Friday 30 September 2022

Autumn of the Grimoire by J.L. Vampa - Book Tour

 


"Some witches cast spells. Others slay kings"

Autumn of the Grimoire by J. L. Vampa is a NA Paranormal fantasy romance and the first book in The Sisters of Solstice series. The book was released on September 22nd.

Add Autumn of the Grimoire to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase Autumn of the Grimoire here


Author: J.L. Vampa
Publisher: Phantom House Press
Title: Autumn of the Grimoire
Series Title: The Sisters of Solstice, Book 1
Release Date: 09.22.22
Genre: NA Paranormal Romance, Dark Fantasy, Gothic Fantasy
TW: N/A

About the book:

A mysterious Grimoire. A marriage full of dark secrets. A History sculpted by a quartet of ancient Sister witches.
For three hundred years, Sister Autumn has incited wars, burnt villages, killed kings, and released plagues at the bidding of the Grimoire. Meanwhile, her Sister Winter, Sister Spring, and Sister Summer have brought forth only peace.
When an Order from the Grimoire sends Agatha to the Kingdom of Merveille, she already anticipates the worst. Unless she wants to face the wrath of the Goddess, Agatha must keep her head down and do as she's commanded.
But when the Grimoire Orders her to marry a pompous prince and play the role of a peasant "accepted" by vicious aristocrats, she finds herself at the center of a war between the classes and an age-old prophecy.
Within the court, many players harbor dark secrets-including her new husband. With her newfound influence, Agatha joins forces with the city's Blacklisted in order to blur the lines between the common man and the elite, unravel the mysteries in her marriage, and decide once and for all if she will defy the Grimoire and face the brutal consequences.
As secrets unfold, will Agatha continue to slay on behalf of the Grimoire, or forge an uncharted History with her unlikely allies?

If you like A History of Witches, The Once and Future Witches, The Bone Witch, Stalking Jack the Ripper, you will like this one too.

There is a giveaway running until October 1st and you can learn more about it and also enter on my Instagram post @booknotes_athina .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Thursday 29 September 2022

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto - Book Tour


 Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance. It has Asian (Indonesian) representation and was published on September 27th.

Add Well, That Was Unexpected to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase Well, That Was Unexpected:


About the book:

An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who’s whisked from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.

After Sharlot Citra’s mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia. It’ll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.
When George Clooney Tanuwijaya’s father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot’s mother and George’s father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.
When the kids find out about their parents’ actions, they’re horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

About the author:

I grew up going back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and consider both places my homes. I was fortunate enough to do my Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford, which is surely one of the most gorgeous places in the world.
I am passionate about women’s rights and diversity in publishing. I regularly do giveaways where I critique queries or the first few pages, and I am especially interested in helping writers from marginalized communities. If you are a writer from a marginalized community, do hit me up! I love hearing from other writers, even if it’s just to say a quick hello.





Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina


Wednesday 28 September 2022

Soul of the Deep (Skin of the Sea #2) by Natasha Bowen - Book Tour


 Soul of the Deep  by Natasha Bowen is a YA fantasy and the second book in the Skin of the Sea series. It has Black, West African (Nigerian) representation.  The book was released yesterday September 27th.

Add Soul of the Deep to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase Soul of the Deep :



About the book:

The highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller Skin of the Sea, in which the world must pay the price for one mermaid’s choice, and a dark force reverberates across realms. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and those eagerly anticipating the live-action film adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

One life.
One choice.
One sacrifice.

To save those closest to her, Simi traded away everything: her freedom, her family, and the boy she loves. Now she is sworn to serve a new god, watching over the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the ocean. But when signs of demons begin to appear, it’s clear there are deeper consequences of Simi’s trade. These demons spell the world’s ruin . . . and because of Simi, they now have a way into the human realm. With the fate of the world at stake, Simi must break her promise and team up with a scheming trickster of a god. And if they succeed, perhaps Simi can also unbreak her heart along the way, and find herself again.

