Author: Rowena Andrews

Avid reader. Sometimes writer. Always a nerd. Usually curled up with a cat and dog, and hiding from the Scottish weather.

The Dungeons & Dragons Book Tag: Anime Edition

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Writing Updates1 Comment

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” →

Tavern Chat: J.E. Hannaford

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Q&A / Interview, Self-PublishedLeave a comment

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be bringing the Tavern Chat back to the blog, albeit in a slightly abbreviated form due to scheduling conflicts on my end. And today, I am welcoming J.E. Hannaford the author of the Black Hind’s Wake Duology (The Skin & The Pact), and of the upcoming Gates of Hope which is the first book in theAulirean Gates trilogy.

As some of you may have seen, Gates of Hope has been hit by Amazon issues and lost it’s preorders, so please do keep checking either twitter or the author page on amazon for updates on the release and give this book all the love and support on it’s release. (I mean how can you resist, it has the best boy on the cover!)

**

Book Summary:

The Watcher shattered the Gates.

Now hope must arise from the shards.

Darin and Suriin enter the Black Palace of the So’Dal, at a time when monstrous Edgelands creatures return to the skies over Caldera.
After exhibiting magical traits thought lost, Darin is drawn into a secret society charged with keeping the Watcher’s secrets. Now he must balance learning to control his magic, caring for Star, his new companion, and finding a way to sustain the Howlers’ power for long enough to protect Caldera from the predatory creatures of the Edgelands.

Before she arrived at the Black Palace Suriin broke the ancient rules of the So’Dal to save the life of the person she loves the most. As her search for a cure delves deeper under the mountain, is there any price she won’t pay?

On the outer moon of Tebein, Elissa’s newly awakened magic will endanger her home and family. Now she must race to find help for those she leaves behind as she escapes those who want her, and all those like her, dead.

One wrong decision by any of them could return legends to life and end five hundred cycles of peace. Will they find the solutions they need in time?

Continue reading “Tavern Chat: J.E. Hannaford” →

Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): Curse of the Fallen (Fallen Light #1) – H.C. Newell

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Book Spotlights, FantasyLeave a comment

Hello,

Today I’m joining the Escapist Books blog tour for The Curse of the Fallen by H.C. Newell, the first book in the Fallen Light series.

Please do check out the other stops on the tour.

Book Summary:

This Child is not the chosen one. She is a demon to be destroyed.

Born of magic, Nerana is labeled a demon and forced into hiding by the Order of Saro. Living with a curse that binds her to their leader, Nerana seeks to free herself from their hold and soon learns that the path to redemption may prove more fatal than the Order itself.

But for Nerana, this is more than a quest for survival… It’s a promise of revenge.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): Curse of the Fallen (Fallen Light #1) – H.C. Newell” →

The Mountain of Souls (The Chosen #1) – Marcus Lee

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Review, Self-Published1 Comment

Hello!

Today I am here with a very belated review for The Mountain of Souls by Marcus Lee. This is the first book in his new trilogy The Chosen. I was a huge fan of his previous series, and was delighted to get an ARC for this new one – and then life got very much in the way and here we are.

I absolutely loved this book – and I’ve already nabbed physical copies of the whole series, so keep an eye out for the reviews of the next two books in the (hopefully) near future. It was also a difficult one to review, because so much of the impact comes through the reading.

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

Book Summary:

Only the strong survive!

When Malina is sold at an auction block, she fears life will take a turn for the worse.

But even her darkest nightmares are nothing compared to the reality of what she faces when she’s delivered to the Mountain of Souls.

Thrust into a brutal selection process where failure means death, Malina must train and fight not only to survive but to prove herself worthy to serve.

The risks are deadly, but if she succeeds, the rewards are beyond measure, and a destiny unlike any other awaits as one of The Chosen.

The Chosen. A thrilling and intricately spun Epic Fantasy that weaves a relentless fight for survival into a tapestry full of conquest, deception, magic, and an ancient prophecy that will determine the fate of the human race.

