Natalina Reis's Blog, page 7
December 31, 2023
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches-Review
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book made me so very happy. At the end I was just smiling like a fool.
The characters were well developed and both perfect and flawed, The story was beautifully human, celebrating the best of humankind and full of hope.
Like Mika says at the end, she might not be the witch that changed the world but she was taking some solid steps in that direction.
Lovely story, swoonworthy romance with just the right amount of spice, and peppered with humor to balance the darker issues raised throughout the plot. Absolutely recommend it.
A word about the performance of the audio book: flawless. Could not have asked for a more perfect reading. Thank you.
December 24, 2023
Sword Catcher – Book Review
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Cassandra Clare did it again and in a very different style than what she got us all used to. But her talent to develop amazing yet flawed characters who you can’t help but care about is still one of the many things that makes Clare one of my favorite writers.
The world she created is truly a masterpiece, reminiscent of epic fantasies I read a long time ago without some of the over description that sometimes goes along with it. The linguist in me absolutely loved the language-side of this world. The very slow-burn romance(s) is delicious and rings true.
I’m absolutely in love with Connor, Kel, Lin and Antonetta. I want more NOW!
If you hate cliffhangers you may want to wait for the sequel to come out because it definitely leaves you hanging in so many different ways.
Highly recommend it.
December 15, 2023
Once Upon a Broken Heart – Book Review
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I started listening to the audio book for Once Upon a Broken Heart upon the recommendation of a friend who was reading and loving it. I was a little hesitant at first because I had tried Caraval and just couldn’t get into it at the time, so I was afraid the same would happen with this one. But I’m glad I read it.
It reads very young but it’s a charming story in many ways. I admit I sometimes got tired of the main character’s naiveté which seemed excessive often, but the author managed to hook me and keep me interested for the whole story. I also was a little put off by the overly detailed descriptions of what everyone was wearing and furnishings but that’s something more to do with what I like to read and not so much anything against the book.
I do love Jax’ character and I’m so intrigued by him, I will most likely delve into the second in the series right away.
The book is a quick read but it does end in somewhat of a cliffhanger (more like things that are not yet solved and a new mystery of sorts), so be aware of that. But since the whole series is published that won’t be much of an issue.
All in all an entertaining story with a few surprises (I love being surprised in a story) and an interesting fairytale type world.
November 30, 2023
My Three-Year-Old Is a Barbarian – Blog Tour
Aaron Frale has a new queer LitRPG fantasy out (gay, gender fluid): My Three-Year-Old is a Barbarian and Other Parenting Problems. And there’s a giveaway.
Necromantic rituals, murderous ogres, battle-scarred rangers: not a typical Saturday detention for unsuspecting teaching assistant, Petra, and her delinquent teen charges.
The Beaverton High School Breakfast Club show up for what they thought would be cleaning the locker room with a toothbrush when the morning goes horribly wrong, and they fall victim to a deadly, dark spell.
Some jerkwad moon mage shoves the consciousness of Petra’s three-year-old into the body of a musclebound barbarian, and she is transformed into a halfling. The kids get stuck as a cleric, fire mage, and other stalwarts of your typical fantasy gaming party.
Now they must quest through a land of pissed-off warriors, angry giants, a pompous vampire, and a necromancer out to kill Petra and her child.
Despite being in a world where everything threatens to shuffle off her mortal coil, the hardest part is convincing a hulked-out man that the battle axe is not a toy, the undead are not cuddly, and he should use the potty.
Universal Buy Link | Goodreads
Giveaway
Aaron is giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card with this tour:
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Excerpt
Things to Do in Detention When You’re Dead
Beaverton High School, Mid-October
The final victim in the day that Instagram died was none other than ‘Baking’ Aiden himself, Petra’s favorite customer. The guy was a living stereotype. If the long hair and perpetually-worn Metallica T-shirt weren’t enough, the guy actually drove a VW minibus. The smell of pot wafted all the way to the front door of the school when he jumped out of his vehicle.
If the police needed to fill their minor-in-possession quota for the day, all they needed to do was follow him around. She briefly contemplated asking what Aiden had done to join the ranks of the Saturday-damned but realized any conversation would invite Urkel to join in. She dialed up her perpetual scowl and went for the front door to the school. However, it was locked, and TAs weren’t important enough for a key.