About the author

Natasha Bowen is a New York Times bestselling author, a teacher, and a mother of three children. She is of Nigerian and Welsh descent and lives in Cambridge, England, where she grew up. Natasha studied English and creative writing at Bath Spa University before moving to East London, where she taught for nearly ten years. She is obsessed with Japanese and German stationery and spends stupid amounts on notebooks, which she then features on her secret Instagram. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, watched over carefully by Milk and Honey, her cat and dog.






Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Tuesday 27 September 2022

Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco - Release Tour


 Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco is a YA Fantasy Romance and the third book in the Kingdom of the Wicked series. The book has released today September 27th.

Add Kingdom of the Feared to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase Kingdom of the Feared:


Synopsis of the book:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stalking the Jack the Ripper series comes the steamy conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.
Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.
When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.
Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.
Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

About the author:

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Wicked.




Check out the link here, for the rest of the hosts. 

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

2022 New Releases Weekly - September 27th

 Hello everyone!!

Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of September 27th. There are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list, but as I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre.


Let's start...

Demon in the Woods (Grishaverse #0) -  Leigh Bardugo & Dani Pendergast (illustrator)

Before he led Ravka’s Second Army, before he created the Fold, and long before he became the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy burdened by an extraordinary power.

Eryk and his mother, Lena, have spent their lives on the run. But they will never find a safe haven. They are not only Grisha—they are the deadliest and rarest of their kind. Feared by those who wish to destroy them and hunted by those who would exploit their gifts, they must hide their true abilities wherever they go. But sometimes deadly secrets have a way of revealing themselves…

Discover the start of a grand and sinister destiny in this must-have graphic novel prequel to the bestselling series.

Genre: YA Fantasy /  Graphic Novel
Publisher: Orion

The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3) -  Naomi Novik

Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate.

The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about, the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls.

And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me, and Orion, and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: we saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves of the world.

Ha, only joking! Actually it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war on the horizon. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously got out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.

Genre:  Fantasy
Sequel to: A Deadly Education
                 The Last Graduate
Publisher: Del Rey Books

One Dark Window (The Shepherd King #1) - Rachel Gillig

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit

Princess of Souls - Alexandra Christo

From the author of To Kill a Kingdom comes Princess of Souls, a Rapunzel-inspired YA fantasy romance about a teen witch groomed to steal souls for an immortal king and the reckless, rebellious boy to whom her fate is tied.

For sixteen years, Selestra Somniatis has been trapped in a castle on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother’s place as King Seryth’s right hand. Tied by blood to steal souls for the immortal King of the Six Isles, the Somniatis Witch foretells the deaths of participants in the Festival of Predictions. To outrun your fate is to save your soul and steal the King’s immortality. But if you die, your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

As a soldier in King Seryth’s army, Nox Laederic is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but he has no plans to die at the hands of the King or his witches. His plan is more akin to violent revenge: steal the King’s immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra herself.

But when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, she sees her own death alongside his--their fates are unmistakably intertwined, and Selestra is no longer safe in the only home she’s ever known. Nox and Selestra will have to enter a turbulent alliance in order to survive long enough to free the Six Isles from King Seryth’s clutches and escape the new fate that hunts them. 

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Kingdom of the feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3)  -  Kerri Maniscalco

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stalking the Jack the Ripper series comes the steamy conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Sequel to: Kingdom of the Wicked
                 Kingdom of the Cursed
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Last of the Talons (Talon #1) - Sophie Kim

After the destruction of her entire Talon gang, eighteen-year-old Shin Lina—the Reaper of Sunpo—is forced to become a living, breathing weapon for the kingdom’s most-feared crime lord. All that keeps her from turning on her ruthless master is the life of her beloved little sister hanging in the balance. But the order to steal a priceless tapestry from a Dokkaebi temple incites not only the wrath of a legendary immortal, but the beginning of an unwinnable game…

Suddenly Lina finds herself in the dreamlike realm of the Dokkaebi, her fate in the hands of its cruel and captivating emperor. But she can win her life—if she kills him first.

