If you’re like me, you have a pile of books beckoning to you from your lists. Carole hosts this fun feature where you can share some of those older books and perhaps nudge you to finally read them. If you want to join in on the fun, head over to Carole’s Random Life In Books and leave a link to your post.
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The Unraveling
The Luminated Threads #1
by Laurel Wanrow
Genre: Science Fiction / Steampunk / Fantasy
Synopsis
In 1868 England, artist Annmar Masterson dreams of owning her own illustration shop, which the city’s ruthless industrial magnate would willing give her—but not for proper work. She flees his loathsome advances and takes advertising work on a farm in a secluded valley.
Life in the countryside turns nineteen-year-old Annmar’s world upside down. Her lifelong fanciful visions of blue threads are every bit as real as the plant and animal shifters hiding their lives from the rest of Victorian England. The secretive folk with their strange powers might not fit Annmar’s proper city ways, but the attentions of shapeshifter Daeryn Darkcoat have Annmar re-thinking how proper she wants to be.
But their timing is wretched. Daeryn is up to his whiskers fighting against a terrifying scourge. If the farm succumbs, Annmar’s job is over. Her magic might help stop the pests…if she can learn to use it properly. If not, she’ll be forced to leave the people she has come to care for and become what she fears most: nothing more than another cog in the city magnate’s gears.
THE UNRAVELING is Volume 1 of a 3-part serialized novel for readers 15+, mixing steampunk, fantasy, shapeshifters and romantic adventure in a historical setting.
The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!
My 56 for this week is from:
Afterworlds
Afterworlds #1
by Scott Westerfeld
Genre: YA / Fantasy
From page 56 in the paperback.
“So what’s your book called?”
“Afterworlds.” Darcy said.
The three of them waited for her to go on, but a familiar paralysis crept over Darcy. It was always like this when someone asked her about her novel. She knew from experience that whatever she said now would sound awkward, like listening to a recording of her own voice. How was she supposed to compress eighty thousand words into a few sentences?
~~~~~
Synopsis
BELIEVING IS DANGEROUS…
Darcy Patel is afraid to believe all the hype. But it’s really happening – her teen novel is getting published. Instead of heading to college, she’s living in New York City, where she’s welcomed into the dazzling world of YA publishing. That means book tours, parties with her favorite authors, and finding a place to live that won’t leave her penniless. It means sleepless nights rewriting her first draft and struggling to find the perfect ending… all while dealing with the intoxicating, terrifying experience of falling in love – with another writer.
Told in alternating chapters is Darcy’s novel, the thrilling story of Lizzie, who wills her way into the afterworld to survive a deadly terrorist attack. With survival comes the responsibility to guide the restless spirits that walk our world, including one ghost with whom she shares a surprising personal connection. But Lizzie’s not alone in her new calling – she has counsel from a fellow spirit guide, a very desirable one, who is torn between wanting Lizzie and warning her that…
BELIEVING IS DANGEROUS.
In a brilliant high-wire act of weaving two epic narratives – and two unforgettable heroines – into one novel, Scott Westerfeld’s latest work is a triumph of storytelling.
The Grim and The Fantastic tells the story of Merton Clarke, and his journey battling a major illness, when a magical realm–filled with splendor and danger lurking in the shadows– reveals itself to him. There, he must face some terrible beasts in a battle to rid himself of his sickness. Along the way, Merton makes two new friends who must fight their own monsters alongside him. If they can defeat their beasts from the realm in battle, just maybe, they will win the battle against their sickness in the real world too. Together, they test their limits, and their understanding of friendship, grief, bravery, and, above all, the power of hope.
A story of marvel, battles, and hardship, The Grim and the Fantastic takes a serious subject and seeks to breathe color back into the lives of those affected. The fantastical tale truly provides a whimsical place for children with troubles to escape to.
Marissa Miller is an up and coming author, who has spent the last few years working on novels and children’s books. She currently resides in northern California with her husband, two little dogs (Alice and Diggory), and two cats (Burt and Winry).
Miller has been an aspiring storyteller since she was a young girl and began more seriously pursuing the art of writing in her teens. After a happy accident with miscommunication in 2017, Miller began producing illustrations to accompany her work; she now attempts to incorporate in her illustrative style with all of her works.
