In the quaint seaside town of Loch Lomond, an ominous fog descends, shrouding the landscape in mystery and fear. As the locals whisper of lurking terrors within its depths, the fog thickens, casting an eerie pall over the town.
When a girl goes missing, simple shepherd Ivas Sbarg has the only clue to what happened, and he ventures into the mist to find her. He stumbles upon a chilling revelation: something far more sinister than the monstrous fog is on the horizon, and it hungers for the souls of all who dwell in Loch Lomond.
In a desperate bid to unravel the mystery and save their town from impending doom, Ivas, a girl with horns, and an incredible cast of villagers, must navigate the treacherous fog and confront otherworldly forces. But as they delve deeper into the heart of darkness, they soon realize that the true enemy may lie closer than they ever imagined.
A gripping tale of unlikely alliances and unwavering courage, The Shepherd and the Horned Girl plunges readers into a world of ancient legends and supernatural horrors. With its richly developed characters and palpable sense of dread, this haunting narrative explores themes of grief, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.
Prepare to be ensnared by the chilling atmosphere and heart-pounding suspense of The Shepherd and the Horned Girl—a mesmerizing journey that will leave you hooked until the very last page.
My thoughts: this is a dark fairy tale, about a Dead God who sends a terrible fog full of monsters ahead of him, a brave Shepherd, a girl with horns and the power of friendship.
Ivas tends his flock with his loyal dog Blanc, and braves the fog to rescue a lost lamb one night, a night that changes his life. There in the fog he sees a Messenger, and it delivers a scroll to a young woman in a neighbouring cottage. The next morning, that girl, Ruby, is missing. Ivas knows the fog took her, and that only he might be able to find her.
The fog is growing and cutting off the small town from the world – so Ivas, Ruby, his friend Tess and her aunt (who happens to be a witch) join forces to fight off the Dead God and repel the fog, before it can take their town.
This tale of resilience, bravery, friendship and determination is haunting and beautiful.
Also available now:
The highly anticipated second book in this dark and twisted fantasy horror series is finally here!
Don’t go in the woods…
Desperate for respite from the horrors of their past, Ivas and Ruby seek refuge in the serene mountains away from the seaside, hoping to leave their troubles behind. After narrowly escaping the clutches of supernatural scavengers from the sea, Ivas and Ruby find sanctuary on a secluded mountain farm. But tranquility proves elusive as they soon discover that the monsters they sought to escape are lurking in the shadows of this new wilderness.
As Ruby, finally free from her cursed horns, begins to embrace her newfound sense of safety, a sinister presence emerges from the depths of the forest. A legendary monster, responsible for the countless disappearances haunting the woods, sets its sights on the unsuspecting duo.
With danger closing in from all sides, Ivas and Ruby must summon all their courage and ingenuity to survive the relentless pursuit of this ancient terror. As they unravel the mysteries of the mountain and confront their darkest fears, they realize that the true battle for their lives has only just begun.
Join Ivas and Ruby on another heart-pounding adventure fraught with peril and suspense in The Shepherd and the Reaper, the thrilling next installment in this spellbinding series of fantasy horror.
About the Author
Breanna Bright is the author of ‘In The End’ and ‘The Shepherd and the Horned Girl’. She lives in the American Midwest but is always on the move with travels and adventures, searching for the next story.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for reviewing it, but all opinions remain my own.
Happy publication week to author Molly Crowe! Read on for more info about Shadow of Hope!
Shadow of Hope (Sol Defenders Series #1)
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
IT WAS HER.
SHE WAS THE MARK.
THE GIRL I’D VOWED TO PROTECT WHEN I BECAME THE SHADOW…
Was the next name on Mahan’s list, and it had me questioning everything. It had been seven years since I’d seen her, and now she was betrothed to Captain Luke Ramsey. She would never choose me over him, and she shouldn’t. He was an accomplished captain with the world at his fingertips. I was an orphan with a shady past. I had nothing to offer her but lies about who I was and apologies I hoped she’d never know she deserved. Even so, two things were keeping a small spark of my hope alive. One was the way Kalista looked at me. The other was the way she looked at him. If I was seeing clearly, she didn’t love him. I remembered how she looked at me when she saw me in the stables. I had seen it in her eyes. Delight.
