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

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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

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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

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Iron Hearts and Dragon Magic by Day Leitao - Cover Reveal

 

 

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.

   

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:

About Day Leitao:

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

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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 :

Amazon /  Book Depository / Barnes & Noble /  Indigo / IndieBound

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:

Website: https://toribovalino.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toribov 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toribovalino/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17672189.Tori_Bovalino

You can find the rest of the tour schedule here

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

Athina

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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: 

Book 1 /  Book 2 /  Book 3

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

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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

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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

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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

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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:

Amazon /  Book Depository /  Barnes & Noble / Indigo / IndieBound 

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.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Check out the rest of the tour schedule here

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

Athina

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