Publisher : Lmbpn Publishing (February 10, 2021) Language : English Paperback : 274 pages ISBN-10 : 1649714467 ISBN-13 : 978-1649714466
Virtutis gloria merces
Translation: Glory is the reward of valor
When given power, what would you be willing to sacrifice for the greater good?
Fed up with playing the normal game, recent university graduate, ex-cum laude, ex-soccer star, ex-popular and mostly broke Kera MacDonagh changed her life when she read ‘How to be a Badass Witch’ and shockingly, the spells worked.
She barely made it out of the first few weeks of on-the-job training before her powers got her in trouble.
Hunted as a magical vigilante, the Kims sacrificed to keep her safe.
Kera hunts criminals in the darkness of LA, but will she be able to hide the signature of her powers, too?
Having made the decision to come clean with a boyfriend, she must now live with the results.
With everything happening, Kera is balancing her sanity as well. Will magic be enough to help her come out on top?
Of course, she hopes. Because the other way lies madness.
You can purchaseHow To Be A Badass Vigilante: Book One at the following Retailers:
Praise for How to Be a Badass Vigilante
“Once again, I find myself in a reader’s paradise with this ‘Bad Ass’ series!” —Alicia G., reviewer
“A different twist to the fantasy world. The main character is feisty, fun, loyal & honorable. A theme I love in Michael’s stories.” —Kathleen R., reviewer
“A number of unexpected plot twists form a novel solution. Action galore as usual.” —Kevin S., reviewer
“It’s extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently, but also provides top-rate plots, characters, and excitement in their stories.” — Jim N., reviewer
Review
I mean, the title on this book alone should tell you it’s one you need to read. But this book really takes a strong female lead to the next level with an expertly woven story surrounding out main character. And boy oh boy is there a lot of action packed throughout this one, so buckle up because you’re in for an exciting ride!
There’s so much to unpack with this story, but I really think it all boils down to there being a little bit of something for everyone. And I mean magic, powerful females, action, and more. And instead of falling into the trap of throwing everything together and hoping it all works, this book really took all of these elements and made them its own. So, basically what I’m trying to say is that it works and with all of these elements that could easily go so wrong it all seemed to go so right.
I really enjoyed this book and just fell right into the story. It’s one of those books that you can pick up, easily read, and find yourself entertained by the story.
About the Author
Photo Content from Michael Anderle
Michael Anderle was born in Houston, TX. A very curious child, he got into trouble — a lot. What to do with an inquisitive mind when he was grounded? Read!
For his first 20 years, he mostly read Science Fiction and Fantasy. In the last 10 years, he has enjoyed Urban Fantasy and Military Fiction. With this background, he created The Kurtherian Gambit series, a well-selling and fan-loved collection of stories. Fans have propelled these stories beyond Anderle’s wildest imagination and Anderle says they should get all of the credit for sharing with friends, family and occasionally the random person on the street.
– 3 Winners will receive a Copy of BADASS VIGILANTE Book One by Michael Anderle. – 1 Winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter
*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*
ASIN : B0879J44XZ Publisher : Tor Books; 1st edition (April 13, 2021) Publication date : April 13, 2021 Language : English
A legendary serial killer stalks the streets of a fantastical city in The Helm of Midnight, the stunning first novel in a new trilogy from acclaimed author Marina Lostetter.
In a daring and deadly heist, thieves have made away with an artifact of terrible power–the death mask of Louis Charbon. Made by a master craftsman, it is imbued with the spirit of a monster from history, a serial murderer who terrorized the city with a series of gruesome murders.
Now Charbon is loose once more, killing from beyond the grave. But these murders are different from before, not simply random but the work of a deliberate mind probing for answers to a sinister question.
It is up to Krona Hirvath and her fellow Regulators to enter the mind of madness to stop this insatiable killer while facing the terrible truths left in his wake.
You can purchaseThe Helm of Midnight at the following Retailers:
Praise for The Helm of Midnight
“The Helm of Midnight transports readers to an intensely unique and creative world, with interwoven secrets and heart-pounding action. Bloody, ambitious, and absolutely riveting.” ―Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
“A mysterious and mind-ripping journey through the mystic depths of time and the darkness of the human psyche.” ―Matt Wallace, author of the Sin du Jour and Savage Rebellion series
“Beautiful and vicious, The Helm of Midnight will snare you with its intriguing mystery and then enthrall you with its rich characters and inventive world.” ―Megan E. O’Keefe, author of Velocity Weapon
Review
This. Book. Is. So. Good. And it’s honestly what I’ve needed. I don’t know about you, but reading for me this year has been weird so far. I’ve just found myself so stressed and all over the place and honestly my reading has done the same thing. And this book just reeled me right back in with a style that just really takes it back to what I love to read most. I mean I loveeee fantasy, as you can probably tell, but I also love a really intricately woven story and world as well as some dark murderous aspects. And this book delivered.
