Book Review: King of the Unblessed: The Realm Immortal Trilogy, Book 1 by Michelle M Pillow

King of the Unblessed: The Realm Immortal Trilogy, Book One.
by Michelle M Pillow
July 22, 2013 
Book 1 of 3: Realm Immortal Series
Genre: romantasy, fairy tales, paranormal romance
A scintillating romantasy that will leave you wanting more. When the elfin king Merrick tricks Lady Juliana into entering his realm, he plans on seducing her and claiming her as his own. Can she resist his temptations, or will she give in to his immortal will?

Merrick, dark elfin King of Valdis, had once been heir to all that was good—happiness and pleasure his domain. Now, trapped as the ruler of mischief, king of necessary evil, he stands on a precipice of choice. On one side, his estranged brother, now ruler of what should have been Merrick's, and on the other, King Lucien of the Damned. Both would sway him. Damnation is winning.

Lady Juliana of Bellemare is from a human family, protected by the Blessed, coveted by the Damned. Betrothed to an old friend of her father's, Juliana is resigned to living out her days close to her childhood home, longing for an adventure, never dreaming she'd get what she wished for. When her fiancé is murdered, and the children of Bellemare are stolen, Juliana is sent on a quest in a strange realm where appearances are deceiving.

Merrick brings more adventure and passion than any woman could want. Can she withstand the temptations of the Unblessed King? The spell she weaves over him is more than he can resist and desperate to be the one to rule her, Merrick offers her a choice: either come with him until he tires of her...or die.

Amazon

As "Book One" was a great read in the series- the other two novels are "Faery Queen" and "Stone Queen"- you will be waiting with bated breath to read the other two books in the series. Ms. Pillow has created a masterful, artful, wonderful readable book that takes you away in a magical world that is a land of characters that you would want to know. And wonder what the author will have them do next.

If you like romance, love, action, mystery- I could go on- this is a series that you will enjoy reading and re-reading. I give the book 4 1/2 Barts- because I am sure the other two novels in the series will be 5 Barts.

 

About the Author:
website
Michelle M. Pillow is a prolific NY Times & USA TODAY bestselling author with millions of books sold. Though she writes in many genres, she is best known for Romantasy, Sci-Fi & Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural Mystery, and Paranormal Women's Fiction. Her rich world-building creates portals for the imagination. She is a winner of the RT Reviewers' Choice Award. Fan favorites include the Qurilixen World (a multi-series collection), the Merely Mortal series, and the Warlocks MacGregor series. 

Over the course of her career, Michelle has worked with several publishers, including Pan Macmillan (Tor/Bramble). Random House, Virgin Books, Adams Media, Pocket Books, several small presses, and as an Indie.

Though she writes intricate plots, she can never seem to remember where she left her coffee cup (if you find it please return).

PILLYWIGGIN Awakening - The Complete Story Arc (Books 1-2) by Debbie Bishop

PILLYWIGGIN Awakening is a contemporary epic fantasy that weaves dark mystery, military strategy, and technology into a world where power is never given—only built. For fans of Lord of the Rings and Fourth Wing.

This is no tale of a magical savior.
This is the story of stray kids who grow into warriors—and become their own heroes.

PILLYWIGGIN Awakening - The Complete Story Arc (Books 1-2)
by Debbie Bishop
June 26, 2026
Illustrators: John Delaney, Parich Smutkochorn
Part of: PILLYWIGGIN (11 books)
Publisher: Angelgate Entertainment
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Metaphysical Fiction, Fae Fantasy, Found Family
Peter has spent his life hiding among humans.

A light fae raised at an elite academy, he thought his disguise was to protect his place in the human world. A betrayal and ominous nightmare cause sudden caution, but when a mystical creature he has never seen before warns he is in danger, Peter realizes he must flee. To maintain his cover, he creates a clone and sends him to his home in the mystical realm, then sets out to discover who is hunting him—and why.

CAPTURED. FORGOTTEN. FORGED.

Stolen fae young men face their final day before they become dragon food. Taken from their homes and imprisoned in a brutal mine, they have survived through secret training, strategy, inventive tech, and stubborn hope. They failed to escape before, with severe consequences.

A prophecy whispers that a girl will one day free them.

She doesn’t even know they exist.

At a Paris fashion show, Peter collides with a mysterious girl—and discovers she is his twin sister. Together they possess a dangerous power, and those who control the realms will do anything to claim it. Or destroy it.

PILLYWIGGIN Awakening is a contemporary epic fantasy that weaves dark mystery, military strategy, and technology into a world where power is never given—only built. For fans of Lord of the Rings and Fourth Wing.

This is no tale of a magical savior.
This is the story of stray kids who grow into warriors—and become their own heroes.

Amazon 

 

3 YEARS AGO

Peter, wearing jeans and a hoodie, checks the papers in his hands as he crouches next to a fireplace. His black hair shines a bit, illuminated by the warm glow of fire in a dark room. The only other light coming from the screen of a laptop next to him. He tosses the papers he used to make identification into the flames, then compares a new passport to his old one. He turns slightly while slipping the new fake passport into a pocket and we see his tear-filled face. He wipes his eye with his sleeve and then grabs an iron poker to stir the fire, ensuring every bit of the old documents burn. He stirs a little extra as if he is lost in his thoughts. His tears increase.

The screen of his laptop is erasing his hard drive.

A message pops up, “Files deleted and replaced. Extracting myself now. Be safe, Peter.”

