Thursday, January 30, 2014

Book Review: Forsworn

Forsworn

By:  Brian McClellan

Publish Date:  January 21, 2014

Format:  ebook, 64pgs

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  Novella in The Powder Mage series, 35 yrs before Book 1 ~ The Promise of Blood

Recommendation:  Oh wow. To see Kez from a forbidden Powder Mages eyes.

Synopsis:
Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy.

When she decides to help a young commoner—a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law—she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king’s own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.

Occurs 35 years before the events in Promise of Blood.

First Sentence:
The forest filled with the dry bone sound of fallen leaves swirling in the wind as Erika drew back on her bow.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

**I requested a copy of this novella from the author for an honest review.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Erika, a Kex duchess, is learning to fend for herself with a bow and arrow. She is forsworn to the Kez king and the black powder weapons are illegal and forbidden to her. In a land where powder mages are not welcome and sentenced to death, Erika finds a young girl branded and on the run for that very reason. Erika is determined to help Norrine make it to Andro where powder mages are accepted.

First and foremost, I have to mention I love this world created by Brian. The powder mages and the magics of the Privileged. When I was told Brian was looking for readers of this novella, I could NOT pass it up. And I'm thrilled I didn't.

This story is told from Erika's and Norrine's point of views. The passages are short, as this is a novella, but complete in every way. The story is quick into happenings, the threats Powder Mages face in the land of Kez. Death. But there is a small escape for nobility that turn up to be powder Mages, they can take an oath and become forsworn to the king. But there is always an eye on them, wanting to eliminate the threat of the hated powder mage. Erika is a noble woman and Norrine is a young commoner girl on the run. They both are in danger, and Erika puts herself in more harms way along with her family with helping Norrine. And her family goes along with it.

I felt the anxiety and worry of being a forsworn powder mage along with a runaway in Kez. With the Longdogs, the kings mage hunters, hunting for you.

It was nice to see the small ties to The Promise of Blood even though this is thirty-five years prior to the happening of The Promise of Blood. There is a character name you will recognize upon first sight, but that is at the end of this novella - the small tie in. You don't have to read the first full novel of the series to read this novella, but if you do you will be fully aware of the magic and the strain between Kez and Andro.

A novella in page count, but a full story in reading. Well worth picking up, especially if you have loved the world and magics created here.

Throwback Thursday (141)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.


Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;
Looking Forward To...
But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

This is one thing I hope to start to get to this year, the tbr pile of series I've already started. I loved the first two books of this fantasy series. I desperately want to get back to the last one. And then I want to get the books set in the same world. This is one brutal world, and I love it. I need to get back to it.


Goodreads Synopsis:
The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but its going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and theres only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy. Its past time for the Bloody-Nine to come home. With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe, and no-one can be trusted. His days with a sword are far behind him. Its a good thing blackmail, threats and torture still work well enough. Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is far too painful, and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too, and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on a man when he least expects it. While the King of the Union lies on his deathbead, the peasants revolt and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No-one believes that the shadow of war is falling across the very heart of the Union. The First of the Magi has a plan to save the world, as he always does. But there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, after all, than to break the First Law ...



I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Author Guest Post with KT Bryski: An Unlikely Combination

I hope you caught my review yesterday of Hapax. I was stunned with the blend of magic, science, and religion that K.T. created. After listening to HAPAX, I had a great idea for K.T. as a guest post. I had to take advantage of it. And I'm THRILLED! K.T. agreed to do it. This post will help you see more of the world, and I hope drive you to try this read out as well. (Or listen to it as I did.)

Please welcome K.T. Bryski to the blog!


An Unlikely Combination: Developing Hapax

Ever have that moment where a scene flashes across your mind’s eye? Every detail shines sharp and clear, you know some things, but you’re buzzing with questions?

That’s how my novel Hapax started.

A pretty young woman in a cream-coloured evening dress sat in a theatre, watching an opera. The music thrilled her, but she was also terrified and distracted—because she was concentrating on moving her chest in and out so that the man next to her would think she was breathing.

Spoiler: this scene appears nowhere in Hapax.

But this woman fascinated me. Why wasn’t she breathing? Why was she so scared? Deep down, I knew she was an android. No question. But see, I had wanted to write about magic....

...and so I wrote about magic androids.

