Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts
A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with. You may not live on the island, but you can't tell me it's not your home. Your bubble, Mr. Baker. It's been popped. Why would you allow it to grow around you again?
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Cerulean Chronicles #1
Rating -
Release - March 17, 2020
Genre - Fantasy / found family
POV - Single 3rd person
Heat - none aside from a kiss
Source - ebook from the library
Length - 393 pages
A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
I know, I know. I'm late to this author and the stunning way they put together words. Who knew I was truly missing out?
Linus Baker was the epitome of a perfect social worker—he genuinely cared about children and their safety; he prided himself on remaining objective; and he took meticulous notes and prepared detailed reports. When he's given the task of investigating an orphanage that has been given the highest classification, he knows, before he even steps foot on the island, that he's in over his head.
These characters quickly won my heart and I was so sad to let them go when I got to the end.
- Talia is a female gnome, with a love of gardening, gardening tools, and digging holes (for reasons);
- Theodore is a wyvern, who communicates with chirps, collects treasure, and is generally fun-loving;
- Phee is a sprite who is coming into her own powers with the help of Zoe (an adult sprite). There's a fierceness to this little girl that is hard to ignore;
- Chauncey is a little boy of a species no one recognizes. He wants everyone to get along and his greatest wish is to be the best bellhop in all the lands;
- Sal is a gentle soul who, after many years of abuse, is easily frightened. He's slowly healing and I lived for every moment of his recovery; and
- Lucy is the antichrist, however, if you look beyond the moniker he had no choice but to have, you'll find a mischievious little boy who enjoys all things death and grossness. There's a sweetness to him that defies every preconceived notion of who we think he should be.
As the story progressed, I found myself developing a certain degree of fondness with everyone and my capacity for caring only grew as the story did. I loved watching Linus flounder with everything he knew and all of the things he was learning. He discovered a zest for life on this island, with these people. A level of self-awareness, a sense of questioning the world around him and the way we treat others. A newfound hope and appreciation for the differences between us all.
This story took a firm jab at discrimination and I can't wait to read the sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
Check out the incredible fan art for The House in the Cerulean Sea. The creator captured these characters BEAUTIFULLY!!
TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, and the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
Visit https://www.tjklunebooks.com for more information.
"You're fascinated with my knot."
"I really am."
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
The exclusive print edition of a Yonder original story
"I really am."
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
The exclusive print edition of a Yonder original story
Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon
Rating -
Standalone
Release - July 2, 2024
Genre - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Heroine 1st person
Heat - explicit to filthy
Source - eARC from NetGalley
Length - 536 pages
In order to protect her kingdom from the wrath of a vengeful goddess, Princess Candra must remain locked inside a tower for seven years. Seven long years without a friend―or a lover―by her side. And shut inside the tower with her? A Fellian, the enemy of her people, a fearsome warrior race complete with wings and claws and fangs. Nemeth is terrifying, cruel, and disturbingly magnetic. Candra should kill him for his supplies, but she’s desperate for his company…and his touch.
As time inside the unchanging tower rolls on, Candra uncovers the man behind the stony facade. And when their tenure hits an unexpected snag, Candra and Nemeth are forced to make a difficult choice. They’ll need to face an outside world they no longer recognize, one that threatens their lives and their surprising love.
As time inside the unchanging tower rolls on, Candra uncovers the man behind the stony facade. And when their tenure hits an unexpected snag, Candra and Nemeth are forced to make a difficult choice. They’ll need to face an outside world they no longer recognize, one that threatens their lives and their surprising love.
After many, many years of a tentative truce, two kingdoms were on the brink of war. The only thing that has kept the people blessed is the seven years committed to the tower. One person from each faction must sacrifice these years to calm the goddess. Two people prepared to be shut off from the rest of the world, their people, their freedom.
