We’re celebrating the release of In the Wake of the Wicked by V.B. Lacey. This gorgeous dark fantasy is the first book in a series of interconnected fantasy standalones, and perfect for fans of Wicked, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and The Hunger Games
In the Wake of the Wicked (A Veridian Empire Novel)
Publication Date: November 14, 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy/ No Spice Romance
Wicked meets the Hunger Games
Dark fantasy standalone
Deadly trials
Found family
Reluctant allies to lovers
No spice romance
Masquerade ball
Witty banter
Unique magic system
Political intrigue
Shifters
One horse trope
Morally grey FMC
Dark-haired, broody MMC
Curses
Wound tending
Cave scene
He has a tail
Wherever she goes, darkness follows.
An orphan with a tragic past and a penchant for wicked deeds, Rose Wolff has never been accepted by her people. She’s learned to live in the darkness, content with her Alchemy magic and her quiet apothecary.
When a terrible curse sweeping the land forces her to enter the Decemvirate, a magical tournament among the strongest of the empire, Rose is pulled from the shadows and thrown into a world of power games, deadly trials, and entanglements with a handsome, mysterious rebel.
With divisions in the empire worsening, there may be more at stake than becoming the champion. Secrets about her magic and encounters with the all-powerful emperor make Rose question everything, leading her down a path she may never come back from.
All magic has a price, and Rose must choose: truth, love, or power?
In the Wake of the Wicked is the first book in a series of interconnected fantasy standalones. This story follows a young woman who finds herself caught up in the glory of magic and unexpected love during a time of hardship and divisions among her empire. Perfect for lovers of Wicked, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and The Hunger Games, this book is full of deadly trials, morally grey characters, mythical creatures and shifters, unique magic, witty banter, and no spice romance that will have you swooning.
A lifeboat is lost off Cornwall’s wild Atlantic coast. All eight crewmen die. The cause is never fully explained.
Ten years later, Kate Tregillis, the editor of a small, struggling newspaper, becomes obsessed with solving the longstanding mystery. Her investigations provoke a backlash of threats and violence in the insular fishing community of St Branok. In exposing the truth, she risks the future of her newspaper and even her life – and discovers that the man she loves has his own secrets.
Praise for The Echoing Shore:
‘A gripping story full of twists and turns’ – Margaret James, Writing Magazine.
‘An enthralling read that keeps you guessing to the end’ – Victoria Howard, author and judge for the international 2023 Yeovil Literary Prize.
‘I would definitely pick this book up from the bookshop shelf’ – Claire Gradidge, winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition.
Jason Mann is an award-winning journalist and writer living in the South West of England with Nicola, his wife, and their lively whippet, Patch. He is also a shore-based volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Jason says: ‘Many of my stories are set in the wonderful county of Cornwall where truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction. I have swum and surfed there much of my life. It has been a special place for me with its legends, soaring cliffs, rugged moors and wild seas. The landscape has a raw, mystical magic. My father and mother’s recollections of rescues and tragedies on the North coast are often the inspiration for my stories. My father became one of the county’s early lifeguards after his predecessor was killed by a strike of lightning while standing in waist-deep water during a rescue.’
My thoughts: This was so good, utterly gripping, with well written characters, a real sense of creeping menace and a brilliant plot. Dark deeds done in the deep waters off of my beloved Cornwall. In winter, when the tourists leave and only the locals remain, where the beauty of its coastline is hidden by bad weather and the grinding struggle to get by.
Kate has returned from London and is trying to keep the local paper solvent and a going concern in a time where fewer and fewer copies sell and there’s not much news to print. The arrival of a freelance writer looking into the loss of a lifeboat and it’s crew ten years ago stirs up old pain and new threats.
The boat’s crew were all lost, except one man, who was conveniently unwell and didn’t go, but then promptly left town. This seems suspicious and Kate agrees to help investigate whether it really was a terrible accident or something more sinister. Then the threats begin. Notes left in her cottage, a break in at the paper. Who could be trying to stop them reporting on the tragedy and why?
