Review: Keeper of The Bees

Author: Meg Kassel. 

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA. 

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

KEEPER OF THE BEES is a tale of two teens who are both beautiful and beastly, and whose pasts are entangled in surprising and heartbreaking ways.

Dresden is cursed. His chest houses a hive of bees that he can’t stop from stinging people with psychosis-inducing venom. His face is a shifting montage of all the people who have died because of those stings. And he has been this way for centuries—since he was eighteen and magic flowed through his homeland, corrupting its people.

He follows harbingers of death, so at least his curse only affects those about to die anyway. But when he arrives in a Midwest town marked for death, he encounters Essie, a seventeen-year-old girl who suffers from debilitating delusions and hallucinations. His bees want to sting her on sight. But Essie doesn’t see a monster when she looks at Dresden.

Essie is fascinated and delighted by his changing features. Risking his own life, he holds back his bees and spares her. What starts out as a simple act of mercy ends up unraveling Dresden’s solitary life and Essie’s tormented one. Their impossible romance might even be powerful enough to unravel a centuries-old curse.

I absolutely love the cover. The shades of green are so beautiful, and that bee actually makes me forget my fear of bees for a moment!

Keeper of The Bees was a beautiful, sweet story, and I totally fell in love with it. 

Dresden and Essie were such complicated yet beautiful characters. It was fun to watch the story unfold from both of their perspectives. 

I especially loved how the author wrote Essie's point of view. The bubbles, the snake-like tongue. It was all so believable. It was hard to say whether Essie was imagining something or whether it was real. 

I loved the fact that the story did not stretch into a sequel. It was short, sweet and beautiful as it is. 

Keeper Of The Bees is as beautiful as its cover, and I recommend you to check it out!

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Review: Shadow Song

Author: K.G. Reuss.

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy. 

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

We've never spoken, but she knows me. And I know her.

I'm Shadow, and I'm a bit of a big deal in my world, the world of Specials. It's been five years since I've seen Everly, the girl I've been drawn to defend since we were kids. She thinks I'm a shadow, her protector. And I am. But I'm more. So is she. Destiny dictates we belong together, but part of me hates her, blames her for what happened last time I saved her. Torn between what I want and what I need, I fight to keep her alive. No matter what happens, one thing's for sure. She'll never know who I am. She can't. If she does, it could mean the end for her. For me. For everyone.

Shadow Song is book two in The Everlasting Chronicles. Reader Discretion advised due to dark subject manner.

Oh my god. Do I even need to say just how gorgeous the cover is? I mean, come on! Nothing gets better than this! It's colourful, it's beautiful, the model totally connects with the character and it is so gorgeous. Do I need anything else?

After reading Shadow Song, I've realized something. K.G. Reuss is so much more awesome at writing from the guy's point of view. I am already in love with Brax from the Emissary of the Devil series, and now, there's Shadow too. 

Shadow Song was so much better than Dead Silence. The characters were more relatable, more believable and more awesome. Even though the story was supposed to be the same, the context was so different than Dead Silence that it felt more like a sequel. 

Shadow Song helped me understand Shadow all the more. It also gave much more depth to the story. 

All in all, I loved Shadow Song and personally, I wouldn't mind if the author wrote all the sequels from Shadow's point of view!

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Book Blitz: Skerryvore

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery. 

Teenage twins Rose and Daniel aren’t allowed phones, computers, even a TV, thanks to their conspiracy-obsessed father. But when the people he always thought were after him actually turn up, the twins realise he wasn’t as paranoid as they’d always thought.

With their dad missing and their house burned to the ground, Rose and Daniel find themselves at the centre of a worldwide conspiracy that stretches back through the ages, involving some of the most powerful and mysterious organisations on the planet.

Why them? Why their dad? The answers to these questions and other, darker mysteries lie beyond the doors of an ancient house called Skerryvore.

These mysteries link the twins to a Dark Age king and queen, to a secret society that stands behind the City of London, and an energy source that links some of the world’s most ancient sites into a network that has the power – literally – to change the world.

Skerryvore is the first book in the Dark Net series.

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Daniel took a deep breath. It must be right. This must be the last piece in Mr Picketty’s jigsaw that led to the secret of Skerryvore – a sword in a stone. He couldn’t just be imagining this.

