The Nameless Soldier is book 4 in the Annals of Alasia young adult fantasy series. Haven't read all (or any) of the others? That's okay! The books can be read in any order, and each one can stand on its own. Description: What do you do when you’re the only survivor? Nineteen-year-old Tarvic bears the name of a mighty hero from Alasia’s past. However, the young soldier feels anything but heroic when he regains consciousness to find himself the lone survivor of a brutal attack by invaders from the neighboring kingdom. Forced to leave his identity behind, Tarvic is thrust into civilian life in the role of protector to three war orphans. When the four of them encounter a mysterious stranger, he must choose between keeping the young girls safe and taking on a mission that could help free his kingdom. Can Tarvic live up to his noble name and find a way to balance his duty and his dreams? Where to Get a Copy: Click here to buy the ebook or paperback from Amazon. (The ebook is $2.99 just $0.99 through June 6th!) Not sure if you'll like the story or not? Take a look at the first chapter and see! The Nameless SoldierChapter One Tarvic woke to the sound of a distant yell, abruptly silenced. He pushed his blankets aside and sat up, puzzled, but heard only the light patter of rain on the canvas. “What was that?” Drevel, his roommate in the barracks and tentmate out on campaigns like this, stirred and rolled over. “What?” “I heard something. Someone shouting.” “It’s probably just another drill.” But Drevel sat up too, shoving his own blankets away, as Tarvic crawled over and untied the tent flap. A blast of wintry air and raindrops greeted him as he leaned out, peering across the tent-studded hillside. Clouds hid the moon and stars, and on every side the thick dark of the forest leaned in from the edges of the large clearing. But the telltale flickering light of distant torches sent shadows leaping over tents and across the open spaces between them. Why would someone be using torches out here? Any soldier in camp had easy access to lanterns among the supplies. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Tarvic pulled back into the tent and yanked on his breeches and jacket. They both heard the next yell, closer this time, and then the unmistakable clash of swords. Both men snatched up their own swords, jamming their feet into their boots and fumbling for shields. From all around them, shouts of alarm erupted as men in their company woke up. And then the enemy was upon them. Horses exploded through the camp, trampling tents and the soldiers just crawling out of them. Riders leaned low off their mounts’ backs, swinging swords and waving torches. Halfway out of his tent, Tarvic threw himself flat on his face to avoid a slash that would probably have decapitated him. He scrambled to his feet, only to be knocked off them again by a blow that he barely caught on his shield. Light, shadows, horses, blades, rain. Chaos raged through the clearing to the sound of crashing metal, pounding hooves, shouts of challenge and desperation. Tarvic regained his feet and fought as best he could from the ground while enemy riders thundered around him. Dodging and ducking, he aimed for the men’s legs and tried to keep out from under their horses’ hooves. With no idea who he was fighting or why, his only goal to stay alive for the next heartbeat, he dodged and darted through the tumult looking for spots where horses and enemy swords weren’t. All around him, men fought and ran and crumpled to lie as limply as the trampled tents. Slipping and stumbling in the mud, Tarvic felt a surge of satisfaction as his sword met flesh and an enemy yelled in pain. And then the man wheeled his horse and charged back toward him, and Tarvic turned to flee. He tripped on something soft that groaned. Pain shot through Tarvic’s wrist as he caught his fall, and only a quick roll saved him from being trampled as the man’s horse cantered over him. Its rider wheeled again, and Tarvic rose to his knees, barely raising his shield in time to protect his face. The force of the blow threw him backward, jarring his already sore wrist. Another horse leaped over him, and Tarvic cried out in pain as a hoof struck him on the shoulder. He stumbled to his feet, ducking low to present as small a target as possible, and ran through the melee. He saw fewer people on foot now, more obstacles in the mud. Was it cowardly to flee from a battle you couldn’t win? Nothing in Tarvic’s eight months in the military had prepared him for this. Not counting occasional minor border skirmishes, the kingdom of Alasia hadn’t seen an actual war in six generations. Besides routine patrols, city peacekeeping, and the frequent drills and training, the military’s primary duties involved escorting merchant wagons through robber-frequented stretches of rural highway and keeping an eye on the sections of coastline where seafaring raiders were known to attack. Tarvic had never fought in a battle that involved more than a handful of opponents at a time, and none of those opponents had been anywhere near this organized — or this deadly. If we escape, we can regroup somewhere safer and — A hard blow to the back knocked him to the ground again as another horse pounded