BLOG TOUR Greystone by B L Ryan

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour for Greystone by B L Ryan.This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. B L Ryan will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. If you show the other hosts some love and comment on their posts too, your chances of winning increase. 

Happy reading everyone and best of luck with the giveaway!

All Mouse could remember about her father was sitting on his lap while he told her stories. She wished she could remember what he looked like. When she hangs a white pendant that belonged to her father in her bedroom window, this wish becomes the key to great adventure in another world. A gate appears with a dragon twirling in the air above a colourful garden on the other side of the gate. Zeeta, the royal dragon, greets Mouse and invites her into the garden. The garden is part of Sweet Water holding, home to Lady Jane, who is the seer for Prince Ruler Jared.

As Mouse and Zeeta struggle to complete a quest, Mouse searches for her father. Their journey takes them across the plains of Norlanda and south to the Border Mountains.

The seers have foretold that a far traveller will appear and lead Norlanda against its enemies. This does not seem likely, as Norlanda is prosperous and peaceful at this time. Meanwhile, dark forces gathered in the Border Mountains have recognized the presence of Mouse in the lines of destiny and have started to move towards her.

How will the presence of a child, a far traveller from another world, affect the destiny of this world?

Read an Excerpt

King Henry regarded Jared impatiently.

“It has come to my attention that you and members of the Royal Guard have taken up with all manner of disreputable people. I have been told that you visit mead houses and the common rooms of guild holdings throughout Greystone City.”

“The Royal Guard are not responsible,” said Jared.

“No, they are not!” His father slammed his hand on the table.

The King’s scribe, sitting in the corner, jerked and dropped one of his ink brushes. It fell off the desk and rolled across the floor. He knelt and picked it up quietly.

“I had hoped Captain Hawke would subdue your more eccentric tastes in companions!”

“Are not the common folk my people?” Jared asked. “That is not the issue,” said the King, his voice rising with irritation.

“You disappear with Zeeta for days at a time. It is time you acted as the future King of Norlanda.”

“Father, how else can I know this Kingdom and its people?”

“An excellent sentiment!” the King said. He pressed both hands on the table and leaned forward. “A grand tour would give you a chance to meet some of your other loyal subjects as well as suitable maidens.”

Jared’s jaw tightened; his grey eyes narrowed. “I would meet only the maidens the Council deemed suitable,” he returned shortly.

The King glared at him. “You have a life of great privilege and responsibility. By the grace of the Etu, your life belongs to this land and its people.”

“By the grace of the Etu, I would not ask for such a life,” his son returned tersely.

The King signaled the scribe to leave the room and came around the table to stand by his son. He tried to speak reasonably. It had been a long day. He was not feeling well, and he knew his temper was not helping. He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

About the Author: Born in Saskatchewan, Betty has lived in several areas across Canada, from Ottawa to Vancouver Island while growing up. Her fondest memory as a child is of her father building a tent trailer and her mother sewing yards and yards of canvas for the tent. The family travelled across Canada and down the eastern seaboard of the United States for several summer vacations.

Betty worked as a drawing office assistant in Oxford, England, for almost two years before returning to Canada to work as a topographical clerk in Edmonton, Alberta. She pursued a BSc. in Agriculture with a major in Horticulture from the University of Alberta. While raising her children, Betty worked as an Office Manager for a non-profit society and took writing courses at night school and from the Institute of Children's Literature, Connecticut.

The garden has always been a source of inspiration and joy for Betty, as are all the beloved cats and dogs who have walked into her life. Betty believes stories are the foundation of our life. The stories we enjoy, the stories we tell ourselves, our children and others, reflect how we view the world around us. She enjoys writing fantasy for the youth genre because she feels there is still so much of the wonder of life, and the attitude that anything is possible, from this age group.

Greystone is her first novel. She is currently working on the sequel, Greystone: A New Beginning.

Free to read on KU: https://www.amazon.com/Greystone-B-L-Ryan-ebook/dp/B0CQK3HB8R/ref=sr_1_1

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Interview with N.P. Thompson, author of 'River of Crows'

INTERVIEW

Hi friends! 

