Book Spotlight Thursday: Awoke by K.T. Conte

In my spotlight today is the newly released Awoke by K.T. Conte. The cover is beautifully alluring and the story sounds curious. If you like the manga/anime Bleach. Novels like City of Bones, Daughters of Smoke and Bone, or the dark supernatural Angelfall, then Awoke might be your next read.

Awoke (The Unseen War Book 1)

Publication Date: February 1, 2024

Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy

🖤Grim Reaper Forbidden Romance
🖤Black Bad-A%$ FMC
🖤Black, Scottish MMC
🖤Dystopian World Building
🖤Malcontent Spirits
🖤Anime Vibes

When the Veil between the Living and the Dead Shifts…
Turning eighteen is more than just a rite of passage for Katya Stevens; it’s a chilling awakening. Suddenly thrust into a world she’d believed was a mere figment of childhood nightmares, she finds herself where the dead refuse to rest, and the balance of life teeters perilously.
Her once-hidden ability to see the departed reveals not only the world’s deadly mysteries but also the depths of her soul. Gregor, an enigmatic Grim Reaper, isn’t just a harbinger of death but a symbol of the battling forces at play—especially The Want, spirits distorted by their defiance against the natural transition to the beyond.
But Katya’s destiny is larger than she ever imagined. A beacon in legends, she stands between hope and havoc. As she delves deeper into the ethereal realm of Ager, she confronts not just the malevolent Wanters but the shadows of her own heart and the complexities of early adulthood.

 Awoke weaves a tale inspired by the depth and drama of beloved fantasy tales and the intricate storylines of notable anime series, promising a world where every decision echoes with univer-altering consequences.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K.T. Conte, a devotee of the written word and all things wild and fascinating, first discovered her passion for books at the tender age of two. Even then, as an avid reader, her journey to becoming an author was already on the horizon. An African-American author with a flair for breathing life into stories, K.T. holds a B.A. in English from Boston College and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

While she is a licensed and practicing attorney, K.T.’s first love has always remained books. The enchanting dance of words across a page and the powerful narratives they weave continue to captivate and inspire her every day. Over the years, she has shared her Massachusetts home with a delightful blend of characters – the enchanting specters in the closet, her loving husband Everett, a couple of mischievous building fairies, and her beloved daughter, Ella.

Follow K.T. at K.T. Conte

Book Spotlight Thursday: This Wicked Bond by Amanda Aggie

Looking for a spellbinding fusion of Robin Hood, dragons, and monsters? Then this book spotlight is for you! Dive into the world of This Wicked Bond by Amanda Aggie.

 

The third book in the Realm of Monster Series, This Wicked Bond is an enemies-to-lovers tale featuring a morally gray shifter hero with many red flags. The world is dark but also full of adventure and magic!

This Wicked Bond (Realm of Monsters #3)

Publication Date: December 28, 2023

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance

🐉 Dragon Shifters
🐉 Enemies-to-Lovers
🐉 Robin Hood Inspired
🐉 Found Family
🐉 Morally Grey Hero
🐉 Fated Mates
🐉 Magical Bonds
🐉 Spicy Dream Manipulation
🐉 Crew of Thieves
🐉 Who Hurt You?
🐉 Banter for Days
A captive princess.

A rogue dragon shifter. A bond that could save or doom them all.
Unlike my sisters, I was never arranged to marry a monster. I was imprisoned from birth.
I have a unique gift and my father– the King of Solaria–fears it. Yet, he’s far too curious about how my magic works to let me go.

Everything changes the day I’m pulled from my cell. It’s never happened before. The only explanation is that I’ve outlived my usefulness. Except, it’s not a chopping block awaiting my head. It’s a handsome rogue in a green cloak. The man’s a thief who owes the dungeon warden a life debt. To repay it, he’s been tasked with smuggling me out of the kingdom.
I know nothing about him. Not his name. Not even his species. Yet, his alter ego has made it clear that this isn’t just an assignment. I’m his, and though he’ll see me safely out of Solaria, he has no intention of letting me out of his sight.

The monster might want me, but I can assure you the man housing him does not. My father murdered his twin sister and devastated his kingdom.
All it would take is for him to go back on his word, and I might become the means of how he gets his revenge.

