The second installment of A.J. Sherwood’s 6 part series, How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracle 2, gives us a little more insight into our main characters and enlarges our cast with three wonderful new personalities.
Devante Salvino, First Knight of Goodwine, or Devan has been sent off by the evil Princess to the Hunter’s Woods for a dangerous,suicidal quest as punishment. The bodies have been piling up there and Devan has been tasked with finding and killing the culprit(s). By himself and his trusty stallion, Dan.
It goes immediately seriously wrong as the Princess anticipated.
Sherwood does a great job with the scary creature at the heart of the woods and the attack on Devan.
Our slow burn, adorable romance is still proceeding at a snail’s pace between Devan and Tan the Black Sorcerer , one of the three most feared sorcerers known.
The other two? We get to meet them here. Because, of course, they are Tan’s brother and sister. Two more characters that are just incredibly entertaining. Especially sister Fa,The Black Sorcereress of Crila. She gets a crush of her own.
Then there’s Brother Niran the Necromancer, sorcerer of Sol who’s very interested in peoples spines and has a bunch of semi smart skeletons who come with him.
There’s more of course. Another lovely character on Devan’s side, Wells, his best friend. A monster to quell, a relationship to move slowly a bit along, and a new joint quest at the end that will advance them and the series further.
It’s a short, splendid affair. Entertaining, a bit scary, with flooffy purring cats, a maze, and really slow burn romance and fabulous characters.
Can’t wait for Miracle 3. Bring it on!
I’d give you all a list but basically it says Miracle 1 to 6.
I’m highly recommending them all. No surprise. I find them exceedingly entertaining.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Tavia Lark’s Perilous Courts became a new favorite based solely on its first book, Prince and Assassin. That story had a depth of layering to its storylines that began with Whisper, a infamous Hound of the Kennel. That’s a group of highly prized assassins owned by blood curse , since they bought or stolen at a young age, by a Blood mage. Their fees afforded only by the richest of men or rulers.
His background and that of some of the other Hounds provided a pathos and dimension to Whisper and the story that gave both his mission and romance a heft narratively speaking and made the novel sing with promise.
Prince in Disguise moves from Prince Julien to the youngest of the three princes of the Kingdom of Silaise. That’s Prince Bellamy. He’s had a problematic history, having been kidnapped by his biological father when younger, and prone to headaches brought on by magic. He’s been away and now been sent for due to illness among his mothers. That we knew from the first story.
We get a reminder of his history and recap here, which is good because Bellamy wasn’t a big element in that story.
I throughly enjoyed this book. While lacking the depth and layers of the first novel, the sheer chemistry between the two main characters and the addition of a blinkmink as well as dragons more than compensates for it.
It’s a rousing grand tale!
Bellamy is completely different from Julien. Lark is able to bring us a young man who’s illnesses and trouble in adolescence has made his mothers and older brothers overprotective and solicitous to the point he’s rarely alone . Until a weather related accident and a curious pet insures that he is.
Bellamy goes from scared, naive, unprepared Prince to a determined, self aware, brave individual in love. And we buy into it because we’ve been there for the growth.
The same goes for Rakos Tem, dragonrider of House Dire. I can’t go into particulars because his situation is central to so many storylines but who he is, the development of their relationship, and his personality is just as remarkable.
Plus didn’t I say there were dragons?
My only issue here is that the dragons, their true nature and bond with their riders isn’t fully explored here as I would have expected or hoped for. Especially for such a exciting and popular element.
The dragon fights are plenty great though!
There are a few weak story threads that could be tighter and I hope that their potential will be used in another story.
Prince in Disguise (Perilous Courts #2) by Tavia Lark has much to recommend it. A couple with fantastic chemistry, a blinkmink, dragons, and the potential for more to come. Plus we got to see Whisper and Julien again.
Next is Audric’s story and Bellamy falling in love has put him in a bit of a bind.
I can’t wait to see what happens.
So far , it’s been a great journey. One I’m highly recommending! Read them in the order they are written.
