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Description The Fifth Perfect Blood shall change the world. Fourteen-year-old Aiden Dyer just wants to call a place home. But his father’s engineering job keeps them moving around. When they relocate to England on short notice, Aiden knows it’s only a matter of time before they move again. But after a series of strange encounters, Aiden’s life is turned upside down following a near-fatal attack from a vampire. Plunged into a world of supernatural creatures, Aiden learns that his two new school friends are vampires and his father’s job isn’t as an engineer at all but as a Master Hunter at the Vampire Hunter Association. Soon, Aiden discovers the truth behind the strange attacks. He is the fifth Perfect Blood, destined to change the world, and now the fabled Dark Witch has returned to hunt him down and use his blood in their evil plan. As chaos descends and the Dark Witch who stalks Aiden closes in, Aiden must hurry to find a way to save the supernatural world before it is destroyed. Purchase ISBN 9781739788803  My thoughts:
Entertaining, with clear storylines and well-thought-through world-building. The series reads quite young- would be perfect for 12-13 year old readers. The protagonist of the series, 14 year old Aiden Dyer lost his mother when he was still a baby. His father Jason has an important engineering job which means they have to move countries every couple years, so Aiden has become quite good at adapting himself to new circumstances and fitting in in new schools. This time they are back to Oaksdale, England, where Aiden was born. Strange encounters follow and Aiden unexpectedly finds himself befriended by two vampires- Callie and Taylor. More revelations follow- Aiden's father turns out to be a Master Vampire Hunter hailing from a long line of legendary vampire exterminators and that's not all. Aiden himself isn't just an ordinary boy- he is the carrier of super special Perfect Blood, a rare occurence in the history of this supernatural world. Add a dark magic creature - Dark Witch- who is craving absolute power, something Aiden's blood can give them, and the picture of the upcoming battles is complete. A large part of the book is about Aiden making friends and trying to figure out his place in this dangerous world which appeared so safe and easy to understand a short time ago. Aiden needs to work out who can and who can't be trusted and learn to defend himself and those he is beginning to care a lot about. The author got me with the mystery- I thought I had it all worked out, but I was wrong. Can't wait to read the continuation of Aiden's story. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. From the blurb: The Blood Moon rises. The Blood Veil falls. The Tournament begins. Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death. The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world--one thought long depleted. This year, thanks to a salacious tell-all book, the seven champions are thrust into worldwide spotlight, granting each of them new information, new means to win, and most importantly: a choice - accept their fate or rewrite their story. But this is a story that must be penned in blood.  My thoughts: I absolutely adored this addictive book! The world-building and storytelling are fantastic... One of those books that totally absorbs and grips you to make sure you put everything aside and focus on it from the beginning to the end. First of all, don't be disappointed if you find that...'No one here is a hero...', but, by extension, no one is a villain. Although the book is essentially about the power of stories, legends and patterns, it is also about how we make choices, good and bad, cruel and well-intentioned and live with their consequences. All of the protagonists go through self-discovery and development in deliciously unpredictable ways. The protagonists are seven teenagers thrown into a death tournament by their families bound by a powerful ancient curse. Every twenty years seven families must choose a champion to fight in the tournament until only one is left to bring the glory to their family and power to weild rare high magick which has almost disappeared from this world. The tournament used to be Ilvernath's best-kept shameful secret until a book called A Tradition of Tragedy (allegedly written by someone from one of the seven families) came out and exposed the history of this merciless practice. There are seven champions (Grieve, Payne, Macaslan, Thorburn, Blaire, Lowe, Darrow) and four main points of view: -Gavin Grieve, from the least respected, least powerful family- watch out for this one as he is desperate to fight for his dignity; -Isobel Macaslan- another champion from an underdog family who collects their raw magick in less than savoury ways- her father calls her a princess, but she herself knows she is a survivor... once she really commits to participating in this brutal ordeal; -Briony Thorburn (Isobel's ex-BFF and a self-proclaimed hero)- she is fast and strong, both physically and mentally, and no wonder- all her life she has been preparing for this tournament, but does she have enough self-awareness to see the impact of her actions? -and last but not least- The Villain- Alistair Lowe- his family has won the most tournaments and all his life he's been told he doesn't have to be afraid of monsters because he is one of them. His family has their despicable secret to ensure a Lowe