Thank you for joining me on this blog blitz for The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton, which was organized by Penguin Random House. I’m pleased to present a spotlight of the book followed by a short excerpt. This is the second and latest book of Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series. It’s not necessary, though, to read the first book in order to understand The League of Gentlewomen Witches.
Continue reading “Blog Blitz: The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton”
Author: Anela Deen
Publisher: Fine Fable Press
Publish Date: May 17, 2019
Print Length: 365
Links: Amazon* and Goodreads*
BBNYA 2021: 6th place
*This is not an affiliate link and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using this link.
Today I’m happy to spotlight Beneath Cruel Fathoms by Anela Deen! I signed up for a lot of other blog tours in February, so I opted for a spotlight on this tour to avoid over commitment. However, I’ve already seen a lot of great reviews and can’t wait to read it! Meanwhile, check out the official synopsis below to learn more about this book.
Continue reading “BBNYA Blog Tour: Beneath Cruel Fathoms by Anela Deen”
Today’s review is about BLOOD OF THE LOST KINGDOM by Kristin Ward. It’s the second book in the Daughter of Erabel series. As such, this review contains some spoilers for THE GIRL OF DORCHA WOOD.
Author: Kristin Ward
Series: Daughter of Erabel Book 2
Age Category: Young Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
Publish Date: August 3, 2021
Print Length: 282
Links: Amazon* and Goodreads*
*This is not an affiliate link and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using this link.
Continue reading “Blog Tour: Blood of the Lost Kingdom by Kristin Ward”
Author: Estelle Grace Tudor
Publisher: Inlustris
Publish Date: July 20, 2020
Print Length: 228
Links: Amazon* and Goodreads*
BBNYA 2021: 8th place
*This is not an affiliate link and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using this link.
I received this book to read and review as part of the 2021 Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) competition and the BBNYA tours organised by the The Write Reads Tour team. All opinions are my own, unbiased, and honest.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where Book Bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website or Twitter @bbnya_official.
The sign-ups will soon be open for the 2022 BBNYA competition, be it for authors to enter their books, or for bloggers wanting to be part of the new panel, so keep your eyes peeled!!
Official Synopsis
One tiny discovery can have enormous consequences…
Almost 10-year-old Octavia Bloom is looking for adventure, but when it comes it’s in the shape of a tiny fairy door.
Dragging her reluctant sister and cousins into the mystery, Octavia discovers her family are hiding not ONE but TWO life-changing secrets.
Why is her mother searching for an elusive flower? And does she have what it takes to reunite her fractured family?
Octavia’s certain the answers lie behind the fairy door, if only she could just find the key…
Bravery, secrets & magic intertwine in this fantastical adventure
My Review
Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **I ended up reading this via Kindle Unlimited.**
I haven’t read a middle grade book since, well, probably when I was in the age range of 9-12. But as soon as I read the description in the blog tour call for bloggers, I couldn’t resist. As someone who reread Ella Enchanted often as a child, this book would have fit in perfectly with my reading preferences. Although, not much has changed for me as an adult; fantasy is still my preferred reading genre!
This was an absolute delight to read. The main character, Octavia Bloom, is a quintessential head-in-the-clouds, forever curious 9-year old. Nothing seems to phase her, even when faced with two life-changing secrets, one of which could devastate her family if they don’t find a cure. Octavia digs into her overflowing well of optimism and tenacity and keeps going.
The predominant theme of this book is the bond of sisterhood. Octavia has an older sister, Felicity, and older twin cousins, Martha and Beatrice. They squabble good-naturedly over following rules, but when things get serious, they have each others’ backs. I loved how Octavia recognized when Felicity had moments of growing into her own. Rather than stealing the spotlight, Octavia was happy to watch her sister learn and become more confident. Admittedly, as an adult the selflessness embodied in this story is idealized. (Though wouldn’t that be a nice world?) However, I think this sends a wonderful message to middle grade readers, especially girls. That is, it’s important to lift others up and encourage and support them, particularly since society is less forgiving to girls and women. This is a lesson everyone should learn, regardless of gender.
I also appreciated that this book is chock full of strong female characters. There are no damsels in distress. Octavia is unforgivingly bold and a natural leader. Does this mean she’s fearless and can do everything? Of course not. Like everything else in the world, she’s nuanced. Someone can be both brave and have fear, but remain a strong leader. Someone can be both capable, but know their limits and ask for help. Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key is an example to all girls (and boys and those who are non-binary) that they can achieve great things; that they can be amazing leaders and explorers. The dynamics of what girls can do versus boys isn’t really a theme addressed in the book; but I think it’s important to emphasize what young readers may internalize.
As far as world-building goes, in my mind it was so vibrant! Everything is vivid and creative; I was able to picture most scenes clearly in my head. I loved the creatures the Bloom girls meet in fairy land–from the reluctant talking frog, to the floral-patterned unicorns, to the queen bee, who was perhaps my favorite. But this whole world is contingent on belief. For fairy land to survive, the humans who hold the key to their world have to believe in it. And that very belief is threatened when Octavia learns of her parents’ secret, one that drains their happiness and hope.
My only critique is that I felt the pacing was a bit fast. Once Octavia enters fairy land, it’s action-packed. However, I don’t usually read middle grade books, so I don’t know if this pacing is to be expected. Regardless, I overwhelmingly enjoyed everything else about this book. And even if you’re not within the targeted age range, it’s an uplifting read for all. This book is also the first of a series, so the adventure doesn’t stop here!
