Archive for the ‘Fantasy’ Category

The Ghosts Of Rathalla by Matthew K. Perkins ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: June 3, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways, Guest Post
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Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Ghosts of Rathalla by Matthew K. Perkins
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  200 pages
Genre: Epic fantasy
Publisher: Resource Publications
Release date:  February 2024
Content Rating:  PG-13: Some swearing and violence. ​

Book Description:

Set in a world that is dominated by a vast desert, two friends are caught in the middle of a civil war. She’s a warrior. He’s a musician. When they discover that the crux of the war is a prophesied newborn baby that one side will do anything to destroy, they become the only people capable of saving the child’s life—all that stands in their way is an active volcano, a barbarian army, and a cunning assassin with motives of his own.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
​add to goodreads
 
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Guest Post From Author Matthew K. Perkins:
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Here’s something I’ve been struggling with as a writer: I strongly prefer to write my novels linearly (from beginning to end) and, even when I have great ideas for later in the story, I like to make a few notes about the ideas (so that I don’t forget them) and then put them on the backburner until I’m writing that part of the book.

I would really like to stop doing this! My advice to myself, and to anybody reading this is: WRITE IT WHEN YOU GET THE IDEA.

  1. You’re going to write it best when it’s fresh on your mind and you’re most excited about the idea.
  2. If you write it, and it turns out really well, it acts as a motivator to get you to that point in the story (i.e. I’m halfway through writing my book and having some writer’s block, BUT I wrote that one scene near the end that is AWESOME, and I need to get the story there.)
  3. Just because you write it down now, doesn’t mean it’s written in stone. You can get the full idea down and still make changes later!
  4. Having different portions of your novel written at the same time can help solidify themes/motifs that you’re trying to carry throughout, and it can also improve your organization as a writer.

Happy writing to everybody out there!

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Meet Author Matthew K. Perkins:

Matthew K. Perkins is a proud Wyoming native, where he completed an MA in English Literature from the state’s lone university. He currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, three sons, and two dogs. He is the author of two novels, ‘Saint in Vain’ (2018) and ‘The Ghosts of Rathalla’ (2024).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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THE GHOSTS OF RATHALLA by Matthew K. Perkins Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: May 18, 2024 in Excerpt, Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: ,
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I am so excited that the paperback of SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE by Andrew Auseon is available now and that I get to share the news!

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If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

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This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed copy of the book & swag courtesy of Andrew & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

 

SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE

by Andrew Auseon

 

 

Pub. Date: May 14, 2024

Publisher: Yearling

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 448

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SPELLBINDERS-THE-NOT-SO-CHOSEN-ONE 

 

“Ben may only be pretending to
be the ‘Chosen One’—but I’ve definitely chosen this one as my favorite new
fantasy series.”
—Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the
Last Kids on Earth series

How far would you go to play the hero? One seventh grader gets way more
than he bargained for when he is swept into the fantasy quest of his gaming
dreams in this funny illustrated series full of adventure and twists.

It’s not so easy being the Chosen One (or in Ben Whitlock’s case, pretending to
be the Chosen One). Sure, when you’ve been mistaken for a long-prophesied hero
by a teenage girl/mysterious assassin and transported to a fantasy realm you’re
supposedly destined to save, you don’t have to worry about things like math
homework. But when flying narwhals are trying to blast you into oblivion (gulp)
and a bunch of old mystics in flip-flops want you to enter something called the
Gullet of Eternal Torment (double gulp), suddenly a C in algebra doesn’t seem
like such a big deal.

Back in the real world, Ben preferred to escape into fictional adventures and
role-playing games. But the more he learns about his true quest, the more he
realizes that being a hero goes way beyond rolling a few dice. . . .

 

Reviews:

“Spellbinders hooked
me from the beginning, but it became one of my favorites around the first
flying narwhals.’“—James Riley, New York Times bestselling
author of the Story Thieves series

“Here comes a new series that brilliantly embodies the power of
creativity….The book’s immersive fantasy world of Lux is one I did not
want to leave.”—George Jreije, author of the Shad Hadid series

“To use the local parlance, a “ridonkulously” entertaining kickoff.”
—Booklist

“The themes of interpersonal relationships and change give the work
emotional heft…A love letter to escapism and writing one’s own
destiny.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Through subversions of familiar fantasy tropes and a thoroughly engaging
plot, Auseon conjures an idiosyncratic realm replete with endearing
characters, madcap humor, and hijinks-filled adventure“—
Publisher’s Weekly

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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Life with Biscuit

“Did you just call me an Ogre Lord?”

“Huh?”

A chair squeaked. “Ben? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Outside in the nearest tree, a small bird chirped joyously, and somewhere far
away on the recess field, a kickball boinged. Shouts and clapping. A potted
plant on the principal’s sunny windowsill died of thirst, inches from a full
pitcher of water.

There was no Ogre Lord. This was not a dungeon throne room.

Across from Ben sat Mr. Sandusky, the principal of Sweet Air Middle School, and
a man with far too many photos of his dog on his desk. It was like a shrine to
a potbellied, bug-eyed pug named Biscuit–a name that Ben knew because Biscuit
was usually photographed wearing expensive sweaters with his name on them.

“You looked far away,” Mr. Sandusky said with a smile.

Ben blinked, taking in his surroundings. Real life, in all its boring sameness.
Room B12, the principal’s office. It was 3:15 p.m. on another Friday. “Yeah,
sorry,” he said, feeling a rush of color in his cheeks.

The kids outside shouted and laughed, and he’d never felt more alone.

“Tell me, Ben,” said Mr. Sandusky, leaning forward with his elbows on the edge
of his desk. “How are you doing?” A single strand of hair crossed from one side
of his pale bald head to the other, like a crack in an eggshell. On one of his
bookshelves sat a framed photo of Biscuit in a stroller. The principal seemed
like a nice guy, but it was sometimes tough to take him seriously.

Ben would have preferred the Ogre Lord.

“It’s been six months since you came to us,” Mr. Sandusky said, “and I’d like
to think you’re settling in.” His fake smile turned upside down. “But I’ve
talked to your teachers, Ben, and they’re worried about you. They say you don’t
pay any attention in class and don’t talk to any of the other students in the
halls. They say that you spend all your time doodling in your little
notebooks.”

Ben tried to explain. “When I get ideas, I have to write them down.”

“What about making friends? How is that going?”

“I’ve already got friends,” Ben said. “But they’re back home. I’m sort of the
leader, the one who keeps the group together. Well, I was, until we moved.”

“Who’s the leader now?” Mr. Sandusky asked.

“It’s called a Quest Master,” Ben said, “and the new Quest Master is my friend
Big Barry.”

“Why is he called that?”

“Because he’s bigger than Regular Barry.”

“I see.”

Ben sighed. “I don’t really need to make new friends here because we’re not
going to stay in Sweet Air.”

Mr. Sandusky’s eyebrows jumped. “Oh, you’re not staying?”

“I have a feeling this whole move won’t last very long,” Ben said with a shake
of his head. If he said it enough times, he might actually start to believe it.

“Well . . . ,” Mr. Sandusky began, rubbing his hands together. “Six months is a
long time.”

“Maybe. But why make new friends when I’ve got a great group back home?”

“Okay. That’s fair. Do you still see them a lot?”

Glancing away, Ben felt his face flush. “Not a lot. Not right now. I mean, it’s
been a while since we’ve had a chance to hang out, but I’m seeing them tonight,
actually. They promised.”

