Recommendations 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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Simon and Kate are back in Diana J. Febry’s Trouble at Sharcott. As my readers know, I enjoy Simon and Kate’s adventures in the Chapman and Morris cozy mystery series and added this one to my TBR list when it was released. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Appearances can be deceptive.

A charming English village mystery.

Simon is asked to protect the eldest daughter of a local property developer during a family celebration. The family have received a series of disturbing threats, but the developer has reasons to not to want to involve the police. The celebration goes well, but Simon makes a decision with fatal consequences.

When the younger daughter asks for his help, there are many reasons why he should stay away from the family. But Simon wants to redeem himself. A friend’s future depends on him getting it right this time. But will he?

What I liked about Trouble at Sharcott:

This installment of the series was a bit different than the others. It focused on more contemporary issues like environmental activism, but at its heart it is a story about Kate, Simon, and their relationship. This backdrop provides much of the story while interweaving their detective work around it. Charlie adds a nice touch to the tale, as do Simon’s dogs, Kate’s love of horses, and Popeye. With all that, you almost forget there is a murder to solve!

What I didn’t like about Trouble at Sharcott:

While I enjoyed the story, I thought the client’s daughters were too stereotypical as were the reactions of their father. Each could have been fleshed out more.

Overall impression of Trouble at Sharcott:

Trouble at Sharcott entertained me! I enjoyed the plot twists and turns and a couple of the side characters made me chuckle. If English cozy mysteries are your favorite, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Connect with Diana J. Febry:

Find Diana on her Amazon Author page or her Goodreads page. Stop by, say hi, and maybe pick up a book or two. Consider leaving a review for any you’ve read!

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I read The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles #1) by Farah Oomerbhoy and added the second book of the series, The Rise of the Dawnstar to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

 Synopsis (from the author):

The seven kingdoms of Avalonia are crumbling and evil is spreading across the land like a plague. Queen Morgana is close to finding a way to open the Book of Abraxas and it’s only a matter of time until she uses the power trapped inside its pages to enslave the entire world.

With Avalonia growing more dangerous by the day, Aurora must travel through war-torn lands and deep into the heart of the fae kingdom of Elfi. Her goal is to find a legendary weapon infused with the last of the realm’s ancient magic—the only weapon in the world powerful enough to stop the queen.

Aurora might have survived her first battle against Queen Morgana, but the true fight to save her kingdom and restore her throne has only just begun…

What I liked about The Rise of the Dawnstar:

This book builds on the story from the first book. While I’m still learning to like Aurora, the book had plenty of action, a few interesting plot twists, and romance brewing in the background. I enjoyed the characters’ development and the world-building was good. It has many of the elements that make fantasy my go-to genre!

What I didn’t like about The Rise of the Dawnstar:

Perhaps part of my struggle to like Aurora stems from the way her human realm background seems forgotten and she adapts quickly to the new world with few difficulties. In addition, parts of the book were predictable.

Overall impression of The Rise of the Dawnstar:

The story continues to improve and I’m starting to like Aurora’s character. The story has a few slow spots, but overall, I enjoyed The Rise of the Dawnstar. If you like fantasy, good world-building, and a nice amount of romance, pick this one up (after reading the first one)!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Farah Oomerbhoy:

Find Farah Oomerbhoy on her website, her Amazon Author Page, or her Goodreads page. If you’ve read the book, please consider leaving a review or a comment.

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Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!