Peter carries the computer to a desk in a wall of cabinets and bookshelves and places it in the center, open. He pauses to look at his old passport then gently lays it next to his computer as if he is saying goodbye to an old friend. This bedroom, a dorm in the academy where he has lived most
of his life is ultra luxurious. Dark wood paneled walls, thick velvet blue curtains, which are closed now, and a bed laden with overstuffed yet soft pillows, fresh linens and thick comforter encased in an embroidered duvet.

Peter rolls up a blanket as he watches the last of the embers dissolve into red glow, then black ash. Stuffing the blanket into his pack, he zips it, straps it on, and takes one last look around. Pausing, he sighs sadly.

Opening the door of his room just a bit, he peers out.

The hallway is dark and still. Peter sneaks out then closes the door behind him quietly.

 

About the Author:
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Debbie Bishop – Award-Winning Author of YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Comics & Self-Help

Debbie Bishop is an award-winning author of young adult fantasy, science fiction, comics, and inspirational nonfiction. She is the proud recipient of the International Impact Book Award, the Literary Titan Gold Book Award (for both fiction and nonfiction), and First Place – Fiction Epic Fantasy from BookFest.

Her latest YA fantasy duology, PILLYWIGGIN: The Lost Shadow Boys and PILLYWIGGIN: Awakening, delivers dark fae magic, dragons, and epic coming-of-age adventure across hidden realms. Fans of Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing, and A Court of Thorns and Roses call it “gripping and full of heart.”

Awakening explores the unity of light and dark through characters discovering courage, identity, and purpose — a message of hope wrapped in rich myth and magic.

Debbie’s nonfiction book, What Is the Meaning of Life? YOU, earned acclaim for its insight and encouragement, inspiring readers worldwide to reconnect with their own purpose.

She first gained recognition in comics with her sci-fi action series Black Tide (Image Comics), set in present-day Atlantis. The collected graphic novels feature art by Mike S. Miller and Norm Breyfogle, while the companion novel Enter the Game expands the backstory of its hero, Justin.

Debbie also co-wrote War Eagles with Carl Macek, inspired by an unrealized concept from King Kong creator Merian C. Cooper, at the personal request of animation legend Ray Harryhausen.

For younger readers, her whimsical chapter book The Fairies of Bladderwhack Pond — illustrated by Andy Park (Marvel Studios) — continues to charm families and fairy lovers.

She is also co-author of the playful Pre-Fab Cookbook, featuring humorous commentary by cartoon characters Dish & Flo and filled with fun, fast recipes.

Debbie says, “The scenes come to me like a movie — I just write them down. I love mixing fiction with real-world science, history, and hope.”

Her stories uplift, entertain, and remind us that even in dark times, heroes rise.

Young Adult: Liar in the Hollow Court (The Courts Beneath) by Bethany Atazadeh

Liar in the Hollow Court (The Courts Beneath)
by Bethany Atazadeh
June 1, 2026
Genre: YA/ Romantasy/ Fairytale/ No Spice

• no-spice romantic tension
• fae bargains
• found family
• a cursed prince
• cozy fantasy worlds but with faster pacing and higher stakes
• a grumpy Mr. Darcy who lost his wings
• a shy Elizabeth Bennett whose family was taken by the fae

A standalone enemies-to-lovers fae fantasy—except she’s the only one who thinks they’re enemies. With the high-stakes intrigue of The Cruel Prince, the cozy found-family banter of FRIENDS, and the no-spice romantic tension of Pride and Prejudice.

Brynn never believed in fairytales—until one stole her mother.

Everyone says she ran off, but Brynn saw the truth. Her mother was taken by something not quite human.

When her father and sisters vanish next, dragged into the winter woods by the same strange creatures, Brynn follows and falls head over heels into the Hollow Court: an underground fae kingdom rife with dangerous bargains.

In a realm where fae can’t lie, Brynn’s human ability to do just that becomes her greatest weapon. It gives her leverage when dealing with Soren—a handsome, unreadable fae who offers help in exchange for the power of her words. But there’s always a cost. The more she bargains, the more tangled everything becomes.

When a mysterious fae prince provides Brynn with a shortcut to the truth, she must decide who to trust as the veil between worlds begins to close.

 Amazon
 

About the Author:
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Once upon a time, Bethany Atazadeh escaped into writing YA fantasy—and never came back. Now she’s the award-winning author of The Stolen Kingdom Series, a wife, mom of two, and professional chocolate taster (unofficial title), who shares her writing adventures and helpful tips she’s learned about publishing on YouTube. To find out when her next book arrives, sign up for her monthly newsletter at bethanyatazadeh . c0m

4.5 Sheep Book Review: A Fated Reckoning: An Epic Fae and Vampire Romantasy Standalone by Jamye Smith

A Fated Reckoning: An Epic Fae and Vampire Romantasy Standalone
by Jamye Smith
June 24, 2026
🌟 EPIC FANTASY WORLD: Multi-species cast (pixies, ice dragons, siren priestesses, beasts) - Post-war landscape - Magical Wastelands - Political intrigue
📖 FORMAT: Complete standalone with HEA - No cliffhanger - First Person POV

I loved him once. Now I cling to the hate, currently measured in the inches of steel I've driven into his chest.

Two centuries ago, Mikael didn't just break my heart - he shattered us. The vampire I trusted above all others betrayed me and ignited a war that left our people in ruins. To end the slaughter, I bargained with the Fates and drained the land of magic, and broke myself in ways time can't mend. What survived was a fae warrior turned city ruler, burying her past beneath liquor, duty, and the bond I severed.

When Mikael returns, alive when he shouldn't be, I do what any rational woman would: stab him in the heart.

But death isn't on the table for him. He's come back with a confession, and a curse - the amulet he stole came with a price. The one you love most will die.

