Posted in 4 paws, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Review, Young Adult on January 25, 2019

Synopsis

It has been nine months since Gordy and his friends, Max and Adilene, stopped Esmerelda from destroying B.R.E.W. and the Vessel. Gordy is starting the eighth grade, where he meets another Dram, Sasha Brexil, whose mother is the new President of B.R.E.W. Gordy has also been practicing new brewing techniques, and has even taken some of his potions to school—something expressly forbidden—but when he starts zoning out during practice, he knows something is wrong.

Strange things are also happening at B.R.E.W., because after Wanda confronts the dark Elixirists, she is unexpectedly fired by Mrs. Brexil. And in Greenland, Mezzarix is offered a chance to escape by an old friend, who is working for the mysterious Ms. Bimini. The woman reveals that she needs Mezzarix to replicate an unusual solution known as “Silt.” Mezzarix agrees on one condition: that Ms. Bimini uses the power of Silt to destroy B.R.E.W. forever.

Gordy and his friends continue to work on their potions, but when Adilene learns she will never be able to brew potions—that the only reason she had ever come close was because Gordy was projecting his ability through her—she is crushed. Against her better judgment, she uses an invisibility potion given to her by her new friend, Cadence, to spy on Gordy.

As Gordy’s potion-making talents increase, so does the frequency of his blackouts, which raises a troubling question: What if Mezzarix attacks during one of Gordy’s blackouts?

Both B.R.E.W and the Vessel are in danger, and with the potion world in chaos, it’s up to Gordy, Max, and Adeline to rally the remaining Potion Masters before it’s too late.

Review

Gordy and the gang are back in The Transparency Tonic and are out to keep B.R.E.W. safe.

It has been about a year since I read the first book and this one was just as enjoyable.  I read a lot so it did take me a short time to get back into the swing of the story and the characters, but once I refamiliarized myself it was like I had just finished the first book.  The author has a way of weaving a tale and making it enjoyable for all ages, not just the younger crowd.  I enjoyed the creativity of the characters when dealing with various situations and the potions that Gordy would come up with was ingenious.

There was one chapter that at first I felt was out of place with the flow of the story until I arrived at the end of the said chapter and then it all made much more sense.  I don’t want to give away too much of the story but let’s just say that things are not as they seem.

There is a young girl that is introduced that just set off all sorts of bad vibes for me.  I just had this feeling there was more to her story and what she was there to do than what was portrayed.

I have to say that this book does give me a good chuckle with the antics of Gordy, Max, and Adeline.  Even some of the adult characters are a bit mischevious and find themselves in some sticky situations.

The story ends well but does leave it open for future books and a continuation of the Stitser family.

We give this book 4 paws up.  If you are going to read it, make sure to start with the first book, The Eternity Elixier.  You can read my review of that book here.

About the Author

Frank L. Cole was born into a family of southern storytellers and wrote his first book at age eight. Highly superstitious and gullible to a fault, Frank will believe in any creepy story you tell him, especially ones involving ghosts and Big Foot. Currently, along with his wife and three children, he resides in the shadow of a majestic western mountain range, which is most likely haunted. Potion Masters The Eternity Elixir is Frank’s 10th published book.

I’m an active promoter of reading and using imagination and have been to more than 150 schools presenting to kids.

With a good imagination, you can solve any problem you ever come up against in life!

Twitter * Website * Facebook

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Posted in 5 paws, Fantasy, Historical, Review, Time Travel, Trailer, Young Adult on January 8, 2019

Einstein’s Compass

A YA Time Traveler Adventure

by

Grace Blair & Laren Bright

Genre: Young Adult / Historical / Fantasy / Science Fiction

Certified Lexile Measure: 860L

Publisher: Modern Mystic Media

Publication Date: January 2, 2019

Number of Pages: 394 pages

Coming on Audio, February 2019!

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY! 

How did Albert Einstein come up with his wondrous theories of light and time? In Einstein’s Compass: A YA Time Traveler Adventure, a young Albert is given a supernatural compass that allows him to travel through time and space and find wisdom in other dimensions, including the lost city of Atlantis. But evil forces seek the power of the compass, including a monstrous, shape-shifting dragon from a different age. Can the compass protect Albert from such villainy?

