Thursday 30 June 2022

June 2022 Reading Wrap up

 Hello everyone!!

Today is the last day of June and I believe that it is appropriate to talk about the books that I read in this month. I managed to read five books, of which two of them were ebooks and the other three physical copies.




Let's start...

Assassin's Creed  Valhalla - Geirmund's Saga by Matthew J. Kirby

The book is set in the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla and we follow the story of Geirmund Hel-Hide, who is a legendary Viking. I enjoyed reading this book. Books set in the Assassin's Creed universe are my favourites since they are always action-packed and sometimes they feel like reading a historical fiction book instead of a game novelization. 

Rating: 3 Stars

Check out my full review here







The Final Strife (The Final Strife Trilogy #1) by Saara El- Arifi

This is a beautiful book with a beautiful story and a very interesting world building and magic system. I really like that this debut novel is inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths. It is unusual to see in books.
We follow the stories of Sylah, Anoor and Hassa and the connections between them. The book has the friends to lovers trope (F/F) and also the chosen one trope but a little bit different than usual. 


Rating: 4 Stars

Check out my full review here

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


Assassin's Creed Fate of the Gods (Last Descendants #3) by Matthew J. Kirby

This is the conclusion to the Last Descendants trilogy and I really enjoyed it. We got to see what happened to our heroes and how their actions (and their ancestors) affected the world. This last book was my favourite in the trilogy. 

Rating: 4 Stars









Then Came the Thunder (Three Willows #1) by Rachel Huszar

I didn't know what to expect from it but it sounded interesting and I enjoyed reading it. It is a historical fiction but the author blends a  little fantasy element in it. We have a strong female protagonist and the story has mystery, drama and some action.

Rating: 3 Stars

Come back on July 2nd for my full review.

Thanks to the author for the gifted ebook.







Does My Goldfish Know Who I Am?: and hundreds more Big Questions from Little People answered by experts (Big Questions from Little People #2 or 3) by Gemma Elwin Harris

It is a book with answers to a great variety of questions that the children (aged 12 and under) have asked. Experts give short and comprehensive answers to all of these questions. 
I found it really interesting , entertaining and very informative. 
I highly recommend it to children and adults alike.

Rating: 4 Stars







I will probably finish another book by the end of the day but we will talk about it in the next month's wrap up.

Have you read any of these?
What did you think?

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

Wednesday 29 June 2022

2022 New Releases Weekly - June 28th

 Hello everyone!

It's been awhile since my last new releases post but now it is back. 
This time we look at books published in the week of June 28th. 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...

The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar

A lush tapestry of dreams, myth, and magic--perfect for fans of Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi, and Margaret Rogerson.

Seven years ago, Tanvi was spirited away to the subterranean realm of Nagalok, where she joined the ranks of the dream runners: human children freed of all memory and emotion, who collect mortal dreams for the entertainment of the serpentine, immortal naga court.

But when one of Tanvi's dream harvests goes awry, she begins to remember her life on earth. Panicked and confused, she turns to the one mortal in Nagalok who might be able to help: Venkat, the dreamsmith responsible for collecting the dream runners' wares and shaping them into the kingdom's most tantalizing commodity. And as they search for answers, a terrifying truth begins to take shape--one that could turn the nagas' realm of dreams into a land of waking nightmare.

From the author of the Indie Next selection and Andre Norton Award finalist Star Daughter, this stand-alone contemporary fantasy, inspired by the nagas and garudas of Hindu mythology, is full of slow-burning romance, haunting intrigue, and shimmering magic.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen

The Martyr (Covenant of Steel #2) by Anthony Ryan

Deadly feuds and ancient secrets spell war in the second novel of The Covenant of Steel, a new epic series of action, intrigue, and magic from a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm.

Times have changed for Alwyn Scribe. Once an outlaw, he’s now a spymaster and sworn protector of Lady Evadine Courlain, whose visions of a demonic apocalypse have earned her the fanatical devotion of the faithful.

Yet Evadine’s growing fame has put her at odds with both Crown and Covenant. As trouble brews in the kingdom, both seek to exploit her position for their own ends.

