Feeling festive? Instead of a Book Spotlight yesterday, I bring you today a holiday book review! Join me as we check out A Very Pagen Christmas by JC Brown and Lena Lane!
Title: A Very Pagan Christmas
Author(s): JC Brown and Lena Lane
Genre: Holiday Romance, paranormal romance
Release Date: June 27th, 2025
Format: Kindle
Pages: 105
Nicholas is a veterinarian and a man of science. He has no patience for the nonsense of natural remedies and herbal fix-it-alls. So when he meets Dahlia, an employee of The Blueberry Apothecary, he’s disappointed that she’s a believer of magical nonsense. But their worlds keep colliding.
As a born witch, magic is everywhere in Dahlia’s world, even in her blood. But considering the history between humans and witches, she hides it from everyone. And the sexy vet who’s taking care of her familiar is no different. It’s too bad, though, since he’s so cute.
Can their words come together? Or will their differences tear them apart?
A Very Pagan Christmas is not my normal read. I usually run away from holiday romances like the black plague. I must say, though, A Very Pagan Christmas was surprisingly charming. We meet Dahlia and her feisty familiar calico, Theo. When Dalia thinks Theo is sick, she takes her to the vet, where she meets the hunky vet Nicolas. Nick is drawn to Dahlia, but when he learns she works at the Blueberry Apothecary, which sells herbal remedies, he becomes hesitant about his feelings cause she really can’t believe in that witch stuff, can she? Oh, but she does.
Nick and Dahlia keep crossing paths, though, and their banter is quite hilarious because Nick doesn’t believe in magic and Dahlia does. When Nick’s brother, a priest, asks the Apothecary to help in a fundraiser, Nick flips out because how can a Pagan go into a church? Dahlia mifed attend decked all out in witchy attire. I just love Dahlia, by the way!
I did, though, have an issue with it ending flatly. The book led me through the exposition, rising action, and climax so well, but then faltered in the resolution. Still, A Very Pagan Christmas is a great Sunday-afternoon quick read that will delight your holiday romance fancy.
RED DEMON is a Sci-Fi Romantasy Blend debut author by Sill Bihagia. It is phenomnal!
Published: September 16th, 2025
Genre: Science Fantasy / LGBTQ+
Features Spicy romantic subplot
Morally gray characters
Emotional depth
SYNOPSIS
A century ago, two human lines nearly wiped each other out rather than acknowledge their shared humanity. But when Jesse’s mining town is slaughtered under mysterious circumstances, it’s clear ancient bigotries are still alive, and rebels have access to some magic or tech capable of wide-scale genocide.
The Red Demon bloodied her swords in that massacre , a bioengineered immortal left over from that century old war. Jesse expected her to be upholding his empire’s fragile peace, not killing her own. But Jesse is too optimistic and stubborn to break. Better days are coming-and he’s willing to take on an immortal to protect the life he’s rebuilt among the ashes.
Faruhar, the so-called Red Demon, is not the mastermind Jesse expects. Her fragmented mind is ravaged by guilt over crimes she cannot remember committing, and a code impressed on her by a few kind people she cannot forget.
REVIEW
Debut author Sill Bihagia knows what she is doing in her powerful debut, RED DEMON. I don’t get moved by books at all, but this book tore at my soul. Red Demon is epic and viscerally written with deep, integrated world-building with fleshed-out, rounded characters. It gave me “Game of Thrones” with a dash of “Fifth Element” vibes. However, some have compared it to Red Rising, The Poppy War, or Gideon the Ninth .We are introduced to Jesse, who was out with his brother hunting. Upon returning to their quaint mining town, he finds everyone is dead. Hope, though, shines when he sees that one of his older brothers is alive. The hope does not last for long as a figure appears with bright red hair. She murders his brothers right before him, leaving Jesse alive. Why?
Orphaned Jesses comes upon another town where he states his tragedy. Other towns have been wiped out, too. There is a rumor, talk of a disease used by rebels and a mysterious figure with red hair. “The Red Demon.” A blacksmith and his family take Jesse in, adopting him, teaching Jesse the way of the sword as Jesse vows to find The Red Demon and kill her. When the Red Demon strikes again in his new home with his new family and friends, Jesse is prepared, but only discovers that she actually saved his life. He learns that Red Demon is more than she seems.