Personal archaeology into my own notes reveals a gradual, convoluted creation process. Over the next several months, I’d think about her sometimes. “River” was a librarian—magicians had collections of information too vast for a human brain to catalogue. She was a Magically Created Being who was starting to have emotions. That was a bad thing. But who would have the skills/power to create a Magically Created Being in the first place?

A university-like organization emerged, along with a system of magic in which magicians carried blue fire from another dimension and bound it into doing their will. I called it Ayr.

So, I had a pretty good grasp of my MCB and magic system, a general idea of the university, and no idea what their story was. I let them drop.

A year later, another woman barged into my life: a flaming redhead with a sense of humour that ranged from playful to downright sardonic. Through all my notes, the same name emerges over and over, right from the start:

Serafine.

Around the same time, I learned two interesting things:

  1. A hapax legomena is a word that occurs only once in a text, corpus, or language.
  2. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.

What if the Word of God was a hapax? slightly-older KT wrote. And what if no one knew what it was, because no one heard it the first time? That would really suck if you needed to create a new world, like if it was the Apocalypse...

And Serafine flashed me one of her now-infamous grins.

It was the Apocalypse, and she was determined to stop it. Based on two main ideas (“The Word was with Ael and the Word was Ael,” and “Ael is That Which is All,”), I sketched out a theological system and religious institution. I even had a rough plot outline. But somehow, it never quite worked. I let it drop.

None of these ideas ever really went away. My magic system and my theological system, River and Serafine, my college and my cathedral...they lurked in the background, emerging from my subconscious every so often.

Until the day they joined together.

My two half-stories collided and set off a spark. Magic made Aelism make sense. Aelism explained the “aither” (my old Ayr). The two institutions I’d created—Magistatiem and Ecclesiat—conflicted with each other, and in probing that conflict, I found history that illuminated the world and suggested the story.

It was still the story of my terrified, emotional MCB. It was still the story of Serafine stopping the world’s end. But each half of the story depended so completely on the other that it’s strange for me now to think that aither and Ael had ever been separate. When developing Hapax, there was no story without the world—but the world wasn’t whole without the story.

There’s a lesson in this. There always is. In this case, I learned that nothing you create is ever wasted, and that you never throw anything away. You never know what combination of ideas might ignite when brought together.

At least I get further along with every novel, teenaged KT wrote. So hopefully I’ll be able to see River’s story through to the very end.

It took a while. But I’m so thankful I did.


Author Bio:
K.T. Bryski is a Canadian author and podcaster. She made her podcasting and publishing debut with Hapax (Dragon Moon Press, 2012. Select credits include stories in Black Treacle and When the Hero Comes Home Vol.II (Dragon Moon Press, 2013), the libretto for East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon: A Children’s Opera (Canadian Children’s Opera Company, 2014), and various scripts for Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto. When not writing, KT enjoys Doctor Who and Pokémon Crystal. She is currently working on the prequel to Hapax.


Find K.T. At:
Blog:  K.T. Bryski
Twitter:  @KTBryski
Facebook:  The Group Page of K.T. Bryski's Writing


Hapax
Description:
The Apocalypse has come, and in seven days the world will be no more. Only the Hapax, the Word which began the universe, can recreate the world and avert the Apocalypse, but that Word has been lost. Brother Gaelin finds his faith crumbling as he is forced to shelter two fugitives from the Magistatiem, the college of magi which has been divorced from the Ecclesiat monks for centuries. As time slips away, the monks and magi must do more than just heal the ancient rift that divides them—they must trust in the very Being who drove them apart.

Want to pick up the book now?
On Amazon:


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Audio Book Review: Hapax

Hapax

By:  K.T. Bryski

Publish Date:  October 2012

Format:  Podiobook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  Stand-alone? Series?

Recommendation:  Yes! Stunning. Loved the blend of magic and religion to create this amazingly crafted world. Worth reading, or listening, too. Wow. Well thought out and crafted to explain all.

Synopsis:
The Apocalypse has come, and in seven days the world will be no more. Only the Hapax, the Word which began the universe, can recreate the world and avert the Apocalypse, but that Word has been lost. Brother Gaelin finds his faith crumbling as he is forced to shelter two fugitives from the Magistatiem, the college of magi which has been divorced from the Ecclesiat monks for centuries. As time slips away, the monks and magi must do more than just heal the ancient rift that divides them—they must trust in the very Being who drove them apart.