Molly Crowe is a young adult fantasy author who grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
As a child, she was rarely herself, always pretending and playing out the stories she created in her mind. As a teenager, she spent her time filling up journals and daydreaming, and now sneaks her writing in during the early mornings before her husband and two boys wake up and take over her world. Molly loves a hot cup of coffee any time of day, both teaching and practicing yoga, and spending time in the mountains.
Two boys fall in love in a deadly world, but it’s the secrets they keep that might kill them.
From debut author Paul Michael Winters, Together in a Broken World adds a queer romance twist to a popular post-apocalyptic road-trip storyline. Winters is an exciting new LGBTQA voice with a mission to normalize queerness and create joyful stories where you might not normally see queer characters.
Zach, 17, was visiting his uncle in a small Montana town when a mysterious illness ripped through the world. Most died, but those who survived the Infection became mindless killers, spreading the disease with a single scratch. Now, a year later, civilization lies in ruins, and Zach is the town’s sole survivor. Desperately lonely, he longs to return to his family in Seattle, but his fears hold him captive.
Meanwhile, Aiden, 18, is on a critical mission for the covert Scientific Collective, delivering vials whose contents could cure the Infection. Tortured by his boyfriend’s death, he welcomes the risks of the perilous journey. When a militia attacks Aiden, he flees to Zach’s town.
The boys escape together and soon form a bond as they comfort each other in this desolate and broken world. The farther they travel, the more their affection grows, as do the forces pulling them apart. But their greatest threats are the secrets they keep. Zach hides details of his uncle’s death, and Aiden conceals the vials’ sinister origins. In order to survive, they’ll have to confront the truths that could tear their love apart.
Featuring two characters who know and are comfortable with their queerness, Together in a Broken World is about overcoming trauma and loneliness, falling in love amidst adversity, and learning to trust with a subtext of the dangers of climate change and biological warfare. It’s perfect for fans of They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, and All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown.
Author Paul Michael Winters first thought of this story during the early days of COVID when the world was isolated. “This is a story of overcoming isolation and finding connections in a broken world,” Winters says.
“For a long time, I was unaware of just how far LGBTQ+ fiction had progressed until I saw Love, Simon. I was floored, and I immediately started eating up queer fiction. I’m particularly a fan of books that emphasize queer joy, showing queer people living their best lives and being happy. I’m a happily married gay man who’s had a lot of queer joy in my life, and I want to spread that feeling through my storytelling.”
Paul Michael Winters is a lifelong creative writer whose life is filled with queer joy. His passion is to spread that joy through storytelling and writing books where you might not typically see queer characters. His books feature queer people living their best lives where their queerness is an aspect of their personality but doesn’t dominate the story. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his husband and two tuxedo kitties and might have a slight addiction to reading gay romance. But it’s not a problem. He could stop any time he wanted. Honestly. Find him online at pmwinters.com and follow him on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and Twitter.
AIDEN It’s hard to get over how desolate the world is now. I haven’t seen another soul for over a week. And if I want to stay alive, I hope to keep it that way. The road cuts a winding path through a dense forest, the cone of my headlights revealing just enough to see ahead. Everything else is stark blackness. Daft Punk and GRiZ blast through the car’s speakers—an EDM mix I made last year as a DJ for my high school. Back when DJs and high schools existed, that is. The bass rumbling through the seat makes me feel connected to the car. With one eye on the road, I paw at the backpack resting on the passenger seat. It’s the third time this hour I’ve checked on the vials. The familiar shape of the protective aluminum case through the nylon fabric helps ease my anxiety. For the moment, anyway. It may be a little obsessive, but the vials are my critical cargo. They’re what I’m risking my life for. And I’m doing this for Marcus. The slightest thought of him sends waves of grief flooding over me. I fight those feelings and bury them away. Letting emotions control me is the surest way of getting killed. When I pull up to a rest area, the car cuts a path through an inch of pine needles spread over the parking lot. Weeds spring up through every possible crack, and vines are well on their way to swallowing the restrooms whole. The sheer relentlessness of Mother Nature is startling. Since manmade light is a thing of the past, it’s impossible to see your hand six inches in front of your face, especially on a cloudy, moonless night in rural Montana. The headlights are my only guide through the darkness, so I leave them turned on. As I open the door, I’m hit with a cold blast of air and the smell of sap. It must be low forties out. My breaths puff out in misty clouds. Looters often overlook vending machines at rest stops, so I always check them out. I’m pleasantly surprised to find the machines undamaged and nearly full. With a few pries of a crowbar, the lock springs open. I load what I can into my backpack and stuff the rest in a black plastic bag.