Now a terrible game of life and death has begun, and even Lina's swift, precise blade is no match for the magnetic Haneul Rui. Lina will have to use every weapon in her arsenal if she wants to outplay this cunning king and save her sister...all before the final grain of sand leaks out of the hourglass.

Because one way or another, she'll take Rui's heart.

Even if it means giving up her own.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Soul of the Deep (Skin of the Sea #2) -  Natasha Bowen

The highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller Skin of the Sea, in which the world must pay the price for one mermaid's choice, and a dark force reverberates across realms. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and those eagerly anticipating the live-action film adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

One life.
One choice.
One sacrifice.

To save those closest to her, Simi traded away everything: her freedom, her family, and the boy she loves. Now she is sworn to serve a new god, watching over the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the ocean.

But when signs of demons begin to appear, it's clear there are deeper consequences of Simi's trade. These demons spell the world's ruin . . . and because of Simi, they now have a way into the human realm.

With the fate of the world at stake, Simi must break her promise and team up with a scheming trickster of a god. And if they succeed, perhaps Simi can also unbreak her heart along the way, and find herself again.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to : Skin of the Sea
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Forestfall (World of the Lake's Edge #2)  -  Lyndall Clipstone

Some oaths can never be broken...

The curse that haunted Lakesedge Estate has been broken, but at great cost. Violeta Graceling has sacrificed herself to end the Corruption. To escape death, Leta makes a desperate bargain with the Lord Under, one that sees her living at his side in the land of the dead.

But this world of souls and mist hides many secrets. And when Leta realizes she is still connected to Rowan by a tethering spell, she will risk everything— even her soul— to try and reach him.

Torn between power and love, life and death, Leta struggles to keep hold of her humanity as she falls further and further under the spell of the world Below… and the Lord Under.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Lakesedge
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co

Foul Lady Fortune (Foul lady Fortune #1) - Chloe Gong

The first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books


These are some of the new releases of this week.
Are you excited about them?
Do you have other ones on your radar that I should know of?

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Saturday 24 September 2022

Ithaca (Penelope #1) by Claire North - A Review

 


Ithaca by Claire North is the first book in the Penelope series and it is a mythology retelling. The book was published on September 6th in the US and September 8th in the UK.

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.


I love reading myth retellings and when I saw Ithaca on Netgalley, I couldn't resist. Thankfully I really liked it. It is well-written and the fact that I already know the premise and the original myth/story made it even better ,as I wanted to see how it would be interpreted by the author. 
In the book we are seeing the events through Hera's POV. She oversees what happens in Ithaca during Odysseus' absence and especially what is happening with the women and how they are managing certain situations. We witness how Penelope strives to hold the kingdom together. She has Hera on her side, who tries to help her without drawing any attention from the other gods. 
The book touches on serious issues about women and their role in ancient times. How they had no autonomy and how cruelly they were treated. 
The ending promises that a really exciting sequel is in the making and I am looking forward to it. 

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Seventeen years ago, king Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them have returned, and the women have been left behind to run the kingdom.

Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. Whilst he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that husband is dead, and suitors are starting to knock at her door . . .

But no one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne - not yet. Between Penelope's many suitors, a cold war of dubious alliances and hidden knives reigns, as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip one way or another. If Penelope chooses one from amongst them, it will plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war. Only through cunning and her spy network of maids can she maintain the delicate balance of power needed for the kingdom to survive.

On Ithaca, everyone watches everyone else, and there is no corner of the palace where intrigue does not reign . . .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Friday 23 September 2022

A Court of Broken Dreams and Curses by Michelle Helen Fritz - Book Tour

 


"Once upon a time lived a mistreated girl who had forgotten how to dream and wish upon the stars."

A Court of Broken Dreams and Curses by Michelle Helen Fritz is a YA Fantasy Book and the first book in the Courts of Curses series. The book is already out.