Princess Candra was not prepared. As a last minute fill-in, this spoiled brat had no idea what she was in for. There was no one to dress her, bathe her, prepare her meals, or generally make her life easier. She had to do everything herself, including preparing and administering her medicine. Girl was absolutely clueless and provided me with endless fun, at her expense.
So there Candra was, with a chronic blood illness, trapped in a tower with one of the enemy. However, Nemeth was far from the bad guy. He took care of her, shared his supplies with her, and made her fall helplessly in love with him. And when I thought that was all for this story... the author gifted me with so much more.
There was danger and intrigue, honor and betrayal, tons of love and sexy times.
If you weren't a fan of this author before reading this book, you'll be one after.
Ruby Dixon is an author of Science Fiction Romance. She likes fated mates, baby-filled epilogues, and cinnamon roll heroes. She also likes to write biographies of herself in the third person, because it feels more important that way.
Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)
Visit http://www.rubydixon.com for more information.
Find the series here - Goodreads * Amazon
Trial of the Sun Queen
Rating -
Part of a series - Artefacts of Ouranos #1
Release - November 15, 2022
Genre/Trope - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers / fated mates
POV - dual 1st and 3rd person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - ebook from NetGalley
Length - 407 pages
Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.
Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured.
When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.
But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.
Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.
With a temper like mine, a girl is bound to get in trouble now and then…
or often.
or often.
After all the hype I've seen for this book, I had to give it a try and I'm glad I did!
While Lor was a difficult pill to swallow, I couldn't get enough of her story. Hunger Games meets the Bachelor? Kinda. There was definitely a King whose hand had to be earned through deadly trials. But was he really worth it?
From the age of twelve, all Lor knew was the isolation, degradation and abuse she suffered in the prison of The Aurora—a kingdom full of secrets and shadows. Every day, she did all she could to protect herself and her family. But her smart mouth and poor impulse control led her to being punished. When she's kidnapped and brought to the Sun Kingdom, full of luxury, fresh air and sunshine, she can't decide if it's a boon or a curse.
I'm not the only one who pretty much guessed everything early on, right? Atlas grossed me out, but I guess if I was desperate for kindness, maybe I'd be into all of that. I only wish I felt some sort of sympathy for Lor.
While I didn't really like Lor, I was entertained by everything that happened in this story (aside from her silly decisions). I did want the world building to be more fleshed out. Actually, I expected it, but alas, these details were nowhere to be found. I hope to learn more about the different kingdoms, the different types of fae, and the different kinds of magic in the books to come.
While Lor was a difficult pill to swallow, I couldn't get enough of her story. Hunger Games meets the Bachelor? Kinda. There was definitely a King whose hand had to be earned through deadly trials. But was he really worth it?
From the age of twelve, all Lor knew was the isolation, degradation and abuse she suffered in the prison of The Aurora—a kingdom full of secrets and shadows. Every day, she did all she could to protect herself and her family. But her smart mouth and poor impulse control led her to being punished. When she's kidnapped and brought to the Sun Kingdom, full of luxury, fresh air and sunshine, she can't decide if it's a boon or a curse.
I'm not the only one who pretty much guessed everything early on, right? Atlas grossed me out, but I guess if I was desperate for kindness, maybe I'd be into all of that. I only wish I felt some sort of sympathy for Lor.
While I didn't really like Lor, I was entertained by everything that happened in this story (aside from her silly decisions). I did want the world building to be more fleshed out. Actually, I expected it, but alas, these details were nowhere to be found. I hope to learn more about the different kingdoms, the different types of fae, and the different kinds of magic in the books to come.
Rule of the Aurora King
Rating -
Part of a series - Artefacts of Ouranos #2
Release - August 15, 2023
Genre/Trope - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers / fated mates
POV - dual 1st person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 505 pages
Freed from the golden clutches of the Sun King, Lor now finds herself in the hands of Nadir, the Aurora Prince. Convinced she’s hiding something, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make her talk. But Lor knows the value of secrets—she’s been keeping them her entire life—and she’s not letting hers go without a fight.
