Tag: book release

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Book Review: Dark Fairytales For The Unloved: Collective Anthology

 Fourteen Indie authors! Fifteen stories of the twisted and macabre! Enter if you dare, a dark fairytale collection that will make the Brothers Grimm either blush or smile with glee. Content and trigger warning precede each tale for an unaware sensitive reader, but the title warns you these are dark fairytales. Now let’s follow the bread crumbs and enter into the darkness.

Dark Fairytales For The Unloved: An Indie Author Collection (Volume One)

Published: March 26th, 2025

Genre: Fairytales/Folklore/Fantasy/Anthologies

Synopsis

Step into a realm where enchantment and darkness intertwine. In this anthology, fourteen master storytellers from diverse backgrounds conjure original fairytales that are as chilling as they are captivating. From eerie forests to twisted kingdoms, each tale spins a web of intrigue, mystery, and danger. Embrace the delicious dread and discover the hidden truths that lurk in the shadows. Perfect for lovers of the macabre and fantastical, these stories will leave you spellbound long after the last page is turned.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW

Dark Fairytales For The Unloved is a collection of Fairytales for adults, oozing with dark fairytale-inspired stories. Two are dark retellings of classic tales such as “Elves and the Shoemaker” and” Beauty and the Beast” in spectacular NOURSHMENT and HUNTER & THE BEAST by Gareth Ian Davies and SD Paine. The rest are dark original fairy tale-inspired tales, such as my favorite, the brilliantly written folklorish horror THE PALE MOTHER by Nova B. Quinn and BIRDS OF WINTER by Ruby Ann Stiegelmeier.

Then we have the hauntingly magical with FOXGLOVE and THE BLOOMING CURSE by Stacey LP and Hannah Gardiner. The bottom rips out from under us, and we go deeper and darker with wickedly devilish tales like BEAUTIFUL SUFFERING and SPIT AND SPITE AND ALL THINGS NIGHT by Alex Upchurch & Ellen Winter.

The opening story, REQUIEM, by Marianne Gray, is an absolute banger, setting the tone of the book nicely. While not every story tickled my witchy fancy, the next one usually did. It was a fun read, and I enjoyed getting treated to a new story by a new author. It was like getting a sneak peek into these delicious indie authors’ minds.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

GET IT TODAY!

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Book Spotlight Thursday: The Usher of Spring by Tayloranne Worley

Recently released THE USHER OF SPRING is a dark romantasy filled with sweet slow burn romance, magical creatures, Greek and Norse mythology, Gladiators, betrayal and forbidden magic! This spellbinding tale is perfect for readers who are fans of Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, A Fate Inked in Blood, Percy Jackson, and Once Upon a Broken Heart, and can I mention the COVER! 😍

The Usher of Spring (Blood of the Seasons Book 1)

Publication Date: March 2, 2025

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Synopsis

“Despite my curse, we’re still family? Right?”
"Of course Maev, nothing will ever change that.”

In the frozen realm of Aringuard, the heart of an ancient god governs the seasons. Every four years, the goddess Erinyes chooses a new Usher of Spring; a young girl who must travel the lands carrying the immortal heart and spilling its blood so that Spring may bloom.

To be the Usher of Spring is the greatest honor.
But to be their servant is a death sentence. At the end of the four years, the Usher's servants are sacrificed so that she may be reborn as a goddess. Frida is chosen to be the Usher, but quickly learns that it is more than she bargained for. Then she is presented with a choice: lose everything or doom everyone.

GET IT TODAY!

AMAZON

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Book Spotlight Thursday: REFORMED by Holly Monroe

Reformed is the first book in a planned four-book series.  This “why choose” paranormal romance series means our MFC Stella will not have to choose between her love interests.

