Double Book Review: Payback’s a Witch (Thistle Grove Witches #1) by Lana Harper

Payback’s a Witch (Thistle Grove Witches #1)
by Lana Harper

October 5, 2021

Genre: paranormal romance, LGBTQ+, 

Berkley

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She's determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.

On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden—unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?

But most concerning of all: Why can't she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?

Reviewer: Bianca Greenwood

Four Sheep

Independent twenty-something Emmy Harlow has forged a private and professional life in Chicago, a virtual world away from her mystical hometown of Thistle Grove. Yearning to be something more than a Harlow witch, Emmy has rejected her magical heritage for years. When her father beckons her home to temporarily resume her position as Harlow scion, her sense of duty ignites. Emmy’s role as arbiter in the town’s sacred, high-stakes magical tournament is quickly complicated when she joins forces with a couple old friends to tip the scales away from a shared nemesis Gareth Blackmoore. Emmy, her best friend Linden Thorn, and edgy/sexy/cool Talia Avramov round out a trio of women scorned by privileged pretty boy Gareth. Soon, Emmy is forced to confront her abandonment of friends and family as well as a burgeoning attraction to elusive Talia.

Payback’s a Witch is full of sumptuous descriptions of a quaint town steeped in magical tradition. Harper’s writing is sensual and stylish. I loved the abundant descriptions of fashion, food, drinks, and local establishments. Readers will enjoy a vivid sense of Thistle Grove and its varied residents. The book reads like a primer to hipster millennial culture, especially in dialogue. I found this less appealing as an older reader and didn’t quite connect with Emmy as a main character. Overall, however, the story is an easy read with a perfect balance of action, intrigue, and romance. It’s a great fall weekend read.

Payback’s a Witch is the first in the Thistle Grove Witches series. From Bad to Cursed, book two in the series, is previewed at the end of the book and has a 2022 publication date.

Reviewer: Midu Reads*

3 perfectly happy frolicking sheep

The prodigal daughter returns home to a town of supernaturals, where she'll be the arbiter of a magical tournament. The champions hail from the three witchier families while she belongs to the fourth bloodline through which flows a much-diluted strain of the same magic--or so she thinks. 

The Pluses

1. The lead couple. I mean H.A.W.T. with each of the two women having their individual identities and behaving like total adults. What more could I have asked for?

2. A very Triwizard-like tournament takes place that the author turned into her own thing. I loved all of it.

3. How the author highlighted the importance of other relationships in the protagonist's life, such as that with her mother, BFF, and cousin, and how those were affected when she just upped and left. 

The Minuses

1. Like most reviewers, I also had an issue with the pacing of this book. That was a major turnoff for me. 

2. I couldn't get a feel for the other characters. 

3. Unsatisfactory origins of the magic that makes the town so special. Maybe we'll find out more in the upcoming books?

4. So, a fun read? Yes! A hawt lead? Yes!! Spooky enough for Halloween? Nope!

*Most of my go-to series are 3 starrers
No rating - wasn't my genre/dnf'd so rating it would be unfair
1 sheep - won't be picking up another book in a series again
2 sheep - average read with overused tropes and cliches. Will give the author another try/only continuing because of OCD, so must finish a series
2.5 sheep - liked the book but was put off because it was overly long/ill-treatment of a character the author had me invest in and so on.
3 sheep - enjoyed the book but have reservations because I expected to be wowed and wasn't
4 sheep - was unputdownable
5 sheep - formed an emotional connection, will read the heck outta this series

About the Author:

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Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University and law at Boston University. She is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing program and the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, the forthcoming Poison Priestess, and the forthcoming adult rom-com, Payback's A Witch, from Berkley Books (10/5/21).  Lana was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States. She lives in Chicago with her family. 

You can follow Lana on Goodreads, and you can talk to her here!

Fantasy Author Cate Pearce: Adding Layers of Danger to the story + giveaway

Layers of Danger

When I was building the world for Traitors of the Black Crown, it was important to me that my protagonists Raena and Aven didn’t have a relationship filled with unnecessary conflict. One of the things I can’t stand in romance plotlines is when the two characters keep shying away from being together, when they are clearly interested in one another. It gives you that sense that the writer is creating obstacles to their happiness on purpose and can pull you out of the story. That being said, there are consequences to rushing too fast, and we see those play out (minor spoiler!) in the second book of the series, Defenders of the Black Crown.

