BLOG TOUR Lionborn by Sharique Zea

 

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour for Lionborn by Sharique Zea, hosted by The Children's Book Review. Check out my post to learn more about the book, hear my thoughts, check out the included activity, and enter the giveaway. Thank you for allowing me to host a stop. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to share my opinions. All thoughts shared are my own. 

About the Book

Lionborn

Written by Sharique Zea

Ages 10+ | 228 Pages

Publisher: Sharique Zea (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-0682018-2-0

Publisher’s Book Summary: A Boy with Hidden Power. An Evil Sorcerer. Three Daring Trials to Test His Courage.

Fionn Hurley feels different. Worried his nightmares might be real, the twelve-year-old has visions of strange creatures and wakes up covered in mysterious marks that heal in a flash. But when a lion cub appears beside his reflection, the curious boy travels to a mystical land… and discovers he’s a Lionborn with powerful magic.

Fionn is shocked to hear an evil sorcerer wants him to bring back a dark overlord. But after finding a clue to defeating the wicked enchanter, the brave young hero discovers three perilous trials stand between him and victory.

With everyone out to get him, can Fionn embrace his abilities and save the people he loves?

If you like friendships full of courage, jaw-dropping surprises, and worlds bursting with magic, then step into Lionborn and let the adventure roar!

My Thoughts on the Book (Review):

I really liked the premise and the worldbuilding. Its quite fantastical and imaginative. It's a very good coming of age middle grade type story, and I appreciated that it was different than many other books where its not reliant on a pre existing set of folktales or mythological stories (from what I can tell/am aware of). There were some parts where the book struggled, such as pacing and getting readers invested with whatever the 'stakes' are (I didn't really feel like I was committed till maybe 70% of the way in), which is a long time to keep younger readers engaged. However, I think a large part of that was the scope of the worldbuilding the author committed to and how much had to be explained. If the author takes this story into further books, I'd be curious to see how the pacing flowed with the lessened worbuilding burden as I saw a lot of potential for a debut novel. I look forward to checking out more of what the author produces in the future. 

PURCHASE LINK

https://books2read.com/u/47poZL 

About the Author

Sharique Zea was born in Ranchi, Eastern India, into a family of educators. He is a chartered accountant.

His imagination took flight early, drawing him towards books and libraries. Entranced by worlds of smoke and dreams, he would spin fantastical tales as a child, a personal pastime that stayed with him even as he entered the world of finance in London.

He has kept his passion alive by creating stories whenever inspiration strikes, and although his day job crunches numbers, his heart beats for the magic of storytelling.

For more information, visit https://www.shariquezea.com/

Download the activity!

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win one of 10 signed paperback copies of Lionborn by Sharique Zea. A grand prize winner will also receive a signed copy plus a $50 USD Amazon gift card to explore even more magical reads.

Click here for the entry form: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/lionborn-by-sharique-zea-awareness-tour/ 

REVIEW Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts (The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts #1) by Erika Lewis

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour organized by The Children's Book Review (and in partnership with Erika Lewis) for Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts. Check out my post to learn more about the books, the author, and enter the giveaway!

The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts: Book Giveaway

About the Book Series

The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts

Written by Erika Lewis

A 2023 Teacher Favorites Winner (6th-8th Grade) for the Children's Book Council

Brimming with Celtic mythology, action, and danger, Erika Lewis's Kelcie Murphy and The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts introduces readers to a new kind of magical school and a warrior who must choose with which side of an epic battle her destiny will lie.

The Otherworld is at war. The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts trains warriors. And Kelcie Murphy―a foster child raised in the human world―is dying to attend.

A place at AUA means meeting Scáthach, the legendary trainer of Celtic heroes. It means learning to fight with a sword. It means harnessing her hidden powers and―most importantly―finding out who her parents are, and why they abandoned her in Boston Harbor eight years ago.

When Kelcie tests into the school, she learns that she’s a Saiga, one of the most ancient beings in the Otherworld. Secretive, shunned, and possessed of imposing elemental powers, the Saiga are also kin to the Otherworld's most infamous traitor.

