Reviewed: April 27th, 2022 Released: June 21st, 2021 Genre: High Fantasy
Enter the Nine Lands of the Mountain Fell.
Skye has only ever known pain and solitude since waking up with neither memories or magic. Hunted for being a Ruler in a time when they are scarce, she has survived in the wilds near the Rim, always on the run from the rest of her kind. Only starvation could draw her close to a village, but when a chance encounter and a bit of bad luck launch her into the arms of a man whose soul is bonded to hers, hiding who she is may no longer be possible.
Ilyas is a hunted man. Wanted for killing the last High Queen of Vine, he is plagued by his past of wholesale slaughter. He never wanted another Queen, and certainly not a half-feral, distrustful girl who gave up on the Fae a long time ago. Unfortunately, Soulbonds are not so easily walked away from, no matter how hard they both may want to, especially when trapped together in a cave with a pack of Feral Fae right outside.
With long-held enmities breaking out between the besieged villagers and all their lives on the line, Ilyas and Skye must learn to work together and trust each other if they want to survive. Read My Thoughts…
One of the sparks of inspiration behind my writing my epic fantasy Sentinal series occurred while I was strolling through an ancient woodland near where I live. I wondered how old are these trees? Some of them are centuries old. What history they must have seen, and what tales they could tell if they were to wake up and speak.
That led me to thinking what if a man slept in the tree, and what if he woke thousands of years into his future? And so was born the Sentinals series.
The Druid’s Oak , 2013 in Burnham Beeches, UK. Picture by Wim Brinkerwink
One of the oldest trees in Burnham Beeches in England, is the ‘The Druid’s Oak’ which is approx. 800 years old, about 9m tall and nearly 9m wide (girth). The Druid’s Oak is a Pollard. The crown used to be cut just above headheight for firewood, and then allowed to regrow and was recut many times. The practice of pollarding died out in the early twentieth century, as coal replaced firewood.
The oldest trees in the world are thought to be the Bristlecone pines which thrive in really cold conditions in places like Atlanta in the USA. The cold conditions mean that the trees grow really slowly. It can take two years for a pine cone to mature. The slow growth and adverse conditions mean the wood is really dense which helps them resist insect and fungi attacks.
Prometheus, Image credit: Mother Nature Network
The Bristlecone pines are known to have lived for over five thousand years, (five thousand years!!!) and grow to heights of fifty feet. An amazing feat for a tree. Some are older than the neighbouring glaciers!
I love how some of these trees are even named. These monumental trees grow to have fame all of their own and are mourned when they die.
My Sentinal trees are not so far-fetched after all. Reality is stranger than fiction most of the time. The Sentinal trees are tall silver-trunked trees, with a crown of emerald-green, pointy leaves. Each one houses a Lady’s Guard, one of Lady Leyandrii’s Sentinals, who she encased in the tree when she sundered the bloodstone and banished all magic, including herself from the land of Remargaren. Unable to follow the Lady, her guards have slept for three thousand years, or so the legends say.
Find out more in Book One of the Sentinals series, Sentinals Awaken. Now also available as an audiobook via Audible, Apple iBooks and Amazon.
Reviewed: April 23rd, 2022 Released: March 3rd, 2022 Genre: YA Fantasy
Magic doesn’t exist in the broken city of Lkossa anymore, especially for girls like sixteen-year-old Koffi. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, she cares for its fearsome mythical creatures to pay off her family’s debts. But when they are threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand.
As the son of a decorated hero, Ekon destined to become an elite warrior. Until a fire at the Night Zoo upends his future and, on the brink of his final rite of passage, Ekon is cast out – his reputation left in tatters.
For Koffi and Ekon, the outlook is bleak – unless they can capture the Shetani, the vicious monster that plagues their city. As Koffi and Ekon enter the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and danger, the tentative alliance between them is tested to the extreme.
The hunt begins – but are they the hunters or the hunted? Read My thoughts...
Some gorgeous covers have been revealed over the last few weeks for the Realm of Darkness Anthology. I am delighted to share Elise Knight’s Inferno Games
Only available as part of the Realm of Darkness Anthology.
I never thought I’d go to hell, least of all beg to go, but when my sister ends up there, I know I have to go in and get her out.
The problem is, there’s only one way out of hell and that’s to play the Inferno Games. A number of trials that will lead me down to the very depths of hell and to Lucifer himself.