My soul has fractured into four pieces. To break the curse before it kills me, we must recover each fragment. Riddles sear themselves into our skin, igniting with every touch - skin to skin, bond to bond - dragging us into the closeness I swore never to endure again.

As the curse frays, so does the magic suppressing our bond, unraveling every feeling I've spent two centuries trying to destroy. Each fragment recovered cracks the walls I've built wider, revealing truths I buried beneath denial and rage.

When the final riddle is solved, I'll face the cruelest truth of all: breaking the curse may cost me the person I love most.

I'm terrified it's still him.

CONTENT WARNINGS:
Violence - War trauma - On-page character death - Explicit sexual content - Grief - Betrayal - Blood - Torture (off-page) - Themes of sacrifice and loss

This is Book 1 in an interconnected series of standalones featuring different couples in the world of Eidrfall. Each book has a complete HEA and can be read alone, but characters appear across stories 

Amazon 

A Fated Reckoning: An Epic Fae and Vampire Romantasy Standalone by Jamye Smith is a very delightful vampire/Fae romance. I love it when the Fae and my Vampires get together, in all the ways! 

This story really is a true standalone, you can read it and enjoy it for all that it is. Tons of romance and so much spice at times I was having a dang hot flash! Certainly not for the faint of heart. 

Talk about an adventure! Seemed like one long fun quest that takes the reader all over the world created. Having two people who love/hate each other and are forced to touch because of this curse! I can't even imagine, but didn't need to since you get all the drama here. 

Loved the back and forth dialog between our leading couple. What a fun all around story for anyone who loves a good fantasy with action and romance! 

Getting 4 and 1/2 Sheep

 

 

KD

About the Author:
website
Jamye Smith, a Las Vegas-raised author diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, has a penchant for daydreaming about fantastical worlds. She loves traveling, having traversed thirteen countries thus far, and has lived in multiple states. She co-hosts the podcast 'Indie Odyssey: A Writer's Journey,' exploring the intricacies of indie publishing. Jamye holds a Master of Business Administration, currently works as an Agile Team Lead for a tech consulting firm.

The Shadowless (At the corner of Eden and Darkness #1) by RJ Garcia

Modern Faerie Tale Meets Murder

 

The Shadowless (At the corner of Eden and Darkness #1)
by RJ Garcia
Expected Release Date: November 26, 2025
Genre: Dark Romantasy
🥀 Modern faery tale vs real-life suspense
🥀 White and black magic
🥀 Family dysfunction
🥀 Hidden realms
🥀 He falls first
🥀 Twists and turns
Modern Faerie Tale Meets Murder

Mae Dawson returns to her family’s cabin in a mysterious forest to search for her missing sister. One night, she goes to sleep in her bed only to awaken in the depths of the woods surrounded by eerie and indiscernible voices that lead her to her sister’s grave.

A year has passed. Mae has pieced her life back together. She has a supportive boyfriend and is completing her first semester in college. However, everything begins to unravel when strange late-night calls come from the beyond, and a malevolent force begins to invade her friends.

Adding to her unease is the presence of a mysterious stranger, Brandon Sills, who seems to lurk in the shadows, watching her every move. Despite the warning bells ringing in her mind, Mae feels an inexplicable attraction to him.

As mortal and magical forces conspire against them, Mae must trust Brandon to uncover the secrets of the fae. Secrets that will change her life forever, that is, if she even survives.

Amazon

About the Author:
website
R.J. Garcia is a wife, and proud mom of two smart kids. She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!

Innisfallen Accursed (The Innisfallen Prophecies Book 1) by Jenny Simard LaBranche

Innisfallen Accursed (The Innisfallen Prophecies Book 1)
by Jenny Simard LaBranche 
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fae Dark fantasy

• Powerful artifacts
• Magical creatures - fae, monsters, shapeshifters
• Good vs evil
• Heir to the throne
• Strong female lead

Some powers are buried. Others refuse to be forgotten. And one wants revenge.

The land of Innisfallen is under attack, besieged by shadow beasts under control of a dark power. For four endless years, winter has gripped the fae world—crops have withered, villages stand silent, and the magic that once thrived has vanished, along with all memory of it.

Reagan, an 18-year-old fae, has spent those years trapped in an elite court training program, forbidden from returning home. When she discovers she may never be allowed to see her little sister again, Reagan makes a desperate escape. But her plan is shattered by the arrival of strangers from another kingdom carrying an ancient artifact tied to a forgotten power. The brothers, each more beautiful than the other, ignite passions in Reagan she has never before experienced.

Drawn into the brothers’ mission to break the curse over their world, Reagan faces an army of dark creatures, willing to do whatever it takes to save her sister and all the kidnapped fae. An artifact stirs something in Reagan, awakening a power she never knew she had—a power that could hold the key to Innisfallen’s salvation. Or destroy everything in her path.

Magic is calling. And it remembers.  

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

About the Author:
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Jenny Simard LaBranche is an award-winning author of supernatural, fantasy, horror, and paranormal thrillers. A former IT Specialist and retired Firefighter/EMT, her path to becoming a full-time writer has been anything but ordinary.

Despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia, Jenny held onto her dream of writing fiction. On August 26, 2021, she left the IT field for good and became a writer, finally embracing her passion. Her debut novel has already earned two literary awards and marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her creative journey.

Jenny has been married to Paul LaBranche for 28 years, and together they share their home with their adorable chihuahua, Mojo. When she’s not conjuring chilling tales and fantastical worlds, she enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and getting lost in a great book.

Organizer: @rrbooktours

IG: @jennysimardlabranche @rrbooktours

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Romantasy: The Forever Queen (The Heir of Atlantis #2) by S.T. Fernandez

We’re celebrating the release of The Forever Queen, the next book in The Heir of Atlantis series by S.T. Fernandez!