After doing my business in the restroom, I return to my faded red ’97 Integra, crunching through the thick layer of decaying pine needles. I stop suddenly, staring at another pair of footprints that cross over mine, head up to my car door, and then into the woods. They were not here before. I’m sure of it. Did I remember to lock the door? In a flash, I run to the car and reach for the handle. Locked. Thank god. The second I’m in, I fire up the engine. Debris kicks up from the tires as I hit the gas and speed away. For the next several minutes, I’m hypervigilant, keeping my eye on the mirrors and looking ahead for a potential ambush. Those footprints could have been from a member of a local militia. Their scouts are notorious for spotting lone cars and radioing for backup. Or the footprints could have been from one of the people sick with that damn disease. The Infected. It’s unlikely since they went right up to the car door. Once the fever has done its damage, the Infected don’t really have that level of cognitive ability. The path would have been more random. Either way, I’m glad to put the rest area behind me. As time passes, my nerves start to settle. Guess I got lucky. Maybe it was nothing, like a local survivor passing through. As the minutes drift by, my eyes get heavy. It’s no use fighting sleep, so I scan the highway for a side road with enough cover to pull over and rest for the night. That’s when headlights shine in my rearview mirror. Goddamn it. Carjackers. Their standard MO is to drive up beside you and point guns at the car until you pull over. But I’m not planning on letting them get that close. The trick is to go slowly at first and make them overconfident. Let them think they’ve got easy prey. Then floor it. Take curves so fast, they’ll piss their pants. With any luck, their car will spin out, trying to follow. It’s half skill, half psychology. And here comes a curve now. I find just the right speed to keep traction. The tires squeal but hold. Right at the apex of the turn, I punch the accelerator. It pushes me back into the seat as the tires grab the tarmac, and the car blasts down the road. Those guys should be long gone, but somehow, the headlights shine in the rearview mirror again.
Shit. These guys are good. I floor the accelerator, but the engine groans in protest. A distinct smell of burning oil drifts into the cabin. That can’t be good. Whizzing sounds fly past the car. Are those bullets? Are they shooting at me? A bullet hits the rear window, shattering it into a million pieces, making my heart rate spike. These aren’t carjackers. They’re trying to kill me. I turn off the music. Drawing in a deep breath, my training kicks in. One wrong move, and I’m dead. I sharpen my focus and clear my mind, each action deliberate and calculated. I weave the car back and forth to evade the next round of bullets and take the next turn faster than the last. The subtle sliding out of the back end translates through the wheel. With the slightest shift of steering and a barely perceptible change of speed, the car holds to the curve. Another round of bullets sprays the car, and the left rear tire explodes. The steering wheel lurches violently. Trying to steady it takes every ounce of strength, fingers clenched, my life on the line. The car veers off the road, and I slam on the brakes. Dirt kicks up everywhere but decelerates the vehicle gradually enough that the crash doesn’t kill me. The front bumper comes to rest against a tree. Ninety to zero in five seconds. And somehow, I’m still alive. I grab the backpack and my mixtape as headlights approach. With no time for anything else, I jump out and run for the cover of the forest. The sounds of screeching brakes and slamming car doors are right behind me. I’m in total darkness. Brambles rip against my face and arms as I stumble through the woods. The knobby end of a tree branch hits me hard in the ribs. The pain is blinding, but I grit my teeth and push forward. Bullets stream past, some hitting nearby trees, covering me in an explosion of splinters. A voice yells out from behind. “Aiden! I know you’re there. Hand over the vials, and you can walk away.” Who the hell knows my name? Worse, how do they know what I’m carrying? The only other person aware of my mission is the woman who sent me. She handpicked me because I was the only courier who could get the job done. Willing to do what most would call a suicide mission. And maybe that’s what this is.
