Posts Tagged ‘YA Fantasy’

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Realm of Ice and Shadow
by Leigh Stratton

 

Realm of Ice and Shadow
Young Adult Fantasy
1st in Series
Level Best Books, Level Elevate (November 7, 2023)
Number of Pages 210
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKV9K5PG

Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.

Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

About Leigh Stratton

Young adult and middle-grade fantasy writer Leigh Stratton is the author of the Kingdom of Cymmera series and the Ranger of the Realms series. Leigh grew up in a small town on Long Island where she spent many lazy afternoons with a good book. She would read at the beach, outside beneath a tree, anywhere she could find to curl up and lose herself in a story for a few hours. She loves reading as much now as she did back then, only now she enjoys the added pleasure of creating stories of her own.

Website / Facebook / TwitterBookBub / Goodreads

Purchase Links – Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 9 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 12 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

November 13 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 14 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 19 – Lady Hawkeye – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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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.

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Hybrid Magic
by Cristy L. Bowlin
Genre: YA Fantasy
Two nations joined peacefully as one, but a band of assassins lurks in the shadows.
Magic isn’t uncommon in the Deravine Commonwealth, where people can be gifted with the faculties of combat, healing, transformation, or sight. Yet as a hybrid mage, Aaron Ztrong’s abilities aren’t so easily categorized. He managed to save his parents during a dangerous confrontation when he was only a young boy, and now a decade later most people in his life expect him to do remarkable things with his powers. Then there are those who fear what Aaron and others like him can do. When Aaron’s life is threatened by a group calling themselves the Defenders, he takes refuge with two other hybrid mages and the teacher who is training them to enhance their abilities. As the Defenders continue to hunt down hybrid mages, Aaron and his new companions must find a way to survive.
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What can we expect from you in the future?

Hybrid Magic is the start of a trilogy, so you can expect to see the rest of the books coming out over the next couple years! After that, I might venture into a different genre. Fantasy is my favorite, but I would love to try writing some sci-fi or dystopian stories too.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

Hybrid Magic is a spinoff that takes place ten years after the storyline of my first standalone novel, The Temple Dancer’s Diary. Some characters with smaller roles in The Temple Dancer’s Diary are now getting their chance in the spotlight with a story of their own.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Hybrid Magic?

This book is told from three different character perspectives, so I’ll share a bit about each of them.

First, Aaron Ztrong is a fourteen-year-old hybrid mage who became famous when he was younger for defeating another powerful mage. His magic abilities include healing, transforming objects, and making things levitate and fly through the air. His parents see so much potential in him, but he would rather spend his time with his friends and enjoy relaxing hobbies like fishing. He is a prankster who will do anything to get out of his lessons until his life is threatened by a group known as the Defenders who hunt down hybrid mages.

Second, Elara Pratt is a sixteen-year-old hybrid mage who grew up in a small farming village with her three younger siblings. Her magic involves helping plants flourish and grow in any environment. She can even transform into a dryad-like creature herself. After leaving her family behind to learn more about her abilities, she moves to a forest haven that was established to train and protect hybrid mages from the ruthless Defenders. Elara is optimistic, caring, and always eager to make a new friend. But no one is allowed to mess with her garden or any of her plant babies!

Finally, Theo Darien is a seventeen-year-old hybrid mage who grew up idolizing his father, a celebrated constable. Theo dreamed of having combat magic like his dad so that he too could take down criminals. He was initially excited upon discovering his unique abilities to transform any object into a weapon. Then his older half brother joined the Defenders and attempted to kill him because of those abilities. After running away from home, Theo was taken in by a teacher who promised to train and protect him. Theo is quiet and studious, yet also racked with guilt over his final confrontation with his brother. Now he is determined not to hurt anyone with his magic and will only use his powers for good.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

After writing my first book from a single perspective in first-person diary entries, I enjoyed writing this book in third-person point of view with multiple different character perspectives.

Who designed your book covers?

My best friend Naomi Henry designed both of my book covers. She is an amazing artist, and I was overjoyed that she wanted to work with me.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

There are some personality traits each of my characters have that I based off of real people, but for the most part they came from my imagination.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters do hijack the story from time to time! I always create an outline before I start writing with major plot points that I want to include in each chapter, so I try to stick to that outline pretty closely for the plot and pacing. The characters develop more organically though. I start out with a few key personality traits in mind for each character, and then I see how they interact with one another. Sometimes their interactions and dialogue will surprise me by taking my story in cool new directions.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

My book would have an autumn candle to match the cover art. It would be a burnt orange color with a woodsy scent containing a mixture of apple, pumpkin spice, and cloves.