Purchase the book here
Add the book to your Goodreads TBR here


AUTHOR: Michelle Helen Fritz
TITLE: A Court of Broken Dreams and Curses
SERIES TITLE: Courts and Curses , Book 1
RELEASE DATE: September 22, 2022
GENRE: YA Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Regency Retelling
TRIGGER WARNINGS: N/A

About the book:

When her stepfather demanded that she marry, life seemed at its bleakest. That is until a Fairy Godmother appeared wielding her silver wand and whisking Briella away to embrace her destiny.
The Faerie King Ezekiel of the Spring Court and his kingdom are under a curse. The land is dying and madness overtakes the dark halls of his castle. Living in a nightmare, King Ezekiel must atone for his past misdeeds.
With the help of friends, Briella must discover the pieces needed to break the curse or be left with a monstrous king who will hold her heart captive forever.

If you like Marissa Meyer, Elise Kova, Tessonja Odette, you will like this one too.

There is a giveaway running until September 28th and you can learn more about it and also enter on my Instagram post @booknotes_athina .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Thursday 22 September 2022

Married by Fate by Jenny Hickman - Arranged Marriages of the Fae Event - Book Tour

 


"He's a prince bound by duty. She's his brother's fae bride. Until fate intervenes..."

Married by Fate by Jenny Hickman is part of the Arranged Marriages of the Fae event and it is a brand new novella which features the tropes of enemies to lovers and arranged marriage of course. Technically is book 2 of the series but it is a standalone. The book is already out.

Purchase Marriage by Fate here
Add Marriage by Fate to your Goodreads TBR here


This beautiful cover was designed by @coverdungeonrabbit

AUTHOR: Jenny Hickman
TITLE: Married By Fate
SERIES TITLE: Arranged Marriages of the Fae, Book 2 (Standalone)
RELEASE DATE: 09.16.22
GENRE: Arranged Marriage, Enemies-to-lovers, Royalty
STEAM LEVEL: Mild
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Loss of a parent, loss of a sibling, suggestive dialogue, mention of sexual assault.


About the book:

Lady Roisin knew her fate was to marry a human prince, helping to heal the rift between the humans and the fae. Luckily, she fell desperately in love with her betrothed, the dashing heir to the Vellanian throne, Prince Alrec. One day soon, she will be his queen. A day Roisin has been looking forward to for as long as she can remember.
As the king’s youngest son, Prince Caiman knew his fate was to live in his older brother Alrec’s shadow. One day soon, Alrec will be crowned king. A day Caiman has been dreading for as long as he can remember.
When tragedy strikes the kingdom, Caiman is forced to ascend to the throne in his brother’s stead. But becoming King of Vellana means upholding the alliance with the fae by marrying his brother’s betrothed. And marrying a woman who has despised him for years cannot end in happily-ever-after . . .

*This standalone novella is connected to the Myths of Airren Series*

If you like authors Elise Kova, Erin Beaty, Natalie Murray, you will like this one too.


There is a giveaway running until October 27th and you can learn more about it and also enter on my Instagram post @booknotes_athina .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina


Tuesday 20 September 2022

Tricky Princess by L.L. Cambell - Book Tour


 "Fears evolve and grow, welcoming another.
One whose power will balance yours in destruction.
You feed his fire as he feeds your chaos.
You will turn worlds upside down."

Tricky Princess by L. L. Cambell is an adult fantasy book and the second book in the Tricky Magic series. The book was released on September 13th.