First Sentence:
The time, at last, had come.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Listen For Free:
iTunes

*I listened to this story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
The sun has vanished from the sky. The Angel does not accept their sacrifice and the fires do not light. The end of days are feared to be near. They have seven days to find the word Ael spoke to create all. The Hapax is hidden somewhere in his creations and is needed to create a new world for the people to live in. The magic school, Magistatiem, and the religions order, at the Ecclesiat, each hold pieces of history. Not knowing they both hold pieces of history and their strong believes against each other could destroy the world and everyone in it.

Aaah, this little fantasy caught me by surprise. And I'm thrilled I listened to it.

First, I like to mention I listened to this story in podcast form. The sound effects and the voices used were amazing. The combination of the two always draw me in emotionally to the story. There are different voice actors used and I enjoyed hearing a different voice to each character. Particularly the twangy sound to the MCB (Magically Created Beings). But, at times, the back sound of rain or crowd of people was a little to loud and made it hard to hear the reading. I found I had to focus very closely to hear all that was being said.

By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked with curiosity. We got a view of the religious side and the magi side. And there are MCB's, (Magically Created Beings). Oh yes. I was curious! By the second chapter, I realized K.T. has created a full fantasy world here. Very thick world of religion and magic build.

The best part about the Ecclesiat religious order and the Magistatiem school of magic, neither are perfect. Both have flaws that are not seen by their followers. Those flaws are very important and the characters that see past that and try to come to a conclusion to save the people of the world are amazing.

The characters are all of different personality. Their strong believes and realizations on those believes make them far more than anything. They all react and differently. There is growth in each with what they see and learn of the world. When their eyes are opened to the real way of things, they have to make choices. I love River, also known as River of Knowledge. Her growth is exponential in the story, and a pivotal one needed with the story line. She doesn't feel forced to me either. She comes around in her own time. Then we have Alesta. The only reason I love her, is because I hate her so. Well done in creating a three dimensional character I can hate.

I love the well crafted world, religions, and story. So related, yet no one knows it. As the story unfolds we see they are both needed, but they are separated by belief. One of the god Ael and his two parts. The other of magic in the world. I felt the creation here was believable in it's setting.

The twist on the gods mesmerized me. It sounded like a circle, but made perfect sense at the same time. I loved the riddle in it. Then, the thought of Beast and Angle and the twist to the extreme and care that is found in them. They are so different from what one would have expected. LOVED this twist. So well played out. Maybe the "evil" isn't as evil as all think. And maybe the "Angel" is extreme.

The story held suspense for me with the crumbling of the world. The things that come upon the world were not kind. I kept wondering: What will come next? What is the Hapax and how will they find it? Will they live or will the End of Days come to pass?

Stunning. Loved the blend of magic and religion to create this amazingly crafted world. Worth reading, or listening, too. Wow. Well thought out and crafted to explain all.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Mythical Monday (34)


It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.


This week we have:
Fantasy author Donna Cook
Talking of the Phoenix.



Gift of the Phoenix

I’ve always been fascinated by the myth of the Phoenix. While perusing a book about mythological creatures, back when my idea to write a book about a Phoenix was still fuzzy around the edges, I discovered the Phoenix myth has variations worldwide. The myth I knew said the Phoenix rises every 1000 years. In Chinese mythology, the Phoenix rises somewhere between 600 and 1400 years. I thought that would be a fun element to play with (and it was). In Egyptian mythology, the Phoenix rolls its ash into an egg and delivers it to the temple of the sun god, Ra.

What an explosion of thought that fact generated!

I asked myself, What would they do with that ash? I wondered what would happen if the Phoenix brought its ash to a group of witches and wizards. I ended up creating a magical order of seven branches, each of which uses the ash in a unique way. One branch creates magical glass objects, infused with ash. Another sings magical songs. I won’t tell you about the other branches, for fear of giving out spoilers, but one branch is closer to what we think of as typical spell-casting, potion-brewing, staff-toting witches and wizards.

The idea of the ash coming to a group of wizards gave me the setting for Gift of the Phoenix. When I imagined the Phoenix in danger, and this group having to defend it, that gave me the beginning of a plot.