Continue reading “The Mountain of Souls (The Chosen #1) – Marcus Lee” →

Blog Tour (Book Review): The Talisman of Delucha (The Relics of War #2) – A.J. Calvin

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Review, Self-Published2 Comments

Hello!

After a slight email blip where I hadn’t realised I was on this tour, I am delighted to be joining the Escapists Books blog tour for The Talisman of Delucha by A.J. Calvin, the second book in the Relics of War series.

You can find my review for book one Here.

Please do check out the other stops on the tour.

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

Book Summary:

Ravin is an anomaly amongst those who use magic. He refuses to join the Council of Auras and tie his fate to the wizards, and long ago escaped a terrible fate amongst the Enlightened, called the Shadow Council by some. His escape gave him freedom few others with his power enjoy, and he means to keep it, no matter the cost.

Serving as an advisor to the Deluchan queen, Ravin learns a powerful relic is kept deep within the catacombs below the palace. War is on Delucha’s doorstep, brought about by none other than the council he fled from and their Soulless leaders. He resolves to retrieve the relic in order to combat the imminent threat, but collecting the Talisman of Delucha is not without its own danger.

As the Soulless’ army prepares to besiege the Deluchan capitol, Ravin makes one final, desperate attempt to secure the Talisman. The kingdom’s survival depends on his success, but time is not on his side.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review): The Talisman of Delucha (The Relics of War #2) – A.J. Calvin” →

Book Review: Gates of Hope (Aulirean Gates #1) – J.E. Hannaford

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Review, Self-Published1 Comment

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing Gates of Hope, the first book in the Aulirean Gates trilogy which is the upcoming series from J.E. Hannaford the author of The Skin & The Pact (The Black Hind’s Wake). I adored that first duology and they set Hannaford as a must-buy author for me, and Gates is set to follow that trend. In full disclosure, I read an early version of Gates of Hope and fell in love immeditely with this world and these characters (and the bestest boy), and I have since reread it through the ARC.

Gates of Hope is out in the wild next week on the 14th April, and I know that the author is going to be at Eastercon if you want to pick up a copy from her in person!

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

Book Summary:

The Watcher shattered the Gates.

Now hope must arise from the shards.

Darin and Suriin enter the Black Palace of the So’Dal, at a time when monstrous Edgelands creatures return to the skies over Caldera.
After exhibiting magical traits thought lost, Darin is drawn into a secret society charged with keeping the Watcher’s secrets. Now he must balance learning to control his magic, caring for Star, his new companion, and finding a way to sustain the Howlers’ power for long enough to protect Caldera from the predatory creatures of the Edgelands.

Before she arrived at the Black Palace Suriin broke the ancient rules of the So’Dal to save the life of the person she loves the most. As her search for a cure delves deeper under the mountain, is there any price she won’t pay? 

On the outer moon of Tebein, Elissa’s newly awakened magic will endanger her home and family. Now she must race to find help for those she leaves behind as she escapes those who want her, and all those like her, dead.

One wrong decision by any of them could return legends to life and end five hundred cycles of peace. Will they find the solutions they need in time?

Continue reading “Book Review: Gates of Hope (Aulirean Gates #1) – J.E. Hannaford” →

Cover Reveal: Down Below Beyond – T.A. Bruno

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Cover Reveal1 Comment

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be helping with the Escapist Books Cover Reveal for the new standalone Sci-Fi/Fantasy book from T.A. Bruno the author of the Song of Kamaria trilogy. I’m excited to see what this new book – tentatively scheduled for June/July this year will bring, as I hugely enjoyed his first series.

Book Summary:

Levort Aatra is a prospector on a planet named Tayoxe. While scavenging the wastes of the abandoned world, he discovers a mysterious starship and stakes his claim on it. Little does he know; he just put a big target on his back.

DOWN BELOW BEYOND is a sprawling sci-fi fantasy adventure filled with aliens, planets, and portals set in a universe crafted by T. A. Bruno, author of the award-winning Song of Kamaria trilogy.

