I was so excited when I heard the next installment of The Chalam Færytales would be released. This series has definitely earned a spot on my list of favorite series. The Promised One and The Purloined Prophecy were amazing (click on the links to read my reviews). The Parallax released this week and I’m excited to tell you about it.
A big thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review. She’s amazing, so I really recommend checking these out!
Who doesn’t love FREE books? Well we’ve put together a list of 22 new, exciting indie authors who are just waiting to become your next binge. Check them out! But don’t wait — these books will only be free until April 30, 2019!
An epic færytale with the magic of Stardust, the romance of The Princess Bride, and the wonder of The Chronicles of Narnia. “Spell-binding. Poetic. Original.”
It’s against the law for elves and humans to fall in love. But laws can be broken.
Fighting to save a family of dragons from evil mages? Easy.
Callie doesn’t believe in fairy tales. Too bad they believe in her.
A witch’s most powerful tool isn’t magic, it’s deception.
What happens to Cinderella after she marries the prince? Hint: It’s not all happy ever after.
Something terrible has happened in this usually peaceful wood. Her world—the whole world—is about to change forever…
A badass fairytale
With the help of her best friends, a pair of quirky brothers, and a family she never knew she had, Calla embarks on a mission to save her people from a treacherous queen.
The Vassals will rise…This is their awakening.
Bound by love, drawn by magick, happily ever after won’t come without a fight.
When faerie tale dreams come true, nightmare creatures can be deadly.
In the medieval Northlands, a dangerous family seeks power. They slaughter all who get in their way.
I am Crow, and I am a thief. Not just any thief, mind, but the best and most famous thief in all the glittering empire.
A historical fantasy retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.
They’re cursed to become heroes or monsters.
A Hidden Enemy Emerges… Bringing a deadly new threat
If you like kick-butt heroines and action-packed fantasy filled with mythological creatures, then you’ll love the first novel in Megan Haskell’s debut series.
Sea Dragons. Pirates. Sea Serpents. Wizards.
Wanna see the rainbow-colored magic elements? Wanna team up with magimals (magic-gifted animals) for an adventure? Let’s go!
When an ancient evil arises, the magickal spears of the Guardians awaken…but will their power be enough?
Spell Speakers is a coming-of-age fantasy novella introducing characters featured in the series.
Tragic past. Check. Hates her giftings (magic). Check. Her fate in the hands of the oppressive ruling powers? Check. Gorgeous, mysterious potential hero? Check. Romance and adventure and all the magic? Check. There’s a reason everyone is reading this book.
You’ve probably seen the movie, but if you haven’t read the book, YOU NEED TO STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND READ THE PRINCESS BRIDE RIGHT NOW. Yes, we know… there’s already a movie, so why should there be a Disney one? Well let’s face it, Buttercup is delightfully snarky, with the right amount of feminine wiles and doe-eyed innocence. But she’s smart. She’s clever. And she’s fiercely in love with Westley. If that’s not the recipe for a Disney Princess, we’re not quite sure what is.
Let us introduce you to Cora. She’s feisty and tends to rescue princes in distress more often than she needs rescuing. Not to mention her mad archery skills. And her best friend… yeah, it’s a unicorn with whom she communicates telepathically.
Aside from the fact that she has a mysterious, magical winged horse that no one can figure out where it came from, Elizabeth fits the bill of Disney Princess for about a dozen different reasons. Charming prince madly in love with her? Check. Feisty personality and clever quips galore? Check. Able to stand up to a wicked queen without batting an eye? Check. Gonna get the job done with or without help? Check. Did we mention that charming prince of hers?
Disney loves to take nobodies with tragic backstories and give them a heroic reason to become a princess at heart, if not in name. And with that in mind, Fire fits the bill. She’s a little mysterious, a little dark, but mostly fierce and strong. Not to mention her hair. Serious Merida vibes over here. Fire is one of our favorite fantasy MCs for a lot of reasons, and so we nominate her for Disney status, to give her a rightful place among immortalized heroines of the færytale vein…
She’s technically royalty. She follows her heart, no matter how much trouble that might get her into. *ahem* She talks to animals. As far as qualifications for Disney, Alex definitely fits the bill.
