Showing posts with label dystopian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dystopian. Show all posts

Friday, September 25, 2020

Ashen and Met By Midnight Blog Tour


2 Unique Cinderella Retellings!

Ashen
by H.L. Burke

Book Description:

Stealer of warmth, bringer of death. What if Cinderella had a secret that kept her locked away?

Unable to make her own body heat, foundling Lizbete survives in the tavern kitchen, drawing warmth from the fires, the sun—and sometimes, other living beings. Her days are spent cooking alongside the tavern owner and avoiding the suspicious gazes of the villagers in her small northern town. While she quietly longs for the handsome Brynar, she knows she has no chance with the mayor’s son, even if he invites her to the First Frost festival.

When sudden earthquakes strike Brumehome, blame falls upon Lizbete, and not even her friendship with Brynar can protect her. She finds shelter in the dangerous caverns of nearby Ash Mountain. There she discovers mysterious people with her same ability to draw heat—and a fiery doom in the mountain that slowly awakens with every quake.

Now the festival Lizbete thought to avoid is her only chance to warn the villagers. Yet even with Brynar at her side, can the strange girl dubbed the Ash Lizard hope to save the town that fears her?

A rugged YA Cinderella retelling set in a fantasy world with light steampunk elements.

Purchase on Amazon


Want to See More H.L. Burke Books?
Check Out My Other Reviews:

Reformed: Supervillain Rehabilitation Project
Daughter of Sun, Bride of Ice
2 Short Stories by H.L. Burke
Heart of the Curiosity
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 1
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 2
Green Princess Trilogy - Book 3
To Court a Queen
Spice Bringer
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
A Tale in Two Parts
Dragon's Curse - Book 1
Dragon's Debt - Book 2
Dragon's Rival - Book 3
Dragon's Bride - Book 4
Beggar Magic

About the Author:
H.L. Burke

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.


Met By Midnight
by Janeen Ippolito

Book Description:

An outcast prince. A captive healer. A single night that changes their destinies.

She lives a nightmare.

As a Mender, Renna is held captive to an endless cycle of receiving and recovering from the physical ailments of others—a cycle that led her mother to an early grave. When her father becomes deathly ill, Renna is desperate to save her only remaining family. Even if it means allying with criminals and taking an illegal mission into the royal palace on the night of their greatest ball.

He’s haunted by dreams.

Unable to be Mended, Prince Jaric’s existence is a curse to his family’s façade of health and security. Marrying him off at the ball and sending him to a distant dukedom is the royal solution—but Jaric has his own plans. For years he’s dreamed of a young woman, a strong-hearted Mender he would give everything for. When she arrives the night of his betrothal, he’s determined to discover her true identity. 

Met by midnight, their fates are entwined.

While escape seems the only answer, powerful forces conspire to keep Renna and Jaric within their cages. Forces that undermine the foundations of the kingdom itself—and threaten any hope of a future together.

This YA romance features Cinderella in an original fantasy world with a dystopian twist.

Purchase on Amazon


Want to See More Janeen Ippolito Books?
Check Out My Other Reviews:

My Alien Engagement
If Wishes Were Curses
Wish You Weren't Here

About the Author:
Janeen Ippolito

Janeen Ippolito believes in Jesus, true love, and the power of your unique words. She's a bestselling author of speculative fiction, writing resources, and poetry. She's also an editor, author coach, marketing strategist, and the president of Uncommon Universes Press. When she's not immersed in the geektastic world of words, she's helping her husband with his youth swordfighting ministry, exploring a slew of random hobbies, and posting up cute animal videos on social media. This extroverted writer loves to connect! You can follow her on the links below:

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Monday, November 11, 2019

Death Warden Giveaway!

Death Warden


Free E-book until November 14!


A teenage assassin. An impossible choice. The fate of everything hangs in the balance.