I'm pleased to be featuring author N.P. Thompson and her debut novel River of Crows on the blog today. It was a blast getting to chat and get to know them a bit more. Their book is available now, so be sure to add the book to your TBR today!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Nathalie! 

About the Book

2023 CANADIAN BOOK CLUB AWARDS FINALIST

“Fantastically paced… a smart, funny, exciting fantasy novel for younger readers who love all things magical.” — Kirkus Reviews

"One heck of an adventure...a jam-packed story complete with twists and turns!" — BookReviewsByMrsC (Bookstagram)

Ty Baxter just wants to survive seventh grade without dying of boredom or getting flattened by the school bully. But when he tries to help an injured crow, his ordinary life is suddenly upended. Now trapped in a secret, magical world, Ty finds himself at the center of a cryptic prophecy, and the target of a brutal emperor who will stop at nothing to protect his power.

In a desperate gamble, Ty struggles to control his emerging magical Talent so he can help his friends rescue their kidnapped family members before the emperor uses his dark sorcery to transform them into birds and enslaves them forever as soldiers in his enchanted avian army.

Q & A with the Author

How did you come up with the phrase ‘River of Crows’ as the title for your first book?

In the part of town I used to live in, we used to see long lines of crows snaking across the sky throughout fall and winter. Every evening they'd head in one direction, and every morning they'd come flying back. Always in long, waving lines. I always found them mesmerizing. I thought they looked just like a black river flowing through the sky, and it occurred to me one day that "river of crows" would make a great book title. And that sat in the back of my mind for years before I actually began writing the first book. And when I finally did start writing it, I knew that would be the title, and I knew that crows were going to play a big part in the story.

Besides writing, what is one thing you do for fun?

I like to experiment in the kitchen, and I do a fair bit of baking. Many years ago, I even considered writing a cookbook with my own recipes. I also moved to a new place in May, and it has a yard big enough to have gardens, so I've rediscovered a passion for gardening that I used to have when I was a kid. One of the first things I did after moving in was to dig up the back part of the yard and turn it into a big veggie garden, and I'm about to put in a flower garden at the front. I definitely have to rethink my veggie garden plans for next year though--my tomato and cucumber plants have pretty much taken over and turned that part of the yard into an impenetrable jungle.

What is your favorite part about writing fantasy books for a middle-grade audience?

I love middle grade as a genre because these books tackle big ideas in accessible ways. And while they can take some dark or scary turns, there is always a thread of hope that runs through them—a belief that no matter how scary or overwhelming a situation may seem to us, we always have a chance and choice to do something to make it better. And I think that's something everyone needs.

I always love learning more about an author’s writing process. What is one way that your book has changed from the first draft to the final one?

There have been so many changes since the first draft! I'm not a linear writer, so my books get written in random bits and pieces. I always start with an outline, but the stories inevitably take me in new directions I hadn't planned when I start writing them down. So, the end product ends up being a combination of what I had charted out and what spontaneously evolved during the process of fleshing the outline out. Sometimes that completely changes the remaining trajectory of my "vision". The Arcanium Saga was originally going to be a trilogy, and then that expanded after I had created notes for book three and realized the story wasn't actually done yet.

What are some fun quirks your characters have that readers can look forward to learning about in your book?

So, I'm laughing about this question because I recently created a set of printable character cards people can get on my website that feature awesome chibi anime versions of each of the kids in the book, along with info about them that isn't in the books, like their favorite foods and school subjects and their pet peeves. There are also three mystery bonus cards that come with that set. I actually did character sheets early on in my writing process so that I could be sure that I really understood them all and what made them tick. So, yeah. All the characters definitely have their own personality quirks.

