Sage Nestler's Blog, page 55
October 22, 2016
Tomoiya’s Story: Escape to Darkness by C.A. King
Title: Tomoiya’s Story: Escape to Darkness
Author: C.A. King
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
From the Author of The Portal Prophecies books, comes the anticipated new series: Tomoiya’s Story.
This series is the perfect addition to any Vampire fan’s collection.
Space travel. To some it is an advancement; a way to meet new races, learn new traditions; explore new cultures – a chance to expand the mind with knowledge of the unknown. To others, it is nothing more than a new outlet of resources to exploit and destroy. To the naive and trusting it is a recipe for disaster. The question of whether or not venturing into the realm of the stars is worthwhile, is a topic that will be argued for generations to come.
The Universe – vast and never ending. It recycles within itself. What happened before comes full circle and occurs again. Some call it fate – others destiny.
Two different ages – Two vampire princesses.
Two stories – one written in a book – the other about to begin.
Escape To Darkness tells the tale of Allaynie, a vampire whose tears are worth a fortune. A chance meeting on her wedding day changes her whole existence.
and
Woden, a man to whom greed is merely good business. Hunting is his trade. He’ll do anything to collect her unique tears for profit, even chase her into darkness.
This novella explores an alternate explanation for the myths and legends that surround modern day Vampires and can be read as a stand alone story.
Review:
C.A. King is the master of imagination. Both Tomoiya’s Story: Escape to Darkness and her series, The Portal Prophecies, are highly original and are incomparable to any other literary works. Tomoiya’s Story is easily one of my new favorite series, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the installments once they are released.
The best part about King’s writing is that she knows how to transport the reader into her world, and she doesn’t make the reader feel as though they are an outsider. Her carefully crafted words made the story spring to life, and I ripped through this novel within a day. King took the somewhat overused concept of the vampire and turned it into something all her own. In this day and age it is hard to write a vampire novel without having it sound like a story that has already been done, but King gave this story life and she made it fly. She took vampires and turned them on their head by creating her own myths, and her ideas can clearly become classics in the near future. I was overjoyed by her fresh take on this mystical being, and her story did not disappoint.
King used a descriptive form of writing that is not easy to find anymore, and I fell in love with the way that she created artistic wording. One of my favorite quotes from her novel is as follows:
“The corners of his slightly parted lips pushed upwards forming a rather unnerving smile.”
Her descriptions made her characters come alive, and I felt as though they were in the room with me as I read.
If you are looking for a new vampire novel that is nothing like anything else in its genre, then I highly suggest Tomoiya’s Story: Escape to Darkness. It has made me believe in the vampire genre once again.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
October 21, 2016
Mind Reader (Book 1) by Katrina Kahler
Title: Mind Reader (Book 1)
Author: Katrina Kahler
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Emmie is a 12 year old girl who has a special talent. Her mom calls it a gift but Emmie does not agree. Being a mind reader is not at all what it’s made out to be and Emmie constantly finds herself in trouble. The girls at school think she’s creepy and try to avoid her. This leads to an ongoing change of schools and a struggle to make friends, leaving Emmie feeling lonelier than ever. However, when Emmie and her mom decide to move to Carindale, Emmie happens to meet a girl called Millie Spencer and everything changes.
Emmie has never had a best friend before and feels that finally her life has turned in a positive direction. Meeting Millie’s friend, Jack adds to the excitement, especially when she realizes he is someone she cannot stop thinking about. Then some strange events take place and when Millie’s old friend, Julia Jones makes an unexpected visit, Emmie’s world turns upside down.
Can she use her mind reading abilities to help her or will she find herself in more trouble than ever before?
If you enjoyed Julia Jones’ Diary then Mind Reader is another series that you will love. This exciting book for girls is filled with unexpected plot twists and turns, drama, romance, boy crushes, friendship issues and much, much more. It will hook you in from beginning to end and is sure to become a new favorite!
Review:
Katrina Kahler is a very talented children’s author. She knows how to write for different age groups, and it was clear to me that she knew her audience. Usually when I read children’s books I feel as though they are talking down to the reader and dumbed down for understanding, but Kahler had more faith in her readers. She clearly knows what 9 – 12 year olds want in a novel, and she gave it to them.
Our main character, Emmie, is your classic, unsure 12 year old, despite the fact that she can read minds. She is cast out from the other students due to her abilities, and she ends up having to change schools because of the trouble she finds herself in.
Unfortunately, changing schools cannot solve all of Emmie’s problems. Being a mind reader is not something that you see in your average 12 year old, and she constantly feels like she has to hide who she is, and what her talents are.