Since you specifically requested this post be clean and appropriate for teen readers, I’ll tell you the entire book is appropriate for teen readers. I get asked this question a lot anyway. :) I would say half the readers I meet at signings are teens. I even have some precocious readers as young as 10 who’ve read books like Lord of the Rings and the entire Harry Potter series. Readers of any age who enjoy those books will probably like Gift of the Phoenix as well. I often encourage potential readers to test the waters by reading the first few chapters for free at my website (www.giftofthephoenix.com). That’s probably the best way to decide if it’s the kind of fantasy they’ll enjoy.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about my inspiration for Gift of the Phoenix. I’m looking forward to Mythical Mondays. That’s such a fun idea!



Author Bio:
My passion for writing began at a tender age and has persisted throughout my life. As a reader, I enjoy a wide range of fiction from the classics to modern tales. My criteria for a good book has less to do with genre and more to do with the quality of the writing.

After graduating college in 1995 with a strong literary background and a creative writing degree, I discovered fantasy in 2002 when the popularity of the Harry Potter books was too much for me to ignore. I fell in love with the whimsy and adventure of the genre and began working on Gift of the Phoenix shortly thereafter. Events in my life pushed writing to the background for several years, but Gift of the Phoenix finally released in 2012. Nashua’s Choice is set to release in April 2013.

I’m currently working on the sequel to Gift of the Phoenix, as well as the next installment of the Nashua Chronicles.


You can Find Donna Cook:
Google+:  Donna Cook
Facebook:  Gift of the Phoenix


Pick Up Gift of the Phoenix:
Amazon: 
Barnes & Nobles
Book Depository

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Sunday Post #41

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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Wow. the week is past. *phew* This one felt like it would never end. Cold weather seems to be our friend this year. We got snow and cold. It's so nice to watch for the inside of the house. And that's what I got to do on Saturday. That was nice.

It seems the weekdays are a rat race around here. So much to do and never enough time to get it all done. But Saturday I got to relax after cleaning in the morning. Very nice.

What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:
I haven't started these 3 yet but will be reading:
The Girl of Hrusch Avenue by Brian McClellan
Risen by Laura Jennings
Black Dog by Rachel Neumeier

AND have been reading as chapters come up:
Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron (2 chapters a week for free on her site!)

Current Podcast Book Listen:
I have 2 I can listen to this week:
Flash in a Can by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
The Secret World Chronicle: World Well Lost by Mercees Lackey,Steve Libby, Cody Martin, & Dennis Lee


Finished Last Weeks:
Conning for Keeps by Seleste deLaney
Forsworn by Brian McClellan
Hope's End by Brian McClellan

Finished Podcast Book Listen:
The Secret World Chronicle: The Hunt by Mercedes Lackey & Steve Libbey (in audiobook while at work)

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Last Week on the Blog:



Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)





Posts:


Reviews:




Mama Bitchstress Reviews:




GIVEAWAYS:



Weekly Posts:

***NEW*** Mythical Monday - Danielle Ackley-McPhail talking of Road Gremlins.
Teaser Tuesday
Who? What? Where? Wend.
Throwback Thursday
Looking Forward To...
Freebies and Deals, on Nook too -- LOADS of Sci Fi Romance reads for free, and much more too!
~~~~~~~~~~

This Week to Come on the Blog:


Mythical Monday is back! This week will be a Phoenix! (Mon)

Audio Book Review of HAPAX by K.T. Bryski (which I loved by the way, come check it out) (Tues)
An Author guest post by K.T. Bryski. I was so taken with her magic, science, and religion that I HAD to have K.T. stop by and talk about it. (Wed)

Book Review of novella: Forsworn by Brian McClellan (Thurs)

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Received Last Weeks:


Review:
Forsworn by Brian McClellan
Goodreads Synopsis:
Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy.

When she decides to help a young commoner—a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law—she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king’s own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.

Occurs 35 years before the events in Promise of Blood.


Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:
So I go gift cards and started buying books. I *might* have got carried away with things calming in the new year...

Nemesis by S.A. Huchton
Goodreads Synopsis:
Tech genius Daniel Brewer isn't the only one with a romantic history. Already weighed down with the impossible problem of the Maven Initiative's plans for world domination and disaster, Dr. Lydia Ashley is finding it more and more difficult to keep things in balance. With an old flame reappearing and the schemes of a vindictive new rival thrown into the mix, her hopes for a life with Daniel may be on the brink of annihilation. 

When Lydia's past is brought to light, one big secret could destroy everything.

Progeny by S.A. Huchton
Goodreads Synopsis:
Heartbroken over Lydia's unexplained departure, Daniel Brewer is barely functional. When she left the Endure, she took everything important with her: his purpose, his heart, his reason for breathing. Daniel's convinced Nick Miller has the answers to his questions, but Dr. Gorgeous isn't talking.

A world away, Dr. Lydia Ashley struggles with her choices and mistakes. With one small discovery, everything she thought was true is shattered in an instant.

The buried secrets of the Maven Initiative surface. 

No one is safe.

And Daniel and Lydia must both decide exactly how far they'll go for love.

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells
Goodreads Synopsis:
The last thing patrol cop Kate Prospero expected to find on her nightly rounds was a werewolf covered in the blood of his latest victim. But then, she also didn't expect that shooting him would land her in the crosshairs of a Magic Enforcement Agency task force, who wants to know why she killed their lead snitch.

The more Prospero learns about the dangerous new potion the MEA is investigating, the more she's convinced that earning a spot on their task force is the career break she's been wanting. But getting the assignment proves much easier than solving the case. Especially once the investigation reveals their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier—on the same day she swore she'd never use dirty magic again.

Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should be never say never.

The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin
Goodreads Synopsis:
The incredible conclusion to the Inheritance Trilogy, from one of fantasy's most acclaimed stars. 

For two thousand years the Arameri family has ruled the world by enslaving the very gods that created mortalkind. Now the gods are free, and the Arameri's ruthless grip is slipping. Yet they are all that stands between peace and world-spanning, unending war. 

Shahar, last scion of the family, must choose her loyalties. She yearns to trust Sieh, the godling she loves. Yet her duty as Arameri heir is to uphold the family's interests, even if that means using and destroying everyone she cares for.

As long-suppressed rage and terrible new magics consume the world, the Maelstrom -- which even gods fear -- is summoned forth. Shahar and Sieh: mortal and god, lovers and enemies. Can they stand together against the chaos that threatens?

Includes a never before seen story set in the world of the Inheritance Trilogy.

The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the gaslit streets of Victorian London, phantoms rule the night, demons dance till dawn, and one supernatural detective dares to be seduced by the greatest power of all. . .

He's The Man With The Magic Touch

A master of deduction, seduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks right into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known. . .

She's The Devilish Miss Jones

Pressing a knife to his throat--and demanding he make love to her--Miss America Jones uses Phaeton as a willing shield against the gang of pirates chasing her. As deadly as she is, with a derringer tucked in her garter, Miss Jones is not the vampiric killer he's been staking out--but she may be just what Phaeton needs to crack the case. As the daughter of a Cajun witch, she possesses uncanny powers. As a fearless fighter, she can handle anything from Egyptian mummies to Jack the Ripper. But when an ancient evil is unleashed on the world, she could be his only salvation. . .or ultimate sacrifice.

The Moonstone and Miss Jones by Jillian Stone
Goodreads Synopsis:
Mooning For The Moonstone