“Tell me,” Mr. Sandusky said. “When you and your friends get together, what do
you do for fun?”

“Games, role-playing games, mostly.”

“A role-playing game. Is that like playing pretend? Like, with imaginary
friends?”

Ben grumbled. “No. I’m talking about Kingdoms of Forever, the fantasy game. It
was created a long time ago, like, in the nineteen-somethings. It’s pretty
famous. You play with a group of friends. Um, not imaginary ones. The real
kind.”

“And you play Kingdoms of Forever with them?”

“I used to, back home,” Ben said, flinching at the words back home, which he
found himself saying much too often. “We played every week. They were my party.
That’s what they call the group you adventure with–a party.”

“Neato. Parties are fun.”

“Once, my friend Wanda’s character got turned into seaweed.”

“Exciting!” Mr. Sandusky said, but in that voice adults use when they’re making
you feel good about something they think is a waste of time. “Maybe you could
meet some kids here who play? Start a new game group?”

Ben shook his head. “I’ve already got a party. We call ourselves the Five of
Legend.” Leaning over, he unzipped his backpack and dug inside. “But until I go
back home, I’ve been working on making my own game, as practice.”

“You’re making a game?” Mr. Sandusky asked, brightening. “Wow. That’s so cool.
Does it have a name?”

“Not yet.” Ben pulled a large notebook out of his backpack and set it on his
lap, trying to keep it balanced, as stray scraps of paper fluttered to the
office floor. A shooting star was branded into the fake-leather cover.

Mr. Sandusky’s eyes widened. “Wow. What’s all that?”

Ben grinned. The notebook had been a gift from his dad, and he carried it with
him everywhere. Last time he’d checked, he’d filled 541 of its 600 pages.
Inside, he kept scattered notes on his new fantasy game, all the ideas he’d
been recording since last summer: maps; monster descriptions; long, cool
character backstories; complex family trees; and, most important, all the rules
of how to play. It was more than a story, it was a whole world, and it was the
only place where he felt in control.

“I can see that you’re passionate about this,” Mr. Sandusky said, scrunching up
his face so that he bore a remarkable resemblance to Biscuit. “But you can’t
work on your game in class, and you can’t ignore your teachers. You won’t make
any friends if you avoid the other students.”

“I’m not avoiding–”

Smiling, Mr. Sandusky leaned over his desk. “Listen. I know you’re new here,
and I know we don’t know each other that well. But I can see that you’re a
smart kid. Very smart. You’ve got so much potential. How can we help you learn
if you’re always distracted, always somewhere else in your head? You can’t succeed
in life if you don’t take it seriously sometimes, if you don’t set goals for
yourself.”

Ben had been in enough of these meetings to know what to expect. Especially
when the principal, teacher, or guidance counselor started pulling out words
like potential and goals. He was twelve. His goals should be playing laser tag
with Wanda and Dee Dee, or brainstorming the best way to melt an Ice Dwarf, or
scavenging for turkeys online with strangers in Smash Royale. He should enjoy
life, like Biscuit in his little stroller.

“Can I go home now?” he asked. “It’s Friday.”

“Got some big Friday plans?” Mr. Sandusky asked.

“I’m going to the Fantasy Fandom Convention downtown. My friends are supposed
to meet me. We do it every year.” He didn’t mention that Wanda, Dee Dee, Big
Barry, and the Pooch hadn’t been returning his texts, or if they did, the
responses always seemed to be one-word bursts, like “sweet,” “vibe,” or
“chill,” and nothing important.

Although his recent text messages had gone unanswered, Ben wasn’t worried. He
and his friends had attended every annual Fan Fan Con since their first trip
back in fourth grade, for Wanda’s birthday, when the movie series Toxic Freaks
had turned the entire convention floor into a working sewer system. The
convention started as Ben’s idea, something special he and his father had done
together every spring since he was a little kid, back when they’d been a
family.

Fan Fan Con was the Midwest’s largest gathering of fantasy fiction and gaming
enthusiasts, founded in 1982, where the keynote speakers were William Dalton
and J. S. Profit, the creators of legendary role-playing game Kingdoms of
Forever. Ben would have given anything to attend that first convention, but it
was held thirty years before he was even born, so unless somebody invented a
time machine, he’d have to settle for the current version, which was still his
favorite day of the year.

Mr. Sandusky stood up. “Good for you, Ben. I hope it’s fun. But do me a favor
and try not to be back here again next week. All right?”

“I’ll try,” Ben said.

They shook hands for some reason, like they’d been having a business lunch. The
principal’s hand felt like a chicken thigh from the grocery store–soft and
cold, pressed tight against the plastic package.

Outside, Ben took a deep breath, relieved to have once again survived a duel
with the principal of Sweet Air Middle School. A few seconds later, the final
bell rang and doors flew open, spilling rowdy students into the empty hallway.
Ben made straight for the exit, brain starting to rev up again, bursting with
ideas for his notebook: spells (Fog of the Mind-Bender, Dark Malarkey),
monsters (Knot of Tentacles), and magical items (Hover Pants), all of them
inspired by his daydreaming.

He caught the bus at the corner by the cell phone store, taking the F40, which
started in the outer suburbs and ended in the center of downtown. After his
parents’ divorce, Ben and his mom had moved to Sweet Air, a small town twenty
miles outside the city. Sweet Air’s claim to fame was Gas Monster™, a popular
medicine that helped with stomachaches . . . and turned your poop white.

The bus was mostly empty. An old lady with a goldfish in a clear plastic bag
sat near the front, across from a pair of guys outfitted in green cloaks and
pointy ears, headed to Fan Fan Con. Far back in the last row of the bus lounged
a teenage girl with purple hair that fell in waves and curls down her back,
another fangirl on her way to the convention. Nobody paid Ben any attention at
all.

He checked his phone: 3:48. Plenty of time. His last text still glowed in the
ongoing chat between him, DD, WANDA, BBARRY, and DE POOCH.

C YA AT THE SPOT. FANFANCON! DON B LATE.

Opening his notebook, Ben settled down in his seat and began to draw the first
thing that came to mind, and, as always, the rest of the world seemed to melt
away.

The Butt-Doodle Bench

When the F40 approached Lamplighter Avenue, Ben pulled the cord to signal his
stop, and got off in front of the old public library. A pair of tall owl
statues loomed on either side of the library steps, watching the sidewalk
suspiciously. He cut behind the building to the large park in back, which
overlooked a broken fountain and a colorful carousel that groaned and sagged
when it turned. Little kids raced around a playground sprayed with graffiti,
and moms and dads pushed strollers along the overgrown paths. Not one of them
pushed a dog in a sweater.

When he lived in the city, Ben and his friends came to this park to meet and
hang out. They’d even marked their favorite old bench with a collection of gum
wads and butt doodles, as if they were a secret society casting a spell that
kept everybody else away. When he sat in that spot overlooking the carousel,
the world around him felt normal again. Like he was himself. Like nothing had
changed.

He sat down and checked his phone: 4:30. Right on time. He tapped a text:

D D, I’M HERE. CALL ME. WOOOOO! CON TIME!

As he waited for a response, he tried to distract himself from the fact that he
hadn’t gotten many replies in the last few days, and the ones he’d received
didn’t exactly share his level of enthusiasm.

Like, from Dee Dee:

NOICE. BUT WE SHUD TALK THO.

Or the Pooch:

CON TIME! YES. DID WANDA TELL YOU HER IDEA?

