During an entertaining jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Because of this disastrous event, Stephen Brightflame, a nineteen-year-old who aspires to become a knight, embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from further destruction. He joins up with a convicted felon, an arrogant warrior, and a Halfling woman, but quickly learns their pasts are just as dark and disturbing as his own.
Experience the first book in an epic fantasy trilogy that’s been called, “fascinating and captivating” featuring “well-rounded, enjoyable characters, intense action scenes, and riveting twists” (The US Review of Books and Self-Publishing Review).
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.
In the classical fantasy style world building, the author Tony Johnson has written a solid epic fantasy. Faced paced action filled, along with magical atmospheric world building to satisfy any fantasy reader.
The Story of Evil A Hero’s Downfall ” by Tony Johnson @mightytonyj is the first book in this fantastical epic adventure trilogy.
The book catapults you right into the riveting world of Element. Our three young heroes witness a devastating orchestrated attack during a jousting tournament in Celestial. Along with catastrophic losses of man and beast, King Zoran of Celestial is also slain. Stephen Brightflame is a heroic champion jouster from the tournaments, along with his half brother the elf Ty and Kari Quinn an archer who is the daughter of a warrior.
The traitorous son of the dead king, King Zoran, Prince Silvanus steps in and does the unthinkable by handing over the over the fallen city to the Hooded Phantom and his treacherous dragon Nightstrike. The betrayal of the prince earns himself the name “ “Shadow Prince”.
The young night Stephen Brightflame takes a stance against Prince Silvanus, he is earned a death sentence. Freed with the help of his friends they bond together and set about a treacherous journey to warn all of the upcoming attacks by creatures of the dark Lord Zebulon.
A stunningly satisfying book, I cannot quite say just how impossibly good this is, from the first page I was completely immersed, I flew through the pages at lighting speed. It is an addictive, dramatic and gripping fantasy tale. Filled with fleshed out memorable characters, that I enjoyed following. Great dialogue within wonderful banter. The author descriptive narration of the emotions the main protagonist felt, was truly remarkable and incredible. The sub characters are notable and diverse array of fantastic creatures really adds to the enjoyment of this compelling read.
I am excited to read the next installment in this epic fantasy series by this wonderful author.
Enter a chance to win one of three physical copies
There will be a total of 3 winners !
Limited to the US only!
Giving will run from:
Sunday June 19th, at 12am EDT — To Sunday July 26, 11:59 EDT
Tony Johnson is the author of the epic fantasy series,The Story of Evil. He is an avid reader who enjoys fantasy, classic novels, Shakespeare, and Christian literature. He is also a fan of movies, television, videogames, and Tennessee Titans football. He graduated with a Bachelors in English Literature from SUNY Brockport with a certification to teach 7th-12th grade English and Special Education. Tony lives in Batavia, NY and is currently finishing up his Masters Degree and working on the final book in theStory of Evil trilogy.
Hello Today I Decided to take down one of my beautiful antique books to share with you. I have been avid collector of Antique and vintage books for various reasons since childhood.
Today I am featuring The Poet Mr Joh Keats and His love for Miss Fanny Brawne. So grab yourself a cuppa and join me
John Keats
Portrait of English Romantic poet John Keats 1795-1821, by English painter William Hilton National Portrait Gallery, London
Today I want to share with you some my ramblings, in particular I have a a question for you. Have you ever read any of the classics. I know most of us have had to read some sort of classical lit for school or such.
My question really is have picked up on your own and read a piece of classical literature, from a novel or a a delightful book of poetry.
My Mother was an avid reader, so I was introduced early on to classical literature along with, and I kid you not Fantasy and Science Fiction. You would be surprised how easy it is to transition from one to the other.
So this post is particularly about John Keats, and his poetry, along with his love interest. Which I found to have influenced his writing. Maybe not so much is rattled him into putting forth more of effort to write.
His poetry is really fantastic, in its way of imagery, and I am all about forgetting about what’s going on in the world today. I want to be transported into a book or poem.. something that allows me Escape.
Despite his death at the age of 25, Keats is one of the greatest English poets and a key figure in the Romantic movement.
He has become the epitome of the young, beautiful, doomed poet.
John Keats was born on 31 October 1795 in London. His father worked at a livery stable, but died in 1804. His mother remarried, but died of tuberculosis in 1810.
Keats was educated at a school in Enfield. When he left at 16, he was apprenticed to a surgeon. He wrote his first poems in 1814. In 1816, he abandoned medicine to concentrate on poetry. His first volume of poetry was published the following year.
In 1818, Keats nursed his brother Tom through the final stages of tuberculosis, the disease that had killed their mother. Tom died in December and Keats moved to his friend Charles Brown’s house in Hampstead. There he met and fell deeply in love with a neighbour, the 18-year old Fanny Brawne.
This was the beginning of Keats’ most creative period. He wrote, among others, ‘The Eve of St Agnes’, ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’, ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ and ‘To Autumn’. The group of five odes, which include ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, are ranked among the greatest short poems in the English language.
From September 1819, Keats produced little more poetry. His financial difficulties were now severe. He became engaged to Fanny Brawne, but with no money there was little prospect of them marrying.