The Forever Queen (The Heir of Atlantis #2)
by S.T. Fernandez
September 2, 2025
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Romantasy/ Mermaids
🔥Elemental Fae
💍Fake Betrothal
🌋New, Dark Realm
🤐Secret Identity
🧜🏻‍♀️Bondmates
📜Prophecy
🧭Heroine’s Quest
The Princess plays a fatal game, and the stakes are higher than she ever could have imagined.

Princess Asherah Delmar, the former heir to the throne of Atlantis, makes a heart-wrenching sacrifice as she embarks on a perilous journey into the enemy realm of Corenathia. Under the cunning guise of Prince Lux Nacan's betrothed, she must retrieve the goddess's artifact. One only she can find.

As Atlantis slides further into darkness, Asherah leaves behind her unbonded mate, Commander Draevyn Eliron, and risks the lives of the humans in Atlantis, a decision she does not take lightly.

When Asherah arrives in Corenathia, she discovers a treacherous world that will challenge her integrity and shake her will to stay silent. But with help from the most unlikely of allies, she’s determined to find the hidden artifact and escape Queen Sessi’s realm in time to save Atlantis and solidify the bond with Draevyn.

Though Asherah doesn't realize she's playing a deadly game with a wicked queen who holds all the cards.

Including hers.

The Forever Queen is the second book in the Heir of Atlantis series and is intended for readers ages 18+. It is recommended you read the series in order, beginning with The Veiled Heir. Trigger and Content Warnings are listed in the front of the book and on the author's website. Please read with care.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

About the Author:
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S.T. Fernandez (a.k.a. Stephanie) is a Latinx, award-winning author originally from Orlando, Florida. She now lives in the charming beach town of Ventura, California, with her husband and their two spirited wiener dogs.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Saint Leo University and has been a lifelong fan of romantic fiction, particularly fantasy and paranormal romance. As a proud BookFest Award winner, she crafts immersive stories that transport readers to vivid, emotional worlds filled with magic, passion, and heart.

When she’s not writing or marketing like a mad woman, you’ll likely find her on the patio soaking up the California sun, a glass of red wine in one hand and a book in the other—probably one with a swoon-worthy shadow daddy and a strong, unforgettable heroine.

IG: @stfernandezwrites @rrbooktours
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Dark Romantasy: Blackwarden by Ciara Hartford

Rosalin Greene knows one thing for sure: the Dark Fae are monsters.

Blackwarden
by Ciara Hartford
September 4th
Genre: Dark Romantasy/ Fae

First person, dual POV Romantasy
Shadow D ãdd Y, but better
Mysterious curse, because *reasons*
He's way too attractive to be a beast
She's way too cynical to fall for a Dark Fae
Um, super creepy mansion anyone?
Does he eat the same thing every day?
If she asks one more flippin’ question…
What’s going on in this mural?

Rosalin Greene knows one thing for sure: the Dark Fae are monsters.

When her younger sister is selected to be the town’s sacrifice to the Dark Fae Rosalin volunteers in her place. She’s dragged to a creepy mansion where she’s completely surrounded by magic for the first time in her life and left with nothing but the Gatehouse and its secretive Gatekeeper, Keres, as company.

But there’s something off about Keres. It’s not just that he’s an unnaturally beautiful, terrifying Dark Fae. He’s hiding something, and she fears it’s dreadfully important. Her curiosity grows with every question he avoids, but she’s determined to figure out what’s going on before she faces her final fate.

Keres has long since given up on trying to break the curse that imprisons him. He accepted his fate centuries ago. He must take a human maiden through the portal every five years, whether he likes it or not. But there’s something different about Ms. Greene. Something that makes it very hard for him to keep her at arm’s length. In eight days he’ll use his shadow magic to take her through to the Unseelie Court like all the others, but this time, he has a decision to make.

One that will quite literally determine the rest of his life and likely hers as well.

 

Triggers: 
•    Reference to infant death
•    Grief/loss of a loved one
•    Psychological abuse
•    Magical violence
•    Sexual assault and rape (on page, not between the MCs)
•    (none of these are used for shock and are non-explicit)

Amazon

 

About the Author:
website
Ciara (Keara) is a Romantic Fantasy and Romantasy writer of character driven love stories full of magic, heartache, bloody action, flawed characters, and brutal cliffhangers. When she's not writing she's working on illustration and graphic design freelance, as well as reading every fantasy book she can get her hands on. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio with her mad scientist husband and amazingly talented daughter. 

IG: @ciarahartford.author @rrbooktours
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Excerpt: Oaths and Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya Book One) by Susan Illene + giveaway

Oaths and Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya Book One) 
by Susan Illene 
August 22nd, 2025
Genre: Romantasy
ISBN: 979-8-9876902-3-9
ASIN: B0F6D6566B
Number of pages: 505
Word Count: 148,000
Cover Artist: Hannah Sternjakob
Darrow has so many secrets that even those closest to him don't know them all, but she's about to become his favorite. He is powerful, ruthless, and her sworn enemy. The wickedly good-looking elf is also cursed never to love.

Aella should stay far away from him, especially considering he could kill her from a distance with little effort. Except that someone close to her is dying, and he is the only person in the realm with the means to help. She has strong powers of her own to offer in exchange, but to her dismay, Darrow wants a secret marriage as part of the bargain.

Fae marriages are forever, so she'd always be his.