Even though I am an adult, I could feel myself relating to Emmie. She has a magnificent talent, but she can’t tell the world because of the ridicule that would follow. We all have something about us that some people may not like, but unlike Emmie, some of these things we cannot hide. We all experience ridicule in one form or another, and Kahler did a great thing by writing this book and making children aware that not everyone might understand them or like them. Mind Reader is a great book to teach your child to love themselves and not feel bad about themselves based on what other people say or think, and I actually was very intrigued by this story. I think that both boys and girls could benefit from this novel, and I applaud Kahler for touching on such a sensitive topic.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
October 20, 2016
Author Spotlight: Janette Fuller
Today’s author spotlight is on the talented Janette Fuller! Her new book, Transgression, releases today and I am so excited to be able to share her work with you!
Agent Yagil faces the fight of his calling as a Guardian Angel. His newest assignment is going to take every bit of perseverance and patience he has.
Seventeen-year-old Amber Reynolds is looking for some freedom and independence from her rigid lifestyle. Going behind her parents’ back, she takes a part-time job at the renowned inn located within Ambrosial Acres.
As Agent Yagil watches over Amber, he discovers things are not what they seem. Despite its wondrous beauty, Ambrosial Acres hides a dark and supernatural secret.
Between Amber’s new coworker crushes, her menacing stalker, a mysterious online stranger, and the evil agents out to lead her down a path of self destruction, Agent Yagil struggles to keep her safe. To keep her from using her freewill that will bring harm to herself—and others.
Will Agent Yagil succeed? Or will his shortcomings get in the way?
About the Author
Jannette loves spending time with God and her family. She’s a fangirl of everything lovely, and always tries to see the best in everyone, except for the villains in her YA series (Ambrosial Acres).
When not blogging or writing her latest article, she watches Maco Mermaids on Netflix, sweating away unwanted calories. She’s a bit of a neat freak, too. Her home always sparkles. But her daily walks through the enchanted forest is one of her favorite pastimes.
There’s more to be said, but then her bio would end up being a memoir.
Author Links:
Website:
http://www.jannettefuller.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jannettef.fuller/
Twitter:
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/jannettefuller/
Google +
https://plus.google.com/u/0/110070481675946410266
October 18, 2016
Behind Broken Glass Walls Teaser #1
Hello, Everyone!
It is getting closer and closer to November, and that means that it is getting closer and closer to my novel, “Behind Broken Glass Walls”, being released! It will release on November 1, and I wanted to celebrate by posting three teasers in the next couple of weeks. Enjoy, and thank you for all of your support!
Please also feel free to ask me any questions that you may have in the comments
October 17, 2016
Review: Book Bath Box – Fall (October) Box
Book Bath Box is a bookish subscription box that focuses on reading in the bath. Since my favorite time to read is in the bath, I just couldn’t wait to receive this box. Book Bath Box is quarterly, which means that it ships 4 times a year and in the months of January, April, July and October. The boxes generally line up with the seasons.
Each box comes with a book, a bath product, and 3 or so extras to help set the mood. Sometimes the extra items do include food, so there is a place for you to list any dietary restrictions when you check out. Since I have Celiac Disease and extreme dairy sensitivity I can’t do gluten or dairy, so Winx, the owner, was very receptive to those needs. I have not found a non-food box that takes such care in making sure that allergies are taken into consideration, and that alone made this box a huge winner for me.
But perhaps one of the biggest perks of this box is that it includes FREE SHIPPING in the United States! Since the box itself is $39.99, this makes subscribing more than worth it. And believe me, once I received my first box I knew that I would not be cancelling any time soon. The books included are adult fiction and generally fall under the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres, which is perfectly fine with me.
Fall (October) Box Adventure
Now, you are probably saying, “enough with the talk, let’s get to the stuff”! Okay, okay, I get the hint. Here we go…
Book Bath Box comes in a plain white box with a sticker featuring Book Bath Box’s logo on the front. I like how simple the packaging is, and it definitely fit everything perfectly.
Once inside, a few information cards are included. There is one business card featuring information on Book Bath Box, a list of everything included, and a tip card that tells you how you can receive discounts on future boxes, or how to read safely in the tub.
The bath item for this box was an adorable “library bag” of bath salts from Tea Soap Books. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeaSoapBooks
The salts smell of green tea and bergamot, and I seriously cannot stop smelling this adorable little bag!