We love stories with hidden princesses. It’s just fun to watch a badass chick rise from the ashes and claim what is rightfully hers. Ruby is that heroine. She’s not waiting for anyone’s approval, either. Did we mention she’s battling an evil sorceress? Yeah, that’s a Disney movie waiting to happen.
She’s ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, feisty, and fierce. She’s also loyal, strong, brave, and frankly badass. We’d pay money to see THAT kind of Disney Princess, wouldn’t you?
Pants. Leather pants. None of those silly dresses, thank you very much. Wil is NOT your typical bird-befriending, singing princess. In fact, she’s something of a vigilante–by night, anyway. We love Wil for her feisty comebacks and unflinching loyalty not only to her kingdom, but to those she loves. And let’s face it, it’s about time we had a Disney Princess clad in black leather, head to toe.
Angels. With wings. Big, feathery wings. We love this series for a lot of reasons, and Clara is most certainly one of them. She’s just a typical teen–who happens to be the daughter of an archangel. It’s a sweet tale of love and choices, following your heart or following the rules. Hello, Disney!
Forget embroidery and court protocol. Renee picked up her sword and never looked back. That is, until she ended up with a band of pirates. Forced to choose between her life as a swashbuckling pirate, and the life of duty that awaits her back at home, Renee is a delicious combination of fierce heroine and girly girl. She’d make a perfect Disney Princess in our books!
A girl with power she shouldn’t have is almost ALWAYS a threat to her kingdom. Elena is no exception. Leave it to the trusty prince to help her navigate volatile court waters. She’s feisty, strong, brave, and most of all, willing to risk it all. Elena is a Disney Priness at heart!
The adventures on which authors take us can have lasting impact. Nothing could be more true of the epic saga from the visionary mind of J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. Whether you’re an avid fan of the books or a binge watcher of the movies (or both), Tolkien’s world is as unforgettable as it is magical.
But sometimes, the authors themselves lived a life as adventurous as the worlds they created, and J. R. R. Tolkien is no exception.
It’s about what it means to love. And to be loved. About courage. It’s about a fellowship. ~Tolkien
The new film of his life, Tolkien, looks like it won’t disappoint — an epic love story, coupled with his experience in World War I, which inspired the juxtaposition of beauty and horror in his books the likes of The Shire and Mordor. We don’t know about you, but we will be waiting with bated breath for this film. Check out the brand new trailer and sound off in the comments — are you as excited as we are?
For those of you who don’t know yet, book 3 of my (Morgan G Farris) series, The Chalam Færytales, is coming out this summer! Right now, it’s with my AMAZING editor and we’re working on fine-tuning it to get it ready for its worldwide debut.
In the meantime…
I’m as impatient as a five year old on Christmas morning so… I just had to release an excerpt. Mind you, this is UNEDITED. Raw. In the buff, if you will. But it’s a little taste of what’s to come in book three.
I hope you love it!
(WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. If you have not finished The Purloined Prophecy [book 2 in my series], you DO NOT want to read this. Don’t do it. I’m telling you. You’ll hate me. There. I said it.)
The snow bit through his gloves, burning his trembling knuckles as they ground into the white expanse. His breath came in shards, puffing clouds around his beloved’s face as she lay trembling beneath him. He kept his head low, below the fray, his body covering hers as best he could as arrow after arrow whizzed over them. The last one had been too close for comfort, the dribble of blood on her cheek already drying on her skin.
“Through the trees!”
“Don’t let them get away!”
The Haravellian soldiers shouted their commands as the king and queen of Navah lay sprawled in the snow, hiding from the sudden attack. Ferryl could feel Adelaide’s heart pounding in time with his. Not the embrace of lovers, the desperate grip of two people dodging the arrows of the enemy.
The icy ground was taking its toll on Ferryl’s hands as he pinned his wife beneath him, though sweat beaded his brow. He dared to lift his head just enough to see exactly what was happening.
“Rebels,” he spat, catching sight of the attackers as they jumped from one tree to the next, hiding behind the fat, snow-covered trunks, firing their arrows with deadly aim.
Beside him, a Haravellian soldier fell with a thud, his eyes frozen in shock, his blood staining the snow, a crimson pool slowly growing beneath his throat. And around him in a pillar of black…those were…
Moths.
Black moths.
