BLOG TOUR: The Half King - Melissa Landers

A king by day. Shadow by night…

Long ago, the kingdom’s noble houses rebelled against the goddess... and for their treachery, the firstborn of each noble family was cursed.

One with perilous beauty.

One with destructive knowledge.

One with insatiable bloodlust.

But the royal house Mortara received the worst affliction of all. For while the king exists during the day, he fades into nothingness at night...until his twenty-first birthday, when he will be lost to the shadows forever.

Now an acolyte has arrived at court. Like all the second-born children, she’s destined to serve the goddess and become a Seer...only Cerise Solon has no gift of foretelling. In fact, she has no magical gift at all.

Instead, she’s surrounded by courtiers and priests – smiling sycophants whose hearts are filled with secrets and lies. And at the centre sits His Majesty Kian Hannibal Mortara, with his haunting eyes, sharp tongue, and an unerring ability to send her pulse skittering.

As the spectre of his twenty-first birthday – and the full force of his curse – approaches, the kingdom holds its breath.

There’s only one way to save a dying king... and it lies with the one person who’s hiding the biggest secret of all. Cerise.

 

What did I think?

Now that's what I call pure escapism!  I am so pleased that I have started to read books in the fantasy genre as The Half King is a a real jewel in fantasy's crown and I absolutely loved it.

It's like a fairy tale for adults with a curse, a handsome king and a big helping of baddies who want to steal the throne for themselves.  Cerise isn't a firstborn so she has not been cursed and she is training to be a Seer, however, her gift of sight does not appear so she becomes an emissary to the king.  The king is cursed and disappears into shadow form each night, which is why he is referred to as the half king...but perhaps Cerise is his other half?

This is an incredibly entertaining tale that is action-packed and filled with danger and romance.  I loved Cerise and her caring nature that is a gift in its own right.  Cerise puts herself in danger to save her king and it costs her dearly.  I gasped out loud so many times as Melissa Lander's descriptive writing painted vivid scenes in my head.

Entertaining, vividly written and compelling, The Half King is a wonderful story that delighted me from start to finish.  I am hoping that this isn't the last we have heard of Cerise and Kian and I would love to read more if this does become a series.  Very highly recommended and if you don't usually read books in the fantasy genre then I think The Half King would definitely be a good place to start.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn't afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public — just ask her embarrassed kids.

She lives in Cincinnati Ohio, where she writes romantic fantasy and science fiction adventures for the young at heart.

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BLOG TOUR: Fatal Image (DC Mel Cotton Crime Series Book 5) - Brian Price

RUTHLESS AMBITION

Hugh Ventham MP, tipped for high office, can’t shake off the mental image of a sordid party he attended many years ago. Any one of the people there could derail his career if they talk about it. So he must eliminate them all.

A COMPROMISING PHOTO

But someone took a photo. And one of the attendees will stop at nothing to ensure it is never discovered. If they fail, they will face ruin.

A BAFFLED POLICE FORCE

As the murders mount up, Mexton CID struggle to see the connection between them. Are they random killings or is there a link? If so, who would want to kill such a disparate group of people? And who is the mysterious figure in the background with their own lethal agenda?

With police resources stretched to breaking point, DC Mel Cotton and her team face deadly challenges as they hunt for the killer. And when the mysterious figure strikes, will she get out alive?

 

What did I think?

As with all books in the DC Mel Cotton crime series, you can read Fatal Image as a standalone as the particular case that is being investigated is absolutely brilliant.  I have read the series in order and they're all fantastic but I think this is the best one yet.

It's quite unusual for a book to let the reader know who the killer is from the start but Fatal Image still had me completely gripped and I couldn't put it down.  Set in the fictional town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and the team are as busy as ever with a spate of seemingly unrelated murders.  Mel needs to look outside of Mexton to find the link so she joins forces with a creepy copper in the Met.  Eeeew, I think I need a shower just thinking about DC Plover.

I loved catching up with some of my favourite characters in crime fiction and it's wonderful to see how the characters have developed over the series.  That's why I almost dropped the book in shock at the end with THAT cliffhanger - OMG!!!  I simply can't wait for the next book now!

Incredibly fast paced and a real page-turner, Fatal Image is so meticulously researched that I often forgot I was reading fiction, especially with the character epilogue at the end.  It's an outstanding book in an outstanding series and an easy five star rating from me.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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Dohva - The Land Within - Sophie Haeder

Embark on a journey to the enigmatic realm of Dohva, where elemental magic reigns supreme and ancient secrets lie buried beneath the mountains.

In the isolated land of Dohva, where souls are trapped in an endless cycle of rebirth by an ancient elemental sphere, a malevolent force wields the forbidden dark magic of the demon prince Agthod. Avala, a rebellious air sorceress haunted by the loss of her closest friend, is driven to unravel the mysteries that have long plagued her world. She finds unlikely allies with three anti-heroes, a colourful and diverse cast who each struggle with their own demons and desires for redemption.

But as the shadows deepen and the threat grows, Avala and her newfound companions must set aside their differences and forge an uneasy bond. But can they confront this powerful enemy force that threatens to consume their world and change their destiny forever?

