jbronderbookreviews

The Arcane (The Arcane – 1) by Andrew S. French

 Orphaned science nerd and maths prodigy Alice Valentine wants to ace her studies. She’s spent all her life struggling to make friends, passed between foster families and care homes, isolated and lonely. Losing herself in academia from an early age, she becomes the first sixteen-year-old at her local university. Her whole world changes, but nothing can prepare

Alice for the night she’s attacked by a werewolf.

But even that isn’t as strange as discovering she has an identical twin sister, Cassie.

And Cassie kills werewolves. And all the other monsters Alice didn’t believe existed.

Alice and Cassie set off to discover what happened to their parents, a journey that takes them from northern England to the edge of the apocalypse, unsure if they will save the world or destroy it.

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About the Author

Andrew French is a man of no wealth and little taste. He lives amongst faded seaside glamour on the North East coast of England. He likes gin and cats but not together, new music and old movies, curry and ice cream. Slow bike rides and long walks to the pub are his usual exercise, as well as flicking through the pages of good books and the memoirs of bad people.

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My Review

4 stars

Alice went to the bar to try and fit in and maybe find a friend. What she ends up with is almost being killed by a werewolf and a girl that could be her twin sister, Cassie. Although she is a genius she thinks she can rationalize the supernatural creatures that her and Cassie keep running into. But she is determined to find out who killer her neighbors and ultimately who her mother is and how she might be related to Cassie.

Cassie has been hunter monsters for the last couple years and wants to know why there is a price on her head and how she is related to Alice. Both girls find themselves in confrontations with various creatures on their wait to find what happened on the day of their birth.

I really enjoyed this story. Both girls have been orphaned since birth with very different childhoods. I liked both girls and all the creatures they run into. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened on their birth and was not expecting the results.

If you like paranormal stories you need to get yourself a copy of this book. I was just glad to see that book two was released October 31, 2021. After posting my reviews I will definitely be downloading the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Author: Susana Imaginário

Narrator: Sarah Kempton

Length: 11 hours 36 minutes

Series: Timelessness, Book 1

Publisher: Susana Imaginário

Released: Apr. 30, 2020

Genre: Fantasy

(more…)

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The Bookminder (Book 1)

Istria, 1679 A.D.

Sired by magick and violence, sixteen-year-old Liara is found guilty of witchcraft and banished from her tiny village by the very priest who raised, then betrayed her. However, a mysterious mage steps forward to assume custody of her: Nagarath, the Wizard of Parentino, whose secret spellwork has long protected both Liara and Dvigrad from the ravages of war.

Despite Liara’s best hopes, Nagarath refuses to apprentice her to his craft but tasks her instead with the restoration of his neglected library. Liara gleans magickal knowledge on the sly, but her stolen spells renew an evil wizard’s interest in the people of the Limska Draga valley.

Only by tapping Liara’s inherent magick and joining it with his own can Nagarath protect Parentino from suffering a horrible fate. However, her discovery of his secrets destroys their fragile trust and ignites the darker tendencies of her gift. Now, he must rescue her from the influence of his mortal enemy before their powerful new alliance destroys them all.

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My Review

3 stars

Liara was born of magic and has been treated horribly for most of her life by the people of the village of Dvigrad. She has been living at the church until it is discovered that she has been stealing from people and using magic. She is banished but saved by the mage Nagarath but Nagarath makes it clear that he is not going to teach her magic.

They live at the crumbling castle Parentino which has its own secrets. Nagarath comes to care for Liara and starts teaching her a little magic. But someone is determined to find both of them, a powerful mage that is determined to use Liara’s power for his own good.

Liara has been looked down on her most of her sixteen years of her life. Because of this she tends to be aloof and on her own but is driven to learn magic for revenge. It’s a little hard to like Liara because of her constant whining and her focus. She constantly complains and at some parts I was about done with her.

Nagarath has his own secrets but is eaten by guilt over something that happened in the past. I commend him for taking on Liara when he wasn’t really planning on it. He has more patience than I do. But I was getting frustrated when he is trying to protect both of them but refusing to explain.

This is a rough start to the series, but I do see the potential in it. I am excited to start The Kithseeker. I think having Liara and Nagarath work together is going to be the glue to the loose ends.

The Kithseeker (Book 2)

France, 1680 A.D.

