Book Review: Here Lyeth | Johanna Frank

Here Lyeth by Johanna Frank

Set in a 17th century German-speaking setting, Here Lyeth is a tale of witch trials, murder, redemption, and the afterlife.

Meginhardt (or, well, his spirit) is taken through time and space to resolve his personal issues before his entrance to the afterlife which, in this story, is a literal spiritual kingdom with God as King (they pray to King, instead of God). Lexxie's world is shattered when she discovers that she was stolen as a baby - and the man and woman she grew up calling father and grandmother are not her biological family. The story follows Meginhardt's search for approval and Lexxie's search for her true family, with the separate strands gradually intertwining as you follow the threads back to Vereiteln Dorf.

Honestly, Here Lyeth was difficult book for me get into, mostly because it is linguistically confusing. Frank uses archaic sentence structures, I suppose to reflect the era, and she also drops in German words to reflect the setting. Actually, despite the German words dropped in here and there (which, did you know, the Kindle can pull up a translation for you if you don't want to refer to the glossary at the end?), a lot of the dialogue sounded very Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn to me, which pings Southern American - though I am neither American nor German, so maybe I am the problem lol.

AND THEN, when the angelic beings and time travel comes into play, a whole bunch of anachronisms make it through because, I guess, angels live outside of time and speak in modern-ish language. This only made sense when I read the previews of her other two books, which are set 300 years later in the modern era, so I guess she was maybe trying to make sure the angels sounded the same? Frank puts Here Lyeth as the first in the A Lifeline Fantasy Series, but is actually the third book to be published.

At any rate, Lexxie gets very little sympathy from me from the start because she is a Too Stupid To Live character. Unfortunately, that is probably a necessary characteristic for the story to go anywhere. If you don't mind Very Dumb Decisions, you may actually like her. She is kind and compassionate but hello, she is willing to throw away a wonderful, loving family because *tantrum* you are not my REAL father!!! BLOOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERYTHING ELSE. She doesn't press for answers, even though she has time and opportunity, which leads to...

ANNOYING NON-COMMUNICATION TROPE, where neither Harmon nor Grossmutter bother to explain anything, even though they know Lexxie is about to self destruct by going back to the village they once deserted in search of a father they KNOW isn't going to live up to her starry-eyed dreams which...

Okay, I understand some irrational decisions by seventeen year old girls but... to push through when everyone says it's stupid and dangerous and she has never left the home or interacted with Real Life People before... is a next level of unbelievable. The adults in this story aren't being very responsible or mature either.

Meginhardt, on the other hand, is a wishy-washy teen who changes his mind every other page, and is so set on trying to return to his body even though he is many years dead that it doesn't even make sense after a while. He's a classic example of a person who is rebellious just because, and doesn't listen to sense JUST BECAUSE, and no one can change his mind or reason with him because he'll do anything just to spite you JUST BECAUSE. Even if he wanted to in the first place. Boys, amirite.

I feel like maybe I am too urban and too old to understand these small village, isolated teens.

ANYWAY. Frank hit all my pet peeves in main characters, but I did enjoy the world that she built. Avondale sounds like a lovely village to grow up in. Vereiteln Dorf gave me the chills, but is very believable as a village under the control of a purity-obsessed priest and a money-grubbing treasurer. The witch hunts and blind belief feels especially real in the current climate.

The Kingdom, or afterlife, follows a very traditional Christian interpretation of heaven. There are heavenly beings, some of which have wings. The gates to the kingdom are guarded, and only the worthy are allowed in - rebels are kept out. The spirits of the departed live there, and perform various roles for the King (God), and the constant push is for the redemption of everyone. There's the imagery of the stones in the river of life which hold your true name that you get to see when you arrive - which feels like it's taken right out of Revelations.

While this story was not for me, you'll probably like it if you like historical fiction (especially around witch hunts and rustic locations) and Frank Peretti books (most of which I also found irritating lol) but with less overt spiritual warfare of the angel-battle kind. There are some Tilly by Frank E. Peretti vibes, I think, though it's been a while since I read that.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

Book Review: To Weave the Wind | Sharon Rose

To Weave the Wind by Sharon Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ever since Devron's time in To Form a Passage, the ties between Dirklan Province below and the rest of Welcia above have been kept alive through the half-year opening of the dome and a formal exchange of representatives. Princess Fanteal's grandfather is the Prime Minister of Dirklan, her mother is Dirklan's Ambassador to Welcia, and now it's Fanteal's turn to take her place as the Royal Ambassador to Dirklan. She's supposed to have the guidance of her grandfather, a canny politician who has planned out the transition... except when the time comes, he's dead and a new, desperate Prime Minister has been installed in his place.

Misunderstandings abound. Fanteal is assured she will have a year to choose a suitable husband, but everyone in Dirklan assumes she will marry the Prime Minister's son. What Fanteal is trained for is to be an ambassador, yet all her suitors - sons of various Dirklan Governors - assume that she will be nothing more than a trophy wife. Most important of all, Fanteal is a powerfully gifted wind weaver, but what Dirklan really wants and needs is a streamer to restore the trade cataracts.

To Weave the Wind is a fantastic read that weaves all the usual political drama about kingdoms and thrones and backstabbing, unscrupulous usurpers with a gentle enemies-to-friends-to-lovers storyline. There's plenty of ambition and pride to go around, but there's also honour, loyalty, and integrity, exemplified in the Mikkaels - the new Prime Minister and his son, Jaikon. Rose makes good use of cultural shifts between those who live above and below ground to build up these misunderstandings - especially when there is a huge communication barrier in the form of an entire swath of rock that prevents either group from going up or down except through the dome.

