Category: fairy tales
Scarlett and the Big Bad – Blog Tour – Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Elfhame – Anthea Sharp – Review #Fantasy #Fairytales
Mara is a girl with adventure in her soul, and she wants more than her mundane village and boring suitor can offer. Her life is one of few future prospects save a dull marriage, hard work and popping out children. She has no special skills of which she is aware, save more intelligence than usual, courage and a curious nature.
Prince Bran is the heir to not only the Hawthorne Throne, an-end-of-the-world prophecy, but he’s a fearsome Dark Elf. His life is filled with duty, war and magic. He is taciturn, a powerful sorcerer and fearsome warrior.
These two are linked – by a prophecy one has lived by and the other is blissfully unaware of. Aside from that, they have little in common.
Fate has her way and our two fine heroes meet; there are deceptions, battles with unpleasant monsters, surprises, unlikely friendships and a rollercoaster ending.
Told like a fairytale, the story is engaging (I read it through in a couple of hours as I couldn’t put it down), and the characters are great. Mara quickly captures the readers – feisty and brave, a bit naive but knows her own mind and is not afraid to say so. She is not a wallflower.
Bran is a sympathetic character – doing his duty and fulfilling a prophecy that will save his people, despite his own reservations, safety and happiness. The elves are seen by the humans as alien and ‘hideous’, with strange and mythical ways; the humans are viewed as primitive and weak. And both factions are proven wrong.
Well-crafted and filled with adventure this fantasy tale is definitely one for readers of mythic tales and fairy tales. Younger readers may find the monsters and the battles unsettling but this is a good read for any age.
5 stars.
New Release – Might Have Been – Tales and Retales Bundle #Fantasy #Fairytales #adultfairytales #bundles
Might Have Been – Tales and Retales
only 5.99 for all 17 stories!
From retellings of classic fairy tales to legends and lore told around the hearth, this collection presents stories of wonder and fantasy—some straight up and others with a twist.
Children’s tales from Serbia and Russia feature water spirits and household sprites, knight princes and giants, whirlwinds and the Golden Horde.
An unusual visit to Wonderland follows Alice as she encounters the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and Humpty Dumpty under horror’s shadow. The secrets of a most infamous castle, Burg Frankenstein, deliver up ghosts.
While a trio of sexy gender-swap tales yield Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast with spice.
Romeo and Juliet—and vampires, the Three Little Pigs as you’ve never seen them, Cinderella embracing witchcraft…these are the Might Have Been, folklore, granny tales, and fairy tales turned upside down or glimpsed darkly in the mirror.
*Not all stories suitable for kids.
https://books2read.com/MightHaveBeenTalesRetales
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/might-have-been-2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0813VKLYG/?tag=kydala-20
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1486609937
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/might-have-been-a-l-butcher/1134771863
https://bundlerabbit.com/b/might-have-been-tales-retales
- Fairy Tale Fatesby Leah Cutter
- The Charming Trilogy Vol. 1 by Kristine Grayson
- The Legends of Castle Frankenstein by DeAnna Knippling
- Snow Truer Loveby AJ Tipton
- Brick Houses (Uncollected Anthology: Fairy Tales) by Annie Reed
- The Return of Alice by Robert Jeschonek
- Into the Forest Shadows by J.A. Marlow
- Handsome and the Beast by AJ Tipton
- THE RUSSIAN STORY BOOK – 12 Illustrated Children’s Stories from Mother Russia by Richard Wilson
- Tales of Old Giralliyaby J.M. Ney-Grimm
- R+J Sucks, vol 1 by Ann Hunter
- Hunting Red by AJ Tipton
- Lost: Cinderella’s Secret Witch Diaries (Book 1)by Ron Vitale
- Return to Wonderland by Tanya Lisle
- Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earthby Barbara G.Tarn
- Redd’s Hoodie by Karen C. Klein
- HERO TALES AND LEGENDS OF THE SERBIANS – over 80 Serbian tales and legends by Woislav M. Petrovitch
New Release – Here Be Unicorns Bundle – Preorder #Unicorns #Bundle #Fantasy
I am delighted to announce the forthcoming release of the latest in the Here Be series.
Here Be Unicorns
From fable to legend, these wondrous beasts enchant us. Healers or harmers, no one truly knows the heart and horn of the unicorn—dare you seek the answers?
