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Happy Publication Day to Dark Tides Kimberly Vale! In this highly anticipated sequel to our favourite pirate fantasy in Crossbones Kimberly Vale is back with another spellbinding story of love, danger, and adventure!  From the blurb: Kimberly Vale’s swashbuckling pirates return for another high seas, high stakes adventure where Csilla and the Bones crew must battle more otherworldly creatures seeping in from Limbo, and threatening to swallow them whole. The Dark Tides are rising . . . When love is an anchor, the sea can swallow you whole. Csilla Abado has a full plate after becoming the first Queen of Bones. While leading Cerulia, she needs to find a way to mend the lingering crack between Limbo and the mortal realm. And when Lorelai and Nara go missing, the crew takes to the seas once more to try and find them . . . facing the worst of the villains and even more otherworldly creatures spilling in from the crack. Kane Blackwater, desperate to find Dominic Rove, washes up at Death’s Cove where he comes face-to-face with creatures who have no place in this world. When he’s wounded, his magic-laced injury seeps throughout his body, spreading an unknown evil into his veins. His time is running out and he must decide what's more important to him: Lorelai’s life or his own. Lorelei Storm isn't the same since her return from the realm of Limbo. A menacing and powerful magic rests under her skin, and she fears it as much as she craves its potential. When she flees Cerulia, she’s captured and taken prisoner by an Incendian Scout, and learning to control her powerful new magic may be the only chance she has at saving her own life. As the war between gods and mortals builds to a crescendo, Csilla, Kane, and Lorelei must not only protect their world from destruction, but also their hearts from looming devastation. The seas darken and not everyone will survive the rising tides.  Crossbones Goodreads / Crossbones Amazon / Crossbones B&N Dark Tides Goodreads / Dark Tides Amazon / Dark Tides B&N EXCERPT: “I don’t deserve you,” he murmured. “What you deserve is to be happy.” She traced the golden weavings on the collar of his coat. She meant to say more. That he deserved to find happiness with or without her. That he should love with his whole being and forgive himself his past. But his lips met hers before she could say anything else. His kiss was a burst of warmth that spread over her cheeks and down her neck. Then he was gone, shying away from her as he searched her face “Is this okay with you?” he asked, his voice a rasp, nearly pleading. “Is this what you want? She answered by grabbing the collar of his coat with both hands and pulling him to her. He chuckled under her lips and kissed her back, his hands fitting back into place around her like it was where they were meant to be. She bowed into him as his hand traveled up her spine, his fingers twining into her hair. She’d kissed a boy once back in Port Barlow, but not like this. Not with this type of hunger. She could kiss Kane under the stars until they faded into the bleeding light of sunrise and it still wouldn’t be enough. One moment they were holding each other, the next they were stumbling to a nearby pillar. Lorelei’s back pressed against it as Kane leaned into her, kissing her again, deeper this time. Their rushed breaths filled the quiet space of the terrace. His hands roamed over her ribs and onto her hips, clenching the black fabric of her dress. She lightly scratched the back of his neck and he sighed against her lips, the sound of it unraveling her. Sparks started in her core, spreading up her chest, through her arms and into her fingers before she even realized what was hap- pening. Her wild magic summoned itself so quickly, she didn’t have time to bite it back. Like an uncorked bottle, magic poured from her. The moment her sparks left her; Kane jolted. He convulsed under her touch, his entire body shaking like lightning swam through him. She let go of him, her heart in her throat as he crumpled to the ground. Though she no longer touched him, he still shook with tremors, his breaths more like ragged pants. Lorelei moved to crouch down next to him, her trembling fingers reaching. But then she straightened back against the pillar, looking at her hands, afraid she’d lose control again. Attempting to make fear a stranger had only left it clawing at her door. “What . . .” Kane said between breaths. He groaned as he rolled onto his side. “What was that?” Her tongue turned to sand. Words were lost to her, swept away with the sea breeze. “Lorelei?” he looked up at her from the ground, searching her with concern. “What happened? Were you harmed?” Her heart throbbed. He worried over her even though he was the one shivering on the ground. She’d put him there. Her lack of control could’ve killed