Sent to the Duchy of Alundia to put down a rebellion, Alwyn must rely on old instincts to fight for his new cause. Deadly feuds and ancient secrets are laid bare as war erupts, a war that will decide the fate of the Kingdom of Albermaine and, perhaps, prevent the coming of the prophesied Second Scourge.

Genre: Fantasy
Sequel to : The Pariah
Publisher: Orbit

This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1) by Emily Thiede

Her gift can save . . . or it can kill.

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa's gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner's magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island's only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante's dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Locklands ( The Founders Trilogy #3) by Robert Jackson Bennett

A god wages war—using all of humanity as its pawns—in the unforgettable conclusion to the Founders trilogy.

Sancia, Clef, and Berenice have gone up against plenty of long odds in the past. But the war they’re fighting now is one even they can’t win.

This time, they’re not facing robber-baron elites, or even an immortal hierophant, but an entity whose intelligence is spread over half the globe—a ghost in the machine that uses the magic of scriving to possess and control not just objects, but human minds.

To fight it, they’ve used scriving technology to transform themselves and their allies into an army—a society—that’s like nothing humanity has seen before. With its strength at their backs, they’ve freed a handful of their enemy’s hosts from servitude, even brought down some of its fearsome, reality-altering dreadnaughts. Yet despite their efforts, their enemy marches on—implacable. Unstoppable.

Now, as their opponent closes in on its true prize—an ancient doorway, long buried, that leads to the chambers at the center of creation itself—Sancia and her friends glimpse a chance at reaching it first, and with it, a last desperate opportunity to stop this unbeatable foe. But to do so, they’ll have to unlock the centuries-old mystery of scriving’s origins, embark on a desperate mission into the heart of their enemy’s power, and pull off the most daring heist they’ve ever attempted.

And as if that weren’t enough, their adversary might just have a spy in their ranks—and a last trick up its sleeve.

Genre: Fantasy
Sequel to: Foundryside
                 Shorefall
Publisher: Del Rey Books

Daughter of Redwinter (The Redwinter Chronicles #1) by Ed McDonald

Those who see the dead soon join them.

From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald's Daughter of Redwinter, the first of a brilliant fantasy series about how one choice can change a universe.

Raine can see--and more importantly, speak--to the dead. It's a wretched gift with a death sentence that has her doing many dubious things to save her skin. Seeking refuge with a deluded cult is her latest bad, survival-related decision. But her rare act of kindness--rescuing an injured woman in the snow--is even worse.

Because the woman has escaped from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of the Draoihn, warrior magicians who answer to no king and who will stop at nothing to retrieve what she's stolen. A battle, a betrayal, and a horrific revelation forces Raine to enter Redwinter. It becomes clear that her ability might save an entire nation.

Pity she might have to die for that to happen...

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books

Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel ) by Adam Christopher

Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian return in this essential novel set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

The Empire is dead. Nearly two decades on from the Battle of Endor, the tattered remnants of Palpatine’s forces have fled to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. But for the heroes of the New Republic, danger and loss are ever-present companions, even in this newly forged era of peace.

Jedi Master Luke Skywalker is haunted by visions of the dark side, foretelling an ominous secret growing somewhere in the depths of space, on a dead world called Exegol. The disturbance in the Force is undeniable…and Luke’s worst fears are confirmed when his old friend, Lando Calrissian, comes to him with reports of a new Sith menace.

After his daughter was stolen from his arms, Lando searched the stars for any trace of his lost child. But every new rumor only led to dead ends and fading hopes–until he crossed paths with Ochi of Bestoon, a Sith assassin tasked with kidnapping a young girl.

Ochi’s true motives remain shrouded to Luke and Lando. For on a junkyard moon, a mysterious envoy of the Sith Eternal has bequeathed a sacred blade to the assassin, promising that it will give him answers to the questions that have haunted him since the Empire fell. In exchange, he must complete a final mission: return to Exegol with the key to the Sith’s glorious rebirth—the granddaughter of Darth Sidious himself, Rey.

As Ochi hunts Rey and her parents to the edge of the galaxy, Luke and Lando race into the mystery of the Sith’s lingering shadow and aid a young family running for their lives.

Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Del Rey Books

Blade Breaker (Realm Breaker #2) by Victoria Aveyard

Andry, a former squire, continues to fight for hope amid blood and chaos.

Dom, a grieving immortal, strives to fulfill a broken oath.

Sorasa, an outcast assassin, faces her past when it returns with sharpened teeth.

Valtik, an old sorceress, summons a mighty power.

And Corayne, a pirate’s daughter with an ancient magic in her blood, steps closer to becoming the hero she’s destined to be.

Together they must assemble an army to face Queen Erida and Taristan’s wicked forces. But something deadly waits in the shadows, something that might consume the world before there’s any hope for victory.

In the sequel to Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Sequel to: Realm Breaker
Publisher: Harper Teen

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert

THE SUBURBS, RIGHT NOW . . .

Seventeen-year-old Ivy’s summer break kicks off with an accident, a punishment, and a mystery: a stranger whose appearance in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, heralds a string of increasingly unsettling events. As the days pass, Ivy grapples with eerie offerings, corroded memories, and a secret she’s always known—that there’s more to her mother than meets the eye.

THE CITY, BACK THEN . . .

Dana has always been perceptive. And the summer she turns sixteen, with the help of her best friend and an ambitious older girl, her gifts bloom into a heady fling with the supernatural, set in a city of magical possibilities and secret mystics. As the trio’s aspirations darken, they find themselves speeding toward a violent breaking point.

Years after it began, Ivy and Dana’s shared story will come down to a reckoning among a daughter, a mother, and the dark forces they never should’ve messed with.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Flatiron Books

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright

This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

Best friends Rora and Claudia have never felt more like their lives are spiraling out of control. And when they meet Major and Amir--two boys from one of the secret cities of the spheres, ruled by the magic of the astrological signs--they discover they're not alone. There is a disruption in the harmony between the spheres, and its chaos is spreading.

To find the source of the disharmony, Rora and Claudia will embark on a whirlwind journey of secrets, romance, and powerful truths--about themselves, each other, and two long-ago explorers named Dante and Beatrice, who were among the first to chart this course toward the stars.

Inspired partly by the classic works of Dante Alighieri, this gorgeous stand-alone contemporary fantasy will captivate readers of Lore and Star Daughter.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Teen

Sands of Dune: Novellas from the Worlds of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

Collected for the first time, these Dune novellas by bestselling authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson shine a light upon the darker corners of the Dune universe. Spanning space and time, Sands of Dune is essential reading for any fan of the series.

The world of Dune has shaped an entire generation of science fiction. From the sand blasted world of Arrakis, to the splendor of the imperial homeworld of Kaitain, readers have lived in a universe of treachery and wonder.

Now, these stories expand on the Dune universe, telling of the lost years of Gurney Halleck as he works with smugglers on Arrakis in a deadly gambit for revenge; inside the ranks of the Sardaukar as the child of a betrayed nobleman becomes one of the Emperor’s most ruthless fighters; a young firebrand Fremen woman, a guerrilla fighter against the ruthless Harkonnens, who will one day become Shadout Mapes.

Genre: Science Fiction 
Publisher: Tor 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

Arrows and Apologies by Sav. R. Miller - Book Tour

 

Getting what I want is my nature.
Even when I know I can never have it.
Arrows and Apologies, an all-new seductive and mesmerizing dark forbidden standalone romance in the Monsters and Muses Series from international bestselling author Sav R. Miller, is live now!

They say every proud man must fall.
Mortals who fancy themselves gods will one day kneel.

I thought myself invincible.
Apollo on Earth.
Mocked my brother when he succumbed to such a fate.
Before I noticed the blue-haired nymph lurking in the background.

Cora Astor shouldn't have come to this island.
She sneered in my direction, beguiling me with her disgust.

As a Wolfe, hunting is in my blood.
Getting what I want is my nature.
Even when I know I can never have it.

Though I cannot keep her,
I plan to relish the chase.

Grab your copy today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Kzzvvr
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/arrowsapologies

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3KvupQQ

Start the series of standalones with Promises and Pomegranates today→ http://mybook.to/promisespomegranates

About Sav. R. Miller
Sav R. Miller is an international bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.