I also wanted to keep the focus on the hurdles of their relationship limited to external factors, not conflict between them. Raena and Aven are young, attractive, and available. From their perspective, why shouldn't they be together? But the world they live in has more than one reason, hence the "layers of danger".

In Raena’s home kingdom of Candor, she pretends to be Sir Rowan, a man. If it were revealed that she was a woman, she would be imprisoned or put to death for it. But when Raena and Aven fall in love, this danger is extended to Aven for knowing the truth and not revealing it. We learn it’s possible that their love puts both women in danger of grave consequences.

Additionally, their stature and position complicates things. As Sir Rowan, Raena is a Knight without much authority or renown. Aven, a duchess, is common-born. Even if they choose to have a relationship, they would be outcasts in multiple kingdoms. In Candor, the lack of Aven’s “noble blood” would be the issue. In East Shore, where Aven is a duchess, she may not be punished harshly but her citizens would be displeased with the pairing.

All of these layers add elements to their romance that go beyond the typical pining, misunderstandings, and conflict resolution that usually constitute a romantic subplot. There is constantly an element of looming risk.

In Chapter 13, Raena and Aven are beginning to recognize the clear signs of attraction growing between them. Raena reflects on what it might mean for her, in this excerpt:

Without a word, Aven stepped forward, taking Raena’s arm in her hands. Aven inspected the site where Raena had been gashed, pulling at the cloth sleeve.

“It’s not as bad as it seemed,”Aven whispered, “but still needs to be dressed. I’ll get a clean cloth."

Before Aven could set to her task, Raena grabbed hold of her hands. Their eyes locked, and Raena whispered something she meant very deeply. “I am glad I was there, to protect you.”

Aven’s eyes narrowed. “What were you doing, away from your own camp?”

The pause between them was unnatural. Aven’s countenance was curious and open. The weight seemed enough to shift the very air, giving Raena a chill. They were staring, breathing in tandem, connected in a magical pulse. Raena didn’t understand what she had said or done to ignite it, but she recognized the blatant fire. She knew she didn’t have to explain or give any answer, at all.

Aven didn’t wait longer than a few seconds. She turned away, leaving Raena feeling breathless and exposed. Had the men around them noticed the air thick with heavy glances between the knight and the Duchess? If they had noticed, would they punish Raena for it? In Candor, the knight would be held accountable. Raena had not been able to bring herself to ask anyone how such a pairing would be treated in East Shore, as she felt it would ring too suspicious.

“We should prepare to leave this camp, or we risk another raiding party,” Guon said, kneeled over another bandit. “Go on and make yourself useful, Rowan.”

Social standing and nobility status are overarching themes in Traitors. Therefore, the trials of the romance between Raena and Aven run parallel to the main plot. Raena’s alias as “Sir Rowan” protects her and allows her to move about the world on her quest to avenge her family. But Raena’s adoration for her duchess jeopardizes her self-appointed purpose, as well as both of their lives. The reader feels the graduated tension as the characters drive the story forward, until it all comes together at the end.

You can currently find Traitors and expect a sequel, Defenders of the Black Crown, releasing in September of 2022. Additionally, Cate Pearce has contributed another sapphic love story to Elixir: Stories of Hope and Healing from Hansen House, available January 2022.

Traitors of the Black Crown
by Cate Pearce

September 22, 2021

Publisher: Hansen House

Cover Artist: Elizabeth Jeannel
Genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Medieval
Three women will betray the black crown. A Knight. A Duchess. A Queen.

Raena Schinen narrowly escaped when the Queen’s guard murdered her entire family. If Raena’s survival is exposed, she’ll be next. For fifteen years Raena has hidden as a male Knight, “Sir Rowan”, consumed by her vengeful desire to assassinate the Queen.

The moment Raena is close enough to exact her revenge, she is unexpectedly exiled to a foreign land. There she serves the common-born Duchess Aven Colby, whose suspicious kinship with the Queen further threatens Raena’s delicate secrets.

Just as they become united in a common goal to curb a looming invasion, unexpected heat and romance blossoms between “Sir Rowan” and Aven. The peril demands they set out on a journey to form clandestine political alliances, risking the Queen’s wrath, and drawing Raena and Aven closer together.

