Genre: Fantasy & Magic

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Jul 12

{Review+Giveaway} Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton

Dragonslayer is the first book in the epic fantasy series of the same name by author Duncan Hamilton. I have been so into fantasies lately and I have always been intrigued by and love books that feature dragons, so I knew this was going to be right up my alley. The cover of this book drew me in immediately, and it kind of reminded me of the Eragon series. Though I will say, Dragonslayer is more adult and is more on the epic fantasy scale. I am super excited to read the next book in this series. The world was confusing for me at times, but that can sometimes be the case in Epic fantasy, and Duncan Hamilton does include a world map, which really helps when I am trying to place things for context. Dragonslayer is the story of Guillot dal Villevauvais, also known as Gill. Once Gill rescues Solene, the story really started to take off for me. Solene was more interesting to me than Gill because… Read more »

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Jul 03

{Review+Giveaway} Bad Breed by Kat Ross @katrossauthor

Bad Breed is the third book in the Gaslamp Gothic series by author Kat Ross. The gaslamp Gothic series, was previously known as the Dominion Mystery series, which includes The Daemoniac and The Thirteenth Gate. I love Kat Ross’ books. Her writing is always so on point and engaging, which these days is one of the most important aspects I look for when I picking what books I want to read. And I think Bad Breed might be my favorite Kat Ross novel yet! I am such a big fan of reimaginings, and lately I have been loving darker reads, so a dark reimagining of Beauty and the Beast is right up my alley! I loved this book! Though Bad Breed is the third book in the Gaslamp Gothic series, it can be read as a standalone, so if you really don’t want to, you do not have to reads the first two books. However, I really enjoyed both The Daemoniac and The Thirteenth Gate, so if you love a… Read more »

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Jun 13

{Review+Giveaway} The Thirteenth Guardian by K.M. Lewis

The Thirteenth Guardian is the first book in the young adult trilogy by the same name by author K.M. Lewis. The Thirteenth Guardian is like the DaVinci Code mashed with a re occurrence of the plagues of Egypt. It is a whirlwind adventure from start to finish. I really got swept up in this book, and though there was a bit much going on at times, it was a really well done novel, and it has left me excited to continue on in the trilogy. I really need to see what is going to happen next! Be warned though, this series is about the apocalypse. There are a series of natural disasters that threaten to destroy earth, so be forewarned about that going into the series. In The Thirteenth Guardian, we meet a group of six strangers that find themselves inexplicably bound together. The first of the strangers that we meet is Avery, but the book is told from all of their perspectives, switching off between chapters with each of… Read more »

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Jun 07

{Review+Giveaway} Skies of Olympus by Eliza Raine

Skies of Olympus is the first book in the Immortality trials series by author Eliza Raine. The Immortality trials is a unique series set up that I am really digging. This is a line from the summary “Join Lyssa as she takes on the deadly Trials alongside giants, centaurs, satyrs and gods in the first three of twelve episodes of this Greek mythology fantasy retelling.” Umm, yes please! Sign me up right away! It is a young adult mythology fantasy split up into twelve trials. Each of the books in the series will feature 3 of the 12 trials. Skies of Olympus features the trials of Hera, Athena and Artemis. I love a bind up of shorter stories that are interconnected because once you get going, you just fly through the pages. I will admit that this story had a bit of a slow and a tad confusing start for me. Here we meet Lyssa, our main character, and the daughter of a cruel Hercules. Lyssa is the captain of her… Read more »

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May 30

{Review+Giveaway} Gather the Fortunes by @BryanCamp

Gather the Fortunes is the second book in the young adult fantasy Crescent City series by author Bryan Camp. Though you do not need to read the first book, in order to understand and enjoy the second novel, I would advise it. I went into the second book without having read the first book, and I think that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. I found myself wanting to know more about the world. Though, to my knowledge the second book follows a different character than the first book- The City of Lost Fortunes does, so I think in that regard you should be fine. Gather the Fortunes was a great read. There are so many aspects of the story that I really love. First, I love the New Orleans setting, and Bryan Camp’s New Orleans is even cooler because we get to experience both the normal New Orleans as well as the underworld New Orleans filled with Gods and Magic. Which leads me to the next thing… Read more »