She prefers the villains in most stories, and thinks everyone deserves happily-ever-after.

Currently, Sav lives in central Kentucky with two pups, Lord Byron and Poe. She loves sitcoms, silence, and sardonic humor.

Connect with Sav
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Q0Ji1S
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ziQujY
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NSTSG7
Join her Facebook Group, Sav’s Suckers: https://bit.ly/3NRy91l
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3anGhbq
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3zyuq55
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3NKDkjE
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3MxpfoR
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Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3tgPrgn
Website: https://www.savrmiller.com/

Saturday 25 June 2022

The Final Strife (The Final Strife Trilogy #1) by Saara El-Arifi - A Review

 


The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi is a fantasy book and the first book in  The Final Strife Trilogy. The book will be published on June 23rd 2022.

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

This is a beautiful book with a beautiful story and a very interesting world building and magic system. I really like that this debut novel is inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths. It is unusual to see in books.
We follow the stories of Sylah, Anoor and Hassa and the connections between them. The book has the friends to lovers trope (F/F) and also the chosen one trope but a little bit different than usual. 
The beginning of the book was a little slow for e but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I loved the author's writing style and how she wrote her characters.  Also that plot twist towards the end was perfect and now I need to read book two.


Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood.

Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control. 
Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance. 
Clear is the blood of the servants, of the crushed, of the invisible.

Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the Empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes. 
Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the Empire. But dust always rises in a storm. 
Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. 
As the Empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.

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

Friday 24 June 2022

Rising Shadows by Sydney Hawthorne - Book Tour


 Rising Shadows by Sydney Hawthorne is a Dark NA Fantasy and the third book in The Navarre Chronicles. The book was released today June 24th.

I have already read and reviewed book 1 Awakening Shadows. Check out my review here


Title of book: Rising Shadows
Series Name: The Navarre Chronicles
Author: Sydney Hawthorn
Book number: 3 of 5
Genre: Dark NA Fantasy


Book Synopsis:
(For Awakening Shadows, book 1, to keep spoilers away):

A Princess. A Warrior. A Slave. A kingdom falling to ruin. And a Queen meant to save them all.
Navarre has been at peace for three hundred years, the prophecies of the promised princess no more than a whispered memory of the past. Sheltered from the world around her, naïve Princess Joseline is no stranger to the responsibility and isolation of being heir. But when an attack on her eighteenth birthday reveals the looming return of the legendary demon king, shattering every protective boundary around her, Joseline is thrown full force into the long-forgotten prophecy and the role she plays in his demise.
Saved from Aeron’s clutches by a secret organization of warriors trained to protect her, Joseline is forced to choose between her curiosity to understand their motives and her duty to her people’s safety. Swept into the impending war threatening her country, Joseline must learn at all costs not only to fight, but to control the ancient magical power awakening within her.
Her life and the lives of her people depend on it.

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

Thursday 23 June 2022

Assassin's Creed Valhalla by Matthew J. Kirby- Geirmund's Saga - A Review


 Assassin's Creed Valhalla -  Geirmund's Saga by Matthew J. Kirby is another book in the Assassin's Creed universe and it is a fantasy with historical fiction elements. The book in November 2020 by Penguin.

The book is set in the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla and we follow the story of Geirmund Hel-Hide, who is a legendary Viking. I enjoyed reading this book. Books set in the Assassin's Creed universe are my favourites since they are always action-packed and sometimes they feel like reading a historical fiction book instead of a game novelization. 
It is a nice Viking story with many battle scenes and a lot of travelling. One thing that I didn't like is the fact that there is no mention of Assassins anywhere in the book. There is a slight mention of Templars without mentioning their name and that's it. I wish we had seen more of it.

Rating: 3 Stars

About the book:

Mid-9th century.

The Viking attacks and invasions are shattering England’s kingdoms. 
Born into a royal lineage of Norwegian kings, Geirmund Hel-hide sets out for adventure to prove his worth as a Viking and a warrior. 
A perilous journey across the sea brings him into contact with a being out of myth and grants him a mysterious ring that promises both great power and bitter betrayal. 
As Geirmund rises in the ranks of King Guthrum’s legendary army, he will have to use all his cunning to face the many dangers of a land ravaged by war . . . 
Fighting alongside his band of loyal warriors, his path will soon lead him into a conflict as old as the gods themselves.