And yet, what I really love about my characters is how they keep surprising me with who they are—despite all that early character work. They are each so different, and they each change and grow a lot as the series progresses. In book one, Sasha is the gregarious, outgoing one. Simon is the shy one. Shea is the serious one. Ayslenne is the prickly, determined one. And Ty is the more trepidatious, should-we-really-be-doing-this one. As the series has progressed, Sasha starts to slow down and think a bit more, Simon starts to stand up for himself more, Ayslenne starts making real friends, and Ty is turning out to be the leaps-before-he-looks kind of guy. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how much more they evolve as the series goes on.

Without any spoilers, share your favorite scene that you’ve written.

Oh, I can't tell you that because it would definitely be a spoiler. Let's just say that book four really sets things up for the rest of the series and it is going to change everything for our intrepid Team Arcania kids. There are a couple of scenes in that one that I really had fun with.

What was your hardest scene to write and why?

The first chapter in book two has been the hardest to write so far. The final, published version changed radically from what it originally was. It was the very last chapter to be finalized before the manuscript went to the editor and it took forever, because I just couldn't get it right. And it wasn't even until after the last round of editing that I finally figured how to fix it. We had to do an additional round of last-minute editing at the end, just for that chapter because I changed it so much. But I'm really happy with the changes and I think it gives a much clearer picture of where Ty is, mentally, at the start of the story and what his motivations are for this new quest.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

In terms of themes? At the macro level there's political oppression and outright tyranny, and that's contrasted with Ty's personal experiences with the school bully. There's an environmental theme that is hinted at in the first book, and which becomes more prominent as the series progresses. There are themes of family and friendship and how those bonds can form and be tested and how our life experiences can shape who we become. There's a running theme about courage and determination and how the willingness to take action on something that matters to you is the catalyst that allows you to change your circumstances, and another one about how big things get accomplished when we work together and use everyone's different skills and abilities to achieve a common goal.

So, there are a lot of big themes happening. And this, of course, is usually the case with middle grade books—we put the Big Things that kids are starting to become aware of outside of themselves and their own families into a format that helps kids process and understand these things in a non-threatening way. And we show them that they can have agency in their lives. And that there is always hope, no matter how unfair or how scary life sometimes gets. There is always hope that things can get better and, more importantly perhaps, we all can do something to help make things better, both for ourselves and for our wider communities. And, as writers, we have to weave all these Big Things in without sounding preachy or pedantic—all of that stuff has to be such a natural part of the story that it's not even something people realize is there until they actually stop to think about it.

So, I guess that's the Important Literary Takeaways bit. But at the heart of it all, what I really want is for my readers to be entertained. To be swept away with these kids on their action-packed adventures. To empathize with these kids so much that they can't help feeling what they feel and wanting them to achieve what they set out to do. I want readers to be rooting for these characters so much that they absolutely have to find out what happens next in their magic-filled saga of vanquishing villains and untangling the mystery about why their world is the way it is.

About the Author

N.P. Thompson once had a goal of reading every single book in her elementary school library. She was the kid who never went anywhere without at least one paperback tucked away in her bag and she wrote her first story, a fanfic based on The Black Cauldron, in third grade. She is the author of River of Crows (a 2023 Canadian Book Club Awards finalist), Mirror of Wolves, and the forthcoming Stone of Serpents.

N.P. has degrees in Cognitive Science, Education, and Interactive Media Design, and when she is not creating worlds, or waging losing battles against the voracious pests that insist on eating her garden, she works as a web developer and UX/UI specialist. She lives in Ottawa, Canada with her two awesome kids and a very lazy cat. She enjoys talking to the neighborhood crows (most days) but wishes they would stop nagging her about not having finished their stories yet.

Links:
Website: https://NPTwrites.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nptwrites
Instagram: https://instagram.com/npt_writes
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nptwrites.bsky.social

REVIEW The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade

The Shadow Sister by Lily Meade
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: June 27, 2023
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 

Lily Meade’s debut young adult novel, The Shadow Sister, is an exciting and captivating new book. Mixing the genres of thrillers and mysteries, readers are kept on the edge of their seats as they follow Casey and Sutton in a quest to determine what’s been going on in their community. I particularly enjoyed Tamika Katon-Donegal’s audiobook performance, and how she brought the action to life through her narration. 

