Songflight by Michelle M. Bruhn (Review)

Another review today, this one for a fascinating Celtic-esque dragon-y fantasy novel!

Title: Songflight

Author: Michelle M. Bruhn

Series: The Dragon Singer Chronicles, #1

Fantasy • YA • 2020 • 444 pages (Kindle)

Read October 28, 2021 • 4 stars • Favorite character: Falier

I started this as an ebook and finished it as an audiobook on the audiobook subscription site, Scribd. (If you’re new to Scribd and would like to try two free months, you can use my link — I’d get a free month too. ^_^)

I received a free e-ARC of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Goodreads • Amazon • Author’s Website

Songflight has a wonderful Celtic fantasy feel in a very cool world that I enjoyed getting pulled into. Filled with chiefs and dragons, mountains and forests, a chieftain’s daughter and several scheming plots, it was an epic read! It’s kind of like Brave meets How to Train Your Dragon and I’m here for it. grinning

Alisa’s song magic was sooo cool! I loved it, and I loved that the songs were IN the book. They were delightful. The worldbuilding was neat, too, and I loved the sense of past and history that the book was steeped in, while still feeling present. It almost had a historical fantasy feel despite being in a fantasy world!

Dragonssss! Okay, obviously the best part of this book is that there are dragons in it. Sooo many dragons, and I loved how there were lots of different kinds of characters among them. And there were also . . . TINY DRAGONS! Called Dreki, the tiny dragons were the absolute greatest, and I loved that they existed as well as the big, ridable kind. The Dreki make me so happy!

Alisa’s a relatable heroine and following her on her journey was so cool, especially continuing against all odds, and as she meets others on her quest. There’s a great cast of characters, like the different dragons, such as Graydonn who is epic and loyal and I would like to ride him, yes please; and Sesina, young and playful and energetic; and Chri, one of the precious but wise Dreki! And, yes, even humans, like Falier—he’s the best! I wanted more of Falier. XD They and others are all such loyal friends for Alisa and—I’m having a feeling. Loved these characters!

This book lost a star from me because of a character death which was Not Okay. AHEM. That may be just me, though. (But it’s like killing the dog, okay! T_T Ahem. XD) But otherwise, this was an immersive Celtic fantasy with DRAGONS and song magic, and I really enjoyed it! I’d recommend it and I’m looking forward to reading more in this world!

Special audiobook note: I had started this in ebook form, but later switched to the audiobook version, and it’s delightful! It’s read by the author, and she SINGS the song parts! I always listen to audiobooks around 2x speed, but I slowed it down every time singing came up. Loved it! Just saying it’s worth checking out the audio (if you’re an audiobook person). I also enjoyed the short story prequel which is also on audio.

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Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth (Review)

I’m excited to be reviewing this beautiful book by Kellyn Roth today!

Title: Beyond Her Calling

Author: Kellyn Roth

Series: The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, #4 (but stands alone)

Historical Fiction / Christian Fiction / Scotland (I DON’T CARE, IT’S A GENRE) • Adult • 2022 • 255 pages (paperback)

Read May 9, 2022 • 4 stars • Favorite character: Jordy • I received a free ARC of this book from the author and was not obligated to leave a review. All opinions are my own. (And I actually finished “reading” it by getting myself the audiobook off Audible because Scottish accents!)

Goodreads • Barnes & Noble • Amazon • Author Website

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel set in the 1880s in Scotland. Scotland! That had to be the best part of it, and I really enjoyed the setting and especially the accents!

Ivy Knight from England heads up to Scotland for a visit. Drama, friends new and old, relationships, and soul-searching ensue. I liked Ivy’s point of view and her thoughts, and especially the way she compares everything to music, which made me happy. She’s a dear, and her sweetness and occasional awkwardness but determination to do right made her a lovely character.

Jordy McAllen is great too! He’s my favorite. *grinning* A passionate but sometimes endearingly boyish young doctor, with a delightful accent and also a sense of fun, trying to find his way. Ivy and Jordy are also adorable together. *cackles* They’re both such cinnamon rolls!

There were one or two things I felt I was missing due to jumping in on book four, but only in a very mild way, but in general it was a good standalone too. It’s adult fiction but clean other than some mature issues discussed from someone’s past. Everything’s tied in to the characters’ faith throughout the book and there were some inspiring lines at times.

Also, this is random, but I enjoyed that there were letters throughout the book between several different characters (epistolary bits in books make me happy for some reason), and references to other books, like Jane Austen’s.

It wrapped up satisfactorily (like I said, stands alone pretty well), but I’m definitely hoping to check out the next book about these characters because I’d love to spend more time with Ivy and Jordy! (I think the next one featuring them is After Our Castle. I can’t wait!)

Best for fans of Christian historical romance, and, of course, Scotland! (I also recommend the audiobook!)

