Cassie James's Blog: Itz All About Books!! - Posts Tagged "magic"

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


At first, I wasn't sure how to feel about this book but a few pages in, I began to fall in love. Denna is a very likable character, Despite the obvious situation you will find yourself becoming immersed in her story. One of the things I love about the book(and most books I read) is the magic, I love an author that can portray magic in a sensible way and Audrey Coulthurst certainly did that. One thing I most especially enjoyed was the horses aspect, I never really cared about horses much but this book made me start to wonder which is something I never would have thought could possibly happen.
The relationship between Denna and Mare was truly captivating, Well written and it inspired a lot of emotions in me. This book is worth anyone's time. Another factor I take into consideration is Worldbuilding and Audrey did a fantastic job of doing that. I have already preordered this book(Despite reading the ARC) and I can surely say this is one of my best books of 2016.



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Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that drew me in about this book is the world building, Erin Summerill did a great job with making Malam and Shaerdan understandable. Another thing that makes this book unique is the style of the magic, it is portrayed in a different manner than its peers and that alone makes it worth one's time because it isn't something you have seen before but something you should definitely see. One of the things I love about Britt is that she is feisty. Despite the disparity of her situation, she still managed to rise above it. The romance is intense, gripping and sizzling hot. While her suspecting Cohen(The male protagonist and her Father's ex-apprentice) makes things awkward at first, it eventually plays out in a way that makes everything perfect. According to me, the most fascinating thing about this book as I said is the world building and that alone makes this book one worth everyone's time. Erin Summerill has made herself an author to look out for and a formidable one at that.



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Everlasting Flame by Katelyn Anderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was everything packed in one. The journey of Joan from a young innocent girl to the strong badass woman she is now is one everyone has to read. The action scenes are superb, The plot engrossing, The Romance entrancing. Seeing the love triangle between Joan, Lorenzo and Cyrus is like my favorite guilty pleasure. This book is a thrilling ride of fun, excitement, tension and is literally one of the most badass YA novels of 2016. Katelyn Anderson's debut is one of a kind. This is a series I definitely will not mind following up. I can recommend this to everyone who like badass powerful heroines with a touch of vulnerability that just makes them so damn irresistible. I immensely enjoyed this book and I so can't wait for the second book in the series. The magic in this book is quite unique and while different is definitely formidable. Joan becoming an assassin and an agent is one tale I loved and who she was before the ending was equally fascinating. Be prepared for a devastating ending that leaves you quite anxious for the next book. Everlasting Flame is a tale of love, loyalty ,humor, friendship, power and will.



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The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Thanks to the publisher Keymaster Press for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, This doesn't in anyway influence my opinion on this book



The Alchemists of Loom is truly exceptional. Elise Kova's books keeps getting better and better. Just as the Air Awakens series sucked me in, The Alchemists of Loom has quickly made itself an unforgettable read. With an exceptionally strong heroine, a unique and brave hero and several notable characters such as the steadfast Florence, The infallible Leona and even the abominable Dragon King, The Alchemists of Loom is definitely the most engrossing of books that has ever graced my presence. The action, feelings, words, emotions all blend together to form an enthralling masterpiece that rendered me speechless at the utter awesomeness of it. I can assure tAoL is unlike anything you have ever read.
The Characters:
Arianna.
Arianna is strong, brave, loyal and very smart. To those lucky enough to be her friends, she would move mountains to ensure their wellbeing. She is a weapon in her own right. She has trust issues and has very impressive gut instincts. She has many secrets in her past that haunt her, I wouldn't say she is a good girl but she is definitely one epic person. Her ability to improvise is enviable and her magic quite formidable. The details of her past are not entirely clear but it was not a walk in the park. She portrays herself to have a tough infallible shell but underneath it is a woman who is capable of being loved and loving. She adopts the moniker of the White Wraith as a testament to the fact that she is thought to be dead and has risen from the dead. She is ultimately one of the best heroines I have ever read about.

