The Dancer and the Dragon Speaker ~ Now Available

The Dancer and the Dragon Speaker

The Intertwined Tales

By Laurie Lucking

I really enjoyed this book, which offered a unique twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Princess Emelia and her four sisters are threatened with the destruction of their kingdom, Oneska, unless they comply with Prince Leonnar of Tsantar's demands. They were to be available at his bidding to grace the court of Tsantar whenever he sent his dragons to "escort" them to his gatherings. The goal is to marry one of the princesses and gain access to Oneska's secrets. 

Emelia is stymied with little hope of thwarting the dragons until she tries to learn "Dragon Speech," which gets the attention of Merric, a new stable hand who has a way with horses. Merric has unique insights into dragons, which Emelia hopes will help. But first, she has to get past Merric's evasive wariness. 

Could dragons be as good as Merric says? Or are they the beasts of destruction that Prince Leonnar claims? Princess Emelia must choose who to believe, the future of Oneska depends on it.

This was an enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it for fans of fairytale retellings or those who like clean romance that won't make you blush or cringe. (Raise your hand if you agree!) I was thoroughly engaged and enjoyed this book in one day. I always consider a book a good read when it makes me want to read the author's other works and Laurie Lucking did that with The Dancer and the Dragon Speaker.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Sisters trapped under threat of fire and destruction. 

Dragons enslaved by a power-hungry prince. 

A stable hand who must devise a plan to save them all.

Dragons circle the Oneskan palace at night, shrouding the kingdom in fear and mystery. Only Princess Emelia and her sisters know the fiends fly them to the enemy country of Tsantar under cover of darkness, where Prince Leonnar hopes to steal their secrets and gain control of Oneska. Their father’s proclamation that the man who drives away the hovering dragons will marry one of his daughters incites the princesses to redouble their efforts to escape Prince Leonnar’s tyranny.

When the enigmatic new stable hand, Merric, offers to help, Emelia finds him as frustrating as he is attractive. His superior knowledge of dragons gives her new hope, until he shatters her trust by showing more interest in protecting the vile creatures than getting rid of them. But only by finding a way to work with Merric—and with the dragons she detests—will Emelia have any chance of freeing herself, her sisters, and her kingdom from Tsantar’s clutches forever.

Retelling The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Language of the Birds

The Intertwined Tales is a multi-author series of clean fairytale retellings. Each novella entwines a famous fairytale with a lesser-known story to create one happily ever after. These standalone stories can be enjoyed in any order.

The Princess and the Shoemaker ~ Available Now

The Princess and the Shoemaker  Intertwined Tales By S.R. Nulton  This book was attention-grabbing. I was of the mind, "I'll read one chapter before bed." Yeah, that did not happen. Instead, I stayed up well into the night because the story drew me in, and I just had to know what happened. Princess Cherree has been living under a curse that preyed on her love of dancing. But now someone has gone even further, and now she can never stop dancing. Her only hope is to find a way to break this curse before it takes her life. But can a pair of cursed shoemaking elves help her?  When an enchantment goes wrong, anything can happen, and Cherree must be strong while those around her try to determine what can be done to free the young princess.   The elves were an intriguing element in this story. Their skill with shoe-making and understanding of magic made them essential. But they were suffering under a curse that was thwarting their magical abilities. The younger of the two, Enen, connected with Cherree because of their perceived closeness of age, and they developed a friendship.  I found the lack of respect Cherree received from the people a bit perplexing, but this book is a companion to the author's Refurbished Fairy Tales series. I now feel I need to read the books that seem most important to understanding the backstory, The Twelve "Dancing" Princesses and Rivers of Gold. But this book so thoroughly captured my attention I am more than willing to take a step back and read these other books and then reread this book from a different viewpoint.  This book is appropriate for tween readers. It is light on the potential of romance in the future. I would like to revisit these characters in a future book. There is still a question of where all the other Elves are.  I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. About the Book: A princess cursed to move.  An Elf separated from his people.  A pair of deadly shoes destined to change both their lives. Elves have been a thing of myth and legend for years, to the point where even the Fey don’t know that they exist. Cherree has loved dancing since she was a babe, but there are more dangers than just snooty nobles. She’s also experienced enough curses to know when she’s under one. When a mysterious pair of red dancing slippers appear, creating chaos in her life, she turns to the experts. Who knows more about making shoes than a cobbler? Well, maybe his mythical assistants. Can they save the new princess from dancing herself to death? Or, will this be one curse too many for the princess? Two Intertwined Tales.                                  One Happily Ever After.

The Golden Touch and the Silver Note ~ Review and Release Day

The Golden Touch and the Silver Note

The Intertwined Tales

By Ashley Mendoza

King Matthias is cursed. If he does not learn the lesson that the curse was to help him find, he will die. But Matthias is determined to do things the hard way. He seeks anything with magical properties or talents to stop the magic that is slowly turning him to gold. Now he has set his sights on Nadia, a slave known as The Nightingale. Her voice soothes the magic, temporarily easing his pain. But nothing can break the curse.

Nadia was sold by her father and is not even worth the same respect of the horses that transport the performers she is with. Her voice has trapped her in this life, tearing her away from her family and country. When she discovers why King Matthias, she attempts to plead with him to find her sister. But can a selfish, uncaring ruler even understand the loss and emptiness Nadia feels?

I loved watching Nadia and Matthias change as they influence one another and the search for a cure becomes more imperative. As time counts down, the curse is not the only danger Matthias faces. Can he become the king he was meant to be? Or will he become a golden statue worth only his weight in gold? 

The Golden Touch and the Silver Note was a lovely introduction to Ashley Mendoza's writing. This book is appropriate for tweens and up. 

I was provided an ARC of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:

He has a secret. She has a magical gift. 

Can they save each other in time?

King Matthias is cursed: everything he touches turns to gold. Closely guarding this secret, he searches for the one who cursed him and for any means to break it. His efforts only result in an added time limit because he apparently was supposed to learn a lesson. Now he has until the first bud blooms, or he will turn into a golden statue himself.

Publicly, Nadia is a famous singer known as The Nightingale. In truth, she is nothing but a slave, forced to travel and sing for nobles until she’s bought by King Matthias. She learns the King’s secret and-more importantly- her singing has an effect, but it is not enough.

What they don’t expect is to fall for each other. Can they break the curse in time, or will they be separated forever?

The Intertwined Tales is a multi-author series of clean fairytale retellings. Each novella entwines a famous fairytale with a lesser-known story to create one happily ever after. These standalone stories can be enjoyed in any order.

Casters and Crowns ~ Review

Casters and Crowns 

by Elizabeth Lowham

In a kingdom divided mistrust and prejudice, Crown Princess Aria seeks to broker a peace to stop a war that could destroy her kingdom forever. But her father's hatred and execution of a young boy have pitted most Casters against the Crown. 

When Aria secretly approaches Widow Morton about an offer of peace she had no idea that she was about to forfeit her own life. Aria speaks the words she feels her father would expect of her. After all as king her father is never wrong and never makes mistakes. But Aria's offer instead brings a curse down upon her and all who live within the castle. 

When Baron Reeves seeks to take his father's place within the nobility he is denied. His crime? He is a Caster and therefore not to be trusted, no matter how loyal he has been to the crown. With a steward put in place the secret Baron is protecting is in danger of being revealed. When Princess Aria reaches out to him requesting help in understanding Casters and their abilities he agrees to share information through letters. 

Aria feels that her father's judgment of Baron was unjust. No crime was committed against the crown and worse no trial with Barron given a chance to plead his case. The king's judgment was swift and permanent. And for Aria to question him is a sign of her insufficiency as the next ruler. Her commitment is questioned and she is chastised for it. 

I really enjoyed this book. There is an overabundance of secrets being held. Some of the secrets are revealed early on, but there are a couple that are revealed near the end of the book and goodness they are kingdom changers. I like Aria, her sister, Baron, and his twin brothers. There are several supporting characters who were just lovely. But the king. Let's just say having power went to his head and he was under the mistaken impression he needed no advisors and that he was perfect because he was king. 

This is a book I would highly recommend. I feel it is appropriate for tweens who are testing the waters of teen fiction and is without all the overblown angst most teen books have that make older readers roll their eyes. There is a definite magic element throughout the book. The romance is there but not taking center stage, though it plays a pivotal roll in several scenes.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Cursed by magic, bound by mistakes, Princess Aria’s destiny hinges on the mysterious Baron Reeves. 

Will love be enough to break the curse, or will war bring her kingdom to ruin? 

A new romantasy by Elizabeth Lowham.

When Crown Princess Aria sees her kingdom on the brink of war with the magic-wielding Casters, she takes it upon herself to speak with Widow Morton, the most dangerous Caster in the realm. If successful, Aria will not only ensure peace but also prove to her father that she is a worthy heir. But when her negotiations fail, Aria is dealt a terrible curse: Over the course of one hundred days, she will be unable to sleep, her body and mind doomed to waste away. And then the curse will pass to her sister, until every member of the king’s line is dead.

Aria’s best hope for breaking her curse is to seek help from another Caster—the handsome and charming Baron Reeves. He may be entitled to a place at the court, but as a magic user, can he truly be trusted? She vows not be fooled by his dimpled smiles or his devotion to his brothers, but as she spends more time with him, she discovers that her heart has other ideas.

Baron has no desire to see the princess suffer—especially since she might be the key to changing the king’s opinion on Casters—but he has secrets to protect and ghosts of his own. The last person he tried to save using his magic died, and he’s not willing to risk harming someone he loves again.

As the curse continues its deadly countdown, both Aria and Baron must risk their lives and their hearts to save each other and unite a kingdom.

Goose Princess ~ Review with Snippet

Goose Princess

Beyond the Tales #4

By Tricia Mingerink

 

This is the book I've been waiting for since book three came out. And it was so worth the wait. Unfortunately, it is the final book in the Beyond the Tales series. 

Keziah has been cursed since she was eight days old to not be able to talk to anyone. Through creative reasoning, she has figured out a way to communicate indirectly, but it only works if others are paying attention to her. Now she and her four brothers are fleeing to a safe and hidden location. 

Why are they fleeing? Well, her brothers have all fallen to their curse. All four of them are now geese! Not the best condition to be in when you are the princess and princes of a country under threat from a neighboring country.

But Keziah's plan to protect her brothers is brought to a halt when they come across High King Alexander being hunted by the very people they are trying to hide from. What's a princess to do? Why help her king, of course. 

 

Then there is the whole breaking several curses to deal with, while saving the kingdom, and being selfless. Can we just say this book is packed full of danger, adventure, and learning to trust the Highest King? Well, it is, and it is such good reading.

This series must be read in order to fully appreciate everything. And if it has been awhile since you've read the books, I would recommend rereading them again before reading Goose Princess. I loved seeing Alex's transition throughout the series and how he grew as both a person and a king.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Before he can have peace, he has one last curse to face.

In the three years since he woke from his enchanted sleep, High King Alexander has faced multiple curses, nearly died, and re-united the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia. He has watched everyone around him find peace and happiness. Is it finally time for him to secure happiness for himself?

When an old enemy strikes once again, Alex finds himself on the run, hunted in his own kingdom, and all alone except for the most unlikely ally: a princess who can't talk to people and her gaggle of goose brothers.

With his enemies closing around him, Alex must make a choice. Will he rescue his best friend or save his kingdom? And, after everything he suffered, does he even want to be the high king or is this his chance to walk away and pursue his own happy ending?

Goose Princess is a retelling of the Goose Girl and Wild Swans fairy tales. Enjoy this fourth and final book in Beyond the Tales, a Christian fantasy fairy tale retelling series!

Snippets:

Ezra glared with his tiny black eyes, as if utterly unrepentant that he’d just bitten the high king. Again.

“What are we, helpless goldfinches?” Josiah gestured to himself. “We’ll be geese, Mother. Geese. With sharp beaks and everything.”

The Handmaiden's Blood ~ Now Available

 AVAILABLE NOW!

The Handmaid's Blood: The Goose Girl Retold 

Once Upon a Twisted Time

By Kendra E. Ardnek

This is a short story based on The Goose Girl. But there is a twist.

The Princess has her handmaid bound by blood to do her will. There is one wee problem, the princess is bound by blood to the queen.

And what an evil queen she is. She plans to use her daughter to cause an international incident and hopefully bring down a kingdom. Yes, that kind of evil. The kind you want to run and hide from. Except for the whole "bound to do her-will" thing going on, which prevents running and hiding.

Though short, this is an intriguing and ingenious retelling that satisfies the key elements of the story but presents them in an original story. 

I was provided an advanced copy of this book with no expectations but to provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Three drops of blood bind her to the princess's will.

The Goose Girl retold from the perspective of her servant.

Book Fun Fact:

This was actually my third choice for which Goose Girl retelling I would release as part of the Lost Kerchiefs, but the other two retellings I had planned each depended on me finishing the book ahead of them in the series. But, you can watch out for a total of three other Goose Girl retellings from me in the near future, including:

Goose Chase (A Twist of Adventure #8): Another servant-as-the-heroine, but in this one, the twist is that when she lost the handkerchief, the princess swaps bodies with an actual goose, so the servant has to pose as a princess until they can figure out how to fix this curse. This one came really close to being part of this set, and is partially written, but since I didn't release Beanstalk Trials as planned, I had to hold off on this one.

Goose Boy (Ever After Maneuver #3): I promise I'm not copying Tricia, but Cinderella-12DP-Goose Girl seems to be a story order that just works. This isn't a genderswap, as the title implies, but it does shake up the story and make Curdkin the hero. Won't say much more about it, other than the fact that Anice is the princess but not the main character. She has the next book after. 

Sing a Quest of Golden Geese (Bookania #9): This is the book I *really* wanted to release as part of the Kerchiefs, but I just didn't have the brain space to write Bookania #8. I'm really excited about this one, though, as it's one of the crazy mashups, including The Goose Girl, Rumpelstiltskin, The Golden Goose, and the Pied Piper. There may or may not be a baby dragon, and this book is also technically a sequel to The Dancing Princess (A Twist of Adventure #5). because people begged so hard to see more of that world. 

I did also consider writing "The Princess and the Goose Girl" which is a Princess and the Pauper mashup I have rolling around in the back of my head, but I'm not *quite* ready to take the plunge into that series yet. 

Lightshed ~ Review

Lightshed

The Gateway Trilogy #2

By Crystal Grant

The coveted Shadowstone is finally his. But what will it cost him?

This is the second book in The Gateway Trilogy and it opens with a glimpse into the past. We see again the incident that at its heart is the reason Mason Grey joined the troops of Emperor Jader. We don't see the death of Mason's brother, but rather the decision that resulted in a tragic mistake. We see it from Prince Eric's perspective and how his search for the Shadowpit had long-reaching consequences - pain and regrets. 

We then move forward twelve years; Mason now wears the Shadowstone, and with its added strengths, he would make the Stewards pay for their actions. But one thing tugs against his mission of revenge and devotion to the Emperor - Seria Gayle.

Seria and Mason find themselves on the wrong side of the clash between their people. Both feel guilt about their feelings for the other and wish to bring the other over to what they feel is the right side of the conflict. This one line sums it up so well: How could something feel so wrong and right at once?