That is only the gist of it. Red Demon has so many delicious layers that do not disappoint you as a reader. As a writer, it brings joy that the craft of wordsmithing is not dead. There are writers and then there are storytellers. Bihagia is a storyteller, fitting in nicely with the other sci-fi fantasy writing greats. Bihagia says about her book:
“It reads like fantasy, “but it’s grounded in science—CRISPR, neuroscience of memory, and mycological bionetworks. That’s there under the surface for the hard SFF readers, and those who are here for the emotional stakes find a villain who remembers who she loves… even if she forgets why she kills.”
Like I said, this book has layers. I also loved the action fight scenes. Best cleanly written fight scenes with sharp, precise cuts, making the words visualize and dance like a ballet in my head. I usually skim fight scenes in books. Bihagia kept me reading blow for blow.
While I like Sci-fi, I have quite lost interest in the genre and have been more into mystery thrillers. Red Demon brought me back, making me remember how good sci-fi fantasy can be when written well.
RED DEMON gets 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars.
GET YOUR COPY TODAY AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND ONLINE BOOK SELLERS EVERYWHERE.
Sill Bihagia is a data analyst, sword collector, and suburban chicken farmer with a background in evolutionary and behavioral neuroscience. They live in Severna Park, Maryland with their husband and two children. Sill writes speculative fiction with mature, approachable prose, emotional wreckage, and sharp wit. Red Demon is their debut novel and second published title. Their new imprint, Oria Press, champions inclusive, human-written speculative fiction with traditional-quality polish, seeking to lift up other indie writers with similar values.
Follow Sill at @sillauthor on Instagram. Get signed, sprayed-edge editions available at Sillauthor.com
Eighteen-year-old Billie-Ashley arrived at Thornes University with a secret and an envelope, containing a promise of a life-changing amount of money and to learn more about her past once she completes a task.
The problem? The task wasn’t stated.
She planned to be a wallflower. But within minutes that plan becomes a tangled mess. She is placed in the room once occupied by the girl who disappeared a couple of weeks prior.
Thanks to a handsome stranger, who is now wearing her iced mocha, Billie-Ashley learns the value of friendships. She intertwines herself within a group of guys while secretly gathering tidbits of information even when a warning turns deadly.
With the threat breathing down her neck, can Billie-Ashley keep her secret and complete the task?
When fellow author Rissa Blakeley came asking if I’d do an ARC review of her new book, “I’m Not Sorry,” I was more than happy to. My kindness almost killed me, though, as I piled too much on my work plate. By some miraculous grace, I did manage to finish the book just in time for its release day tomorrow (October 14th), and oh my gosh, what a book! Blakely writes with a nice contemporary realism that carries you through this suspense thriller mystery. We met a college-age Billy- Ashley. Someone gave her a ton of money to attend the specific Thorne University. It could hold the secrets to her twin sister’s disappearance. Billy-Ashley was just going to be a wallflower while she searched for the truth, but when she was greeted and welcomed by the welcoming Rex and his crew, Billy-Ashley could not help but feel accepted for the first time in a long time.
Billy-Ashley wasn’t there to make friends, though. When Billy-Ashley investigates the school’s recent mystery of a former student whose room she now occupies, she uncovers a connection to the cold case of her missing sister. Danger ensues for Billy-Ashley and her friends.
“I’m Not Sorry” is beautifully written. A haunting story that will linger in your soul long after you have read it. It’s a mix of a stealth murder mystery thriller with a dash of supernatural, which hooked me instantly. Every character is essential and written to be well-rounded and believable.
It also made me think. If you read Blakeley’s introduction before reading, you will discover how this story was personal and a struggle for her to write. Keeping this in mind, while reading, I thought I’d see the revelation, but I didn’t. It was not until I read the acknowledgment that I understood why this story was personal to Blakely. Which made me wonder what this means about myself? All I saw was a beautiful story with beautiful characters and an engrossing murder mystery. I did not see this as an LGBTQ themed story. It was just a story, and a darn good one. It’s also a story about friendship and feeling accepted, which I think everyone on earth can relate to, yet we exclude so much in this world.
Therefore, I give “I’m Not Sorry” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars.