over him. Giving up all pretense of courage, Tarvic scrambled to his feet once more and fled for the edge of the clearing and the relative safety of the trees beyond. I can’t do anything here. They’re going to slaughter us all! He was practically there when another rider appeared in front of him, leaning low with sword outstretched. Tarvic almost impaled himself on the blade, raising his shield just in time. He fought back frantically as the man slashed, swinging his weapon again and again. I need my horse! Military training had included nothing about how to fight a mounted enemy from the ground. But Lightning was tethered in the row of makeshift stalls on the far side of the camp, probably prancing restlessly under his blanket and wondering why his rider didn’t come to spur him into battle. Tarvic didn’t even see the blow that almost killed him. His ears barely registered the thudding of more galloping hooves from behind, nearly drowned out by the rain and the sounds of battle. But the world exploded in light and pain as something struck the back of his head harder than anything had ever hit him before. He lurched forward, feeling his sword drop from limp fingers. Managing two steps before his legs buckled, he was just conscious enough to recognize the urgent need to crawl. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Or they’ll kill you out here. That was the only thought left in his mind as he pulled himself toward the concealing shadows behind the line of tree trunks. And then even that faded, giving way to darkness. Want to know what happens to Tarvic? Click here to purchase the book and find out! About the Author![]() Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published seventeen books (four YA action and adventure novels, five fantasies, a puppet script, six anthologies of her students’ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel. Email: [email protected] Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads Google+: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
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C.L. Cannon is pleased to present the official cover for her new series starter Bloodlines: A Forget Me Not Origin Story. ![]() Blurb: Bloodlines follows fraternal twins Anso and Ava at the very start of magic itself. When Anso discovers there’s something different about him, something inhuman, he knows he must keep it a secret. His father, his entire village would disown him, or worse. There’s one person, however, who he cannot hide from, his twin sister, Ava. Ava sees right through Anso’s distress and promises to keep his secret while yearning for a power of her very own. As Anso explores his newfound abilities, he also finds a friend with a similar problem. Could there be more like him? This is the story of how an ordinary boy became a legend, a leader, the sister who stood by him through it all, and the best friend who taught him to embrace his differences. Fans of X-Men, Harry Potter, and The Mortal Instruments will enjoy this series starter. Buying info: You can pre-order Bloodlines for just .99! Add it to your Goodreads TBR list About C.L. Cannon
You can find C.L. Cannon at the following links: http://clcannon.net/ https://www.facebook.com/clcannonauthor/ https://twitter.com/CLCannonAuthor https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-l-cannon https://www.instagram.com/cl_cannon http://amazon.com/author/clcannon https://www.goodreads.com/CLCannon http://youtube.com/c/clcannonauthor
Today is the cover reveal for Beyond the Moon by R.J. Wood! This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.
![]() Beyond the Moon (The Voyages of Jake Flynn #2) By R.J. Wood Genre: Fantasy/ Science Fiction/ Sword and Space/ Space Fantasy Age category: Middle Grade/ Young Adult Release Date: 2018
Blurb:
Beyond the Moon picks up after the battle above the ice planet Nystal, where Earth-kid Jake Flynn and crew have recently escaped from the Crimson Cabal. Their voyages continue on the other side of the galaxy where magic has displaced technology and monsters are real. Jake continues to grow in his new abilities to channel energy and fly tall wooden ships in space, but struggles with having been named the Justicar, a prophesied champion of the light. Pushing forward, he sets course for new planets in search of allies who will stand with him and help stop the cabal from resurrecting a long dead queen. To succeed, Jake must learn more about channeling and how to balance his new and unwelcome responsibilities with the continued search for his missing parents and a way home to Earth. Aided and mentored by the young Life Magian, Starla Silvertree, her aged protector, Ottomeyer Riversend, and assisted by veteran sailors Jehnna Marik and Captain Billy Goldbar, Jake must make heavyweight decisions with deadly consequences. Unicorns, ghost ships, pirates, space battles, magi wielding lightning and fire, dinosaurs, and a Valkyrie – Jake must face them all in this epic sword and space adventure. By the end, Jake will take another step toward adulthood, discover truths about his parents’ fate, suffer the death of a comrade, and muster the courage to charge into a final showdown with the terrifying snake-woman, Celia Sable.