Where To Form a Passage is a story of visions and dreams and trusting in God (or, well, Ellincreo), To Weave the Wind is a story of restoration. Dirklan, for all that its Keepers speak against idols, has fallen away from true worship. They have covered up the vision wall that once saved them, saying that visions are a thing of the past. They have suppressed the gifts of the wind weavers, putting restrictions on them because they are not deemed 'useful'. They ignore certain gifts, even those of formers, who don't fit into what the current leadership can do.

Yet who is to say that a gift from Ellincreo isn't useful? Or that He isn't sending something unusual that will be useful precisely for such a time as this?

(Hmm, in saying that, there really were some Queen Esther vibes...)

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

---

To Weave the Wind is available directly from Sharon Rose's website or from Amazon. You may as well get To Form a Passage while you're at it! :) You probably don't need to read the first one to understand the second as they're not directly linked, but it's pretty cool to see the things you read in the first book become a myth/legend in the second. (Paperbacks were available at time of review, hopefully ebooks will be too by the time this posts!) ((No I'm not paid for this, I just like these books lol))

#bookreview: DOSA Files: Tales from the SVR Universe | HL Burke

DOSA Files: Tales from the SVR Universe, Volume 1 by H.L. Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it!

This is a compilation of 10 short stories written by 10 authors in H.L. Burke's supervillain rehabilitation universe. Which means that all these stories feature redemption in some form - whether it's a kid being provided guidance before (or while) they get too deep into trouble, or adults being given a second chance to do the right thing. Orrrr supervillains who "accidentally" do the right thing because at heart they're actually still good human beings deep inside.

There's quite a range of stories here, from sweet romances to slice-of-life, action to... something of a heist so there should be something for every kind of reader. The overarching theme seems to be "everyone can be a hero to someone else, even if you think you/your powers are useless", which, obviously, is a good message to take away.

View all my reviews

---

Get it here! (Amazon affiliate link)

#bookreview: Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival | CO Bonham

Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival by C.O. Bonham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What if cartoons could come alive?

Daisy Dunlap has only one goal in mind: to find out the truth about her Grandpa's cartoons so that he'll recover quickly from his stress-induced stroke and live happily ever after with her. So begins a long night in the Cartoon Carnival, accompanied by her grandfather's most famous character, Tom Greenthumb, while being chased by his terrifying nemesis, Derby Spider.

There's a lot that Daisy doesn't know about her Grandpa and late mother - and about who she really is. It's a journey of discovery, one that includes cartoons coming to life, image-jumping, and a Reality Projector. It's also a test of her smarts in outwitting Derby Spider as they race to find the mysterious sketch book that will hopefully clear her Grandpa's name.

Unlike many children's books where parents and adults are non-existent or extremely unhelpful, I love the fact that Daisy has adults to turn to when she really needs them (even though she tries to do it all on her own at first). Jerry even has a little bit of a redemption arc, allowing him to make up for an earlier mistake.

The biggest theme in the book is about family - not just natural family, but adopted family and friends close enough to be considered family. Daisy is adopted, and struggles with the rejection of always been noted as "the adopted granddaughter". Tom is searching for a true family (despite being a cartoon!) and when Grandpa is hospitalised, he doesn't need to go searching for someone to help take care of Daisy. Jerry and Sharon, having been long-time employees and close friends of the Dunlap family, immediately step in to help. It's a beautiful view of what close community and love between friends should look like.

Daisy Dunlap is a great story for children aged 8-12, though it may be a little scary if they don't like giant sinister spiders!

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

---

Find the truth. Save the family legacy. Don't get eaten by the giant cartoon spider.

Reeling from the loss of her mother, twelve-year-old Daisy comforts herself with the cartoons and carnival run by her family's animation studio.

When an anonymous source accuses Grandpa of stealing his most famous character, the impish Tom Greenthumb, their family's reputation, and business, are on the line. The only thing that can clear their name? A mysterious sketch book hidden somewhere within the Cartoon Carnival.

Sneaking into the theme park at night, Daisy uncovers her family's greatest secret. Their cartoon creations are alive---and some of them are deadly.

---

C.O. Bonham is the pen name for a commonly misspelled first name. She loves stories of all kinds, but really likes the ones that are weird, and outside the norm. A certified book geek, when she isn’t writing stories of her own she is busy reading stories by others. A homeschool graduate with a degree in creative writing, her goal is to create stories that make people think, feel, and have fun.

Her debut novel Runaway Lyrics, a steampunk fantasy retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, released in 2021.

Website | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram

---

 Happy release day, Cathrine!!

Get your copy of Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival now! (affiliate link)

Cover reveal: Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival | C.O. Bonham

Today, I have the privilege of sharing the cover reveal for C.O. Bonham's new book, Daisy Dunlap and the Cartoon Carnival. What makes it extra extra exciting is the fact that the cover designer is also my friend! 

Find the truth. Save the family legacy. Don't get eaten by the giant cartoon spider.

Reeling from the loss of her mother, twelve-year-old Daisy comforts herself with the cartoons and carnival run by her family's animation studio.

When an anonymous source accuses Grandpa of stealing his most famous character, the impish Tom Greenthumb, their family's reputation and business are on the line. The only thing that can clear their name? A mysterious sketch book hidden somewhere within the Cartoon Carnival.

