Thursday, August 30, 2012

Review: Lichgates: The Grimoire Trilogy #1 by S. M. Boyce

Okay, so this review is long over due. I read Lichgates a while back and I've been meaning to post a review on Paranormal Lounge for a while. You'll notice I did not post a cover, that's because there will be a COVER REVEAL for the re-release of Lichgates right here on Paranormal Lounge on September 6th, so be sure to stop back for that!
 
But first let's learn a little about Lichgates:
 
Here is the BLURB:

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it...and Kara Magari is its next target.

Kara has no idea what she's getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking along a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she's thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying beings that all want the Grimoire's secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, but most just want to control the new-found power the Grimoire bestows upon her.

Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known in life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book—one question that can fix everything in his broken world—and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer.

Kara cannot escape her new life in Ourea. There’s no going back now.

 
And now about the AUTHOR:
 


S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. She’s a sarcastic twit, but her friends seem to like her anyway. She updates her blog a few times each week so that you have something to wake you up in the morning?).

Also, her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries.


Okay, now for my REVIEW!

Lichgates is:
  • Well written.
  • An amazing Adventure.
  • A story that takes you to another world that was expertly built by S. M. Boyce.
  • A great YA novel.
  • Epic!
  • And so much more!
The characters in Lichgates are so easy to get to know and care about. Then there are characters that you don't know what their true motives are which adds to the excitement of reading this amazing fantasy.

The plot is paced perfectly and carries you effortlessly through the story of Kara. The problems presented to the main character (Kara) are viable and believable. Kara handles her problems in a way that you can relate to.

The elements of Fantasy and Paranormal are mixed well, so fans of both genres can have a satisfying read and a glimpse of the other genre.

Kara's Journey in Lichgates is one that you can invest in. That is a result of a well-developed main character paired with a well-written story.

My overall take is that this is a story that no one should miss out on, especially fans of fantasy. I can't wait to read the next installment, Treason, which will be released October 27, 2012!

And now for some links where you can find out more about:

Author:


 
Lichgates:
 
 
Treason:


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Flash Fiction Challenge Site

The Pepper Press is a project I've been wanting to get going for quite a while now. I finally got the time to put it together.

The Pepper Press is a site devoted to Flash Fiction Fun. A new challenge every month and winners are featured in a few different ways.

This month's challenge is a Horror Flash Fiction. Write a piece in 500 words or less following the prompt: Somehow include cannibalism with oblivious diners (meaning a person or people who don't know they are eating human flesh).

Check out the website for more info and submission guidelines:

http://thepepperpress.blogspot.com/

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar Blog Tour! Interview, Review and Giveaway!

Today I am hosting the awesome Gothic Horror novella, The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar by Steven Katriel as a part of his blog tour!

The plan was to do a character interview with Gabriel Holland,  but unfortunately, he couldn't make it today but will try to make it sometime in the future. So, instead you can check out my interview with Steven Katriel and my review of this wonderful novella HERE!

Here is the blurb for The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar:

When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends. Once in the town of Carliton, Gabriel finds only malice and mystery in the tales told by the few brave enough to speak ill of Salazar and the sinister Cousin Beatriz. And within shadows, in the guise of night, walks Alatiel, the creature Helena has become.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Hop around to the other blogs hosting the tour HERE!

Find Steven Katriel on Twitter:  @StevenKatriel
Website: http://stevenkatriel.wordpress.com/
Book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Alatiel-Salazar-Novella-ebook/dp/B008UVAEXO/

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Launch of the Mystic Stones Series site!

I have just launched the Mystic Stones Series site! Here you can find character profiles, excerpts and more from the books in the Mystic Stones Series.

Browse through character profiles and choose to see the Spoiler Alert profile or the Spoiler Free profile!

Check out the excerpt from Chapter Three of Obsidian!

More content and extras to come including a look at the places in Obsidian's settings.

Trivia will also start showing up soon so check it out!

http://mysticstonesseries.blogspot.com/

Cover Reveal: The Burning of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel


Today we are helping with a cover reveal for The Burning of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel!


First, a little about the author:


Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”).

She is also an active reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.


The Burning of Isobel Key
is her first novel. She also writes YA fantasy.

