Month: December 2019

Spotlight: The Other Magic by Derrick Smythe

Spotlight: The Other Magic by Derrick Smythe

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Title: The Other Magic (Passage to Dawn #1)
Author: Derrick Smythe
Pub Date: December 1st 2019
Pages: 635
Amazon|Goodreads

Darkness stirs in a world that is ill-equipped to confront it. A prophesied king is born, but not all will benefit from his foretold conquests.

In a realm where only clerics are permitted to practice magic, Kibure, a mere slave, draws the attention of much more than just his master after wielding an unknown force in a moment of desperation. In a twist of fate, Sindri, the priestess hired to strip Kibure of his power, defies the law, revealing designs of her own. But trust is in short supply in a land ripe with deceit. This wayward pair will have to work together if they hope to evade capture at the hands of the Empire’s most potent wielders.

Halfway around the known world, Prince Aynward’s knack for discovering trouble drives him deep into conspiracies within which he does not belong. Too arrogant to accept counsel, he will have to learn the hard way that some actions have consequences that cannot be undone…

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About the Author

Derrick resides near his hometown in Upstate New York with his wife, two daughters, and their dog, Magnus. When he is not working on his next novel, he enjoys finding any and all reasons to be outdoors. Listening to audiobooks while seated upon the throne of his riding lawn mower is a favorite and when the snow falls, Derrick eagerly transitions to snow-blowing his driveway with the same dual-purpose in mind.

Derrick’s debut novel, The Other Magic, is the first installment of his Passage to Dawn series, an epic fantasy set in the World of Doréa.

Find out more about Derrick and his work on his website.

Review: Love is a Royal Pain by Ava S. Quill

Review: Love is a Royal Pain by Ava S. Quill

by Christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Title: Love is a Royal Pain
Author: Ava S. Quill
Pub Date: December 5th 2019
Amazon|Goodreads

Brilliant and driven Abighail has her sights set on becoming the first female physician in her country. As the only female student in her medical school, she already has her hands full, but as a senator’s daughter, she is still expected to make an excellent match. Wasting no time on worrying about her “happily ever after,” Abighail becomes engaged as quickly as possible—ambitions first, love later—and travels to Bettonia in pursuit of a perfect apprenticeship before her wedding.

Studying with the best of the best and residing with the Royals sounds like a fairy tale until Abighail meets Finn, Bettonia’s Crown Prince, who hates the distraction she provides and mocks her at every turn. But when a rash decision brings them both to face Finn’s dark past, Abighail is forced to recognize there’s more under his brooding mask than meets the eye and that she might be available for love after all. At least she would be if she wasn’t bound by honor to keep a previously convenient engagement that has become a burden instead.

Do you love reading sweet romances with handsome princes and lovable, intelligent heroines?

This book is for you.

A standalone sequel to Love is a Wistful Song, Love is a Royal Pain is a fun, warm-your-insides feelgood story for the romantic at heart.

I’ve been wanting to read something like this for a while and now I’ve finally found it with Ava S. Quill’s engaging writing style. I haven’t read Love is a Wistful Song, but I fully intend to grab a copy. I’m a new fan of her work.

I enjoyed the plot and the characters, especially Prince Finn and Abighail. I also really liked the cultures the author created. It was so nicely done.