Praise

“This is an amazing story. Everyone should thoroughly enjoy reading it. I was impressed with how the authors managed to incorporate the known information on the lost continent of Atlantis, Light Workers, souls, reincarnation, time travel and the early years of Albert Einstein before he became famous, into a mesmerizing work of fiction readers will have difficulty putting down.  –Doug Simpson, Author of We Lived in Atlantis

“I could not stop reading this book. I read at stop lights and in line at the grocery store. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” –— award-winning children’s author, Lisa Reinicke

This is highly recommended for those who enjoy a saga of good vs. evil that spans tens of thousands of years, for readers who devour novels that blend history and fantasy, and for anyone who is simply looking for a unique story that they will not want to put down.  — Author Jacqui Murray, Ask a Tech Teacher blog

The weaving of the story between the religion realm and Albert’s world is a captivating tale that keeps the reader’s attention. The good and evil of the timeless religious realm is like watching a chess match to see who outwits whom … I hope there is a next book somewhere in my future. –- Rox Burkey, author of the Enigma Series

Time Travel – check
Historical – check
YA – check
Fantasy – check
Fascinating read – check

As you can see, this book checked off a lot of boxes for me and what I like to read.  (Ok, the fantasy genre depends on the book).  But this melds the past and present, time travel, and even some religious aspects with great ease.  I noticed that the book was well researched because many facts of Albert Einstein’s life matched up to another book I read last year, so that made me happy that I didn’t have to run off and figure out which book was right and which one was wrong!

This is a classic good vs. evil plot line – but with some unique twists.  There are light workers which could translate to Guardian Angel in a way since that is how one appears to young Albert when he needs some help.  They are on the religious side because there are references to Jesus, Moses and other biblical figures you might recognize.  Then there is Raka who has managed to survive many centuries only to awake to create havoc in his quest for the Compass which he feels will grant him anything he desires.

There are many characters that are woven into this story that add dimension and kept me engaged in the story from start to finish.  The story was a fairly steady pace until the end as the conflict between Einstein and Raka escalated and the story really took off and moved at a fast pace.

There are times that I gasped at certain events that crushed my heart and other times that I was amazed at the depths of evil from various characters.  I wondered about their sanity but they were the right balance to offset the good characters so that the story wasn’t overly sweet and innocent.

We enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up!

 

Grace Blair is an award-winning self-help and motivational author, and podcast host, who has assisted thousands to find their spiritual wisdom to solve everyday challenges. Throughout her adult life, Grace became a serious student of the spiritual. She found that, often, psychological principles and practices were incomplete, but could be filled out by adding the missing spiritual component. Her approach was always to see practical applications for what she uncovered in the mystical. It was through immersing herself in this field of study and experience that she came up with her idea for her book, Einstein’s Compass. She lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, Dr. John Blair.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram ║

║ Goodreads ║ Amazon Author Page ║ Bublish ║

 

Laren Bright is a three-time Emmy nominated award-winning writer who has written nearly 100 children’s animated cartoon scripts. He has spent the majority of his professional life over the last two decades assisting authors to produce topnotch books with titles and other promotional writing indistinguishable from those of mainstream publishers. During that time, in addition to Einstein’s Compass, he also co-authored a young adult fantasy series and several books for young children about positive values. Laren lives in Los Angeles with his wife, computer, and two grand-dogs.

IMDB ║ Amazon Author Page ║ Website

 

 

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FIRST PRIZE: eBook + Einstein’s Compass Cap

SECOND PRIZE: eBook + Einstein socks; THIRD PRIZE: eBook + bookmark

JANUARY 2-11, 2019

(eBooks can be sent internationally, swag open to USA only)

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

1/2/19 Guest Post All the Ups and Downs
1/2/19 Theme Song Hall Ways Blog
1/3/19 Review That’s What She’s Reading
1/4/19 Book Trailer Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
1/4/19 Author Spotlight Chapter Break Book Blog
1/5/19 Review Reading by Moonlight
1/6/19 Review Forgotten Winds
1/7/19 Excerpt Max Knight
1/8/19 Review StoreyBook Reviews
1/8/19 Author Interview Book Fidelity
1/9/19 Character Spotlight The Book Review
1/9/19 Character Spotlight Rainy Days with Amanda
1/10/19 Review The Clueless Gent
1/11/19 Author Interview Sybrina’s Book Blog
1/11/19 Review Missus Gonzo

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Posted in Fantasy, Giveaway, paranormal, Texas, Time Travel on December 6, 2018

The Janus Witch

by

Michael Scott Clifton

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Romance

Publisher: Book Liftoff

Publication Date: September 1, 2018

Number of Pages: 372 pages

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

Malice vs Love

A beautiful witch, a member of a murderous coven, is torn from her medieval world and transported to East Texas. The passage leaves her with no memory of her previous life. She falls in love with a young pediatrician, but her dark past threatens to reassert itself…and make her a threat.

Praise

This book is filled with magic, intrigue, excitement, and fantasy. Michael Scott Clifton is a truly gifted author.  — Teresa Syms, Readers’ Favorite

This novel was an absolute page turner with action and great character development. I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m excited for the next work by Mike Clifton. — Bronwyn Pegues, Librarian, Longview Public Library

“Michael Scott Clifton weaves and casts a magical spell in his fantasy romance The Janus Witch. A must read for any Fantasy Romance, Urban Romance, or Paranormal Romance enthusiast!” — Ranay James, Author of The McKinnon Legends: A Time Travel Series

A continuous flow of witchery and energy that kept this reader captivated until the end. — The Electric Review, 5-Star Review

5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Author Michael Clifton

Fun fact 1 – As an 11-year-old, Michael was in a Baskin-Robbins commercial holding an ice cream cone with all 31 flavors!