I was completely hooked, this is the other side of small town life, and Cornwall, where those rugged cliffs and swirling tides turn dangerous. Kate’s attempts to get answers put lives, including her own, at risk, and she could lose the paper too. A real page turner that will keep you up all night, desperate to finish it.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Two years ago, Alexander Blix was the lead investigator in a missing person’s case where a young mother, Elisabeth Eie, was kidnapped. The case was never solved. Blix’s career in law enforcement is now over, but her kidnapper is back, leaving evidence of Elisabeth’s murder in Blix’s mailbox, as well as hints that there are other victims.
At the same time, Emma Ramm has been contacted by a teenage girl, whose stepfather has been arrested on suspicion of killing a childhood friend. But there is no body. Nor are there any other suspects…
Blix and Ramm can rely only on each other, and when Blix’s fingerprints are found on a child’s drawing at a crime scene, the present comes uncomfortably close to the past. A past where a victim has found their own, shocking form of therapy. And someone is watching…
Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are both internationally bestselling Norwegian authors. Jørn Lier Horst first rose to literary fame with his no. 1 bestselling William Wisting series. A former Detective Chief Investigator in the Norwegian police, Horst imbues all his works with an unparalleled realism and suspense.
Thomas Enger is the journalist-turned-author behind the acclaimed Henning Juul series. Enger’s trademark is his dark, gritty voice paired with key social messages and tight plotting. Besides writing fiction for both adults and young adults, Enger also works as a music composer.
Death Deserved, the first book in the Blix & Ramm series, was Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger’s first co-written thriller, and all five books in the series series have hit no. 1 on bestseller lists worldwide.
My thoughts: Alexander Blix is out of prison and struggling to put his life back together without his job as a police detective, and his daughter. While his friend Emma Ramm has quit her job as a journalist, and is also searching for her next role.
A stranger phones Blix, claiming to be the killer of Elisabeth Eie, a case still unsolved. Although now on the outside, Blix seems to have the killer’s focus, as he leaves messages and calls the former detective, his ex-colleagues are not keen to involve him, but it appears they don’t have a choice.
Emma has been asked by a teenage girl to prove her stepfather, the man who raised her from the age of two, is innocent of the disappearance of his employee and the arson of his business. There’s definitely something off about the case and so she starts to look into it.
Both cases have echoes in Blix and Emma’s pasts, neither of them had particularly happy childhoods to look back on. And while neither of them are officially on the case, they have the skills and knowledge to find the answers. Could this be the answer to their search for new roles?
Another clever and knotty investigation, and an interesting insight into Blix as his personal life develops with a dog (called Terry) and a new relationship.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We’re touring the newly released book, A Diamond Bright and Broken by Holly Davis this week! This YA epic fantasy has all kinds of representation and a beautiful, unique plot! Not to mention, exciting!
A Diamond Bright and Broken (The Gifted Mage)
Publication Date: November 5, 2024
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Tangled Retelling w/ FMC as Flynn Ryder Character
Ride or Die Sisters
Wheelchair Rep
LGBTQ+ Rep
Family Secrets
Biracial FMCs
Mages w/ Unique Magic
Discover the founder of Diversity is Lit Bookclub’s debut where one girl’s magical power is both a gift and a curse.
Sixteen-year-old Cadence was born with the ability to cry tears of diamonds–a secret talent her parents have abused to climb the royal ranks thanks to the infinite source of wealth. At their command, she cries diamonds to pay for the pricey treatments for her sister’s neuromuscular disorder. Regardless of the pain, she’ll do anything for her sister, who weakens by the day.
When the prince heckles Cadence at the King’s Summer Solstice Ball about her sister’s disability while dancing in the ballroom, she’s left on the verge of tears, threatening to expose her power. She is saved by a mysteriously charming girl who sweeps in to take the next dance—and the single diamond Cadence cried. The stranger reveals the Magi Queen sent her to tell Cadence that she’s a mage, and that her power is a curse.
Yearning to discover the secrets behind her powers, Cadence sets off for the City of Magi. To claim the life she wants, Cadence must embrace her power—before she loses the bright spots in her otherwise sad existence. After all, even diamonds can shatter.
