Top 3 Summer Reads (Lizzie)

Ever since the days when we had summers off, the summer reading list has been an important part of every reader's literary life. So today, I'm sharing some of my summer reads. I've discovered that reading is essential if I want to be able to write, so I've had to become very serious about taking the time to read, even though I'm not "out of school" for the summer. Not that I mind have a valid excuse to read. :)

I'm attacking my TBR pile as well as a new release and and re-read. So here are so my summer reads from the spec fiction section of my shelves.

1) Mark of the Raven by Morgan Busse

I've been looking forward to reading this fantasy adventure, and it's next on my TBR pile. You can check out Lauricia's review of it here.

2) The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom (and Storming the Castle and Being an Outlaw) by Christopher Healy

I recently finished this hilarious middle grade series telling the true story of the the Princes Charming and their adventures and romances. A fun, clever series. You can read Julie's review of it here.

3) Spark by J.M. Hackman

This book by J.M. Hackman has been on my TBR pile a while. I've read and loved her short stories, so I'm excited to read her full-length story. You can read about it from the author herself here.

Also being a lover of historical fiction, I have a few of those on my summer list as well. I just finished and loved (as I expected I would) Karen Witemeyer's More Than Words Can Say  and look forward to Tessa Afshar's Thief of Corinth. Karen Witemeyer's books have wonderful, deep characters, great examples of healthy relationships (something too often difficult to find in romance novels), a beautiful romance, and humor. I've only read Tessa Afshar's Pearl in the Sand, but if this new one is like her debut, then it will also have deep characters, important life lessons portrayed in a way that touches you without being preachy, and wonderful Biblical history brought to life.

I also would like to re-read C.J. Brightley's The Lord of Dreams, which Laurie reviewed here and Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, because one should always have a Jane Austen novel open.

What are you summer reads? Have you read any of these?

Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse (Laurie)

We're so excited to be a part of the Blog Tour celebrating the release of Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse! The first book in Morgan's Ravenwood Saga has made several appearances on Lands Uncharted, including a review by Lauricia and my Top 3 New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2018. Now I get the opportunity to share my review of the second book in this powerful series, Flight of the Raven! Also, keep reading to find out more about the author, the Blog Tour, and the tour giveaway!

***My description of the plot of this book inevitably involves spoilers for Book One, so I would recommend skipping the following paragraph if you haven't read Mark of the Raven yet!***

***

In Flight of the Raven, we pick up with Selene reeling from betraying her own house and family and her unexpected marriage to Lord Damien, a man she hardly knows. Her uncertainty only grows as they enter Damien's seaside home and she faces the coldness and suspicion of his people. Now distanced from her cruel, domineering mother, Selene hopes to learn more about the origination of her dreamwalking gift and about the Light, the power worshiped by Damien and many of his people. But instead, she's increasingly plagued by nightmares and disturbed by hints that her gift may be further-reaching than she ever could have imagined. Damien's sweet, thoughtful nature and their mutual loneliness begins to draw them together as a couple, but fears of revenge from House Ravenwood and the certainty of a pending war threaten to keep their happiness at bay. Selene must be stronger than ever and face difficult, life-altering choices if she wants to find a new purpose for her talent as a dreamwalker and distance herself from her family's past once and for all.

***

Flight of the Raven satisfied everything I was hoping for coming out of Book One. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Selene's character outside the darkness and confines of her family secret, with a nice balance of staying true to herself while experiencing a lot of growth. And Damien! *happy sigh* I absolutely fell in love with this guy in Mark of the Raven, and he didn't disappoint me one bit in the sequel. Strong, kind, vulnerable, a gentleman through and through - let's just say, when it comes to a marriage of convenience, Selene totally struck the jackpot :) The progress in their relationship came about very naturally and really showcased the beauty of marriages in which the spouses open up to each other and do their best to work as a team. Definitely my favorite aspect of the book!

I also found it fascinating to get to know more about Selene's powers. She's already found one positive aspect of her gift, but the extent of what she can do is still shrouded in mystery so I can't wait to see where the author takes it in Book Three! It was sad but eye-opening to get to know Amara better in this book. She tugged on my heartstrings on more than one occasion, and her love for her little sister and strained relationship with her mom added a lot of context to her seemingly harsh exterior. And overall, I just relished the chance to spend more time in Busse's rich, vibrant story world, expanding to new places like Nor Esen and Lux Casta.


