Showing posts with label Magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Magic. Show all posts

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Stolen Magic by Lyn South ~ #StolenMagic #UrbanFantasy #ParanormalBooks #KateDaniels #MercyThompson #TheHollows #WitchBooks #FantasyMystery #BookRecommendations


If you like your urban fantasy with...

Witches & stolen magic

Supernatural investigations

Morally gray heroines

Found family

Ancient enemies

Impossible choices

Hidden supernatural worlds

High-stakes mysteries

Then it's time to meet SCI Book 8: Stolen Magic.

Perfect for readers who enjoy the supernatural investigation feel of The X-Files, the urban fantasy worlds of Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, and The Hollows, with a mystery that forces its characters to question what justice really means.


This isn't just a case about stolen magic.

It's about how far a mother will go to save her child.

 Coming 8/13 - Pre-Order Now!!

Amazon


Visit the Author:

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08DX9H84C

Website https://lynsouth.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LynSouthWrites

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lynsouthwrites

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@lynsouthwriter


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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

#BookReview ~ Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams ~ #Romantasy #GrumpyxSunshine #DislikeToLovers #MorallyGreyHero #EntangledPublishing #RedTowerBooks


Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0F6MCPN6B
Publisher: ‎ Entangled: Red Tower Books
Publication date: ‎ March 17, 2026
Print length: ‎ 418 pages
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1649378057


About the Book:

One mission. One curse. No escape.

Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon.

To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.

Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation.

He promises to help. He might even mean it.

But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.

She just doesn’t have a choice.

My Review:

I didn't even know how much I needed this book until I opened up to the first page. I loved meeting Zaira, Thane, Algar, and Rynthea, but you know who stole the show for me? Zephra. Of course, it would be the pet.

Mayhem and the Mortal is an amazing romantasy novel. I was swept away in Zaira's journey to save her only living relative, her sister Analla, from a horrible curse. Her only recourse is to battle her way to an island that may hold the key to breaking the curse. She tries to hire a local sorcerer to lead her to The Shallows but when they are refuse, Zaira finds herself in front of a mysterious man in her local tavern. 

Thane has issues and baggage that even an airline would put a limit on for a traveler. He promises to escort Zaira to The Shallows and protect her the entire way. He's broody, grumpy, and closed-off. It's a good thing he's cute and good with weapons and magic. 

Along the way, the unlikely duo gather a couple more adventurers; a conman, Algar, and a minotaur, Rynthea. Together these four travel across different lands trying to stay alive, in hopes of reaching The Shallows. There, they hope to fulfill the destinies they each desire, and make it back home alive.

Mayhem and the Mortal is amazing! From the start of the book there is not a dull moment. Zaira is a mortal who plans the unthinkable to save her sister. She comes across as naive, but I'm here to tell you that can't be any further from the truth. She's strong, as fearless as she can be while traipsing through dangerous territories, fighting deadly creatures, and checking her emotions at the door. 

The author did a great job with the world-building. Very vivid and descriptive imagery decorated the pages in this book. The dialogue flowed smoothly, the story was perfectly-paced, and I was lost in this adventurous, action-filled, romantasy. And, that ending?! Bring on the next book!

I simply devoured Mayhem and the Mortal.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.



My Rating:





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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

#BookReview ~ Abracadabra by Evanne Hardin Gray ~ @Abracadabrabook @rararesources #Magic #Paranormal #Romance



Abracadabra

In the spirit of Practical Magic and First Frost, a modern-day magic folk tale weaves a fantasy of love, secrets, spellbooks, and family bonds into evocative prose ....

  

About the Book:

It's common knowledge in Duran Hill that some women in the Kinley family have certain gifts ... and certain curses ... running through their bloodlines. But for three sisters in all but name — Rachel, Juliette, and their cousin Sylvia — the ties that bind them close as ivy throughout their childhood are pulled apart in adolescence when both the gift and curse of that power is revealed between them.