There’s so much the author explores throughout the book. First of all, the fractured sibling relationship between Sutton and Casey. Readers get a glimpse into what their relationship used to be like with the alternating point-of-view, and the various flashback moments. It was also nice to have the point of view switch between Sutton and Casey; switching between past flashbacks from Sutton and the present from Casey’s point of view, really put an emphasis on their fractured sibling relationship, what the overall family environment was, and what the relationships used to be like. 

In addition to sibling relationships and the bonds of family, there’s also an exploration of generational trauma and the impact of racism on the black community. After Sutton’s disappearance, their parents note how they have to get on TV and beg for help every day to just get a modicum of the attention a white girl’s disappearance would get. While the book does emphasize some of the challenges the black community faces on a day-to-day basis, it also highlights the importance of the cultural traditions they value (largely introduced thanks to the girl's grandmother, who is my favorite side character in the book). 

The mystery surrounding the events of the story was impressive. Unlike many other books, I did not piece together the truth of the mystery early on (which is always exciting). With the big reveal at the end of the story, so many things began to click into place and I always love it when an ending feels earned. The supernatural or magical realism aspect of the book just made the story better, and I thought the book wrapped up very well. 

Overall, this was a very entertaining read and a great debut novel! I’m excited to see more of what Lily Meade writes in the future. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Racism

About the Book

Sutton going missing is the worst thing to happen to Casey, to their family. She’s trying to help find her sister, but Casey is furious. And she can’t tell anyone about their argument before Sutton disappeared. Everyone paints a picture of Sutton’s perfection: the popular cheerleader with an entourage of friends, a doting boyfriend, and a limitless future. But Sutton manipulated everyone around her, even stole an heirloom bracelet from Casey. People don’t look for missing Black girls--or half-Black girls--without believing there is an angel to be saved.

When Sutton reappears, Casey knows she should be relieved. Except Sutton isn’t the same. She remembers nothing about while she was gone—or anything from her old life, including how she made Casey miserable. There’s something unsettling about the way she wants to spend time with Casey, the way she hums and watches her goldfish swim for hours.

What happened to Sutton? The more Casey starts uncovering her sister’s secrets, the more questions she has. Did she really know her sister? Why is no one talking about the other girls who have gone missing in their area? And what will it take to uncover the truth?

About the Author

Lily Meade is a young adult novelist of speculative fiction, represented by Elana Roth Parker of Laura Dail Literary. She has a Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. Her work has been published in Bustle and Teen Vogue and she has been featured in Romper, Buzzfeed, and Rolling Stone. Her YouTube channel on writing advice and inspiration has over 3,700 subscribers.

Check out the author's website

ARC REVIEW Unseelie (The Unseelie Duology Book 1) by Ivelisse Housman

Unseelie (The Unseelie Duology Book 1) 

by Ivelisse Housman
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Format: eARC (Courtesy of Publisher and NetGalley) and Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Inkyard Press 

I’d been hearing a lot of hype about a new fantasy book with an autistic main character, and I knew I had to check out what everyone was talking about. Ivelisse Housman’s debut young adult fantasy novel Unseelie is filled with adventure, a strong sense of family, and great worldbuilding. 

Iselia Graygrove, or ‘Seelie’ is a young changeling who has been traveling with her human ‘twin’ sister Isolde for years. Seelie’s family loves her, but her ‘differentness’ has always made her an outcast in every village they traveled to. Once Seelie’s magic starts to become wild and out of control after a heist gone wrong, the sisters are thrust into the middle of a mystery with the potential to affect both fae and humans alike.  

It was interesting to read the author’s note explaining that the stories of changelings were thought to be an early explanation for autistic children. That really helped me relate specifically to Seelie’s character as a reader. Readers got to experience how Seelie reacted to the world differently than the other characters in the story. She has tried so hard to fit into what society considers normal, and her challenges are only compounded by her faerie heritage and her autistic mannerisms (I don’t believe the word autistim was explicitly used in the story). The others do their best, but there are multiple instances where they struggle to understand her neurodivergent experiences from their neurotypical perspectives. As a result, she’s never really fit into either world, and that weighs heavily on her over the course of the book. 