Early in 1820, Keats began to display symptoms of tuberculosis. His second volume of poetry was published in July, but he was by now very ill. In September, Keats and his friend Joseph Severn left for the warmer weather of Italy, in the hope that this would improve Keats’ health. When they reached Rome, Keats was confined to bed. Severn nursed him devotedly, but Keats died in Rome on 23 February 1821. He was buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome.
All of these devices work together to createrhythmand music in his poems. His most popular poems include:
Ode on Melancholy,
Ode on a Grecian Urn
Ode to Autumn
Ode to a Nightingale
La Belle Dame Sans Mercy
Imitation of Spenser
Hyperion,” and “Isabella.
Among his sonnets, the most popular are
“Bright Stars! Would I were steadfast as Thou Art,” “When I have Fears that I may Cease to be,” “Endymion,” “The Eve of St. Agnes,”and “Lamia.”
More About Him
Keats did not harness dramatic andnarrativepowernecessary to present individual characters. Instead, he was gifted with lyrical power to present characters with expressive moods. Often, these moods were of pensiveness, romantic sadness, or indolence, as well as ecstatic delight, which can be observed in his great odes.
To Autumn” (1819)
This poem’s first line is one of the most iconic of all time.
Arguably, no other poet has managed to create such a beautiful depiction of the season so deftly, or with such a kaleidoscopic wealth of images.
Keats is able to convey the synaesthesia of three months in just three stanzas.
The naturalistic, almost pastoral language is reminiscent of Hardy in places, though achieves as much with a fraction of the words.
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
This essay is a close reading analysis of the poem
“The Bright Star”.
It is a love sonnet and is believed that it was written for his love and fiance’ Fanny Brawny. Keats writes the poem in iambic pentameter. The poem revolves around Keats love for stars and about nature’s beauty. The whole poem is written with a rhyming scheme except the last two lines possibly to attract the reader’s attention to it.
By starting the poem with “Bright Star! “
Keats introduces the poem with strong imagery and symbolism that rejects a clear and precise picture of the bright star. By adding an exclamation to the line, he stresses the importance of the star and to exhibit the excitement he is feeling. He wishes that he could be as steadfast and consistent as the bright star. In the second line, he writes about the lonely star that is isolated from the rest of the world. Even though he admires the star and wishes to be like it, he doesn’t want to follow this quality of the star.
The third line – expresses that the star is always awake and shining and that is yet another characteristic he doesn’t wish to imitate. In line our, Keats writes about a “sleepless Eremite” which is another word for hermit. Comparing eremite to the “moving waters” captures beautiful imagery. This is the first time Keats uses religion in the poem. However, he does use it a few times throughout the poem. The poet uses the poetic device simile in the fifth line by comparing the moving waters to “Priestley task”.
This contributes to the fact that John Keats loves and admires the beauty of nature (“moving waters”) as he is comparing it with a religious symbol (“Priestley task”). The religiousness was being compared to the star, and now it is being compared to the moving waters. It shows a separation between the sky and the Earth. With the imagery of “Eremite” and “Priestley tasks” of moving waters, Keats wishes to express that the stars and the nature of water bodies are always twinkling and flowing, basically being immortal, which he cannot accomplish.
In line six- Keats uses the word “ablution” which also symbolizes religion. Ablution is a word for religious washing or cleansing and Keats ties it with the sea. All the lines so far in the poem express the profound admiration that Keats has for the skies and the Earth, since he compares them with elisions values. Keats brings back the stars and its gazing once again in line seven. He uses enjambment to create a pause from the stars and waters to transform into other earthly bodies.
Keats starts this new stanza by expressing his admiration for mountains and moors and the beautiful snow that accumulates on top of its peak. He tries to create imagery of a winter and lonely place. Winter has a connotation of seclusion and desolation. One can also find alliteration in mountains and moors, trying to stress his adoration for them. Keats repeats what he expresses n the beginning of the poem again in line eight saying that he wants to be steadfast and “unchangeable” like the star, but not lonely.
This repetition enforces the passion he for the star. He writes about him lying on his lover’s breast and seeking comfort. He mentions “ripening” breast to express that even if the breast is aging, the comfy it produces does not lessen. This can be compared to the star, which also has its comfort and beauty no matter it’s age. Keats ends the poem by saying, “so live ever- or else swoon to death”. He expresses that he would be happy to live with his love and swoon to death or live forever like the star.
The gravestone of poet John Keats, (1795-1821), stands in Rome’s ‘Non Catholic Cemetery’ on March 26, 2013 in Rome, Italy
Watercolour of Fanny Brawne, 1833.
Keats & Fanny
THE LOVE affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne was shortlived but burned intensely bright.
They met in 1819 when they were neighbours in Hampstead but were separated for ever when Keats departed for Italy in September 1820 hoping the warmer weather there might alleviate the symptoms of his tuberculosis.
He died in Rome in February 1821, aged just 25.
The poems he wrote during that time (including his best known works Ode To A Grecian Urn, Ode On Melancholy and Ode To A Nightingale) are among some of the best loved in the English language but the passionate letters he and Fanny exchanged give us a unique insight into their love affair.
When they met, Fanny was just 18 and Keats described her as “autiful, elegant, graceful, silly, fashionable and strange”. He considered her passion for clothes to indicate someone a little too vain and flirtatious to be taken seriously but soon grew to see it as an expression of her bold and irrepressible nature, calling her his “minxtress”.