Since that fateful incident, sensible Juliette has tailored a perfect and perfectly-ordinary life which unravels after she marries — and loses — the love of her life. Sylvia, drawn to the dark side, sets up a shop that caters to all the mystical powers the latter generations of the Kinley family shunned. And Rachel, the wild child, in whom its magic seems to create a charmed life, is a carefree wanderer who finds herself suddenly drawn home again.

Her arrival will stir old rivalries and test forgotten bonds in the brief span of a few weeks. But when an old friend in desperate trouble seeks her out, she will impulsively unleash the dangerous secret behind their power: one which has lain forgotten in the Kinley house for two generations.

From the Siren's song of a dead man's violin to a jar full of harmless-looking buttons, nothing under the shadow of the family's roof is what it seems — nothing in their bloodline is safe from the dangerous past.

For Juliette, it brings a test of whether love that has withered can bloom again. For Sylvia, a question of whether a dangerous mistake can only be endured until it destroys you. And for Rachel, the choice is the price between the future of the souls she loves most in life and a powerful force that both makes her the enigma she is — and makes to destroy her like embers caught in a firewind.


Against the backdrop of Southern charm, Scottish superstitions, and bewitching romance, ABRACADABRA casts a spell which cannot be undone, from the ache of lost love to the familial links between souls which go as deep as blood and bone.

My Review:

Abracadabra is a story of love, magic, and family bonds. The family bloodline is riddled with gifts and curses, taking the once tightknit group of girls, Rachel, Juliette, and their cousin Sylvia, and sending them in different directions. Rachel's return home causes quite the flurry and pulls the three women into situations that will test everything they stand for, and may break them.

I really enjoyed Abracadabra. I loved learning about the family, their history, and the gifts and curses that make up their bloodline. The author created a very unique story and I was enthralled from page one. If you're looking for something different and not your average romantic and magical story, grab a copy of Abracadabra and get lost in Duran Hill.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


My Rating:




Youtube Links for Abracadabra trailers:

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKmNSqCOAKk

Short Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/edJevuMyWqk


Evanne Hardin Gray has spent most of her adulthood (and part of her childhood) writing novels, short stories, and screenplays. She has family roots in both New England and the South, which is where she currently writes (sometimes as a 'ghost'), gardens, and collects books and ideas for them.

Social Media Links:



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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Bog Hag Anthology ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #BogHagAnthology #Horror #DarkFantasy ~ Dark Fantasy, Lovecraftian Fantasy, Horror, Occult and Supernatural, Witchcraft and Magic


Bog Hag Anthology


Dark Fantasy, Lovecraftian Fantasy, Horror, Occult and Supernatural, Witchcraft and Magic

Publication Date: October 14, 2024

About the Book:

Whether she’s crawling across a sweltering bayou or swimming languidly through a swamp, the bog hag watches and waits.

Join sixteen AuthorTubers as they explore the allure and mystery of the Bog Hag, turning her from a villain to a gal with a social calendar, a vendetta, or even a need to be the best she can be.

Any and all proceeds from the sales of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a 501C3 nonprofit.



Featuring A Murky Reckoning

Garwick Greedgill is a fisherman desperate to become a legend in the realm where he dwells. When he pulls a horrific creature up from the polluted sea, he sacrifices it to the legendary sorceress who is said to live at the center of the bog near which he dwells.

Yadira of the Roots is said to be the daughter of Nyarlathotep, the Wish-Bringer From Beyond the Stars. Will Garwick’s actions earn favor from the storied Bog Hag, or does another fate await him?




Read an Excerpt:

An Aquatic Reckoning


Back at the dock, the fisherman hurried to the stables, paying the stable hand four Electrotokens to rent a cart and a pair of mules to haul his catch away. He promised to return the cart and the animals the next day.

