Hello and welcome to another Storytellers on Tour review! This time it is for the third and final installment of The Gifted and The Cursed series by Marcus Lee. If you haven’t already read the first two books then please don’t read this review as it will most likely contain spoilers for those two books.
The Blurb:
As Daleth the Witch-King and his horde ready themselves for the final battle, a small alliance prepares for a desperate last stand.
However, the alliance is weak and fractured, led by a king interested only in retaining his wealth and a lord commander consumed by his thirst for revenge. With a seemingly unbeatable army before them, invisible foes amongst them, and broken hearts between them, the alliance appears destined to fall.
Yet in these dark times, her light almost extinguished, a peasant huntress is soon to be queen. But if she can find what was lost, she might prove to be more powerful than two kings combined.
This war will bring about the end of dreams, but for whom, the gods have yet to decide
My verdict:
This was a great finale to a very enjoyable series, the characters are lovable and I found myself rooting for them for the entire journey! Marcus has a great writing style that works really well for me and I can’ wait to see what he comes up with next!
My only slight gripe is that he changes perspectives mid chapter – personally I prefer a new chapter when we change perspective but that’s me being picky! I found like sometimes I didn’t catch the change and had to backtrack to figure out who we were following.
This book was full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes throughout and it has a satisfying ending!
Don’t forget to check out all the other hosts reviews this week!
Hi Guys! I’m here with another Storytellers on Tour post and this is for Vultures by Luke Tarzian!
Let me tell you a little bit about this book!
An enemy slain is not a conflict won…
After decades of war the demon Te Mirkvahíl is dead. But its progeny endure, spilling from the Heart of Mirkúr, sowing death across the land of Ariath. If the people are to finally know peace, the Heart must be destroyed. Theailys An believes he can do just that with The Keepers’ Wrath, an infamous power focus wrought in Ariath’s yesteryears–but the weapon first must be reforged.
War spares no one…
Serece never intended to get involved in Ariath’s war. But history and demons have a way of pulling strings. When she learns Theailys An, a man whom she abhors, bears striking similarity to the first creator of The Keepers’ Wrath, Serece departs her mountain world for Ariath to ascertain the truth.
From patience, hope…
For millennia Behtréal has walked the world alone. Rewriting history to resurrect his people is easier said than done. But Ariath holds the key–soon The Keepers’ Wrath will be remade.
Truth from madness…
As paths converge and a shadow falls across Ariath, one thing becomes increasingly and horrifyingly clear–these events have played out many times before.
This is a debut, self published fantasy novel that was originally released in March 2019 and I’ve had my eye on it for a while, mostly due to it’s stunning cover! This is a fairly short, dark fantasy book coming in at just over 300 pages but within this small number of pages, Luke has managed to build an immersive world that it full of complex characters.
The world building is great and there are lots of different characters including some shapeshifters, manifested demons and celestial beings.
This is a great book so far (I’m still reading… yay for reading slumps!) but it’s really promising so far and I will update my review if anything changes once I’m finished!
Hi all! I’m here today with an an excerpt from The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson (hosted by Story Tellers On Tour!
Chapter 1 A CLASSIC BEGINNING…
Few indeed know the paralyzing terror of a mighty dragon’s roar or the skin-blistering heat of its fiery breath. Few, I say, for most who do experience such things know them for but the briefest instant before they are consumed by flame, burned beyond all hope of recognition, their hopes and dreams turned to smoke and ash.
Such was the horrible fate of many who called the village of Skendrick home on the fateful day when the great red dragon Dragonia first painted the evening sky red and orange with searing gouts of fire, raining death upon men, women, and children without distinction or hesitation, the tallest and smallest alike unable to withstand the dragon’s terrible fury.
One small girl huddled in the corner of her family’s home, a wooden structure made from loose planks held together by crooked nails and covered with tarpaulin, shivering and shaking with fear. She clapped her hands over her ears as she tried in vain to silence the screams and wails of agony that knifed through the air and pierced her heart. Her mother must surely be among them, for the woman had gone to the market that morning, and the girl knew that the dragon would strike there first, at the heart of the village.