Purchase Tricky Princess here
Add Tricky Princess to your Goodreads TBR here


TITLE: Tricky Princess
SERIES TITLE: Tricky Magic Series, Book 2
GENRE: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Mythological Romance
RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2022
CONTENT WARNINGS: Contains detailed sex scenes, violence, swearing, blood, fighting, murder, and emotional trauma

About the book:
(For book 1 to avoid spoilers)

Ellea is a Witch, a mix of both the respected Seers and the feared Tricksters. On top of that, she has also spent her whole life in the shadows of her parents' infamous attempted destruction.
After Ellea’s frequent and feared vision of the future shifts into something darker and more terrifying than before, she runs to a town that used to be a haven for her as a child.
But things are no longer as they seem. The world of Supernaturals is so much more than she thought and after a run in with a mysterious hunter, she finds her and her powers spiraling.
Will the town of Glenover be the place she finally leaves her fears behind and embraces a new future? Or will her powers become destructive and result in her own destruction by the frustratingly handsome hunter?

Tricky Princess is a dark paranormal and mythological romance that contains detailed sex scenes, violence, swearing, and emotional trauma. Intended for audiences 17+.

If you like Crown of Crimson - Karina Halle, Rise of the Witch - C. Rochelle and Helfyre - Mariel Pomeroy, you will like this one too.

There is a giveaway running until September 22nd and you can learn more about it and also enter on my Instagram post @booknotes_athina .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Sunday 18 September 2022

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Book Tour

 


The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a YA mystery book and the third book in The Inheritance Games trilogy.  The book was released on August 30th.

Add The Final Gambit to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase The Final Gambit:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound


About the book:

Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.

About the author: 

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a “practice book” and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She’ll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.


Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina


Thursday 15 September 2022

Supernova by Julie Hall - Cover Reveal

 


"Some lines are meant to be crossed"

Supernova by Julie Hall is a YA Contemporary Fantasy and the fourth book in the Fallen Legacies series. The book will be released on October 10th.

Preorder the book here
Add the series to your Goodreads TBR : 

Without further ado, here is the beautiful cover...


RELEASE DATE: 10.20.22
TITLE: Supernova
SERIES TITLE: Fallen Legacies, Book 4
AUTHOR: Julie Hall
GENRE: YA Contemporary Fantasy
TROPES: Forced Proximity, Enemies-to-lovers, Soulmates, Forbidden Love, Strong Female Lead, Morally GrayMale Lead, Touch Her And Die, One Bed
STEAM/HEAT LEVEL: Mild
TRIGGER WARNINGS: N/A

About the book:
(series spoilers)

Three months ago monsters breached the barrier between realms and poured from the spirit world into the mortal one, intent on enslaving humankind and angel-born alike.
The world is a different place and all I want is to manifest my angelic powers and fight beside the other Nephilim warriors, but when I find myself stranded on a deserted island with Thorne—public enemy number one—I may not live long enough to see that happen.
Even though Thorne helped us defeat his evil mother and stop the Fallen from spreading beyond London, he’s still a ruthless killer who almost brought upon the apocalypse. He may be the most attractive guy I’ve ever met, but he’s definitely the last one I should ever fall for.
I always thought there were lines I would never cross, but I’m learning just how wrong I was.

Supernova is a standalone enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, redemptive love story told from Nova’s point-of-view that is a continuation of the Fallen Legacies world intended to be read after Unleashing Fire.


PRAISE FOR THE SERIES:
"Filled with action, danger, romantic tension, and intrigue, Stealing Embers is absolutely addictive.”
―Casey L. Bond, award-winning author of When Wishes Bleed
"With a dark, thrilling plot and beautiful, compelling characters, Stealing Embers is a fantastic take on angel lore that will keep you flipping pages long after bedtime."
―Cameo Renae, USA Today bestselling author of the Hidden Wings series.

If you like Tracy Wolff , Cassandra Clare, Leia Stone, Jennifer L. Armentrout, you will like this one too.

There is a giveaway running until September 21st and you can learn more about it and also enter on my Instagram post @booknotes_athina .

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

As Long As the Lemon Trees Grows by Zoulfa Katouh - Book Tour

 


As Long As the Lemon Trees Grows by Zoulfa Katouh is a YA Historical Fiction with Canadian Syrian & PTSD representation.  The book was published on September 13th.

