Welcome to the tour for Kelli Storm’s witchy urban fantasy, Desolate! Read on for more details!
Desolate (Assembly Hearts Book 1)
Release Date: October 2025
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Accidental Time Travel
Forbidden Love
Fish Out of Water
Who Done It
Neurodivergent Heroine
Sapphic Romance
A time-bending mishap forces a witch to navigate a new reality and an unexpected romance. Can Mia find her way back home, all while stopping a killer?
Being a witch with ADHD has its challenges. When Mia gets distracted while performing a spell, she becomes an accidental time-traveler.
Waking up in 1992, she comes across supernatural creatures attacking a young woman, and she taps into strange, unknown powers to save her. But as Mia starts falling for the enchanting near-victim, she discovers the girl will soon die.
She might be the only person who can stop her killer, yet everyone knows messing with time can have dire consequences.
As she works on finding a way back to her timeline, Mia quickly realizes she needs to make a choice. Let history happen, or stop this dark destiny from coming to pass.
Kelli Storm’s debut YA urban fantasy, Desolate, is a spellbinding novel for lovers of LGBTQ+ heroines, character-driven plots, neurodivergent representation, and bewitching twists. Join Mia on her journey of the choice between destiny and saving the ones we love.
We’re thrilled to be touring award-winning romantasy, Thieves of Time Forgotten by Emilia Ramos.
Thieves of Time Forgotten (The Shadow Heir Trilogy)
Release Date: September 2024
Genre: YA Romantasy
Tropes: Dark magic, romantasy, time travel, slow burn, beautiful fantasy palaces…
A kingdom whose deadliest secrets live only in its memories.
After two years, Naomi Elistaire escapes the dungeons of the very castle where she was once a princess. Exiled in the foreign kingdom of Tashiki, Naomi has one final chance to reclaim the throne and save the empire from her tyrannous mother.
She assembles her crew: two quick-handed thieves and an escaped assassin, along with a mischievous snow monkey. The plan? Cross Tashiki, reach the king-in-waiting before his coronation, and bargain her way to an army—all while hiding the Dark magic that courses through her royal blood.
And then there’s Ez.
The man she once loved… and the traitor whose choice lost her the last war. Rumor has it he’s set to sail for Tashiki too, drawn by a rogue mission and a prophecy lost to time centuries ago.
We’re thrilled to present the cover for A Curse So Bitter and Broken: The Prince and The Enchantress by N.A. Triptow!
This is the first in a new series of romantasy duologies retelling a different Shakespeare play told from the perspective of one of the three Wyrd Sisters.
A Curse So Bitter and Broken: The Prince and The Enchantress
Expected Release Date: June 19, 2025
Genre: YA Romantasy/ Hamlet Retelling
Cover Designer: @author_n_a_triptow
Three sisters. Four time periods. And an ancient fae secret that threatens to destroy all of life itself. Follow the Florentini sisters from modern-day New York City as they become embroiled in a fae war that spans continents and time.
Seventeen-year-old Ophelia Florentini is as normal as any other high school theatre kid, except for the visions of fae creatures that fill her dreams. When her play rehearsal is interrupted by the same ageless elf who keeps showing up to save her—this time from the very creatures in her dreams—her world implodes. As centaurs, pixies, trolls, and all manner of fae attack her family restaurant in the middle of New York City, she finds herself thrown into a new world and time where the events of Shakespeare’s Hamlet are taking place before her very eyes, but not in the way she expects.
In 13th-century Denmark, Hamlet is plunged into chaos when his father, the king, is murdered. Returning from Oxford, the young prince finds that his beloved home is nigh unrecognizable. The queen blames her husband’s murder on the fae living amongst them, and she’s handing out punishments left and right. Only it might not be her doing, for, unbeknownst to Hamlet, the darkness taking root in the kingdom has been brought on by someone much older and far more bitter than the queen.
Will Ophelia be able to avoid Prince Hamlet and her seemingly inescapable death in order to stop the Harbinger of the End of Days and find her way back home, or will she end up just like her namesake?
The Wayward Chronicles is a series of romantasy duologies each retelling a different Shakespeare play told from the perspective of one of the three Wyrd Sisters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer’s Gilded, Erin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows, and Lydia Sherrer’s Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus. A Curse So Bitter and Broken 1: The Prince and the Enchantress is a dual point of view romantic fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where the romance is integral to the story but the magic and high-stakes adventure take center stage.
We’re celebrating the new release Among the Fallen this week with a tour! If you are looking for an epic fantasy adventure without the spice, this one’s for you!
Among the Fallen (The Fallen Realms Book 1)
Release Date: January 7, 2026
Genre: YA Fantasy
Chosen One
Good vs. Evil
Found Family
Underdog (Zero to Hero)
Cursed MC
Survival Story
The Hero’s Journey
False Prophecy
Betrayal by Friends
Remember The Fallen Ones…
Accused of a crime that he didn’t commit, Lucian Roux is on the run from his hometown, Caelum, a rural village concealed deep within The Sage’s Forest. Although carrying the weight of a criminal record and the fear of an uncertain future, Lucian sees this new start as an opportunity to achieve his one-and-only dream: Freedom.