Reformed (The Rift Wars Book 1)

Expected Publication Date: Feb 21

Genre: PNR/ Why Choose/ Academy

Features

- Why choose

- MFMMM

- Academy (prison reform school)

- Mythology and folklore inspiration

- Slow burn

- Virgin MMCs

- Shy cyclops

- Golden retriever reaper

- Hot for teacher

- Mystery to solve

- Politics and subterfuge

In a realm where being supernatural is all but illegal, Stella Mikers has hidden her supernatural spirit and done it well for over a decade. Up against the wire to produce a piece of hard-hitting journalism to solidify her career and no other ideas, she decides it's time to come out of hiding and embrace what she truly is - a Valkyrie.

She dusts off her wings and goes undercover at Robert Sinclair’s Reformation Academy, the prison alternative that boasts the ability to turn supernaturals into simplynaturals, removing what makes them different and allowing them to better assimilate into society.

But there is something fishy about a vampire who can now be a phlebotomist and a necromancer who works as a mortician. Stella is determined to discover what is going on behind those golden gates and expose the Academy to the realm.

What she didn't expect to find at the Academy were starving vampires who wanted to feed from her feet, a shy cyclops suitemate, or a reaper who is sunshine personified. Even one of her simplynatural professors draws her attention in a way she can't explain. Stella's plan didn't include making friends, but now that she has, she’s dead set on doing whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Robert Sinclair’s Reformation Academy has a dark secret, and it’s up to Stella to uncover it before all of them are reformed.

*This slow-burn MFMMM book is intended for adult audiences and contains explicit content.*

​

REFORMED Is Available February 21st (tomorrow!)

Available on AMAZON

BOOK REVIEW COMING SOON!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Holly Monroe reluctantly lives in Florida. She writes fantasy, paranormal, and omegaverse romances with strong female characters and swoon-worthy men who always get their happily ever after.

Holly Monroe reluctantly lives in Florida. She writes fantasy, paranormal, and omegaverse romances with strong female characters and swoon-worthy men who always get their happily ever after.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Angel of Earth & Bone by Tory Guyon

Welcome to the first Book Spotlight Thursday of 2025! I saw this book come on my radar again, and seeing it is releasing close to my birthday, I decided to feature it. Angel of Earth & Bone is the second volume in The Book of the Watchers, an upper YA/NA urban fantasy romance series about the secret heiress to a powerful archangel and the half-angel demon hunter sent to destroy her.

Angel of Earth & Bone (The Book of the Watchers Vol II)

Expected Publication Date: January 16, 2025

Genre: YA/NA Urban Fantasy Romance 

Features

⦁	Enemies-to-Lovers
⦁	Forbidden Love
⦁	Second Chance Romance
⦁	Warring realms
⦁	Dagger to the Throat
⦁	Morally Gray MMC
⦁	Found Family
⦁	Mental Health Rep
⦁	Magical Creatures
⦁	“We shouldn’t be doing this”
⦁	Dungeon Runs
⦁	Backpacking Culture

Six weeks isn’t long enough to heal a broken heart. Not for River Harlow, who lost her best friend, Javi; her mentor, Olivia; her lover, Ryder—her entire life—in what feels like the blink of an eye. Yet, as the new Angel of Water and with a bounty on her head placed by the conniving enemy realm, the only thing left to do is try to move on.

To take back her life, River stands against Chet, the horrific guy-turned-wolf who assaulted her at a bonfire. But when she tries to testify against him at the werewolf tribunal, she—and her remaining friends—realizes he has not only slithered into the welcome arms of the enemy, but the enemy is very much among them. It won’t be too long before their army of demons infiltrates Mortal Earth and destroys everything she loves.
Finding the three other elemental archangels, the Watchers, might be her only hope of saving the realm. 

On a dangerous search abroad to find the Angel of Earth, her strength, hope, and heart are tested in the deceitfully glittering realm of the Huldufólk. The Queen of the Elves strikes a bargain with River to take her to the Angel of Earth, but elves always demand payment for their magic, and River owes her dues—in bones and blood.