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Kate’s Informant by Sarah Holman (Review)

I don’t read many mystery novels, but I’m addicted to this series, so here’s a review for the latest one! There were some unexpected feels but otherwise I loved most of it!

Title: Kate’s Informant

Author: Sarah Holman

Series: Kate’s Case Files, #6 (Read my reviews for book 1, book 2, and book 3)

Thriller / Contemporary / Mystery / Christian Fiction • NA • 2022 • 160 pages (Kindle)

Read June 4, 2022 • 4 stars • Favorite characters: Patrick and Thomas • Source: Amazon

Goodreads • Amazon • Author Website

The first three-quarters of this book I absolutely ADORED! I think it was the funnest Kate’s Case Files book yet. The bantering dialogue was delightful and spot-on, which is always my FAVORITE about these books, along with the fun team of characters! I love all of them, and the character interactions are the best—and like I said, I think all of that was the best so far in this one!

So yes, I really, really enjoyed most of the book! It made me SO happy to be back in this series, which I like to think of as a crime show, just clean and in book series format; what’s not to love? The mysteries and characters and dialogue are the best and keep me flipping the pages in each book, especially this one!

I highlighted so many hilarious moments in my Kindle copy. XD SO. MANY! This cast is just gold! XD I stayed up late to finish reading it, and I had only meant to read the first few chapters that night, but I couldn’t stop and next thing I knew, the book was over!

I…will say that I was super upset about something that happened near the end. I literally spent the last quarter of the book in denial and it was only in the last few pages I realized it was real and I could hardly read I was crying so hard. It hit especially hard due to some stuff in my life this last year and the aftermath of the book was that I was so sad I couldn’t sleep and just listened to music in the dark for hours instead. So yeah, not gonna lie, it was devastating. I was shocked.

So, personally, I knocked a star off for that—even though the rest of the book was probably my favorite so far (so many good character moments!)—but that’s not to say others won’t enjoy the book! Because, yeah, it may just be a me-thing. I personally read for enjoyment, not for feels, and the first three-quarters of the book was definitely enjoyable! ^_^ But the last quarter just hit me so hard (and I haven’t been able to read new books since, except for work, so I’ve been re-reading comfort reads so I know what’s going to happen, haha). It made me feel deeply, because it got me SO invested in these characters. Which is clearly a testament to the author’s skills.

I definitely had to wait a few months to recover from these feelings (which I have mostly done) before I could write a fair review. XD Because…yes, in fairness, I LOVED the rest of the book, and I actually super suspect good things will come out of this tragic happenstance, so I’m definitely looking forward to future books in the series! I think they’re going to be amazing and I can’t wait to come back to hang out with (most of… *sobs*) these characters again. ^_^

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Review: Truesilver by DJ Edwardson

I have returned from a too-long blogging hiatus with a bit of an updated look to my review posts (shiny new things!) and a review for a delightful YA fantasy novel, Truesilver!

(And don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a hardcover copy of this book!)

Title: Truesilver

Author: DJ Edwardson

Series: Swordspeaker Saga, #1 (Book 2, Rimewinter, coming spring 2022!)

Epic Fantasy • YA (enjoyable by anyone) • 2021 • 318 pages

Read August 2020 • 5 stars • Fave character: Kithian • I copyedited this but loved it enough to buy the hardcover

Goodreads • Barnes & Noble • Amazon • Author Website

Ranger’s Apprentice meets the Wingfeather Saga, with a dash of Prydain, in this delightful saga of a one-time shepherd boy who becomes bearer of a sentient sword.

In this masterfully woven tale, the bright threads of a lush and original world and generous doses of both whimsy and peril twine together to tell the story of a cast of colorful characters who stole my heart.

Seventeen-year-old Kion came from the lowliest roots and was pulled into a journey of action-y adventure, deadly danger, and a high calling awaiting him. With his trusty friend the smith Zinder — a loyal sidekick if ever there was one, who makes up with wit and quickness (and fabulous hats and lock-picking skills) what he lacks in size — at his side, Kion is a hero I’d follow through perils thick and thin.

And this book and its soon-to-release sequel, Rimewinter, abounds with just the sort of adventure that keeps you flipping pages, all while soaking in the rich tapestried detail of the writing and world.

Hint: the sword is my favorite! It’s worth reading the book just to meet the sword! Not even kidding. But I don’t want to give any more away. You’ll just have to discover it for yourself!

(Some action/violence/war. Otherwise clean. Teens of any age would love the book, methinks!) If you’re tired of endless romance in the YA section, this is a fun one to pick up. 😉

Truesilver is the first book in a Noblebright fantasy adventure series. I recommend this one to any reader looking for a rousing good tale full of heart!

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Giveaway

If you missed it, check out my giveaway for a hardcover copy of Truesilver! (Giveaway open through February 28, 2022.) And said post also features the cover reveal for the sequel, Rimewinter!

Also! Let me know what you think of the new look for my review posts!