Sixteen-year-old Reen swore she’d never take another life. Divinely selected to assassinate a few in order to save many, she learned to jump from shadow to shadow and claim her victims without question… until she was ordered to kill the boy she loved. But when an ancient plague returns threatening to infect everyone she knows, she is forced to resume her deadly duties.

Battling a disease that turns people into nightmarish monsters, Reen must track down and terminate those responsible before the city falls and the evil spreads beyond its borders. But the closer she gets to the source, the more she uncovers sinister secrets that will shake the foundations of her world and everything she believes.

Can Reen defend her realm without losing her soul?

Death Warden is an exhilarating YA fantasy. If you like strong heroines, compelling magic, and dark secrets, then you’ll love C.J. Stilling’s imaginative tale.

Free E-book until November 14!

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Friday, October 4, 2019

Departing (Earth's Only Hope Book 1)

Departing
by Joynell Schultz

Departing: A Thrilling Romantic Apocalyptic Series with Aliens (Earth's Only Hope Book 1) by [Schultz, Joynell]

About the Book:

Title: Departing (Earth's Only Hope Book 1) | Author: Joynell Schultz | Pages: 284| Genre: Science-Fiction | Recommended Ages: Young Adult and Up

Book Description:

Live or die, stay or go, the choice is meant to be easy...

I can either board an alien spaceship with my fellow criminals or rot in prison on a dying Earth.

The spacecraft's captain, a handsome alien who looks remarkably human, has been visiting me in my dreams for over a year. He has given me the companionship I need during my time locked up in solitary confinement and the way he holds me in the dark makes me forget the Earth is on the brink of extinction.

In the midst of another ice age, humanity will be wiped out soon, but the alien spacecraft gives hundreds of us another option. If I get on that ship, I have a chance at surviving.

And I’m a survivor.

Only a deadly disease is spreading among the aliens and has already wiped out three-quarters of their population. It appears to be a virus, but as the aliens continue dying despite all precautions, I begin to wonder if the disease is something else.

How do I keep the man I’ve fallen in love with safe?
And if he dies, along with the rest of his alien race, how will us humans manage a ship filled with unknown technology?

But if the disease also wipes out the humans on board, none of this will even matter.

Books in the Earth’s Only Hope Series:
Connecting (Prequel): Available in the Rogue Skies Box Set
Departing (Book 1): Available now
Surviving (Book 2): Coming this fall
Returning (Book 3): Coming this winter

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Wow! This was an unputdownable story! It gripped me from the beginning right through to the end! Nothing is as it seems and no one is perfect. Does love conquer all or will survival instincts have the last say?

Even though this is Book 1, there is a prequel novella called Connecting in the Rogue Skies collection. It's also a good story with different main characters who get mentioned in Departing. There was a good stopping point in both the prequel and first book, but the adventures have only just begun! I can't wait to read further!

Disclosure: I received an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Related Posts:

About the Author:
Joynell Schultz

Joynell Schultz

Joynell Schultz manages the family zoo (literally!) and writes romantic speculative fiction in her (nearly non-existent) free time. She's a pharmacist by training (boring!) but prefers to hang out with zebras and bears or some imaginary characters.


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Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Sisters Studying in the Sun and a Linky


Since we live in South Africa, below the Equator, our seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. This past weekend we hit 40°C (104°F) two days in a row, which is unexpectedly early to get such hot days. Our girls decided to sit by the pool on Saturday morning before it got too hot to study for their final exams. Jessica is in her second year at university and Samantha is in her final year at high school. Typically, the school year ends early December and the new school year begins mid-January.

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The Mark by Edyth Bulbring



Dragon School Books 19 and 20

Dragon School: Ascendant Light by [Wilson, Sarah K. L. ]


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Thursday, October 25, 2018

The Mark by Edyth Bulbring and a Linky

Most of my regular readers know that I'm a volunteer reader at the Blind Institute here in South Africa. All of the reading I do is in a sound room and most is related to school. I just finished reading the book depicted below for Grade 10, which you can find on Amazon, but with a different cover design.