And the final message from Wanda, arriving just that morning:

DON’T BE THAT WAY, B. THESE ARE VIP TICKETS!

They wanted to change the routine for the first time in history, something Ben
could never support. Every time they brought it up, he shut them down with a
playful GIF of a cat staring at a bathtub full of water above the words NO
THANKS, BRO! Fan Fan Con was a tradition, and after months of anticipation, he
was ready to meet up with his friends like they did every year and hit the
convention floor. It was the only way he’d find the courage to return to Sweet
Air again, where he’d have to survive another long stretch in a desert of
loneliness.

Opening his notebook, he scratched out a few ideas on a blank page.

And he waited.

And kept waiting.

Five o’clock came and went.

Notifications for all the convention events Ben was missing popped up on his
phone one after another: 5:00: Chloe Perkins, “How to Draw the Crustiest Hags”;
5:00: Dean and Sean Flicker, “Twins and Mind Powers”; 5:30: Laser Beak Studios,
“Creating the Worlds of Kingdoms of Forever.” At 5:32, he couldn’t resist any
longer and texted the group chat:

WHAT’S UP? HELLLOOOOOO.

Nothing. Not from Dee Dee, Wanda, Big Barry, or the Pooch.

WHERE R U? U DIDN’T REALLY DITCH ME FOR VIP TIX, DID YA?

No answer. They’d ghosted him.

Or worse. They’d started a new tradition.

But that didn’t make any sense. He was the Quest Master, the one who’d
introduced them to each other.

Ben sat alone in their park–on their bench–and watched the carousel turn, its
rusty old circus animals bringing smiles to the faces of all the children. Fan
Fan Con was in full swing only thirteen blocks away, but he didn’t even care
anymore. Going alone wasn’t the point.

Growing up, Ben could always count on Wanda, Dee Dee, Big Barry, and the Pooch
to have his back, whether they were copying each other’s homework in algebra or
raiding the Minotaur dungeons of Upper Gruel, deep in the flooded Canyons of
Worm. Five unique kids who’d never completely fit in on their own but who fit
perfectly together as a group, where each had a space to be themselves.

They were the Five of Legend, and they changed Ben’s life, because when you
find the right people, the whole world seems to brighten.

All his life, people had accused Ben of being a dreamer, of wasting his time
with silly games and make-believe worlds, as though he couldn’t tell the
difference between fantasy and reality. Unfortunately, his parents’ divorce had
taught him the difference pretty fast, and everything he loved–monsters,
sorcerers, legends, and quests–all seemed pretty silly by comparison. He felt
comfortable sharing his ideas with his friends, but outside that group he’d
always felt exposed, like he’d been hit with the bright beam of a spotlight.

That’s why, when he wasn’t scribbling furiously in his notebook, he kept it
bound tightly with fat blue rubber bands, tucked away from prying eyes.

His phone buzzed, and he practically dropped it in his hurry to check the
message; but it was from his mom, not his friends:

HAVE FUN AT THE CONVENTION!

WORKING LATE TONIGHT. DON’T WAIT UP.

LUV U.

He sighed. Even his mom had better things to do and more important people to
see. They’d been close when he was younger, but she worked all the time now,
and he hardly ever saw her.

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About Andrew Auseon:

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Andrew Auseon is the
author of several books for children and young adults, and he is the writer of
numerous bestselling and award-winning video games. A transplant from the
Midwest, he lives in Washington, D.C. with his family and two very naughty
cats. He loves breakfast cereal, the sound of the ocean, and the feeling of a
brand-new book in his hands.

Website | Book Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Amazon

 

 

 

 

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2 winners will receive a signed finished copy of SPELLBINDERS: THE NOT-SO-CHOSEN ONE &
a swag pack. US Only.

Ends June 8th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Scarred Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: April 27, 2024 in Excerpt, Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Scarred Beauty tour banner

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Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Scarred Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood.

Scarred Beauty is the second book in the Young Adult Fantasy Fairytale series Wylder Tales.

This blog tour is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours and the tour runs from 1 till 14 April. You can see the tour schedule here.

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Scarred Beauty (Wylder Tales #2)

By Jennifer Silverwood

 

Genre: Fairytale/ Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult/ New Adult
Release Date: 31 March 2024

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Blurb:

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When the Beast wakens, nothing will stop him from claiming his bride, even if it means destroying everyone she loves.

Vynasha is certain of two things: she is forever bound to the monster who loves her, and she can never return to Castle Bitterhelm again. Escape has come at a high cost, and though Vynasha freed the imprisoned beasts, she has awakened an ancient evil that now stalks her. For the curse is unfinished with the one the prophecy spoke of, and Grendel continues to haunt her dreams.

This time she won’t fight the oncoming darkness alone.

Ceddrych may not be her brother by blood, but their bond has only grown stronger. When the wolves they’ve found refuge with threaten them, Ceddrych and Vynasha must fight together to overcome enemies around them. Danger lurks at every corner, and only by playing the pack alpha’s games can they survive the winter.

One thing rings true in the waking world and her dreams: Grendel won’t sleep forever.

Only by claiming her powers can Vynasha protect her newfound family and prevent the ruination of Wylderland. A dark tale of enchantment and woe, perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Holly Black, Scarred Beauty is the second installment of the epic Wylder Tales Series!

Links:
– Goodreads
– Amazon
– iBooks
– Barnes & Noble
– Kobo
– Books2Read

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Bang! Bang!

They jumped as the barred door rattled in its frame.

“Come out, Wanderer,” a harsh voice called from the other side. “Come and see the cost of harboring your witch!”

Vynasha wrapped her arms around her curled legs. Her awareness spiked as her new beastly senses took over. “Ceddrych?”

He spoke with the village council. What else has been said?

Ceddrych met her gaze and a flash of guilt burning behind his gaze.

The voices on the other side of the wall grew louder.

“My boy is ill because of your witch, Wanderer!” a woman shouted.

“Yes,” growled an older male, “we know you took her outside the village, no doubt to practice her dark magick.”

“Who knows what she summoned from that infernal castle!”

“—not one of us!”

“She’ll murder our children!”

Vynasha dug her forehead into her knees and placed her hands against her ears as the villagers continued to jeer beyond the walls. Until Ceddrych’s hands tugged at her wrists until she surrendered to his hold. His smile transformed his world-weary face to the boy she remembered.

A sob caught in her throat as he pressed his forehead to hers, at his acceptance, at the reminder that he had claimed her regardless. He would always choose her.

Ceddrych’s eyes flashed wolfish green as he pulled away, the only outward sign of his internal fury. He squeezed her wrists briefly in comfort as he released her. Only then, with his back turned, did he seem to grow taller. Magick of the forest, of loam and pine, snow and moss, filled the cabin as her brother crossed the cabin to unbar the door.

“Why have you come?” Ceddrych’s voice cut through the din and stunned the villagers into silence. “Why do you threaten us when Vynasha has not left my side beyond the walls of this cabin?”

“If she is so harmless, why did my Asa’s cough begin the day she arrived?” the woman from before snarled. “Tell me, how is my boy so weakened he can hardly stand from his bed!”

“What if we are all infected with her curse?” someone called.

“Never suffer a witch to live!” another cried.

“Stay back, damn you!” Ceddrych threw his arms to brace against the door frame and began to tremor. “Children fall sick every day. My own sister has been recovering from what those monsters did to her.”

Vynasha cringed at the unspoken implication. Were the villagers somehow right, after all? Had she carried some dark magick with her?