But Kelcie is a survivor, and she’ll do whatever it takes to find her parents and her place in their world. Even if that means making a few enemies.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Barnes and Noble

REVIEW Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts (The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts #1) by Erika Lewis

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date:

Format: Audiobook (Library)

Publisher: Starscape

Check out my review of the second book in the series, Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu!

Erika Lewis’ Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts was an action packed and fun middle grade fantasy read. Brimming with fantastical elements and references to Celtic mythology, Kelcie is thrust into the magical world with no knowledge after living for the past eight years in the human realm. She has to work quickly to catch up to her peers, and make sure that she earns an invitation back to the Academy for her second year (or risk losing her connection to the Otherworld forever). 

Kelcie was a very relatable character. After finding out she’s not a regular human orphan, she’s desperate to know more about her family and why she was sent away. At the same time, she has to learn how to control her immensely strong elemental powers and make friends with her teammates (the members of her ‘Fiana’). There’s a lot of mystery surrounding her heritage, and it was really fun to get to see her bonds with her friends evolve. I especially liked Niall, and how his disability was displayed in the book (Everyone else in the world had an extra hand compared to Niall’s one, which was a notable comment in the book). While there is a magical element to their challenges, at the end of the day the foursome is just a group of kids trying to make it through the school year. You have bullies, you have strict teachers, and you have impossible gym classes (this time compounded by magical powers and weapons). 

The Celtic mythology was a really unique aspect of the book. I loved the world building in the book and how we got to learn about things with Keclie. With listening to the audiobook, it’s really hard to know how certain things are spelled but I had fun looking things up and getting to learn even more tidbits. Scathach was very intense as the sort of ‘headmaster’ for the academy, but she does care about her pupils and is very good at her job. Surprisingly, as compared to other books like the Percy Jackson series, individual gods are not mentioned all that much but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  

Justis Golding did an excellent job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook narration. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy authors like Rick Riordan, Tamora Pierce, or Dhonielle Clayton. After the ending of the book, I’m really excited to see what’s next for Kelcie and her friends in the sequel, Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu.  

About the Author

Erika Lewis is the author of the Kelcie Murphy Series from Starscape, The Color of Dragons from HarperTeen, Game of Shadows from Tor Books, Firebrand from Legendary Comics, and more, many of which have been published around the world.

She grew up in Virginia before going off to Tennessee for school. While at Vanderbilt University, studying Math and Theatre, she spent a semester abroad, visiting haunted ruins and magical forests that would forever spark her imagination and leave behind an insatiable need to travel.

An internship at CNN led to exciting years working in television, developing scripted and reality shows for various studios and networks. Then, one day, Erika knew it was time for her to write on her own, to build fantastical worlds that stayed with her after every return from a trip, and also to play her part in inspiring the next generation of readers and writers.

For more information, visit erikalewis.com

Social Links

https://www.facebook.com/TheErikaLewis

https://www.instagram.com/erikaelylewis/

https://www.tiktok.com/@erikalewisauthor?lang=en

https://www.pinterest.com/erikaelylewis/

https://www.threads.net/@erikaelylewis

BLOG TOUR Night Buddies and the Evil School Bus #264 by Sands Hetherington

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour organized by The Children's Book Review for Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264 by Sands Hetherington (illustrated by Natalie Leininger). Make sure you don't miss the giveaway (link to enter at bottom of post). You can also visit the other tour hosts and show them some love too (schedule at bottom of post, or link below). 

Happy reading everyone!

Night Buddies Tour Schedule

Note: This post is sponsored by Sands Hetherington.  

About the Book

Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Written by Sands Hetherington

Illustrated by Natalie Leininger

Ages 7+ | 156 Pages

Publisher: Dune Buggy Press | ISBN-13: 9780984741762

Publisher’s Book Summary: The iguanas are back to their stinky shenanigans. They’ve fitted out the flying school bus for real mischief and are marauding all over the Borough. They’ve really got it in for John and Crosley, who must sniff out their evildoings before it’s too late! Will they succeed? Join the Night Buddies in their racing blimp for this exciting new adventure!