In March 1820 he wrote her a letter saying: “You are always new… the last movement always the gracefullest.”
In the early 19th century it was not considered desirable for women to be too clever or too educated. Fanny shared what Bright Star’s director Jane Campion calls the “passive waiting fate of any young woman of her time”. Yet she was obviously bright and if poetry was Keats’s way of expressing himself and making sense of the world around him, so fashion was Fanny’s.
It was obviously a passion that she developed at a young age since a collection survives of fashion plates clipped from such magazines as Petit Courrier des Dames (a French publication, the early 19th-century equivalent of Vogue), which she starting making at the age of 12. Fanny continued to amass these illustrations until just two years before her death in 1865.
When Keats first encounters his neighbour in Campion’s film she is wearing a white dress with a vibrant red cardigan and an attention-seeking feathered hat.
The dress itself is copied from one in Fanny’s collection. White dresses were de rigueur for young women at the time but it was only just becoming acceptable to pair them with colours: a white skirt with a coloured “body” was considered daring.
Janet Patterson, costume designer for Bright Star took inspiration from Fanny’s books of fashion plates. Some of the costumes are on show at Keats House, the museum that now occupies the semi-detached Hampstead house in which the poet used to live. It was owned by his friend Charles Brown who let a room to Keats with the Brawne family occupying the other side.
Katherine Pearce of Keats House says:
“It was just after the Battle of Waterloo so the French look was very fashionable and military detailing on clothes for women was also something that was popular”.
Katherine Pearce, “I don’t so much see Fanny as his muse more someone who shook him up. Before he met her he had been writing about his surroundings and theoretical ideas of truth and beauty but the depth of his feelings for her frightened him and he was forced to confront things in a very personal way.”
Fanny did eventually marry and have children but she always wore the engagement ring Keats had given her. a garnet set in gold scrollwork, it undoubtedly set off her many elegant outfits.
The Keats House is open Friday to Sunday. Visit keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Description: This is the engagement ring given to Fanny Brawne by the poet John Keats in 1819, probably in sometime in the Autumn of that year. (1) The ring was probably made in the late eighteenth century, and the stone is almandine – a type of garnet – set in a gold openwork scrolled shouldered hoop.
Now on to the movie Bright Star, which I finally watched.I have to say it’s really breathtaking in the cinematography, along with Keats poems and love letters to Fanny Brawne. It’s actually swoon worthy.
I think it’s by far one of the most romantic period pieces I have come across in historical cinematography.
Maybe it’s the lighting or the nature, or maybe it’s the dress. The acting, Not sure.. but I love it
Bright Star is a 2009 British-French-Australian biographical fiction romantic drama film based on the last three years of the life of poet John Keats and his romantic relationship with Fanny Brawne. It stars Ben Whishaw …
Immanuelle had always felt a strange affinity for the Darkwood, a kind of stirring whenever she neared it. It was almost as though the forbidden wood sang a song that only she could hear, as though it was daring her to come closer.
In her debut work, Alexis Henderson delivers an immersive and thrilling ride with a young, diverse heroine you can’t help but root for. We invite you to get lost in the Darkwood with us. And while the oppressive, puritanical society might be no less dark than the current world outside, the journey of Immanuelle Moore will inspire you to find the power within yourself to make your voice heard and bring light where you can.
Buzzfeed – “17 Summer Must-Reads For Fantasy Lovers”
Thank you @berkleypub for gifting me The Year of the Witching!
𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝙱𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚂𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛.
A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself, with terrifying and far-reaching consequences, in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.
In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.
But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.
Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.
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. All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Alexis Henderson debut novel has solidified herself as a new voice in dark fantasy
A Hauntingly tale, The Year of the Witching is the tale of curses, witches, a dark forbidden woods.
Blood, Blight, Darkness, Slaughter.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜
Alexis Henderson debut novel has solidified herself as a new voice in dark fantasy.
A Hauntingly tale, The Year of the Witching is the tale of curses, witches, a dark forbidden woods.
The Year Of The Witching by Alexis Henderson is a tension filled book that is deliciously terrifying. Along with captivating lyrical prose, you will be completely immersed within its horror drenched pages.
Alexis Henderson blends elements of both the supernatural and horror, to give us one incredible witchy books ever. This absorbing and highly compulsive read here that was so captivating that you will have the biggest book hang over ever. The authors gift of imaginative unsettling world building, along with the magic system really makes this a spine-tingling tale.
The characters are well developed and completely fleshed out. The protagonistImmanuelle Moore battles demons within the malevolent woods and her patriarchal church-based social society government. Taking place in a rigid and unrelenting town where the Prophet’s word is law and punishment is common.
I was hooked in the first chapter in this nonstop read, the storyline is perfectly executed, Henderson does an exceptional job sinking you into this stunning darkish atmospheric book. Taking place in a rigid and unrelenting town where the Prophet’s word is law and punishment is unrelenting.
The citizens of puritanical town of Bethel are forbidden to enter the Darkwood, when a series of events Immanuelle is lured in by accident, hidden truths are long time coming, as they resurface and a forgotten curse awakens.
Themes explored are feminism, theology, and race woven in such a way that their depiction is masterly done.