Check out Destiny’s Gambit (The Voyages of Jake Flynn #1)!
“A resourceful boy takes a glowing sailboat across the stars to search for his long-missing parents and becomes the target of pirates and an evil cabal with a sinister agenda.” You can buy Destiny’s Gambit here: - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Destinys-Gambit-Voyages-Jake-Flynn-ebook/dp/B00SP93OAG/ - Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destinys-gambit-r-j-wood/1122247672?ean=2940154633052 - Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/destiny-s-gambit - Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/755439 About the Author![]()
R. J. Wood has been creating stories and adventures for others since 1979. A bard at heart, he trained in Drama (BA) and History (MA) while at university. He currently lives near Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State with his wife and children. There he does a little fishing, some adventuring, and of course, his writing.
Like everyone of my generation and beyond I have been heavily influenced by film. I like to think of my books as movies in my mind. I developed my creative writing through fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal RPGs. My degree in drama helps me with story, characters, and especially dialogue. Having an advanced history degree is excellent for plots and characters, but it also helps me with world building. You can find and contact R.J. Wood here: - Website: https://www.authorrjwood.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrjwood/ - Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/authorrjwood - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13270313.R_J_Wood - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/R.J.-Wood/e/B00TCOXXNQ/ - Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorrjwood
Giveaway
There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Beyond the Moon. One winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift card. For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
This is my stop during the book blitz for Withhold by Andrea Pearson. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz takes place on 18 July. See the list of participating bloggers here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-withhold-by-andrea-pearson ![]()
Withhold (Mosaic Chronicles #9) By Andrea Pearson Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy Age category: Young Adult, New Adult, Adult Release Date: July 18, 2017
Blurb:
With the lives of everyone she holds dear at stake, will Nicole be able to do what it takes to stop the evil surrounding her? In the ultimate battle between good and evil, Nicole is in a race to stop Keitus before he achieves his plans. If he succeeds, he will crush everyone who has opposed him and enslave Earth and countless other planets. Unfortunately, he is only minutes away from his goal. With so much at stake, Nicole and her friends must approach Helen, a volatile and dangerous spirit who will probably destroy them regardless of whether she gives them what they want. And the chances of her helping them are slim. Fast-paced and epic magical fights, exciting plot twists, and non-stop action and adventure await. So sit down, buckle up, and hold on for the explosive, much-anticipated conclusion to the award-winning and bestselling Mosaic Chronicles.
You can find Withhold on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35074867
Withhold is only $0.99 on release day! You can buy your copy of Withhold for only $0.99 today only! Buy your copy here: - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072BFQ1QX - Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/withhold-andrea-pearson/1126315776?ean=2940154151310 - Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/withhold - iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/withhold/id1232166482?mt=11 Download bonuses: If you pre-order or buy a copy of Withhold you can receive some download bonuses! Here is how it works: buy your copy of Withhold and forward proof of purchase (a confirmation email or a screenshot) to [email protected] You’ll receive 7 books (two books from Andrea Pearson and 5 from other authors) and some other goodies, including: a bachelor of science degree from Katon University, coloring pages, word search, fantasy illustration by Andrea's husband (James E. Curwen, professional illustrator) and more. Read all the details about the download bonuses here: http://andreapearsonbooks.blogspot.com/2017/06/withhold-download-bonuses.html
Free books!
You can get both Discern and Praxis for free when you sign-up for Andrea’s newsletter! You can sign-up for her newsletter here: http://andreapearsonbooks.com/myfreebooks.html Find the whole Mosaic series on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071NPTZPH
Discern (Mosaic Chronicles #1)
He's dark and powerful, a magical anomaly. She's inexperienced and untrained. Can they set aside their differences in time to save themselves? Links: - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Discern-Mosaic-Chronicles-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00N1NZIKA/ - Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1124213399? - Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/discern - iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/discern-katon-university-book/id913407508?mt=11 - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22543542-discern
Praxis (Mosaic Chronicles #2)
Links: - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Praxis-Novellas-Mosaic-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00NTPSMSA/ - Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/praxis-novellas-mosaic-chronicles-book-two-andrea-pearson/1124213403?ean=2940151954136 - Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/praxis-novellas - iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/praxis-novellas-mosaic-chronicles-book-two/id1002175049?mt=11 - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24380500 About the Author![]()
Andrea Pearson is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast who plays several instruments, not including the banjo, and loves putting together musical arrangements. Her favorite sports are basketball and football, though several knee surgeries and incurably awful coordination prevent her from playing them.