This Wicked Bond takes place within Amanda Aggie’s Seven Realms World.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best known for her #1 Amazon bestselling series, Dark Halos, Amanda Aggie writes steamy dark fantasy romance. She’s a wife, a mother to two beautiful tiny humans, and has a stellar caffeine addiction. More importantly, she writes choking-hazard fantasy romances that will have you laughing out loud, swooning, and biting your nails all in one sitting.

Almost all her books take place in the seven realms of Hell, which she’s often described as, “If Hell and Wonderland got together and had a baby.” You’ll find creatures of all kinds—fae, demons, dragons, witches, and more—along with morally gray villains, and steam. So, grab you some pearls to clutch before you enter the seven realms, and get lost in the chaos.

Also, Don’t Forget!

Book Spotlight Special: Bound by Scars and Secrets by Sienna Archer

Another beauty book cover has caught my eye. So I am shining a light on it. Currently touring over at R&RBook Tours Bound By Scars and Secrets by Sienna Archer is the first book in the YA fantasy Realms of Magic Series. A slow-burn queer love triangle, realm-crossing adventure, and unraveling family secrets. If you liked A Court of Thorns and Roses and These Hollow Vows, you’ll love this fast-paced story.

Let’s find out more.

Bound by Scars & Secrets (Realms of Magic #1)

Publications Date: August 16, 2023

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance/ LGBTQ2+

✨Fake Betrothal
✨Sapphic
✨Touch Her & Di3
✨Slow Burn
✨Wish-granting Sea Fairies
✨Epic Fantasy

He’s a mage who charms. She’s a sorceress who kills. Raised to fear magic, Alathea hates them both—especially when they become her only chance to find her missing sister.
17-year-old Alathea has kept her sister safe and the forbidden magic in her veins controlled ever since their mothers fled. But when Alathea’s sister disappears, a mage with a glowing spear outs her magic. On the run, Alathea receives an impossible offer from the mage: He and the sorceress will deliver Alathea to her sister if she crosses to his monster-reigned realm and accepts a magic destiny herself.
To get her sister back, Alathea will have to decide: Can she stop hiding and trust the enemies she hates…or will her animosity burn into something else entirely?

AVAILABLE NOW ON Amazon

Don’t forget! Book 2 Bound by Promises & Lies is available now too!

On AMAZON!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sienna Archer believes romance should be epic, adventures magical, and the best characters are the ones who grow. She writes books featuring diverse characters and strong female leads that make readers laugh, shout, and cry.

Learn more at Sienna Archer

Book Spotlight Thursday: Anansi’s Web by Derek Mola

I love folklore. So, spotlighting this Thursday is Anansi’s Web by Derek Mola. Anansi’s Web is a fantasy folklore anthology collection inspired by African culture. Curious? Let’s learn more!

Anansi’s Web

Publication Date: January 22, 2024

Genre: Black & African American Fantasy/ Fantasy Anthologies/ Folklore

As Kweku looked above, the room became illuminated by the sudden appearance of thousands of fireflies. An orange glow lit up the room, and a giant spider web was on the ceiling. The web glistened, and each strand was flowing with energy.
“This is the source of all stories, my boy. The source of all life, some may say. For what are we, if not a collection of stories? Each strand of this web is a different story. A story of love, a story of tragedy, a story of life, or a story of death. Sit on my throne, choose a strand, and begin the tale.” explained Anansi.
Anansi is the god of stories, and he has many to tell.
A young boy named Kweku has heard no new stories in a long time. So he travels to see Anansi, the god of stories, in the hopes that he will tell him some new stories. Luckily, he caught Anansi in a good mood, and the god decided to enchant Kweku with tales of magic and wonder. In these 10 stories tangled in a web, a Cowboy befriends a Jackalope, a Kelpie falls in love with a man, and a young boy’s grandmother leaves to live with Fairies. Anansi’s Web is a concoction of fantasy, folklore, and horror. Showing us the magic of the world, while reminding us of the terror it can cause. Like a man on death’s door receiving help from beyond or a woman who regrets her one wish.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Derek Mola was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduating from Emerson College, with a degree in Visual Media Production. Tired of the film industry, he became obsessed with horror and fantasy short stories.

