Review: Keeper of Reign by Emma Right (Blog Tour Stop)

 

 

Amazon 

Synopsis: 

Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it?
For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema.
Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn’t get himself killed first. 

My Rating: 4

My Review:

Keeper of Reign is the kind of classic adventure novel that readers cannot help but fall in love with. The story is enchanting as much as it is packed with action, and readers are in for an exciting and captivating ride from the very first page.

Right was able to fabricate an incredible new world that can still be connected to reality. Having the elfies be of tiny statue gets the reader to really question what is really happening in the areas of the forest we cannot see.

Jules is a character that the reader can root for, being brave and adventurous, without being that unnecessary perfection that many male characters seem to be. He is a realistic character, and sometimes is overwhelmed by his destiny, which is understandable. All of the characters display great qualities and development, including Miranda, who does not allow one to form a clear opinion of her very easily.

Although there are many fantasy and adventure novels out there, Keeper of Reign proves to be unique on its own. The relationship of the Keepers and the land engrosses the reader with the story. There were no slow points in reading, and every twist and turn of the plot was welcomed greatly, occasionally with real surprise. It isn't easy to find a plot with this kind of magic and action, on top of the excellent characters and dialogue.

After reading the end of the novel, it just makes the reader want to experience more and read the next book. It is clear that Reign has a rich history that was not fully explained in this first book, and I am hoping to see more of that in the second.

Keeper of the Reign was an excellent adventure, and I am absolutely honored to have been able to read it and be a part of the tour. I can highly recommend the book to all readers, especially those of fantasy and adventure.

Review: Imperfection by Phaedra Seabolt (Blog Tour Stop)

 

Amazon 

Synopsis:

Meara Falk always followed her parents' rules, until one night in March when the temptation to let loose changed her life forever. Nine months later, disowned and with a baby on her hip, she discovers werewolves are real after being on the wrong end of one’s teeth and claws.

When her first change is upon her, werewolves attack her home, stealing her son and driving her out of her home. Now she’s looking for the man who kidnapped her baby and turned her life upside down.

A war is brewing between the two packs with Meara’s son being in the center. Will she be able to get her son back before losing everyone she cares about?

My Rating: 4

My Review:

From the very beginning of the novel, it is clear that Seabolt has a great control over her words, as the writing is absolutely breathtaking. She created a world of blood and lust, loyalty and love that shadows our own. Immediately attention-grasping, Imperfection is a short read that kept me engaged in the ride the entire experience.

A very refreshing aspect of Seabolt's characterization was that her characters were not watered down or smothered. On many different occasions, authors seem to force their characters' amiability onto readers, and avoid putting them in a bad light. In Imperfection, the characters made mistakes and did real actions, even if they were not the most agreeable. This made me like and respect the characters more than I would have otherwise.

Although I am a fan of werewolf stories, there is a fine line between a good one and a not-so-good one. Seabolt managed to craft a great one, adding a mythological twist to explain the creation of werewolves. Having a background that explained the story in greater detail offered a more interesting reading experience, especially since the history is so commonly looked over.

Imperfection also managed to have different plot lines between different characters intertwined and happening all at once, even though a large part of the story is told in the first person. This technique not only showed how greatly developed and round all of the characters were, but kept the story interesting. In fact, my favorite plot line was between two supporting characters, who stole the show, in my opinion.

Although this is a more personal point, as an Ohio native, I was excited to recognize many of the settings in the story. However, regardless of where you live or what you know, Imperfection is sure to captivate until the climatic and cliff-hanging end.

 

Cover Reveal: After the Fall by L.G. Castillo

I am absolutely thrilled to be able to reveal the gorgeous cover to L.G. Castillo's After the Fall, the sequel to Lash.

I'm a big fan of the color scheme and the text, and I love the dark look that the cover holds! I can also show you the full spread:

After the Fall by L.G. Castillo
(Broken Angel #2)
Publication date: September 15th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

There’s a Spanish proverb that says, “From the thorn and the pain, a flower is born.” Naomi Duran never really understood what that meant until she became an archangel.

Finally reunited with the love of her life, Naomi thought she had everlasting love and happiness in Heaven. Even with the rebellious Lash by her side, she learns that life as an archangel isn’t easy.

When secrets of the past are finally revealed, tempers flare, brother is pitted against brother, and Naomi and Lash face the greatest threat to their relationship: choosing among love, family, or duty.

In the end, can this family of broken angels forgive past mistakes, or will they carry the thorn in their hearts forever, ripping their family apart?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18217946-after-the-fall?ac=1

 

 

Learn more about Lash, the first book of the series:

 

 Decades after being banished from Heaven for saving a life he shouldn’t have, Lash is given a chance to redeem himself. His mission: protect Naomi Duran, a young woman who has lost her faith. The assignment proves to be anything but simple when his superiors, the Archangels, withhold key information about Naomi and refuse to restore Lash’s powers. When an unexpected source reveals centuries-old secrets, his trust is shaken to the core, and he begins to doubt those whom he had once considered to be his greatest allies.

Determined to avoid anything that would risk his chances of returning to Heaven, Lash struggles with the greatest obstacle of all—his growing feelings for Naomi. But when her life is threatened by an unknown source, Lash questions the wisdom of the Archangels and his ability to keep her safe. 

Soon, Lash will have to choose where to place his faith—in the home he has fought so hard to regain or in the forbidden love he can’t bear to lose.

 

 

 

 

L.G. (Linda) Castillo wrote her first story when she was ten and has been writing ever since. She took a break from writing fiction and poetry to focus on obtaining her Ph.D. in counseling psychology. She is now a licensed psychologist and currently works as a professor at a Texas university. Although she has published her psychological research in several professional journals and books, her dream has always been to publish a novel. Lash is her debut novel and was written during the 2012 National Novel Writing Month event.

 

Author Links:

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