Blog Tour+ARC Review+Giveaway: "A Spark of White Fire" (The Celestial Trilogy #1) by Sangu Mandanna

A Spark of White Fire

(The Celestial Trilogy #1)

by Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Release Date: September 11, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Synopsis:

In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back. 

Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali. 

It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart. 

Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle between jealousy and love.

BOOK LINKS

     Goodreads

     Amazon 

    Barnes & Noble 

    Book Depository

      Kobo

      IndieBound 

       iBooks

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  This story left me in a breathless heap of emotions, astonishment and fangirling. If this book doesn't get fanart then you're all doomed. A world where sci-fi, fantasy, gods and kingdoms are living together is the themes in A spark of white fire. I would say that you take Game of Thrones, pull it into space, making it into a retelling of the Mahabrahata, and you have an unforgettable story! I loved Esmae and Max and all the characters. The anguish, the feelings, the descriptions! I also adored Titania, the sentient godly ship with the freaky amazing powers. I am surely going to read the rest of the series too!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Blog tour schedule link

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. The Lost Girl, a YA sci-fi novel about death and love, is available now. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.

GIVEAWAY

•    1 hardcover copy of A SPARK OF WHITE FIRE by Sangu Mandanna

•    Open INT

•    Starts: 9/24

•    Ends: 10/8

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: "For A Muse of Fire" (For a Muse of Fire #1) by Heidi Heilig

For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. The first book in a new trilogy from Heidi Heilig.

Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick—a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But the old ways are forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered their country, so Jetta must never show, never tell. Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.

Heidi Heilig creates a world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism.

BUY ON

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Jetta has an extraordinary ability...which must remain hidden if she and her family want to survive. In this world of Empires, conquered cities and full of spies, revolutionaries, and secrets Jetta will discover the extent of her own abilities and struggle with what she considers to be madness.

There were many parts at the beginning of the book that I didn't quite understand but slowly all made sense. There are also breaks between the chapters where from the first POV we go to the third and also the scenes are described like a theatre scenario. The plot is engaging and filled with fantasy and rich history.

About the author:

Heidi grew up in Hawaii where she rode horses and raised peacocks, and then she moved to New York City and grew up even more, as one tends to do. Her favorite thing, outside of writing, is travel, and she has haggled for rugs in Morocco, hiked the trails of the Ko'olau Valley, and huddled in a tent in Africa while lions roared in the dark.

She holds an MFA from New York University in Musical Theatre Writing, of all things, and she's written books and lyrics for shows including The Time Travelers Convention, Under Construction, and The Hole. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their pet snake, whose wings will likely grow in any day now.

Release Day Blitz: "Summer Nights" (Cruel Summer #3) by Rachel Van Dyken

                 

Summer Nights by Rachel Van Dyken

Series: Cruel Summer #3 

Publication Date: September 27, 2018 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis: 

The final installment in Marlo and Ray's story of revenge, love and the thin line between hate and passion. They'll fight to the bitter end.

And now that everyone's counting on them.

They're ready for the final curtain call.

Break a leg... right?

                             

Read Today!

Summer Nights iBooks: https://goo.gl/RySbbj

Summer Heat iBooks: https://goo.gl/chcnKy

Summer Seduction: iBooks: https://goo.gl/3H47Cm

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2OxnIl7

                                

Meet the Author:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken 

Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com 

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR 

Rachel's Rockin' Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Cover Reveal: "The Raven's Ballad" by Emma Hamm

This cover reveal took me by surprise but I couldn't help but share it! Emma Hamm has quickly evolved into one of my favorite authors with her amazing storytelling and the enchanting worlds she builds with her stories!

Summary from Goodreads

Once upon a time… 

A curse can only be broken by luck or an impossible feat, and Aisling has tried numerous impossible feats. Every morning she changes into a swan. Every dusk she has a few moments with the man she loves, only to watch him forced into the form of a raven by the same curse. 

When it becomes clear the curse is directly connected with an ancient, awakening evil, she sets off into the depths of Underhill to find answers. Unfortunately, this is a journey that must be made alone. 

Bran refuses to believe there isn't another way. Split off from his queen, he joins forces with the Seelie Fae and the Druids. Darkness spreads throughout the Raven Kingdom. Both king and queen fight to protect their people, their home, and the love they have for each other.

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON

Don't miss the first book in this duology!