Ok, now this book is fantasy but it’s not TOO fantasy. So fantasy wary readers I urge you to give this one a try. And fantasy lovers, like myself, I also urge you to read this because you’ll still love it. Especially if you’re into a sort of steam punk, serial killer, almost want to say anime (you know that niche) vibe. Plus I really loved the characters. So there’s just a really excellent combination of character development, plot (which sometimes gets lost in fantasy I will admit), and world building (yay!).
Now, I just have to say I need more now. I mean, I know we’re getting more to this series but I’m an impatient person at heart. Especially when I really find something I like. But alas, I shall wait. And I hope to convince you to wait along with me.
About the Author
Photo Credit: Jeff Nelson
The open skies and dense forests of the Pacific Northwest are ideal for growing speculative fiction authors–or, at least, Marina Lostetter would like to think so. Originally from Oregon, she now resides in Arkansas with her spouse, Alex. In her spare time she enjoys globetrotting, board games, and all things art-related. Her original short fiction has appeared in venues such as Lightspeed, Uncanny, and Shimmer Magazine. Her debut novel, NOUMENON, and its sequels, NOUMENON INFINITY and NOUMENON ULTRA, are available from Harper Voyager. Her first fantasy novel, THE HELM OF MIDNIGHT, is forthcoming from Tor. In addition, she has written tie-in materials for Star Citizen and the Aliens franchise. She is represented by DongWon Song of the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency, and she tweets as @MarinaLostetter.
Emil and Brighton Rey defied the odds. They beat the Blood Casters and escaped with their lives–or so they thought. When Brighton drank the Reaper’s Blood, he believed it would make him invincible, but instead the potion is killing him.
In Emil’s race to find an antidote that will not only save his brother but also rid him of his own unwanted phoenix powers, he will have to dig deep into the very past lives he’s trying to outrun. Though he needs the help of the Spell Walkers now more than ever, their ranks are fracturing, with Maribelle’s thirst for revenge sending her down a dangerous path.
Meanwhile, Ness is being abused by Senator Iron for political gain, his rare shifting ability making him a dangerous weapon. As much as Ness longs to send Emil a signal, he knows the best way to keep Emil safe from his corrupt father is to keep him at a distance.
The battle for peace is playing out like an intricate game of chess, and as the pieces on the board move into place, Emil starts to realize that he may have been competing against the wrong enemy all along.
Has this week both been THE LONGEST week and flown by at the same time or is that just me? I feel like I’m just losing all sense of time but I’m super glad I’m getting in this review today! Because I really love these books. And I may have been waiting for Infinity Reaper since last year. Just saying. And dare I say it… I may have loved this one even more than book one!
You know why I love these books so much? It’s simple, the world building is just divine. Plus I mean the story is amazing too but you know, priorities. And I just love that I got to know even more about this complex world in Infinity Reaper. But this picks right up following book two and we are taken on an adventure that is going to make you go through some emotions so buckle up!
Sorry this review may be a smidge shorter than normal, but my brain feels like it’s about to implode so I’m leaving it at this. Remember, I’m losing all sense of time. Plus allergies. So. Much. Pollen. But anyways, GET THIS BOOK AND READ IT ASAP!
About the Author
Adam Silvera is the New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, and They Both Die at the End. His next book What If It’s Us is co-written by Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and releases on October 9th, 2018. He writes full-time in New York City and is tall for no reason.
To the world you are an abomination; a monster with unholy abilities. You’re shunned and left to fend for yourself. Your only chance of survival is to tap into that dark potential – would you do it?
In an isolated mountain community, sometimes a child is born with two hearts. Such a child – a striga – is considered a dangerous demon, which must be abandoned on the edge of the forest to protect the community. The only choice the child’s mother can make is whether to leave her home with her infant, or stay behind and try to forget.
Miriat made her choice. She and her nineteen-year-old striga daughter, Salka, now live a life of deprivation and hardship in a remote village, where to follow the impulses of the other heart is forbidden.