Now I just have to survive the wait for Book Three! You can find Flight of the Raven on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Book Depository.




If you haven't had a chance to start this series yet, here's the blurb for Book One, Mark of the Raven:

Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person’s dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family’s dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family’s legacy–a legacy that supports her people–or seeking the true reason behind her family’s gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

And here's a bit about the lovely author, Morgan L. Busse!

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the steampunk series The Soul Chronicles. She is a Christy and INSPY Award finalist and won the Carol Award in 2018 for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

You can connect with Morgan on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and BookBub.

Make sure to check out the other stops on the Blog Tour! You can find the full schedule here or by clicking on the image below.

I mentioned a tour giveaway, didn't I? :) Enter the Rafflecopter below for the chance to win paperback copies of Mark of the Raven and Flight of the Raven, plus a $20 Amazon giftcard for the lucky grand prize winner! The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends on June 7th, 2019. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congratulations on your new release, Morgan! Have you read this series yet? What was the last sequel you read that was especially satisfying?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

The Mark of the Raven by Morgan Busse | What We're Reading (Lauricia)

Mark of the Raven (The Ravenwood Saga Book 1)

by Morgan L. Busse

Lady Selene, oldest daughter of House Ravenwood, lives in a world where the seven major houses are blessed with magical gifts bestowed by the gods. Originally intended to be used together for the overall benefit of the people, the houses have isolated their gifts, instead, and shrouded them in magically-bound mystery. When Selene’s family power of dreamwalkng awakens within her, she discovers dark truths about her parents that force her to reconsider who she thought she was and who she wants to be. Her decision may save her world, but it could also tear her away from the family she loves.

There is so much about this story that I enjoyed. The setting was vividly drawn, the magic system was uniquely developed, and the characters were relatable and complex. What I appreciated the most, however, was the dark feel Busse gave the story without depriving the characters of goodness or hope. I thoroughly enjoyed Selene, and I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series.

I want to tell you more about this story, but it's so tightly woven that I can't elaborate more without giving spoilers. So you'll have to trust me on this one: you NEED to read this book. The sooner the better,

Top 3 New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2018 (Laurie)

I must admit, I have a total love/hate relationship with Top 3s posts (which is ironic, since I'm the one who came up with the idea in the first place!). I always have fun coming up with ideas for them and I love reading the Top 3s of the other bloggers at Lands Uncharted, but every time I sit down to write one of these posts I find it SO HARD to narrow my choices down to just three! And today is no exception. I've seen so many bloggers talking about their top books from 2018, but I knew there was no way I'd manage to choose only three. So instead, I thought I'd stick to authors whose books I'd never read prior to last year. It turns out, there were ten of them! And I liked them all! *Sigh* But after much painful deliberation, I finally managed to produce my Top 3 New-to-Me Authors I read in 2018 (plus an honorable mention). Enjoy!



3. Lindsay A. Franklin

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in the blog tour for The Story Peddler earlier this year, and I was totally blown away by Lindsay A. Franklin's debut novel! (You can find my review here.) Fabulous world-building, fascinating characters, and such a powerful message about the importance of stories and art. I believe the second book in the series will be coming out sometime this year (it has another gorgeous cover!), and I'm looking forward to seeing what's coming next in Tanwen's adventures.

2. Sarah Delena White

I'd heard good things about Halayda by Sarah Delena White ever since it released, but for some reason it took me a while to finally get around to reading it. I was so glad when I did! Her vivid, complex characters totally captured my heart, her depiction of Faerie was such fun to explore, and her writing style was lovely. Plus, it had that perfect blend of fantasy and romance that I just adore! The sequel, Rothana, released late last year and is coming up soon in my to-read pile, I can't wait!



1. Morgan L. Busse

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Morgan L. Busse is one of those authors I've been hearing about for years, but despite my best intentions I still hadn't read any of her previous books each time she published a new release. In 2018 I made a conscious effort to change that by signing up for her advance reader team for Mark of the Raven. And what an excellent decision that was! Her world and characters drew me in right from the start, as did her lyrical prose. By the end of the book I absolutely loved the direction the story was taking, and I'm so excited to read Flight of the Raven in a few months!



And because I'm not quite decisive enough to select just three favorite new-to-me authors from 2018, I also have to give a shout-out to Pam Halter, whose debut YA fantasy novel Fairyeater was absolutely wonderful. Deep characters, an inspiring message, and such cool world-building!


Have you read any of these books? Did you find any new favorite authors in 2018? Let us know in the comments!


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Top 3 Books Coming Out Later This Year (Laurie)

I glanced through my "Want to read" list on Goodreads earlier this week and realized how many amazing books will be releasing over the next few months! So, of course, the first thing that came to mind was how well these upcoming releases would fit in a Top 3s post :) I hardly touched any books in August, but here's hoping I get more reading time this fall and winter!

3. A Dance of Shadows by Erica Marie Hogan

I absolutely adored Winter Queen, so I can't wait to see what Erica has in store for the sequel! No cover image yet, but doesn't the title alone make you want to read the book? I can't wait to revisit the author's intriguing world, beautiful prose, and complex characters. A Dance of Shadows releases in October, so you have just enough time to read Winter Queen before it comes out :) 

In case I haven't sold you on it yet, here's the back cover blurb:

The Winter Queen has brought the storm … and the Abyss roams the halls of the Blood Keep. 

Ten days have passed since Sundragon blood was shed for a sacrifice by Raphaela Kael. Ten days since Lathan and Maxx Jandry fled the city in search of Princess Damari Kael and their niece, Noelle. Brecken Jandry, Brae’s loyal husband, remains a tortured prisoner in the Kael dungeons and no one in Sunkai is safe from Roderick and Raphaela’s wrath. 

Damari Kael flees Sunkai with little Noelle Jandry, determined to deliver the child to the safety of the Shadow Lands, even as her own power emerges within her. The Eventide Sisters embark on a mission to join the Winter Queen. Across the land, Clea Jandry arrives in her birthplace of Molderëin where she is met with a savagery she thought long dead. Afra Malaki seeks the Creator’s will and the Queen of the Woodlands prepares for battle. 

In the peaceful city of Quintaria, the Winter Queen grieves. But the shadows are coming for her. They carry a message for Adlae Sundragon, and they will not rest until all is revealed.

Eeeeek, I can't wait!

2. Fairyeater by Pam Halter

I've been curious about Fairyeater ever since I had the opportunity to meet Pam Halter at a conference several years ago, and it's coming out next month!! The cover reveal happened last week, and wow! Between that and the back cover blurb, I'm more excited to read it than ever! Pam has incredible creativity and a fabulous sense of humor, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what she's come up with :) Here's the blurb:

All fifteen-year-old Akeela has ever wanted is an ordinary family who will love her. But the only mother she has ever known is the old hag, Krezma, who berates her night and day. Why did the old woman even take her in? 

But Krezma knows her charge is no ordinary child. She can see the auras surrounding living things and communicates with fairies. And the birthmark on her palm reveals a secret Krezma must hold close for the child’s safety. 

A secret that the witch, Tzmet, hunts for night and day, drying and eating fairies for the power they contain. When Akeela discovers her fate lies in being the next Fairy Guardian, all hope for an ordinary life dissipates like the dreams they were. She must protect the fairies from the witch and an even darker power that threatens them all. 

Akeela is unwillingly thrust into an adventure that throws her into the hands of friends, strangers, and enemies masquerading as allies, and it will not end until she decides to accept her fate and give up her dream. 

Maybe even her life.

Isn't that cover amazing??


1. Mark of the Raven by Morgan Busse

Have you ever taken one glance at a book and knew you had to have it? That was totally me with this book.  I've had great experience with Bethany House Publishers' books in the past, I've heard great things about Morgan's writing, and that cover!! *happy sigh* Mark of the Raven releases in November, so I don't have to wait too much longer! Here's the back cover blurb:

Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate. 

As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift. 

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house. 

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

Can you see why I'm looking forward to this book?!


Honorable mention goes to Kill the Beast by Michele Israel Harper, which releases in just a few weeks!! I'm SO excited about this book, but I decided to leave it off since it made my top 3 list back in 2017 when it was originally scheduled to be published :)


At the risk of turning my TBR pile into an even larger mountain, what upcoming releases are you looking forward to? Will you be reading any of the books I mentioned?


Happy reading!
Laurie