Indie Book Reviews and Recommendations
Moon & Shadow is the first book in The Channeler Trilogy. A finalist in the 2021 Best Book Awards and a second place winner in the 2021 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, J. Steven Lamperti’s Moon & Shadow is an enchanting fantasy with sweet romance, quirky characters, and engaging humor.
A girl full of heart A thief touched by darkness A hot-tempered golden boy An unwitting servant of evil The era of magic was once thought to be a myth, but after the Reemergence ushered forces both dark and light into the mundane world, it has since become a harsh reality. Now those affected by this strange power—a specialized group of Empowered called Jokers, known collectively as Cardplay—must protect their world from the darkness that threatens to consume it, all the while fighting for equality in a society clinging to normalcy. But the Reemergence was only the beginning. When another influx occurs on the seventh anniversary of that fateful event, an unfortunate encounter at ground zero lands Iori Ryone, a teenage boy in possession of a corrupt and legendary magic, in the care of recent Joker graduate Ellen Amelia Jane. From him, she learns the Reemergence may not have been the inevitable natural disaster it first seemed. Someone is trying to tear down the barrier that separates the magical realms from the mundane. The question is why, and can Cardplay stop them before it’s too late?
There are no safe spaces... When Tess Porter agrees to pick up her boyfriend's college pal at the airport on a snowy December night, she has no idea she's about to embark on the most dangerous ride of her life. Two days later, the 17-year-old wakes up in a hospital with broken bones, and unable to remember how she got there. Her parents are acting strangely, and neither James, her boyfriend, nor her best friend Izzy has visited. As she struggles to physically recover, Tess wrestles with haunting questions: What happened? Will her memory ever return? and what if she's better off not recalling any of it?
How far would you go to learn the truth? Witches have been all but wiped out. The remnants of the once great covens are hidden, clinging to the last dregs of magic in a poisoned world. In the sanctuary of Umeå, a fledgling witch named Kanruo searches for the truth behind his family as his crush on the local governor's son becomes harder to ignore. But as secrets unveil themselves and dark forces converge on the horizon, will he be strong enough to change his fate?
The notorious Juniper Thimble is destined for execution. Caught stealing the king’s crown - in addition to her long list of crimes - she has only one way out. Juniper must survive the biggest, most deadly con of her life, commissioned by the king himself. Disguised as the crown prince’s lover, she is forced to protect him with her life...literally. Guarded by a surly squire, relentlessly attacked by demons, and surrounded by mysteriously disappearing servants, Juniper must dispatch the threat to the prince’s life before they find out who she really is.
Forbidden magic compelled Katira to live a lie, but learning the truth is far more dangerous than she ever dreamed. When an innocent hunting trip turns into an attack, Katira’s world fractures. Her humble parents are actually legendary Stonebearers – immortal, powerful beings tasked with protecting the human world from creatures of the mirror realm. Those cracks widen and shatter apart when the Archdemoness, Wrothe, escapes from her timeless prison and snatches Katira away, intending to use her as bait to destroy not only her family line, but the entire Stonebearer Society. If Katira is to be made whole again, she must learn to trust the young stranger who’s trying to save her while finding the strength to accept not only her parents' power, but her own.
So far, the book seems to like it'll be a pretty easy and quick read. The writing style is reminiscent of Tolkien's The Hobbit with the writer taking a direct role in explaining to the reader what is going on, and making corrections as necessary. It also has that faint fairytale-esque feel to it. The prologue and first chapter are both relatively short, so I haven't seen much of the plot or character(s) just yet and can't really comment on them, but I am excited to continue this journey and see what happens!
A short novella, great for when you have an hour or so to kill and do not want to commit to a larger novel. Pros include the characterization and premise. Cons include plot and pacing.
Flight of the Spark is the thrilling first book in The Outlawed Myth YA fantasy series. If you like dystopian worlds, facing fears, and challenging destiny, then you'll love Evelyn Puerto's gripping tale.
Top 5 Wednesday's prompt today is Children's Fiction (~12). Books I read as a child that are ideal/intended for children.
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