Tag Archive | Fellowship of Fantasy

At the Corner of Elm and Main by H.L. Burke (Mini Review)

Aug9

Hallo, my page-dreamers!

I’m back for one last mini review on the Tales of Ever After blog tour! (Scroll to end for giveaways, which are ending TONIGHT, so hasten!)

At the Corner of Elm and Main

by H. L. Burke

 

What an utterly charming and perfect story! ❤

GAH. *clutches heart* *clutches this story and hugs it* At the Corner of Elm and Main is SO ADORABLE. I love it so much! ❤ I’m having a hard time explaining it, but how cool is the idea of a sentient lamppost? It makes me think of a Pixar short or something. Which of course is perfect. 🙂

I love the setting and “feel” of this one, feeling somewhat shadowy and cold with (probably) cobblestone streets and rain and a lamplighter going around lighting lamps, including our hero, Abner.

Abner the lamppost is MY FAVORITE THING. He’s wonderful. I loved reading the story from his perspective. And I loved the mysterious old woman who sits on the bench, too.

This is a positively delightful original fairytale type story, with SO much heart and charm. It’s a joy to read, but also has depth to it, and unexpected feels. Everything was so vivid and the delightful writing drew me right into it. It’s going to sound weird but I really related to the lamppost character. ^_^

I’m definitely going to be reading this one again sometime. It lit a light in my heart and made me smile. 🙂

I can’t say anything else without spoiling it, but basically, you need this adorable story in your life ASAP! Go forth and read it and have your heart melted like mine was! ❤

If you missed them, you can read my review for two other short story in this collection, Believing Fairytales (by Arthur Daigle) and Cinders (by Kendra E. Ardnek).

Check out the rest of the stories in this anthology! It’s free on all ebook platforms! (See links below.)

Tales of Ever After

Rescue a princess, meet a mermaid, win your reward.

The authors of the Fellowship of Fantasy tackle fairy tales from once upon a time to happily ever after. Explore twists on old tales and brand new magical stories. Meet feisty mermaids, friendly lampposts, and heroes who just might be monsters themselves.

This fourth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy will lead you on a quest for entertainment and storm the castle of your imagination. So make a wish and enter the deep dark woods to find stories that will make you laugh, shiver, and maybe even fall in love.

LINKS

Amazon • Books2Read Universal Link • Goodreads

Tour Schedule

Check out the blog tour schedule HERE.

GIVEAWAY!

And now it’s time to enter a delightful giveaway the Fellowship of Fantasy authors are hosting — there are 3 giveaways! (Rafflecopter hates me so you’ll just have to click the links. XD)

U.S. Only Giveaway:

(All books are paperback, and possibly signed)

***LINK***

International Giveaway:

(All books are ebooks of the winner’s file format of choice)

***LINK***

Comment Giveaway:

The person who leaves the most comments across the blog tour will receive the chance to read special sneak peaks from several of the authors’ upcoming works!

Do you like stories featuring inanimate objects who are more than they seem? I love them — they’re so adorable! Are you going to check this one out? 😉 Thanks for reading! 🙂

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Cinders by Kendra E. Ardnek (Mini Review & Giveaway)

Aug8

Hi everyone! I’m back on the Tales of Ever After blog tour with a mini review for another short story from this collection! (And there’s still a giveaway at the end if you haven’t entered yet. ;))

Cinders

by Kendra E. Ardnek

 

Okay, that was adorable and enchanting! I have a new story to put on my growing list of top-favorite Cinderella retellings. 😀 I LOVED this one!

The thing about retellings is that you can’t usually say much about the twists/plots/bits that make you really like them, without spoiling the story. XD So I won’t. But I did LOVE the twists a ton. Some I suspected, others were a delightful surprise, and a few times I got worried about how it would turn out and then things worked PERFECTLY and made me absurdly happy.

There’s also a cute kitten. And humor. And loveable characters! And… well… what more can be said? It’s a classic Cinderella story flipped on its head and made fabulous all over again. I loved it so much! The perfect story to start out this collection. 🙂

So what are you waiting for? Go pick up this free collection and read Cinders! I’ll be over here contemplating rereading it, and hugging it because I adored it. ^_^

If you missed it, you can read my review for another short story in this collection, here.

