Dazzled by Darkness is a wonderful story that stimulates the imagination and invites the reader ...
933534
Dazzled by Darkness is a wonderful story that stimulates the imagination and invites the reader into different fascinating worlds. What a gem!
4968344
Karen Chance's `Touch the Dark' is a shining fantasy story with an engaging heroine who is a sensational main protagonist and likeable character. This is the type of book which grabs your attention instantly, pulling you into a thrilling world of blood-lust and sexy Vampires which is irresistible. Readers of Kelley Armstrong (author of Bitten & Stolen), or J R Ward or Charlaine Harris (True Blood) will simply love this book!

Cassandra Palmer is a fantastic main protagonist, whom you can really connect to and like easily. This supernatural tale is brought vividly to life, with magical ambience and sinister spinechilling moments that have you sat on the edge of your seat. Glued to the pages I completely lost myself within a tale of love, danger and deadly desire that is full of electric tension and chilling suspense...

Cassie can see into the future and communicate with spirits ~ she is an intriguing being to both the living and the dead! However, the undead are another matter.

Cassandra sensibly endeavors to stay away from the Vampires, but when the bloodsucking manifesto whom she escaped from 3 years ago returns, she has no choice but to seek refuge with the Vampire Senate. The undead senators won't help her for nothing, and so she soon finds herself working for one of the most powerful members (a dangerously seductive master vampire) ~ and the price he demands may come at too great a cost.

This novel I felt was an adult version of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, without the sparkly Vampire and a lot more realism and gore thrown in. This is a sensational supernatural story that sent chills running down my arms and which made the hairs on my arms stand-up, it was so intense and dynamic. I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy paranormal romance with a bloody twist and that will certainly get your pulse racing!

This is a brilliant book and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. 3.5 stars.
851844
Ms. Lesley has a heart that pumps the wonder of fantasy. Darkspire Reaches combines the poignancy of love, heartbreak, hope, despair as experienced by characters who are both human and not. Raven is on a journey of discovery that reaches back to the mystery of her birth and propels her forward with the urgency of deadly danger. This story is crafted with rare skill and communicates the desires and passions of its characters in a unique way. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
3224351
This is an entertaining book about twins, Owen and Hugh, who are led to rescue their little sister from the hands of witches. The story has lots of surprises, especially for younger reader's, turns that are unexpected but the thread of the story is well developed from beginning to end, even though there are some elements that seem very familiar from other known stories that I had read. Talking about the end of the story, it is very surprising and unexpected, which adds to the suspense of the story.
The characters are lively described as well as the events. The way the book is written is very vivid, so it's easy for the reader to get engaged in the story.
2622008
This novel was such an enriching and enthralling read. I don't understand the bad reviews here. The Forest Lover is a fictional account of Canadian artist Emily Carr and her voyage through her love of art and the people she touches with her beautiful paintings. Susan Vreeland, like her previous novels, takes the life of a classic artist and artfully spins a tale into a mesmerizing and inspirational account of an interesting real-life character. That the actual artist once existed adds to the novel's magic. The magic adds to this imaginative tale.
Ms. Vreeland's imagination -- her grasp of history, her attention to the senses, to details, to the soul of the artist, artisans and lovers -- is as lovely as the artist's tapestries. As said earlier, this novel and its beautiful descriptions enthralled me from beginning to end. I recommend this wonderful novel...
2273893
This became one of my favorite books after I stumbled upon it last year. It is a dark fairy tale that can be enjoyed at a face value as a wonderful imaginative story, or as an archetypal quest for liberation of dark repetitive and destructive inner forces through courage and  love.
3679066
The Ghost Festival is a wonderful narrative that holds the reader's interest throughout.  With the combination of ghosts and history, this book should be a big hit with the adolescent reader.

Mr. Lanoue has a great knack for weaving a story plot in such a way that the reader finishes one chapter and is eager to read on to see what will happen next.  Even most reluctant young readers will be enthralled by the plot, and teachers should consider this as a short novel which will be eagerly devoured by their students.