Behind me, the gunshots and shouts are relentless. My lungs burn, and my ribs scream. Every part of my body is telling me to stop. To my left, the ground slopes slightly. I fumble in that direction, following it downward. As it gets steeper, the slope forces my pace to quicken. I’m barely able to keep my feet from sliding under me. A wet patch of leaves sends my legs flailing forward, and for the last thirty feet, I’m on my backside until my boots splash into a running stream. My burning lungs force me to pause for a moment. Beyond the babbling of the stream are the sounds of gunshots and shouting, but they’re far off to my right. So, I head in the opposite direction with slow and deliberate footsteps, favoring silence over speed. After several minutes of painfully slow going, the sound of the stream is gone, and the gunshots have fallen silent. But I don’t dare stop yet. Time has lost all meaning in the darkness. It could be twenty minutes. Could be an hour. My aching feet and burning muscles are my only gauge, and they just hit empty. I sit down hard on the forest floor. How did that get so bad so fast? My mind races, playing out all the scenarios that could have happened. If the car lurches the other way, or a bullet flies six inches to the right, then I’m dead. Focus, Aiden. I close my eyes and force out unwanted thoughts, clearing my mind. Okay. Survival. When I open my eyes, they’ve adjusted to the darkness. The moon has risen, providing the slightest bit of light. Vague details emerge. Scrapes run up and down my arms, but nothing is too deep. I’ll live. My ribs are tender at the spot where I hit the tree. The slightest touch makes me wince in pain. Yeah, that’s going to suck for a while. Inside my backpack, the small aluminum box has a minor dent in one corner, but beyond that, it’s undamaged. This is what my pursuers were after. But who in the hell were they? I know the territories of every militia group between Boston and Seattle. Standard training for couriers like me. This is the turf of the Freedom Liberation Army—the FLA. Grabbing every bit of territory after the Great Collapse, their influence runs from Montana to Central Washington. But how could they know anything about my mission? There’ll be time to figure that out. Right now, my focus needs to be on staying alive. Besides the box, there’s not much in the backpack—a bottle of water and the granola bars and pretzels I looted. Of course, my flashlight, compass, and gun are all back in the car. I wasn’t expecting to have to ditch it like that. Sure glad I took the time to get my mixtape. Shit. It’s not a lot, but it’ll last me until tomorrow. No sense in stumbling around in the dark, so finding shelter is the first order of business—something with cover and warmth. A small, protected hollow under a tree fits me perfectly. A layer of moss and leaves act as my blanket, and I soon fall into a restless sleep. The same dream haunts me every night. Like some sick cosmic joke, my worst memory replays in my mind, a horror movie in excruciating detail. I’m returning from an illfated mission. My fellow courier Connor has died, sacrificing his life to save mine. But things get even worse at home as I discover my boyfriend, Marcus, has fallen ill. He’s lying in bed, sick and dying, the Infection in its vicious final stage. I stand by his bedside, a protective barrier separating us. The undulations in the plastic distort his face. A face that is pale and worn out, with deep creases marring what was once beautiful. He looks more eighty than eighteen. “Aiden,” he utters weakly, putting a hand up to the barrier. I press my hand against his, with tears streaming down my face. “I’m here, Marcus.” His voice is only a whisper. “Connor. I know—” His words are cut off by a fit of coughing. I pull back in shock. Marcus couldn’t know what happened on the mission. I only just returned, and Conner didn’t make it back alive. “What about Connor?” I ask. He’s too weak to speak. But the look in his eyes is sadness and hurt. I want to explain and tell him what happened—tell him I love him. But he’s used his last breath. He coughs up blood, and his body thrashes as the Infection claims its latest victim. The only small mercy is him not turning into one of those—things. Consciousness tears a hole through my nightmare, and I wake up with a start, my eyes damp. No use in trying to bury this memory. My subconscious won’t allow it. It’s been six months since his death, but the dream keeps returning as vivid as if it were yesterday. The box. In a panic, I reach for the backpack, but of course, it’s still there. That same familiar shape. I’m under no illusion that the vials in the box will erase my torment or somehow bring Marcus back. But if they help find a cure and save a single person from the Infection, or spare a single loved one from feeling the misery I feel, maybe I’ll have done my penance. Maybe that will dampen the pain. And if this really is a suicide mission? Well, that’ll dampen the pain too.