Before she could figure out what that meant for the students assembling, another car pulled up. It was her dad, Barry. The prick was in his convertible with the top down, and his girlfriend, who Petra could have sworn was going to the same community college as her, was in the front seat. Petra’s three-year-old was strapped in the back. She slung her backpack off and shoved it into Urkel’s hands.
“Okay, I’ll watch it for—” The kid’s voice trailed off as she stomped over to her father.
“What the hell are you doing, Dad?!”
“Your mother didn’t tell you?” Barry asked. “Bets and I are going to rent a cabin for the weekend.”
“No, I’m talking about Jonathan!” She screamed and pointed to the kid in the back seat. “You don’t drive with your top down with a kid in the back!”
Her father laughed. “What? He likes it!”
Petra scrambled to remove her son from the car seat. Even though she felt way too young to be the mother of a toddler, she sometimes felt more responsible than her own father. Her dad was an idiot with an idiot girlfriend who always tried to act like the cool mother despite being the same age as his daughter.
“He’s a three-year-old boy. Little boys need to laugh,” Beatty ‘Stupidsalot’ (Schneider) said, but Petra ignored her.
As soon as Jonathan was safely in her arms and the diaper bag slung over her shoulder, her dad revved the engine.
“You make sure you feed that boy properly and get him his nap. Got to go. Check-in’s at 3,” he said, before speeding off.
“I guess you’re not picking us up afterwards.” She added under her breath. “Whatever, dick.”
“Dick!” Jonathan said and giggled like he had uttered the funniest thing ever.
“Don’t you say that,” Petra scolded her child.
“Dick! Dick! Dick!” Jonathan said over and over, laughing with glee.
“That’s going to make Great-grandma Petra very sad. You don’t want to make her sad, do you?” Petra said, as she brought her kid towards the door. If it weren’t for her namesake grandma, Petra didn’t know what she would have done when she had gotten pregnant. She was lucky that nothing seemed to stop the woman. She was a babysitting machine even at 85 and had practically raised Jonathan from birth.
The worst part about being a mother with no financial stability because the school system paid TAs like serfs toiling the land was that Petra’s actual parents were useless at parenting. Her mom always had her laptop on and wouldn’t notice if the climbing-obsessed toddler had scaled to the top of the fridge (which he had on more than one occasion). Her dad wasn’t reliable either because he was more concerned with the things a college student should be concerned about, like partying and driving fast cars. That left Grandma Petra, who was happy to watch the kid when Petra went out with her friends. (Which didn’t even involve any drugs or alcohol, even though she had masterminded the scheme that facilitated the buying and selling of it. Her outings were more to feel normal for an hour or two).
The bottom line was that even though Petra would sell a bag of weed here and there and give her middle finger to the authorities whenever she could, at the end of the day, she knew it wouldn’t be forever. Her grandmother would be dead, and the only person in the world at that point who would give a crap about Jonathan would be herself. That was the thought that kept her up at night.
By the time she got up to the group assembled at the school’s front door, they were already talking about going home for the day. Jack grabbed the door handle and attempted to muscle it open. When it wouldn’t budge, he turned to the others and said, “Oh, well, fifteen-minute rule. Right?”
“I don’t think that’s a thing,” Urkel ventured.
Sissy said, in her high-pitched nasally voice, “Come on, Jack. Let’s go. We’re missing the game.”
Petra rolled her eyes and said, “Everyone, just chill out. You obviously don’t know how this works. You cut Saturday detention, and that’s two more Saturdays for you and maybe another for speaking out of turn. Just enjoy the fact that we get to spend it outside on the grass, because the clock is already ticking.”
“That’s right,” Mr. Jackson said from the threshold of the school, startling all of them. He must have come from inside while they weren’t paying attention. While the guy was a good-looking twenty-something with longish brown hair and thick hipster glasses, there was something off about him. He looked as if One Direction had to kick one of the members out of the band for being a serial killer.
Usually, Petra would be Hot for Teacher, but there was something a little too intense about his personality. Maybe it was the way he always seemed to be staring into the distance or how he’d sometimes seem to talk to someone who wasn’t there when he was alone in his room. Regardless, he was disconcerting, at least to Petra. The dumb girls had a crush on him. She was so glad to be outta this place, well kinda. But at least she could quit the job when something better came along.
That didn’t stop her from attempting to get out of her obligation.
“Mr. Jackson,” she said, while he ushered them into the building, “as you can see, I could not secure daycare. Do you really need a TA for today?”