“Our children never fall ill. Our blood has always protected us,” an older male growled. “You have been with us a short time, Wanderer, you do not understand our ways.”

“He is not one of us!” the first woman shouted. “The lone wolf has no place among our pack.”

“Onya is right,” an elderly woman agreed, “you agreed to live among us, but you refuse to protect us.”

“Enough, Gira!” Balos interrupted in his deep voice. “You have said your piece. Wanderer, you know the rules of our pack…”

“Vynasha has done no spell! I would have felt it,” Ceddrych protested.

“And how do you explain Asa’s illness?” Balos asked. “How do you explain the stench of evil infecting our village? We warned you what would happen if she called the beast again. Such magick is forbidden in these lands for a reason.”

Oh, Saints, the amulet, she thought. It had been burning when she woke. Had Grendel called to her dream, or had she called to his? Bile rose to the back of her throat. Was the boy’s illness truly her fault?

“We have survived all these years because we kept noses to the ground and away from the lost city,” Balos continued. “Anyone who breaks our law draws the city’s evil to us. And there is only one punishment for such a crime.”

“You can’t!” Ceddrych cried.

“We cannot suffer a witch to live among us,” Balos snapped back.

“Vynasha is my sister, she is under my protection. And if any of you so much as look at her wrong, I will show you exactly how savage I can be.”

“You cannot endanger our lives like this!” the elderly woman from before cried. “Would you sacrifice everyone in this village for that witch? Mayhap you practice dark magick as well?”

“Better her life than yours,” Ceddrych growled.

The voices rushed together, overlapping with one another.

Vynasha gasped and stumbled forward until her forehead pressed against the door of the cabin. She couldn’t let them harm Ceddrych, she wouldn’t.

Even if I need to become the monster they fear.

The elder male who had spoken before released growling shout. “Silence!”

Vynasha’s claws bit into the wood and she drew in a breath filled with brewing violence as the male continued.

“We took this lone wolf in as one of our own, because he is a protector, by blood right. That is enough claim for him to make his home among us. Let him plead his case, but I warn you, boy, do not threaten or lie to us again unless you seek exile.”

Vynasha peeked through the crack between the wood and the world beyond. The sun blinded her sight at first, masking shady figures in heavy furs. Yet at the edge of her vision she could also see a woman with scales instead of skin and fire-red hair, three men half the size of the other villagers with beards trailing to their knees, and did she imagine a child with wings? The wylderfolk clung to the outskirts, the shadows, watching with solemn faces. But the closest villagers’s eyes were gleaming luminous emerald like the wolves, with the promise of a fight.

Ceddrych’s back was to her, his shoulders heaving as he lifted his head and faced the wolves. “All I know is that my sister was a prisoner in that castle, a victim… just like your missing daughters.”

The crowd shifted and a soft wind carried whispers of ageless sorrow.

Ceddrych straightened to his full height and turned to face a wrinkled male with feathers instead of hair, and the round eyes of a hawk. “Galtis, you and the other council named me a protector. Now you ask me to turn my back on Vynasha because you’re afraid of what you don’t understand. If it were your daughter, your sister standing here, could you abandon them so easily? Would you?”

“Our daughters knew the cost of answering the beast’s call, far better than you, Wanderer,” Galtis replied with a bird-like tilt of his head.

“You speak of what you do not understand,” Gira, the elderly woman from before, snarled and her words shredded with her voice into a wolf’s bark. “Every day she spends is another we risk bringing the wrath of her upon us all!”

The others continued to rave, their protests growing louder, pressing closer. Vynasha closed her eyes and clawed at the amulet burning like ice against her skin.

Balos broke his silence. “Our elders speak true, Wanderer. Whoever your sister was before she entered the lost city is no more. We can all see the marks of her change, the mark of evil. And you know the law. We cannot suffer a witch to live.”

Vynasha shifted on her toes and fought the flare of magick heating her blood. She braced her hands against the wooden door so hard her hands bled.

