Reviewed: June 10th, 2025 Released: June 22nd, 2023 Genre: MM Paranormal Fantasy
Something wicked this way comes…and it might be too late to stop it.
Xander Corey lives simply, sustainably, on the outskirts of Osprey, a small, quaint town in Upstate New York. He’s a librarian when the town’s budget can afford him, a good friend, kind neighbor, and also, a witch. And while that’s of no concern to anyone around him, there are others, non-humans, who have a vested interest in Xander’s family land. Xander knows something dark and dangerous is brewing. He’s just not quite sure what.
And that’s not the only mystery he’s dealing with. The new chief of police is, by turns, giving him heart palpitations and homicidal thoughts. Xander can’t decide if the gorgeous yet infuriating Lorne MacBain is on his side, or trying to drive him insane. Added to that, the man doesn’t believe in magic, and since that’s who Xander is, their future looks anything but bright.
But Lorne is not the unimaginative, stick-in-the-mud Xander thinks he is. And a rock to anchor him as his life is turning upside down is just the thing Xander needs. Now if only the two of them can stay alive…. Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: June 8th, 2025 Released: October 25th, 2021 Genre: Epic Fantasy
Three thousand years of tradition torn asunder. When the truth comes out, will a hero emerge to pick up the pieces?
Dashira Eisenheart takes ultimate comfort in her community. So she’s thrilled when her brother ascends to the coveted order chosen to protect the world from safely sealed-away, millennia-old, dangerous magic. But her faith in her beloved parents’ loyalty cracks after she spies her mother sneaking about town to meet with the enemy.
Striving to stay focused on her own academic studies, Dashira becomes caught in family tensions that soon reach a boiling point. And as her father’s Brotherhood and her mother’s rebel group head toward a cataclysmic clash, the young seeker finds herself trapped by conflicting choices.
Will she face her fears and accept her role in a grand destiny? Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: June 4th, 2025 Released: February 25th, 2025 Genre: Epic Fantasy
Betrayed by his friends. Driven from the land he swore to protect. Hunted by the legions of Hell. Cursed to carry the Dragon’s fury in his soul. Determined to survive.
Corem Holt was once an assassin, before he was a warrior. Before he was a cataclysm in the shape of a man. Blessed by the Crow and cursed by the Dragon, he fled the destruction of his homeland. It was a destruction for which he was responsible.
To his friends, he is a traitor. To his enemies, he is the last real threat in their endless war. Both will hunt him to the ends of the earth. And so he hides. He tries to live a simple life, to survive, to be happy. But mostly, he tries to forget what he has done.
All that comes undone when his past catches up to him. What starts as a chance encounter with an old enemy rapidly devolves into a battle for life and death, not just for Corem, but for the people he’s come to love while in hiding. To save them, he must make one last stand far from home, far from the throne he was sworn to protect, far from the memories that brand him a traitor. For anyone else, it would be impossible. For Corem, it’s inevitable.
Reviewed: June 2nd, 2025 Released: August 26th, 2024 Genre: Fantasy Short Stories
Do you believe in magic?
Can you imagine how it might exist all around us in everyday life? Perhaps hidden in trees and sunflowers, slipping into view when needed, and leaving gifts when all hope has abandoned us. Why does a young woman caring for her elderly grandfather find a secret sunflower patch in the snowy hills of Wisconsin? What happens when a demon woken from sleep happens upon a grieving cat dad? How will a sentient house end its long loneliness? Can the smallest water fairy find her missing sister? What does a bride even do with an enchanted wedding veil? Who will save a city cat from a haunted country bridge?
A collection of fourteen fantasy stories about magic in the real world, Sunflowers in the Snow explores friendship and family bonds through sentient houses, magical taverns, secret gardens, and people from other realms who are more like us than we could ever dream. Featured stories include: Sunflowers in the Snow, Cara’s Heartsong, Voices Heard Within Heartbreak House, Never Say Never, The Legacy of Kalila Arquette, Sarah’s Little Monster Hunter, and more. Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: May 29th, 2025 Released: December 2nd, 2022 Genre: Epic Fantasy
BETRAYED. HUNTED. LEFT FOR DEAD. BUT NOT EVEN DEATH ITSELF CAN KEEP THE LAST RANGER FROM VENGEANCE…
Leiyn “Firebrand” is no stranger to a fight. A brash ranger of the Titan Wilds, she takes up her bow to ward against the colossal spirit creatures known as titans, ever a threat to the colonies she has sworn to protect.