Like this review? Feel free to support and buy me a coffee, and read other book goodie stuff at
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rissa Blakeley is the author of a fantasy paranormal series, Corvidae Guard, a post-apocalyptic series, Shattered Lives, and a horror short, Grammy’s Supper.
As a native New Yorker, Rissa is now a Georgia transplant, who is completely addicted to black coffee and La Croix. When Rissa isn’t writing, she can be found procrastinating on social media.
First, I would like to extend a huge thank you to Sam Weiss for providing the gifted ARC copy for review. She graciously gave me a physical copy to review due to my increasing difficulty reading e-books. I am eternally grateful. Now to the book!
In the House Of Root and Rot (Altered Planes Book Two)
Old Gramps always said the Deadmarsh family was cursed. Will never believed him—until now.
In a last-ditch effort to pay his grandfather’s mounting medical bills, Will signs up for a shady sleep study, ignoring the warning signs. But everything changes the night his grandfather vanishes. In his place, Will’s dead sister returns.
Convinced the sleep study is to blame, Will tracks down Spectre, the enigmatic research firm behind it, only to discover they’ve disappeared. His search leads him to a girl whose father vanished after her own harrowing encounter with Spectre. She also seems to know more about his family’s past than she’s letting on.
Desperate to stop seeing his dead sister and unsure of who to trust, Will forms an uneasy alliance with the girl to find out what Spectre wants with them. Together, they plummet down a rabbit-hole of secrets, discovering Spectre’s true purpose and what it planted in Will’s bloodline centuries ago. Something ancient, something not of this world, has been feeding off his family for generations, growing stronger, hungrier, and desperate to be set free.
The family curse is real. And it’s been waiting for Will to unleash it.
Review
In the House of Root and Rot, it is the next book in The Altered Planes Trilogy. Along with Atra’s story, as we are introduced to a new character, Will, who starts this book, we learn has an unrelenting connection to Atra, our main lead from the first book.
It’s essential to read the first book (The Afterlife Experiment) before diving into In theHouse of Root and Rot to get the full emotional effect of this book, though you still might get lost as Weiss loves to send you on a mind trip. Also, everyone is morally gray. Our new character, Will, is no exception; yet, you still love/hate these messed-up people because we are all messed-up people, which is actually refreshing to read.
In The House of Root and Rot, we are first introduced to Will Deadmarsh. Caring for his abusive, stroke-ridden Grandfather. Struggling financially, Will sees an ad for a sleep study that offers a nice payout and decides to join up. Then his Grandfather vanishes, and he starts seeing his dead twin sister Lex. Wanting to stop seeing his dead sister, he goes back to the sleep study to find it abandoned, or so he thinks. When he runs into a strange dark-haired girl who seems to have been held captive, and oddly knows about Will’s family and his dead sister Lex. Will’s life turns upside down. Family secrets are revealed, a curse that ties into life after death, and an ancient evil that must not awaken.
I am thoroughly enjoying this mind-altering series! I LOVE the cast of morally gray characters, and Weiss writes them so well. I am a fan of morally gray characters now, yet I am afraid to read another book with morally gray characters because Weiss has set the bar so high for me.
Weiss has also mastered the art of the slow burn perfectly. Some authors’ slow burn a bit too much, which puts me off, but Weiss simmers us readers beautifully in everything. The whole book is a slow burn with an ending that hints at more to come.
Sam was named after a dog, a fact her mother disputes to this day.
While she’s terrible at writing “About Me”s about her, she’s been told she’s excellent at writing about what fictional people do. The more miserable she can make them, the better.
Her love of horror films from the 80s, sci-fi shows from the 90s, and alternative music from the 00s have inspired her to write what she’s calling “Weird Sci-fi Horror” although she’s kind of making that up as she goes along.
When she’s not ready to pull her hair out after discovering another plot hole she’s created, she goes camping with her husband as far away from society as possible. So far, this tactic has been mostly successful and she’s only had to physically converse with a grand total of nine people this year. Next year, she hopes to get that number down to six.
A bit of a change this Thursday. As I bring you a book review!
ABSOLUTELY MIND-BENDING!
The Afterlife Experiment (The Altered Planes Book 1)
Published: October 10, 2023
Genre: Dark fantasy/Sci-fi- horror/ American horror
Pages: 310 pages
Reality ends where madness begins.
