Morgan's Musings
Just my rambling, plus whatever book I've recently read!
A lost princess. A mermaid looking to prove herself. A dragon with peculiar tastes. The start of an adventure. Crown Princess Moira of the air country of Aurora is known as the unwilling princess, the one who doesn’t want to rule. A chaotic dinner with foreign dignitaries turns into a furious fight with her mother, and the night ends in catastrophe. When Moira loses her wings and nearly drowns in the stormy ocean, a woman who should be her enemy rescues her. Water woman Nerida has never been to the surface and isn’t looking for adventure—but she is trying to prove to herself that she’s more than the people around her believe. Add in a lonely dragon, and Moira has some strange traveling companions to help her as she searches for a way to get her wings back and return in time to claim her place in the world she thought she wanted to escape. Will she find a way? Or will she get not only herself, but her friends as well, killed? THE LOST WINGS is the first book in The Elemental Saga and we are in a world where those of myth and legend exist, with the same problems as most of us have faced! Moira is the heir to the throne and hates being constantly compared to her younger sister. She has duties she likes to avoid if possible, preferring to ride her winged horse. When she has an argument with her mother, she flies away, straight into a storm. The next thing she knows is she is on the earth with no way of getting back home. Oh, what a story! I thoroughly enjoyed this and the pages almost turned themselves. Although set in a fantasy world, the issues Moira faces are common everywhere, which makes it entirely relatable. She makes some choices that had me scratching my head, but she is only 16 (nearly 17). I loved the friendships she made with Pyrros and Nerida. Everyone is prickly to start with, which is not surprising considering what they know about each other. Full of action, adventure, and the consquences of choices, this was a brilliant book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait to find out more from these characters. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me! Meet Camilla Vavruch, a multitasking marvel and dragon-lover extraordinaire! By day, she’s a doctor at a healthcare center, healing bodies and saving lives. By night (and early morning and lunch breaks), she unleashes her wild imagination as a writer of fantasy novels filled with magic and, of course, dragons of all shapes and sizes. When she’s not slaying dragons on the page, Camilla is also a mom of three (who somehow still finds time to sleep), a web and graphic designer, and a lover of all things creative – from writing to drawing and photography. It’s a wonder she has any time left to breathe, but Camilla wouldn’t have it any other way. Join her on her wild and fantastical journey through life!
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An avian tournament. A chaotic prince. An unwanted engagement. Assassins out for blood. Crown Prince Orson of Mannerobes is a turbulent young man, desperately trying to live up to his father’s impossible expectations. Engaged to Lady Liadan, a woman he does not love, and longing for freedom, Orson’s life takes a darker turn when the Avian Tournament, where birds and their handlers challenge each other in a variety of contests, begins. When Orson’s friend and fellow noble, Overster Tristan Arrington, is poisoned as they greet guests, they discover a sinister assassination plot. As the tournament progresses, Orson’s relationship with Lady Liadan’s deteriorates, while a new and intriguing bond forms with Sir Rorik Ironhold of Chim, a gemstone connoisseur whose true intentions are unclear. As if juggling the tournament, an unraveling betrothal, and his father’s ire isn’t enough, it does not take long before a second assassination attempt makes everyone question who the real target is. Prince Orson is a character we have met in Tristan and Will's books, but this is the first time he has taken the spotlight - so to speak. In his story, told from his perspective, we find out more about how life is for him as the Crown Prince, and just why he treasures the friendship with Will and Tristan. We also see his behaviours and how it has made things difficult with his father. It was brilliant reading about him and understanding what his father did not. Orson is ably supported by family members, Will, Tristan, and a new character here for the tournament - Sir Rorik Ironhold. Not only that, but the Avian Tournament certainly deserves a mention all of its own. The imagery given here was outstanding, along with the descriptions of the birds themselves. Well paced, intriguing, mysterious, and completely un-put-downable, this is an amazing addition to the series. I highly recommend it, but would suggest you start at the beginning with Stone of Shadows. Simply brilliant! 