Follow Derek at Derek Mola

Book Spotlight Thursday: Beauty and the Blade and Little Red Shadow by S.C. Grayson

I love fairy tales and spotlighting today are two talented fairy tale fantasies. Think Bridgerton meets Peaky Blinders in Beauty and the Blade and Little Red Shadow by S.C. Grayson. Now available!

Beauty and the Blade (The Talented Fairy Tales Book 1)

Publication Date: January 5, 2024

Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy/ Fairy Tale Fantasy

Most London socialites dream of marrying for love or status, but Contessa’s wedding is about justice—and revenge.
Nathanial Woodrow is known on the streets of London as the Beast, leader of the fearsome Lion gang who mark their victims with three slashes on their face. Since her mother was found dead with the signature slashes years ago, Contessa has wanted nothing more than to see her murderer brought to justice. However, the Beast has been impeccable at maintaining his façade as the high society Mr. Nathanial Woodrow, and nobody has been able to gather enough evidence to convict him. When the Beast unexpectedly asks Contessa’s father, the Chief of the Royal Police, for her hand in marriage, Contessa and her father hatch a plan to bring him down from the inside.
As Contessa enters the lion’s den in search of evidence to convict the Beast, she finds that not everything is as she once thought. Her father’s work, hunting down Talented that use their magic to rule the criminal underworld, is thrown into question with each glimpse of the kind-hearted man beneath the mask of a hardened gang leader. As Contessa navigates her search for justice, she finds herself questioning what side she’s really on, and why she finds herself drawn to a man she’s supposed to hate.

Available Now on AMAZON

Little Red Shadow (The Talented Fairy Tales Book 2)

Publication Date:  January 5, 2024

Genre:  Fairy Tale Fantasy Romance/ Gaslamp

The Wolves are out for blood, but Scarlett doesn’t intend to let them catch their prey.
When Scarlett’s friend Georgette starts receiving death threats from the Wolves, a powerful street gang, she sets out uncover why they want a prominent socialite dead. As a Talented gangster herself, Scarlett goes undercover. Instead of a hardened murderer, she discovers the charming younger son of a Duke, Benedict Pearce, is the would-be assassin. Clearly not a killer at heart, Scarlett decides to trust the handsome rogue, and they join forces to put a stop to the Wolves mysterious machinations and save her friend.
As the pair begin their investigations, as well as a fictitious courtship to throw the Wolves off their trail, Scarlett must reckon with a past she prefers to keep hidden. Benedict, constantly jovial and flirtatious, slowly chips away at the shadows Scarlett has built around her heart.
Still, as the search uncovers deeper levels of deception, their ruse becomes increasingly dangerous. When facing down the Wolves, Scarlett is forced to confront how far into the shadows she is willing to go to protect the ones who have her heart.

AVAILABLE NOW ON Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S.C. Grayson has been reading fantasy novels since she was a little girl stealing books from her older sister’s shelves, and that has developed into a love of writing and storytelling. Her writing is currently focused on fantasy and paranormal romance. When she is not sitting in a local coffee shop writing and consuming an iced americano, Grayson is a nurse working towards a Ph.D. in nursing with a focus on breast cancer genetics. She lives in Pittsburgh with her loving husband and their two cats, who enjoy contributing to her work by walking across her keyboard at inopportune moments (the cats, not the husband).

Learn more about Grayson and her books. Follow her on Instagram @s.c.grayson

Birthday Book Spotlight: The House of Whispers by C. Herbert

It’s my birthday! So, to celebrate I am celebrating fellow author C. Herbert and their recent publication of The House of Whispers( Living Nightmare Book 1) which looks wickedly delicious to read. A twisted retelling of Jack the Ripper mixed with Jekyll and Hyde. Enter the living nightmare!

The House of Whispers (Living Nightmares #1)

Publication Date: October 2023

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance/ Retelling

🥀Dark Fantasy Horror/Romance
🥀Psychological Thriller
🥀Love/Hate
🥀Dark Secrets
🥀Knife Play + Blud Play
🥀Blud & Gore
🥀 Love Triangle
A notorious murderer haunting the streets of Bedeville stumbles upon a mysterious woman, becoming obsessed as he spends his nights endlessly toying with her and turning her world into a living nightmare.
This dark and twisted retelling of Jack the Ripper mixed with Jekyll and Hyde takes place in a fantasy world filled with magic, mischief, and murder.

