Tag: fantasy

BBNYA Finalist Spotlight: Oil and Dust by Jami Fairleigh

kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

Today on the blog, I have a spotlight for our 12th place finisher in last year’s Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA)! Oil and Dust by Jami Fairleigh is post-apocalyptic fantasy that sounds incredible! I didn’t get a chance to read it as a panelist, but I’ve definitely added it to my TBR. Before I tell you more about the book, though, let me tell you more about BBNYA.

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.  If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Now, let’s get to today’s spotlight!

  • Title: Oil and Dust
  • Author: Jami Fairleigh
  • Publication date: September 1st, 2021
  • Publisher: Kitsune Publishing
  • Length: 510 pages
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Age group: Adult

Book Links

Bookshop::TBD::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads

Read More »
Advertisement

WWW Wednesday: Mar 1, 2023

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

  • Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano: The third book in the Finlay Donovan series is proving to be just as fun as the first two. Fun, but also really pushing that suspension of disbelief, ya know? I can feel myself growing bored with this concept of a suburban mom tangling with the Russian mob and, somehow, not being brutally murdered. I mean, I’m not done with the book so who knows but I get the feeling her pluck and terrible decisions will carry her through. It was fine in the first book but, as the stakes get higher, it gets a lot more eye-roll inducing 😅
  • Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie: I’m back on my Poirot journey! I found the next three books in the series at the library and it felt like a sign. I’m almost halfway through the book and, beyond a brief appearance at the very beginning, Poirot hasn’t even shown up yet! We’re getting a lot of build up to the murder that really feels like justification for the murder, haha. Still, I’m intrigued to see where this goes, as in who eventually murders Mrs. Boynton and how Poirot will figure it out.
Read More »

ARC Review: Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Title: Heart of the Sun Warrior

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: Young Adult

Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, blood, death, child death, grief

Rating: ★★★★

Book Links: Bookshop::TBD::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis

After her perilous quest to free her mother, Xingyin thrives once more in the tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a treacherous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation–to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love… even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin–the daughter of Chang’e and the mortal archer, Houyi–as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.

Read More »

BBNYA 2022 Finalist Tour: Haven by Ceril N. Domace

kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another blog tour for one of the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2022 finalists! Today, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on a fast-paced fantasy that is all about the fae: Haven by Ceril N. Domace! This was our 13th place finisher last year and I can see why!

But, before I go on, let me tell you more about this award. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.  If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

And, now, let me tell you more about this book!

  • Title: Haven
  • Author: Ceril N. Domace
  • Publisher: Self-published
  • Publication date: April 30th, 2021
  • Genre: Fantasy, Science Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy
  • Age group: Adult
  • Content/Trigger Warnings: Death of a parent, death of a child, grief, war, prejudice, violence, blood

Book Links

Bookshop::TBD::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads

Most people think the fae are gone. Most people are wrong.

Owen Williams wakes after a horrific car accident to find his wife is dead—and somehow turned into a gryphon—and his kids gone after a home invasion turned horribly wrong. Shattered and reeling, he vows to do whatever it takes to find them.

When a fae scout appears and promises to reunite him with his kids, he doesn’t hesitate before joining her. But she warns him that if he wants to protect his family, he must follow the fae to their city, the hidden haven of Tearmann.

With enemies on the horizon, Owen needs to set aside his fears and take up arms to defend their new home alongside the people he’s always been taught were monsters—or he’ll lose everyone he’s trying to protect

Read More »

#5OnMyTBR – Title Starting With F

kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook where you chose five books from your to-be-read pile that fit that week’s theme. If you’d like more info, head over to the announcement post!

Hello, reader!

Happy Presidents Day for those of you in the United States! Or, if you’re lucky enough to have the day off, happy long weekend, haha. I took the week off because I honestly needed a break and I wanted some time to hang out with my kiddos. I’m looking forward to a week of lounging and chilling with the family! Right now, though, it’s time for another 5 On My TBR. This week, I’ll be talking about five books on my TBR that have titles that start with ‘F’. Which was a lot harder to find than I thought it was going to be! The ones I picked, though, are five that I’m eager to read soon.

With that said, let’s get to the list!

#1. Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade

When I first heard about this book, I knew I was going to want to read it. It follows the best friend of the Chosen One, who thinks this whole ‘save-the-world’ stuff is overrated. That sounds like such a fun concept! I’ve heard mixed reviews about the book since it was released, but it’s still high up on my radar. I’m hoping I fall on the side of loving it!

#2. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

I’ve been meaning to read this book since it was released! This book about a trans boy who is being blackmailed while simultaneously falling in love sounds like it would be such an incredible read. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, as well! It seems like it would be a great read about settling into one’s skin and finding out how to love yourself. Plus the cover is 🔥

Read More »

Cover Reveal: Fight For Freedom by Marisa Noelle

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

Today on the blog, as the title suggests, I have a beautiful cover to share with you! This is the third book in The Mermaid Chronicles, a fantasy series that I haven’t read, but sounds very intriguing. So I was happy to jump on this cover reveal hosted by The Write Reads!

Before I show off the newest cover in this series, though, let me share more details about the book.