Fun fact 2 – Michael served all 38 years in public education at the same school, Chapel Hill ISD, Mt. Pleasant, TX. He served as the district’s first Athletic Director, their first Assistant principal, and served as the district’s first ever Jr. High Principal.

Fun fact 3 – Michael was one of the orphan boys in the Albuquerque Little Theater production of Oliver! He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from Eldorado High School.

Fun fact 4 – Michael’s car, a 1966 Volkswagen Squareback, broke down three times on his honeymoon, including once in the tiny Mississippi town of D’Lo. Michael and his wife finished their honeymoon with only a quarter—to be used to call for help should the VW break down again.

Fun Fact 5 – NBA Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal, stood next to nearly six-foot-five Michael at an Austin buffet. Seventeen years old and over seven-foot-tall at the time, Shaquille was there with his San Antonio Cole team who won the Boys State Basketball Tournament that year. Michael says, “Biggest human I’ve ever been next to in real life.  I had to look up…way up just to see his face!  I coached basketball for 21 years, and I’m used to tall kids, but Shaq took it to a whole new level.”

 

Michael Scott Clifton, public educator for over 38 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie, and the family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys…adventure, magic, fantasy, romance, and relationships. He has been a finalist in a number of short story contests. Clifton’s fantasy novel, The Conquest of the Veil, won a First Chapter Finalist award. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Janus Witch, the July Book Cover of the Month, is a featured book on the We Love Indie Books website. Currently, Clifton is completing Book I of The Conquest of the Veil, which will be released in March 2019. He can be reached at mike@michaelscottclifton.com.

 

 

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 ║ Goodreads ║ Amazon Author Page ║

 

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DECEMBER 4-13, 2018

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12/4/18 Excerpt All the Ups and Downs
12/4/18 Book Trailer Books and Broomsticks
12/5/18 Review Bibliotica
12/6/18 Author Interview That’s What She’s Reading
12/6/18 Top 5 List StoreyBook Reviews
12/7/18 Review Momma on the Rocks
12/8/18 Excerpt Texas Book Lover
12/8/18 Promo The Book Review
12/9/18 Review Book Fidelity
12/10/18 Author Interview Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
12/10/18 Excerpt Chapter Break Book Blog
12/11/18 Review Nerd Narration
12/12/18 Guest Post Rainy Days with Amanda
12/13/18 Review The Clueless Gent
12/13/18 Review Reading by Moonlight

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Posted in Fantasy, Giveaway, Urban, Young Adult on September 3, 2018

Book Title: A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett
Category: YA Fiction, 232 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: World Castle Publishing
Release date: Jan 13, 2018
Content Rating: PG (There’s a kiss and some mild violence)

Synopsis

Penelope Grace, usually forgotten under the shadow of her twin sister’s perfection, tries her hardest to hide her freakish ability to see into anyone’s soul.

Until she senses an unusual energy like a human-shaped void in the universe. When Penny investigates the source, she gets tossed through a crack in time along with the cute boy next door. The Void follows them through history, increasing the dangers as if testing Penny. But what is it testing for? And why does it claim to know her better than even she knows herself? Even as Penny searches for answers, she must fight to survive the tragedies of both the past and future in order to get back home.

 

About the Author

Aspen Bassett works at a library, telling stories and suggesting books. When she’s not working, she’s usually sipping hot cocoa and wondering what would happen if she had superpowers. She’s been published in multiple anthologies including Oomph: A Little Super Goes a Long Way and Inaccurate Realities.

Aspen grew up learning about chakras and auras and the true power of imagination which slips into her writing whether she intends it to or not. In college, when she wasn’t busy working on her degree in Creative Writing, Aspen also got her certificate in Women’s Meditation (basically general energy work). Now, she’s working toward a diploma in Integrated Healing Arts with a certificate in Hypnotherapy.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Giveaway

Prizes: Win a paperback or ebook copy of A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett. Two winners will also get a $10 Amazon GC (open to USA & Canada / 15 winners total)

(ends Sept 22, 2018)

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Posted in Fantasy, Giveaway, Science Fiction, Trailer, Young Adult on August 23, 2018

Book Title: Eternity’s Account: Rulers (Book #4)
Authors: Julie Bryson & Catherine Sharpe
Category: YA Fiction, 364 pages
Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy
Publisher: Createspace
Release date: April 1,2018

Synopsis

Patterns. They are the material weaved to make the intricate fabric of the universe. The one guiding the threads is the one teaching the 12 chosen children to recognize the complex design within the fabric of time. Each stitch aligns the essential elements of the story, revealing the intended pattern to be followed. Owr, the master creator, has tucked the invisible into the hem of the visible, allowing the children to peek between the tightly drawn threads to study how the spiritual affects the physical.