His freedom, however, comes with a terrible cost… A price that he might never be able to pay. Luckily, Lucian isn’t alone. In the company of a delusional goddess trapped in a mirror and a snarky peer with a passion for swords, Lucian embarks on a prophetic adventure to not only figure out the true identity of the evil entity inside him but also break the chains binding him once and for all.
A YA fantasy adventure with no explicit content or profanity. Includes a brief scene of domestic violence and instances of bullying. Reader discretion advised.
We’re thrilled to announce that Visions of Eterna by Samara Kalz in now available! This will appeal to readers who enjoyed The Inheritance Games, The Cruel Prince, and Six of Crows.
Visions of Eterna
Release Date: January 21, 2026
Genre: Dark Portal Fantasy/ Mature YA
Rivals to Lovers
He falls first
Found family
Slow burn
Forced proximity
Self Discovery
Adventure
Prophecy
Portals
Elemental Magic
Banter
Grumpy and overprotective MMC
Mia has always sensed something just out of reach, like a word on the tip of her tongue, or a dream forgotten too soon.
On her twenty-first birthday, she wakes with no memory of the night before. It isn’t the first time. Blackouts. Visions. A growing feeling that she doesn’t fully belong in the life she’s living. When her parents confess she’s adopted, with no record of where she came from, the unease sharpens into something else, a pull she can’t ignore.
Then she meets a stranger, and everything begins to unravel—a history Mia never knew, a city hidden from the world, and a journey that will take her beyond the world she thought she belonged to.
Eterna was once a place of wonder, a city that never stopped blooming. Now, the magic that sustained it is fading. The land is cracking. And Mia may be more entangled in its fate than anyone is prepared to admit.
With her best friend by her side, and resentment simmering among those she meets—especially a man whose bitterness runs deeper than she understands—Mia must now navigate a world that remembers her, even if she doesn’t remember it.
Some answers come looking for you. Some places never let you go. And some destinies are written long before you’re ready to claim them.
We love a good sports romance and highly recommend you check out Gihigugma, Ace of Hearts by Melanie King-Smith!
Gihigugma, Ace of Hearts
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Found Family
Filipino/Asian Immigrant Experience (Own Voices)
Sports Romance (Tennis)
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Love Triangle
Dual POV
Sweet/ No Spice
Coming of Age
Crazy Rich Asians meets Bend It Like Beckham in this outrageously fun, Filipino-flavored romance.
When Jomar’s tennis ambitions crash into Mitchelle’s wounded heart during one charmingly disastrous karaoke night, they’ll discover that the biggest matches aren’t played on courts—but in learning to love despite the ghosts of the past.
Jomar Montalbano thinks he’s ready for anything. A rising tennis star from the Philippines, he lands in London with one suitcase, one college scholarship, and zero idea how to survive without rice. He’s counting on a few wins—but definitely not falling for Mitchelle Tanner.
She’s the quiet girl with a vintage camera, a craving for halo-halo, and a smile that hides as much as it shows. Half-American, half-Filipina, and fully impossible to read.
He’s used to power and control—but around her, he’s completely unstrung.
From vulnerable confessions in a darkroom’s glow to rallies that feel like Wimbledon wins, Jomar discovers that love—like tennis—is all about timing, risk, and knowing when to fight for the point.
Set in London’s rainy alleys and sunlit parks, woven with island warmth and humor, Gihigugma, Ace of Hearts is an adventure about home, heart, and the courage to choose love against all odds.
Love at eighteen isn’t always a mistake. Sometimes, it’s a miracle.
This story contains: social alcohol use, mild profanity, depictions of past romantic trauma, and competitive sports pressure. While handled with care, please prioritize your wellbeing. The story ultimately celebrates healing and joyful connection.
HEAT LEVEL: Sweet – Kissing only, no explicit content, YA-appropriate
SETTING: London, UK (Filipino immigrant/diaspora community)
THEMES: Belonging, identity, cultural heritage, finding home, first love, friendship
AWARDS: 2025 International Firebird Book Award Winner (Young Adult Fiction)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
#1 Amazon Bestseller – Young Adult & Teen Clean & Wholesome Romance #1 Amazon Bestseller – Young Adult & Teen Asian & Pacific Islander Fiction Featured at Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 (Philippines was the Guest of Honor)
Bubby Welter is fifteen when life stops feeling predictable. His mother Carrie’s mental breakdown fractures their family, leaving both of them emotionally stranded. As Carrie retreats, Bubby struggles to navigate a world shaped by instability.
Poor decisions and their consequences follow—humiliation, damaged relationships, and growing frustration. With no clear path forward, Bubby turns toward the unanswered question that has always lingered: the identity of his absent father.
The search becomes a confrontation with loss, identity, and unresolved anger. Take a Look at Me Now is a coming-of-age novel about emotional suspension and the fragile hope for change when certainty disappears.
Tippy Chan is eleven years old, and she lives in a small town in a very quiet part of New Zealand– the town her Uncle Pike escaped as a teenager, the moment he got a chance. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend Devon to look after Tippy while her mum is on a Christmas cruise.