Florence.
Florence is very loyal, brilliant and protective and those are qualities I love about her. With her tragic past, I am quite happy with the wonderful, brave and strong woman she became. Her tact for explosives and weapons was quite impressive. Watching her become who she is meant to be is one of the things l truly loved. Throughout the journey from Dortam to The Alchemists Guild, I was expecting her to breakdown but she surprised me by persevering and taking charge when needed. She will definitely be a fan favorite.

Cvareh.
Cvareh is not quite what I expected, He Is better. He is different from Aldrik Solaris and I love him just as he is. There are no words I can use to describe how special he is. All I can say is that you will love him, root for him, crave him and you will be pleasantly surprised by him at many turns.

Despite these characters not being human, I am still wholly in love with them. There are still some other notable characters but you have to read the book to meet them.
The diversity of the characters is one of the things that make this book such a great read, I lost myself in it so many times that extracting myself from the Loom world began to feel like torture. The worldbuilding is phenomenal and very impressive. Some worlds are not entirely easy to understand but that of The Loom Saga is very well constructed and portrayed in a way that even a newbie to fantasy will be able to get along. It shows that a lot of work went into this book and it should be very well commended because it was well pulled off. This book aced every expectation I have from a fantasy book. The action is fast paced in a way that doesn't lag and begins to feel boring, Nope it keeps you on the edge of your seat. With each fight, each victory, each loss, each improvisation to plans, you will find yourself exhibiting strong emotions towards the fate of the characters.
As per the relationship between Cvareh and Arianna, I can assure that it is intense, hot, endearing and laced with such a sensational vibe that every moment they have together is meaningful and leading the both of them towards a precipice of trust. I found myself falling in love with both of them at many turns to the point they began to feel like friends. The camaraderie between the gang despite their different agendas, backstories and methods was also quite amusing.
My favorite quote of tAoL has got to be:

“It was like smelling his favorite meal when he hadn’t eaten for months. It was like finding the accent to a fine coat. He didn’t need her, but gods he wanted her.”

Those words are raw and emotional and that was one of my best moments in this book. This book may be classified as an Adult book but it will definitely appeal to many age rates. The mixture of fantasy and steampunk made an interesting combination that made this book unrivalled. The concept of Ravens, Alchemists, Rivets, Harvesters and Revolvers is a very unique one that made The Alchemists of Loom stand out. I praise Elise Kova for her originality and ingenuity that continues to amaze me. The ending of this book had some unexpected but pleasant surprises that left me quite anxious for the next book in the series. I find no fault whatsoever in every facet of this book, I give it a thousand stars.
With tAoL, Elise Kova proves that she is a master storyteller that can weave stories into bewitching tales that entertain to no end. I wholly recommend The Alchemists of Loom to everybody out there that wants to read one of the best books out there.



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Hey guys!!.
I am happy to tell you that Karen Tomlinson is giving away 5 signed copies of her awesome YA Fantasy debut A Bond Of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and The Guardians, #1) here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

Here's some info on it.
Cover:



Imagine having this beauty on your shelf!!!

Blurb:
The Wraith Lord is hunting; his prize, the key to unleashing darkness and Chaos upon the eight Kingdoms.
For Diamond Gillon the war raging in the south seems a remote danger until her home is brutally attacked. Having lost everything she holds dear, Diamond is catapulted into a terrifying new world in which legendary beasts arise, magic is condemned and half blood fae, like her, have no rights. Despite her growing feelings for her saviour, Commander Hugo Casimir, he remains a paradox – not only is he a heartless killer, he is owned by the cruel immortal fae queen; a queen who will murder her own people for magic.
As Diamond’s circumstances become ever more perilous she is drawn deeper into Hugo’s world and discovers the lengths to which he will go to save what he holds dear. Will Hugo become her friend, her protector, or – an enemy not worthy of her trust?
A Bond of Venom and Magic is a tale of two people bound by magic and secrets, but trapped in the complexities of love and betrayal. It is the beginning of an epic journey, one that will test Diamond’s resolve and determination to battle an evil that threatens not only her world but that of Eternity, the land of The Guardians and The Goddess.