Having a sister of my own, I really connected to Isolde and Seelie’s relationship. They are incredibly close, and Isolde is fiercely protective of her sister against those who would ostracize her for being a changeling. Despite their closeness, there are the inevitable moments where they clash and get into arguments. Said moments only made me relate to them even more (what sibling relationship doesn’t have a few fights now and then?) 

The world-building is well developed. The author takes some of the most famous pieces of faerie lore, and builds that into the story to create the different realms. There’s an obvious nod to the classic fairy tales, but the world is built such that it feels fresh for both die-hard fantasy readers and those new to the genre. I appreciated the vivid and immersive imagery, and how the world was brought to life as the characters went on their travels. The pace was such that the characters kept moving fairly frequently, and that helped introduce the readers to new places and people. 

The only drawback of the book, and why I was unable to give it a full five stars, was how disjointed the plot seemed to be. I could tell you so much about the world, the characters and individual moments but things were so hectic and confusing I can’t actually tell you how those moments connect. The author completely lost me with the transitional moments of the book. The progression of the story is confusing at best, and as a reader it can be overwhelming to have so many moments where you’re not really sure whats going on. The best way I could describe it is a tangled knot of string - you never really know where pulling on one end is going to lead you. 

Overall, this was a very entertaining and insightful novel. There were some minor issues, but not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of thhe book. Elena Rey does an excellent job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook narration. From what I can tell, the book is set to be part of a duology and I’m excited to (hopefully) get to see more in this world. Readers who enjoy magical fantasy tales full of fun, stellar neurodivergent rep, and unique characters should definitely give the book a chance. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher Inkyard Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Unseelie immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

BLOG TOUR Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz

Hi friends! I'm pleased to be hosting a stop on the tour organized by TBR and Beyond Tours for Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz. Check out the post to learn more about the book, the author, and how you can get your own copy., Make sure you show the other tour hosts some love as well - the link to the tour schedule is below. 

Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz Tour Schedule (TBR and Beyond Tours)

About the Book

In this explosive fantasy debut with a time-loop twist, a provincial girl must work with a roguish prince to stop an attack on the royal family and escape a nightmarish curse that forces them to relive the same night again and again.

Seventeen-year-old Anaïs just wants tonight to end. As an outsider at the kingdom’s glittering anniversary ball, she has no desire to rub shoulders with the nation’s most eligible (and pompous) bachelors—especially not the notoriously roguish Prince Leo. But at the stroke of midnight, an explosion rips through the palace, killing everyone in its path. Including her.

The last thing Anaïs sees is fire, smoke, chaos . . . and then she wakes up in her bedroom, hours before the ball. No one else remembers the deadly attack or believes her warnings of disaster.

Not even when it happens again. And again. And again.

If she’s going to escape this nightmarish time loop, Anaïs must take control of her own fate and stop the attack before it happens. But the court’s gilded surface belies a rotten core, full of restless nobles grabbing at power, discontented commoners itching for revolution, and even royals who secretly dream of taking the throne. It’s up to Anaïs to untangle these knots of deadly deceptions . . . if she can survive past midnight.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo | IndieBound

REVIEW of Midnight Strikes by Zeva Shahnaz

Rating: 3 Stars

Release Date: March 14, 2023

Format: eBook (Courtesy of NetGalley and Publisher) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

*NOTE: Before I get into my review, please note that I’m unsure on how to do the accents for some of the names in the book (I’m typing on a tablet) so I’ve ultimately omitted them from the review. 

