicine, retro hairdos, and growing things. Like her heroine Norah, she also kind of believes trees have souls, but must clarify (for her parents’ sakes) that she was not raised by hippies.

Find author Hannah Clark: Website   Twitter   Instagram   Facebook   Pinterest

Excerpt:                
The Legend of the Cobbogothians is really where Uncovering Cobbogoth begins. For as long as Norah can remember, her Uncle Jack has been obsessed with the mythical people. He became an archeologist and world famous Myth-chaser because of the Cobbogothian legends he heard while visiting his Granddad Aegissida’s farm in Iceland.

The Legend of the Cobbogothians
Long ago, at the beginning of time, a peculiar race ruled the earth. They found favor in the eyes of the gods and received great gifts of knowledge and power at their hands. These gifts made them elementalists—masters of earth, wind, fire, water, metal, wood and space. The elementalists thenceforth became rulers of the earth and sky.

With this power came corruption, and the elementalists soon forgot their patron gods. Instead, they turned to worshipping themselves and their own creations. This angered the gods, and in their wrath, the vowed to bring an icy end to the prideful race.

Rumors of the looming destruction were heralded throughout the land, and a final invitation was issued to the elementalists to renounce their fallen ways. Yet only a few heard and heeded. Among them was a man named Cobbogoth. Being a wise and humble servant of the gods, he believed the warnings and led all who would listen deep into the bowels of the earth to wait out the approaching storm.

When the day of destruction was come and the wrath of the gods rained down, the race of elementalists was wiped away, and then came the dawning of a violent and frigid ide age.

It is said that Cobbogoth’s posterity still lives beneath our feet, waiting to rise and rule the earth and sky once more.

Sigurd Jorgensson
Icelandic Bard, 1045 AD  

*Translated from the original Old Norse by Dr. Jack A. Lukens of Harvard University, April 1975

 

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Through the Ever Night

About the book:
It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure-and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Review:
Through the Ever Night is the second book in the Under the Never Sky series. (You can find my review of the first book here.) I think this book is better than the first book because the pace was a bit faster. The book picks up a few months where the first one left off. Perry and Aria have been separated and are looking forward to seeing each other again. From there, it's almost a whirlwind of bad luck.

This book has the dual POV. It is a must for the story line since Aria and Perry are split up most of the time. I wish Roar's POV would have been included too. His emotions are intense. I'd like to see how he views Aria, especially after they left the horns.

I enjoyed being able to "meet" Liv. Readers hear about her in the first book, but now we get to see her. She has a lot of integrity. Most people would be selfish and do what makes them happy, but she willingly gives herself to Sable in order to save the Tides. Roar just had to go and mess up her plan. I hope she somehow makes it into the 3rd book, but I don't think she will.

This book has more Cinder. His character is very authentic. (I know people like him in real life--minus the Aether ability) He's a wild card of a character, but I really like him. I loved how Rossi made his character be essential to getting to the Still Blue, I didn't see that coming.

Soren reappears in this book. (Drats!) Yes, he has an excuse for his actions, but he doesn't need to rely on that excuse. He needs to grow a pair and take ownership for his actions!

In this book, Perry internally struggles how to lead the Tides. He keeps trying his best to do what is right and gain their acceptance, but keeps falling short. It was smart how Perry and Aria decide to first introduce her to the tribe. If they would have been honest about their relationship, then I think he would have had a more difficult time earning the Tides' respect. Many might not have stayed by his side. I love how they are planning to re-introduce their relationship at the end of the book. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the Dwellers and the Tides (and Perry and Aria). Love that this could be the perfect leadership match to blend the two groups.

There is very light romance in this book, but has a good amount of action and drama in it. I'd recommend it for young teens to adults.


About author Veronica Rossi:

Veronica Rossi is the author of post-apocalyptic fiction for young adults. Her debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, is the first in a trilogy. Released in January 2012, it was deemed one of the Best Books of Year by School Library Journal. The second book in the trilogy, THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, debuted in January on the NY Times and USA Today Best Seller Lists. The final book in the series, INTO THE STILL BLUE, is expected to release January 2014.

Foreign rights to the UNDER THE NEVER SKY trilogy have sold in over twenty-five territories to date and film rights have been optioned by Warner Bros.

She completed undergraduate studies at UCLA and then went on to study fine art at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons. When not writing, she enjoys reading, painting, and counting down the minutes until she can get back to making up stories about imaginary people.

Find Veronica: Goodreads   Twitter   Website


Book Trailer:

Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders #3)

About Chasing the Prophecy (from Goodreads):
Jason and Rachel were not born in Lyrian. They did not grow up in Lyrian. But after all of the battles and losses, the triumphs and adventures, and most of all, the friendships forged in this fantastical world, Lyrian has become home to them in a way they never could have imagined.

And so, armed now with the prophecy of a dying oracle, they have gone on their separate quests—each surrounded by brave and powerful allies—knowing that the chance for success is slim. But Jason and Rachel are ready at last to become the heroes Lyrian needs, no matter the cost

Review:
This series epitomizes why I sometimes read children's books. It is definitely a story that adults can enjoy (if you can get past how Jason "finds" Lyrian). It is an adventure story that is fast paced. The dialogue is realistic and not "dumbed down" for kids. Just as many adults have enjoyed the Harry Potter series (J.K. Rowling), His Dark Materials series (Philip Pullman), or even The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkein), they can also easily fall in love with The Beyonders series.

One reason that this series is so amazing is because of the world that Mull creates.  It is very detailed with the terrain and the various races/species. It is very well thought out and realistic. Mull has the perfect amount of description so readers can easily see his world.The main characters travel throughout the world and interact with different species such as the Displacers, Amar Kabal, Giants (or half giant),

One of the characters that Mull creates that I loved (and hated) is Ferrin. From the moment readers first meet him, you see that he is very charming and can be a bit manipulative. Ferrin has always been the wild card throughout the series. Can we trust him or will he betray us? Ferrin has always looked out for himself and jumps on opportunities where he can benefit. His "friendship" with Jason and Rachel makes him second guess his reasoning and actions. All throughout this book readers continue to wonder which side he is truly on.  With bigger stakes, his actions have a greater impact. Just wait until Ferrin's final scene in the book.  It will have you biting you nails.  He definitely has the power to influence whether Galloran or Maldor will succeed.

I'm pretty decent at figuring out plot twists, but there was so much going on in this book that I had no clue what would happen.  It made the whole story fun. So many unknown factors in Lyrian help shape the story.  Because readers don't know Lyrian history, there's no way we can figure out all of the prophecies in the book.  I love it!

I'm upset that the story has ended.  Mull creates a vivid world with so many different peoples. I loved the different characteristics of each race/species.  The story has a good ending, but I want more of this world.  Hopefully Mull can write a spin off series the features the offspring of Rachel and/or Jason.

About author Brandon Mull:

Brandon Mull is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Brandon resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal.

Find Brandon Mull: Website   Twitter   Facebook