“You want blood, you’ll have to go through me first!” Ceddrych snarled as he surged forward.

~~~~~

Get the first book in the Wylder Tales series!

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Craving Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood

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Craving Beauty book cover

A dark tale of enchantment and woe. Become the beast’s bride or become a monster herself.

Links:
– Goodreads
– Amazon
– iBooks
– Barnes & Noble
– Kobo
– Books2Read

About Author Jennifer Silverwood:

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Jennifer Silverwood author picture

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Jennifer Silverwood has been involved in the publishing world since 2012 and is passionate about supporting the writing community however she can. After studying traditional art at university, she began helping Qamber Designs bring authors’ books to life. In real life, she’s a mom of two, a passionate reader, and an occasional artist. Jennifer is the author of three series—Wylder Tales, Heaven’s Edge Novellas, and the Borderlands Saga—and the stand-alone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight.

Author links:
– Website
– Website book page
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Goodreads
– Books2Read
– Newsletter

Giveaway

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There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Scarred Beauty. One winner wins a signed hardcover copy of Craving Beauty and Scarred Beauty + swag.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Scarred Beauty square tour banner.
Lola's Blog Tours graphic

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon ~ Spotlight And Giveaway

Posted: April 11, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Book Details:

​ Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  436 pages
Genre: Coming-of-Age Fantasy
Publisher: Peace Tigers, LLC
Release date:  October 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 for one f-word, mild romance, and battle scenes.

Book Description:

IS REALITY REALLY WHAT WE THINK? A BLEND OF SCIENCE AND THE SUPERNATURAL MAY HOLD THE KEY.

Reality, as we understand it, is about to be redefined. Malcolm Tilden, a former DC native and reluctant initiate in a Tibetan monastery, embarks on a journey to meet his fate. In the wake of a global catastrophe, Malcolm and his best friend, Aimi Ueshiba, must face of against the sinister Music Man and his reptilian army to fulfill a prophecy as old as civilization. It isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, and the conflict isn’t over.

Fortunately, they have some quirky but powerful mentors. To succeed and live to train the next generation of initiates, they have to embrace a blend of ancient and modern mysteries, joining their heads and their hearts in a shared destiny to bring peace back to their neighborhood–and the world beyond.

Peace Tigers is an engaging blend of science fiction and spiritual exploration, challenging us to the true nature of our purpose. Come discover these enigmatic secrets one lesson at a time.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
​add to goodreads
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Meet Author Dave Martelon:

Dave Martelon is the author of Peace Tigers. A technology executive by trade, Dave never aspired to write a novel. Nevertheless, in witnessing the trend of separation in society, he was compelled to the pen. Inspired by three lifelong interests–the Japanese martial art form Aikido, quantum physics, and world peace–Peace Tigers is a call to action to solve what ails us, a call for more Peace Tigers.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads 

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PEACE TIGERS Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ In The Shadow Of The Truth by Maci Aurora

Posted: April 10, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways, Romance
Tags: , ,
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In the Shadow of the Truth

by Maci Aurora

 

(Fareview Fairytale, #3.5)
Publication date: April 9th 2024
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

The secrets Scarlett Fareview has hidden from her family are finally out in the open, but not without consequences. Alienating everyone she loves, she must face the hurt and betrayal she wrought with her duplicity. And the cost is high. In this series of novellas, the Fareveiws deal with the aftermath of Scarlett’s deception. Scarlett must face Tomas and her children, Brinna must determine if she and Luc can forge a future, and Auri and Nix face the next obstacle to their forever. Along with many other familiar characters, these stories bridge the gap between the end of In the Shadow of a Dream and the final book in the Fareview saga, In the Shadow of an Obsession.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

From In the Shadow of a Vow Novella

When Tomas returned from the barn that afternoon, the sound of his boots on the floor captured her attention as she stood at the kitchen counter he’d made for her. His form in the doorway—wide and encompassing—was at first a buoying relief then a crushing disappointment.

She’d failed him.

He stalled, assessing, his eyes dragging along the countertop where she stood amidst a haphazard wreck of herbs—her supplies for making tinctures and medicines she took on calls and sold at the market.

“Did you mean to leave all your tools in the garden?” he asked. There wasn’t any accusation in his tone, only curiosity. “And the laundry undone in the wash basin?”

When she didn’t answer—because she couldn’t seem to align the words with meaning—he asked, “What’s going on here?”

Scarlett looked down at the mess she’d made, opened her mouth to tell him what she was doing, but her mind went blank. She couldn’t remember what she’d been doing. She didn’t know what she was doing anymore. The longer she looked at the greens, the pestle and mortar, the boiling pot, the less sense any of the disarray made.

“It’s chaos, Scar,” he said quietly next to her. “Unlike you.”

She looked up from the mess to his face, to his kind eyes shaped with concern.

Scar. She’d always loved the way he shortened her name, the only one who ever did.

Then without warning, she burst into tears, pressing the towel in her hands against her face as her grief, pain, worry, regret, disappointment wrenched out of her with horrific gasp. She’d ruined everything.

Tomas gathered her into his arms with soothing sounds. “Hush,” he whispered, his wide, heavy hand on the back of her head.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, grasping hold of his shirt, her face pressed into the strength of his chest.

He held her.

“They’re gone,” she sobbed. “I failed.”

His arms squeezed her a touch tighter, and when his face pressed into the place between her neck and shoulder, Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing up onto her toes, needing to be closer to his comfort.

“I failed too,” he whispered, his lips against her skin. “We both have.”

She shook her head. “Not you, Tomas.” She drew back to look at him.

Raising his head, his eyes connected with hers, the sadness a deep, evergreen forest swirling inside them where he was lost. And it was her fault. She knew this. Had pushed him to go against his nature by keeping her secrets, securing the spells.

Unsure about anything but the tumult of emotions she couldn’t seem to harness, Scarlett reached for comfort she knew he provided, a comfort she could reciprocate.

She kissed him, her hands framing his face, his beard soft against her palms.

He froze, tension tightening his shoulders.

And she thought he might pull away, but suddenly he was kissing her back, capitulating, needing, seeking. His tongue sought entrance, and she granted it. It was hungry, two souls on the periphery of starvation, finding one another in the darkness.

About Author Maci Aurora:

Romance author.

Lover of stories.

Maci Aurora has been writing stories since she was a child. When she was eleven, she fell in love with reading Sunfire Historical Romances about girls who made a difference in their lives and still fell in love. In high school, a friend introduced her to Lavyrle Spencer and Judith McNaught, and from there, her writing journey was cemented in telling stories about love. Having already published many novels (all of which are threaded with romance as upper YA and New Adult titles) under the pen name, CL Walters, Maci Aurora wanted to write stories that offered the same attention to story and characters but with additional steam.

Maci writes in Hawaiʻi where she lives with her husband, their children, and their fur-babies.

Website / Instagram / Newsletter

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Fallenwood Chronicles by Leslie D. Soule ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: April 9, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Fallenwood Chronicles organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Leslie D. Soule will award a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Fallen Chronicles

by Leslie D. Soule

 

 

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis

The Fallenwood Chronicles is the ongoing story of Ash Kensington, a young woman who finds herself transported into a fantasy world, where she must take up arms in a battle of Good vs. Evil, against the Dark Lord Malegaunt. Tragedy strikes her life in the real world, but she finds friends in Fallenwood, like her mentor Will Everett, a talking cat named Greymalkin, and a court jester named Terces. Working together, they battle against the odds as Ash faces attacks from the world and from within. Eventually Ash finds the strength within herself, to attempt the fight against Malegaunt, against overwhelming odds, come what may.

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

Her heart raced and she breathed slowly, trying to calm her frazzled nerves. Glancing around, she wondered how far off the road she’d wandered. She knew it had been midday when she’d started running, and now looking up into the star-filled sky, it had to be late into the night. A rush of air greeted her the moment she reached this strange part of the forest, before her eyes had temporarily forsaken her. The wind whipped around her from all sides. She backed away from where she stood, and the wind felt like it was whooshing up from a precipice. Ashley paused to allow her eyes to adjust to the dark. When her sight returned, she realized that she was standing nowhere near a cliff—it was just an unfamiliar area of forest. Suddenly, a ball of fire hurtled overhead in an arc toward her. Her mind screamed at her to run, but she found that her legs wouldn’t move. The flaming orb continued its descent, burrowing itself into the soft ground only inches away from Ashley’s boots. Two men rushed toward her, arguing all the while as Ashley stood immobilized. Her bones were in revolt. Her brain scrambled for an alias to give out to the men if they asked, but she could only come up with Ash, because she was looking at the little pile of soot at her boots. “Deflected,” the man in the lead announced.

~~~~~

About Author Leslie D. Soule:

Leslie D. Soule received her M.A. in English from National University. She is a scholar, artist, citizen journalist, and martial artist. She has been an established writer for a decade, and has novels published by Melange Books, Terror House Press, Gypsy Shadow Publishing, and Nat 1 Publishing. The Fallenwood Chronicles is her 4-book fantasy series and features the novels Fallenwood, Forgetting Fallenwood, Betrayer, and Retribution.

Twitter

Buy Links:

Amazon:

Book One /  Book Two / Book Three / Book Four

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Belega by Dianne Hartsock ~ Exclusive Excerpt And Giveaway

Posted: March 13, 2024 in Erotic, Fantasy, giveaways, Romance
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Belega organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Dianne Hartsock will award a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Belega

by Dianne Hartsock

 

 

Genre: Erotic Fantasy Romance (M/M)

Synopsis

The Karthagans have regained their ancient powers of manipulating nature, but at the price of madness. In their lust for control, they’ve destroyed their island and most of their race. They come now to Belega, where one of them, Camron, seeks domination over the known world. The Mage has come from the northern continent of Sennia to bring peace but finding his strength no match for the coming struggle, he passes his abilities on to Natan, who only desires a simple life.

