Tag: fantasy

Book Review: A Forgery of Fate

Published on by Erica

A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes!

“Everything I love in a story—danger, complex characters, romance, betrayal and gorgeous writing.” —Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of Dance of Thieves

Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .

My Review:

This book was beautiful. From the set up to the finale, I couldn’t ask for a better journey. Loved it.
First off, Elizabeth Lim is a master storyteller. She captures sibling relationships so well. I love the dynamics she writes. You can feel the love in the family unit. And the sweet and clean romances are heartwarming and just perfect.
It was fun being back in Ai’long and seeing a familiar half dragon.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

Book Review: Immortal

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

“What the gods did not give us, I would take.”

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal… even if it means losing her heart.

My Review:

A beautifully written, heavy on descriptions, tale of love and longing. I love xianxia style fantasy romance, so this was right up my ally.

That said, there’s a couple of things. The FMC Liyen annoyed me fof a chunk of the book. I understood her in the beginning. But just when we are supposed to believe she is falling in love with Zhangwei and trusting him, she takes a dozen steps back. Of course, after several times of tricking him, she finally allows herself to be vulnerable. Zhangwei is obviously keeping secrets, but he’s plead with her to trust him. To really trust him. And with how powerful he is as an immortal, Liyen should have. I really liked how he didn’t give upon her.

I loved the twists and how Liyen ends up connected to it all. (And I won’t spoil it.)

I said the prose was beautiful. The other problem is that it is soo heavy on the descriptions that it was almost to the point of distraction. Especially in a first person story.

This story also has some spicy scenes that fade to black.

That said, I did enjoy this story, so that’s the bottom line. Sue Lynn Tan is one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I’m so happy I got to read this early.

Review: Raven of the Inner Palace

Published on by Erica

A tale of dark magic and court intrigue in a setting inspired by historical China–now an anime!

Deep within the palace’s walls lives the secluded and mysterious Raven Consort. Some say she is an old woman, while others claim she is young and beautiful. What all stories agree upon is that she has the power to exorcise spirits, lay fatal curses, and find lost objects—for a price. When the young emperor arrives at the door of the Raven Consort seeking magical assistance, his request could shake up the palace…or perhaps even the entire kingdom.

My Review:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is the first Japanense light novel I’ve read, and I thouroughly enjoyed it. As a few folks on GoodReads have mentioned, there are a couple of typos. I don’t know about you, but this makes me smile because this just means humans worked on it. Besides, even imperfect books have beautiful stories inside. And this is a lovely story, and setting up a world I look forward to exploring more in depth.

New Release: One Thousand Winters

Published on by Erica

When fairy Jingyi goes to pick a divine peach that grows once every ten thousand years, she discovers a wounded man. Mistaking him for an immortal she aids him, only to learn later he’s the dragon prince, Deng Longwei.

She has always been told that dragons are the enemy. But when she’s in trouble Longwei’s the first to save her. When love grows between them, will it be enough to stop a war?

Multi-retailer link
You can also read on Kindle Vella

November Book Fairs

Published on by Erica
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click the image to go to this FREE book fair!

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@roxburybooks

#fantasyromance #books #magical #fatedmates #fatedtoloveyou #forcedproximity #enemiestolovers #ninetailedfox #justkisses#redstringoffate #fairies #booktok

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Roxbury Books is on Tiktok!

Review: Six Crimson Cranes

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to forswear–no matter what the cost.

Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

Review:

I have found a new favorite author and book with this one. I totally LOVED this book. I laughed. I cried. I was soo disappointed the next one isn’t out yet.

Review: Mystical Missy and Her Life of of Magical Events

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

Missy never asked to have magical powers, but when she survived a fire as a baby, with no burns or marks, this was only the start of her magical abilities. Follow the journey of mystical Missy as she discovers a new power each year of her magical life.

Genre: Fantasy/Humor

My Review:

This delightful story is still early on. (I know, a bit early to leave reviews, but this is a vella story.) This book is beautiful. I’ve felt sadness, disappointment, and then tears of joy for Missy already. I highly recommend giving this book a go.

Review: Fantastical Flash Fiction (vella)

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

This is a collection of flash fiction based on elements from mythology and fantasy. Every piece will be under a thousand words, and occasionally I might post a couple of microfictions in the same episode.

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

My Review:

Fun short stories that explore myths and legends. I found them well-written and interesting. (I think my favorite was the one about the Kelpie so far.)
You do not need to read these in order, either.

Have you check this vella book out yet? What was your favorite story?

Review: The Sea Rose (a Vella story)

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

Lord Peter West could not marry Lady Bannister. Her eyes bore into him like daggers; her voice filled him with dread. Knowing this, his resolve thinned as the day neared to announce their union. He could not have imagined as he fled the party that he would find himself stranded in the district of the Half-Merpeople. No one had told him that those with ocean-blood lived such wretched lives. Most of all, he could not have dreamed that the once-vanished Lady Rose Finch walked those streets.

My Review:

I have another Vella story to share. This one is great. It has two things I love, it’s a Regency romance and it has magic. And not just any magic, it’s merpeople.

From the opening, I was hooked. We start off with Peter at a ball meant to announce his engagement to a proper young lady by the name of Meredith. It doesn’t go as planned and Peter runs away. Leaving Meredith to an unfortunate fate. I wasn’t sure about her in the beginning. But there is a reason she behaves the way she does, and it tore at my heart as it unfolded.

Peter’s escape takes him to the poor area where the merpeople live. Shunned by society, it is quite dreadful there. Peter wants to make changes, and I look forward to seeing that journey.

Book Review: The Die of Destiny

Published on by Erica

Synopsis:

Lucas Silver’s life is about to change. He thinks it’s because he’s made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and his friend Miles and two girls they’re acquainted with―Jasmine and Vanessa―find Hob and Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest.

When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.

They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.

My Review:

As a rpg gamer, this book caught my eye. In in, our heroes are transported to the magical world of the game. There they become friends as they work together to save the day. Along they way, this odd assortment of kids become friends. A fun read.

Thank you, Shadow Mountain for the ARC.