The Last Lost Girl                   by Casey L. Bond

 Casey L. Bond has a new title coming soon. “The Last Lost Girl” is Casey’s twist on an old story.  Her books always draw me into the imaginative worlds she has created. Where walking beside her characters lets me become part of the action, sharing their adventures, dangers, romance, twists and turns. I never know where she will take me but it is always a wondrous journey. More about this story to follow soon.

 

Glimmer of the Other by Heather G. Harris

                                  Review by Katy Grant

                         Saving the Realms

 

 After her parents’ murders Jinx, Jessica Sharp at 18, became a private investigator, creating a job in which she could work for others but also to continue the search for answers about who had murdered her parents and why.  Her mother always told her to “fly under the radar” since there was something unique about herself that could cause problems. Jinx was a human lie detector. Recognizing instantly the truth or lie behind what people were saying, and sometimes if she pushed them a bit, she could get them to truthfully answer questions they’d had no intentions of answering. This she keeps to herself, however, not even telling the caring Mrs. Harding, the neighbor who lived next door Jinx’s whole life. Mrs. H. was a real help, she had comforted Jinx after her parents’ death, continued to watch out for her, even keeping Gato, Jinx’s extremely large Great Dane, when he couldn’t tag along on a job.

 A simple search for a missing young woman will open realms to Jinx, she never dreamed existed, much less could she believe that she belonged in them.  Joined in her search for Hester, Lady Sorrel’s granddaughter, is Zachary Stone, who appears as stoic as his name…at first. It was the stop at Rosie’s Café that Stone realized Jinx was what he called a ’truth seeker’.  Stone suddenly grabbed her wrist looking at her saying she’d been ’hidden’.  Which translated that even though she was aware of her powers, she had been totally ignorant of the world of magical beings of which she was one. There are three realms, but all her life Jinx had lived in the Common Realm where magical beings could mingle with humans without the humans seeing them as they really are. Stone, it seemed, was a high-ranking inspector in what he called the Connection, a governing body for the Realm of the Other.   Without much fuss, Stone stepped out behind Rosie’s introduced her to the Other. When they walked back into the café, it was like walking into the mirror and coming out on the other side into a strange world that looked the same, only some of the people she saw definitely weren’t human. Within this realm magical beings and humans still mixed but as an Other Jinx could now see the magical creatures as they truly were. And finding Hester just became a lot more complicated since the new boyfriend she had disappeared with was a vampyr. 

Characters, both human and magical beings inhabit the realms in which Jinx would travel with Stone. Each had its rules that must be followed while danger flowed hot and heavy in all three realms, emotions were high, and it was easy to offend without knowing it. At the center of it all was the dagger created for a very special purpose that at all costs must not fall into the wrong hands.

 This tale has some well-known legendary beasties, as well as some I had never seen in my decades of reading sci-fantasy literature. Heather Harris did a grand job of giving even the familiar beasties unique abilities and characteristics. Her realms may be hidden but the suspense and danger is on just about every page. I never knew what to expect when I turned the next page or who Stone and Jinx might encounter. The story is a living thing that moves in and out of the imagination and made me feel as if I were being drawn into a world filled with stories yet to be shared, characters that I grew to care about, but might disappear from the next page.

Dry humor sneaks in, in spots, British colloquialisms and wording I found easily understandable in the context of the telling. A tale which gives us implied romance, danger, death, hard won friendships, shifters, deamons, empathy’s, vampyrs, trolls, ogres, mer-people, dragons and more. I got so caught up in the series after turning the last page, I immediately picked up the rest of the books to follow the story to its “conclusion”? Written in the King’s English the reader be treated to familiar words with different spellings, British colloquial sayings, and humor.

I first started listening on audio and found myself lost in listening to the beautifully narrated book. Alyse Gibbs’ precise, clipped King’s English is spot on and very easy to follow. [I worked for over 15 years with a British lady who never gave in to American slang.] Likewise, I never seemed to have a problem distinguishing which character was speaking since Alyse Gibbs’ intonations and slight changes in range of her voice quickly alerted me that a different character was speaking. She is an excellent narrator. I highly recommend this tale in both Audible and eBook, I made good use of both.

 

Blood Weaver Lady by Karina Espinosa

reviewed by Katy Grant

        Foe or Friend, Obsessed with or Loved by

Layanna, a blood mage princess, hides behind the guise of Leila a healer of Lomewood. Befriended by the only living person to know her true identity, Selene. Part merfolk, she had been sold into servitude by her father, to the Rose Petal, a house of pleasure. They would watch over each other until the promised time when Leila would find the means to free Selene from her bondage and Leila could safely return home to Valoria.

   Ten years ago, war broke out between Valoria and Keldara.  Layanna was sent away with her loyal guardian Sir Eric. Even as the war ended, Eric had warned Layanna there was danger to her life if they returned to Valoria. Promising to reveal all he knew of the peril, in her path, when she was older. In the meantime, he trained her in the use of her blood magic, as well as how to defend herself.  Sadly, he died before sharing his knowledge of the danger.  To find the answers she sought, Layanna stayed hidden plying her trade as a healer while quietly searching in places where information flowed.

  Word has been spread The Crimson Clan, another waring people, from the Grasslands had sent a message to Valoria that they held the Lost Princess and would return her to Valoria only if the King and Queen agreed to certain demands. Otherwise, she would be married to the clan chief’s son. After ten years what had changed? Why was the Crimson Clan avowing they had her as a bargaining chip? She needed to learn more.