He had to have faith.

Daniel closed his eyes and went through the technique Mr Humblestone had taught them for being in the present. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Empty your mind of thoughts. Listen to the sounds around you. What can you hear? He could hear the sound of waves and gunfire echoing around the metallic roof of the chamber. What can you feel? The cold sea air against his face, the hard ground against the soles of his feet, the movement of his ribcage up and down and the beating of his heart inside it. What can you smell? The smell of the sea, the metal and oil of machinery. Now open your eyes. What can you see? He opened his eyes. He could see a sword standing in a stone with no thoughts attached to it, no hopes or fears.

Just a sword in a stone.

He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the cool leather of the hilt. He closed his eyes and pulled.

With a scraping of metal on stone the sword came free in his hand, so easily in fact that he stumbled backwards and fell to the floor dropping it with a harsh clattering noise that echoed around the chamber.

Then, slowly, another sound began to rise and overtake the first. It was a sound that came from all around, like some huge and rusty gate that hadn't been oiled in centuries. Looking up, Daniel saw that the roof of the observatory was moving, but not in the usual way. This time it was moving outwards and away from the building, like giant hands were peeling it back. The noise roared to a deafening crescendo and Daniel watched in horror as the two sides of the roof leant outwards, balanced precariously for what felt like an eternity, then toppled and fell to the rocks below like two giant petals dropping from a flower.

He was suddenly alone on a windy platform, above the sea, under the night sky.

And behind him something else was moving.

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I am a journalist and writer living in Dorset, England with my wife and rampaging toddler. I write about technology, innovation, green issues and political commentary for various publications including The Independent, The Guardian, Wired, Private Eye and International Business Times. Skerryvore is my first, and hopefully not last, novel!

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Review: Ouroboros

Author: Genevieve I. Eldredge.

Genre: Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

Blurb: 

All introverted geek girl Syl Skye wants is to get close to her girlfriend. But when you can kill with a simple touch, a normal date night’s not really in the cards.

As it happens, Syl is also a sleeper-princess of the fair Fae. Last year after a freak accident, her power Awakened, granting her white flame to purify the darkness.

Rouen Rivoche is that darkness—a dark Fae princess whose power to bewitch mortals is as terrifying as the violet lightning she controls. Rouen is Syl’s total opposite. Her mortal enemy.

She’s also Syl’s beloved girlfriend.

And even though they joined forces to defeat the evil Circuit Fae who harnessed the killing magic in technology to take over the school…that was so last year.

Now, Syl’s touch could mean Rouen’s death. Her increasing power is spiraling out of control, threatening to burn down everything she and Rouen have built together.

Their lives, their love, their very world.

Cover Review:

The cover of Ouroboros is as gorgeous as the other two books in the series. 

Book Review: 

Ouroboros is the second book in the Circuit Fae series and it's just as awesome as book one. Maybe even more.

I love how much Syl's character has developed over the two books. She's turned into a warrior, from an introvert, geekish girl. 

And contrastingly, Euphoria, or Rouen, has turned from the unbending, dark warrior into a sweet, beautiful soul. 

Add them both, a bit of love, and a whole lot of fantasy filled adventure, and you have Ouroboros. 

The story kept me hooked till the very last page, the thrill and suspense being perfect. There was just the right amount of sweetness and sarcasm to make the narration perfect. 

All in all, Ouroboros was a fun filled, fantastical roller coaster ride, and I'm super excited for the book three! 

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You can read my review of the previous two books in the series here:

Book 1: Moribund ($0.99 only!)

Book 1.5: Derailed.

Review: Hers To Save

Author: Michelle Connor.

Genre: Fantasy.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

A captivating new YA medieval fantasy, perfect for adults or teens.
When Aveline is betrothed to the Lord of her Village, it starts a journey that will take her far from home and everything she has ever known.

Embark on a coming of age saga with Aveline who befriends a creature she's only encountered in fairytales. He's twice her height and covered in silver scales.

Their journey will lead them into a battle they had no idea was being fought.

Can Aveline find her courage to play her part as a King's madness spreads across the land?

Cover Review:

The cover is dark and spooky. I like it! 

Book Review:

It's been a while since I've read a fantasy novel of this kind. Recently, all the fantasy books I've read focused on witches, faeries, Nephilim, you know what I mean, right?