When Lor and Nadir team up to search for a lost item that holds the key to her past and her future, she isn’t sure she can trust him. All she knows is she won’t fall for another royal fae’s promises again.
With the Sun King determined to reclaim her, Lor must keep on the move, but nowhere is safe. Not until she destroys him and the Aurora King. But she soon learns that the future of Ouranos depends on much more than avenging her shattered legacy.
I am not his conquest.
I am not his to claim.
I am my own castle.
I am not his to claim.
I am my own castle.
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first!
Nadir MADE this book and I couldn't get enough of his voice. Lor was still very hard for me to take, but with everything else going on, I was able to push through her ridiculous thoughts, feelings and actions. What an entitled hot mess of potential epicness!!
I'm not sure how I feel about the flashback chapters. I was hoping to learn more about the history of the kingdoms and where it all went wrong. However, aside from falling in love with Wolf (and seriously, who wouldn't?), I didn't learn much else. Two fated primaries destroyed the world. Maybe I'm completely oblivious, but I still don't know HOW!!!!
I am so tired of Lor and her games. It makes NO SENSE. She's a young woman who knew NOTHING about the real world besides what she learned from fellow inmates. She claims to remember virtually nothing prior to entering the prison at the age of twelve (which seems preposterous because I remember plenty from my years before 12). And yet... she seems to know it all. Let's be clear: she had no way to know how to navigate the world she lived in, yet she alone could protect her siblings. Despite the more powerful and knowledgeable group she found herself with, she knew better. And what was with her putting so much blame on Nadir and Amya for what their father did to her family??? I was so sick of her coming for them about something they had NO WAY of knowing about. Weren't they doing everything they could to help her now?
Whatever.
I'm hoping the next book gives me a Lor who doesn't feel so entitled. A Lor who humbles herself and recognizes her own strengths. A Lor who can finally see all that she can share with the allies she currently has. People who have done nothing but help her. And you know, there's Nadir, a male she shares a profound connection with. Maybe she'll finally give him a break, even if she chooses not to be with him romantically.
The next book's release seems so far away. I'm impatient to read Fate of the Sun King. Knowing our heroes are going back to his kingdom is freaking me out!
Nadir MADE this book and I couldn't get enough of his voice. Lor was still very hard for me to take, but with everything else going on, I was able to push through her ridiculous thoughts, feelings and actions. What an entitled hot mess of potential epicness!!
I'm not sure how I feel about the flashback chapters. I was hoping to learn more about the history of the kingdoms and where it all went wrong. However, aside from falling in love with Wolf (and seriously, who wouldn't?), I didn't learn much else. Two fated primaries destroyed the world. Maybe I'm completely oblivious, but I still don't know HOW!!!!
I am so tired of Lor and her games. It makes NO SENSE. She's a young woman who knew NOTHING about the real world besides what she learned from fellow inmates. She claims to remember virtually nothing prior to entering the prison at the age of twelve (which seems preposterous because I remember plenty from my years before 12). And yet... she seems to know it all. Let's be clear: she had no way to know how to navigate the world she lived in, yet she alone could protect her siblings. Despite the more powerful and knowledgeable group she found herself with, she knew better. And what was with her putting so much blame on Nadir and Amya for what their father did to her family??? I was so sick of her coming for them about something they had NO WAY of knowing about. Weren't they doing everything they could to help her now?
Whatever.
I'm hoping the next book gives me a Lor who doesn't feel so entitled. A Lor who humbles herself and recognizes her own strengths. A Lor who can finally see all that she can share with the allies she currently has. People who have done nothing but help her. And you know, there's Nadir, a male she shares a profound connection with. Maybe she'll finally give him a break, even if she chooses not to be with him romantically.
The next book's release seems so far away. I'm impatient to read Fate of the Sun King. Knowing our heroes are going back to his kingdom is freaking me out!