Is there an writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

I would love to get writing advice from Tamora Pierce. Her young adult fantasy books set in the Tortall Universe were my favorites growing up. The characters were nuanced, and the stories were so empowering for teenaged girls.

I wrote the whole first draft of Hybrid Magic while I was pregnant with my daughter. I like to think that she was my muse, sparking inspiration whenever I experienced writer’s block.

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Cristy L. Bowlin grew up in Ventura County, CA where she spent most of her free time ballet dancing and reading fantasy books. She got her BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in dance from the California Polytechnic State University. She then received her MA in English with a minor in gender and women’s studies from the University of Kentucky. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and cat in Southern California where she is a college English professor. Her debut YA fantasy novel The Temple Dancer’s Diary was published in July 2019, and her next book Hybrid Magic was just published in the summer of 2021.
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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a 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.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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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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Cress

The Lunar Chronicles #3

by Marissa Meyer

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18716399

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Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who’s only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Amazon

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I added this back in December 2017.

I just realized I hadn’t read this one. I would love to see this series as movies!

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The above cover is the one I own.

Here’s an alternate cover.

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles Book 3) by [Marissa Meyer]

Which one do you like more?

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

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:

Unwritten

The Zweeshen Chronicles #1

  by Alicia J. Novo

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Genre:  YA Fantasy

From page 56 in the paperback.

“Tell me everything about the Zweeshen. How big is it?  Is every single character from every single story alive?

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Synopsis

Books whisper to Beatrix Alba. But they aren’t the reason she has never fit in. Bullied at home and school, she keeps a secret—a power of violence and darkness.

When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she’s catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favorite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack. A character is burning bookworlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, he needs a riddle in Beatrix’s keeping.

Now he’s hunting her down.

Joining forces with William, a cursed conjurer, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows her every weakness in a realm where witches play with time, Egyptian gods roam, and Regency heroines lead covert operations. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her.

Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the CURSES OF SCALE by S.D. Reeves Blog
Tour hosted by 
Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the
giveaway!

 

CURSES OF SCALE

Author: S.D. Reeves

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Pub. Date: November 15, 2017

Publisher: Riversong Books

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 297

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Find it:  GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBDBookshop.org

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Synopsis

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Sixteen-year-old Niena wants nothing more than
to attend an elite bardic college, but when the dragon that shattered the
empire awakens again she finds herself on the run, through the fey realm of
Fairhome, to the city where she was born. On her trail are her army veteran
grandfather, thrown into a commander’s role he doesn’t want, the lord of the
fairies, trying to steer her to his own ends, and the husband she won’t meet
for fifteen years. If she kills the dragon, she’ll save everyone she holds
dear. But if she kills the dragon, she’s cursed instead to become it.

 

Curses of Scale is the 2018 First Place Winner of Red City Review’s Young Adult
Category, and an Official Selection of the 2018 New Apple
Literary Awards. It also has the distinction of being a finalist in the
following awards:

  • Chanticleer’s Ozma Fantasy Award
  • Readers’ Favorite General Fantasy
  • Wishing Shelf Young Adult

★★★★ Curses of Scale is a coming of age tale with a lot to say about life and taking charge of
one’s destiny in the search for independence. ” -Reader’s Favorite

 

★★★★★ Curses of Scale is a Pandora’s box of world-building elements, and Reeves shows great
skill at parceling out the pieces of lore and mystery that today’s fantasy
readers crave. Readers will be sure to enjoy this crafty, utterly transportive
novel.”

– Red City Review

 

 

A deleted scene.

This is a deleted scene, actually, more along the lines of a deleted opening of a entire rewrite. Long ago, the whole premise of the story was quite different, and the main character was a boy named Christian (I did reuse this name, of sorts, for Christaan De Rein, in the follow up series). This book was originally set in modern times.