But no one in the kingdom could have imagined the sinister foe rising from below the surface. In order to save themselves and those they love, Raena, Aven, and the Queen must recognize who are the oppressors and who will unite against the Black Crown.

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CHAPTER ONE
RAENA’S SPRING
“Knights of Hawk’s Keep. Come with me, you’re next.”

Raena and Finn stood from the wooden bench and left behind their weapons and armor. Clad in fighting pads over their tunics, they followed the man into a sitting room. The humble space held nothing but five chairs and was lit by candle sconces on the stone walls.

“Sit.” The man gestured.

Finn and Raena’s chairs scraped the stone floor as they settled into them.

Raena studied the man as he paused to look through a scroll bearing the Prince’s mark. Like most elder men of Candor, he had chestnut hair to his shoulders and a clean-shaven face. Raena thought his countenance was pleasant, though his skin was marked with deep crimson blemishes as if wine had soaked into it. He wore a decorative silk tunic of emerald and gold, the colors of House Payton; colors of the Queen’s house. It made Raena’s chest clench.

The man spoke with a low timbre. “You two are the only knights from Hawk’s Keep? I thought Lord Sylas was sending three.”

“Aye, we are the only two,” Raena answered. “I am Sir Rowan, son of Brande. This is Sir Finley, son of Wain. Sir Cames was the third, but he fell from a horse yesterday and has broken his arm.” Raena took care to deepen her voice and speak with authority, as she had practiced. There was an art and science to passing as the man she claimed to be, and confidence made all the difference. She disliked the notion that she may appear arrogant upon a first introduction, but better to be represented as an arrogant man than to reveal her secret.

“I see,” the man grumbled, “did he at least come with Lord Sylas, to spectate the events today?”

Raena glanced at Finn, whose eyes narrowed with concern.

“No, sir,” Finn said. “He was told to stay in the tents and rest. He was given several teas of nightflower from the healers.”

“Hmm. Very well, but the Prince will be informed,” the man retorted. “Let's begin. I'm called Sir Han'gahan, I'm a personal guard and knight to Queen Zarana and Prince Zander. I'll be explaining the events of the Knight's Trials to you, and I'll also be getting your history so we may tell it to the crowd."

"Our history?" Finn asked, scratching at the russet stubble that coated his cheeks.

"Aye," Han'gahan nodded, "there will be the greatest crowd you've ever seen, probably the greatest crowd ever assembled in all six kingdoms. The Prince wants every knight to have a story to excite the spectators. You should tell me all your achievements so I may share the details the Prince prefers. He is rather particular, as this is the first Knight’s Trial he’s ever conducted.”

Raena resisted the urge to look again at her friend Finn at the mention of sharing “everything”. She felt a ball of worry growing inside her gut, clenching her insides.

“Alright, both of you are a bit young,” Han’gahan said. “How long have you been knights for Sylas?”

“Two years,” Finn replied. “We are the same age, twenty-three.”

Han’gahan shrugged. “As I thought, you are barely men. Well, it might be a short tale of your conquests, as we haven’t seen war in Candor since you were likely born. But we’ll do our best. Let’s start with you, Finley, since you are apt to sharing. Was your father a hero of the Equinox battles?”

Finn rubbed his hairy face again, an anxious tic. “Not particularly, no. He was a guard for Hawk’s Keep, so he stayed and defended it from any chance of invasion by Ediva. He would have fought for Candor, if he’d been needed in the legions.”

“Hmm,” Han’gahan grunted. “Well, Ediva didn’t make it that far into Candor’s borders since the soldiers held them off at the Calam mountains, didn’t they? That’s all right though, lad. Anything else your father did, of note?”

Finn shook his head.

“Very well,” Han’gahan said. “How about your own notable achievements, what have you done as a knight? Have you killed any bandits or…whatever you do, in Hawk’s Keep?”

“We have seen bandits and the forest-raiders; the Ruvians,” Finn bit his lip. “I haven’t killed any, no. They are usually scared away, back into the pines. We do train for war, spar, and fight one another. We learn about the kingdoms and the famous battles of the Equinox.”

“As all knights do,” Han’gahan muttered. “Maybe you hunt, then? Have you killed anything at all?”

Finn shrugged. “I’ve killed boars.”