Sneaking into the theme park at night, Daisy uncovers her family's greatest secret. Their cartoon creations are alive—and some of them are deadly.

PREORDER

Add to Goodreads

---

About the author:

C.O. Bonham is the pen name for a commonly misspelled first name. She loves stories of all kinds, but really likes the ones that are weird, and outside the norm. A certified book geek, when she isn’t writing stories of her own she is busy reading stories by others. A homeschool graduate with a degree in creative writing, her goal is to create stories that make people think, feel, and have fun.

Her debut novel, Runaway Lyrics, a steampunk fantasy retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, released in 2021.

Website | Facebook group | Facebook page | Amazon page | Goodreads | Instagram

---

About the artist:

Chew Yuin-Y is an artist and an educator. Her recent notable projects include the brand identities for Malaysian swing jazz band The Frankie Sixes and the KLSwing Fest lindy hop international community event in 2023. She was also a contributing illustrator to the 2020 Penang-based anthology “Home Groan” and has exhibited at Lukis Tulis Malaysia 2019, a community art festival at Jaya One.

While she primarily produces digital work, she also uses other traditional media such as watercolours and ink. She believes art should be both pleasing to the eye and mind, and endeavours to infuse elegance and harmony into her work. Among her artistic influences are American mid-century modern graphic styles, Nyonya batik, the bold simple ink paintings of China and the patterns of Japan.

Yuin-Y is from Penang and is currently based in Kuala Lumpur.

Instagram | linktr.ee

---

PREORDER

Add to Goodreads

Book review: Wishing on a Supervillain | HL Burke (and a kickstarter)

Wishing on a Supervillain by H.L. Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What do you do when the first wish you're asked to grant in your brand new Superhero wish-granting project is a wish to meet a Supervillain? What would your boss even say? Nixie decides to do it anyway. Or try to. It all depends on whether Switch will agree to take time off from villaining to help her grant a sick kid's wish.

Wishing on a Supervillain is a fun read with unexpectedly touching moments. It's part of the Romance series, so it's pretty obvious that they're going to fall for each other. But it's a very clean romance - nothing beyond a kiss - mostly because Nixie is such a goody-two-shoes church girl from a sheltered family that... this is her first everything. If Burke hadn't explicitly stated she's in her early twenties (22?), I would put her at a very naive 19 or so (I mean, she's working as a superheroine, she's probably not under-18).

Choice - and the lack of good ones - feels like a core theme in this story. Why did Switch go down the road of villainy? Why does Oliver choose to meet a supervillain when he could have his pick of superheroes to meet? Why does Nixie keep giving Switch second chances when her boss, Vibes, is adamant that villains never change? Can villains change?

Also, the name Vibes is a Choice.

All in all, a great read.

View all my reviews

---

I MOSTLY posted this today (instead of the other book I read) because Burke has a kickstarter for Tales from the SVR Universe: Superhero Anthology and I figured that I'd boost that at the same time! 

Back H.L. Burke's new DOSA Anthology! 

#bookreview: New Name | A.C. Williams

New Name by A.C. Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I took a long break between reading the first two books in the series and finally completing this one, so I had a bit of a rough start. One thing to remember (lol) is that Xander discovers a lot about her past and who she is in Namesake. So when this one started off, especially since I took such a long break, I had to back up a bit with "Aura, who?" But it's pretty much a new start for her anyway.

If I said Namesake was dark, this one goes kind of... darker... in many ways before finally going PLOT TWIST but ACTUALLY! Then becomes pretty much hopeful again. Which on one hand is kind of cool because Aura really needs a break, but on the other... I guess there were enough subtle cues that I'm okay with it happening.

Williams sets it up so it sounds like there should be another book in this world, even though this book 3 of a trilogy - and honestly, if she does one exploring that whole side quest on the Al units and why this one guy is hunting down the Alpha Prototype, I'd be all for reading it. (I see other short stories in the Morningstar Universe but none that addresses this. Though Promise: A Morningstar Series Novella might be interesting to read.)

Note: When I say "darker", it's not so much about being more graphic. I think the level of violence is about the same, but it's really very... sex-negative. I get that Williams is portraying villains in this (and is giving the Stormcloud sisters a Very Difficult Childhood), but their main means of control and coercion seems to be primarily sex, especially kinky sex, and abuse in the name of kinky sex.

So "content warnings", if you will: difficult discussions on abortion vs bodily autonomy, mentions of pedophilia, and copious references to rape and sexual assault.

View all my reviews

--

This finally finishes up March's TBR stretch goal. hahaha. I'll work on December's goal, but I think I'll give up on the stretch goals. 

#bookreview: Wings of Truth | Aaron DeMott

Wings of Truth by Aaron DeMott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two warring nations separated by a deep dark secret, a captured queen, an honourable crown prince, cultural misunderstandings, secret factions that might just destroy the whole world... and only! one! tent!

It is also a clean read, despite that trope.

Is this science fantasy? I feel like it's science fantasy because it reads very fantasy with these non-human characters (the Vincetii are purple-skinned and have wings) plus they drink this strange metal thing to... I guess regain power? And Enrik, the Alandran Crown Prince, has a magical sword called Vinrid, which I really thought stood for "getting rid of the Vincetii" lol.

BUT when you get into the details of the Obelisk and other Weapons of Power, it all starts to sound very sciencey in a "we kinda destroyed the world and now we don't know how all this tech works" way and now they need to find out how. Like with secret manuals and underground labs.