Add As Long As the Lemon Trees Grows to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase As Long As the Lemon Trees Grows:


About the book:

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

Content Warning: on page death and sexual assault. As well as, descriptions of torture, child abuse and torture, PTSD, starvation, and general descriptions of the horror that comes with war.

About the author: 

Zoulfa Katouh is the only person in her family who can’t roll her tongue, but that’s okay because she writes characters who can do so. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Drug Sciences. She is trilingual in English, Arabic and German. Zoulfa currently resides in Switzerland where she finds inspiration in the Studio Ghibli picturesque scenery.

Ever since her Mama gave her a copy of Anne of Green Gables when she was eight years old, she discovered the beauty of books. Soon enough she was sneaking books under her school desk to read while teachers went on about Math and Physics. Her imagination grew, and one day, she had the courage to pen down the stories that roam her mind. And she never stopped!

Her speculative contemporary YA debut AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW comes out September 13th by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and September 15th by Bloomsbury Kids & YA UK, making her the first Syrian YA author to be published in the US and UK.

She is represented by the warrior queen Alexandra Levick at Writers House.


Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Saturday 10 September 2022

Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel - Book Tour


 Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel is a middle grade ghost story and was published on September 6th by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Add Ghostlight to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase Ghostlight: 


About the book:

One teen’s summer job scaring tourists with ghost stories takes a terrifying turn when he accidentally summons the spirit of a dead girl–and she has demands. . . .

The award-winning author of Airborn delivers a roller-coaster ride of a story about the wakeful and wicked dead.

Rebecca Strand was just sixteen when she and her father fell to their deaths from the top of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse in 1839. Just how they fell–or were they pushed?–remains a mystery. And their ghosts haunt the lighthouse to this day. . . .

Gabe tells this story every day when he gives the ghost tour on Toronto Island. He tries to make it scary enough to satisfy the tourists, but he doesn’t actually believe in ghosts–until he finds himself face to face with Rebecca Strand.

The true story of her death is far more terrifying than any ghost tale Gabe has told. Rebecca reveals that her father was a member of the Order, a secret society devoted to protecting the world from “the wakeful and wicked dead”–malevolent spirits like Viker, the ghost responsible for their deaths. But the Order has disappeared, and Viker’s ghost is growing ever stronger.

Now Gabe and his friends must find a way to stop Viker before they all become lost souls. . . .

About the author

I was born in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer. I started out writing sci-fi epics then went on to swords and sorcery tales and then, during the summer holiday when I was fourteen, started on a humorous story about a boy addicted to video games. 







Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Athina

Wednesday 7 September 2022

A Sea of Eternal Woe by R. L. Davennor - A Review & Book Tour


 
Today I’m excited to participate in the Creative Blog Tour for A Sea of Eternal Woe by R.L. Davennor hosted by MTMC Tours.  
The adventures of A Land of Never After continue in its thrilling sequel A Sea of Eternal Woe, where Sinbad meets The Little Mermaid. Out on  August 30th, 2022 from Night Muse Press!



Title: A Sea of Eternal Woe
Author: R.L. Davennor
Series: Curses of Never #2
Publisher: Night Muse Press 
Publication Date: August 30, 2022
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fairytale, Retelling
Pages: 320
Format: eBook, Paperback
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
Add on Goodreads!

My Review
I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it fascinating and very intriguing. I liked the writing style and the world was really interesting.

My favourite character was Captain Hook.
I really enjoyed the mix of fairytales in the book and how the author made them to fit her story so well.

Rating: 4 stars

About the book:

As Captain Wendy Maynard...

I have everything I ever dared dream of. A ship all my own. Friends by my side. A purpose—and a home. I should have known it would all go to shit.
The exhausting combination of storms and outrunning monsters have left The Jolly Serpent battered and broken, and my crew no longer trusts me to pick up the pieces. Just when it looks like Peter and I are about to be thrown overboard, the unlikeliest of saviors shows up…

My father.