Mr. Jackson ignored her. He slammed the door behind them, and Sissy jumped. He strode forward, not even bothering to turn on the lights to the school and led them down a dark hallway. Nothing but emergency lighting illuminated the way.
“Maybe this is a good opportunity to teach your son about responsibility, Miss Zaslavsky,” Mr. Jackson said over his shoulder.
Petra gave him the middle finger, and Jonathan did the same while shouting with excitement. The others laughed while she tried to get her son to perform some other hand gesture. Mr. Jackson didn’t seem to notice or care. He brought them further into the building until he stopped at the basement stairs.
“Can’t we just clean a classroom or something?” Sissy squealed. “There are spiders down there!”
“The custodial staff keeps this place quite clean and pest-free,” Mr. Jackson said. “Now, I need you to help me with a little project. It will take an hour of your time, tops. Then you’ll be free to go.”
“But Principal Sokol said it would be six hours!” Urkel said, and Jack kicked him. Petra was pissed too. An hour of pay wasn’t even worth the gas. Not that she paid for her own gas or had driven her own car. However, something wasn’t right, and she’d be happy to leave as soon as possible.
“I know what the principal said, but it’s my prerogative to administer punishment as I see fit,” Mr. Jackson said.
“What does this project involve?” Petra asked warily.
“Nothing,” Mr. Jackson replied. “You’ll just need to sit there.”
“Dude!” ‘Baking’ Aiden exclaimed. “Sign me up!”
The others nodded in agreement. Petra didn’t like it, but she didn’t really have a choice. It was either go in a basement with a psycho teacher or spend the following Saturday with Coach ‘Justice’ (Justin). His detentions always involved toothbrushes and locker room floors and the TAs always got stuck with bucket duty. At least there was safety in numbers. If Mr. ‘Jack-off’ pulled out a butcher knife, she could throw Urkel in the way and get to safety.
Mr. Jackson smiled in that weird staring-into-the-void way and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
That was precisely why she was worried.
Author Bio
Good times and hope for a better future. Maybe some fun time travel adventures or interdimensional travelers. A toddler stuck in a barbarian and his mom in a halfling. “Comedy and” is my jam. When not writing, I can be found teaching, podcasting Aaron’s Horror Show, and screaming while playing guitar for the band Spiral. Life has brought my wife, myself, and my son to Montana, where we reside at the moment.
November 20, 2023
Legends & Lattes – Book Review
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was just the story I didn’t know I needed. What a concept: cozy fantasy.
Despite it’s mild facade Legends & Lattes actually deals with some very interesting and serious issues such as self-acceptance, the power of kindness and love, and the breaking of some very solidly set stereotypes. I loved that the whole story seems to fight against the common concept of strength. Here the orc wants nothing to do with violence and the succubus refuses to use her powers. Instead they resolve most problems with a wonderful mug of coffee and a tasty pastry. Can’t beat that.
Between Thimble, Cal, Tendri, Viv, the old Gnome who plays chess with himself, and the dire cat, Amity there are no lack of great, well-developed, and whimsical characters to make you smile.
I listened to the audio book read by the author himself and it just hit the spot. Highly, highly recommend it.
November 13, 2023
Mu; Legend of a Lost City
M.D. Neu has a new MM sci-fantasy mystery out: Mu; Legend of a Lost City.
For years, the whispers and legends of a lost city hiding in the Pacific Ocean were just that; legend. On the day Kaimi discovers his parents, the Queen and King of Mu, murdered, Mu’s most powerful weapon fired, sending a pulse rushing towards the North American west coast.
After the 2025 Great Pacific Pulse Event, or Pulse, vomited up much of humankind’s trash in the Pacific Ocean along the North American west coast. The mysterious occurrence causing the largest environmental disaster in human history, people are no longer certain there is nothing concealed in the depths of the ocean.
Scientist Karen Linn and billionaire investor Michael Donovan want to find out what actually happened that day five years ago. Will Michael’s life in the adult entertainment industry and Karen’s moniker in pseudoscience keep them as social pariahs, or are they on the cusp of finding a civilization that has been kept out of our grasp, deep in the world’s largest ocean? How does the event from five years ago tie into the murder of the Queen and King of Mu?
What lies under the sea may be bigger than anyone can imagine, and neither civilization may be ready for the truth.
Universal Buy Link | GoodreadsGiveaway
Marvin is giving an ebook of Volaria to three different winners:
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47302/
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Five years ago.
