Magic Bites: Tales of the Shadow Folk by Eris Marriott

Magic Bites: Tales of the Shadow Folk
by Eris Marriott
October 31, 2024
Genre: Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Dark Romantasy
•    Enemies to lovers 
•    Hidden identities 
•    Badass Female MC 
•    Gods and goddesses
Forgotten by the gods, Adelaide forges her power in the sweet judgment of the sword — her only weapon against the shadow folk that would burn her kingdom to ashes and feast upon its people.

As princess of Sunfall, Adelaide faces more than threats of marriage and stuffy dresses. As secondary heir to a distinguished lineage blessed by the gods themselves, she lives with the crushing reality that the divine powers that be skipped over her. Her father and brother wield divine light as easily as some breathe, imbuing their weapons and armor with protections against the vampires that loom beyond the kingdom walls.

At twenty-six, the only thing saving Adelaide from a life of marriage and death by childbirth is her keen skills with a sword, whose imbued steel has propelled her to the top of her kingdom’s ranks and earned her a reputation of skill and prowess with her soldiers. She knows her life will find its end in the clutches of some beast’s fangs on the battlefield, just as her mother was claimed by them sixteen years ago.

With King Alaric’s power waning and her brother’s inability to produce an heir, Adelaide finds herself on the chopping block. Even the chance of producing an heir that can wield the divine light of Siralto puts her on the nobles’ radar. Powerless, she’s never going to escape the fate she tried so hard to ignore.

But all this changes the day her brother-in-law returns home from war. The problem? Only Shadow Folk come back from the dead. And if Finch is alive, well, and within their walls, it’s only a matter of time before the Shadow King himself comes to claim the vengeance he’s sought for almost two decades. Adelaide is powerless to stop him.

Or is she?

Magic Bites is the first in the Tales of the Shadow Folk. Perfect for fans of dark, epic romantasies with slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romances, Magic Bites has plenty of twists and turns in store. Do you dare to fight back against the Shadow Folk? Or will you, too, be swept away by sweet, simmering lies and sultry fangs?

Triggers: Child loss/fertility struggles, violence

Amazon 

About the Author:
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IG: @erismarriott @rrbooktours
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#rrbooktours #rrbtMagicBitesTour #magicbites #darkromantasy #romantasybooks #vampirefantasy #vampireromance #talesoftheshadowfolk #enemiestolovers #freebookalert #amazonbooks #booktour

Tide Song, Melody of the Deep: A fantasy coming of age adventure (Tide Song Duology, Part 1) by K.E. Hummel

We're celebrating brand new fantasy Tide Song by K.E. Hummel. Read on for more details!

Tide Song: Melody of the Deep
by K.E. Hummel
Jan 17, 2025
Genre: YA Fantasy/ No Romance
Tropes:
Coming of age, reluctant hero, mythical creatures, found family, epic quest, overcoming prejudice
"Her voice can bridge worlds, but can it save them?"

A shattered nest
Their children dead
While above, invaders sail...

In the peaceful waters of Tirahanko Bay, Kei’s unique voice connects her to the Kopri, wise octopus-folk vital to her people’s survival. But a Kopri Prophet’s desperate plea thrusts Kei into a dangerous mission. She must journey to the outer sea, to help the Kopri communicate with the cruel Koru-Kah, human invaders destroying the Kopri’s underwater realm.

As danger mounts and Kei travels far from home, she must find a strength she never knew she had. Despite paralyzed legs, Kei navigates the perilous waters of captivity and forges unexpected bonds with Jacuti, a young enslaved sailor, and her loyal Kopri friend, OldFish. Together, they must face the inhumanity of the invaders and save the Kopri from destruction.

“Tide Song: Melody of the Deep” can be read as a stand-alone, complete novel. But the story continues in Part Two of the Tide Song Duology: “Children of Tayjaru,” coming to Amazon June 15, 2025. Perfect for young adult and adult readers.
 who believe in the magic within themselves and the strength found in unexpected friendships.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

IG: @hearttidepress @rrbooktours
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#rrbooktours #rrbtTideSong #yafantasy #cleanfantasy #noromancefantasy #yafantasybooks

Of Darkness and Ruination (The Star Queen Chronicles Book 1) by Rachel Fallon

Of Darkness and Ruination (The Star Queen Chronicles Book 1)
by Rachel Fallon
April 4, 2024
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Mythical Creatures
🗡️Enemies-to-Lovers
❤️Fated Mates
☀️Light vs Dark
☠️Touch Her & Di3
🐉Shadow Daddy Dragon Shifter
🔍Courtly Intrigue
✨Fae Shifters

Starlight in her veins, and a soul that calls for darkness.