My thoughts: this was a really good road trip, dystopian love story, with two engaging and interesting protagonists.
Following a terrible environmental disaster that has led to a government collapse and a deadly virus has left society in tatters, with isolated pockets of survivors fending off looters, militia and infected people (a bit like The Walking Dead).
Zach is stranded in rural Montana, where his uncle lived, he’s fortified a safe place for himself and set up some defences. But he’s alone, and scared.
Aiden is working for group of scientists, hoping to create a cure or vaccine for the virus that leads to the Infection. Unlike in the pandemic of recent years, the lack of communication methods and the collapsed society means they’re working in isolation and under threat.
When the two cross paths, sparks fly. But they’re not safe, a militia group is hunting them. As they travel to Seattle they meet other people surviving and are helped by some of them, reminded of the kindness of strangers and determined to reach their destination, their bond grows.
It’s a sweet young love story, a gripping adventure and a tale of surviving against the odds in a changed world.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
To celebrate the release of the new book in the series, Veiled Scars, we want to reacquaint you with the first installment, The Timewalker Archives! Visit our Instagram page for a chance to win a paperback edition of this beauty!
The Timewalker Archives (The Timewalker Archives, Vol 1)
Publication Date: May 2023
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
Time Travel
Hidden Abilities
Secret Societies
Deadly Competition
Historical Descendants
Slow Burn
Trauma & Anxiety Rep
Rivals to Lovers
Women in History
Hidden Clues
Unlikely alliances, ancient lineages, and a rich history shrouded in secrets propel Adelaide Anson in her search for the only thing that matters—the truth behind the fire that claimed her parents’ lives.
When a mysterious letter appears promising answers, she finds herself joining the allusive time traveling order of the Red Rose Society. As she makes her way from the French Revolution to the American Civil War and back again, Adelaide is left wondering who she can trust, and more importantly, who she’ll be. With danger and dashing companions at every turn, her emerging ability to see fragments of history leads her on a path to uncover the answers she seeks—and some she did not ask for.
While time unravels in ways she never thought possible, she’s forced to examine her role in history’s making. But as she quickly learns, the truth comes with a price, and some secrets are better left buried. Adelaide’s tale of twisted time will leave her asking the ultimate question—is protecting the past worth sacrificing your future?
The Timewalker Archives is the first book in a young adult historical fantasy series perfect for fans of NBC’s Timeless and Alyson Noël’s Stealing Infinity.
Happy cover reveal day to author A.W. Jackson! The Pudding Lane Witch will be hitting retailers this fall! Pre-order now!
The Pudding Lane Witch
Expected Publication Date: September 24. 2024
Genre YA/ LGBTQ+ Fantasy
“They killed her! They tied her up and burned her!”
On the run from the mob who killed her mother, young pyrokinetic witch Gweneviere Baxter is running out of options. Surviving as an unmarried young woman in the 17th century is challenging enough, let alone when you are a witch. So, when the opportunity to wed the local baker is presented to her, Gweneviere feels she has no other choice, if she wants to survive.
Tragically, marriage is less peaceful than Gweneviere had envisaged, and she struggles to keep her witch identity hidden as she suffers through her husband’s daily abuse. But everything changes with the arrival of a young slave woman, Kambili, and Gweneviere falls hard and fast, her love for Kambili shining brightly in her otherwise hellish life.
But with both witches and mortals working against her, will Gweneviere ever be able to make a life for herself and her true love? Will she ever have her paradise?
It’s release day for author Julia Janis, and A Flare Above the Dawn is now available! The series is complete!