It's a light, enjoyable read and leans into the fun and fantastic. Enrik and Natiah have great chemistry, even if they fall in love really, really quickly lol.

There MAY be a slight squick moment when Natiah reveals that her vow either makes her Enrik's wife or slave, which again is very on-brand with current fanfic type tropes, but it's also very squint-and-you'll-miss-it because this is, as I said, a very clean story. No sexy times, a lot of war deaths, but nothing really described in detail.

Overall, Wings of Truth is a solid story simply told, if a little trope-ish.

Note: I won this book in a giveaway! :)

View all my reviews

Buy now! (affiliate link)

---

This is November's updated book on the 2023 TBR Challenge. I may, unfortunately, have to skip this month's stretch goal again, but we'll see.

#bookreview: To Form a Passage | Sharon Rose

To Form a Passage by Sharon Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There's this thing about Sharon Rose's books, at least for me. For every new series of hers that I start, it takes a while for things to gel together. It's like there's this high price of admission - you need to be persistent, to press on, to get to the payoff.

But, as with all her novels, oh boy, what a gem. You'll be glad you persisted. You'll close the book with a sigh, eager to read the next one.

To Form a Passage takes place in an all new fantasy world, one where the people live underground and have special gifts from Ellincreo that help them survive. There are the Formers (which I capitalise, even though Rose doesn't, so I kept stumbling over it) who can form stone and metal. There are the Streamers, who can sense water and guide them to wherever they wish. And then there are the Wind Weavers, who do the same with air and wind.

Living underground, emphasis is placed on Formers who are fundamental in making sure that the roofs are stable, that new caves and light sources can be found, that metal and ore can be extracted to trade for food. Streamers help with finding water and rivers - often food sources in their own right and necessary for living - but Wind Weavers are almost forgotten, because who remembers about the air until it runs out?

And so (obviously) there is a catastrophe, and suddenly everyone underground is cut off from the land above, including access to food, resources, and their main government in the form of the King and his Judges.

Whilst this struggle to survive encompasses the core of the conflict, visions and gifts are the most important aspect of To Form a Passage. The novel revolves around Devron in Jourandia and the vision he saw right before the catastrophe. It's beautiful and awe-inspiring, and Devron is convinced that it came from Ellincreo. It's something he feels compelled to build, as dangerous as it is. But as fear grips the underground cities, the gifted - especially the Formers - are banned from using their gifts, despite the fact that it is those very gifts that have kept them alive so far.

Thematically, much of this struggle pings my Christian radar, as if Rose is pondering on that verse in Matthew 25:29 which says:

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

Or Luke 12:48(b) which says:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Because as the story progresses, and the ban on using their gifts continues, Devron has to ask the hard question: Are the Formers not using their gifts because they are blindly obedient to the law? Or is it because they have lost them altogether?

And what now should he do with the vision which may be both Jourandia's salvation and his death?

Weighty reflections indeed, wrapped in a fantastic story.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

---

Get on Amazon! To Form a Passage releases 2 November 23 (Affiliate link) 

#releaseday #bookreview: Second Chance Superhero | HL Burke

Second Chance Superhero by H.L. Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brayden Waters aka Megawatt has fixed his life and is now a superhero working with the Department of Super-Abled (DOSA). He's back in his hometown of Ashridge to take care of his estranged mother for a few weeks but a chance meeting with his ex, Rachel Blum, may make him want to actually stay.

Second Chance Superhero reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie. Big city guy meets (well, meets again?) small town girl and falls in love - Check. Their pasts and goals in life are stumbling blocks to the relationship - Check. Both of them have secrets that blow up in their faces the minute they are Almost. Going. To. Kiss - Sooorrrta check. (There may have been a couple of stolen kisses before that.)

And I mean, Brayden's secret isn't a big deal, but Rachel's reaction is wayyy out of proportion until you find out what she's hiding.

If you like all those romance tropes and want it clean, AND want a little bit of superhero action in the mix, then Second Chance Superhero is the book for you. Even though it's part of a series, Second Chance Superhero can be read as a standalone, and I say this because I've only read one other book in a related series (Blind Date with a Supervillain). I don't doubt that knowing who the other characters are, or what Brayden has done as a superhero, would probably make it more exciting, though!

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

***

REVIEWS FROM EARLY READERS:

"Can superheroes be cozy? Second Chance Superhero is the novel equivalent of a Marvel movie, a shopping cart of wine, and a scented candle." 

— C.O. Bonham, author of Runaway Lyrics

"Great story! It’s like a Hallmark movie with a sci-fi budget."

— Max B. Sternberg, author of The Rhise of Light

“H.L. Burke’s superhero books just keep getting better and better! (And they were amazing to begin with.) I have devoured every book in the series and eagerly await each new release. In Second Chance Superhero, I was sucked in to Brayden’s and Rachel’s plight, rooting for them to overcome their pasts, and couldn’t stop reading. No matter which book you pick up in this series, I highly recommend!”

— Michele Israel Harper, award-winning editor and author of Kill the Beast

***

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she's written a lot of books, not just because she can't count very high. 

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder. 

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters). 

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn't mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Follow her on:

Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok

#bookreview: Blind Date with a Supervillain | H.L. Burke

Saturday's cover reveal caught your interest? Here's my review of the first book in the Supervillain Romance Project series!