💙 Camilla Vavruch has enjoyed writing since she was a child, and her first longer story was an eight-page short story about two children who ended up on a desert island. Despite the small number of pages, a lot happened to those children. Since then, she has written a lot. Several novels reside in her drawers, while her fanfic in fandoms such as Harry Potter, NCIS and House, became widespread and gained a lot of popularity. While she studied medicine, she also wrote and illustrated medical notes, ones that still circulate among and help the students. Today, Camilla works as a doctor at a health care center in Linköping, Sweden, but still spends what little free time she has on writing – on her blog Cosmonomics (Swedish), on her novels, or on books to help others.Camilla Vavruch has enjoyed writing since she was a child, and her first longer story was an eight-page short story about two children who ended up on a desert island. Despite the small number of pages, a lot happened to those children. Since then, she has written a lot. Several novels reside in her drawers, while her fanfic in fandoms such as Harry Potter, NCIS and House, became widespread and gained a lot of popularity. While she studied medicine, she also wrote and illustrated medical notes, ones that still circulate among and help the students. Today, Camilla works as a doctor at a health care center in Linköping, Sweden, but still spends what little free time she has on writing – on her blog Cosmonomics (Swedish), on her novels, or on books to help others. STONE OF SHADOWS is a standalone novella that I am really hoping will become a prequel novella to a series. This world is fascinating and I was drawn into it from the very beginning. Will is a 'street rat,' living on the breadline and doing what he can to support his family. Tristan is the Overster's son and heir, living a life of luxury as far as Will can see. That all changes the day a dragon comes to town and tries to snatch Tristan. Will saves him and is taken instead. His adventure leads him back home with a prize, and he learns that life is not as simple as he thought. Originally, I gave this story 4 stars as I wanted more! Told from Will's perspective, I wanted to hear Tristan's side of things. I wanted more about the world they live in. I wanted more about Will's family. I wanted more about that mysterious stone and its powers. I just wanted... more! However, that didn't seem fair as I am supposed to be reviewing what I've read, not what I want. So, for that, I can only give 5 stars, but I really do hope the author returns to this world so I can at least catch up with how Will and Tristan are getting on. 😁 A great novella that I absolutely recommend! And take a look at that beautiful cover! This is an author I want to read more of. 💙 ** same worded review will appear elsewhere ** * A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. * Camilla Vavruch has enjoyed writing since she was a child, and her first longer story was an eight-page short story about two children who ended up on a desert island. Despite the small number of pages, a lot happened to those children. Since then, she has written a lot. Several novels reside in her drawers, while her fanfic in fandoms such as Harry Potter, NCIS and House, became widespread and gained a lot of popularity. While she studied medicine, she also wrote and illustrated medical notes, ones that still circulate among and help the students. Today, Camilla works as a doctor at a health care center in Linköping, Sweden, but still spends what little free time she has on writing – on her blog Cosmonomics (Swedish), on her novels, or on books to help others. #BookoftheMonth - After the Summerland (The Witches of Spring Hill, #1) by Patricia A. Proctor28/11/2022 Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy Blurb: Teen triplets are shocked to discover they are the reincarnation of three witches living on sacred land. The land magnifies their abilities, making them more powerful witches – and targets. They aren’t the only ones aware of the power the land gives . . . Chloe, Kaiden, and Rowan Alexander can’t wait to meet the new triplets that have just arrived in town. They are determined to find out if they are anything alike. The attraction is instant, though they soon discover they share more than just being fraternal triplets – in fact, Brianna, Cian, and Xavier Silvan are also witches with a secret of their own. They must overcome their distrust of each other and join together to fight a much stronger witch, who wants the sacred land for more than the power it gives. It’s a paranormal coming of age story where the teens discover the purpose of their existence, explore their new powers, new relationships, and overcome family secrets, all while becoming stronger witches. They must learn quickly so they can protect themselves and the people they love from the force of dark magic bearing down on them. My Thoughts: AFTER THE SUMMERLAND is the first book in The Witches of Spring Hill series and we start off in the past. That gives us a little history before we come back to the present, with the triplets now sixteen, and new witches moving into town. This was an enjoyable story with mystery and mayhem aplenty. The big bad was there causing trouble and without any hook to make you feel sorry for them. That went to Xavier as he tried to protect his siblings and figure out just what was right. If I had one complaint, it would be when they talked about their powers. I like it when it's spelled out for me, so I don't have to guess what those powers are. For Kaiden just to tell me his are coming in didn't really help. I went back a few pages just to make sure I hadn't missed anything, only to find out a couple of pages later just what those powers were. And why was it "Rowan, of all people," at the end? I enjoyed watching the teens grow during this book although I personally think they had it a touch too easy. If only coming into power was that easy and straightforward for everyone. All in all, an easy Young Adult story that wraps up nicely. I've always loved the written word, and in my heart, I knew I wanted to spend my life surrounded by books. My first series, The Witches of Spring Hill was born from a vivid dream that came to life in unimaginable ways.
