Books on my mind...

A new book by L. L. Hunter, The Midnight Ball, will hit the streets on Dec. 13, 2022.

 

"In the magical kingdom of Sydlandia, 17 year old Grace is hiding a secret.

When a devasting event upends Grace’s world, it will force her to rethink everything

she’s ever known.

And question everyone around her.

After all, she’s not the only one hiding secrets."

From the bestselling author of The Dragon Heart series and the Legend of the Archangel series, comes the complete Midnight Ball trilogy in one magical collection.

Reign of Secrets

Crown of Lies

Queen of Midnight

A Blaze of Fire 

  By Karina Espinosa

                                                         review by Katy Grant

                    AVAILABLE: Friday  November 4th, 20022

She had left her human world behind to save Ansel. But who would save her from those in the Unseelie Court who would see her dead. First, she was half fae, an abomination in the eyes of the humans as well as in the eyes of the fae. It could be a death sentence for her sire and herself if any found out her father was Kazimir, the Unseelie King’s General. Thankfully, even though she looked exactly like her mother, Kazimir didn’t appear to recognize her.

After speaking to the Seelie Queen, Ansel was allowed to attend the Unseelie Court as an Ambassador, so he could keep watch over Violet. He didn’t like how close his brother was becoming to her. After sneaking into her room to see her, where their passion for each other took over, Alec warned Ansel to stay clear of Violet or he could be the means of all their deaths.

Now within the Unseelie Court, Alec had promised to protect her and to that end he had two loyal fae to stand watch over her. Rose was a Pixie with no powers, a low fae, as her handmaiden and Rook who size and fighting strengths were a bit terrifying. The plan was to demonstrate to the Unseelie King that Violet did hold the Orb within her, therefore having the ability to control and use all four elements, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. The second purpose, to have her offer fealty to him; the third, to prove to the King that once she was completely trained and in control of her elemental powers, she would be an asset to the Unseelie and not a threat.

To this end, her training began with Kazimir, as an elemental fire fae. When she didn’t show promise soon enough, he pushed her off a cliff towards the rocks and water below. Her elemental wind power stood her in good stead, thankfully. But now she was more than ever, weary of him. As another form of testing, the King decided to send Violet along with Kazimir to collect the taxes from the lower fae. Kazimir and Alec both tried to object, to no avail, since Violet herself stood before the King and accepted the task, unknowing of the cruelty behind the act.

The journey would only take a week after all, what could be so hard about collecting taxes. The first village they came to, Violet realized why both men had objected to her going.  The villagers looked as if they were starving, the huts and town looked to be falling down.  She watched as a villager was being whipped half to death because he had no tribute to offer and refused to give up his young daughter. She couldn’t just stand by and watch. She tried to stop the lashing but was pulled away by Alec and ushered off to the Town Hall. Later, the beaten man lay on the ground, where they dropped him after his lashing, as if dead.  While the others were distracted, Violet asked Rook to help her bring him into the Town Hall where she could tend him. The Fae showed no signs of humanity, no compassion to those who they considered beneath them.

As they left the village and headed for the next, along the trail, they were attacked by creatures of death, Wraiths, flying down from the sky with claws extended. Kazimir ordered men left behind to fight them off to give the rest of them time to get away. But as Violet looked back, she could see those left behind would not survive the attack without help. She broke free of Alec and ran toward them to help even if it meant her death….but as she was throwing fire at the creatures a strength broke free from within her….

She was now in mortal danger if the King found out what she had done.

In these chapters, the Unseelie Court unfolds with all its warts, starting with their cruel monarch pulling the strings of control. From the high fae and their arrogant ways to the inhuman treatment of the low fae, to those who look to a legend to somehow change their realm. She knew she couldn’t stand by and watch this inhumanity continue, she would help where she could, while she was here. Violet never intended to stay in this world. Somehow, she would return to the human world.