Liara’s defense of the Wizard Nagarath has rendered Anisthe incantate—bereft of all magick—but even this has failed to guarantee Liara’s safety. The death of the war mage would seal Liara’s own fate, and so the wizard and his bookminder must keep him in their sites and yet as far away from themselves as possible.

With nothing but a storybook and a hunch, Anisthe has set off on a journey across Europe, aided by his half-fey manservant, in search of a legendary mirror that contains the most powerful magick ever known. Although the stuff of fairytales, the merest possibility of its truth embarks Nagarath and Liara on a race to discover the mirror before it falls into the hands of Nagarath’s lifelong foe. Both know should he lay claim to that power, Liara would be at the mercy of her father-in-magick and his lust for power, and not even Nagarath could save her.

Thus, the pair find themselves at the court of the Sun King, a world hostile to magick users, hopelessly surrounded by agents whose sole purpose is destroy them. Uncertain whom is friend or foe, with Anisthe nipping at their heels, they must unearth the mirror before its evil is released, or worse, lays claim to Liara’s magick as well and brings doom upon them all.

Purchase Links

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My Review

4 stars

After his battle with Nagarath and Liara, Anisthe has decided to travel to France. It seems he is in possession of a magical mirror that is supposed to hold the magic of famed wizard Khariton. When Nagarath and Liara learn of this it becomes a race to get to the mirror first.

Along the way we also meet the third student that Nagarth and Anisthe trained with, Amsalla. She has a habit of being in the middle of everything and is the king’s wizard. She meets up with Nagarath and Liara and it’s clear that she wants to start some trouble between the two. She is also watching Anisthe but doesn’t realize that his assistant, Domagoj has got her in his sights too.

Everyone is trying to get to the mirror first and no one can be trusted. It feels like everyone is out to get each other and poor Liara doesn’t understand the fight she finds herself in. I feel bad for her but at the same time I understand how far she has come since her life in Dvigrad.

I liked this story better than the Bookminder because we started meeting more people and exploring the country. Amsalla just irritated me and there were times that I wanted to slap Nagarath upside the head for his actions/thoughts.

I’m curious to see how things are going to transpire in The Fatewreaker. Thank goodness I have everything ready to hop into it.

The Fatewreaker (Book 3)

England, 1680 A. D.

Liara and Nagarath’s enemy has unexpectedly come to their aid, surrendering to the magick-suppressing forces of the king of France so as to buy time for their escape. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Anisthe is on their side. Vrsar’s war mage, Liara’s father-in-magick, has never been a man do to things for others. And he has always has plans within plans.

In fleeing to England with his apprentice, the Wizard Nagarath realizes that Liara’s power is no longer her own to command. With the shattering of Khariton’s magick mirror in the Palace of Versailles, the young woman has become trapped in an alliance with the ancient and evil mage. What is more, at eighteen-years-old, her life remains tied to Anisthe’s for another two years per the Laws of Magick. Anisthe, who is now imprisoned for having helped them evade the king’s spellpiercers.

Forced to revisit his own past, Nagarath is finally learning that there are some histories you cannot outrun. As for Liara, the darkness within her heart is greater than she ever could have imagined. This after Dvigrad’s orphaned magpie having finally learned to love. For, in the words of Khariton himself, “In magick you can never have friends. Only rivals.”

Purchase Links

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My Review

4 stars

Liara has freed Khariton from his mirror and is now his vessel. He is intent on using her power to destroy the world. She is heartbroken because she was trying to help him and doesn’t want the war he is going to cause. Nagarath decides to take her to his home in England to try to help her. But learns that the possession is worse than he feared.

At the same time, we find Kresimir who was sent to Merlin by Nagarath. Merlin may have been cursed but is still alive and is trying to fulfill a prophecy about Nagarath and Liara. But when Liara shows up on his doorstop for help he realizes that he might not be a match for Khariton anymore and might not be able to help.

I love how Liara and Nagarath have finally realized their feelings for each other, but Liara can’t have that with how fast Khariton is taking control. Nagarath has taken just to try to help Liara and it looks like he might not recover from his actions. But I hoped that he could break Liara’s spell in time or at the very least save her.

I like how this wrapped everything together and I loved the ending. This has been a good read and recommend this series. I think the reader will enjoy the journey. I will be keeping my eyes open for other books from M.K. Wiseman.

Author Bio

M. K. Wiseman has degrees in Interarts & Technology and Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her office, therefore, is a curious mix of storyboards and reference materials. Both help immensely in the writing of historical novels. She currently resides in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

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I would like to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and share this series.