Doesn't it sound utterly amazing. If you're interested, head on over to get a chance to get this amazing book : https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...


Some reviews of ABOVAM:
Bestselling author J.A. Culican
“5 OMG STARS! ☆✰★ ☆ ✰
You had me at Evil Fae Queen!
“Magically fantastic. A five star epic fantasy. The first book in a long time that left me with the dreaded book hangover! ABOVAM was jammed packed with adventure and magic, with quirky, I wish you were real characters. I’m dying for book 2! Hurry Karen, I’m not sure how long I can wait!!”

Bestselling author of Cinder & Ella, Kelly Oram
“A swoon worth page turner... Tomlinson finds the perfect balance of adventure and romance. I loved it”

Meg McGorry, N3rdbomber blogger.
“An action packed fantasy adventure with phenomenal world building.”

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

The Emblem Throne by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, In no way does this influence my opinion on the book.


I enjoyed The Buried symbol a lot and I was excited to get into The Emblem Throne. The adventures of Brock and his friends is one that never ceases to be fascinating. I was curious about the direction this book will take after the ending of the previous one and I got a lot more than I expected. I had high expectations for this sequel and it surpassed every one of them.
The series just keeps getting better and better, the ingenuity of Jeffrey L. Kohanek keeps showing.
The Emblem Throne began with the POV of Ashland and progressed to that of other characters, it was incredibly nice to see the world from the mind of the others in the group. Filled with nonstop heart pounding action, great feats of magic, adorable romance, exhilarating adventures, The Emblem Throne made itself one of my favorite books of the year. It is incredibly well written, each scenario paints a clear image in my mind. Learning more about Chaos, The Unchosen and The Banished Horde is another aspect of this book I enjoyed, I love the way the author portrayed every detail.
The whole worldbuilding is very entrancing and I really enjoyed reading about it.
My favorite quote from the book is:
“Shipwrecked and lost in a foreign land, yet Ashland still appreciated the beauty surrounding them. How could he not love this girl?.”
That just gives me feels.
The ending of this book is well crafted in a way that leaves me anxious for the next installment in this series, The impending battle is one thing I can't wait for.
The Emblem Throne has it all monsters, friendship, love, humor, magic, Apocalypse, betrayal and it is one book I can recommend to all Fantasy lovers out there.



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It is HERE!!
Today is the release day of a book I have been waiting for. Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and The Iron King by Julie Kagawa will love this one, It has fae warriors, a lovable heroine, wonderful magic, a charming Prince, Dragons, Royals, monsters, action, heart pounding romance, despicable villains, adventure and an ending that will leave you thirsting for more. This amazing book I speak of is none other than A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and The Guardians #1) by Karen Tomlinson. This YA Fantasy is one I have read, blurbed and loved, I guarantee it will become a favorite to many readers. It has an awesome kickass beautiful cover that'll look great on any shelf, tremendously well written content and handsome winged fae men. Who wouldn't want that?.

Cover:



Blurb:
The Wraith Lord is hunting; his prize, the key to unleashing darkness and Chaos upon the eight Kingdoms.
For Diamond Gillon the war raging in the south seems a remote danger until her home is brutally attacked. Having lost everything she holds dear, Diamond is catapulted into a terrifying new world in which legendary beasts arise, magic is condemned and half blood fae, like her, have no rights. Despite her growing feelings for her saviour, Commander Hugo Casimir, he remains a paradox – not only is he a heartless killer, he is owned by the cruel immortal fae queen; a queen who will murder her own people for magic.
As Diamond’s circumstances become ever more perilous she is drawn deeper into Hugo’s world and discovers the lengths to which he will go to save what he holds dear. Will Hugo become her friend, her protector, or – an enemy not worthy of her trust?
A Bond of Venom and Magic is a tale of two people bound by magic and secrets, but trapped in the complexities of love and betrayal. It is the beginning of an epic journey, one that will test Diamond’s resolve and determination to battle an evil that threatens not only her world but that of Eternity, the land of The Guardians and The Goddess.