The Year of the Witching! releases tomorrow and if you like dark ominous gothic reads, you won’t want let this to pass you by
Blood, Blight, Darkness,
“She was born breech, in the deep of night. The midwife, Martha, had to seize her by the ankles and drag her form the womb. She slipped out easy, dropped limp into Martha’s arms, and lay still as stone.
Her name, she demanded, eyes sharp with moonlight. Give me her name.
Immanuelle, she finally bit it out like a curse. She will be called Immanuelle.”
Immanuelle had always felt a strange affinity for the Darkwood, a kind of stirring whenever she neared it. It was almost as though the forbidden wood sang a song that only she could hear, as though it was daring her to come closer.”
Alexis Henderson is a speculative fiction writer with a penchant for dark fantasy, witchcraft, and cosmic horror. She grew up in one of America’s most haunted cities, Savannah, Georgia, which instilled in her a life-long love of ghost stories. When she doesn’t have her nose buried in a book, you can find her painting or watching horror movies with her feline familiar. Currently, Alexis resides in the sun-soaked marshland of Charleston, South Carolina.
Her debut novel THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING will be published by Penguin Random House (US) and Penguin Books (UK) in summer 2020 with a sequel to come in 2021.
Jane Austen’s first novel—published posthumously in 1818—tells the story of Catherine Morland and her dangerously sweet nature, innocence, and sometime self-delusion. Though Austen’s fallible heroine is repeatedly drawn into scrapes while vacationing at Bath and during her subsequent visit to Northanger Abbey, Catherine eventually triumphs, blossoming into a discerning woman who learns truths about love, life, and the heady power of literature. The satirical novel pokes fun at the gothic novel while earnestly emphasizing caution to the female sex.
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.
#JaneAustenJuly @janeausten
Northanger Abbey has an interesting history. It was sold to a publisher in 1803 for £10, but never published. By 1817 four more novels had been published anonymously, and were popular, the fact of their anonymity being used advantageousl by her brother, who bought the book back; it is unlikely the publisher would have done so, were the facts known. It was subsequently revised by Austen and given the working title Catherine.
It was published after her death in 1817, whence her brother renamed it Northanger Abbey.
Austen’s lovely writing flows perfectly and in a way it captivates and taunts the reader, while at times, speaking directly to the reader.
“But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way.”
The book follows our lovely heroine, Catherine Morland and her adventures.
Her mother was so preoccupied with the being pregnant and the day to day care of Catherine younger siblings, that Catherine experience around young men was completely lacking. Her adventurous start from her home in Fullerton to Bath and then to a Gothic Abbey in Gloucestershire. As the plot line Catherine growth is noted, she comes to understand the people and world around her and people are not at all what seem to be. The important thing in life, and finding true love and ultimately finding happiness. Catherine is very innocently naïve, an avid reader of novels, who has a devastating, vivid imagination.
So wrapped up in her books, without realistically thinking she comes to the conclusion that another sub character in book, has come to a disastrous end, maybe even murdered. And she decides to take things into her own hands and investigates the matter herself.
“Catherine’s blood ran cold with the horrid suggestions which naturally sprang from these words. Could it be possible? – Could Henry’s father? – And yet how many were the examples to justify even the blackest suspicions!”
Austen does a fabulous job of satirizing the gothic genre. It’s quite enjoyable and effective. Austen makes several memorable mentions to one well known gothic novel at that time, The Mysteries of Udolpho.
The Mysteries of Udolpho is a Gothic novel by Ann Radcliffe, published in 1794. It was one of the most popular novels of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was then and continues to be widely regarded as a key text in the development of the Gothic genre. This okis available to everyone through Gutenberg EBook. I must say, that if you are into gothic fiction, like I am, than this a stunning must read.
During this timeframe The Regency Eras society’s did consider money as the necessity for true happiness in marriage. This always met with the critical hand of Austen. And her critical social commentary on the matter is always satirical and humorous to read.
The suspense builds as storyline unfolds Austen’s legendary style of prose is beautifully executed. To give away further plot would be to lessen the pleasure for readers, I do think everyone should read Austen, at some point in their life.
This is the very first book that I read of Miss Austen’s fine writing. Given to me by my mother, who guided me through all the beloved classics.
This epic political fantasy will make its way in the world 8/18/20.
Feminist tale of a young resistance fighter working to overthrow a tyrant king When a country is held in thrall to a vicious, despotic king, it’s up to one woman to take him down.
Long ago, Queen Mirantha vanished. King Karolje claimed it was an assassination by a neighboring king, but everyone knew it was a lie. He had Disappeared her himself.
But after finding the missing queen’s diary, Anza—impassioned by her father’s unjust execution and inspired by Mirantha’s words—joins the resistance group to overthrow the king. When an encounter with Prince Esvar thrusts her into a dangerous game of court politics, one misstep could lead to a fate worse than death.
Esvar is the second son to an evil king. Trapped under his thumb and desperate for a way out, a chance meeting with Anza gives him the opportunity to join the resistance. Together, they might have the leverage to move against the king—but if they fail, their deaths could mean a total loss of freedom for generations to follow.
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.
An intricate complex novel, with a sophisticated political details. Incredibly strong fleshed out character development. The reader will have first hand knowledge of the inter-most thoughts of the characters fears and struggles.