PRE-ORDER HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tory Guyon grew up dreaming about dragons, pretending to craft potions, and eagerly awaiting to be summoned by the realm of the fae. She lives with her family in Santa Cruz, CA and continues to actively seek out the magic of this world. Whether that’s working with orangutans in the jungles of Borneo, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro’s grueling 19,341 ft. peak, or looking for fairies in the redwoods with her daughter.

Connect with her at www.toryguyon.com or on social media at @wri_tor.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Royal Lies by Rina Huang

A holiday edition 🎄 In the spotlight today is the upcoming Royal Lies (FaeTale Lies #1 ), releasing December 25th, 2024. “Being a bastard son, you have to make tough decisions. I had to make tough decisions. But they were all for her. Always for her.” ~Eli

Royal Lies: Adventure into a New Realm of Magic and Betrayal (FaeTale Lies #1)

Expected Publication Date: December 25, 2024

Genre: Romantasy/ Fae

Features

-Found family
-Love triangle
-Enemies to lovers
-Soulmates
-Backstabbing bargains
-Morally grey MCs
-Overpowered MCs
-Anti-heroes
- Unexected Twists
-Action/Adventure

In the Fae realm nothing is for free, and everything is a game of lies and half truths. When Everetta and her companions are reincarnated they come back with one thing in mind to get back their crowns. But with Everetta's most trusted companion, Eli, keeping a major secret from her will they truly be able to take back their thrones?
Lucarious is an evil, monstrous, murderer. Fae have always called him the King of Blood and Shadow. But is there more to this dethroned King than meets the eyes?
What secrets lay in wait? Who will betray who? In a fight for the crowns to their respective Courts Everetta, Eli, and Lucarious must work together if they will ever find out what really happened in their past.

PRE- ORDER HERE

COMING DECEMBER 25TH, 2024

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Book Spotlight Thursday: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

Caught in my spotlight is C.A. Cordova’s soon-to-be release, The Book Binder! It will be released on December 6th, 2024. Read on for more details.

The Book Binder

Publication Date: December 6, 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Features

✔️High Stakes
✔️Exotic Locale
✔️Forbidden Romance
✔️Love Triangle

Choice is an illusion gifted by the gods.

Aria never expected to be a mistress, especially to the Pharaoh’s son.
But when she accidentally witnesses the poisoning of his cup and intervenes, he is intrigued. Even more so when he discovers that she can speak the betrayer’s language and many others.

Aria’s forbidden education as the daughter of a book binder makes her valuable, and she quickly becomes the prince’s obsession.

As she embraces her newfound power, she begins to question the rulings of the palace and uncovers a world of deception.
Is Aria destined to receive the spoils of the gods or will tragedy befall her?

The Book Binder is an epic adventure novel with elements of suspense and mystery. C.A. Cordova’s tale is woven with intense emotion, dire situations, and female cunning.

COMING DECEMBER 6TH, 2024

PRE- ORDER TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.A. Cordova is perhaps best described as a whimsical nomad. She has an ever-present thirst for new adventures that has resulted in many moves and many more stories.

C.A. Cordova’s unique novels are crafted under a shroud of bergamot from a bottomless cup of Earl Grey tea. She declares herself an observer of the countless tales that play out in her mind. It is not unusual for her to have upwards of ten works in progress at any given moment, the most active being determined by the tone of the day.

Guided by her love of reading, C.A. Cordova hopes to capture the feeling of blissful immersion she has experienced with her favorite books.

When she is not feverishly tapping away at her laptop with a cat in her lap, C.A. Cordova can be found enjoying time with her family, training her parrot, or tending to her flowerbeds.

C.A. Cordova lives in Texas with her family and many pets.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Even Angels Fall by E.V Sauvage

Welcome to a thankful Book Spotlight Thursday! In our limelight today is EVEN ANGELS FALL by E.V. Sauvage, which is releasing today!