Nisha J. Tuli is the bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen—the first in the Artefacts of Ouranos series—which became a BookTok hit thanks to her amazing fans. The originally self-published series was acquired by Forever Publishing and Orbit UK in 2023, and will soon be published in 15 other languages around the world.She's also the author of Heart of Night and Fire, a South Asian-inspired fantasy romance and the first in a four-book series. Look for her rom-com debut in 2025 with NSFW (Not Suitable for Work), a workplace rivals to lovers rom-com publishing with Forever.
Nisha lives in Canada, where she spends most of her time reading and writing while enjoying travel, food, and camping with her partner, two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed, Mora.
Visit https://nishajtuli.com for more information.
These scars should never be seen as a Fae who has been abused or broken because, instead, they tell a story of every battle won. Every war her father unleashed on her that she didn't retreat from. She held her ground and never gave in, which is clear in how she's going against him now.
Blood of Desiderium by Ali Stuebbe
Rating -
Part of a series - The Divide #1
Release - December 21, 2022
Genre/Trope - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers / royalty
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - a couple of descriptive and explicit scenes
Source - ebook from NetGalley
Length - 484 pages
In the lands of Deyadrum, where every Fae possesses power, Princess Emma is the only one forced without. Confined in the walls of her palace by her father, she’s desperate for a taste of freedom.
That is, until she discovers the truth: everything she thought she knew was a lie, for something evil plagues her lands - promising death and darkness.
A betrothal that tests her.
A mysterious vigilante who teases her.
A Dark Prince who doesn’t trust her.
And a phantom that invades her dreams.
Emma must try to escape her father’s torturous grip as she journeys to find a way to save her people…and herself.
But Emma has dark secrets of her own. And a game she has to play.
Can she overcome her grief and fears to save her people before the darkness that lurks within consumes her?
Just remember, even that which appears true may be deceiving.
That is, until she discovers the truth: everything she thought she knew was a lie, for something evil plagues her lands - promising death and darkness.
A betrothal that tests her.
A mysterious vigilante who teases her.
A Dark Prince who doesn’t trust her.
And a phantom that invades her dreams.
Emma must try to escape her father’s torturous grip as she journeys to find a way to save her people…and herself.
But Emma has dark secrets of her own. And a game she has to play.
Can she overcome her grief and fears to save her people before the darkness that lurks within consumes her?
Just remember, even that which appears true may be deceiving.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Blood of Desiderium was a gloomy, wonderful, glaringly grim depiction of a woman fighting for freedom.
This debut novel had just about everything I needed to stay captivated: a fierce heroine, who was battling a darkness she couldn't control; a devastingly handsome dark prince, who has his own secrets to keep; a few secondary characters who each deserve their own stories; an extremely cruel King, who wanted to rule over everyone; a stunning magic system; and a moving plot.
At times I wanted to both slap and hug Emma. She really was her own worst enemy (aside from the King and his followers). While she and Draven (our swoon-worthy hero) clashed from the start, there was no mistaking the chemistry between them. The author doled out the heat in spades!
And while this book definitely had some spice to it, whether through heated words or heated intimate exchanges, the plot was what held my attention most. I couldn't figure out how Emma would come into her power, who was responsible for the monstrous beasts plaguing the fae, or if any of these people I had come to love would even survive. I was hooked and I need the next book, Soul of Salvation immediately. Waiting for its release is going to feel like torture.
Ali Stuebbe grew up in the state of Ohio, near the city of Cleveland. At the age of 21, she married, becoming a military spouse, and has called three other states home. She studied English Literature at Cleveland State University and American Public University. She began writing her debut novel when she grew confident in her writing and felt ready to bring this story to life. When she’s not writing, she can be found at the gym or sitting on the couch with her nose in a book and a large coffee in her hand. Ali is the author of Blood of Desiderium, and currently lives in Texas with her loving husband and two beautiful children.Visit https://www.alimariestuebbe.co for more information.
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