But Salka is headstrong and young, and when threatened with losing everything, she is forced to explore the depths of her true nature, testing the bonds between mother and child.
File Under: Fantasy [ Breaking Taboos | Hidden Shadows | Hungry Like the Wolf | Slavic Story ]
Gabriela was born and raised in Poland, brought up on a diet of mythologies and fairy tales. She spent her summers exploring the woods, foraging and animal tracking with her family. At 19, Gabriela moved to London to study English Literature and obtained an MA in Literature and Modernity. She has worked as an assistant editor and as a freelance writer. Gabriela’s short stories have been selected for the Editor’s Choice Review by Bewildering Stories and have been featured on the Ladies of Horror Fiction podcast. She lives in London with her husband and two children.
Book Title: Covet Author: Tracy Wolff Publisher: Entangled Teen Release Date: March 2, 2021 Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy
“I choose you.”
— Tracy Wolff
I may have reached my breaking point. As if trying to graduate from a school for supernaturals isn’t stressful enough, my relationship status has gone from complicated to a straight-up dumpster fire.
Oh, and the Bloodletter has decided to drop a bomb of epic proportions on us all…
Then again, when has anything at Katmere Academy not been intense?
And the hits just keep coming. Jaxon’s turned colder than an Alaskan winter. The Circle is splintered over my upcoming coronation. As if things couldn’t get worse, now there’s an arrest warrant for Hudson’s and my supposed crimes—which apparently means a lifetime prison sentence with a deadly unbreakable curse.
Choices will have to be made…and I fear not everyone will survive.
“Everything’s a secret, Grace, whether we know it or not.”
— Tracy Wolff
The Crave series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order: Book #1 Crave Book #2 Crush Book #3 Covet Book #4 Court
You know, when Crave first came out my middle school Twilight obsessed self squealed in anticipation. And I had still been squealing in anticipation for Covet as well. This series just never disappoints and I can legitimately blame it on many sleepless nights. Plus there’s just so many twists and turns that continue to make the series interesting instead of one of those series where you know what’s going to happen throughout the entire series just after the first book.
“There’s just him and me and everything remembered and forgotten that stretches between us.”
— Tracy Wolff
You know what I think sets this series apart from other YA series? It’s the fact that everything is just so well set up and then all your hopes and dreams are Crushed (heh heh, see what I did there? Yes, I know I need sleep). And it’s not even that you wind up hating the characters like in some other 180-degree ya/fantasy books (you know which ones), which makes this even more wild because it’s reflective of life in a way. And I guess what I’m trying to say is that I really appreciate that. Things change. People change. And our relationships change. Which is something you don’t often see portrayed after our character finds their *true one.* But yeah, this review got off the rails but I also don’t want to spoil anything. But just expect the same top tier storytelling, lots of Drama WITH a capital D, and So. Much. Happening.
“Because of who you really are.”
— Tracy Wolff
So you know how we’ve all been *im*patiently waiting for Covet? Well, I still want more. And I would still do some . . . unseemly . . . things to get my hand on Court. It’s just I kind of need to know what’s going to happen and how this will all turn out. But it’s ok. We don’t have THAT long to wait. Right? Yep. Just gotta keep telling myself that. And in the meantime I hope you all read this and join me in feeling this way.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tracy Wolff is a lover of vampires, dragons, and all things that go bump in the night. A onetime English professor, she now devotes all her time to writing dark and romantic stories with tortured heroes and kick-butt heroines. She has written all her sixty-plus novels from her home in Austin, Texas, which she shares with her family. tracywolffbooks.com.
TITLE: The Thirteenth Fairy (Never After, #1) AUTHOR: Melissa de la Cruz PUBLISHER: Roaring Book Press RELEASE DATE: December 1st, 2020 GENRE(S): Middle Grade Fiction–Fantasy
Real life and fairy tales collide in Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy, book one in the new middle-grade Never After series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series, Melissa de la Cruz.
Nothing ever happens in Filomena Jefferson-Cho’s sleepy little suburban town of North Pasadena. The sun shines every day, the grass is always a perfect green, and while her progressive school swears there’s no such thing as bullying, she still feels bummed out. But one day, when Filomena is walking home on her own, something strange happens.
Filomena is being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the Thirteenth Fairy, a series of books she loves about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends who save their world from an evil enchantress. She must be dreaming, or still reading a book. But Jack is insistent–he’s real, the stories are real, and Filomena must come with him at once!
