When the Ashes Fall by Emmie Johnson is a Paranormal / Lore Fantasy Romance book and it is the first book in The Chronicles of Lore series. The book was released today May 31st.
About the book:
In the realm of Eden truth has always lived in the shadows
An old war has left the land of Eden shattered and divided, the five territories isolated from each other. The kings that once ruled them long ago striped of their crowns. With a new law and order taking control, the Royal Council. Seated in the gilded and secretive High City, a place that few enter and even few return from.
Nora Villiams is an average witch going about her life when the strings of destiny are plucked and ancient powers are reincarnated into the world of Eden. As her and her sisters are forced to face the betrayal of someone they love, they are all left wounded. Leaning on each other to pick up the pieces of the only life they knew. With the help of some unlikely allies, the sisters must decided what the next season of their life will look like all while the impending doom of war lingers over their heads.
When the truth emerges from the shadows will the people of Eden be prepared to face the horrors that will soon be unleashed.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
This is the finale to The Maiden Ship trilogy and it was very satisfying to read.
I really liked the whole storyline and I loved the author's writing style. I liked the world-building which is unique and I loved the magic system.
The story wraps up beautifully and any questions you might had are answered. The character development is excellent and I cannot pick a favourite character as I loved them all.
I am highly recommend checking out the whole trilogy.
Rating: 4 Stars
About the book:
Dain Alloway has been tasked with finding the rightful bearer and stopping the oncoming invasion of the four kingdoms. But as he begins the journey, self-doubt invades first, and he finds his confidence waning—Dain is no longer sure he’s the right person for this job. Who is he to challenge an emperor and his monstrous creations? Who is he to stop a war?
Meanwhile, Sable Cortham’s talent has grown, and every new lesson brings her another step closer to becoming one of the most powerful adept in history. But wielding this kind of magic makes Sable a target. She’s begun to wonder, even if they can find the rightful bearer and stop the emperor, how many more villains will come for her power? Will the four kingdoms ever be safe for the adept?
Elden Grayspire has recently been rescued from a centuries-old prison of stone, and while he rejoices in his newfound freedom, he laments the fact that his beloved remains a prisoner still. Mourning the loss of so many things past, feeling lonely and helpless, Elden struggles to find a place in this new time and era. As he embarks on a secret mission against the very man who cursed him long ago, will he finally discover a purpose and a way to belong?
The adventure concludes in The Rightful Bearer! Join Dain, Sable, Elden, and the rest of the Maiden Ship crew in this final seafaring adventure.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
“Knowledge is carnage. You can’t have it without sacrifice.”
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is a fantasy book and the first book in The Atlas series. The book was originally published in January 2020 and was republished in March 2021 by Tor Books.
This book was really hyped and I was confused while reading it. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. By the end of it though I was sure that I liked it.
I like the story and the magic system. However, I found the writing a little bit dense at some points.
It has a great cast of characters and my favourites are Libby, Tristan and Parisa. I found Reine indifferent and I didn't like Callum.
The ending however was really intense.
If you like dark academia and fantasy in a school setting, I believe you will like this book.
Rating: 4 Stars
About the book:
The Alexandrian Society is a secret society of magical academicians, the best in the world. Their members are caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity. And those who earn a place among their number will secure a life of wealth, power, and prestige beyond their wildest dreams. Each decade, the world’s six most uniquely talented magicians are selected for initiation – and here are the chosen few...
- Libby Rhodes and Nicolás Ferrer de Varona: inseparable enemies, cosmologists who can control matter with their minds.
- Reina Mori: a naturalist who can speak the language of life itself.
- Parisa Kamali: a mind reader whose powers of seduction are unmatched.
- Tristan Caine: the son of a crime kingpin who can see the secrets of the universe.
- Callum Nova: an insanely rich pretty boy who could bring about the end of the world. He need only ask.
When the candidates are recruited by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they are told they must spend one year together to qualify for initiation. During this time, they will be permitted access to the Society’s archives and judged on their contributions to arcane areas of knowledge. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated. If they can prove themselves to be the best, they will survive. Most of them.
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It’s a simple enough agreement: for one month, Silas Flynn is my boyfriend of convenience.
The One Month Boyfriend, an all-new fun and hilarious fake-relationship rom-com from bestselling author Roxie Noir, is live now!