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The Mark

The Mark by [Bulbring, Edyth]

About the Book:

Title: The Mark | Author: Edyth Bulbring | Pages: 237 | Genre: Dystopian | Recommended Age: Young Adult | Trigger Warning: Extreme Violence

Book Description:

In the future, the world has flipped. Ravaged by the Conflagration, the State of Mangeria is a harsh place where the sun beats down, people’s lives are run by a heartless elite and law is brutally enforced. A mark at the base of the spine controls each person’s destiny. The Machine decides what work you will do and who your life partner will be. Juliet Seven – “Ettie” – will soon turn 15 and her life as a drudge will begin, her fate-mate mate will be chosen. Like everyone else, her future is marked by the numbers on her spine. But Ettie decides to challenge her destiny. And in so doing, she fulfills the prophecy that was spoken of before she even existed.

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

The Mark is a dystopian novel that takes place after the world has burned and the sun beats down mercilessly. It is hell on earth in more ways than one. The elite few have all the privileges and use their power to dominate everyone else. There are horrific human right's violations in every chapter. One of them is to discard people once they lose their usefulness.

A girl named Juliet, who goes by Ettie, is raised as an orphan and trained to do menial labor as a drudge. She has learned that to survive, you have to be a nobody and trust no one. She blends in so well, that people assume she lacks intelligence and has no feelings. She also pretends not to know how to read, since kids like her aren't taught that skill.

The story is told through her eyes and her thoughts are dripping with sarcasm. Ettie uses concepts from classic books and fairy tales to describe her world. She calls her handler, Xavier, a tricksy hobbit and the doctors in lab coats Frankenstein 1 and Frankenstein 2. She also uses lines from nursery rhymes, which point to happier times and which are in stark contrast to her harsh reality. It's her love of stories that helps her connect with one of the children of the elites.

Ettie, like everyone else, has a number on her back to keep her under the control of the elites. For years she has been trying to find a way to remove the mark, but without success. The Machine tracks her mark and determines what work she will do and who she will marry, but she doesn't like being controlled by the Machine or by a vague prophecy. She has a purpose to fulfill; a prophecy that is whispered by a scattering of rebels. No one believes that the prophecy is about her, except for the hadeda ibis birds. These are large ugly birds whose eyes have been cruelly removed to trigger their ability to foretell the future. Whenever Ettie is near, they screech at her warnings about her future.

This is a well-written story. There are twists and turns that will keep you guessing. The use of sarcasm is the right choice of humor for this hell on earth. If you're looking for a happily-ever-after, then this book isn't for you. It also doesn't have a complete ending. It's written for young adults, but because of the brutality, it should come with an age restriction of 16 and up.

About the Author:
Edyth Bulbring

Edyth Bulbring

Edyth Bulbring is an award-winning writer of Young Adult novels. She was born in Boksburg and grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She worked as a journalist for fifteen years and was political correspondent at the Sunday Times of South Africa covering the first democratic elections. She likes dogs, trees and junk shops.


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Amanda

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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -
Make My Saturday Sweet #288

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.
All family friendly blogs are welcome!

I would love for you to follow me on

Here are the easy rules:
  • Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
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  • Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
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  • Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.
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Amanda’s Books and More

Weekend Linky


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First make sure that you load this page as http and not https if you want to see the linky. Type in the name of your blog or blog post under Link Title, then type in your email under Email Address (which I don't sell to anyone), then copy your permalink to your post (most link parties ask for blog posts and not blog homepages) and paste that under URL (make sure that you use http:// or https:// only once), then click Submit Link and that's it!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
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Monday, September 24, 2018

The Girl Who Could See

The Girl Who Could See

The Girl Who Could See by [Swanson, Kara]

About the Book:

Title: The Girl Who Could See | Author: Kara Swanson | Pages: 214 | Genre: Science Fiction | Recommended Age: Young Adult

Book Description:

A Novella

All her life Fern has been told she is blind to reality—but, what if she is the only one who can truly see?