Atra Hart’s shadow has grown teeth. It moves on its own and whispers her name. She calls it Dread, and it threatens to devour her mind.
When a fire breaks out at the asylum where she’s locked up, Atra seizes the chance for freedom, only to witness an electric-purple rift split the sky open. Like Dread, the rift is visible only to her.
Then, she awakens back in the asylum, unharmed, as if the fire, the escape, and the rift never happened. But everything feels wrong. No one remembers her old life. Her family, her friends—even her past—have vanished. The doctors insist she’s delusional, but the messages scribbled on the mirrors suggest otherwise. The darkness beneath her bed whispers secrets. And the black cat that watches from where the veils thin? It doesn’t belong here.
As Atra ventures deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a chilling truth: this isn’t an asylum. It’s a trap woven between broken realities. The rift isn’t a vision. It’s a crack in the barrier between worlds, and something is trying to come through. Dread isn’t a hallucination. It’s a harbinger, connected to something ancient that moves between realities like a parasite, searching for a perfect host.
If Atra can’t sever her connection to Dread, she won’t just lose her grip on sanity—she’ll become the vessel that lets the horror in. She’ll open the door to something that could end reality itself.
As I prepared to receive my ARC for the upcoming book, “In the House of Root and Rot” (book two in the Altered Planes Trilogy), I had to read book one, which the author had kindly gifted me as well. This book mind *ucked me and I liked it!
We are introduced to Atra, who has spent most of her life in an asylum. She sees a dark shadow companion whom she calls Dread, which no one else can see. We also meet Tom, her father, who had abandoned Atra, leaving her for dead after a sinister experiment went wrong.
A rift has opened in the fabric of time, and only Atra, Tom, and some others can see it. An ancient evil wants to break through. Atra has the final piece it needs.
Think Stranger Things meets Sliders meets The Travellers or Fringe. I don’t know! This book makes you question the very reality you are reading! This is the very first book where I couldn’t predict what would happen next! THE VERY FIRST! I was reading for my sanity, so there was that. These characters become you.
I love unreliable characters, and Weiss delivers cause this whole book is full of them. The ending leaves you craving what is next. What horrors and madness await us in the next book? Stay tuned, as I’m set to read the second book “In the House of Root and Rot” soon!
My overall rating is 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐out of 5 stars. This book gave me a trip, no drugs needed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam was named after a dog, a fact her mother disputes to this day.
While she’s terrible at writing “About Me”s about her, she’s been told she’s great at writing about what fictional people do. The more miserable she can make them, the better.
Her love of horror films from the 80s, sci-fi shows from the 90s, and alternative music from the 00s have inspired her to write what she’s calling “Dark Science Fantasy” although she’s kind of making that up as she goes along.
When she’s not ready to pull her hair out after discovering another plot hole she’s created, she goes camping with her husband as far away from society as possible. So far, this tactic has been mostly successful and she’s only had to physically converse with a grand total of nine people this year. Next year, she hopes to get that number down to six.
The Peanuts gang is gonna drop it like it’s hot. What happens if Charlie Brown goes to feed his beloved pet, Snoop Dogg? For shizzel! Let’s find out!
SNOOP COME HOME: A PARODY
Published: March 13th, 2020
Genre: fiction/satire/celebrity humor/parody
In “Snoop, Come Home: A Parody”, cartoonist Jeff Whitcher delivers a hilariously twisted tribute to childhood nostalgia, mixing Saturday morning innocence with Saturday night smoke. When the world’s chillest rapper lands in the suburbs of Schulz’s beloved gang, things get… hazy. From prescriptions signed by Dr. Dre to neighborhood girls interrogating gangsta rap lingo, no character escapes this riotous remix unscathed.
Illustrated in pitch-perfect Peanuts style, this grown-up picture book is a subversive celebration of hip hop, youth culture, and the strange, delightful ways we all mash up meaning. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of comic strips or a disciple of West Coast beats, this is your new favorite coffee table conversation starter.
Not for kids. Not for the faint of heart. But definitely for anyone who loves satire with a blunt edge.
A perfect gift for pop culture junkies, parody lovers, and anyone who’s ever wondered: “What would Snoop Dogg do in a Charlie Brown world?”