Continue reading “Cover Reveal: Down Below Beyond – T.A. Bruno” →

Spring Anime 2023

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Writing UpdatesLeave a comment

Hello!

I’ve spent the last three days nursing a lurgy, so reviews are a bit beyond me at the moment. Although there are at least two to come this week for Gates of Hope by J.E. Hannaford and The Mountain of Souls by Marcus Lee, and those are both nearly finished, but I want to do them both justice as the books were fantastic.

But, I’ve also been meaning to start doing more anime and manga related on the blog, and with the Spring 2023 season just days away, I figured it would be a nice way to kick it off with a look at what I’m excited to watch this season. Please note this is not a complete list, there is still anime being announced and there are others I might try out. This is also just the ones I intend to at least give a go, if not outright watch from start to finish.

I’m also going to have a review up this weekend for what has been my favourite anime from winter 2022 – Buddy Daddies which ends on Friday (I am not ready!!).

Continue reading “Spring Anime 2023” →

Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): The Sword of Wrath and Mercy (Swords of Dominion #1) – NC Koussis

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Book Spotlights, FantasyLeave a comment

Hello!

Today I am hopping onto the Escapists Books blog tour with a spotlight for The Sword of Mercy and Wrath, which is the first book in the Swords of Dominion series and debut by NC Koussis. There’s an extract to whet your appetite, and please do check out the rest of the tour to see what the other reviewers think and check out the book and author.

Book Summary:

VENGEANCE CUTS A BLOODY PATH

In a cathedral at the south of the Istryan Empire, young men and women are trained to be killers. The Order of the Golden Sword’s inquisitors are feared for their brutality masked as piety. Masters of blade and crossbow, their quarry is the god-cursed werewolf, whom they hunt with impunity to herald the return of their god.

Betrayed by her monstrous father, Selene loses her left arm and nearly her life when she’s saved by a traveling inquisitor. Scarred and broken, she swears vengeance on the cursed beasts and joins the Order. It takes all her will to overcome her limits, only for her violent past to drag her back into blood.

With the fabric of the empire at stake, Selene must master her hatred, hone it to a sharp point, then let it loose on her enemies.

The stunning fantasy debut from “One of Australia’s most promising young writers.” Perfect for fans of Andrzej Sapkowski and Mark Lawrence.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): The Sword of Wrath and Mercy (Swords of Dominion #1) – NC Koussis” →

Blog Tour (Book Review) – His Ragged Company (Testimonies of Elias Faust) – Rance D. Denton

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Review, Self-Published, Weird West, WesternLeave a comment

Hello!

Late because trains apparently hate me, and yesterday was a fiasco in terms of travel and today the train wifi decided to eat the entire post apart from the title and header. However, despite all that, I am delighted to be joining the Escapists Books blog tour for His Ragged Company by Rance D. Denton.

Please do check out the rest of the tour stops.

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

Book Summary:

A pissed-off warlock with a taste for revenge.

An army of sand-golems with fistfuls of magic.

A wishing well with a mind of its own.

No wonder Blackpeak, Texas never got its spot on the map.

Town marshal Elias Faust thinks that he can make any problem go away if he throws enough lead at it. The living’s easy for a lawman. Bloody, but easy – that is, until Magnate Gregdon arrives with his undead syndicate to tear the town of Blackpeak, Texas apart.

When a shootout with a pair of outlaws goes sideways, Elias Faust accidentally draws the Magnate’s attention. As if dealing with arcane sorcery, reanimated corpses, and the Magnate’s personal vendetta aren’t enough, Faust finds himself at the center of a power-struggle for Blackpeak’s eldritch secrets.

Suddenly, staying alive just got a lot more complicated.

Hunted by a cadre of sandshades and hounded by sinister spellcraft, Elias Faust may be the only bag of skin defiant enough to keep Blackpeak from being destroyed. To outlast the Magnate’s disciples, he’ll need to shoot straighter, run faster, and live longer…even if it means sacrificing a part of himself to do just that.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review) – His Ragged Company (Testimonies of Elias Faust) – Rance D. Denton” →