Raena grew restless with Finn’s simple humility. “We have a demonstration, sir. Every year Lord Sylas hosts a festival and we display our skill for combat. It’s swordsmanship, poleaxe defense, and archery. Finn, er, Sir Finley, has taken second prize. Many knights compete from a variety of Candor’s noble families.”

“There you go, lad,” Han’gahan clapped. “We can use that. Let’s talk about you then, Rowan. You’re a Boen-looking thing, aren’t you? Pardon me for saying it, but I haven’t seen golden hair and hairless pink flesh like yours in twenty years or more. You must have some Boen ancestors, long ago?”

Raena straightened up and raised her chin. She had never been in a position to tell her false origin story alone. Lord Sylas had always introduced her as Rowan to visitors, and answered if they had questions about her heritage. Telling it now to one of the Queen’s knights, no less. “Perhaps. I’m a bastard, so there’s no telling.”

Han’gahan smiled. “Aye, nothing wrong with being a bastard. Your mother must’ve been Boenish. I’ve met your father, Brande, and he is as dark as any Calamytan. What a dog then, to go after another woman’s bed. I know he fought in the Equinox, so we will mention that when we speak of you. How about you? I don’t suppose you’ve killed bandits, or anything bigger than boars?”

Raena shook her head, “I haven’t. I trained as a squire under Lord Sylas and was knighted by him, the same as Finn.” Those were easy words to say, as all of them were true, at least.

Han’gahan waved his hand. “No matter. Perhaps you boys can prove yourselves in the Knight’s Trial today and have something to start telling tales about.”

“Rowan is being humble, sir,” Finn said. “He shared that I was second in the knight’s demonstrations, but he neglected to mention that he was first.”

About the Author:

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Cate Pearce was homeschooled on a Christmas tree farm in rural Western Washington. At age eight she was fed-up with a plotline on Star Trek TNG so she wrote her own episodes on a Commodore 64. She has been a writer ever since, but only recently decided to share that information with you and the world.

Cate has two children which she delivered at-home with the assistance of saintly midwives. Cate is unapologetic in her fervor for feminism, queerness, and Christian faith. Aside from writing, her "day job" is to prepare organizations for response and recovery from catastrophic disasters. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.

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Fantasy Author: Edale Lane: On the corner of Trucking and Writing, USA

On the corner of Trucking and Writing, USA

Most people live according to a routine. The alarm goes off at the same time in the morning. You get up, brush your teeth, shower, have breakfast or coffee, and go to work. Your work has a schedule, often the same hours every day, but if it varies you know in advance to make your plans. But imagine venturing from the comforting arms of sleep into the reality of wakefulness every morning and the first thought that pops into your head is, “Where am I? A truck stop, rest area, shipper or receiver, in a gravel lot, parked on the street? Is there a bathroom or do I need my trusty bedpan? Where am I going? What time do I have to be there? Is there snow or is it 80 degrees?” Imagine a world with no routine at all, one in which you have no idea where you will be or what you will be doing this time tomorrow. That’s over-the-road truck driving.

Truck driving is an anomaly. It can be stressful and relaxing, demanding and simple, rewarding and unpleasant. Like everything else in life, it is what you make it. The life of an over-the-road truck driver can be wrought with loneliness, boredom, and claustrophobia. I stay away from home from four to six weeks at a time living in an 8x8 box with only a dog for company; then again with cellphones and the internet I am seldom really alone. There are many upsides to this temporary job I have been doing for the past six years, and they have all helped springboard my true career as an author. Driving down the endless road grants me time for reflection and growth, time to dream up characters and plots, to view scenes in my mind, and often dictate them into my voice recorder to type up later. Sometimes I have fourteen hour days or have to run overnights, but other times I have a short run with lots of time for research and writing, editing and promoting. Driving across a vast and diverse continent presents me with majestic panoramas that I can incorporate into story settings. And one cannot overlook the much higher salary I earn allowing me to invest in my writing vocation.

I taught school for 24 years before a career change became necessary. While I loved imparting knowledge to young minds and found purpose in the positive contribution I made to kid’s lives, teaching doesn’t pay what a professional with a master’s degree should be paid. To support a family of four, I always had to work a second job just to hang onto the bottom rung of middle class by my fingernails. That left very little time or energy for writing.