Andrea graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders. She is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Series and Mosaic Chronicles) and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life - it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her family and close friends is where she's happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling. You can find and contact Andrea here: - Website: http://www.andreapearsonbooks.com - Blog: http://www.andreapearsonbooks.blogspot.com - Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/andreapearsonauthor - Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/authorandrea - Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreapearson2 - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1909134.Andrea_Pearson - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Pearson/e/B005CF5NQ4/ - Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andreapearson/ - Newsletter: http://andreapearsonbooks.com/myfreebooks.htm Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Withhold. This giveaway is US Only. One winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card!
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
This is my stop during the blog tour for Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 1 till 21 May. View the tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/blog-tour-black-dawn-by-mallory-mccartney ![]() Black Dawn By Mallory McCartney Genre: Fantasy Age category: Young Adult/ New Adult Release Date: February 14, 2017 BLURB
The end of an Empire, the rise of a Queen
Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and upon Emory's arrival she will discover she is the long-lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne. With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King. Some things are better left in the shadows. You can find Black Dawn on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33851538-black-dawn You can buy Black Dawn here: -Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dawn-Mallory-McCartney-ebook/dp/B01N5QQLZL/ -Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-dawn-mallory-mccartney/1125505912?ean=9781621356134 - Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/black-dawn/9781621356134-item.html Excerpt
Excerpt 1:
Sweat rolled thickly down his neck, making his getup suffocating. The night was bleak and all-consuming as Brokk Foster looked to where he knew his best friend and Commander was hidden. Weeks of tactical planning and training had brought the soldiers of Black Dawn to this moment. The slight tremor in his hands was the only sign of how he was feeling. Brokk pressed himself closer to the mossy ground, breathing in the sweet smell of dewy grass. A snap of twigs and the group went rigid, frozen in the shadows. Laughter filled the forest air as four men with blood-red sashes of the guards draped brazenly across their chests walked into view a few hundred yards away. They quipped at each other, totally relaxed, their voices sounding like a constant buzz to Brokk. His blood thrummed in his ears as his heart pounded wildly. The seconds felt like centuries until finally, he saw a flash of silver and a smooth voice filled his mind, “Now.” Brokk didn’t need to be told twice. Springing from the ground like a demon from the darkness, he pulled his curved twin blades out in seconds as he cut the men off. The group stopped, looking pale in the moonlight and extremely exposed. “Evening, boys,” Brokk said in a taunting voice. “Sorry to interrupt your rounds, but I dare say you’re a little close for comfort to our home. Convenient for us, though,” he added, twirling the hilts in his hands. “We wanted you exactly here.” Their leader took a daring step toward him. His mistake. Brokk yelled into the darkness, “Memphis, keep him alive!” In a flurry of movement, his friends dropped from the surrounding trees, all dressed in the same camouflage, their weapons at the ready. A mad cackle broke the guard’s momentary trance, and they tried to run. Chaos ensued. Brokk threw his blades at the nearest tree—a satisfying thud sounded as they found their mark. He ran, eyes fixated on the two guards that had broken away from the fight ahead of him. It was laughable really, just how much they thought they had a chance of escaping. They had no idea who they were up against. The familiar popping and breaking of bones shivered through his body when animal instinct took over as the wolf inside him did. The ground shook from his colossal paws, golden fur rippling like a beacon in the night. His growl rumbled like thunder, and for a split second, he forgot who he was. All that mattered was that he took his targets down. The guard’s deaths were much swifter than they deserved. Brokk shifted back, trying to calm the elation of how good that had felt. Memphis snapped him out of his glorified moment. “Brokk! Come here.” The last guard was openly crying, now forced to his knees, hands shaking behind his head. Brokk almost felt sorry for him. Almost. Up close he was much younger than Brokk thought, fear replacing the guard’s bravery now. Memphis’s icy blue eyes cut into his, and he didn’t have to say anything for Brokk to understand. Telekinetic or not, his friend wore his heart on his sleeve. They were all on edge and who could blame them? Six years of hiding. Six years of losing this war. Brokk swallowed back his thoughts, wearing his mask of oozing confidence and anger. “W-who are you?” The guard’s voice squeaked out several octaves higher than it should have. Nyx kicked him in the gut, making him wheeze in pain and gasp for air. Memphis crouched down in front of him, his long blond hair tied back, revealing his severe features. They all bore scars, some more visible than others. About the Author![]()
Mallory McCartney currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and their two dachshunds Link and Lola. Black Dawn is her debut novel, the first in a series. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found dog grooming, book shopping and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops.