Blind Date with a Supervillain by H.L. Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this during my 6-hour layover in the Haneda airport because WHY NOT? I did purposely pack it in the hand-carry because it looked like a light enough read for travelling, both in weight/heft and brain space required.

Blind Date with a Supervillain is a sweet college romance - but with superpowers. I'm not a big superhero story fan so I haven't actually read any of the other books in Burke's Supervillain (or Superhero) series but you don't really need to, I guess, because this one works fine as the start of a new series. (I've mostly read her other works: Spellsmith & Carver: The Complete Boxset and Spice Bringer are great reads!)

Saying that, I went in slightly unsure, but ended up loving the book. It's light, it's funny, and it's a sweet romance that hits all the right spots.

View all my reviews

---

Get now!

Preorder now:

#CoverReveal: Second Chance Superhero | H.L. Burke

Once a slacker, now a superhero, but will his ex buy the change?

Eleven years ago, Brayden Water's high school sweetheart slammed the door in his face. Floundering, he found purpose first in the military, then by volunteering for genetic enhancements and joining the Department of Super-Abled as a full-time hero. Just when everything's looking up, a family emergency summons him back to the hometown he gleefully put in his rearview. And guess who else is back in town? 

Rachel Blum has had it with men in general. A single mom who managed to scratch her way through medical school, she's accepted that she can't depend on anyone ... especially not her sometimes criminal baby daddy, and definitely not her high school ex who has popped up out of nowhere after a decade of radio silence. Dang, though, Brayden's even hotter than she remembered, and there's ... something different about him now, though she can't quite put her finger on what. Could he really have finally gotten his act together? Can she take the risk?

Brayden's bitterness over Rachel's rejection slowly turns to admiration and begrudging affection. But even if he drops the fact that he can now fly and shoot lasers out of his eyes, will she ever see him as anything but a small-town loser? When her son's father starts causing trouble, though, Brayden realizes, she might just need a hero in her life after all.

Preorder on Amazon

Add to GoodReads

***

Second Chance Superhero is a new Superhero Romance from author H.L. Burke and part of the longer, multi-series SVR/DOSAverse expanded universe of superhero fiction. 

The book launches on September 9th, but you can now pre-order it for 99c on Amazon. 

It’s a tale of love after heartbreak, coming home, and second chances featuring a cocky but damaged superhero and the high school sweetheart who broke his heart but is now a single mom (and doctor)  haunted by her own past… also, French fries, a cart-load of wine, and surprisingly high number of dinosaurs. 

***

REVIEWS FROM EARLY READERS:

"Can superheroes be cozy? Second Chance Superhero is the novel equivalent of a Marvel movie, a shopping cart of wine, and a scented candle." 

— C.O. Bonham, author of Runaway Lyrics

"Great story! It’s like a Hallmark movie with a sci-fi budget."

— Max B. Sternberg, author of The Rhise of Light

“H.L. Burke’s superhero books just keep getting better and better! (And they were amazing to begin with.) I have devoured every book in the series and eagerly await each new release. In Second Chance Superhero, I was sucked in to Brayden’s and Rachel’s plight, rooting for them to overcome their pasts, and couldn’t stop reading. No matter which book you pick up in this series, I highly recommend!”

— Michele Israel Harper, award-winning editor and author of Kill the Beast

***

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she's written a lot of books, not just because she can't count very high. 

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many subgenres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates story worlds with snark, feels, and wonder. 

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters). 

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn't mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Follow her on:

Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok

#bookreview: Namesake (Morningstar: Destiny #2) | A.C. Williams

Namesake by A.C. Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So following on from Nameless, things get really, really dark. I mean like super dark. So I guess content warnings for rape and suicide ideation.

After the losses in the first book, things started to look up a little, at least at the start. After all, they did manage to find what they were looking for. Their sacrifices were not in vain. And their trip to McLeod's home forces some deeper conversations and discussions about their pasts - not just Xander's, but just about everyone left on the Prodigal.

The core of this book is the discovery of who Xander really is. And whilst it was amazing and mindblowing, Williams did a good job in laying down enough clues and hints for that delicious tension of ooohh I think this is what happened! and but how would it actually work? leading up to the reveal. (I was almost right about what happened, but am obviously not science-y enough to guess how lol)

But things don't stay peaceful for long...

I mean, who expected it to? They've got syndicates on their tail after all.

But coming back to the Morningstar: Destiny Trilogy's underpinnings of faith, where Nameless explores personal convictions, Namesake goes so much deeper into holding onto faith in dark times. Xander keeps asking the questions Where are you, God? and Why me? Why is all this happening to me? as she struggles through everything that has happened to her, everything that has brought her to the Prodigal, especially all the deaths she leaves in her wake. Because of her. Because of who she is. Because of the people who are trying to get her. And it culminates in the big one: Can I still then believe?

Namesake ends on another cliffhanger, and I'm excited to head into New Name when I have the time!

View all my reviews

#bookreview: Prophetess of Arden | L.A. Thornhill

Prophetess of Arden by L.A. Thornhill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Reminiscent of CS Lewis' Narnia series, Thornhill has created a fantastic portal fantasy, where Beckah enters Renatus, a pre-flood, pre-redemption world inhabited by the descendants of Abel. There, she's tasked by Yeshua to be the Voice of Adonai, the prophet that would help restore the Kingdom and lead the Ardenians back to God.

But the one person she is supposed to help the most, the Hand of Adonai, aka the annoying(ly handsome) Prince Seth Hal-Titus, doesn't trust her. She looks too much like the enemy, and sounds like she's crazy.

