Chasm by Branwen O'Shea

 

YA readers love sci-fi and fantasy. Here's a new book for you to check out! Read an excerpt from The Chasm by Branwen O'Shea and then download your own copy. Follow the tour and let her know your thoughts in the comments section. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Awakenings by L.C. Conn

 

I know how much you all love your fantasy! So check out an excerpt from Awakenings by L.C. Conn and let her know what you think in the comments! Follow the tour for even more! Best of luck in the giveaway!

Weaver by Tish Thawer Release Blitz

   

Title: Weaver
Authors: Tish Thawer
Genre: YA Fantasy
Cover Designer: Regina Wamba
Publication Date: June 21^st, 2022
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Review of Bad Boys Don't Date Clumsy Girls by KE Strand

 

I really enjoyed Bad Boys Don't Date Clumsy Girls by Ke Strand and will give you more details in my review. You can also check out an excerpt and enter the great giveaway! Follow the tour for even more!

The Virus of Beauty Series by C.B. Lyall

 

Today we welcome C.B. Lyall back to the blog with further installments of her Virus of Beauty series. Read about all of the books and get a peek inside. Then get to know the author better in a new interview. Be sure to download your own copies and then follow the tour for more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Thoughts on All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

 

Considered by many the greatest war novel of all time, All Quiet on the Western Front is Erich Maria Remarque’s masterpiece of the German experience during World War I.

I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. . . .

This is the testament of Paul Bäumer, who enlists with his classmates in the German army during World War I. They become soldiers with youthful enthusiasm. But the world of duty, culture, and progress they had been taught breaks in pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches.

Through years of vivid horror, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principle of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against one another . . . if only he can come out of the war alive.

“The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure.”—The New York Times Book Review

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

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**My thoughts**

This is one of those books that was required reading back when I was in high school that has held up for me well into adulthood. I've read it several times, though probably not in the past decade (until recently). As I approach middle age, I think it has an even more profound effect on me.

What drew me to this book in my teen years still holds true. You almost forget that this is told from the point of view of a German soldier - one of our enemies in the Great War (aka WWI). Instead it personifies almost any soldier - the chaos and destruction of battle, the importance of friendship, the fear and hunger of the unknown, the frustration of not really understanding what you are fighting for while someone else - in a safe place - is calling the shots.

The horrors of trench warfare are tastefully, yet explicitly described in such a way that you feel as if you are there, but still have the protection of not being there. Remarque, through Paul, waxes rather poetically about all of the trials and tribulations of being on the front and how it changes a man. I'm often moved by the sincere and intense emotions - and abrupt lack thereof. Paul becomes almost a friend. And though he is the enemy as a German soldier, my humanity roots for him and his friends to come out of it okay in the end

It's been over 100 years since World War I ended, of course, but I still think this is an important book to continue reading from a history perspective, but also a human perspective.

Of Kingdoms and Crowns (Heir of Blood and Fire #4) by Cameo Renae Release Blitz

 

Title: Of Kingdoms and Crowns
Author: Cameo Renae
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Cover Designer: Jay Villalobos - Covers by Juan
Publication Date: April 30th, 2022
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

From USA Today bestselling author Cameo Renae comes the highly-anticipated conclusion to her gripping Heir of Fire and Blood saga!

With the King of Morbeth dead, Roehl seizes control of the kingdom. Capturing the late king’s witches and head guards, Roehl sends a message to Calla and Nicolae.

Come to Morbeth within twenty days, or they will all be executed.

Calla refuses to allow those who served her great-grandfather to die because of her. Yet to face him in battle she needs allies who will stand with her despite knowing they are walking into Roehl’s deadly trap.

War is imminent. Lives will be lost.



As Calla rallies her allies together, can she trust her powers to find victory and end Roehl’s evil reign? Or will she be the next to fall?

NOW LIVE!