The dripping crimson on his hands contrasted the polished blue stone floors in front of him. Iron permeated around him, the scent made him want to vomit. But he couldn’t leave or move, he was frozen by pain and action. Soft warm light from the energy crystals reflected off the walls and floor, filling the space with a bright, cheerful glow, reminding Kaimi of all the wonderful memories this chamber held for him. The birth of each of his younger siblings. The day he introduced Makani to his family, followed by the celebration of their marriage two years later. Watching as Nohealani and Malo were joined in the presence of their gods. Seeing each of their children brought forth and presented to the family and the gods upon their births.
So much joy. Now this.
A burble of air. A cough. A gasp of pain forced him to see what lay before him.
“Help!” His voice yelled out.
Everything sparkled in those memories, but now the red slowly muted not only the bright glow of the veins running through the floors but also his pristine white shirt. From this day forward, the crimson liquid and the pungent fragrance of death would taint each of his happy memories.
More memories pushed forward, forcing out what stretched before him. Kaimi witnessed the day Kai Malina received the gift of sight from the gods of Mu, and was welcomed by Mana Lani into the arms of the world of Spiritual healers and Māhū. Something Kaimi didn’t fully believe in, well, not as much as he did when he was younger, but everyone had been pleased. Even he found himself excited. Past images of joy played out in his mind. The music, the fire dancing, the tumblers and dancers, the fragrances of meats for the prepared feast. So much elation that day.
How had Mana Lani or Kai Malina not seen this coming? They are gifted with foresight. They are the Māhū. Perhaps they only see what suits them.
“No.” Kaimi whispered. “Please, someone.” His voice called out again. “Help!” He bellowed.
More family memories rushed as his mind continued to process the scene. The recollections of Nohealani, Ulani, Koa, Kai Malnia, and him running around when court wasn’t in session. Were they all there? He was barely more than thirteen, too old to play with the babies, but somehow, they had managed to engage him. How many times did he and Nohealani have to usher their younger siblings off to bed, or back to bed, after sneaking out of their sleeping chambers only to find them playing here?
A growing collection of scarlet pooled closer to him. Pouring from her body, the thick fluid marred the sparkle of her dress, crystals handstitched into the gown to reflect not only the light of the kingdom, but the light of her soul.
This can’t be happening. How did this happen? Who would do…
Troubling recent memories leaked into his mind as more crimson oozed through his fingers, even though his hands remained firmly in place. Rust continued to overpower every other scent around him. The disagreements about how and if to engage the above worlders. The concerns and potential for discovery by those who live in the sun. Koa arguing with both the Queen and King about how encounters with those above would be the end of them and their world here in Mu. The Queen believing now the time had come to reveal themselves, hoping their presence to be a positive influence on the world above.
“We can help them. Teach them.” She pointed to the ceiling. “We have so much to offer each other. Our worlds have been separated for too long.”
However, when challenged and asked, neither Kai Malina nor Mana Lani were able to interrupt what the Gods had to say on the matter. He wasn’t sure what their gods would say, assuming they commented at all. But if the Queen believed in joining the world above, who was he to argue the point? The rest of his siblings offered what he hoped to be agreement.
Well, not all. They didn’t argue in public, but in private we spoke freely with each other, even loudly when the need arose.
I need assistants.” Kaimi called out, pleading with each word.
In the distance, the splashing of the tide pools outside the windows past the royal gardens filled his ears. Or were the sounds only his recollection bringing the noises to him? So many memories. Now this.—so much pain.—He peered over to the jeweled ornate windows, each crystal pane hand carved to reflect as much light as possible, while bringing the scenes of the world they once occupied to life with movement. Small shells from the creatures who filled the tide pools adding to the created images. A small breeze pushed the smells of water through the slightly opened windows, riding the air as more light shone through. The warmth on his skin and the taste of the salt water from the tide pools on his lips tingled all the way to his soul. He wished to be down there now, walking with Makani hand-in-hand, not here.
The blaring of sirens rang out, calling him from his thoughts, the piercing sound canceling out his calls for help. The puddles of red expanded around his knees and feet, beginning to soak his sarong.
A gift from Makani now ruined.