This old-ish dragon fantasy was a good change, though I couldn't connect with the characters all that well. I felt bad for Aveline, but I didn't really feel her. 

My favorite character is without doubt the dragon, Aeolius. His dialogues were far and few, but he still had a definite personality and I loved that about him.

My favorite moment on the other hand is when Herveus gets injured and dreams about his sister. That was a heartbreaking moment and it gave me an insight into his complicated personality.

To sum it up, Hers To Save was an okay read. 

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Review: Testimony Of The Blessed

Author: K.G. Reuss.

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫♥️

Blurb:

blessed: (bles-id) adj. consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified

I am not the girl they think I am.

They think I’m perfect. Good student. Nice, quiet girl. Helps the homeless. Follows the rules. I’ve spent my life being perfect, at least in the eyes of my friends. What they don’t know is, I have a secret. One that gnaws at me, tearing me apart bit by bit.

Just when I think I’m ready to crumble, he comes into my life. Brax Shepherd, the man of my dreams. The man who can take all my pain away with just a whisper in my ear.

But Brax has secrets too. Secrets that could end me if I let them.

Surrounded by sin, greed, and the faith I desperately cling to, I must decide which path I will take. One thing is for certain, I’m in love with the devil and would do anything to save him. Even die for him.

I’m not who they think I am. Sometimes I feel more cursed than blessed. He thinks he’s damned. But he’s my blessing in disguise. This is my Testimony of the Blessed.

Testimony of the Blessed is book 1.5 in the Emissary of the Devil series. It’s told from Maggie’s point of view. Delve deeper into the heart of the story by hearing Maggie’s recount of the beginning. Learn all the secrets she keeps hidden—even the secrets she doesn’t tell Brax.

Cover Review:

I know just how much trouble the author had to deal with in regards to this cover, and I love how beautiful it has turned out to be! 

Book Review:

Testimony of The Blessed is the second book in the Emissary of The Devil series. 

Even though this book is the retelling of Damned from Maggie's perspective, the content is totally different. And that's why I loved it so much. 

In Blessed, we get to know more about Maggie. We get to experience firsthand all the awful things she does through. And with her, I fell in love with Brax all over again. (Oh, by the way! The author did an exclusive on Anky's Book Bubble about the story behind the creation of Brax! You should definitely check it out here.)

Another character that played an important role in Blessed was Corbin Black. In the first book, all we saw was the dark side of him, but in this one, we get to see a better side of him too. I like to think that this was his chance at redemption. 

You'll probably have to read the books to know what I'm talking about, and you most definitely should. There's so much more to this story than fluff and romance. 

Even though the ending of this book is pretty much the same as Damned, I cried at both of them—and I'm most definitely not ashamed to say it. 

Testimony of The Blessed is the kind of book that warms your heart, makes you fall in love, and then shatters your heart into a million pieces. 

I can't wait to read Gospel of The Divine, the next book in the series. I. Can't. Wait. 

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Review: Unicorn Tracks

Author: Julia Embers.

Genre: Fantasy, LGBT.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumelo’s successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnemba’s tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her.

Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.

Cover Review:

The cover is so colorfully eye-catching! It's what made me borrow this book and I'm glad I did!

Book Review:

Unicorn Tracks was a cute, albeit short read. 

The characters were sweet, the setting was beautiful and the animals only added to the flair. 

I love how casually the fantasy elements were merged into the scenes. Like how normal it was to spot a mermaid, or a unicorn! 

The adventure itself was well written and an enjoyable ride. 

I wish the story had gone on longer, because I'd have loved to read more of Mnemba and Kara. 

All in all, Unicorn Tracks was colorful, beautiful and a super sweet read!

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Splash

Author: M.E. Rhines.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult.

Blurb:

Fawna is happy with the new life she has made for herself on land. She has her child and her youngest sister Pauline by her side—plus an amazing new human boyfriend named Randy. So when an old friend from Atargatis shows up, she immediately feels the weight of everything she stands to lose. But the news can’t be ignored – there’s been an attack on their kingdom; her aunt Myrtle is dead and her mother is missing. Angelique, their middle sister, is now ruling a kingdom to the north, leaving Fawna as the only royal left to help save Atargatis. Torn between responsibilities in two different worlds, the decision is made for her when the powerful sea witch who attacked the kingdom also takes Fawna’s son. Now she has no choice—to save her life on dry land, she’ll have to dive back into the ocean…

The final installment in the beloved Mermaid Royalty series, Splash is a heart-pounding fantasy romance that will have you feeling like you need to come up for air!