Miller’s first published work is the wonderfully imaginative children’s book, Chasing Figments. Following her picture book, Miller published an illustrated young reader’s book, The Grim and The Fantastic. Both books embody Miller’s brand, which is finding the splendor in one’s life, no matter the circumstance, and using imagination to overcome obstacles.
Fiction: FICTION / Fantasy / Historical
Format: Hardback
Price: £20.00
ISBN : 978-1-78758-414-3
Pages: 288 pp
Format: 6 x 9 in
BIC codes: FK
BISAC codes: FIC009030, FIC031070
Series: Fiction Without Frontiers
Imprint: FLAME TREE PRESS
Distribution: Marston Book Services
Publication date: May 2020
Synopsis
“Brian Moreland writes with one eye on characterization and the other on
scaring the life out of you.” — Maynard Sims, author of Stronghold and
The Eighth Witch.
Deep inside the tomb exists a hidden world of wonder and terror.
In 1935, British archaeologists vanished inside an Egyptian cave. A year later,
one man returned covered in mysterious scars.
Egyptologist Imogen Riley desperately wants to know what happened to the
ill-fated expedition led by her grandfather. On a quest for answers, she joins
a team of archeologists and soldiers in Egypt. Inside a mountain tomb,
they’ve found a technologically advanced relic and a maze of tunnels. Dr.
Nathan Trummel believes this tomb leads to the most guarded secrets of the
pharaohs. When the explorers venture deep into the caves, they discover a
hidden world of wonder and terror.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing.
Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more
established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
~~~~~
My Review
Wow. I started reading this and couldn’t put it down. I’m always interested in books about archaeological adventures and this one had such a wicked title and mysterious description, I just knew it was gong to be fun.
There’s quite the cast of characters, and some had differing agendas. I had a feeling things were going to go sideways and they did.The author did a great job of filling in the background on his characters in just the right places in the story.
And there’s also something very strange about the dig. The deeper they go, the stranger and more dangerous it gets. So many things happened and I kept picturing them in my mind. Some times I had to stop and ponder what I would do too. It’s easy to think you’d be calm and cool, but I would probably be the ninny who goes running off screaming into the dark to meet a sticky end. LOL
I’ve enjoyed some of Brian’s other books and this was just as thrilling. And I’m still thinking about the ending. It’s a surprising twist.
4 STARS
~~~~~
About Author Brian Moreland
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Brian Moreland writes a blend of mystery, actionadventure,
dark suspense, and horror. His books include
Shadows in the Mist, Dead of Winter, The Witching House,
The Devil’s Woods, The Seekers, and Darkness Rising. An
adventure seeker and lover of world travel, Brian is currently
living in various places and writing books and short stories.
Join Brian’s mailing list: http://www.brianmoreland.com/
Follow on Twitter: @BrianMoreland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianMorelandWriter
Brian’s blog: http://www.brianmoreland.blogspot.com
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1419743201
Publisher: Amulet Books (April 14, 2020)
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Sold by: Amazon Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07WWHFFQL
Praise for DEEPLIGHT
★ “Equal parts dazzling fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, and tender coming-of-age tale.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Monsters and mortals collide in this fantasy adventure that explores the hypnotic allure of fear, the adamant grip of the past, and the redeeming power of stories.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Glorious thematic complexity inhabits a wildly inventive world, with the menacing roils of a dangerous sea threatening the archipelago and touches of steampunk rounding out the fantastical elements.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Chilling and provocative, this dark fantasy will appeal to thrill seekers and cerebral tweens.” —Booklist
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea meets Frankenstein in Frances Hardinge’s latest fantasy adventure
The gods are dead. Decades ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. But are they really gone forever? When 15-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But with the heart, Jelt gradually and eerily transforms. How long should Hark stay loyal to his friend when he’s becoming a monster—and what is Hark willing to sacrifice to save him?
You can purchase Deeplight at the following Retailers:
Photo Content from Frances Hardinge
Frances Hardinge is the winner of the Costa Book of the Year for The Lie Tree, one of just two young adult novels to win the major UK literary prize. Known for her beautiful use of language, Hardinge has written many critically acclaimed novels, including Cuckoo Song, Gullstruck Island, Fly by Night, Verdigris Deep, and Fly Trap. She lives in England. Visit the author at franceshardinge.com.
*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*
Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Ashes And Blood organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
I have a fun excerpt for you today.