When lies become truths and two kingdoms head to a bloody war, a man is exiled for his conscience
Refusing the queen’s order to gas a crowd of protesters, Minister Shea Ashcroft is banished to the border to oversee the construction of the biggest defensive tower in history. However, the use of advanced technology taken from refugees makes the tower volatile and dangerous, becoming a threat to local interests. Shea has no choice but to fight the local hierarchy to ensure the construction succeeds-and to reclaim his own life. Surviving an assassination attempt, Shea confronts his inner demons, encounters an ancient legend, and discovers a portal to a dead world–all while struggling to stay true to his own principles and maintain his sanity. Fighting memories and hallucinations, he starts to question everything…
Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is a thought-provoking meditation on the fragility of the human condition, our beliefs, the manipulation of propaganda for political gains, and our ability to distinguish the real from the unreal and our willingness to accept convenient “truths.” The novel is a compelling exploration of memory, its fragile nature, and its profound impact on our perception of identity, relationships, and facts themselves.
“Eloquent, moody, poetic. . . masterful.”–Beth Cato (author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge)
A note from the author: “A major theme of the book is how disinformation and propaganda can be used to justify violence, and how ignoring evil can lead people to accept atrocities. I was able to witness all this first-hand, having spent the first 21 years of my life in Russia and absorbing the recent events unfiltered and in my native tongue. Sleeping worlds are not only devoid of memories; they are also oblivious to the pain of others.”
A unique blend of science fiction, fantasy and noir, with zeitgeist and prophetic qualities (the original novella anticipated the Russo-Ukrainian War), this is a must for fans of China Miéeacute;ville’s Bas-Lag series, Ted Chiang’s Tower of Babylon, and Robert Silverberg’s Tower of Glass.
About the Author
Yaroslav Barsukov, an author with a unique background in physics and software engineering, has emerged as a distinctive voice in the realm of speculative fiction. Born in Cold War-era Moscow and educated at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and Austria’s Vienna University of Technology, Barsukov initially pursued a career in software engineering. His entry into the literary world was serendipitous, stemming from his involvement in game development where he translated a companion tale to a game’s mythology. This experience marked the beginning of his journey as a writer, and he started crafting short stories in English around 2014.
Barsukov’s work is celebrated for its innovative blend of fantasy and science fiction elements, diverging from the traditional hard-science SF model. His acclaimed novella “Tower of Mud and Straw” was shortlisted for the Nebula Award and received a Kirkus Star, demonstrating his prowess in weaving narratives that explore the human condition through a speculative lens. His stories, characterized by high-fantasy filigree and physics reminiscent of alchemy, have appeared in renowned publications such as Galaxy’s Edge, Nature: Futures, and StarShipSofa. Barsukov’s literary influences span from Russian maestros like Leo Tolstoy to American science fiction authors, shaping his unique storytelling style that transcends genre boundaries.
My thoughts: This was a really interesting book, with a complex plot and full of thought provoking ideas about propaganda, doubles and reality.
A minister in the government, Shea Ashdown refuses to gas protestors and as punishment is sent to the border where the local Duke is building a giant defensive tower. The tower is ridiculously tall and has been built using poorly understood technology from a minority group – who don’t even really understand it themselves. These strange devices have a bad habit of exploding, killing everyone around them. Shea has seen their terrible impact himself, in an incident that killed his sister.
His attempts to stop this alien technology from being used lead to his arrest as a traitor. But he also uncovers the truth about the devices, the strange Mimic Tower, and after crossing the border, the neighbouring country is also building a tower. Once he learns the truth, he must do everything to destroy the tower there too.
Both sides are convinced that these towers would will somehow bring about peace, after a period of war, but Shea knows that this is untrue. Meeting a mysterious woman called Cara, who tells him that her people, refugees in this world, have manipulated reality and nothing he believes is true.