 

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Cameo Renae, was born in San Francisco, raised in Maui, Hawaii, and now resides with her husband and children in Las Vegas.

She's a daydreamer, caffeine and peppermint addict, who loves to laugh, and loves to read to escape reality.

One of her greatest joys is creating fantasy worlds filled with adventure and romance and sharing it with others. It is the love of her family and amazing support of her fans that keeps her going.

One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe and ride away on her magical unicorn. Until then...she'll keep writing!

Author Links:

Facebook | Blog | Website | Twitter | Fan Club | Newsletter

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NOW LIVE!

The Goddess Apprentice by L.L. Hunter Release Blitz

    

Title: The Goddess Apprentice
Author: L.L. Hunter
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy/PNR
Cover Designer: KILA Designs
Publication Date: April 30^th, 2022
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Blurb:

Ebony thought moving to the Realm of Fire and becoming the next goddess would be all rainbows and unicorns.

But she was wrong.

Apart from undertaking training to become the next goddess, she must also finish her schooling.

And with Luca back and Travis by her side at the best academy in the universe, she should be happy, right?

When Travis returns one day complaining of a demon attack in the Realm of Ice, and people talking behind their backs, Ebony is worried that not all is as it seems in the universe.

She soon begins hearing reports of rioting in several cities around the world, and with the alchemist Sylvie conducting secret experiments under her nose, she suspects the rebel group are up to their old tricks again.

After all, when your soulmate is the grandson of Lucifer, and you’re the new goddess in training, not everyone is going to agree.

What could go wrong?

 

The exciting fourth installment in the bestselling Ebony Angel series.

  

Buy on Amazon

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L.L. Hunter is the author of over 20 published works, including The Legend of the Archangel Series and The Garden of Eden. She has studied everything from veterinary nursing, forensic science, and dramatic arts, but has always known her true calling was to be an author. 

She has been writing since her teens - everything from fan fiction, to song lyrics, to plays and musicals. When not working on her next paranormal romance, she can be found at home in Australia, reading somewhere comfortable with one or both of her “fur babies.” Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @llhunterbooks, and her blog - http://llhunter.blogspot.com.au.

Author Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Blog

Authorgraph | Smashwords | Bookbub | Newsletter | Instagram

The Story Behind The Undine's Tear by Talena Winters

 

The Undine's Tear is the first installment of Talena Winters' new YA epic historical fantasy series, Rise of the Grigori. Find out how the title came to be and take a sneak peek inside. Download your copy and then follow the tour for more as well as bonus chances to enter the giveaway!

She's destined to save the world . . . if she doesn't destroy it first.

Calandra’s destiny is also her doom. As the most powerful healer since the woman who sank Atlantis, she’s been raised to restore the Heartstone that protects her island from humans . . . before she goes Mad like her mother and all the powerful undine healers before her. When she learns she needs both male and female magic to succeed, she becomes desperate—there hasn't been an undine male born for over three thousand years. Instead, she's being pressured to use the siren mind-bond to enslave her childhood friend, the one man she's sworn to risk a death sentence to free.

When Calandra discovers a cryptic message that shows her exiled mother was not only sane but pregnant with a boy, she questions everything she’s been taught to believe. But revealing the horrifying truth of the bonds could tear her island apart—and concealing it could unleash the Earth’s oldest, most destructive enemy. With insanity looming, can Calandra find her brother and save the Heartstone, the man she loves, her people, and the world . . . before she loses control and destroys them all?

The Undine's Tear is the first book in the mind-blowing young adult epic historical fantasy series Rise of the Grigori. Packed with complex characters, lush world-building, gritty action, and impossible odds, this intricately woven tale presents mermaids like you’ve never seen them before. Join Calandra in a search for redemption that will threaten the very fabric of the universe. Dive into the adventure today!

Read an excerpt:

Osaze looked between them with fear in his eyes, then turned back to Calandra.