You can find and contact Mallory McCartney here: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormalmccartney/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalMcCartney - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16308311.Mallory_McCartney - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mallory-McCartney/e/B06VWPDZKN/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormalmccartney/
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Black Dawn. Three winners will each win a signed copy of Black Dawn. Open International.
SynopsisEveryone in the islands of O'Ceea has a magical ability: whatever they imagine can be brought into existence. Whoever becomes a master over these powers is awarded the title of magician and given fame, power, riches, and glory. Journey with a group of kids as they strive to rise to the top and become members of the Magician's Workshop. Layauna desperately wants to create beautiful things with her magical powers, but all she can seem to do is make horrible, savage monsters. For years she has tried to hide her creations, but when her power is at last discovered by a great magician, she realizes that what she's tried to hide might actually be of tremendous value. Kai just wants to use his powers to have fun and play with his friends. Unfortunately, nearly everyone on his island sees him as a bad influence, so he's forced to meet them in secret. When one of the creatures they create gets out of control and starts flinging fireballs at their town, Kai is tempted to believe that he is as nefarious as people say. However, his prospects change when two mysterious visitors arrive, praising his ability and making extraordinary promises about his future. Follow the adventures of Kai, Layauna, and a boatload of other characters as they struggle to grow up well in this fantastical world. ~ My Review ~I like the idea of having a collection of stories centered on magic and children. I like and appreciate the concept of projections; the act of projecting an item, or element, or voices, to other people. What I didn’t like was the feeling of having an intermission in the middle of watching these “wannabe magicians.” Do they get a Color? What’s going to happen to their morale if they don’t? What will happen to my favorite orphans? What are the magicians’ doing trying to make projections real?? Why didn’t I also ask for Volume 2??? I will point out that I felt like I got lost a bit in this world. I didn’t know who we were meeting next, or what was happening. But I like that as separated these kids were from each other – by societal ranks, or region, or by their own stories – I know that they’ll connect at some point and finally answer these questions. I recommend this to anyone who loves magic, and fantasy, and projected monsters. I don’t know if the authors meant it or not, but I found a few life lessons here, about projecting falsehoods being easily uncovered, and that even if we can’t quite grasp a projection, it’s all very real to the person it’s projected to. I was amused and entertained reading about the Magician’s Workshop but I’d like to definitely get a hold of Volume 2 to finish out the story! ***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.*** About the AuthorsChristopher Hansen
The first glimmering Chris Hansen had that there was far more to reality than he had ever imagined occurred six days after his ninth birthday. "Christopher!" cried a wise, old sage. "Life is full of deep magic. Miraculous things happen all around us." Chris looked around him and asked, "Where? I don't see anything spectacular." The man held out a pair of glasses. "Here, put these on." The boy placed them over his eyes and--"Whoa!" He was gobsmacked by the Wonder he saw. But it lasted only a moment. The man vanished in a flash of starlight and the lenses melted and trickled down his cheeks. Then a message was sung into his ear, "Go and seek what you have seen." Full of expectation and childlike optimism, Chris set out. To his great joy, this quest has led him to discover many more glimmerings of this miraculous Wonder, often in the most unexpected of places. J.R. Fehr When J.R. Fehr popped out of the womb, he knew there was more to the world than the four boring hospital walls that he was seeing. "Zango!" his newborn mind exclaimed as he saw people appear and disappear through a mysterious portal in the wall. As a child, he continued to find life whoa-tazzling. But as he grew older, the cold water of reality hit him, and the magic he once knew vanished. After spending some wet and shivering years lost in a joyless marshland, he once again began to see magic in the world. He writes because the Wonder of true life is far grander than anything he ever thought possible. I read this before I read the other three. I was immediately hooked. I wanted to know the story behind Paul Colt and his dad. I needed to figure out what was happening with Nora Brice. If you've read the other ones first, then you know that this story is how Gemma's parents fall in love. There is just enough mystery to keep you guessing, and turning page after page. I love that Kenechi switches points of views between Nora and Paul. This was sweet. It