Rating: 4.5/5
Content warnings: n/a
Reading format: Kindle e-book
About the Author
When not searching the backs of wardrobes for Narnia, the bottom of the garden for fairies or exploring yet another Castle, Estelle can be found with her nose in a book or a pen in her hand.
Having previously worked at Cardiff Castle, she now writes full time while looking after her four children.
She lives on the beautiful South Wales coast with her husband, children and crazy dog.
Author: Alex Robins
Publisher: Bradypus Publishing
Publish Date: March 16, 2021
Print Length: 232
Links: Amazon* and Goodreads*
*This is not an affiliate link and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using this link.
Official Synopsis
None can resist the ravages of time. Knowledge is lost. Memories fade.
But some things must never be forgotten.
Over 400 years ago, twelve great warriors united the beleaguered armies of men and scoured the war-torn lands of evil, pushing the enemy back into the underground pits and caverns from whence they came. To ensure their legacy, each of the Twelve founded fortress monasteries to impart their unique knowledge of war and politics to a select few, the Knights of the Twelve.
But now the last of the Twelve have long since passed from history to legend and the Knights, their numbers dwindling, are harbouring a dark and terrible secret that must be protected at all costs.
Merad Reed has spent half his life guarding a great crater known as the Pit, yearning for some escape from the bleak monotony. Then the arrival of Aldarin, one of the few remaining Knights of the Twelve, sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will change Reed forever.
To the north, Jelaïa del Arelium, heiress to the richest of the nine Baronies, must learn to navigate the swirling political currents of her father’s court if she hopes one day to take his place. But the flickering flames of ambition hide the shadow of an even greater threat.
And deep within the earth, something is stirring.
My Review
Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Broken Heart of Arelium is a relatively fast-paced fantasy adventure where monotony mutinies into more than the characters ever desired. Merad Reed, a member of the Old Guard, has served the majority of his life on the wall keeping watch over the Pit. Now middle-aged, what seemed like a great honor now feels dull and everlasting. Centuries have passed with no excitement for the Old Guard to show for it. The wall slowly continues to deteriorate and the arrival of new recruits dwindles. But then something stirs and comes forth from the Pit. Suddenly the expected trajectory of Merad’s life changes and life throughout the nine Baronies becomes endangered.
The action starts almost from the first page, during which we encounter the very beings who threaten human existence. I thought the pace slowed a bit in the middle; but this is understandable in order for the characters to teach the reader about the world in which they live. However, I read the last 40% or so of the book in one sitting. It’s action-packed and the pages host quite a few curve balls. When reading fantasy books I, more often than not, try to guess who the characters can trust. I had my suspicions about one person thanks to some subtle hints written into other characters’ reactions, but the plot twist of another blindsided me.
The dialogue is more formal than I usually read, so that took me a little time to adjust to. This type of writing made me think about the romanticization of medieval knights. Moreover, the main male characters, Merad and Aldarin, a knight of the Twelve, exude chivalry and duty, hearkening back to legends of old. Merad undergoes the most character development. He starts as a subdued defender in the Old Guard to someone who gains confidence and earns respect as he helps Arelium prepare for an inevitable invasion. I feel that the development of other characters was not as defined, though. I chalk this up to the pace and shorter book length. This book is more plot-driven than character-driven. However, the ending leaves little doubt in my mind that plenty of transformation is around the corner for everyone.
One of my favorite things about this story is the history we learn from Aldarin, as he tells it to Merad, about the original Twelve Knights and their followers, or Knights of the Twelve. The Broken Heart of Arelium definitely whetted my appetite to learn more about the original Twelve, over whom is a cloak of mystery. This is a personal preference, but I do wish there was more female character page time in this book. But it’s important to also acknowledge that this book sets the scene for the rest of the series. I have a feeling our female characters will feature more prominently later.
Lastly, the author pays careful attention to detail when describing surroundings and buildings. I don’t know much about stone construction or battle gear. That said, it seemed to me Robins did due diligence with his research. So this type of detail could thrill some and perhaps not others.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The ending surprised me and, for that alone, I do want to continue with the series, my TBR-willing. I’m very curious about the Knights of the Twelve and the elaboration of a magic system in the next books.
Rating: 4/5
Content warnings: gore, death
Reading format: Kindle e-book
About the Author
Alex Robins was born in Norwich, England back when it was still trendy to wear lycra tracksuits and bright pink headbands. Norwich School Library was where he first discovered his love of reading, an old converted undercroft packed to the rafters with books. The first fantasy series he read was The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis & Tracey Hickman, quickly followed by The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and David Eddings’ The Belgariad.
At the age of twelve Alex moved across the channel to Nantes in France. Speaking very little French, the first few years were difficult and sometimes lonely as he scrambled to get a grip on the intricate grammar and vocabulary of the French language. His taste in books branched out from epic fantasy to science-fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction, but he always came back to his favourite fantasy authors when looking to escape the outside world.
After degrees in agronomy, project management, and computer sciences, Alex founded his own company dedicated to online voting. He met his wife during a game of badminton and they spent several years getting trounced in various regional tournaments before getting married. Alex now lives in the sunny Loire Valley in western France, surrounded by imposing castles, sprawling vineyards, and two children. After reading fantasy books for the last thirty years he decided to write one. The Broken Heart of Arelium is his first novel, and the first in the War of the Twelve series.