 The conspiracies, intrigue, secrets, heartbreak and caring hearts will show themselves. Living among these beings had showed her that they were not always what they seem on the surface. Karina Espinosa has put her own imaginative twist to good storytelling, envisioning the Unseelie Court in her own way. Evil is not always fully evil, characters will grow and change, but will it be enough to save those under the King’s oppression, for any to join in to protect Violet or is there too much fear, self-importance, or self-preservation of the old ways. This tale ends in a twisted cliffhanger that sends a dagger to the heart of this reader.   I love the beginning of this tale “A Hint of Delirium”, the first in this trilogy.  But “A Blaze of Fire” had me wanting to hide in the shadows of this tale to watch, listen and somehow become part of this riveting story.

I was given an ARC to read so that I might share what I saw in this tale. This is what I found. 

Wolf Protector (Moon Kissed #3) by Harper A. Brooks

 Edmund is alive and Carmen is by his side, his lover. But that isn’t the hardest part to swallow for Tasha, it is the look of triumph and hatred in her younger sister’s eyes as she faces her. Everything she had done, was to help in her search for Carmen, to bring her home. It was almost incomprehensible to Tasha that Carmen had been with Edmund the whole time.

Tasha and Reid are caged in separate cells, in the dungeon. How did this happen? Reid had promised her he would protect her. Where was the strong Alpha, she had come to love? It’s as if he has accepted defeat without a fight. Fury and pain washed over Tasha, as she looked at Reid. They were the companion’s trying to block out the love she had for him.  At this moment she hated him. She had trusted him and again he had failed her.

Reid watched as his father parades Carmen, pawing her, in front the cells, easily demonstrating his total dominance over the young witch. He sees the pain in Tasha’s eyes, as she watches the disgusting display. All he wants to so is reach out to touch her, to take away her pain. His pain almost overwhelms him as he faces his father. Once again, he is the small child cowering as his father stands over him, with his threats, beatings and punishments. His father is once again in control, the pack following his orders, their jailers his father’s henchmen. Even Mae and her coven of witches are at Edmund’s beck and call.

Even if Tasha and he could somehow free themselves, where would they go? How could they defeat so many against them. Finally left alone, to starve in the cold cells, Tasha’s mind returns to the change in her younger sister. Carmen had been the stronger of the two witches, but she had never been cruel, so filled with hatred. What had Edmund done to her? She didn’t have to wait too long. Carmen came down to share the horrors she had faced, as she accused Tasha of abandoning her. She had a proposition for Tasha, kill Reid and she could go free. Tasha took the knife from Carmen, as she was released her from the cell. Tasha watched Reid’s face as she approached his cell.

 The look on his face told her of his love and his acceptance that by his death, Tasha would be free.

In the end there is a battle coming. Not everyone will come away unscathed, for there has been treachery a foot, as well as fear, that will hold some back.  Can Reid and Tasha together break the chain of horror Edmund has wrought?  Though Tasha loves Reid, she has had a hard time accepting him as her mate, will they finally come together as one or will all that fight against them separate them?

 

With this final tale that began with “The Wolf Hunter,” we will get answers we won't always want to hear, there is heartbreak, betrayal, abuse for those who couldn't defend themselves and a fight to end the reign of tyranny. Shifters, witches, heroes with flaws, evil incarnate, Tasha and Reid will face this and more in their fight to offer a better life for the pack.

The journey that Tasha and Reid have traveled had me following closely on their heels, sharing their ups and downs, sitting on the edge of my chair in fear that one of them wouldn’t make it to the end. The ending was so full of suspense, I had to sit on my hands so I wouldn’t rush to the end of the book to see what happened.  

Casey L. Bond has a captivating new tale that will be available beginning October 13th. And this is just the first. There is such much happening within this tale a second book to finish the story will come out soon. 

“Where Oceans Burn”

“ With these three virtues, we shall rise. With these three, we shall conquer: Truth. Honor. Blood.

To my people, the sky-reigning Empyreans, Intention Day is sacred... To me, it’s the day my carefully

 crafted lie crumbles and my truth gives way to my ruin. The great scale of the goddess Neera has tipped out of my favor. The pans teeter between weighty punishment and deadly opportunity. My choices? Capture my most formidable enemy before next Intention Day, or forfeit my wings.