It’s not bad enough that each round is set by demons, featuring creatures that my deepest nightmares wouldn’t be able to conjure up, but my opponents are among the wickedest people to have ever walked the earth and will stop at nothing to win the coveted spot at Lucifer’s banquet. And my team mates…they’re even worse. Among them, a devastatingly drool-worthy fallen angel whose only crime is sweltering hotness, a girl who thinks she’s an angel, and finally, the sinfully sensual Dade Angelis, a psycho who won’t let the small problem of having team mates stop him being the first to enter the ninth ring.
Because team mates or no, Only one person can win the Inferno games, and that someone is going to be me…or there’ll be hell to pay.
Inferno games is a dark romance set in hell. It’s not going to be a bed of roses with rainbows and unicorns. It contains graphic scenes and will wring your heart out many times before the end. If you don’t like having your heart wrecked, this might not be the book for you.
Preorder Realm of Darkness Boxset
Only available as part of the Realm of Darkness Boxset available for preorder now on Amazon and other retailers for only 99c/99p!
About the Author:
Elise Knight is the secret pen name of a USA Today bestselling author. In this guise, she reads by candlelight while eating dark chocolate and wearing slippers. Her books contain fearless women and men you’ll either want to kiss or kill ( sometimes at the same time!) You can find out more about her by checking out her Facebook page or signing up to her newsletter here
Enchanted Forests is a collection of ten short fantasy stories about magical forests and the creatures living in them. All proceeds of this book are being donated to Rainforest Foundationto support their work in rainforest conservation.
Why does the book exist?
Ten fantasy authors who are concerned about the state of the planet saw an opportunity to do good with their writing. Each on our own, we don’t have the following or the financial wherewithal to make a significant contribution towards this important cause. But when we joined forces, we found we actually have a chance to make a difference.
Enchanted Forests is the second charity anthology these authors have worked on together, and it has been a fantastic opportunity to collaborate and turn the writing process, which is usually very lonely work, into a group activity. The authors read and critique each other’s stories and Elena Shelest has contributed with illustrations for each story in addition to providing her short story for the anthology. The previous book in the Enchanted Anthologies series of fantasy story collections for charitable causes is Enchanted Waters.
Why Rainforest conservation?
Since this anthology is about magical forests, the authors wanted to make a contribution towards forest conservation. Rainforests, specifically, are the type of forest in greatest danger from human activities. Deforestation overshadows conservation attempts to the extent that eight million hectares of rainforest are lost every year! Add to that: virtually all rainforest deforestation is driven by human activity! At the same time, rainforests are the source of foods and other products (many used in medicines) that we humans need.
Rainforest Foundation supports indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfill their rights by assisting them in securing and controlling the natural resources necessary for their long-term well-being and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate their culture or compromise their future. Additionally, Rainforest Foundation works to develop the means to protect their individual and collective rights, and to obtain, shape and control basic services from the state.
About the authors
Jennifer Kropf is a Canadian author obsessed with Christmas legends and folklore.
Xander Cross creates original stories with folkloric elements from all over the world.
Ben is a myth obsessive who writes stories with exotic settings and cool monsters.
Alice is a young adult fantasy and fairytale author who spends most of her time adventuring in mythical lands and the rest exploring non-mythical ones.
Lyndsey writes young adult fantasy filled with myths, magic and swoon-worthy romance.
N.D.T. Casale is an Italian-American fantasy author creating magical realms for others to escape into and enjoy.
Astrid V.J. is a South African fantasy author who writes transformation fiction: exploring our human capacity to transform our lives and achieve success in the face of adversity.
Sky Sommers is a fan of retold fairytales, valkyries and frozen cinnamon buns.
Donna White writes epic and paranormal fantasy stories with mysterious adventures, gracious characters, and a touch of humor.
Elena Shelest is a Ukranian-American artist and author of romantic fantasy inspired by Cossack culture.
About the stories:
Gems of Fae and Foolery by Alice Ivinya
These two female dwarves aren’t to be crossed, especially not by an arrogant fae lord.
One Fair Eve by Lyndsey Hall
One dream. One wish. One bargain Pip will come to regret.
To Snare a Prince by Sky Sommers
What do you do when a six-headed dragon complains of indigestion after it’s just gobbled up a dark elf? Easy, you tell it to wait in line like everyone else.
Willow Daughter by Astrid V.J.
When a woodcutter follows a song into the forbidden depths of the forest, he finds himself tangled in a deadly conflict between the Willow Daughter and the Forest Father.
Pingguo and the Dead Forest by Xander Cross
In a desolate post-apocalyptic world riven by famine, three children make a journey through the Dead Forest in search for seeds defended by a dragon.
The Fern Flower by Elena Shelest
On the night when the legendary fern flower appears in the forest, can Miray and Savko find their true path?