But no amount of skill can guard against treachery.
When tragedy strikes the rangers’ lodge, Leiyn vows to avenge the fallen. But if she is to succeed, she must embrace a power within her she has long denied.
Power to move mountains and rivers.
Power over life and death.
She did not choose this path, but Leiyn knows her duty. For if she fails, the legacy of the rangers dies with her—and all the Titan Wilds will fall into shadow. Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: May 23rd, 2025 Released: August 2nd, 2022 Genre: Cozy Fantasy
“There will always be work for those who know how to listen.”
When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone, herself most of all: She leaves.
In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone. But there’s more brewing under the surface of this city—hidden magic, and hidden machinations—that threaten all the people who’ve helped her make her own way.
Miyara may not be a princess anymore, but with a teapot in hand she’ll risk her newfound freedom to discover a more meaningful kind of power. Read My Thoughts…
A Masterful Continuation of an Epic Fantasy Romance
The third installment in the SoulMist series, OblivionGate elevates an already captivating fantasy world to new heights with deeper character development, higher stakes, and fascinating new magical elements.
Following Demavrian’s harrowing survival of Apologia and confrontation with the Angelic Assembly, what should be a moment of triumph is instead overshadowed by the looming threat of the vengeful god Kaenera. As the newly appointed Gate Keeper of Oblivion, Demavrian struggles to understand his responsibilities while simultaneously supporting his distraught fledglings, helping Solanji discover the true nature of her Soul Breathing abilities, and attempting to restore her brother’s soul. The pressure is immense as the soulless continue banging at the Oblivion Gate, and even with his Gate Wraith’s assistance, Demavrian fears becoming the shortest-lived Gate Keeper in history.
The characterisation of the Oblivion Gate itself is perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this novel. The author brilliantly brings this mystical boundary to life, giving it presence and personality that enhances the overall narrative.
The dialogue remains authentic throughout, allowing readers to deepen their emotional connection to characters they’ve grown to love over the series. This third book truly cements the reader’s relationship with the main characters.
The pacing is expertly handled, maintaining the engaging momentum that has characterised the series thus far while giving appropriate weight to Demavrian’s struggles with his new responsibilities and the looming threat from Kaenera.
OblivionGate proves that the SoulMist series only gets better with each installment. For readers who have followed Demavrian’s journey from the beginning, this third book delivers a richly satisfying continuation while setting up even higher stakes for what’s to come.
I award 5 stars for a fantasy romance that continues to captivate with its vibrant characters, well-crafted world, and the increasingly complex challenges facing our protagonists.
Reviewed: May 11th, 2025 Released: March 20th, 2025 Genre: Epic Fantasy (LGBTQ)
He’s not the hero they deserve, but he’s the hero they’ve got.
No, seriously. Talon wants to know what he did to deserve this. What would make a sentient rock decide that he of all people should be the one to save the world from zombies? That’s right. Zombies. Because apparently a higher power decided that teaching magic to teenagers wasn’t enough of a challenge.
With a ridiculously attractive healer (who may or may not hate him), his sister (who he miiiight have a forbidden telepathic link with), a sentient god-like rock (that can only communicate via yes/no vibes), a disdainful dragon, and a rude matchmaking horse by his side, he just might be able to save the world.
Or die trying.
Meet Talon Silverbright. He’ll save the world, but only because a rock said he has to. Read My Thoughts…
I am very pleased to welcome YA fantasy author Cecilia Agetun to my blog.
Helen: Welcome, Cecilia. It’s a pleasure to meet you and congratulations on the release of your latest book, Darkened Soul, on April 20th, 2025. Could you tell us about it?