Even Angels fall (The Even Ever After Series Book 1)

Publication Date: November 28, 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Features

⦁	Enemies to lovers
⦁	Marriage of convenience
⦁	He falls first
⦁	She’s badass
⦁	Found family
⦁	Shapeshifters (she’s a crow/he’s a dragon)

300 years ago, my world collided with Earth.
My kind has been ruling over the world ever since, passing as archangels.
Doves, swans, cockatoo, their white wings in half shifted form are the sign of their power.
I should have been the next in line.
I should have been the new archangel Michaël.
But my wings aren’t white.
So instead I have to stay hidden. Instead, I’ve been trained my whole life. Instead, I’m their weapon.
Because who would be best suited to kill the dragon shifter living inside of Notre Dame than a fallen angel?
My name is Angélique. I’m a crow-shifter, and my mission is to marry Elhyor and to kill him on our wedding night.
But nothing is the way it seems, and the dragon might be harder to kill than I thought.
He might also be my only chance at freedom…
Do I have any chance of surviving unscathed?
Only time will tell…

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

E.V. Sauvage is a French author who writes in English and lives in Paris.

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading books, collecting them, trying to paint or sew.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy

Looking for a book to spotlight this Thursday, I found the soon-to-be-released Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy. Containing elements of gothic horror, splatterpunk, romance, and fantasy, this book calls to you that it is said to wrap around you, the reader, and never let go. Let’s read on!

PRE ORDER AVAILABLE

Inked in Blood and Memory

Expected Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Genre: Sapphic Horror

Features
⦁	Eat the rich
⦁	“Family is complicated”
⦁	Sapphic (f/f) romance
⦁	2/5 spice level
⦁	Multi-POV
⦁	Vietnamese FMC
⦁	Plus size FMC
⦁	Mixed race FMC
⦁	FMC who wears glasses
⦁	New Year’s Eve Horror
⦁	Dark Academia
⦁	Estranged friends to lovers
⦁	Grownup "The Pagemaster" vibes

Recluse Sophie Vanguard’s winter cabin retreat turns ominous when blue flowers mysteriously appear. They’re everywhere. On her front porch, in kitchen cabinets, and even on her pillow. It isn’t long before chilling whispers echo in the halls, and her journal repeats seven unsettling entries.

Enter the bloodied and beautifully eccentric Ly Thi Ren. Though Ren seems familiar, Sophie refuses to believe the girl’s insistence that they are trapped inside a book.
In a land of fiction, truth and lies blur together, clear decisions are marred by doubt, and shared family trauma lurks just below the surface.

Can Ren and Sophie make it out alive? Or will they end up nothing more than words inked in blood and memory?

Warnings Contain Possible Triggers Including:

Swearing (Not overboard. Three or four F-words and three or four other words.)
Gore/violence/body horror (not gratuitous and nothing sexual)
one scene of the main character’s drug use (joint)
Brief suicidal ideation
Child endangerment
Self-deprecation in terms of weight (one paragraph).

Inked in Blood and Memory is coming December 3rd, 2024

Pre-Order Today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Ivy writes under a pen name and grew up reading a book a day. She graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a Creative Writing certificate. She currently lives in Connecticut and listens to far too many show tunes and DVD commentaries. The Dragon and the Double-Edged Sword is her first novel.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: All the Sacrifice of Shadows by Hillary Raymer

The cover has a dragon on it, so of course, I am spotlighting this book. All the Sacrifice of Shadows is the exciting next installment in the Starstorm series, coming November 13th.

All the Sacrifice of Shadows (Starstorm Series Book 2)

Expected Publication Date: November 13, 2024

Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Dragons

Features

Arranged Marriage
Grumpy x Sunshine
Shadow Daddy 
Morally Grey
Very Spicy
Dragons
His Dragon Like Her Better

Synopsis

She was a storm of violent sunbeams and catastrophic rainbows.
Marrying for love was never in the stars for Creslyn, as evidenced by her future husband. Drake is calculating, cruel, and wields a blade of death. By all rights, he should be terrifying. But something about him draws her in, his shadows call to the darkness she keeps locked away inside of her. She isn’t foolish enough to expect love from a marriage contract, but when they bind their vows in blood, Creslyn does the unthinkable—she claims Drake as her mate.