Blood of the Unicorn by N.D.T. Casale
A wicked queen’s desire for blood from the hearts of unicorns, sends a princess through a divided forest into the shadows of death.
Dimension of the Sasquatch by Donna White
A lot has happened to the curator of a supernatural treasure trove since she discovered that she can walk through different dimensions, now she’s traveling with Bigfoot.
Feather Green by Jennifer Kropf
When Estheryn overhears the royal family’s secrets, it’s her father who pays the price, resulting in a careless murder that propels her to do the unthinkable: disobey the direct order of the Prince of Persianna and enter the forest.
The Lucky Tortoise by Ben Lang
A prince’s duty is to bring his people luck and the slightest misstep means bringing ruin to the kingdom…or worse…
Join us in making the world a better place! We are currently looking for readers to join our review team to help out with a review on Amazon, Goodreads and/or Bookbub during the book’s release week. You’ll get a free e-book copy of Enchanted Forests as well as your name included in the book’s acknowledgements if you sign up before May 15, 2022. Sign up here.
Reviewed: April 20th, 2022 Released: February 22nd, 2022 Genre: Fantasy
Beyond the Emperor’s law In the city of Elantra, the law is upheld by a few groups, and the most feared are the Wolves—the Emperor’s executioners. The newest member of this elite force is Severn Handred.
Granted a leave of absence to pursue information about his unknown past, Severn joins a mission to an enclave well outside the boundaries of the Empire. And he will be in danger the entire time. Still, the instincts that led him to the Wolves and the sense of duty that keeps him there can’t be discarded as easily as the tabard he wears.
While he’s in the heart of the West March, enmeshed in a tangled web of mysteries that have been held for centuries, Severn’s belief in justice is going to be tested. It’s one mortal man and his single ally against a community of immortals who will kill to keep their secrets. But they don’t know who they’re up against. Read My thoughts...
Reviewed: April 16th, 2022 Released: January 20th, 2022 Genre: Science Fantasy
Blood called to the stars. Darkness will answer.
After facing the Wildwood’s wrath, Lekore must set his sights on protecting his people from a threat descending from the depths of space. The key to safeguarding the cities of Erokel lies in an ancient shield system—if it can be repaired in time.
And the faraway threat isn’t Lekore’s only trouble. Closer dangers draw near to claim him and his abilities for their own. Somehow, he must wrestle with his newfound right to the throne, while he fends off a Tawloomez invasion, a slave revolt, and the worshippers of the Night—with only four days until first contact.
Meanwhile, the evil beyond his world has other plans… Read My thoughts…
I’m excited to announce that both Sentinals Awaken and Sentinals Rising , the first two books in the epic fantasy Sentinal series have been awarded the silver medal in the Global Book Awards.
Sentinals Awaken in the Self-Published Fantasy Action and Adventure category!
Sentinals Awaken is the first book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
As a three thousand-year-old threat reemerges, only one man has the power to awaken the world’s greatest protectors and restore order to the realm. He just doesn’t know it yet. When Jerrol Haven, a captain in the King’s Rangers, discovers treason at the highest level, he knows immediately that the knowledge puts his life at risk. And indeed, though he expected the ailing King to shield him, the ambitious Crown Prince sentences Jerrol to death.
What hold does the Prince have over his weakened father, and who or what is he protecting?
With signs that the veil is weakening and the Ascendants are creeping back into power, Lady Leyandrii has returned and is in dire need of Jerrol’s help. For though he doesn’t know it, Jerrol possesses a rare gift: By chance, he touches a revered Sentinal tree and awakens Birlerion, one of the Lady’s personal guard who have been sleeping in the strange, tall trees since they were last called to battle. Aided by Birlerion, Jerrol flees and begins his journey to help Lady Leyandrii save Remargaren once more.
But time is running out: Jerrol must unravel the mystery of the Ascendants’ return, stop the sinister force that is dividing good families through bloodshed and betrayal, and rescue the King—and his troubles are only just beginning.
And Sentinals Rising in the Self-Published Sword and Sorcery catgeory
Sentinals Rising is the second book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
Jerrol Haven, having rescued the king from the clutches of the malevolent Ascendants, knows they haven’t stopped their scheming. While trying to learn more about the mysterious Sentinals he woke from a three-thousand-year sleep, he has to defend his king and country from further magical attacks.
Should he trust the Sentinals in such vital positions? Can he trust them to protect the king and Vespiri? As Jerrol learns more of their capabilities, he realises there are more secrets yet to be revealed. Maybe those questioning their sudden rise in power have a point.