It’s a simple enough agreement: for one month, Silas Flynn is my boyfriend of convenience.
He needs his old-fashioned boss to think he’s ready to settle down.
I need some arm candy to prove to my jerk ex-fiancé that I’ve moved on.
Perfect, right? Except for one minor detail: we can’t stand each other.
Everybody thinks he's this perfect guy, but I know the real Silas. He’s a cocky, obnoxious jerk who thinks he can charm his way out of trouble and get anything he wants.
But there’s one tiny problem with fake dating: it looks a lot like real dating. Worse, it feels a lot like real dating.
I know once this is over, we’ll go our separate ways. No matter the smoldering looks he gives me, the possessive way he touches me, or the dirty things he whispers in my ear, Silas isn’t falling for me.
That’s fine. No matter how good being with him feels, I’m not falling for him, either.
One month. That’s it.
Fall in love today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KQr7bQ Apple Books: https://apple.co/3bNjUtX Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/OneMonth Nook: https://bit.ly/3ue66Po Kobo: https://bit.ly/3tYuWop Google Play: https://bit.ly/3oEDs90
I love writing sexy, alpha men and the headstrong women they fall for.
My weaknesses include: beards, whiskey, nice abs with treasure trails, sarcasm, cats, prowess in the kitchen, prowess in the bedroom, forearm tattoos, and gummi bears.
I live in California with my very own sexy, bearded, whiskey-loving husband and two hell-raising cats.
Connect with Roxie Amazon: https://amzn.to/31ab2a6 Facebook: http://bit.ly/2YyYtDh Twitter: http://bit.ly/2SRXTPK Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2yphRrO Join her reader group The Roxettes: http://bit.ly/2K5fRLU Stay up to date with Roxie by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2SVTlb7 http://roxienoir.com
Add the series to your Goodreads TBR: Book 1 / Book 2
TITLE: The Warrior Queen
SERIES TITLE: The Quiescence Trilogy, Book 2
RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2022
GENRE: Epic Fantasy
SALE: Book 1 is .99 until May 25 (the paperback and hardcover of these books are also on sale!)
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence and war. Some duels with blood and semi-graphic injuries (the worst is a decapitation/execution). References to rape, but no scenes of it. One character has thoughts of suicide. (Book one has some graphic torture and there is violence against children.)
About the book:
(for book 1)
Caerlon is a kingdom where the power of Resonance has long been bound to a single bloodline, a single all-powerful ruler. Now, for the first time in centuries, the magic has been divided.
On the night of the new king’s coronation, something causes his magic to fracture, and Catanya, a young woman living on the outskirts of Caerlon discovers the long-kept secret of her connection to the throne.
Driven mad by his lust for power, King Cadyan sends his soldiers to hunt her down. He is determined to reclaim his birthright and uncover the truth about the legendary Relics of Illayan, which could hold the key to eternal power and immortality.
On the run, terrified and alone, Catanya must decide how—or even if—she can wield the magic of Caerlon to protect herself and save everyone she loves.
If you like Leigh Bardugo, Laura Weymouth and Devin Madson, you will like this one too.
There is a giveaway running until May 23rd 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!!!
Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.
Gallant by V. E. Schwab is a YA Fantasy book and it is a standalone. It was published in March 2022 by Titan Books.
We follow Olivia Prior who has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.
Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?
The last book of my favourite author is a standalone fantasy book that I loved. I really loved the story and the atmosphere that was created through the setting. Olivia, the main character, became very quickly my favourite and I really liked discovering the secrets of Gallant with her.
The story was very gripping and I couldn't resist turning the pages. I was just swept away in this magical world.
As we the other works of Schwab I loved her writing and how creative and imaginative she is.
Rating: 5 Stars
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The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner is a YA fantasy book and it is the first book in The Queen's Thief series. The book was first published in 1996 but this edition was published on May 5th 2022.
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I have heard many good things about the book and I couldn't pass reading it when I had the opportunity.
I really liked it. It is a more traditional fantasy and I really liked the author's writing and the storyline. It also had a really good plot twist. I found the main character really interesting and I enjoyed reading his story. I loved the world and I am eager to learn more about it in the next book.
Rating: 4 Stars
About the book:
The king’s scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king’s prison. The magus is interested only in the thief’s abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone’s guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.