On the magical continent of Celesterra, all humans are enslaved to the ruling fae...

Asteria Zagreus, a mortal young woman enslaved on Celesterra, must face Placement Day, the one day where all humans, at the age of Twenty-One, are placed in new kingdoms and given new masters to serve. Come Placement Day, Asteria is forced into the Dusk Kingdom and given to its Prince, Cyrus Tynan. When she refuses him and his desires, Asteria realizes she has only one option: escaping her enslavement and finding something thought impossible—freedom. Asteria must begin to play her own game within the court...and with the Prince of Dusk Kingdom himself.

Enemies come from all sides, however, and the merciless ruler of the Night Kingdom, King Calix Atarah Erebus, starts making his move against the Dusk Kingdom. Yet, darkness calls to Asteria in mysterious ways, and an equally mysterious soldier makes her question who the real monsters are—especially when it comes to a brutal king and a callous prince. With a bloody war brewing on the horizon, Asteria must decide who the true villain of her story is. Her choice, and the consequences of it, will ripple out across the continent.

Chaos rises, resistance gathers, and a soulmate bond is tested, while Asteria begins down a path that will change the course of history...

Of Darkness and Ruination is the first book in a compelling new adult romantic fantasy series featuring contrasting light and dark love interests and the delicate line of balance and chaos for a magical land. Plus fae shifters, court intrigue, resistance to slavery, a shadow daddy love interest who can shift into a dragon, and a heroine finding her own power and fighting for what she believes in. Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Jennifer L Armentrout, Clare Sager, Nisha J Tuli, Carissa Broadbent, Chloe C. Peñaranda, and Raven Kennedy!

Amazon
Free on KU

About the Author:
website
I'm Rachel Fallon. I'm 32 years old and work full time in an office arranging engineer schedules, but after work is when all the fun begins! I write, I read, I bookstagram. I absolutely love fantasy romance and will just eat up any books of it I find. I started my bookstagram because I wanted to keep track of my thoughts on the books I've read, and started doing reviews. It started to take off so I've expanded out to include special edition book and bookish merch spotlights as well a book box unboxings. I love romantasy so much in fact, that I couldn't help coming up with stories in my head all the time. I used other's fictional characters for a long time as my outlet. I received so much support and great feedback, and people encouraging me to write my own novel. I don't think I would have had the guts to chase this dream without them. I sat down and decided y'know what? I want to write a damn book. Let's do this.

Very quickly, the story and characters began coming to me. It's evolved along the way of course, but much of my base brainstorming remains true to the story now. The characters and the world were just so vivid to me right away, and I knew this had to be my focus. I do have other series ideas waiting in the wings for later, but all my love and attention is going into The Star Queen Chronicles right now. Especially book 1, Of Darkness and Ruination. I can't wait to share this with you all!

What kind of romantasy books do I love? All kinds! But my favorites series are ACOTAR, Blood and Ash + Flesh and Fire, Crowns of Nyaxia, Of Flesh and Bone, Artefacts of Ouranos, Plated Prisoner, Legends of Thezmarr, The Empyrean, The Mist King, Gods and Monsters, An Heir Comes to Rise, Nytefall, The Coven, Shadows of Tenebris, Deliciously Dark Fairytales and so many more!

Outside of books, what's there to know about me? Well, I have an adorably spoiled calico cat named Cookie Dough, since she looks like a ball of cookie dough (very original, yes). We call her Cookie, of course. I do love watching current tv shows like House of the Dragon, Wheel of Time, The Sandman, and Good Omens. I love the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier. I've very excited for Dune Part 2 coming up. I love the big epics like Lord of the Rings and it's so rare they come around like this! I clearly stay in a very fantasy/paranormal/romance wheelhouse even outside of books!