(click the image to add it on GoodReads)

AMAZON

About the author:

I started dreaming of stories when I was just a little girl, and immediately ran upstairs to act them out the way they should have happened. Dreaming became reality.

Reality became books

Review: "Keeper of the Bees" (Black Birds of the Gallows #2) by Meg Kassel

Keeper of the Bees by Meg Kassel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

summary from GoodReads

KEEPER OF THE BEES is a tale of two teens who are both beautiful and beastly, and whose pasts are entangled in surprising and heartbreaking ways.

Dresden is cursed. His chest houses a hive of bees that he can’t stop from stinging people with psychosis-inducing venom. His face is a shifting montage of all the people who have died because of those stings. And he has been this way for centuries—since he was eighteen and magic flowed through his homeland, corrupting its people.

He follows harbingers of death, so at least his curse only affects those about to die anyway. But when he arrives in a Midwest town marked for death, he encounters Essie, a seventeen-year-old girl who suffers from debilitating delusions and hallucinations. His bees want to sting her on sight. But Essie doesn’t see a monster when she looks at Dresden.

Essie is fascinated and delighted by his changing features. Risking his own life, he holds back his bees and spares her. What starts out as a simple act of mercy ends up unraveling Dresden’s solitary life and Essie’s tormented one. Their impossible romance might even be powerful enough to unravel a centuries-old curse. 

BUY ON

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

REVIEW

Ahh how I missed Meg Kassel's writing! "Black Bird of Gallows" was a very interesting, scary and emotional read and learning that there was another book tied into this larger world I decided to read it.

And I concluded that Dresden's curse was far worse than Reece's.

Being a beekeeper means that inside your body you house thousand of magic-like bees which if they sting you will amplify the evil in you and in the end you'll do something evil. Also, Dresden takes in the face of the bees' victims and wears them in an ever-fluid face which kind of reminded me of the Slenderman.

*shudders*

When he arrives in a new town he meets Essie, a girl who has hallucinations, and know that her whole family tree is cursed, yet when she meets Dresden, she can see him truly and not the image he gives to the other mortals.

The story is very engaging, dark and full of romance which is not rushed and feels realistic with more to come after the book's end. I loved the came appearances and I also wonder if the Strawman, another character, will get his own story.

Overall, this is a very well written story with a plot that doesn't go away easily.

About the author:

Meg Kassel is an author of paranormal and speculative books for young adults. A New Jersey native, Meg graduated from Parson's School of Design and worked as a graphic designer before embracing her true passion, writing. She now lives in a log house in the Maine woods with her family, and is busy at work on her next novel. A fan of ’80s cartoons, original Netflix series, daydreaming, and ancient mythology, Meg has always been fascinated and inspired by the fantastic, the creepy, and the futuristic. When she’s not writing, Meg is reading, hanging out with her husband and daughter, hiding her peanut butter cups, or walking her rescue mutt, Luna.

Release Day Blitz: "What The Flower Says of Death" by Danielle Koste

What The Flower Says of Death

by Danielle Koste

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Genre
Paranormal, Romance

Release
Sept 25th, 2018

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Summary from Goodreads

Violet Holt has already met Death once. 

After a failed suicide attempt, she finds herself dumped by her callous mother on the doorstep of her family’s desolate oceanside estate. With only the company of her estranged grandmother, comatose grandfather, and the monsters in her head, at least there was no one to interfere with her plans to try again on her eighteenth birthday.

No one, except maybe Jack: a skeleton of a boy who says he’s there to rake her grandmother’s leaves, yet seems more experienced at stalking than grounds-keeping. She knows he’s keeping a secret behind his gentle smiles and aloofness, but it’s difficult for Violet to be put off by his untimely thin-air appearances when figuring out the mystery of his true identity makes for such a good distraction. 

Violet’s trauma is deeper than the wound on her wrist though, and it cannot be simply whisked away in a whirlwind of guessing games and pleasant gestures. She struggles to reconnect with her grandmother, find forgiveness for her mother, and closure with her grandfather’s dire condition, all while battling the strain of it all on her family. Even with a flicker of something hopeful blossoming within herself, Violet knows her birthday plans must be inevitable. 

Death wouldn’t be there for her if it wasn’t.