Eugenides, the queen's thief, can steal anything - or so he says. Then his boasting lands him in the king's prison, and his chances of escape look slim.
So when the king's magus invites him on a seemingly impossible quest to steal a legendary object and win back his freedom, Gen is in no position to refuse.
The magus has plans for his king and his country. Gen has plans of his own . . .
Megan Whalen Turner weaves Gen’s stories and Gen’s story together with style and verve in a novel that is filled with intrigue, adventure, and surprise.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
The Sylvan and the Sand by Sarah M. Cradit is the second book in The Book of All Things series and is it a fantasy romance book. The book can be read as a standalone. It was released on May 10th.
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Add the series to your Goodreads TBR : Book 1 / Book 2
This is the second book that I read from Sarah M. Cradit and I really liked it. It has my favourite enemies to lovers trope and I really love the characters and the storyline. I really like Sarah's writing style and the world building is really good.
Yesenia is a great female character. She is fierce and smart and always speaks her mind despite the consequences. Corin is a cinnamon roll but he is also determined to help others and his character complements Yesenia's. I loved the slow burned romance between them. How they became close to each other and embraced their feelings.
Rating: 4 Stars
TITLE: The Sylvan and the Sand
SERIES TITLE: The Book of All Things, Book 2
GENRE: NA Fantasy Romance (Enemies to Lovers, Arranged Marriage Tropes)
STEAM LEVEL: Medium
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence, Bullying
About the book:
Yesenia Warwick artfully dodges her father’s talks of marriage, set on proving she is just as capable as her brothers. Her three loves—kin, homeland, and independence—are all she needs.
Corin Quinlanden suffers under the cruel contempt of his ruthless father and brother as they scheme and plot from their castle in the trees. He’s given up wishing for happiness. A strategic marriage, far from home, is as high as he dare dream.
But the king of this realm has his own plan.
Everything the gilded Quinlandens have “earned” was stolen from the Warwicks. So when all the leaders of the realm are summoned to a celebration with the king, both houses approach this fete balancing on a sharp blade’s edge.
But the king’s celebration quickly turns to horror. The lords and ladies can only watch, helpless, as the devious king masterminds a series of marriages between their children, spinning the kingdom into chaos.
Brash, fearless Yesenia Warwick is now the unwilling bride of tender-hearted Corin Quinlanden. Neither her silver-tongued wit, nor her unmatched skill with daggers, can erase what has been done.
The choice ahead of her is simple, but impossible.
Embrace her dangerous new life in the den of her enemy, or send the kingdom to war.
If you like Elise Kova, Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L Armentrout, you will like this one too.
There is a giveaway running until May 19th 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!!!
"Hunting puts her own sexy spin on the classic fairy-tale" - Booklist
Starry-Eyed Love, an all-new laugh out loud romantic comedy with off the charts chemistry and all the feels from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting, is available now!
Charming, hilarious, and emotional, Starry-Eyed Love is Helena Hunting at her very best!
Having just broken up with her boyfriend, London Spark is not in the mood to be hit on. Especially not when she’s out celebrating her single status with her sisters. So when a very attractive man pays for their drinks and then slips her his number, she passes it right back to him with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’. As the business administrator for their family’s event hotel, the Spark House, London has more important things to worry about, like bringing in new clientele.
As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago.
As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands - not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too.
My stomach does a flip-flop as our server moves on to another table and the hot guy slides across the bench seat and rises. He’s tall, must be over six feet, and lean. Broad shoulders that taper down to a narrow waist. I glance at his feet and notice his scuffed running shoes.
He rolls his shoulders back and crosses over to our table. He nods to my sisters, but doesn’t really look at them, his eyes on me. Now that he’s right in front of me, I notice they’re a deep mossy-green color, reminding me of a Colorado forest. “Hi.” A slow smile forms as his gaze moves over my face.
I feel it like a gentle caress and heat travels through my veins. It’s an unexpected reaction, so my own “hi” comes out rather breathily. “Thank you for the drinks and the food. You really didn’t need to do that.”
His grin widens, showing off perfectly straight, white teeth. “Well, I wanted to make a good impression, and have an excuse to come over and talk to you.”