With other factors pushing her toward it, she agrees to a private wedding that the king himself officiates while hiding the ceremony from her disapproving family. Aella suspects there is far more to Darrow’s motives if Zadrya's monarch is involved. It isn't long before she discovers that dark forces are circling, and it’s her rare magic they want to use or eradicate by any means necessary. Her new husband has drawn her into a dangerous conflict started centuries ago that could either end in the salvation or destruction of their world. If she wants to survive, she’ll need to trust Darrow with her body, but never her heart.

Note- This novel is an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romantasy. It contains adult content, including violence, foul language, spicy scenes, torture, and ruthless plants and creatures. Read at your own discretion.

AmazonUS-Amazon-UK-BN-Kobo-GooglePlay-iTunes

Excerpt:
My guard and I had reached the most ideal point to observe the battle, and my uncle’s forces had just clashed with our enemy. Swords rang as soldiers attacked each other, and flashes of magic in various forms and colors flew across the ranks. Some would blind opponents, others would cause pain, and still more would cause various injuries or afflictions. Fae battles were merciless and gruesome. We were on higher ground, which gave us a clear view of the terrible things they did to each other.

Normally, our army would have used offensive range magic first, but there was no time to prepare. Instead, it came down to a close-quarter battle in which our enemy excelled.

One man stood out on a large dapple-gray mount. His hair was a brindled mixture of brown and onyx black, sunlight glinting from the strands hanging over the sides of his face. His shoulders were broad. I knew that for certain because, unlike everyone else on the battlefield, he only wore light armor without the heavy metal plates most preferred for protection. His olive and black Veronnian army uniform was snug, molding around his muscular build. I wished I could see the details of his face, but the distance was too great for that.

He raised his arms toward the Therressian frontline, fingers outstretched. I watched in horror as six of our foot soldiers lifted into the air, kicking their feet but finding no purchase. With a twist of his hands, their heads spun clockwise until their necks cracked. They fell to the ground in a heap, dead before impact.

I gasped, realizing who he must be. “Is that Lord Gannon’s second son, Darrow?”

“It is.” My guard’s lips thinned. “It’s been years since we last faced him, and it's bad news for us that he’s here today.”

“He’ll decimate us at the rate he can kill,” I whispered, a chill running down my spine.

The soldier’s eyes reflected the same anxiety I felt. “It appears that way.”

Darrow was his father’s second son from a subsequent marriage after his first wife died in childbirth. He was known to be powerful and ruthless on the battlefield. The fact that he was half dark elf made him especially dangerous because they weren’t known for compassion or mercy. He and his twin sister had been the products of a failed peace treaty agreement between our realm, Zadrya, and Karganoth—the realm of the dark elves that lay across the sea to the west.

I recalled that he had fought in battles against us during the first few years I’d begun opening portals. The last time I could remember seeing him was over a decade ago, when I was in my early twenties. He’d been a ruthless killer even back then but couldn’t break that many men simultaneously before. Like most fae, he would continue growing stronger for a few more years until he reached fifty and peaked.

I had family and friends out there who would die if this elf targeted them. No one on our side had magic that could counteract Darrow’s without getting too close, but of course, he was surrounded by elite soldiers so that he could do his dirty work without interference.

A risky idea occurred to me. There was something I could do if I were brave enough, and right now, I needed to push past my usually passive role. Too many people would die if I didn’t.

When a high fae’s magic first appeared as an adolescent, they could only perform lesser spells that were a prelude to something bigger that would develop over the coming year. I started with wind and light power, which later combined to form portal channeling. Although I rarely had cause to use those, I did practice them since they worked well as a defense when I needed them, especially wind.

Darrow was lifting another handful of our soldiers into the air. If I didn’t hit him immediately, they’d die in the next few moments. I let go of Astra’s reins and raised my hands, focusing on the half-light/half-dark elf, and pulled the air around me. In a streamlined burst, I sent it straight at him.

Just as he began to twist his hands to kill the soldiers, it struck him full in the chest. He went flying backward off his horse. The Therressian soldiers he’d targeted next dropped to the ground at the same time—shaken but alive. Darrow landed on his butt ten feet behind his mount and skidded to a stop in a plume of dust.

I grinned, pleased that years of weekly practice with my wind power had finally paid off. That was far more satisfying than directing it at leaves and other inanimate objects. I had used it in self-defense a time or two, but never at such a distance.

“Well done, my lady,” my guard said, giving me a respectful nod. “That certainly distracted him and gave our people a chance.”

“Thank you.”

We watched with rapt attention as Darrow slowly rose to his feet and dusted off his uniform. I still couldn’t make out his features, but his rigid body language told me he was not pleased with what I’d done. He ran his gaze around his surroundings until it eventually fell on me. I waved and blew him a kiss.

Darrow lifted one arm toward me, and a moment later, I rose off my horse to hover a few feet above my mount. Shock filled me. I’d never dreamed he could extend his magic so far, but I couldn’t do anything to stop him. My heart raced as he slowly brought me forward like he had strings pulling me.

My guard’s voice sounded panicked as I floated away from Astra and him. “Lady Aella? Are you alright? What can I do?”

“I…uh,” I began.

My braid lifted and wrapped around my head, gagging my mouth. The floral taste of my cleanser coated my tongue. My locks stretched taut, pulling at my scalp enough to cause discomfort but not quite pain. With all my limbs immobilized, I couldn’t free myself. Did he seriously muzzle me with my own hair? Lord Gannon’s son was toying with me in the middle of a battle like I was a toy, but I couldn’t let him get away with it without a response.

I forced myself to calm down and think. Darrow hadn’t gripped my body so tightly that I couldn’t breathe or make minute movements. Slowly spreading my fingers, I gathered the surrounding air once more. After I gained enough, I hit him with a burst of wind again. It didn’t slam into him as hard as the first time, but it did send him stumbling back. The hold on me evaporated. I dropped to the ground, knees buckling, and my breath nearly knocked from me. At least nothing was broken.