Barely escaping the clutches of a succulent succubus, Phaeton Black returns to London only to get sucked into another unearthly scheme. Professor Lovecraft has been tinkering with the secrets of life and death, replacing body parts with the latest mechanical marvels. To succeed, he needs to tap the power of the fabled Moonstone—and he needs Phaeton’s help. Of course, Phaeton would prefer to investigate the more interesting body parts of Miss America Jones. Perhaps, bringing his lady friend along for the ride won’t be to too much trouble…

Shanghaied In Shanghai

The bewilderingly beautiful and bountifully gifted daughter of a Cajun witch, Miss Jones is always up for an adventure, especially with Mr. Black as her traveling companion. But when Phaeton is mysteriously shanghaied in Shanghai, America thinks he’s run out on her. Stranded in the Orient—and steaming mad—she’s prepared to look under every stone for the missing detective. The case has put them both in the most compromising positions, but this time, Miss Jones is on top and Mr. Black is at the bottom…of a truly infernal plot.

The Girl of Hrusch Avenue by Brian McClellan
Goodreads Synopsis:
Vlora is an orphan living at a boarding school as a ward of the state. Even at her young age, she already has enemies: the Bulldog Twins, Baron Fendamere, and her own headmistress. When a strange man offers to buy her, Vlora runs away and takes to the roofs above the gunsmithies of Hrusch Avenue. It is there that she meets a boy named Taniel and begins a friendship that will change her life forever.


Free Ebooks:
Hope's End by Brian McClellan
Goodreads Synopsis:
Captain Verundish has two problems. On campaign with the Adran army and far from her homeland, she is helpless when the young daughter she left at home is threatened. To make matters worse, General Tamas has put her lover in command of a Hope's End—the first charge through a breach straight into the teeth of enemy cannon and sorcery. To save the people she loves, Verundish will have to come up with a deadly solution...

Rae of Hope by W.J. May
Goodreads Synopsis:
How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past? 

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. 

Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. 

Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life.


Free Audio Books/Stories:
The Secret World Chronicles: World Well Lost by Mercedes Lackey, Steve Libby, Cody Martin, & Dennis Lee
Goodreads Synopsis:
Continuing the action and intrigue of the first two books, World Well Lost joins the ensemble cast of metahuman characters as they struggle against the growing powers of the Thule Society as well as Echo's own waning popularity. Famed fantasy and sci-fi author Mercedes Lackey and newcomers Dennis Lee and Cody Martin bring this superhero-themed braided novel podcast series to life with characters such as the Seraphym, Victoria Victrix, John Murdock, and Red Djinni, with stories read by Veronica Giguere.

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Reviews to Come:

Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
Half Share by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
Full Share by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
Double Share by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
Captain's Share by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
Owners Share by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
Ravenwood by Nathan Lowell - a podcast reading of the book
The Coffee Legacy by Katharine Bordet - a podcast reading of the book
Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow
Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens (in audiobook while at work)
Marco and The Red Granny by Mur Lafferty (in audiobook while at work)
Seducing Her Rival by Seleste deLaney
Heaven by Mur Lafferty (in audiobook while at work)
Hell by Mur Lafferty (in audiobook while at work)
Earth by Mur Lafferty (in audiobook while at work)
Wasteland by Mur Lafferty (in audiobook while at work)
War by Mur Lafferty (in audiobook while at work)
Hapax by K.T. Bryski (in audiobook while at work)
Murder At Avedon Hill by P.G. Holyfield (in audiobook while at work)
Earth Girls Are Difficult by Frances Pauli (in audiobook while at work)
Tales of the Children by P.G. Holyfield (in audiobook while at work) An Anthology collection in the setting of Land of Caern.
Tales from the Archives, Vol 2 #12 - The Taniwha of Ana Cove by Lewis Hoban (audio while at work)
Digital Magic by Philippa Ballantine
The Princess and the Coffee Bean by Katherina Bordet (a short story in her Coffee Legacy world)
The Secret World Chronicle: Invasion by Mercedes Lackey & Steve Libbey (in audiobook while at work)
All of Us Were Sophie by Resa Nelson
Conning for Keeps by Seleste deLaney
Forsworn by Brian McClellan

Hope's End by Brian McClellan
The Secret World Chronicle: The Hunt by Mercedes Lackey & Steve Libbey (in audiobook while at work)

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Throwback Thursday (140)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.


Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;
Looking Forward To...
But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

Aaah, this one I picked up at an event at Seton Hill College. I have liked the sounds of this book for a time prior and was thrilled when the author was at the event.


Goodreads Synopsis:
In the heart of Ohio, Jessie Shimmer is caught up in hot, magic-drenched passion with her roguish lover, Cooper Marron, who is teaching her how to tap her supernatural powers. When they try to break a drought by calling down a rainstorm, a hellish portal opens and Cooper is ripped from this world, leaving Jessie fighting for her life against a vicious demon that's been unleashed.

