TOUR: The Alchemists of Loom

The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova

ISBN: 9781619844421
Pages: 380
Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Publication Date: January 10, 2017

Initial Reaction:

Her vengeance. His vision.
Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.
When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.
He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

I am finally back with a tour stop! It's been so long that this feels almost foreign. Today I get to share another amazing Elise Kova novel with you all. I read Air Awakens earlier this year and absolutely loved it. While I haven't gotten the chance to finish the series, I've been following Elise Kova on her social media and have been anticipating the release of The Alchemists of Loom.

The Alchemists of Loom has the same fantastic writing that Air Awakens has which introduces a fascinating world with a touch of steampunk thrown in. I loved the vivid descriptions that Elise Kova includes but she leaves enough out so that you can really use your imagination to see the world. The world of Loom has a bunch of different races and I really appreciated how humans weren't the focus. Instead, we have the Fenrhi, a group of gray skinned people who are divided into different guilds to learn specific crafts. We also have the Dragons, who rule this world and have special abilities that are connected to different parts of their body. Because of these abilities, their organs are harvested and implanted to Fenrhi who are then called Chimera. 

When the story starts, we are introduced to Arianna also know as the White Wraith and she loathes the Dragons. She's in the middle of a heist when she stumbles across an injured Dragon. Thinking it to be an easy harvest, she aims to harvest his organs but he surprises her with a request: Take him to the Alchemists Guild and he'll grant her a boon. An offer that she can't resist, so Ari agrees to partner up with her enemy.

This story has no boring moment and the different relationships between the characters is so fascinating. I loved the love-hate relationship between Cvareh and Arianna and also being able to delve more into Ari's past relationships and how they shaped her. The relationship between Florence and Ari was super sweet as well though I'm not sure if it was supposed to go beyond a mentor-student relationship. Another thing I enjoyed immensely was being able to see the story from the opposite side's point of view. Through Ari, you get this twisted image of the Dragon, and while they aren't the perfect race, seeing the story from Leona's perspective opened the doors a lot.

The Alchemists of Loom is such an eye opening tale that introduces fascinating new world. Through all the adventures, the overarching idea of fighting the stereotypical mold society presents in order to live your life to the fullest and to do all the things that you were meant to do. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment and this just encourages me to hurry and finish the Air Awakens saga. 

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GIVEAWAY

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AUTHOR BIO:

Elise Kova has always had a profound love of fantastical worlds. Somehow, she managed to focus on the real world long enough to graduate with a Master’s in Business Administration before crawling back under her favorite writing blanket to conceptualize her next magic system. She currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and when she is not writing can be found playing video games, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She is the USA Today bestselling author of the Air Awakens Series as well as the upcoming Loom Saga (Keymaster, 2017). 

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4 out of 5 stars

TOUR: The Daemoniac

The Daemoniac by Kat Ross

ISBN: 0997236248
Pages: 334
Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Publication Date: October 12, 2016

Initial Reaction:

It's August of 1888, just three weeks before Jack the Ripper will begin his grisly spree in the London slum of Whitechapel, and another serial murderer is stalking the gas-lit streets of New York. With taunting messages in backwards Latin left at the crime scenes and even more inexplicable clues like the fingerprints that appear to have been burned into one victim's throat, his handiwork bears all the hallmarks of a demonic possession.

But consulting detective Harrison Fearing Pell is convinced her quarry is a man of flesh and blood. Encouraged by her uncle, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry hopes to make her reputation by solving the bizarre case before the man the press has dubbed Mr. Hyde strikes again.
From the squalor of the Five Points to the high-class gambling dens of the Tenderloin and the glittering mansions of Fifth Avenue, Harry and her best friend, John Weston, follow the trail of a remorseless killer, uncovering a few embarrassing secrets of New York's richest High Society families along the way. Are the murders a case of black magic—or simple blackmail? And will the trail lead them closer to home than they ever imagined?

Kat Ross has done it again with her magical writing! The Daemoniac is this haunting read that takes place in 1888 New York City just a couple weeks before Jack the Ripper unleashes his terror on London. In New York City, another killer is walking the streets and our MC is convinced that it's the work of demonic posession. Harry is the younger sister of Detective Myrtle Pell and with no connections, she sets off to solve this case. Determined to solve the case of Mr. Hyde, she works with her best friend John Weston to uncover the secrets of the upper class.

This story is definitely different from the previous books I have read by Kat Ross but it was still absolutely amazing. If you're looking for a nice spooky read for the month then this is definitely something you should pick up. I'm not a big reader of scary books because I'm often reading late at night and The Daemoniac definitely gave me a couple of jump scares. 

The writing style just reflects the story so perfectly and paints a haunting picture of New York City that I never saw before. Growing up in NYC, it's definitely a different view and one that was absolutely fascinating to read about. It's pretty obvious that the high society of New York is corrupt but taking a little journey into the deep dark passageways was just so fun. Additionally, the characters were just so well developed, especially Harry. Kat Ross just knows how to create characters who stand out and just grab your interest. It was so cool that our MC's full name is Harrison rather than a feminine version. Harry's growth throughout the story is just incredible since she starts as a young naive girl who wants some of her sister's fame and connections to someone with considerable knowledge and wisdom.

The supporting characters are just as amazing and the journey they take throughout the story continues to blow my mind. From the SPR to all the different connections that Harry finds in order to solve the crime, there is just so much that this story delivers that it's an absolute joy to read. The Daemoniac is definitely a great read for this time of the year but it's one that will be fun any time. The pacing and mysterious allure of the story just keeps the pages turning! 

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GIVEAWAY

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AUTHOR BIO

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.

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3.5 out of 5 stars

TOUR: Blood of the Prophet

Blood of the Prophet by Kat Ross

ISBN: 099723623X

Pages: 337
Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Publication Date: September 12, 2016

Initial Reaction: 

 

Visionary. Alchemist. Savior. Saint.

The Prophet Zarathustra has been called many things. Now he spends his time drawing pictures of weird-looking goats. That's what happens when you've been stuck in a prison cell for two hundred years. But the man who might be mad, and is definitely supposed to be dead, has suddenly become very valuable again…

It's only been a few weeks since Nazafareen escaped the King's dungeons with her daēva, Darius. She hoped never to set foot in the empire again, but the search for the Prophet has led them to the ancient city of Karnopolis. They have to find him before Alexander of Macydon burns Persepolae, and Darius's mother with it. But they're not the only ones looking.
The necromancer Balthazar has his own plans for the Prophet, and so does the sinister spymaster of the Numerators. As Nazafareen is drawn in to a dangerous game of cat and mouse, her newfound powers take a decidedly dark turn. Only the Prophet understands the secret of her gift, but the price of that knowledge may turn out to be more than Nazafareen is willing to pay…
Purchase The Midnight Sea (Book 1)

This book is probably one of my most anticipated releases for this fall ever since I read The Midnight Song (Review) earlier this year and to actually have the opportunity to read it right as it comes out was amazing. The Midnight Sea leaves off with so many possibilities and an endless amount of questions that were just left burning. Blood of Prophet continues with Nazafareen, Darius, Tijah, and Myrri journeying to the city to find the Prophet to find some answers. Like the first book, the sequel is action packed and full of new adventures that pull you right in.

There are so many amazing things that happen in this book, I can't quite pick a favorite moment. It was so interesting to see how Kat Ross incorporated different social issues from prostitution and slavery to religion and politics and just mixed them together. Since it's been a while since I read the first book, some of the different positions were a bit confusing but it was cleared pretty quickly. The story itself is just so incredibly diverse, it's absolutely impossible not to get sucked in.

Nazafareen continues to blow me away. She's such a strong female character who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in even though the world she lives in isn't exactly the friendliest and saying the wrong thing could end up with your body hanging from the walls. (Such a lovely image...) Despite that, she doesn't back down and faces all the challenges head on. The only downside is that she'll sometimes act rather impulsively but that's where Darius steps in and balances out her fire with his calm. I can't talk about one bonded pair and not talk about Tijah and Myrri who have such an awesome relationship. Tijah is so fun and seeing her interactions with Myrri is so precious. 

One of the things I found really surprising but loved was how we also got the POVs of the bad guys. Usually, stories will focus on the perspectives of the good but being able to see from the eyes of the antagonists was really cool cause you get to see their schemes and thought process about everything. It also gives insight into their positions in society which obviously differ from the main four's status of criminal Water Dogs and bonded daeva. 

If it's possible, I think I loved this book more than the first book. It was full of all the right elements that made it such an awesome read. There was everything from heartbreaking scenes to happy ones. Honestly, this book has everything and I'm now dying for more.

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Giveaway

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Author Bio:

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.

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4 out of 5 stars

TOUR: Summerlypse

 Summerlypse by Gerado Delgadillo

ASIN: B01GSEN4TK

Pages: 318
Source: YA Bound Book Tours

Publication Date: June 20, 2016

After his crush rejects him, seventeen-year-old Colton catches a plane to Mexico, hoping to forget all about girls. But a night out at a dance club crowded with long legs in miniskirts doesn't help, especially when he meets the club's beautiful DJ, Alex.

In awe of her mixing skills, Colton finds it hard to believe Alex is deaf. As they bond, she asks him to help her win a DJ contest behind her rich, estranged father's back.

Colton's not a wimp or anything, but millionaires with armed bodyguards are not his ideal vacation buddies. The only problem—if he helps her, he may fly back home in a body bag. 

It feels so long since I've written a review that I feel awkward starting a review but here it goes. I read Summerlypse in a bit of a hurry since I'm in the midst of packing and getting back on a plane to fly back to the US but I managed to still be enraptured by the heartfelt story. Colton heads to Mexico and finds himself swept up in some fast paced crazy when he escapes his broken heart. He meets Alex, a deaf DJ, who asks him to help her win a contest behind her father's back. This leads to some unhappy parents and their bodyguards which makes his little getaway a bit more exciting than he thought.

The plot of this story is so engaging with the fast paced of certain scenes and how personal Colton's language is. The author includes phrases that might not be commonly found in most books but offer a closer perspective of the character and how they talk and think. Additionally, the setting of the story adds a different element. With the guns, the bodyguards, and the Mexican mafia involved, it's impossible not to be completely enraptured by the plot.

The relationship between Colton and Alex had my heart melting. Alex is independent and determined to show her father that and she's determined to win Summerlypse, the name of the DJ contest. Everything about their relationship is adorable from Colton's sweet personality to Alex's fire.

The whole story focuses on Colton as he grows and develops into a young man. From exploring Mexico and making new friends to escaping a crime boss, it has a bit of everything in it that makes Summerlypse super fun and enjoyable.

About the Author

Gerardo Delgadillo lives in the Dallas metropolitan area with his wife and children and dogs and cats and the occasional rabbit. Originally from San Francisco and raised in Mexico, he loves to write about contemporary teens in distress in English and Español. So no magic, dragons, or unicorns.
Gerardo's fun facts:
- At the tender age of sixteen, when giant lizards ruled the world, Gerardo was a DJ--turntables and all.
- Cloud computing is his area of expertise--just don't ask him what cloud computing means. 

- He loves football, the one played with the feet by footballers, La Liga from Spain being the best.
About his novels: 

- His writing must be emotional, or else… 

- He believes in the Oxford comma, but the Oxford comma doesn't believe in him. 

- Loves first person present tense POV. 

Author Links:

     

3.5 out of 5 stars

TOUR: Songs of Everealm Series Book 1 & 2

Song of Sovereign by JD Wright
ASIN: B01HDOF4E2
Pages: 248
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Publication Date: June 20, 2016

Princess Sarita has everything. Loving parents, a castle fit for royalty, fine clothes, loyal friends, and an exciting job as a scholar of magic. At eighteen years of age, one might think that she would be content with her position. But one thing has always been missing from her life... full magic, itself.
When a strange old woman gave Sarita a secret spellbook as a child, her entire life was changed. The book contains spells, songs, and stories. But most of all, it provides a path to gaining full magic, the only thing that Sarita still needs to feel complete. And now, she has finally prepared to leave her home in search of the Stones of the Divine, the final ingredient she needs to gain magic.
Gabrielle has been known as the sister of a knight and best friend of the princess for as long as she can remember. Now an experienced healer's assistant, she is desperate to find her place and purpose in Junacave. An adventurous mission to help Sarita locate a mystical stone may be just the change in her life that she is looking for.