Garwick Greedgill was thick around the midsection and had a sunken chest and narrow frame that belied the strength of his wiry arms. His leathery, tanned skin bore witness to many years spent on a boat's deck under the sun's harsh glare. His hair was a bristly mix of silver and gunmetal gray, poking through the many holes in a threadbare red cap embossed with the emblem of a long-forgotten fishing guild. A heavy forehead and scowling brow framed eyes a sickly shade of murky green, reminiscent of a polluted ocean. His broad nose bent slightly to one side courtesy of a mishap with the sail boom. Countless hours spent retrieving catch after catch left his calloused hands stained with fish scales and innards as he searched for the grand haul that always eluded him.

Garwick wore frayed puce trousers held up by a filthy, tattered flaxen rope belt. His once-bright cerise tunic, covered in various colored patches where he had mended it over the years, was threadbare. It hung loosely over his prominent belly. The soles of his scuffed brown boots were worn thin, leaving his feet vulnerable to the cold and damp. He wore a necklace of oddly shaped stones and bones that he believed would attract good luck. The longed-for luck seldom materialized.

Garwick drove the cart as close as possible to the bog extending beyond his property's edge. He lived in a ramshackle hut between the bog and a twisting, moss-covered path that led to a meandering creek. Near the hut was a dingy shed. Every corner held remnants of his profession—a collection of rusty hooks, tattered nets, and an old, cracked barrel filled with miscellaneous items of dubious worth. A box containing lucky tokens collected over the years sat on a dusty shelf. Best of all, there was a wondrous grimoire. An odor of decay emanated from the book's brown hide cover. Garwick did not mind the strange texture or unpleasant scent of the tome. Based on today's catch, the grimoire's magic had already begun to work.


About the Author:
 

C. L. Hart, the owner and sole employee of Naughty Netherworld Press and Ornery Owl Ventures, is spoken of in hushed tones. She is an editor who writes or a writer who edits. She is also described as The Mad Scribe of the Northeastern Colorado Plains, The Terrible Old Woman, and The Author That Should Not Be. She is a member of ACES Editing Society, the Denver Horror Collective, First Coast Romance Writers, the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Passionate Ink (writing as Lil DeVille), Regency Romance Writers, and Rocky Mountain Romance Writers.

Ms. Hart shares a home in a remote rural town of 134 souls with her adult son and three cats. Her sense of fashion is best described as Early Twenty-First Century Unmade Bed. This disabled former nurse can usually be found arguing with herself about subplots or rehabilitating eldritch horrors.

When not penning sanity-destroying works of dystopian fiction, Lovecraftian fantasy, or old-school horror with the occasional sweet romance thrown in to upset the cosmic apple cart, Ms. Hart enjoys creating baked goods she hopes will be considered palatable by someone besides eldritch horrors.






Purchase Today:



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Wednesday, August 7, 2024

#Book #Review ~ Careful What You Witch For by Emma Jackson ~ @ESJackson1 @rararesources #WitchyRomance #GrumpySunshine #Magic


Careful What You Witch For by Emma Jackson


About the Book:

Two complete strangers.

One life-changing spell.


Becca Ashworth's family is in trouble and with their magical legacy under threat, it puts their small village of Biddicote at risk too. So going against the witching tenets to summon an ancestor for help seems like a small price to pay to fix the problem...at first.

Connor Lynch is the Witches Council's secret weapon and he's just been deployed to find out exactly what the Ashworths are up to. But how he ends up posing as Becca's fake husband at a magical inn in Cornwall as they hunt down a magical artefact is just as perplexing as the cheerful witch herself.

When their attraction for each other grows, Becca and Connor question everything they have been taught - and soon the missing artefact isn't the only thing they are searching for. As love collides with duty, it's clear that sometimes you need to be careful what you witch for...

My Review:

Careful What You Witch For is the second book in this series by Emma Jackson. I've not read the first one, but book two stands alone. Of course, there are some of the characters from book one but I didn't feel lost, having not read Witch You Weren't Here.

I was engaged from the start of Careful What You Witch For. Becca's determination to help her family began the story, drawing me in. I enjoyed the mix of romance and magic. Becca's dynamics with Connor are phenomenal and I enjoyed their grumpy-sunshine trope.