​The Eternity’s Account series continues – beyond the creation, the inception of evil, the fall of man, the division of kingdoms, and the fusion of dimensions. As the children tug on the seam of the cosmos, a new set of patterns is exposed. They prepare to witness the next stage in the saga; the rise of the rulers and the effects they will have upon the fate of the universe.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ IndieBound

Trailer

About the Authors

Catherine Sharpe graduated from New Mexico Military Institute, achieved a Master’s degree from California State University Northridge, and earned her doctorate in Language and Culture from the University of Texas Austin and Strassford University. She has three boys and has been married to her husband Larry for over 20 years. They reside in Louisiana.

Julie Bryson authored the book “Out of the Ashes: How Autism Changed My Life” after her youngest of three daughters was diagnosed as autistic. She is a cosmetologist and fitness instructor. She has been married to her husband Chris since 1994, and they live next door to Catherine.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Giveaway

Win all 4 books in the Eternity’s Account series (open to USA only – 1 winner)

(ends Sept 1, 2018)

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Posted in Book Release, excerpt, Fantasy, Science Fiction on August 21, 2018

Synopsis

In a city that runs on industrialized magic, a secret war will be fought to overwrite reality itself–the first in a dazzling new series from City of Stairs author Robert Jackson Bennett.

Sancia Grado is a thief, and a damn good one. And her latest target, a heavily guarded warehouse on Tevanne’s docks, is nothing her unique abilities can’t handle.

But unbeknownst to her, Sancia’s been sent to steal an artifact of unimaginable power, an object that could revolutionize the magical technology known as scriving. The Merchant Houses who control this magic–the art of using coded commands to imbue everyday objects with sentience–have already used it to transform Tevanne into a vast, remorseless capitalist machine. But if they can unlock the artifact’s secrets, they will rewrite the world itself to suit their aims.

Now someone in those Houses wants Sancia dead, and the artifact for themselves. And in the city of Tevanne, there’s nobody with the power to stop them.

To have a chance at surviving—and at stopping the deadly transformation that’s under way—Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies, learn to harness the artifact’s power for herself, and undergo her own transformation, one that will turn her into something she could never have imagined.

Praise

“A stunning fantasy [from] the endlessly inventive Bennett…a crackling, wonderfully weird blend of science fiction, fantasy, heist adventure, and a pointed commentary on what it means to be human in a culture obsessed with technology, money, and power.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Mona Lisa meets The Matrix…A grand entertainment [that] inaugurates another series of imaginative, thoroughly idiosyncratic fantasy novels.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Intricate worldbuilding, fascinating magic, and engaging characters. More please!”  —Felicia Day, New York Times bestselling author of You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

“In Foundryside, scriving magic is the cheat code to reality, and Bennett is a master gamer. A refreshing look at magic—featuring a heroine every reader will root for—from one of the smartest writers I know.” —Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Demon Cycle

“Inventive, immersive, and thrilling, Foundryside is a fascinating look at how our best intentions can be corrupted—and how wickedly awesome and terrifying gravity belts can be. Do yourself a favor and pick this up.” —Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles

“Fast-paced, intelligent, and fun with a fantastically cool magic system. I can’t wait to read the next one.” —Brian McClellan, author of The Powder Mage trilogy

Foundryside pulls you in with fast-paced heists, then knocks you down with its innovative magic system. Fun, thoughtful, and thrilling from cover to cover, it’s sword-and-sorcery meets computer programming.” —James L. Sutter, co-creator of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

“Bennett spins a marvelous tale reminiscent of Sanderson. Foundryside is a gripping story with clever characters, intriguing plot, and spectacular worldbuilding.” —Charlie Holmberg, author of the Paper Magician series

“The best epic fantasy of the year is also the best cyberpunk of the year. How often do you get to say that?” —Dan Wells, author of I Am Not a Serial Killer

“An irresistible, fast-paced adventure that welcomes even non-fantasy fans into its pages, unveiling a remarkable world of magic and intrigue. With non-stop twists, a compelling cast of characters, and an innovative magic system, Foundryside is an altogether terrific read.” —Sebastian de Castell, author of The Greatcoats series

Excerpt

Chapter 1

As Sancia Grado lay face down in the mud, stuffed underneath the wooden deck next to the old stone wall, she reflected that this evening was not going at all as she had wanted.

It had started out decently. She’d used her forged identifications to make it onto the Michiel property, and that had gone swimmingly – the guards at the first gates had barely glanced at her.

Then she’d come to the drainage tunnel, and that had gone… less swimmingly. It had worked, she supposed – the drainage tunnel had allowed her to slink below all the interior gates and walls and get close to the Michiel foundry – but her informants had neglected to mention the tunnel’s abundance of centipedes, mud adders, and shit, of both the human and equine variety.

Sancia hadn’t liked it, but she could handle it. That had not been her first time crawling through human waste.