him. The more she thought of her grave mistake, the brighter the spark inside her grew. She glanced down at her hands, her breath hitching. Her fingertips looked like they’d been dipped in gold. The terrace melted away and she was back in Limbo, her arms coated in the very same gold. In that realm, the power of her storm magic was unfathomable. Perhaps monsters weren’t the only thing slipping through the cracks in Limbo. Lorelei rubbed her fingertips together, but the gold remained like paint smudged into her skin. She couldn’t stay there. No, she couldn’t stay anywhere near the ones she cared about. It was foolish of her to think that she could find a sliver of peace, even for just one evening. A cloud of regret hung over her. Kane grunted, drawing her attention back to him as he crawled onto his knees. He lifted his head back to look at her, blinking as if trying to see clearly. “What’s wrong? Was it—was that you?” His expression was unreadable. She’d never seen him look at her like that before. It was a mixture of shock and wonder, but did she detect disgust or was that her mind playing tricks on her? “I’m sorry,” she managed to say. Her voice didn’t sound like her own, like she was speaking from behind a glass window. “I didn’t mean to. I can’t believe I—” Kane rose to his feet, the movement wobbly and labored. “Shh, I’m fine.” He reached out and cupped her cheek with his palm. “Are you?” His thumb softly stroked her cheek and sparks pricked at her fingertips again. She stepped away and curled her fingers into fists as if her golden fingertips would cease to exist if she couldn’t see them. “I have to go.” Lorelei’s voice cracked. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go.” She turned away from him, her face cold, her stomach churning, but she couldn’t take the chance of hurting him again. “Wait,” he rasped, grabbing her wrist. His hand was warm. She wanted so much to hold on to it tightly. “Please. Stay.” The pools of his eyes and the scratch in his voice nearly pinned her where she stood. She’d stay with him. She’d let herself lie in his arms until the sun woke up. She’d kiss him and he’d kiss her like nothing else mattered, like they were the only two in the world. But she couldn’t risk it. She tore herself away from him before she caved in. “I have to go,” she said, unable to hide the way her voice quivered. “Please. Let me go.” Kane dropped her wrist, his warmth leaving her skin much too fast, the evening chill sweeping into her quickly. Tears welled as she half-ran away, spilling onto her cheeks as she stumbled through the empty side halls of the courtyard. Faded guitars and laughter drifted on the wind, deepening the cold in her heart.
About the author:
Kimberly Vale is a reader, a bit of a hopeless romantic, and started writing on Wattpad as a teen. In the years since then, she has accumulated millions of reads online and has volunteered her time to mentorship programs and other efforts in the writing community. With a BA in Education, Kimberly teaches remediation and dyslexia intervention in public schools and lives in Arkansas with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She also enjoys playing video games, trying new recipes, and coming up with ridiculous theories about her current tv-obsessions.
Shy Girls Can’t Date Billionaires
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My thoughts:
Tell me the book has the 'Enemies-to-Lovers' trope and I'm sold! Plus, if you're getting some 'Opposites Attract /Shy girl-Popular Guy' vibes, you're absolutely right. Milly Rose has discovered a winning formula for a gripping romance and of course it works. When Christie's house burns down and her family loses everything, her father's boss Mr Ashworth offers a temporary residence in his mansion. Yay! Who hasn't dreamt of living like a billionaire just for a day? add Christie's Dad's promotion, and no wonder Christie's parents are totally charmed. She, on the other hand, is too busy trying to work out what Mr Ashworth's son's problem is. One moment Thomas would like nothing better than see the back of Christie's family, next, he's all kind and sympathetic. He's also drop-dead-gorgeous and seems to be an undisputed king of Christie's new school, where she (as usual) is struggling to make new friends. But then again maybe Thomas or Ash as everybody calls him has his own share of worries and disappointments and being with a shy listener can help? First of all, the book is all written from Christie's point of view, so, if you are/were shy at school and didn't find it easy to meet new people and open up to strangers, you will relate. Also, there's quite a lot of first love/ high school drama, so again get ready for some misunderstandings, heated arguments, inexplicable conclusions drawn out of sero evidence, and, of course, mean girls. Since I don't think there