The next item, which is one of the extra items, is a tin of Dragon’s Dream Tea by Aun-Juli Riddle at Adagio Teas. http://www.adagio.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw7ZHABRCTr_DV4_ejvgQSJACr-Ycw1sz3yUdVUbaTS9c_e0W3u6o5LDTwWBFf6-rmYdfElxoCFUrw_wcB
I absolutely love Adagio Teas because they have many different variations of tea that relate to different fandoms, movies, or books. I am also a huge fan of tea, so this delightful little mix of green chai, assam melody and cinnamon won’t be lasting long! A cup of this will go perfectly with the bath salts as I read in the tub.
The next extra item was also supposed to be a couple of Pumpkin Truffles by Moonstruck Coffee Company: http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw7ZHABRCTr_DV4_ejvgQSJACr-YcwKKKWoYTpNm84Fql3Tgey5vFuKJHJAZmv8AtPCIbmxBoCo5Hw_wcB
These truffles were linked to the book specifically, but because of my allergies I was given a couple of dark chocolate covered orange peels that just look delightful! There was also a note explaining why I received these chocolates, and it verified that they are indeed gluten free and vegan. I was very impressed with this careful curation.
And the last, and possibly most important, item in the box was the book Asteroid Made of Dragons by G. Derek Adams. This book is a Science Fiction/Fantasy book that sounds extremely exciting. Here is the synopsis:
“When a lone goblin researcher stumbles across an artifact containing a terrifying message–that the world is in grave and immediate peril–she scrambles to find help. A very unusual asteroid (one constructed as a cage for dragons) is headed straight for the planet, and Xenon is the only person in the world who knows. As she clambers across hill and dale with her quill, journal, and dwindling coin purse to untangle the mystery, she’ll need plenty of luck to find the right clues and the right sort of help.
Meanwhile, our heroes have their own problems. They have a bank to rob, a sea to cross, and a kingdom to infiltrate. Luckily, Rime is a wild mage–the laws of reality quiver when she gives them a stern look–and her guardian, Jonas, wields a reasonably sharp sword. But Rime is slipping ever closer to the abyss of madness, and Jonas is wanted for murder at their final port of call. To make matters worse, the mage-killing Hunt and its commander, Linus, follow the duo like a patient shadow, bent on Rime’s destruction.
When the wise are underfunded, the brave are overbooked, and the cruel are unconcerned, can the world be saved from destruction?”
What is even better about this selection is that the author provided us with a pin of the novel’s cover, and a playlist to go along with the book (which is something that I do with my own book box as well). The link to the playlist on spotify is on the information card that came in the book.
Overall, I was very impressed by how carefully curated this box was, and I am so happy to have gotten to try it out! It is a great box for any Science Fiction/Fantasy nerds, or for people who love to read in the bath.
Order Book Bath Box Today!
October 14, 2016
Publishing Tip: Marketing Yourself
Happy Friday, Loves!
I thought today would be a fantastic day to start a series of blog posts about how to market yourself as a self-published author. As many of you know, self-publishing ALONE is extremely difficult, and marketing is just a cherry on top of that cake – an expensive cherry. But I have some great news for you! MARKETING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE. In fact, it can be free and quite simple. All you have to do is know where to go for help, and I am here to bring you the ideas and resources that you need.
1) Blog Posts/Starting Your Own Blog
Do you have a blog? If not, I highly suggest starting one. It will help you connect to readers and other writers, and it will help you market yourself. But if you don’t have a blog and you still want blog exposure, then don’t fear! I am here to help you.
Blog exposure is particularly helpful when it comes to starting excitement for your novel. One great way to market your novel before it even releases is to create a set of “teasers” that can be shared on blogs, generally one each week before your book releases. Teasers are generally a picture that features the cover of your novel, or the title and your author name, and a few lines from your novel to grab the reader’s attention. A good example of this is:
You can generally hire someone to do this for you, but it is not necessary. One super easy way to make a teaser is to use the basic paint feature on your computer so that you can type of the picture and add your cover or author name and title. I personally use Gimp which is a free photoshop-esque software that lets you create your own graphics. Gimp can be downloaded here.
Next is actually finding bloggers who would want to share your teasers and book information for you. Well, fortunately for you I am a blogger with Brain to Books, a website of authors who help other authors with their writing to help them gain exposure. Through this website you can request a blog tour and all of our bloggers have the option of choosing to be a part of your tour. This is extremely helpful, because this gives you the chance to reach out to many bloggers and have your work featured on multiple websites. What will happen is that if your tour is approved, Angela B. Chrysler, the owner of Brain to Books, will email all bloggers with your information and they can then email you if they are interested in partaking.