But life’s loftiest plans are often a breath away from disaster, and tragedy strikes as unpredictably as a bolt of lightning. When I find myself at the mercy of the Shark of the Sea, the monster who killed the person I loved most, I accept my fate. My death. But the Shark does not lash out in revenge for all I’ve done. He tells me his true name is Crest. And while he calls me a Scourge, he honors his orders to guard me.

I am Elira, great Scourge of the Sky.

He is Crest, cunning Shark of the Sea.

Together... we could be unstoppable.”

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1muuOSTFyut1Np64S7IyoXhkTug-cYSYk/view?usp=sharing

"Where Oceans Burn
With these three virtues, we shall rise. With these three, we shall conquer: Truth. Honor. Blood.

To my people, the sky-reigning Empyreans, Intention Day is sacred... To me, it’s the day my carefully
crafted lie crumbles and my truth gives way to my ruin. The great scale of the goddess Neera has tipped out of my favor. The pans teeter between weighty punishment and deadly opportunity. My choices? Capture my most formidable enemy before next Intention Day or forfeit my wings.

But life’s loftiest plans are often a breath away from disaster, and tragedy strikes as unpredictably as a bolt of lightning. When I find myself at the mercy of the Shark of the Sea, the monster who killed the person I loved most, I accept my fate. My death. But the Shark does not lash out in revenge for all I’ve done. He tells me his true name is Crest. And while he calls me a Scourge, he honors his orders to guard me.

I am Elira, great Scourge of the Sky.
He is Crest, cunning Shark of the Sea.
Together... we could be unstoppable."

 Wolf Tamer: Moon Kissed Bk 2

          by Harper A Brooks

My Review

Well Tasha, this is another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into; about to be burned at the stake and still she couldn’t get her magic to come to life.   In the meantime, back at the Redcliff mansion Reid is in his own life or death struggle fighting not one but, two Pack wolves intent on ending the Alpha’s reign and his life.

…. back where they started, a bit singed, scraped up and bruised; they still don’t have a clue as to where Carmen may be held, by whom. Nor have they found how the Redciliff boundaries are being breached or the reasons behind it.  Reid is well aware of the dissention among the wolves, not the least of it being their mistrust and hatred towards Tasha and the witches. Now he must show his strength as Alpha to prove to the wolves that he is in control, to be feared and obeyed. For this reason, the Pack has assembled in the mansion to watch as he metes out pack punishment to Tasha for “escaping”.  It is harsh, cruel and painful while, many watch in satisfaction with glee and lust in their eyes.

 Matching Reid’s reasons for this act of cruelty with his tender words and care of her afterwards makes trusting Reid even harder for Tasha.  As the days progress, she tries to make friends with the wolves starting with Liam and Julius.  She struggles to find her place within the Pack, to stand by Reid’s side.  Reid spends most days with the Pack and even when he returns to her at night, he keeps his counsel and his secrets tucked away.  Uncertain, of his feelings for her, Tasha fears she has let herself begin to care too much for Reid.  What if his need to control and lead the Pack means she might, just be collateral damage in the end?

Something is off about the Redcliff mansion. Keeping herself busy during the day helps to calm the thoughts of her sister, the distance she feels is forming between her and Reid, along with concerns the enemy is circling ever closer.  So, she quietly searches, looking for hidden passages, listening for sounds out of place, smells that don’t belong. The old mansion holds secrets within its walls that portent danger to all.

 “Wolf Tamer” offers some answers, while it draws a tighter bond around the Pack and our heroes. As any good tale there is still more to learn, and the end may not yet be foreseen. There are still questions, secrets and even a few surprises. Emotions are right up there with the struggles and secrets that push everyone to the limits of their endurance. Tasha and Reid’s strengths, the Pack’s burgeoning acceptance as some come to see the outside dangers pressing in, others accepting Tasha as someone who wants to help, the hatred the witches seem to have for all, carry the storyline forward on a winding path and made me want to see how it may be resolved.