Looking for more of my book reviews? Check them out here!

The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White (Book Review)

I have a new review today, this time for a historical fiction mystery set in 1906 in the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall!

Title: The Nature of a Lady

Author: Roseanna M. White

• Date read: May 27, 2021
• Rating: 4 stars
• Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian Fiction
• Age: Adult, clean
• Year pub: 2021
• Pages: 374 (paperback)
• Series: The Secrets of the Isles, #1
• Fave character: Oliver Tremayne and Mabena Moon
• Source: Bethany House reviewer program
• Notes: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.
• Links: Goodreads • Barnes & Noble • Amazon • ChristianBook.com • Author’s Website • Publisher
  

Set in the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall, this book was a gorgeous treat to read!

The 1906 setting was interesting, and the islands themselves were drop-dead stunning and made me want to visit them! They sprang to life so well, considering I’d never read about this particular setting before, and were probably my favorite thing about the book! So unique and delightful, and I do love a good “island story.” I loved how it also felt somewhat Cornish but with its own twist, and the villagers, cottages, boats, flowers, sea, rocks, etc. were all wonderful!

I loved the writing! The story itself was super engaging and kept me intrigued throughout, and I loved seeing the intertwining threads of characters’ lives and secrets unfold, along with an exciting mystery/treasure hunt with lots of clues, and some super-cute romances thrown in there. Some of the twists surprised me in a good way (particularly a certain rivalry).

The characters all came to life and many of them were fabulous. I particularly loved mysterious lady’s-maid-turned-untameable-island-girl Mabenna Moon — she was marvelous! — and of course Oliver Tremayne, vicar and overall amazing fellow. And Mamm-wynn! Delightful mysterious, pixie-ish grandmother.

There were a couple things that weren’t my favorite: I sometimes felt the heroine had a sort of scientific arrogance; a few things rubbed me the wrong way; and I wished for more time for a certain side romance, so it would seem less sudden. But these are personal preferences!

On the whole, I very much enjoyed reading it and being swept off to these enchanting islands on an adventure. There are a couple of unresolved threads and I hope to return to the Isles of Scilly with these lovely characters for more tales in future books! Do check this one out!

I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.

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Thanks for reading! 🙂

Between Two Worlds Book Release!

Happy release day to Between Two Worlds by Cheyenne van Langevelde! This is a stunning Roman/Celtic historical fiction novel which I had the honor to copyedit, and I’m so excited it’s out in the world today!

Check out the rest of the post for my mini review, book info and links, and a challenge giveaway over on Instagram!

My Mini Review

Inspiring historical fiction with lovely writing and two characters who wrapped themselves around my heart. (Lucius and Enid forever!) The historical detail is well done and feels vivid and alive. (A couple of grittier details for historical accuracy, so just that small warning.) I loved the deeper themes as well. Stunning. Historical fiction fans, and those interested in ancient Rome, early Christian history, or Celtic twists, check this one out!

(Disclaimer: I was a copyeditor for this, but as an unbiased reader I definitely would have enjoyed it too. 😉 Lovely.)

Links

• Goodreads
• Amazon
• Author’s Website

About Between Two Worlds

Enid hates the Romans who enslaved her. Broken-hearted over the life she lost in Britain, she vows to bury her name and her past where the Redcrests can never reach it. As years of servitude pass, bitter resignation replaces her longing to return home.

Then an unlikely friendship with a fellow outcast raises Enid out of her isolation, bringing both hope for the future and questions about the confusing God of the Christiani. Yet memories of her childhood haunt her, urging her to cling to her old identity, while the barriers of Roman society remain in the way of her deepest dreams. The peace she thought she made with the past is crumbling.

But time is running out for Enid and those she loves. Danger threatens the household she serves as persecution stalks her few friends. She must decide if risking it all for the one she loves is worth giving up the world she knows.

Even if it is a choice between life and death.

Instagram challenge/giveaway!

If you’re on Instagram and have time for a challenge pic or two, check out these prompts for the challenge giveaway the author is having! (And check out her account here: @thedancingbardess)

(image by @thedancingbardess)

(photo by @thedancingbardess)

Giveaway info

Rules:

• simple, just choose a day (or all of the days if you want) to post something related to that day’s prompt. It can be #bookstagram or something as simple as a nature snapshot, etc. Nothing too difficult and if you have any questions, ask the author @thedancingbardess!

• when you post, please use the #betweentwoworldsnovel tag so the author can see your post and enter you into the giveaway!

GIVEAWAY U.S.: Winner will receive signed paperback, thank you note, two character cards, a bookmark, and chocolate covered coffee beans

INTERNATIONAL: Winner will receive e-book, two character cards, and a thank you note

In short, there are two winners! You can enter this giveaway through participating in this IG challenge! Each day/post counts as one entry.

And there we are! Are you a fan of Celtic things or Roman things? Let me know in a comment! Thanks for reading!