I didn’t plan on seeing Captain Hook again so soon, but he needs me, and I need him. The sea witch Ursa is hiding far more than secrets, and if the rumors are to be believed? Her realm makes the horrors of Neverland look warm and fuzzy in comparison. Failure to retrieve what we’ve lost simply isn’t an option. If we do, it’s not our lives Ursa wants.

It's our very souls.

The adventures of A Land of Never After continue in its thrilling sequel A Sea of Eternal Woe, where Sinbad meets The Little Mermaid. Like its predecessor, this dark fantasy reimagining is filled to the brim with monsters, curses, and pirates. This installment contains language, violence, sexual content, gender dysphoria, and instances of transphobia, including misgendering.


Meet the Main Character: Wendy!

Hi Wendy! Can you introduce yourself?

Oh, hi! I'm Wendy Maynard, daughter of... well, never mind. I'm sixteen years old, love the sea, and my best friends are a boy named Peter Pan and his fairy, Tink.

When A Sea of Eternal Woe starts, what is your life like?

It's not going as expected, that's for damn sure. My life's dream has been to captain a ship of my own, but it's hardly fair that my very first voyage involves dodging bloodthirsty sea monsters.

What do you want more than anything?

Don't tell anyone because it's embarrassing, but what I want most is a home and a family. I'm hoping I'll find both at sea.

Tell us about Peter, who he is and what he's like?

Peter and I met on my sixteenth birthday. We didn't exactly get off on the right foot considering he stole from me, but once I pried some answers out of him he became much more tolerable, even likeable. We're nearly inseparable now, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Weapon and outfit of choice?

To use on Hook, a blade (he's afraid of them), but for everyone else, a pistol. I'm most comfortable in a loose fitting shirt and breeches, paired with a decent pair of boots, of course.

Tell us about Captain Hook...what's it like working with him?

Gods, do we have to talk about him? The man is insufferable, and I can barely stand to be in his presence. I'm not sure what you mean about working together - he's all but taken charge, the bastard.

How keen are you to go head to head with the sea witch, Ursa?

I wouldn't say I'm keen on a personal level, because I'm facing her for Peter, and no one else. I trust him, though, and trust that he knows what he's doing far more than I ever could.

Tell us about your world! What is it like and how far have you traveled?

I'm afraid I'm not much use on the travel front - I didn't leave my home city, Afterport, or the nearby Neverland until we left to seek out Ursa. As for my world, it was relatively mundane until I ventured into Neverland and discovered that monsters, both man and beast, are very much real.

Tell us 2 random facts about yourself!

I own an enchanted music box that will play any song you ask of it, and I seem to possess an affinity for certain creatures - Neverland's Nightstalkers, for example. I could hear them speak when few others could.

Lastly, what can we expect from you during A Sea of Eternal Woe!

Evidently I'll be pushed to my limit, both physically and mentally, discover new uses for my talent with beasts, and forced to confront Captain Hook on multiple occasions. I really don't like the sound of that last one.

INTL Tour-wide Instagram Giveaway!
Head over to my Instagram account to enter the tour giveaway where:
- One winner will receive paperback copies of A Dance with the Devil, A Land of Never After, and A Sea of Eternal Woe (signed if USA, Bookplate if International)!
-Two runners-up will receive e-book copies of A Dance with the Devil, A Land of Never After, and A Sea of Eternal Woe!


Ends on September 10th, 2022. Winners will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.


About R.L. Davennor:
Raelynn Davennor is an author of fantasy and science fiction, a musician and composer, and a creature of the night.
Nestled among her fictional worlds full of darkness, dragons, and sassy heroines, you'll often find a musical number or two. An accomplished performer, she's made appearances with artists such as The Who, Weird Al, and Hugh Jackman on many of the largest stages in the United States.
Raelynn is usually lost in her head, dressing up in costume, or humming a tune she can't wait to scribble down. When not obsessing over her latest idea, she enjoys pampering her menagerie of pets and pretending she isn’t an adult. Her home base is https://rldavennor.com where you'll find more information, her newsletter, and links to social media.