I was given an ARC to share, through my point of view, with others. So, first let me say, the book kept me reading well into the night and I read it again in case I missed something before stopping to write the review. The storyline is tough, there are those who may have difficulty with the Pack’s way of dealing with disobedience or what they see as weakness or treachery, but leading means making the final tough choices for the world in which they live. For this reason, I gave the book four stars.  Harper A. Brook doesn’t pull her punches, which is why I really got entangled in the story. For myself, I give it five stars. The next reader needs to be their own judge, so give it a chance. 

A Hint of Delirium by Karina Espinosa review

 A Hint of Delirium (Fated Fae Elementals Book 1) 

by Karina Espinosa

                                                  My review follows:

Seeing the world through Violet’s eyes may make you feel like your crazy, but there is more to our world that mortals may never know or see. It sucks to see things others can’t, to be diagnosed as a schizophrenic all your life. Makes holding a job tough. Be that as it may, when some Adonis, at the bar where she worked, tried to pay with leaves, Violet had had enough. She called him out, crumbling the leaves in front of him. Others, including her boss, around her didn’t see what she saw, they only saw a couple hundred-dollar bills destroyed by her. Once again there went her job. And now the Adonis creep had followed her home.

Ansel was on a mission for the Seelie Queen and while interrupting his mission for the her wasn’t a smart move on his part; he had gotten sidetracked after his run in with the young woman at the bar where he was meeting an informant. There was something about this girl that was off. How had she seen though the glamor that masked him and the leaves? He soon found he wasn’t the only one interested in learning more about who or what she was, and some of the others simply wanted her dead.  When he saw the iron ankle bracelet she always wore, he was quick to seek answers that would change not only Violet’s world but could bring real danger to the realm of the Fae as well.

 More trouble comes when his brother Alec, turns up. Alec who chose to side with the Unseelie King despite his family’s allegiance to the Seelie Queen.  It turns out that Alec and Ansel were looking for the same thing, a powerfully dangerous artifact. Legend has it that the orb holds sway over all four powerful elements (earth, wind, fire and water) part of the magic of the Fae. In ancient times, it was believed to be too powerful for any one Fae to control all the elements. So, it had been entrusted to a small group of humans to carry it within them, passing it on from one generation to the next at birth. While a league of humans were to protect the secret of the current generation’s carrier or killing the carrier if need be to stop the Fae from getting their hands on the orb.

Built around the legend of the orb and the hunt for it by both the Seelie and the Unseelie, with a group of humans who will stop at nothing to keep it from the Fae, including murder. Violet is at the center, at twenty-five she still lives with her mother, who was feeding her pills for her “hallucinations” and regular visits to a shrink all along keeping dangerous secrets from her. Each of the characters have flaws, that enrich the story keeping you guessing how they will handle situations that come up. As Ansel and Violet draw close, Violet will have to make some tough choices the protect the two people in her life who are most important to her, while withholding the complete truth from them. There are cultural differences as well between Violet and Ansel they will have to come to terms with. One is their view on human life forms. As a Fae being, for Ansel, human life holds very little value and may be easily disposed of.  

This is the first book in the series with Violet learning secrets long kept from her, a danger filled world where making the right decision could lead to even worst turmoil for everyone. So, hang on to your seat the ride has just begun.

If you are a fan of Karina Espinosa, you might find a few changes way she tells this beginning tale. For me these changes enrich the telling through dialogue, that at times is snarky, charged with under currents and thoughtful, descriptions of sets that quickly place me at the scene, and interaction between characters feels closer. I am even enjoying one of the main antiheroes. I loved the fact that Karina doesn’t let the reader get comfortable before snatching the rug out from under my feet, dangling more trials and tribulations in front of Violet and Ansel along with a heathy dig from Alec. While the steam between Ansel and Violet has just started heating up, which can be a catalyst for misunderstandings with the best intentions at its core. Definitely a series to pick up and share, since one book will lead into the next. Along with storylines that leave a lot of room for What if?  What will happen next? and Who do I really want to strangle?