Careful What You Witch For is an amazing novel. I can't wait to go back and read book one.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:


 

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Meet the Author:

Author of the Best Selling A MISTLETOE MIRACLE and contender for the Joan Hessayon Award 2020, Emma has been a devoted bookworm and secret-story-scribbler since she was 6 years old. When she’s not running around after her two daughters and trying to complete her current work-in-progress, Emma loves to read, bake, catch up on binge-watching TV programmes with her partner and plan lots of craft projects that will inevitably end up unfinished. Emma is also a host on the SFFRomCast, a podcast dedicated to celebrating fantasy and sci-fi romance. Her last book, WITCH YOU WEREN'T HERE, a witchy romcom full of misbehaving magic, brother's best friend angst, and only one bed shenanigans.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @ESJackson1

Instagram: @emma_s_jackson

Facebook @EmmaJacksonAuthor

TikTok @ EmmaSJackson1


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Tuesday, April 2, 2024

New Release ~ The Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna ~ @ReadingTheDunes #Mythology #Magic #Folklore #DebutNovel

 


About the Book:

A stunning debut novel and an impressive feat of storytelling that pulls together mythology, magic, and ancient legend in the gripping story of a mother’s struggle to save her only daughter.

 Nadine is a jinn tasked with one job: telling the stories of the dead. She rises every morning to gather pomegranate seeds—the souls of the dead—that have fallen during the night. With her daughter Layala at her side, she eats the seeds and tells their stories. Only then can the departed pass through the final gate of death. 

But when the seeds stop falling, Nadine knows something is terribly wrong. All her worst fears are confirmed when she is visited by Kamuna, Death herself and ruler of the underworld, who reveals her desire for someone to replace her: it is Layala she wants. 

Nadine will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe, but Kamuna has little patience and a ruthless drive to get what she has come for. Layala’s fate, meanwhile, hangs in the balance. 

Rooted in Middle Eastern mythology, Rania Hanna deftly weaves subtle, yet breathtaking, magic through this vivid and compelling story that has at its heart the universal human desire to, somehow, outmaneuver death.

Book Details:

April 2, 2024 
Hoopoe 
SBN: 9781649033635

Purchase Link:


Praise for The Jinn Daughter

“A moving, imaginative tale of magic, myth, life and death, and a mother's love.” ―Shelf Awareness

“A captivating read. . . . Lyrical language and descriptive world building make this a good recommendation for book discussion groups, and literary and fantasy readers.” ―Booklist

"Lyrical and magical, The Jinn Daughter captivates with its fierce imagination and its visceral prose. Hanna spins a folkloric tale of family bonds and the power that the dead hold over the living. An extraordinary novel that will linger long after the final page!"―Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni

"A beautiful, haunting homage to Middle Eastern folklore, The Jinn Daughter is a stirring tale of love, grief, and the depths we're willing to go to save our loved ones. Hanna's beautifully drawn, complex characters weave together a story that will find its way into your very bones and leave you wanting more."―Ehigbor Okosun, author of Forged by Blood



Meet the Author:

Rania Hanna is a Syrian–American writer and researcher. She is a neuroscience doctoral student at George Mason University. The Jinn Daughter is her debut novel. She lives in Northern Virginia.


Instagram: @rania_the_writer

Twitter/X: @ReadingTheDunes

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Series Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ The Blood Mage Blood Magick Trilogy by Marie-Hélène Lebeault @mhlebeault ~ YA Fantasy and Magic


The Blood Mage Blood Magick Trilogy 
by Marie-Hélène Lebeault

The Blood Mage
Blood Magick Trilogy
Book One
Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Genre: YA Fantasy and Magic
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Date of Publication: December 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-1777945541
ASIN: B09LTRQTXX
Number of pages: 178
Word Count: about 60k
Cover Artist: MiblArt

Tagline: Will Tom embrace his new destiny, and can he make it out unscathed?

