Blog Tour (Book Review): The Many Shades of Midnight – C.M. Debell

Hello!

Today it is my absolute pleasure to be reviewing The Many Shades of Midnight by C. M. Debell as part of the Escapists Books blog tour, because this is a book that blew me so far out of the water that I’m still in orbit. Life has conspired against me while trying to get this post up, and the review was fighting me – because I LOVE this book so much that it’s impossible to do it justice. Definitely a favourite read of 2023, and I’ve already picked up the first of the author’s other books, because with The Many Shades of Midnight Debell has become a must read/buy author for me.

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

Isyr. Stronger, brighter, more beautiful than other metals. Once the most desirable thing in Ellasia, now it is priceless, the pure Isyrium needed to produce it mined to exhaustion. What’s left is controlled by the powerful mining syndicates, and such is the demand for their Isyrium that even kings do their bidding. Yet just as the beauty of Isyr hides a deadly secret, so too do the syndicates.

A terrifying enemy is spreading a plague across the land, a sickness that kills or transforms everything it touches. Unable to contain the outbreaks, the King of Lankara begs the aid of the disgraced former Duke of Agrathon, Alyas-Raine Sera, a man who has spent years fighting syndicate expansion and whose resentment over his exile makes him an unpredictable, dangerous ally in the power struggle between the rulers of Ellasia and the mining companies.

Attached to the envoy to recall the duke, the apprentice surgeon Brivar finds his skills and loyalty tested as his service to his new patron uncovers secrets about Isyr and the plague that link it to the mining of Isyrium – and threaten the life of the man it is his duty to protect.

In their own separate ways, Alyas and Brivar must take on the might of the syndicates and confront the greed, murder, betrayal and impossible choices of a crisis that has been decades in the making – and the price of their failure could be everyone and everything.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review): The Many Shades of Midnight – C.M. Debell”

Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): The Price of Power – Michael Michel

Hello!

A little late as I misread the dates, but today I am joining the Escapist Books blog tour for The Price of Power by Michael Michel with a book spotlight and an extract to whet your appetite.

Book Summary:

Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero.

In his absence, war whispers across the land.

Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control reality…and then shatter it.

Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion.

A dead prince that isn’t actually dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime, and now, he’d rather watch the world fall apart than wear a crown again.

An orphan with hero’s blood who is forced to make a harrowing choice: betray her country or sacrifice her first love.

And a powerful seer who has no choice at all–her grandson must die.

If any of them fails to pay the price…

The cost will be the world’s complete annihilation.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): The Price of Power – Michael Michel”

Book Review: Spire Climbers (Titan Hoppers #2) – Rob J. Hayes

Hello!

Today I am back with another belated review, this time for Spire Climbers by Rob J. Hayes the second book in the Titan Hoppers series and oh my gods I loved this book. Titan Hoppers was a blast, but Spire Climbers was something else and this has been a challenging review to write (and rewrite post laptop fall of death), because I wanted to do it justice and don’t think I came close.

You can find my review for book one here.

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

Iro and Emil have opened their first Gates, unlocked new talents, and proved the fleet’s Hoppers aren’t stalled. Despite leaving the rank of trainee, they find their training is just beginning.

Thrown into a new squad with an explosive Mage, a cursed Surveyor, and a Vanguard with shady motives, Iro and Emil will delve deeper into the titan than ever before. There are bizarre things in the depths; pitch black oceans, nests of swarming monsters, and Spires that rip through the hull of the titan.

But what purpose do the Spires serve and can Iro and Emil reach the top in time?

Continue reading “Book Review: Spire Climbers (Titan Hoppers #2) – Rob J. Hayes”

Book Review: The Shadow Gate (Dragon Spirits #2) – L.L. MacRae

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be sharing my (very belated) review for The Shadow Gate by L.L. MacRae, the second book in the Dragon Spirits series. I have to say though, I’m almost glad I lost my original review (turns out knocking a laptop off a chair is not good for its health…), because I had so much to say about this one, although I don’t think I’ve done this fantastic book justice.

You can find my review for book one – The Iron Crown here.

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

Opening the shadow gate is the only way Fenn’s memories can be restored—and with them, his life and family.

It could also destroy the world.


Guided by dragon spirit Hassen and manipulated by the Myr, Fenn fights the corruption spreading through Tassar—and himself—in an attempt to find his family. Separated from his allies and unable to trust even his own mind, the arduous journey takes its toll.

Far from home and reunited with her sister, Calidra battles to keep her loved ones safe. But when the fickle loyalties of dragon spirits shifts, and darkness lurks around every corner, running from her fears is no longer an option.

And in the far south, consequences of the past catch up with those fighting for their freedom.

Continue reading “Book Review: The Shadow Gate (Dragon Spirits #2) – L.L. MacRae”

Blog Tour (Book Review): If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come – Jen St. Jude

Hello!

Today I am joining the Write Reads Ultimate Blog tour for If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude, with a book spotlight and a look at what some of the other bloggers on the tour have been saying about this apocalyptic YA romance.

