BLOG TOUR Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson

Hi friends! Welcome to tour organized by TBR and Beyond Tours for Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson. Check out the post to learn more about the book and the author as well as where you can get a copy of the book. Make sure you show the other tour hosts some love as well. The link to the tour schedule is below. 

Happy reading everyone!

Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson Tour Schedule (TBR and Beyond Tours)

About the Book

Merry doesn’t need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the charming, idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is. Simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.

But Merry’s best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen—a secret society who specialize in backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions—and Merry is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with the person she hates most: her academic archnemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face under a glamour.

An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the sinister Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn’t rescue Teddy before it’s finished, she’ll lose him forever. But the Toadmen have been keeping dangerous secrets, and so has Caraway. The farther Merry travels into Deeping Fen’s foul waters, the more she wonders if she’s truly come to save her friend . . . or if she’s walking straight into a trap.

There’s nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publishing date: April 16th, 2024

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REVIEW of Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Format: eARC (Courtesy of Publisher and TBR and Beyond Tours) and Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Lili Wilkinson’s newest young adult fantasy novel, Deep is the Fen, was a surprisingly gripping read. Mixing bits of fantasy and fairy tale with romance and mystery, I was hooked rather quickly after starting. At times, I thought I knew where the story was going but the author kept me on my toes. 

Merriweather Morgan, usually referred to as ‘Merry’ or ‘Morgan’ enjoys life with her best friends Teddy and Sol while also keeping her ability to see magic (or “mettle”) a secret from everyone she knows. When Teddy decides he wants to join the same male only group her father is a part of, the ‘Toadmen’, Merry is desperate to stop him and not lose one of her only friends. When she teams up with rival Caraway Boswell, however, they discover there’s a lot more to the Toadmen than meets the eye. 

Worldbuilding caught my attention in this book fairly quickly. I really loved the secret society nature of the Toadmen, as well as the magic system in place in the world. Magic is controlled by powerful corporations, and they’ve made it taboo for anyone to practice it outside of what they produce. Rogue witches are locked away for “rehabilitation”, and the practices of groups like the Toadmen are ignored in the name of power. There are some darker elements in the book (bordering on horror), but I think it all blended together very well to create a narrative I found myself very invested in.

The characters were compelling too. I really liked Caraway and Merry’s dynamic, and it was fun to see their progression from rivals to lovers. As a secondary relationship, it was also nice to see Teddy and Sol’s love story too, especially since it’s a queer romance (Sol is described to be transgender early in the story). The various side characters were compelling too, and I appreciated how they added to the overall narrative. 

My only complaint about the book was the setting. It was really hard to envision at times, what with the seemingly fairy tale village esque references mixed with more contemporary references (i.e. prom, conventions, cars, etc.) Once we got to the Fen, it was easier but everything outside of that was almost mismatched in my head at times. 

Overall, this was a great read and I’m happy I took the time to pick it up after the blog tour. I would recommend this book to young adult fantasy readers who enjoy unique worldbuilding, innovative magic systems, and a “rivals to lovers” romance subplot. Narrator Imogen Wilde did an excellent job with her performance in the audiobook. While this book is standalone (and wraps up nicely), I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Wilkinson’s books in the future (especially her debut novel, A Hunger of Thorns which I learned is set in the same world as this book). 

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 Deep is the Fen 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

Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is Deep is the Fen.

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REVIEW Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young 
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Format; eBook (Personal Library) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Having initially been introduced to Adrienne Young’s work through her Fable series, I was excited to learn that she would be releasing her standalone adult debut, Spells for Forgetting in 2022. The two literary universes are vastly different, with Fable being more of an action and adventure fantasy and Spells for Forgetting sitting firmly in the contemporary magical realism genre (akin to Practical Magic). However, despite the differences, I think Emery and August’s love story will capture just as many hearts as Fable and West’s did. 

The story takes place on Saoirse Island, which is just as much a part of the story as any of the physical characters. Years ago, there was a fire in the orchard and a death that rocked everybody on the island. They thought the event had been put behind them long ago, but when August Salt returns to the island for the first time in over a decade, long-buried secrets come to light (and no one has their hands clean). 