Fern Johnson is crazy. At least, that's what the doctors have claimed since her childhood. Now nineteen, and one step away from a psych ward, Fern struggles to survive in bustling Los Angeles. Desperate to appear normal, she represses the young man flickering at the edge of her awareness—a blond warrior only she can see.

Tristan was Fern's childhood imaginary hero, saving her from monsters under her bed and outside her walls. As she grew up and his secret world continued to bleed into hers, however, it only caused catastrophe. But, when the city is rocked by the unexplainable, Fern is forced to consider the possibility that this young man is not a hallucination after all—and that the creature who decimated his world may be coming for hers.

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

The Girl Who Could See is a novella that combines science-fiction, with fantasy, romance, and suspense. Fern and Tristan are from different worlds caught in a dire battle that only they can fight with their unique abilities. Even though they are survivors and Tristan is a hardened warrior, there's a lighter side to them too. The dialogue helps to break up the almost non-stop action. There's also a mystery around Fern's childhood trauma and her muddled memories. The puzzle pieces come together as the story unfolds, but sometimes I found that part a bit disjointed. Overall it is a good story and the ending is satisfying.

About the Author:
Kara Swanson



As the daughter of missionaries, KARA SWANSON spent sixteen years of her young life in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Able to relate with characters dropped suddenly into a unique new world, she quickly fell in love with the speculative genre and was soon penning stories herself.

At seventeen, she independently published a fantasy novel, Pearl of Merlydia. Her short story Distant as the Horizon is included in Kathy Ide's 21 Days of Joy: Stories that Celebrate Mom. She has published many articles, including one in the Encounter magazine. Kara received the Mount Hermon Most Promising Teen Writer Award in 2015.

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Thursday, August 2, 2018

Starfire by Jenetta Penner

Starfire
The Starfire Wars Book 1

Starfire (The Starfire Wars Book 1) by [Penner, Jenetta]

About the Book:

Title: Starfire (Book 1) | Author: Jenetta Penner | Publisher: Torment Publishing | Pages: 267 | Genre: Science-Fiction | Recommended Age: Young Adult

Book Description:

Lies, Love, and Secrets Ignite a Galactic War.

Cassiopeia isn't thrilled with traveling on the first starship to settle on a new earth. But it's not like she has a choice. Her father is the architect of this grand civilization that is meant to be humanity’s salvation. So, staying behind was never an option.

Once she arrives on the lush new planet named Arcadia, Cassi and her family are treated like royalty, but when a terrorist attack strikes and her father is killed, everything falls apart.

A mysterious and gorgeous boy enters her life and Cassi is thrown into a reality she never knew existed. She shares an otherworldly connection with this boy, and soon uncovers secrets about herself and this new planet that were never meant to emerge.

Purchase on Amazon:
Kindle | Paperback

My Review:

Starfire has it all - a story that many young adult readers will enjoy! It has adventure, romance, magic, aliens, and more! The story moves quickly with interesting characters and a well-developed plot. The romance happens a bit too quickly for my taste, but there's nothing beyond kissing. Since this is the first book in a series, it doesn't have a proper ending. You'll have to stick around to find out what happens next!

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About the Author:
Jenetta Penner

Jenetta Penner

Jenetta Penner developed a love of sci-fi at an early age and decided on a whim to read 40 young adult books in the same genre. From that experience, an author was born. Configured is her debut novel. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, two daughters and two furbabies. And she may or may not have a slight addiction to cat gifs.

Drop her a note here.

Visit her website here.


Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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Saturday, May 5, 2018

Immersed - Book 2

Immersed
The Configured Trilogy Book 2

Immersed: Book #2 in the Configured Trilogy by [Penner, Jenetta]

About the Book:

Title: Immersed (Configured Trilogy Book 2) | Author: Jenetta Penner | Pages: 317 | Genre: Science-Fiction Dystopian | Recommended Age: Young Adult

Book Description:

Just when she thought it was safe to step into the light.