And the author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. Don’t forget to enter!
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Ashes And Blood
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by Katie Zaber
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Synopsis
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“I’ll start at the beginning. Long ago, before roads, before we built structures, before medicine was discovered, before the government was created, before man gained any knowledge, there were The Five. Independent from each other, The Five had a mutual respect for one another. They knew their roles in the world and their duty. They were gods…”
An adventure begins when an otherworldly tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends. The environment morphs around them, transferring them to an exotic planet. Stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague, a chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment period.
While settling into new, promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus on Megan. One dark night, after an epic, magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange world, and it is oddly more like her own than she ever would have expected.
Check out this glimpse inside:
Megan
Today has been a whirlwind, and I’m not looking forward to tonight. I’m positive the elite members of society will flaunt their latest ensembles. A competition among the wealthy to win a proverbial pat on the back for the best dressed. A sport for the rich. They won’t work up a sweat—that’s for the poor. Instead, they compete with wits and money. Women prancing around wearing cage ball gowns, adorned with priceless jewels. Their main goal is to uncover juicy gossip while competing for the wealthiest bachelor. Men swirling this world’s version of expensive scotch talk business and watch women swoon. It can’t be very different from Earth’s aristocratic affairs, not that I ever attended. Movies and the internet displayed enough information to know what to expect.
I had assumed it would be a rather humdrum affair, but my opinion changes quickly, standing before the colossal golden doors. Realization hits me. I am so naïve.
It feels like I’m walking into a fairy tale, but the darker Brothers Grimm version.
Beautiful, handcrafted, golden double doors depict a grand party. Intricate artwork chiseled into the doors displays two long banquet tables of food, roasts on fancy platters, piles of vegetables, and dainty desserts. Between the buffet tables, people adorned with masquerade attire dance. They wave, inviting everyone to the party. Guests laugh, drink, and enjoy themselves under the watchful king. The artwork depicts the king having fun, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he studies everyone, meticulously watching individuals, judging their personality, appearance, and demeanor while in his presence. A crooked smile peels his lips back—it hints at his sly and cruel nature. I can’t help but look at the doors and realize this is a perfect portrayal of what awaits me.
Instead of a warm welcome, it’s a stern warning.
About Author Katie Zaber
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Katie Zaber writes new adult fiction. With multiple projects spanning from being transported to an alternate universe, to past lives, reincarnation, and trapped souls, to prophesied pregnancies—there are more stories to tell. She lives in North New Jersey with her boyfriend.
Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Diary Of A Lost Witch organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly dawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Diary Of A Lost Witch
by Reut Barak
Synopsis
Molly is in trouble. Running away from home to escape the dangers of her coven, she ends up in Edinburgh at a time of Corona. Homeless and running for her life, she must find a new coven and get the help she needs to protect herself, or she is not going to make it back.
Read a Blog Entry:
April 13
The weekend was long, and I ended up having to sleep outside in the park. There was one guy on gumtree that said he was able to host people, but he seemed creepy. There were two more ads that didn’t reply to my email, but otherwise, it was impossible to find a place to stay.
There is a spell called the Tent spell. It makes a small fixed space safe, invisible to the outside world. You won’t be seen or heard there, and you can use spells inside. When I had given up trying to find a normal bed for the night, I figured I might as well head for one of the parks and cast it there. The park I slept at was called Arthur’s Seat. I found some dense trees at the bottom of it, near the small lake.
Inside my “tent” I cast a mattress and blankets, which were supposed to be comfortable, but I slept horribly. I kept waking up, fearing that someone might accidentally step in and discover me. Someone mortal who would ask a lot of questions, or worse, someone with magic.
It was a relief when the morning came, and I finally opened my eyes to hear the birds, and a few runners. It was also a relief from my dreams, of the terrible things I had left behind.
I dreamt that the witches of May’s coven had found me here, and taken me back to Alice. She had a plan for me, to make an example of me for leaving.
I woke up covered in cold sweat, and sat up for an hour thinking, before I was ready to fall back to sleep. I needed to find another coven and fast. There would be a few here in Edinburgh, but unlike back home they didn’t meet in the park during weekends. At least not in the one I’d been sleeping in. I had hoped to bump into a coven that way. That would have justified my homelessness.