Now only Natan has the ability to stop Camron, but the personal cost is more than he imagines. It is only with the combined strength of his friends, his Karthagan lover, Kavi, and his deep desire to bring lasting peace to the earth, that he finds the courage to overcome Camron and restore balance to the world.

~~~~~

Enjoy this exclusive peek inside:

“I’m Kavi. Thank you for opening your home to a stranger,” he said in low, musical tones, holding out his hand. Natan blinked, losing his voice in a tide of yearning. He’d never seen a Karthagan before. Kavi was breathtaking—slim, strong, his olive complexion flawless, black hair falling like silk to his shoulders. He had dark gems for eyes, intelligent, questioning. Natan’s lonely heart reached for him, wanting the man for his own.

The Mage’s soft cough recalled him, and he stammered through his greeting, blood rushing at the strength in Kavi’s fingers. His heart pounded. Natan felt awkward, callow, embarrassed by his poverty. He wished they hadn’t come. His solitary life had left him ill-equipped for the longing that swept him. Kavi’s full lips lifted in a knowing smile, and Natan dropped his gaze, mortified by emotions he didn’t know how to control.

As if sensing his distress, Gregor pulled him into a quick embrace. “It’s good to see you again, Natan. I hope you don’t mind that I brought a guest. We won’t stay long. A few days, and with the weather this delightful, we’ll sleep under the stars.”

“Stay as long as you need,” Natan countered and felt the hot blood in his face at Kavi’s low chuckle.

“Damn the man,” Natan said now, poking at the fire. He couldn’t help looking again at the men slumbering close by. Bryon slept a little apart, near the prisoner, but Kavi had rolled against the Mage, a hand on his hip. Natan bit his lip, turning back to the fire and the simmering pot. He knew it meant nothing. Kavi was an affectionate man. But his body ached, remembering their glorious nights together and the bright smile on his lover’s face. He hadn’t known then that Kavi liked to play at love, giving freely of his body but allowing no one near his heart.

“Good morning.”

Natan started, unaware anyone had woken until Kavi squatted across the fire from him. He sounded tired. Natan searched his face. Exhaustion and pain were evident, yet his eyes were clear. “How are you?” he asked gently.

“I’m well. The Mage took the horror from me…” Kavi trailed off as the water boiled over its pot. They watched it a moment, then Kavi laughed, easing the tension between them. “Making tea, Nattie?” he asked, arching a brow. “Remember the time you let the water boil over until it put the fire out?”

“That happened one time, and it was your fault for distracting me.”

Natan could have bitten his tongue but Kavi only laughed merrily. “You’re the one who kissed me, remember.”

“Well, you are a nice diversion,” Natan pointed out and used a stout stick to remove the pot from the stones while Kavi retrieved the tin of tea from their supplies. They sipped the hot brew in companionable silence. They had always been a good match, comfortable in their silences as well as shared conversation.

~~~~

About Author Dianne Hartsock:

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Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

 

Author Links: Blog / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Goodreads / Instagram

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

It Came From…. By Jim Nemeth And Bob Madison ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: March 10, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways, horror, Science Fiction
Tags: , , ,
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Cover Reveal And Giveaway ~ Thief Of Time by Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley And Amy Christine Parker

Posted: March 7, 2024 in Cover Reveal, Fantasy, giveaways, middle grade
Tags: , , ,
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Today Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and Amy Christine Parker and Rockstar Book Tours are

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revealing the cover for THE THIEF OF TIME, their new middle grade contemporary fantasy

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book which releases May 7, 2024! Check out the awesome cover and enter the
giveaway!

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On to the reveal!

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THE THIEF OF TIME (The Library Of Alexandria Series #1)

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by Authors: Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and Amy Christine Parker

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Pub. Date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: Infinity House Creative

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 312

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Find it: Goodreads, Amazon 

 

“The Thief of Time is a
thrilling contemporary fantasy that will steal your breath away. Chock full of
complex world building and magic that springs from the power of story, this
book will definitely keep young readers turning pages.”—Polly Holyoke,
Award-winning author

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Unleash the Magic…

THE THIEF OF TIME is an exciting middle-grade contemporary fantasy adventure
that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the realms of magic,
friendship, and self-discovery.

On a visit to their local library,
Ben, Bridgette, and Maya unwittingly unleash a dragon from an ancient book and
find themselves fighting for their lives against a swarm of evil birds. They
battle to escape with the help of the dragon and are whisked through a portal
into the magical Great Library of Alexandria.

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Once they pass the Trials and prove
themselves worthy, they are invited to become students at Helicon Academy.
There they train to become librarians for the Library of Alexandria, protecting
books and the magical artifacts within.

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Ben, Bridgette, and Maya fall in love
with the story-themed dinners, fantastical animals, and fictional characters
roaming the halls. But when they discover a dark and sinister mystery within
the academy’s halls, the three must embark on a quest to protect the library
and preserve the fabric of time itself.

 

 

REVIEWS:

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“Every so often, you read a book with a fictional place
that is so full of magic and so full of wonder that you want to live there
forever — the library in The Thief of Time is such a place. You’re in
for a treat!” —Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of Spark

 

What a ride! The Thief of Time whisks readers from the
immortal Library of Alexandria to adventures across the globe. Maya, Ben, and
Bridgette kept me reading to the very end! —Sarah McGuire, author of Flight
of Swans and Valiant

 

We all know books are magic, but in The Thief of Time,
they are beyond our expectations! This adventure jumps right in with our
protagonists facing an adventure, both physically and mentally, unlike any
other I’ve read. Fans of Land of Stories and magical school books are going to
devour this new twist on what it means to truly get into a book. —Kellee Moye,
librarian

 

 

Enjoy this peek inside:

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Chapter 1

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Polly Definitely Doesn’t Want a Cracker

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Ben

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The first weird thing Ben noticed was the birds. 

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Clustered in bushes around the front of the library, they
watched with unblinking beady red eyes as he made his way up the steps.

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“To be, or not to be…gone!” he said loudly, clapping his
hands at a pair that was preening on the steps in front of the door. They
hopped only a few inches away and fixed Ben with a baleful stare.

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Ben shook his head. Here he was, quoting Hamlet at
creepy birds and returning an almost-overdue book on a Friday night when there
were probably ten end-of-summer parties going on—or at least two that he was
invited to. 

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He yanked the door open and stepped inside. Mr. Lozano, who’d
been the town librarian ever since Ben could remember, was scanning barcodes
from a tall stack of books. 

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“Hey, Mr. Lozano.” Ben slid his book across the counter. 

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Mr. Lozano caught the book and added it to the stack. “Just
under the wire, Benjamin. Your dad wouldn’t be happy to come pay another late
fee.” 

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“I know.”

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Mr. Lozano picked up a magnifying glass to peer at the book.
With the plaid bow tie and pencil mustache, Ben thought he looked more like a
Scotland Yard detective than a librarian.

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Mr. Lozano peeled off the outside cover that was titled
“Practical Science.” Ben inwardly groaned. He meant to remove that before
returning it. Underneath the cover was a copy of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

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Mr. Lozano sighed. “Your father still giving you a hard
time?”

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Ben shrugged. His father was a surgeon and thought Ben should
be studying math and science, not “farting around with theater and poetry,” as
he liked to say. It was just easier for Ben to pretend he was more scientific
than he was.

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His mom would’ve understood him better. Not a day went by
where he didn’t think about her and wish she was with him again, reading
Shakespeare’s sonnets like she did when he was little. The gentle lilt of her
voice always lulled him to sleep.  

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“I know what you’re going to say,” Ben said. “I’ll talk to
him again, and—”

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“Mr. Lozano, that astronomy book isn’t here,” a girl
announced as she walked up and set a stack of books on the counter. She looked
familiar, maybe from school. She wore an old Texas Rangers baseball T-shirt and
had a short mop of auburn curls, pale skin, and thick round glasses that made
her green eyes seem extra-large. 

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She shrugged her oversized military-looking green backpack
off her shoulders and plopped it on the counter next to the books. “It was due
five days ago. I’ve been on the waiting list forever.” 

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“I’m sorry, Bridgette. I’m sure the person will bring it back
soon.” Mr. Lozano glanced at the clock over the desk. “Unfortunately, the
library’s closing so I can’t help you find something else right now.”

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“Can’t you call them? Fill out a police report or something?”

.

“Excuse me.” Someone with two long dark braids squeezed
between Ben and Bridgette, her hands cupped around a small ball of fur. A
volunteer badge was clipped to the sleeve of her light blue shirt. “Mr. Lozano,
I think Griffin’s sick. I’m really worried about him.” 