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Knight in Paper Armor by Nicholas Conley

Billy Jakobek has always been different. Born with strange and powerful psychic abilities, he has grown up in the laboratories of Thorne Century, a ruthless megacorporation that economically, socially, and politically dominates American society. Every day, Billy absorbs the emotional energies, dreams, and traumas of everyone he meets—from his grandmother’s memories of the Holocaust, to the terror his sheer existence inflicts upon his captors—and he yearns to break free, so he can use his powers to help others.

Natalia Gonzalez, a rebellious artist and daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, lives in Heaven’s Hole, an industrial town built inside a meteor crater, where the poverty-stricken population struggles to survive the nightmarish working conditions of the local Thorne Century factory. Natalia takes care of her ailing mother, her grandmother, and her two younger brothers, and while she dreams of escape, she knows she cannot leave her family behind.

When Billy is transferred to Heaven’s Hole, his chance encounter with Natalia sends shockwaves rippling across the blighted landscape. The two outsiders are pitted against the all-powerful monopoly, while Billy experiences visions of an otherworldly figure known as the Shape, which prophesizes an apocalyptic future that could decimate the world they know.

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About the Author

Nicholas Conley is an award-winning Jewish American author, journalist, playwright, and coffee vigilante. His books, such as Knight in Paper Armor, Pale Highway, Clay Tongue: A Novelette, and Intraterrestrial, merge science fiction narratives with hard-hitting examinations of social issues. Originally from California, he now lives in New Hampshire.

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My Review

4 stars

Billy Jakobek has a powerful special ability. Unfortunately a greedy man has found him and is planning on using him as a weapon. Natalia Gonzalez is an immigrant’s daughter that is struggling to survive along with her grandmother, mother, and twin brothers in a little town called Heaven’s Hole.

In Heaven’s Hole there is a factory that all the immigrant’s work in under horrible conditions. While not at work many face abuse from their white neighbors. Natalia dreams of leaving Heaven’s Hole but when she meets Billy he turns her world on end. She learns of the dark secrets of those that own the factory and is determined to stop them and save Billy.

This story touches on some events that we are facing in today’s world. Billy is a wonderful person and it is just heartbreaking what he goes through. Natalia is a strong young lady that goes through her own issues. She doesn’t let them stop her, instead they strengthen her resolve.

I really liked this story; there is lots of action, betrayal, and a sweet romance. It is one that I recommend checking out. There is a great paranormal twist that really adds to the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Nicholas Conley for the opportunity to read and share his book.

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Join us for this tour from Nov 30 to Jan 29!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Diamond Rose (A Sentinel 10 Novel) by Daniela Valenti
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  250 pages
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Publisher:  Enigma Publishing
Release date:   Nov 2020
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M. Suicide is mentioned, that’s for the M. One sex scene without explicit description of the genitals.

Book Description:

Amanda’s med school graduation is unlike any other. A solar flare awakens her super psychic powers, enabling her to fight evil, supernatural and human alike. She is the Sentinel 10, the most powerful warrior in a secret society of similarly endowed people. Her life becomes a whirlwind of international travel and exciting paranormal challenges. But all is not as it seems. Soon Amanda discovers that the man she loves has an evil alter ego, and that her own powers have a dark side. This first year as a Sentinel will push the limits of her resilience, and put her own humanity to the test. The Diamond Rose is a thrilling and romantic adventure, the first in an exciting new series. Fans of paranormal romance will enjoy this tale of a female heroine who struggles to understand love and master her own powers.

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Daniela Valenti is the pen name for a Canadian psychiatrist who writes Paranormal Fiction. That may seem incongruous, but it’s not really. The work in her chosen field and her writing dovetail nicely. She is able to draw upon her work as a psychiatrist to create multidimensional characters who are simultaneously powerful and vulnerable. Daniela lives in Montreal and holds a medical degree from McGill. She speaks French and regards herself a chatty introvert. Growing up, she was a voracious reader of sci-fi and fantasy. Her interests today include supernatural lore, skincare and fashion, gorgeous travel destinations, true crime, and learning about narcissism and psychopathy. She’s thought a lot about love and evil and maintains that narcissism is the true nature of all evil. Daniela has traveled extensively. Her love of the exotic dominates many of the settings where the characters in her stories romp and play their parts. Her prior attempts at writing began at age nine with a story about a doctor’s cat, and then a short sci-fi story at age twenty-three. Thirteen years
later, her foray into serious-minded writing simply happened. She began writing in 2017, after she returned from a trip to Prague for an international forensic psychiatry conference. What she learned there, combined with her impressions of Prague, her prior ruminations on the nature of love and evil, and her clinical knowledge all combined to create the first book in her series. It was a moment when all sorts of aspects of herself, her life experiences and her interests came
together, like a self-assembling puzzle. The story came to her like a movie, unfolding in her head as she sat on an airplane, staring at the screen-less back of the chair in front of her, for the eight-hour trip back to Canada. Once set in motion, the wheels of creation kept on turning, and resulted in the Sentinel 10 series.

