Review: Power Born (Maid of Iron #1) by Aya Ling

Review: Power Born (Maid of Iron #1) by Aya Ling

Published November 18th 2020
322 pages
Amazon|Goodreads

She was supposed to be gifted with unparalleled beauty.

Instead, she was given superhuman strength.

Chiara and her twin brother each received a blessing at birth. Thanks to a mistake, she was saddled with extraordinary strength. Certain that men couldn’t desire a girl who could lift a horse with one hand, she vowed to keep her power a secret. As a petite girl, she had no problem appearing to be ordinary. But when bandits start terrorizing her town and a handsome stranger accidentally learns of her secret, Chiara finds herself facing the very crisis she’s been trying to avoid.

Aya Ling remains one of my favorite authors.

Her writing is both imaginative and fun. She takes typical fantasy tropes and ideas, making them feel completely new every time she puts words to page. I hope the wait isn’t long for the next book because I need to see what happens next for Chiara and the prince.

Perfect new series for fantasy fans young and old alike.

Book Review: Crown of Shadows (Court of Midnight and Deception #1) by K.M. Shea

Book Review: Crown of Shadows (Court of Midnight and Deception #1) by K.M. Shea

Amazon|Goodeads
Published November 20th 2020
359 pages

The fae of the Night Court are desperately searching for a new monarch to crown before the Court collapses.

I couldn’t care less.

I’ve done everything I can to bury my fae blood and embrace my human half. That changes when some fae nobles show up on my doorstep and announce that I’m the next Queen of the Night Court.

Becoming an unwilling fae queen? Check. Inheriting a terrible mess? Double check.

The Court is almost bankrupt, my citizens’ favorite hobby is backstabbing one another, and I don’t know who I can trust since someone keeps trying to assassinate me.

Speaking of assassins, I get introduced to the best in the business—a fae lord nicknamed the Wraith. His deadly profession means he fears no one. The only reason he doesn’t kill me on the spot is he’s also a member of the Night Court and the Court’s magic protects me. But that doesn’t prevent him from trading verbal barbs with me whenever we meet.

And if cat herding all these uncooperative fae and chatting with assassins wasn’t enough, I’m required to get married as part of some archaic Court law. This “queen” gig is the worst!

Supposedly I can choose anyone to marry, but with all the infighting I need someone who is neutral and won’t provoke more political power struggles.

So, why do I keep thinking of a certain assassin?

K.M. Shea has a special place in my heart and I will always be there for her new releases because I know she’ll have something worthwhile waiting for me.

Crown of Shadows is set in the same universe as the Hall of Blood and Mercy trilogy and I am so overjoyed that it is because there are limitless stories Shea can write within its boundaries. As much as I am the biggest simp for vampires, I think I’m going to love this series more. I’m counting down to the next book–which isn’t far away now.

Self-Promo – Denial: Post-Election Free Verse Poetry from the Ramblings of Trump Supporters and General Update

Self-Promo – Denial: Post-Election Free Verse Poetry from the Ramblings of Trump Supporters and General Update

Hi, everyone. *waves* This is different from the regular blog content. I apologize for that in advance. Today, I wanted to share a silly little book I’ve recently made.

Y’know about free verse poetry? Well, this is what the book is about—a collection of things Trump supporters have been saying since he lost the election but arranged like *~*poetry*~* It’s humorous to me, maybe I have a bad sense of humor though.

Before anyone gets mad, I think even republicans might find it a teensy bit amusing. Maybe not Facebook aunties (shhh).

Listen, I have cats to feed. They’re very particular.

Eventually, I’ll have my vampire book out–but gag poetry will have to work for now.

Available in ebook format for 99c and paperback for $6 (I’ll update this post when I receive my copy). Free with Kindle Unlimited.

The election may be over but the arguments and disagreements are not. Here is a collection of things Trump supporters have been saying presented in a free style poetry format. It’s a perfect, but a little too amusing, example of how some Americans are feeling at present time.

Great gag gift for Democrats (come on, a dramatic reading would be so fun) but might anger (or amuse, who knows?) your Republican folks. It might even be something you can show your grandchildren someday when asked about 2020 politics.

General Update Notes:

I’m trying to catch up on my reading, so expect some new reviews soon. Two for-review books are on my list right now. I’m still open for book spotlights, release day posts, etc. I don’t have anything scheduled as far as I can remember as of this posting. If I missed something from you, such as a request, you can always resend.

Spotlight: Secret Mage (The Blood Magic Series Book 1) by Rebecca Jaycox

Spotlight: Secret Mage (The Blood Magic Series Book 1) by Rebecca Jaycox

340 pages
Published June 9, 2020
Completed trilogy
Goodreads
Purchase


Some secrets are too deadly to keep, some bloodlines too powerful to contain …

Reggie Lang might only be seventeen, but she’s had to grow up fast. Losing a father as a baby made things hard enough, but when her mom turned to alcohol for refuge, Reggie had to hold things together. She still does. If only she could escape it all …

When the other kids at school start calling her a freak, things only get tougher. What’s worse, she worries they’re right. Reggie shouldn’t be able to bring dead creatures back to life but somehow she can? If it wasn’t for her ride-or-die best friend, she’d have completely lost it by now.

When a mysterious man invades Reggie’s dreams, is it just another sign that she’s falling apart? He claims he’s her guardian – that he’s from another world. He tells her that her father’s killer is there …

… and that now an evil mage is gunning for her, destroying anything in his way.

Reggie’s always wanted to escape her life, but not like this. Does she really have to run to protect the people she loves? Who will take care of her mom? The man in her dreams says he’ll teach her about magic and protect her. That he’ll send someone he trusts to collect her. That her blood makes her powerful. It’s a hard choice, but ultimately protecting her mom is worth anything.

The magic-saturated world she discovers might be full of wonders, but the horrors are worse than she could have imagined. Can the man sent to guide her really protect her, or is the sign of his slavery an omen of what will happen to her?

Reggie will be pushed to her limits as she attempts her treacherous journey, struggling to adapt to a strange new world and learning to wield her powers. The Dark Mage isn’t easily evaded. He rules this world with a bloody fist. Because it’s blood he’s after—Reggie’s blood. And avoiding capture might just be the toughest thing Reggie has ever faced.

About the Author

Rebecca Jaycox grew up in the tiny town of Berryman, which borders the Mark Twain National Forest and the Courtois River about 70 miles south of St. Louis. The beautiful landscape fed her imagination, and she began writing stories at age 10 and never stopped. Always seeking adventure, Rebecca moved to France after she graduated college with a journalism degree to teach English at a French high school. Bitten by the travel bug, she has recently visited Italy, Greece, Austria, Spain, and finally made it to her bucket-list destination of Istanbul last summer. Rebecca now lives in New York City with her husband, Gregory. She is the curator and program director of the YA Lit Series at the 92nd Street Y—one of New York’s premier cultural centers. She enjoys reading and writing fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction. The Other Inheritance is her first novel.