Check out the rest of the stories in this anthology! It’s free on all ebook platforms! (See links below.)

Tales of Ever After

Rescue a princess, meet a mermaid, win your reward.

The authors of the Fellowship of Fantasy tackle fairy tales from once upon a time to happily ever after. Explore twists on old tales and brand new magical stories. Meet feisty mermaids, friendly lampposts, and heroes who just might be monsters themselves.

This fourth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy will lead you on a quest for entertainment and storm the castle of your imagination. So make a wish and enter the deep dark woods to find stories that will make you laugh, shiver, and maybe even fall in love.

LINKS

Amazon • Books2Read Universal Link • Goodreads

Tour Schedule

Check out the blog tour schedule HERE.

GIVEAWAY!

And now it’s time to enter a delightful giveaway the Fellowship of Fantasy authors are hosting — there are 3 giveaways! (Rafflecopter hates me so you’ll just have to click the links. XD)

U.S. Only Giveaway:

(All books are paperback, and possibly signed)

***LINK***

International Giveaway:

(All books are ebooks of the winner’s file format of choice)

***LINK***

Comment Giveaway:

The person who leaves the most comments across the blog tour will receive the chance to read special sneak peaks from several of the authors’ upcoming works!

What do you think? Doesn’t this one sound charming? Do you have a favorite Cinderella retelling? And have you picked up Tales of Ever After for free yet? Thanks for reading! 🙂

Believing Fairytales by Arthur Daigle: Mini Review (+ Featuring Me Squawking About Jayden Because #Excuses)

Aug4

Welcome to the Tales of Ever After blog tour! 🙂

I’m here today to share a mini review of one of the short stories in this NEWLY RELEASED anthology of fairytale retellings (and original fairytales) from the Fellowship of Fantasy! It released yesterday; I’m really excited. 😀

And don’t forget to scroll through to the end where there’s a giveaway. 😉

Believing Fairy Tales

by Arthur Daigle

Tagline: Some fairy tales are true. The dangerous ones are partly true.

*cue Deborah O’Carroll’s review*

 

Short stories are hard to review without spoiling, and I really don’t want to spoil this one because it has an excellent plot twist, but I’ll do my best. 😛

Arthur Daigle is one of my new favorite authors I’ve discovered this year, due to just a couple of short stories in previous Fellowship of Fantasy anthologies. (Those two short stories featured one of my favorite-ever dynamic duos, Dana Illwind and Sorcerer Lord Jayden.)

So I was excited to review this short story! Despite not having said two favorite characters in it, this short story does contain Mr. Daigle’s signature humor, fantastical setting (including monsters), twists, and a snarky main character who stands up for himself, as well as a mischievous goblin.

Nestor is a boy who spends his time keeping the shrine of the Brotherhood of Righteousness clean and reading old manuscripts — and Gibber is a little goblin who loves to annoy him and prank people. Their relationship was fun. XD

Enter some problems in the form of some villains, a lot of hilarious conversations (with snarky lines like: “I would have lost my faith in humanity if I’d ever had it.”) and a plot twist that I started slightly guessing at (and had me going “OOH!”), and it’s overall a delightful original fairy tale type story. 😀

I loved the bits about people not getting fairytales right. XD

This story was a lot of fun, and the setting and humor reminded me of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books. It’s slightly scary (just fantasy violence) but awesome overall, and I loved it! I’m excited to read the rest of the stories in this collection, as well as more of Arthur Daigle’s work!

Fantasy that makes me laugh is my favorite, and this absolutely qualifies! ❤

While You’re Here…

Not 100% related to the story I just reviewed, but I’m not going to finish a post featuring Arthur Daigle without mentioning how you can check out the short stories that made me fall in love with his writing.

If you’re curious to read about Dana Illwind and Sorcerer Lord Jayden (since I’ve mentioned them a few times and LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Ahem.) you can find a story each about them in previous Fellowship of Fantasy anthologies, Hall of Heroes and Mythical Doorways — which are FREE and have other delightful stories in them as well! (And did I mention free?)