2) Using social media to your advantage
Social media, social media, social media! It is so extremely important. Right now, the hottest form of social media is Instagram, and the bookish community on Instagram is HUGE! That being said, you need to create an Instagram account if you want to have a very active presence as an author. Through Instagram you can post photos that relate to your novel, and you can even post the teasers that you create! This is also a great avenue for you to gain reviewers through those who are interested in your novel. The best way to make Instagram successful is to post once a day so your followers don’t lost interest.
3) Make sure your cover is eye catching
This may seem shallow, but let’s be honest. Readers will, many times, turn away from a novel if they don’t like the cover. It doesn’t matter how great your story is, the cover is the first impression. If you plan on posting on Instagram and trying to get bloggers interested in you, then you need an eye catching novel that people won’t just look away from. The best way to find a great cover is Self Pub Book Covers, but if you can’t afford a cover and are making your own, PLEASE make sure that it is professional looking and that the image resolution is high enough that it won’t come out blurry. Take a stroll through your own library to get an idea of which covers really catch the eye, and go from there.
I hope that these first three tips will help you to get started on your marketing endeavor and that they don’t overwhelm you too much! If you are still confused and concerned, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for help: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
I will be posting more marketing tips in the coming week, but these are the best tips to get started on. I want all of you to be successful, and please know that I am always here for you!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
October 13, 2016
Soulbound by Christen Stovall
Title: Soulbound
Author: Christen Stovall
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Living in the quaint farming village of Brittendell offered a simple life of home and family. When Aislynn, the daughter of a local farmer, and Rorin, the son of a wealthy horse trader, married, another charming love story enlivened the tranquil town. Aislynn and Rorin were profoundly connected, but their relationship came to a screeching halt when Rorin was killed in a tragic accident. Their bond sends Aislynn into a spiraling depression as she continues sensing Rorin’s presence. Soon, Aislynn finds herself thrust into a dangerous world of magic filled with hobgoblins, elves, and wizards. When Aislynn is captured by the future king of Venallis and forced to help him uncover a mysterious magical artifact she discovers that fate has far greater plans for her than she ever imagined. Perhaps death is not always the end.
Review:
Christen Stovall is quite literally my writing soulmate. While reading Soulbound I found so many similarities between her ideas and writing style when compared to my own writing in my novel Into The Fog. She explores life and death, and how death might not always be the end, while also exploring the human psych and how humans grasp death and life beyond.
Soulbound is a heartbreaking novel. I felt so connected to Aislynn and her pain from losing her mate, Rorin. Stovall portrayed Aislynn’s pain so that it flew off of the page and penetrated the reader’s heart, only to drag them back into the story. I couldn’t put down this heartbreaking and mystifying novel, and I immediately knew upon completing it that I wanted to read the rest of the series.
Stovall knew how to incorporate realistic life matters with fantasy elements, and at no point did I find the story far – fetched. Many times depression and tragedy can transform a person’s life, and that is all that happened to Aislynn. Her mate’s death opened up a door for her to understand more about life and the magic that lies within, and I could sense her growing throughout the novel.
I sincerely look forward to read more work by this author, and I am so honored to have come across her work. If you are interested in the paranormal and the magic that lies within daily life, then this book would be a perfect read for you. By all means, go out now and pick it up.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
October 12, 2016
Midnight Sky Spotlight – Amy Braun
The second novel in an epic steampunk horror series, MIDNIGHT SKY is the sequel to CRIMSON SKY, where secrets buried in the past are uncovered, and choices are made that will affect not only the lives of desperate characters, but of their world as a whole…
Buy it here:
Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads
MIDNIGHT SKY continues its journey in Westraven, following the aftermath of the Behemoth’s destruction and the freeing of its citizens after a decade of oppression and terror. Though the skies and streets of Westraven have been cleared of any bloodthirsty Hellions, young engineer Claire Abernathy and the crew of the Dauntless Wanderer have their hands full. They’ve been unable to find the location of the ship Claire’s parents used to locate the Breach– the tear between worlds that brought the Hellions and their horrors into the once glorious trade city– which could prove vital to sealing the Breach and locking the Hellions away for good. When Claire’s younger sister Abby suddenly becomes violently ill, Claire begins her expedition to uncover the true story of how the Breach was opened. She hopes to find a solution that will close the Breach forever, but she begins to uncover truths about those she trusts which could force her to make a sacrifice that will cost her everything she loves.