If there's one thing that Thornhill excels at, it's in building the relationships between her characters. It's always nice to see how they develop and grow around each other - and also grow to like each other despite their spats *ahem*.

The world itself is fantastic, with both wonderful things like raqia and healing clay and terrible things like blood lilies and shades. Beckah's journey of discovery is one that's shared with the reader, as Seth, Hadassah, Judah and Beckah make their way across the country back to South Arden.

One of the things that annoyed me about reading the prequel (The Lost Descendants) was how obvious the Christian parallels were. But this book sets it up perfectly: (view spoiler)[Jesus in the real world (or Beckah's world) is also Yeshua, or the Maschiach/Messiah, in Renatus. And he's preaching in the mountains, like in the Gospels, gathering followers to his cause. Salvation hasn't come to Renatus yet. [I dunno if this is a spoiler, but I'm tagging it in case.] (hide spoiler)]

Prophetess of Arden works as a Christian fantasy, at times drawing from Biblical stories and yet setting up its own rules and history. This can only be done because it isn't Earth, thereby avoiding accusations of heresy should the book's faith and theology differ from common interpretations of the Bible (though the more conservative would say fantasy itself and speculation of other worlds is heresy, lol). Yet, it's also Earthlike enough that it could be some form of medieval fantasy if you squint.

The book clearly sets up for the next one in the series, which I'm totally looking forward to! If you haven't read any of this series at all, I'd actually recommend reading this one first before going back to the prequel, because the prequel actually makes so much more sense AFTER you've read this.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

Get the books here!

#bookreview: Nameless (Morningstar: Destiny Trilogy #1) | AC Williams

Nameless by A.C. Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nameless is space opera, a perfect read for someone like me who just wants the far-flung worlds and fancy tech without having to understand how a spaceship (or all that tech) works. At any rate, I picked this one up mostly to support a fellow Realmie (not that I recall ever meeting her; we just hang out in the same conference/socmed spaces) and didn't go in with much in the way of expectations.

Xander doesn't know who she is. Rescued from a derelict spaceship, all she possesses is a coat with the name she's adopted, faint memories of things that no one else seems to know about, and a strange sense of right and wrong that's at odds with everyone she's met so far. Yet, as she journeys to discover who she is and pieces together her odd dreams and fragmented memories, she may soon discover that she doesn't like who she was and where she came from.

Nameless isn't super blatantly Christian fiction - while it's clean in a sense (there are no graphic sex scenes or real-world swearing), it deals with a broken, fallen world that is upfront about its brokenness. There's blood and gore, innuendos and attempted rape... and whilst Xander is innocent, naive, and lucky enough to be able to protect herself from unwanted attentions, the setup in this story world is such that all this is commonplace, and Xander may well be the only exception - other than the people of Sanctum, whom everybody hates because they are all hypocrites.

I think what I like about it most is that it's an exploration of what it means to be a good person in bad situations, of what it means to make the best of things when you've already messed up your life, and of how one can still hold on to personal convictions when everyone else says that you are weird and wrong.

I'm curious as to where it's heading and look forward to reading the next book in the series!

View all my reviews

This is March's goal for the 2023 Booktempter's TBR Reduction Challenge. The stretch goal is to finish the rest of the series by year end... which is doable as there are only 2 other books! Haha. I was trying to finish them in March as well, but I think that won't happen since I have an ARC and 2 review copies to finish in the next few weeks. 

#bookreview: Whitstead Harvestide: A Speculative Anthology | Abigail & Sarah Falanga (eds.)

Whitstead Harvestide: A Speculative Anthology by Abigail Falanga
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This took me a long time to get through, partially because I took a long time in between stories.

It's an interesting enough collection of short stories that centres around a small English town called Whitstead in the 1800s, at harvestide...or All Hallows Eve. And it's also a "speculative" anthology, which means that all the stories deal with the fantastical, whether that's pure fantasy, fairy tale, folklore, science fiction, paranormal, horror and so on.

So on one hand, it's a really great sampler of short works by a wide range of authors who write in very different styles across a swath of speculative fiction subgenres... but it also doesn't quite gel together as a collection for me. Whilst there are some recurring characters across the stories and they all DO centre on the same location, each piece felt like a disparate stand-alone story. There's apparently a first Christmas anthology of this, where most of the characters were introduced--maybe if you've read that first this would be more appealing and slightly less confusing. (Some stories refer to events that happen prior to this, which I believe were in the first collection.)

Short stories read for the #2023TBRchallenge:
- The Guardian and the Golden Gathering
- What Once Was Lost
- Locusts and Lanterns
- Ollie and the Saints
- The Battle is the Lord's

Total: 5.

View all my reviews

---

And that's 5 shorts from the 2023 Booktempter's TBR reduction challenge... 23 more to go! whoops.

#AtoZChallenge: Q for Quills and that pesky thing called anachronism

The problem with setting the Absolution series in a magical Nusantara with no exact corresponding real-world time period is that pesky thing called anachronism. I mean, obviously, it’s fantasy, and it’s not historical fiction, so I could really, really fudge a lot of details if I wanted to.

Which I did.

I think I did pretty well, and there’s nothing too noticeably advanced for the apparent time period/setting.

Except that in my original draft, I had Jeffett pass Yosua a pen. Because he had to write stuff. I mean, obviously, they had writing utensils, I just didn’t know what kind.