I strongly recommend this novel for both younger readers and anyone else who wants to take an exciting literary journey.
1030382
I was intrigued by the premise of Robin Hood as a werewolf and was pleased to find that the author meticulously crafted a story that exceeded my expectations. I found the characters to be engaging and well-written. I was particularly struck by the level of detail throughout the story. Passages such as Fireflies showed their flickering lights in the air, and the full moon had risen, filling the clearing with a pale silver glow  made me feel as if I were in Sherwood forest. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I think that fans of Robin Hood and fantasy will find it especially rewarding.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
1889331
Can a lost hero find the way out of the darkness and into the light again? In this marvelous collection of speculative fiction, we journey through twelve wonderfully written tales to find out if the tortured hero can be redeemed.

The title story, "The Mysteries of Death and Life" by Jen Chandler is a compelling tale of a young homeless writer who meets a dying Death. It hooked me with the first line and wrenched my heart. Depression and loneliness, but yet in that, the wonder of life.

"The Silvering" by Ellen Jacobson has a young man named Caestu who is hiding a terrible secret. He believes he has violated the principles of the Others and is being punished, but all is not what it seems to be. I love seeing how he struggles with what he's always known and the truth come to the light.

A dragon remembers what brought him to his current situation in "Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight" by Renee Cheung. I love that this is a traditional fantasy tale with a curse twined with a twist in the modern world of tech and magic.

In "Sometimes They Come Back" by Roland D. Yeomans, there is the Caretaker who has been in an ancient goddess' house for a very long time he has almost forgotten himself. So much whimsy and humor mingled with the dark in this tale.

"The Wheat Witch" by Erika Beebe has Ethan wondering if he should ever go home, and when he does, he finds something most unexpected. Is what he's discovered worse than what he's running from? Wonderful imagery and a sympathy for a man who's lost everything drew me with wide eyes through this story.

Raynor and his twin sister journey to find their missing dragon slaying uncle in Sarah Foster's "The Last Dragon." They discover the truth about why their uncle left, and it's far more frightening than any dragon. The bond between the twins is strong, and I loved how it played out through the action. Fantastic tension.

We have a great fantasy romance in "Mind Body Soul" by Elizabeth Seckman. But it isn't what the old king thinks it is. I particularly enjoyed the queen, her wisdom, and her persistence. Love stories are even better with age.

A magical Finder named Alternay must find a long lost hero named "Captain Bulat" in Olga Godim's tale. Using an item as her compass, Alternay is pulled in more than one direction and must uncover the truth amidst the confusion. The twist was cleverly done and left me wanting to see more of the fascinating Alternay.

"The Witch Bottle" by Sean McLachlan brings us a pining husband using his servant to help bring back his wife. The wife is a witch and one the servant seems very eager to help the husband catch. Magic battles magic, and I did so like the wicked ending.

In "The Art of Remaining Bitter" by Yvonne Ventresca we meet a young girl named Sylvia who is always in the shadow of her perfect older sister. Sylvia is to undergo a treatment that will make her free of negative feelings, and this story lays out her emotional struggle with it all beautifully.

A once great warrior has become a poet in Tyrean Martinson's "Of Words and Swords." Yet is Maud as good with poetry as he with fighting? His internal struggle is enthralling as he goes off to battle a dragon. Great fantastical fighting action.

The final story is "Breath Between Seconds" by L. Nahay. It is a slow motion moment in time of a fallen soldier at the end of a grand battle realizing the truth of the entire war. Beautifully written with each breath, quite like a poem.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3937194
I am a huge Lesley Livingston fan and fell in love with her first book WONDROUS STRANGE from the second I began reading.

DARKLIGHT, the second in Ms. Livingston's series, begins its tale several months after WONDROUS STRANGE ends. This story is packed with ups and downs, twists and turns, and I happily went along for the ride. I especially love the humor that is laced throughout the book, because the story is serious and--in many portions--chilling. So the lighter touch here and there gave the story the perfect balance.