About the Book: 

A Chosen One YA Fantasy Adventure!

On his sixteenth birthday, Tom is bestowed with strange new magical powers. And when his sister is kidnapped, he discovers he was actually the intended target. Now, a group of villains with terrifying superhuman powers is after him because he might be the Last Blood Mage. 
 
Will Tom embrace his new destiny, and can he make it out unscathed?

The Blood Mage is the first book in a new YA series, and a spinoff of the fantastical Evers Series. While fans of Lola Evers’ adventures will be especially excited about this new story, new readers do not need to have read the Evers Series to enjoy this book.

Purchase Links:

Amazon     BN     Book Depository

Read an Excerpt from Book One:

The place was dark and creepy, especially on an overcast winter’s day. It was cold, too. Even so, he almost would have rather stayed outside. He sucked in a deep breath of courage and strode to the massive oak doors and lifted the heavy door knocker.  

The ancient butler who greeted him at the door led him down a dark hall without uttering so much as a word. Tom tried to make conversation but gave up, instead of paying attention to the placards on the doors he passed, offices of the numerous teachers that worked at the school. This school was much larger than The Academy as it offered full-time instruction to students from twelve on up. 

Set in an old castle in Northern Scotland, the exact location unknown, the school was rumored to be invisible to non-magical humans. That is, the fourteenth-century castle appeared as a ruin to passersby, with no road leading up to it to tempt would-be visitors. Should the odd hiker venture near the perimeter, they would instantly feel compelled to go around the building, never actually finding a true path to the summit of the hill. 

The butler eventually stopped in front of a very ordinary-looking door. When the butler started to knock, Tom stopped him. “It’s okay,” he said. “I can take it from here. Thank you.” The butler bowed and left. 

Tom stood a moment, concentrating on his breath to steel himself for this meeting before raising his hand to knock. A sound behind him stopped the downward movement of his hand. When he looked over his shoulder and saw a boy about his age leaning against the wall. The youth was staring right at him, without blinking. His eyes were a startling shade of amber. 



Blood Magick
Blood Magick Trilogy
Book Two
Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Genre: YA Fantasy and Magic
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Date of Publication: May 16, 2022
ISBN: 978-1990656102
ASIN: B09Y29L832
Number of pages: 170
Word Count: about 60k
Cover Artist: MiblArt

Tagline: Will Tom embrace his new destiny, and can he make it out unscathed?

About the Book: 

Tom Callaghan’s life has been completely turned upside down. 
 
In a matter of months, he went from being the boy next door to the Last Blood Mage, and chaos now seems to be at its peak. Between attacks on his home, his family, and his friends, Tom must face the internal war raging inside him: should he remain in the safe and comfortable haven that he now knows with his fellow Travelers at The Academy? Or should he face the unfathomable challenges that await him in a whole new world at the Harding Academy for the Magical Arts? 
 
In order to defeat The Master, it looks like there is only one path that Tom can take in order to succeed. But will he come out the other side?

Blood Magick is the second book in the Blood Magick Trilogy.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Read an Excerpt from Book Two:

The blood on Tom’s hands sizzled and spat like butter in a hot pan. Tom felt the heat collect in his chest as his pounding heart pushed fire through his veins. Power pulsed to the tempo of his beating heart. It was frightening and invigorating. The air around him crackled with energy as though lightening was stored in his chest ready to explode. His senses sharpened.

He could hear the chanting outside. As he looked, the wards shimmered and wavered. The Master stood outside of the gate, his black robes billowing in the winds. His outstretched hands looked as though they were reaching for the gates. Three neat rows of ten disciples behind him mimicked their Master with outstretched arms. Their eyes were closed in concentration and their combined power was beginning to weaken the wards. The wards were failing, Tom feared.

Tom supposed he should have been terrified. After all, Harding Academy had sent Witches to the Callahan residence every day for a week to set and strengthen them, layer by layer. The dark magic The Master and his minions wove was stronger than the wards. They would gain entrance to the house soon enough.