Harley squeezes my leg under the table. I don’t risk looking at her because I’m sure she’s smiling like a loon.
“You certainly did that. Make a good impression, I mean.” Why am I so awkward right now? And why does it feel like this man is sucking all the oxygen out of the room and turning my brain cells into mush?
That gets me another smile. “I wanted to apologize if it seemed like I was staring. I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable.”
I touch my fingers to my lips and resist the urge to play with my hair, but just barely. Why does this man make me feel like a starry-eyed high school girl? “You haven’t made me uncomfortable.”
“Good. That’s very good.” His tongue drags across his bottom lip. “I just needed to tell you that from across the room, you were beyond stunning, but up close.” He lets out a low whistle. “You are an absolute work of art.”
I fight with my eyebrows not to rise. This guy has all the lines. “Oh, really?” I lace my fingers together and set my chin on them. “The kind of art you might hang in your living room?”
“Bedroom, actually.”
I laugh. I can’t decide if this guy is too smooth for his own good. Or mine. I have to wonder how many times he’s dropped these lines on other women and they’ve ended up in his bed as a result.
“That sound is music to my ears,” he says, his white-toothed smile still in place. “I knew I’d be kicking myself if I didn’t come over here and at least say hello.” He slides a small piece of paper across the table, roughly the size of a business card. “I’m going to leave my number, and maybe if you’re interested, I can take you out for a drink, or dinner, or a hot air balloon ride.”
I can see exactly where this will go if I take that card from him. And while getting into bed with a random, attractive man might be fun, I know it’s not the right thing for me. Before I can really consider what I’m doing, or fully absorb the last part, I put a hand out to stop him. “I’m very flattered, but I have to be honest with you. I won’t call you. I have a boyfriend.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue. Although, had it been three days earlier, it would have been the truth.
Avery does some kind of cough-choke thing, and I kick her under the table and get Harley on the back swing.
His smile falters for a moment, but he doesn’t break eye contact. “That’s disappointing, but unsurprising. I didn’t see a ring, so I’d hoped maybe luck was on my side.” He tips his head to the side. “Is it serious?”
“Pardon me?”
“You and this boyfriend, are you two serious?”
This guy is unbelievable. “And if we are?”
“Hmm.” He withdraws his hand and slips the paper in his pocket. “I’d hate for karma to pass judgment on me and get in the way of our future together, so I’m just going to hope I run into you again when you’re single. Have a lovely night, ladies.” He nods to my sisters and gives me one final lingering glance before he winks. “Thank you for existing.”
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
“Real courage is to feel fear, but to stand and face it, not run from it.”
The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne is the second book in the Bloodsworn Saga and it is an adult fantasy book inspired by Norse Mythology. The book was released on April 2022 by Orbit.
Now that Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison, she plots a new age of blood and conquest.
As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.
Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her.
Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.
John Gwynne has become one of my favourite authors after reading The Hunger of the Gods and now I need to read all of his backlist.
First of all, I loved the cover art for this book too and second I really appreciated the fact that the author included a brief summary of what happened in book 1 so you can refresh your memory.
Let's get to my review now. I loved this book too. We now have more POVs to follow besides Orka, Elvar and Varg but that didn't cause any problem but they added more to the story. The new POVs are Biorr and Gudvarr.
The story begins from where we have left it in The Shadow of the Gods and now the storylines of our main characters are interconnected. The book continues to be brutal and with many battle scenes.
In this book I loved even more Orka's character and I really liked the relationship dynamics between her and the supporting characters.
The ending was really intense and now I need book 3 asap.
Rating: 5 Stars
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Prisoner of the Elements by Zian Schafer is a dark fantasy romance and the first book in the War of the Elements series. The book releases today May 5th.
They said it would be a great war to end all wars.
To create peace between the Elemental Empires: Fire, Water, and Earth. As one war ended, another started. The gods came back with a vengeance because peace was never meant to be an option.
Now, the lands of Zephryine are cracking, the ocean is a living plague, and crops have become nothing more than skeletons.
To Althea Viteri, the destruction of the realm is the only way to set her family free from the clutches of Audor, the Empire of Fire. Her family has nowhere to run. Not with the bands marking their wrists as the chattel of the Empire.