**This book may contain some trigger warnings. Please view the author’s website for the full list.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C. Hebert is an author of dark romance, fantasy, and horror. Her debut, The Pairing of Beasts, is the first book in her 6-book fantasy series, The Pairing. She is also the author of The House of Whispers, a psychological, dark romance thriller. It is the first book in her seasonal Living Nightmares series. Her most recent release, Her Secret Santa, is the first in The Saints series which consists of holiday inspired novellas written by C. Hebert and her friends.

C. Herbert

Book Spotlight Special: A Heart of Onyx Flame by Lina Ravenhill

This book is currently, on tour with R&R Book Tours. My gosh! I had to join and spotlight this beautiful brand-new book release. A Hear of Onyx Flame by Lina Ravenhill.

Step into a world where the line between predator and prey is blurred.

A Heart of Onyx Flame: A YA Shifter Academy Romance

Publication Date: January 3, 2024

Genre: YA Fantasy

🧡Sweet Romance
🧡Shifters
🧡Dark academy
🧡Strong characters
🧡Alpha FMC
🧡He falls first
🧡Enemies to Lovers
🧡Dark Secret
🧡High Fantasy
🧡HEA

“You’re dangerous.” He whispered and his eyes darkened. “You have no idea.” And I swung against his block with all my strength."

At the mysterious Shifter Academy, where hidden desires and forbidden secret reign, a young human girl finds herself entangled in an alluring and dangerous alliance with a brooding, enigmatic fellow student.
As their passions ignite and unearth ancient prophecies, she must navigate the treacherous halls of power and learn that love might be the most perilous transformation of all in a world of unfathomable darkness.

Available Now on AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lina Ravenhill lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Ben. Lina writes messy, funny, and action-filled paranormal romance, fantasy, and suspense. Vampire romance, dragon quests, and witches are simply more fun to write than the plain, normal stuff.

Lina’s first title, Aforetime, is a long-time project, that turned out to be both a pleasure to write and a huge pain to put together.

Lina loves music, especially classic rock, and Lana Del Rey, of course. She enjoys watching a good movie and rereads at least one Jane Austen novel a year.

Learn more about Lina at Lina Ravenhill

Book Spotlight Thursday:  Secrets and Shadows by A.L. Lynn

Recently released this beauty has caught my spotlight. Think Rear Window, but with ghosts, as we dive into Secrets and Shadows by A.L. Lynn.

Secrets and Shadows

Publication Date: January 10, 2024
Genre: Paranormal Thriller

Everything she thought she knew was wrong
The cabin in the woods has been in her family for generations.
Her mother’s death has dropped ownership into her lap.
What she doesn’t know, when she moves in, is the space she hopes will bring her relaxation and a chance to write her next bestseller, holds family secrets she’s not quite ready to know.
But secrets always have a way of coming out.
And what’s lurking in the shadows will stop at nothing to make sure she stays long enough to find out.
Add to Goodreads

Available Now on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.L. Lynn is a paranormal thriller author releasing her debut Secrets and Shadows in January 2024. She lives in Pennsylvania with her boyfriend and her one-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, Hoss. Her favorite genres to read are thriller, fantasy, and dark romance. When she’s not reading or writing she’s daydreaming about being a stay-at-home dog mom who gets to write thriller novels full time.

Follow A.L. Lynn on Instagram and TikTok @allynbooks

Book Spotlight Thursday: Scars of Sacrifice and Seduction by J. Ember Hintz

Catching my reader’s eye this Thursday is Scars of Sacrifice and Seduction by J. Ember Hintz. Book two in the Dark Eden sci-fantasy series, where the lines between enemies, allies, loyalty, and love blur beyond recognition.

Birth made her a slave. Love made her a martyr. He’ll make her his queen...