My intention as a writer is to evoke in my readers that same gratification and pleasure that I have after reading an amazing book. By the end of my books, I hope that readers feel that same connection to my characters as I did when I wrote them to life. Genres: Historical, Fantasy, Literary Fiction Blurb: France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name. My Thoughts: This book was recommended to me by a very good friend, so thank you, Julia! Starting off in historical France, we meet Adeline LaRue, or Addie as she prefers to be known. Trapped in the times and the restraints of being a woman, Addie hopes to become an old spinster, or live out in the woods the same as her friend, Estelle, who tells her of the Old Ways. One warning she gives to Addie is to never pray to the Gods after dark, as the ones who answer will not be the ones you want. When she is forced to marry, she makes a desperate plea, not realising the sun has gone down. Her plea is answered but the cost is high. We stay with Addie as she learns to be a corporeal ghost, disappearing from people's memories the minute she is out of sight. The only constants in her life are a leather jacket, a wooden ring, and Luc. She travels through time, unable to write her name, text on a phone, send an email, be on a photograph - you get the idea. She figures out a way to make her mark on the world in different ways. I found this story to be very intriguing and loved the hints of the way the story was going that were dropped throughout. The writing is lyrical and very descriptive, full of emotions. However, in places, the story seemed to drag. And the 'romance' between Addie and Henry was about as exciting as watching paint dry. I don't believe she was in love with him at all, rather being in love with the idea of being with someone who remembered her. Addie herself is a confusing character. I liked parts of her, but not all, so just as in real life, I guess. I imagine wandering through the years as a ghost would turn the most optimistic of people dour, but she was too conniving, too sly, at times. Machinations for no apparent reason apart from just because. A thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing story that I have no hesitation in recommending. You may have to stick with it through the slower parts though. VICTORIA “V. E.” SCHWAB is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Villains series, the Cassidy Blake series and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Her work has received critical acclaim, translated into over two dozen languages, and optioned for television and film. First Kill – a YA vampire series based on Schwab’s short story of the same name – is currently in the works at Netflix with Emma Roberts’ Belletrist Productions producing. When she's not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.
Genres: Upper Young Adult, Fantasy Blurb: Carved from ice with blades of fire, the rigidly feminist state of Serenia breeds heroes. Unimaginably perfect, Amara the Magnificent, the legendary Ultimate Warrior is their greatest. Five years since Amara’s mysterious disappearance, her daughter, Maryan, struggles to escape her mother’s formidable shadow. Shunned by most, her only friends are oddball characters from the edge of society. The Queen sees Maryan as an asset to the nation, a pawn to play with and a pretty bauble to appease the neighbouring king, but lurking beneath the surface, an ancient terror plots to wipe out Maryan’s bloodline. Friend, lover, and more, Amara’s Daughter is a turbulent, rite of passage story tracing Maryan’s growth from naive schoolgirl to the woman destiny needs her to be. My Thoughts: AMARA'S DAUGHTER is the first in the Shudalandia series and we are introduced to this new world by tagging along with Maryan (the legend's daughter) as we learn about how things work, with friends and enemies, and everything in between. Some of the segues between scenes or people are a bit disjointed, which left me floundering until I got my bearings again. Also, some of the characters are hinted at being a major part of the story but then fizzle out, without really giving the reader any connection to them. Oh the whole, this was a great fantasy read that I would definitely say was upper young adult due to the sexual nature of some scenes. Living in Cheshire with my wife and our two dogs (Milly and Molly,) I’ve run a successful computer consultancy for many years. The business continues to thrive and I feel blessed that people pay me to solve complex problems for them.