“Redeemed. That’s what the queen did to me before, right? Is that what you mean by ‘help’?” He clutched Calandra’s arm. “Please don’t do it again, Calandra. I—I think I would rather die than have that happen again.”

As soon as Osaze touched her, a wave of desperation and fear crashed through her. She put her hands to her ears as though she could physically block out the sudden onslaught of emotion. Is it happening already? Is this the Madness?

When Osaze’s hand fell from her arm, the emotions subsided. She slowly lowered her hands, staring at the boy. Those feelings . . . they had all come from him? Why had she felt them so strongly? Did it have something to do with the Heartstone?

“It’s okay, Osaze. It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

He shook his head and buried it in his hands. “That would be better. It’s worse than anything you can imagine.”

Calandra stared at him, stricken. As a rule, undines treated every living thing with respect. She had always been told that Redemption meant saving the men from themselves, cleansing them of impurities they could not purge on their own. But how could it be right to do something to these men that they hated so much?

Buy on Amazon

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The Story Behind the Title of The Undine’s Tear

Have you heard of mermaid tears?

Growing up far inland with not many trips to an ocean, I hadn’t—not until I started doing the research for the book that became The Undine’s Tear.

In lore and fantasy, a mermaid’s tears often have unique magical properties—such as the mermaid tear Blackbeard was after in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which was a key element in his pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. Perhaps this mythological meaning is why sea glass, which is often green, blue, or aquamarine in colour and has been worn smooth by time and tide, was given the name of mermaid tears. These mermaid tears are often treasured collectibles of beachcombers and look very pretty displayed on a shelf.

Before publishing my book, I had intended to call it The Mermaid’s Tear, but a poll of my readers suggested the word mermaid would deter the boys in the room from picking it up. That wouldn’t do, since this is not your typical mermaid book—and, to date, has been enjoyed by many of the male persuasion!

Besides, I had long since decided an entire race of sea creatures wouldn’t be named only for the females. So, much like people are known as humans, I opted to call my merfolk undines (UN-deens), a word referring to the Greek water elemental creature. Since elemental magic is the undines’ inheritance, this seemed kind of perfect.

As for the tear the story is named after—it’s not a drop of saltwater, nor a bit of sea glass, but instead a teardrop-shaped dark green (black) opal that, in the culture of the undines, works like a flash drive to store messages and data, as well as serving as a beautiful piece of jewelry.

And the message that Tear contains is going to change the way the undines look at the world forever—in fact, it could affect the very future of the cosmos.

But that’s a story that would take a whole series to tell…

Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, and designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish. Master of the ironic GIF response. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

https://www.talenawinters.com/

https://www.instagram.com/talenawinters

https://www.twitter.com/talenawinters

https://www.goodreads.com/talenawinters

https://facebook.com/talenawinters.artist

https://facebook.com/mysecretwishbyTalena

http://pinterest.com/talenawinters

Talena Winters will be awarding a hardback copy of The Undine's Tear (Rise of the Grigori Book 1) and also The Sphinx's Heart (Rise of the Grigori Book 2) to a randomly drawn winner (International Giveaway) via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Shadow and Sword by N.K. Carlson

 

NK Carlson has a new YA fantasy out now and you get a sneak peek inside! Plus he tells us about his journey to becoming a writer. Download your own copy and then follow the tour for even more plus bonus chances to enter the giveaway!

The word was just below a whisper, yet in sixteen-year-old Reith's ears, it rang louder than he could have ever imagined. Reith had his life in order: apprentice under his mentor, Master Chronicler Vereinen, and follow in his footsteps. Until a shadowy figure appeared in his village, burning everything to the ground, including Reith's future. Now Reith's mentor is missing and Reith is on the run from the mysterious Shadow.

Reith adventures through magical forests, ancient ruins, and the lands of prejudiced elves to find his mentor, learn the secret of his sword, and unravel the mystery of the Shadow. Will Reith discover the truth or will the Shadow continue to fall over all of Terrashonen?

