Tirza Schaefer's Blog, page 7
March 29, 2022
The Power of Conviction (#1 of The Light of Darkness) by Catrin Russell
After reading the two prequels to THE LIGHT OF DARKNESS high epic fantasy series by Catrin Russell, RIGHTEOUS DAWN and THE REDEEMED, and loving them, Book 1 of the series proper, THE POWER OF CONVICTION, was next on my list.
I thought the prequels had been amazing but what I found in this book was an adventure extraordinaire! But let me give you a quick glimpse into the story first…
Anaya is a senior priestess of the Temple Village and under Ekelon, the High Priest, whom we have previously met in the prequel ,The Redeemed, together with abused criminal youngster Edric who is also now a senior priest, we get to know life as a priest or priestess serving the Goddess and fighting demons and their Darkness with the Light of the Goddess.
This all sounds like a classic tale of good versus evil, if it was not only for all the shades of grey but also for all the other colours in the rainbow that show that life is never as straightforward as one wishes it to be perhaps.
Anaya meets demon Samael who has a very different view on the priesthood’s activities and the High Priest’s motives in ordering the slaughter of all demonkind. Anaya is devout to the cause, yet starts to question things progressively, the more often she meets Samael. Samael who keeps appearing and disappearing however the Darkness he wants, which is quite infuriating and made me wish more than once to kick some butt.
Besides these two, there are more characters that play important parts in the unravelling of the story, subplots and changes in POVs that are clearly marked so the reader never gets confused, which I find important when changing scenes, POVs and having time leaps within a chapter. Russell stirs these water excellently, however, so unless your brain doesn’t work at full capacity you will find it easy to follow the story and the different subplots and strands that weave together in the fabric of the story throughout the book.
Another thing I would like to point out that has particularly impressed me in terms of her writing skills and plotting are the fighting scenes. They are brilliantly crafted, precise, logical in their fluency of motion and never out of place. Keeping up accuracy while bringing the story forward at a rapid, urgent pace is something many authors have failed at and is, therefore, particularly noteworthy.
The third aspect that is worth mentioning in particular is the worldbuilding and concept of magic in this story. Fantasy stories can take a bad turn when info-dumping in the beginning to describe a world and set up the pictures in the reader’s mind. That can lead to overwhelm and overload on the reader’s part. I am happy to announce that this book deals with the matter in a refreshingly different way.
Descriptions are woven throughout the story and the images and information are built in the reader’s mind in a fluent and contextual manner that makes it easy to take in and enjoyable when one finds out yet another morsel of information about Russell’s brilliantly crafted and well thought-out fantasy world that can possibly most be likened to a sort of medieval setting with magic and demons.
Violence is graphic, sometimes gory without passing the line into the horrific (in my humble opinion), and the romantic scenes between adults, although quite innocent and slowburn, are nonetheless not fade to black. I would say, they are perfectly written for the context of a high epic fantasy novel. Romance has its rightful place as a couple of the subplots of this epic tale but doesn’t dominate the story, which keeps well in line with the genre.
Now to my personal experience of the book. I absolutely loved it! From the first page, I was drawn in, my mind leaving the mundane to firmly settle in Russell’s fantasy world. I fevered with the characters, read the narration out aloud to myself, stood, with book in hand, in the middle of the room, re-enacting the battle scenes and biting my nails at the folly of star-crossed lovers. I would message my friends who have already read this book about the events I was reading about, sharing my enthusiasm, my despair, even my tears.
Yes, I cried with Anaya and Edric, rejoiced with Vixen and clutched my heart with Eden and Lenda, an innocently sweet young couple whom you cannot help but love and wish to protect. They are so inherently good and pure of heart. I wanted to slap Edric upside the head a few times and kick the demon Samael’s behind several times as well. I don’t know how many messages I began with “OMG!”, having come to a twist I had not foreseen at all and the surprises kept coming!