He was a monster of shadow and night, of death and destruction.
Cursed since his first breath, Drake has only known power and a realm of shadows. But now he’s bound to a faerie whose heart bleeds for him, and his obsession with her only grows with each passing day. Unfortunately, his world of violence puts her life at stake. Not only is he still the Shadowblade Assassin, but unrest is brewing in Aeramere, and an attack on House Celestine confirms an ill-fated prophecy. War is coming.
As Creslyn longs to find a way to break Drake’s curse and struggles to embrace her own darkness, Drake will be faced with a terrible choice—one that will only end in sacrifice.
Secrets will be unearthed and their bond will be put to the test, because love might be enough for a hero, but it will never save a villain.
Don’t forget Book 1

Pre-Order Here

Content Warning: The book contains the following triggers.

⦁ Voyeurism
⦁ Foul language
⦁ Explicit sexual content
⦁ Attempted murder
⦁ Death
⦁ Blood
⦁ Brief on pages attempted SA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hillary Raymer is a fantasy romance author. She’s a wanderer, a storyteller, and believes in happily ever afters.

Hillary has always been a dreamer, and lucky for her, she turned those dreams into stories. She has an unfinished Bachelor’s Degree in English, because she ran off and married a Marine halfway through college. She has an affinity toward plants, loves flowers, and enjoys scoping out metaphysical markets for crystals. Wanderlust comes naturally to her, and she’s doing her best to instill the same wild and free values in her daughters. When not writing, Hillary can be found attempting to do yoga, buying more makeup she doesn’t need, or discovering small businesses on Etsy.

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Book Review: Blood for Blood by J.N. Eagles

 From the author of last year’s “Open the Casket.”  This year, J.N. Eagles is back with Blood for Blood, a poetic story that will haunt you days after.

Blood for Blood

Genre: YA Poetry/ Supernatural

Cover Designer:  @j20graphics

Synopsis

An older vampire secretly resides in a neighborhood, preying off those who hike in the nearby woods. One night, he becomes distracted by a second attack and allows his prey to escape. Following a trail of blood, he comes face to face with his old mentor who only wants revenge and to keep the vampire laws. His mentor will either kill or transform everyone he cares for into vampires. After being arrested and interrogated for a crime his mentor framed him for, can he escape the police station before the sunlight diminishes him? Can he save his great-grandson? Will he be able to convince a stranger, who thinks of him as a monster, to help him? He would do anything as long as he didn’t have to accept his final death.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW

Blood for Blood is achingly haunting! A story told in poetic prose, Eagles makes sure you turn the next page even though you don’t want to.

This book was so unique and beautiful all at once. Horrifyingly tragic, I was not sure I liked the trip Eagles was taking me on, but I loved it at the same time. The story is so incredibly good! It holds you and, with a gentle touch, yearns you to the end. This is true gothic horror reminiscent of the great Edgar Allen Poe.

This is a great story told in such a brave new way, and oddly, it works. I do not think the story could be told any other way. Eagles tells the tale of the vampire in poetic free verse poetry. It was offputting at first, but I soon felt at home in the Eagles’ style of storytelling. This book! I am still in awe and love. It’s on my favorite list of reads this year. 

Thus, my rating is 5 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. N. Eagles currently lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a flock of chickens. She runs a reading blog where she posts reviews about the books on her shelves, and she plans to write many books of poetry. She graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor’s in English/Language Arts and graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Master of Arts in Writing. When she’s not reading or scribbling new stories, she’s enjoying the outdoors and working in her garden.

To learn more about Eagle and her other works, visit her Amazon page and follow Eagles on Instagram @j.n.eagles.author