Tom braced himself for a fight. He felt his body tremble. If it was from fear or from the power coursing through him, he couldn’t tell. Perhaps it didn’t matter. He planted his feet firmly and willed himself to calm down. The Warlocks attacking the wards weren’t teenagers. They were fully grown men and women, very likely trained by The Master himself. Each and every one of them was probably stronger than Tom was, in more ways than just brute force. They knew more spells, probably ones he had never heard of. Dark spells no one was supposed to use.

He spun in a slow circle, trying to work out how to set things to protect himself. The second-floor landing gave him a clear view of the front door and entranceway. What if they came through the bedrooms? They may have been minions of a dark Sorcerer, but surely, they could still climb. Tom raced down the hallway, opening every door he could find. They weren’t going to sneak up on him!

He might have thwarted their plans once before, but it was doubtful they were here to kill him. At least, Tom had hoped his powers were still too important to them. It would give him precious moments to fight back as they tried to take him alive. Every part of Tom’s body trembled. The Professor should have been back by now with reinforcements. Was the Master so powerful that he could stop Doors? The thought sent another wave of chills through Tom’s body.

He pulled himself back. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, couldn’t allow himself to panic. Tom looked around the landing for possible weapons or tools. Mirrors, paintings, knick-knacks all received his assessing gaze. He thought that he should have a plan, but none came to mind. He filed away the inventory for future reference. What else did he have?

Professor Montague had taught him a few defensive moves. The truth was, he hadn’t learned nearly enough. Certainly not enough to prepare him for such a confrontation. He mentally ran through the block and shield maneuvers. Taking a deep breath, he prayed that he could hold down the fort until help arrived.

Tom had spent weeks learning to control his emotions, while tamping down his anger so he could focus his Magick. He could hear the Headmaster advising caution in the back of his mind, but this was different. Tom allowed his blood to boil now. His family was at stake.

When his mother was shoved through the Door to safety, he willfully forgot all of that and allowed his blood to boil. Professor Thunderbolt had looked back at Tom and gave him a nod of encouragement. As soon as he stepped through to the relative safety of The Academy, the Door had vanished.

The weight of the Key Tom wore was reassuring. He was a Traveler, after all.

Escaping this place would be as easy as summoning a Door from nothing and vanishing in an instant. But this was his home. His family’s home. His father’s home. Tom would not and could not give it up so easily. Not after everything his family had been put through. He was ready to fight but he needed a plan.
The chanting at the gate grew louder. Under the cadence, Tom heard the gate begin to creak open. He took another deep breath and tried to center himself. Looking out the window, he saw the house wards still held and took some comfort in that. Still, they were not as powerful as the ones at the gate, the ones The Master had already obliterated.

He had a wild thought. If his Blood Magick could be integrated into the wards, would that strengthen them enough to buy him time? Professor Thunderbolt had promised to return with reinforcements, Tom only needed to delay long enough for him to return. Tom was alone. He would never ask a friend to put themselves in harm’s way. The sheer number of robed Warlocks, not the least of which was The Master, made it far too dangerous. Tom felt that he had a chance to put an end to this before anyone else got hurt.

The part of his mind that was not concentrating on the wards raced with questions. How could The Master even see the house? The wards were supposed to hide the house from those not invited. That was what the Witches had promised, were they wrong? Was The Master just that strong, or was there someone at Harding Academy working against them? If so, who? He began going through the roster of people he had met at the new school and, to his horror, realized that he had lost focus and the wards were failing again.