Read an excerpt:

Reith walked to the edge of the stairs and knelt to look at what was in this slot, reaching in and pulling out a long, shiny box. This box looked to be wood overlaid with gold, silver, and copper triangles, each alternating, coming together to form a pattern. The box was about five feet long, a foot wide, and three or four inches tall. On the side was a golden clasp, which he opened.

Reith was dazzled by the sunlight striking the metal inside. In the box sat a sword in a scabbard. Its hilt looked like it had been woven together from three different metals, just like the box. These three twisted together into a metallic braid. The cross guard was similarly woven together. A soft, leather grip covered part of the handle for ease of use. Diamonds adorned the hilt and the pommel. The scabbard was black leather with lines of the three metals inlaid upon the edges.

He lifted the sword out and held it in his hand. The grip was warm, as if someone had just set it down. It felt light, like it was part of his arm and not a foreign object. The strangest thing though was that it felt like it was vibrating in his hand, as if he had just clashed it against another warrior’s blade.

Reith lifted it to his face and saw that the edge was sharp, as if it had just been sharpened and shined the day before. He slashed the air in front of him experimentally, and the sword hummed through the air. Strange as it seemed, he felt like he was meant to have this sword.

Buy on Amazon

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Your journey to becoming a writer

Blink… Blink… Blink…

The cursor materialized and disappeared over and over while the word counter remained at zero. I was in high school facing yet another essay that I had no motivation to write nor particular passion about the subject matter.

This scene happened several times in middle school and high school. Most writing assignments were big research papers or essays about uninteresting topics. I’ll be honest with you: I hated writing in middle school and high school. I would have rather sat a million tests that write papers.

But my loathing for writing was not always so. I had good experiences before then. In elementary school, the highlight of every year was receiving a blank white book to fill with a story or non-fiction work. We could choose the topic and write about anything we wanted. After writing a draft of the story, we workshopped it with our teacher and then we were given the greenlight to write and illustrate our blank white books. I loved those projects.

But then the freedom to be creative was taken away, replaced with boring drudgery of research papers and silly essays about trying to persuade the school board to not implement a uniform policy, which our teachers lied to us about to get us sufficiently angry to write our essays. How messed up is that?

And so I went to college. It was 2011 and blogging was all the rage. I had some friends start blogs, so I jumped in and started one. And I started writing about topics I cared about. In doing so, I found that I actually really liked writing. I enjoyed the process. I liked writing when I was writing about things I actually cared about.

Midway through college, I decided I wanted to try and write a novel. I started one, worked on it for a bit, but only got a few thousand words in before I got bored of it and gave up.

Then I had another idea, got really excited about it, and wrote a few thousand words, and gave it up after growing bored again.

I graduated and started grad school and had another idea for a novel, which I started, wrote a few thousand words, got bored, and abandoned.

Are you sensing a theme?

And then I had the idea for Shadow and Sword. I believed in this idea, but more importantly, I believed in myself. I would not let myself give up. If I was going to write a novel, it was now or never. So, over a period of four months, I wrote the first draft of Shadow and Sword. I finished it! And I knew from that moment that I had it in me to be a writer. Of course, it took a lot of work to rewrite and edit it, but I had the knowledge that I had started a novel and I had finished it. I was officially a writer.

N. K. Carlson is an author living in Texas. Originally from the Chicago area, he graduated from the University of Illinois before studying at Logsdon Seminary, where he graduated with a master of divinity degree. He has published two books.

The Things that Charm Us and the Smelly Gospel (which was co-written with Drew Doss) both came out in 2020.

His love of writing began in elementary school when each student was given a blank white book to fill with a story. In college, he took an interest in blogging and writing novels.

Website: https://www.nkcarlson.com/

https://medium.com/@nkcarlson

https://www.facebook.com/nkcarlson

https://twitter.com/N8Carlson

N. K. Carlson will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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