New Release: The Imminent Trials of Quietus (Vials of Fate Book 1) by Catalina Matei

We're celebrating the release of Catalina Matei's fantasy, The Imminent Trials of Quietus!

The Imminent Trials of Quietus (Vials of Fate Book 1)
by Catalina Matei
November 5, 2024
Genre: Romantasy/Mythical Creatures
– Dragons
– Friends to lovers
– Banter
– Strong FMC
– Deadly mental trials
– Hidden truths
– Fated lovers
– Dual POV
– Magical creatures
– One bed/Cave
In a world that long lost its moral axis, free will was the chain that tied a God’s vengeance to his entertainment.
With nothing but hope to keep her dark thoughts afloat, Tiadola waited for centuries for the preordained trials that would end her life to begin. But nothing could have prepared her for the moment they were set in motion by encountering the dragon compelled to hunt her.
When the stranger she thought the dragon had sent after her quickly becomes her friend instead, the lines between want and need become a blur as they embark together on a journey towards her imminent trials.
Caught between her desire to continue living in order to save the human realms and the mental warfare that the trials would entail, would she be able to become the first of her kind to win?

Triggers/CW:
Violence, existential angst, loss, death and sexually explicit content.

Amazon

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Spotlight: The True Queen (A Sorcerer to the Crown Novel #2) by Zen Cho + A Special Giveaway

The True Queen (A Sorcerer to the Crown Novel #2)

by Zen Cho

March 12, 2019
Ace Trade Paperback

384 pages
When sisters Muna and Sakti wake up on the peaceful beach of the island of Janda Baik, they can’t remember anything, except that they are bound as only sisters can be. They have been cursed by an unknown enchanter, and slowly Sakti starts to fade away. The only hope of saving her is to go to distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal has established an academy to train women in magic. If Muna is to save her sister, she must learn to navigate high society, and trick the English magicians into believing she is a magical prodigy. As she's drawn into their intrigues, she must uncover the secrets of her past, and journey into a world with more magic than she had ever dreamed.

“Absolutely everything about this book is delightful.”—NPR.org on Sorcerer to the Crown

“Inventive, dangerous, brilliant, unsettling, and adorable...It shatters as many rules as its characters do.”—Courtney Milan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Book one

About the Author:

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Zen Cho was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and her short story collection Spirits Abroad was a joint winner of the William L. Crawford Fantasy Award. Her debut novel Sorcerer to the Crown won a British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer and was a Locus Awards finalist for Best First Novel. She lives in the UK.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win one of 25 advance reading copies of THE TRUE QUEEN by Zen Cho!

https://sweeps.penguinrandomhouse.com/enter/the-true-queen-giveaway

Book Review: Three Mages and a Margarita (The Guild Codex: Spellbound Book 1) by Annette Marie + giveaway

Three Mages and a Margarita (The Guild Codex: Spellbound Book 1)
by Annette Marie
September 14, 2018
265 pages
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Broke, almost homeless, and recently fired. Those are my official reasons for answering a wanted ad for a skeevy-looking bartender gig.

It went downhill the moment they asked me to do a trial shift instead of an interview—to see if I’d mesh with their “special” clientele. I think that part went great. Their customers were complete dickheads, and I was an asshole right back. That’s the definition of fitting in, right?

I expected to get thrown out on my ass. Instead, they…offered me the job?

It turns out this place isn’t a bar. It’s aguild. And the three cocky guys I drenched with a margarita during my trial? Yeah, they were mages. Either I’m exactly the kind of takes-no-shit bartender this guild needs, or there’s a good reason no one else wants to work here.

So what’s a broke girl to do? Take the job, of course—with a pay raise.

—
Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn’t a reverse harem. It’s 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.

Goodreads-Amazon

Tori is a fiery redhead with a temper to match. Bouncing from job to job, Tori never seems to find her calling until an errant want ad leads her to a dingy pub on the wrong wide of town, The Crow and Hammer. Tori accepts a bartending position wholly unaware she’s working for a guild of paranormals. In her new position, Tori’s temper is an asset. Her grit is admired and secures her position in a world where humans are otherwise unwelcome. Without supernatural gifts, Tori is forced to rely on her wit and cunning to stay afloat. Soon she’s completely entrenched in the guild and a malevolent group targeting her newfound friends, the three mages.