is more often than not the last one standing. I loved the way the perspectives changed as the story raced forward. The length of the chapters was perfect and, to be honest, I didn't have a favourite, although you might choose who out of all of these morally gray, flawed characters you want to root for. It is difficult to avoid the comparison with the Hunger Games- well, impossible really, since it was marketed as Hunger Games with blood, gore, and magic. But once you start reading the book, you quickly notice the differences- the tone is different (HG is all about social justice, AOUV is about the power of stories), there are fewer characters and they have been taught and trained all their life to devise strategies, make and cast curses and spells in order to survive and claim the victory fro their family- they are not tragically random tributes. There are alliances, but no romance (sorry, not really- at least not in book 1). Like many other readers I went into the book thinking it's a standalone and realised towards the 80% mark, it can't be- there's still too much of a story to explore. Can't wait to find out who survives this wild, wild ride! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.   From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a brand-new blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption—and the girl who will risk everything to bring the system crashing down. The land of Kandala is recovering from a devastating plague, with a cure so rare that only the wealthy can afford it. Tessa is one of the many in the lower class, whose parents were killed for distributing the cure on the black market. She continues their legacy by stealing supplies to give to those in need, along with help from her partner, the suave and mysterious Weston Lark. As rumors spread that the cure no longer works, Tessa hatches a dangerous plan to infiltrate the castle and break down the class barriers for good. Set in a fantasy world startlingly similar to our own, Brigid Kemmerer's new series illuminates the divide between those with power and those without. . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to flip the system.  My thoughts: Absolutely loved it! Fans of Bridget Kemmerer are going to be delighted with this new series. A spellbinding tale of love, trust, and courage, Defy the Night is set in a fictional Kingdom of Kandala, where people are dying of mysterious fevers. The only real cure, Moonflower, grows in only two sectors of the vast country ruled by young King Harristan and his brother, King's Justice Corrick. Unfortunately, the poor do not always have the means to buy the cure, while all the rich care about is a steady, reliable supply. Nobody wants to die and nobody wants to see someone they love suffer. Tessa Cade's father was an apothecary who tried to distribute the elixir made of Moonflower petals to as many people as he could. When Tessa's parents were kiled by the patrol, Tessa found courage to continue rtheir work by stealing supplies, preparing potions and giving them away to the most needy. She is added by her faithful partner Wes, Weston Lark, someone she trusts with her life, even though she's never seen his face without a mask. Both of them know it's a drop in the ocean, as people are becoming more and more desperate and ready to revolt...  The story is told from two equally compelling points of view: Tessa's and Corrick's. Based on the blurb I expected Tessa to be more of an adventurous risk-seeker, while she turned out to be somebody extremely compassionate and people-oriented, kind and...soft. Corrick appeared to be a more complex character- he's torn between what he sees as his brotherly duty and his desire to lead his life according to his principles, a normal human desire to trust/be trusted and the need to be seen as a strong ruler capable of maintaining order. Although King Harristan remains a bit of a mystery in this book, it is clear he's a multi-dimensional character. The main intrigue in the book is the disease itself and our protagonists trying to find the best way to defeat this cruel and relentless enemy, while also helping to keep the country stable. A large portion of the book is set in the Royal Palace, so expect a fair share of political intrigues. One of the topics raised in the book is that it isn't easy to lead a safe and prosperous country, let alone a country ravaged by a health crisis. Bridget Kemmerer's writing style is as entertaining and captivating as always. The pace is fast, although the book isn't all about action- there's the emotional side: affection, friendship, loyalty, grief, and worry. The twists kept me on my toes and there's clearly plenty of them coming in the next book, which I'm already looking forward to! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Defy the Night is out on September 14th, 2021. Publisher: Bloomsbury YA  Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cursebreaker series, Call It What You Want, More Than We Can Tell, Letters to the Lost, and the Elementals series. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska, though her parents quickly moved her all over the United States, from the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the lakeside in Cleveland, Ohio, and several stops in between, eventually settling near Annapolis, Maryland.
www.brigidkemmerer.com / Twitter and Instagram: @BrigidKemmerer
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. 