MIDNIGHT SKY was probably the most challenging novel in the series to write. Sequels need to carry the events of the first story and act as the gateway to the grand finale. I wanted this story to have a dramatic end, but I needed events to carry the story and close certain questions. I was excited to delve back into the world of Westraven and add new history to the story. I decided to focus on the backstories of Claire’s parents, since their actions are crucial to the series and the story as a whole.
The map I sketched of Westraven became more detailed, and I think my favorite setting to write in this story was the Barren, a haunting, once militarized portion of Westraven that holds history for more than one member of the Dauntless crew. World-building is one of my favorite things to write about, and I was excited to jump back into Westraven and expand its setting.
Another exciting element was the love triangle between Claire, Sawyer, and Riley. I’d always planned for a rocky relationship between Claire and Sawyer, given their strong wills and butting-heads, but I’ve never written a love triangle. Riley was a late addition to the DARK SKY universe, and I was so glad to include him. His story is a complex, terrifying one, and since he seeks Claire’s affection, it forces Sawyer to consider his attitude when the risk of losing Claire’s heart becomes evident. He doesn’t trust Riley and fears for Claire’s safety, but to win her over he’ll have to change. By the time the story was over, I could tell that all of the characters had grown, though Sawyer’s arc was perhaps the most apparent.
Starting the story took a little longer than I intended, but I was flying through it by the end. The final scenes were written at 2:00AM because I couldn’t sleep without the idea jotted down. I was very happy it ended the way it did, considering what will be coming in the final novel. Since MIDNIGHT SKY grew so close to my heart, I decided to put more effort into its promotion, seeking the help of XPresso Tours and En Pointe Author Services to help with blog tours, release blitzes, and review opportunities. I’m so pleased to have taken that risk, since it has definitely paid off.
There was a fair amount of editing recommended by both my Beta reader and my editor, but I was grateful for their insight. I constantly strive to improve my writing, and correcting my bad writing habits helps produce a stronger story.
One of the best moments in this journey was seeing the cover for MIDNIGHT SKY, created by Deranged Doctor Design. They blew me away with the CRIMSON SKY cover (and every other cover they’ve made for me), and I decided to put a little more insight into what I wanted from the sequel’s cover. The result was stellar. I couldn’t be happier with the look of the cover, and am dying to see what they’ll create for the final novel and two novellas of the DARK SKY series.
Writing sequels is always daunting. You want to carry on with what readers love, but you also want to introduce new elements to make the series stronger as a whole. I’ve never written an ending like this before, so I hope my efforts paid off. I know that I’m happy and proud and passionate about MIDNIGHT SKY, and I think new readers and fans of the previous novel will find it to their liking.
Q & A: Amy Braun and Midnight Sky– MINOR SPOILERS BELOW.
Q: Did you have any specific events in mind when you began Midnight Sky?
A: For the most part, yes. I knew I wanted to clear up basically all of the secrets carried over from Crimson Sky since the final novel will have lots of action. That meant many of the characters and their relationships had to grow. To me, this feels like a short novel. But reading over it, I realize how much occurred and how deeply it might impact readers. I think the only major event I really, truly planned concerns Riley. After introducing him in Crimson Sky, I knew I wanted him to be absolutely integral to the plot. His big event doesn’t come until the end of the novel, and I have to say, I was thrilled to get to that point. I’ve never really written a cliffhanger before, and I have to say that I understand why authors love them so much. As a reader, they can be a beautiful nightmare (read Julie Kagawa’s Eternity Cure if you don’t believe me), but as an author? Talk about exciting!
Q: What challenges did you face writing Midnight Sky?
A: It was all in the details! My knowledge of technical things is basic at best. I definitely don’t have the skills Claire has, and I spent a lot of time researching engineering terms and coming up with ideas to help her use her abilities. I had to really get in the mindset of Claire and explain how certain things worked in terms that, well, I understood. One scene kept me up until around 2:00AM because I consulted a technician friend of mine who worked on an oil field. He gave me an idea about oxygen tanks and flamethrowers, and soon I had a crazy idea that kept me up until I wrote the last page of the epilogue. I loathe writers block, but once I get past it, I refuse to stop writing.
Q: Is there anything you wish you’d kept in Midnight Sky? Any deleted scenes or other secrets?
A: Not really. One of the comments I received from my Beta reader was that I should delve more into the stories of side characters Gemma and Nash. I was already one step ahead, having written two prequel novellas centering around them and their introduction to Sawyer’s crew. I also introduced another new character named Moira at the Beta reader’s suggestion, and was happy to add her. I love building characters and became more attached to her than I realized. For the most part, I concentrated on the story I was building, knowing that there were a couple secrets I could leave until the final novel.
