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.
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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.
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“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 .
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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.
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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 .
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"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.
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