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

Saturday 18 June 2022

Iron Hearts and Dragon Magic by Day Leitao - Cover Reveal

 

banner blogiron hearts 
Today I'm revealing the cover of Iron Hearts and Dragon Magic, the sequel to Frozen Hearts and Death Magic. 
Romance, drama, and mystery abound in this telenovela-inspired upper-YA romantic fantasy duology for fans of multi-POV stories, forbidden love, enemies to lovers, family sagas, royal intrigue, and  mysterious magic.

  iron hearts cover copy 

Title: Iron Hearts and dragon Magic
Series: Of Fire and Fae (Book 2) 
Genre: YA romantic fantasy

Book links: Goodreads - Amazon - Bookbub

Cover illustrator: Nyaka-N (Bash-a) 

 Synopsis of Book 1: 
 Romance, drama, and mystery abound in this telenovela-inspired upper-YA romantic fantasy for fans of multi-POV stories, forbidden love, enemies to lovers, family sagas, royal intrigue, and mysterious magic. A forbidden fae kiss could be deadly. Naia was raised in the shadow of her twin brother, the crown prince, who has iron magic much more powerful than hers. But Naia has wishes of her own. They awaken when she finds a white fae almost dying in the woods. She only heard of them in stories; the dreaded race that razed cities to the ground, killed her grandparents, almost rid Aluria of humans—until they disappeared. Now, almost twenty years later, are they back? Is there another war coming? But the fae is evasive and secretive—and also alluring and fascinating, more beautiful than anyone she’s ever seen. And then it happens: Naia kisses him—and nothing will be the same again. In another kingdom, Leah, a necromancer princess, has to find a husband in less than four days, during the gathering, when royals from all over Aluria meet. Her family makes it very clear that she can pick any prince she wants—except one: Naia’s brother. And it turns out that he’s the one; the one who makes her heart beat faster. Meanwhile, war looms over the land. One of the kingdoms is amassing immense power. The White Fae might be returning. Amidst it all, Naia and her brother struggle with newfound magical powers, family secrets, and most of all, their own treacherous hearts.  

Check the complete duology with the naked hardbacks: promo of fire and fae horizontal

About Day Leitao:

day leitao and frozen hearts 2
Day Leitao is originally from Brazil and lives in Montreal, Canada. She loves to write books with romance, magic, and humor. Find her at: dayleitao.com Goodreads Instagram Bookbub Facebook Amazon Tiktok    

Giveaways:

Enter to win a $15 gift card on Instagram at the #ihdmcoverreveal hashtag

Enter to win a $25 gift card:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday 15 June 2022

No Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino - Book Tour

 


No Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino  is a YA fantasy horror and it will be published on June 21st.
Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

Add No Good For Maidens to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase No Good For Maidens :


About the book:

Lou never believed in superstitions or magic–until her teenage aunt Neela is kidnapped to the goblin market.
The market is a place Lou has only read about–twisted streets, offerings of sweet fruits and incredible jewels. Everything–from the food and wares, to the goblins themselves–is a haunting temptation for any human who manages to find their way in.
Determined to save Neela, Lou learns songs and spells and tricks that will help her navigate this dangerous world and slip past a goblin’s defenses–but she only has three days to find Neela before the market disappears and her aunt becomes one of them forever.
If she isn’t careful, the market might just end up claiming her too.

Content warnings: on-page gore, on-page body horror, violence, trauma

 
About the author:

Tori Bovalino grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and never knew she wanted to live abroad until she was already in London. She’s awful at picking favorites, but her consistent go-to books are Pride and Prejudice, Fire, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. She’s enamored with books that make her cry.
Tori holds a BA in English fiction writing and anthropology and a minor in German from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London. She is currently on the Creative and practice-based PhD course at RHUL, researching the relationship between Russian folklore and YA fantasy novels. In her free time, Tori enjoys reading (duh), embroidering, and traveling.
She is represented by Dr. Uwe Stender and Amelia Appel at TriadaUS Literary Agency. She writes short stories, poetry, and novels.