“It’s okay,” I said, hands trembling as I straightened. “He had me for a moment there.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t draw his attention again,” my guard advised.

I cleared my throat, hoping no one else saw what happened. “Yeah. I think that was more than enough distraction.”

About the Author: 
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Susan Illene served in the U.S. Army for eleven years, working first as a human resources specialist and later as an Arabic linguist. She served primarily in Airborne units and did two deployments to Iraq. After leaving the army, she studied history at the University of Oklahoma. She currently lives with her husband and two sons. 

 

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Their lands have fought for centuries, but now Aella needs a favor from her enemy. Darrow is a powerful and ruthless elf who could break her with a thought. What is she to do when he insists on a secret marriage as part of the bargain? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F6D6566B
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Nemesis (The Wrath of Chaos Book 1) by Shania Scichilone

We thrilled to give you a sneak peek at upcoming release, Nemesis by Shania Scichilone --Available August 1st!

Nemesis (The Wrath of Chaos Book 1)
by Shania Scichilone
August 1, 2025
Genre: Dark Romantasy

• Morally Grey Shadow Mommy
• A Fae King who Yearns
• One Horse Trope — But it’s a Dragon
• Delicious Banter and Tension
• Dragons x Dragon Riders

The Asherian War has ushered Earth and its population into a new age. Humankind has gone, giving rise to a tenuous society of other races once confined largely to shadows and stories. The new paradigm is overseen by the Celestials, whose terrestrial ambassadors, the Legacies, wield a potent and manifold elemental magic—one ruled by the astrological sign one is born under. They were instrumental in banishing the dragons—ravenous and mindless beasts—to the gloomier land of a place known as the Outer Edge.

Astraea, the powerful general of the Legacy Legion, cannot stand by when two massive dragons descend on the Legacy Compound and abduct her younger sisters. Leaping on one of their great scaly backs, becoming a willing captive to the darker margins of their world, she and her siblings undertake a shocking and revealing journey, one where prior deceptions are lifted, where alliances fall and former enemies become allies and where new, unexpected dangers are born.

Dragons, Astraea learns, are hardly the mindless creatures she knew them to be—they are, as one named Nemesis tells her, thoughtful seekers of peace, with a wholly different perspective on the Asherian War, and their banishment to the Outer Edge.

As Astraea and her sisters reconcile themselves to this new reality, the fae king, Asher—so named for the war, and who is very much in love with Astraea—pursues them to the Outer Edge. Though he can be pompous and presumptuous, there is no doubt Astraea herself is drawn to him. Now, as she cautiously opens her heart, and arms herself with new understanding, she and the others must also prepare to confront those who stand in the way of peace.

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CONTENT WARNINGS

About the Author:

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Known to many as “Shania Fillmore” of YTV’s THE NEXT STAR SEASON 4 and THE NEXT STAR: SUPERGROUP, this small-town girl from New Brunswick, Canada, has taken a turn from singing on television to pursuing her writing dreams.

Music, visual arts, reading, and writing are what she lives and breathes. The art world is her truest passion.

Settled back in her hometown, Shania Scichilone has spent her time as Musical Director during show season, and the rest of her time has been filled with writing and learning digital arts.

Her debut series, FATES DIVINE, begins her new career as an author. 

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Excerpt: Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona Book 5) by Margaret Izard + giveaway

In the absence of doubt, only faith is found.

Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona Book 5)
by Margaret Izard
Genre: Time Travel, Paranormal Romance
A human with Fae powers living like an oddball has its ups and downs until Evie MacDougall’s dream Fae boy pops back into her life after she thought another was “the one.” One dark and devilish, the other her long-lost love. Evil forces trap her for a magic Fae stone, but which man can she trust?

As a teen prophesied to be Fae king, Aodhán viewed the girl of his dreams through an Eye of Ra. Once, he risked all to help Evie MacDougall find a magic Fae stone, only to end up imprisoned. Kept from his true love for years, he finds her at risk from an evil Fae hunting a magic stone.

Is a single vow strong enough to save true love, to save the human and Fae realms?