But she harbors a secret written on her skin — a power that she’s successfully hidden for twenty-three years, until one day it unleashes itself, catching the eye of King Cyrus. Taken prisoner in the palace, and with the constant threat that the people she loves will be slaughtered, her only option is to escape.
Yet the longer she’s a prisoner the more she realizes there may be more to her untamed power than she initially thought. Something that makes her a danger not only to herself but to the world.
About the author:
My love for art.
I’ve always had a passion for the arts. Whether it’s creating sculptures with my hands, or working with colors on a canvas. The arts have always been a big part of my life, and everyday I search for a kind of creative medium. The day I decided to create art with the keys on a computer, was the day I finally found what the itch that needed to be scratched was.
What inspires my writing?
I’ve always found myself drawn to the dark novels that pushes the boundaries of what might be acceptable, and what might be thrown across the room. I’m always astounded by books that have discovered how to stand on that thin line. I love to read and write because it immerses you into a whole new world and through someone else’s eyes. Ultimately, my writing goal is to create an escape from real life, while still paying homage to the pressures within all of
Mention and mild details of abuse ranging from physical to sexual (no graphic details)
About the book:
Ryker Avery lost everything she ever had on the Day of Ruin; her home, her family, and her pride. When she meets a privileged prince, who's obsessed with visions of her future, she's willing to risk her life for the hope he offers. Prince Dace is as handsome as he is intriguing, but is he worth trusting?
Along with others, whose paths intertwine with their own, they reveal more conspiracies across Stylica. The fight for power quickly becomes a fight for their lives.
If you like Falling Kingdoms, A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, you will like this one too.
There is a giveaway running until May 11th 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!!!
City of Smoke & Starlight by Alli Earnest is the first book in the Gate Chronicles series and it is a NA Science Fantasy. The book released today May 4th.
Add City of Smoke & Starlight to your Goodreads TBR here
Kase is a screw up, and when he takes the blame for nearly killing a fellow pilot, he faces serious charges. Seeking to clear his name, he flies a ragtag crew to establish trade with a hostile race and to help his nation avoid the looming war. If only he didn’t have to work with the infuriating bookshop attendant who insulted him with Shakespeare…
After Hallie loses her bookshop job and the promise of school tuition, she’s desperate to avoid the ghosts of the past awaiting her return home. When offered a substantial sum to negotiate an alliance for her country, she says yes before the nice government agent can finish his sentence. Now if she could just ignore the ungrateful, arrogant prat of a pilot…
In a world of hoverships and crumbling First Earth artifacts, Hallie and Kase must accomplish the impossible: secure an alliance with an elusive, mystical race to help defend against a kingdom with dangerous technology and ancient magic. If they fail, the war will be lost before it even begins.
Cities of Smoke and Starlight is a science fantasy novel perfect for fans of Dune, Pride and Prejudice, and anyone who believed Rogue One needed a romantic subplot.
See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!
Well, it's time for this week's new releases post. This time we look at books published in the week of May 3rd. 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, because today we have a lot of books to talk about.
On May 1st...
Queens of Themiscyra (The Grecian Women trilogy #3) by Hanna Lynn
They are the women of war.
In ancient Themiscyra, Hippolyte rules as Queen of the Amazons. Feared throughout Greece, their skills on the battlefield are unmatched. But when a ship lands on their shores, it brings something more dangerous than the threat of war. It brings a future Hippolyte could never have dreamed of.
Swept away to Athens, Hippolyte learns a love that transcends even the bond of the Amazon women. Can she forget her warrior past and forge a new life she had never dreamed of?
With her sister gone, Penthesilea is left with no choice but to rise as the new Queen of the Amazons. She does so with a ferocity that sparks terror throughout the Aegean. Replacing her sister’s compassion and wisdom, Penthesilea rules with impulsiveness and might.
So when Hippolyte’s world starts to crumble it is up to Penthesilea to decide how far she will go to defend their honour.
Genre: Mythology Retelling
Sequel to: Athena's Child
A Spartan's Sorrow
Publisher: Medusa Publishing
And now on May 3rd...
Book Of Night by Holly Black
Α modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies in the vein of Ninth House and The Night Circus
In Charlie Hall’s world, shadows can be altered, for entertainment and cosmetic preferences—but also to increase power and influence. You can alter someone’s feelings—and memories—but manipulating shadows has a cost, with the potential to take hours or days from your life. Your shadow holds all the parts of you that you want to keep hidden—a second self, standing just to your left, walking behind you into lit rooms. And sometimes, it has a life of its own.
