Check out fan art and a sneak peak of the first chapter! And, of course, donāt miss the giveaway at the end of this post! ā
A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo
Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: November 5, 2019 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
SYNOPSIS
Ever since her mother walked out, Trix McCabe has been determined to make it on her own. And with her near-magical gift for pulling valuables off unsuspecting strangers, Trix is confident she has what it takes to survive. Until sheās caught and given a choice: jail time, or go live with her long-lost family in the tiny town of Rocksaw, Kansas.
Trix doesnāt plan to stick around Rocksaw long, but thereās something special about her McCabe relatives that she is drawn to. Her aunt, Mia, bakes pies that seem to cure all ills. Her cousin, Ember, can tell a personās deepest secret with the touch of a hand. And Trixās great-aunt takes one look at Trixās palm and tells her that if she doesnāt put down roots somewhere, she wonāt have a future anywhere.
Before long, Trix feels like she might finally belong with this special group of women in this tiny town in Kansas. But when her past comes back to haunt her, sheāll have to decide whether to take a chance on this new life . . . or keep running from the one sheās always known.
With lovable and flawed characters, an evocative setting, and friendships to treasure, A Constellation of Roses is the perfect companion to Miranda Asebedoās debut novel The Deepest Roots.
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TRIGGER WARNINGS
adultery
abuse
suicide
depression
FAVORITE QUOTES
“Fortune telling isn’t a science. It’s an art. And sometimes art is messy.”
āScars tell a story, even when we donāt want them to.ā
āAll I know is that itās the good memories that cut the deepest, because those are the ones where you remember what youāve lost.ā
āIāve been invisible for months at a time while I was drifting, and Iāll be damned if Iām going to let someone make me feel that way on purpose.ā
āI tug out the fountain pen from my pocket. On top of the first scar a few inches from the crook of my elbow, I draw a blooming rose, its petals black-tipped with ink. And then another, and another, until my arm is covered, and instead of a constellation of scars, I have a constellation of roses.ā
āYes, I have gotten what I always wanted. My deepest secrets. Not a perfect family, after all. But a constellation of women, connected by pie and fortunes and roses. And love.ā
Miranda Asebedo was born and raised in rural Kansas with a love of fast cars, open skies, and books. She carried that love of books to college, where she got her B.A. and M.A. in English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing and Literature. A Seaton Fellowship recipient, her short fiction has appeared in Kansas Voices, Touchstone, and Midway Journal.
Miranda still lives on the prairie today with her husband, two kids, and two majestic bulldogs named Princess Jellybean and Captain Jack Wobbles. If Miranda’s not writing or reading, she’s most likely convinced everyone to load up in the family muscle car and hit the road.
š„Preorder Giveaway for A CONSTELLATION OF ROSES š„To receive a signed character art card, send proof of your preorder OR library request before 11.5.19 š„Open internationally, audiobooks & ebooks count, too! Details & preorder links: https://t.co/vPkx3i2sHfpic.twitter.com/hUUaQkjMNN
— Miranda Asebedo says Buy A CONSTELLATION OF ROSES (@MirandaWriteNow) September 13, 2019
Donāt miss theĀ giveawayĀ at the end of this post!Ā
Crier’s War by Nina Varela
Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: October 1, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBT
SYNOPSIS
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their ownersā estates and bent the human race to their will.
Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her familyās deathā¦by killing the sovereignās daughter, Lady Crier.
Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her fatherās legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isnāt the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla.
Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.
REVIEW
Okay, one of my favorite tropes is (slow burn) enemies to lovers, and let me tell you: this book delivered. Plus, these enemies to lovers are queer, I love my lesbian and bi rep, and the book is own voices. š¤š¤š¤
Please, please read this book. If not for anything else, read it for the romance.Ā
Favorite Quotes
𤠓You couldnāt depend on much in this world, but you could depend on this: love brought nothing but death.”
š¤ āIt was never really a choice, was it? Wanting her. Killing her.ā
š¤”Were there certain words or ideas that made Aylaās frown smooth out, that made her eyes brighten? Crier wanted to study her like a map. Draw an easy path between all the specific yet scattered points of her.”
