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Tag Archives: fantasy

Ascendant (The Made Ones Saga, #3) by Vicki Stiefel – Feature

09 Monday May 2022

Posted by WWMB in Featuring....

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fantasy, feature, romance, scifi, series, Vicki Stiefel

I’m looking forward to the release of Ascendant by Vicki Stiefel. I’ve enjoyed books 1 and 2 in the Made Ones series, so I’m sure this will be a good one!

About Ascendant by Vicki Stiefel

What if you could be young again? Would it be a dream come true or truly a nightmare? For Sybelle, the youngest of the Balazova sisters, awakening on the parallel world of Eleutia is no delight. From experiencing near suffocation to changes in her flesh, Eleutia seems a strange and hostile place, though the world itself feels oddly familiar. Her resonance with The Kestrel, the mysterious leader of the CastOuts, only increases her bewilderment, as does the appearance of Mother Tree.

As Mother pulls Sybi into her orbit, the controlling Alchemics tighten their noose on Eleutia. War is brewing—no longer will Eleutia’s symbiotic animal clans tolerate the Alchemic strictures.

Could Sybelle be the fulcrum fated to avoid destruction and save this strange world? Or is she merely a pawn to be used by the Alchemics in their battle for supremacy? Worse, will Sybi’s tug-of-war ultimately destroy her, the sisters she adores, and the man who has come to mean the world to her.. Or will she ascend, triumphant, and save all she holds dear?

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Want to get a taste of this story. You can read chapter 1 here: http://www.vickistiefel.net/ascendant.

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To celebrate her new release, Vicki Stiefel is running a giveaway. The prizes include:

A new Kindle (giving away 2)

$25 Amazon Gift Cert. (giving away 2)

Eleutian Earrings, gold over sterling silver

Eleutian Bee Pendant, gold over sterling silver

Paperbacks of ASCENDANT (giving away 2)

5 eBooks, ASCENDANT

To enter the giveway, head over to Vicki’s website: http://www.vickistiefel.net/.

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Pre-order Ascendant (releases May 15):

If you are new to the series, you may want to go for omnibus that includes all three books in the series (releases May 15):

Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky, #2) by Rebecca Roanhorse – Review

19 Tuesday Apr 2022

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

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4 stars, Book Review, fantasy, Rebecca Roanhorse, scifi, series

Review of Fevered Star

After reading Black Sun, I was pleased to get an advance copy of Fevered Star, which continues the story of a world on the edge of war after the arrival of the Crow God.  Like the first novel, this one is full of power-hungry, morally corrupt characters. 

The great eclipse and associated assassinations have left a huge power vacuum and everyone is plotting for control.  In addition to the many plotters, there are the characters who captured some of my sympathy in Black Sun:  Serapio, the Crow God assassin seems lost, with many vying for control of him and his powers.  Xiala, who wanted only to re-connect with Serapio, is caught up with his enemies in a tenuous situation.  Naranpa, the once and future Sun God, is both horrified and awed by her powers. 

As fantasies goes, this series is highly original, basing mythologies on pre-Columbian American native cultures.  It also features a matriarchal society, with religions that are being defined and re-defined in the aftermath of the convergence.

I found the constant lack of cooperation, goodness and friendships to be too reminiscent of many things going on the world today.  For this reason, I had to put the book aside several times and read something lighter.   I don’t think I will continue the series.  But many will appreciate all the treachery and intrigue in a well-written story with a fresh approach to fantasy.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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About Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

There are no tides more treacherous than those of the heart. —Teek saying

The great city of Tova is shattered. The sun is held within the smothering grip of the Crow God’s eclipse, but a comet that marks the death of a ruler and heralds the rise of a new order is imminent.

The Meridian: a land where magic has been codified and the worship of gods suppressed. How do you live when legends come to life, and the faith you had is rewarded?

As sea captain Xiala is swept up in the chaos and currents of change, she finds an unexpected ally in the former Priest of Knives. For the Clan Matriarchs of Tova, tense alliances form as far-flung enemies gather and the war in the heavens is reflected upon the earth.

And for Serapio and Naranpa, both now living avatars, the struggle for free will and personhood in the face of destiny rages. How will Serapio stay human when he is steeped in prophecy and surrounded by those who desire only his power? Is there a future for Naranpa in a transformed Tova without her total destruction?

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Links

Add Fevered Star to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase books in the Between Earth and Sky series:

The Blood Trials (The Blood Gift Duology, #1) by N. E. Davenport – Review

29 Tuesday Mar 2022

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

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5 stars, Book Review, fantasy, N. E. Davenport, scifi, series

Review of The Blood Trials

Wow, what a story!  Terrible while at the same time, hopeful.  Ikenna Amari, the main character, is about to give up on her training when she learns that her hero grandfather was very likely murdered.  With renewed determination to bring down the killer, she pledges to the most elite branch of service, the Praetorian Guard. 

The training is horrendous.  The trainers are seasoned Praetorians following the long-established tradition of weeding out those they consider to be weak.  It is pretty much every person for themselves even when they are teamed up. 

Those that do not survive will end up dead. 

I can’t help thinking that this was a most despicable way to train loyal soldiers.  The trainers seem to have no regard for the lives of the trainees.  I was appalled at the first death (killing) and my disgust never really quieted.  Still, the book blurb warned me, sort of, so I kept reading.

Ikenna has the blood gift, a fact which must be kept from everyone or she risks everything.   This complicates her training, but while she and the pledges endure the training, the investigation into Verne Amaris’ death proceeds.  Added to the trials and the investigation is the blatant racism against Ikenna and her grandfather from the large majority of the Praetorians, the government and even her fellow trainees. 

With each bit of evidence Ikenna uncovers, the plot widens.  The peace of Mareen and its allies is threatened and Ikenna have a pivotal role when the decision of war or peace, harmony or rebellion, is decided.

Blending science fiction and fantasy, this book is a bit difficult to categorize.  I feel that fantasy comes out on top, but the non-earth setting gives it a scifi feel.  Technology is not highly advanced and I found the lack of communication technology a major missing piece, though it made the trials even more dangerous.  Ikenna’s blood gift and the presence of other supernatural forces is what makes this a fantasy.  The characters are very young, so this book may appeal to young adults, but I would not categorize it as such.

Racism, elitism, war, disregard for life, hope, diversity, heritage, and self are the themes that are woven through the story.  Sadly, friendship, and cooperation do not seem to be important.   The Blood Trials ends just as things are getting interesting.  No, not a cliffhanger, but there is much more to the story.  I have every intention of reading book two when it comes out. 

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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About The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

It’s all about blood.

The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.

The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered. For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her. Who trained her to keep that a secret.

But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.

Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials—a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that—if found out—would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time. Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself—and one’s blood—is more important than anything.

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Purchase The Blood Trials (Releases 4/5/2022):

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Recent Posts

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