I’m still hoping Lark will give us more on the Hounds of the Kennel. They have never left me for a second.
Perilous Courts:
✓ Prince and Assassin #1 (Prince Julien and Whisper )
✓ Prince in Disguise #2 – (Prince Bellamy and Rakos)
◦ Prince and Pawn #3 – Jan 30, 2033 (Prince Audric and Corin)
Rakos isn’t really a farmer. Bellamy definitely isn’t a minstrel.
Sheltered, sickly Prince Bellamy dreams of adventure—but not like this. Captured in enemy territory, his royal identity will get him killed. When his dangerously attractive fellow prisoner asks who he is, Bellamy claims to be a minstrel.
Except he can’t carry a tune to save his life. He panicked, okay?
Rakos was a dragonrider until betrayal landed him in chains. Now, he knows two things for certain: he can’t trust anyone, and he wants his dragon back. When the fragile minstrel asks who he is, Rakos claims he’s a farmer. When Bellamy begs for help reaching the border, Rakos refuses.
Until he can’t resist how much Bellamy needs him.
Stormy nights and deadly masquerades forge Rakos and Bellamy’s unlikely partnership into something more. Something exhilarating. Rakos treats Bellamy like a person, not a weak, untouchable prince, even as he protects him.
But Rakos’s enemies are circling in, and that very protection might be Bellamy’s undoing.
Prince in Disguise is a high fantasy gay romance, with double secret identities, Only One Bed, and a teleporting ferret. The Perilous Courts series is best read in order, but each book follows a different prince and his Happily Ever After.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
The Magi Accounts is a dark, brutal urban fantasy series. It’s a ugly universe of constant warfare between aliens coming through a human made rift and world governments trying to prevail against them using any and all mean possible.
For an unrecognizable US government, it’s meant that they’ve been treating the magi (magical human beings) like slaves, war fodder, and war tools. And worse. Subjecting them to the most horrific abuse, housed in breeding compounds, tagged and collared, little more than test subjects.
Several of our most beloved characters are magi and we go through some gut wrenching, horrific events with them in these books , including attempts of sexual assault and actual torture that brings home their dire situation in this dark universe.
Believe in the trigger warnings here.
Next on the low species list as regarded by the US government is shifters. While also in need of them as soldiers in shifter/magi teams against the powerful aliens arriving through the rift, the US government treats them barely better then the magi. They are tagged but have a hard won autonomy the magi could never hope for.
Notaro has built a remarkable tale of pain, horror and heartbreaking relationships amidst a war that only seems to be escalating, as a new enemy, made up of humans and witches comes for both the aliens and the shifter/magi population.
I fell in love with the growing found family that started with the bonded dyad magi pair, Madeo and Jude, together since early childhood. Traumatized, abused, sent to war as children as weapons, they trusted, with excellent reason, no one but themselves.
Now they are not only a part of Cosmo Ono-Nai’s pride, but Madeo is blood-bonded to Cosmo and his Alpha mate. So much change, almost more than either magi can emotionally handle after their abusive past.
Notaro’s stories have been building on the complicated bonds within the Ono-Nai pride and its success with helping the characters grow into a different person who sees perhaps a future with a relationship and a hope they never anticipated.
That’s a glimpse of lightness through the darkness we finally get to see here but not before some new horrors are visited upon the teams and characters as they fight against the Red Cloak conspiracy and new aliens , even dangers from within.
This is an exciting, suspenseful, dark series. It’s full of haunting moments and characters that stay with you. And each new story manages to bring an expansion on every level. From the series arc themes of slavery, species bigotry, child sexual assault, PTSD, loss and it’s ramifications, and so much more to the incredible growth the characters are able to demonstrate, emotionally and magically.
I always look forward to the next book. With great anticipation and a bit of fear. Because with each bit of hope we and the characters are allowed, it always comes at enormous personal cost.
Onward to the next story and this outstanding series step forward.
I’m highly recommending it and this. Read them in the order they are written for character development and plot.