A collection of tales featuring unicorns and magical horses. A collection of tales featuring unicorns and magical horses.
On Preorder Now – out 16th March 2019
Part of the Here Be Myth Monsters and Mayhem series
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P7BJ2JN/?tag=kydala-20
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1454984222
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/here-be-unicorns
https://bundlerabbit.com/b/here-be-unicorns
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130765937
Featuring:
Hidden Eyes – Meyari McFarland
The Dreamweaver’s Journey – Diana L. Wicker
A Game of Horns – Lisa Mangum
The Hunt of the Unicorn – J.M. Ney-Grimm
Rider – Diane J Cornwell
Unicorn Magic – Roz Marshall
One Horn to Rule Them All – Lisa Mangum
Fossil History – Meyari McFarland
And The Unicorn You Rode In On – Robert Jeschonek
Escape (The Peena Colada Song) – Mark Leslie
Here Be Merfolk Bundle – Coming Soon
The first bundle of 2019!
OUT 26th Jan 2019!
I’m pleased to announce the forthcoming release of Here Be Merfolk Bundle – the latest in the Myth, Monsters and Mayhem series. This should be on sale from 26th Jan.
The call of the deep rings ever in our ears, from myth and legend to crime and mystery. Sea-people, mer and monsters, immortals and reluctant heroes feature in this sea-worthy bundle.
Featuring
The Women of Whale Rock – Kristine Kathryn Rusch
We, the Ocean – Alexandra Brandt
Oshenerth – Alan Dean Foster
Deep Dreaming – Debbie Mumford
Dolphin Knight – Robert Jeschonek
On Desperate Seas – Kate MacLeod
Fate’s Door – J.M. Ney-Grimm
The Murky Depths – Linda Jordan
Dark, From the Sea – Linda Maye Adams
Ondine – Brenda Carre
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MYBCJG7/?tag=kydala-20
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/here-be-merfolk
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2U6IVoF
I books https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1450090032
Bundle Rabbit https://bundlerabbit.com/b/here-be-merfolk
Sinners of Magic – Lynette Creswell Reviews 2019 #Fantasy
Sinners of Magic by Lynette Creswell is a fantasy tale following the adventures of young adults Crystal and Matt. Crystal is a strange girl, haunted by visions, and odd occurrences and has no answers for her skills. After she saves her friend from drowning a strange bird arrives on her windowsill. Then answers start coming and a splendid adventure really starts. The world is interesting – with elves, sorcerers, monsters and orc-like beings. The rules of the world are strict, and inevitably get broken and this leads to more problems. There is death, there is wicked magic, there is love, courage and intrigue.
It took me a while to get into the book and to connect with the characters (it may be an age thing as they are young adults – and I haven’t been that for 25 years…). That said once the adventure gets going the story is exciting, well-written and the world well crafted. The two protagonists are out of their depth, taken to a strange realm they never believed existed, and faced with life-threatening revelations and situations but the bond of friendship doesn’t wane. I found myself really wanting Crystal to find the answers, the evil lord to be defeated and the good guys to win out. Did they? Read and find out.
I shall definitely pick up the other two books in this trilogy.
4 stars.
Kitchen Imps – Best Fantasy Book of 2018
I am very pleased to announce the Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales has been voted Best Fantasy read for 2018 on the following popular blogging/website.
I am happy-dancing all around the house!
https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/
If you’d like to know the winning books in the other categories then check out the list below for some awesome reads.
Contemporary Romance
Betting on Cinderella by Petie McCarty
Paranormal
The Cauldron Stirred (Guardians of Erin, #1) by Judith Sterling
Fantasy
Kitchen Imps by A. L. Butcher
Historical Romance
When the Marquess Returns by Alanna Lucas
Historical Fiction
The Du Lac Prophecy by Mary Anne Yarde
Thriller
Game Six by Judy Bruce
Suspense
Malthus Revisited (Lindsey McCall #4) by Lin Wilder
Romantic Suspense (tie)
Gray’s Promise by Anni Fife
The Haunting of Hillwood Farm by Kathryn Knight
Nonfiction
Everyday Enchantments by Maria F. DeBlassie
Young Adult
The Broken Branches by Becky Villareal
Erotic Romance
In Deep by Stacy Gold
Paranormal Romance
Haunted Hearts by Kimberly Dean
Science Fiction/Science Fiction Romance
The IX: Prelude to Sorrow by Andrew P. Weston
Women’s Fiction
Once Broken by D.M. Hamblin
Children’s Fiction
Hockey Wars by Ben Jackson and Sam Lawrence
Holiday Romance
Dante’s Gift (A Chicago Christmas #1) by Aubrey Wynne
Kitchen Imps – Fantasy Finalist
I am delighted to announce The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales is a Fantasy Finalist in the NN Light book of the year.