By the hundreds.
His eyes grew wide as he took in the sight of the minuscule beasts that had once plagued him, tormented him. The sunlight glinted off their wings—iridescent despite their sheer blackness. So similar to the moths he had once seen that morning on the mountain in Haravelle, despite their darkness. More than moths. More than insects, they were…
I don’t think they’re really moths, he heard his wife say to his mind. He turned his attention back to her where she was pinned beneath him, only to narrowly dodge another arrow as it whizzed just above his head.
Ferryl gritted his teeth, took the risk and grabbed the fallen soldier’s bow before jumping to his feet, pulling Adelaide into a sprint with him.
This way, he said for only her benefit. She followed without hesitation, letting him shield her with his own body as they sped through the icy forest.
She landed by a fat sycamore, her breast rising and falling rapidly, her back to the fat trunk. Ferryl covered her body with his own, peering around the tree as her hot breaths caressed his neck. Just one shot… if he could just get in one shot…
Ferryl, she said, her words breathless even in her mind. Ten of them. There were ten rebels that he could see. And their black arrows met their targets much too easily. But Ferryl had not trained all his life for nothing. Perhaps these were Midvarish wraith beasts. Or perhaps they were just boys. They moved too rapidly to tell. Either way, Ferryl and Derwin had met one of them in Ramleh only a few months ago. Met and killed him. Today would be no different.
Ferryl, he heard again, turning to meet her eyes. But Adelaide was not looking at her husband. And when he realized her gaze was fixed behind him, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
Ferryl whirled, facing his enemy whilst simultaneously pressing Adelaide against the sycamore. Hiding her. For as long as he could, Providence save him, he would protect her. Because the world did not yet know that she lived. The world did not yet know that the lost princess had been found.
And Providence help them all when they did.
No, this was just a random rebel attack as they journeyed south to Navah. It had to be.
The world did not yet know Princess Adelaide of Haravelle lived.
“Hiding something, princeling?” said the man. No, not a man. A beast. A wraith. A devil incarnate. A demon made flesh with teeth as black as obsidian and skin as rough as boot hide. He grinned—if you could call it a grin, and his eyes glittered with the promise of a swift death.
“How rude of me,” the man went on, and Ferryl used the moment to press Adelaide more closely behind him. He dropped the soldier’s bow, inching his hand for the hilt of his sword. Adelaide’s breath was a steady constant at his neck. “I suppose you’re not a princeling anymore. Daddy’s dead.”
Ferryl bore his teeth, unsheathing his blade, the metal singing as it extended before him, the steel glinting off of the sun-kissed snow, momentarily blinding them both.
“What is that you’re hiding so fiercely?” the beast asked, cocking his black head to one side. Blood dripped from his thick hands, a shock of crimson against his charred skin. The blood of Haravellian soldiers, no doubt. Ferryl took a moment to thank Providence that King Aaron and Queen Avigail’s carriage was far ahead—hopefully out of danger.
The beast-man bore no weapons. At least not any that Ferryl could see. Ferryl was not sure whether to be relieved or terrified. But he let the bastard speak. Let the bastard buy him some time while he made a plan. While he figured out how in Sheol to keep Adelaide safe while he killed an impossible foe.
“What a pity that you should lose your whore so soon after losing your dear father,” the man purred.
And Ferryl lunged. Whether blind instinct or lustful rage, he couldn’t be sure, but he would be damned if he let this beast get the better of him. And he sure as Sheol wasn’t about to let him take his wife.
So Ferryl lunged. And parried. He whirled and spun. He called on every skill by which he had been trained and every ounce of the strength in his bones.
But it was not enough. Not against a man who was more than a man. Not against a demon.
Ferryl cried out as the beast brandished a sword from his back, slicing through the air with deadly accuracy, aiming right for his heart. It missed, but only just. And when Ferryl whirled to parry, that’s when he realized—
“Adelaide!” he called out, panicking that she was not there. That she was not at the tree. He realized his mistake the moment the beast started laughing.
“Not doing a very good job of hiding your precious princess,” he said. And then he lunged. So fast… the beast moved so fast Ferryl hardly had a split-second to react. He lifted his sword but it was too late.
No, it should have been too late.
The beast should have killed him. Skewered him. Like a stuck pig.