The Magi Accounts:
🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1
🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2
🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5
🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3
🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday – Dec 20, 2022
🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5 – 8//2023
🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4 – Aug 29, 2033
Dark witches here, bloody witches there, evil witches everywhere.
At home, my life is amazing, thanks to my boyfriend, Cosmo Ono-Nai, and his wonderful family that I’ve become a part of. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.
But work is a different story.
All anyone’s talking about is the Red Cloth this, the Red Cloth that. I can’t escape them, and all I really want is to find someplace the witches can’t reach, take my family—my pride—there, and hide them away from the world.
But I can’t. I’ll do everything in my power to protect them, and everyone else, from the building threat. There’s this dread building in my chest about what’s to come, and I have a feeling the Red Cloth is planning something big. I only wish I knew what so I could keep Cos, Jude, and the rest of our family safe.
A Purpose That Restores Us is a 118K novel and the third book in the MM urban fantasy series, The Magi Accounts. It’s recommended to read the series in order because it has an ongoing storyline, but there is NO cliffhanger.
*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
I’m so enamored of this series. From that rich, gorgeous cover to the layered, incredibly fantastical story and characters, the 13 Kingdoms has grabbed at my heart and imagination.
From its great beginning, The Reluctant Companion, where Day lays the foundation for the series and introduces us to the main characters, Jack Shaw and Sebastian Beau.
Talk about opposites! The prickly, argumentative Jack, with his roots in a large loving farm hold family versus the vain, glorious and secretive Sebastian, with magical abilities and ex boyfriend’s who pop out at every corner. Sebastian , who’s speech is suspiciously posh with martial skills too good to be true.
We came to love them both even as they formed first an affection, then something deeper, though neither would admit it, through their various adventures together.
Now, they are off again, as we left them at the end of the last story. They’ve been hired to find a religious relic for a goodly reward (something Sebastian is always up for), and the chance they might find Jack’s missing sister.
The search for the relic and their adventures they journey through to seek it out are so fascinating and well crafted.
Of course, they stumble across more of Sebastian’s near endless list of ex-lovers, to various degrees entertainment and emotional issues from all. The journeys also produces or perhaps forces the couple to talk further about their relationship. Jack wants a clarity about Sebastian’s past that’s not been given.
The reader, of course, has more than a reasonable amount of idea of Sebastian’s identity then Jack. This isn’t going to go well, given Sebastian’s personality. Oh the anticipation! And the relationship they’ve been building!
The plot, or plots, full of action, trolls, orcs, enemies, mysteries, exes, magical characters, is just one swift-moving, ingeniously crafted tale . Full of memorable secondary characters that support our heroes so well that everything and everyone becomes a rich, breathing fantasy tapestry!
I need that third novel now! Because this one ends, as I knew it eventually would, on a bit of a heartbreaker.
I’m highly recommending this series and this story. But they must be read in the order they are written for plot and character development.
If you’re a lover of fantasy, and magical characters and romance, don’t pass this series by!
A missing artifact. A kingdom of secrets. Two men versus a multitude of magical beasts.
Jack and Sebastian are on the move once more. This time, to the frozen mountains of Askophai in search of a kingdom’s missing artifact. The journey alone would be perilous enough, but how are they supposed to find something that no one can describe? And what does the mysterious man who can make himself invisible have to do with any of it?
Jack has enough of Sebastian’s secrets to deal with, without taking on a whole kingdom’s. He and Sebastian might be together, but Jack still has his doubts about their long-term future. Assuming they have one that is, given Sebastian’s penchant for walking them headlong into danger at every opportunity.
One thing’s for certain, they’re going to need an awful lot of luck to succeed in this mission and return home safely.
The Stubborn Accomplice is an 85k sequel that features trolls, magical knights, an unwanted orc suitor, a wizard only too familiar to one of the main characters, and two men who really need to get better at talking about their feelings. If you enjoyed The Reluctant Companion buckle up for more banter, magic, and adventures in the continuation of the 13 kingdoms series.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
As most of you know, I’m a fan of this author which is why I’m so sorry to announce I’m no longer reviewing her stories.
I was looking forward to her latest release when I noticed a online discussion about it and her.