Before he can delve further, a call for help comes from the neighbouring country of Terolia. The nomadic Families are disintegrating into chaotic infighting. The king sends Jerrol to investigate, instructing him to do whatever is needed to protect the Families from the Ascendants.
The Global Book Awards
In this modern age of publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer. Whether that is in its creative book cover design, its captivating book description, its strong ratings on important bookstores like Amazon, or even the number of reviews it has collected from its readers – they all count on how a book should be judged.
So, unlike most book award sites that depend on the views of a small panel of judges, we use much of the above criteria to decide on which books deserve to be award winners.
We run mainly two competitions each year:
the first focusing just on self-publishers,
and the other more broadly on both traditional and self-published authors who have written books with global appeal. Whether you are a veteran author or a first time novelist, we welcome you to join.
The awards we give out are grouped by category or genre, and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists. In providing such awards, our aim to help readers discover new and often undiscovered talent. As such, we hope these awards will give authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.
If you enjoy fantasybooks then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
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So excited to share that the audiobook of Sentinals Awaken is now live! You can find it on Audible, Amazon or Apple Books.
All 11 hours and 17 minutes of it, narrated by the amazing Matt Coles. Check out the audio sample and start the adventure now.
The Sentinal series
It has been quite an adventure working with Matt to complete this audiobook. Learning a whole new side of the business and listening to my book over and over ensuring that it is the best it can be. Listening to a book, proofing an audio book is a very different process to the print version but just as fun!
Now you can meet Jerrol and the Sentinals whilst you drive, exercise or work. Pick up your copy from Audible, Amazon or Apple Books.
As a 3,000-year-old threat reemerges, only one man has the power to awaken the world’s greatest protectors and restore order to the realm. He just doesn’t know it yet.
When Jerrol Haven, a captain in the King’s Rangers, discovers treason at the highest level, he knows immediately that the knowledge puts his life at risk. And indeed, though he expected the ailing King to shield him, the ambitious Crown Prince sentences Jerrol to death. What hold does the Prince have over his weakened father, and who or what is he protecting?
As Jerrol flees for his life, he is rescued by a vision of the enigmatic Lady Leylandii, a goddess who, according to legend, once saved the land of Remargaren from malevolent wild magic users known as the Ascendants by raising a veil to nullify their power and exiling them. Now, with signs that her veil is weakening and the Ascendants are creeping back into power, she has returned and is in dire need of Jerrol’s help. For though he doesn’t know it, Jerrol possesses a rare gift: By chance, he touches a revered Sentinal tree and awakens Birlerion, one of the Lady’s personal guard who have been sleeping in the strange, tall trees since they were last called to battle.
Aided by Birlerion and an old friend, Jennery, Jerrol begins his journey to help Lady Leyandrii save Remargaren once more. But time is running out: As it was with the King, the old guard Lords are everywhere being usurped, attacked, and assassinated, while their heirs behave strangely and refuse to honour the Lady as Remargarens have done for millennia. Jerrol must unravel the mystery of the Ascendants’ return, stop the sinister force that is dividing good families through bloodshed and betrayal, and rescue the King—and his troubles are only just beginning.
Sentinals Awaken is the first book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
If you’ve read this far you deserve a gift! I have a few Audible promo codes allowing you to download my audiobook for free. You can apply for a free code here. (Limited number of codes available so don’t delay. When they are gone, they are gone!
Happy Listening!
If you enjoy fantasybooks then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
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Reviewed: April 14th, 2022 Released: March 31st, 2022 Genre: Paranormal Romance Fantasy
Taylor Lyon knows how to take care of herself. Her family made sure. But when she pulls an injured man from the night surf, she finds herself defenseless against his charms. Plus, the energy she picks up from him matches that of the sword her aunt hid while dying of cancer. A sword the women in her family have protected for centuries. Taylor has no intention of giving it to the wrong person. Is it possible this waterlogged stray is the rightful owner?
Iain Pendragon can’t believe fate dropped him in the hands of a Sword Maiden who should know the whereabouts of one of the four remaining missing swords. Swords his family require to imprison an ancient evil for eternity. Claiming the sword means claiming his destiny and it leaves no room for love.
But Taylor can only tell if the sword she guards is Iain’s by touching it once more. That means recovering it from its hiding place. If Taylor can even find it. Taylor worries that spending more time with Iain will make her fall more in love with him. Iain is concerned that he’ll be forced to choose between the woman he’s coming to love and the fate of the world. Read My thoughts…
Helen Garraway 