In the aftermath, Jessie, who knows so little about her own true nature, is branded an outlaw. She must survive by her wits and with the help of her familiar, a ferret named Palimpsest. Stalked by malevolent enemies, Jessie is determined to find out what happened to Cooper. But when she moves heaven and earth to find her man, she'll be shocked by what she discovers—and by what she must ultimately do to save them all.



I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Book Review: Highsong

Highsong

By:  Laura Jennings

Publish Date:  April 28, 2011

Format:  eBook, 73pgs

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  1st in Highsong series

Recommendation:  You enjoy short soft science fiction reads? This one is for you. With dolphins, Orcas, and a powerful enemy on a new planet.

Synopsis:
Sia is a Risen, a genetically engineered, sapient, and psychic dolphin on board a science-ship sent to check the stability of a terraformed planet, Ptaal, that lost contact with the Ninth Democracy 300 years before.

Also on board is her human friend, Harp, the result of an illegal experiment that attempted to make a psychic human.

Both of them look forward to their first mission, because none of the alien Viciss show signs of targeting Ptaal.

Sia and Harp are wrong.

Because the Viciss aren’t coming.

They’ve already arrived.

First Sentence:
The Trellia had a song all its own.

Purchase At:
Amazon

**I read this book for an honest review from the author.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Harp and Sia are aboard Trellia heading to Ptaal to research the planet the Democracy has lost touch with over three hundred years ago. They are part of a crew that is to confirm the ecological stability and that there are no Viciss, the dark and dangerous enemy to humans and all kinds. When they arrive Ptaal, things are not as they thought. Sia, being a Data Scout dolphin and keeps all the data, is evacuated from the ship to try and save the data. Harp, a blind genius boy who has his own psychic abilities due to an illegal testing, is left on the ship and has to find a way to fend off the enemy to save what's left of his mothers crew. The Highsong is hard for both to reach, but is the only way to stop the enemy...even if it means their own lives.

A story of inner and physical obstacles that must be beaten. Harp and Sia are different yet very much the same. Both are stubborn. Harp is a young blind boy that was found by Captain Cait Hess. She adopted him and he's been trying to control the test that was done to him. He now has a ring around his head that tells when he's close to having a fit, when his mindsong becomes strong, and could kill him with the fluctuation of it. The Orca Highsonger and warrior helps him get through these episodes. Sia is a Data Scout who surveys and retrieves data, also helps with Harp's fits, but she's not as strong as her teacher Locuxu yet.

I found this to be light in science fiction. Harp has Braille generators on his wrists and the halo anchored to his head. There is talk of the planet Ptaal that was terraformed. Even the breathing ring apparatus the dolphins wear. But the science is light when it comes to it. Easy to understand. There is talk of Highsong, mindsong, and Onesong in the book. You learn as you go what they are. But in general they are psychic songs that are sung that the Risen can hear and use.

I am very much an ocean lover, particularly dolphins and orcas. So for me it was neat to see a way was found to communicate with them. It is neat that through this Highsong and socorder to see them speak to humans.

There is danger here, both internal and external. Internal for Harp and Sia, external for them and the rest of the crew and inhabitants of the planet. This is an interesting start to a new idea with psychic and song communication. I'm curious to learn more.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Mythical Monday (33)


It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.


This week we have:
Fantasy author Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Talking of Road Gremlins.



The shadows are populated by the creatures of myth. They writhe and seethe and bubble with a myriad of fae lurking there, waiting for the unwary, the uninformed, the incautious… We mortals often think we spy them, out of the corner of our eyes, but it takes a special vision to truly see. Most only imagine they do in the suggestive twilight populated by their fears, for folklore and legend are filled with tales of faerie folk. Some benign, most not.

We’ve many of us forgotten that in this modern day. We make the error of thinking of faeries and other such creatures as cute and kind and of the venue to entertain children. Yet the truth of those tales echoes in our collective hearts, even when our minds insist they are only stories.

The folly! Tales of the fae were whispered in days of old, cautionary tales to warn children to be good and kind and stay safely clear of the domain of the fae.

Out of this fading of caution has come a need.

A need to re-educate mankind in the true nature of the fae. I have risen to that need, along with my compatriots: L. Jagi Lamplighter, Lee C. Hillman, and Jeffrey Lyman.

Who am I? Danielle Ackley-McPhail… And who are we? The chroniclers of the Bad-Ass Faeries.