is anything wrong with being shy, I am more than happy to see more rep for this trait! I love the way Milly Rose gave Christie a perfect creative outlet- painting. Ash also has a passion of his own and it is so romantic the way his nerdy side matches her artistic one. Christie and Ash are sixteen, so obviously they still have a long way from having everything worked out in life. I didn't find it too credible the way Mr Ashworth provided for everything or some of Mrs Ashworth's actions, while Ash relied on his parents' money a bit too much- it would have worked if the protagonists were older. Overall, it was a very quick and easy read. Although I would have prefered more humour, Milly Rose did capture how important family dynamics and school relationships are at sixteen. Hope we're getting Nessa's story next! Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. #Blog Tour #You Should Have Seen This Coming by Shani Michelle #YA Thriller @Xpresso Book Tours15/4/2022
You Should Have Seen This Coming
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My thoughts:
When I read this amazing blurb I just knew I needed to read it! Being able to discover someone's deepest secrets just by touching something that belonged to them sounds like a wonderful gift ...that could of course get you in all sorts of trouble. Do you ignore it, use it to help others to get justice (call it a modern version of Robin Hood) or try to gain something for your benefit? Seeing future could be even more problematic for all sorts of reasons. What if you happen to see something personal that will hurt you or people you love, but feel you can't change the course of events? Do you try anyway or just brace or emotionally distance yourself? These are the dilemmas Hayden and Cassie, the protagonists of Shani Michelle's amazing YA thriller You should Have Seen This Coming grapple with on a daily basis. Now imagine one of them gets kidnapped and it's up to the others to save her life? You see why I simply couldn't put the book down? To be honest, I was gripped from the word go. There's just something special about Shani's writing style and the way she structures the narrative. Chapter after chapter, I needed to read on and find out how Hayden's visions of past and Cassie's prophecies are going to help them survive. The pace was perfect- everything seemed well-developed, but there was never a dull or slow scene. Both Hayden and Cassie are likeable protagonists. Don't let Hayden's prickly attitude at the beginning fool you. You'll soon discover what has made her feel and behave that way. One of the best things about this book is seeing how she finds new, true friends and finally gets a chance to have a stable, 'normal' life. I loved the dual POV narrative which takes the phrase 'put the events in perspective' to a whole new level. Overall, it was a very entertaining, fast-paced YA mystery (with a touch of paranormal) that I would have no trouble recommending to anyone who loves the genre. Thank you to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. 
Heart of the Impaler
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My thoughts:
I'm always interested in discovering new authors and Alexander Delacroix is definitely one to watch out for. His debut novel Heart of the Impaler sets out to explore the dark, dark world of Vlad Dracul's Wallachia and Transylvania before this notorius historical character came into power. I loved the premise and really enjoyed delving into the emotional side of Vlad's descent into his madness. Some readers hate love triangles, but the truth is they do make excellent plots and allow the author explore the characters' complex feelings-jealousy, loyalty, gratitude, embarrassment, confusion...In Heart of the Impaler we're thrown into this emotional landscape from the word go, when we meet Ilona Csaki, the elder daughter of an impoverished Transylvanian noble, as she is observing an impromptu sword fight between Vlad,, the younger son of the great Vojvode, and his cousin Andrej, and the battle for Ilona's heart begins. Ilona might come across as slightly passive, limited in her autonomy and decision making, but this rings true to the historic reality of the role of women who were forced to stay behind the scenes. It is obvious that the author did a lot of research and added lots of details to help the reader imagine what life was like in this historical period, but my favourite part is the evolution of Vlad's character (after all, wasn't this why I picked up the book?) from a confused second in the line, 'a spare' to his elder brother Mircea into the power hungry, ruthless politician and ruler the whole world has heard about. Overall, Heart of the Impaler is an interesting debut and I would really like to read more from this author in future. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. 