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May 01

{Review+Giveaway} The Peabrain’s Idea by Martha Carr

The Peabrain’s Idea is the first book in the Peabrain Adventures series, which is a fantasy series, by Martha Carr. First of all, I should say that I am not a huge fan of the title. In this series, a peabrain is a word used to describe humans (more on this later), but the zany, and kind of rude, name fits with the zany nature of this story. The Peabrain’s idea was certainly a different, in a mostly interesting way fantasy novel than I am used to reading. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow me away. In the Peabrain’s Idea, we meet our main character Maggie, who is a detective. I love that she is such a logical practical person, because seeing her get swept up in something so zany and not practical was kind of funny. The Peabrain’s Idea starts off on a great note. We dive right into the action and we learn very early on that Maggie is an elemental, right after a weird encounter with… Read more »

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Apr 19

{Review+Giveaway} S.S.S. Year One (Supernatural Spy Academy) by Yumoyori Wilson

S.S.S. Year One is the first book in the Supernatural Spy Academy series by Yumoyori Wilson. The Supernatural Spy Academy starts off with a really cool concept. With an origin of many super hero world stories, there was a change that spread throughout earth which changed people into witches and other supernatural creatures. The Supernatural Spy Academy is a prestigious school where shifters train to become spies. But witches have never graduated from the academy. This is something that our main character, Silver Spell Solange (see what the author did there with another SSS?) is hoping to change. She has always dreamed of graduating from the Academy, but getting in and staying in is no easy feat. Their entrance exam is essentially a dangerous magical quest, which you know is completely up my alley. Silver was a decent main character, and I am starting to warm up to her group of classmates/quest teammates. But honestly, some of their storylines felt a bit forced, and were a little off putting to… Read more »

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Apr 12

{Guest Post+Giveaway} The Isle of Gold by Seven Jane

Today we have the author of Isle of Gold, Seven Jane here to tell us a little but about the characters! Meet the Characters (Tell us about your main characters! Looks, personality, some background story, and/or maybe a few quotes from the story?) Evangeline Evangeline Dahl is the cunning and successful proprietress of the tavern Goodnight Mermaid on Isla Perla, and the rumored lover of Captain Erik Winters of the pirate ship Riptide. She is described as having both unsurpassed beauty as well as possessing of the unpredictable personality of the ocean itself. When Evangeline vanishes from Isla Perla, Winters bleeds the waters red in his unrelenting search to find her. He believes she has been taken hostage by the gods of the sea as retribution for becoming so powerful in her ability to manipulate and control the trade of merchants and pirates sailing the Caribbean. It is on this quest that Merrin joins the Riptide’s crew and we begin our tale. The true identity of Evangeline, or of how she arrived in Isla Perla,… Read more »

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Apr 04

{Guest Post+Giveaway} Lanterns In The Sky by P.S. Malcolm @PaganMalcolm

If You Love These Books, You’ll Love Lanterns In The Sky I am a huge fan of royal revolutions, magical fantasy and powerful, badass characters—which is why I read these books as well as write them! In this post, I want to help you figure out if Lanterns In The Sky is your next go-to read by sharing a couple of similar books with relating themes, settings or style. You might even discover another book you haven’t heard of yet (did someone day two for one?) So buckle up, and let’s take a look shall we? Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard I’m sure most people who read YA fantasy have heard of this book by now. Red Queen kind of blew up—and I definitely see why. Some of the best parts of this book were the magic structure in this world, the worldbuilding, the stakes and the plot twists! (If you’ve read this one you know exactly what I’m referring to). Enter Lanterns In The Sky—a story set in… Read more »

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Mar 29

{ARC Review} Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan

Wicked Saints is the first book in the dark fantasy series, called the Something Dark and Holy series by author Emily A. Duncan. I am all about dark fantasy, so I was super excited to dive into a new world. And even better if it is the first book to a new series. Wicked Saints has a lot of things that I really enjoy in a book. I really liked that the magic system was intertwined with politics and religion. I loved the russian inspired setting. That is a setting that I don’t read about too much in the young adult fantasy realm, but it is a fascinating landscape. I had a few pacing issues with the story, but I am still interested to see where this series will go from here. Wicked Saints is the story of a holy war between Kalyazin and Tranavia that has been going on for centuries. At the root of this holy war is magic. More specifically, the ability to talk to the gods… Read more »