The very last surprise, however, was the final sentence. It ended the story, yet at the same time, it felt somewhat like a cliffhanger, even though it wasn’t at all. So I snatched up Book 2, The Path of Salvation at once and read the prologue which had me in tears all over again right away. However, then I decided to better write this review first to observe the break in the story between books.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I crave to read more of this story, how thrilled and excited I am that all six volumes are on my shelf and waiting for me to work my way through them from cover to cover, spending sleepless nights yet again, because I just cannot put the books down, just like it happened with this one.
The love to detail in things, places but also people strikes just the right balance between beauty and overload, the author’s writing style adept in conveying urgency and speed as well as peace, slowness and tranquillity, as is required. Catrin Russell is not one of my two favourite fantasy authors for nothing. And for someone who usually gravitates towards contemporary romance or historical fiction, I might add that I am probably harder to please in this genre than a fantasy fan.
For all that, Russell’s skills in captivating her audience and making a story and characters, even an entire world come to life in a way that it literally tears me out of my seat to mock-fight and slay demons as well as read the story out loud to taste the story with all my senses, eyes, tongue and ears alike, is quite a feat. And she did it effortlessly. I am beyond impressed. But most of all, I am deeply grateful for such an amazing and exciting reading experience and the fact that I have five more books in this series to enjoy hereafter. Because let me assure you, this tale is epic!
Books by Catrin RussellThe Power of Conviction (Book 1)
The Path of Salvation (Book 2)
The Resurgence of Light (Book 3)
The Thousand Year Divide (Book 6)
A KINGDOM SCARRED SERIES
DARKNESS DIVIDED SERIES
Deathfall Wraith (Prequel 1)
Follow Catrin Russell on Social Media
Catrin Russell is a Fantasy and Romance author from northern Sweden. Her books are all written in English and are mainly part of the Epic and High Fantasy Genre. However, she does use influences from Dark Fantasy, and a touch of Fantasy Romance.
Growing up outside a small town, basically in the middle of nowhere, Catrin eventually moved to Stockholm, where she studied computer game development and design. Meeting her soon-to-become husband online, she lived outside of London for the best parts of a year, before finally settling down in Piteå, back in Sweden. Since then, three children and two dogs have joined the family.
With a background in design and holding a degree as a registered nurse, she writes novels in medieval settings, with plenty of action and romance. She often brings moral struggles, or highlights issues in society, into her writing. Another subject that is often highlighted is mental health.
Catrin also creates concept art, bringing her characters to life on the screen, and her own cover designs, much of which can be seen on her social media pages.
March 14, 2022
Earth's Angels (Earths Angels Trilogy #1, Adult Version) by Beth Worsdell
Imagine you fused Mary Poppins and Eliza Doolittle and set them amidst a scenery worse than described in ,The 2030 Spike (the PDF can be downloaded from the CIA website) and you will only begin to imagine what this book is all about. So fasten your seatbelts and sharpen your ears while I take you into a world of alien angels and evil extra-terrestrial monsters all fighting over Planet Earth.
At the center of this tale is human Mel, called Elita for a while before she remembers her true identity, who wakes up on a spacecraft manned by alien angels that have come to save her planet and any survivors. Nature and most humans have died after an ecological apocalypse and only a small amount of survivors could be saved. The angels clean up the planet with their advanced technology and use the surviving human women to carry animal babies for a while before the amniotic sack is removed from their bellies and stored in a kind of glass wall until they have grown enough to “be born” properly.
,EA,RTH'S ANGELS, the first book of the ,Earth’s Angels trilogy, is mainly setting the scene. But don’t think it is long-winded and boring. Far from it! After an initial description of the apocalyptic catastrophe, Mel awakes five years later and discovers the angel species, gets to know them and is reunited with her family once again. Even though there is an adult and a YA clean version of this trilogy (I have the adult version), I don’t think there is much difference, apart from a couple of F-bombs and very tasteful open-door romantic scenes between Mel and her husband James.
✨ Mel loves how loving the angels are, how they can calm down heated tempers and how they don’t have an ego but are driven by the desire to help, heal and sustain alone. Mel herself grows into the role of being the mother of a new nation, taking a leadership role in the new human community that lives on the spacecrafts with the angels.
