BBNYA Blog Tour Spotlight: Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn

Hello, friends! I’m excited to be shining a spotlight on Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn as part of the BBNYA blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. This fantasy filled with blood-thirsty pirates and vicious sirens was part of the top finalists of the BBNYA competition and it’s getting so much love!

More information about the BBNYA competition can be found at the end of my post!

I received this book as part of the 2021 BBNYA competition and the BBNYA tours organised by the TWR Tour team. Thanks to the author and the team for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the amazing bloggers on tour!

Goodreads: Our Bloody Pearl (These Treacherous Tides #1)
Publisher: Bryn Books
Publication Date: 26 July 2018
Genre: Adult Fantasy

The ocean is uncontrollable and dangerous. But to the sirens who swim the warm island waters, it’s a home more than worth protecting from the humans and their steam-propelled ships. Between their hypnotic voices and the strength of their powerful tails, sirens have little to fear.

That is, until the ruthless pirate captain, Kian, creates a device to cancel out their songs.

Perle was the first siren captured, and while all since have either been sold or killed, Kian still keeps them prisoner. Though their song is muted and their tail paralyzed, Perle’s hope for escape rekindles as another pirating vessel seizes Kian’s ship. This new captain seems different, with his brilliant smile and his promises that Kian will never again be Perle’s master. But he’s still a human, and a captor in his own way. The compassion he and his rag-tag human family show can’t be sincere… or can it?

Soon it becomes clear that Kian will hunt Perle relentlessly, taking down any siren in her path. As the tides turn, Perle must decide whether to run from Kian forever, or ride the forming wave into battle, hoping their newfound human companions will fight with them.

This adult fantasy novel featuring an nonbinary disabled protagonist is a voyage of laughter and danger where friendships and love abound and sirens are sure to steal—or eat—your heart. 

Content/Trigger Warnings: mild gore due to carnivorous sirens and sensations of drowning.

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Blog Tour Spotlight: Frozen Hearts and Death Magic by Day Leitao

Today is my stop on the TBR & Beyond Tours for Frozen Hearts and Death Magic by Day Leitao.
Special thanks to Sparkly Wave and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the amazing bloggers on tour!

Goodreads: Frozen Hearts and Death Magic (Of Fire & Fae #1)
Publisher: Sparkly Wave
Publication Date: 22 January 2022
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance

It all started with a kiss. A forbidden fae kiss. 

Naia was raised in the shadow of her twin brother, the crown prince, who has iron magic much more powerful than hers. But Naia has wishes of her own.

They awaken when she finds a white fae almost dying in the woods. She only heard of them in stories; the dreaded race that razed cities to the ground, killed her grandparents, almost rid Aluria of humans—until they disappeared. Now, twenty years later, are they back? Is there another war coming? But the fae is evasive and secretive. He’s also alluring and fascinating, more beautiful than anyone she’s ever seen. And then it happens: she kisses him—and nothing will be the same again.

In another kingdom, Leah, a necromancer princess, has to find a husband in less than four days, during the Gathering, when royals from all over Aluria meet. Her family makes it very clear that she can pick any prince she wants—except one: Naia’s brother. And it turns out that he’s the one; the one who makes her heart beat faster.Meanwhile, war looms over the land. One of the kingdoms is amassing immense power. The White Fae might be returning. Amidst it all, Naia and her brother struggle with newfound magical powers, family secrets, and most of all, their own treacherous hearts.

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Cover Reveal: Royal Captive by Heather Frost

Hello, friends! I’m excited to be sharing the cover reveal for Royal Captive, the third book in the Fate of Eyrinthia series by Heather Frost. I’m quite excited to see what happens next in this series and I can’t wait to get me hands on it when it’s out next year! And isn’t this cover just stunning!? 😍

Check out my reviews for Royal Spy and Royal Decoy!

Publication Date: 18 March 2022
Genre: Fantasy Romance (Romantasy)

A DECOY trapped in a dangerous lie
A SERJAH searching for the truth
A PRINCE caught in a deadly game
A WORLD choked by secrets

Abducted during a devastating ambush, Clare is now the captive of ruthless mercenaries. Dragged through the wilderness while grieving heart-rending loss, she must maintain the illusion that she is the princess. Because if she lets the mask slip, even for a moment, the Mortisians will have no reason to keep her alive.

After arresting traitors close to the crown, Desfan fights to rebuild his court, knowing that the imminent arrival of the Devendran princess will further upset the precarious balance in Mortise. But Desfan’s world is rocked when he discovers a rumor that rewrites the most devastating event in his life. He will stop at nothing to find the truth–no matter where it leads.

As Grayson struggles to find his footing in Mortise, he discovers new friends and enemies. His life is further complicated by the tenuous alliance with his spymaster brother. With secrets deepening around him, Grayson must decide where his loyalties truly lie. Through it all, his heart remains in Ryden with Mia. Unfortunately, his love for her is no secret, and the Black Hand is a coveted weapon . . .

Eyrinthia holds its breath as allies and enemies collide. Secrets. Lies. Betrayals. Nothing will be the same.

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ARC Review: Given to Darkness by Phil Williams

🥳 Happy Pub Day to Given to Darkness! 🎉

Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Given to Darkness, book two in the Ikiri duology by Phil Williams. When I was approached by Phil to read the conclusion to this thrilling duology I immediately said yes because I remembered how much I enjoyed book one! Check out my review for Kept from Cages.

Special thanks to Phil Williams for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads: Given to Darkness (Ikiri Book 2)
Publisher: Rumian Publishing
Publication Date: 19 October 2021
Genre: Supernatural Action Thriller

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

Ikiri demands blood. Whose will it be?

A malevolent force stirs from the heart of the Congo. One child can stop it – but everyone wants her dead. Reece Coburn’s gang have travelled half the world to protect Zipporah, only to find her in more danger than ever. Her violent father is missing, his murderous enemies are coming for them, and her brother’s power is growing stronger. Entire communities are being slaughtered, and it’s only getting worse.

They have to reach Ikiri before its corruption spreads. But there’s a long journey ahead, past ferocious killers and unnatural creatures – and very few people can be trusted along the way. Can two criminal musicians, an unstable assassin and a compromised spy reach Ikiri alive? What will it cost them along the way?

Pick up this exciting conclusion to the Ikiri duology today, for a supernatural thriller that will keep you hooked right to the finish

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Book Review: Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

Check out my review for the first book: A Good Girls’ Guide to Murder


Goodreads: Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #2)
Publisher: Electric Monkey
Published: 30 April 2020
Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller

Panda Rating:

(5 pandas)

Pip is not a detective anymore.
With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.

But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.

The police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way… and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it’s too late?

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The Count to 10 With Me Book Tag

Hello, friends! I’m coming at you with another fun tag today 😊 I first saw The Count to 10 With Me book tag on Julie @ One Book More’s page and it looked so fun I thought I’d give it a go. The original tag was created by booktuber Alyce @ The Bumbling Blogger.

Most of these books I’ve already read but perhaps one or two of them will still be on my TBR. If I’ve written a review for the book I’ll link it to the book cover if you want to check them out. On that note, here we go!


1. First book in a series

Slippery Creatures is a book that I just finished this past week and I subsequently devoured the rest of the trilogy. The vivid 1920s setting, masterful writing, and charming main cast has made this series one of my favourite historical (queer) romances and I (obvs) highly recommend it! 😊

2. Two or more copies of the same book

I have the ebook and the hardcover for With the Fire on High. I read the physical copy first and loved it so much that I knew I wanted to get the ebook so I could mark all my favourite bits an re-read it whenever I want! It’s such a gorgeous book ❤️

3. Three colours on the cover

The cover of Pride and Premeditation is one of my favourites! It’s so bright and SO colourful 😍 Bonus is that I really enjoyed this mystery re-telling of my favourite classic!

4. Four or more perspectives

This was a little bit tough but I’ve settled on Aurora Burning in the end! Each chapter is a different POV and we get the POV of all the crew members 😍

5. A five star read

Jade City is one of the best adult fantasies that I’ve ever read and I cannot recommend it enough! There’s so much to love about this series from the stellar world-building to the characters who come to feel like family. To say I was invested in both books in The Green Bone Saga would be an understatement. 😂 I cannot wait until the final book in this glorious series comes out because I need it in my life like yesterday already pls thanku!

6. Six (or more) short stories

I’m not much of an anthology reader but I did read Up All Night last month and surprisingly loved most of the stories! These coming-of-age stories are fun, magical, and full of the exciting, scary and hopeful feelings of change.

7. A seven on the cover or spine

I thought this was gonna be much harder than I anticipated but I just had to look at my shelf and I immediately spotted one of my all time faves: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!

8. Eight letters in the title

Oof, this prompt was a little tougher to figure out! Good Talk is a great non-fiction graphic novel, the first I’ve read, and I really enjoyed the conversations this book brought up between me and a couple of friends! 😊

9. Book ends on a page ending in a 9

This one took a surprising amount of scrolling on my GR read list to find! I ended up with: 659 pages for The Crown of Gilded Bones, which is book three in the Blood and Ash series!

10. Ten books in the series

Okay, this one was the toughest out of all the prompts and I was unable to find a series that I want to read that had exactly ten books. It was even hard to find a series that had more than ten books… although counting the novellas, I ended up with The Outlander series. Without novellas there are 9 books, with novellas there are 12 books! I haven’t even read the first book so I have quite a bit of reading to do! 😂


And that’s it, folks! I won’t be tagging anyone specifically so if you feel like joining the fun, feel free to do so! I’d love to see what your picks are for this fun tag, especially for the last prompt! 😍

ARC Review: With You Forever by Chloe Liese

Special thanks to the author for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads: With You Forever (Bergman Brothers #4)
Publication date: 14 September 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)


Axel
Rooney Sullivan is sunshine incarnate. Warm, bright, always smiling, she’s everything I’m not and the last person I have any business desiring. Desperate to hide a hopeless attraction, I’ve done everything possible to keep my distance…until a charades game gone wrong brought that to a grinding halt. 

Since then, steering clear of Rooney has been impossible. In a matter of months, she’s kissed me speechless, commandeered my art career, and infiltrated not only my dreams but my home. The woman who was once avoidable has become the last thing I needed: temptingly within reach.
 
Rooney
Axel Bergman is a gorgeous grump who doesn’t have the time of day for me. Thankfully, I’ve kept my crush under wraps…well, until I kissed him. Charades got away from me, okay? It was an accident! I haven’t seen him since, which is for the best. My life is a mess, and the last thing I need is to embarrass myself further with the man who avoids me like that’s his job rather than painting modern masterpieces.
 
It seems the universe, however, has a different plan. When Axel and I unexpectedly find our paths—and problems—converging, a marriage of convenience proves the perfect solution. At least, until I’m facing my most serious problem yet: a once-loveless marriage of convenience that’s inconveniently become a love match, after all.

THIS BOOK IS OUT IN TWO DAYS!
PRE-ORDER NOW:

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Book Review: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Goodreads: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #1)
Publisher: Electric Monkey
Published: 02 May 2019
Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth … ?

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Book Review: Subtle Blood by K.J. Charles

Goodreads: Subtle Blood (The Will Darling Adventures #3)
Publisher: KJC Books
Published: 23 June 2021
Genre: Historical Romance, Mystery/Thriller

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

Will Darling is all right. His business is doing well, and so is his illicit relationship with Kim Secretan–disgraced aristocrat, ex-spy, amateur book-dealer. It’s starting to feel like he’s got his life under control.

And then a brutal murder in a gentleman’s club plunges them back into the shadow world of crime, deception, and the power of privilege. Worse, it brings them up against Kim’s noble, hostile family, and his upper-class life where Will can never belong.

With old and new enemies against them, and secrets on every side, Will and Kim have to fight for each other harder than ever—or be torn apart for good.

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Book Review: Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly

Goodreads: Sing Anyway (Moonlighters #1)
Publisher: Anita Kelly
Published: 01 June 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

After a lifetime of failed relationships, non-binary history professor Sam Bell is committed to a new (non)romantic strategy: Thirst Only. It’s the actual drinking where things get too complicated, where Sam inevitably gets hurt.

Sam is good at being thirsty, though, especially when it’s karaoke night at The Moonlight Café, otherwise known as Moonie’s to its largely queer regulars. Moonie’s is fun. Comfortable. Safe. Except for tonight, when one by one, all of Sam’s friends abandon them. Disappointed, they prepare to leave—until their #1 karaoke crush catches their eye…

For Lily Fischer, karaoke at Moonie’s is the only time she can step outside of her quiet shell. When there’s a mic in her hand, she’s no longer merely a receptionist harboring big dreams. At Moonie’s, Lily can pretend to be someone else: someone bold, who takes what she wants. And tonight, what Lily wants is the way Sam looks at her across the room as she sings her signature opening song, like they see her exactly as she wants to be seen. Like Moonie’s Lily is real.

As the night progresses, both Sam’s and Lily’s personal fears are tested, and the real world outside of Moonie’s looms. But maybe sometimes, the real world should be a little more like karaoke. It’s not always about knowing all the right words or having the perfect voice. Maybe all Sam and Lily need is a little courage to pick up the mic, and sing anyway.

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