was short (my only complaint). And it does lead you to understand some actions Paul takes later on in the series. Love is such a powerful motive. But grief, anger, guilt and shame are just as powerful enough to make you forget why you're fighting and who you're fighting for. This is a boy meets girl story in which you already know the sad fate. But this beginning shows you just how powerful Gemma is. If she is anything like her parents, and I'm not talking about her amazing abilities, but the strength and goodness of her mom and the fierce protectiveness and loyalty from her dad. What more could you want in a heroine? * I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Mentalist SeriesSynopsis "There was nothing unusual about the night everything changed. No flashing lights in the sky, no searing fire in my belly; no sign whatsoever to suggest the shift which was to come…Nora Brice did strange things to me. Strange and awful things…" Paul Colt has a problem, and it is not one most teenage boys face. Yes, he likes a girl; one he’s pretty certain he’ll do foolish things for, given the chance. But he can’t go after her, or any other girl for that matter. That’s what he gets for being an Averter; forced to toe the line for the propagation of the collective. He knows some rules are okay to trifle with, and there are some which should never be broken. The gravest of them all? Don’t fall in love. Ever. This is the story of how Paul breaks that rule. This prequel novella to the Mentalist Series can be read before or after Aversion, Book One of The Mentalist Series. About the AuthorKenechi lives in London and enjoys writing short stories, paranormal and fantasy fiction (some of which she posts on her blog - http://caeblogs.wordpress.com). She also hates the cold and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KenechiUdogu Twitter: @KenechiUdog The third act of a play is where it all usually comes together. The waiting, the mystery of two forces, and the inevitable meeting and fighting back ends here. Right here in this third and final book of the Mentalist Series. The gang is officially tired of running away. I don't like giving away spoilers, so I won't say a whole lot about this book. I will say that this was written in both Russ and Gemma's point of view. We can hear Russ' running internal dialogue of being galant trying to find a way to protect his lady love, and then the reality that he's still just a teenage boy and he's afraid. And he's not as strong or equipped to protect his love as he wants to think he is. The world he knew as a kid is not the same one he's been running around in. Bad guys do exist. Powers beyond our control can be manifested to hurt us and others. Words and alliances can be twisted. Gemma's internal musings are no different. One the one hand, she has accepted whatever fate lies ahead but she is still just a girl who wants to be home and safe with Russ, and her dad. She does gets braver and takes more risks with each book. More action, foreshadowing, a looming threat, and perhaps, a happy ever after........but one can never be sure what's in store for these twins! Once again, thank you, Kenechi Udogu, for supplying me with this book. I was sweating bullets there for a while but way to end the series! I can't wait to read more of your work! * I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. * For my review on BOOK ONE, click here. * For my review on BOOK TWO, click here. Aversion - Book One Sentient – Book Two Keepers – Book Three Broken Ties – Prequel The dust appears to have settled after the brief descent of the Progressive Empaths on Sandes. But, if there is any truth to Anthony’s story, Gemma and her friends know they might soon have to face the mysterious Keepers. Myth or real threat, one thing is certain; running is no longer an option, for any of them. Can Gemma protect the ones she loves without forming an unlikely alliance? About the AuthorKenechi lives in London and enjoys writing short stories, paranormal and fantasy fiction (some of which she posts on her blog - http://caeblogs.wordpress.com). She also hates the cold and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KenechiUdogu Twitter: @KenechiUdog Ahh book 2. The second book of a trilogy is usually a little more slower. We get to know more about Gemma, and more about the world of Mentalists. In the previous book, there was enough mystery to keep us interested. In Sentient, we started getting bombshells! So much happens in this one, and I'm not going to spoil anything!! Just trust me when I say that the second book of ANY TRILOGY are usually my favorites (Catching Fire for Hunger Games, and the Scorch Trials for the Maze Runner just to name a couple). Gemma and Russ, we learned at the end of Book One, are Sentient Twins. This would explain why they both are pulled towards each other. She learns more about some secrets her dad kept from her, and a little more about why she's "special." In this one, we meet quite a number of people that pull the story along. There are more actions, but also a lot of waiting around for the other shoe to drop. It's this waiting for the other shoe to drop that drives Gemma. She's more anxious and more on