That is what made me think of Mary Poppins from the musical of the same name and Eliza Doolittle from the musical My Fair Lady. She is loving, everything seems magical and the angel world is just “Loverly” (you might want to listen to that song, so look it up on YouTube).
Until it isn’t, that is. Because the evil race, the Marilians, whose planet the angels saved last, have decided to come down to earth to enslave the human race and make them their own by transferring their essence into them which turns them into evil monsters as well. Battle will be necessary and for once, the querulous nature of the humans is the saving grace as they pool skills and resources to train humans and angels alike in battle tactics and war strategies.
By the end of the first book, one Marilian has appeared and yet, this hideous, hateful creature is enough to give you the creeps! A confrontation and an unborn child with special powers result in a casualty and leave Mel distraught and it definitely left me panting for more!
What I love about this book is how the author describes the many emotions that in themselves play a central part to the story and her own developing special powers. The angels and Marilians are the proverbial opponents in a very black-and-white good-versus-evil contest with the humans right in the middle of it. It inspired me to think about how we have the highest and most noble traits within us but also the basest greedy and evil characteristics in the human race. A theme which, in times of the war in the Ukraine as I was reading this book, is even more highlighted.
It also shows us that we have a choice. Is the evil Marilian just killed when captured? No. Two wrongs don’t make a right. And the angels – and Mel – show more than once where the moral highground is in situations one could easily excuse the lesser alternatives as necessary and acting in self-defence. This wonderful, amazing book reminds us that we always have a choice. For the planet, for ourselves, our fellow human beings but also for other species, whether that be angels, Marilians, animals or plants.
And at the end of the book, there are practical tips given on how to live more green and reduce the strain of our own individual toxicity on the planet. This is what I love the most. Not only are the ecological consequences of our ruthless exploitation and pollution of our planet pointed out, there are also alternatives given on how to do it better.
That’s a very well-deserved five stars in my book! And get the trilogy for your children (the underage version), then discuss with them how you can live more environmentally friendly in your own household and lives.
Follow Beth Worsdell on Social Media,Twitter , Beth Worsdell
Beth is an English science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal adventure author. The first to publish books in adult and YA editions. Giving readers the choice between books, with naughty bits and language, or without.
Beth Writes about badass women. Strong female characters who will do whatever it takes to protect their families, friends, and humanity.
She is also the Founder-Host of The Witty Writers show which airs live from her Facebook author page. She interviews other authors, book bloggers, reviewers, and publishing professionals of all genres. Join in to ask questions and have fun with Beth and her guests.
Beth Worsdell is the first known author to publish novels in adult and YA editions, to help and encourage adults and teens to read together. While also giving adults the choice of books with or without adult scenes and language.
Beth Worsdell and her husband have been happily married for over 25 years, spending most of their married life in Portsmouth, England. When Beth and her husband had the opportunity to move to America in 2011, they jumped at the chance.
After five wonderful years of living in South Carolina, Beth had a weird dream which wouldn't leave her thoughts. So after moving to California and two more years of the dream popping into her thoughts, she decided to write it down. One chapter led to another, and Beth suddenly realized that she was writing a Novel. Before long, Earth's Angels was created, a novel full of badass women, action & adventure, humour, love, and magic.
Don't forget to follow Beth and Earth's Angels on Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram. Please show your support for Beth by inviting your friends to her social media pages, sharing her books, pages, and posts.
Send Beth a Book selfie with one of her books, ebook or paperback, to be featured on her social media and here on her website.
February 28, 2022
Unwrapping Card Decks: Keepers of the Light Oracle
WELCOME TO UNWRAPPING CARD DECKS, my Monday feature. Each week, I introduce you to one of my card decks, tarot and oracle cards, in a video, showing each individual card of a deck with my commentary. Enjoy!
Tirza xxx
This week, we look at the Keepers of the Light Oracle deck by Kyle Gray:
https://youtu.be/IDEdOL9YrxoPlease don't forget to like the video and subscribe to my ,channel!
For your personal reading, visit my ,services page and choose your preferred option.
February 20, 2022
Her Badass Bikers Character Cards: Lauren & Shylock
Name: Lauren & Shylock
Age: in their mid-40s
Occupation: Lauren is a professional cook and Shylock is an academic, married to each other and in a relationship with Beatrice.
Character: Lauren is very homely and pragmatic. She is happy to let Beatrice take the lead in the relationship and has a warm, welcoming nature. Shylock is a shy and introverted academic and beta. Both love Kalani who likes to cook with Lauren and nerd out with Shylock.
Watch Her Badass Bikers Book Trailer here!
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February 19, 2022
Her Badass Bikers Character Cards: Beatrice
Name: Beatrice
Age: 35
Occupation: Artist, Brady’s sister.
Character: Beatrice is an artist who mainly sculpts from metal. She is an alpha, in a committed polyamorous relationship with Lauren and Shylock and very masculine in her demeanour. She loves to teach her niece Kalani welding and similar handicrafts.
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February 18, 2022
Her Badass Bikers Character Cards: Kalani
Name: Kalani
Age: 14
Occupation: Brady’s daughter, pupil.
Character: Kalani is an intelligent and emotionally mature young lady who has lost her mother to cancer and her grandparents to prejudice and hatred. She nevertheless manages to find a positive outlook on life and is open and loving. Her dad and the members of the Makani MC adore her. She makes friends with Darryl who develops a giant crush on her.
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February 17, 2022
Her Badass Bikers Character Cards: Brady
Name: Brady
Age: 36
Occupation: Member of Honolulu SWAT, father of Kalani, widowed.
Character: Brady is a badass SWAT team member who is not only exceptional at his job but is also a great loving and loyal brother, father and friend. He is widowed and bisexual. Sparks are flying between him and Snubbs. His one great weakness was that he didn’t dare come out to his homophobe and tyrannical father and co-dependent, conservative mother. With Ava’s help, he learns to assert himself and stand up for himself to his parents.
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February 16, 2022
Her Badass Bikers Character Cards: Kaui
Name Kaui
Age: late 50s
Occupation: President of the Makani MC, hardcore criminal and murderer, father of Mace.
Character: Kaui is a narcissist psychopath who first comes across as a charming older man but then turns out to be a ruthless killer without remorse. He is only interested in his own gain and even jealous of his own son, Mace.
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February 15, 2022
Her Badass Bikers Character Cards: Diamond
Name: Diamond (Stage Name)
Age: her fake ID says 21
Occupation: Stripper at the Moonlight Bar strip club which belongs to the Makani MC.
Character: A happy and fun person who loves to make others laugh. She is in love with Snubbs and as she has been brought up without a role model instilling a moral compass in her, she pursues him, even though he is in a relationship with Ava who has been looking after Diamond during her injury and convalescence in hospital.
Watch Her Badass Bikers Book Trailer here!
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February 13, 2022
New Release: Her Badass Bikers
HER BADASS BIKERS is a contemporary standalone steamy MMMFMM reverse harem with over 112K words and a slight reverse age gap that has medium and slowburn elements, some humour and even though it's an overall feel-good read, it doesn't lack depth and dark elements. There are some unforeseen twists and turns, humour, elements of suspense and hot scenes that will make your panties go up in smoke.
The book centres around a mature woman in her early 40s who is building a relationship with four bikers from Hawaii's most infamous biker gang, the Makani MC in Honolulu.
Meet Jax, Liam, Mace and Snubbs, four badass younger men who are members of the Makani MC, throw in a psychopathic villain, a SWAT team at a hospital and two teenagers that keep everyone on their toes and you're just skimming the surface.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A contemporary reverse harem that swept me off my feet.
With bikers as badass as it gets, a lovely, smart and no-shit taking woman and an absolutely adorable 12 year old whom you can't help but love. Among others, that is. But I won't spoil and tell you more. For now.
- The Magic Book Corner, International Book Blogger
Editor: ,Dana’s Edits
Watch Her Badass Bikers Book Trailer here!
Watch Her Badass Bikers Book Trailer here!
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