Charles Perrault’s Cinderella (or ‘Histoires ou contes du tempes passe’) is one of the most heavily retold and reimagined fairy tales of all time. As such, it takes a very unique spin on the tale to distinguish one version from all the others. Zeba Shahnaz’ young adult fantasy debut, Midnight Strikes, offers an incredibly unique take on the much beloved fairytale - instead of a countdown to happily ever after when the clock strikes midnight, Anais keeps dying at the ball over and over again. When the day continually resets, she’s the only one who remembers the previous night and she must quickly figure out what’s going on to prevent it from continuing and save the kingdom. 

The plot was a struggle for me. I really liked the time loop idea, but the story got repetitive very quickly. It takes multiple loops before Anais is able to get any real traction in solving the mystery of what’s been happening. I didn’t get invested in the story until the last ten chapters or so - it was entertaining but not particularly memorable. The romance was also weird - Anais and Leo’s relationship didn’t really make sense to me, given that he’s been forgetting her over and over and over again. Granted, it didn’t really make sense to Anais either, given that she made a point of not progressing their relationship past certain points when she knew Leo wouldn’t remember but it was still off putting.  

While the plot and romance was not memorable, I did enjoy the worldbuilding. The magic system was excellent. The systems employed by each cultural group (the upper class with their ‘nicer’ magic vs the blood magic used by the lower class) made for some juicy political intrigue. I was not expecting some of the reveals at the end of the book that went into more detail about the origins of the different magic, and that was super exciting. The culture seems to be inspired by places like Spain, with the king being referred to as “Rey” and other Spanish honorifics being used for the nobles at the ball. Those little hints really helped me imagine the setting the author described, and I would love to visit the places from the book (when they're not being blown up over and over again, of course).  

Overall, Midnight Strikes was an entertaining read with some minor issues. Narrator Nikki Massoud delivered a solid performance in the audiobook version of the tale. If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings intertwined with mystery and political intrigue, I think this book would be worth giving a chance. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher Delacorte Press, the team at TBR and Beyond Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book as part of my participation in the blog tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Midnight Strikes immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About the Author

Zeba Shahnaz writes fantasy full of political intrigue, twisted romance, and a healthy dose of existential angst. A proud Pakistani-American, she translated her love of storytelling into a graduate degree analyzing national identity, culture, and cinema in South Asia. She grew up in New Jersey, which she has yet to fully escape (though not because of a time loop). MIDNIGHT STRIKES is her debut novel.

Website - Twitter - Instagram - Goodreads

 

Interview with Dana Dargos, author of Einstein in the Attic

Hi friends! I am so excited to welcome debut author Dana Dargos and her book Einstein in the Attic to my blog today. 

Take some time to learn a little more about the book and the author with the blurb and the Q&A below. I hope you get a chance to read the book. 

If you do read the book and enjoy it, please also remember to leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. It really helps writers because the more a book gets reviewed, the more it gets shown to other potential readers. 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Dana!

About the Book

"Set against the backdrop of the war between science and God, reason and faith, Einstein in the Attic is the story of one scientist’s search for truth and meaning when faced with the ultimate question: Is there a God? Fleeing war-torn Lebanon, Adam Reemi’s faith is shaken by the hardships he has endured, but when he and a colleague successfully construct a nano hadron collider, and using sound waves, Adam finds unheard-of power at his fingertips. To help him answer the greatest question mankind has ever posed, he zaps the best philosophical minds of all time–namely Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Soren Kierkegaard, and Baruch Spinoza–from the past and into his attic. Not all goes according to plan, however, and Adam finds himself in a race against time to formulate an answer to the question of intelligent design… or risk losing everything."

Q&A with the Author

What are four things you can't live without?

- Four things I can't live without are my family and loved ones, having a purpose in life, positivity, and faith.

What is your favorite television show?

- Can I pass? I have one for every genre, haha.

Where do you get your inspiration, information, and idea for books?

- I get my inspiration from a myriad of places. I mainly get it, though, from observing and analyzing life, listening to music and imagining scenarios and situations that fit whatever I'm listening to, (kind of like a music video), walking and getting inspired by the environment around me, and watching film to get reminded of what's important to me and also pick up on unique story-telling techniques.