(During yesterday's write-in, I had someone in 1880s Indonesia pull out a glass jar, and then I went but wait, would glass jars be easily obtained at that time?? Because I know universities and stuff in the UK were already preserving specimens in glass jars, but a common woman in a tiny village in Indonesia?? Probably wouldn’t have that on hand. Unless magic. HMMM MAGIC)

So yeah, seeing that Yosua is Raja and all, I decided to give him a fancy quill and ink instead.

###

If you've read Amok, I have a huge favour to ask! 

Amok is eligible for the Realm Makers Readers' Choice Award, so I'd be honoured if you could add in your nomination.

My critique group partner made a graphic of all the books in our group that are eligible this year! In case you were looking for other books to nominate. Nominations are due 23 April.

Nominate here!

###

That's it for today!

Head back to my theme reveal and master list.

Go check out the other A to Z Bloggers!

###

The Tale of the Hostage Prince (Absolution 1.5)

Yosua wears an uneasy crown. Although he is now Raja of Bayangan, he still longs for the land of his birth where everything was much simpler…and less deadly.

But peace doesn’t come easily, not for a twenty-year-old servant playacting at being king.

With his parents brutally murdered and his uncle bent on revenge, Yosua must decide where his loyalties truly lie. With his only remaining relative and the kingdom he has claimed? Or with his best friend Mikal and the sultanate that raised him as a hostage?

BUY NOW!

International purchases books2read.com/HostagePrince

Malaysia Teaspoon Publishing

Add on Goodreads

#bookreview: Shadow and Sword | NK Carlson

Shadow and Sword by N.K. Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Reith sets off to hunt one morning, little does he expect to come back to find his town under attack. Following instructions, Reith sets off alone to the ruined city of Erador in hopes of reuniting with his mentor, Master Chronicler Vereinen. Instead, he only uncovers more danger - and an ancient sword of gold, silver, and copper.

Shadow and Sword starts off at a run, then doubles back a little to events that happened earlier in the day. I know the general writing advice now is to start in media res but this was a little...awkward, and could have just have started in sequence anyway because of the short time covered. Still, it works well enough. Reith gains sympathy as the young apprentice trying his best in unexpected circumstances; the Gray Man is a chilling villain, a vague, unsettling shadow looming over the towns of Coeden and Suthrond.

As Reith travels Terrahsohnen, the reader is drawn into a fascinating world where humans, dwarves, and elves once worked together before the dragons laid waste to Erador and left behind the scorched swath of dead land called Dragonscar. We don't know why - it's part of the unfolding mystery, along with the reasons for the current animosity between humans and elves and the growing evil.

Carlson's literary inspirations are maybe a little obvious here. Reith breaks out into a spontaneous rhyming song. There's a magical circle of trees that provide sustenance and safety for Reith as they whisper at him, reminiscent of the Ents. And then there's a voice that speaks to Reith, one that "had a memory from the dawn of time and ... could see into the future" which hints at Aslan.

And that's the thing. Shadow and Sword is an interesting enough read, but if I had one complaint, it would be that everything becomes a tad predictable at some point. What could have been an exciting plot twist came off to me as "oh, yeah, that was like what happened in [book]" which is maybe more of a "we have the same literary tastes" problem than anything else.

And so the novel ends with the convening of the fellowship, with the sword-bearer poised to bring light to fight the Shadow.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

#bookreview: A Castle from Ashes | Sharon Rose

A Castle from Ashes by Sharon Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sir Thomas Kaituer is almost assassinated at the ruins of his family's castle. Lady Sareen visits her cousin Beth to ask for advice on how to avoid marrying Lord Ivan Maerton, where she finds herself starting to fall in love with Sir Thomas. Lord Ivan Maerton is determined to accomplish two things: destroy Kaituer and marry Lady Sareen.

Where the first two books in the Castle in the Wilde series, A Castle Awakened and A Castle Contended, focus on Tristan and Beth's story, this one focuses on Sir Thomas Kaituer. Thomas isn't a new character by any means - he's been a side character of increasing importance ever since the first one where he first stumbles upon the castle while searching for his missing brother. We've seen him grow from being an outcast living in fear for his life to being knighted by the king himself. (In fact, the recently released prequel, A Castle Lost, tells the story of the grandfather he was named after, and how that Thomas Kaituer lost his family, title, and castle all in one day; it might be helpful to read that first to see where the present Thomas is coming from and all the family baggage he is dealing with.)

A Castle from Ashes at its core is a story about integrity and (appropriate) belief in one's self. Thomas is coming into his own - yet he struggles with self-doubt and whether he is worthy of all the things that have been restored to him. It feels like everyone else around him, from the people of the woods to Tristan and the king, believes in his capabilities more than he does himself. I don't quite believe in this "noble blood" thing that makes it so that he has a right to rule because of his bloodline/ancestors, but it is evident from the way that Thomas carries himself and how he relates to others that he has great leadership qualities and a heart to help those under his care. Besides, he has a great role model-and practical help-in Tristan.

On the other hand, Ivan is so sure of his place in the realm and his utter right to everything he wants that he gets increasingly unhinged when things are denied him or events don't turn out the way he expects them to. Of course, his greatest enemy is Thomas, because how dare this little upstart outlaw claim any portion of his inheritance no matter what the law says? I kind of pity Duke Maerton because he has to deal with his son, but not really because it is somewhat his fault.