Soon, Filomena is thrust into the world of evil fairies and beautiful princesses, sorcerers and slayers, where an evil queen drives her ruthless armies to destroy what is left of the Fairy tribes. To save herself and the kingdom of Westphalia, Filomena must find the truth behind the fairytales and set the world back to rights before the cycle of sleep and destruction begins once more.
I have been a huge fan of Melissa de la Cruz for an incredibly long time, but when I picked this book up I realized that I have never actually read any of her middle grade books. And I’m glad it was this one that I picked up first because, well, fairies, but also it was incredibly funny and still felt like de la Cruz to me. Plus it has so many odes to classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes that I couldn’t help but fall in love with what I was reading.
There’s just so much to love with this one. We’ve got some diversity with our main characters, you’ll find yourself chuckling throughout, and there are classic story elements you know and love made fresh. Plus the overarching fairy tale this one is based off of is Sleeping Beauty. And if you know me you know that’s my favorite (naps, all I have to say). So I always get excited when I see a reworking of this story because it’s not the same “tale as old as time” as we much more frequently see in books.
But I am digressing with this review, so to wrap it up: there is plenty of adventure and fantasy throughout this one that you won’t be able to much else other than furiously flip through the pages. And it’s just a really well written and well done middle grade book that will have appeal for middle schoolers and adults alike.
About the Author
Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Up for grabs, we have ONE (1) physical copy of The Thirteenth Fairy (Never After, #1) by Melissa de la Cruz. This giveaway will run from March 1st to March 8th at 11:59 PM CST and is open to US residents only.
Publisher : 47North (January 26, 2021) Language : English Paperback : 431 pages ISBN-10 : 154202529X ISBN-13 : 978-1542025294
From Jeff Wheeler, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain novels, comes an epic new series of warring kingdoms, deadly family rivalries, and fearless loyalty.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A brutal war of succession has plunged the court of Kingfountain into a power struggle between a charitable king who took the crown unlawfully and his ambitious rival, Devon Argentine. The balance of power between the two men hinges on the fate of a young boy ensnared in this courtly intrigue. A boy befittingly nicknamed Ransom.
When the Argentine family finally rules, Ransom must make his own way in the world. Opportunities open and shut before him as he journeys along the path to knighthood, blind to a shadowy conspiracy of jealousy and revenge. Securing his place will not be easy, nor will winning the affection of Lady Claire de Murrow, a fiery young heiress from an unpredictably mad kingdom.
Ransom interrupts an abduction plot targeting the Queen of Ceredigion and earns a position in service to her son, the firstborn of the new Argentine dynasty. But conflict and treachery threaten the family, and Ransom must also come to understand and hone his burgeoning powers—abilities that involve more than his mastery with a blade and that make him as much a target as his lord.
You can purchaseKnight’s Ransom at the following Retailers:
Praise for Knight’s Ransom
“Jeff Wheeler has always been one of our more dependable storytellers. Knight’s Ransom adds to his reputation. A fine page-turner.” —Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author.
“With this superlative epic fantasy…Wheeler does an expert job of reintroducing his fantasy world through the eyes of sympathetic characters that fans and new readers alike will root for. This is sure to be a hit.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[Wheeler] adds elements of Arthurian legend to the start of the First Argentines series…along with splendid palace intrigues and battles.” —Booklist (starred review)
Review
This is my second book by Wheeler and I was so excited to dive back into his writing. Especially with an epic fantasy like this book. And ooo boy was it beyond amazing. And now I know that I need to go back and read all of the other books from this world. Which, I’m not mad about because I’ll take fantasy gladly any day.
But where do I begin. I think with the characters. I adored the characters in this book and how they grew and developed throughout it. And there is a lot of time spent developing the characters, which I really love when a fantasy book does that. I feel like sometimes fantasies get so focused on the plot that the characters fall to the wayside, or vice versa really, and this one felt like a nice sorta in-between with a little more focus on the characters but still a solid plot. And you know a solid plot is a must after reading a synopsis like this. Which I guess leads me to the pacing of this book. A lot happens in this one within a short span of time and I couldn’t get enough of it!
So this is one that you should definitely check out. Nudge nudge, wink wink. But seriously, there’s a lot to offer in this book and it really delivers exceptionally well throughout. And I truly look forward to seeing what Wheeler comes up with next as well as exploring some of his older works that are already waiting for me to binge.
About the Author
Photo Content from Jeff Wheeler
Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times (for The Thief’s Daughter, The King’s Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and Prism Cloud) and have sold more than 4 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German.
He is also the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a quarterly e-zine featuring amazing short stories, novellas, and sample chapters.
You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences.
He welcomes hearing from readers: jgwheels /at/ gmail dot com
If you are interested in purchasing signed copies of his books for friends, family, or your own collection, please e-mail: WOJWbooks /at/ gmail dot com
Book 2 of Ink in the Blood Publication Date: February 9th, 2020 Publisher: HMH Books
Return to the world of inklings, tattoo magic, and evil deities as Celia uncovers the secrets of the ink in order to stop Diavala once and for all. This eagerly anticipated sequel to Ink in the Blood is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Wicked Saints.
Celia Sand faced Diavala and won, using ink magic to destroy the corrupt religion of Profeta that tormented her for a decade. But winning came with a cost. Now Celia is plagued with guilt over her role in the death of her best friend. When she discovers that Diavala is still very much alive and threatening Griffin, the now-infamous plague doctor, Celia is desperate not to lose another person she loves to the deity’s wrath.
The key to destroying Diavala may lie with Halycon Ronnea, the only other person to have faced Diavala and survived. But Halcyon is dangerous and has secrets of his own, ones that involve the ink that Celia has come to hate. Forced to choose between the ink and Diavala, Celia will do whatever it takes to save Griffin—even if it means making a deal with the devil himself.
You know, I was extremely eager to read this series for the interesting magic system alone. Well, that and the covers. I loveeeee the covers. And I have to delightedly say that these books have no disappointed! I find that a lot of the time I’m swayed into books and get overly excited and then they just don’t live up to that excitement. So, in sense, I get even more excited when books actually do what I wanted them to! So on that note, psst, go read these.
While I really loved the second book in this duology I have to admit that it took me a smidge to get back into. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s been a while since I’ve been in this world or if it just had a slower start than the first book, but once I did get fully invested I fell just as much in love with it as I had while reading the first book. There was also so much more that this book was able to bring since we are already familiar with the world and magic system. And you know I love when books get a chance to expand on what we already know.
This series was honestly one of my biggest highlights recently. I think I’ve just been hitting so many slumps lately that when I find a book that really hits all of the marks I get that much more excited. But then again I also REALLY always love duologies. So I guess it just had that right combination to make me fall in love.
About the Author
Kim Smejkal writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Her debut novel, INK IN THE BLOOD, released from HMH in early 2020, and the sequel, CURSE OF THE DIVINE, will release on Feb. 9, 2021.
When she’s not writing, she’s homeschooling her kids, tutoring other people’s kids, and voraciously hoarding any precious alone time. Though she grew up on the Canadian prairies, she now lives with her family on beautiful, muse-satiating Vancouver Island. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.
Cast into the underworld after an act of shattering betrayal, Mayana and Ahkin must overcome unimaginable odds if they are to return home and reclaim the throne of the Chicome. A river of blood and demons disguised as children are only two of the challenges standing in their way. Fortunately, they are not unequipped. Mayana’s royal blood controls the power of water, and Prince Ahkin wields the power of the sun itself. Ometeotl, the Mother goddess, provides them with other gifts—and an ominous warning that one of them may not survive. But can the goddess be trusted?
“At least as much at peace as was possible sleeping behind a pile of bones on the outskirts of the City of the Dead.”
— Lani Forbes
Back in the lands above, Mayana’s best friend, Yemania, has survived the empress selection ritual—but her next challenge may be more than she can bear. The new empress of the Chicome Empire demands she become High Healer. Yemania has no interest in serving in the palace; she wants to use her healing ability to help the common people. More than that, her heart is no longer her own. She has met an enchanting stranger—Ochix, one of the feared Miquitz people who are ancient enemies of the Chicome.
As Mayana and Ahkin move ever closer to confronting the lords of the dead, Yemania and Ochix must hide their forbidden romance or face the wrath of both their empires. Meanwhile, the new empress has made a dangerous alliance that might destroy everything they hold dear.
Four young people risk their lives to save the world from a looming apocalypse in this captivating sequel to The Seventh Sun. Based on ancient Mesoamerican legends and mythology, The Jade Bones is a compelling and romantic adventure that builds to a heart-stopping climax.
“Without another word, she turned and marched straight into the dark interior of the mountain without him.”