Do you write full-time or around another job? If you have a full-time job, does it ever play into your writing?

- Technically, I write full-time. I work as a technical writer during the day and an author at night.

What three works of art have most influenced your writing? This can be an actual piece of art, a movie, a book, or a video game - whatever makes the most sense for you!

- There aren't specific pieces of art that have most influenced my writing. However, there are definitely authors who have affected my writing. There are many authors that have inspired me, however, a few that come to mind are Charlotte Bronte, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Khaled Hosseini, Najwa Zebian, and Cormac McCarthy.

What is your favorite writing snack and/or drink?

- It depends on my mood, but I'll almost always love pomegranate seeds. You'll actually see references to them in "Einstein in the Attic."

What was your hardest scene to write and why? 

- Any dark scene that involves mental distress and/or depression. Without spoiling anything, it's especially difficult for me because I have to either imagine someone in pain, be creative enough to think up exactly what that person in that situation would be feeling, or I have to dig deep down into some past, unfortunate experiences that I have gone through and conjure up all of those negative memories and emotions. That often leaves me feeling quite drained or down since I have to re-live those uncomfortable moments. But on a positive note, they also do help me reflect and remember how strong I am and how proud I should be for having conquered what I did.

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?

- "Einstein in the Attic" has definitely gone through a ton of changes since its conceptual stages. The story constantly flipped through so many ideas and genres, that I can't even pinpoint the exact way it changed for you. What I can say, though, was that there was a point where I was thinking of having Einstein, Newton, Kierkegaard, and Spinoza discover ancient machine-like suits and use them to save the world from destruction. I know, pretty wild.

Aside from writing, what is one thing you do for fun? 

- I enjoy reading, art, music, dancing, (badly), exploring new events, places, and things, shopping, traveling, gaming, content creating, hiking, swimming, (and the beach), street hockey, blogging, appreciating a unique and cleverly crafted mocktail, fashion, film, (occasionally) cosplaying, self-care, (via activities, such as spas, facials, treating myself, etc.), journalism, museums, horse-riding, photography, entrepreneuring, and  spending time with my family and loved ones, and obviously with my bunny, Fufi, and   trusty speed Pitbull-Rottweiler mix, Rocky. Don't worry, he's a cute, silly pup, haha.

What projects do you have coming up next?

- Right now I am focusing on marketing "Einstein in the Attic," although I am more than excited to be starting a new novel. I have tons of ideas and different genres I want to explore, but I have to be patient right now and focus on one thing at a time before jumping into anything else. After all, slow but steady wins the race.

About the Author

Dana Dargos is a published Lebanese-American writer born and raised in the Bay Area. From the moment she created adventurous, crayon-scribbled tales in kindergarten, she knew writing would forever be a part of her life. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English Literature. Einstein in the Attic is her award-winning debut novel.

Author Photo Credit: Christina Obligar

Please subscribe to the author's website here for a free chapter and other goodies: https://danadargos.com

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Attic-Dana-Dargos-ebook/dp/B09RKF4DQD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZX48Y6RZXMJU&keywords=einstein+in+the+attic&qid=1643897257&sprefix=einstein+in+the+atti%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-1

Facebook Page: Award-Winning Author Dana Dargos

Instagram: @officialdanadargos

Twitter: @dana_dargos

Tiktok: @danadargos

BLOG TOUR A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A RUINOUS FATE by Kaylie Smith Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: A RUINOUS FATE (Heartless Fates #1)

Author: Kaylie Smith

Pub. Date: January 3, 2023

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 432

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/u/boyLnZ

Fate does not choose the weak. Fate chooses the ready.

Illustros is a cursed realm ruled by the ruthless Gods of Fate, and no one understands the Fates’ wrath more than Calliope Rosewood. Blessed with unspeakable powers that terrify even the most dangerous witches and fae, Calla hides her forbidden magic in shame and fear that one wrong touch could send her to her death. With only her two best friends in tow, Calla deserted her coven and has been on the run ever since.