Want this awesome book? Grab a copy in the links below:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bond-Venom-Mag...

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

IBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/a-bo...

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-bon...

Additional Information:

A Bond of Venom and Magic Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Today there will be an awesome party on Facebook celebrating the release of A Bond of Venom and Magic, It will feature Bestselling Author Kelly Oram, International Bestselling author J.A. Culican, YA Fantasy Author Katy Hayes and NA Fantasy Author JZN McCauley. There will be lots of fun and giveaways, this is one party you don't want to miss. It starts 8pm GMT and ends 11pm GMT.
Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/events/93968...

Blurbs of ABOVAM.



Bestselling author J.A. Culican
“5 OMG STARS! ☆✰★ ☆ ✰
You had me at Evil Fae Queen!
“Magically fantastic. A five star epic fantasy. The first book in a long time that left me with the dreaded book hangover! ABOVAM was jammed packed with adventure and magic, with quirky, I wish you were real characters. I’m dying for book 2! Hurry Karen, I’m not sure how long I can wait!!”

Bestselling author of Cinder & Ella, Kelly Oram
“A swoon worth page turner... Tomlinson finds the perfect balance of adventure and romance. I loved it”

Meg McGorry, N3rdbomber blogger.
“An action packed fantasy adventure with phenomenal world building.”

YA Fantasy Author Cassidy Taylor.
“In A Bond of Venom and Magic we have an epic fantasy at its finest: full of adventure, magic, and endearing characters. You can really tell the amount of work that Tomlinson put into building such an original world. The magic, the places, and the different creatures (Fae! Seekers! Wraiths!) are so realistically portrayed that at no point did I find myself doubting the story that the author was telling.
Diamond is the heroine, and she is no weakling. She is strong and smart, persevering in the face of extreme danger. Hugo is her reluctant hero, somewhat dark to Diamond’s light, but dedicated to her all the same. Prince Jack Oden is the more typical hero and I enjoyed the time he and Diamond spent together in the forest, but not as much as I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Diamond and Hugo.
Both the adventure and the romance kept me turning the virtual pages of my Kindle, and I am so excited for the second book!”.

Goodreads reviewer Suze Syson.
“Blown away by this debut author! Absolutely the best YA/fantasy book I've ever read! Highly recommended! Bring on book 2!”.

About the Author



Karen has always been an avid reader. Her taste in books is eclectic but she likes nothing better than an exciting fantasy set in a new and magical world. She lives in Derbyshire, England, with her husband, twin girls and her dalmatian, Poppy. Karen trained as a nurse and currently works as a resuscitation and clinical skills trainer, this involves training a wide variety of health care professionals and medical students in acute patient care. In addition to writing, and reading whenever she can, Karen likes to keep active. She has been training at Shotokan karate since being thirteen, likes walking, mountain biking and (for something completely different) cake decorating. She is currently working on book two in the Guardians of The Goddess series.

Trials of Magic by Thomas K. Carpenter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have read quite a lot of fantasy books and I was pleasantly surprised that Trials of Magic was able to stand out. Aurie and Pythia are characters that I immediately fell in love with, every moment with them was a treasure.
The worldbuilding in this book is phenomenal, I was very impressed by the vastness of it. It has a lot of magic in it which is one thing I love in fantasy books, scenes where magic is used are wonderfully written and remarkably detailed.
This book has all sorts of monsters, I love reading about monsters in fantasy books and Trials of Magic has big, bad ones that excite me. This book is a thrilling long ride full of nonstop action, mystery, magic and total awesomeness.
The magic is quite distinct from others in it's genre but wonderful nonetheless. Aurie and Pi went through a lot in this book and reading about their adventures was really enjoyable. This book is very original and displays the ingenuity of the author.
I love every aspect of this book, the hundred halls, Arcanium, Corterie, the Cabal, Faez, the wonderful characters. The bond between the two sisters was also very inspiring, they are on my list of favorite paranormal siblings next to Sam and Dean Winchester.

