Amare Bellamy is not a witch. Orphaned as a child and raised on a ship by the most dangerous men in the Caribbean, Amare is one thing and one thing alone: a pirate. And pirates hate magic.
After a fateful storm plunges her to the depths of the ocean, Amare wakes to find herself in a strange new world: an underwater kingdom, where magic exists, but is strictly outlawed by the King—a man who claims to be her true father.
As Amare struggles to fit into her new role as Princess of the Sunken City, she finds herself tangled in a web of love between two brothers—one good, one not so good. And as strange powers manifest within her, she must question everything she was raised to believe—especially if she has any hope of stopping the evil brewing at the bottom of the ocean.
After a personal loss in December, I’ve thrown myself more into books, but the desire to review has been pretty nonexistent. I’m hoping to change that soon–we’ll see though. So here’s a list of some of the books I’ve read and liked/loved lately.
I’m still reading through this series, but so far I’m really enjoying every book so far. Fun. Romantic. I wish the male lead in this one would steal me.
THE STOLEN KINGDOM (THE STOLEN KINGDOM #1) – BETHANY ATAZADEH
I’ve owned this one for a long time, but I finally read and enjoyed it quite a bit. I’ll be reading the other books in this series soon, hopefully. Great & unique spin on certain fairy tales. Book two sounds fun.
In 1977 Voyager was sent out into the darkness of space. In 2057, with humanity on the brink of extinction, ET answers the call.
THEY PROMISED TO SAVE US.
Jersey and a group of teens must prove humanity’s worth on an alien game reserve populated with the deadliest dinosaurs in Earth’s history. The prize? Alien technology that will wipe out famine, disease and war.
THEY LIED.
Events take a sinister turn when Jersey finds a human skeleton on a planet no human has ever visited before.
THE EXTINCTION GAMES is an exciting novel with a sprinkling of humour and pathos, exploring themes of friendship, the human condition, and whether our memories make us who we are.
Jersey is humanity’s last roll of the dice, but can she survive The Extinction Games?
War breaks out on Muiria between the kingdoms of Partha and Zeiglon. The wood elves send Prince Aedith and a delegation to the Emperor Zachary, but the mission fails and the emperor, armed with the evil Staff of Adois, pushes forward in a full-scale attack.
The Young wizard, Celedant and his bonded dragon, Azimuth set out on a mission to unite the dwarvan clans against the growing threat as the first small step in a grander plan.
The Staff of Adaman, an instrument of good, is miraculously brought into play, but with devastating results. A titan clash with the evil Staff of Adois brings about a conflagration that soon threatens to destroy all.
When Zachary’s angry goddess, Adois, decides to end her protection of him and punish him with an eternal fate far worse than death, Celedant and his warriors suddenly find a path to turn the day to victory.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
KM Tedrick is a writer and ghostwriter in the fantasy, science fiction, adventure, Christian, and young adult genres with one book that was made into a movie, and over sixteen books published.
Author Steve Stephenson an admitted bibliophile collects rare fantasy and science fiction media. He obtained a B.A. in history and an M.A. in Library Science. He has written four books including the War of the Staffs trilogy.
I’m always browsing for new (or new to me) books to read, especially those in the KU program. Here is a list of some upcoming books for 2022 (release dates may change).
In Cursed Shadow by Clara Sutton – January 8, 2022
Rowan loves her life in the small town of Chillery, or she would if children weren’t going missing every few nights. When Rowan has what she thinks is a chance to stop the disappearances, she takes it. But she fails and brings the wrath of a powerful witch down upon her family in the process. The witch curses her family and her heroic act has only made things worse.
Now to undo what she has done she must team up with Bather Bane, a hot-headed dragon with little love left in his heart for humanity and a curse of his own.
Will their adventure to find a witchkiller bring about the end of both their curses, or will Rowan be damned to lose everything she loves?
The first book in a new series of YA fantasies by Clara Sutton, In Cursed Shadow is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas, and Holly Black, among others.
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Wave Dancer (Fairytale Hour #3) by Aelth Faye – January 14, 2022
This little mermaid is determined to secure an alliance to protect her people at all costs. But how will she navigate a world of lander girls without being able to speak while catching and keeping the attention of the prince all without her voice? Don’t miss this new take on the original “Little Mermaid” tale by Hans Christian Anderson. ~
The only way to beat death is to chase it. ⠀ Newly crowned, Red blames one person for his father’s murder: the secret sorceress sworn to protect the king. ⠀ Alyana Barron, Royal Sorcerer to the throne of Tandera, fears her magic is weakening. ⠀ When Red is cursed, his life entwines with Aly’s in ways neither of them expected. Together, they chase after a cure that will heal the king and restore her magic, but the closer they get to a cure, the nearer they step toward death, for the path to the cure is as dangerous as the curse itself. ⠀ Blade of Ash is the first in a new, epic YA fantasy series perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance packed full of royal intrigue, legends, and plenty of ballgowns. If you like female bodyguards and forced proximity with life-and-death stakes… this story is for you!
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The Oasis Trials by Tamar Sloan & Heidi Catherine – May 27, 2022
Three tests to prove your worth. Two teens with everything to lose. One chance to escape.
In a world ravaged by global warming, an eccentric tycoon plans to sail away and start again. He’s decided to take one hundred young lives with him…if they pass a series of tests.
Fyve’s grown up in the poverty and violence molded by environmental and economic collapse. Passing is his only ticket to escape a life of starvation and struggle.