On market day, half of the villagers gathered in the town square to trade goods and gossip —a teeming mass of conveniently clustered humanity that would make an irresistible target for an insatiable wyrm. The girl cried and prayed, beseeching aid from gods she had never believed in but turned to now in desperation, hoping against hope that divine intervention might spare her life and, somehow, someway, bring back those who had died so horribly. Her prayers went unheard, or at least unanswered, for it was only moments later that her own ramshackle dwelling was engulfed in flames, and the girl, clutching her most beloved doll, wailed in agony as slithering tongues of fire kissed her feet and proceeded to consume her, leaving nothing behind but a bleached pile of bones and the ashy corpse of a blond doll. The dragon left some alive that day—it would never kill them all, not when it wanted survivors to spread the word far and wide of what had happened, how the town had burned, how the people had suffered, and how no one could resist its awesome fury. For then, perhaps, the encroachment into its territory would cease, the disturbances to its slumber would end, and it could sleep, finally, in peace. The great wyrm wheeled and turned overhead, leaving the smoking crater of the village behind as it flew north to its lair. The raging beast had no doubt that some foolhardy adventurers would soon come calling in the hope of righting this terrible wrong, but it would be ready. Those brave souls would die in agony just as the villagers of Skendrick had died that day for daring to defy it, and for the simple crime of living too close to the home of an angry dragon.
Chapter 2 …IS NOT HOW IT ACTUALLY WENT DOWN
Being in the business of barding, one must not be bothered by blurting bull…excrement. (Though one should occasionally curb one’s love of cursing.) I mean, it’s our job. Every once in a while, though, the truth turns out to be far more interesting than the tales bards tell in taverns; it’s just rare that bards actually know the truth behind the songs they sing, and so the ale-swilling public misses out on some truly epic—or, at least, epically weird—stories. Hi, my name’s Heloise. I am, if not the most well-known bard in Erithea (yet), arguably the most talented, and unarguably the cleverest. I also wouldn’t quibble if you suggested that I’m the most beautiful, but that’s just because I’m very agreeable (and beautiful). I’m no stranger to telling a tall tale or two. However it just so happens that I know the truth about what happened that fateful day in Skendrick when the dragon attacked and the shocking events that followed, and let me tell you: the tavern version, even though it’s superbly written and exquisitely melodious, isn’t half as entertaining as the truth. Because I’m an ethereally gorgeous (not my words, mind you—that’s how noted seer Llendarlin Wayfender once described me, and even though he’s blind, he’s a venerated font of knowledge, so who am I to argue?), half-elf, I may not look it, but I’m approaching one hundred and forty years of age. Over the years, I’ve had more than a few adventures. Decades ago, I was sworn to secrecy regarding the true story of the great and terrible “Drago-nia,” but recent developments have released me from that promise, and so I can finally tell the tale. I’ll warn you up front, though—those of you who think you know the story will scarcely believe the truth. You’ll be shocked, stunned, surprised, and staggered. The faint of heart should stop reading right now, close the book, and proceed to the nearest public garden or quiet pub to watch butterflies or enjoy a hoppy pint. Or maybe both. For those who have the stomach—and I realize I’m mixing my metaphors here, because it’s entirely possible to have a weak heart and a strong stomach, in which case I leave you to make the decision whether to proceed at your own peril, or, at least, after consultation with the nearest physician, witch doctor, or oracle—however, you’ll enjoy a tale the likes of which has never been told before, and is unlikely to be told again. Well, not until I get paid to write another book, anyway, or at least booked into the pub nearest you. So read on, brave souls…adventure awaits. And shenanigans. There will definitely be shenanigans.
Hi Guys! I’m back again for another Story Tellers on Tour ppost today with Tristan’s Folly which is the sequel to Kings and Daemons (my review for this book can be found here)
The Blurb
Tristan’s Folly. An ageing fortress built over fifty years ago to repel the invading hordes of the Witch-King, Daleth, an invasion that never materialised – until now.
Now the stronghold is a crumbling reflection of its former might, with a mere fifteen hundred men all that stands between Daleth’s savage horde of a hundred thousand, and certain doom for the Freestates.
In this epic tale of a battle against the odds, the best and worst of humankind collide … sacrifice, bravery and love, set against betrayal, greed and hatred.
As Kings and Daemons face one another, there is but one shining light that pushes back the encroaching darkness, but even her flame is slated to be extinguished thanks to Tristan’s Folly.
What can I say about this other than I loved it?
There is so much plot progression, character development and I thought that the action scenes were excellent!
There are some characters in here who I’ve come to hate (I’m looking at you Tristan) and others who I still love!
As I said, there was a lot of plot progression in this book and there were a few plots twists that I didn’t see coming and I was kept on my toes all the through. There were even a few tears shed!
As I look back over the years, I realise I was guilty of writing many short stories, as well asvpoetry, and I’d like to think, that even if they were never intended to be published, they were nonetheless warmly received by the intended recipients.
Then in 2019, I was inspired to write not just a short story, or poetry, but a book. Then, suddenly, one book turned into a trilogy and a labour of love, and it was a love I wanted to share with the world.