Kaimi forced himself to focus, his hands covered the wound before him. He glared up. As if seeing Koa for the first time. Koa stood over the body of the King on the floor. Koa stood and glanced down, offering no help. Red droplets on his white shirt and tan sarong created a similar pattern as the light crystals shown down on the kingdom when the light cycle recharged. At night, the crystals patterns were beautiful. Here, on Koa, the image made his stomach turn. Koa stayed quiet as he continued to hold the crystal pike in his hand.
Just as I found you. What happened? Why?
“Why?” Kaimi adjusted the pressure on the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood. The chest of the Queen raised and lowered slowly, but the inhalations were becoming much more irregular. He forced his stare up at Koa, his eyes moving from the weapon in his hands to the bodies on the palace floor.
“I… It…” Koa backed away, dropping the weapon to the ground, the clatter almost as loud as the siren still screeching to every corner of the palace, if not beyond. His head shook as he stared at his hands.
The main doors of the chamber burst open. “Koa!” A female voice called.
Upon hearing the doors, Koa made for the rear of the chamber.
“No!” Kaimi called out, wanting to rush after him, but if he did, there would be no one to care for the Queen or the King.
Author Bio
M.D. Neu is an international award-winning inclusive queer Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to Science Fiction and Paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alice Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.
Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.
When M.D. Neu isn’t writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric his husband of twenty plus years.
Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com)
October 30, 2023
The Secret Journal – Book Review
The Secret Journal by Otto Schafer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a mixed review and may contain spoilers.
First, the good stuff.
The story was interesting, involving archeology and old mysteries (always a winner with me) that weaved together into more mysteries. This part of the story really had me hooked and kept me reading even when other things in the book made me cringe a bit.
Now, the not-so-good stuff.
First, the author often makes the rookie mistake of mixing up POVs. One minute we’re in one character’s head and the next, boom! we’re in another’s. It’s not a huge deal because the story was exciting enough to keep me reading but still, something to be more careful of in following books.
Second, the lecturing was often too much. It felt as if the characters had stopped doing whatever they were doing and decided to lecture each other on the subject. The information, however interesting and/or necessary for the story, could have been spread out and delivered better.
I thought the plot twist or the big reveal at the end did not jive with the rest of the story. For the whole book I was kind of expecting some more scientific explanation (albeit with magical undertones) since the whole archeological setup was pretty accurate for the most part. But then we are hit with an extraterrestrial species of immortals who want to create an army by procreating with humans??? Sorry, it just sounded way too far-fetched even for this fantasy and sci-fi lover.
The worst part I think was the ending. Not because of the cliffhanger which I get considering it’s a series, but because of the extremely long and somewhat repetitive lecture/speech given by the Martial Arts teacher while levitating. It was a huge info dump that totally took me out of the story and ruined it for me. I ended up skimming through the last chapter just to get it over with.
There were quite a few times when the characters would go into some totally off-topic spiel, taking the reader out of the story. An example: at one point Breanne is urgently looking for Garrett, but the scene stops to recall a time when she went into a store and had the well-meaning clerk ask her about her braids which made her feel uncomfortable. Good information about her, but just out of place.
All in all an entertaining story with some flaws. I just hope the author cleans out some of his writing. More is not always a good thing.
Rise – Blog Tour
Queer Sci Fi has a new flash fiction anthology out: Rise. And there’s a giveaway.
RISE (Noun, Verb)
Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:
An upward slope or movementA beginning or originAn increase in amount or numberAn angry reactionTo take up armsTo return from deathTo become heartened or elatedTo exert oneself to meet a challengeRise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
About the Series
Every year, Queer Sci Fi runs a one-word theme contest for 300 word flash fiction stories, and then we choose 120 of the best for our annual anthology.
Publisher | Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Google Play | Kobo | Scribd | Smashwords | Thalia | Vivlio | Goodreads | Universal Buy LinkGiveaway
Queer Sci Fi is giving away a $25 Bookshop.org gift card with this tour:
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Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47301/
Excerpts
It’s a simple recipe.
Passed down in whispers and hands tracing hands through flour and faith. Never written down, paper being too precious for such a small spell, some might say. Like something must be loud to have worth.
A common myth, one that serves her quiet magic well.
She sits pretty in commonhalls and houses, empty eye-sockets and a cloak of harmless charm enough for most to dismiss her. Certainly, her weaving or kneading is all her pretty head can handle.
She listens, and her hands move. Each stitch another secret, gossip kneaded into every loaf.