Excerpt:

”And if you’d acted before you did, defied your mother and refused her order to kill him, do you believe you could’ve won?”

“Honestly?  I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter.  For all we know we could’ve stopped it long before Gene.  Aunt Margaret just kept telling us to be patient, that the catalyst would show itself.  We rallied against my mother more because Pauline was in danger, not so much because of Eddie.  To me, that was the ultimate incentive to proceed. Seeing her in danger was the reason we stood so strong together.”

“Maybe your aunt knew a human wasn’t a strong enough reason to fight such an epic war.  I mean, you might’ve rallied behind Gene, but could you say the others in your resistance would?  With everything Gilcrest has told you, you’ve got magic in you, Fawna. You stood a chance against your mother.  Your aunt probably knew that.”

“You may be right, but it doesn’t matter.  I’ve committed some terrible atrocities.”

“Because you were scared!  You didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t even here and I can see that.”  He clanged his knuckles against the cast iron frame of the cauldron.

“You said you wanted to give this old heirloom a second chance, an opportunity to be used for good.  Why can’t you give yourself that chance? Cut yourself a break.”

A smile cracked on my lips, and I shook my head in exasperation.

“Why is it you always insist on seeing the good in me, even now when there’s none to be found?”

“There’s plenty of good in you, Fawna.  If there wasn’t, you wouldn’t be so ready to risk your soul to rescue the ones you love the most.”

“There’s no talking any sense into you, is there?”  I wrapped my arms around his torso, using his weight to anchor myself in place.

“Not a chance,” he grinned, planting a sweet kiss on my cheek.  “I’m not going anywhere. It’s like I said before, Queen, my heart is yours and only yours.  The sea is in my blood, always has been. Now I know why. I was meant for this life, down here with you and Sebastian.  Don’t take it away from me because of a past you can’t outrun.”

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About The Author:

M.E. Rhines a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child whom she affectionately calls husband.

She writes young adult paranormal romance to feed her belief that fairy tales are real and
nonsense is necessary.

You can visit her on most major social media sites:

Facebook.Twitter.

Website.

Goodreads.

She also writes adult romances under her edgier alter-ego, Mary Bernsen.

Giveaway:

Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box (Intl winner would get eBook prizes) (Ends June 21st)

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Review: Duty Bound

Author: Christina Bauer.

Genre: Fantasy 

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

As the High Prince of the demon-fighting thrax, Lincoln knows he must marry for political gain. Not that he minds. For all of his eighteen years, Lincoln’s been bound to his duty. Fighting demons is his life, and he’s never given romance a second thought. Instead, the High Prince lives for the days when he leaves his hidden realm to fight demons on Earth.

Then, everything changes.

Lincoln and his nobles become forced to visit Purgatory, the home of quasi-demons (who are mostly human with a bit of demonic DNA). Here Lincoln spies Myla Lewis, a lady warrior who enflames his heart, ignites his interest, and inspires his respect. Trouble is, Myla’s also a quasi. By thrax law, Lincoln must kill anything demonic—not date them. For the first time in his life, Lincoln wonders if he’ll follow his duty…or heed the demands of his heart.

Cover Review:

The cover is interesting, because of that weirdly awesome tail, to be honest! Though I wish the title was written in bigger fonts than the series' name. 

Book Review:

Dutybound is a prequel Novella to the Angelbound series, which I haven't had a chance to read yet. 

So despite the fact that I knew nothing about this story, the Novella proved to be an absolutely entertaining read. 

My favorite thing is that none of it was confusing in the slightest. At times, when I read a prequel to a book, it has some references to the original book one which makes it confusing for the people who haven't read the book yet. 

Thankfully, that didn't happen here. 

I liked Lincoln, but my favorite character was the Earl of Striga. Though he doesn't have much of a role in this novella, I am pretty sure he'll play a major role in Angelbound.