To my total confusion and dismay, the people commenting were pointing out that Kim Fielding’s new books are being published by Dreamspinner Press.
That’s a publisher and print who owes an incredible amount of money to so many authors, who’s refusing to pay them, who’s caused incredible emotional damage, and harm to so many and yet still continues to go on , business as usual.
Do a Google search on Elizabeth Noble and Dreamspinner Press. Or bring it up with all the authors still waiting on thousands, tens of thousands of dollars.
I stopped a long while ago reviewing DSP released books and authors and will continue to do so.
Unfortunately, now Kim Fielding’s added herself to that list.
Read about DSP online, in the backstory here , or talk to any of the many still being harmed by non payment, including TJ Klune , BA Tortuga, RJ Scott , so many.
Arcane mage Sage McKinley and his familiar, Fluke’s journey comes to a rousing end in Fluke and the Fantastic Finale.
What a mind blowing, wildly imaginative, wholly entertaining journey it’s been since the first time we meet Sage, suffering until Fluke finds him.
We’ve watched him come into his arcane powers, find love with Gideon, a family with his Grandmother, Anson, cousin Freddy, Mal, Beez, their familiars and all the rest that became a sort of foundation to Sage’s path to power, self-knowledge, and ultimately happiness.
It starts on the same astonishing note Fluke and the Frontier Farce ended. With Sage “accidentally” time traveling all of the group into the waiting room of the California Aureum. One of the most magically secure places in California!
And the start of the revelations as Sage is questioned by the Aureum’s quaesitors. From the existence of arcane magic to the mad cultists, The Believers’ insane plotting that’s extended through the decades, it all comes out and also works as a refresher course for the series.
Of course there’s one last major dramatic event where Sage, Fluke, Gideon and company are needed to save Junction, California and magic from the cultists who have kidnapped, tortured, and in general, been the villains the entire series.
I won’t spoil who the final “villain “ of the series turned out to be. It was a revolving role after all. I’m not sure this one stood up to any of the others but perhaps that’s as it should be. True evil is often so mundane on the surface.
The Convergence plays a fascinating role, and leaves the reader wanting to know more about it as well.
As finales go, it wasn’t superlative but it was very satisfying. Other books in this series were more explosive, more complicated, even more villainous. But this one ties up all the loose ends and gives everyone a heartwarming ending. And a wedding.
That’s pretty wonderful. I’ll take it.
I’m highly recommending Fluke and the Fantastic Finale (The Fantastic Fluke Book 5) by Sam Burns. It was a fabulous series and this sends it off in style.
For centuries, the Believer cult has preyed on arcane mages from their place in the shadows. Now, for better or worse, Sage has taken arcane magic public, and all eyes are on him. While he’s not comfortable in the spotlight, neither is the cult that wants him dead.
But the Believers aren’t quite ready to give up yet.
In this fifth and final book in The Fantastic Fluke series, they’ll take their shot at burning down Sage’s whole network of friends and associates, by whatever means necessary.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
How Not To Marry a Prince by Megan Derr is a very sweet fantasy romance, very typical of Derr in terms of location and types of characters.
I found myself delighted by the main character, Prince Amador, his love of numbers, and, romance. Amador is such a kind, sweet endearing person. That makes the idea of people drawn to his personality and warmth understandable. And the romance that follows believable.
The thing that throws the book and entire story off is that the beginning chapter has been placed at the end of the novel.
Now whether this is by choice or accident I have no idea. But it’s highly annoying. You miss Prince Amador’s arrival into the kingdom and all sorts of important information.
So if you’re going to read this story, go to the back of the book, read the first chapter there, then proceed with the rest of the story.
It’s really why it didn’t get a higher rating.
If a book is for sale, and this is a accidental format issue, fix it. If this is on purpose, well, I found it irritating.
At the ancient, doddering age of thirty, it’s long past time Prince Amador married, at least according to his domineering family. Determined to see the matter attended at last, they have issued an ultimatum: find a betrothed before the year is out, or he’ll be sent off to marry Prince Ottokar, Crown Prince of their oldest enemy, a man Amador has hated and feared for nearly all his life.