A vicious tyrant, you will love to hate. Twist and turns that will keep you guessing.
A wonderful fantasy experience filled with friendship, loyalty and the pursuit of justice. Medieval elements, a secret resistance group and narrow escapes, will keep you completely immersed. The book paced keeps you moving forward and, I enjoyed the writing style and prose.
To give away further plot would be to lessen the pleasure for readers
Key Characters
Anza: Raised in a country village, she comes to Karegg, the capital of Vetia, to study at the College. When her father is executed by Karolje some years later, she joins the resistance against the king.
Esvar: Karolje’s second son, he is bitterly opposed to his tyrannical father but is hemmed in by court politics, his loyalty to his older brother, and the king’s absolute power.
Jance: After graduating from the College, he joins the king’s army, only to find his personal and political loyalties tested as opposition to Karojle mounts.
Karolje: Cruel, abusive, and very clever, he rules with an iron hand and uses his power to toy with the lives of everyone around him, including his family.
Mirantha: She faces the daily choice between escaping from her marriage to Karolje or staying to protect her children. Then the king takes matters into his own hands.
Sparrow: Leader of the resistance, she seeks not only to overthrow Karolje but to put an end to the absolute monarchy itself.
Tevin: The older son and heir of Karolje, he wants to be king but not at the cost of bloody civil war or his own honor.
Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without a permit. No criticism of the government. No absences from Communist meetings. Wear red. Hang pictures of the Great Leader. Don’t trust your neighbors. Don’t speak your mind. You are being watched.
But war is coming, war between North and South Korea, between the Soviets and the Americans. War causes chaos–and war is the perfect time to escape. The plan is simple: Sora and her family will walk hundreds of miles to the South Korean city of Busan from their tiny mountain village. They just need to avoid napalm, frostbite, border guards, and enemy soldiers.
But they can’t. And when an incendiary bombing changes everything, Sora and her little brother Young will have to get to Busan on their own. Can a twelve-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother survive three hundred miles of warzone in winter?
Haunting, timely, and beautiful, this harrowing novel from a searing new talent offers readers a glimpse into a vanished time and a closed nation.
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Julie Lee graduated from Cornell University with a degree in history. After working in market research in Manhattan for over ten years, she decided to pursue writing full-time. Currently, Julie lives in Georgia with her husband and three children. When she is not spending time with her family, she is working on her next book while pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Brother’s Keeper is her debut novel.
GROUNDHOG DAY gets a hilarious French twist in this delightful upper middle grade novel about first crushes and friendship when an eighth-grade class trip to Paris goes horribly wrong and the worst day of one girl’s life keeps happening over and over.
Fourteen-year-old Eve Hollis is ready to push through her fears and finally let her crush know how she feels. And what better place to tell him than on top of the Eiffel Tower in the City of Love? But things don’t go as planned, and Eve is sure she’s had the worst day of her life— until she wakes up the next morning to realize the whole disaster of a day is happening again. She’s trapped in a time loop.
Desperate to make it stop, Eve will have to take some big risks and learn from her mistakes or she’s destined to live the most awkwardly painful day of her life over and over again, forever.
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.
Paris on Repeat, by Amy Bearce is delightful middle grade young adult book, with a touch of magic.
While on a middle school, multi-day field trip to Paris. Eve Hollis has a secret, one that she is bursting to let out. But nothing seems to go as planned, from the moment she wakes up in the morning, to the having her book-sack stolen. Not to be mention what was inside the book-sack. A note of confessing her feelings to a boy she has crushing on for two years, Jace. She has the perfect place to share her secret in The City of Love, the top of the Eiffel Tower. When she sees the unthinkable, her bestie, Reggie actually kissing Jace. Her turbulent emotions come to to the surface when a
A mysterious fortune-teller gives her friend Reggie and Jace an iconic love lock. Blinded by her feelings of anger, jealousy and despair she cause a magical time loop to start. One where the day’s events keeps happening over and over each day, with no end in sight. This exasperating loop won’t end until she solves the cryptic clues the fortune teller keeps giving her.
“Having a secret is exhausting, but the idea of sharing one was terrifying.
Shared secrets could glue people together but just as often they tore everything apart.”
A sweet middle grade read, perfect for any 8th grader, or any adult that remembers these trying years. The romance subtle and sweet, depicted perfectly for this age group. The author uses real life issues for young people, Eve’s parents relationship is deteriorating and ultimately will end in a divorce. The author has also redirected the main protagonist crush to focus more one what’s really important, the bonds of friendship. This was done in such a way, that Eve’s character goes through the emotional struggles of feeling hurt rejected. To Eve’s realizing what really is important is ultimately friendship. Young Eve comes to realize the consequences of her actions, to her gaining self esteem.
I really enjoyed her characters growth, and there is several lessons that are immersed within the pages. The authors seamless narration carries you through all way until the satisfying end. A captivating book that I definitely will be recommending it my family and friends.
Excited to read more from this wonderful author.
About the Author
Amy writes fantasy and light science fiction for young readers and the young at heart. She is the author of the. As an Army kid, she moved eight times before she was eighteen, so she feels especially fortunate to be married to her high school sweetheart. Together they are raising two daughters in San Antonio. You can find her online at amybearce.com or on Twitter at @AmyBearce. —
I’m delighted that Fair as a Star is the first in Mimi’s Victorian Romantics collection.