He poured more energy into the wards and felt the house shake as the wards fought to stay put against dark forces. The house moved like it rode an earthquake, doors and windows rattling. Somewhere, glass shattered. The light from Tom’s energy poured into the ley lines from both sides, and it grew painfully bright. Tom’s eyes burned and itched, and a pinpoint of blinding pain exploded in the back of his head, growing to a searing pounding. He was too afraid to look away, lest he lose focus again but just then, the light flared, forcing him to automatically shield his eyes.
* * *

The chanting stopped. For a silent moment, Tom stood in utter darkness. His eyes were so used to the blinding light that no longer existed; they took their time adjusting to the relative gloom. He strained to hear any sounds while waiting to see again. But outside, the Warlocks had gone as silent as a tomb. The hair stood on the back of Tom’s neck and goosebumps chased themselves up and down his arms.

As his eyes found their focus again, the only sounds were the tick-tick-tick of the grandfather clock. He tried to look in every direction at once. There were no sounds. No chanting. Nothing. Tom realized that the eerie silence was more unnerving than the chanting.



Blood Legacy
Blood Magick Trilogy
Book Three
Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Genre: YA Fantasy and Magic
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Date of Publication: June 20, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-990656-10-1
ASIN: B09ZRMPS6K 
Number of pages: 223
Word Count: about 60k
Cover Artist: MiblArt

Tagline: Will Tom finally conquer Blood Magick?

About the Book: 

Will Tom finally conquer Blood Magick?
 
In the final volume of the Blood Magick Trilogy, the last Blood Mage unravels The Master’s unspeakably evil plan, joins forces with an unlikely ally, and witnesses the bravest act of personal sacrifice in the history of the magical world. 
 
Join Tom in this epic finale as he battles forces of dark magic in a quest for Good. 
 
Blood Legacy is the third and final book in the Blood Magick Trilogy.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Read an Excerpt from Book Three: (Contains spoilers)

He wiped his hands on his jeans and said those lame words again. “I’m so sorry.” “Jessica told us you were here. We’re glad you came,” said Mrs. Honeywell, her face calm, patient, understanding.

Tom stood, rooted to the spot, unable to speak as tears suddenly sprung to his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, anything that might make things right, but the lump in his throat was choking him.

Tom hadn’t cried. He hadn’t let himself cry because he didn’t feel like he deserved to cry when other people had lost so much. Because of him and his psycho family, these people had lost a daughter. And the world had been robbed of one of the most exceptional human beings who had ever lived. The floodgates had opened now, here of all places, and shame crept up his cheeks before sinking down to his heart to blend with the guilt he already felt. Try as he might, he just couldn’t stop crying. Mrs. Honeywell came into the room and wrapped Tom into a hug.

At first, he just stood there lamely, arms hanging, feeling like such a coward. When Mrs. Honeywell started stroking the back of his hair and whispering, “It’s okay. It’s okay. You’re going to be alright,” in soothing tones as she rocked him back and forth in her arms, Tom lost it completely.

Ugly, retched sobs wracked his body and he clung to her. He clung to her because he needed an anchor. He needed a mother, someone to take his side. But then he clung to her because she was Mandy’s mother. These arms had held Mandy. This woman’s kindness had made Mandy into the kind and generous person she had been. Through her, he clung to Mandy.

When his sobs subsided, he held on, because he understood that he too was a proxy for Mandy. He took a deep breath and released the heaviness that had weighed him down. He had come here expecting anger and recriminations. Instead, he had found solace.

 

Meet the Author:

Marie-Hélène is a Canadian author. She writes young adult quest and adventure stories rooted in the world of fantasy, magic and time travel. With important coming of age lessons at the core of her writing, young children and new adults alike will revel in the fantastical journeys of her characters. When not immersed in the worlds of magic and mystery, you’ll find Marie-Hélène hiking, cycling, or lying on the beach with a good book. 

To date, Marie-Hélène has published two YA fantasy series, a standalone novel set in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, a short story anthology, and a series of whimsical picture books for children aged 3 to 7. A retired teacher, she lives in Quebec, Canada with her children. 