Lesley Livingston's DARKLIGHT is a blend of all of my favorites: an awesome world within our world, terrific characters, and an edge-of-your-seat plotline. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next!
2730992
I have a penchant for paranormal stories and as soon as I read the synopsis of this book, it convinced me it was worth it. The book tells the story of a talented, young reporter, Janie Williams. She believes she's on to what could possibly be the greatest story of her life when she discovers that the alarming cases of children epilepsy are no coincidences. As I was reading along, I found myself wondering whether the characters of this book would convince me. I was pleasantly surprised to discover how the author slowly built up the action and placed the characters in intriguing scenarios. I have to admit I didn't think mixing so many ingredients could end up in such a logical story. I loved the fact that despite of its horror nature, the book also tells a beautiful love story between the main character and her boss. The scenes are tastefully written and they all play an important part in telling this edgy yet creative story. If you are looking for an intriguing and challenging read, The Haunting of The Hockomock Swamp is definitely the book for you.
1505737
This wonderfully imaginative story held my attention throughout the book.  Characters were clearly drawn and situations seemed almost real in reading them.  A wonderful story for anyone (especially girls) from 10 through adult.
3321465
I love a book that draws me into the story. FINDING ANGEL pulled me into the midst of Angel's world with the same force my vaccum cleaner uses to suck up a dead beetle. Angel has no memory of her life before becoming a foster child. When Angel's little foster brother finds another unusual bug, she discovers a link to her mysterious past. The pattern on the beetle's back is an exact replica of a charm on her bracelet. The bracelet is the only link to her lost identity. Angel's new friend takes her back to her homeland. Dragons and beetles and elves abound, along with an ancient prophecy.
Kat Heckenbach's writing style is so convincing, I had a hard time returning to reality. I look forward to more stories from this multi-talented author.
1392590
An earlier reviewer here on Amazon described First Lie as a novel for readers with a creative imagination to fully appreciate its vivid imagery, and I completely agree with this observation. The book combines mythical legends with the contemporary life of a young woman to narrate a story that is imaginative, well-layered and full of surprises.
Selkie Moon is a regular woman who has regular problems  she obsesses over a bad haircut, fumes at the controlling ways of her stepmother, and craves for a happier life. She walks out of an emotionally abusive marriage to set up her own company. Things go well initially but soon Selkie runs into a stalker only she can see.
The plot thickens when she discovers that theres more to her identity and existence than she previously thought. As she comes to terms with who she really is, Selkie begins to embrace her ancestry and heritage.
Dramatic and unpredictable, this is a must read for those who enjoy paranormal suspense.
4636527
Author Kristina Miranda, has written a captivating story that will delight the imagination of every teen age girl .....her mom and even grandmother.  Through her gift for descriptive verse, the character Lily Carter (a true Texan) flows into your heart with each intriguing chapter .

I especially enjoyed the audio version with my Kindle while baking for the holidays.
3745867
Shadow Magic's beautifully imagined world and it's turned-on-it's-head look at the war between darkness and light, along with clever and fun characters easily makes it a new favorite for me.  While this cover was initially what made me excited to get my hands on this book, the story quickly held me enchanted.

In this fast paced adventure there is danger, magic, wonder, and so many emotional battles. I immediately took to Thorn, his gutsiness and humor and determination to right his wrongs.  Lily was just as feisty but also struggled with proving herself to those around her and grieving for her family. A third to their trio was K'leef, a hostage of House Solar, was funny and a little jumpy from a sheltered royal life, but so sweet and a good friend. One of my favorite characters was Hades, an ancient and gigantic bat. The closeness that grew between Thorn and Hades was absolutely charming and heartwarming.  I loved that throughout the story, doubts get seeded about the loyalty and guilt of many of the characters; there's some great foreshadowing and hints, but the mystery unfolds with some fun twists and gasp-worthy surprises.

The story is also brought to life with a few really dark and edgy illustrations by illustrator Ben Hibon.  Still, with the writing alone, the whole world comes alive with vivid imagery of a gloomy castle that is also the home Lily loves, a wildly colorful Halloween festival, a gleaming bright parade of snooty House Solar guards and royalty, and a gory run-in with some very dark creatures.  This is one of those books that I would love to see brought to life on the silver screen.  I've heard no word on whether or not there will be more adventures for Thorn, Lily, and K'leef, but I would absolutely LOVE to spend more time with these characters in this beautifully-penned world.
*WAIT!! I just spotted sequel info on Goodreads!! Hurray! :D*
4431705
A thoroughly enjoyable journey through the fascinating, and sometimes terrifying, world of those who seek proof that spirits walk among us. The plot is wonderfully laid out with unexpected twists and the characters realistically rendered as are the contrasts between their mundane lives and nighttime pursuits. Ms Anctil has an obvious literary gift which only gets stronger as the story unfolds. I eagerly look forward to her future offerings!