To quote good ol’ Chuck, “Good grief!” This book is iconic! Jeff Whitcher strikes gold in this parody of the classic Peanuts titled “Snoopy Comes Home,” with “Snoop, Come Home” that I didn’t know I needed. Not for your kids, as when Charlie Brown asks Snoop Dogg if he has a prescription for “that,” and Snoop hands him a card that says Dr. Dre, I rolled over laughing. Oh! And when Lucy gets hold of Snoop’s CD, she has a few choice words, and Linus…dear sweet Linus! (shakes head).
Image courtesy of Jeff Whitcher from “Snoop, Come Home (A Parody)”
“Snoop, Come Home” is a must for any Peanuts collector or Snoop Dogg fan. By the way, does Snoop Dogg know about this book? I can imagine him laughing and passing the “puff puff” to Jeff, saying Yeah, man, I dig it. Whitcher does Charles Schulz proud, capturing Schulz’s illustration style uncannily. This is a book I will treasure and turn to for a smile. COMEDY GOLD!
Therefore, my rating is Five out of Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Whitcher is an author, painter, music YouTuber and former standup comedian who has written over 40 books for children and adults alike. He began writing to entertain his five children and has since expanded his line of books to include parodies of popular children’s books. He is also an avid vinyl collector and has a YouTube channel, Jeff Whitcher’s Vinyl Destination. Learn more about Jeff and his books at jeffwhitcherbooks.com.
A lover of fairytale and folklore, “A Sister To Butterflies” brings you a very different kind of fairytale.
A Sister To Butterflies
Published: May 27th, 2025
Genre: Fantasy/ Folklore/ YA Fantasy
Age: 13+
Pages: 581
Synopsis
There are lures irresistible regardless of peril, because some yearnings renounce all wisdom. There are bonds that compel no matter how faraway, because some needs are dire enough to defy all cost. But when reason, distance, and danger go unheeded, that price can be devastating despite all the magic in one’s grasp.
A Sister to Butterflies tells a different sort of once upon a time, a shimmering tale of a creature torn between worlds, whose wondrous deeds would become fable and whose terrible mistakes would alter the destinies of everyone around her.
REVIEW
As poetically written as this book is, my review will not be. Oh my gosh, THIS BOOK! It tore me asunder! I am so happy! It has been a long time since a book has done that. It has also been a long time since I read a nice thick novel, and this book has some heft. An absolutely stunning read, Drown captures the cadence of fairytale and folklore but gives it just the right amount of visceral grimness, a la the Brothers Grimm, with a deeper overall moral at the end. Told in a poetic, forlorn fashion, a mysterious old woman has slipped into the nursery, picking up the swaddled babe from the crib as she sits in the rocking chair, and she tells her tale that she has said once before. Other worlds exist out there, and one of those other worlds is hers.
Now, fairytales are often short, but Drown manages to hold on to you for a full-length novel of an exquisite folktale-inspired story that hosts realism with a chilling no-happy-ever-after.
You care and sympathize with our narrator, Abigail, all through the story until the climax, when you realize she’s a whole lot messed up. She did the unthinkable, all with partial good intentions, I think, but then again…
“A Sister To Butterflies,” you have to read it, and then we can discuss it.
The overall rating is five out of five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aaron Christopher Drown is a Maine native who’s lived all over, and whose stories have appeared in equally numerous magazines and anthologies. His debut novel, A Mage of None Magic, won the Darrell Award for Best Novel, and as he’s promised his publisher for years, the follow-up will be ready soon. His collection of short stories, titled The Gods Must Clearly Smile, received the 2022 BIBA along with the 2023 Imadjinn Award. An award-winning graphic designer as well, Aaron is a frequent guest speaker who enjoys discussing not only the writing process but the important role branding and presentation play in promoting an author’s work. Aaron resides in Washington State with his wife, Sarah, their dog and cat, and his trusty Macbook, Sancho.
I did a book spotlight, and now I have READ THE BOOK!ALPHA MALE is one of the most enjoyable horror thrillers I have read in a long time.
ALPHA MALE (a Caleb Jacobsen novel)
Published: April 15, 2025
Genre: Horror/Suspense/ Thriller
Pages:434
Synopsis
Since defeating the evil Global Alpha saving mankind from annihilation, Caleb and Marla have gone back to their quiet lives.
Sadly, “quiet” never lasts.