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

My Review

Tour Schedule:

Nov 30 –Splashes of Joy – book spotlight
Dec 1 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 7 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 7 – Gina Rae Mitchell  – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 10 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 14 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 11 – Amy’s Booket List – book review / giveaway
Jan 11 –Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview
Jan 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
Jan 15 –she_a_bibliophile – book review
Jan 18 – Bookswithpaulak – book review
Jan 19 – Pine Enshrined Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 20 – The Momma Spot – book review
Jan 21 – Four Moon Reviews – book review / giveaway
Jan 22 – The Review Crew – book review / giveaway
Jan 26 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Jan 28 – JBronder Book Reviews – book review
Jan 29 – I’m Into Books – book review / giveaway
Jan 29 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review

Enter the Giveaway for your chance to win an Exclusive Lisa Eldridge red velvet makeup bag with 2 lipsticks (USA only) (1 winner)

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 I would like to thank iRead Book Tours for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling the World Alone by Aaron Hodges

Feeling alone? Trapped? Lost?

Time for an adventure!

The bad times won’t last forever, and for more than five years, Aaron Hodges has journeyed the globe alone, visiting everywhere from Istanbul to Argentina. Honest and insightful, SOLO is packed with his personal travel tips and humorous stories. Learn about the ups and downs, the triumphs and the pitfalls of venturing off the beaten path. Follow his guidelines for exploring the world alone and be inspired to take the trip you’ve always dreamed of.

Discover the world of solo travel.

Go Solo!

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Author Bio

Aaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he grew tired of office work and decided to quit his job in 2014 and see the world. One year later, he published his first novel – Stormwielder – while in Guatemala. Since then, he has honed his skills while travelling through parts of SE Asia, India, North and South America, Turkey and Europe, and now has over a dozen works to his name. Today, his adventures continue…

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My Review

4 Stars

I have to admit that I have never been one to want to travel. I love my home and staying away from people. I’m really leery about being on my own in a strange country. But I do enjoy watching travel shows on television and reading about them. So I figured that I would give Solo a try.

Aaron Hodges has traveled the world for the last five years and has written a guide for anyone who wants to travel but is by themselves. I enjoyed how he shared his different stories of his adventures. It was just like talking to a friend over a beer/glass of wine. But the thing I really liked was the tips he had for travelers. Where to eat and sleep, how to stay clean, and all of those little things we don’t always think about when we plan trips like this.

If you like travel, want to go on a world trip, or just like the idea of escape, I recommend checking out this book. Aaron is a delightful author and I would love to sit down with him and share more stories. I think I just may want to go for a trip sometime in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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I am so excited to share this book with you all today! Birth of the Fae: Locked Out of Heaven by Danielle M. Orsino is now available in paperback! Check out this gorgeous book and make sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win some amazing prizes!

The Birth of the Fae: Locked Out of Heaven (Vol. 1)

Publication Date: June 19th 2020

Genre: Epic Fantasy/ Adventure

Ride on the backs of fire breathing dragons with the Dark Fae and watch the Light Fae play in the shadows of primitive humanity as they build their magical world. Abandoned by their creator, two factions of powerful angels remain on earth after the Great War with Lucifer. They struggle to comprehend their Creator’s plan while their angel wings, a symbol of their angelic lineage, slowly and painfully decay. With no hope of returning to the Shining Kingdom, two groups of angels denounce their angelic lineage and develop into separate factions – the Court of Light, led by Queen Aurora, a former Virtue Angel, and the Court of Dark, ruled by King Jarvok, a former Power Brigade Angel. The two monarchs have opposing views on how to govern their kin, but the one belief they agree on is that human worship equals power.

Birth of the Fae: Locked Out of Heaven is an epic fantasy adventure of heartbreak, rebirth, and hope that examines the bonds of family, friendship, and love. It is a fantastic tale of good vs evil in a beautiful world, where the Light Fae and their potent elemental magick are tested by the raw power of the dragon riding Dark Fae warriors.

