Posted in Book Review, Grace Pearce, Mariah Montoya

Breaking the Cardinal Rules: A Review of Xantera by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce

Xantera by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce

Xantera follows 23-year-old Saskia, who lives in a utopian society ruled by 12 guardians. Saskia has always been taught to never question the rules and to fear the monster who prowls outside the wall, which is there to protect them. She eats what she is told, she works where she is told, and she is even in a relationship with whom she is told. They control every aspect of the citizens’ lives. Saskia is a healer, and when one of her patients is acting shifty and then disappears, Saskia does what no one in Xantera should do: she starts thinking and asking questions. When she sees her patient again, he is being escorted by the sentries, but she notices as he throws a necklace to the side of the road. Saskia is curious and picks this up; she doesn’t know what it is and is utterly shocked when a voice speaks to her in her head. The voice is that of the monster outside the wall, the one she should fear, and he wants her to let him in.

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Posted in Book Review, Mariah Montoya

Enemies to Lovers: Finding Love in By the Moonbeam and the Mist

By the Moonbeam and the Mist by Mariah Montoya

This is book 2 in the Esholian Institute series. I’m not sure yet how many books will be in this series, but by the end of this book, there is at least one more to come.

By the Moonbeam and the Mist follows on where book one, By the Orchid and the Owl, ended. Coen and the other faeries have fled; they have wiped Rayna’s mind, and she wakes up on the beach with Jagaros, thinking she partied the night before and is drunk/hungover. This book is set in Rayna’s second year at the institute, and because her mind was wiped, she doesn’t remember Coen, she doesn’t remember the truth about who she is. She ends up finding all of this out again. In this book, she is tasked with finding and catching Coen. Coen has changed, though; he is faster than he should be, and he moves with impeccable speed. Rayna plans to capture him, until she realises that a force is destroying the villages and residents in them. A force that is not Coen, if she is to protect her dads and her friends, she must team up with Coen.

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Posted in Book Review, Mariah Montoya

Rayna’s Journey: Secrets and Magic in By the Orchid and the Owl

By the Orchid and the Owl by Mariah Montoya

By the Orchid and the Owl is a fantasy book. It follows Rayna Drey, who is 18 years old. Once you turn 18, you are sent to the institute to be branded with faerie magic; you do not know which magic you will get. You then spend the next 5 years at the institute learning to control and harness this magic. The types of sanctioned magic are: the ability to wield elements, summon objects, shift forms, talk to wildlife or manipulate minds. Rayna, on her first night at the institute, the night before the branding drinks some ale laced with bascite (the same stuff that would be branded into her), she explodes with a raw type of power, luckily for Rayne Coen Steeler, a fifth year mind manipulator can teach her to hide it, however Coen is hiding many secrets too. Rayna begins to uncover dark secrets about the Island and its council. If they find out, she and Coen face a fate worse than death.

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Posted in Book Review, emilie ocean

Enchanted: A Romantasy of Love and Secrets

Enchanted by Emilie Ocean

Whilst scrolling threads, I came across an a post from Emilie looking for ARC readers for her book Enchanted. This is a second edition of the book and as soon as I saw Ghost Whisperer vibes in the tropes I signed up! The second edition will be available September 14th.

Enchanted is a romantasy that follows Juliette, the Princess of Reunion Island. Juliette is a witch and her parents are forcing her to choose a mate. Three Princes come to the Chateau vying for her hand. Prince Elmas, a Vampire from Lithuania, Prince Kai, a werewolf and Prince Féidhlim of Éire. Juliette and Féidhlim are drawn to each other but there are secrets and hidden truths casting shadows over them both. With Elmas trying desperately to get Juliette’s attention, even going as far as to blackmail Féidhlim. Who will she end up choosing?

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Posted in Book Review, jamie applegate hunter

Why Rory Raven is the Badass Antihero We Didn’t Know We Needed!

The Umbra King by Jamie Applegate Hunter

The Umbra King is book one in the Vincula Realm series. This is a dark fantasy series. This series follows Aurora (Rory) Raven, who, after witnessing the brutal murder of her twin sister, spends years turning herself into a ruthless vigilante. Rory has been searching for the man who killed her sister and stole her soul. Rory is convicted of 13 murders and sentenced to 500 years in Vincula, the Prison Realm.

Vincula is ruled by the Umbra King Caius, who is rumoured to be the King of Monsters and the things nightmares are made of. Caius is locked in his own realm after being sentenced for a crime he didn’t commit. When Rory is dropped in his throne room, he is drawn to her and he despises it because she is everything he hates isn’t she?

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Posted in Book Review, Dakota Wilde

Love, Betrayal and Godly Powers: Odessa’s Journey Through The Nocturne Abyss

The Nocturne Abyss by Dakota Wilde

The Nocturne Abyss is an annual event, set by the Gods in Paris. Each year, 16 people are summoned, and once summoned, there is no way out; you must compete or be killed, and your family is killed too. The games are set in the catacombs of Paris, and the goal is to be the first to reach the end. Each participant receives a gold mask that contains a drop of the God’s power it represents. To collect other powers, you must kill the other contestants for their masks. The contestant who wins gets to keep their power along with lots of riches.

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Posted in Book Review, E D Yates

The First Sin: A Review of E.D. Yates’ Debut Novel

The First Sin by E.D. Yates

The First Sin is the debut book by author E.D. Yates. I found this author through my “Supporting Indie Authors” post, and when I saw the graphics, I knew it would be one I wanted to add to my TBR. Fortunately for me, I won E.D Yates’ giveaway for a paperback copy of her book and a bookmark. I will elaborate on the giveaway further down. So, what is The First Sin?

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Posted in Monthly Reading Wrap Ups

June Book Summary: Health Struggles & Reading Highlights

I can’t believe another month has come to an end. The 6th month too! How has half a year gone by already? Crazy.

This is what I have read in June. I haven’t managed to do individual reviews on here for many of them, but they are all on my TikTok. I have not had the best month health-wise. I have been very drained, dealing with insomnia as well as mini strokes. I will try to get to them, though  ðŸ™ƒ

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Indie Author Spotlights: Promote Unique Voices

I love supporting indie authors. I have already posted 2 spotlight posts for indie authors, and here is another one with another set of indie authors I have found through threads.
Click on the author’s name underneath their picture for more information and a link to either their website, Amazon store or social media account.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with these authors! I have not read these books. I am just trying to help get them out in the world and reach more people.

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