š¤āA thought came to her: a story of its own, one that only just began writing itself in her mind: a story of two women, one human, one Made.ā
𤠓If longing is madness then none of us are sane.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ā Nina Varela is a nationally awarded writer of screenplays and short fiction. She was born in New Orleans and raised on a hippie commune in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent most of her childhood playing in the Eno River, building faerie houses from moss and bark, and running barefoot through the woods. These days, Nina lives in Los Angeles with her writing partner and their tiny, ill-behaved dog. She tends to write stories about hard-won love and young people toppling the monarchy/patriarchy/whatever-archy. On a related note, sheās queer. On a less related note, she has strong feelings about hushpuppies and loves a good jambalaya. Crier’s War is her first novel.Ā
Donāt miss theĀ giveawayĀ at the end of this post!Ā
The Vine Witch byĀ Luanne G. Smith
Publisher: 47North ReleaseDate: October 1, 2019 Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis
A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.
For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.
Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesnāt endorse the localsā belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, sheāll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she wonāt rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.
Review
As you all may know, my favorite animal is frogs, so I knew I would enjoy this book when it opened from the viewpoint of a toad. Wine is also my drink of choice, and I consider myself to be a baby witch.Ā
Basically, I’m sure Luanne wrote this book for me.Ā
The character development and romance are the only aspects of this book keeping it from being 5 stars. But I definitely recommend it. š¤
Favorite Quotes
š¤ āWhat the eye couldnāt see, the imagination filled in. We put names to the unexplained. Cast it as something to either fear or worship. And yet just because a thing canāt be seen doesnāt mean it isnāt real.ā
š¤ āShe gave the wine a swirl, and Jean-Paul knew if there was ever magic in the world it was in that glass of perfectly blended seven-year-old pinot noir.ā
𤠓The art of poison might run in your blood, but never doubt you were meant to be a vine witch.ā
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Luanne G. Smith is the author of THE VINE WITCH, a fantasy novel about witches, wine, and revenge set in early 20th century France, and the forthcoming second book in the series, The Glamourist. Sheās lucky enough to live in Colorado at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, a glass of wine at the end of the day, and finding the magic in everyday life.
You won’t want to miss the giveaway and preorder campaign at the end of this post! āØ
Shadow Frost by Coco Ma
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Release Date: October 1, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
SYNOPSIS
IN THE KINGDOM OF AXARIA, a darkness rises.
Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes. Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm. Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down.
Not one has ever returned.
When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields ā though has yet to fully understand ā Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless, trained soldiers have failed.
To kill it.
But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the Princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known.
That is, of course⦠if the demon doesnāt get to them first.
From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.
REVIEW
This book took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.Ā
Then again, I have a soft spot for retellings and books involving princessesāespecially badass princessesāmagic, romance, a touch of mystery, queer characters, demons, and friendship. Now that I’m thinking about it, I shouldn’t have been surprised at all.Ā
I should only be surprised that Coco Ma wrote this book when she was just 15 years old. What have I been doing with my life?
Anyway, this book was a 5 star read for me because, no spoilers, I enjoyed the slow but steady character and plot development. There were a few “plot twists” that I saw coming a mile away, but it didn’t matter. I loved them all the same.
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BookTube Mentions
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Coco Ma is a Canadian-Chinese author and pianist. She wrote her first novel, Shadow Frost, at the age of 15. Since she began playing the piano at the age of five and a half, she has also performed on some of the world’s greatest concert stages and graduated with a pre-college diploma in piano performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. Currently, she studies at Yale University. When she isn’t practicing piano, writing, or studying, you might find her bingeing Netflix or eating cake. Lots of cake.
Donāt miss the giveawayāand the sneak peak prologueāat the end of this post!
The Storm Crowby Kalyn Josephson
Publisher: SourcebooksFire Release Date: July 9, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
SYNOPSIS
In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.
Favorite Quotes
Video
Prologue
I was a storm.
Adrenaline ripped through my veins like lightning as I leaned close to the body of my Crow, preparing to execute a dive. Iylaās warm, steady heat kept me grounded, even hundreds of feet in the air. Cold wind whipped tendrils of hair free from my braid, nipping at the skin around my goggles and stealing my breath.
The thin, well-worn saddle beneath me was nothing more than a strip of leather to bind stirrups to, the reins trailing from my hands to Iylaās beak, an illusion of controlāthis ride depended on trust and mutual respect. Anything less, and no amount of leather would keep me seated on Iylaās back.
Years of Estrelās instructions raced through my mind: Keep your body low and tight in a dive. Give the reins slack. Keep your knees back so you donāt put pressure on the Crowās wing joints. I knew it all like my own heartbeat.
I tucked close to Iylaās body, and we dove.
Water misted my skin as Iylaās Storm Crow magic split apart a cloud a second before we shot through it and plummeted toward the earth. My heart screamed into my throat, pure, unadulterated joy erupting through me with every passing moment. I held my breath as we fell, counting the secondsāwe could only gain so much speed before Iylaās wings wouldnāt be able to handle the strain of opening.
Fifteen, sixteen, seventeenā¦
We burst through the clouds, Aris spread out below us. The city was a blur as we dove, a sea of light and color fast approaching.
Twenty. I squeezed my knees, and Iylaās wings snapped open like the slice of a blade, catching an updraft to send us sailing in a gentle arc. Lightning buzzed at the tips of Iylaās wings as she let out a piercing call.
I sucked in a lungful of cold air and let it out in a laugh, the thrill of the dive resounding through me like a thunderclap. I craved that feeling like starved lungs craved air, letting it fill me until I felt impossibly alive.
We circled wide and low, descending the rest of the way until Iylaās shadow blanketed the city streets.
Aris unfurled beneath us like a colorful map, dense with thick green foliage and spotted with wildflowers. People called up to us, waving from crowded streets as revelers prepared for the festival leading up to Negnoch, the cityās yearly hatch night. In a few hours, every single Crow from across the kingdom of Rhodaire would put on a masterful display of riding and magic, and the yearās Crows would be hatched.
One of them would be mine. Tonight, I would choose my own Crow and become a rider.
We dipped lower, children chasing Iylaās shadow in the hopes of catching a stray feather to wish upon. This was my favorite part of flying. Even more than the thrill of diving or the magic of soaring through endless skies, I loved gliding peacefully above Aris, the wind brushing along my skin as the city passed below.
Even on the back of a stolen Crow. Well, not quite stolen. Iyla belonged to Estrel, my teacher and motherās best friend, and while Estrel had let me ride Iyla alone before, she technically hadnāt given me permission to tonight.
Probably because I didnāt ask.
A gentle tug on the reins sent Iyla a little higher, and we fell in line over the crystal waters of the canal in the Rynthene Wing. To my left, Earth Crows helped work the fields, tilling land in huge swaths with the pulse of their magic. To my right, the fading sunlight glinted off an armored Battle Crow.
All over Aris, the Crows and riders integrated into the cityās inner workings would be finishing up the dayās tasks. Later, theyād join the military pouring in from Rhodaireās outer reaches in preparation for the Sky Dance.
We followed the canal to the castle at the cityās heart. The giant, gray stone structure stretched into the sky, Delladon vines sprawling across its pale face like laugh lines. From each of the four sides of the central tower, a crescent-shaped landing platform jutted out, and I used the nearest one as a marker to veer Iyla right toward the royal rookery. It was a tall, circular tower with wide windows on the third floor for easy landing.
My nerves jittered. Landing was the hardest part, even with Estrelās lessons branded into my mind.
Let the Crow do the work; it knows what itās doing. Keep your weight back. Never dismount while a Crowās folding its wings, or you risk straining the joints.
We glided easily through one of the rookeryās large, open windows, Iyla as practiced in this maneuver as breathing. Her wings flared back, sending straw swirling across the stone floor as her massive black claws reached out, taking hold of the nearest T-shaped perch. We fell to a standstill, her wings tucking in tight to her muscled form. She was almost reptilian with a lean, muscular body, the proportions a little longer, a little more limber than a normal bird.
I let out a whoop, grinning as I tugged down my goggles and swung off her back, throwing my arms around her. Her long neck straightened as she stiffened, but Iād learned long ago that sheād not only tolerate hugs but secretly liked them.
āAnthia!ā
My excitement went cold at my motherās sharp voice. A flurry of black wings filled the opposite window as her Battle Crow, Tyros, landed effortlessly on the perch across from Iyla, sending a gust of straw-filled wind into my face.
My mother swung down, stalking toward me with the smooth litheness of a jungle cat. With the setting sun at her back, she looked every inch the queen she was, the light making her brown skin and polished flying leathers gleam with an inner fire.
āWhat in Saintās name do you think youāre doing?ā she demanded.
āUm, talking to Iyla?ā I offered. Lying had never been my strong suit. To her credit, the Crow let out a low caw, as if she were indeed part of the conversation.
My mother didnāt smile. I didnāt expect her to.
āRelax, Alandra.ā Estrel emerged from the nearby staircase at my side, her long, dark curls bound in a thick braid like mine. āI gave her permission.ā
The only person who could tell my mother to relax without getting eviscerated was Estrel, my aunt in every way but blood. They even looked like sisters, though my mother was taller and leaner. She and Estrel had grown up together, and Iād even heard a rumor Estrelās sister and my mother had courted as teenagers.
My mother frowned, and I straightened beneath the sharpness of her steel-colored gaze. Her eyes always reminded me of knives, forever sculpting me in an endless quest for perfection.
āI executed a perfect dive,ā I offered, as if my ability to perform riding techniques far more advanced than my seventeen years might soften her gaze.
It only made her eyes narrow. āTaking another riderās Crow out for a joyride to perform dangerous maneuvers is not only foolish, itās insulting.ā I flinched. āIf you want to prove yourself capable of being a leader among the riders, you can start by not disrespecting every rule and custom we live by.ā
I refused to wilt beneath the heat of her words. āWell, maybe if you spent more than a waking second in my presence, Iād know the rules better.ā
Estrel drew a sharp breath, but my mother went stiller than a Shadow Crow concealed in darkness. For a fraction of a second, I swore something pained flashed through her iron gaze, but it vanished quickly.
The circlet of silver feathers on her brow gleamed like molten starlight. āI expect you back here before the hatching.ā She turned to Tyros, who leapt from his perch to the wide window ledge, a perfect tableau of strength against a backdrop of approaching night. With a grace I hadnāt yet mastered, she swung up into the saddle. Wings tucked in tight, Tyros leapt. They plummeted from view, gone for barely a breath before they soared up past the window, climbing into the darkening sky.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kalyn Josephson is a Technical Writer in Silicon Valley, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She grew up in San Luis Obispo, CA, but now lives in the Bay Area with four awesome friends (because itās the Bay and sheād like to be able to retire one day) and two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl). When not writing YA Fantasy, she loves baking, reading, playing sports, and watching too many movies.
Donāt miss the giveaway at the end of this post!
Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Release Date: August 6, 2019 Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings
Synopsis
āThe Little Mermaidā takes a twisted turn in this thrilling sequel to villainess origin story Sea Witch, as the forces of land and sea clash in an epic battle for freedom, redemption, and true love.
Runa will not let her twin sister die. Alia traded her voice to the Sea Witch for a shot at happiness with a prince who doesnāt love her. And his rejection will literally kill herāunless Runa intervenes.
Under the sea, Evie craves her own freedomābut liberation from her role as Sea Witch will require an exchange she may not be willing to make. With their heartsā desires at odds, what will Runa and Evie be willing to sacrifice to save their worlds?
Told from alternating perspectives, this epic fairy tale retelling is a romantic and heart-wrenching story about the complications of sisterhood, the uncompromising nature of magic, and the cost of redemption.
Playlist
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.
Today they’re amazing because they gave me the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour forĀ The Fever King by Victoria Lee.Ā
I actually heard about this book through Pitch Wars last year when I had entered my manuscript Sleeping Around. Victoria had entered this book, and I had talked to her on Twitter.Ā
So basically I was thrilled to join this tour and support Victoria. š¤
And donāt miss the giveaway at the end of this post!
The Fever King (Feverwake #1) by Victoria Lee
Publisher: Skyscape Release Date: March 1, 2019 Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT
Synopsis
In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Ćlvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation ofĀ Carolinia.
The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaksārefugeesĀ CaroliniaĀ routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to makeĀ change, Noam accepts the ministerās offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the ministerās sonācruel, dangerous, and achingly beautifulāand the way forward becomes less clear.
Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far heās willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent twelve ascetic years as a vegetarian before discovering spicy chicken wings are, in fact, a delicacy. Sheās been a state finalist competitive pianist, a hitchhiker, a pizza connoisseur, an EMT, an expat in China and Sweden, and a science doctoral student. Sheās also a bit of a snob about fancyĀ whisky.
Victoria writes early in the morning, then spends the rest of the day trying to impress her border collie puppy and make her experiments work.
She is represented by Holly Root and Taylor Haggerty atĀ Root Literary.
The themes, the characters, the magic, the discourse on immigration. And I love me some bisexual representation.Ā
I had a hard time getting into the story at first. It’s a dystopian setting, and there was a lot of world building going on in the beginning. Once I got my head around the setting, though, I was hooked.Ā
I needed to get to the bottom of the politics. I needed to know who Noam could trust. And, per usual, I needed romance.Ā
There is something for everyone in this book, and I’m so looking forward to the rest of this new series. š¤