Tag: Arc Review

Book Review: Death’s Beating Heart (The War Eternal #5) – Rob J. Hayes

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

Hello!

I hope you all had a wonderful festive weekend! Today I am delighted to be reviewing Death’s Beating Heart by Rob J. Hayes, the fifth and final book in the War Eternal which is out in the wild TODAY!

You can find my reviews of the previous books in the series here:

Along the Razor’s Edge | The Lessons Never Learned | From Cold Ashes Risen | Sins of the Mother

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

Book Summary:

Break Eternity.

Sirileth has broken the world. The ground bleeds, the seas rage, the skies are torn asunder.

Eska will not let her daughter face the consequences alone, but can she help without donning the mantle of the Corpse Queen once more? And will the people of Ovaeris accept help from a monster?

They might not have a choice as a stable portal to the Other World is now open, and the Beating Heart of Sevorai is ever ravenous.

Continue reading “Book Review: Death’s Beating Heart (The War Eternal #5) – Rob J. Hayes” →

Book Review: The Delve (A Novel of The Time Before) – Dan Fitzgerald

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Review, Romance, Self-Published4 Comments

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing an ARC of The Delve by Dan Fitzgerald which will be out in the wild on the 1st February. The Delve is the first in a trio of linked standalones in The Time Before, which is set 2,000 years before the Maer Cycle trilogy and the Weirdwater Confluence duology but can be read independently.

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

Book Summary:

The sword wants what it wants.

The Deepfold mine has gone dark on the eve of war. Without its supply of brightstone, the Maer’s technological advantage over the humans will evaporate. A rising knight named Yglind has earned his Forever Blade and been sent on a quest to uncover the cause of the blackout. Joined by his trusted squire Ardo and a prickly mage named Aene, Yglind hopes to cement his legacy and the Maer’s chance at victory in the coming war.

Inside the Deepfold, they are plunged into a world of bloodshed and chaos. Unknown foes have slaughtered many of the miners, and a gruesome dragon stalks the dark tunnels. While taking refuge in the mine’s impregnable keep, Yglind and Ardo seek solace in each other’s arms and the courage to face the cruel forces arrayed against them.

With their civilization hanging in the balance, they strike out against the invaders as their quest hurtles toward its bloody end.

***

Author’s note: this book contains explicit, consensual sex scenes, violence, gore, and death, and is not intended for readers under the age of eighteen.

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Book Review: Stellar Instinct – Jonathan Nevair

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Review, Sci-Fi, Self-Published, Thriller1 Comment

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing an ARC of Stellar Instinct by Jonathan Nevair, which is out in the world on the 1st of December (so there is still time to sneak in that pre-order!).

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

Book Summary:

A secret agent. A gaming mastermind. Two players in a dangerous competition blurring the boundaries of entertainment and reality.

Mysterious signals pulse from an icy planet in a remote star system. GAM-OPs wants answers. Enter Lilline Renault, secret agent extraordinaire. To ordinary citizens she’s Keely Larkin, an adventure company guide with a flair for the daring and a penchant for writing trite poetry. Lilline’s at the top of the spy game, but publishing her literary work is proving harder than saving the galaxy.

When the mission uncovers a dastardly plan threatening billions of lives, Lilline leaps into action. Verses flow as she rockets through space, dons cunning disguises, and infiltrates enemy territory with an arsenal of secret gadgets. But to prevent the whims of a self-obsessed entrepreneur from turning the galaxy into a deadly playground means beating him at his own game. Lilline will need her best weapon to stand a fighting chance: her instinct.

STELLAR INSTINCT: A spy-fi thriller set in space.

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Book Review: The Monsters We Feed – Thomas Howard Riley

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

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing an ARC of The Monsters We Feed by Thomas Howard Riley, which will be out in the wild on the 6th December. This is a bit of a ramble – perhaps moreso than usual – because (a) I absolutely freaking love this book and (b) it is very much a book that I don’t want to spoil. What this means is that towards the end of December/Start of January once more people have had the pleasure of reading it, I will likely return for a deep dive post because there is so much more I want to talk about!!

For now though, please do check out the book and author – and if it catches your fancy then please pre-order!

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, and I also had the honour of being a beta reader for this one, however all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

The morning before he found the dead body, Jathan Algevin thought he had his whole life just the way he wanted it.  

He knows his city inside and out, and doesn’t bother carrying a sword, trusting his wits and his fists well enough to get by, hustling extra coin by ratting out loathsome magi to the law for execution. 

He and his sister, Lyra, have watched out for each other ever since the day they were orphaned by a bloodthirsty rogue sorcerer, and now they finally have steady work, good friends, and the freedom to spend every night laughing at the bottom of a bottle. 

But nothing lasts forever.

When he stumbles across a brutal murder, Jathan discovers a strange crystal lens that opens his eyes to an invisible world of magick and terror lurking just beneath the surface of his own, making him question everything he thought he knew. 

But will gazing into this new arcane realm lead Jathan to save lives, or help destroy them?

With dangerous people hunting for the lens, monstrous lies unraveling his life, and a hidden underworld calling to him, it is only a matter of time before his whole world comes crashing down. 

Will he find the answers he is looking for, or will he only find a monster needing to be fed?


Rated-R Dark Fantasy Noir in a city of hope, lust, and brutality, where swords are banned, and magick is just as likely to get you killed as it is to save your life.