One day, we hope to spend a portion of our year on the Greek islands, where I would love to spend most days writing, but for now, I’m content that with three adult children, I’m being presented with grandchildren at a fabulous rate. I still remember the wonderful effect when a teacher read CS Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was years later I discovered there were more Narnia books. Norse and Greek myths held me until I met Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings has been a favourite read for over thirty years. This was enhanced by the zany view of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and the saga of Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. Not all my reading is classic fantasy. In recent years I’ve enjoyed Kim Harrison’s Hollows books and Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock. New writers bring the joy of reading to new readers. Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery Blurb: Rayna Stone is an eighteen year old girl from a small Alabama town that just wants to save a little money for college. In order to do that she has to find a summer job. The problem with that, the only place that is willing to take her is the upscale golf resort of The Landing. This was not her idea of a summer job, being around snobby, rich folks, but when she meets eyes with the owner’s son, Liam, she starts to see the brighter side of things. That is until she’s seeing things that she can’t quite explain and having dreams that are haunted by a being she calls The Shadow. The Shadow begins to show her things about a few missing girls, that she wished she had never seen. Another chilling fact, her dreams seem to be coming true. As if that isn’t enough, she learns that this ability of hers gives her an insight into what others around her are feeling. Soon after this, Rayna learns that Liam does feel something for her, but even though she wants to tell him she feels the same, something is warning her to stay away. Not because he is dangerous, but because she is. My Thoughts: THE SHADOW is the first book in The Darkness Trilogy and I found myself scooped up by the story, invested in it, until it reached the for-now conclusion. The main story is Rayna is growing into psychic powers. She's never had them before and doesn't know how to deal with them. Not only that, but they're not 'nice' powers. When she dreams, she sees and feels what abducted girls are going through, their pain, their terror. Add this to trying to be a normal teenage girl who goes from having no love live to a weird triangle, and you have Rayna's life. This is mainly told from Rayna's perspective but it segues nicely into my biggest complaint. This book is first-person BUT not always from Rayna! This made it confusing as there was nothing to say who was speaking. I know some of it was the big bad but something should have been said/written to make it clearer. I've seen it done with chapter headings, or switching from first- to third-person. There are ways. And then towards the end, we get new characters speaking up and, once again, it isn't always clear who it is. The one person we DON'T hear from is the one I wanted to hear from the most - Liam. He has a story to tell but no voice with which to tell it. Maybe he will get one in the other books. I don't know. This book needs a good edit/proofreading as there are spelling mistakes littered throughout. However, that did not stop my enjoyment of it. I don't do triangles as a rule, but this was not normal, and I do want to see what happens next. A very good YA read with some dark scenes that some readers may find disturbing. A.G. Porter is the author of The Darkness Trilogy, a YA Paranormal Thriller, and two poetry collections, Pieces of My Heart and Pieces of My Soul. She is currently writing a spin-off of her The Darkness Trilogy characters, as well as a new YA Paranormal series, The Sacrifice of Ava Black, and her next poetry book. When she isn't writing, she's either busy being the coolest mom on the planet, crafting, or reading. Mrs. Porter lives in Alabama with her husband, Billy, and her amazing boys, Brenton, William, and Garrett.
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Novella Blurb: The water beckons… Illista and her sister fled their homeland when invaders killed their parents and tried to enslave the girls’ innate water magic. Now disguised as servile Waki, Illista serves the Segra people on the dusty high plains, far from the warm oceans of her childhood. One night, lured by the siren song of the Segra’s sacred lake waters, Illista sheds her Waki disguise for a swim and becomes witness to a murder attempt on the Segra chief’s only son and heir. War looms… Joral’s marriage to the daughter of another tribe will seal the peace between the warring nations and strengthen both halves of the Segra people against invaders from the West. When he is poisoned and nearly drowned on the night of his betrothal, a mysterious sprite of a woman saves his life. Was the attempt on his life the workings of a rival, or was it tied to the sudden arrival of Western mercenaries who seek the missing water witches? A secret revealed… When Joral discovers Illista’s secret, will he sacrifice her to secure peace for his people? Or will he follow his heart for the sake of a water sprite who may be the Segra’s only hope for restoring the rains to the drought-ridden land? My Thoughts: CALL THE RAIN is a fast-paced novella that could easily lead to a full-length novel or even series. The world-building is good enough that you can see the different locations and types of people - some of whom have magic and some don't. Illista and her sister are the last survivors of a tribe that was decimated by a warlord who wanted their powers for his own. They have disguised themselves as a different race, one that blends in. That has worked so far but it appears their past has caught up with them. There is a hint of romance here but it takes a backseat to the rest of the story. It is only at the end that it really shows its head. There are some parts that aren't fully delved into - either purposefully or accidentally, I'm not sure - which left me with questions. I found this to be an easy read that whisked me away to a different land that I would like to return to one day... if only to find out about Illista's sister and her sorcerer! A voracious reader since before she can remember, Kristi has always been drawn to romance, science fiction, and fantasy (preferably all three). Now, when she isn’t reading her favorite books to herself or to her kids, she is writing her own stories. Kristi, her husband, and their two children live with a pair of cats rescued from life on the streets of suburban St. Louis.
