Bill Stuart

Time for a new review. As is often the case, I found The Finding (Legend of Oescienne #1) by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson on Bragmedallion.com. Here are my thoughts.

Synopsis (from the author):

When the dragon Jaax receives word that a human infant has been found in the province of Oescienne, he doesn’t dare believe it. Humans have been extinct for centuries, trapped by a terrible curse and left to live out their existence in the form of dragons. Despite his doubts, however, Jaax assumes responsibility for the baby girl only to discover that what he has been seeking for so many years has finally been found…

Jahrra knows all about the legends and sagas of Oescienne, but never in her wildest dreams would she believe that she played a part in one of them. She’s far too busy dodging the bullies at school and seeking out new adventures with her friends to worry about what secrets her dragon mentor might be keeping from her, or that her every move is being watched by something living in the forest surrounding her home.

But the secrets run deep, and as Jahrra fights to earn her place in this extraordinary world, she will begin to unravel the truth of it all: that she isn’t as safe as she thought she was, that danger lurks around every corner, and that her role in this unfurling tale is far more significant than she could possibly imagine.

What I liked about The Finding:

The Finding was an enjoyable read. I liked Jahrra and the dragon Hroombra. Jaax was just enough of an unknown to thoroughly irritate Jahrra and lend mystery to the story. Jahrra’s friends and their battles against the bullies at school added drama, and the worldbuilding was excellent. Overall, this was a good start to the series.

What I didn’t like about The Finding:

For me, the book dragged in spots, was overly descriptive, and often repetitive. These factors distracted me from the overall story.

Overall impression of The Finding:

Despite the somewhat slow pace of the book and other issues noted above, I liked the book. After reading it, I added the second book of the series to my TBR. If you enjoy epic fantasy with good worldbuilding, try this one!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Jenna Elizabeth Johnson:

Find Jenna Elizabeth Johnson on her website, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads page. Discover all her books, maybe pick up a few, and consider leaving a review!

Connect with me:

I’m on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Stop by, say hi, and let’s connect!

I ran across Karda (Adalta Vol 1) by Sherrill Nilson on BragMedallion.com. The mixture of science fiction and fantasy intrigued me. Here are my thoughts about it!

Synopsis (from the author):

On the beautiful world Adalta, an ancient alien emerges.

Young Marta is dropped to the planet for her first secret mission alone. In this dangerous job there are two rules: Don’t get attached. Don’t get discovered.

As cover for her mission, Marta joins the Mi’hiru, the all-female elite guard who patrol the skies on Karda, majestic hawk-headed flying horses.

Arrows and swords are the only weapons allowed on this planet. But Marta discovers illegal high-tech weapons smuggled from her ship.

The ancient alien, long thought defeated, uses a power hungry nobleman to escape and with the smuggled weapons they threaten all life on this planet.

To stop this threat, Marta reluctantly joins forces with handsome, arrogant Altan. As their connection grows, she struggles to keep her secrets.

Tensions rise. The alien’s power grows. Will Marta accept the frightening elemental magic Adalta wants to give her to save the planet she loves?

What I liked about Karda:

Karda surprised me with the combination of science fiction and fantasy. Marta’s cloaked trade ship, smuggled high-tech weapons, and the origin of Adalta’s population all added to the science fiction parts of the book. The Karda and their ancient alien enemy of Adalta, bring the fantasy conflict to life. I enjoyed the romance part of the book and the development of the relationship between Altan and Marta. The connection between the Karda and Mi’hiru provided a great backdrop to the story. Overall, Karda was an excellent book!

What I didn’t like about Karda:

Despite the book’s appeal, there were a few issues for me. First, the “talent” that the people possessed was unclear to me for a while. Secondly, it wasn’t clear if Marta had talent from birth or if Adalta chose her to have talent. Lastly, the political divisions and the governing structure were a little confusing and not fully explained. Given their importance in the story, more clarity would have helped.

Overall impression:

I liked the book! The characters and their relationships were intriguing, and the political backdrop added a lot to the story. The Karda were cool, and their psychic link with the riders helped move the story along. Overall, Karda entertained me and led me to add the rest of the series to my TBR list.

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with Sherill Nilson:

You can find Sherrill Nilson on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads Page, or website. Find all the Karda books, learn more about the author, and maybe buy a book or two.

Connect with me:

Find me on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi, and let’s connect! Let’s talk books and reviews.

I was looking for a new series to read and found Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles #1) by the international bestselling author K. N. Lee. Here is my review of the first book of the fantasy series!

Synopsis (from the author):

Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace… or war.

Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.

On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.

The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.

What I liked about Rise of the Flame:

I enjoyed most of the elements in the book. Plenty of action, a touch of romance, good characters, and multiple plot twists and turns kept me interested. A myriad collection of fantasy creatures like dragons and fairies, plus a cool world for the characters to roam, added excellent background to the story. Overall, a good book!

What I didn’t like about Rise of the Flame:

My only complaint about the book was there were a number of typos that pulled me out of the story.

Overall impression of Rise of the Flame:

Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles # 1) was fast-paced and full of action, and the plot twists made it fun to read. The characters are engaging (even Kavien), and the world-building is excellent. The only drawback was the number of typos that detracted from the flow of the story. Still, it was an entertaining book. If you like fantasy, try this one!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with K. N. Lee:

Visit K. N. Lee on her website, Amazon Author Page, or Goodreads page. Find Rise of the Flame and her many other books and more about the busy author and entrepreneur!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Stop by, say hi, and let’s talk books, submarines, or gemstones!