So, here we are. The pandemic that put my career in sport on hold also gave me the opportunity to lavish time on my alternative hobby, or if demand dictates my new career.
However, only you, the reader, will decide whether this trilogy, which is still a work in progress, will be the first of many. I genuinely hope so.
Who knows, now these creatives juices are flowing, I might just keep on writing anyway. —– Epic fantasy has been my favourite genre since I first read The Odyssey and The Illiad as a seven-year-old. Now it’s my turn to see if I can bring another world to life in the imaginatio
Hi Guys! I’m here today with a quick book blitz for you!
It’s for a self pub novel and all info is down below! This is on my tbr for when my brain is less tired so that I can give it by full attention!
— — — Book Information The Crown of Bones by Rosalyn Briar Published: May 5, 2020 Genre: Dark Fantasy Age Group: New Adult Pages: 250 — — — Book Blurb Fairy tales are not what they seem.
Gisela knows about sacrifice all too well.
She abandoned her education, friends, and fairy tales to support her family and care for her sister.
But when she jilts a wealthy suitor, Gisela is chosen for another type of sacrifice.
As an Offering to the Goddess Bergot, Gisela and seven others are sent on a deadly quest for a mythical crown. To return home, Gisela must overcome obstacles which darkly resemble the fairy tales she once believed.
Weaving through a tapestry of friendship, romance, violence, and magic—Gisela becomes the target of an ancient evil force, while an ominous detail from the past haunts her at every turn.
To what lengths will Gisela go to save the ones she loves? Sometimes sacrifices must be made.
Hi guys! I’m here for a quick blog blast as it’s release day for Maps Edge by David Hair!
This is the start of a new series by David and I’m really enjoying reading it! Unfortunately, due to my current slump, I haven’t been able to finish this one but I will let you know my thoughts once I’m finished!
The Blurb:-
Follow a renegade sorcerer off the edge of the map, in a thrilling adventure perfect for fans of Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson and Sebastien de Castell . . .
Dashryn Cowl has run out of places to hide. The erstwhile sorcerer of the Imperial College fled the Bolgravian Empire when his high-flying family fell from grace, but the tyrannical empire is still hunting for him.
So when he gets his hands on a map showing a place outside the known lands rich in istariol, the mineral that fuels sorcery, he sees a way back to power. There’s only one problem: it means masquerading as an Imperial Cartomancer (an instant death sentence) and finding some dupes to help him mine the istariol in secret, no questions asked.
But somehow, amid the dangers of the road (floods and avalanches, beasts, barbarians and monsters), a strange thing begins to happen: Dashryn starts to care about his ragtag followers and their strange odyssey into the ruins of an ancient forgotten civilisation.
But his past won’t let him be: the implacable Imperial Bloodhound Toran Zorne has caught his scent, and Zorne has never yet failed to bring his quarry to ground.
At the edge of the map, there’s no going forward and no going back . . .
Hi guys! Back with another post for Storytellers One Tour! Today it’s a feature post for Children by Bjorn Larssen!
Book Blurb Magni never wanted to be like his father, a murderous, absent, cheating alcoholic: Thor – the feared and beloved God of thunder. When Thor destroys everything and everyone his son knows and loves, Magni vows to stop the violence. His dream is to bring peace and prosperity to the Nine Worlds, then settle down with the man he loves. But is it possible to remain good in a place this bad? How do you escape cruelty in a universe built on it, or the shadow of your father when everyone calls you by his name?
Maya knows she’s a failure and a disappointment to her foster-parents. How could a child raised by Freya and Freyr – Goddess of love and God of sex – have no interest in the greatest of pleasures? Obviously, it couldn’t be the torture they subjected her to, or treating her as a tool that might someday be useful. Maya, her rage at their games more powerful than she knows, wants freedom to pursue her own destiny. But how do you forge your own life away from your God-parents when you’re nothing more than human.
A retelling of the Norse myths unlike any other, Children will answer all the questions you never knew you had about the heathen Nine Worlds… before leading you into the Tenth!
I have started reading this and so far I’m enjoying it! It does throw you straight into the story which I’ve actually enjoyed! I love Maya as a character and I’m really intrigued to see where this story is going to go!
(trigger warning for attempted rape which happens in the opening chapter)
Hello! Welcome back for another Storytellers on Tour Post! Today I am reviewing Frozen Rage by Steve McHugh. This is a new novella set in the Hellequin Chronicles but it can be read on its own.
Book Blurb The Realm of Dreich is a getaway for the rich and powerful, a medieval-inspired town in the middle of a vast frozen wilderness.
Now it’s the site of a wedding, intended to join two feuding families who have spent centuries in an uneasy truce with each other.