Here are the categories and the finalists:
Contemporary Romance
Betting on Cinderella by Petie McCarty
When the Right One Comes Along by Livia Quinn
Escape From Behruz by Judy Meadows
Paranormal
The Ghost Chronicles 2 by Marlo Berliner
The Cauldron Stirred (Guardians of Erin, #1) by Judith Sterling
Spirit Talk by Colleen Hein
Fantasy
Path of the Traitors (LOW) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Kitchen Imps by A. L. Butcher
Escape From Samsara: A Dark Comedy Fantasy Adventure (Prophecy Allocation Book 1)
by Nicky Blue
Historical Romance
Earl of Sunderland (Wicked Earls’ Club #4) by Aubrey Wynne
Shadow of the Swan by Judith Sterling
When the Marquess Returns by Alanna Lucas
Rhapsody and Rebellion (Enduring Legacy #7) by Aubrey Wynne
Historical Fiction
Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch
Searching for Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty
The Du Lac Prophecy by Mary Anne Yarde
Thriller
The Road to Armageddon by Clabe Polk
Gallows Field by Brendan Gerad O’Brien
Game Six by Judy Bruce
Suspense
Malthus Revisited (Lindsey McCall #4) by Lin Wilder
Fire on the Mountain: A Detective Mike Eiser Novel by Clabe Polk
Centrifugal Force by Lisa J. Lickel
Romantic Suspense
Gray’s Promise by Anni Fife
Smoke and Mirrors (Outbreak Task Force Book 2) by Julie Rowe
The Haunting of Hillwood Farm by Kathryn Knight
Nonfiction
California Cures!: How the California Stem Cell Program Is Fighting Your Incurable Disease!
by Don C Reed
The Inspiring Tale of Sir Edmund Hillary (Inspiring Tales) by Tory Locker
Everyday Enchantments by Maria F. DeBlassie
Young Adult
The Stronghold by Sebastian Bendix
Tainted Luck by Cynthia Austin
The Broken Branches by Becky Villareal
Erotic Romance
In Deep by Stacy Gold
Playing With Power by Vanessa Liebe
Paranormal Romance
Debriefing the Dead by Kerry Blaisdell
Haunted Hearts by Kimberly Dean
Oath of a Warrior by Mary Morgan
Rogue Dragon Rising, part one (Outside the Veil #1) by T.J. Shaw
Science Fiction/Science Fiction Romance
The IX: Prelude to Sorrow by Andrew P. Weston
Undercurrents in Time (Detours in Time #2) by Pamela Schloesser Canepa
Operation Ark (Pets in Space #3) by Pauline Baird Jones
Women’s Fiction
Once Broken by D.M. Hamblin
Children’s Fiction
The Checkered War: An Infested Story in Three Parts by Aunt Haggis
Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (Piccadilly Street #1) by Emily-Jane Hills Orford
Hockey Wars by Ben and Sam
Holiday Romance
Dante’s Gift (A Chicago Christmas #1) by Aubrey Wynne
A Highland Moon Enchantment by Mary Morgan
Flash Fiction Contest
For those of you who don’t know flash fiction is usually under 500 words. In this case it was under 300.
Writing short, and very short stories is surprisingly hard – how does one convey the setting, the action, the dialogue in a couple of paragraphs? But it’s fun, squeezing that story down to the bare bones! Making it behave when it wants to wander off an be a novella.
There are 18 stories – from romance, to fantasy, to vampires, to ghosts, to halloween, and more. Check out all the stories. I am not allowed to say which is mine – in order to allow a fair vote.
Those of you who know my style will guess, those of you who don’t – it’s always great to support an author’s work – and I am sure all the authors will be delighted you voted.
https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/2018/11/flash-fiction-contest-at-ourauthorgang.html
Authors – this is a great blog to follow/support. Readers – looking for great fiction – check out the authors here.
Binge all these in 1 day OR space them out over the next 10 days.
Do what works for you and have tons of fun.