Q: Are you Team Sawyer or Team Riley?
A: This is kind of a double-edged question. From a writer’s perspective, I can say that I’m Team Sawyer. I love writing his mood swings, even though I know they must drive some readers (and certainly Claire) crazy. Since the third and final novel will be told in two perspectives, I wanted him to grow and be prepared for all the madness he sent his way. Plus, it was a lot of fun to write his romance attempts with Claire. All this being said, as a reader, if I didn’t know anything about this story or the pasts of the pirate and the soldier, I might be more inclined to join Team Riley. Who doesn’t love a damaged man who can still be kind and generous despite all the horrors he’s endured and continues to be traumatized by, and who’s not afraid to stand up to the self-proclaimed alpha male of the group to fight for what he desires?
Q: Can you go into more detail about the final novel and the novellas?
A: I can… but what fun would that be? Since I mapped out the rest of my writing and release schedule for the year, here’s what I’m willing to share: The next Dark Sky story will be an ebook prequel novella called Amber Sky, which will be released October 2016 and told from Nash’s perspective, focusing on his time with his old marauder clan before he met Sawyer. Following that story will be a short story called Engineered Deceit. I wrote it on a whim for Mocha Memoirs Press’ upcoming steampunk horror anthology, Gears, Ghosts, and Grimoires, to be released in November. It’s a shorter prequel with Sawyer as the lead voice and telling a story about what happens when someone really loses their mind after The Storm. December will be Smoke Sky, another prequel novella featuring Gemma as she worked her way into Sawyer’s crew and Nash’s heart. Finally, the last novel in the Dark Sky series– Obsidian Sky. It will be released in February 2017 and told from both Claire and Sawyer’s points-of-view. I loved writing the final story, and I hope the novellas and short stories will continue to build the hype.
About Amy Braun
She has short stories in various horror and urban fantasy anthologies such as Call From The Grave, Hotel Hell, Survivalism in The Dead Walk: Volume 2, Dismantle in The Steam Chronicles, Lost Sky in Avast, Ye Airships!, Secret Suicide in That Hoodoo, Voodoo, That You Do, Bring Back The Hound in Stomping Grounds, Charlatan Charade in Lost in the Witching Hour, and her award winning short Dark Intentions And Blood in AMOK!
More From Amy Braun
CURSED
DEMON’S DAUGHTER | DARK DIVINITY | DAMNATION’S DOOR
DARK SKY
CRIMSON SKY
STANDALONE NOVELS AND NOVELLAS
STORM BORN
PATH OF THE HORSEMAN
NEEDFIRE
Social Media Links
Literary Braun (Blog) | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon
October 11, 2016
Oak & Misletoe by J.Z.N. McCauley
Title: Oak & Misletoe
Author: J.Z.N. McCauley
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
A Druid Curse, A Prophesied Love, A Consuming Vengeance…
Catherine Green, along with her twin sister and older brother, travels to Ireland on a college graduation trip. Her vacation takes a permanent turn when she lands her dream job at an art and history museum on her beloved Emerald Isle. She meets a handsome stranger named Bowen, an expert of sorts on local ancient studies. Though their first meetings are turbulent at best, Catherine finds herself drawn to him.
Unaware that she is the key to breaking a hidden curse, Catherine unleashes the evil madman Conall and his druid followers, imprisoned since ancient times. Tragedy and loss ensue, sprouting within Catherine the deep seeds of rage that thrust her onto the damaging path of vengeance. Confused by the enigma that is Bowen, his mixed signals, and her own feelings, she is swept away with him on an unexpected journey surrounded by myth and long-forgotten knowledge. In order to stop the evil plans of Conall and his reunified army, Catherine must entwine her fate with peril. Her survival is trivial to her as long as Conall dies. She’ll do whatever it takes.
Review:
Oak & Misletoe is a new adult novel about Druids, Celtic myth, and coming of age. J.Z.N. McCauley did an excellent job of intertwining current events with fantasy and the past, and I was intrigued by how she was able to create a contemporary cast of characters, but was also able to make fantasy become believable and alive.