Cecilia: My current book is Darkened Soul, book 3 in my Freya’s legacy series. It’s about revenge, but also about love and friendship.
Nick is determined to find out who ordered the attack that killed his wife and shattered his family. When he does, he retrieves a sword powerful enough to kill him. The only problem is that this sword was deemed to dangerous to be wielded, but it was too powerful to be destroyed so the dwarfs hid it away, hoping no one would ever find it again.
It is a bit darker than the previous two books in the series, but an important part of the overall arc of the series.
Freya’s Legacy is a YA Romantic contemporary Fantasy series comprised of four books, written with inspiration from Norse mythology. We follow Jax, a crow demon, on a journey of friendships, love and self acceptance.
I’m currently looking for ARC readers Darkened soul, so if you’re interested you can fill out this form: https://forms.gle/hKQ7ZeYRN8g81oBU7
Helen: What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Cecilia: The cover contains the image of the sword, named the Dauᵭans. It’s a very specific looking sword so I had my friend commission it for me. The cover also contains a flame that goes from blue to amber – it’s a symbolism for Nick’s journey throughout the book.
Helen: I love finding out about the story behind the cover. What about the title? How did you decide what to call your book?
Cecilia: The working title I had when I wrote the book was Nick’s revenge, but Darkened Soul fits so well, because Nick’s soul gets darkened by grief and depression, after he loses his wife which is a guardian angel. Due to this he does down a path that will darken his soul.
Helen: Who is your favourite character from your series?
Cecilia: I have a very close bond with Jax, maybe because he’s lived in my head for such a long time or maybe it’s because he’s trying to find his place and where he fits in. He’s a sweetheart, but because he’s not from the human world, he can come across a bit awkward and blunt. He is terrified of his own demon, and worried that if he loses control he will hurt the people he love and care about.
Helen: Jax sounds like a great character. Who is your protagonist and why did you write him/her?
Cecilia: So the protagonist for the overall series is Jax, this is his story, but each book follows a difference protagonist because knowing their past and how everything is connected helps understand their actions. Jax has been living in my head for the last 10 years so it only seemed natural to finally write down his journey.
Helen: I bet that was really satisfying writing Jax’s story. What are you working on next?
Cecilia: I’ve started gathering the notes I have for book 4, called Shadow love. I already know the rough story line but I haven’t really started writing it yet.
Helen: You write YA fantasy, why did you choose that genre?
Cecilia: I’m a fantasy writer because I like to escape the real would and live somewhere that isn’t defined by human logic. Where magic and mythical creatures is a possibility. I grew up having my granddad tell me stories about the Norse gods growing, and I’ve always had a vivid imagination. I even practiced Wicca in my younger days. Most of my stories are contemporary, because who to say the supernatural doesn’t exist in our world? There are so many myths and legends about magical things, that it seems illogical to discard them as completely fictional.
Helen: When did you realised you had a passion for writing?
Cecilia: I always loved stories and been daydreaming about other places ever since I was little. I wrote a lot during my teenage years, but I don’t remember if I ever finished them. I never really thought I had what it took to publish a book due to my dyslexia, but when lock down came around, I started writing again, and this time, due to internet and social media I connected with other writers, and they give me confidence that my stories were worth sharing with the world. so, after I finished writing my first story and spent two years editing it, I found a great editor that help polishing the technical aspect of writing and then I took a leap and published it.
Helen: How do you get ideas for a new book?
Cecilia: The easiest way to answer this is randomly. I can be walking the dogs, and maybe the sunlight hits the trees in a specific way, and a scenes is playing out in my head, or I wake up from a dream that lingers. And then the characters won’t go away, so I sit down and write down everything that comes to my head while thinking about the scenes or the character, and from there I usually get a starting point; who is the character and what do they want and then I start writing. Sometimes I know the ending before I finished writing, sometimes it comes while im writing, so I guess you can say I’m a bit of a pantser.
Helen: It’s been great talking about your books. Let’s talk a little about your writing process. Which elements of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?