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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GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: #Fantasy Friday #A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes Book 2) by Sabaa Tahir #YA Fantasy16/7/2021
After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt Elias and Laia as they flee the city of Serra. Laia and Elias are determined to break into the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison to save Laia’s brother, even if for Elias it means giving up his last chance at freedom. They will have to fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene, Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike. Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own, one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape... and kill them both. ( From the book blurb) Titles in the Series (tetralogy): Book 1 An Ember in the Ashes Book 2 A Torch Against the Night Book3 A Reaper at the gates Book 4 A Sky Beond the Storm
My thoughts:
The best things about the book: -adventure, adventure, adventure -action -the world-building- we're getting more glimpses of both the Martial world and the tribes the Emprire conquered -the introduction of the third POV-Helene Aquilla's ...and some things I wasn't particularly sure about... -romance- I'm not convinced the two very weird love triangles add anything useful to the story apart from confusion. -villains- I want to know more about their motivations-we got a glimpse into the Commandant's birth-story in the last book (not enough!) and we meet a new villain (The Warden) who appears to have morbid curiousity about pain and inmate psychology, but what about Marcus? Hannah was alsoa bit one-dimensional. What is this all about: A brief recap ofEmber in the Ashes Laia and Darin's family are Scholars, an oppressed group of people conquered by the Martial Empire (inspired by Ancient Rome). Scholars are free, but there are countless restrictions on what they can do. Darin becomes an apprentice to Teluman, the only blacksmith capable ofproducing arms that can go against the blades used by Martials. He is caught and sent to prison. Laia escapes and embarks on themission to save Darin's life. She contacts the Resistance who promisetohelp heras Laia and Darin are children of legendary founders of the Resistancemovement. Laia is sent to Blackcliff, the elitemilitary school, where she is supposed to spy on Keris Venturia, the ruthless Commandant. In Blackcliff Laia meets Elias Venturius, one of the best cadets. Meanwhile, Augurs predict that the bloodline of the current Emperor is about to end and a new Emperor has to be chosen among 4 recent graduates in 4 Trials. Elias and his best friend Helene Aquilla are among the Aspirants. Whoever wins the Trials will become the new Emperor and choose their Blood Shrike, the Second-in-Command. Gentle, loyal Elias abhors the violence the Empire has become synonymous with. The Augurs promised that he will gain freedom at the end of Trials, but how and what kind of freedom is unclear. So what is Book 2 about? warning-spoilers for Book 1 !!!! Laia and Elias are on the run...Elias has given Laia his word to help her get Darin out of the prison, but first they need to avoid being caught. They manage to escape the city, although something important happens that will determine the future events. Helene Aquilla who has sworn her oath to the new Emperor, is sent on the mission to capture and kill the Empire's most wanted traitor Elias. On their way Elias and Laia are joined by Keenan, Laia's liaison with the Resistance movement. Helene's point of view brings new aspects into the story-political intrigues, her efforts to control and command the Black Guard, impossible choices she is facing that will forge her into a very different figure from the cadet girl we met in Book 1. There is a lot of action and movement -basically, 70% of the book is on the road from Serra where the Blackcliff is to the North where Laia's brother Darin is kept in the prison. We meet Elias's adoptive mother, who is the opposite of his birth one in everything. We get to know Elias more, although I still want more depth! Elias's biggest dilemma is outlined in the previous book in the Third Trial, where his decision cost his friends' lives and he has to learn to live with it. The least I say about his love life, the bettter. I felt strangely detached from Laia in this book. Laia in An Ember in the Ashes was more flawed, showed promise for development -a healer who has to become a spy and a soldier, a sheltered girl who loses all her family, a girl who is afraid of pain survives and carries her scar as a mark of courage. Here we see less determination and more confusion. She does discover her own magic abilities, so I guess we'll see her come into her own powers later in the series. The least I say about her love life, the better. There were some excellent secondary characters in this book as well. I want to know more about Cook, Afya and Soul Catcher. The Nightbringer seemed a lot scarier before the Twist. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, but I did that it was on a lengthy side with ot that I want it to be shorter, but I would have liked more focus on the character development rather than action.