Eyes of the Forest
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My thoughts:
A quick, entertaining read for anyone who loves books about books, mystery and fantasy. April Henry is a master storyteller, who knows how to engage her reader and keep their attention all way through! Bridget is a quiet girl with a gift for noticing and remembering details. She's been working for her favourite author RM Haldon keeping track of of every little scrap of info related to the fictional universe of his fantasy books. If you belong to any fandoms, you'll appreciate her good luck in getting this dream job. The latest instalment in the series is overdue, but Bridget is relentlesslessly defending Haldon. She is understandably worried, when the author goes missing. These books gave her mom so much comfort when she was fighting her terminal disease, Bridget feels she needs to everything she can to solve the mystery and save the writer. I am a big fan of Stephen King and this one is essentially a YA retelling of one of his timeless classics, which originated the trope of a crazy/stalkerish fan. You probably know which book/movie I'm talking about. When a trope is good, it IS good,and is worth re-exploring and re-imagining. Our world has changed - a huge part of our lives is now led online, for better or worse. There's also more awareness/attention paid to lifestyle choices (where there is a choice, which isn't always the case), although things are not straightforward and not everyone is going to be comfortable with this aspect of the story. I really liked the characters April Henry created in this book- perhaps with the exception of one, which seemed a bit far-fetched. Bridget is smart, independent, and resourceful. It was also great to see the pressures of writing and the publishing world from the point of view ofBob/ RMHaldon. The story is told in short, snappy chapters with excellent pace, which contributes to building suspense and sense of urgency. Overall, a fast-paced YA mystery with multiple POVs, a compelling storyline and interesting issues explored. Thank you to Giselle from XBT for inviting me to participate in this blog tour, and to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Hosted by:
Mark of the Wicked
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My thoughts: Dark and sinister, Mark of the Wicked is a story of a teenage witch who is in a desperate need of getting a second chance in life, although she herself isn't aware of it. If you like books in the paranormal genre, you do know how the female characters often tend to be either hapless beginners who have just discovered they are The Special One or tough, independent fighters (with a penchant for wearing dark colours) against all the injustice in the world. They are Inherently Good, otherwise what example would they set? Right? Well, Matilda from Mark of the Wicked doesn't fall into either category. She is quite unlikeable with her petty revenges and self-cetredness. It's just that she can get away with them. For now... Matilda comes from a powerful bloodline of witches and has been taught by her grandmother and her mother that magic should be used for good and there is a balance in nature. When magic is used to hurt someone, the victim's name is carved on the face of the witch. Everything changes when Matilda's father teaches her a painful, but powerful spell for concealing the traces of her wrongdoing (originally created to protect the witchfolk from being persecuted). Why work hard on using magic to help people without getting any thanks, let alone a personal reward, if you can have fun watching them gets scared or confused? You can guess that it is going to go either the Dorian Gray way or…something really bad is going to happen and shake Matilda into questioning her own decisions. In this case, Oliver, a new boy at Matilda's school becomes interested in her magic, and, all the wicked, inexplicable things that start happening in their small town seem to point at Matilda. I like stories where the main character develops and discovers that everyone makes mistakes in life. You have to face the consequences, but you're not alone, there are people who will see you as more than just a sum of your errors and will be there for you when you need help. Mark of the Wicked is a dark and atmosheric read -the events take place around Halloween, so a certain amount of creepiness is only to be expected. It was really interesting to read about the magic system and Matilda's family history. There are some fascinating secondary characters, including Nana May. The pace is a bit slower in the first part of the book, but it is understandable, the setting and the moral ambiguity of the main character need to be established. Overall, this is a promising debut from Georgia Bowers and I will be looking forward to reading more of her unusual, atmospheric stories. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley, Macmillan's Children's group/Swoon Reads and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. #Blog Tour #Book Review of He'll Be Waiting by Liz Alterman #Young Adult#Thriler @Xpresso Book Tours11/8/2021
Today I'm delighted to participate in the blog tour for He'll be Waiting, a new, gripping thriller by Liz Alterman.