Cecilia: I think the hardest part is converting the movie I have playing in my head into words, words that paint it in the right light. Having English as a second language (thought I’ve lived in the UK for 15 years) means that sometimes my vocabulary isn’t as large as I would like it to be, and my writing often comes out as quite basic. It isn’t necessary a bad thing, but my books should definitely be read for the story and not for beautiful prose.
Helen: When writing, do you plan everything in advance or do you make it up as you go? Are you a pantser or a plotter?
Cecilia: I’m definitely more of a pantser, however as I’m getting further and further into this series, I have needed to do a bit more plotting
Helen: I think as we learn more about the writing craft and our series become more complex, planning is key. Even if the characters sometimes takes us off road on occasion. When you encounter writer’s block how do you over come it?
Cecilia: I usually do one of two things. And it depends a bit on why I have writing block, if it’s because something isn’t working, and I need to figure out a solution I will usually step away and go for a walk. If it’s because I don’t know that’s next, I would try a writing sprint and just write the first thing that comes to mind for 20-30 min.
Helen: What is the best thing that have happened to you since you started writing?
Cecilia: I’ve connected with an amazing community online, and found some lovely friends. But the best thing is probably when I hear from readers and they’re telling me that my story made a difference to them. It really does make my day, and gives me encouragement to continue writing.
Helen: What is one of the most useful resources you use when writing?
Cecilia: So if we are talking specifically about writing, it’s probably the emotion thesaurus by A Ackerman and B Puglisi, its really helpful when trying to show an emotion instead of telling it. Other than that I find brainstorming with other writers very helpful. Sometimes as I writer I’m a bit too close to my story, and my writing can comes across differently from what I want, so brainstorming how to get the message across more clearly can be very beneficial.
Helen: Those thesauruses are amazing! I use them all the time. Do have any hints or tips for how to overcome the fear and little voice in your head and keep writing?
Cecilia: It’s really hard, but the biggest advice I have is to not compare yourself to other writers. It’s a sure way of getting disheartened. Instead look back at your own journey, celebrate your accomplishments and milestones, and see just have far you have come and have much you have gained since you started.
Helen: That is really great advice. How much research do you do for each book?
Cecilia: It differs. I will write the first draft without any research, and then as I read over it I will make notes where I need to do more research.
Helen: It’s been great talking to you today. I wish you all the very best with your launch. Just to close, what advice would you give new writers?
Cecilia: Rules are meant to be broken, take what you need, and leave the rest behind. Try new things, but if it isn’t working for you, try something else. There are many way to reach a destination.
There are sooo many rules about writing, but most of the times they are not actually rules but suggestions. E.g. you have to write everyday to be a good writer – no you don’t have to write every day but you do need to make time to write. Or you have to outline before you can write the book – I can see how it can be beneficial, but my outline comes after I’ve written my first draft.
About the Author – Cecilia Agetun
Cecilia Agetun
Cecilia has always been interested in writing and spent many hours writing poems and short stories throughout her teenage years. She has always had an interest in fantasy, mythology and witchcraft.
As she grew up, her writing got put on ice as she followed her other passion – Animal care. She moved to England, where she completed her Bsc (hons) degree in veterinary nursing and started working full time at a 24 hour hospital. She later moved to Cambridge with her partner and two dogs, hoping to get a better work- life balance.
It wasn’t until the lockdown came knocking on everyone’s doors that she picked up her writing and fell in love with it all over again. It started off as one book, but by the time she finished the first draft of her young adult fantasy novel, she knew it would be a series.
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If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
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Reviewed: April 19th, 2025 Released: January 2nd, 2025 Genre: Fantasy Murder Mystery
For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the Emperor’s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s Mountain.
Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing. Except one: Ganymedes Piscero – class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.
But when a beloved heir is murdered, every one of these powerful people becomes a suspect.
Now Ganymedes – alone and vulnerable without a Blessing – must become the hero he was never born to be.
With the body-count rising, can he unmask the killer before they reach the shore? Read My Thoughts…
Helen Garraway 