After a thirteen year gap in any effort to be published, my writing was reinvigorated after changing jobs and I became a truck driver who wrote short stories and books that got published. But in 2019 I completely changed my perspective. Now I consider myself an author who also drives a truck. I am grateful for both of my successful careers. Many people view owning their own truck and LLC, being their own boss and pulling in a handsome income as their dream job; my dream job is to earn my current salary from book sales. I wake up in the morning and go out to work in my garden. After breakfast I write, and when I get in a grove I don’t have to stop because there’s nowhere I have to go. I play my music, spend time with my family, and add value to people’s lives. That is my future.

Presently, I still add value to people’s lives by transporting the food they eat from production to grocery store warehouse. In fact, it is quite possible that something you eat today came off a trailer my truck hauled. I am always on time, a safe driver, friendly and polite, planning my trips for optimum profit – not because I love truck driving, but because how you do one thing is how you do everything. My goal is to be the best I can be at everything I do. After reading my book I hope you, too, will consider me an author who drives a truck instead of a truck driver who writes.

A story of a masked vigilante and two women in love that weaves history, action, romance, gadgets, and intrigue into a captivating literary tapestry, Merchants of Milan is a novel that will satisfy readers of historical fantasy and historical romance alike!

Merchants of Milan: Book One of the Night Flyer Trilogy

by Edale Lane

January 21, 2020

239 pages

Three powerful merchants, two independent women in love, one masked vigilante.

Florentina, set on revenge for her father’s murder, creates an alter-ego known as the Night Flyer. Madelena, whose husband was also murdered, hires Florentina as a tutor for her children and love blossoms between them. However, Florentina’s vendetta is fraught with danger, and surprising developments threaten both women’s lives.

Merchants of Milan is the first book in Edale Lane’s Night Flyer Trilogy, a tale of power, passion, and payback in Renaissance Italy. If you like gadgets and gismos, rich historical background, three-dimensional characters, and fast-paced action with a slow-boil lesbian romance, then you are sure to love this series. Buy this one of a kind novel today and let the adventure begin!

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About the author:
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Edale Lane is the author of an award winning 2019 debut novel, Heart of Sherwood. She is the alter-ego of author Melodie Romeo, (Vlad a Novel, Terror in Time, and others) who founded Past and Prologue Press. Both identities are qualified to write historical fiction by virtue of an MA in History and 24 years spent as a teacher, along with skill and dedication in regard to research. She is a successful author who also currently drives a tractor-trailer across the United States. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Edale (or Melodie as the case may be) is also a musician who loves animals, gardening, and nature.

Tour Schedule and Activities 

2/19 I Smell Sheep http://www.ismellsheep.com/ Guest Post 

2/20 The Seventh Star Blog http://www.theseventhstarblog.com Guest Post 

2/21 The Writing Process http://kimsprocess.wordpress.com Author Interview 

2/22 jazzy Book Reviews https://bookreviewsbyjasmine.blogspot.com/ Guest Post 

2/23 A Lot of Pages http://www.A-lotofpages.com Review 

2/24 The Literary Underworld http://www.literaryunderworld.com Guest Post 

2/24 Jorie Loves a Story http://www.jorielovesastory.com Review 

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2/26 The Paperback Voyager http://thepaperbackvoyager.wordpress.com Interview 

2/26 Jorie Loves a Story http://www.jorielovesastory.com Follow-up VLOG 

Cover Grabby hands Syndrome: Gideon the Ninth (The Ninth House Book 1) by Tamsyn Muir

Sometimes you run into a cover or series of covers that make you stop, bow down to the awesome and maybe drool and develop grabby-hands.

Today, I give you Gideon the Ninth (The Ninth House Book 1)
by Tamsyn Muir
artist Tommy Arnold

They have earned my Grabby-hands stamp of approval.

This cover screams badass! Don't get in her way because she will destroy you. The macabre look is sexy. The artist Tommy Arnold created the covers to another series I will feature at a later date.

Gideon the Ninth (The Ninth House Book 1)

by Tamsyn Muir
September 10, 2019
Genre: fantasy, LGBT, lesbian romance
Tor.com
448 pages
Gideon the Ninth is the most fun you'll ever have with a skeleton.

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Excerpt:
In the myriadic year of our Lord – the ten thousandth year of the King Undying, the kindly Prince of Death! – Gideon Nav packed her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and she escaped from the House of the Ninth.