He’ll Be Waiting
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My thoughts:
What a ride!Liz Alterman's newest thriller He'll Be Waiting proved to be such a gripping, compelling read, I just had to finish it in one sitting and here I am writing this review five hours after I picked the book! 17-year-old Tess Porter wakes up in a hospital with broken bones, bruises all over her aching body, stitches on her head after a surgery and, for better or worse, no memory of the 'accident' that caused all of this. Her parents are there taking shifts looking after her, doctors, nurses, a psychologist- the only person who is missing is her boyfriend James. Tess remembers that James was supposed to come back home from his college a day early to spend it with her, but probe further and her mind draws a painful blank. When she does see him, his visits are hurried, full of apologies and half-memories. What exactly is going on? Why would people who love her or are supposed to make her well-being their highest priority would force her through this torture of trying to remember the events of that snowy day on her own, without help? Why not just tell her what happened? This is about as much as I can tell you without spoiling the story. Pay attention- the clues are there all there. When it all slowly and gradually gets revealed, you'll see how well-thought-through this compelling plot is. Personally, I don't like it when crucial information comes out at the end and there's no way you could have guessed who the culprit is and what their motivation was. This isn't the case here. Everything is foreshadowed and developed later. The same can be said about the characters. When we first meet Tess, she is hurting, she's confused, she's focused on herself, but through her eyes we get to see the people who are most important to her and who are all somehow involved in this mystery. Part of the message of this book is that everything is interconnected and even the smallest of our actions can have unpredictable consequences. Unpredictable because we can't control other people, their feelings and their actions, but we can do our best to be there for people we love and pay real attention to them. The book is very easy to read, it just grips you and compels you to keep turning pages until you solve Tessa's mystery and go through a rich mix of masterfully-portrayed emotions - grief, anxiety, anger, sadness, forgiveness. An extremely well-written YA thriller from the author I didn't know much about, but certainly hope to read more in future. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, the publisher and the author for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Today I'm delighted to participate in the blog tour for Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg, the second book in his Runaway Train series.
Grenade Bouquets
EXCERPT
2
Genetic – Sonic Youth When I get home, Mom is on the couch with one of those huge mugs that could be used for soup or tea. She’s got the AC blasting and wearing a sweater with wool scrunchie socks like a loon. I’m surprised not to see Mr. Ferguson, or rather, Roger, her new boyfriend. Most nights they sit on the couch together and watch old romantic films like Roman Holiday or Bringing Up Baby. Old movies bug me, the acting seems so forced and fake, and everything is so overdramatic. I’d rather watch Heathers for the nineteen-thousandth time. Mom and Roger have a pretty sweet setup. Roger literally lives next door with only a fence separating them, so they haven’t moved in together yet. They decided to ix-nay the idea of putting an extension between their houses. Something I’m not ready for either, since Roger has two chow-chows that take giant log-like shits that would make even the Log Lady from Twin Peaks proud. “Nico,” Mom says, as she waves me over. She removes a knitted blanket from the seat next to her and pats for me to sit. I curl up and see she’s watching My So-Called Life. “Aren’t you a little old for that show?” I ask, as I watch Angela make moon eyes for Jordan Catalano. “I was once in high school too, ya-know,” she says, and her eyes glaze over. I imagine she’s remembering times from the olden days. “Although it was so different than what you kids are dealing with now. Alcoholism, school violence, AIDS…” I have a realization that my high-school life has basically been My So-Called Life and not 90210. I’m Angela, Winter’s wild Rayanne, and Jeremy is flamboyant Rickie. Although there’d never been a boy like Jordan Catalano in the halls who looked my way. Mom wraps an errant hair around my ear and fingers my faux diamond stud. “How was Winter’s?” I must’ve made a harumph sound because she gets this concerned dent between her eyes. “I dunno…” I try to form what I want to say. “Winter can be such a bitch.” Mom mutes the TV as Claire Danes with her crimson hair flails around in her oversized flannel at a backyard party before she gets shoved in the mud. “It’s probably hard for her to watch you go.” “I’m only like going for a few weeks.” “Sweetie, you two aren’t glued at the hip anymore, it’s natural.” I pick up her big mug and take a sip. It’s ginger tea. “Really?” “Not everyone gets a best friend in high school like you both had. But you can’t stay best friends forever, it’s not possible. There’ll be college and jobs and husbands and many new friends. I haven’t talked to my best friend Lucille in ages.” “Isn’t she the one who sells hair?” “It’s for a non-profit charity, but yes, she does sell hair for wigs. That’s my point. We’re so different. She never had children…” Mom pauses at the word ‘children’ and then recalibrates, her hardwire telling her she only has one child now. A sigh like a fog over a moor escapes from her lips. “We grew apart. Like what’s happening with Angela and Rayanne,” she continues, nodding at the TV. “And with you and Winter.” “She has this godawful new friend Emily, who’s like the worst. And I think they…” I struggle to say they might be doing cocaine. Mom might think she’s all cool with her My So-Called Life knowledge, but cocaine would be too big a leap. “She’s a bad influence.” Mom pulls me close. We used to do this when I was little, snuggle up and eat a bowl of Teddy Grahams or something. But then I became a demon around the age of eleven and shut myself up in my room blaring Nirvana whenever I was home. 