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sands Hetherington, creator of the Night Buddies series of chapter books, credits his son John for being his principal motivator. Sands and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. They collaborated many nights on escapades starring John and Crosley until, eventually, it occurred to Sands why it was that Crosley was bright red. That was when the first book came together.

Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.

For more information, visit www.nightbuddiesadventures.com/

https://twitter.com/Night_Buddies

https://www.pinterest.com/nightbuddies2/

https://www.facebook.com/NightBuddies

https://www.facebook.com/NightBuddies

https://www.instagram.com/nightbuddiesadventure/

https://www.tiktok.com/@nightbuddiesbookseries%20

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Natalie Leininger, illustrator of the 4th title in the Night Buddies series, grew up in New Jersey and has been drawing ever since she was young. She now lives in Nebraska and attends the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studying the fine arts. She is in her third year at the university, primarily practicing oil painting, but spends time outside of the classroom working on a variety of projects. She has always enjoyed being with children, which made illustrating and working on Night Buddies such an enjoyable project!

Natalie strives to capture our world in bloom. Whether it be through the literal sense of a blooming flower or the simple act of sketching a character’s smile spreading across their face, her art is a place for all to engage in their own way.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, March 4, 2024 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 A Blue Box Full of Books Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 The Momma Spot Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Thursday, March 7, 2024 Country Mamas with Kids Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Friday, March 8, 2024 One More Exclamation Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Sunday, March 10, 2024 It’s Free At Last Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Monday, March 11, 2024 Life Is What It’s Called An Interview with Sands Hetherington

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Book Zone Reviews An Interview with Sands Hetherington

Thursday, March 14, 2024 Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog Book Spotlight of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Friday, March 15, 2024 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers An article by Author Sands Hetherington

Sunday, March 17, 2024 Barbara Ann Mojica Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Monday, March 18, 2024 Cover Lover Book Review An Interview with Sands Hetherington

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 The Fairview Review Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Because I Said So Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Thursday, March 21, 2024 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Monday, March 25, 2024 Froggy Read Teach Book Review of Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264

Enter the giveaway for for your chance to win an autographed 4-book series, including Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare; Night Buddies and One Far-out Flying Machine; Night Buddies Go Sky High, and Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264!

Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264: Book Giveaway

Interview with Mark Lavine, author of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

Hi friends! I'm pleased to welcome you to my stop on the tour hosted by The Childrens Book Review for Forever Child: A Novel of the Future by Mark Lavine. Please take some time to check out my interview with the author and learn more about the book. Make sure you also check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post, as there are some awesome prizes up for grabs.

Happy reading everyone!

Note: This post was created in partnership with The Childrens Book Review, and author Mark Lavine.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

Written by Mark Lavine

Ages: 13-18 | 315 Pages

Publisher: Mark Lavine (2022) | ISBN-13: 9798218130947

Publisher’s Book Summary: What if you could live hundreds of years – but never age?

In the year 2315 you can live for hundreds of years and never age past eleven. That is, if you’re one of the lucky ones. But the not-so-lucky ones are disturbingly close, and they’re threatening your safety, security, and even your deepest beliefs. Soon, it will be all-out war.

Among a chosen few, life expectancy is now hundreds of years; these are the forever children, and science has found a way to keep them in a nearly endless childhood state. Secure in their giant hives, they have left the outsiders, who must live natural lives, to fend for themselves.

This is the story of Kianno and Seelin, two youths who find themselves trading places in this strange new world, one leading the life of a forever child and the other growing up in the anarchy of the outside world.

Their lives come together in surprising and unexpected ways, as they both become involved in a fierce struggle between the two worlds.

Discover for yourself a future world of eternal childhood, and the nightmares and battles which erupt from this seemingly innocent society.

But the quest for endless youth comes at a cost.

How will Kianno and Seelin survive in this battle for eternal life?

Interview with the Author

A large theme of the novel is youth. What is one thing you would reclaim from your youth if you could, and one thing you’re happy is in your past now that you’re older?

I suppose what I miss and what I’m glad to be done with are really just two sides of the same thing: having all the possibilities of life ahead of you. On the one hand, it’s great to be able to dream and imagine all the wonderful things which might lie ahead, but along with that comes the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the fear that you just as well might fail miserably at life and end up poor, unhappy, and alone. You trade one for another as time goes on, until at my age there remains little fear, but also fewer dreams of what might be. I still do have dreams, but of course they can’t be nearly as ambitious as those of my youth.