Instead the beast fell, toppling to the ground like a sack of potatoes. And from behind his gargantuan form, Ferryl saw the reason for his foe’s sudden demise.
“I am not a princess,” Adelaide growled, ripping a dagger from the beast’s back. “I am the queen of Navah.”
The beast groaned, clutching his side where the black blood pumped in thick rivers across the snow. Ferryl wasted no time; lifting his sword above his head, the beast’s head was severed with one fell blow.
Black, oily blood sprayed her face, neck, and hands, her breaths heavy but steady, yet Adelaide stood resolute, eye to eye with the king of Navah. Eye to eye with her husband. The tremble of the dagger in her hand the only sign that she had done the unthinkable. The only glimmer of any fear in her veins.
A moth—a butterfly landed on her shoulder, its wings glowing fierce and radiantly ruby against the backdrop of fallen snow. And Ferryl could have sworn it bowed. Bowed. But he couldn’t be sure before it flitted away.
“Where did you learn—”
“Your Majesties!” cried a soldier, cutting Ferryl off. “Here, John! They’re over here!”
Adelaide said not a word as she let the soldiers guide her back to the road and the carriage that awaited them.
***
So here’s a Pro Tip: if you’d like to read this book for FREE BEFORE it comes out, I am opening my ARC team for a limited time. That’s right, you can read this and ALL OF MY FUTURE BOOKS for FREE before they are released when you join this team. I’m not kidding. No strings attached. All I ask is that you leave an honest review of my works on Amazon and Goodreads once you’ve read them. Think you can handle that? Then join us!
I love books where you don’t know what’s going to happen. Sanctuary was definitely a book that surprised me in a very good way! If I can finish a book that’s almost 500 pages in a day, I know it’s good!
Kenzie holds one truth above all: the company is everything.
As a citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the most powerful corporation in the solar system, Kenzie has trained her entire life for one goal: to become an elite guard on Sanctuary, Omnistellar’s space prison for super-powered teens too dangerous for Earth. As a junior guard, she’s excited to prove herself to her company—and that means sacrificing anything that won’t propel her forward.
But then a routine drill goes sideways and Kenzie is taken hostage by rioting prisoners.
At first, she’s confident her commanding officer—who also happens to be her mother—will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. Yet it soon becomes clear that her mother is more concerned with sticking to Omnistellar protocol than she is with getting Kenzie out safely.
As Kenzie forms her own plan to escape, she doesn’t realize there’s a more sinister threat looming, something ancient and evil that has clawed its way into Sanctuary from the vacuum of space. And Kenzie might have to team up with her captors to survive—all while beginning to suspect there’s a darker side to the Omnistellar she knows.
If I can finish a book that’s almost 500 pages in a day, I know it’s good!
I’m normally not a big fan of Science Fiction, but it has been growing on me lately. When I started Sanctuary I went in blind. I read the synopsis when it was announced as a group read, but didn’t know much more than that. I am so glad I picked up this book!
It starts off with the main character, Kenzie, reading manga. That had me sold from the start. I love when characters are reading or are a bit “geeky” like I am. Kenzie is still thinking about some news she got from her parents and how that it going to change her life. At the moment, Kenzie has been busy training on the ship.
That’s when an alarm sounds and things start to get interesting. Sanctuary is action packed from the start. Sanctuary is a ship that can almost do everything on its own. They need humans to do certain things, but other than that no worries. That’s why the ship gives them random drills. See how they handle certain situations. This drill doesn’t feel right though. Even when it’s all good, Kenzie has a bad feeling.
What if her world isn’t as perfect as she thought?
There are prisoners with abilities on this ship (Sanctuary is a prison) and Kenzie knows that they’re dangerous. When Kenzie is taken hostage when the prisoners try and break out her whole world turns upside down. I felt bad for Kenzie though. Her training kicks in of course, but when her mother (also her commanding officer) chooses protocol over Kenzie she starts thinking.
I understand her mother, but I felt so bad for Kenzie. I don’t know how I would feel if my mother chose a ship over me, but that’s not where things end. There is another threat on this ship they never expected. Cary Lix keeps us on the edge of our seat and just when I think things will calm down something else gets in their way.