Fair as a Star
by Mimi Matthews
Publication Date: July 14, 2020
Perfectly Proper Press
Series: Victorian Romantics, Book One
Genre: Historical Romance
A Secret Burden…
After a mysterious sojourn in Paris, Beryl Burnham has returned home to the village of Shepton Worthy ready to resume the life she left behind. Betrothed to the wealthy Sir Henry Rivenhall, she has no reason to be unhappy—or so people keep reminding her. But Beryl’s life isn’t as perfect as everyone believes.
A Longstanding Love…
As village curate, Mark Rivenhall is known for his compassionate understanding. When his older brother’s intended needs a shoulder to lean on, Mark’s more than willing to provide one. There’s no danger of losing his heart. He already lost that to Beryl a long time ago.
During an idyllic Victorian summer, friends and family gather in anticipation of Beryl and Sir Henry’s wedding. But in her darkest moment, it’s Mark who comes to Beryl’s aid. Can he help her without revealing his feelings—or betraying his brother?
“There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast” –Charles Dickens-
Set in beautiful English Countryside, Beryl Burnham has returned home to her small village of Shepton Worthy in Somerset England. After being mysteriously whisked away to Paris by her beloved Aunt, that has caused many to speculate her hastily trip abroad. Ready to assume her life and step into her roll as the betrothed to the Baronet Sir Henry Rivenhall, with only three months to go until her wedding Day.
Beryl has suffered quietly since childhood with unpredictable bouts of melancholy. While struggles with her inter turmoil, only a few know her secret. She carefully guards it, because this is during a time that medical treatment or the actual stigma of depression was not what it is to day.
Mark RIvenhall the local, curate to the current vicar of Shepton Worthy, has been passionately in love with the Golden haired Beryl for years. Way before his oldest brother, Henry proposed to her. He has come to terms with losing Beryl, and has written her letters out of their childhood friendship while she was away in France.
Mimi Matthews has written another stunning period piece romance, but this time with subtle and grace and sensitivity she has brought the issue of depression to light in a historical romance. Beryl is a sensitive young lady who suffers quietly from bouts melancholy, and has done so since early childhood. Mimi Matthews delicately approaches this sensitive topic of depression into her heroine’s personality, making her protagonist more real and fleshed out. The tenderness and compassion that Mark has for Beryl is exquisitely portrayed. Mark’s acceptance of Beryl’s so called affliction of unhappiness is lovely, he is tender and patient. Mark’s character is the perfect swoon-worthy, Victorian Gentleman, one that all of us yearn for in our lives.
“This burden of yours – this sadness – I want you to leave it with me for a day or two.”
This by far is one of my favorites reads this year, Matthews lush descriptive writing flows seamlessly and her little historical details captured my heart.
I really appreciated the use of the metaphors, from the mention of white embroidery,that is cleverly hidden in plain sight in Beryls needlepoint, to the imperfections in a Beryls Stone that adds all beautiful colors.
This Victorian romance is richly detailed and resonate with period imagery.
Beryls character struggles with depression and is mastery depicted. She is a protagonist that many of can relate to. The authors strong narrative is fluid and it was a delightful and compelling read for me.
Deeply moving thought provoking read that will stay with long after you close the book.
“Melancholy is a low kind of delirium, with a fever; usually attended with fear, heaviness, and sorrow, without any apparent occasion.”
Beach’s Family Physician, 1861.
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
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Hello Bookish Peeps Today I have A Feminist Ya Fantasy.
EVER CURSED BY COREY ANN HAYDU
Ever Cursed
by Corey Ann Haydu
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: July 28th 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Damsel meets A Heart in a Body in the World in this incisive and lyrical feminist fairy tale about a princess determined to save her sisters from a curse, even if it means allying herself with the very witch who cast it.
The Princesses of Ever are beloved by the kingdom and their father, the King. They are cherished, admired.
Cursed.
Jane, Alice, Nora, Grace, and Eden carry the burden of being punished for a crime they did not commit, or even know about. They are each cursed to be Without one essential thing—the ability to eat, sleep, love, remember, or hope. And their mother, the Queen, is imprisoned, frozen in time in an unbreakable glass box.
But when Eden’s curse sets in on her thirteenth birthday, the princesses are given the opportunity to break the curse, preventing it from becoming a True Spell and dooming the princesses for life. To do this, they must confront the one who cast the spell—Reagan, a young witch who might not be the villain they thought—as well as the wickedness plaguing their own kingdom…and family.
Told through the eyes of Reagan and Jane—the witch and the bewitched—this insightful twist of a fairy tale explores power in a patriarchal kingdom not unlike our own.
Trigger Warnings
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.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.Trigger warning: Sexual assault & eating disorder
Magic doesn’t have to be forever, Even the strongest flames are extinguished. Spells are meant to be broken.” –
“There’s more than one way to survive”.
A spellbinding, unusual fairy tale that explores some tough dark social issues.