 

It was a jolly night for a stroll thought the wisp of wind. The air was clean, the night sky somber, and magic touched the surrounding countryside. Farm houses, their occupants frozen in toil, grew and shrank in size as it whirled past. To the west a wooden fort arose, and the wind swirled and danced around the little men. None seemed to notice. They did not wave as the wind spirited by, chase angrily after their hats, or do anything that little wisps find funny. By now the wisp, being only as bright as one can expect from a puff of wind was becoming irritated. Why were they being so rude? Racing around the strange furry sea it fell upon a little sailboat. Men and women in white caps clung fast to railings as the gale shook the tiny ship. The little boat was tipped, dashing many into the sea below. Yet still, still none cried out.  Disappointed and tired the wisp swooshed down onto a little boys head.

 

He was young, possessing fewer years than toes. Curly brown hair framed his head, making a nice swirly resting spot for any tired puff; if he were to stay still. The night was unfriendly to him, stealing the warmth from his lips in frosty huffs. Even now he tried to shake off his dreams, succeeding in only throwing more covers on the floor.

 

Across the room, beyond velvet hills and defended by wooden posts was a wardrobe. Here stood a proud mountain, shadowing farms, forts, and daring brave sailors to risk its port. Years before it had been brought from Germany by his grandparents, but the craftsman that made it knew it was meant for a boy to be.  Soft fields, muddy pools, and waiting ponds were sprinkled merrily across its wooden facade, framed against dragons, elves, and unicorns. Yet there was something else as well. And it was not to be seen by boy or wisp of air. It was to be felt. Somewhere deep within that hollow wooden mountain lurked a nightmare.

 

An unseen shadow arose. It came from within and fell over the land. Long fingers inked around dusty corners, over toy and tower, through cover and hill. There was something here, cold and hard. This was hate, smoke arisen from the dieing embers of unloved dreams. Tendrils crept through the remaining covers and curled around the boys feet. Even through his socks he could feel the bitterness, and his body subconsciously shrank from it. But the shadow grew, and at last when the boy was cowered near to the headrest, cold hate touched warm flesh.

 

    Dark shades of furniture swung into dizzying clarity, rising, and shuddering, as the boy coughed and rubbed his neck. There was the little fort, the soldiers there poised. Nearby sprawled the play farm, ready for the coming morning. And far, far across the room the great wardrobe hulked. Clutching at his neck he hesitantly ran his fingers down a shoe string he had made into a rope. With one tug it came free of his shirt. Into his hand fell a key.

Small fingers traced the outline, running from point to loop, and over time the memory of the nightmare began to dull and blend into darkness of the room. Then the key became a toy, to be poked into, chewed on, or looked through like a …something flashed from across the room. The air thickened to become a lump in his throat, whistling out in short hisses. Slowly he pulled the little key from his face and inched towards the edge of his bed. Clinging to a wooden post he looked down and to his left. There his topmost blanket lay a top a small wooden boat.

But ahead the wardrobe loomed, and when feet sank into the shaggy carpet he realized just how small he really was. The formerly hazy etchings stood now in sharp focus on the towering behemoth, which commanded the room at twice his own height. Unicorns, dragons, elves; he could remember when these things filled his dreams. That time seemed so long ago, lost in between the pages of a fairy tale.

    His timid breath came before him in the chill. He grasped at the two handles, dwarfing his own hands and leaned into the wood as if deciding whether he should open it and run out the door, or just jump back. Gravity chose for him, and when he yanked back the doors there was a loud pop as the wood sprang free and he stumbled into the bed.  Before him and in the darkness the wardrobe was open wide.

    Clothes, shoes, his school book bag with it’s cheery yellow colors were all there just as he left them. But the boys eyes looked elsewhere to a cubbyhole on the second shelf. There lay a queer chest. It was carved out of ebony wood, fashioned into the shape of a deer in flight. Moonlight mirrored weakly off of the silver cloven hooves and two eyes set in jade cast a pall upon the rest of the dark body. The light and the fixtures gave the chest a strange green, yet sickly glow, something that the boy knew daylight could not endure to change. With eyes locked on the carving he crept closer. The blankets that remained began to bunch up around his legs like a makeshift wall. These he took, pulling them around himself and hiding the key under.

    And the world was dark deep beneath the sheltering blankets. Wrapped up like a cocoon, not even the floor below was allowed to touch him. For somewhere in this house a monster lurked. He could imagine a voice groaning and crying out in a cold tongue.  Schlept, schelp, shring, creeeeak! The moan of a door being cautiously open filled the little room. Schlept, shring, schelpt shring.