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Excerpt

Chapter Twenty-Six: “Worship Equals Power”

“To be a creature of chaos is to be used by the energy of disorder, to be a tool of it. You are allowing confusion to lead you. I want more for us. We will take control of the pandemonium. Those who control chaos control their destiny. Do not let it lead you like a pet on a leash.”

King Jarvok turned and walked to the window, hands behind his back. “Now go, and Chaos be with you, Zion.” Zion smirked. His blue eyes glowed with comprehension as his shoulders pulled back. “No, my liege. Chaos be with us.” He turned and ran with a renewed vigor for his mission.

Jarvok curled his lip for a moment as he gazed out the window at Zion’s enthusiasm, but his stoic expression returned. He waited for the bang of the heavy doors to exhale. His shoulders slumped as the weight of his rule took him under. He leaned his hands on the window, the magma crumbling and sliding from his palms as the pressure caused small fissures to appear in the sill. His head hung low, his hair falling to his face as he raised his honey eyes looking out over the training yard. They would need to train every day and even do night formations. No rest.

The scent of cedar and sage wafted up from the bonfires below. He knew his plan to attack was sound but his timeline was of concern. If Aurora continued to gather and unify her human worshippers, she could have the magick to overtake his kin and force them into serving the Virtues as their army. The thought of his kin living a life of servitude caused Jarvok to force the acid back down his throat. No, he would not risk anyone gaining the upper hand over him. He had hidden his kin in his Veil, established them as gods to the humans, and formed an alliance with the Draconians. He would not force the Draconians to fight alongside him against Aurora but if they chose to stand with him he would accept their help.

He had been strategic in observing her, watching and waiting. She was a naive, idealistic, egotistical ruler with no battle experience. An almost certain victory. By making an example out of Aded, the humans would fear his kin and as Jarvok had learned, it was better to be feared than loved. One just needed to ask his Creator.

Available at Barnes & Noble & on Amazon!

About the Author

Danielle M Orsino, destined to be a writer from a young age, was working as a nurse and treating a patient who needed some distractions during long I.V. Treatment sessions. So, Orsino reached back to a forgotten skill, A childhood dream. Danielle had wanted to be a writer and so she decided to tell a story. Little did she know the seed would grow into a fantastically epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and rebirth — Birth of Fae: Locked Out of Heaven. Drawing from her passion for comic books, Cosplay and fantasy along with her expert martial arts expertise, Orsino brings forth an electric and hopeful debut.

Danielle is taking on her biggest challenge to date: taking the story born from the long treatment sessions with a patient into a fantasy book series-Birth of the Fae: Locked out of Heaven. Expanding her love of writing, comics and exploring the world of fantasy novels, she delves into the realm of fairies and retells their origins from a completely new perspective. Orsino has a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise science and is an LPN with a special interest in Lyme disease research. Orsino has been widely recognized from her influence and experience in martial arts realm, training for over 20 years and with over 500 tournament wins, and accumulating national and world titles. She has performed for former President of the United States Bill Clinton and has been featured on “Soap Talk, Fox Five news CBS, TLC and E! With this experience, she worked as a Fight Choreographer on ”Wonder Woman: Balance of Power” and has worked with the likes of martial arts legend Vincent Lyn and WWE marvel and action star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Nothing Danielle ever does is simple, look at what NY times Bestselling author Clete Barrett Smith has to say about her debut endeavor: “After summoning this world into existence through an imaginative force of will, Danielle has scoured every inch of the landscape several times over. Critics often praise a story’s world building by saying that it feels “lived in.” Well, the world of the Fae certainly seems like that because Danielle herself has happily lived there for years as she worked to put all of this together…My favorite part of this story is that it is gloriously depicted in vibrant images.

The Birth of the Fae | Instagram | Spotify Playlist

My Review

4 Stars

When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, several other angels were locked out too. They may have fought in the war or were simply doing what they were created for but they find themselves locked out all the same. They try to get an answer from God but he refuses to reply.

Hurt and betrayed about all they can do is to continue on. Some follow Queen Aurora, a former Virtue Angel, who creates the Court of the Light Fae. King Jarvok, a former Power Brigade Angel has other ideas on how to run the Court of the Dark Fae. They may run their courts differently but both have decided worship from the humans is the ultimate goal.