In terms of vibe, the book is a cross between Knives Out and Practical Magic. Lily Morgan’s death sits at the heart of the story, and while August has long been the main suspect readers quickly come to learn there's more to the story. While it did make things confusing at times, I enjoyed getting more perspectives than just Emery and August’s as it helped fully flesh out the case. It was fun to get to play the role of detective and put all the puzzle pieces together. 

While I was reading, I admittedly struggled with the non-linear storyline (it can be very hit or miss for me in books). I want to note that I appreciated how each chapter gave readers a note on where it takes place chronologically compared to the rest of the story. Thankfully, I pushed through my struggles and was rewarded at the end of the book with the secrets of the island and Lily’s death being unraveled. 

Audiobook lovers are in for a treat with this book. Spells for Forgetting is a full-cast audiobook production, and narrators Emily Rankin, Dan Bittner, Mark Deakins, Kimberly Farr, Ari Fliakos, Dawn Harvey, Carrington MacDuffle, Kirsten Potter, and Oliver Wyman did an excellent job with bringing the story to life.  

Readers who enjoy multiple points of view, small-town murder mysteries, and second-chance romances with a hint of magic involved will enjoy Adrienne Young’s debut adult novel. If you are like me and struggle with non-linear storytelling (especially for a mystery), I highly recommend reading a print version of the book as you listen to the audiobook. It makes it easier to follow along with what’s going on.

About the Book

A rural island community steeped in the mystical superstitions of its founders and haunted by an unsolved murder is upended by the return of the suspected killer in this deeply atmospheric novel.

Emery Blackwood’s life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily. Now, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence among the community that fractured her world in two. She’d once longed to run away with August, eager to escape the misty, remote shores of Saiorse Island and chase new dreams; now, she maintains her late mother’s tea shop and cares for her ailing father. But just as the island, rooted in folklore and tradition, begins to show signs of strange happenings, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that no one wants to remember.

August Salt knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night that changed everything. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from the past that has never healed—Emery. But the town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises that span generations threatens to reveal the truth behind Lily’s death once and for all.

Evocative and compelling, Spells for Forgetting is a vivid exploration of lost love and the unraveling of a small town and its many secrets.

About the Author

Adrienne Young is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Sky in the Deep duology, the Fable series, and the forthcoming Spells for Forgetting. Her books have been published in over twenty-five countries around the world and Fable had the honor of being selected as a Reese’s Bookclub YA Pick. 

Young is also the creator of the continuously sold out Writing With the Soul Workshop and numerous initiatives to support women and youth storytellers, including the Fable Grant. Her first nonfiction project is the soon to be released The Storytellers Workbook, in collaboration with artist and author Isabel Ibañez. 

When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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BLOG TOUR Ravenfall (Ravenfall #1) by Kalyn Josephson

Hi friends! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson, organized by TBR and Beyond Tours. Check out my review (as well as some favorite quotes) below, and make sure you show the other hosts some love as well! The link to the schedule is below. 

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson Tour Schedule (TBR and Beyond Tours)

About the Book

RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2022

REP: Jewish

Genre: Middle-Grade Dark Fantasy

One magical inn, two kids with supernatural powers, and an ancient Celtic creature trying to destroy their world by Halloween night…

Halloweentown meets Supernatural in this spooky middle-grade series from the acclaimed author of the Storm Crow duology!

Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family’s standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it’s hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death.

So when fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects. . . .

As the two team up to find answers, they unearth Colin’s family’s secret past and discover that Colin has powers beyond his imagination. And now the supernatural creature, one with eerie origins in Celtic mythology, is coming after him. If Anna and Colin can’t stop the creature by Halloween night, the veil to the Otherworld could be ripped open—which would spell destruction for their world as they know it.