    “Christian?”

    At the frame of the door stood a lady, young, though older than the count of her fingers and toes. The room and the boy sat still, devoid of the magic and dreams that existed in the lone twilight hours.

    She sighed heavily, “What are you doing? Look, you’ve gotta get up early tomorrow. Try to get some sleep, alright?”

    The blankets wrapped around him shrank and fell around the fold as he breathed, but he made no other sound. The slow creak of his door being closed echoed in the lonely room.

    Christian huddled before the great wardrobe, and curled up beneath the blankets, to lay there until morning.

 

About S.D. Reeves:

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Stephen Reeves was born in 1980 in Huntsville,
Alabama. He currently resides in Switzerland with an undetermined number of
cats greater than zero, and a propensity for nonsense. On those cold nights
where the wind steams off snowbanks, he is known to write award-winning fantasy
novels. And curse his wife’s cold feet.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY

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1 winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook of CURSES OF SCALE,
International.

2 winners will win an eBook of CURSES OF SCALE, International.

 

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.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

The Virus of Beauty

by C.B. Lyall

 

GENRE: YA Fantasy

Synopsis

Ugliness is power, and the Virus of Beauty is spreading causing panic throughout the witch population.

 

Wilf Gilvary is a teenage wizard who is terrified of using magic. When his father dies under mysterious circumstances, Wilf is plunged into the middle of a political struggle between the witches and wizards in the Magical Realm. He’d rather play soccer than practice magic, but he’s forced to make a choice between the life of a normal Hong Kong teen and one of wizardry after a powerful virus begins to decimate the witch community. The cure is spellbound in a journal Wilf inherited from his father and when his friend Katryna contracts the virus, Wilf understands that he must overcome his fear of magic to unlock the journal’s secrets – but will it be too late to save her?

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Check out this peek inside:

Katryna hurried along the dimly lit corridor. Its dark, stained carpet and peeling paint reflected the building’s location. This wasn’t a part of town she usually visited. The balconies and entrance might have a view of the market square, but at the back of the building pulsed the Veil. The swirling gray mist had separated and protected the witches of Mathowytch from the citizens of Kureyamage for over fourteen years.

 

She unlocked the door of a studio apartment crowded with chintzy, overstuffed furniture. A cat lay sprawled along the back of the sofa in the sunlight, licking his paws. Katryna wrinkled her nose at the smell of cat and decay. Flies buzzed around the cat’s dirty food bowl, and she zapped them, hoping the frail old witch wouldn’t be upset with her use of magic.

 

Griselda lay on the bed in a fetal position, whimpering. Katryna sat down next to her in a wooden, high-backed chair. She reached to rub Griselda’s back, but then pulled back. It might not be safe to touch the old witch.

 

“Can I get you something to eat?”

 

Griselda shook her head and remained facing the wall.

 

There seemed to be very little Katryna could do. Perhaps that was why Ermentrude had forgotten to add Griselda’s name to the list of new cases to visit. However, her mother had been distracted before she left. Ermentrude might be among the city’s most powerful witches, but she made time to visit the sick whenever she could. Her mother’s hard outer shell hid a soft center of community spirit. The problem was, Ermentrude expected her daughter to pick up the slack whenever she disappeared on a new, urgent assignment for the Witch Council.

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About Author Carolyn Lyall

Carolyn Lyall was born in Stockton-On-Tees, United Kingdom. As a child Carolyn growing up in Northern England in the sixties Carolyn loved sports, reading and amateur dramatics. She joined a renaissance group, practiced the broadsword and dreamed of visiting other worlds. Her passion for what could be drove her forward when faced with everyday struggles. Her first memorable skirmish with gender inequality came at nine-years old when she was told that only boys were allowed to play soccer. In response, she simply refused to do any classwork until they changed their old-fashioned policies. She won that battle.

 

At the age of 18, she took a role as typist for a nursing school in Middlesbrough. She then moved to London and enrolled in night school. She was quickly recognized for her ability to fit in anywhere and for not being afraid to push back on the predominantly male leadership. She eventually became a project manager in software development and micro-computers, bridging the gap between computer programmers and management.

 

Her dream to travel was finally realized in 1990 when she moved to New York City, USA with her husband and the first of three sons. This was the steppingstone to a lifelong adventure that has taken her and her family to India, Belgium and Hong Kong.