The Rhythmist Cycle is a YA epic fantasy series perfect for those who want a teen version of Lord of the Rings with a music magic system and swoony romance!
Darkness is rising.
Two armies are growing.
A war is coming.
Derrick and his friends are on the brink of ending Darkness from the world. But it requires going on life-threatening quests to retrieve the only power to destroy it: the Phoenix amulet.
There’s one problem though. The amulet is broken into two pieces with one lying in the Highland Mountains across the High Realm and the other lost in the Dark Realm–an unknown place the first Dark one accidentally created when Darkness was brought to the world. Now Derrick’s group must split apart to reclaim the pieces and unite them together. Failure to do so, and Killian will go to war, killing every last living Rhythmist and letting Darkness win.
Join Derrick, Kota, Elias, and Zamora in the final book of The Rhythmist Cycle where they travel through treacherous lands, fight savage monsters, and uncover truths that change them for good…or for worse.
Adair Finch is the most powerful warlock in the world, and one of the best private investigators for hire. He has dealt with corporate vampires, murderous werewolves, and even fae royalty. Everything was perfect until he lost one case—the case where he also lost his brother.
So Finch retired. From magic. From PI work. From everything.
Bree Blackstone, a twelve-year-old witch, doesn’t know or care about any of that except Finch’s reputation. In the middle of the night, she bangs on Finch’s door. Her mother has been murdered, and now the assassin is after Bree as well. Reluctantly, Finch agrees to help, only to discover something sinister has been brewing in town while he ignored the world… He’ll need to dust off all his old skills and magic before it’s too late.
Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.
If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations: WebsiteTwitterFacebook Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com
My thoughts: with a mix of The Dresden Files, Bane from the Shadowhunter books and a sarcastic sidekick in the form of a shape shifting mischief spirit (maybe Calcifer from the Studio Ghibli version of Howl’s Moving Castle, the closest I can think of), this was a fun, entertaining and funny crime busting adventure.
Adair Finch can manipulate time, which comes in very handy when investigating a murder, a kidnapping, police corruption and a witch coven war. Which is what he finds himself doing after a child appears on his doorstep and shakes him out of his grief malaise.
With her help, and that of the aforementioned mischief spirit, Finch digs into the case of Bree’s parents’. Her mother was a witch and her dad is a minor warlock. Bree is the only witness – she saw someone kill her mother and abduct her father. But her mum knew Finch, and told her daughter if anything ever happened to find him.
What Finch and Bree find is so much bigger than it seems – and with his ability to manipulate time he can relive the same time over and over again, changing things in order to solve the crimes, and rescue a dog, unlock a door and other very important things.
It’s a really fun adventure and I loved the characters, Finch is so grumpy and can’t deal with Bree’s irrepressible nature and endless questions, especially when they’ve actually been solving the crime for multiple iterations of the same day. Hopefully this unstoppable team will be back with more adventures.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Journey back to this magical world where things are a bit darker, stakes are higher, and more whimsical magic ensues. Heart of a Liar is book 3 in the Royal Blood Series and continues the adventure with Mellana and friends! Below are a few things you can expect in this next installment!
Heart of a Liar (Royal Blood Series #3)
Author: @adinachiles
Publisher: Forever Young, an imprint of @neverandeverbooks
Cover Designer: @coverdungeonrabbit
Release Date: August 15, 2024
💙Darker Vibes
💙Mind Manipulating Triplets
💙Enemies to Lovers
💙Betrayal
💙Elevated Powers
💙Mirages
💙Reunited With Old Friends
💙Sibling Rivalry
💙Duals
💙Masquerade
💙Magical Deals
💙Forbidden Magic
💙Magical Objects
💙Royal Politics
The tongue may spew lies, but the heart is where they are kept.
When Opal’s deadly mirror spits Mellana out in the worst place imaginable she comes face to face with the man who has haunted her dreams, and once again, she finds herself separated from those she trusts the most. Forced to earn her keep under the new ruler, she and Krispin are sent to the desert of Luxuria, where wicked triplets terrorize the land. The triplets, with a talent for mind games, toy with their new guests, and Mellana will soon learn that the heart is both a magnificent and lethal thing to possess.