—From Simple Recipes for Small Magics – Ziggy Schutz
It wasn’t the principles that Matt Harden objected to. The principles were fine: Limited planetary resources. Circle of life. The wrongness of playing God.
But, he thought as he spread the herbs on the basement floor in the prescribed way, the principles were bullshit when you were faced with reality. When the only man who’d ever held your heart was stolen from you by a moment’s distraction behind the wheel. When you never had the chance to even say goodbye. When your body in bed was as cold and alone as a corpse in a coffin.
When the night mist was clammy on your neck and the grave-dirt heavy on your shovel.
—From Principle and Reality – Kim Fielding
“He’s here,” Matt said, slamming the door behind him. “You ready?”
“Think so,” Rory said. He’d finished the salt circle, and quickly moved on to placing the candle in the center.
“Will this work?”
“It’s this or nothing.” Once Tiff told them she’d survived a run in with the killer known as The Hook, Rory knew they were as good as dead. Supposedly this bastard had been killed before, but he never seemed to stop. Much about The Hook seemed unreal, but Rory thought it was the only weapon they had – the unbelievable. Besides, they were gay; those characters always died first.
From Best Served Cold – Andrea Speed
“You do realize,” the nurse said gravely, “that without your parent permission form, this procedure can only be temporary.”
“I do,” Sharon said nervously. Sharon. That was a good name, right? Sounded like Shawn, but wasn’t. Was a girl’s name. A woman’s name. She liked Sharon.
“And that given your parent’s lack of support for this, there will be a counselor assigned to your home to ensure your safety?” The nurse continued, checking the talking points on her tablet with precision.
“I won’t need it,” Sharon said nervously. “They think it’s a phase, but they’re not, you know, hostile.”
From A New Day – Amy Lane
Author Bio
This year, 554 authors entered the Rise contest. 120 of them were chosen, and their stories are included in this anthology:
Jordan AbronsonAisling AlvarezCJ AraloreEllery ArdenAnusha AsimK. AtenDrew BakerJeff BakerEvelyn BenvieEytan BernsteinL. R. BradenSorren BriarwoodKayleen BurdineSiri CaldwellSonja Seren CalhounJennifer CaracappaT. D. CarlsonCaroMinerva CerridwenAmanda CherryDawn Spina CouperMonique CuillerierLynden DaleyClaire DavonEf DealFrancine DeCareyNicole DennisSarah DoebereinerKellie DohertyAllan Dyen-ShapiroMarkus McCann EdgetteKim FieldingTom FolskeAthena FosterAni FoxBeáta FülöpJendia GammonStorm GrantChad GraysonGabbi GreyKaje HarperNarrelle M. HarrisKelly HaworthChisto HealyMegan HipplerJoanna Michal HoytGrace HudsonMeghan HylandJeff JacobsonErin JamiesonW. Dale JordanAdrik KempOlivia KemperJamie LackeyAidee LadnierAmy LaneTris LawrenceBrenda LeeKatrina LemaireGordon LinznerJayne LockwoodClare LondonNathan Alling LongPatricia LoofbourrowJ.C. LoveroIlyas M.Stacey MahunaPaula McGrathAtlin MerrickAmanda MeuwissenEloreen MoonJaime MunnRJ MustafaOliver NashAnnika NeukirchJess NevinsRory Ni CoileainK.L. NooneMilo OwenChris PanatierJ PiperNia QuinnMere RainD.M. RaschKazy ReedLS ReinholtAlexei Madeleine ReynerEmerian RichRie Sheridan RoseAnna RuedenCurtis RuedenCarol RylesJamie SandsRodello SantosSumiko SaulsonAradhya SaxenaZiggy SchutzC.J. ScottAlex SilverRoxanne SkellysparksAndrea SpeedChloe SpencerRobin SpringerAndrea StanetNathaniel TaffO.E. TearmannTori ThompsonGeorge UnderwoodAvery VanderlyleJoz VarloDawn VogelRhian WallerDean WellsDevon WidmerB WilkinsHolli Rebecca WilliamsPaul WilsonX. Ho YenJamie Zaccaria
October 28, 2023
Faytte – New Release
Tim Rayborn has a new queer fantasy book out, Qwyrk tales book 4: Faytte. And there’s a giveaway.
As Halloween draws near, Qwyrk and company are abruptly reminded of just how screwed-up everything can get. Qwyrk and Holly are literally being driven apart by magical forces they don’t understand, and their friends are in disarray.