Or if you just want to meet Jayden NOW (I don’t blame you) you can read said short stories on Arthur’s Booksie account here, here, and a NEW ONE that just came out (*shrieking* I’m so excited!) here.

I’m sorry, but I’m also TOTALLY NOT SORRY because Jayden is my fave. 😀

(And I really need to check out this author’s Goblin books someday… I believe all his works take place in the same world. Which is awesome.)

Okay, I’m done derailing this post, now. *cough*

This has been a public service announcement. Carry on.

Check out the rest of the stories in this anthology!

Tales of Ever After

Rescue a princess, meet a mermaid, win your reward.

The authors of the Fellowship of Fantasy tackle fairy tales from once upon a time to happily ever after. Explore twists on old tales and brand new magical stories. Meet feisty mermaids, friendly lampposts, and heroes who just might be monsters themselves.

This fourth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy will lead you on a quest for entertainment and storm the castle of your imagination. So make a wish and enter the deep dark woods to find stories that will make you laugh, shiver, and maybe even fall in love.

LINKS

Amazon • Books2Read Universal Link • Goodreads

(The ebook should be free most places, and if it’s not yet — say, on Amazon *cough* — it WILL be… soonish… So keep an eye out. Or you can get it for 99 cents which isn’t bad; or buy the paperback because it looks shiny.)

Tour Schedule

Check out the blog tour schedule HERE.

GIVEAWAY!

And now it’s time to enter a delightful giveaway the Fellowship of Fantasy authors are hosting — there are 3 giveaways! (Rafflecopter hates me so you’ll just have to click the links. XD)

U.S. Only Giveaway:

(All books are paperback, and possibly signed)

***LINK***

International Giveaway:

(All books are ebooks of the winner’s file format of choice)

***LINK***

Comment Giveaway:

The person who leaves the most comments across the blog tour will receive the chance to read special sneak peaks from several of the authors’ upcoming works!

Do you enjoy funny fantasy too? Have you met Jayden yet? Are you curious to read this story or the rest of the anthology? ISN’T THAT TALES OF EVER AFTER COVER GORGEOUS?? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading!

In Bookish News: July 2018

Jul2

Hi everyone!

Just popping in for a quick post about the book releases and other awesomely bookish things going on this month. 🙂

JULY RELEASES

Here are some books which look like they’ll be awesome. 😀 (And I can’t get over how pretty the covers are together. AWK. So much shiny!)

Screenshot from Goodreads. If you’d like to check any of these books out on there, you can find ’em here at the moment.

(Titles link to places you can acquire the books or read more about them!)

  • The Green Princess series, book 1: Flower – H. L. Burke — (Okay, this was actually June 30th, but close enough, and I didn’t have it in last month’s post.) Because an adorable YA fantasy romance with a heroine who has plant powers sounds super fun. I’m curious to try this one!
  • Healers and Warriors – Daley Downing — (Similar story; just came out! EEE!) I enjoyed the first two books immensely, so I’m excited to try the third book in this series involving modern times and fae and cats and all that fun stuff. 😉
  • The Janus Elixir – Kyle Robert Shultz (July 1) — I actually read this already (as an editor) and it’s so good! I’m not even biased, I promise. I’m just excited to have a whole novella told by Malcolm Blackfire, dragon and archaeologist. 😀 It’s super funny, features Malcolm and his… er… assistant Melody Nightingale, and is set in an alternate 1816 London, with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, some characters from mythology, and some other familiar names… You’ll just have to check it out, because it’s a blast. XD And it’s free if you sign up for the author’s newsletter. 😉
  • Renegade Skyfarer – R. J. Metcalf (July 1) — I haven’t read this but I have it on good authority that it’s amazing, and it certainly SOUNDS like it is, because steampunkery and awesomeness. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
  • Launch – Jason C. Joyner (July 3) — I don’t know a lot about this one but it’s a superhero story I’ve seen some friends sharing and I think it’s a YA Christian fantasy superhero book, which sounds intriguing!
  • Fawkes – Nadine Brandes (July 10) — Alternate historical fantasy version of the Fifth of November Guy Fawkes incident? I’m sold!
  • Escape and Endurance – Sarah Holman (July 15) — Another addition to the delightful Kingdom Adventure series, Tales of Taelis! These books make my heart happy and I can’t wait to read this one. ^_^ Also THAT COVER. ❤ It’s up for pre-order. (It’s book 5 in the series, but they always stand alone!)
  • The Hound of Duville – Kyle Robert Shultz — (Not pictured because it’s not on Goodreads yet and I’m lazy.) The Brothers Beasley (Nick and Crispin) are back (I MISSED THEMMM) and hilarious as ever, in an alternate 1920s London with some magical mishaps as they solve a case involving… well… you’ll just have to read it. But there’s lots of dogs. And hilarity! XD And FEELS. O_O And it’s so good! 😀 (I may have edited this one too. *cough*)