This morning was different, though. I was on my way back to a groceries store I found, where the kind seller let me charge my batteries so my new phone doesn’t run out of power. He’d even told me where I could find a local sim card, and I texted the new number back to my moms.
It was really early morning. The store would just be opening. I was walking down the empty streets, when I saw something.
It was a girl, about my age, walking her dog. She had a sweater with a university logo, and the dog suddenly pulled hard on the leash. She cursed, falling straight on her right knee, and then screamed from the pain and cursed again. I rushed to her to help her up, and then I saw, or rather felt something. Something inside her was spreading warmth from her heart towards that knee to heal it. And there was only one way I could sense such a phenomenon. She was using magic.
Molly Evans
About Author Reut Barak
Following a short stint in the military, Reut graduated as a trained Opera Singer from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, and then worked in Berlin, singing church music by Mozart, Haydn and Bach. While arranging concerts in the city and managing artists, she discovered her passion for business. She joined fellow entrepreneurs in the 2013-2014 class at the University of Oxford, with a scholarship to study business (MBA), where she founds that creativity goes far beyond art. She later had a taste of corporate life, seeing the inside workings of some of the world’s largest finance, energy and manufacturing companies, and wrote for National Geographic. Leaving the world of corporate drama behind, she now pursues her dreams of becoming a fiction novelist, a self-published vegan author, blogger and youtuber. She first arrived in Scotland as a hiker, eager to explore the mysterious highlands, where she got her inspiration for her books and blogs.
Well, no not really… The true story is:
Once upon a time…
Reut was born in Camelot in the year 1201, following the famous explosion of the northern dragon tower. She has a degree in fantasy and science fiction from the University of Atlantis and this record can be found in the central library, now twenty thousand leagues under the sea. She likes phoenix riding, dragon fighting and painting the roses red. And Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
I am so excited that GILDED RUINS by Chantal
Gadoury is available now and that I get to share the news!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Chantal Gadoury, be sure
to check out all the details below.
This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours & Chantal.
So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.
Summer and Darce are summoned by the order of Zeus himself to travel to the home of the Gods: Mount Olympus, where they’re to face even more ancient Gods and Goddesses.
Summer braces to confront her mother again, illuminating secrets about the truth of her
tragic pasts, while also persuading Zeus to allow her to stay with the God of
the Underworld, her true love – Darce.
Aboard Poseidon’s luxury yacht, Summer meets her mythological family, while also
uncovering what exactly happened to her past lives – and the true roles her
mother and Darce played.
When Darce and Summer suddenly find themselves separated, Summer must find her inner power
and unite them together, before her mortal time runs out.
What if you were the missing piece in
one of the world’s most epic legends?
Despite being an art history student, Summer isn’t thrilled to be stuck with
her archeologist family all summer in Greece. While the rest of her college
friends are posting a million selfies by the pool together, Summer is stuck
alone, trying to entertain herself alone in a place where she doesn’t even
speak the language.
Upon her arrival to Greece, strange dreams and even stranger shadows seem to
haunt Summer, leaving her to ponder the meaning of pomegranate seeds and
twisted, darkened faces.
Suddenly, her stay abroad leads to tragic twists, leaving Summer in the arms of
a dark stranger, who claims to be the god, Hades, whom she feels like she knows
from another life. In a whirlwind through the busy streets of Athens, Summer is
seduced to the lowest point of Greece where Hades’ lair awaits…the Underworld.
Determined to find out who she is and where she belongs in an age-old myth,
Summer joins Hades to discover that the secrets about her past life are beyond
anything she could have ever imagined.
.
.
Excerpt:
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“Have you heard the news?” Hermes asked as he came to pause in front of
Darce. “There’s been a slight change of plans.”
“Change?” Darce asked, brow arched. He crossed his arms against his chest
and shook his head. “What do you mean?”
“Do we get to go home?” I asked, doing what I could to keep the hope from
my tone. Hermes chuckled and shook his head as he leaned lazily against the
doorframe.
“We’ve been invited to the Mediterranean Sea.”
I didn’t miss the dark look Darce gave Hermes.
“The Mediterranean Sea?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. “What about—”
“Zeus thought it would be better for everyone to meet on more neutral
ground.”
“So he chose the sea?” Darce snorted, shaking his head. “Sounds more like
he couldn’t resist an invitation to Poseidon’s superyacht.”
“Wait a second,” I asked, looking skeptically between the two of them.