A twisted fairytale of witches, and feminism
Five years ago, the five princesses of Ever were cursed For Somebody’s Else’s Folly
-Jane can’t eat
-Nora can’t love
-Alice can’t sleep
-Grace can’t remember
-Eden, upon her Thirteenth Birthday celebration, won’t be able to hope.
All because of a young witch Reagan, impulsively cast a spell in retaliation for the unspeakable horrifying actions of the princess ruling father.
Told in dual POV’s, alternating perspectives by Jane and Reagan, one of the cursed princess and the young witch who cast the devastating curse.
I was completely immersed within the storyline and it was a fast paced read. A suttle diverse read adds some incredible depth into this spellbinding ya fantasy.
Packed with delightful lyrical prose and lush atmospheric imagery that is blended with important issues that makes for an enjoyable ya fantasy experience.
A great read for feminist fantasy readers that tackles one or more issue that many of us can relate too, eating disorders, sexual harassment, and mental health.
This is one of the books that comes across as a very simple fantasy, but don’t let that mislead you. Once you have read it you will understand that it’s the powerhouse social issues that are the driving force in this Ya novel.
In 2013, Corey was chosen as one of Publisher Weekly’s Flying Starts. Her books have been Amazon Book of the Month Selections, Junior Library Guild Selections, Indie Next Selections, and BCCB Blue Ribbon Selections.
Corey is also on the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program.
The first two books in Corey’s new chapter book series HAND ME DOWN MAGIC, hit shelves June 16, 2020. Shortly thereafter, her next YA, a feminist fairytale, EVER CURSED, comes ou July 14th, 2020!
Corey lives in Brooklyn with her husband, her daughter, her dog, Oscar, and a wide variety of cheese.
Austen did not expect readers to like the protagonist of Emma. About her, Austen famously said…
“I’m going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.”
Twenty-one-year-old Emma Woodhouse is comfortably dominating the social order in the village of Highbury, convinced that she has both the understanding and the right to manage other people’s lives—for their own good, of course. Her well-meant interfering centers on the aloof Jane Fairfax, the dangerously attractive Frank Churchill, the foolish if appealing Harriet Smith, and the ambitious young vicar Mr. Elton—and ends with her complacency shattered, her mind awakened to some of life’s more intractable dilemmas, and her happiness assured.
Austen’s comic imagination was so deft and beautifully fluent that she could use it to probe the deepest human ironies while setting before us a dazzling gallery of characters—some pretentious or ridiculous, some admirable and moving, all utterly true.
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.
Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentry. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The steadfast support of her family was critical to her development as a professional writer.
Her artistic apprenticeship lasted from her teenage years until she was about 35 years old. During this period, she experimented with various literary forms, including the epistolary novel which she tried then abandoned, and wrote and extensively revised three major novels and began a fourth. From 1811 until 1816, with the release of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1815), she achieved success as a published writer. She wrote two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began a third, which was eventually titled Sanditon, but died before completing it.
Austen’s works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century realism. Her plots, though fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security.
Her work brought her little personal fame and only a few positive reviews during her lifetime, but the publication in 1869 of her nephew’s A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced her to a wider public, and by the 1940s she had become widely accepted in academia as a great English writer. The second half of the 20th century saw a proliferation of Austen scholarship and the emergence of a Janeite fan culture.
The thrilling sequel to SPIN THE DAWN, a magical series steeped in Chinese culture.
Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. The boy she loves is gone, and she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace.
But the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red, losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, but she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.
YA fantasy readers will love the sizzling forbidden romance, mystery, and intrigue of UNRAVEL THE DUSK.
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.
UNRAVEL THE DUSK
“Magic was the blood of stars falling from the sky, the song of my enchanted scissors—eager to make a miracle out of thread and hope.”
“A long time ago, a foolish girl was asked to weave the sun, embroider the moon, and paint the stars, three impossible tasks she did not believe she could accomplish.”
UNRAVEL THE DUSK is a gorgeously composed sequel to a lush and enthralling YA fantasy. Readers will appreciate the world-building, beautiful characters, and nail-biting action.
Unravel the Dusk is a the gorgeously composed final installment in author Elizabeth Lim’s The Blood of Stars duology.
Maia is a tailor who takes her brother’s position to disguise herself and competes in competition for a place as the imperial tailor. The demon Bandur touched her while gathering the necessary supplies to craft the goddess’s three fabled dresses made of sunlight, moonlight and stars blood. She has freed the boy she loves, Edan from an oath, by becoming the guardian of Lapzur. The curse by demon Bandur is starting to effect her, and is slowly losing herself to darker forces as the transformation is taking hold of her.
“Seize the wind. Don’t become the kite that never flies”
An exceptional written Ya Fantasy, full of adventure and incredible character development. A book that drew me in and I was completely immersed within its pages. High stakes adventure will keep you on the edge of your seat. Vivid lush world building along, along with mythological legends makes this a stunning book
Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.
Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and she turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel — for kicks, at first, then things became serious — and she hasn’t looked back since.
Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She grew up in Northern California, with a brief stint in Tokyo, Japan, but now lives in New York City with her husband and their daughter.
Elizabeth graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in music and a secondary in East Asian Studies. She completed her graduate degrees (MM, DMA) at The Juilliard School.
by Anna Bright
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 9th 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings
This breathtaking sequel toThe Beholderwill take you on a journey into a darkly sparkling fairy tale, perfect for fans ofThe SelectionandCaraval.