Have you ever had a book that surprisingly stuck with you? Like you read it, fell in love, but then continued to think about it when you didn’t think you would? Well that was what happened after I read The Seventh Sun last year. So, to say I’ve been waiting for this book for a while is a bit of an understatement. I just HAD to know what happened next in this world and I just wanted to dive right back into the rich magic and culture.
“Our blood. The blood of the gods.”
— Lani Forbes
And one thing that I am so happy for is that this book didn’t disappoint. So often we see second books fall into the sophmore slump, but The Jade Bones just expertly expanded on the first book while still holding what I fell in love with from the first. Plus we get some new characters, a boatload of character development, and (gasp) my favorite: epic world building. Things just start coming together in this book, you know?
“The empire needs you. It can survive without me.”
— Lani Forbes
Now, I sped read this book so make sure you have some time set aside for this one. I mean, I sped read it because I missed a tour stop (I hate life, my calendar decided to delete my day for this tour, why is February turning out like this?) BUT I also would have sped read it even if I wasn’t a failure and late. It was just that good and I continue to look forward to seeing what Forbes produces next.
About the Author
Lani Forbes is the daughter of a librarian and an ex-drug smuggling surfer (which explains her passionate love of the ocean and books). A former teacher turned trauma counselor, her passion is showing readers the transformative and encouraging power of story on the human experience. She helps others process anxiety, depression, and complex PTSD, both in her stories and in real life. A California native whose parents live in Mexico, Lani now resides in the Pacific Northwest where she stubbornly wears flip flops no matter how cold it gets. She is a proud nerd, Gryffindor, and member of Romance Writers of America and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Book Title: Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found Author: Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers Release Date: February 16, 2021 Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Magic has all but disappeared in Brooklyn, but one tenacious young magician is determined to bring it back in this exciting middle grade mystery.
Kingston has just moved from the suburbs back to Echo City, Brooklyn–the last place his father was seen alive. Kingston’s father was King Preston, one of the world’s greatest magicians. Until one trick went wrong and he disappeared. Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, he’s determined to find his father. Somehow, though, when his father disappeared, he took all of Echo City’s magic with him. Now Echo City–a ghost of its past–is living up to its name. With no magic left, the magicians have packed up and left town and those who’ve stayed behind don’t look too kindly on any who reminds them of what they once had. When Kingston finds a magic box his father left behind as a clue, Kingston knows there’s more to his father’s disappearance than meets the eye. He’ll have to keep it a secret–that is, until he can restore magic to Echo City. With his cousin Veronica and childhood friend Too Tall Eddie, Kingston works to solve the clues, but one wrong move and his father might not be the only one who goes missing.
I mean, a book about magicians is bound to be good. And make it a middle grade book and you know it’ll be a hit! But what I really like is that there is diversity in this middle grade story. Plus there’s so much adventure and fun found within these pages. And it’s really just an enjoyable story.
It seems like I’m in a middle grade mood lately and I’m really happy I’ve been checking out some of these books recently because I’ve come to the realization that it has been a LONG time since I’ve kept up to date with middle grade books. Which is a shame because some of the most popular books out there are middle grade. And I mean, I feel this is when a love for reading really flourishes, so good books are bound to come. And Kingston is such an excellent addition to this list of good middle grade books. There were just so many elements to it that really amplified the importance and quality of the story.
I really enjoyed this one and look forward to seeing what this collection of authors comes up with next. This was such a magical read but there was also so much more to it. I can see many people falling in love with this one and think it’d be quite popular amongst all of the middle schoolers.
About the Authors
Rucker Moses is the pen name of Craig S. Phillips and Harold Hayes Jr. They both hail from Atlanta and started telling stories together at the University of Georgia. Together, they’ve been nominated for three Emmys for writing in a children’s program and have written for TV shows based on books by R. L. Stine and Christopher Pike. They also make virtual reality experiences and own a production company named SunnyBoy Entertainment. In no particular order, their favorite things to write about are ninjas, magic, space, and abandoned amusement parks. When not doing all that, they are hanging with their wonderful families at home in Los Angeles.
Theo Gangi is a novelist and writing teacher based in Brooklyn. He’s written several acclaimed novels and short stories, and he’s worked on shows for Netflix. He writes far-out adventures that happen right next door. He directs the MFA program at St. Francis College and lives with his wife, young son, and their dog. Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found is his first book for young readers.
Enter to win one (1) finished copy of Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi! Open USA only. There will be 1 winner.
Giveaway starts: Monday, February 15, 2021
Giveaway ends: Monday, February 22, 2021 at 12:00 a.m. CST