SCARS OF SACRIFICE AND SEDUCTION 

Publication Date: October 28, 2023
Genre: Sci-fi Fantasy with Spice/ Enemies to Lovers
🖤Enemies to Lovers
💘Fated Mates
📜 Ancient Prophecy
🌶️ Cult Rituals
💕 Multiple Couples
🪦Touch Her and 😵 Vibes
🫶🏻 Found Family
💀Afterlife Mythology
🤐 Forbidden Knowledge
👽 With with x2 🍆
💥 Supernatural Powers
😈 Villain’s POV
➕Addiction & Recovery Rep

Birth made her a slave. Love made her a martyr. He’ll make her his queen.
Welcome to Eden. Born without magic into a brutal world where mage abilities determine survival, Vaza didn’t think her life as a breeder-queen could get any worse.
Not until a cult leader declares her identical twin must be sacrificed to resurrect a dead god. Vaza plans to destroy the prophet’s credibility by seducing him into breaking his sacred vows. To get close enough to ruin him, however, she’ll need to infiltrate The Order and do the one thing she fears most-open her heart and allow Brex to claim more than just her pleasure.
Meanwhile, in the prison world of the dead…
All his life, Liam Riley has been told he’s an abomination. Turns out it’s true. He never asked to be cursed with the powers of a living god, but now that he has them, he’ll use every one of his new gifts to protect his soul-bonded mate. Even if it means locking her up to keep her from discovering the truth about the entity holding them hostage.
Too bad Renae has no intention of being kept in a cage. Not when she sacrificed everything to save him. The version of Liam she finds in the Void isn’t the same man she fell in love with. A decade of solitary confinement in the Void has turned him into something more. Something inhuman.

Okay, put this one under my Christmas tree! Told in two colliding and scorchingly hot timelines that will leave readers questioning who the real monsters are.

Scars of Seduction and Sacrifice is currently available on Amazon

Amazon ( Link may earn author commission)

But.. Before it all began there was.

Available on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Ember Hintz writes sci-fi and fantasy romance. She loves building dark contemporary worlds and lush alternate realities ripe with mythology and magic.

You’ll meet ghosts, gods, and monsters in her stories, but never a damsel in distress.
Her debut novel was a 2022 Book Life Prize by Publisher’s Weekly Quarter Finalist and 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence Finalist.

Fun Facts: J. Ember is her real first initial and middle name. She goes absolutely feral from enemies to lovers, grumpy protector/bodyguard romance tropes, and whatever the opposite of a meet-cute is. A meet-disaster? She also believes the villain or antagonist is the most important character in every story.

She lives near the ocean with her husband, two rescue poodles, and the occasional ghost. Her alter ego enjoys a successful career in the wedding industry. Job perks include an unlimited supply of cake, champagne, and IRL HEAs. When she’s not making dreams come true, or breathing life into fictional characters, you can find her in the studio throwing paint at a canvas and hoping for the best.
To learn more about her upcoming releases, visit https://jemberhintz.com/ or follow her author life shenanigans on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Find all her social links at

J. Ember Hintz

Book Spotlight Feature: Pariah’s Lament by Richie Billing

Shine that spotlight over here! Welcome to the Book Spotlight feature of the epic fantasy, adventure/romance of Pariah’s Lament by Richie Billing.

PARIAH'S LAMENT (Of Metal and Magic Core #1)

Genre: Fantasy Romance/ Adventure

“So often it’s the forgotten who possess the power to change the world.”

When an attempt is made on the life of Ashara, Keeper of Yurr, his young, hapless advisor Edvar must uncover and stop those behind it.

With enemies in the capital city and the belligerent Tesh, Keeper of neighbouring nation Karrabar stirring trouble in the Borderlands, can Edvar hold together Ashara’s brittle reign?
The troubles ripple throughout Yurr, affecting an ancient race of people known as the Amast, who in their time of utmost need, turn to pariah Isy for salvation. Rejected by society, kith and kin, can Isy guide the Amast to safety during the greatest turmoil Yurr has known since the War of the Damned?

Pariah’s Lament will take you on a rollercoaster of an adventure ‘that will keep you spellbound as you traverse the world alongside Isy and Edvar’ (Books Behind The Title). And along the way you’ll experience ‘intense fighting scenes, a little romance and flawed characters’ (Sarah Lillian Books).

If you love to explore fantasy worlds, this book won’t disappoint. Part of a shared universe populated by other authors, the setting in Pariah’s Lament has proven a huge hit with readers, with some praising the ‘insane level of detail’ (The Book Suite) and vividness of its descriptions.

Available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles

Commission may be earned from Amazon link

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on his characters and their troubles.

His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio. And his debut novel, an epic fantasy called Pariah’s Lament, was published by Of Metal and Magic Publishing in March 2021.

Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, a venture inspired by the requests of readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.

When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool.

Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.

Follow at Richie Billing