But the problem with crawling through a river of sewage is that, naturally, you tend to gain a powerful odor. Sancia had tried to stay downwind from the security posts as she crept through the foundry yards. But just when she reached the north gate, some distant guard had cried out, “Oh, my God, what is that smell?” and then, to her alarm, dutifully gone looking for the source.

She’d avoided being spotted, but she’d been forced to flee into a dead-end foundry passageway and hide under the crumbling wooden deck, which had likely once been a guard post. But the problem with this hiding place, she’d quickly realized, was it gave her no means of escape: there was nothing in the walled foundry passageway besides the deck, Sancia, and the guard.

Sancia stared out at the guard’s muddy boots as he paced by the deck, sniffing. She waited until he walked past her, then poked her head out.

He was a big man, wearing a shiny steel cap and a leather cuirass embossed with the loggotippo of the Michiel Body Corporate – the candle flame set in the window – along with leather pauldrons and bracers. Most troublingly, he had a rapier sheathed at his side.

Sancia narrowed her eyes at the rapier. She thought she could hear a whispering in her mind as he walked away, a distant chanting. She’d assumed the blade was scrived, but that faint whispering confirmed it – and she knew a scrived blade could cut her in half with almost no effort at all.

This was such a damned stupid way to get cornered, she thought as she withdrew. And I’ve barely even started the job.

She had to get to the carriage fairways, which were probably only about two hundred feet away, behind the far wall. And she needed to get to them sooner rather than later.

She considered her options. She could dart the man, she supposed, for Sancia did have a little bamboo pipe and a set of small but expensive darts that were soaked in the poison of dolorspina fish; a lethal pest found in the deeper parts of the ocean. Diluted enough, the venom should only knock its victim into a deep sleep, with an absolute horror of a hangover a few hours later.

But the guard was sporting pretty decent armor. Sancia would have to make the shot perfect, perhaps aiming for his armpit. The risk of missing was far too high.

She could try to kill him, she supposed. She did have her stiletto, and she was an able sneak, and though she was small, she was strong for her size.

But Sancia was a lot better at thieving than she was killing, and this was a trained merchant house guard. She did not like her chances there.

Moreover, Sancia had not come to the Michiel foundry to slit throats, break faces, or crack skulls. She was here to do a job.

A voice echoed down the passageway: “Ahoy, Nicolo! What are you doing away from your post?”

“I think something died in the drains again. It smells like death down here!”

“Ohh, hang on,” said the voice. There came the sound of footsteps.

Ah, hell, thought Sancia. Now there are two of them…

She needed a way out of this, and fast.

She looked back at the stone wall behind her, thinking. Then she sighed, crawled over to it, and hesitated.

She did not want to spend her strength so soon. But she had no choice.

Sancia pulled off her left glove, pressed her bare palm to the dark stones, shut her eyes, and used her talent.

The wall spoke to her.

The wall told her of foundry smoke, of hot rains, of creeping moss, of the tiny footfalls of the thousands of ants that had traversed its mottled face over the decades. The surface of the wall bloomed in her mind, and she felt every crack and every crevice, every dollop of mortar and every stained stone.

All of this information coursed into Sancia’s thoughts the second she touched the wall. And among this sudden eruption of knowledge was what she had really been hoping for.

Loose stones. Four of them, big ones, just a few feet away from her. And on the other side, some kind of closed, dark space, about four feet wide and tall. She instantly knew where to find it like she’d built the wall herself.

There’s a building on the other side, she thought. An old one. Good.

Sancia took her hand away. To her dismay, the huge scar on the right side of her scalp was starting to hurt.

A bad sign. She’d have to use her talent a lot more than this tonight.

She replaced her glove and crawled over to the loose stones. It looked like there had been a small hatch here once, but it’d been bricked up years ago. She paused and listened – the two guards now seemed to be loudly sniffing the breeze.

“I swear to God, Pietro,” said one, “it was like the devil’s shit!” They began pacing the passageway together.

Sancia gripped the topmost loose stone and carefully, carefully tugged at it.

It gave way, inching out slightly. She looked back at the guards, who were still bickering.

Quickly and quietly, Sancia hauled the heavy stones out and placed them in the mud, one after the other. Then she peered into the musty space.

It was dark within, but she now let in a little light – and she saw many tiny eyes staring at her from the shadows, and piles of tiny turds on the stone floor.

Rats, she thought. Lots of them.

Still, nothing to do about it. Without another thought, she crawled into the tiny, dark space.

The rats panicked and began crawling up the walls, fleeing into cracks and crevices in the stones. Several of them scampered over Sancia, and a few tried to bite her – but Sancia was wearing what she called her “thieving rig,” a homemade, hooded, improvised outfit made of thick, gray woolen cloth and old black leather that covered all of her skin and was quite difficult to tear through.

As she got her shoulders through, she shook the rats off or swatted them away – but then a large rat, easily weighing two pounds, rose up on its hind legs and hissed at her threateningly.