Of course, in between the clash of these two men, there has to be a woman. And Lady Sareen is stuck in a society where she has little to no say in what happens to her. But it's lovely to see how she learns to stand up for herself - and what she really wants - while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

All in all, A Castle from Ashes is an exciting read and a fitting end to the trilogy.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

View all my reviews

A Castle from Ashes releases today! Get it now :) 

---

A Castle from Ashes by Sharon Rose
Novel 3 of the Castle in the Wilde series

His family was abased, and their castle destroyed. Now a hint of the king’s favor marks him for murder.

Saving the king’s life has lifted Thomas Kaituer from impoverished exile. It also earned him a title—without a scrap of authority or noble privilege. All Sir Thomas gains from his courtesy title are a few party invitations and contempt from the House of Maerton—the very rivals who drove his family from their ancestral land.

When a stranger points out the ruins of Kaituer Castle to Thomas, he cannot resist visiting the home from which his grandfather fled into exile. Now a desolate scene where all may tread—except Thomas. Was he lured here with deadly intent? Who shot that arrow at him? And why, since he is a nobody?

Hovering between the poverty he grew up with and the nobility he is denied, Thomas belongs to neither world. No land will be his, no bride will be suitable, no children will carry his name. Then the king pulls a will from the royal archives. Thomas’s great-grandmother left her descendants a small estate, also occupied by the Maerton clan. They suddenly relinquish it to him. Far too easy. Another trap, perhaps? But how can he decline it when it could be the key to his future? Would it give him the right to join hands with a certain lady? If he lives long enough.

A Castle from Ashes is the final novel of the Castle in the Wilde series. If you enjoy a story where lies hide in plain sight and true freedom must be won, explore this fantastical world with medieval undertones and sparks of hope.

---

About the Sharon Rose
I started writing when I was seven years old. Okay, My Life as a Flying Squirrel may have had a couple spelling errors, but my classmates loved it.

 
Plenty of life has happened since that first story, and I’ve come to realize the things that fascinate me. People. Communication. Culture. Personality. Viewpoints. Beliefs. Anything that makes each of us beautifully unique. Small wonder that my art spills out in story form.

 
It was only a matter of time before I just had to share my stories. I publish fantasy and science fiction because they allow vast spaces to explore. My stories weave cultures and characters, who are more than they seem to be, into adventures with mystery, romance, and hope.

 
When I’m not writing or reading, I may be traveling, enjoying gardens, or searching for unique coffee shops with my husband. We live in Minnesota, USA, famed for its mosquitoes—uh, I mean 10,000 lakes and vibrant seasons.

#comingsoon: A Castle from Ashes | Sharon Rose #fantasybookseries

I'm excited that A Castle from Ashes (Castle in the Wilde #3) is launching on January 18th! I've just finished reading it and am getting round to writing my review which will be posted next Weds (well, in my timezone, but Tuesday in the US).

Here are my reviews for the earlier books in the series: 

A Castle Lost - (pre-prequel, haha, this is about Thomas Kaituer's grandfather, who he's named after -- and might best be read right before this book 3! Actually, I might go back and re-read this)

A Castle Sealed (prequel) 

A Castle Awakened (book 1) - on sale at $0.99 until 15 Jan

A Castle Contended (book 2) - on sale at $0.99 until 15 Jan

--- 

His family was abased, and their castle destroyed. Now a hint of the king’s favor marks him for murder.

Saving the king’s life has lifted Thomas Kaituer from impoverished exile. It also earned him a title—without a scrap of authority or noble privilege. All Sir Thomas gains from his courtesy title are a few party invitations and contempt from the House of Maerton—the very rivals who drove his family from their ancestral land.

When a stranger points out the ruins of Kaituer Castle to Thomas, he cannot resist visiting the home from which his grandfather fled into exile. Now a desolate scene where all may tread—except Thomas. Was he lured here with deadly intent? Who shot that arrow at him? And why, since he is a nobody?

Hovering between the poverty he grew up with and the nobility he is denied, Thomas belongs to neither world. No land will be his, no bride will be suitable, no children will carry his name. Then the king pulls a will from the royal archives. Thomas’s great-grandmother left her descendants a small estate, also occupied by the Maerton clan. They suddenly relinquish it to him. Far too easy. Another trap, perhaps? But how can he decline it when it could be the key to his future? Would it give him the right to join hands with a certain lady? If he lives long enough.

A Castle from Ashes is the final novel of the Castle in the Wilde series. If you enjoy a story where lies hide in plain sight and true freedom must be won, explore this fantastical world with medieval undertones and sparks of hope.

---

A Castle from Ashes can now be preordered on Amazon! 

Click here for the Castle in the Wilde series

About the Author, Sharon Rose
I started writing when I was seven years old. Okay, My Life as a Flying Squirrel may have had a couple spelling errors, but my classmates loved it.

Plenty of life has happened since that first story, and I’ve come to realize the things that fascinate me. People. Communication. Culture. Personality. Viewpoints. Beliefs. Anything that makes each of us beautifully unique. Small wonder that my art spills out in story form.

 
It was only a matter of time before I just had to share my stories. I publish fantasy and science fiction because they allow vast spaces to explore. My stories weave cultures and characters, who are more than they seem to be, into adventures with mystery, romance, and hope.

 
When I’m not writing or reading, I may be traveling, enjoying gardens, or searching for unique coffee shops with my husband. We live in Minnesota, USA, famed for its mosquitoes—uh, I mean 10,000 lakes and vibrant seasons.