Kenzie’s whole view of the rules and protocols changes when she realizes the prisoners are real people and not as bad as they are made to be. What if her world isn’t as perfect as she thought? This is made harder when she realizes her parents hid things from her. Another thing I loved is that the author didn’t make the prisoners trying to escape the main threat. Things got a whole lot more complicated and interesting by the threat none of them ever expected.
I loved the characters in this book, the pacing of everything and the author’s writing style. I couldn’t put Sanctuary down and when it was over it left me wanting more. Even though it ends leaving us with questions, I am mostly happy with the ending.
I have been thinking about my rating for this book and because of certain aspects it would’ve been a four star rating for me, but because I couldn’t put it down and was so invested with the story, it got five in the end. My only issues were the insta-love between Kenzie and a character. While I understand it can happen in certain situations it felt a bit out of place right from the start. Also, I really would’ve liked to have learned more about the prisoners. We got a glimpse of them, so I am hoping we get more in the next book.
If you love science fiction or want to give it a go, but don’t know where to start, I definitely recommend Sanctuary!
Two Dutchies blogging about books, tv shows and the fangirl life
I have to say that I’m a big fan of romance in a book, but it’s refreshing at times to read a book with a strong friendship. Nothing more, nothing less. This Savage Song is a good example of that type of book. This is a really unique read and I’m mad at myself for taking so long to get to it!
This Savage Song is the first book in the Monsters of Verity duology. There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
I have the UK paperbacks and I love how they look!! So simple yet very beautiful. I think I like them better than the other edition.
“She cracked a smile. “So what’s your poison?”
He sighed dramatically, and let the truth tumble off his tongue. “Life.”
“Ah,” she said ruefully. “That’ll kill you.”
A lot of people say this book is slow, but I have to disagree. The pace is pretty slow to start, but I think we needed it to truly understand this world. It starts off with Kate getting herself kicked out of another boarding school and trying to get to stay home. August, who isn’t human, wants to be as human as possible and gets to go to high school. That is where their worlds combine. Both are interested in the other. August knows who Kate is, because he has to keep an eye on her. Things get tricky when a murder is staged at school. In this world, August and Kate’s family are on opposite sides of the war. They live in a world with actual monsters. Kate’s family runs her side of town. People buy their safety. August is a monster. He is a Suani. He was brought to life by tragedy. If he plays his violin he can take someone’s soul if they have sinned. This is such an unique story. First of all, I love that there wasn’t a romantic aspect in the story. A friendship was a breath of fresh air. Not that I don’t like romance, I read enough of them, but it was a nice change.
Most YA books these days have some sort of romantic element. When they are both set up at school, I love how they have to either learn to trust each other or work against each other. It was nice to see them choose to help the other, even if it may cost them in big ways. The world Schwartz created with their own monsters in a dystopian setting was very unique. There was a lot of action, but also a lot of emotions. Schwab made me care for these characters and wrote in a way that made me not want to put the book down. This story was told from Kate’s and August’s POV and that made the world more real to me. On one side there was a family who cared for each other and Kate’s family, where she was trying her best to be loved and still didn’t get the love she craved. While this book ends without a major cliffhanger, I wanted to pick up the next one immediately. The only thing that would’ve made this book even better is if we got more background on Suani. A monster that rises from tragedy is so interesting. All in all, this is an amazing book that I would highly recommend! This Savage Song was also a book with a few plot twists I did not see coming.
“Even if surviving wasn’t simple, or easy, or fair.
Even if he could never be human.
He wanted the chance to matter.
He wanted to live.”
Kate is a character that has been to many boarding schools and seems to always cause trouble. At first she really annoyed me. I honestly didn’t think I would grow to care for her, but after reading more I understood why she did what she did. All she wanted was to live at home with her father. Her mother is dead and she just wanted more love and security. I felt bad for her. She just wanted to prove to her father she belonged. He just didn’t care. No matter what she did. Kate is a lot stronger than she thinks and in the end she learned she needs to fight for what she believes in. Even though she isn’t sure what that is. Even being close with August is difficult, because she is supposed to see him as a monster and letting anyone in is hard for her. Yet she is able to let herself be vulnerable for him and that was an amazing thing to see.