Sancia’s fist flashed out and smashed the big rat, crushing its skull against the stone floor. She paused, listening to see if the guards had heard her – and, satisfied that they had not, she hit the big rat again for good measure. Then she finished crawling inside, and carefully reached out and bricked up the hatch behind her.

There, she thought, shaking off another rat and brushing away the turds. That wasn’t so bad.

She looked around. Though it was terribly dark, her eyes were adjusting. It looked like this space had once been a fireplace where the foundry workers cooked their food, long ago. The fireplace had been boarded up, but the chimney was open above her – though she could see now that someone had tried to board up the very top as well.

She examined it. The space within the chimney was quite small. But then, so was Sancia. And she was good at getting into tight places.

With a grunt, Sancia leapt up, wedged herself in the gap, and began climbing up the chimney, inch by inch. She was about halfway up it when she heard a clanking sound below.

She froze and looked down. There was a bump, and then a crack, and light spilled into the fireplace below her.

The steel cap of a guard poked into the fireplace. The guard looked down at the abandoned rat’s nest and cried, “Ugh! Seems the rats have built themselves a merry tenement here. That must have been the smell.”

Sancia stared down at the guard. If he but glanced up, he’d spy her instantly.

The guard looked at the big rat she’d killed. She tried to will herself not to sweat so no drops would fall on his helmet.

“Filthy things,” muttered the guard. Then his head withdrew.

Sancia waited, still frozen – she could still hear them talking below. Then, slowly, their voices withdrew.

She let out a sigh. This is a lot of risk to get to one damned carriage.

She finished climbing and came to the top of the chimney. The boards there easily gave way to her push. Then she clambered out onto the roof of the building, lay flat, and looked around.

To her surprise, she was right above the carriage fairway – exactly where she needed to be. She watched as one carriage charged down the muddy lane to the loading dock, which was a bright, busy blotch of light in the darkened foundry yards. The foundry proper loomed above the loading dock, a huge, near-windowless brick structure with six fat smokestacks pouring smoke into the night sky.

She crawled to the edge of the roof, took off her glove, and felt the lip of the wall below with a bare hand. The wall blossomed in her mind, every crooked stone and clump of moss – and every good handhold to help her find her way down.

She lowered herself over the edge of the roof and started to descend. Her head was pounding, her hands hurt, and she was covered in all manner of filthy things. I haven’t even done step one yet, and I’ve already nearly got myself killed.

“Twenty thousand,” she whispered to herself as she climbed. “Twenty thousand duvots.”

A king’s ransom, really. Sancia was willing to eat a lot of shit and bleed a decent amount of blood for twenty thousand duvots. More than she had so far, at least.

The soles of her boots touched earth, and she started to run.

Excerpted from Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. Copyright © 2018 by Robert Jackson Bennett. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

About the Author

ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT is the author, most recently, of the Divine Cities trilogy, which was a 2018 Hugo Awards finalist in the ‘Best Series’ category. The first book in the series, City of Stairs, was also a finalist for the World Fantasy and Locus Awards, and the second, City of Blades, was a finalist for the World Fantasy, Locus, and British Fantasy Awards. His previous novels, which include American Elsewhere and Mr. Shivers, have received the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Phillip K. Dick Citation of Excellence. He lives in Austin with his family.

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Posted in Book Blast, excerpt, Fantasy on August 15, 2018

Synopsis

BHARATVARSHA, LAND OF THE ARYAS: 270 BC

Bindusar, the Samrat Chakravartin of all the Aryas, ruler of the Indian subcontinent, is dead. Chaos rules across the empire. The royal succession turns upon intrigue, dark coalitions, violence and death. The realm stands divided and civil war ensues.

In Vidishanagri: Asoka kills his brother’s Ashwamedha stallion and marches to Patliputra with his army. The ancient Brahminical order rises in his supports, awaiting his entry into the capital. Have they made the right choice?

In Taxila: The rightful heir, Sushem, raises an army to meet the challenge posed by his ambitious and gifted brother, Asoka. He prepares to march to the capital and seize the throne by force. Will history repeat itself; will Sushem achieve what his grandfather Chandragupta did 50 years ago?

In Junagarh: Guild Master Hardeo sets out on a private mission to acquire the great salt pans of Sindh. Will he succeed in his secret enterprise?

In Vidishanagri: Radhagupta travels to fulfill the task allotted to him by the Order. Kanakdatta, the Buddhist, stands up to stop him. Will Radhagupta fail in his mission?

The winds of war howl over the sub-continent, blowing every last person one way or the other. Blood will be spilled, secrets revealed and men ruined. History shall be made.

In Book II of the epic Asoka Trilogy, the storm approaches; the harbinger of death and destruction. When the dust finally settles, the great question will be answered: Who is the next Samrat of the holy Lands of the Aryas?