A werewolf delegation explains to Caleb that by killing the last Alpha and then not assuming the position himself, the werewolf world has fallen into chaos, fractured packs, and bitter infighting. Born followers, the werewolves NEED a strong leader to restore balance and order.
Realizing his responsibility for this situation, Caleb must step up and be the leader they need, even though it is the last thing he wants to do.
But there are those who do not recognize him as legitimate. Rejecting his policy of détente with humankind, they still want a Werewolf Apocalypse and a Human Holocaust. And they are willing to kill anyone who gets in their way.
War is brewing, and no one can remain neutral. Everyone must choose sides. It all comes down to one cataclysmic fight to the death between Caleb and the rebel leader, Logan Olivier. The survivor will guide the combined destinies of both werewolves and humans for the next thousand years.
There’s only one ALPHA MALE.
REVIEW
The cover hooks you before you open the pages, and once you do, author Mark Allen doesn’t disappoint. Alpha Male is the second book in Allen’s Caleb Jacobsen werewolf series, with Blood Moon being the lead in. Even though I didn’t read the first book, Allen welcomes you. I was not lost one bit, and I instantly felt invested in these characters.
We pick up with Caleb and Marla again, three months after Caleb killed the Global Alpha, refusing to take the throne as his replacement. When a group comes a calling, saying the werewolf community is in disarray. Caleb finally rises up, considering he is to blame for the chaos in their community. We also meet Logan Oliver, a German Alpha of the German pack, who decides to claim the empty Global Alpha spot and pick us up where the former left off, which was revealing their kind to humanity and showing them who the true A-PEX predator is. When he learns Caleb is finally claiming the Global Alpha role and opting for peace, Logan sets out a challenge. Caleb accepts, but when Logan brutally attacks his own kind for not following him, then tries to go after his mate, Caleb is coming after Logan. Still, it is a fight to the death as both Logan and Caleb come with surprises.
I truly enjoyed Alpha Male so much. Allen is also a screenwriter, and if you are familiar with screenwriting, you can tell. Allen’s visceral description and detail are superb. I love it when a book plays like a film in your head, and Alpha Male does that. Allen’s writing is gifted in this genre. The final battle between Caleb and Logan is written brutally, yet it’s not overkill or overly gruesome. I mean, I did wince a bit at every punch and crunch. It was supported, though, so it worked. There is a third book coming out, so I am excited to see where Caleb and Marla go next.
Some like it dark, but these authors like it darker. Hitting while the iron is hot, the collective authors of the Dark Macbe are back with Darker Than Dark Fairytales for the Unloved Volume 2,which has been released. Volume 2 features brand new indie authors and some returning favorites with extremely twisted original fairytale retellings.
Darker than Dark Fairytales for the Unloved: Volume 2 (An Indie Author Collective)
Published: April 26, 2025
Genre: Anthologies, Collection/ Fairytales/ Dark fantasy/ Dark fairytale retellings
Featured authors include:
Brooke Eisenhauer (debut)
Isaac Lotharius
Zaryn Finch
S.D. Paine
Ellen Winter
Alex Upchurch
Bille Nicks
Grace Vice
Hannah L, Evens
Memo Rable
S.A. McDaniel (debut)
Emmy Crimson (debut)
Gareth Davies
Selina Shaw (debut)
Synopsis
Once upon a time, the unloved found solace in the dark.
In this collection of original fairytales, fourteen authors weave stories where love is lost, hope is twisted, and happily-ever-afters rot beneath gilded lies. Here, innocence is devoured, monsters wear familiar faces, and the cruelest wishes come true.
These are not tales of warmth. They are whispers from forgotten corridors, nightmares stitched in ink, and warnings etched in shadow.
Turn the page, but tread carefully–some stories never let go.
Darker than Dark Fairytales for the Unloved Volume Two once again mixes classic fairytale retellings, such as the twistedly romantic retelling of Hansel and Gretel in “Blood Maidens” (Billie Nicks) or the beautifully brutal Sleeping Beauty revenge tale “Greenbrier” (Brooke Eisen)
Along with original fairytale-inspired tales, including the succulent “Feed Me Honey” (Ellen Winter) or the fiercely Fem-rage “ Forest Trials” (S.D. Paine). Or the dementedly disturbing pixie popping forever seared in my mind, “Don’t Curse Me This Way” (Isaac Lotharius).