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REVIEW of Ravenfall (Ravenfall #1) by Kalyn Josephson
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: September 6, 2022
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Publisher through NetGalley and the team at TBR and Beyond Tours)
Publisher: Delacorte Press

It’s rare that a book fully delivers on the comparisons made in its blurb, but Kalyn Josephson’s middle-grade debut dark fantasy Ravenfall lives up to the expectations. I saw so many elements that were reminiscent of Halloweentown and Supernatural, among other movies and shows. 

Anna Balinkay is a small part of the larger family unit that runs the Ravenfall Inn, a hub and a meeting place for both normal folk and supernatural creatures. Her less-than-spectacular ability, being drawn into visions of death with a single touch, leaves her stuck with the boring chores as her other family members help keep the inn running smoothly. When she meets a new guest, Colin, a boy who has just lost his parents, they are drawn together in the hopes of solving the mystery of his parent's murders and ensuring all the visitors to the inn remain safe from a supernatural threat straight out of Celtic myth.  

The dual points of view helped give readers a complete picture of what was happening in the book. Both Anna and Colin feel left out by their families, but for very different reasons. Given how Anna’s powers don’t directly assist with the day-to-day operations of the hotel, she feels kind of useless. She summarizes her struggles very well with this quote; “All my life I’ve wanted what he practically tripped and fell into, and I’m starting to think, no matter what I do, I’ll never get it…What do they need my powers for?” Colin, on the other hand, feels left out because of his late introduction into his family’s history as Ravens. Given how he’s now racing against the clock and the deadline for Samhain to master his powers, I can certainly empathize with his frustration. Their friendship ultimately proves instrumental in helping them both work through their struggles, and that was so exciting to see as a reader. 

I’m a big fan of anything to do with mythology, so the opportunity to learn more about Celtic mythology was exciting. It’s not featured in books nearly enough, in my opinion. Ms. Josephson introduces readers to red caps, wraiths, triskelions, and the festival of Samhain (a Celtic tradition that’s been somewhat overlooked in recent years due to the commercialized Halloween). She also introduced readers to the idea of the Shield, as well as the ‘Ravens’ who help maintain the balance and protect the Shield (this concept in particular was reminiscent of NBC’s Grimm). 

Ravenfall Inn definitely has the multi-generational family home feel of the Addams Family or Encanto. Every member of the family has an ability, with some having a more obvious benefit than others. Anna’s hurt at being unable to help in the same way her family members do is obvious; it reminded me a lot of how no one took Mirabel in Encanto seriously due to her lack of a gift. With this in mind, I really appreciated how all of the family abilities played into the storyline in some manner or fashion (no one had an ability “just because”). The addition of the “sentient house” was cool. Out of all of the Balinkay family members, I think my favorite family member was Uncle Roy, but I was quite enamored by the Jabberwocky Max (who prefers to run around in cat form). 

Overall, this was a fantastic middle-grade debut from Kalyn Josephson. I’m excited to be able to go back and read her Storm Crow duology as soon as I have a chance. If you’re a kid (or a big kid at heart) who loves spooky, family-friendly mysteries then I think you’ll enjoy Ravenfall. I’m curious to see what the author will do with subsequent books in the series because there’s so much more to explore with the characters and the world that she built (at the time of writing this review, the next book is titled ‘Hollowthorn’). 

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. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Ravenfall 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.  

CW: Parental Deaths (Murder), Missing Person, Injuries, Animal Death, Grief, Violence, Possession

FAVORITE QUOTES

I belong at the inn as much as a vampire belongs in the sun. 

I love magic, but sometimes living with a family of psychics can be a real drag. 

Embrace the weird!

About the Author

Kalyn Josephson currently works as a Technical Writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. Though she grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, she graduated from Santa Clara University with degrees in Biology and English (Creative Writing). Currently, she lives in the Bay Area with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an ever tinier owl). THE STORM CROW duology is out now.