  News came to Leila that some from the Crimson Clan had been reported within Lomewood. Leila feared for Selene with such men visiting the Rose Petal.  So, when Selene signaled Leila she was in trouble, Leila faced off several of the Crimson Clan men surprising Ronan, the leader of the Crimson Clan group, with her skills as his men lay defeated at her feet. Ronan made the mistake of trying to buy Leila’s “services” as a pleasurer. She caught him off guard when she remarked that the services, he needed from her were those of a healer. The mark on his neck proved someone had tried to poison him. He was surprised by her knowledge and the attempt on his life. Leila was even more surprised when he confronted her the next morning with the knowledge that he knew who she was, the Lost Princess.

Within the vast Central Plains, the small town of Lomewood was supposed to be neutral territory, free of the kingdoms and clans’ dealings. Nevertheless, when some from the Crimson Clan entered the city, they would come face to face with Layanna’s brother Prince Marcellus and their childhood friend Prince Caelan, of Eldwain. When her brother Marcellus and Caelan found the Crimson Clan in the city they brought in reinforcements. Leila would be caught in the middle of a battle between Ronan, his men, and Caelan with a stronger force of soldiers. Caelan sought Ronan’s death as well as the release of the Princess and would destroy any who stood in his way.  When Leila got caught in the crossfire she would be captured and tortured by one she thought a friend, while the one she assumed to be an enemy would fight to protect her. Why?

 The are no empty sentences as the story rolls out its magic, mystery, drama, hidden secrets, hatreds, warring differences, variety of atypical magical beings and unbound love, in a world uniquely built on a very imaginative platform. In this book we learn about the city of Lomewood and the Central Plains. While, I hope to see more of the other kingdoms in the next editions. Kariana Espinosa has done a smashing job of clouding the characters, so the reader isn’t certain who to believe and who to mistrust. Selene, Leila and a young boy named Henry are the only ones I am sure of at the moment. Emotions run high through the characters, easily heard in their exchanges and dialogue. In this first book, just when you think you may have an idea of who’s, who and where the story is going you turn the page to another confrontation and the characters show a completely different side to themselves. Leila is smart, wary, strong, and unsure of those she thought she knew. At the center of chaos trying to understand what is happening, and why now, Leila only knows she wants no harm to come to Ronan or Caelan. his is only the beginning, with a cliff hanger that will keep my trying to predict what happens next until next book surfaces on the shelves.

 Those Forbidden Shadows by Cameo Renae

 Review by Katy Grant

There is a reason I enjoyed reading Young Adult books so much, the author did the parents in before they could try to control the characters lives beyond the age of consent. Books for adult readers don’t have the same compulsion.

 

Kage was dying. He had brought them to Nether, where Elara could find the flower that would save his life. She would have to face Oren, a carnivorous tree which held the spirit of a child. Here too, she would face the Alena, the witch, who guarded the flower which held the elixir that could save Kage. Willing to pay any price to save him, Elara willingly agreed to the Witch’s demands. Their time in the Nether would be short but allow them time to explore the love they have for each other.

Valr, Kage’s Shadow Hawk had found them, while Rem followed closely on his wings. They must return to Celestria or there would be war. Vera and her parents were in Celestria demanding to see Kage to prove that he was not with Elara.

Knowing they must hide their feelings for each other or be charged with breaking the marriage contract, made by his father's ill-advised decision, Kage could hardly control his rage. Elara needed to stay away from him for fear of not being able to hide her love for Kage from others. Rem guarded her, while allowing others to believe he and Elara with lovers. Bringing her to train beside the elite guard, she would become one of them. Beloved for her strength, loyalty, determination, and her willingness to stand up for those who had no protection.  The guards quickly embraced the strong, caring young woman, protecting her with their lives. But it wasn’t enough, there were those who wanted her dead and would stop at nothing to see that it happened. Vera and her parents were watching, waiting for the moment they would see her dead or find the means to take over Terr.

 

Kage and Elara prove themselves to be resilient characters in the face of tremendous adversity, dealing with those plotting to separate them, kill them and even one who would capture Elara and enslave her. I loved that Cameo Renee gave us the back stories for secondary characters, so the reader has an even better view of the world Elara has been brought back too. The mystery of Elara’s birth is slowly being peeled away as she learns of the one who brought her to Earth but yet, not why.  I loved the fact that the villains aren’t hiding but still manage to work their evil. Even more I enjoyed that Kage refuses to pretend he has ever wanted to marry Vera and now he plainly demonstrations his loathing of the woman, no matter the consequences. By the time I reached the last page, there is still so much left to uncover in this story. If you have ever come to the end of a book and wish that it would go on, this is one to pick up and read. There is so much happening, so many mysteries still not uncovered. I felt like I was in Wonderland where characters of the strange and wonderous appear, villains are standing in plain sight while Elara finds it within herself to keep going.  Kage and Elara still hang in the balance, the Emperess’ death and even the death of Kage’s own mother has yet to be answered. With Elara’s magic still bound, she will face the adversity of a world she was born into but never had the chance in which to grow up in. She will confront magical beings fighting for their lives against hers while there are traps set targeting her death.  So, looking forward to the next book in the Star Kissed series.