guard. In this book, we also get to know more about Russ. Russ has become my favorite! He stays grounded, stays calm, and is the voice of reason to Gemma's runaway thoughts. Together, they realize the strength they have. Apart, well.....apart, Russ is still the voice of calm, and Gemma is still anxiety filled. Although she's the "special one," and the one with the abilities, you realize it's Russ that grounds her, and allows her to focus on what really matters. Chasing bad guys, fine. Giving bad guys a taste of what you can do when you put them together? Priceless. What more could you want in a Sentient? . * For my review on BOOK ONE, click here. * I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. SynopsisAversion - Book One Sentient – Book Two Keepers – Book Three Broken Ties – Prequel Mastering her Progressive Empath abilities isn’t going as well as Gemma hoped. In fact, months after finding out what she really is, she still has no clue what this truly means. All she can do is wait to see if any new abilities will eventually manifest. Things aren’t going great with Russ either. Unsure of how to handle her Sentient Link with him, she tries to integrate herself in his busy social life but struggles to adjust to her new circumstances. When she is plagued by recurring nightmares, Gemma realises things are changing and knows she has to do something, fast. The arrival of two sets of strangers in town, both offering the much needed assistance she needs to unearth her powers, escalates the situation even further. Gemma attempts to decipher whose intentions are genuine, but does she have enough time to figure out who has her best interest at heart? About the AuthorKenechi lives in London and enjoys writing short stories, paranormal and fantasy fiction (some of which she posts on her blog - http://caeblogs.wordpress.com). She also hates the cold and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KenechiUdogu Twitter: @KenechiUdog *I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. In Book 1, Aversion, we are introduced to Gemma Green. She’s your typical teenage outcast. You know the one: beautiful but doesn’t believe she is, smart, and keeps to herself? She has this ability to avert people’s actions by mind control, and comes from a line of Averters. Only, she’s a girl, which is unheard of. Averters are almost always male. She already knows she’s different being what she is, and then to know you’re also an anomaly in a world of “abnormals?” On her first day of becoming an official “Averter,” she feels like she messed it up because the person whose mind she was controlling, was supposed to forget about her. Only he doesn’t. And he’s not just any person, he’s the school’s tennis champ. And he starts to follow her around, and starts asking questions about who she is. This series was so great that I ignored my family that was visiting for Spring Break week! It was quick and fast paced enough for me to keep turning the pages – er swiping the screen – and well written enough that I was mesmerized by Gemma, and whatever she actually is. I’ve read enough YA paranormal to already know how *most of them turn out. But this series? The concepts weren’t anything new – Empath, people with abilities, people with abilities being chased by powerful people, but I like how Kenechi Udogu paced this book, and wrote out Gemma’s 15 year old thoughts without sounding too cliché and too cheesy. Yes, there was some teenage angst about not fitting in, but she was mature enough to understand the whys of their situation. Any 15 year old would have cause to rebel, but Gemma doesn’t. There is loyalty in her father, faith in what she is, and what she’s meant to do, and enough strength to question those loyalties, her abilities, and who she could become. You are some kind of special, Gemma Green, and not just because of all these things that people say you are or aren’t. This was my first foray into your world, and I can say, you are definitely not an aversion! Aversion - Book One Sentient – Book Two Keepers – Book Three Broken Ties – Prequel Aversion Synopsis For Gemma Green’s first time, things should have been straightforward. Find your subject, hold their gaze and push a thought into their head to save them from future disaster – Aversion complete. A pretty simple process given that the subject was to have no recollection of the experience. But Russ Tanner doesn’t seem to want to forget. In fact the more she tries to avoid him, the more he pushes to get to know her. Gemma knows she has a problem but is she facing the side effects of a failed Aversion or has the school’s tennis champ really fallen for her? About the AuthorKenechi lives in London and enjoys writing short stories, paranormal and fantasy fiction (some of which she posts on her blog - http://caeblogs.wordpress.com). She also hates the cold and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.
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Book Pick:I use Goodread's rating scale1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK 3 stars – liked it 4 stars – really liked it 5 stars – it was so amazing, it's on my reread pile! Categories
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