Halo has trained all her life for the tests. It’s an advantage that makes her certain she’ll pass. Until she uncovers a secret that could undermine the entire promise of salvation.
As the fight to leave becomes the fight to survive, as passing the tests means leaving behind everything and everyone they love, Fyve and Halo are about to discover that being chosen comes at a price.
From the best-selling authors of The Thaw Chronicles, get ready to be blown away by a breathtaking new series for lovers of Divergent and The Hunger Games.
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Roses and Cream by M.J. Marstens – September 30, 2022
To survive in this world, I must remain invisible.
The Cream Empress is dead, and a new selection begins. One girl from each of the six faery courts—the crème de la crème—will fight in a series of trials to become the new ruler.
Until the day I’m forced to step out of the shadows.
Elowynne Grim is chosen, except she’s far from being an elitist in this realm. The nineteen-year-old is one of the shadow court’s darkest secrets, but no one can defy the selection.
Into the spotlight.
Now, she must fight for a throne she’s never wanted—or die. Enemies lurk around every corner and keeping her secret hidden becomes a daunting task. Will Elowynne be able to compete with the other five girls, or is Fate playing its cruelest trick yet?
Roses and Cream begins this spellbinding series full of adventure, new friendships, love, and heartbreak. Just beware of a sweet smile and generous offering—the sweeter the fairy, the darker their nature.
They are whispered around dying campfires, by quiet bedsides, under deformed old trees.
They might get interrupted by the howling wind, inaudible gasps, or nervous comments, only to be continued fervently once the dust settles again.
Why did the girl visit the eerie village? What did the gypsy’s words mean? Can the discovery of a new flower change the world?
Stories are supposed to end but they never do.
They leave you wondering and longing for more. They live on in your mind, in corners with cobwebs and memories you’ve been suppressing, in recurring daydreams you have while waiting in long lines. They fester and thrive there. They spiral and soar. You wish they would die but they cannot anymore.
Once you blow breath into a story, it instantly becomes yours…
Abducted during a devastating ambush, Clare is now the captive of ruthless mercenaries. Dragged through the wilderness while grieving heart-rending loss, she must maintain the illusion that she is the princess. Because if she lets the mask slip, even for a moment, the Mortisians will have no reason to keep her alive.
After arresting traitors close to the crown, Desfan fights to rebuild his court, knowing that the imminent arrival of the Devendran princess will further upset the precarious balance in Mortise. But Desfan’s world is rocked when he discovers a rumor that rewrites the most devastating event in his life. He will stop at nothing to find the truth–no matter where it leads.
As Grayson struggles to find his footing in Mortise, he discovers new friends and enemies. His life is further complicated by the tenuous alliance with his spymaster brother. With secrets deepening around him, Grayson must decide where his loyalties truly lie. Through it all, his heart remains in Ryden with Mia. Unfortunately, his love for her is no secret, and the Black Hand is a coveted weapon . . .
Eyrinthia holds its breath as allies and enemies collide. Secrets. Lies. Betrayals. Nothing will be the same.
Astrophysics Professor Arthur Kane Davis survived a mysterious war, way before the Prehistoric era, only to brew plans in the present era to face the upcoming war once again. At the same time, Shawn Hammer, Grisha Hathaway, and Ravin Bhan encountered their respective hardships in different locations, just to unite together at a certain point where their paths were deemed to be crossed together. This convergence that they thought was a coincidence didn’t turn out to be so.
The trio learnt several theories and notions about their specialty that they thought didn’t exist or had no check with the reality. With the indulgence of Davis and other folks of their kind, the mystery began to unfold when they realized how large the picture was—they were the immediate descendants of the stars!
Imagine, if the stars would have life, then so they would have immense powers—the powers that have kept them alive for aeons; the powers that sometimes destroyed extraterrestrials and created chaos in the universe, because the universe was divided between good and evil stars. But then…did the descendants know everything? Have they entirely understood the notions and the origin of their specialties and powers? Would they be able to adjust, or fate would be revamped upon some anomalies? And lastly…was it just about saving the universe from the evil stars or some conspiracy lied within the structure?
In order to seek these answers, they’ll have to encounter multiple revelations…only to embrace the grandest revelation of all time.
The city is dying. This little girl is its only hope.
Twelve-year-old Miss Rags is a goddess: As a hybrid of the world’s two sapient species, she has the power to grant her worshipers visions of God. But she is destined to die before her sixteenth birthday.
Now transformed into a living weapon by her mad-scientist pediatrician, she stalks the crime-ridden streets of the decaying temple city, determined to punish the wicked in the time she has left.
When Rags gets word that a pimp and drug pusher on the city’s south end has bought a young girl from the slave market, she stages a rescue with the help of a few close friends and her alcoholic, carjacking dog. But Southside is a powder keg: The grudges between rival gangs are about to explode into open war, and the site of the planned rescue is the epicenter.
Rags just wanted to save a life. Now she’ll have to fight to keep herself and her friends alive.
Isaac attends a church school where pastors sacrifice dragons and use their magic to enslave the world. The last thing his father left him with before shipping him off was a notebook depicting pastors who lived in peace with the creatures. Yet, because of the world he sees around him, Isaac throws the notebook away and chooses to follow the Lord.
In Isaac’s Blessing, three rogue students escape from the church of St. Daemonus while the horror surrounding them becomes more than just deceit. They discover the truth about the Lord and first-era and are tasked with stopping the ultimate draconic sacrifice.
Indie Fantasy Review 