August is a character that I was curious about from the first pages I read about him. A monster who wishes nothing more than to be human. Who doesn’t want to take a life to be able to feed, even if that person isn’t the nicest one around. August wants to belong to his family. Just existing after tragedy struck is still a hard thing for him to believe. He became even sweeter to me when he took the cat home after feeding. I thought that was so cute. He is very much human in the emotional sense. He does what he needs to do in the end to keep Kate safe and I thought he was very big of him. He sacrificed a lot. Another interesting aspect are the markings he gets after not going dark everyday.
Kate’s Dad and Sloan are characters I didn’t like from the start. There was just something about them. I knew he wasn’t a nice person, but to not even show love to your own daughter is just wrong.
August’s family all seemed sweet except for Leo. There is just something about him that didn’t appeal to me. I guess he embraced being a monster. Ilsa was a character I wish we saw more of. She seemed really interesting. She seemed to live in her own world at times and I am sure she has a darker side we haven’t seen anything about. It seems like she knows more than she lets on.
“Why would you even want to be human? We’re fragile. We die.”
“You also live. You don’t spend every day wondering why you exist, but don’t feel real, why you look human, but can’t be. You don’t do everything you can to be a good person only to have it constantly thrown in your face that you’re not a person at all.”
Why didn’t I start these sooner?!? Have any of you read This Savage Song? What did you think?
You know it’s true. You’ve all had one. And you know what we’re talking about… book boyfriends. And in fantasy and færytales, there is no shortage of swoon-worthy book boyfriends. So here’s a list of the best, most swoon-worthy, in our humble opinion. What do you think? Are we missing any?
Whether it’s his snarky comments, his incessant flirting, or those wings… Rhysand is at the top of the list for a reason. Of course, you’ll need to read the first book in the series to understand the full measure of Rhys’s appeal, but let’s just say… it’s worth at least fifty-five chapters.
There is only one word for Desmond: swagger. He’s as confident as he is doting, all with a healthy measure of snark. He’s the king of the night, after all. Yes, please.
We dare you to tell us this is not a færytale. After all, what’s more romantic that time-traveling through history to find your true love? And yes, we only read Outlander for the history. It’s definitely not for Jamie Fraser with his devil-may-care grin, his absurdly romantic streak, or his unyielding devotion to the woman from the future. It’s not for that kilt, either. No, it’s definitely just the history…
We’ll be honest… this one surprised us. While Prince Ferryl is certainly deliciously romantic in book one, Michael is… well, Michael is just plain perfect in book two. His loyalty at odds with his heart makes for probably our favorite færytale love story of the year. (Can we take a moment to fangirl over that beach scene, please?) We’re absolutely dying to see where this one goes with book three.
You know how every now and then you run across someone about whom you say ‘wow, they’re just so full of LIFE’. That’s Dammerung: supremely confident, willing to do almost anything to protect his people but without losing sight of the bigger picture or the end goal. Bonus? He’s also a human/animal shifter.
Will is your quintessential leading man. Tall, dark, and swoon-worthy handsome, his charm is made to melt when he bows over a hand, whispering “my lady.” But as much as he enjoys dashing to rescue his beloved damsel, his true character shines when he prefers to fight alongside her. Oh, and to add to it all, he just so happens to be a prince.
Maybe most humans would find him appalling, what with that bluish skin and those strange eyes, but we certainly don’t. And apparently neither does Ildiko. Where most of his kind are brash and cruel to humans, Brishen has a kindness in him that runs deep and true. And the way he loves Ildiko… let’s just say, it’s near perfect.
Eamonn loves three things: Horses, gambling, and women, not necessarily in that order. He’s tall, blond, and flashes his engaging smile at every young lass that passes by. Until he meets Katie. *distant maniacal laughter*
Let’s be real: Brigandell wins just for his name alone. But it’s his understated, quiet nature that has us swooning. Where a lot of leading men in fantasies and færytales tend to be boisterous or swaggering, Brigan is a closed book and a deep well. But when he loves someone, he loves them fiercely and without restraint. So in that regard, we’re a little jealous of Fire…
A Scot, a folklorist, a veteran, subject of a prophecy… Need we go on? A delicious tale of balancing duty with desire, Dermot hits the list for about a dozen different reasons.