---

Ebook!
Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes and Noble / Google Play / iBooks / Kobo

Paperback!
Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes and Noble / Indigo / Book Depository / Adlibris

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About the Author

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Danielle Koste is a born and raised Canadian, but currently lives with her significant other in the equally snowy and cold Stockholm, Sweden. While working a day job and learning the language of the locals, she spends her free time honing the craft she's always had a passion for. When procrastinating, Danielle likes to enjoy other forms of rich story-telling, besides the obvious abundance of novels filling up her apartment and Kindle. Movies, music, and video games are among her favorite time-wasters.

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Website / Goodreads / Patreon / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr

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Covers I love from my TBR 2019 List!

Following my tiny review slump, where I know I have four reviews to write but no motivation to do so, I decided instead to share the covers which have been revealed so far from the books which I have in my 2019 TBR list! So far the list counts 97 books and I am sure they are going to be more!

                                                It's the spell of the never-ending TBR list!

Now from what I have noticed, there is quite a trend in 2019; we have a tendency for more fantasy books, more Asian-like worlds (which is amazing) as also more diverse characters (which is also great!) The covers, I believe have tremendously evolved to fine art and you can't help but feast your eyes upon them!


Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard: Susan had mentioned in her newsletter that this is the best so far cover in the series. I totally agree with her! Look at this badass Aeduan! I also can't wait for their romance to bloom!

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: The cover is like "Find Waldo". There are elements which I am sure will make themselves useful when I read the book. I have already pre-ordered this one and I plan to do the same with the journal!

Crown of feathers by Nicki Pau Preto: This fantasy has Pheonix riders, sisters with secrets and warring empires! Also, don't you get Harry Potter vibes?

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: Jesus this cover is stunning! Like it lept straight out of an old manuscript with the colors and the crane! Also, it has Sherlock Holmes vibes? 

Defy the Fates by Claudia Gray: OMG, when this was revealed!? I love Claudia's writing and this trilogy has gutted me! I can't wait to see what will happen to Abel and Noemi.

The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton: This cover also screams badass with the gold flakes and the dark tones. A striking antithesis with the cover of the first book, where all is bright and fluffy. This series also had great lessons about what can be defined as beautiful and how society can create bad role models. Definitely one to read.

The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters: While Poe's writing is very haunting and sad for my taste, this up-coming YA has a mysterious edge to it with this cover being quite striking and dark.

We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett: Now this fantasy has a mix of steampunk and magic. It's also about two heroines who will probably join forces as kingdoms fight with each other.

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer: Inspired by the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" this elegant cover depict both the frigid atmosphere and has clues about the characters. Also for me, any kind of book inspired by this tale carries some elements of Beauty and the Beast.

On a side note 2019 also will have the cover reveals of other favorite authors:

                                                     Crescent City by 

Sarah J. Maas

Release Day Blitz: "A Nordic King" by Karina Halle

               

                                                  A Nordic King by Karina Halle 
                                             Publication Date: September 21, 2018 
                                                  Genre: Contemporary Romance

SYNOPSIS: 

When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.

Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.

Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.

Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.

And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.

Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.

It’s their father.

Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible.

Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.

But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.

You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?

Try falling in love with a king.

                              

Download A Nordic King today! 

FREE in Kindle Unlimited 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2pqkG7t 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2NrGJsN 

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2DimlWv 

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2HaEWBb

                              

Meet Karina: Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Connect with Karina: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/ 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vo9pq4 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/ 

Join her Reader Group: https://goo.gl/wpCBSS 

Stay up to date with Karina by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/Ve4eCh http://authorkarinahalle.com

Cover Reveal+Giveaway: The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom #1) by Danielle L. Jensen

About the Book: The Bridge Kingdom

Series: The Bridge Kingdom #1

Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Audible Originals

Publishing Date: October 16, 2018
Genres: YA/NA Fantasy
Goodreads

Preorder: Audible | Amazon

SYNOPSIS

What if you fell in love with the one person you’d sworn to destroy?

Lara has only one thought for her husband on their wedding day: I will bring your kingdom to its knees. A princess trained from childhood to be a lethal spy, Lara knows that the Bridge Kingdom represents both legendary evil - and legendary promise. The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom controls all trade and travel between lands, allowing its ruler to enrich himself and deprive his enemies, including Lara’s homeland. So when she is sent as a bride under the guise of fulfilling a treaty of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture the defenses of the impenetrable Bridge Kingdom.