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

Avery Byrne has secrets. She’s queer; she’s in love with her best friend, Cass; and she’s suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But on the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.

Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review): If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come – Jen St. Jude”

Blog Tour (Book Review): Straight Expectations – Calum McSwiggan

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be joining The Write reads Ultimate Blog Tour for Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan, a charming YA romance book that has captured me heart and soul.

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Max has always been out, proud and just a little spoiled. Frustrated by the lack of romantic options in his small-town high school, during an argument with his lifelong best friend Dean, Max lashes out and says he wishes he had never been born gay.

Max gets more than he bargained for when he wakes up to find his wish has come true – not only have his feelings for boys vanished, but so has Dean.

With his school life turned upside down and his relationship with his family in tatters, Max sets out on a journey of rediscovery to find a way back to the life he took for granted, and the romance he thought he’d never have.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review): Straight Expectations – Calum McSwiggan”

Cover Reveal: Unpainted (A Weirdwater Romance) – Dan Fitzgerald

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be joining in with the cover reveal for Unpainted by Dan Fitzgerald, a standalone book set in the world of The Living Waters and The Isle of a Thousand Worlds (and you can find my reviews for those books here & here) and I am super excited to see a return to this part of Fitzgerald’s shared universe.

ARC signups are also OPEN today and you can signup HERE and Unpainted is due to be released into the wild on June 30th 2023.

Book Summary:

In the hermetic society of the Painted Faces, pale, unblemished skin is rewarded with station, wealth, and power.

Tera would almost rather go unpainted than enter into an arranged marriage with a total stranger, but that would mean giving up the only life she’s ever known. Not to mention her share of her family’s Pureline fortune.

She’d always thought love was a fairy tale and sex a joyless chore, but the alternative might be worse.

Enter Aven, a soft buttercup of a man, the kindest and most considerate person she’s ever met. A tropical honeymoon awaits, and with the help of her intimacy consultant, Tera is determined to make the best of this awkward ritual. Amid the island breezes, she and her new spouse form a bond neither of them knew they were capable of.

But trouble stirs beneath the polite veneer of the Painted Faces’ society, threatening to tear them—and their entire world—apart.

Unpainted is a queer arranged marriage fantasy romance, a standalone in the Weirdwater Confluence universe. It features a dual POV, magical currency shenanigans, and inordinate amounts of steamy, fluffy goodness with a soft femdom dynamic. Coming June 30, 2023.

Content warnings

Unpainted contains numerous explicit, consensual sex scenes, including light bondage and sex toys, as well as drug use and minor violence. 

Author’s note

Unpainted has cameos from several characters in The Living Waters and The Isle of a Thousand Worlds but contains no spoilers, and no prior knowledge of these books is required to enjoy Unpainted.

Continue reading “Cover Reveal: Unpainted (A Weirdwater Romance) – Dan Fitzgerald”

Book Review: Mystic Reborn (An Archives of Evelium Tale) – Jeffrey Speight

Hello!

Hopefully third time is the charm, and this review will make it out into the world despite wordpress and my on the move wifi not playing ball. Anyway, today I am delighted to be (belatedly) reviewing Mystic Reborn by Jeffrey Speight, the second book in the Archives of Evelium and the folow up to the wonderful Paladin Unbound. A massive thank you to the author for the physical arc and sorry it’s taken so long!

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

Some paths are meant to be walked alone.

Mystic Reborn is the continuation of Paladin Unbound, the
award-winning start of the Archives of Evelium.

After embracing his destiny as the last of the Paladins, Umhra
the Peacebreaker is granted ancient powers by the gods. When
he returns to the ruins of Antiikin to fulfill a promise, he
embarks on a journey that will push the limits of his abilities.

As the Grey Queen’s arrival heralds the fulfillment of a
prophecy that could mean the end of humanity, the kingdom
of Evelium desperately needs a hero. Can Umhra once more
rise to the challenge and save mankind from annihilation?

Continue reading “Book Review: Mystic Reborn (An Archives of Evelium Tale) – Jeffrey Speight”

The Dungeons & Dragons Book Tag: Anime Edition

Hello,

Jodie across at Witty & Sarcastic blog came up with this ‘Dungeons and Dragons book tag’ and while I have a book version in the works, I wanted to have a go at it with animes/anime characters and here we are.

Please consider yourself tagged if you fancy doing the tag, just credit Jodie as the creator.

Originally there were going to be explanations for why I chose each anime / film, but I have lost huge chunks of this post three times now thanks to train wifi and wordpresses ability to save not mixing. What I will say is that I recommend all these anime – even OPM which wasn’t entirely my cup of tea. Some of them, it was a particular character that matched the prompt, others it was the entire plot/vibe of the show, and as often the case with anime that tick multiple genre boxes many of these anime could have also filled in other prompts.

Continue reading “The Dungeons & Dragons Book Tag: Anime Edition”