There are always things about ourselves that we don’t want to see.
There are always things we can’t stop doing no matter how hard we try.
We all lie. We all have secrets.
We are all feeding monsters.

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Book Review: The Children of Chaos (The Cruel Gods #2) – Trudie Skies

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Review, Self-Published3 Comments

Hello!

Today I am absolutely delighted to be reviewing The Children of Chaos, the second book in the Cruel Gods series by Trudie Skies which is out NEXT WEEK (so there is still time to pre-order a copy for yourself!). I loved the first book in the series, but The Children of Chaos has well and truly raised the bar and I don’t think my rambling comes even remotely close to capturing just how amazing this book is, so all I can say is read it for yourself and find out!!

You can find my review for The Thirteenth Hour HERE

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, and I also had the honour of being a beta reader for this one, however all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

When the saints call, the sinners answer.

Chaos stalks the steam-powered city of Chime and threatens the existence of the gods and their domains. Kayl swore to protect Chime’s mortals from their gods’ cruel whims, but when she agrees to represent the mortals of a god long thought dead, Kayl is thrust into a political role that goes against everything she’s ever stood for.

As the newly appointed ambassador to the god of time, Quen’s goal is clear – protect Chime and the domains by any means necessary. But as the gods make their demands, Quen is caught between his loyalties and his conscience.

To ensure a future for all mortals, Kayl and Quen must unite the gods against the threat of chaos and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for Chime – before the gods choose for them.

For the gods are capricious and have their own divine plans.

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Book Review: The Pact (The Black Hind’s Wake #2) – J.E. Hannaford

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

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing The Pact by J.E. Hannaford which is out on the 1st September, and is the final book in the Black Hind’s Wake Duology. I adored the first book The Skin (You can read the review HERE), and The Pact has firmly established J.E. Hannaford as a must-read author for me, and I am already ridiculously excited for her next project Gates and whatever will come next in the world of the Black Hind’s Wake.

Disclaimer – I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, and I also had the honour of being a beta reader for this one, however all thoughts are my own.

Book Summary:

‘How, can you let things fade so far? I had a reason. I had cause, I was limited. You – you hide in your lakes playing games. This world crumbles, the last refuge north of the Everstorm is Mynyw and you have let it fall into jeopardy.’

The new King of Terrania may no longer hunt for Old Ones, but the world is far from safe. As the crew of Black Hind continues to search out the Old Ones and return them to their rightful homelands, the reach of a dead consort haunts the new king from beyond the grave.

In distant Mynyw a loyal guardian discovers the unravelling of an ancient pact. As Black Hind sails into his territory, he has a decision to make. Can he overcome his prejudice and ask for help from the strangers before the last refuge falls?

Continue reading “Book Review: The Pact (The Black Hind’s Wake #2) – J.E. Hannaford” →

Book Review: Blackthorne – Clayton W. Snyder

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

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing an arc of Blackthorne by Clayton W. Snyder which is out in the world TODAY!! Blackthorne is a bloody fantastic book that I have been chewing over for the last few weeks, and despite the length of this review, I still don’t feel I have done it justice. All I can say is that you should absolutely pick this one up and give it a go, because it really is an experience!

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

Book Summary:

Orphan. Conman. Conscript. Inmate. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mattias Temple, a failed cadre necromancer, is mauled by fate. When a rogue military squad kidnaps the governor and threatens the city with a magical plague, he has a shot to redeem a lifetime of mistakes and be the one thing he never thought possible: A hero.

Freed from prison, paired with Bridget, a Blackthorne operative, he sets out to right the one crime that truly haunts him.

As the body count rises Mattias finds himself neck-deep in trouble and drowning in ghosts. Hunted by the mercenary company he betrayed and facing the horrors of feral witchcraft, the question remains: who is Mattias Temple, and what does he want? Revenge, or something more?

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Book Review: Strange Cargo (Mennik Thorne #3) – Patrick Samphire

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

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing Strange Cargo by Patrick Samphire. This is the third book in the fantastic Mennik Thorne series, and will be out on the 29th July (so you still have time to read the first two books!!!). A massive thank you to the author for the opportunity to return to one of my favourite series and characters early!

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

Book Summary:

What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won’t go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other?

Answer: they’re all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn’s hard-earned peace and quiet.

As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn’t giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven’t forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple ultimatum: help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever.

Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.

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Book Review: Titan Hoppers – Rob J. Hayes

On By Rowena AndrewsIn Fantasy, Sci-Fi2 Comments

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing Titan Hoppers, the amazing new book from Rob J. Hayes which is out in the world today!! I had so much fun reading this book, and it’s hard to do it justice in a review.

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

Book Summary:

Courage Iro will shatter the Gates of Power to protect his fleet.

Born talentless, Iro has all but resigned himself to a life of drudgery, watching his sister hop across to the massive space titan for supplies. But when the titan explodes and his sister is killed, Iro finds a new determination to take her place. He’s not about to let weakness prevent him.

When the fleet encounters a new titan, filled with powerful monsters, deadly traps, and mysterious cloaked figures, Iro is the first to spontaneously manifest a new talent. Now sent to a different ship, to train with others far beyond his strength, Iro will have to train twice as hard just to catch up.

To protect his fleet, and to uncover the mysteries of the titans, Iro won’t just open the Gates of Power. He’ll break them.

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