"Dohva - The Land Within" is the first book of an epic fantasy meets romantasy trilogy that will captivate readers from beginning to end and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment in this spellbinding saga.

 

What did I think?

I'm just starting to read more fantasy books and I really enjoyed Dohva; I think it's a really good book to entice new readers into the fantasy genre.  I was completely immersed in the wonderful land of Dohva and read it much quicker than I expected.

The story is told from several different points of view with Avala being the main character.  Avala is an elf and a member of the Stormguard, along with her friend Garon who would like to be more than friends with Avala.  There's a wonderful theme of past lives running through the book and that's the reason why Garon and Avala will never be more than friends.  It's so very heartwarming to consider the idea of loved ones finding each other again in their new lives.

Of course you can't have a fantasy book without a dragon and wow, the dragon in this book is depicted so vividly it virtually leaps from the page and I had to check my fingers for scorch marks.  I loved all of the characters in the book; both the good and evil ones.

Filled with magic, romance and action, Dohva - The Land Within is a fantastic debut novel and a very enticing start to a new romantasy trilogy.  Sophie Haeder can consider me hooked and I can't wait to visit the wonderful land of Dohva again.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Taken - Danielle Ramsay

I am accused of the worst of crimes – murdering my baby – and I have hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him, alive.

Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I think they’ve taken my baby. But who would do this to me and why? I know the answer. Or least I think I do…

The police want to know why I have fled my home and husband. How do I tell them that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? That today is the anniversary of his death? That my husband is planning on having me sectioned?

Despite what my husband says, I’m not ill. Am I? For I have discovered he has an agenda…

So how could I have been so wrong about him?

And how do I convince the police I’m innocent, when everyone believes I’m guilty, and get my baby back before he disappears forever?

 

What did I think?

Make sure you're sitting comfortably when you pick up Danielle Ramsay's new novel, Taken, as you won't be able to put it down.  I absolutely devoured it, reading way past my bedtime until I discovered all of the secrets buried in the book.

Alice is one of the most unreliable narrators I have come across and she is tortured by grief, guilt and what ifs following the cot death of her son.  Alice blames herself and falls into a spiral of depression.  Meanwhile, Alice's husband Tom seems to be getting on with life by planning a move back to America but then Alice falls pregnant again.

Oh Alice!  I really wanted to reach into the book to give her a hug.  She feels like everyone is conspiring against her and it's no wonder she is struggling to cope with the birth of her second son after losing her first baby so tragically.  I wasn't sure whether Tom was just good at hiding his emotions or simply uncaring but it really seemed like Alice was a lone passenger on a rollercoaster of emotions.

With secrets in both Alice's and Tom's pasts, the pacing is blistering as I raced through the pages to uncover everything and I was kept guessing right to the end.  Death of a child is a difficult and disturbing subject but it was handled very sensitively and I could almost feel the torment that Alice was going through.  I really enjoyed Taken and would highly recommend it. 

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/TakenSocial

About the author:

Danielle Ramsay is the author of the DI Jack Brady crime novels and other dark thrillers. She is a Scot living in the North-East of England and was previously published by Hodder & Stoughton and Avon.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: DanielleRamsayAuthor

Twitter: @DanielleRamsay2

Instagram: @danielle.ramsay.author

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DanielleRamsayNews

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BLOG TOUR: Alien Clay - Adrian Tchaikovsky

They travelled into the unknown and left themselves behind . . .

Professor Arton Daghdev has always wanted to study alien life in person. But when his political activism sees him exiled to the planet Kiln, condemned to work under an unfamiliar sky until he dies, his idealistic wish becomes a terrible reality.

Kiln boasts a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem. Its monstrous alien life means Arton will risk death on a daily basis – if the camp’s oppressive regime doesn’t kill him first. But, if he survives, Kiln’s lost civilization holds a wondrous, terrible secret. It will redefine life and intelligence as he knows it – and might just set him free.

 

What did I think?

Science fiction is not one of my preferred genres but I do like to push myself out of my comfort zone now and again so I was very intrigued by Alien Clay.  That stunning cover is enough to draw you into the world that has been created within the pages of the book.

Arton Daghdev has been exiled to Kiln, an extrasolar planet that is 30 years away from Earth.  I mean just the fact that it takes 30 years to get to the planet made me stop and consider how very insignificant we are in the universe.  Kiln could very well be Earth many years in the future when we have damaged the planet to the point of extinction of our species.

I was surprised how easy I found it to read and I quickly built up a mental image of the camp and planet in my mind.  The story is very imaginative but there are also little snippets of facts about weird and wonderful creatures that I had never heard of but found fascinating when I later researched them.

The vibrant and dangerous ecosystem of Kiln adds an almost horror element to the story that made my skin crawl at times as it is so vividly described.  I loved that there is a constant scent of revolution in the air, leading to questions about who can be trusted.