She didn’t run. Gideon never ran unless she had to. In the absolute darkness before dawn she brushed her teeth without concern and splashed her face with water, and even went so far as to sweep the dust off the floor of her cell. She shook out her big black church robe and hung it from the hook. Having done this every day for over a decade, she no longer needed light to do it by. This late in the equinox no light would make it to her for months, in any case; you could tell the season by how hard the heating vents were creaking it out. She dressed herself from head to toe in polymer and synthetic weave, even if they were bad and scratchy. She combed her hair. Then Gideon whistled through her teeth as she unlocked her security cuff, and arranged it and its stolen key considerately on her pillow, like a chocolate in a fancy hotel.

Leaving her cell and swinging her pack over one shoulder, she took the time to walk down five flights to her mother’s nameless catacomb niche. This was pure sentiment, as her mother hadn’t been there since Gideon was little and would never go back in it now. Then came the long hike up twenty-two flights the back way, not one light relieving the greasy dark, heading to the splitoff shaft and the pit where her ride would arrive: the shuttle was due in two hours.

About the Author:

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Tamsyn Muir is a horror, fantasy and sci-fi author whose works have appeared in Nightmare Magazine, F&SF, Fantasy Magazine, Weird Tales, and Clarkesworld. Her fiction has received nominations for the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. She has spent the majority of her life in Howick, New Zealand, with time spent living in Waiuku and central Wellington. She currently lives and teaches in Oxford, in the United Kingdom.

Excerpt Spotlight: Dethroned (An Inimical Prequel Novella) by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

Dethroned (An Inimical Prequel Novella)

by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

June 19, 2018
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: 
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
For eighteen-year-old Rouen Rivoche, being a fairy princess isn’t about fancy parties and happily ever afters.

Rouen’s people are the dark Fae whose powers of lightning, thundersnow, and all things Winter make them cold, severe, and 100% intolerant of rebellion.

Too bad being a rebel is in Rouen’s blood.

Against tradition, she’s teamed up with Syl Skye, the sleeper-princess of the fair Fae—a mortal enemy who Rouen should want to kill but only wants to kiss. Plus, to be with Syl, Rouen’s masquerading as a glam goth-rock star and human high school student. Honestly, Rouen doesn’t think things could get any more complicated.

Then, she discovers she must become Queen of the Winter Court or all her people will die. No pressure.

Now, dark forces are amassing in the Winter Court, turning Rouen’s people against her and blocking her path to the throne. Even Syl with all her powers of white flame and Summer can’t stop this new kind of evil.

Because betrayal cuts close when it’s someone you love… and now it looks like Rouen’s going to be dethroned before she ever becomes queen.

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EXCERPT:
Chapter One
Rouen
There’s nowhere I belong
No home, no hearth
No sing, no song
A princess with no kingdom to rule
– “Nowhere I Belong” – Euphoria

It’s December 24, Christmas Eve in the mortal realm, and you know what that means.

Only fifty-four days to go. Fifty-four days until the Lunar New Year.

Until I take my rightful place as Queen of the dark Fae.

No more being Rouen, princess-assassin and rebel. Once Father steps down—and he said he would—I’ll take his place.

Half of me, my dark self, says he’s lying through his fangs again. But the other half of me remembers the father-before, the man he was before our realm was crippled by our mortal enemies, the fair Fae. That man taught me to fight, to tap into the Winter in my royal blood and hear the wintry nightsong running through our Dark Faerie realm like a secret language.

The Adamant King. He was a good father and a great king—powerful but even-tempered, severe but just.

That’s the man I could trust. That man would keep his word to make me queen.

Even though there’s never been a dark Fae queen. Ever.

I’ll be the first. I can’t wait to rule, to do whatever I want, to be with whoever I want.

In fifty-four days.

But who’s counting?

“Not you,” Syl murmurs sleepily as we lie on the beat-up couch in the dressing room of our local club/hangout, the Nanci Raygun. It’s a snug room wallpapered with faded band flyers and covered in peeling spray paint art. The best thing is the comfy couch that’s ideal for snuggling with your girlfriend.

“Nope. Not me.” I kiss the top of Syl’s red curls. She knows me too well.

Just like I’m the princess of the dark Fae, Syl’s the princess of the fair Fae.

We’re complete opposites. I’m everything Winter—storms and squalls and brutal cold, unyielding ice and thundersnow. My Syl is the epitome of Summer and sun and brightness, with the power to purify dark magic with her white flame.