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REVIEW Crimson Reign (Blood Heir Trilogy #3) by Amelie Wen Zhao

Crimson Reign (Blood Heir Trilogy #3) 

by Amelie Wen Zhao
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: March 1, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Get your copy of the book from Bookshop.org

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The time has finally come for the Red Tigress to reclaim her birthright in the final book of Amelie Wen Zhao’s Blood Heir trilogy, Crimson Reign. Ana Mikhailov is racing against the clock to dethrone her evil aunt, the psychotic Empress Morganya, and reclaim the powers that were taken from her. For those of you (like me) who haven’t read Blood Heir or Red Tigress recently, no worries! Ms. Wen Zhao did a great job of incorporating a recap of sorts into the first couple of chapters of the book. 

We finally got the Ramson/Ana moments we've been waiting for! Their journey has by no means been easy (this is one of those cases where the author loves tormenting their poor characters), but it was a privilege to witness and see how their story ended. I love a good happily ever after ending! While the romance between Ramson and Ana was a highlight, I think Linn was my favorite individual character. It was a treat to have some of the chapters be from her point of view, and I loved getting to see her character arc and her friendship with Ana grow over the course of the books. 

In addition to the characters, the worldbuilding and the magic system in this book are superb. Crimson Reign is definitely high fantasy as far as I’m concerned, and Ms. Wen Zhao’s worldbuilding makes the storyline feel almost cinematic (the narrator definitely helped with that too). The system of Affinites is one of my top five favorite magic systems of all time in books. The author expands on the magic system she built in the first two books, and while many of the additions were predictable it was still fun to read about.

The audiobook for this book (and the other books in the series) is amazing. The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller, is the same for all three installments. She has a very engaging and vivid style of reading, so I was very entertained by her narration. A strong performance altogether, and I’ll be on the lookout for more books narrated by her in the future. 

Overall, Crimson Reign was an amazing read/listen - an explosive finale and close to the Blood Heir trilogy that was well worth the wait. I can’t wait to read more of the author’s books in the future (Song Like Silver, Flame Like Night is already on my TBR list for 2023). If you are a fan of epic/high fantasy books at the young adult level, I highly recommend you check out the Blood Heir trilogy.

About the Book

For fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Six of Crows comes the thrilling conclusion to the Blood Heir trilogy. A princess with a dark secret must ally with a con man to liberate her empire from a reign of terror in this epic fantasy retelling of the Anastasia story.

The Red Tigress, Anastacya Mikhailov, has lost the gift she was only beginning to realize defined her. Stolen from her during the battle in Bregon, her blood Affinity rests with Sorsha Farrald, a dangerous Affinite who is on the run, headed straight to Cyrilia and to Ana's aunt...the Empress Morganya.

Though she is weakened, Ana's course remains true--yet her return to her homeland reveals a Cyrilia on the brink of collapse. Morganya's tyrannical rule has transformed into a sinister quest for unquestioned authority, and she has set her sights far beyond Cyrilia. Morganya seeks a legendary ancient power, rumored to have once belonged to the Deities themselves. If she can locate it, she can rule the world.

What's more, Ana's allies, the insurgent Affinite rebels known as the Redcloaks, no longer support her. For their allegiance is with the people--and there can be no equality with a monarchy.

Ana faces enemies at every turn, and every day without her Affinity brings her closer to death. Yet she is determined to liberate her people and vanquish the legacy of her own imperial bloodline--the inequality sewn into the fabric of her land. Her only hope lies in the navy she recruited in Bregon, the courage of her band of friends, and the cunning crime-lord-turned-captain she's fallen for.

If Ana loses this fight, it will be her last. And Morganya's reign of darkness with consume the world.

About the Author

Amélie Wen Zhao is a Paris-born Chinese national who fell in love with stories since she was old enough to hold a book. Raised in an international community in Beijing, she had the opportunity to grow up steeped in the values and teachings of three different cultures. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Les Misérables, and Wuthering Heights were among her favorite works.

It wasn't long before she wanted to tell her own tales. After graduating from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business in 2014, Amélie began working as a finance professional by day, and writing by night. Her young adult fantasy trilogy, BLOOD HEIR, debuts in 2019 from Delacorte Press / Penguin Random House.

Amélie hopes to empower young readers with messages of acceptance, strength, and love through her works, and to continue to push the boundaries of young adult literature by exploring new, cross-cultural themes.