I really enjoyed this story. This is a powerful world and I couldn’t help but feel bad for the angels. I be locked out of the only home you know and be ignored by the one being that created you, gave you a purpose, and won’t even explain why is just heartbreaking. I really understood the motivation for both angels.

The thing I loved the most was the different creatures from mythology that we find in this world. From mermaids to pixies to dragons, do I have to say more? I also like how we have stories in the bible mixed into the book also.

This is a wonderful start to a series. There are a lot of characters and development in this short story. I admit that I took a little to get into the story but once I did it took off. I am really excited to see where this is going to go in the next book, especially with how it ended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

Enter for Your Chance to Win:

1st place: 1 book (autographed) 1 map of the veil, $10 Amazon gift card and one birth of the Fae candle

2nd place: 1 autographed book and candle

3rd place 1 autographed book

Please click the link below to enter! Giveaway will be running from now until December and is open to everyone!

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Book Tour Schedule

November 30^th

Reads & Reels (Excerpt)

I Love Books & Stuff (Excerpt)

Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks (Review)

@Better_Off_Read (Review)

@bookmarkedwithchris (Review)

Josh Whitworth (Review)

December 1^st

Breakeven Books (Excerpt)

@a.p.reading (Review)

@love2dazzle (Review)

Rambling Mads (Review)

Sophril Reads (Review)

December 2^nd

@pillowreader (Review)

Ity Reads Books (Review)

@my_fantasy_bookshelf (Review)

@DreaminginPages (Review)

@myyorkshirelitmosphere (Review)

Ma Book Yard (Review)

December 3^rd

Dark Whimsical Art (Excerpt)

MyBookishLifeTime (Review)

J Bronder Book Reviews (Review)

Jessica Belmont (Review)

@thecrookedhouse (Review)

Book Tour Organized By:

I would like to thank R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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YA fantasy

Date Published: January 21, 2020

Jack Galloway has had enough of life and is chasing a high he just can’t seem to find. Upon meeting with a drug dealer from his school, he is given some mysterious, bean-shaped pills that just so happen to be nothing but beans. However, Relatively Normal beans do not grow miles and miles into the sky overnight, drawing attention from everyone around and destroying the very idea of reality on Earth.

Now, in order to restore his Relatively Normal world, Jack must embark on a mission with a girl he barely knows from high school, Red Crawford, who just so happens to be the only one he knows who has encountered a tear in the non-magical reality they live in.

The beanstalk, too tall and too wide to climb, leads them down a rabbit hole to the strange and nonsensical Underland, where they must go through insane trials in order to reach the answer to their problems — the Giants, magical creatures who live in Overland and can rid the Relatively Normal world of that pesky beanstalk. However, the beanstalk and its effects on reality might just be the least of their worries when they reach the dark, mysterious Overland.

 

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About the Author

Mikaela Miller has not exactly found her place in the world yet, and she’s still trying to understand herself, so there’s not much to say. She loves writing, memes, her friends, and her fur children. She is currently living the small town life but has high hopes of moving to a big city to live out her dreams one day. She loves the darker side of all fairytales and has recently discovered a love for horror novels. This book idea came to her in a dream, as many of her strange ideas do, and she hopes for a bright future as she delves further into her characters’ lives. One day, she would like to be able to rescue lots of homeless animals and be the crazy old cat lady down the street.

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My Review

4 Stars

Jack Galloway has a rough life with an abusive mother. To escape he has started drinking and doing drugs. Then one day his dealer gives him something new and he is out of it when fellow classmate Red Crawford tries to help him, and they discover Red’s Grandmother is no longer the woman she knew.

This is the beginning of a dark fairytale adventure that has a giant bean stalk growing in Jack’s back yard. Jack and Red go down the rabbit ho lei search of a way to get rid of the bean stalk and to keep the realms next to Relatively Normal from opening.

What follows is a journey through Wonderland and Neverland but this is no Disney journey. It is filled with dark characters that want to do some serious harm to jack and Red. I felt for Jack, he has never thought of Red as a real friend, but he is racked with guilt because he feels he conned her from going on this journey with him.

This was a good read. I felt for Jack with everything going on with him. I was really curious about Red and was not disappointed. Of course, I fell in love with the Wonderland portion of the book, I’m such a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and this was what I really think of when I think of traveling through. Neverland was just the same way although I’m not really familiar with Peter Pan.

This is a great story and an excellent beginning to the series. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

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I would like to thank RABT Book Tours and PR for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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