Desperate to avoid that fate, he has one last chance: to win the affections of Prince Nazaire, who has notoriously turned away every single suitor barely before they make their introduction. When he arrives, though, Amador finds not a snooty prince impossible to please, but a castle so brimming with secrets and romantic pining that the whole mess would be worthy of a bard’s tale.
If there’s one thing Amador loves more than mischief, it’s romance. He won’t ever be happy in his own marriage, but here’s a chance to see that others will be happy in theirs—and if he’s lucky, they’ll all be so pleased with the results that the quiet, handsome King Sohan will insist that he remain to help with other matters.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Michele Notaro’s A Date To Impress Him is that Novella that exists along side the events happening in the major stories of this series. It’s a companion piece told by Cosmo, as he attempts to take the mage Mads out on a real date. Three times.
That sounds like a lighthearted premise but this is Notaro’s The Magi Accounts world. Within this dark, trauma filled universe, not even something so mundane as a date is without the overtones of danger and overwhelming tragedy that waits for this found family, no matter the event.
Unlike the other books, this one is narrated by Cosmo, who’s still fighting his feelings of insecurities over dyad pair magi bond Madeo and Jude Driscoll share, especially after the frightening, horrific events of the last story.
These aren’t standalone books, and must be read in the order they are written because otherwise you wouldn’t understand where the new young teenager and his siblings came from that are staying at the Pride compound.
That’s a poignant element altogether.
A Date To Impress Him (The Magi Accounts #2.5) by Michele Notaro is another well crafted, emotionally moving story that adds tremendously to the dark universe the author is creating.
It has humor, but it’s basis lies in the constant love and bravery that is being tested by the scope of inhumanity and darkness this world has become.
I’m definitely recommending this and the series. Read them in order.
Who knew taking my little mage on a date would be so difficult?
With so much change happening at the house—three shifter kids are a lot to handle—Mads and I have been too busy to spend much alone time together. So I figured a date night was in order.
Too bad every time we try, we have to put a fire out somewhere. At this rate, I’m not sure I’ll ever get to take my mage on a date.
A Date To Impress Him is a fun MM urban fantasy companion novella and meant to be read AFTER The Shackles That Hold Us (The Magi Accounts 2). It’s from Cosmo’s perspective and takes place between books 2 and 3 of the main series. This is a companion novella, NOT a standalone. 110 pages.
So What If I’m Your Chosen One (Not Your Chosen One #2) by Evelyn Benvie picks up right after the end of I’m Not Your Chosen One, the first one in the series.
Kell is in a emotional muddle. The stars are pushing him towards his “destiny” as The Chosen One without much guidance. There’s Ansel, patiently waiting for Kell to figure out what their relationship is exactly and let Ansel know . Slow burn it is! But the biggest issue is deciding what sort of Chosen , if any, Kell’s going to be and how he’s to achieve the very high goal of saving Allune.
Even if it’s from the gods themselves.
So What If I Am The Chosen One has a tremendous amount of action, new characters, and revelations.
It also has Kell doing a bit more whinging as my British friends would call it. I had thought Kell had settled some of these issues in the first book, but almost immediately they are raised again here. Kell has enormous questions about his destiny, all the beings that want a say in that (perfectly understandable), and not a lot of belief in himself in getting the job done.
I wish he would communicate more with his small group of friends/found family, as they are equally invested with hearts and bodies in his destiny too.
Still, Benvie’s engaging characters, lively , action packed scenes filled with remarkable , often moving moments keeps me fully connected to Kell and his band of heroes as they navigate their way towards the dark landscape of the Lich King.
As Kell continues to turn enemies into allies, or potential friends, and the revelations show the origin behind the magical catastrophe, Kell’s quest looms ever larger and more necessary then ever .
The author’s plotting is complicated, exciting, emotional, and magical. All the components that make a fantastic story so rewarding. That and these wonderful characters.
As the story ends , they’ve completed one mission, but the ramifications have yet to set in.