When Tommy Carpenter asks his best friend, Nate Garrett, to help him with the security of the wedding,
Nate reluctantly agrees, knowing that it will be a long weekend of work and, in all probability, treachery.
It is only a matter of time before members of each family are found murdered and it is up to Nate and Tommy to find the killer before more bodies fall, potentially reigniting a war.
I was very kindly gifted a physical copy for this review but I also purchased the audiobook myself to listen as I read. (would really recommend the audiobook as it was fantastic!)
This was a great little novella which introduces you to the main characters of this series including a few of the races (including werewolves, werelions and werebears!) along with following a murder mystery.
As this is only 117 pages long and is also a mystery, I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. However, I can say that I really enjoyed the writing style, I felt for the characters and I will definitely be picking up the other books in the series!
Hello! I’m here with a very exciting post today as I am one of the first hosts on the blog tour for this stunning book! However, unfortunately there was a delay in the copies being sent out so I haven’t finished this beast of a book yet. But…. This means that you’ll get two posts instead of one! (thank you to the publisher for gifting me this beautiful finished copy)
This post will be a review of what I have already read along with some info on the book and I will do a follow up post once I have finished reading. This means that I will also be able to review the audio book for you as I really enjoy reading epic sci fi like this book with the audio on at the same time.
So! On to the important stuff! This is an epic space sci fi that is Paolini’s first foray into the sci fi world. It’s also quite the chonker as it’s around 900 pages long (we all know that I love a long book!). I will also preface any review that is below by saying that the author’s Eragon series is one of my all time favourites so I am already familiar with this authors writing style.
The Blurb:-
Kira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds Now she’s awakened a nightmare
During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move.
As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human.
While Kira faces her own horrors, Earth and its colonies stand upon the brink of annihilation. Now, Kira might be humanity’s greatest and final hope . . .
Now onto my mini review of the first 300ish pages that I’ve managed to read this weekend through my anxiety brain!
The writing in this book in really accessible, it isn’t too “techy” or clinical which I know is a criticism of a lot of sci fi. This book opens following Kira as she goes on a research mission which promptly goes wrong. There is a lot going on in this book and I have a lot of my exciting/Omg moment tabs in my physical copy just within the first 100 pages. This book literally made my jaw drop when I was reading because the events that happen were both incredibly surprising but also awesome.
So far in this book we have some LGBTQIA+ rep in the book which doesn’t feel like it’s just been shoehorned in, it feels natural and like it’s just something that happens which is wonderful. There are also different people from different planets, with different customs who all mingle well together and I actually enjoy all of the characters mentioned.
I’ve even spotted a couple of Easter eggs from the Eragon universe (One of these actually made me put down my book and go and get my copy of Eragon to check I was right!)
Overall so far, I think this is a really unique piece of work and it’s definitely worth checking it out if you enjoy sci-fi!
Don’t forget to check out everyone else’s posts too!
Hi Guys! I have another spot on a Storytellers on Tour blog tour and that’s for this beauty! (I mean, just look at that cover!) make sure you go and check out the other hosts posts Here!
Book Blurb When a soldier’s murder sparks rebellion in the tiny village of Skolja, Brohr’s past marks him as the prime suspect. Haunted by his brother’s ghost, and drawn into a web of dark pacts and tangled loyalties, Brohr must choose between the path of vengeance set before him, and a chance to forge his own fate. From the shadows, an all but extinct race of alien demigods have begun the end game of their millennia-spanning war, and one has chosen Brohr for his closing gambit. But Brohr’s grandfather harbors a dark secret that will change everything. Above it all, a dread portent looms in the sky, spelling the death of Brohr’s world. With doom spiraling toward them, Brohr must lead an unlikely rebellion, unearth disturbing family secrets, and tame the raging ghost that haunts him. Can Brohr lead his people out of darkness, or will he succumb to his own terrifying bloodlust, and destroy the very people he has sworn to save?
So! I went into this expecting a fairly typical Viking story which I usually end up loving! However, what I got was actually a mixture of sci-fi and fantasy – a concept that was very cool!
In this book you have your viking-esque characters who are the Norns and instead of it being your usual Christian invaders taking over, in this book it’s actually a different race from another planet!
This is a very dark and gritty book that has plenty of violence in it along with a very graphic birth and baby death scene in the prologue so please read with care if you are sensitive to any of these things.
This was a good book and I’m intrigued to see where the story goes in book two event hough this wasn”t written in my usual preferred writing style. However, I’ve seen that the audio book for this should be released soon so I think I will re-read this on audio as that usually helps me when the writing style isn’t my favourite!
Kat's Reading Room 