Fascinating, a little puzzling, but compelling, this is an intriguing and intelligent book from a new-to-me author.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
When the murdered body of a woman is found in a Sheffield carpark, former cop turned private investigator Matt Forrester finds himself embroiled in the case, because the last call the victim made was to him…
But the case isn’t as simple as the drug theft it looks like, and – when a young boy becomes the next victim – Matt and his life partner, DI Karen Nelson, realise they’re investigating a terrifying series of revenge killings.
Arrests start to be made, but enemies are being made. And, as the killings continue, nobody is safe…
A totally unputdownable crime novel, from bestselling author Anita Waller, guaranteed to keep readers up all night.
Anita Waller was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1946. With many books to her name, she feels she has finally realised her dream. In 2021 Waller signed a five book deal with Boldwood Books, and currently has six published books with them: One Hot Summer, The Family at No.12, Fatal Secrets (the first in a new series set in Sheffield), The Couple Across the Street, Fatal Lies, the second in the Forrester series and The Girls Next Door. The Family at No.12 reached #2 in the Amazon Kindle charts. The final book in the Forrester series, Fatal Endings, is to be launched on 13 November 2024.
My thoughts: the final book in the trilogy about former DI Matt Forrester turned PI brings various cases to their end and has a big shock twist that alters the lives of the characters forever.
A young boy is murdered and his older brother vows revenge, the police are keen to talk to him but he’s disappeared, could his drug trafficking grandfather be helping him stay out of sight? Karen and her team are tracking him down after the chief suspect in the younger brother’s murder is killed, when tragedy strikes.
Meanwhile Matt is looking into a wealthy woman’s husband after he starts taking sums of money out of their joint account and making her suspicious. He’s also looking after Harry, who’s returned to school after his running away, and needs some gentle support.
This series has been really enjoyable, the author’s books are always engaging and clever, with well written and interesting characters. This is a big case, with lots of complications and ends the series dramatically.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
After learning of a suspicious attempt to burn down a beloved old pub, The Crooked Horse, Libby Sarjeant and her friend Fran reluctantly agree to investigate. But when a local antiques dealer mysteriously disappears after apparently taking out his boat, it appears there are dark and sinister forces at play.
Can Libby and Fran uncover a connection between the fire and the missing man? And will unravelling a deadly case put them in terrible danger?
Lesley Cookman writes the Libby Sarjeant Murder Mysteries and the The Alexandrians, an Edwardian Mystery Series. She lives on the south east coast of England, and is a former model, actor, and journalist. Her four adult children are all musicians and writers.
My thoughts: I really like this series, Libby and her “Loonies” as her friends call themselves. Solving crimes involves a lot of time spent in pubs it seems as Libby and Fran do some digging into the attempted destruction of the titular Crooked Horse and a missing local antique dealer.
Ian, Libby’s police detective friend, asks her to ask around about the incidents, but she uncovers a conspiracy involving stolen Anglo-Saxon treasure, a local building contractor, and some rather nasty criminals.
This was another excellent addition to the series, with Libby pursuing possibly her most dangerous case yet.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the book tour for Hers to Claim by Coral Alejandra Moore. Read on for more details!
Hers to Claim (Scorching in Sin City Book 2)
Publication Date: October 30, 2024
Genre: Monster Romance/ PNR/ Urban Fantasy
Soulbonds ⛓️
Polyamory 💞
Emotional Scars 💔
Healing Together 🩹
Forbidden Love 💗
Grumpy/Sunshines ☀️
Touch Them and Die 💀
Found Family 😊
Sword Crossing ⚔️
Spicy, Fast Burn 🌶️
Discovering Her Power ✨
Secrets and Intrigue 🔍
It’s Good To Be Queen
Embracing Femdom
Shadow Daddy
A Little Light Stalking
She Likes It When He Watches
He’d Burn the World for Her
Breeding Kink (no pregnancy)
The Hottest Unicorn You Have Ever Met
Something ancient slumbers under Las Vegas.
After Mari’s cruel father was killed by her gargoyle crush, she thought the takeover of his criminal empire would be easy, but she was wrong.
In the aftermath of the conflict, Mari and her monster boyfriends discover that the true threat has been lurking under the city all along, and that Mari has been feeding him with her magic for years. Calling out to the creature in her moment of need might have been the only way to escape, but it also might have been a mistake.