Mind-blowing, eye-opening and provocative, Alien Clay is an incredibly thought-provoking and entertaining novel that may be a frightening glimpse into the future for our own planet.  I'm not quite a sci-fi convert yet but this book has certainly made me more open to reading other books by Adrian Tchaikovsky and other authors in the sci-fi genre.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: What Lies Beneath - Maureen Myant

A family Christmas to remember

An idyllic, snow-covered landscape. A cottage in rural Northumberland. Full of love, laughter, food, wine and mince pies. The recipe for a joyous Noel, or is it?

They seem like the perfect family

With her seemingly perfect family, Lisa Truett is envied by all her friends. Husband David is solid and dependable, salt of the earth, adores his family. Enigmatic adult twins Emilia and Rosamund are on the path to successful careers in journalism and music. Her youngest, Oliver, is blessed with brains and beauty. He can expect a brilliant future. No wonder they’re known as the ‘too good to be Truetts.’

But they never thought it would end like this

Someone is stalking them but who? Whose footprints mingle with theirs in the snow around their cottage? It turns out the family is far from perfect, after all. Will Ros ever stop seeking male approval? Is Em’s eating disorder back again? What is Oliver hiding, or, rather, who is he hiding from? David has been distant and aloof recently. Is he having an affair? But it is Lisa who hides the biggest secret of all and it could tear the family apart.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware, What Lies Beneath is this year's winter must-read - some things, just cannot, remain hidden...

 

What did I think?

I chose to read What Lies Beneath without reading the synopsis, simply because I have loved all of Maureen Myant's books that I have read, so I was surprised and delighted with the snowy Northumberland setting.  

The Truett family have decided to spend Christmas in their holiday cottage in Northumberland but each one of them has something to hide and not even the snow is deep enough to keep these secrets buried.  Ooooh I absolutely love a book filled with secrets as they all have to come bursting out at some point and there are some corkers in this book.   

A Northumberland winter is almost a season of its own and whilst it's very picturesque when you're wrapped up warm in the house, it's very disruptive and dangerous when you need to go out in it.  The snow is almost a character in itself as it sneakily covers rogue footprints and dramatically blocks escape routes.  Maureen Myant's vivid writing paints a wonderful picture of the chilly wintery scene, but it's not just the snow that gives the reader chills. 

The cottage is very isolated but it feels like the Truetts are not alone.  With stalkers, blackmailers, thugs and scary local myths in the frame there are numerous suspects that could have followed the Truett trail to Northumberland.  It's masterfully plotted as any one, or all, of the family could be the target and I simply couldn't put it down.

Gripping, compelling and hugely atmospheric, What Lies Beneath is a fantastic thriller that had me on the edge of my seat with the book clutched tightly in my hands; I wasn't putting it down until every single juicy secret had been revealed.  Put this one on your Christmas list - it's a very highly recommended read.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Catford Dogs - Andy Burn

Catford, South-east London, 2003. Miles Askew, charming but feckless, works for a small-time private investigation agency. Born to privilege, at 38 his career and relationships are a car crash.

One August weekend Miles’ easy existence is obliterated when a lover gives him an alarming ultimatum, and a seemingly straightforward investigation into local greyhound racing erupts with the suspicious death of a colleague.

As Miles desperately grapples for atonement and justice, he is forced to confront both ruthless criminal conspirators and his own conflicted loyalties. Bribery, blackmail and violent death play out against a shifting social backdrop of Blair’s England and Catford’s criminal past, and Miles finds the odds of escaping unscathed increasingly stacked against him.

 

What did I think?

I just had to read Catford Dogs as soon as I heard about it as I remember finding its name very amusing when I saw it listed in the racing pages as a youngster.  With corruption both on and off the track, the book delivered so much more than I expected and I absolutely loved it.

There are some great characters in the book and I loved the main character of private investigator Miles Askew.  He's never really had to work hard for anything in his life but he certainly needs to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in when he's put on the case of strange goings on at the dog track.  Dogs that should be winning are losing but the owners and trainers can't work out what's going on so one owner turns to Fox Forensics to solve the case.

As Miles digs deeper into events at the track, he uncovers a fraud that goes deeper than he could ever have imagined and it's a little too close to home for his liking.  As the various threads of the story weave through the prose they all come together beautifully at the end to reveal a stunning tapestry that shocked, surprised and entertained me.

I loved everything about this book: the gritty, descriptive writing, the well-developed, colourful characters, the unusual setting and the riveting, fast-paced plot.  I am delighted to see 'Miles Askew Book One' printed on the cover as I have a very good feeling about this series and I can't wait to read more.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

Andy Burn spent years making stuff up for business presentations before pivoting to the novel as a medium for writing fiction. A glittering portfolio career of board level experience in finance, property and media, or an inebriated stagger from one shaky rock to another while trying to dodge the bullet? Opinions vary but either way Andy’s working life has brought him into close contact with the best and worst of the business world. The bullies, the corrupt, the greedy, the charlatans, and the bullshit pedlars, but some pretty decent people too. He’s also slept in a refugee camp and blown stuff up in North Africa, studied Matisse, and walked hundreds of miles of coastline for good causes. Life experience peppers his writing. In his spare time he takes divots off golf courses or oils his gun collection. He lives in West Somerset with a very tolerant family and some intolerant dogs. 

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