RECENT COVER REVEALS

Take a look at these snazzy new covers! 😀

Book 1 of H. L. Burke’s Spellsmith and Carver series, Magicians’ Rivalry, which I reviewed, has a new cover!

Melanie Dickerson’s upcoming Mulan retelling has a neat cover too…

There’s a new Kate’s Case Files book from Sarah Holman, coming this September, and I’m really excited! Look at that adorable cover. 😀 It’s up for pre-order if you like Christian FBI mysteries! ^_^

And, of course, I revealed the cover of Sarah Addison-Fox’s upcoming fourth novel, Discerned, on my blog last week, but I have to share it here again because it’s so pretty. 😉

OTHER BOOKISH HAPPENINGS

The Realm Makers writer conference is happening, so I might be less bloggy than usual, getting ready for and then attending that. I’m really excited! (And if you’re going, give me a shout so we can meet! :D)

I know this is very localized, so I apologize if it doesn’t apply to you, but thought I’d share anyway. If you are, or know anybody, in the St. Louis, MO area, there’s going to be a Book Festival as part of the Realm Makers conference, and on Saturday, July 21, the book festival part is open to the public! So you can check that out here. 🙂

The Fellowship of Fantasy’s neat Summer Reading Quest is still going, and it’s not too late to join! Readers of all ages can join in and read books and earn rewards and it’s basically awesome. ^_^ (Not that I’ve been keeping up with it because so much busy right now. *cough*) (And, yes, here’s the link for older readers. ;))

EDITED TO ADD: The Electrical Menagerie, which I loved, is the book of the month for the Fellowship of Fantasy bookclub, so there’s no better time to join in on this fun group, if you do the Facebook thing, than now! 😀 Because you need Carthage and Huxley in your life. You just do.

Okay, that’s all I have for you guys today!

What books or bookish happenings are you excited about? What’s on your Summer Reading list? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading! 🙂

In Bookish News: June 2018

Jun3

Hey! I’m back! ^_^

It’s time for a roundup of some bookish news and fun stuff for this month. 🙂

JUNE BOOK RELEASES

Like I did last month, I thought I’d share a list of books releasing this month, because ALL THE BOOKS are coming out right now! (Like… literally all of them. O_O)

  • Kate’s Dilemma – Sarah Holman — (June 1) I love the Kate’s Case Files series, so I was excited for this third book! 🙂 I loved it. ^_^ (Read my review.)
  • The Stealthmaster’s Shadow – Hope Ann — (June 1) An epic, snarky hero, and a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling… 😀 Also loved! (Read my review.)
  • Song of Leira – Gillian Bronte Adams — (June 5) It’s the final book in the trilogy and I’m. so. excited. O_O I’ll be sharing more about it on Tuesday, and you can watch for my review coming soon! ^_^
  • A Thousand Perfect Notes – C. G. Drews — (June 7) The book itself doesn’t sound like it’s quiiite my cup of tea, but I’m excited for Cait who’s getting published! 🙂
  • The Electrical Menagerie – Mollie E. Reeder — (June 9) AAHH. I just read this one and it was SO good. *collapses* Steampunk and a buddy story and just… it was AMAZING and so much fun! I recommend it highly and hopefully will share a review soonish. BUT JUST READ IT ALREADY. (Or… y’know… when it comes out, since I read an advance reader copy I won. *cough*)
  • Lightporter – C. B. Cook — (June 16) Gaah, I’ve been excited for this since Twinepathy! Superheroes and awesomeness. And it’s almost here!
  • King’s War – Jill Williamson — (June 19) The final Kinsman Chronicles book and I’M NOT READY — aaahh! It’s so thick and gorgeous though and I’m looking forward to reading it!
  • The Orphan’s Wish – Melanie Dickerson — (June 26) I’m curious what an Aladdin story in the continuing Hagenheim series is going to be like! 🙂

OTHER BOOKWYRMERY

Here, have a smattering of other bookish news!