Now, the blurb for The Burning of Isobel Key:

When Lou travels to Scotland, she’s a mess. She’s twenty-six, unemployed, and unsure of herself. It doesn’t help that she’s traveling with Tammy, her best friend, who is everything Lou is not.


At first, the trip pushes Lou towards the brink of depression, but then she meets Brian, a handsome local tour guide. When Brian tells the tourists about the countless witches burned in Scotland, Lou starts to listen. And when she discovers information about Isobel Key, one of the victims of the seventeenth century, Lou finds renewed purpose.


She sets out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but she isn’t prepared for the knowledge that waits for her. Lou must face her demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.



And finally, the cover and a short excerpt!




Excerpt from THE BURNING OF ISOBEL KEY
      She was standing on a spot near the sea in a place that looked like St. Andrews.  Lou recognized the Old Course over to her left, and realized that she was somewhere near the modern edge of the town.  In her dream, however, she realized that she was somewhere much more rural: other than the Old Course and the road running alongside it, there were no man-made structures.  No lights winked out at her from the darkness, and everything was shrouded in a strange mist. 
     Lou heard a noise coming from the direction of town.  She froze, knowing that she would not be seen in a dream, yet she was unaccountably afraid of the sounds coming her way.
     The sounds grew more distinct, and Lou saw the source of the noise.  A mass of people was surging up the road, headed in her direction.  They carried lit torches and shouted and jostled each other.  Towards the center of the group, the men and women were carrying something.  It wasn’t until they dropped part of their burden that Lou could make out the shape of human bones.
     The bones were charred, as if they had sat for hours in the fire.  She thought she knew who they belonged to, and her suspicions were confirmed when a man called out “The witch’s soul is back with her master!”  His words were answered with a cheer, and Lou watched, nauseous, as some of the boys in the group each picked up a bone and began to batter each other as if they were playing with wooden swords.  A dog ran by their game and scooped a bony hand into its mouth.
     The skull slipped to the ground, and instead of bending to retrieve it, the woman who carried it began to kick it in front of her like a soccer ball.  Lou wanted to cover her eyes, to scream, to cry at them to stop, but she was frozen in the dream, unable to look away, unable to stop listening.
     The mob passed without noticing her, but one of the mangy dogs trotting along at the edge of the crowd stopped directly in front of her and howled once, low and menacing, before continuing along its way.  Still unable to move her body, Lou watched as the crowd passed her.  They stopped some hundred yards away, and Lou watched the flurry of shovels, digging into the earth.  Squinting in the dark, Lou was just able to make out a thin dirt path, crossing the main road from St. Andrews, at the spot where the mob had stopped.  “The crossroads!”  With that frenzied thought, she was spinning out of the dream, pulled into absolute darkness.
     She shot up in bed, wild eyed, and looked across the room at Tammy, also wide awake and staring.
     Tammy began to stutter, her face white with terror.  “I had an awful dream, Lou.  Awful!  There were people, and bones, so many bones, and they were treating the bones like toys!  They even let the dog gnaw on a hand!” She shuddered.  “It was so awful, I couldn’t stand it.”
     Lou crossed the room to her best friend.  “I know.  I think I dreamed the same thing.  Did you see where they buried the bones?”
     Tammy shook her head, frantically.  “No, I didn’t see them bury anything.  I just saw them being awful!” Lou squeezed her shoulders, trying to reassure her.
     “I saw them.  I saw them too,” she murmured, soothingly.  “But I saw more.  I know where they buried Isobel’s bones!”

Here's where you can find out more about the book and the author:
Website
Goodreads
Twitter
Blog
Facebook


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Obsidian Release!

The time has finally come for me to release Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series (Book One) to the world! As of today, Obsidian is available to purchase! You can see all the formats it is available in on my publisher's website.

My awesome publishers at Martin Sisters Publishing have been so helpful through out the process of getting Obsidian ready for anyone to enjoy. I found a great publisher when I found them! So, thank you Denise and Melissa! You have worked so hard to make my dream a reality!

If you'd like to read an excerpt you can do so on Christie Rich's blog. She is the author of the Elemental Enmity Series and was kind enough to do Obsidian's cover reveal along with a short interview and excerpt during the Blogger Book Fair.


Here is a direct link to Obsidian Kindle Edition!