Blog Tour (Book Review & Extract): Starbinder (The Eye of Eternity #0.5) – Mark Timmony

Hello!

Continuing with project catch up, and this time I am belatedly hopping on the Starbinder blog tour with a repost of my original review (spoiler, I love this book!) and an extract to whet your appetite.

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

Book Summary:

Forged in betrayal. Tempered by the stellar winds. Chosen by the stars.

For five hundred years since the Sundering, the order of the Shaluay Starbinders has been dwindling. With their Starwells lying dormant, key artefacts of their order lost and their seers driven mad by the powers that broke the world, only one hope remains to the man who leads them; a fifteen year old girl.

Born to a clan of Wanderers, Reiana has been raised by a harsh grandmother who blames her for the death of her daughter, Reiana’s own mother. When bandits attack the clan’s camp, Reiana leaves the safety of the caravans to pursue the abductor of her younger cousin, heedless of the dangers.

But when a creature of the Void takes notice can Reiana’s own untapped abilities save her, or will the truth of a betrayal see her lost forever?

Starbinder is an action-packed prequel novella to The Blood of the Spear. If you like flawed heroes, fast-paced storytelling, and intricate world-building, then you’ll Love Mark Timmony’s character-driven introduction to the epic fantasy series, The Eye of Eternity.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review & Extract): Starbinder (The Eye of Eternity #0.5) – Mark Timmony”

Book Review: Starbinder (The Eye of Eternity #0.5) – Mark Timmony

Hello!

Today I am delighted to be reviewing Starbinder by Mark Timmony, a new novella in The Eye of Eternity series. If you missed the cover reveal across at Novel Notions yesterday, you can find it here. You can also find my review for the first book in this series – Blood of the Spear – here.

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

Book Summary:

Forged in betrayal.

Tempered by the stellar winds.

Chosen by the stars.

For five hundred years since the Sundering, the order of the Shaluay Starbinders has been dwindling. With their Starwells lying dormant, key artefacts of their order lost and their seers driven mad by the powers that broke the world, only one hope remains to the man who leads them; a fifteen year old girl.

Born to a clan of Wanderers, Reiana has been raised by a harsh grandmother who blames her for the death of her daughter, Reiana’s own mother. When bandits attack the clan’s camp, Reiana leaves the safety of the caravans to pursue the abductor of her younger cousin, heedless of the dangers.

But when a creature of the Void takes notice can Reiana’s own untapped abilities save her, or will the truth of a betrayal see her lost forever?

Continue reading “Book Review: Starbinder (The Eye of Eternity #0.5) – Mark Timmony”

Book Review: Winter’s Dawn (Flos Magicae) – Arden Powell

Hello!

What is this productivity? Back to back reviews? Adjusting to the new job has been a thing, but I think I’m getting into the balance now and hopefully dealing with the backlog of reviews. Anyway, today I am here with a review of Winter’s Dawn by Arden Powell.

Book Summary:

Thomas Brighton, a professor of theoretical magic, has been accused of treason. Imprisoned in the bleak Blackwood Gaol as he awaits his trial, he is cut off from his magic and his studies: a fate worse than death for the scholar who has devoted his life to academia. His only company is Winter, the mysterious prisoner in the neighbouring cell. As Thomas’ trial drags nearer, their whispered conversations are the only thing keeping him from giving in to boredom and despair.

Winter is a radical, a murderer, and a traitor to the crown. Everything Thomas fears and looks down on. But as Blackwood continues to crush his spirit and his magic, Winter might be his only ally. And Thomas might be Winter’s only chance of escape. Because if Blackwood and its guards don’t kill them both, the hangman’s noose surely will.

Winter’s Dawn is a 24,000-word fantasy novella with a male lead and a nonbinary love interest. It is part of the Flos Magicae series, set in an alternate 1920s universe with magic. All the stories are standalone historical fantasy romances and can be read in any order.

Continue reading “Book Review: Winter’s Dawn (Flos Magicae) – Arden Powell”

Book Review: A Sorrow Named Joy – Sarah Chorn

Hello!

I’m delighted to be back with the first review of the new year, and even better it’s a new book that’s out TODAY and by my favourite author. A Sorrow Named Joy is a beautiful novella that packs one hell of an emotional punch, and will make you think.

Disclaimer – I received an e-arc in exchange for an honest review, and I was also a beta reader for this book. All thoughts and emotions are my own.

Image

Book Summary:

Joy desires nothing more than her husband’s happiness. She spends her days creating the perfect life for him in their idyllic suburban home. Everything is neat, predictable, and in its place.

When Joy finds a picture that hints at a past she cannot remember, the facade cracks. As secrets are revealed, Joy realizes her blissful life is crumbling and to find herself, she must first lose herself.