All in all, Dutybound was a fun, short read and I'm looking forward to reading the book one. After all, who doesn't love a badass warrior heroine?

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Review: Deadly Sweet

Author: Lola Dodge.

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spellbooks in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Too bad no one wants witchcraft on their campus. Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with rejection letter after rejection letter.

Desperate to escape her dead-end future, Anise contacts the long-lost relative she’s not supposed to know about. Great Aunt Agatha owns the only magic bakery in the US, and she suddenly needs a new apprentice. Anise is so excited she books it to New Mexico without thinking to ask what happened to the last girl.

The Spellwork Syndicate rules the local witches in Taos, but as “accidents” turn into full-out attacks on Anise’s life, their promises to keep her safe are less and less reassuring. Her cranky bodyguard is doing his best, but it’s hard to fight back when she has no idea who’s the enemy. Or why she became their target.

If Anise can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brûlée.

Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?

Cover Review:

The cover is beautiful and to be quite honest, delicious! Something I'd definitely display on my shelf with pride!

Book Review:

I started reading this book before my exams, and continued it after they were done. So my memory of the beginning is a little hazy. (Mind it, the gap was around a whole month) But I do remember feeling bored at the very beginning. But then there was all the action and the fire and I was totally wow-ed. 

Anise was an awesome character and watching her develop from the girl who never took risks into the girl who ultimately became the heroine was amazing. 

And Wynn, the silent protector. What can I say about him? My favourite moment was when he finally lets his guard down for just the tiniest second to smile in appreciation of the pie Anise made to thank him. 

Even more favourite was the fact that there was no romance between them. At least not in this one. But I'm hoping it'll be there in the next book, so yeah I just contradicted myself. 

Anyway, Deadly Sweet was a killer, full of action, sarcasm and witty remarks that made me giggle. 

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Review: A Spell In The Country

Authors: Heide Goody & Iain Grant.

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

Dee is a Good Witch but she wonders if she could be a better witch.
She wonders if there’s more to life than Disney movie marathons, eating a whole box of chocolates for dinner and brewing up potions in her bathtub. So when she’s offered a chance to go on a personal development course in the English countryside, she packs her bags, says goodbye to the Shelter for Unloved Animals charity shop and sets a course for self-improvement.

Caroline isn’t just a Good Witch, she’s a fricking awesome witch.
She likes to find the easy path through life: what her good looks can’t get for her, a few magic charms can. But she’s bored of being a waitress and needs something different in her life. So when a one night stand offers her a place on an all-expenses-paid residential course in a big old country house, she figures she’s got nothing to lose.

Jenny is a Wicked Witch. She just wishes she wasn’t.
On her fifteenth birthday, she got her first wart, her own imp and a Celine Dion CD. She still has the imp. She also has a barely controllable urge to eat human children which is socially awkward to say the least and not made any easier when a teenager on the run turns to her for help. With gangsters and bent cops on their trail, Jenny needs to find a place outside the city where they can lay low for a while.

For very different reasons, three very different witches end up on the same training course and land in a whole lot of trouble when they discover that there’s a reason why their free country break sounds too good to be true. Foul-mouthed imps, wererats, naked gardeners, tree monsters, ghosts and stampeding donkeys abound in a tale about discovering your inner witch.

Cover Review:

The cover is simple and childish, not something I'd usually pick, but the novel itself is way awesome and I'm glad I did read it!

Book Review:

Hilarious. Entertaining. Full of Action. Absolutely funny. These are the words I'd use to describe this book.

Right from the start, A Spell In The Country has been nothing but a roller coaster ride of jokes, hilarious one liners and heart touching moments. 

What do you get when you gather up a bunch of different kinds of witches and make them befriend each other? You get stomach cramps from too much laughing, and you get aching cheeks because of too much grinning! 

I read this book a couple of days before my final exams, and trust me, this is exactly what I needed. A good laugh is the best before-exam therapy, and I got that from reading this book.

I'm unable to choose a favorite character because all of them were so awesome in their own ways. 

I can go on and on about this book because I loved it so much, but I also need to study so I don't fail. (shivers!) 

So I'll take a leave now, and do get your hands on a copy of A Spell In The Country soon because no one should miss out on this one! In Zoffner's words, this book is fab and groovy!

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