Worse, Calla is concealing an even darker secret: fate has chosen her as the final prophesied Blood Warrior, the being destined to start the Fates’ War, which will decimate her people and eradicate their magic.

After a betrayal from her infuriating ex Ezra leads her one step closer to fulfilling that age-old prophecy, Calla is desperate to do whatever it takes to reset her fate. So when a mysterious and charming witch offers to help Calla do just that, she immediately agrees to his plan. Only catch? That plan includes journeying into the deadly Neverending Forest with Ezra and said witch, who just so happens to be Ezra’s tempting older brother. Torn between her past desires and alluring new possibilities, Calla brings along her best friends to fight what lies ahead.

As the group ventures into the enchanted woods together, they’ll all soon learn that choosing your destiny comes with dire consequences . . . and the Fates are not to be tested. Calla believes the Fates have it out for her, while others believe they have chosen her for a reason. But in the end, Calla will have to fight to forge her own destiny and decide if the risk of choosing herself is worth the possibility of damning everyone else.

REVIEW of A Ruinous Fate (Ruinous Fate #1) by Kaylie Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: ARC (Courtesy of Publisher) and Audiobook (Personal Library)

Kaylie Smith’s debut novel A Ruinous Fate is the first book in the Ruinous Fate series, and introduces readers to a unique world with a myriad of different creatures. A bit of a rocky start in places, it set the stage for lots of action in subsequent books and shows a lot of promise. Narrators Alex Kydd and Dana Lau did an excellent job with bringing the book to life with their performance in the audiobook narration. 

I really enjoyed the premise of the book. Many other readers have compared it to a Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) adventure, and I can absolutely see that. The idea of the Fates, and the magical die that determine a witch’s future created a unique spin on an otherwise familiar young adult fantasy story structure. The idea of the war between the gods and the different immortal creatures (most specifically the witches) sets the stage for a big confrontation later in the series. I also enjoyed the expansive world, with all the different creatures that live there (Valkyries! Sirens! Trolls!). 

The book will largely appeal to die-hard fantasy readers. There are times when the world-building gets a bit tangled and hard to follow, but if you embrace the magic of the book and try not to get too caught up in the nitty-gritty of things I think you’ll enjoy the read. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m excited to see what happens next for Calla and the rest of the crew. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher Disney-Hyperion and Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review A Ruinous Fate immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way. 

About Kaylie Smith:

Kaylie Smith is a writer and lover of all things magical and fantasy. She grew up in Louisiana where she frequently haunted bookstores and practiced her writing craft. After getting her degree in graphic design, she decided to fully pursue her dream of being an author, and the first book in her YA fantasy series, A RUINOUS FATE, debuts in January 2023 from Disney Hyperion. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found at home with her menagerie of animals, fussing over her houseplants, or annoying people about astrology.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of A RUINOUS FATE, US Only.

Ends February 4^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/2/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
1/3/2022	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
1/4/2022	Books and Zebras	Review/IG Post
1/5/2022	Library of Becca	Review/IG Post
1/6/2022	pluvioreads	Review/IG Post
1/7/2022	travelersguidetobooks	IG Review

Week Two:

1/8/2022	@more.books.yes.please	IG Review/TikTok Post
1/9/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	TikTok Review/IG Post
1/10/2022	NeverKnotReading	IG Review
1/11/2022	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
1/12/2022	Ohyouread	IG Post
1/13/2022	onemused	IG Review
1/14/2022	Book Reviews by Alison	IG Review

Week Three:

1/15/2022	Book Briefs	Review/IG Post
1/16/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
1/17/2022	Thindbooks Blog	Review/IG Post
1/18/2022	@brittyoreads	IG Review
1/19/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
1/20/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
1/21/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

1/22/2022	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
1/23/2022	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
1/24/2022	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
1/25/2022	Eli to the nth	Review/IG Post
1/26/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
1/27/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
1/28/2022	The Book View	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

1/29/2022	@drew_ambitious_reading	IG Review/TikTok Post
1/30/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post
1/31/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post