Excerpt

For many centuries the holy books of the Aryas have preached everything from eternal unity of one’s own kind to selfless service to one’s family and society. But aeons after they were written, we still cannot practice what we preach…

Our lands lie fragmented, divided by everything from regionalism to tribal sentiment and the petty selfishness of individual rulers. Our Rajas had fought over everything from women, to land and pride; so much so that wars with their neighbours has become a habit. And every time some powerful Arya rises above these squabbles and seeks to unify our lands, he turns out to be an evil monster rather than a rightful Samrat. Be it Jarasandha of yore or the tyrannical Nandas of our times, those who have tried to unify our lands have

It is not that the learned men of our society have accepted or become resigned to this state of affairs. They have always attempted to stand against these evil rulers. Be it Lord Krishna of a thousand years ago, or I the humble servitorof my people in these unsettled times.

My name is Arya Chanakya, though I am known as Kautilya these days. Few are privy to my past so take heed of what I say; then hold the words sealed within your breast.

I was born eight decades ago in the northwest of our subcontinent, where the Land of the Aryas ends and those of foreigners like the Mlechhas and the Yavanas begin. For my entire youth I strived for only two things – to accumulate knowledge of our world; and unite our race as a single entity.

People considered me foolish and stubborn. The Rajas laughed at my advice and continued to fight meaningless wars for worthless reasons. For three decades of my life my efforts were in vain as I tried and failed to instill the virtues of unity and service in our rulers.

Then, everything changed. I recognized my mistake. I had been counting on changing the mindset of our people from within. What I should have realized long before was that change of such proportions can only be brought about by a powerful external force. Fifty years ago, that powerful force arrived at the boundaries of our Bharat, armed with insurmountable power. His name was Alexander, and he came from beyond the seven seas, from the lands of the Greeks. His objective was simple – to conquer the whole wide world. And our lands were next – the doorway to the far East.

The Rajas of the northwest reacted as I had expected. They made deals with this foreign foe in order to destroy the enemies of their own race. Even Raja Ambhi of Taxila, did so. Only one man refused to succumb to Alexander. His name was Puru, the mightiest Raja of the region.

But even Puru’s might was no match for Alexander’s tactics and deceit. On the banks of the holy Jhelum, everyone gasped with horror as Puru lost the battle to the Greeks – everyone except me; I just smiled.

As Alexander spent time consolidating power in the northwest, I travelled east to the greatest city of the known world – to Patliputra, ruled by the Nandas. My plan was simple: to ask the Nanda Maharaja to take his army northwest to defeat the Greeks. The people of the northwest were disgusted by the unmanly conduct of their Rajas, almost all of whom had surrendered without a fight. If The Nandas fought and won against the Greeks, the people of the northwest would accept them as their saviours, thereby uniting the subcontinent, north and south, east and west.

But my plan had a serious flaw. While everyone knew the Nandas had the largest standing army in the world, what few people beyond their borders knew was how they used it. I discovered that the army was used to terrorize their subjects. The Nandas were tyrannical kings who ruled with the force of an equally tyrannical army. I witnessed and experienced their tyranny first hand. I was imprisoned and tortured by Nanda lieutenants in Patliputra.

But I was rescued by an Ancient Brotherhood that had dwelled in the tunnels below the city for five centuries. Since its founder, Maharaja Ajatshatru, had laid down its mission, the brothers of the order had zealously safeguarded the interests of the Arya race, secretly. They rescued me from prison and inducted me into their ranks. They bestowed upon me their mission: To bring down the evil Nandas from their thrones.

About the Author

Shreyas is a 21 year old guy currently pursuing his B.Tech in Electrical Eng. from VNIT Nagpur. His love for history since his childhood prompted him to write his take on the story of Asoka who was one of the towering figures in the history of India, which has been taken up as ‘The Asoka Trilogy’ by Leadstart Publishing.

The first part of the trilogy called ‘The Prince of Patliputra’ has been published in January 2016 and garnered positive responses.

He is also presently working on several other manuscripts and completing the final year of his engineering Course.

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Posted in 3 paws, Children, Fantasy, Magic on August 13, 2018

Synopsis

Sarah and her twin brother Jon are heirs to an ancient magical realm and its most valuable treasure, an enchanted library. The library endows readers with the supernatural means of crossing into the uncharted inner-sanctum of the second dimension, inhabited with peculiar and sometimes perilous creatures.

The children are emboldened with a wondrous mystical gift that no other being has ever possessed. But fate intervenes and triggers a disastrous inter-dimensional war that disrupts the fabric of time and space spanning multiple universes, tearing destiny a new and savage pathway.

The two must rescue their world from a phantom hybrid alien race controlled by a demented dark-wizard, Jeremy Sermack. They will either assimilate or be exterminated.

Will they be the saviors the prophets spoke of, or will they retreat to the perceived safety of their distant homeland?

Read an excerpt here

 

Review

People that enjoy fantasy novels just might like this one as it has all sorts of magical beings and a mystery to boot.