McCauley’s novel is a perfect book for anyone looking into Celtic mythology simply because it connects mythology to modern life, and it makes it understandable. I also always look for strong, female protagonists in fantasy/adventure novels, and I couldn’t have asked for a better heroine than Cathleen Green. She is one of the best characters that I have read who develops so much in such a short novel. Cathleen begins as a shy, naive woman but ends up being a powerhouse who takes on evil forces and tries to make everything right. She is super woman, and she is an excellent role model for readers in this age group. McCauley didn’t dwell on physical aspects of the characters, and I think that this helped me as a reader to connect to the characters in the way that I saw them.
I particularly liked the beautiful descriptions in this novel of Ireland and the mythology that is part of the country. I could see the landscape for myself, and reading the pages was like me traveling to Ireland myself. McCauley was able to portray to the reader a beautiful setting with an intriguing plot to fill it, and I felt myself falling into McCauley’s beautiful words as I read on.
Even though I was not fond of the romance in this novel due to the fact that it came off as cliche, I did like learning about the different legends of Ireland itself. It is a great novel to help you escape to another place and time, and I would highly recommend it as a beautiful, fall read.
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Crimson Sky Highlight – Amy Braun
Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. She is the recipient of April Moon Books Editor Award for “author voice, world-building and general bad-assery,” and the One Book Two Standout Award in 2015 for her Cursed trilogy. She has been featured on various author blogs and publishing websites, and is an active member of the Writing GIAM and Weekend Writing Warrior communities. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, and struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction.
Amy’s current work includes the full length novels Demon’s Daughter, Dark Divinity, Crimson Sky, and Path of the Horseman, and the novella Needfire. She has short stories in various horror and urban fantasy anthologies such as Call From The Grave, Hotel Hell, Survivalism in The Dead Walk: Volume 2, Dismantle in The Steam Chronicles, Lost Sky in Avast, Ye Airships!, Secret Suicide in That Hoodoo, Voodoo, That You Do, Bring Back The Hound in Stomping Grounds, Charlatan Charade in Lost in the Witching Hour, and her award winning short Dark Intentions And Blood in AMOK! Amy can be found online through her frequently updated blog, Literary Braun (literarybraun.blogspot.ca), as well as on Twitter (@amybraunauthor) and Facebook (facebook.com/amybraunauthor).
The first novel in a brand new series, CRIMSON SKY, the first 238 page novel of the DARK SKY books, marks the beginning of new characters as they forge their way through a shattered world, struggling to erase the perceptions left behind by their families, and relying on unlikely allies to survive horrors that have become commonplace…
CRIMSON SKY is a steampunk horror novel set in the ruined city of Westraven, once a powerful city filled with trade, airships, and daring pirates. Ten years after a cataclysmic event known as The Storm, when the human populace has been desecrated by savage monsters– deemed Hellions– from another dimension, the remaining survivors are forced to hide underground, using their skills and instincts to scavenge and endure. Among these survivors is a young engineer named Claire Abernathy. Claire is shunned by her fellow survivors because of her parents failure in The Storm, and the only light in her life is her younger sister, Abby. But on a scavenging mission, Abby is kidnapped by the Hellions. When Claire is discovered by roguish marauders, she is desperate enough to make a deal with them, and their fickle captain, Sawyer. As their adventures begin and unexpected relationships begin to form, Claire learns secrets about her past, as well as Sawyer’s, and realizes that she could be connected to the Hellions in ways she never imagined.
I’ve wanted to write the DARK SKY series since I was fourteen years old. I love vampires and I love pirates, and I wondered what it would be like to mesh the ideas together. I was tempted to go the obvious route– a crew of pirates crosses paths with a vampire crew, and chaos ensues– but I just couldn’t fall into the idea the way I wanted to. So I left it alone for a little while, and a few years ago, the solution came to me when I discovered the amazingness that is steampunk. It’s a genre where literally anything is possible, and I saw no reason why I couldn’t meld the ideas into something cohesive.
I worked on creating a new, fantasy world with rich history (I made a map and everything!), adding more elements as I worked harder on the details. I did my research to understand what Claire would be capable of creating, and I thought carefully about how desperate people would become after living in a wasteland for a decade, barely seeing the sun. I especially thought about who would hold the power in a steampunk world filled with grounded pirates, and how they would mingle. Or clash. I’ve enjoyed building this world as much as any story I’ve ever written.
Just as exciting was writing the characters of Claire and Sawyer. While I have fun with the secondary characters, both protagonists are at the forefront. I loved writing the banter between them, and they have some of my favorite interactions. They’re both so different from one another, yet alarmingly alike in certain elements. They’re stubborn and strong-willed, loyal and defensive, and they both suffer from the burden of carrying secrets to preserve their family’s honor.