 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 





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Thursday, July 1, 2021

Book Spotlight ~ Bake Believe: Book One by Cori Cooper ~ #Teen #YA #Magic @CoriCAuthor


Bake Believe
Book One
Cori Cooper

Genre: Teen/YA, Magic
Publisher: Immortal Works Publishing
Date of Publication: November 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-1953491978
ASIN: B08KWMX6BW
Number of pages: 282
Word Count: 78,959
Cover Artist: Immortal Works Art Team

Tagline: What happens when you combine Magic and Baking? Cat Anderson will tell you all about it.

About the Book: 

Cat Anderson doesn't want much out of life. Give her a circle of friends to giggle with, a few boys to flirt with, a cute outfit, and she is good to go! She especially could care less about food. 

But food, it turns out, is a very big deal.

In Cat's family there is a secret too fantastic to be real. Something happens when Cat bakes.

Something amazing.

Something impossible.

Can it be true? Or is it Bake Believe?

Watch Book Trailer 1: https://youtu.be/VqjTP_dlCsI

Watch Book Trailer 2: https://youtu.be/oUDaeY8_fqI

Purchase from  Amazon     Immortal Works    Author Site

Read an Excerpt: Frozen Waffles

Why am I still in bed?

It’s the last day of summer vacation! I can’t waste one more minute, second, or millisecond sleeping. This is going to be the most epically awesome day of all time! Like, so good that awesome looks at this day and wishes it was this epic. This might sound like a lot of pressure, but I’m ready. For weeks I’ve been keeping track of the summer stuff I love to do most, so I could pick out all the best things. Now, I have a mental list just waiting for me to get to it:

-Go to the pool.
-Use sun lightener on my hair.
-Work on my tan.
-Try something new at the Snack Shack.
-Meet three new boys.
-Give at least one of the boys my phone number.

I am determined to squeeze the most amount of fun out of every single second of this day. Obviously, I can’t get any of it done while I’m laying here like a slug! I have to get up and call Robyn.

I roll out of bed, no clue what time it is.  My stinking alarm clock has been tick-tick-ticking away the precious minutes of my last summer day, so I have been ignoring it with all of my might. Before I stand up, I smack the clock face down on the nightstand. I should have done that before. The irritating neon numbers, winking in my peripheral, were giving me a headache.
And headaches are not epically awesome.

I wonder, would Time stop if I use all my allowance to send it on a vacation to Hawaii? I can find a beachfront resort somewhere far away from me and Time can sit next to the ocean with a fruity little drink. I wouldn’t mind if Time decided to stay there for a couple weeks even. This could totally work. Even Time must need a break sometimes.

Or maybe not, since that darn clock is still going at it, just muffled now.

I plop my pillow down on my nightstand, to shush it even more, and I tiptoe to my bedroom door. As quietly as possible, I ease it open, so it doesn’t squeak. It does like to squeak sometimes, and I don’t want to wake anyone up in case it’s super early. For all that trying to ignore the clock’s tick-tocks, I didn’t actually look at the time.

I’ll just check when I get my phone.

Because of the family ‘no screens in bedrooms’ rule, my phone spends the night in a basket on the coffee table. Out of habit, I look both ways before I slip out of my room and into the hall. Not a creature is stirring. Even so, I prefer to sneak along the walls and slink around corners like I’m in some big deal spy movie. It’s just more fun that way. I serpentine down the stairs and army crawl across the living room. When I’m almost to the coffee table, I execute a super awesome somersault that leaves me on my back, staring up at the phone basket.

Nailed it.

I reach one arm into the basket and rummage around until I feel sequins. My phone! The most beautiful creation of turquoise and silver sparkles, I am very happy to have it in my hand.

I hold the phone above my head, over my face, while I text. My arms start to fall asleep instantly, but I ignore them, because this is super important.


About the Author:

Cori Cooper lives in the magical Arizona Mountains, which she’s pretty convinced is the setting for all the fairy tales. 

Besides writing stories, she adores hanging out with her family, playing board games, hiking and baking, baking, baking. Like Cat’s family, she’s positive Cinnamon Rolls fix everything.

You can connect with Cori on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and her website – Coristories.com.