A Thousand Salt Kisses
The complete series: -- EXCERPT: Mine @2 I double checked the message again. I was restless, I wanted to see Rosie now. What is this big secret? What does it have to do with Llyr? I would now have to wait until two o’clock to find out. I have a vivid imagination and it was rattling around in my skull like a hurricane right now. Is Llyr some kind of criminal on the run? Does he have to hide in the sea or something? Maybe he was a Starfish native and that was why only islanders knew of his hiding place… Where does he sleep?! He must get really cold out there all the time… Surely, he would drown at some point or catch pneumonia. What had he done anyway, and should I turn him in? Surely I couldn’t let my insane crush on him get in the way of justice. I did a Google search on my phone, typing in ‘Most Wanted’ and ‘Coney Bay’. A jokey news article came up about a kid who had released their goldfish into the sea and now wanted it back. I screamed with frustration and threw my phone on the sofa, storming out into the back garden and down the ocean stairway. It was a blazing hot June Sunday, but I didn’t care. I would search for answers. When I got to the jetty, I marched to the end of it, and I stood there gazing out to sea. I must have looked a little strange to the neighbours standing so determined on the edge of the jetty, fists clenched at my sides, my hair yellow in the sun. I was a woman on a mission, but with nowhere to mission to. My eyes scanned the sea, begging for something, but asides from a fishing boat and a couple of gulls, the surface was barren. “Darling!” It was Mum. She was making her way down the stairs. I sighed. “Hi Mum” “Are you alright, standing around in the boiling heat like this?” she shouted. “Yeah, I’m fine Mum,” I said distractedly. She made her way down the jetty. She wore a big floppy black sun hat and a black fitted strappy dress. “Are you off to a funeral?” I joked as she neared. It was surely not normal to wear such dark colours in the summer. “I suppose I’m mourning London, Crystal,” she said putting her arm around my shoulders. God, she’s so melodramatic. She’s probably trying to give Dad a guilt trip. “It’s nice here,” I said reassuringly, as we looked out to sea. “I missed London to start with, but I’ve not thought about it one bit in the past few weeks.” I was still scouring the waters. “That’s great,” she said watching my face carefully. “But you don’t really seem yourself.” “Oh… well, I’m fine,” I pretended. My mum was silent, and I knew she was waiting for me to explain myself. “Oh, it’s just this guy.” “Oh, well, say no more,” she said, looking relieved. “Now, my motherly advice is keep cool, kid.” I laughed, “Okay Mum.” “Let them do the chasing.” No danger of me chasing Llyr, I thought. I wasn’t even totally sure if he existed. 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: Happy Publication Day to Rising Like a Storm, a spellbinding conclusion to the Wrath of Ambar fantasy duology by Tanaz Bhatena!  Description: In the concluding installment to the Wrath of Ambar YA duology from masterful author Tanaz Bhathena, Gul and Cavas must unite their magical forces—and hold onto their growing romance—to save their kingdom from tyranny. A girl with a mark, a boy with her soul. Their fates intertwined, two halves of a whole. With King Lohar dead and the usurper queen Shayla in power, Gul and Cavas face a new tyrannical government—a government that is bent on killing them both. Their roles in King Lohar's death have not gone unnoticed, and Queen Shayla is out for blood. What she doesn't know is that Gul and Cavas have a connection that runs deeper than romance, and together, they just might have the strength and magic to end Shayla's reign for good. Then a grave mistake ends with Cavas taken prisoner by the government. Gul must train an army of warriors alone. With alliances shifting and the thirst for vengeance growing, the fate of Ambar seems ever more uncertain. It will take every ounce of strength, love, and sacrifice for Gul and Cavas to reach their final goal—and build a more just world than they've ever known. Rising like a Storm is the dramatic conclusion to the Wrath of Ambar duology, written by the talented Tanaz Bhathena. About the author: Tanaz Bhathena is the author of Hunted by the Sky, the first book in the Wrath of Ambar duology. She is also the author of The Beauty of the Moment, as well as the critically acclaimed A Girl Like That, which received two starred reviews and was shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association White Pine Award, a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book, a Quill & Quire Book of the Year, a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book for Teens, and a New York Public Library Notable Best Book for Teens. Tanaz lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with her family. tanazbhathena.com  About Book 1 Hunted by the Sky: Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge. Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India
The Immortal Game
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GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:
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. 