This was a satisfying series starter. A female main reliant on her own (very human) savvy throughout the book was entirely refreshing. Despite her lack of magic, Tori is quite capable of saving her own ass as well as the boys in her life. The action and intrigue is fairly well developed and I enjoyed the unveiling of a new series with its colourful cast of characters. I found the dynamic of Tori and her three mages a little puzzling, but I’m sure relationships will become more defined as the series progresses. I’m always game for a little more romance.

Finally, a massive thumbs up from this reviewer for a book with a Canadian setting :)

Four Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
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Goodreads
Annette Marie is the author of Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

Three (3) paperbacks, a copy of each of Annette's first in series. Chase the Dark, The Night Realm, and Red Winter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shadow Path + giveaway

This is a wonderful beginning to promising Urban Fantasy series. I want to make it clear that this is a UF, not a paranormal romance. This first book in her Portal series is a stepping off point for future books. It spends a lot of time world building. Blair does this in a very clear manner, you don’t feel like information is dumped on you. I think Shadow Path is a must read if you want to understand any future books.

Blurb:
Magic and crime. Agatha Christie meets J.R.R. Tolkien in “Shadow Path,” the first book in the new Portals series by author P.L. Blair.
An Ogre murdered with a rune-inscribed sword is just the beginning as Kat Morales, a very human detective on the Corpus Christi, Texas, police force, and her Elf partner Tevis McLeod follow a blood trail that leads to Pixies, necromancy and Magic of the Blackest kind ... to its climax in a stronghold Between worlds, where Tevis must duel spell for spell with a former lover who wants to see her old flame extinguished permanently.

Long ago there was a portal between our world and the “otherworld” or Realms, as its inhabitants call it. All the magical creatures of human myth and legend came from there. I love how Blair included all our favorite mythical creatures, giving a new twist to why and how they became part of our history.

You have everything from the Greek/Roman gods and goddesses to the Celtic elves, pixies, banshees and dwarves along with many more unpleasant magical beings. Wizards from the Realm decided to close the portal to protect humans from Othersiders who wanted to pass themselves off as gods.

It has been 4 years since the portal was opened again, though no one knows why or how. Many creatures came through and are coexisting with humans without incident. Kat Morales is a human detective and has been paired with a very private and good looking Elf named Tavis. I really liked how his character is slowly developed. There is much Kat doesn’t know or understand about him even though they have worked together for a few years. Tavis has the potential to be a powerful practitioner of magic, but turned his back on magic for reasons we discover later on. He has a tendency to downplay his strengths and his importance over in the Realms. There is an air of mystery about him that is very sexy. I look forward to learning more about him ;)

Some humans have the ability to become practitioners of magic, but they must carry the P-gene. Kat tested negative for it, but there is more to her than we discover in this story. Kat is smart and logical and has the makings of a kick-butt heroine.

While there aren’t any romantic interactions between the two, he is very protective of Kat and there is a subtle attraction between them. I can’t wait to see if it turns into something else over the course of the series.

There is a large cast of well developed secondary characters that I think we will see in future books. Arvandus is a Wizard from the Realms that now works with the FBI helping to eliminate creatures from the Realms that are out to harm humans. He is a good friend and mentor to Tavis. I especially liked Maeve, a Banshee who runs a magic store in town. There is also a Djinn named Achmed, who is bound rather reluctantly to Arvandus, and Gairth, Arvandus’s nephew, a Lovetalker/Wizard. I am not sure what he can do, but he seems to have Cupid like tendencies.

My only complaints are the lack of action through most of the book, but the climatic magical battle at the end is top notch. The other thing is the price. The ecopy is priced higher than most paperback books.

One last thing…have you ever wondered where your cat goes when it disappears for a while? I now know where they go .

4 “don’t mess with the Pixies” Sheep

SS (edited by BAK)

GIVEAWAY- One lucky winner is going to walk away with an ecopy of Shadow Path just by leaving a comment on this review below. Make sure to enter your email address so we have a way to contact you.

Open to everyone.

Contest ends June 29th at midnight.

Good luck!