If you’re artistically inclined, the annual Ilyon Chronicles fan-art contest just opened…

I’ll be part of the blog tours for Song of Leira and Lightporter, so watch for those. I can’t wait!

And hopefully I’ll have a few other reviews to share, as well.

Another book that came out recently (but which wasn’t listed in the May Bookish News post, so I’m posting it here so it doesn’t slip through the cracks) is Horseman by Kyle Robert Shultz! You can read my review of sorts here, but basically it’s a hilarious wild-west magical kind of adventure and is so much fun. I also may have been an editor for it, so… you know. There’s that. 😉

The third book in the series that began with Masters and Beginners has a cover! I love it and I’m excited. 😀

Hannah Williams just revealed her debut novella releasing in August and I’M SO EXCITED AAH.

June 22: Jill Williamson and Gillian Bronte Adams are having a joint FB party to celebrate the release of Song of Leira and King’s War. I’m so excited!

June 15: Speaking of parties on Facebook, if you’re into those, here’s another one. (Because H. L. Burke and Janeen Ippolito are fun.)

And another VERY awesome thing is the Summer Reading Quest put on by the Fellowship of Fantasy! If you know (or are…) a kid who loves reading fantasy, there’s an epic summer reading challenge with prizes and stuff, for readers under 18 I think. Spread the word! I know I’d have LOVED doing something like this a few years ago. ^_^

Oh, and there’s a less-in-depth, but-still-awesome, side version of that for those of us who are technically “adults” even if we’re young at heart! 😉 So check that out.

The Summer Reading Quest started just a couple of days ago at the start of June, and it’s going to run through August, so there’s time to get involved and read all kinds of wonderful fantasy.

Aaand that’s all I have for you today.

I hope you found this helpful or at least vaguely intriguing! Let me know some bookish things YOU’RE excited about, in the comments!

I hope you have an amazing summer, filled with lots of books! 😉

Thanks for reading! 🙂

In Bookish News: May 2018 + Hiatus

May3

I’m going on hiatus but thought I’d share a quick list of bookish things going on this month!

Fellowship of Fantasy is hosting a fun #MayWeRead hashtag game if you’d like to get in on that! *is so tempted but hiatus*

Speaking of Fellowship of Fantasy, in the bookclub we’re reading Common by Laurie Lucking this month and I’m super excited to try that one! I’ve never been much of a bookclub person, but I love this club. XD

Indie E-Con is coming up May 21-26 and I hear tell of a scavenger hunt or Facebook party or both on the 19th I believe… Check out the website for all the fun that’s going on.

MAY BOOK RELEASES

I probably won’t be reading any of these any time soon (except the first one), but I do like to keep up with what’s coming out that looks intriguing, so I thought I’d share!

(Titles link to Goodreads.)

  • The Story Peddler – Lindsay A. Franklin — Currently reading this one, which just released, so expect a review soon! 😀
  • The Penderwicks at Last – Jeanne Birdsall — The final Penderwicks and I’m NOT READY. *sobs* I hope my library gets this one.
  • In the Region of the Summer Stars – Stephen R. Lawhead — Celtic fantasy is something I’m always up for.
  • All That We See or Seem – Kristina Mahr — I almost wish Uncommon Universes would stop coming up with amazing-looking books; my TBR is suffering.
  • Dissociate – Sarah Addison-Fox — MEEP.
  • Dagger’s Sleep – Tricia Mingerink — Sleeping Beauty? I’m intrigued. 😉

I will probably be back for a book review or maybe more than one, but for the most part I’m not focusing on blogging this May, so consider this a hiatus notice.

I hope you have a wonderfully bookish May, friends!

Perhaps I’ll be back in early June with a June In Bookish News post. 😛

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer / Deborah O’Carroll