I’m always interested in learning more about an author’s writing process. What is one way this book has changed from the first draft to the final one?

For ForeverChild, the changes were primarily editorial in nature. I did not go back and make any major plot or character shifts. Mostly just refining and polishing word and sentence choices.

You’ve mentioned previously that science fiction writers will come up with ideas by observing current trends and extrapolating them into what they think could be in the future. One of my favorite science fiction universes is Star Trek, as many of the futuristic tech pieces they featured now seem to be turning into ‘science fact’. What is one science fiction work (either movie or book) where you think the creators did a good job predicting the future?

Well, of course 1984 stands out as a great work which foreshadowed the extent to which society has been influenced (some might say controlled) by technology. Orwell also accurately predicted many aspects of what this technology would look like, from facial recognition to artificial intelligence. Jules Verne and Mary Shelley were two other science fiction authors who were able to predict specific technological advances well before their time.

Emerging science can be complicated, and sometimes it can be a challenge to make topics accessible to younger readers. How did you approach that challenge in writing this book?

I did not try to make these topics accessible to younger readers. ForeverChild was not written as a young adult novel, so I did not tailor it or try to fit it into any kind of mold designed to appeal to young adults. I wrote it as an adult novel, and it was only when teenagers and young adults began to take an interest in this book that I recognized its appeal to this age group. My own opinion is that the more advanced young adult readers are sophisticated enough that you don’t need to try and write a book just for them. I believe many of these readers are looking for something outside the standard ‘young adult’ fare.

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

I hate to duck this question, but I’m going to anyway. Different readers have taken away so many different feelings, emotions, thoughts, messages, and ideas, that I would be presumptuous to try and declare any of these as more or less valid. The book provides a platform for the discussion of many social issues, and my own interpretation is no more “right” or “correct” than any other reader’s take. I strongly believe that the impact of a novel is not created by the author, but by the reader. The author can only provide a story which is rich enough to provide the opportunity for the readers themselves to create their own impact.

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

I love to hike, cross country ski, and read. 

What projects are you working on next?

I am working on a novel which is contemporary, and not science fiction. It involves a prisoner and his escape, so I have had to research some new areas, but I am enjoying working on it and I am excited about its possibilities.

About the Author

Mark Lavine is the author of four novels: Dr. Prozac, ForeverChild, Victimless Crimes, and Windekind. He lives in the mountains of Vermont with his wife, daughter, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He loves to take long hikes through the nearby woods, and to cross-country ski in the winter. The dog likes to join in these adventures, but the dog mostly prefers long naps.

For more information, visit http://www.marklavine.net/.

Don't miss the giveaway!

Enter for the chance to win a personalized, signed copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future, one signed poster, and a Kindle Paperwhite!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

-A personalized, signed copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

-A signed poster

-A Kindle Paperwhite

Three (3) winners receive:

-A personalized, signed copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

-A signed poster

Seven (7) winners receive:

-A personalized, signed copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

Enter below! ForeverChild Book Giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE Friday, September 1, 2023 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of ForeverChild Monday, September 4, 2023 The Momma Spot Book Review of ForeverChild Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Stargirls.Magical.Tale Book Review of ForeverChild Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers Book Review of ForeverChild Thursday, September 7, 2023 Life Is What It’s Called Author Interview with Mark Lavine Friday, September 8, 2023 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of ForeverChild Monday, September 11, 2023 A Blue Box Full of Books Book Review of ForeverChild and Little Free Library Drop Tuesday, September 12, 2023 One More Exclamation Book Review of ForeverChild Wednesday, September 13, 2023 Froggy Read Teach Book Review of ForeverChild Thursday, September 14, 2023 Mommy’s Block Party Book Review of ForeverChild Friday, September 15, 2023 Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog Author Interview with Mark Lavine Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Country Mamas with Kids Book Review of ForeverChild Thursday, September 21, 2023 Confessions of a Book Addict Book Giveaway of ForeverChild