I’ve had my eye on Destroyer’s Blood (Blood Series, #1) by Michael Lynes for a while, and it finally percolated up to the top of my TBR. Read on for my thoughts on this multiple award-winning and intriguing take on Greek mythology!

Synopsis (from the author):

Blood is mightier than the Sword.

Dev is a Master Thief, the son of Prometheus, and a bad-boy with a talking magic sword called Betrayer.

Newly named the Protector of Men by his Titan father, he and Tray prefer to stay far away from Olympus and the squabbles of the Gods. That is until Hermes interrupts them as they climb up Half-Dome with an urgent summons from Zeus.

Before he can finish, his body is torn to shreds by their Enemy. . .the DESTROYER.

Dev shook his head, spitting out dust and rock chips. The last rays of the setting sun stained the ground crimson. “Betrayer,” he murmured, ears still ringing from the terrific explosion, “we have a problem.”

The cryptic message from Olympus changes everything… One moment Devcalion and Betrayer are free, climbing up Half Dome without a care in the world, the next they are dragged into battle with the Destroyer, Zeus’s ancient foe.

The Dark Power is merciless, and time is running out. It’s up to Dev and Tray to try to stop him, or the world of men and gods is doomed.

What I liked about Destroyer’s Blood (Blood Series, #1):

I really enjoyed the twist on Greek mythology. Dev and Betrayer and their snarky dialogue was fun. The plot moved along nicely, and the story had plenty of action and twists and turns. The ending was unexpected and satisfying. Overall, a fun and interesting read!

What I didn’t like about Destroyer’s Blood (Blood Series, #1)

There were a couple of strange transitions when changing POVs, and a few scenes took too long to develop. Other than that, no complaints!

Overall impression of Destroyer’s Blood (Blood Series, #1):

Destroyer’s Blood was a fun, action-packed book. With a neat twist on Greek mythology and snarky heroes, it kept me turning the pages. If you like Greek mythology and some excellent fantasy elements, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with Michael Lynes:

Find Michael Lynes on his BookBub page, Amazon Author page, and Goodreads page. Find all of his books (maybe buy one or two) and consider leaving a comment or review!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Find me, and let’s connect!

I’ve read a few of Bekah Clark’s novels, like The Vulture in Fall (The Rise of the Hawk # 4), and enjoyed them all. I saw The Healer and the Warrior on my Amazon recommendations and added it to my TBR list. Here’s my review!

Synopsis (from the author):

Zianya’s been the village healer since her mother died. Trouble is, the people of her village live in fear of her and claim her red hair makes her a witch. When Torric is brought to her injured, she saves his life and finds herself kidnapped for her troubles. But Torric’s reasons are noble. His king is dying and Zianya is the only one who can save him. During their journey, she learns about her family’s origins. She also learns to love this powerful warrior who would do anything to protect her.

What I liked about The Healer and the Warrior:

I enjoyed the characters and the story. The romance was constant and a little predictable, but it kept the story moving along. Zianya and Torric were likable characters, and the supporting cast added nicely to the story. Overall, it was a fun read.

What I didn’t like about The Healer and the Warrior:

My biggest complaint about The Healer and the Warrior was a strange disconnect between the king’s illness (the reason Zianya was kidnapped) and the urgency to get Zianya to him. My only other complaint was the fantasy aspect was almost an afterthought to the romance.

Overall impression of The Healer and the Warrior:

The Healer and the Warrior was a fun read. Good characters, tons of romance, and some interesting side stories made the book entertaining. Try this one if you like romance with some fantasy as the backdrop!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Bekah Clark:

Find Bekah Clark on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads page, or website. While you’re there, discover her many books (and maybe buy a few). Consider leaving a review or a comment, too!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter (X), Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Stop by, say hi, and let’s connect!

I found a new series to read on BragMedallion.com. I picked up Lady Apprentice (The Serving Magic #1) by Toni Cabell and dove right in. Read on for my thoughts on this multi-award-winning novel!

Synopsis (from the author):

Linden is the worst mage apprentice at her school. Her latest disaster: accidentally destroying her classroom when a small hooded fay pops up inside the fireball she’s just conjured.

Linden is sent to the headmaster’s office to be formally expelled, when she is saved by the bell—quite literally. Someone is frantically ringing the bell inside the watchtower overlooking the western frontier. Raiders are coming, in broad daylight, wearing the uniforms of the enemy army.

In the days following the raid, rumors begin to fly about the invading commander, with dark powers and an even darker mission. And for some reason Linden has yet to fathom, he’s taken a personal interest in her and her unruly magic.

What I liked about Lady Apprentice:

I enjoyed the array of characters, with Linden as the focal point. Much like real life, the book gave us love, romance, petty jealousy, friendship, loss, sacrifice, and so much more. I liked the world in which the story was set and the steampunk elements added to the backdrop. Good writing and plenty of action kept me turning the pages. Overall, a fun and entertaining book!

What I didn’t like about Lady Apprentice:

The only thing I disliked about the book was that I had difficulty liking Linden. Her immaturity and reckless approach distracted me from the story.

Overall impression of Lady Apprentice:

I liked Lady Apprentice (The Serving Magic # 1) by Toni Cabell. Good characters, lots of action, a little romance, and nice world-building made the story move along. Though I struggled to like Linden, the rest of the characters helped balance the book. If you like fantasy, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Connect with Toni Cabell:

Find Toni Cabell on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads page, and website. Stop by, grab a book or three,  and maybe leave a comment or a review!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Let’s connect!