Beyond the Shore and Shadows
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Parliament House Press -- EXCERPT: Lena sat up in bed with a gasp. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could barely breathe. As she darted her gaze about the room, she noticed a strange grey cloud lingering all around her. Lena took in a deep breath but began to cough on the strange pungent scent in the air. Her eyes stung as she searched the darkened room. There was smoke…so much smoke. Lifting her arm up to cover her nose, she tried to look around the small living-area again, but the fumes stung her eyes. Everything was cloaked in the thick grey cloud. Involuntarily, she sucked in a breath before immediately coughing again, choking on the thick smog that was quickly filling the area around them. What was happening? Just beyond the stone wall of the Bror Boghandel, Lena could make out the echoes of rising voices off in the distance. Whoever they were, the ringing of their voices drifting through the walls seemed rather ominous. “Soren!” Lena gasped, pushing herself from the bed. Lena coughed and slid to the floor. At least there, she could breathe better again. After a small evening meal, Lena had spent a few hours going looking over the letters Soren had begun to teach her, while he sifted through a few of the books he’d taken from Edwin’s room. She had even seen him dig out the small broken white opal stone he possessed from his mother, to gaze at it more closely. He leaned over the books on the table, comparing the sketches in the pages to the stone in his hand. At some point amongst his research, she’d given in to sleep. He must have put her to bed, for she was still dressed in her blouse and skirt. “Soren!” she hissed as she closed her eyes; they were beginning to water against the stinging air. She could hear the voices off in the distance, and she carefully tried to make out what they were saying. But it seemed they were too far away. Taking a quick breath, Lena began to pull herself across the floor; her fingers acting as her eyes. “Soren!” she tried again, choking on the swirling air around her. Her chest began to grow tight as she continued to crawl toward his still, sleeping form on the floor. Just as her fingers grazed over him, he moved, startled. “Lena?” Soren’s voice broke through the darkness. She saw the shadow of his head move, seemingly taking in the surroundings before reaching for her. He lifted the blanket to her face. “Don’t move this away. We’ll die if we breathe in too much smoke.” She obeyed and slid her hand to hold the blanket in place. “We have to get out of here,” he managed, lifting a small blanket to cover his own nose and mouth. The smoke had already begun to sting her lungs, reminding her of the first time she broke through the sea’s surface. She remembered the way her lungs fought between fresh air and salt water. She wanted to take in a deep breath, but knew she had to resist. “I’m going to grab what I can,” Soren murmured, gently taking her arm and leading her to the door. “Stay in the shop. I’ll be right there.” With her heart pounding in her ears and quick thinking, Lena moved back toward the nightstand, grabbing her nightgown before turning on her heel and reaching for Soren’s brown jacket that hung near the door. Both might come to be useful wherever they’d need to go. She shoved her feet into the extra pair of boots left by the door and slipped into the bookshop. “Why is this happening?” Lena asked softly, her voice wavering from fear. What is going to happen? She stood shivering despite the insufferable heat that was burning its way through her last safe haven. Taking in another breath and promptly choking on the thick smoke, she couldn’t help but look around her. All of the books… all of the stories and ship logs she would now never learn how to read. Over her shoulder, she could hear the sounds of Soren rustling through the stacks of books. Squinting through the dark and hazy air, Lena could only make out Soren grabbing various things and shoving them into a small cloth satchel. Lena held the blanket against her nose and mouth, trying to breathe in whatever air she could. It wasn’t nearly as bad in the shop, but she could make out the shadows of strangers through the windows, just outside the main door. Their voices echoed throughout the shop. She turned her violet gaze back to the darkened doorway. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears. “Soren,” she called out softly. “Soren!” Ahead, she could hear more of what those gathering outside the doors of the Bror Boghandel were saying: “Come out here, bookkeeper! We know you’re in there!” Lena darted toward the door. Were they here to help? She reached for the latch but froze when she heard another voice just on the other side. “Come out little pearl,” Lord Jarl’s voice rang. “Everyone knows the truth.” Lena’s heart sank to her stomach. She felt frozen, despite the licking flames beginning to engulf the small book shop from the side. Lord Jarl had come for her after all, and he hadn’t stayed in hiding for long. Was Jace with him? Lord Jarl’s words echoed in her ears, as she allowed the realization of what he’d said to fill her. Everyone knows the truth. They all knew she was a merrow. Her fate was sealed. Her fingers began to tremble, and she swallowed hard, her throat thick with smoke and unshed tears as she gripped the blanket against her nose. They all know. They were all here for her 
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Photos from Simon_sees, Dmitry Karyshev