  • Book Title: Fight For Freedom
  • Series: The Mermaid Chronicles #3
  • Author: Marisa Noelle
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Age Range: Adult
  • Pages: 290
  • Release Date: March 30th, 2023

Book Links

Amazon eBook::Signed Paperback + swag::Goodreads

Read More »

First Lines Friday #72

kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first (I cheat a little bit here *cough*)
  • Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Friday to y’all! I hope everyone has had a decent week and, if not, will be able to recover this weekend. I have to work, but the fact that the sun has decided to reappear in New England has me in a good mood. The book that I’m featuring in this week’s First Lines Friday has also put me in a good mood because I am loving it! To the point that I’m starting to ignore my other reads because I just want to lose myself in this story, haha.

The first few lines certainly captured my interest. Now let’s see if they have the same effect on you!

The Line(s):

“Reginald Gatling’s doom found him beneath an oak tree, on the last Sunday of a fast-fading summer.”

The Hints:

This historical fantasy was released in 2021.

It is the first book in a series.

Illumicrate did a stunning special edition of it that is almost too pretty to read.

The Reveal:

Read More »

BBNYA 2022 Finalist Tour: Sacrifice by Vicky Walklate

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time to kick off the blog tours for all of the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2022 finalists! I’ve been a panelist for the last three years and, I have to say, the crop of books we got in 2022 were some of the best I’ve read so far. It’s always exciting to discover new indie authors through this competition and new favorite reads!

But, before I go on, let me tell you more about this award. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.  If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

And, now, let me tell you more about the book that took 15th place last year: Sacrifice by Vicky Walklate!

  • Title: Sacrifice
  • Author: Vicky Walklate
  • Publisher: Champagne Book Group
  • Publication date: June 14th, 2021
  • Genre: Fantasy/Romance
  • Age group: Adult
  • Content/Trigger Warnings: For a list of potential content and trigger warnings, check out this book’s page on BookTriggerWarnings.com

Book Links

B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Dragon gods rule the realm, demons lurk in the shadows, and a sorcerer hides a dangerous secret. A war is brewing in Jothesia, and the gods have no idea.

Being selected as human sacrifice to the immortal dragon shifters is supposedly an honor, but rebellious Libby doesn’t see it that way. When the sacrificial ritual goes badly wrong, she finds herself in a reluctant alliance with eldest god Rhetahn. He’s grumpy, cynical, and utterly exasperating …and she can’t get him out of her head.

Rhetahn knows there’s something wrong with this sacrifice, and it’s not just her infuriating stubbornness or the way she makes his jaded heart skip a beat. When terrible misfortune befalls his brothers and renders him powerless, his only choice is to unite with Libby to seek answers.

As they set out on a dangerous quest across the realm, the compelling attraction between them is undeniable, yet doomed. To recover his magic, regain his strength, and prevent the demons from seizing power, Rhetahn needs her blood. He must kill her at the end of their journey, even if it breaks his heart to do so.

But a terrible power lies hidden in Jothesia, one that could destroy everything the gods have built. Libby and Rhetahn’s forbidden relationship may be the realm’s only hope against utter ruin.

Read More »

Top 5 Tuesday: Books by Black Authors

kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

Top 5 Tuesday is a fun, weekly meme that asks you to pick 5 books that fit that week’s theme. It was created by Bionic Bookworm and is currently being hosted by Meeghan Reads. You should check out their wonderful blog for more details and the list of prompts!

Hello, reader!

For this week’s Top 5 Tuesday, we have a freebie when it comes to the topic! And since we’re at the beginning of Black History Month here in the States, I thought I would highlight five books by Black authors that I absolutely loved. This was actually kind of tough to narrow down because I’ve loved so many books written by Black authors. All the ones I’m featuring are more contemporary, which makes me realize I really need to expand my reading when it comes to Black authors of the past. Growing up, I feel like all I was ever exposed to were books by white authors, so I missed a lot of great literature. It’s time to rectify that.

All that aside, let me share the five books I’ve decided to feature today!

#1. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

If y’all have been around my blog for any length of time, you’ll probably be well aware of my deep love for this book. I reread it three times the year it came out, which is absolutely unheard of for me! I hardly ever reread and especially not in the same year. That’s how much this fantasy book had me wrapped up in it’s magic. The worldbuilding is top notch and Tarisai remains one of my favorite characters to this day!

#2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This modern classic got me to realize that I could, in fact, enjoy a young adult contemporary novel. I’m sure this is partly the subject matter, but it was mainly Thomas’ incredible writing. She has a way of weaving a story that makes it very difficult to stop reading! I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by her, but this is by far my favorite.

Read More »

Book Review: The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Title: The Hatmakers

Author: Tamzin Merchant

Illustrator: Paola Escobar

Publisher: Norton Young Readers

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: Middle Grade

Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, blood, imprisonment, death of a parent

Rating: ★★★★

Book Links: Bookshop::TBD::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis

Cordelia comes from a long line of magical milliners, who weave alchemy and enchantment into every hat. In Cordelia’s world, Making – crafting items such as hats, cloaks, watches, boots and gloves from magical ingredients – is a rare and ancient skill, and only a few special Maker families remain.

When Cordelia’s father Prospero and his ship, the Jolly Bonnet, are lost at sea during a mission to collect hat ingredients, Cordelia is determined to find him. But Uncle Tiberius and Aunt Ariadne have no time to help the littlest Hatmaker, for an ancient rivalry between the Maker families is threatening to surface. Worse, someone seems to be using Maker magic to start a war.

It’s up to Cordelia to find out who, and why . . .

Featuring illustrations by Paola Escobar.

Read More »