Because he says he’d burn the world for her and that rings true.
His disturbing visits happen with increasing frequency and during her most private moments with her lovers—but she can’t deny her attraction to the danger he poses, even when he threatens the city and with it the people who work for her that she’s sworn to protect.
The mysterious figure tempts her toward the darker side of desire, calling to something primal and hidden within her that she doesn’t understand. How long can she resist his tantalizing offers? More than anything, she fears starting down the same path of brutality and violence that her father once walked.
Hers to Claim is the scorching second book in a series that explores the intimate lives of the paranormal denizens of Sin City. If you enjoy spicy, fast burns with a side of action, a sassy heroine discovering her power, and partners who love to share, this book is for you.
We regret to announce the tragic death of Phoebe Fredericks…
When crime novelist Phoebe opens the post and receives an invitation to her own funeral, she’s horrified. Not least because the date of her death is marked as tomorrow. Deciding it’s nothing more than a prank from an enemy from her past, she determines to put it to the back of her mind.
But the next morning, when her completely infuriating postman (who likes to think himself her no.1 literary critic) rings her doorbell, a parcel of poisoned pen-nibs explodes in his face. Forced to confront the fact her correspondence is more RIP than RSVP, Phoeve realises someone must want her dead.
Together with the newly-formed Village Detectives – Juno, Mil and Felix – Phoebe resolves to find out who is behind the poison pen letters before they strike again and her fate is signed, sealed and delivered!
A totally hilarious, modern cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona Walker, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Janice Hallett.
Fiona Walker is the million copy bestselling author of joyously funny romantic comedies. Most recently published by Head of Zeus, she will be turning to cozy crime for Boldwood. The first in her new Village Detectives series, The Art of Murder, will be published in May 2024.
My thoughts: This is such a fun series, I love Juno and her determination to be a detective, despite not always getting it right. She wants to help Phoebe so much, but her instincts are not always spot on. As she and Felix hurtle around in her mother’s rather battered old car, including a jaunt to Paris, Phoebe herself is looking a little closer to home.
The Twitter accounts that harassed her once before might be connected to the shocking death of the postman on the doorstep and the horrible things she’s been receiving in the post, but Phoebe reckons it’s someone in the village, it doesn’t feel quite the same to her. What she uncovers is a sad and rather different story than the one Juno and Felix are following.
Lots of fun and all carried out in Juno’s unique chaotic style, with help from her son Eric, and of course the delightful Mil, pub landlord and protector of potential murder suspects.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We are celebrating the release of USA Today Bestselling author, Carly Spade’s gorgeous new pirate romantasy, Of Magic and Rum! Can we just take a second to appreciate this cover?!
Of Magic and Rum (Beyond a Contemporary Mythos)
Publication Date: November 7, 2024
Genre: Adult Pirate Romantasy/ Calico Jack x Anne Bonny Historical Reimagining
Enemies to lovers
Touch her and 💀
One hammock
Morally grey FMC &MMC
Sword fight kiss
Adventure romance
If Jack Sparrow ended up with Elizabeth instead of Will
Greek & Scandinavian mythology
When Atlantis throttles Rhode into another place and time, she’s forced to keep her sea nymph identity a secret from unsuspecting mortals. Now fathoms from her realm and threatened by a vicious sea monster, she’ll require a ship to get back home.
The plan is simple: Find a crew. Stow away disguised as a cabin boy. And kill the captain once they reach the Mediterranean Sea. That was the plan. She couldn’t predict how difficult the latter would be as desires blur with needs in a battle for their lives.
Captain Calico Jack Rackham has made a name for himself as a harsh but righteous leader, earning his place at the helm of The Revenge.
Thus far, he’s avoided capture, until a mysterious beauty sneaks onto his ship, ensnaring him with her cunning nature. What starts as a devious plan to use her for his own gain blossoms into mythical discoveries and a journey into territory he never dreamed of crossing—a devotion far deeper than to the sea herself.
ramblingmads 