Charlie is a low-level con artist, working as a bartender while trying to distance herself from the powerful and dangerous underground world of shadow trading. She gets by doing odd jobs for her patrons and the naive new money in her town at the edge of the Berkshires. But when a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie’s present life is thrown into chaos, and her future seems at best, unclear—and at worst, non-existent. Determined to survive, Charlie throws herself into a maelstrom of secrets and murder, setting her against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, shadow thieves, and her own sister—all desperate to control the magic of the shadows.
With sharp angles and prose, and a sinister bent, Holly Black is a master of shadow and story stitching. Remember while you read, light isn’t playing tricks in Book of Night, the people are.
Genre: Adult fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
The Marvellers by Dhoniele Clayton
Author Dhonielle Clayton makes her middle-grade debut with a fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky.
Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, where Marvellers from all around the world come together to practice their cultural arts like brewing Indian spice elixirs, practicing Caribbean steel drum hypnosis, and bartering with fussy Irish faeries. Ella knows some people mistrust her Conjuror magic, often deemed "bad and unnatural," but she's eager to make a good impression—and, hopefully, some friends.
But Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy, and not all of the Marvellers are welcoming. Still, she connects with fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, who is never found without a magical creature or two. Just as Ella begins to find her way at the A.T.I., a notorious criminal escapes from prison, supposedly with Conjurors’ help. Worse, her favorite teacher Masterji Thakur never returns from a research trip, and only Ella seems concerned about his disappearance.
As tensions grow in the Marvellian world, Ella finds herself the target of vicious rumors and growing suspicions. With the help of her new friends, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her beloved mentor Masterji Thakur . . . before she loses her place at the A.T.I. forever.
Genre: Middle Grade fantasy
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
Merida goes on an all-new, life-changing adventure in this original YA novel set several years after the close of Brave!
What if you had one year to save everything you loved?
ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love.
TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences.
THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself?
FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Disney Press
Eyes of the Void (The Final Architecture #2) by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Children of Time brings us the second novel in an extraordinary space opera trilogy about humanity on the brink of extinction, and how one man's discovery will save or destroy us all.
After eighty years of fragile peace, the Architects are back, wreaking havoc as they consume entire planets. In the past, Originator artefacts – vestiges of a long-vanished civilization – could save a world from annihilation. This time, the Architects have discovered a way to circumvent these protective relics. Suddenly, no planet is safe.
Facing impending extinction, the Human Colonies are in turmoil. While some believe a unified front is the only way to stop the Architects, others insist humanity should fight alone. And there are those who would seek to benefit from the fractured politics of war – even as the Architects loom ever closer.
Idris, who has spent decades running from the horrors of his past, finds himself thrust back onto the battlefront. As an Intermediary, he could be one of the few to turn the tide of war. With a handful of allies, he searches for a weapon that could push back the Architects and save the galaxy. But to do so, he must return to the nightmarish unspace, where his mind was broken and remade.
What Idris discovers there will change everything.
Genre: Science Fiction
Sequel to: Shards of Earth
Publisher: Orbit
By the Book (Meant to be #2) by Jasmine Guillory
A tale as old as time—for a new generation…
Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.
All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be?
But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn't there before.
Best-selling author Jasmine Guillory’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is a romantic triumph of love and acceptance and learning that sometimes to truly know a person you have to read between the lines.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sequel to: If the shoe fits
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A. F. Steadman
Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series!
Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call.
Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Forging Silver into Stars (Forging Silver into Stars #1) by Brigid Kemmerer
When ancient magic tests a newfound love, a dark fate beckons . . .
Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in an accident that his father has been punishing him for ever since. Magic won’t save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they can't pay what they owe.
Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn are astonished to learn magic has returned to Syhl Shallow -- in the form of a magesmith who's now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it.
When a stranger rides into town offering Jax and Callyn silver in exchange for holding secret messages for an anti-magic faction, the choice is obvious -- even if it means they may be aiding in a plot to destroy their new king. It’s a risk they’re both willing to take. That is, until another visitor arrives: handsome Lord Tycho, the King’s Courier, the man who’s been tasked with discovering who’s conspiring against the throne.
Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic . . . where even the deepest loyalties will be tested.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.
Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.
If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
An Unreliable Magic ( A Hundred Names for Magic #2) by Rin Chupeco
he second book in the A Hundred Names for Magic trilogy, an unforgettable alternative history fairy-tale series from the author of The Bone Witch about found family, modern day magic, and finding the place you belong.
Tala, Alex, and the rest of their friends are safe for now, but know the Snow Queen is still out there. They have to be prepared for when she eventually attacks—and all decide to do so in their own way.
When Ryker comes out of the woodwork, showing himself when he starts attacking American detention facilities and freeing refugees. And the Nameless Sword, a legendary weapon that according to Avalon legend, will make its wielder the most powerful warrior of their time turns up with her name on it, Tala's life gets messier...But when the Snow Queen arrives with an unlikely ally, the group will have to work together.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Wicked as you wish
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Charm (Crave #5) by Tracy Wolf
Unravel the mystery of the missing four months between Grace and Hudson—when she finds herself trapped with the last boy she ever expected, and certainly the most obnoxious one she's ever met. If he doesn't shut up, she just might kill him...if she doesn't end up kissing him first.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Sequel to: Crave
Crush
Covet
Court
Publisher: Entangled Teen
On May 4th...
A Throne of Shadow by Tessonja Odette
A feisty outlaw.
A conniving prince.
A war of magic and shadows.
Wanted by the crown for a murder she didn’t commit, Cora dreams of getting revenge on the mage who framed her. In the meantime, she hides in the forest and hones her magic. But when she discovers her enemy’s violent hunt for faerie creatures, she forms a plan for vengeance.
Prince Teryn, heir to a bankrupt throne, will do anything to keep his country from sinking into ruin. When he meets a feisty outlaw wanted by a neighboring kingdom, he gets his chance. The woman has an impressive bounty on her head, one that could pay off his kingdom’s debts.
If Teryn can help Cora save a few magical creatures, he can gain her trust, hand her over to her king, and collect the bounty. But Cora has plans of her own, and none of them include being betrayed by her handsome new traveling companion.
The closer Cora and Teryn get to their desires, the harder their tasks become. And it isn’t just their budding attraction that’s the problem. A secret war is coming, one stemming from ancient feuds and forgotten fae magic. They must work together to stop it, or else both their kingdoms will crumble to ash.
A Throne of Shadows is the first book in the Prophecy of the Forgotten Fae trilogy. Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Air Awakens, and Shadow and Bone. If you like breathtaking magic, fierce heroines, and enemies-to-lovers romance, then you’ll love this epic fantasy tale.
Genre: YA Fantasy
The Omen of Crows Nest by Cathrina Contantine
No blood. No body. No murder.
That’s what the police found after Penelope spun her bizarre tale. In a hysterical state, she said her father was butchered and eaten by a mob of birds ~ in her bedroom.
They claim she’s crazy.
That she suffers from delusions.
Penelope is dead set on proving them wrong.
After being institutionalized for eight months, Penelope is out and more determined than ever to find answers to her so-called hallucinations. With her father’s untimely disappearance, she’s convinced her family is hiding something sinister.
Genre: Fantasy
And on May 5th...
Prisoner of the Elements (War of the elements #1) by Zian Schafer
They said it would be a great war to end all wars. To create peace between the Elemental Empires: Fire, Water and Earth. As one war ended, another started. The gods came back with a vengeance because peace was never meant to be an option.
Now, the lands of Zephryine are cracking, the ocean is a living plague, and crops have become nothing more than skeletons.
To Althea Viteri, the destruction of the realm is the only way to set her family free from the clutches of Audor, the Empire of Fire. Her family has nowhere to run. Not with the bands marking their wrists as the chattel of the Empire.
But she harbors a secret written on her skin — a power that she’s successfully hidden for twenty-three years, until one day it unleashes itself, catching the eye of King Cyrus.
Taken prisoner in the palace and with the constant threat that the people she loves will be slaughtered, her only option is to escape.
Yet the longer she’s a prisoner the more she realizes there may be more to her untamed power than she initially thought. Something that makes her a danger not only to herself, but to the world.
Genre: Fantasy
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!!!