I wrote the story like a madwoman, loving it more and more. When I was presented with the opportunity to submit a story for Mocha Memoirs Press’s steampunk anthology, AVAST, YE AIRSHIPS!, I thought it would be a good idea to test CRIMSON SKY out. This was a new series after all, and completely different from my other urban fantasy trilogy, CURSED. I revised the work into a short story called LOST SKY, and submitted it. I was delighted to hear back from the anthology’s editor, Rie Sheridan Rose, who absolutely loved the story and was excited to include it. I learned a lot during that period, understanding how spotlights and blog tours could help in promoting my work. It definitely helped that my story was well received and enjoyed by many readers.
CRIMSON SKY had a fair amount of editing to do once it was finished. It was the first time I’d used a professional Beta reader, and I was amazed at how in depth they could be. I made some important changes and worked with my editor to revise and perfect the story. Every reader gave me positive feedback, particularly with the characters of Claire and Sawyer.
I continued to work with Deranged Doctor Design for the cover and promotional work, and while their covers for my CURSED series have been absolutely gorgeous, I got the best responses for CRIMSON SKY. The promotional material is incredible, and I find every opportunity I can to use it.
I think every author gets nervous when they have a new book released, especially one that’s part of a new series, but at time of putting this media kit together, I’ve found I’m not as terrified as I think I should be. I mean, yeah, the nerves are still there, but I feel confident with CRIMSON SKY and the DARK SKY series in general. I think a lot of readers will like it, and find it different from traditional vampire and steampunk stories. It’s a mix of everything– steampunk, horror, post-apocalyptic, fantasy– so hopefully it will cater to a wide audience. I loved writing it, so hopefully there will be people who love reading it.
Q & A: Amy Braun and Crimson Sky– MINOR SPOILERS BELOW.
Q: When you began writing Crimson Sky, did you know the direction the series would take?
A: Yes and no. I had an idea of what I wanted the characters to achieve, but I had no idea how they would get there. I didn’t really know what Claire’s key from her mother would be used for, and I was still working on the history between her parents and the Hellions. But the more I wrote, the better understanding I had of the series and how it should progress. Hopefully readers will want to continue reading into the second book, which will be just as exciting as the first.
Q: What were the challenges in writing Crimson Sky?
A: To be honest, I don’t remember the story being that challenging as compared to some of my other work. Oh, there were times where I had to sit back and really think about what I was doing, and the research was bland as ever, but I knew I had to move past the roadblocks and just get the story done. The more I wrote, the more eager I was to reach the end, just to see how it ended.
Q: What inspired the design of Westraven?
A: One of my favorite movies is The Lord of the Rings. They’re beautiful films and the set design is incredible. I loved the look of Gondor, and I actually based the setting of Westraven off that city. A flatter, less medieval version to be sure, but I liked the idea of a crumbling city of white stones. I have another steampunk series planned that follows the more traditional ideas of a derelict steampunk town, but I didn’t want to write the same setting for two very different series’. I also think that Westraven’s stony, broken look gives a certain, haunting echo to the story, and I think a lot of readers will like it. There are still places in and outside of Westraven that haven’t been seen yet, and I can’t wait for readers to see them.
Q: Why did you choose vampires as the monsters?
A: It’s true that vampires are overused in fiction. It’s not something that’s lost on me. But the thing with vampires is that they’re such a changeable species, and when you stick to the tradition (more or less), they will always be terrifying. I modeled them after the vampires from Thirty Days of Night– they hide in the shadows, are super fast and savage, and have their own, animalistic language. I can’t read those books or watch that movie without getting chills when I see those vampires. Plus, I like the idea that even after its destruction, the Hellions continue to suck the life out of Westraven and its inhabitants. That definitely seems to raise the stakes.
Q: What can we expect in future books in the series?
A: Dark Sky will be a collection of three full length novels and two prequel novellas when it’s all said and done. Right now, the sequel, Midnight Sky, is scheduled for release in August 2016, with the novellas to be released in October and December. The final novel is scheduled for February 2017. Midnight Sky will have a lot of surprise reveals and twists, and an ending I seriously doubt anyone will expect. There will also be a lot more chemistry and interactions between Claire and Sawyer, which I think will leave a lot of readers happy. The novellas will focus on the secondary characters, Gemma and Nash, and chronicle their adventures before they joined Sawyer’s crew. I won’t say anything about the third and final novel, because I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say that things are going to get dark for our heroes, and they’ll find themselves in places they never expected. And that’s a good thing, because you can’t write a steampunk pirate story without some wild adventures.