Today is my stop on the blog tour for Fairies and Frosting, Book 7 in Christina Bauer's series Fairy Tales of The Magicorum and I'm delighted to present Christina's guest post!
My Most (and Least!) Favorite Fairy Tales
As part of the launch tour for my new book, FAIRIES AND FROSTING (Magicorum #7), the lovely folks at Reading Tonic have asked me to share some thoughts on fairy tales. This is an ideal topic since FAIRIES AND FROSTING is inspired by the story of Cinderella!
With that in mind, here are my most (and least!) favorite fairy tales… THE THREE WORST FAIRY TALES IN THE HISTORY OF EVER, IMHO Three. Princess and the Frog In this story, the princess is a witch-with-a-b who chucks a defenseless amphibian against a wall. Not okay. She’s then rewarded for this violent behavior (I’m making finger quotes while typing rewarded) by getting a prince. Eew, eew, eew. Two. Princess and the Pea Here the so-called princess is identified by her ability to whine about bedding. Being a high-maintenance guest should not be equated with royalty. That’s just being a douchebag. One. Goldilocks This is another tale that I place in the category of high-maintenance behavior mistaken as cool. Breaking and entering is against the law, end of story. If one is in need of support, then it’s appropriate to wait outside the home for the family to return before helping yourself to their shit. THREE SUPER-COOL FAIRY TALES THAT I ADORE Three. Athena This one is more of a myth than a fairy tale, but this is my list, so nyah. Athena is the Greco-Roman goddess of war. Even though she is the only deity (other than Zeus) who can wield the infamous thunderbolt, she normally uses clever ruses to defeat her opponents instead. That’s class. Two. Isis The Isis myth was a top story in northern Africa for more than 40,000 years. Its lessons even informed ancient Egypt, a culture that survived 3000 years (that’s more than ten times longer than the US, for those who are counting.) The tale is all about doing the right thing over materialism. Yes. I write about Isis in more detail here. Three. Cinderella This is my all-time favorite story and I adore the Grimm’s Fairy Tale version. In the original, Cinderella gets her own ass to the ball. No fairy godmothers involved. I adore this take on the character and it definitely inspired my approach while writing FAIRIES AND FROSTING. So there you have it—my worst and first fairy tales. Hope you enjoyed my list and I hope to see you on a future book launch!
Thank you to Christina for her wonderful post!
Fairies and Frosting
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The Immortal Game
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My thoughts:
This story was so much fun to read! I am a big fan of mythology-based books and books about loyalty, friendship, adventure, standing up for injustly accused and finding your own way in the world. Add not one but two strong female leads to the mix and you've got me swooning! Yes, this book is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, although it doesn't focus on demi-gods, so there is very little connection with the human world. The main characters Galene, daughter of Poseidon, Iyana,daughter of Zeus, Demetri, son of Ares, and Braxtus are young, so-called unnamed gods. They have to take a special kind of test to earn their immortality and future veneration from humans. There is also Kostas, another adorable character in the book, who has already passed his Trial and has earned his name of the God of Games. Galene fails her test, although there are some doubts about the fairness of the trial in her case. She is sad, but resigned to try again in future. Then unthinkable happens: Mount Olympus is attacked and Galene is framed for what occured. She is exiled. Her best friend Iyana speaks up in her favour and banishes herself in protest against the unfairness of the Gods' decision. They are joined by Demetri,and later Braxtus and Kostas. Once they reach Galene's previously exiled older brother Chrysander, they will have to make some choices that would test their loyalty to their home and would send them on an unforgettable adventure. There are several POVs in this book and I loved getting these different perspectives, although I must admit Kostas's was always my favourite, due not only to his character, but also his special abilities. The mix of characters was absolutely perfect, plus they all have to grow and develop in the book to show to the world what they really are and what they are capable of! The setting was fantastic and the quest were fantastic- there was so much variety! The pace was excellent- just enough time to let us get to know the characters better and lots of exciting action. One of my favourite scenes was the battle of Iyana with the traitor- it was great to see this generaly quiet and insecure girl realise her power and use it in a spectacular way. Another top moment is the Beast Maker Game, but you have to read the book to find out what it is all about... Highly recommended to anyonewho loves a good action-packed mythology story! Thankyou to NetGalley, the publisher and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. 
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