The coveted Shadowstone is finally his. But what will it cost him? This is the question Mason Grey must answer as he carries out the will of Emperor Jader, which is in contrast to his feelings for Seria Gayle. How can he reconcile his need for revenge with the love he feels? In a world caught in a destructive conflict, Mason and Seria find themselves at the heart of everything. This is a world you will want to visit more than once. Some layers and complexities slowly reveal themselves with each reading, allowing one to notice something new. Like when you finally realize something that has been out in the open forever, but it was lost in the surroundings because it was just there not flashy and showy, just present. This is similar. This series has an epic feel to it, and often, these are the stories that need to be read through with a desire to know what's next and, on the second time, a slower, more thoughtful enjoyment to savor all the flavors more fully.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Empowered by his new role as Shadowman, Mason Grey has strengthened his resolve against the Steward Army and the prince he has sworn to kill. But his heart is torn between justice for his brother and desire for the girl who stands with his enemy. Determined to bridge the gap, he risks everything he’s worked for to try to win her over to his side.

Convinced there is still good in him, Seria Gayle makes up her mind to point Mason to the truth, even if it means betraying the Stewards she has befriended. When the dark Emperor Jader turns his sights on the Gateway between his realm and theirs, Seria makes a bold decision that takes her far from home and into enemy territory. But standing between light and darkness comes with a price, and she fears the cost for Mason’s salvation may be too high to pay.

As tensions heat up on both sides of the Gateway, Mason is given a challenging assignment that will strengthen his master’s army for years to come–but it could mean losing Seria forever. To make matters worse, his abilities as a Reader begin spiraling out of control. Will this mission of vengeance bring him the closure he needs…or destroy him from the inside out?

Winter's Maiden

Winter's Maiden
The Nordic Wars #1
By Morgan L. Busse

Winter's Maiden opens with Brighid's birth, a birth about which lies a secret and results in her being one of the clanless. The clanless are not claimed by any of the clans, and Brighid feels this lack deeply. When offered a chance to change her foreseeable future, she, of course, jumps at the possibility of having a better future than the one that is before her. 

This is an intriguing premise, and the story does not disappoint. I love how Brighid struggles to find her place in this world where she feels that she has no place. Her family didn't claim her, and if not for the midwife who oversaw her birth, she would have been lost.

But this is not a world at peace; war is on the horizon. And someone is stirring the unrest, manipulating those living in Nordica. Kaeden has been avoiding his past, but when he is given a chance to attend to those from the south in need of a healer, his skills give him a chance to interact with a captured soldier and an insight no one else has. But how can he use the knowledge he's gained to prevent a war that could destroy their whole world?

In this world Morgan M. Busse has created, we are given a world in turmoil, with characters who are searching for a place to call their own, their family. I am interested in seeing where the next book goes from here. I think this quote from the book is an example of Brighid's life:

"Unwanted at birth, barely surviving this life.

If she disappeared into the darkness forever,

would anyone even notice?"

This feels so bleak, but there are moments of truth. 

Such as:

I will be with you, warrior of the North.

Moments like this make me want to read the next book and hope for something more.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Warrior

Survivor

Daughter of the North

From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station. Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the south.

Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces. With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken. However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic forces is captured.

As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?

About the Book:

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of multiple series including The Ravenwood Saga and Skyworld series. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and won the INSPY, Selah, and Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

Resurgence of Dawn ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Resurgence of Dawn by Brett Armstrong hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Resurgence of Dawn
Quest of Fire #5
By Brett Armstrong 

 

This is the fifth book in the Quest of Fire series and it opens with both Jason and Anargen hurting and despairing at the losses they've each suffered.

But suffering doesn't end their quest; rather, it is a part of the journey—one that can strengthen or break them. Both Anargen and Jason are faced with submitting to the darkness, turning and running from it, or standing firm against it.