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Evie threw open Kat’s door, allowing it to bang against the wall.
Kat rolled over. “Kind of early, even for ye, Evie.”
Evie strode to Kat’s closet, flipping through each item. She didn’t say a word, fearful she’d give away something, anything that told her best friend she’d visited the Fae realm.
Kat sat up. “What are ye wearing? Yer hair’s lighter. I like it!”
Evie glanced down, forgetting the Fae gown, and shrugged. “Something for a play.” She cringed inside at lying to her friend but couldn’t tell anyone she was the one the Fae fable referred to. Not yet, at least.
Evie flipped back and forth between a crop top and a skirt. Kat’s chest was like her ma’s, larger than Evie’s, but Evie’s hips were bigger. Her clothes had to fit. Evie didn’t have time to go shopping. She wasn’t ready for the idea of selecting new clothing that she’d never bothered to glance at, let alone try on.
Grabbing the pink crop top and gray pencil skirt, Evie felt comfortable with it being long enough to cover her knees. She had to start somewhere. If she wore a miniskirt to work, ha! Evie envisioned falling, carrying ale, and flashing her personals to all of Maggie’s Bar. That’d be a hoot.
As Kat called after her, she strode from the room. “Sure, ye can borrow some of my clothes. Thanks for asking!”
In her room, Evie stripped the Fae gown and hung it, carefully placing it in the back of her closet. She slipped on a bra and undies and donned the crop top lifting her arms to ensure her boobs stayed covered. With the skirt on, she examined herself in the mirror.
“Nice. Not yer usual colors.” Kat leaned on the frame, yawning. “The form-fitting cotton looks good.”
Evie turned right, then left, checking her reflection. It needed something more. She moved to her closet, examining her belts. The skinny suspenders, that’s what it needed. Attaching those, she turned before the mirror and nodded.
As she sat to put on her black boots, Kat collapsed on her bed. “Why the change?” She rolled over. “Not that I’m complaining, but pink with light gray and form-fitting cotton isn’t yer norm.”
Kat sat up. “Manix! It has to be. Ye have the hots for Manix!”
Evie shrugged as she brushed her long hair out. This was good. If they thought she spent her time with Manix, they wouldn’t figure out she’d spent most of the evening in the Fae realm with Aodhán.
She placed her hair in pigtails and began braiding each one. She had to keep her hair up for her waitressing, but after work, when she went out with Manix, the braids would make her hair wavy when she let it out. Perfect.
Speaking of Fae realms, “Where’s Ewan and Doug?”
Kat stood and went to the door. “In bed as usual. They come back later and later each trip.” She sighed. “They should be careful.”
Evie checked the clock. Dash, it’s almost eleven am. Her shift started at noon, and Manix said he’d pick her up at nine when her shift ended.
She grabbed her leather jacket and went past Kat, who held her arm. “Do ye know what ye are doing with Manix? Ewan mentioned that some say he has a temper he can’t control.”
Evie pulled her arm away. “It’s nothing. I’m sure exaggeration.”
Evie ran to the door as Kat called after her, “Sure, don’t mind me, yer BFF. I only just arrived, and ye are off every evening with a man.” She sighed dramatically. “I’ll stay in with a movie again.”
Evie stopped at the opened door. “Soon, ye and I will go bar hopping. Introduce ye around.”
Kat chuckled, “Hold ye to it.”
Evie wasn’t certain what this day held. She’d not dated many men as none seemed to appeal to her. Ewan said it was because she compared them all to her Fae boy, and maybe she had. A human could never beat out the attraction a Fae held. It wasn’t a mere myth but the total truth.

**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

Previous books in the series, Stone of Love, book 1, Brielle and Colin’s 18th century Scottish story. Stone of Fear, Book 2, Marie and John’s 13th century Scottish story. Stone of Lust, Book 3, Ainslie and Rannick’s Viking tale. Thistle in the Mistletoe featuring a couple in the past from Stone of Love.

Next in the series: Holly and Ivy, a Christmas companion book. Stone of Faith, book 6. Stone of Destiny, book 7. Evergreen Evermore, a Christmas companion book.

This series leads into another connected series, Dragons of Tantallon, a dragon-shapeshifter series revolving around the magic Iona Stones.

Find them HERE-Kindle

About the Author:

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Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

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Stone of Doubt Swag Pack (US only),
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The Story Behind the Story with fantasy author Selah Janel

The holidays are one of those times that put the good and not-so-great points of one’s life in high contrast. There’s (somewhat enforced) joy all around. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, yet life goes on. Illness, breakups, accidents, death, memories of hard times—they all still happen. So how do you carry on, especially when everything seems to sparkling all around you, without you? Wouldn’t it be nice to have things just magically fall into place?

I will admit this time of year isn’t the easiest for me. I have very good memories of holidays past, and very difficult memories. If something weird or awful is going to happen, it feels like December is the month that’s the biggest target. Through it all, though, the possibility and hope of the season keeps me coming back. I want to believe that things work out, that people are decent, and we can all work to be better. I also tend to be a realist. When it came time to try my own spin on a seasonal tale, I wanted both sides of the coin to be shown. Life can be good, but it also isn’t easy—even when it’s good.

Holly and Ivy starts directly after a Christmas where Holly’s life falls apart. It’s a pretty standard chick lit opening, yet I still feel for her. We all have those moments where life is upended and are forced into situations to make things work. We don’t all have an imaginary friend who turns out to be real with a magic gift up their sleeve.

Faerie lore has always fascinated me, and the mental image of a dryad in a Christmas tree is the seed that grew into Holly and Ivy. What started as typical holiday romance tropes turned into an unexpected look at personal growth and the consequences of magic. In some ways, big-city gal forced back into small town life has become a cliché, but it was also the chance to dig into Holly’s emotions as she tried to claw back from heartbreak and probably a healthy dose of imposter syndrome.

Then there’s Ivy. While the temptation to make a magic character an all-wise ‘fix-it’ being was there, it was way more fun to let the chaotic, somewhat naïve, somewhat impertinent faerie be who she was. She’s fickle, she likes to gossip with the birds and animals about the elitist faeries across the veil, and she doesn’t get humanity. She’s flippant, carefree, emotional, supportive, and cranky, depending on the moment. Her moods change often. Her whole world is the Christmas tree farm owned by Holly’s parents. Despite her bias against humans and Holly’s time away, she supports her friend, though the extent of it isn’t truly known until the finale.

Holly takes time to find her footing, even with a little magical help. She’s wary coming off of major disappointment and heartache. She’s extremely hard on herself. She also alternates between wanting to be a good friend and getting caught up in her own life—then juggling the guilt that brings when things improve for her. It takes her a while to come to terms with everything, but deep within her is a strength that is finally brought out by the end of the story.

I loved writing these two and all their emotional extremes, both in the original short story version of this title, and now expanding it to a full novella. It was nice to be able to put messy emotions into a genre that traditionally is usually tied up with a nice tidy bow. I suppose making them confront the realities of their situations stems from many of my own complicated Christmases. And while there is a happy ending, magic still comes with a price. As Holly attempts to reassure herself toward the end of the story—things work out a Christmas, though I would add that we don’t always get to choose how they work out. And that’s okay. Magic and loss, love and heartache, light and dark coexist, after all. Part of the magic of the holiday season is feeling a sense of love in the darkest and coldest part of the year. Sometimes those shining stars and candle sparks that help you find your way are the best part of the season.