We met when I tried to kill her.

Technically, we’re mortal enemies. Winter. Summer. You get the picture.

Long story short, I tried to assassinate her. Not my finest moment, but I was controlled by Circuit Fae black-magic—a Moribund infection that stole my will and forced me to hunt her down when she was a mere mortal. Sleeper-princess that she is, though, she Awakened to the fair Fae power inside her.

Hoo-boy, did she give me a hard time. I loved it. Still do.

Syl snuggles in closer. Her nearness sends a spike of warmth shooting through me. She leans her head on my shoulder. “Is it time for your gig yet?”

Ancestors, I hope not. I’d rather lie on this couch with her forever. Lazily, I look past the Euphoria fliers plastered all over the dressing room and check the faded Blue Bee Cider clock on the wall. Almost 11 p.m. “Ten minutes.”

Ten minutes till I step onstage and take on the Euphoria half of my mortal guise. The other half is a seventeen-year-old high school junior, but this is more my style—local legend and goth rockstar violinist. Thanks to my powerful Glamoury, only Syl, her mom, and a few kids at Richmond Elite High have put the Rouen-Euphoria connection together. Otherwise, the human paparazzi would have a heyday with us.

As it is, they mostly leave us alone. Good thing, too, since tonight, I want some peace.

Tonight’s special.

In a little bit, Syl will be headed off on her own. Her task is less glamorous, but far more important. She has to leave to grab our Christmas Eve dinner.

I’ve never had a proper Christmas Eve dinner. It’s a mortal thing and very different from my people’s Dark Yule celebrations (which involve a lot of mayhem and destruction), and I’m looking forward to it.

Syl turns her face into my shoulder and says something like, mumble, mumble, don’t wanna, mumble, mumble, cold outside, mumble.

So. Adorable. I kiss the top of her head, inhaling the heady scent of sunshine and vanilla. My sweet fair Fae princess.

I’d do anything to protect her.

The Circuit Fae series
Derailed – A Moribund Prequel Novella

Moribund eSampler (FREE)

Moribund

Ouroboros

Dethroned

Inimical

About the Author:
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Raised by witches and dragons in the northern wilds, GIE writes angsty urban fantasy YA romance--where girls who are mortal enemies kick butt, take names, and fall in love against all odds.

She enjoys long hikes in the woods (where better to find the fair folk?), believing in fairies (in fact, she's clapping right now), dancing with dark elves (always wear your best shoes), being a self-rescuing princess (hello, black belt!), and writing diverse books about teenage girls finding love, romance, and their own inner power.

She might be planning high tea at the Fae Court right now.

GIE is multi-published, and in her role as an editor has helped hundreds of authors make their dream of being published a reality.

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Spotlight/Excerpt: Romancing the Inventor (Supernatural Society Novellas) by Gail Carriger

Romancing the Inventor
Series: Supernatural Society Novellas
by Gail Carriger
November 1 2016
Publisher: GAIL CARRIGER LLC
ISBN: 9781944751074
ebook 9781944751067
Genre: LBGT romance
A steampunk lesbian romance featuring a maid bent on seducing a brilliant scientist who’s too brokenhearted to notice. Or is she?

Imogene Hale is a lowly parlourmaid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor the vampires are keeping in the potting shed. Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, and French. With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster overcome all odds and win Genevieve’s heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry?

Look for surprise appearances from popular Parasolverse characters and the occasional strategic application of cognac.

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Imogene knocked, several times, getting progressively louder. There was a considerable racket coming from the other side of the door, and whoever was inside couldn’t possibly have heard her. So, she pushed it open herself, balancing the tray on one hip.

Inside, the shed seemed bigger than Imogene initially thought. And louder, full of hisses and bangs and the scent of hot oil and smoke. It was lined with shelves that were stuffed to bursting. There were stacks of engines and engine parts, some of which seemed to be moving. The air was thick with steam and smoke. There were coils and tubes, bottles of odd-colored liquids and any number of tools, some quite rude-looking. That one looks like a… never mind. Every available surface was littered with curiosities; larger implements were propped up against walls or hanging from the ceiling. A coil of glass tubing snaked around the crown molding, filled with a bubbling orange gas that lit the interior with an eerie artificial glow. Perched in one corner, like some sort of ship’s figurehead, was an oddly sinister wicker chicken. It frowned down upon her with an air of chubby disdain.