 

Raising her family in multiple countries around the world, she saw that each move, while a shock, was an opportunity for her sons to redefine themselves against new challenges and different cultural norms. Now, that her sons have left home, Carolyn has used her passion for the fantastic to create a world where every day gender inequalities are at the forefront of a world ending conflict. She shares this story through the eyes of a young man who is suddenly thrust into this new world along with all of his own woes and prejudices. The introduction to this world is in Carolyn’s debut YA fantasy novel, “The Virus of Beauty,” due to be released July 31, 2019 under C B Lyall.

 

Carolyn has published two short stories in an annual anthology by 25 Servings of Soop. She wrote a number of articles for the American Women’s Associates Magazine.  Fueled by her love of the works of Terry Pratchett, Sarah J Maas, Cassandra Clare, Brandon Sanderson and others, Carolyn has completed a number of writing courses, which included a Master Fantasy/Science Fiction writers course with Gotham Writers’ Workshop, a YA Voice class and Advance Novel Writing course at Sarah Lawrence College’s Writing Institute.

 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

Amazon buy link:

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GIVEAWAY

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.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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The Place Beyond Her Dreams

by Oby Aligwekwe

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GENRE: YA, Fantasy (Black & African American Fantasy Fiction)

Synopsis

 

“We are most courageous at our weakest; when we believe we have faced what we fear the most and have nothing more to lose.”

At the sudden death of her grandfather, Ona’s pain transports her to mystical Luenah—a place of infinite possibilities, free of turf wars and other ills that plague the earthly dimension she lives in. In Luenah, where her grandfather awaits her, Ona learns she is an Eri, one bestowed with unique intuitive and spiritual gifts passed down from generation-to-generation.

On her eighteenth birthday, she returns to Luenah and is handed a box to deposit her ‘exchange’ for love and happiness—her great desires.

Burdened by her quest, Ona crosses paths with danger and heartbreak as the two men that love her dearly are viciously pitted against each other. As evil looms, she learns that dreams carry a hefty price, and no one is who they seem. Now, she must unmask the villain and save the one she loves, even at the risk of losing everything she holds dear.

Set against the backdrop of two warring towns, Oby Aligwekwe’s Young Adult debut—told from the viewpoint of her main character—is inspired by her West African heritage, fables, and spiritual beliefs. Ona’s journey reveals the power of choice, the true source of happiness, and, most importantly, the transformation one must go through to realize and eventually occupy their purpose.

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Check out the peek inside:

Death was nothing new to me as living with my grandparents gave me the experience of witnessing village elders passing away. My grandfather was always in attendance to support families who had lost loved ones, and I sometimes accompanied him. Unlike the others, his death was more than a passing experience. This was no ordinary man. This was my Papa—a six-foot-six gentle giant, the head of our family. Since my grandfather was a chief, layers of rites were performed in keeping with the tradition of Ntebe. All the other chiefs in the town, twenty in total, lined up in their full chiefly regalia to pay homage to their fallen comrade. For a full twenty minutes, they danced and made ritualistic sounds around the casket that bore the body of my grandfather. I remember being in complete awe of their attires and flamboyant displays.

 

They placed the casket in the ground at midday. I stood next to my grandmother and my parents at the graveside. My parents had been in Ntebe since the day before. For the first time that day, I saw a physical reaction from my grandmother. Wailing from deep within her lungs, she threatened to throw herself into the six-foot grave if my grandfather didn’t return to her. As the gravediggers worked desperately to cover the hole with a mound of red dirt, a group of men tried to prevent her from jumping in.

 

“Stop her!” I heard several people screaming.

 

Since I had always known her to be dramatic, I doubted she was going to carry out her threat. And I was right. As gunshots to commemorate the occasion tore through the air, my grandmother abandoned her display and ran for cover.

 

About Author Oby Aligwekwe

Oby Aligwekwe is the author of Nfudu and Hazel House. The Place Beyond Her Dreams is her Young Adult debut.

Oby’s first novel, Nfudu, a romance set in 1960’s Paris, received critical acclaim and was featured in publications such as Excellence Magazine and Mosaic Editions. Her second novel, Hazel House, paints a vivid portrait of how the needs of humans collide amidst intense desire and the quest for power. In her Young Adult debut, The Place Beyond Her Dreams, the protagonist Ona goes on a transformative journey to discover her purpose.