That comes next in “It’s Hard Work Being a Chosen One”, no release date given as yet.
I’m absolutely charmed by this story and series. I can’t wait to see the next story hit.
That means I’m absolutely recommending both books and this author to all lovers of fantasy.
The stars don’t think Kell needs answers. He disagrees.
Having accepted his role as the Chosen, Kell plans to sail to Port Hull and seek answers no one seems willing to give him. Of course, the stars immediately sabotage him. They feel he’s ready to confront the allegedly evil Lich King and toss Kell and company directly into the Lich King’s territory with no way back. Instead of rushing heroically into battle, Kell retaliates by taking multiple detours on the way to his alleged adversary’s palace.
The roundabout route doesn’t end up being an easy one. With a demon tower, child ghosts, confrontations with the goddess and Ansel’s family, and serious talks about his relationship with Ansel, Kell has more than enough on his plate. But he can’t put off the destined battle with the Lich King forever, even though the odds of failure are high. Kell will need to draw on every ounce of non-traditional Chosen-ness or this might be the end of his time in Allune.
Evelyn Benvie has,in one story, become a auto read. This author’s new series, Not Your Chosen One, includes the sorts of characters, storylines, and world building I look for in a fantasy novel. Then goes further to make sure there’s humor, depth, growth for relationships and emotional issues that the main characters are dealing with.
Also new areas for the universe to expand and enrich the plot.
That all occurs in I’m Not Your Chosen One, book one in this outstanding series.
It starts off darkly enough, with 26 year old Kell Hồ Sinh Porter desperate and depressed. Once again he’s run from his home life that threatens to pull him under.
Benvie’s vividly described portrait of a young man so despairing that he cries out to the night for help is so real it tugs at you emotionally.
Especially when he’s answered.
Then the journey of self discovery, acceptance , responsibilities, friendship, and romance (what that means if you’re demisexual) , all within the realm of fantasy.
What’s a hero? What’s destiny anyway? Who decides? What if the hero says no? The author’s storylines has so much fantastic elements to it, moments where I was filled with glee , living fully through Kell and the decisions he kept making throughout this journey.
It’s the people he starts to befriend, the ones he astonishes, or frustrates as he learns about himself and others.
I’m so invested in this growing found family of beings, especially Kell. Who have a world to save but don’t know yet exactly what the plan is.
Evelyn Benvie has created an exciting , well written, beautifully realized fantasy world, and filled it with multidimensional characters I’ve come to care about deeply.
I can’t wait to see where this journey is taking them all.
If you’re a lover of fantasy, I’m highly recommending this author and story to you . Pick up I’m Not Your Chosen One (Not Your Chosen One #1) by Evelyn Benvie today!
Kell Hồ Sinh Porter is twenty-six years old and desperate to leave his unhappy life and his dead-end town.
One night his wish is granted by a mysterious voice—though not in any way he would’ve imagined—and he finds himself in the semi-magical land of Allune where everyone thinks he’s the “Chosen One.” Kell politely disagrees, and absconds from his duties. On the search for an adventure that doesn’t come with world-saving responsibility attached, he’s joined by companions. Every adventurer needs them, but his turn out to be Ansel, a sheltered fallen angel, and Fre, a half-orlk who wants to be a hero.
Destiny, bad luck, and the gods conspire against him. The Dawn Goddess wants him to take up his Chosen One mantle, which Kell is sure means becoming cannon fodder in an ancient divine war. The Lich King’s demonic minions carry out sporadic attacks in an attempt to kill him and prove he is not the Chosen One. Temperamental elves, talking stars that aren’t all that helpful, image-conscious demons, maddening pieces of prophecy that everyone thinks Kell should already know, and his growing feelings for Ansel all mix in a frustrating stew as Kell tries to juggle his feelings, his duties, and all the things trying to kill him. No one asked him if he wanted to be anyone’s Chosen One, and he can’t begin to understand why he was chosen.
Kell needs to figure out who to trust and how to forge his own path before it’s too late for Allune and for him.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 