Two lines from the early portion of the book sum up well what the Knights of Light are facing at this time. They've reached a fork in the road, so to speak, and need to dwell on these two truths:

"But you look at the brokenness and darkness and say there is no light. How can you forget so quickly those hours when the light and the High King have been so clear and evident?"

"If you only open your eyes to the night, you'll never see the day."

One needs to look for the light when the darkness attempts to choke it out of our life.

This is an excellent series. I feel those 14 and up would enjoy it. The very nature of this series makes it imperative that you read the previous books before reading this one. The backstory is essential for total enjoyment and comprehension. The story world's depth and complexity falls between that of Narnia and Lord Of The Rings. I highly recommend it if you are looking for epic fantasy with a spiritual leaning.

I was offered a complimentary copy of the book but did not accept it as I had already acquired a copy of my own.

About the Book

Title: Resurgence of Dawn
Series: Quest of Fire #5
Author: Brett Armstrong
Publisher: Expanse Books
Release Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Christian, Epic/High Fantasy, Young Adult

Haunted by tragedies and failures, Anargen and Jason each struggle to find their way. Night has fallen in the Lowlands and neither teen has an easy road ahead. In Anargen’s Era, Monarch Ilyron’s powers and influence grow, forcing Anargen and his dwindling list of allies to travel the length of the Lowlands in a desperate attempt to keep the Quest and all they hold dear from falling into ruin. 

Jason meanwhile must find Aria and her grandfather to help unite the Knights of Light from across the Lowlands against his brother, Dorian. But agents of darkness and painful vestiges of his past mix with vindictive new enemies to make the hope of seeing the dawn of the longed-for King’s Day ever so faint. If either teen gives in and surrenders, doom will come swiftly on their world.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in This Series

   

  

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About the Author

Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Tomorrow's Edge), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.

Connect with Brett at brettarmstrong.net to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each win a $25 Amazon gift card, a print copy of Resurgence of Dawn, and a digital poster of the Lowlands!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 24, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Cover Reveal ~ The Beauty and the Griffin

 

Cover Reveal The Beauty and the Griffin By J. M. Stengl   Three romantic dreams. Two precocious griflets. One hasty curse that may doom not only Faraway Castle but the world.   Beatrice de Callen, an otherwise sensible young woman, was foolish enough to fall in love with the benevolent yet shadowy mage known as the Gamekeeper of Faraway Castle. Worse still, she broke his heart. But when traitorous mages steal a powerful fay artifact, magical war threatens, and the Gamekeeper vanishes, Beatrice promises her fairy godmother to help and soon finds herself escorting two telepathic griffin eggs and Winifred, their furious nanny, through a labyrinth of caves in search of the Forbidden Palace. Exhausted, Beatrice falls asleep while snuggling the gold egg and dreams of dancing with an utterly stunning young king at his coronation ball. Have they met before? Once the eggs guide their humans to the timeless palace, Beatrice is relieved to sense the Gamekeeper’s presence—but Win insists he is the monster that killed the last King of Adelboden! Beatrice must not only help raise the lively griflets and watch over a girl who hates her, but also save Faraway Castle and the world by breaking a century-old curse. Only the Golden Griffin can tell her how.  Now, the Cover!

Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice ~ Review

Mountain of Dragons and Sacrifice
Sacrificed Hearts #1
Tara Grayce

Every year a maiden must be sacrificed to appease the dragon and allow the village's olive crop to be blessed. And this year Nessa is the fortunate maiden chosen to give her life for the good of the village. And for some reason she doesn't appreciate the honor that has been bestowed upon her. Not that the village elders feel any need to throw themselves on a stone altar and give themselves over as a tasty dragon snack. Nope not happening ever!

But when the dragon finally comes to accept her sacrifice she's in for a shock. He doesn't eat her! If fact he seems almost friendly. Sure that she's being tested Nessa follows all of the warnings the village elders imparted. She fears if she angers the dragon he may destroy her village or refuse to bless the year's olive crop. 