After a daring escape from Elore, Avlyn finds that the Outerbounds isn't the haven of freedom she's hoped for. Deception and lies run rampant. Avlyn's powerful Immersion ability marks her as dangerous, but highly valuable.

Will she find her place in this new world? Or have to die trying?

Fans of dystopian novels like Divergent, Matched, and the Maze Runner will love this world of dark secrets, intrigue and thirst for a better tomorrow.

Purchase on Amazon:

My Review

Immersed is the second book in this exciting science-fiction dystopian trilogy for young adults. This series has it all! There's action, adventure, suspense, great characters, and a touch of romance. Avlyn, the heroine, is wanted on both sides of the conflict, but there's a faction that wants her too. She hopes to use her abilities to help people, but she doesn't know who she can trust. It's not only her life at risk, but her twin brother's too. He has the same abilities as she and believes that disappearing is the best plan of action. She has a few friends that she can trust, but even good people die. Find out how everything comes together in the emotional conclusion with Book 3!

Check out My Review
of Configured (Book 1)


About the Author:
Jenetta Penner

Jenetta Penner

Jenetta Penner developed a love of sci-fi at an early age and decided on a whim to read 40 young adult books in the same genre. From that experience, an author was born. Configured is her debut novel. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, two daughters and two furbabies. And she may or may not have a slight addiction to cat gifs.

Get access to 50 FREE YA Books and a
Configured YA Coloring book by
subscribing to her book club here.

Drop her a note here.

Visit her website here.


Disclosure: I received a free ARC of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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Thursday, February 1, 2018

3 Love Stories and a Linky


It's almost Valentine's Day and I've got 3 fun love stories to share with you today! These are all relatively clean romances that are between young adult and new adult appropriate with plenty of feel-good moments. Click on the titles in blue to learn more.



Pippa of Lauramore (The Eldentimber Series Book 1) by [Tapscott, Shari L.]

My Review:

Pippa of Lauramore is a fantasy romance with great characters and plenty of action and adventure. It's about a princess named Pippa who is hoping someone other than the man her father has chosen will win her hand in marriage at the tournaments. She interferes right from the beginning hoping to guarantee that the man she chooses will win. Things don't always go as planned and her man isn't up to speed. Unfortunately, the man that she really cares about isn't worthy enough in her father's eyes to compete for her hand. The worst part is that her father's original choice for her might just win after all!



Elissa Blue: Book One of The Winged by [Perry, T.K.]

My Review:

Elissa Blue is a love story through and through. If you're looking for plenty of giggles and sigh worthy moments, then you'll enjoy this book! Surprisingly, this is supposed to be a dystopian/science-fiction novel, but only mildly so. A genetically modified human race exists with new abilities, but also limitations. This was explained to some extent, but other things like why prayer was banned were not. The story focuses on relationships and avoiding the pitfalls of sexual desire. Euphemisms are not used, which can be shocking for some readers. Otherwise, it's a relatively clean romance and appropriate for mature teenagers and new adults.


Captive Rebel



My Review:

Captive Rebel is a fast paced adventure romance novella. I enjoyed the chemistry between captive and captor. I liked how the good guys and bad guys were on both sides of the conflict. It reminds me of a medieval story, but the setting is supposed to be dystopian. There are little nods to the world that once was, but these didn't fit well and felt contrived. I think it should have been set in an alternate universe instead. Overall, it was fun to read.


Disclosure: These books were all purchased by me from Amazon Kindle and these are my honest reviews. There are no affiliate links.


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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -
Make My Saturday Sweet #254!

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.
All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to
link them on my Blog Hops page!

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Pink Simplicity Roses and a Linky


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My Recent Book Reviews:



Mallie: Daughter of Defiance: A Dark Powers Rising Story by [Fernfield, Rebecca]



Dragon School: The Dark Prince by [Wilson, Sarah K. L.]


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Now on to my blog hop...

Amanda’s Books and More

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday
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at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.
Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!


If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
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I would love for you to follow me on
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