May 27, 2021 – Gwendalyn’s Books

Hello, Welcome

To my stop on The Last Warrior Book Tour!

Don’t forget to enter the Giveaway at the very end of my post

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publishing date: May 4th, 2021

Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Abby Beckett is proud to come from a long line of elite Viking warriors known as the Aesir. She’s spent her entire life training to hunt the horrific creatures known as Grendels – the ancient foe of the Aesir – just like her mother did before she died. But there’s just one, small problem: No one has seen a Grendel in centuries, and the Viking Council wants to disband the Aesir . . . forever.

When her father is injured in an attack that leaves him in a coma, Abby is forced to take refuge at Vale Hall, a mysterious school in Minnesota where nothing is quite as it seems. She soon discovers the tables have turned and a Grendel is hunting her, but when she tries to alert the Viking Council, they accuse her of making up stories for attention . . . just like her mother did.

Desperate to protect her father and clear her mother’s name, Abby goes on a dangerous quest to discover the truth–a journey that brings her face-to-face with some unlikely foes, including a Ping-Pong-playing sea monster with a wicked backhand, and a dark Valkyrie with a fondness for bingo. Abby quickly realizes that someone at the school is trying to stop her progress and destroy the Aesir for good. And only she can unravel the sinister plot before it’s too late.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.

Sam Subity’s debut is an action packed middle grade adventure, The Last Shadow Warrior with a passing reference to Beowulf.

We follow twelve year old Abby Beckett who has lost her mother four years before. Abby is descended from a long line of Viking warriors. She’s been steadfast in practicing her skills in preparation for her entrance into the Aesir, but without guidance she has had to wait until she is fourteen.Things take on a dark tone when Abby finds herself attacked by a menacing creature, that might be an ancient foe, a treacherous Grendel. In a series of events Abby father is hospitalized and she must learn to trust two friends Grimsby and Gwynn. All together they must work together to save Abby’s father who is a coma after a deadly attack.

This is such wonderful story about finding ones own strength and also allowing support of others help when you need it most. Friendship is a strong theme along with with insecurities that young people deal with everyday.

The world building was delightful, along with with magical realism.The author does a superb job in weaving Norse mythology in a modern day setting!

The Innovative world building and incisive character development make this compulsively readable. I can’t wait for the next installment Oh my stars, this was a delightful book experience. I definitely need buy several copies an give out to middle graders I know

Author

Sam Subity loves writing stories that explore the magic and wonder of being a kid and is thrilled to share his writing with readers everywhere—both the young in age and the young at heart.

When he’s not writing, you might find him running the trails of northern California where the endless, winding miles past fog and ocean inspire stories of adventure and mystery.

Or he might be mowing his lawn. Because that’s what adults sometimes have to do.

But in either case, Sam Subity is very likely imagining himself fighting mythical creatures or at the prow of a dragon ship feeling the wind and sea spray on his face alongside his own Viking queen and their two Vikelets. His greatest hope is that in reading his books, you too may be transported to another place where, for a little while, you can exchange the ordinary for the extraordinary.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Giveaway

*US Only Sorry *

One winner will received a signed finished copy of The Last Shadow Warrior. This giveaway ends on
May 31st.

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Welcome readers to my stop on The Poison Keepers Blog Tour

THE POISON KEEPER
BY DEBORAH SWIFT

Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Quire Books
Paperback & eBook; 406 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Naples 1633

Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill.

Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell Giulia the hidden keys to her success. When Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade.

Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi.

The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under Domenico’s thrall, insists that she should be consort to him – the brother of the man she has vowed to kill.

Based on the legendary life of Italian poisoner Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how even the darkest desires can be vanquished by courage and love.

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Please excuse any grammatical errors, or typos. I have done my best, but in reality I am just reader. and will leave the writing to all the incredible authors out there.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Poison Keeper by Deborah Swift is a thrilling tale of Giulia Tofana.

1633 Palermo, Giulia Tofana desires to learn all the secrets that her mother keeps from her in her apothecary. When her mother is linked to the attempted murder of cruel Duke de Verdi. The shocking truth comes to life, Giulia mother is a notorious poisoner, who supplies women the means to escape the harsh realities of marriage.

In a series of events Giulia’s world is turned upside down, she must flee the own home she knows leaving behind her mother and everything she knows. Barely escaping with her life she boards a boat bound for Naples.

Giulia D’Adamo seeks out her aunt Isabetta, who she knows nothing about. Upon her arrival she faced with true reality of her aunt’s profession. She now finds herself thrust into the life of courtesan. The realization of her mother outcomes to light, along with her aunt’s political connections.

Giulia vengeance takes a life of its own and finds herself taking up her mother’s line of work as her profession as a courtesan comes to end.

Swift delivers another vividly descriptive, interesting, and well-written read here. The characters and a setting both totally captivated and intrigued me. I was totally taken in and fascinated with both the main character and the details of her life.

The book is the perfect blend of historical fiction and the authors own creativity. Once I started reading this one it was hard not to get totally wrapped up into its fascinating storyline. I devoured this one as fast as I could and was completely drawn into the lives of these characters.

Thanks to the author and to HFBT!

About the Author

Deborah Swift is the author of three previous historical novels for adults, The Lady’s Slipper, The Gilded Lily, and A Divided Inheritance, all published by Macmillan/St Martin’s Press, as well as the Highway Trilogy for teens (and anyone young at heart!). Her first novel was shortlisted for the Impress prize for new novelists.

She lives on the edge of the beautiful and literary English Lake District – a place made famous by the poets Wordsworth and Coleridge.

For more information, please visit Deborah Swift’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.