But how can she follow the rules when what she's being told now is so different than what she's been told her whole life? Who should she believe? The dragon? His servants? Her parents? Or those from her village?

This was an enjoyable book that offers the other side of an evil dragon tale. It was interesting seeing how Nessa navigated the sudden change in her life and tries to make sense of just why she had to be sacrificed. This book definitely examines the fallacies of long-held superstitions. This is a sweet read that offers clean reading. 

This is the first book in the Sacrificed Hearts series. These books, each written by a different author, can be read as standalone titles as they share a similar theme, sacrifice, and not characters or story worlds. This is a book that is appropriate for tweens and up who don't want anything but a pinch of clean romance in their books. 

 

About the Book:

It’s a tale as old as myth and legends: the village maiden sacrificed to a monster.

Every year, Nessa’s village sacrifices a maiden to the dragon in the mountain. If they don’t, the dragon will sweep down from his lair and destroy them all.

When Nessa is chosen to be that year’s sacrifice, she’s prepared to be eaten, as much as anyone can prepare for such a thing. Instead, she finds herself swept away to a world of dragons, gnomes, and fae creatures beyond her imagination, leaving her with more questions than answers. If the maiden’s purpose isn’t to be eaten, then what is the dragon’s reason for the sacrifices? And why is the dragon nothing like what she had been told he would be?

And, most frightening of all, what would happen if she lit the candle and looked upon the dragon’s face?

Loosely inspired by the myth of Psyche and Eros, this humorous romantasy features dragon shifters, quirky fae, and swoony no-spice romance, perfect for fans of Sylvia Mercedes, Kenley Davidson, and K.M. Shea!

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales ~ Review

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales

By Wendy S. Swore

With a title like this one imagines a fantasy story with maybe some laughs. But this book is more an idea of fantasy instead. There is a serious aspect to it that is actually the main story.  Liam and Alaina are really good friends, but when Liam starts having sleeping spells and seeing things that aren't there Alaina is the only friend who believes him. 

She knows what it's like to have strange symptoms and feel like your body is just weird. Alaina has type 1 diabetes and has been living with it for several years. And she has a theory about how to help Liam.

Alaina believes the two of them have upset the fairies, accidentally. But she believes they have to try breaking Liam's curse before it is too late. And they'll use her research and knowledge of fairies and fairy tales to do this.

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales is a contemporary set chapter book that uses Magical Realism perfectly as Lian and Alaina work together to try to understand and figure out what is wrong with him. Because something must be wrong even if the doctors say he is fine.

This book is perfect in explaining the troubling aspects of having an unknown and chronic condition. We are introduced to the struggle to explain what is difficult to explain and even harder the cruel comments and accusations of lying. How do you convince others that something is wrong when the experts say you're fine? And how long do you keep going on before you give up?

I think this is a book that all middle-grade readers should read. It is an eye-opening read about diabetes, narcolepsy, and cataplexy. I know the words sound scary and the reality of living with these conditions daily is just as scary. I think this book excellently presented this allowing the reader to experience the unknown - the feelings, the pain, and even fear. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Can two friends solve the mystery of Liam's "curse" by using their knowledge of fairy tales?

Something is wrong with Liam. He collapses during soccer practice, he can’t stay awake in class, and he’s starting to see a ghostly white fox that disappears into smoke. His parents and teachers accuse him of being lazy and staying up too late, but he knows it’s something worse.

No one believes him except for Alaina, a friend and self-proclaimed expert in fantasy and fairy tales. She’s seen this sort of thing before and believes Liam has been cursed with a powerful sleeping spell. Her journal is full of possible ways to break a curse. Liam is skeptical, but with his normal life slipping further away, he agrees to try her potential cures.  

As they search for answers in stories, Alaina shares that she also is dealing with something no one else can see: type 1 diabetes. It rears its head like an invisible dragon, and she carries her medical equipment as a knight’s lance and dragon-scale shield to battle it. 