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BLOG TOUR: Castles in their Bones (Castles in their Bones Book 1) by Laura Sebastian

 

Hi all! I'm pleased to be hosting a spot with TBR and Beyond Tours on the Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian blog tour. Make sure to check out the other tour host's pages and show them some love!

Castles in their Bones Blog Tour Schedule (TBR and Beyond Tours)

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About the Book

A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes.

Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.

The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.

Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

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REVIEW of Castles in their Bones (Castles in their Bones Book 1) by Laura Sebastian

Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: February 1, 2022
Format: eARC (NetGalley)
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian is a first-class young adult epic fantasy with a superb mix of political intrigue and romance. With a fast paced-plot and lots of action, I found little to critique in the story. 

The story follows three princesses, Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia who are being prepared to be sent to neighboring kingdoms and become queens in their own right. Their mother, Empress Margaraux, has trained her daughters their entire lives to become spies and saboteurs so she can ultimately take over the continent. However, when the princesses arrive at their new homes it becomes evident that their plans will not be as easy to execute as they might have hoped. 

I loved how elements of the story were influenced by real-life royal families. For example, some of the events of the book seemed to be influenced by the history surrounding the Tudor family. I was also appreciative of the female-driven storyline. Despite the fact that Empress Margaraux is power-hungry and gives very questionable advice to her daughters, she was the one to cement her power base and is obviously not just a figurehead. Her character reminded me a lot of Catherine the Great, and stories with strong female characters are always some of my favorites. I’m excited to see where the author takes her as a villain in future books.   Even though each sister is placed in a position of power, they have very different issues to deal with in their new homes. The story is told primarily from their perspectives, and while this may have caused an issue for some authors Ms. Sebastian wove it together seamlessly. 

The magic system was another highlight of the story. I enjoyed how Ms. Sebastian highlighted the differences in each country’s view on magic. For example, one of the princesses has to hide her oddly colored silver eyes because they would not be well received by those in her new home. “Stardust” was very tightly interwoven with the politics of each individual kingdom and how they interacted with the other kingdoms. 

I would recommend this book to young adult fantasy readers who would enjoy a story told from multiple points of view, and love all the drama and conflicts that come with royalty. Beware the cliffhanger at the end of the book - I NEED the second book ASAP after how this one ended. I’m really sad that details of the sequel have not been announced yet, but I also have to remember that I’m reading this book before it’s even been released so *shrug*

Thank you to the author, the publisher at Delacorte Press, the team at TBR and Beyond Tours, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Castles in their Bones immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Castles in their Bones. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

Favorite Quotes

• "Tears are a weapon,' Beatriz's mother is fond of saying. 'But they must be carefully wielded."
• "I'm here because I want to be. Because you are lightning - terrifying and beautiful and dangerous and bright all at once. And I wouldn't wish you were anything else."
• "Her mother has taught her many things, most of them unpleasant, but chief among them is patience."

About the Author

Laura Sebastian was born and raised in South Florida (the Redlands and Key Largo) and has always loved telling stories–many apologies to her little brother who often got in trouble because of them. She got her BFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design before realizing she preferred the other side of storytelling.

When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, cooking/baking, or buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit. She currently lives in London with her two dogs, Neville and Circe.

Her New York Times Bestselling series, Ash Princess, is out now from Delacorte (Penguin Random House. Keep an eye out for her debut adult fantasy book, Half Sick Of Shadows, out Summer 2021, and the first book in her new YA series, Castles In Their Bones.

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BOOK TOUR Bound by Firelight (Wickery #2) by Dana Swift

Hi all! I'm pleased to help host TBR and Beyond Tour's Virtual Book Tour for Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift. Please make sure you check out the other tour host's pages as well and give them some love! The link to the schedule is below. 

https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2021/11/16/tour-schedule-bound-by-firelight-wickery-2-by-dana-swift/

Bound by Firelight Synopsis

Bound by Firelight Links: Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Google Play - Bookshop.org - Libro.fm - Book Depository

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The heart-pounding sequel to Cast in Firelight, perfect for fans of epic, sweepingly romantic fantasy by Sabaa Tahir, Susan Dennard, and Mary E. Pearson.