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This girl Ben knew. Everyone knew Maya Friedman, who moved
here last summer from Israel and within a month of their sixth-grade year
became one of the most popular kids at Harrison Middle. Her braids had kind of
become her trademark. Ben hated to admit he was jealous, but no matter how many
times he’d styled his sandy blond hair or even dyed it, he’d failed to get a
trademark “look.” This girl showed up with two long braids and perfectly tanned
olive skin and everyone was like whoooooaaaa. 

.

“Who’s Griffin?” Ben asked.

.

“One of the library’s animals.” She held up a small ball of
brown fluff. “Does he look a little lethargic to you?” 

.

Bridgette shrank away. “Keep it away!”

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Maya pulled it to her chest protectively. “He’s just a little
guinea pig. He won’t hurt you.”

.

“I know.” Bridgette pushed her glasses up the bridge of her
nose. “Its scientific name is Cavia
porcellus.” Her face flushed as Ben stared at her. “I read a lot.”

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“Poor Griffin,” Maya cooed to the ball of fluff. “That girl
didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” 

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Bridgette frowned. “I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. I’ve
just never been near one before.” She reached out and awkwardly patted its tiny
head with one finger. “Good boy.”

.

Maya smiled at her, then glanced at Ben. “I think I know you
from English class. Ben, right?” 

.

Ben nodded. “You’re Maya.”

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“And I’m Bridgette,” Bridgette said from the other side of
Maya. “I mean, if anyone wanted to know,” she added softly. 

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“No one wants to know,” another voice piped in.

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Ben cringed as the awful Davey Singleton swaggered over with
a group of his friends. Davey had been Ben’s nemesis ever since Ben was cast as
the lead in the third-grade rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and
ended up with a terrible case of stage fright, puking all over a kid in a tree
costume. Davey took over the role for the rest of the show and still delighted
in tormenting Ben about it. Worse, he seemed to beat out Ben for every lead
role since then.

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“Awww look, it’s Shakesfear,” Davey said. “Library’s
closing, Shakesfear. Go barf somewhere else.”

.

Ben rolled his eyes. “Hang in there, Davey. One day, maybe
you’ll actually come up with something original.”

.

“Hey, Maya, you going to Drew’s party?” one of the girls in
the group asked. “Davey’s ditching but you should come.”

.

Maya brightened. “Sure, after I close up here.”

.

“And, um, change shoes?” the girl said as she stared at
Maya’s scuffed black combat boots. “Where’d you get those?”

.

Maya’s face reddened. “My aunt gave them to me when we left
Israel.”

.

Ben got the feeling she never wore those boots in front of
her friends.

.

“Sorry, you’re not invited,” the girl said to Bridgette as
she and her friends walked out the door, laughing.

.

“Like I was interested anyway,” Bridgette mumbled, looking
away.

.

“Lozano, we have to leave,” Davey said. “When are you going
to kick these nobodies out of here?” He pushed through the half-door of the
counter and came back with a brown leather suitcase.

.

“Where are you going?” Ben asked.

.

“None of your business.”

.

“We’re fine, we’re fine.” Mr. Lozano glanced again at the
clock. “We have ten minutes.” He nodded at Ben, Bridgette, and Maya. “You kids
head home now. Library is closed. Maya, thank you
for taking such great care of the animals. And Bridgette, tomorrow maybe I can
help—”

.

A loud crack sounded outside of the library. Everyone jumped.
Bridgette squealed and pushed closer to Ben, who was rubbing his ringing ears.

.

“What was that?” Maya said, cradling the chirping Griffin
close.

.

“Lightning?” Ben suggested.

.

“It’s not even raining,” Bridgette pointed out.

.

“Quiet.” Lozano held up a hand, frowning. 

.

Something dark moved against the frosted glass of the front
door. Ben heard tiny scratching and tapping noises, which got louder and louder
until it sounded like hundreds of birds were trying to claw their way through
the door. 

.

Ben covered his ears, his heart leaping into his throat as
the birds shrieked and screamed.

.

Mr. Lozano yanked open the door to the circulation desk.
“Everyone, get behind the counter.” 

.

“Don’t have to tell me twice!” Davey pushed through the
opening, almost knocking Bridgette over with his suitcase. 

.

Another crash sounded at the door and more dark figures shot
past the frosted windowpane, bird silhouettes with feathers and crooked bills
that almost looked like creepy noses. 

.

The door wobbled and shook as if someone was trying to get
inside but didn’t know how to use the handle.

.

Mr. Lozano yelled into his phone, “They’re here! I don’t know
how. We need an R.E.R. team now!”

.

He gestured to Ben and the others. “Gather round and take
hands. Now.”

.

More banging at the door. Davey kept his hands on his
suitcase. Bridgette grabbed Ben’s hand, her eyes wide with fear. He squeezed
hers with a reassurance he didn’t really feel and felt Maya take his other one.
He really hoped his palms weren’t sweaty.

.

Lozano glanced at the clock. “Hold on. And…now!”

.

Everyone watched as Mr. Lozano stepped one foot into the
empty wastebasket next to the wall. 

.

And waited. 

.

Mr. Lozano pulled his foot out of the basket, then stepped in

.
again. And again. 

.

Ben cleared his voice. “Um, Mr. Lozano, you okay?”

.

The librarian grabbed the phone, beads of sweat breaking out
across his forehead. “It isn’t working. We need a car!”

.

With a loud smash, the glass in the door shattered, and large
black birds with creepy red eyes started clawing their way through the window
with long, almost fingerlike talons. Ben yelped and Bridgette screamed.

.

“Into my office!” Lozano yelled as a flurry of black feathers
cascaded over them. “I’ll handle this.”

.

The kids scrambled into Mr. Lozano’s office and slammed the
door behind them as birds thumped against its frosted glass. A single black
feather floated in. Ben grabbed it and shoved it in his pocket. “That’s one
less feather you’ll have to fight with,” he yelled at the door, not caring how
weird he sounded. This whole thing was terrifyingly weird.

.

Ben turned around, realizing he’d never been in Lozano’s
office before. It was like something from another century—old bookshelves,
weird telescope-looking things, and ancient leather-bound books piled on a
table. A low humming sound seemed to be coming from them. Ben rubbed his
ears. 

.

Screeching from right outside the office made Ben forget all
about the humming. The birds hurled against the window. Thump! Thump! Thump!
The glass started to crack. 

.

“We need to hide.” Bridgette yanked her backpack onto her
shoulders. 

“Behind there!” Ben ran to the heavy oak desk on the far
wall. Bridgette and Maya followed. 

.

Davey crouched behind a plush chair near the door, clutching
his suitcase. “Make them go away,” he whimpered.

.

A crash sounded on the other side of the door. Ben clamped
his eyes shut, hoping Mr. Lozano was okay.

.

“Griffin!” Maya cried out.

.

Ben opened his eyes to see the guinea pig running at top
speed toward a crack in the wall. Maya started after him, but Ben grabbed her
arm. “He’ll be fine. We need to stay together.”

.

The square glass window in the door shattered. Davey threw
his hands over his head as the birds flew directly at him. His screams pierced
the air. Ben gritted his teeth together. No matter how awful Davey was, Ben
couldn’t just hide like a coward while birds were trying to kill him. This
wasn’t a third-grade play. This was real.

.

“We have to help him. Distract the birds,” Ben told Maya and
Bridgette. 

.

“How?” cried Bridgette. “It’s not like we have bird seed.”