But as she infiltrates her new home - a lush paradise surrounded by tempest seas - and comes to know her new husband, Aren, Lara begins to question where the true evil resides. Around her, she sees a kingdom fighting for survival, and in Aren, a man fiercely protective of his people. As her mission drives her to deeper understanding of the fight to possess the bridge, Lara finds the simmering attraction between her and Aren impossible to ignore. Her goal nearly within reach, Lara will have to decide her own fate: Will she be the destroyer of a king or the savior of her people?

From Danielle L. Jensen:

I’m so excited to share the cover of THE BRIDGE KINGDOM, which was illustrated by the talented Richard Anderson! This novel was pure enjoyment to write because I was able to create a story that blends intrigue, adventure, and LOTS of steamy romance, all of which takes place in a fantastical setting. THE BRIDGE KINGDOM was written specifically for audio, and with the exceptional narration of Lauren Fortgang and James Patrick Cronin, it truly is an incredible listening experience!

Tour-wide Giveaway

An Epic The Bridge Kingdom–themed goody box (including all items pictured below). Open International.

-       Exclusive Ithicana Candle from A Court of Candles

-       Hand Cream from The Body Shop

-       Sea Salt from The Body Shop

-       Tea Tins

-       The Bridge Kingdom Pen

-       The Bridge Kingdom Postcard + Audiobook download on release date

a Rafflecopter giveaway



About Danielle L. Jensen

Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of The Malediction Novels: Stolen Songbird, Hidden Huntress, Warrior Witch, and The Broken Ones. Her upcoming novels are THE BRIDGE KINGDOM, which will be released by Audible Originals in October, 2018 and DARK SHORES, which will be released by Tor Teen in May, 2019. She lives with her family in Calgary, Canada.

Website | Twitter | Instagram








                                        

Cover Reveal: "Royally Yours" by Emma Chase

 

                          

Princess Lenora Celeste Beatrice Arabella Pembrook had an unusual childhood. She was raised to be a Queen—the first Queen of Wessco. It’s a big deal. When she’s crowned at just nineteen, the beautiful young monarch is prepared to rule. 

She’s charming, clever, confident and cunning. What she isn’t…is married. It’s her advising council’s first priority. It’s what Parliament is demanding, and what her people want. Lenora has no desire to tie herself to a man—particularly one who only wants her for her crown. But compromises must be made and royals must do their duty. Even Queens. Especially them. 

** Years ago, Edward Langdon Richard Dorian Rourke, walked away from his title and country. Now he’s an adventurer—climbing mountains, exploring jungles, going wherever he wants, when he wants—until family devotion brings him home. And a sacred promise keeps him there. To Edward, the haughty, guarded little Queen is intriguing, infuriating…and utterly captivating. Wanting her just might drive him mad—or become his greatest adventure. 

** Within the cold, stone walls of the royal palace—mistrust threatens, wills clash, and an undeniable, passionate love will change the future of the monarchy forever. Every dynasty has a beginning. 

Every legend starts with a story. 

This is theirs.

  ADD TO GOODREADS      

ROYALLY YOURS will be available on October 30th

Pre-order:

iBooks | B&N | Google Play | Kobo

Get an alert when the book is available on Amazon

     


About the author:

    Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.


  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | GOODREADS | READER FAN GROUP  

ARC Review: "A Nordic King" by Karina Halle

A Nordic King by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

A STANDALONE ROYAL ROMANCE

When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.
Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.

Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.

Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.
And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.
Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.

It’s their father.
Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible. 

Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.
But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.

You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?
Try falling in love with a king.

A Standalone Royal Romance Spin-Off

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON 

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Nordic King...who is very hard to describe because I am going to combust from the feels and the need to have one like him IRL. Let's say that King Aksel has been a constant reminder since the release of the first book in this tie-in standalones, The Sweedish Prince.

And after finally reading his story I knew that my patience had paid off.

We have Aurora, an Australian woman who gets the job of the royal nanny in the Danish palace. And has Aksel as her boss. With two sweet girls, a wayward pet and the press following whenever she goes, Aurora has also to deal with her growing feelings for the King and the forbidden romance and secrets that come with it.

The tension was amazing, cooled in between with extremely funny scenes and amazing descriptions along with Danish words and food.

There is also the slight chance, and I hope Karina Halle will consider it, of writing the story of Stella and her own daughter.

At this point, Karina is one of my top favorite authors whose stories I enjoy very, very much!

About the author:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also  sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.