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal Blurb: A girl with an unknown destiny. A boy from a hidden world. When Celeste starts at a new school in a small, Kansas town, she hears whispering voices, has vivid nightmares, and swarms of blackbirds follow her every move. She is oddly drawn to aloof Rylan, the other new student who has his own secrets. The exact moment she turns seventeen, she wakes to a bedroom full of strange creatures, purple light emanating from her hands, and Rylan breaking in through her bedroom window. He knows what she is . . . Intriguing and deeply romantic, RUA is page-turning YA novel with a supernatural twist. My Thoughts: RUA is the first book in the Rua series and I'm still waiting on what the connection is between Celeste and the meaning of the word! We start of with Celeste having just moved to a new town, an occurrence that happens frequently enough that she is not bothered about not having close friends. On her first day, she is befriended by Tink -- her new gay best friend who has a healthy interest in Wicca. A good thing for Celeste because things are about to get strange. I love reading Celtic-based fantasy but all too often it is Irish-based Celtic fantasy, which this was. Still, there is enough information here to tease the imagination whilst certainly not overwhelm the reader. The story itself is nicely wrapped up for this instalment, whilst leaving the overall story arc open and definitely leaving you wanting more. I have a number of questions that simply need to be answered! A good YA read that will hopefully lead onto bigger things. Miranda Kavi is a romance and paranormal fiction author. Her books have been listed on the top 100 best seller lists on Amazon and iTunes. She has worked as an attorney, an executive recruiter, and an assistant in a biological anthropology lab. She loves scary movies, museums, and is hopelessly addicted to chocolate.
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy Blurb: Lily Mauve's parents move her 1700 miles across the country to the town of Salem and into the 400 year old family home. It's here Lily discovers the extensive magical history of the Mauve family, learns about her own powers and falls deeply in love with her new best friend's brother. She meets family she never knew she had, but she quickly grows to love them. She allies with vampires, creatures she thought were made up. Everything is tipped upside down when one of her new friends is hurt at the Homecoming dance because of who she is, and when the attempts on Lily's life start she realises fear is no longer an option. Her Uncle eventually lets slip the true meaning of her Grand-mamar's prophecy and Lily's world changes. She wants to go quietly, save the people she loves but her rare mental connection with Ava means Ava knows her every thought, and she won't let her go. But ultimately, she must fight for the safety of those closest to her, even when lightning strikes and her family's world is shattered. My Thoughts: A MAGICAL HISTORY is the first book in The Mauve Legacy and I found this to be a great read. I found it completely refreshing that someone could move to a new school and fit in! Yep, and even be a cheerleader. The social outcast has been done to the hills and back and I loved that Lily knew what she wanted and went for it. The pacing is fairly fast but it works for this story. Lily is a brilliant character and spoke many a word of wisdom. She is ably supported by a cast of amazing supporting characters too. Jerome, I'm looking at you! It isn't all sweetness and light though. I knew something would happen but didn't know what. And when it did, it hurt! The ending will definitely leave you wanting more but it is a cliffhanger, so be warned. Absolutely recommended by me. I'm 19 years old and I live in Barnstaple, a small town in Devon, England. I'm a country girl born and bred.
I grew up with what some people may call an unhealthy love of books. My mother encouraged me to read whenever I could. I told her at the age of eight - and anyone who would listen - that when I was 'all growed up' I would write a book. After leaving school at 16 with 12 GCSE's, I dropped out of a hairdressing apprenticeship when I fell pregnant with my daughter, Alexia-Belle. I had her two days before Christmas, 2010. I was 17 at the time, and since then I've lived with the stigma and judgement that comes with being a teen mum. I discovered Smashwords and indie authors on my partners iPhone in Spring 2012 - completely by chance. After proceeding to steal his phone for hours every night to feed my reading addiction, he turned around and said, 'why don't you write a book instead of reading all the time?'' And in that second, The Mauve Legacy Series, my debut Young Adult Fantasy & Paranormal series was born. I write whenever and wherever I can. Naptimes, bedtimes, and even on my phone when inspiration strikes. I once wrote 22 word document pages worth in the notes section of my phone - simply because. Until the release of Lily; The Witch Hunter, The Mauve Legacy Omnibus Edition, I did all the work alone. Writing, reading, editing, cover creating.. It was a solo endeavor. Now, however, I'm blessed with a team of six fabulous Beta Readers - Kayleigh, Samm, Tammy, Kimberley, Natasha and Andrea. I'm also lucky enough to have Kayleigh double as my proof reader and editor. Besides Samm, who is my cousin, I met all the other girls online when I was pregnant and I'm amazed at the support they've given me so far, despite me only just revealing my work to my online friends. This or That: Chocolate or Vanilla? - Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie! Wellies or High Heels? - Wellies, every time. Coffee or Tea? - Hot Chocolate. With mini marshmallows and cream. Mmm. Summer or Winter? - Ooh, that's tough. Winter, probably. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? - Mr Potter, hands down! Amazon or eBay? - Both. eBook or Print? - Ahhh! Both. I can't choose. Comedy or Horror? - Comedy! Salt or Pepper? - Err, ketchup. |
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