In the course of our efforts to remind humanity of the prudence of caution regarding the fae I have become familiar with a peculiar little beastie by the name of Smear. No…this is not a new type of fae. Smear is a road gremlin, an adaptation of a species long cautioned against in ages of yore, and more modern times as well. In World War II they were known only as gremlins, creatures with a penchant for sabotaging airplanes, machines, anything with gears and moving parts, constructed by man. Anything. Airmen and mechanics alike knew they fought on two fronts, against the enemy and the gremlins.

Little did the airmen coming home know that there nemeses would follow. As the returning soldiers left their aircraft behind some of them found new ways to feel like they were flying: motorcycles. With wind in their hair and maneuverability and speed at their control, they once more dressed in their leathers and this time took to the roads. And so did their gremlins.

See, the fae are adaptive, they blend in to avoid the notice of the mortal realm, and so seldom remain true to form. Gremlins became road gremlins and motorcycles or cars became the targets of opportunity.

In The Halfling’s Court: A Bad-Ass Faerie Tale I chronicle a rare look at a road gremlin, reflecting its environment to better work its mischief. Within that tale, Lance Cosain, the Halfling leader of the Wild Hunt Motor Club, shares his first-hand knowledge of this belligerent little creature:

“Skin as grey as asphalt, with an oily, rainbow shimmer. Hair long and thick and spiny, like a porcupine mated with a box of nails. A thick white line ran down the center of their faces, like war paint, and along their arms were thick, black squiggles. Like tats or tribal markings, only with the dull gleam of tar snakes. Each finger was like a spike, reminiscent of those found at toll booths and security gates, only jointed.”

Lance mastered the road in that encounter, but just barely, and not without sacrificing both his ride and a bit of skin and flesh. He walked away with a limp and respect for an adversary he could only stand up to, but not triumph. After all, the road remains long after the biker’s moved on.

As with any tale of the fae, that respect is the key. That and a judicious use of caution.

The fae are often reflections of their environment and jealous of their territory. Prudent mortals have taken precautions. Bikers, mostly, knowing the weakness of the fae, have taken to attaching small metal bells to their bikes, the ringing painful to the gremlins’ ears. The magic of said bells works in two ways:


  1. Should a bike already be infested with gremlins the ringing bell will catch them up, trapping them within until the sound drives them mad and they fall away.
  2. If the bike is clean, the ringing warns the road gremlins away, preventing them from boarding and working their mischief.


And if the bell is given out of love by one person to another the magic is doubly strong as love has ever been protection against fae of any nature.

So consider, before you bestow on someone that old Irish Blessing “May the road rise up to meet your feet…,” if that truly is a good thing or not…Better, perhaps, to remind your friend or loved one to respect the road, and gift them with a gremlin bell all their own.


To learn more about The Halfling’s Court please visit www.sidhenadaire.com/books/HC.htm

You can read an excerpt at www.sidhenadaire.com/books/HC-EX.htm.

Author Bio:
Award-winning author Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. Currently, she is a project editor and promotions manager for Dark Quest Books.

Her published works include five urban fantasy novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court: and The Redcaps’ Queen: A Bad-Ass Faerie Tale. She is also the author of the solo science fiction collection, A Legacy of Stars, the non-fiction writers guide, The Literary Handyman, and is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Dragon’s Lure, and In An Iron Cage. Her work is included in numerous other anthologies and collections.

She is a member of the Garden State Speculative Fiction Writers, the New Jersey Authors Network, and Broad Universe, a writer’s organization focusing on promoting the works of women authors in the speculative genres.

Danielle lives in New Jersey with husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail, mother-in-law Teresa, and three extremely spoiled cats.

In her down time she concocts her own cookie recipes (Spirited Delights), gets crafty, and makes costume horns. All the spaces in between are filled with reading…lots of reading!

If you want to know more about what fun I had with Irish myth I invite you to check out the Eternal Cycle trilogy or The Bad-Ass Faerie Tale series. Free excerpts of each book can be found on my website:
Yesterday's Dreams http://www.sidhenadaire.com/books/YesterdaysDreams-EX.pdf
Tomorrow's Memories http://www.sidhenadaire.com/books/TomorrowsMemories-EX.pdf
Today's Promise http://www.sidhenadaire.com/books/Today’sPromise-EX.pdf
The Halfling's Court http://www.sidhenadaire.com/books/HC-EX.pdf
The Redcaps' Queen http://www.sidhenadaire.com/books/RQ-EX.pdf

Find Danielle Ackley-McPhail:
Websites: www.sidhenadaire.com
Blogs: http://lit_handyman.livejournal.com, http://damcphail.livejournal.com, http://badassfaeries.livejournal.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/DMcPhail
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/danielle.ackleymcphail
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Ackley-McPhail/e/B002GZVZPQ/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/989939.Danielle_Ackley_McPhail


Pick Up Danielle's Books At:
On Amazon: