Introducing Sworn to Sovereignty by Terah Edun!

Meet Terah Edun

Terah Edun is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of epic and urban fantasy. Her favorite writers include Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Kristin Cashore, Robin Hobb and Maria Snyder.

Connect and Socialize with Terah!

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Sworn to Sovereignty by Terah Edun (2016)

Length: 258 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Sworn to Sovereignty Blurb: 

Ciardis Weathervane has one simple rule - win the first fight, then move on to the next. But she’s finding out that the citizens of Sandrin have other plans in mind.

When she returns to the imperial capital city, she finds that nothing is as she left it. Only a week has passed and yet chaos reins. Vana Cloudbreaker has been attacked and surprisingly, she did not come out on top.

The woman Ciardis thought was invincible stands a broken shell of what she once was and Ciardis isn’t entirely sure what or who was the cause of the fabled assassin’s derailment.

To top it off, the revolutionary party is determined to make itself known, starting with a call for an impostor emperor to vacate his throne. They couldn’t have chosen a worse time to start their revolution. Right when the noble societies at court are ready to throw their support to the prince heir and princess heir-in-waiting against the blutgott itself.

Now revolutionaries and courtiers are at odds, but even stranger - the duchess of Carne stands among the revolutionary guard. Ciardis is faced with the predicament of saving an empire and sacrificing a revolution, all while facing down a clock that has run out of the time.

The gods are here and there’s nothing that she nor anyone else can do to stop them.

May you read well and often

Christine Amsden - Kaitlin's Tale

13. Kaitlin's Tale by Christine Amsden (2016)
Length: 270 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 26 June 2016
Finished: 15 July 2016
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Christine Amsden for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 17 April 2016
Why do I have it? I like paranormal romance and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

When Kaitlin Meyer first decided to run away with the father of her son, she thought she was doing the right thing for her child. Granted, her son's father Jason was a recently-turned vampire hunter, whose own cousin Cassie Scot had once warned Kaitlin - as her best friend - to stay far away from him. Yet Kaitlin sincerely believed that baby Jay deserved to have his father in his life, even if Jason was a vampire.

However, after Jason invites her to join him in eternal life, Kaitlin slowly comes to understand that she could not have been more wrong in her decision. Obviously, no matter how much Kaitlin wants to deny the truth of it - Jason just isn't Jason anymore. So, five months after running away with him, Kaitlin finds herself on the run again. This time, she's running from Jason; his sire, Xavier - a vampire who has existed for over two centuries, and is rumored to be the most difficult to kill - and another recently-turned vampire named Sara; who had once been Jay's nanny as well as Kaitlin's only human friend.

Terrified for her young son's life, she seeks sanctuary with the Hunters' Guild. Kaitlin realizes that no matter how much they may dislike her, the members of this particular Hunters' Guild cannot possibly deny sanctuary to Jay - especially not once they learn that Jay is actually the son of one of their most prolific hunters, Jason. However, even though both she and Jay are treated well, Kaitlin still senses that something is not entirely right.

She can't put her finger on what it is, exactly - but the hunters' treatment of herself and Jay seems almost too conciliatory. It would seem that these hunters have their own plans for Jay, and those plans may or may not include Kaitlin. So, her hopes for continued safety are soon shattered. However, when Kaitlin runs into Matthew Blair - an old nemesis with an agenda of his own - she dares to hope for a new escape.

Matthew Blair is the scion of one of the most well-connected political families in the town of Eagle Rock, and his father is the town's mayor. Although the Blair family doesn't exactly advertise their magical abilities; each member is actually extraordinarily adept at creating illusions and other forms of magical mentalism. Matthew, himself, is an extremely powerful telepath. The closer Kaitlin gets to Matthew, the more she realizes just how much she will need his help to escape with her son.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean that Kaitlin trusts the mind mage. She has seen the aftermath of Matthew's mental manipulations firsthand, and so worries about the safety of her own secrets. Matthew Blair may well be a savvy politician, but he also is an extremely dangerous man to know - capable of using his position and power to help others, but only if that assistance ultimately benefits Matthew Blair. And Kaitlin's own past is full of dark secrets she has no intention of ever revealing...to anyone.

This is actually the second standalone book of Ms. Amsden's that I've had the pleasure of reading. Kaitlin's Tale is a companion book to the books of the Cassie Scot Series, and continues the story of Cassie's best friend, Kaitlin Meyer. The story follows Kaitlin's various trials and tribulations, as she falls in love with Cassie's arch-nemesis.

In my opinion, this story further develops the character and story of Kaitlin Meyer; not that she wasn't already well-developed to begin with as a character within the Cassie Scot Series. Kaitlin just seems to be less needful of a relationship within her own story. I would definitely give this book an A! Although I'm not sure if there are going to be more stories set within Ms. Amsden's world, I can certainly hope that there will be more to come in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Book Review Campaign For Spell Breaker by Joni Parker - Come Join Us!

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Joni Parker will be touring the blogosphere to promote her fantasy novel Spell Breaker. This is Ms. Parker's first virtual book review campaign with Pump up Your Book! It will last until October 12, 2016 so come join us for all the fun!

Spell Breaker Book Review Campaign Information:

Meet Joni Parker

Joni Parker was born in Chicago, Illinois, but left the windy city at an early age when her family moved to Japan. Upon return to the United States, her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she graduated from Camelback High School and began college. However within months, Joni quit college and joined the Navy where she became a Photographer’s Mate.

After 3 years in the Navy, she returned to college and got married. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA before she returned to the Navy. As a Commissioned Officer, Joni attended the US Army Command and General Staff College, completing a Master of Military Arts and Sciences Degree. She retired from the Navy with over 22 years of service and spent several years traveling the United States in a motorhome with her husband.

When he died unexpectedly, Joni returned to work for the federal government in a civil service job. Five years ago, she started writing and retired once more to devote more time to her new passion. She currently lives in Texas.

Her latest fantasy book is Spell Breaker - Book One in The Chronicles of Eledon Series.

Connect and Socialize with Joni!

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About Spell Breaker:

With the powers bestowed on her by her Titan ancestors, Lady Alexin is finally able to break the spell and halt the storms which have kept the inhabitants of Seaward Isle prisoner for centuries. At long last, the Elves can return to Eledon. Yet success may come at a terrible price. The mortals on Seaward Isle are given the option to return to Eledon with the Elves or to remain on the island. 

The evacuation is complicated and many, including the journalist Olivia and her husband John, are left behind, awaiting the return of the Elf ships. Zenon, the Crow-beast charged by Zeus with maintaining the storms and keeping the Titan prisoner is enraged to discover Alex has escaped. In his wrath, he all but destroys Seaward Isle and its remaining inhabitants with a devastating flood. 

Though Eledon is beautiful and Alex enjoys the protection and encouragement of Lord Odin and Prince Darin, it’s clear the problems of this civilization run deep. Lord Odin resumes his seat on the High Council, his position is threatened by plots and political intrigue. And despite being named by the Mentors as the Keeper of the Keys, Alex is disillusioned to find she is rejected and reviled by those who consider her a mere “half-blood” Elf. She wants to return to Seaward isle, the only home she has ever known. 

When Zenon discovers her whereabouts and threatens Eledon, the Elves have little choice but to agree. But there is almost nothing left of the home she once knew and the survivors on Seaward Isle implore the Elves to use their magic to send them back to Earth. But while the Elves are able to open a portal between the two worlds, they cannot guarantee a time or place to which the mortals will return and. caught between her own past and an uncertain future, Lady Alexin is faced with the only choice that really matters - to follow her heart.

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

May you read well and often

Book Spotlight For The Head of Medusa by Michelle Madow

Hello Everyone! I hope that you're all having a wonderful day today. I'm so glad to welcome young adult fantasy author Michelle Madow - author of The Head of Medusa - Book 3 of The Elementals Series - to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. This is also my twenty-sixth Book Spotlight post ever, but I still hope that I do The Head of Medusa by Michelle Madow justice.

About The Head of Medusa:

The epic story of witches, gods, and monsters that USA Today called a "must read" continues in the third book of the Elementals Series!

When Nicole Cassidy moved to a new town, she discovered that she was a witch descended from gods. But that was nothing compared to learning that it was up to her and four others with mysterious elemental powers to help save the world from the Titans, who would soon return to Earth.

Now her relationship with Blake - the fire Elemental - is finally heating up. But she must remain focused, because Typhon, one of the deadliest creatures in history, has escaped from the weakening prison world. Only one object can destroy him - the head of Medusa herself.

Follow the Elementals as they journey to the end of the Earth, facing choices that will put their lives and the entire world at risk. Will they all survive the mission? Find out in the riveting third book in the Elementals Series, The Head of Medusa.

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa is the latest installment in Michelle Madow’s exciting Elementals Series. Follow Nicole and her fellow Elementals as they journey to the end of the world, unsure of who to trust, and facing choices that will put their lives and the entire world at risk. Will they all survive the mission? And if they don’t, will the ones who do be able to find the strength to continue?

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Meet Michelle Madow 

Michelle Madow writes fast-paced YA (young adult) fiction that will leave you turning the pages wanting more! She grew up in Baltimore, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she writes books for young adults. Some of her favorite things are: reading, traveling, pizza, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family.

Michelle went on a cross-country road trip from Florida to California and back to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Visit her website, www.michellemadow.com, to get books of Michelle's for FREE!

Connect and Socialize with Michelle!

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May you read well and often

Book Excerpt For The Fallen Prince by Amalie Howard

Hello Everyone! I hope that you're all having a wonderful day today. I'm so glad to welcome Amalie Howard author of the young adult science fiction novel The Fallen Prince, to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. This is also my twenty-fifth Book Excerpt post ever, but I still hope that I do The Fallen Prince by Amalie Howard justice.

About The Fallen Prince:

When a new enemy threatens her home, Riven’s only hope may be the man who made her a monster.

Riven has fought for a hard-won peace in her world, and has come to shaky terms with who and what she is - a human with cyborg DNA. Now that the rightful ruler of Neospes has been reinstated, Riven is on the hunt for her father in the Otherworld to bring him to justice for his crimes against her people.

But when she receives an unwelcome visit from two former allies, she knows that trouble is brewing once again in Neospes. The army has been decimated and there are precious few left to fight this mysterious new threat.

To muster a first line of defense, her people need help from the one person Riven loathes most: her father. But what he wants in return is her complete surrender.

And now Riven must choose: save Neospes or save herself.

This exciting sequel to The Almost Girl combines science, action, and romance in a compelling, hard-to-put-down package.

Purchase your copy from Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

Meet Amalie Howard

Amalie Howard grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees, and dreaming of adventure. Twenty-five countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead.

She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts. She is the author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Seventeen Magazine Summer Read. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, The Lords of Essex. 

As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. Visit her at amaliehoward.com. 

Connect and Socialize with Amalie!

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The Fallen Prince Book Excerpt:

I watch in horror as the stairs below us crumble like dominos, the metal lip dipping as the entire structure crumples inward. I scrabble forward to grab the Vector’s fingers. My suit responds immediately, anchoring me to the floor with tiny inverted hooks. It’s not much leverage, but it’s enough for me to get a better hold.

The Vector wraps his fingers around my wrist just before the metal ledge rips out and I’m dangling over the edge, held in place by nothing but a few well-constructed hooks. Someone flings his weight on top my feet, but the Vector’s grip starts to slip from mine in cruel slow motion. Several feet below, Caden’s eyes meet mine and a smile forms across his lips - lips mouthing three words I don’t want to see or hear.

Tears burn my eyes. A voice inside me screams at me to say it back. Say the words. But I can’t. I can’t lose him. I refuse to lose him right now. 

“Protect your king!” I scream at the tumbling Vector just as our fingers part. Acknowledgment shimmers in his milky eyes and I see the muscles in his shoulders tense, corded veins bulging in his neck. With a roar, he heaves the arm holding on to Caden upward - a feat of pure programmed, inhuman strength. 

Caden lands on top of me, and strong arms haul us back to safety. For a moment, I meet the eyes of the Vector as he falls into the abyss. I don’t know if thank you means anything to them, but I send the message anyway. 

Briefly, I imagine something like satisfaction flaring in those milky irises, and then his eyes close as he disappears from view.

May you read well and often

Reading Wrap-up For June at Emeraldfire's Bookmark

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Emeraldfire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog.

Anyway, I started out June with about two hundred unread books lying around the house and ended the month with...umm...uncountable amounts of books unread. All of the books that I acquired this month came from a Library Book Sale that Mom and I went to on the 7th to celebrate my birthday, authors, Bookmooch, Amazon.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Stranger in the Looking Glass by Jan Fields

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! :))
- The Azalea Bones by Mary M. O'Donnell
- The Birth of Venus: A Novel by Sarah Dunant
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
- 'I' is For Innocent by Sue Grafton
- In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
- Last to Know: A Novel by Elizabeth Adler
- Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund
- The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
- Only Beloved by Mary Balogh
- Persecuted: I Will Not be Silent by Robin Parrish
- The Phantom Coach: A Connoisseur's Collection of Victorian Ghost Stories by Michael Sims
- Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
- The Traitor's Wife: A Novel by Allison Pataki
- The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
- Your Heart's Desire by Melody Carlson
- The Wolf of Britannia Part II by Jess Steven Hughes
- Grey by Christi J. Whitney
- The Ghostcrow: A Tale of Andor by M. K. Theodoratus
- Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba
- The Lady and the Minstrel by Joyce DiPastena
- Torn Roots by Scott Bury
- Across the Long Sea by Sarah Remy
- The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
- Water so Deep by Nichole Giles

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))

- Grey by Christi J. Whitney
- The Ghostcrow: A Tale of Andor by M. K. Theodoratus
- Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba
- The Lady and the Minstrel by Joyce DiPastena
- Torn Roots by Scott Bury
- Water so Deep by Nichole Giles

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me, considering. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 1
Pages Read: 205
Grade Range: B+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was June. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

May you read well and often