I think the only story with a maybe happily ever after is “Whispers of a Goblin Heart” (Zaryn Finch) that will make me look at Groot in a whole new way. I also have to mention “The Path” because of the ending…I nearly dropped my Kindle with a scoff. It was horrifyingly brilliant, I loved it. So, have I enticed you enough?
Surprisingly, I enjoyed volume two a bit more than the first volume. I can honestly say Volume 2 traumatized me a tad, and I liked it. Darker than Dark Fairytales‘ goal was to go darker, and they did. They did it superbly, too, as these stories will definitely haunt my mind and soul.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ( 5 out of 5 stars)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Darker than Dark Fairytales for the Unloved Volume 2 is an Indie author collection. To learn more, follow them on Instagram.
@authorkisarayen_amitygrey
@author.mehdi_fakhrahmad
@authorhannahgardiner
@author.garethiandavies
@gracevicebooks
@authorbillienicks
@opheliasts
@ellenwinter_author
@everafterauthor
@authorfortunalux
This will also be the debut in the author world for:
In anticipation of the upcoming release of the next book in Cordelia Kelly’s Port of Lost Souls series, The Carnival of Fools, I went back to the start with R&R Book Tours for THE WELL OF SOULS.
The Well of Souls: A YA Paranormal Adventure Novel (Port of Lost Souls Book 1)
Publication Date: April 2024
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Features ⦁ Vampires ⦁ Coming of Age ⦁ Treasure Hunting ⦁ Found Family ⦁ Misfit Teens
Synopsis Lola Monteux, a treasure-hunting vampire, never intended to test that legend. But when her crew betrays her and sentences her to death, she makes a desperate gamble: flee to the haunted island and uncover the fabled Well of Souls, a treasure said to grant unimaginable power—and her only chance at survival. Disguised as a teenager, Lola infiltrates the island’s tight-knit community and unexpectedly finds herself drawn to Gael, a local boy with secrets of his own, and his misfit group of friends. For the first time in centuries, she feels the pull of her long-lost humanity, the intoxicating thrill of a life she thought she’d left behind. But the longer she lingers, the more the island’s magic ensnares her—and the more she forgets the deadly forces hunting her down. As her past closes in and the island’s true horrors begin to surface, Lola faces an impossible choice: claim the treasure and ensure her survival or risk everything—including her heart—for a life she may never truly have.
This book was dramatically enjoyable! Think Indiana Jones meets Goonies, but with vampires! We are introduced to Lola. Lola is like Lara Croft with fangs. She’s a vampire treasure hunter, but when her vampire crew decides she is a weak link and wants to get rid of her for good, Lola sets off on a treasure hunt by herself to find the ’ Well of Souls’ that is said to grant he kind power to help her be free, yet it rest on a cursed island that is said to curse her kind.
When Lola meets one of the island’s local boys named Gael and his friends, the story goes Goonies mode as Lola and her new ragtag crew decide to hunt for the treasure together, but when Lola’s past catches up with her, the stakes of the treasure hunt rise.
First off, I love the character of Lola. She is a strong female character you can get behind. While I am all for strong female characters at times, they can feel empty to me, or they just feel like they are trying too hard, but Lola feels authentic. I also love the character role reversal too, as our dear Lola is our main lead, Indian Jonest hero, and her love interest is (Gael), who is a bit like Marion’s damsel in distress role, which I found refreshing.
Kelly writes in a steady pace and with an emotional heaviness that makes you want to turn the next page. Young adults will definitely like this book.
Thus, my overall rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cordelia Kelly writes YA and middle-grade novels, as well as adult horror short stories. Her stories “Herbalista” and “Dare to Survive” are published in horror anthologies Prairie Witch and Dark & Stormy respectively, and she won the 2019 Geneva Literary Prize for her story “Unfreeze.” Her non-fiction has appeared in the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun.
Check out her author website at cordeliakelly.com, or her bookstagram @bookoracle1. She also loves terrible horror novels from the ’90s, and has a blog writing recaps of all the Fear Street books, Shadyside Snark. In her free time she is learning digital illustration and cooks vegetarian food that looks terrible but swears tastes really good.
Freelance Writer Janny(Jan Marie)C 