Tippy can’t get enough of her uncle’s old Nancy Drew books. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery.
So, when her teacher’s body is found beside Riverstone’s only traffic light, it looks like Tippy’s moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret detective club. But what starts as a bonding and sightseeing adventure quickly morphs into something far more dangerous.
A wrongful arrest, a close call with the murderer, and an intervention from Tippy’s mum all conspire against The Nancys. But regardless of their own safety, and despite the constant distraction of questionable fashion choices in the town that style forgot, The Nancys know only they can stop the killer from striking again. Whatever the cost…
R.W.R. McDonald (Rob) is an award-winning author, a Kiwi and Queer dad living in Melbourne with his two daughters and one HarryCat.
His debut novel, The Nancys, won Best First Novel in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards, as well as being a finalist in the Best Novel category. It was shortlisted for Best First Novel in the 2020 Ned Kelly Awards, and Highly Commended for an Unpublished Manuscript in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. His second novel, Nancy Business, was a finalist for Best Novel in the 2022 Ngaio Marsh Awards.
My thoughts: My aunt used to send me Nancy Drew books from America, but I never really got into them – tbf I was already reading Agatha Christie’s finest by ten, so maybe Nancy passed me by.
But for grieving eleven-year-old Tippy, the collection of Nancy Drews she’s grown up with, some of which were her grandmother’s and some her uncle’s are a source of inspiration and support. Her Uncle Pike has come to stay, bringing his boyfriend Devon and a huge sprinkle of glitter to the small New Zealand town he left as soon as he could.
Tippy’s mum has won a cruise, and has rather unwillingly agreed to leave her brother in charge of her home and daughter, hoping they can’t get into too much trouble while she’s gone.
Unfortunately for her, Tippy’s teacher is murdered, and with her Uncle Pike and Devon, Tippy has formed The Nancys, to investigate. It’s a small town, so the killer has to be someone she knows. The main suspect is an old friend of Pike’s, but the trio don’t think she’s guilty.
And while they’re solving this horrible crime, Tippy is still wondering what really happened to her dad, her mum won’t talk about him, and she’s worried she’s going to forget him.
This is such a bittersweet book, Tippy is grieving, only really has two friends, is stuck in a tiny town without really having many people around her. Her mum’s also wrapped in grief, burying herself in work, not able to talk to her daughter. Pike and Devon are kind but not very child friendly, their world in Sydney is very different from Riverstone, and they maybe aren’t making the best decisions in letting Tippy skip school and look for a murderer, but they’re loving and trying to find a way to help her.
I really liked it, and I think a lot of readers will embrace this curious crime solving team. I would say it’s suitable from about 10 upwards, but do bear in mind my wildly unsuitable reading material at that age!
*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 proud to present the cover for The Blood Assassin by Samantha Shaye! Pre-order your copy today!
The Blood Assassin
Expected Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Upper YA/ Dark Fantasy/ Vampires
Vampires who are assassins
Forbidden love
Found family
Secret society
Strong friendship
Betrayal
Hidden truths
No spice
In the shadows, the truth awaits, ready to shatter reality.
As a member of the prestigious vampire coven, the Assembly of Shadows, Bria Allen has trained her entire life to become an elite assassin, following in the footsteps of her revered parents. But when her best friend Luna and an entire sect mysteriously disappear, Bria’s loyalty is tested like never before.
Amidst the doctrines and surveillance of the coven, Bria must navigate a treacherous path filled with ancient rituals, frenzied vampires, and hidden conspiracies.
Will she keep the secrets to herself and follow safely in her family’s footsteps or dare to unveil the truth and stand alone against the Assembly?
Leighanna Pauley barely escaped consumption. Now, she’s claimed by both Life and Death. Fascinated by justice and why she survived when so many others haven’t, she has a new obsession: the murder of a fellow socialite. But the police have no leads.
The investigation emboldens Leighanna to attend the first ball held at the Carmine Estate. When midnight strikes, the unimaginable takes place. Time stops for everyone but Leighanna. Before her stands the ghost of the dead girl, pleading with Leighanna to catch her killer before someone else is murdered.
In a race against time, Leighanna hunts for clues across Stornshire. Will she be able to solve the case before the murderer strikes again, or will she become just another forgotten victim?
My thoughts: Although Leighanna was fairly exasperating at times – listen to your friends! I quite enjoyed her investigation into the death of a young woman at a party. Leigh wasn’t there as she was sort of dying of TB at the time. Life and Death were both with her, and she hovered between them. Anthropomorphic personifications of Life, Death and Time pop up to move things around as they wait to see which way Leigh will go.
But Leigh is very busy living and trying to solve a murder. She finds clues that the police missed – like a very special pocket watch, and comes to suspect her brother’s best friend, and her nemesis, Casper. But has she got the right man?
Her friends try to help her, but she doesn’t always listen and puts herself in danger, being so quick to make decisions, she doesn’t consider any of the risks.
It’s a fun little mystery, and Leigh is a headstrong young woman in the wrong era – the 1800s are not prepared for a woman detective and neither is society.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 