“Kheyli dooset daram, azeezam. You're the best sister I could ever have,” said Aurie.

Those words are my favourite quote from the book, it just gives me nice feels.
Trials of Magic has a perfect ending that just left me more anxious for the next book in the series. This is my first book from this author but it certainly won't be my last. I gladly recommend this book to all YA fantasy lovers, it's super awesome. P.S. Don't you just love that cover?



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SeQuence by Lorraine M.L.M.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





I willingly received an ARC of this book from the author or publisher of this book in exchange for an honest review, this doesn't in any way affect my opinion on the book


SeQuence is a book that I ended up loving more than I expected. Alessia's story just grabs at you and makes you curious about her and through this curiosity comes a bond that just makes you love her and root for her. I commend the author for making a compelling story that just arouses the attention of the reader.
SeQuence is one YA Fantasy that is one of a kind with a very original plot and a set of uniquely interesting characters. And that cover is just simply amazing, It's one of my favorites of 2016!!. Alessia is a funny, witty girl who can read minds but is labeled as a 'crazy' person. I loved seeing Alessia come to terms with the fact that she is more than ordinary, that in fact she is extraordinary. Among her family and friends she transformed from the shell she used to be into a blossom. Dante is one of my favorite heroes in YA, he is a great guy that is not afraid to let Alessia know how he feels about her. There is an instant connection between them that I absolutely love. Her relationship with Dante has always fascinated me from the beginning and I loved seeing it progress further. I also can't wait to know more about Alessia's power.
The worldbuilding is very well constructed, Zeneshia is a world that is very memorable. SeQuence is a mixture of fantasy, romance, action, adventure, magic, drama, comedy and absolute awesomeness. My favorite quote from the book is:

“Smiling, Dante rose to his feet. Goodness, he’s spectacular. Thick sleek, black and red hair…electric wine-red eyes…perfect cheekbones…a sturdy, muscular physique…”

Because it describes Dante who is now at the top of my list of YA favorite boy characters.
SeQuence has an ending that left me thirsting for more and I eagerly await book 2 SeQuence Aligned with bated breath.
The author has weaved a world that reminds me exactly why I love YA Fantasy. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any one looking for one of the great books out there.

P.S: I still can't stop gushing over the total awesomeness of that cover.



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The Hands of Time by Michelle Madow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received an ARC of this book from the author or publisher in exchange for an honest review, this doesn't in any way influence my thoughts or opinion of this book


This series has come a long way, and I have been with it from the very amazing beginning. The Elemental series has been a favorite of mine and it was bittersweet to let it go.
It started with action as usual. Nicole made a decision that while it sucked she had to do it, I totally understand why she did. From there on, it was a wild thrilling ride of nonstop heart pounding action, adventure and intrigue.
I won't spoil it too much but a lot of events happened, old characters coming back, new interesting characters introduced, danger as usual for our protagonists, lots of portal travelling, a trip to the Underworld etc.
The Hands of Time has it's usual treats of monsters, romance, sorrow, drama and Greek gods. I absolutely loved this book and it was very nice to see how everyone ended up. Really sad and heartbreaking things happened but while I'm not entirely happy at the events themselves, I respect the way it was handled.
Michelle Madow once again proves that she is a wordsmith capable of weaving a fantastic tale of magic, adventure, romance and action. I will always love the fast pace of her writing, it always keeps me on my toes. I can't wait for her next book Collide.
The Hands of Time is a perfect ending to the bewitching Elementals series.



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