Perfect, after all, is only an illusion.

Continue reading “Book Review: A Sorrow Named Joy – Sarah Chorn”

Book Review: Tainted (A Tainted Dominion Novella) – Krystle Matar

Hello!

For the third and final review for today, I’m reviewing Tainted by Krystle Matar. This was originally a story in the Dark Ends Anthology, but has been expanded into a full novella here and is set in the same world as her stunning debut Legacy of the Brightwash (Review here), and is currently one of the amazing books available in this Indie Fantasy Giveaway. This was a fantastic novella and reminded me just how much I love Matar’s characterization.

59473384. sy475

Book Summary:

Glaen must choose: the woman he loves, or freedom. Does he comply with the law of the Authority, or does he continue to see Gianna, the only light of his life? The consequences of his choice will ripple through more than he realizes. Revolution can start with a single shot.

Continue reading “Book Review: Tainted (A Tainted Dominion Novella) – Krystle Matar”

Book Review: The Fall (The Bound and the Broken 0.5) – Ryan Cahill

Hello!

I broke my book drought to devour this book last week and I loved it. I read Of Fire and Blood earlier this year, and I had been meaning to pick up The Fall for ages and I am glad that I did, because this was a fantastic novella. And today is an auspicious day to be reviewing it, because the e-arc for the next book in the series Of Darkness and Light landed in my inbox today and I can’t wait to dive in.

58574524. sy475

Book Summary:

The Order have watched over the continent of Epheria for thousands of years. But there are those who believe The Order has had its day. That it is corrupt, indulgent, and deceitful – that it is ready to fall.


The City of Ilnaen is on fire.
Dragons fill the skies.
Traitors fill the streets.

The Fall is a prequel novella that takes place four hundred years before the events in Of Blood and Fire – book one in The Bound and The Broken series.

Continue reading “Book Review: The Fall (The Bound and the Broken 0.5) – Ryan Cahill”

Book Review: Nothing But Blackened Teeth – Cassandra Khaw

Hello!

The first of three reviews today as I am once more playing catch up. This is one of the books I got for my birthday, and that I had been waiting to read for months, but unfortunately ended up as one that left with me very mixed feelings.

58107491. sy475

Book Summary:

A group of thrill-seeking friends in search of the perfect wedding venue plan to spend the night in a Heian-era mansion. Long abandoned, and unknown to them, this mansion rests on the bones of a bride, and its walls are packed with the remains of the girls sacrificed to keep her company.

Their night of food, drinks, and games quickly spirals into a nightmare, as the house welcomes its new guests. For lurking in the shadows is the ghost bride with a black smile and a hungry heart.

And she gets lonely down there in the dirt.

Continue reading “Book Review: Nothing But Blackened Teeth – Cassandra Khaw”

Blog Tour (Book Review): Blackcoat – Steve J. McHugh

Hello!

Today I’m delighted to be reviewing ‘Blackcoat’ by Steve J. McHugh as part of the blog tour organised by Storytellers on Tour. There is also an opportunity to win a signed copy of the book for yourself!

I hope that you will check out the book and the author, and enjoy the rest of the tour with the schedule in the banner below or (HERE).

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

Book Summary:

When Celine Moro took a job as a Blackcoat, an elite agency tasked with investigating crimes throughout Union space, she thought she had finally put her past to rest.

Now, betrayed by her allies, her world is falling apart. Running from the corrupt politicians that she had sworn to bring to justice, Celine is dusting off the skills of her old trade in order to bring truth to light.

The only thing bringing her comfort is knowing how much worse her friends are eventually going to feel about their betrayal.

Continue reading “Blog Tour (Book Review): Blackcoat – Steve J. McHugh”

Book Review: The Living Sword – Pemry Janes

Hello!

Today I am reviewing ‘The Living Sword’ by Pemry Janes, a novella and the first in the Living Sword series. The second book in the series ‘The Living Sword 2 – The Road Ahead’ is already out (UK | US), while the third book in the series ‘The Living Sword 3 – The Burden of Legacy’ is due for release on the 6th August this year and is now available for preorder (UK | US)

*Disclaimer: ‘I was given a copy this book in exchange for an honest review, all views are my own.’*

Book Cover

Book Summary:

Eurik was found adrift by the san and raised by them. Though he had read much about the outside world, he’d never considered leaving home. Not until his teacher revealed what he had inherited from his parents: a living sword, a sentient blade of rare power . . . and with it, the names of his father and mother.

Reluctant to go, yet curious, Eurik sets out to discover who they were, and what happened to them. But is he ready for all the attention his heritage will earn him? Can he survive in a world he has only read about?

Continue reading “Book Review: The Living Sword – Pemry Janes”