 

Holly and Ivy

by Selah Janel
December 1, 2023

Genre: Magical, folklore, fairy tales
Holly is forced to return to her parents’ farm after she loses her job and goes through the worst breakup of her life. Incapacitated by hopelessness and embarrassment, she doesn’t expect to bump into a forgotten childhood friend who isn’t supposed to exist.

Ivy is a dryad who lives in the pine trees Holly’s family grows as part of their livelihood. As the friends reconnect, Ivy not only shares her views on life, nature, and the modern world, but also gives Holly a magic charm that will change both their lives.

As the year progresses, things magically fall into place and a new figure is introduced into Holly’s life. Still, guilt lingers that maybe all the good developments aren’t deserved and aren’t even her own doing. Christmas not only brings surprises, but a choice.

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Free on Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT:
The high chirp was perky sunlight through my window at six in the morning. I whirled and backpedaled, yelping when my foot collided with the blasted pinecone a second time. “Who’s there? Sammy?” I called, though why the neighbor’s kid would have hiked a quarter of a mile to see what I was up to on a school day didn’t make sense. My head moved sharply at the sound of a giggle that I couldn’t dismiss as the breeze.

I swallowed and tried again. “Rexy, is that you?” Sure it is, because he has motivation and dogs can talk now, my ever-helpful mind pointed out. In the seclusion, my thoughts were foggy with the scent of natural pine and distracted by the sticky residue that coated my feet the longer I walked.

“Nay, silly! ’Tis me!” Shuddering branches reached out and upward. In a scene from my fervid childhood dreams, the needles abruptly flattened and the branches extended like long, lithe arms.

I screamed, dropped my sneakers, and stumbled back into a tree, wincing at the sharp branch that jabbed me in the small of the back. I’ve lost it. I’ve well and truly lost it. They’ll find me out here foaming at the mouth and screaming that the trees are talking. My hands clamped over my mouth to spare myself a little dignity before I was committed.

“You don’t remember?” The voice quivered as the branch-arms drooped, their needles rustling in displeasure, or maybe disappointment. An eerily thin girl stepped out of the center of the pine. If Clara was a stylish waif, then this creature was a glass figurine. Her tunic was the color of deep, brown bark that bore the textured, grooved pattern of a tree trunk. It was even sticky with the needles’ gum. Her shoulder-length hair was bristle thin and pale yellow, though in certain angles they looked various shades of light green. She was impossibly slender and tall in a way that made her proportions look overextended, yet not grotesque. Her fingers and arms were longer than what they should have been, yet there was an elegance about them. The creature’s delicate, pale-green face screwed up in dismay and her large emerald green eyes stared down at me in disappointment. “Have you forgotten me that easily? Has it truly been so long?”

The city smog, the years spent trying to cram myself into one jean size smaller than what I could comfortably wear, the pep talks to always “work hard to get ahead,” the years of late nights spent studying and partying at college, and the painful awkwardness of my high school and junior high years dissipated in the heady, tantalizing scent of Christmas in the in-between of spring and summer.

“Ivy?” I whispered her name, because surely, surely, I had to be dreaming. My hoarse voice was no lie, though, and neither was the pain in my back, the on my skin, nor the fatigue in the rest of me.

It’s frightening how easy it is to discount some experiences as childish imaginings. It’s even more frightening when they reappear in front of your logical, grounded adult eyes as reality. Past and present me fused in a sharp, evergreen-scented bolt of recognition.

I’d been four or five when I’d stumbled upon the dryad during one of my all-day marathon adventures, back in the days when kids were allowed to play outside by themselves as long as they were home by supper. I was doomed to the fate of an only child living outside of town who liked stories featuring fantastic lands and thousands of characters. It was impossible on any given day to entertain myself when the only friends left to play an arch nemesis and a prince were the family dog and a cow we eventually sold.

I’d been playing at being lost in the woods while stalked by a troll when Ivy stepped out of her tree just as she did now, skipping elegantly and looking for a playmate. It took a few moments to understand that I wasn’t locked in my imagination, that the impossible creature in front of me was real. After that moment of surprise, I accepted her as fact and invited her to play. We defeated the evil troll king together and ruled our own country all in the span of an afternoon.

Her faerie name was something long and musical when she said it, but wasn’t a name a regular human could hope to pronounce. Maybe that had been purposeful and she’d been putting me on to avoid me ever having that kind of power over her. I’d always called her Ivy after the vines that climbed the trees and buildings in the fairy tale books I loved. Since her very existence was tied to the trees, it was fitting. Since it technically wasn’t her real name and allowed her to retain her autonomy while pursuing a friendship with a mortal, she was especially pleased.

She wasn’t supposed to exist, but it was easier to accept what was in front of me than accept that I’d had a nervous breakdown on top of everything else. Belief is surprisingly easy when you’re not given a choice.

About the Author:
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Selah Janel has been blessed with a giant imagination since she was little when she  wondered if fairies lived in the nearby state park and worried that vampires hid in the old barns outside of town.

She has multiple e-books with Mocha Memoirs Press, including Holly and Mooner, and co-wrote the short story collection, Lost in the Shadows, with S.H. Roddey. Her work has been included in various magazines and anthologies, including The Realm Beyond, The MacGuffin, Curious Incidents, The Grotesquerie, and The Big Bad, vol 1&2.