Imogene wasn’t sure she liked being judged by a chicken.

The only focal point in the chaos was a desk in the far corner, strewn with stacks of papers which turned out (to Imogene’s delight) to be sketches and annotated schematics (rather than lines of incomprehensible script). Concepts for more machines! She would have loved to page through them, but her hands were full, and that would certainly be considered prying.

Next to the desk was a massive piece of flat river slate, mounted on the wall; someone was using it to make calculations with chalk. Imogene might not have her letters, but she could read numbers and do complex sums. Or she’d thought they were complex, multiplication and division and all sorts that left her ma in awe and the littles confused. But the sums written on that slate also included letters, making them more mysterious and more intriguing than anything she’d ever seen before.

Imogene was studying it with her head cocked, holding the tea, and wondering where to put the tray, when a figure emerged out of the chaos.

A slender man straightened up from where he’d been crouched under one of the larger contraptions. He wore protective goggles, some kind of helmet, and large leather gloves. Good thing too, for sparks were flying from a heating tube he held in one hand. An arc of blue shot up from beneath his ministrations, casting purple sparks everywhere.

Imogene nearly dropped the tea tray.

The man swore loudly, either because of the sparks or because one cuff was on fire. He slapped at his sleeve absently, so it wasn’t that.

Finally, the man put down the tube, muttering in a slippery sort of foreign language.

Imogene took the momentary lull as an opportunity to say, “Sir? I’ve brought your tea.”

The man jumped and dropped the tube, which began hissing. He cursed roundly, then jerked back as an arc of purple flew up to the ceiling.

He whirled, charging at Imogene in a sudden sprint. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her (still balancing the tray) behind a large metal something that, if pressed, Imogene would have called a fish tank.

Behind them came a loud bang and an even louder crash.

The man yanked off his goggles and helmet in a smooth movement and cast them carelessly to one side. This revealed a sweet pixie face framed by short, dark, wavy hair.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing?”

Imogene could only stare.

He, as it turned out, was a she.

About the Author:

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Gail Carriger writes steampunk comedies of manners mixed with paranormal romance. Her books include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Supernatural Society, and Delightfully Deadly series for adults, and the Finishing School series for young adults. She is published in many languages and has over a dozen NYT bestsellers via seven different lists (#1 in Manga). She was once an archaeologist and is overly fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.

Book Review: It's A Vampire Christmas (The Vampire Lords Book 1) by Lia Davis + giveaway

It's A Vampire Christmas (The Vampire Lords Book 1)
By: Lia Davis
Release Date: December 2, 2014
121 Pages
Erotica/Gay & Lesbian 

Plot:
The hunt for the past will set their future…

Alasdair Morgan, vampire lord of the south Atlantic region of the United States, and his mate, Gideon, are on the search for an ancient journal. The secrets the book holds within its leather binding can be used to destroy their race’s queen, Lilith. When they finally find the journal, they discover it is in the humans’ hands and being sold at a Christmas charity auction. However, a female with her own agenda has her sights set on possessing the book.

Some gifts come in twos…

Being a half-breed living among humans, Rhianna Howell knows the importance of secrecy all too well. When she discovers one of the lost vampire artifacts, she doesn’t waste time in collecting it before it falls into the wrong hands. But keeping the journal safe from evil will put her in the seductive path of two vampires who claim to be her mates.

The days and nights heat up this Christmas as she discovers a fiery passion she can’t deny or run from.

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It's A Vampire Christmas was my first time reading a three-way erotica story. I can say, that my cherry has now been popped. Though, I may never try it again!

This type of story is just not for me, at all. But that being said, the book itself had some interesting sections. There's a new world and fresh take on Gargoyles introduced. Though you don't nearly get enough information on them to really understand that dynamic. I felt like this tale was a few stories into a series and not the first installment. With the lack of details and back history, I struggled to stay in the moment.

With a rush to get all the pieces of this book into place, parts got a little disjointed. I would have loved to slow down the pace and get more details on each character and the overall arc. There's a rush to the romance and a flash bang jump to the ending. All these elements had much more potential then what was produced. I certainly hope future books are longer and better developed!

If you like a fast, steamy PNR read then grab this one and get ready!

Getting 3 Sheep

KD

About the Author:

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Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a paranormal romance author, and co-owner to Fated DesiresPublishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.

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