Then Holly goes missing and Qwyrk loses something else that’s almost as important, while the behind-the-scenes scheming and shenanigans come to the fore at last. And who is the mysterious, ancient figure in red that seems to know all and see all, but annoyingly, won’t talk about it?
Traitors abound, old friends return, sides will be picked, and the final battle between good and evil will rage. To stop the actual end of the world from happening, Qwyrk might have to make a decision that will change her life forever.
Faytte is the final book in a series of four novels about the comic misadventures of a group of misfits at the edge of normal reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties in a bakery, a mysterious key, every monster you can imagine, an abundance of sarcasm, and the answers to all the questions. Oh, and Qwyrk is going to definitively prove that she’s not a bloody elf; they’re just silly!
About the Series
Join the adventures of a group of misfits at the edge of reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties, sorcery, witchy magic, philosophical speculation, every monster under the moon, an abundance of sarcasm, and even elves… though they are a bit silly.
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Excerpt
Jilly was skeptical. And grumpy. Skrumpy? In any case, having watched her friends abscond to various places without giving her any details was more than just annoying; it felt rather like a betrayal.
“It’s like they don’t even trust me. Now that I’m learning all about witchery and can finally hold my own, they don’t even want me around anymore. Yeah, really nice, thanks everyone.” She brooded. “Oh, calm down, Jilly, it’s not like they haven’t done rubbish like this before, and there’s always been a good reason for it. And they’ve let you know when the time was right. It’s probably just that again.”
But something about Blip’s behavior in particular bothered her, nagged at her. It had been going on for too long, and he was not one to be secretive. As she sat stewing over it, a thought came to her.
“What if I could spy on him? Check out where he’s going without him realizing? I wonder.” She peered out the living room window across the street. Granny wasn’t home as usual, but Jilly had complete run of her house while she was away. She checked the time: 8:00 pm.
“Mum and dad aren’t going to be home until at least ten, so that only gives me a couple of hours to go on over and poke around. Unless, what if…”
She went back upstairs to her room and found a small book she’d been reading recently: Fludd’s Phenomenal Grimoire of Useful and Slightly Annoying Enchanted Distractions. Leafing through it, she found the page she’d recalled, in a section about how to divert attention from oneself.
“Here it is, brilliant!”
She noted a simple little apotropaism to buy her some more time away at Granny’s. Speaking the two-line spell, she waited just a short while, and sure enough, the sound of mild snoring began to drift through the bedroom. She smiled, satisfied.
“With the light off, they’ll never even think to check in on me! Still, better pile up a few pillows under the duvet, just to be sure.”
Once she’d created a convincing snoring dummy of cushions, she turned out the light and shut the door. Going back downstairs, she grabbed her coat, and hopped off to Granny’s for a good evening’s snooping.
Author Bio
Tim Rayborn has written a rather ridiculous number of books over the past several years (about fifty!). He lived in England for quite some time and has a PhD from the University of Leeds, which he likes to pretend means that he knows what he’s talking about. His generous output of written material covers such diverse topics as music, the arts, history, the strange and bizarre, fantasy and sci-fi, and general knowledge. He’s already planning on writing more books, whether anyone wants him to or not.
He’s also an internationally acclaimed musician. He plays dozens of unusual instruments that quite a few people of have never heard of and often can’t pronounce, including medieval instrument reconstructions and folk instruments from Northern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East.
He has appeared on over forty recordings, and his musical wan- derings and tours have taken him across the US, all over Europe, to Canada and Australia, and to such romantic locations as Marrakech, Istanbul, Renaissance chateaux, medieval Italian hill towns, and high school gymnasiums.
He currently lives in Washington State, surrounded by many books and instruments, as well as with a sometimes-demanding cat. He is rather enthusiastic about good wines and cooking excellent food.
Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com)
October 23, 2023
Stardust in Their Veins – Book Review
Stardust in Their Veins by Laura Sebastian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I can’t tell you how much I love this series. Laura Sebastian has created a truly original story centered around the triplet sisters and their conniving royal mother. The world building is fabulous, the magic intriguing, and the writing is great.
In this story there are no helpless or hopeless princesses and there aren’t many happy ever afters (even though I’m kind of hoping for one at the end of book three) but their character arcs (and also those of quite a few side characters) are well developed and believable.
I started book 1 seriously disliking the sisters and I am loving them now.
Highly, highly recommend it for any fantasy lover.