As Mellana faces the blistering heat, Jewels and the others move deeper into the icy terrain of Harmeaneous. Sought out by the Kolectin, an organization formed to uphold The Common Laws, group members face imprisonment for unlawfully using their powers. To rescue their friends, and steal an article while they’re at it, Jewels and Minnie team up with unexpected allies. But when betrayal swoops in it will cost them their plan, and possibly a life.
Friendships will be tested, lives will be lost, and hearts will be broken. Can Mellana and her friends make it through unharmed?
Welcome to the tour for Calliope Wakes by Constance Kersaint! Read on for more details!
Publication Date: February 23, 2024 Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
The gods are alive, and they’re in Michigan.
Something is wrong in Bellhaven, and Callie doesn’t know how to stop the nightmares. She just wants to be safe in her small city by Lake Michigan, but there are strangers in town and evil around the corner. Is she causing the troubles or is there something more sinister? Erik has come back into her life and seems to know more about her bursts of insanity than her, but she doesn’t know if she can trust him or if he’s trying to distract her. Then buildings are collapsing, wolves are attacking, people are dying and only Callie can save them. Will this time be different? Will they finally live to see the sun rise on All Hallows’ Eve?
My thoughts: blending Celtic (Irish and Welsh) with Norse mythology is interesting, all these reincarnated gods and frost giants roaming around, desperate to break a curse thousands of years old, mostly by murdering one of both of two teenagers, none of whom asked for any of this, to escape their fates.
Callie is 18, trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and then she’s told that she’s the reincarnation of the Welsh goddess Branwen – doomed to fall in love with a Viking god’s reincarnation and get him killed by his own family, thus creating this looped curse that has kept them all trapped for centuries. Oh, and she can’t leave town – the curse won’t let her.
Her childhood best friend Erik is the other half of the doomed couple, but they haven’t even spoken in four years, so how can they be fated to fall in love? And her whole family turn out to be gods too – at first she thinks she’s losing the plot, but a blow to the head brings back her memories.
Callie is determined to figure a way out of the curse for everyone, a way that doesn’t require her or Erik to be murdered, even if his cousins are gunning for her, and his ex-girlfriend Helena – who’s also Hel, goddess of the underworld. Lovely.
As Samhain approaches and Callie and Erik become even more entwined by the curse, Callie must figure out how to survive, even if Ragnarok will come for them sooner or later instead.
It’s helpful to know a bit about mythology reading this, I’ve read the Mabinogion, the Welsh myth cycle, some Irish myths and Norse myths before, all of which was a bit helpful, as the three overlap a bit here, which is a little confusing at times. Especially as more gods and monsters come to town, but I liked Callie and Erik, as well as Erik’s brother, who was always making stupid jokes.
We’re thrilled to share the cover for upcoming release The Island of Forever by Jeremy Harrison!
The Island of Forever
Expected Publication Date: June 18, 2024
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/LGBTQ+
🌴Coming-of-Age
🌴First Love
🌴Hidden Identity
🌴Chosen One
🌴Friends to Lovers
He’s his own worst enemy—and their only salvation.
Seventeen-year-old Max Greenfell grew up hearing stories about the Island of Forever—a beautiful paradise of intrigue and magic that was once controlled by a destructive shapeshifter who killed everything in his path. When monsters roamed its sandy shores, and the island’s magic began to dwindle, a hero emerged to overcome the evil and restore the land.
But all good stories have an end—and fairy tales are just that—or so he thought.
When a strange storm sweeps through his town, Max finds himself washed upon the shores of the fabled utopia. Faced with bullying and overwhelming anxiety at school, he finds solace in the island’s allure, creating a better reality to confront. But his arrival has disrupted the world’s balance, threatening to unleash the shapeshifter once more.
With help from a snarky merman and a pistol-wielding fairy, Max must embark on a dangerous adventure to ensure the island’s safety. Returning home will be a challenging journey, requiring him to confront his deepest emotions, confide in his closest allies, and survive an encounter with his greatest foe: himself.
ramblingmads 