A talented writer, Oby is also an inspirational speaker and a chartered accountant. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her family and supports her community through her charity Éclat Beginnings.

When Oby is not working on her day job or whipping up stories, she enjoys traveling to exotic locations and bringing pieces of her travel with her. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her family and supports her community through her charity Éclat Beginnings.

Author links: Amazon / B&N

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N

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GIVEAWAY

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.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

.
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 Isle Of The Lost

Descendants #1

by Melissa De La Cruz

23197620

 

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Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis

Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland. Life on the island is dark and dreary. It is a dirty, decrepit place that’s been left to rot and forgotten by the world.

But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon’s eye: the key to true darkness and the villains’ only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it…who will it be?

Maleficent, Mistress of the Dark: As the self-proclaimed ruler of the isle, Maleficent has no tolerance for anything less than pure evil. She has little time for her subjects, who have still not mastered life without magic. Her only concern is getting off the Isle of the Lost.

Mal: At sixteen, Maleficent’s daughter is the most talented student at Dragon Hall, best known for her evil schemes. And when she hears about the dragon’s eye, Mal thinks this could be her chance to prove herself as the cruelest of them all.

Evie: Having been castle-schooled for years, Evil Queen’s daughter, Evie, doesn’t know the ins and outs of Dragon Hall. But she’s a quick study, especially after she falls for one too many of Mal’s little tricks.

Jay: As the son of Jafar, Jay is a boy of many talents: stealing and lying to name a few. Jay and Mal have been frenemies forever and he’s not about to miss out on the hunt for the dragon’s eye.

Carlos: Cruella de Vil’s son may not be bravest, but he’s certainly clever. Carlos’s inventions may be the missing piece in locating the dragon’s eye and ending the banishment for good.

Mal soon learns from her mother that the dragon’s eye is cursed and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She’ll just need a little help from her “friends.” In their quest for the dragon’s eye, these kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain’t so bad.

Amazon

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I added this back on April 2015. I can’t believe I haven’t read this yet. It sounds like wicked fun.

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You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

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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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Talon

Talon #1

by Julie Kagawa

27834976

 

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Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis

THE DRAGONS OF TALON: Once hunted nearly to extinction, they are now poised to take over the world. 

THE ORDER OF ST. GEORGE: The legendary dragonslayers will stop at nothing to wipe dragons from the face of the earth. 

These mortal enemies are locked in secret and deadly combat, with humanity none the wiser. 

To take her rightful place in the Talon organization, young dragon Ember Hill must prove she can hide her true nature and blend in with humans. Her delight at the prospect of a summer of “normal” teen experiences is short-lived, however, once she discovers that she’s also expected to train for her destined career in Talon. But a chance meeting with a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught.

As Ember struggles to accept her future, St. George soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian is tasked with hunting her down. But when faced with Ember’s bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything the Order has ingrained in him—and what he might be willing to give up to uncover the truth about dragons.

Amazon

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I added this back on November 2017. I thought it sounded fantastic and heard so many great things about it. I feel it’s time to get started on this series. And who doesn’t love dragons!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

.
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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Saltwater Witch

Seaborn Trilogy #1

  by Chris Howard

25286778

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Genre: YA / Fantasy

Synopsis

Kassandra comes from the sea, but she has no memory of saltwater, seagulls, or an incoming tide. She’s never seen an ocean, never heard the thunder of surf. She’s an exile, betrayed by her own family, sent as far from the sea as they could arrange–somewhere in the middle of Nebraska.

Everything changes the day she drowns in Red Bear Lake, and discovers she can’t really drown. Not in the way everyone else can. Then a two-thousand year old king wakes inside her head and turns out to be a prodigy with mathematics. Kassandra cries for the first time in her life, and learns that her tears are doorways for calling things from the sea. With clues from summoned sea-demons and the voices in her head, Kassandra sets out to find out what the hell is going on…and discovers she’s a prisoner, trapped between a murderous grandfather who controls an army of the drowned dead, river witches who spy on her through the plumbing, and Ms. Matrothy, the Girl’s Department Director, who’s been trying to kill her since she was four.

Amazon / B&N

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I added this book back in April of 2015. I fell in love with the amazing cover and the synopsis had me curious. I do hope to get to it soon.

Here are some alternative covers.

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Which do you like better?

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I really like the covers for the other books too.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.