.

“Hey!” Maya called out, standing up and waving her arms. 

.

“What are you doing?” Bridgette yelled at her as birds flew
toward them. 

.

Ben crawled across the floor to Davey, where a bird was
flapping over his head, poking him with its beak. He grabbed Davey’s suitcase
and threw it at the bird. The bird dodged it, shrieking.

.

“Hey, that’s expensive,” Davey cried out. 

.

“So’s our lives!” Ben yelled as more birds converged around
them. He grasped for the nearest book, an ancient one with a dragon etched into
the leather and the imprint of a harp-looking instrument stamped on it. Ben
flung it at the birds. The book landed with a thud on the ground, open. 

.

Everything went completely still. 

.

A gust of wind whooshed through the broken window and caught
the pages, turning them fast and then faster. The humming he heard earlier grew
louder in his ears. Ben gasped as sparks flew out of the pages like sparklers
on the Fourth of July.

.

A column of fire-red flame shot up from the book. Something
huge, red, and terrifying burst from the center of it.

 

 

 

About Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley,
and Amy Christine Parker:

Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, and
Amy Christine Parker are
best friends who bonded over their love of telling stories and going on
adventures. They live in sunny Central Florida with their families, where
inspiration is just a beach day away.

 .

.

SOCIAL MEDIA

.

Instagram

@amychristinepar

@christinaLFarley

@vivibarnes

 

 

TikTok

@AmyChristineParker

@ChristinaFarleyAuthor

@ViviBarnes82

 

.

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.

1 winner will receive a $25 gift card to the book vendor of their choice, International.

Ends March 14th, midnight EST.

.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Nightmare Machine by Tim White ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: February 28, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways, reviews, thriller
Tags: , , ,
13

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE by Tim White Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

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Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE

 by Tim White

 

 

Pub. Date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: Ocean Scribe Publishing

Formats:  Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 600

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Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-NIGHTMARE-MACHINE

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Purchase the book directly from Tim! There’s also a prequel novella! 

 

What
is The Nightmare Machine? Think Silent Hill meets Inception and Monster
Hunter International.

Five millennia of suffering. A pilgrimage steeped in terror. Will her quest
bring redemption or only a false promise of salvation?

Bangor,
Maine. Sara Holcomb knows what she must do. Raised within a secret order
devoted to protecting humanity from a malevolent god, the dutiful
seventeen-year-old prepares for a terrifying expedition through a world of
nightmares. So when the time comes, she convinces three close friends to escort
her on a perilous journey to an otherworldly cathedral of bone and blood.

Transported
to a land of chaos and horror while they sleep, Sara wrestles with guilt at
bringing people she holds dear to this hell from which they may not escape. And
as vicious traps and pitiless creatures tear at their bodies and minds, the
honor-bound young woman fears they won’t be strong enough to complete the
mission that will preserve mankind.

 

MY REVIEW

The first thing that caught my attention was the stunning story displayed on the cover. Yes, it pulls you in, wanting to know this girl and her story. It’s absolutely perfect for what’s revealed inside. And the title. It’s also perfect. A teenage girl, descendant of a long line of Maidens, destined to save the world. She takes three friends as protectors into a hidden world. One filled with danger. Teeming with monsters worthy of your worst nightmares. To enter. They sleep. To survive. They awaken.

The first chapter sets up the intrigue. A typical girl. One with horrible nightmares. And hints of a family secret. I was hooked and remained that way through the entire story. Sara was an ordinary girl thrust into a horrific saga. Her character was so genuinely written and I really empathized with her. She had to face things a much older person might not have handled as well as she did.

Dylan was in love with Sara. But that wasn’t why she chose him as one of her protectors. He was a boy wonder. A budding genius and curious about how things worked. His mind worked in mysterious ways and she trusted him.

Dylan and Sara both helped Dr. Alex Warner at a small recovery clinic helping people overcome their addictions. I was unsure how that made her a good choice for a protector aside from knowing Sara and Dylan. Once they began their quest, it began clear.

Tom’s place on the list of protectors was obvious.  He was a veteran of war and had survived some horrific situations. He was no stranger to violence and death and his training made him a perfect candidate to work as a team. I really enjoyed his part in the story. He was someone you didn’t want to mess with yet he had a lot of baggage and that gave him an aura of vulnerability.

I tried to envision this nightmare world the group had entered. The author did a great job of showing it to me through words and my imagination did the rest.

As for how the story moved along. I mentioned the first chapter hooked me and kept me hooked. Well that’s true. And the characters sealed the deal for me. Along with the cruel world in The Nightmare Machine and the outrageous and dangerous monsters that were unleashed in it’s pages. Whoa. I do love monsters and there were some humdingers in the book.

Packed with action, suspense and horror, I was thrilled to get everything I wanted out of this story. That was great. And even more exciting. There’s more to come! Can’t wait for that.

5  STARS

 

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About Author Tim White:

.

 

Tim White is
an author, editor, writing coach, and game designer in Phoenix, Arizona. He
started writing fiction in 1996 and nonfiction in 2006. As of 2023, he has
published more than 1,000 nonfiction articles and three nonfiction books. He
has written three novels, four novellas, dozens of tabletop role-playing game
(TTRPG) scripts, and hundreds of short stories.

Tim is a
zealous crusader for the power of storytelling to promote human flourishing. He
writes fiction in several genres, particularly one that he calls “Romantic
horror” (as in “Romantic-era novelists” such as Victor Hugo and Alexandre
Dumas, not as in “romance novel”). This little-known genre is unique in that it
uses fear as a backdrop against which heroism is sharply contrasted,
dramatized, and elevated.

Tim’s
storytelling philosophy is summed up eloquently by one of his favorite authors:

“I often
hear people say that they read to escape reality, but I believe that what
they’re really doing is reading to find reason for hope, to find strength.
While a bad book leaves readers with a sense of hopelessness and despair, a
good novel, through stories of values realized, of wrongs righted, can bring to
readers a connection to the wonder of life. A good novel shows how life can and
ought to be lived. It not only entertains but energizes and uplifts readers.” ―
Terry Goodkind

Before
transitioning to writing full time, Tim was an Army combat medic, and later, a
nurse paramedic specializing in trauma and surgery. He is a lifelong shooter
and has ranked moderately well in state-level 3-gun competitions. He loves
board games, video games, and role-playing games; cats; Pembroke Corgis; good
coffee; good books; and escape rooms. He owns an escape room venue in Arizona,
where he designs and builds every prop and puzzle in-house.

Sign up for one or all of Tim’s Newsletters!

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

 

Giveaway Details: (there are 2 giveaways)

Bargain Booksy Giveaway:

.

One winner will be chosen at random on 4/15/2024 and notified via email
that they have won the 20 eBooks and a Kindle.

Giveaway Link: https://www.bargainbooksy.com/thriller-giveaway-021524/

Rockstar Book Tours Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours,
International.

Ends March 5th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/19/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

IG Post

2/19/2024

Kountry Girl Bookaholic

Excerpt/IG Post

2/20/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Post

2/20/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Excerpt

2/21/2024

The Melting Plot

IG Post

2/21/2024

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

2/22/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

2/22/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

2/23/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

2/23/2024

@books.mo.reads

IG Review

 Week Two:

2/26/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

2/26/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

2/27/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/27/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

2/28/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

2/28/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

2/29/2024

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

2/29/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

3/1/2024

Confessions of the Perfect Mom

Review/IG Post

3/1/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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