Author Links:

You can find the rest of the tour schedule here

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

Tuesday 14 June 2022

She Conquers by Caitlin Denman - Book Tour


 "She's awakened her new powers, but can she conquer them?"

She Conquers by Caitlin Denman is a YA fantasy book and the third book in the She Awakens series. The book was released today June 14th.

Purchase She Conquers here
Add the whole series to your Goodreads TBR: 


RELEASE DATE: 06.14.22
TITLE: She Conquers
SERIES TITLE: She Awakens, Book 3
GENRE: YA Fantasy, Coming of Age
STEAM/HEAT LEVEL: Mild
TRIGGER WARNINGS: n/a

About the book:

Attina finds herself in an unlikely predicament when it's uncovered that the normal, human existence she thought she lived is turned upside down. Finding out she’s half Fae not only confounds her, but in a time where the brutal Fae run the world she is suddenly tasked with bringing the Fae and humans together.
With the help of her trusty, and somewhat snarky steed Raven, Attina sets out on a mission to save the human race from extinction. As she continues on her mission, she discovers powers beyond her wildest dreams.
In a world where it’s tricky to discern who’s good and where the evil really lies, Attina finds herself in one predicament after another, not knowing who to trust except for Raven. As her journey unfolds, her strength and will are tested. Will she ever be strong enough to bridge the gap between these two worlds?

If you like Elise Kova, Holly Black, Laura Thalassa , you will like this one too.

There is a giveaway running until June 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!!!
Athina

Monday 13 June 2022

Secrets of a Rose by Adina Chiles - Book Tour

 


"A kingdom built with secrets is bound to unravel.."

Secrets of a Rose by Adina Chiles is a YA fantasy and the first book in the Royal Blood series. The book has already been released.

Purchase Secrets of a Rose here
Add Secrets of A Rose to your Goodreads TBR here


TITLE: Secrets of a Rose
SERIES TITLE: Royal Blood Series, Book 1
GENRE: YA Fantasy
TRIGGER WARNINGS: N/A

About the book:
During the month of Amira, the silver moon emerges, and the kingdom of Zyra comes alive with anticipation for its annual ball. Mellana Goodwick, finally at the rightful age of sixteen, receives her first invitation, but when unexpected events take place, immediate regret sets in. Mellana finds herself caught in a strange storm—casting down green lightning and filling the sky with ear-splitting thunder. To make matters worse, the kingdom comes under attack by Prince Lorian, a man removed from the line of succession for murdering his sister, the future queen, and her newborn child.
After escaping the attack with her best friends, Mellana stumbles upon a box left by a woman named Rose. With the power to see glimpses of the future, Rose warns Mellana of hidden powers the kingdom has covered up and Lorian’s desire to unleash them all. Rose instructs Mellana to gather the sacred article from each of the seven kingdoms before Lorian and his deadly group can gain access to them. Together, the items unlock a barrier that is meant to stay shut.
In Secrets of a Rose, Mellana will discover remarkable abilities that stir around her and some that even rise within. In order to keep what she loves, she must embark on a race against the person who dares to threaten it all.

If you like A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Furyborn by Claire Legrand, you will like this one too.

There is a giveaway running until June 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

Saturday 11 June 2022

Capturing the Devil (SJTR#4) by Kerri Maniscalco - A Review

 


“Beyond life, beyond death, my love for thee is eternal.”

Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco is the fourth book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. It is a YA Historical Fiction and Mystery book and it was released in September 2019.

This is the finale to the series and I loved how Kerri Maniscalco concluded her story. 
I really like Kerri's writing and I really enjoyed how she told this story and how she implemented al the twists and turns in the plot. 
The character development of Audrey Rose and Thomas was excellent and I liked how their stories have made them. This book made me love Thomas even more. He is perfect and I loved how his relationship with Audrey Rose evolved and how they come to trust each other completely. 
The ending of Capturing the Devil was everything that I wanted from this series. 