King Cassidy is still alone, but not for a lack of trying. His attempts to convince the Princess of Junacave to marry him over the past ten years have been for naught. And being twenty years old, with no heir, he is running out of time. If he can't win the heart of the princess, he may have to face a future without the love of his life.
Adventure, romance, and magic await as we travel through Everealm with royalty, wizards, fairies, and more, in the fantasy-romance Songs of Everealm, a five book series by J.D. Wright, author of the Everealm Series.

Song of Sparrow by JD Wright

ASIN: B01HN2SKPE

Pages: 237
Publication Date:  June 26, 2016
The journey across Everealm to find the magical stones has not come without its challenges. After being plagued by unwanted guests, disagreements, and accidents, Princess Sarita is beginning to wonder if her dream of gaining magic is a fantasy that can't come true. Along the way, new friends and rekindled sparks between old flames have caused quite a stir within the group. As a new wizard joins the effort and gives the princess a reason to continue, the quest for the next stone ensues...As the sun rises over the ridge, our story continues into the Song of Sparrows!

I'm STILL ALIVE! Before I start, a huge huge sorry for literally disappearing off the face of the internet for the past month. I've been in Taiwan (still am) and I've just been doing a bunch of traveling and haven't had the time to sit down and properly write a post. I also haven't read a ton of books >.< But thankfully there are things called blog tours that force you to do something so here's my review!

The Songs of Everealm is a spinoff from the original the Everealm series which I haven't read. While the description for the first book does say that you don't need to read the original, I think that reading it would definitely improve your experience of reading this one. From what I've gathered from other reviews, Sarita was a character in the original series and many fans of the Everealm series were excited to see her development into an adult. 

With that being said, I didn't know Sarita at all as a character and that made the first book a bit difficult to read. I enjoyed the general world and characters but felt really detached, a fact that I think is due to me not reading the original series. Regardless, by the second book, it was a lot easier to relate and get into the story. The first book provided a glimpse into the world and offered a view at the magical quest Sarita goes on and her development.

Based on a lot of other reviews (I did my research) a lot of people enjoyed watching Sartia's growth from a child in the original series to a young woman now. I wish I could have experienced that same feeling but I was lucky enough to be able to experience some of her character development over these two books. She's incredibly dedicated to magic and is unwilling to compromise her dreams. Her relationship with Cassidy made me laugh and shake my heads at how stubborn they are. They constantly wind each other up but at the same time, there's a lot of respect as well.

Well, I'm glad I actually got to read something this month and these two books definitely made things very interesting. I'm debating on whether I should read the first series or wait a bit since my summer TBR has not shrunk at all...

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Writing has always been a hobby of mine, beginning as a young child. It was a way to cope with losing my father at seven years of age. I started with poetry and was featured several times on the amazing poetry blog, Autumn Leaves, by Sondra Ball. My love for poetry soon led to writing songs in middle school and beyond, which I still do occasionally. Music has always been an important part of my existence, so writing songs came naturally to me. In high school, I started my own novel, however, life got in the way and I never finished it.

Fast forward many years later and I find myself married with three children, absorbed in my busy life with commitments to my family, work, school, church, and charities, among other things. One day I came across my old binder, with notes from my first novel, and it was with those notes that I conjured up the elusive Everealm.

I write to please readers such as myself, who have a love for fantasy and romance, but like a little danger and sex in their reading. I wrote the book with a mature audience in mind, who can appreciate a hearty imaginary world with magic and the unknown, but want more than fluffy love stories with wizards in them. They want the romance, magic, and danger, all wrapped into one.

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3.5 out of 5 stars