“Poseidon has a superyacht?”
The irony hadn’t been lost on me.
“Yes,” Hermes said, flashing me a smile. “It’s a beautiful ship. There
are several amenities I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time aboard. The hot tub is
one of my personal favorite places there.”
“I don’t think so,” Darce said, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “We’re
not going.”
Darce pushed himself from the wall and grabbed my hand.
“But—” I started, feeling unsure. Was it so easy to just turn around and
leave? Could we really go home? Just as Darce turned on his heel, and started
towards the door, Hermes cleared his throat.”
“You know you have very little choice in this, my Lord. You know if you
snub your brother, he’ll not resist punishing you, and her too.”
His words caused Darce to pause. Darce turned to look to Hermes over his
shoulder.
“He gave me no indication that we’d be meeting out at sea. It was agreed
that I would go to Mount Olympus. He demanded that she go there. . .” Darce
tried to argue.
“Certainly you do not oppose a more neutral place-”
“It’s hardly neutral, Hermes. You know that,” Darce hissed. “It’s a show.
All of this is a show.” I could hear the growl in his voice as he slid his
hands to his waist.
“He obviously intends to make this meeting into nothing but a grand,
dramatic performance.”
Hermes seemed unbothered by Darce’s outrage. “I’m just the messenger.”
About Chantal:
Chantal Gadoury is an Amazon Best Selling Author who is originally from the countryside of Muncy, PA. Chantal likes anything Disney, plays a mean game of Disney trivia, enjoys painting and has a interest in British History. Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues that love of writing
today. As a recent college graduate from Susquehanna University, with a degree in Creative Writing, writing novels is a dream come true.
I am excited that THE LONG NIGHT: BLOOD WILL
BE SERVED by M.G. Darwish is available now and that I get to share the
news!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author M.G. Darwish, be sure to
check out all the details below.
This blitz also includes a giveaway for 3 audiobook codes of THE LONG NIGHT courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours & M.G.. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the
giveaway info below.
The Vampire Alfred, is known as the Fortier. Vicious, renowned and
feared.
Alfred Zeidan is proclaimed Fortier, the Strongest amongst the vampires.
After ending a century old feud between the two most prominent vampire houses,
he sets out to rid his race of a shadow that has long haunted them.
The Elders have been the deciding factor in the fall of so many
civilizations that date back to Carthage and the Romans. So many have fallen to
them, but now Alfred as the Strongest takes on this challenge.
No one has ever considered a world without the Elders running it, would
it spread chaos in the Underground? Or will it shift the balance of the
supernatural completely? One thing is for certain: Alfred intends to see this
through. Will he succeed? Or will succumb as those before him?
M.G. Darwish is an award nominated author who writes dark, twisted and action-packed fiction. He tries his best not to base his characters on anyone he knows in real life to avoid that extra weird conversation about how they were brutalized and killed in the book. Oh and he’s terrified of a penguin uprising more than ghosts and demons.
Samuel dreamed of being a lot of things, but a monster trapped in a forest realm never entered his mind. The Blacknoc Curse wasn’t supposed to be true, only a children’s story meant to persuade them away from evil. Yet, here he was tasked with hunting cursed kids. There’s nothing left for Samuel except the horror surrounding him.
Layla, a young girl tormented by the same curse, is dropped into the terrifying forest every night, running from the monsters intent on taking her life. She meets Samuel and vows to save all the children, especially Samuel, from their torment.
Working together can they defeat the Blacknoc Curse?
Tori V. Rainn is a Texas-based fantasy novelist who is on a lifelong mission to inspire her readers through the power of imaginative storytelling. During her creative journey, an array of her short stories have been showcased in various online zines. It all started when she took a writing course at Writer’s Village University, which earned her a Creative Writing Certificate. The moment she penned her first story, she knew writing was her ultimate calling and greatest passion.
When she isn’t crafting thrilling plots, you can find this avid video gamer watching her favorite shows, collecting unique knives, or going on meditative walks in the heart of nature. She is also a chocoholic and tea aficionada with an unquenchable sweet tooth. Above all else, Tori enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones.
![Afterworlds by [Scott Westerfeld]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41wI0td-SCL.jpg)
![Afterworlds (Pocket Jeunesse) (French Edition) by [Scott WESTERFELD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4157sXbQ8rL.jpg)