Rating: 5 Stars

About the book:
In the shocking finale to the bestselling series that began with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose and Thomas are on the hunt for the depraved, elusive killer known as the White City Devil. A deadly game of cat-and-mouse has them fighting to stay one step ahead of the brilliant serial killer---or see their fateful romance cut short by unspeakable tragedy.

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell have landed in America, a bold, brash land unlike the genteel streets of London they knew. But like London, the city of Chicago hides its dark secrets well. When the two attend the spectacular World's Fair, they find the once-in-a-lifetime event tainted with reports of missing people and unsolved murders.

Determined to help, Audrey Rose and Thomas begin their investigations, only to find themselves facing a serial killer unlike any they've heard of before. Identifying him is one thing, but capturing him---and getting dangerously lost in the infamous Murder Hotel he constructed as a terrifying torture device---is another.

Will Audrey Rose and Thomas see their last mystery to the end---together and in love---or will their fortunes finally run out when their most depraved adversary makes one final, devastating kill?

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

Saturday 4 June 2022

May 2022 Reading Wrap up

 Hello everyone!!

I know that it sounds cliché but another month has gone by very quickly and it is time again for my reading wrap up. In May I read 5 books. One of them was a physical copy and the rest were ebooks. Three of them were also ARCs that released in May. 
I had one 5 star read and the rest of them were 4 star reads.




Let's see them together... 

The Thief (The Queen's Thief #1) by Megan Whalen Turner

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

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley

Read my full review here



The Sylvan and the Sand (The Book of All Things #2) by Sarah M. Cradit

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

I received an ARC of this book from the author

Read my full review here

The Rightful Bearer ( The Maiden Ship #3) by Micheline Ryckman

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. 

Rating: 4 Stars

I received an ARC of this book from the author

Read my full review here



Capturing the Devil (SJTR #4) by Keri Maniscalco

This is the finale to the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and I loved how Kerri Maniscalco concluded her story. I really like Kerri's writing and I really enjoyed how she told this story and how she implemented all the twists and turns in the plot.

Rating: 5 Stars










Becoming the Dark Prince (SJTR #3.5) by Kerri Maniscalco

This is a novella and its events take place during the events of Escaping from Houdini and before Capturing the devil and it was lovely to read it. 
We got to see the struggles and triumphs of Thomas Cresswell and it was really good to see some events from his POV. We learn more about his character, his fears and secrets.

Rating: 4 Stars









These were all the books that I read in May. 
Currently I am in the middle of two that I really enjoy and hope to finish soon.

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

Friday 3 June 2022

The Merciless Ones (The Gilded Ones #2) by Namina Forna - Book Tour

 


The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna is a YA Fantasy book and it is the second book in The Gilded Ones series. The book was released on May 31st by Delacorte Press.

Add The Merciless Ones to your Goodreads TBR here
Purchase The Merciless Ones:


Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing date: May 31st, 2022
Rep: Transgender, Sapphic, Black (West African)
Content Warning: scenes of violence, including some graphic violence and description of sexual assault

About the book:

Fans of The Gilded Ones and Children of Blood and Bone will love the second book in an epic fantasy series about a girl who is the key to saving the empire–or its greatest threat.

It’s been six months since Deka has freed the goddesses and discovered who she really is. There are now wars waging across the kingdom. Otereans now think jatu are traitors to the nation. Deka is called a monster.

But the real battle has only just begun and Deka must lead the charge. Deka is tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses. Only as she begins to free them, she begins to see a strange symbol everywhere in places of worship and worn on armor. There’s something unnatural about that symbol; just looking at it makes Deka lose her senses. Even worse, it seems to repel her powers. She can’t command or communicate with the new deathshrieks. In fact, she can’t even understand them when they speak.

Deka knows freeing the goddesses is just the beginning. She can tell whatever dark force out is powerful and there is something sinister out there threatening the kingdom connected to that symbol–something merciless–that her army will need to stop before humanity crumbles. But Deka’s powers are only getting stronger…and her strongest weapon could be herself.

About the author:

Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the upcoming epic fantasy YA novel The Gilded Ones. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, she moved to the US when she was nine and has been traveling back and forth ever since. Namina has an MFA in film and TV production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA from Spelman College. She works as a screenwriter in LA and loves telling stories with fierce female leads.



Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

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