Yes, this is the fourth book in a series, so yes, this one is a sllloooowww burn. But there’s a reason this series was a New York Times Bestseller. And Rowan? Well, he’s just plain beautiful — in the most broody, grumpy, warrior-squalor way. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a shape-shifting, ancient Fae warrior with a penchant for vengeance, either. Sarah J. Maas may be the queen of fantasy, but she is quite possibly the queen of perfect tattoed Fae love interests, too.
A seasoned fey warrior, master of understated snark, and solidly dependable (sometimes infuriatingly so) anchor, he can wrangle irritable wyslings, bratty bakers, and excitable protégés with a calm many a mother would want to steal. Did I mention that he can shift into a cat? I mean, what’s not to love about him?
Finn is handsome, wealthy, and, oh yeah… heartless. But his cruelty hides deep wounds. And when those wounds are exposed? Well that’s when his true beauty shines through.
Prince Teryn doesn’t seem a likely love interest at first. In fact, at the beginning of Shadows of Lela he’s downright naive and highly misguided in his romantic pursuits. But when he meets Cora, he learns the true meaning of lasting love and that it starts with friendship.
The LUX series is one of my favorite series and was my introduction to this amazing author! When I heard about the spin-off that was coming, I was so excited!! The Darkest Star is the first book in this spin-off and thanks to Netgalley I got an ARC to read and review! Keep on reading to see what I thought of this book!
When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…
#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both new and old.
“That was what I wanted at some point in my life, for someone to look at me like I looked at tacos.”
I have to start off by saying you can read this book if you haven’t read LUX yet! If you’ve read LUX though, you do read about some familiar characters and you will recognize some events!
The Darkest Star takes place a few years after the Luxen tried taking over Earth. Things are kind of peaceful, but it’s still there’s still a lot of tension between some humans and Luxen. This starts growing when a few people go missing and turn up dead. It’s clear something is going on and I have a feeling we will build up to the main event of this trilogy.
Evie is our main character in this book and she’s more of a laid back and relaxed character. She enjoys sitting around reading, taking pictures and hanging out with friends. Except one night she ends up at a club she wasn’t supposed to be at and meets Luc. There’s an instant connection that neither of them will admit.
The Darkest Star started out a bit slower for me than I expected. I can understand that though. It’s the first book of a new storyline and things have to build up. Even though it was a bit slower, I did love learning more about Evie and Luc. He was the mysterious one in LUX and knowing we were getting to know him more was one of the reasons I needed this book!
That being said, this book takes off about halway through! There are so many different plot twists that you do not see coming!! I was actually pretty shocked how things turned out! I couldn’t put it down after that and was really sad it’s over and angry I didn’t have the next book!
The Darkest Star is a lot of fun for LUX fans, because some characters we come to love make an appearance in this story! Even though it’s a different story, this world definitely feels the same. I remember Jennifer saying Luke could kick Daemon off his throne, but I have to disagree. I love Luc, but Daemon is still my number one in this world!
I did love learning more about Luc though. In LUX he’s rather arrogant, but this book makes you understand him so much more. He’s even more than that! He’s definitely sweet, sarcastic and just may come in a close second to Daemon!
If you’re looking for a new paranormal/fantasy series with great world-building, fun characters, humor, hot aliens and a little romance, The Darkest Star is for you!
“There’s nothing we can do other than live with the promise of tomorrow while knowing it may not come.”
I definitely plan on doing a reread of LUX and this book next year before the release of the second book in this trilogy! Have you read the LUX series or The Darkest Star yet? What did you think? Sound off in the comments!
Some of the most gorgeous book covers out there are in the fantasy and færytale genre, and we at Epic Færytales thought it was high time to pay tribute to some of the artists that make these beauties. We highly recommend checking out the artists who poured their talents into these incredible covers. They’re Insta-candy waiting to happen. And know what else is cool? Some of the books in this list were designed and illustrated by the authors themselves! Check it out!
Cover illustrated by Charlie Bowater.
Cover illustrated by Anna Shoemaker.
Cover illustrated by Charlie Bowater.
Cover illustrated by Jason Chan.
Cover illustrated by Merilliza Chan
Cover illustrated by L. Steinworth.
Cover illustrated by Merilliza Chan.
Cover illustrated by Morgan G Farris.
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