The story starts off and we follow Sarah and Jon and a visit to the grandparents. They are intrigued with the farm and everyone that lives there and learn that the dog likes pickles! They are quickly exposed to magical beings and some magic. It is implied that they hold a lot of magical powers themselves but were not raised in that world, so their learning curve is quite steep. I do not remember how old they are (young, perhaps 12ish?) and I would have thought they would be more inquisitive about magic and what they can do, but it is like everyone wanted to hold that information back from the kids.

And then there is the book that has been hidden on the farm thanks to Grandpa’s habit of taking items of interest to him. We are offered a glimpse into the book and its potential powers, but it isn’t really full explained but perhaps that is because no one can read the text?

I felt the like book moved along smoothly for about 2/3 and then it went a bit haywire for me. Many characters were introduced and the library is being inundated with magic from books and evil beings. The story moves quickly, but perhaps too quickly and I felt like there wasn’t a good flow. I’m not sure I really understood what was going on with all the characters and Sarah and Jon were not given a strong introduction to their magic that they could have assisted with what was happening in the library.

The story ends but I don’t think everything is wrapped up (at least not to my liking) so I wonder if there is going to be another book to continue the story?

We give this 3 paws up and this series (if it is a series) has some great potential.

About the Author

Mark was born number seven of eight children in a small town in Ohio. His family moved to Florida where he grew up, met an incredible woman, got married and raised four fantastic children, three boys, and a girl.

Many years later an empty nest left him to his true calling, storytelling. His first remarkable story is about a heroine whose courage and unrestrained personality, like his daughters, breathes passion and fervor into this adrenaline packed fantastical story.

 

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Posted in Fantasy, Giveaway, Middle Grade, Spotlight on June 26, 2018

Book Title: The Blue Moon Narthex by N.J. Donner
Category: Middle-grade Fiction (Ages 8 to 12) 360 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Steele Page Press
Release date: February 7, 2017
Content Rating: PG (Some violence between forces of good and evil, but it’s not bloody or gory)

Synopsis

It’s 1919 and thirteen-year-old Cole McCarthy just wants more time with his father, who is a busy railroad executive. But a horrific train accident leaves Cole’s stepmother as his only family. Alone and lost, Cole wanders his family’s estate and runs into an old family friend who gives him a special object that belonged to his father.

Cole just wants to be a kid, not the owner of the most powerful object in the world. The Blue Moon Narthex is made from tangible bits of Karma and gives Cole the power to transport himself and control Karma.

Now, Alsin Gideon, traitor of the Legion of Karma, is on rampage to take Cole’s narthex and add to his body count. For their safety, Cole and two of his prep school friends are pulled into the enormous secret headquarters of the Legion, which operates like an underground 1920s spy organization. While living at the secret location, Cole learns about the secret double life of his father.

With the pressure to find his role within the legion, maintain a strained relationship with his stepmother, and live up to a daunting legacy left by his father Cole, withdraws and makes secret plans to take on his father’s enemies.

Alsin Gideon cleverly taunts Cole, to meet him at a prearranged battle meant for his father. Cole’s anger and determination boil over and he is willing to risk his powerful tool and Karma’s stability for the hope of getting his parents back.

Will Cole, along with his friends, be able to work together to bring back his parents, keep Karma’s in balance, and stay alive?

Trailer

About the Author

N.J. Donner is a dad who loves to tell stories and create worlds. He has created 3D models of parts of the Legion’s secret headquarters and drawn extensive maps of the underground world where the Legion operates. He loves to explore and to figure out why and how things work, including Karma.

When he’s not writing, N.J. runs a successful steel fabrication business in the Midwest. He loves to travel with his wife, Amanda, and their three children.

Six books are planned for the series taking the three main characters and the Legion of Karma to new continents and new adventures across the world.

Website ~ Book Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Giveaway

Prizes: Win 1 of 10 prize packages that contain a signed copy of The Blue Moon Narthex, a mug, bookmark, lapel pin, and stickers and tattoos (open to USA & CAN – 10 winners)

(ends July 7, 2018)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in 4 paws, Fantasy, Review, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller on June 19, 2018

Synopsis

The world’s fate lies with a comatose young girl; an android wants to remember a human she once knew under Martian skies; men at sea learn that the ocean is a realm far different from land, where an unforgiving god rules; a school security guard discovers extreme English class; and a man understands what the behemoth beneath the sea commands of him.

The Sea Was a Fair Master is a collection of 23 stories, riding the currents of fantasy, science fiction, crime, and horror. There are tales of murder, death, loss, revenge, greed, and hate. There are also tales of hope, survival, and love.

For the sea was a fair master.

Review

All of the stories in this book are quick reads.  They cover a variety of genres and while I haven’t read every story in the book yet, the ones I read were dark and gritty (sort of like that “I need to take a shower now” feel) but the stories make you think about life and how you would react in different situations.

While most of the stories are horror-type books, there is a message in each one.  Several of the stories could be expanded even more if the author chose to create a full-length book.

Definitely worth picking up and reading!

We give it 4 paws up.


 

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