As Liam’s mystery illness worsens, he will need Alaina’s friendship—and perhaps a bit of fairy magic—to find a way to understand the truth of what is happening and regain the pieces of himself that are lost.

Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice ~ Now Available

 Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice by C.F.E. Black is now available! This is the sixth and final book in the Sacrificed Hearts series,

Sacrificed Hearts Series Blurb: 

Monsters, Maidens, and Mayhem

Sparks fly and hearts are tested in this collection of short novels about girls who rise to the occasion to overcome the difficult circumstances thrust upon them.

A village maiden sacrificed to a dragon in a tale as old as myth.

A seafaring princess who must sacrifice her heart or lose her kingdom to a kraken.

A princess-in-hiding forced to save a masked man who is more than he seems.

A defiant peasant marked for death determined to outmaneuver a man branded a monster. 

An undercover assassin sent to assassinate a phoenix or die trying.

An unlucky bride-to-be sacrificed to a labyrinth and the madness within. 

 

These fantasy romance tales inspired by monsters of legend provide a sweet and swoony take on the Sacrificed to the Monster trope. Experience the magic today in the Sacrificed Hearts series, a collection of stand-alone short novels packed with enchanting romance, strong heroines, and sacrificial themes.

About Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice:

All Vera wants is to survive her wedding day without disaster striking, no easy task for a quarter-mage like Vera. But all her hopes fade when a stranger traps Vera, claiming she’s dangerous. The day gets worse when she is shoved inside the Labyrinth, an enchanted prison for the worst of criminals.

In this place, madness reigns. The monsters—both real and imagined—are all ruled by a terrible force that feeds on fear. Vera must keep her wits about her as she navigates this deadly place, searching for a way out.

When she meets another mortal trapped within, she doesn’t know if she can trust him. But as their paths continue to cross, it seems as if the maze is forcing them to work together. Can they help each other defeat the monsters and survive in this nightmare world? But in the Labyrinth, nothing is as it seems.

Sacrificed Hearts website: https://everlyhaywood.com/sacrificedhearts/

Order Labyrinth of Lies and Sacrifice at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRP5TBY5

Island of Secrets and Sacrifice ~ Available Now

 Island of Secrets and Sacrifice by Deborah Grace White is now available! This is the fourth book in the Sacrificed Hearts series.

A girl marked for death, 
a man branded a monster…
a reality that is very different from what it seems

Ember’s defiance has always been a frustration to the rest of her island community. But even she didn’t expect to be selected as the next sacrifice, years before another is due. And she can’t help but wonder if it relates to the strange new ability that’s just begun to stir within her. She doesn’t intend to go down without a fight—in fact, the chance to confront the monster demanding sacrifices is a more welcome path than the marriage her parents had arranged to a local farmer.

Haiden has never heard of Ember’s island, and he couldn’t care less about their plight. He’s fully occupied trying to lift the curse that has turned him into a monster while fending off the stream of maidens determined to break it for him—both feats that are proving impossible in spite of his considerable magical ability.

When Ember charges into his purposely isolated life, badly wounded, full of nonsensical accusations, and entirely undaunted by his hideous form, their paths and plans collide with a force neither is prepared for. It will take more than Ember’s fledgling magic and Haiden’s superior training to lift both his curse and the lies holding her island captive. They’ll first have to learn to actually let each other in, which may prove the hardest sacrifice of all.

Island of Secrets and Sacrifice is book 4 in the Sacrificed Hearts multi-author series, a collection of stand-alone fantasy romances inspired by monsters of legend, each tale packed with strong heroines, swoony heroes, and sacrificial themes.

It’s set in the world of The Singer Tales, a completed series of six clean fairy tale retellings by Deborah Grace White. Island of Secrets and Sacrifice takes place six years after the end of the series, but can be enjoyed without any prior reading.

Sacrificed Hearts website: https://everlyhaywood.com/sacrificedhearts/

Order Island of Secrets and Sacrifice at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CR998YPC