After a magical eruption devastates the kingdom of Belwar, royal heir Adraa is falsely accused of masterminding the destruction and forced to stand trial in front of her people, who see her as a monster. Adraa’s punishment? Imprisonment in the Dome, an impenetrable, magic-infused fortress filled with Belwar’s nastiest criminals—many of whom Adraa put there herself. And they want her to pay.
 
Jatin, the royal heir to Naupure, has been Adraa’s betrothed, nemesis, and fellow masked vigilante . . . but now he’s just a boy waiting to ask her the biggest question of their lives. First, though, he’s going to have to do the impossible: break Adraa out of the Dome. And he won’t be able to do it without help from the unlikeliest of sources—a girl from his past with a secret that could put them all at risk.
 
Time is running out, and the horrors Adraa faces in the Dome are second only to the plot to destabilize and destroy their kingdoms. But Adraa and Jatin have saved the world once already. . . . Now, can they save themselves?

REVIEW Bound by Firelight (Wickery #2) by Dana Swift

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Release Date: January 18, 2022
Format: eARC
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift is one of my favorite sequels that I’ve read this year. I can’t wait for more people to read the book so I can talk about all the twists and turns of the story - the months of waiting until it is officially out in the world at the beginning of 2022 are going to be agonizing.     

The story picks up where the last book left off, with Adraa and Jatin still fighting for their kingdoms and dealing with the aftermath of the volcano explosion. Adraa is being falsely accused of causing the destruction and ends up being sent to prison. Jatin must mount a rescue and they have to race to catch the actual perpetrator before it’s too late. 

I loved the magic system in the first book and I love it even more in this book. The color basis is awesome, and I just envision beautiful streaks of color racing through the air when there are magic fights. I was also really amused at all the chapter titles in the book (i.e., “I Meet Up with the Love of My Life and Almost Throw Him Off a Roof”) because it got me excited about what the chapter would cover without giving anything away (Rick Riordan is another favorite author of mine who usually has amusing chapter titles in his books).   

I am such a sucker for a headstrong, powerful female lead character and Ms. Swift delivers all that and more in Adraa. Despite dealing with the fallout of the volcano eruption and her people thinking she’s a villain, she’s still doing everything in her power to help them. On the other side of the story, I feel really sorry for Jatin and all of his failed proposal attempts (though I was kind of laughing at him at times as his best friend/bodyguard did). I commend him for wanting to make things “official” and give Adraa some semblance of a choice in their relationship (even though they’ve been dating for a bit and betrothed for most of their life). Overall, I completely loved the cast of the book. The loyalty, the love, the fierce determination to protect the people they care about - you can’t help but cheer for everything to work out in the end. 

I would happily recommend this book to fans of young adult romance and fantasy. It is a bit darker than the first book and does feature more violence, but there’s nothing that would make me reluctant to give it to younger readers (sexual content and cursing is on a similar level to the first book). If a reader loved the first book, then this one should knock their socks off.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. I also want to thank TBR and Beyond Tours for allowing me to be one of their tour hosts. I appreciate the opportunity immensely.

Favorite (Out of Context) Quotes

• “You know, I’ve figured out that you kiss me to stop my teasing. It’s not a good way to train me.” “Are you admitting that you are trainable?” I tease, kissing him again.
• “I think their choice is clear,” I say in response. Then I bow to my people, two fingers to my throat. “And that is all that matters.”
• “I know you strive to be like Adraa. This daunting, confidant force of a wizard who can stand up to any problem and solve any conflict. But underneath all that power, you are kind. You treat people like you see them. And I liked being seen by you.”

About the Author: Dana Swift

Dana graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and is an active member of the DFW Writers' Workshop. She lives in Miami, Florida with her husband. She is the author of Cast in Firelight and Bound by Firelight. To learn more about Dana and her books visit danaswiftbooks.com or follow @swift_dana on Twitter and @danaswiftbooks on Instagram. 

Author Photo Credit: Oak Moon Photography