Samantha Cook's Blog

THREADS THAT BIND by Kika HatzopolouDisclaimer time: As always, the following is just my opinion. Other opinions are available. THREADS THAT BIND is an epic fantasy with an urban feel. It has a fascinating magic system inspired by Greek mythology, and a story that explores the bonds of sibling relationships. Overall, it's a fast-paced book about fate, choices, and forgiving yourself, so prepare

I know what you're thinking...or actually, I don't. It's easy to picture that anyone who reads your work will only see the negatives. They have every right to, after all, and I'm a big critic myself. I find things to improve in most books, even when I give them five star reviews. This is why solidifying one of my novels into print was a big step for me, and because of Sod's Law, it coincided with

DYRWOLF by Kat Kinney4 StarsVerdict: A typical paranormal romance. I'm not one for wolf books, but this one I found quite readable. Some of the imagery is fantastic although the writing starts a little bumpy – a tad on the purple prose side were my initial thoughts. It also rushes into headstrong plot within the first few pages, not really allowing enough time to connect to the characters and

Happy Halloween, book lovers! There's still a few hours left before the giveaway ends, so enter below as soon as possible.The Clearing is a dystopian adventure set in a village run by psychics, and it was awarded the Editor's Pick seal of approval by Evernight Teen. A couple more great reviews have rolled in recently, so I'm overjoyed about it.a Rafflecopter giveaway If the giveaway above isn't

BEFORE AND AFTER by Andrew Shanahan4 StarsVerdict: Unique take on weight loss and a zombie apocalypse.Trigger warning for eating disorders and body shaming.Ben is a soft soul struggling with mental health that centres around food. He's obese and hasn't left his flat in years. The day he's scheduled for surgery to remove his diabetic foot, the world seems to lose it's mind and turn into angry

THE CITY OF SNOW AND STARS by S.D. Howard4 StarsVerdict: A dark fantasy with a wholesome cast. Trigger warning for rape/abuse. 'I'm not wanted for me, only what I can give, and there is nothing left.'I don't usually quote books, but this is a very quotable story! The dialogue was powerful in places, and the way the characters bonded together was the strength of this Christian fantasy adventure.  

THE INHERITANCE GAMES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes3 StarsVerdict: Great set up but I lost interest. Avery is about to inherit a billionaire's fortune, despite never meeting the man - if she can spend a year living among the disinherited family.This one starts off strong with a smart main character. It has complicated families and a whole cast of shady rich folk who may or may not be threatening

I'm giving away a paperback copy of my debut YA novel, The Clearing. It's a dystopian adventure set in a village run by psychics, and it was awarded the Editor's Pick seal of approval by Evernight Teen. a Rafflecopter giveawayIn the last surviving village, Ruby has made a name for herself as a rebellious teen. She challenges the Seers who use their visions to execute criminals before they commit

As I've talked about before, my writing journey has been a really long one (see my Rejection Story video for more details). But now after 21 years dreaming, 14 years querying, 7 manuscripts, 2 mentoring contests, and countless rewrites - I'm finally a published author!So, introducing my YA dystopian adventure with a paranormal spin, fiery romance, and twist ending: The Clearing! It's currently

OCTAVIA BLOOM AND THE MISSING KEY by Estelle Grace Tudor5 StarsVerdict: A beautiful book, through and through. When eccentric Great Aunt Clara comes to stay in the Bloom's family castle, Octavia learns she's the keeper of the key for a magical fairyland. However, her family has a secret, one that involves finding rare flowers in order to break a curse. Although Octavia should protect fairyland