When Selah found true love with Prince Torden of Norway, she never imagined she’d have to leave him behind. All because theBeholder’s true mission was a secret Selah’s crew didn’t trust her to keep: transporting weapons to the rebels fighting against the brutal tsarytsya, whose shadow looms over their next port of Shvartsval’d. A place Selah hoped she’d never go.
But gone is the girl who departed Potomac filled with fear. With a stockpile of weapons belowdecks and her heart hanging in the balance, Selah is determined to see theBeholder’s quest to its end
The Boundless
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 Boundless is the second book in the duology for The Beholder.
It picks up immediately after the end of book one. Courtly politics and mushy romance. High flying adventures meticulously blended in with some new fairy tales that readers will come to recognize. The storyline unfolds with secret missions, rebels, and ruthless enemies. All in all it was an enjoyable read with alight love triangle that kept me interested all the way through.
With treachery, betrayal and danger at every turn, Anna Bright has written a wonderful thrilling book. A clever concept with multiple fairytales woven into an absorbing Ya fantasy.
This breathtaking sequel to The Beholder will take you on a journey into a darkly sparkling fairy tale, perfect for fans of The Selection and Caraval.
When Selah found true love with Prince Torden of Norway, she never imagined she’d have to leave him behind. All because the Beholder’s true mission was a secret Selah’s crew didn’t trust her to keep: transporting weapons to the rebels fighting against the brutal tsarytsya, whose shadow looms over their next port of Shvartsval’d. A place Selah hoped she’d never go.
But gone is the girl who departed Potomac filled with fear. With a stockpile of weapons belowdecks and her heart hanging in the balance, Selah is determined to see the Beholder’s quest to its end.
Anna Bright is an indie bookseller by day and an author by night who still gets in trouble for reading when she’s supposed to be doing other things. When not hiding out among books, she loves concerts, roller coasters, and adventures at home and abroad. Anna lives with her husband and cat in a charming cobblestoned neighborhood in Washington, DC, but you can find her online atwww.annabrightbooks.comand on Twitter and Instagram at @brightlyanna.
by Kalyn Josephson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 7th 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Princess Thia, her allies, and her crow, Res, are planning a rebellion to defeat Queen Razel and Illucia once and for all. Thia must convince the neighboring kingdoms to come to her aid, and Res’s show of strength is the only thing that can help her.
But so many obstacles stand in her way. Res excels at his training, until he loses control of his magic, harming Thia in the process. She is also pursued by Prince Ericen, heir to the Illucian throne and the one person she can’t trust but can’t seem to stay away from.
As the rebel group prepares for war, Res’s magic grows more unstable. Thia has to decide if she can rely on herself and their bond enough to lead the rebellion and become the crow rider she was meant to be.
Win (1)
a (signed) copy of THE STORM CROW and a (signed) copy of THE CROW RIDER by Kaylyn Josephson (INT)
Starts: June 23rd 2020
Ends: July 7th 2020
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.
A stunning conclusion to the epic Storm Crow duology that follows a fallen princess as she tries to bring back the magical elemental crows taken from her people.
This next installment in this duology takes off immediately after Storm Crow ended.
Thia, and her magical storm crow Res, narrowly escape Illucia. Seeking alliances with other kingdoms Thia, gathers her friends in preparation for war against the Illucians and their Queen Razel.
Res exhibiting a vast incredible variety of powers, that are not normal in Storm Crows. This new development has come to a surprise to all. Thia will need to learn the actual extent, and degree of his Storm Crow abilities, to be able to properly train him. This will be critical to all when they are in thick of some dangerous battles.
Thia has to come to the extent of Res’s expanding abilities and train him in a way that which proves critical in upcoming battles. Impending war with Illucians and their notorious Queen inevitable, as she sought to destroy Thia’s kingdom and all their magical crows.
The second half of the book is were things really take off, as the authors seamless narration proves her captivating ability to draw the reader in.
The book multiple pacing is written in a way to me that adds tension that builds leading to some stellar battles scenes.
The book has just amount of Inter workings of political drama that wasn’t overly done or didn’t overshadowed the fantasy experience for reader in this novel, along with more adventure and light world building that continues. I am in mind to think that this book in the duology is definitely more character driven. Which I absolutely loved our main character here, Thia, and thought that she was an extremely well-written, realistic, believable and compassionate character. I was seeking the truth and wanting answers right along beside her.
The emotional and mental health battles that are depicted in the first book, Storm Crow, continues on this stunning second installment. Which makes for more of fleshed out three dimensional characters. As the struggles and ultimately growth of the main protagonist is notable. With that being said I personally loved Res, and his characters is fabulous written. HIs dramatics are enjoyable and adds delight to the reading experience.
An absorbing, and a highly compulsive binge read, with its action packed beginning to the satisfying ending, that tided up all the loose ends and made for a great stunning storyline.
Kalyn Josephson currently works as a Technical Writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. Though she grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, she graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Biology and a degree in English (Creative Writing). Currently, she lives in the Bay Area with four awesome friends (because it’s the Bay Area and she’d like to be able to retire one day) and two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an ever tinier owl). THE STORM CROW is her debut novel.
The Boundless
