October 15, 2023

The Jade Chronicles

 



The Jade Labyrinth (The Jade Chronicles #3)
By Alanna Mackenzie
Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 12 September, 2023

Blurb:
A meeting. A maze. A perilous journey back to an Empire on the edge of chaos.

Walter Saltanetska, leader of the Jade Rebellion, is nearly ready to return to the heart of the AI-ruled Empire that has branded him a treasonous fugitive. His mandate is clear: to reprogram the AI Masters before their earth-destroying habits spiral out of control.

First, he must brave gruelling training in a land fraught with danger—rugged mountains haunted by spirits, a parched desert patrolled by watchful drones, and a labyrinthine cave guarded by armed robots. As his physical, mental, and magical abilities are tested by harrowing encounters, Walter must work to resist forces that threaten to destabilize his mission.

The biggest threat he faces is not one he encounters along the course of his journey, but one that originates within him. Walter returns to the Empire’s capital in a mind-altering disguise that proves to be a double-edged sword. Drawing him closer to a soul mate who rekindles his admiration for the AI Masters, it also distances Walter from the human emotions that sparked his desire to join the Rebellion. In his final showdown with the AI Masters, Walter must keep his mind under control, or risk jeopardizing the mission that he and his allies are counting on to reverse a looming tidal wave of destruction.

The thrilling third installment in The Jade Chronicles, The Jade Labyrinth weaves dystopian science-fiction with high fantasy while exploring an essential subject: the perils and promise of artificial intelligence.

Review for The Jade Rebellion 
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Review:
The Jade Rebellion is a wonderfully put together and beautifully written young adult science fiction. I enjoyed being able to read something out of my normal Horror filled TBR and dive into something as brilliant as The Jade Rebellion. We follow our main character through a future run by AI and machine. Human's are now second class citizens on their own planet trying to figure out how to save the people he loves and still live in a world bowing down to new masters. If you enjoy science fiction and dystopian do not miss out reading this trilogy, human vs AI.  

My review for the other two books in this series are on my goodreads!


Earlier books in the series:




The Jade Rebellion: Amazon | The Jade Talisman: Amazon


There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Jade Labyrinth. One winner wins
copies of the following three books: The Jade Rebellion, The Jade Talisman and The Jade
Labyrinth.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway







Alanna Mackenzie lives in Vancouver, Canada. She holds degrees in History, French studies,
and Law from the University of British Columbia. An environmentalist at heart, she believes
in using the law as a tool for social and environmental change. When she is not pursuing that
passion, she can be found brainstorming the next chapter in her novels, playing Irish fiddle
tunes on the violin, and hiking West Coast trails.










This is my post during the blog tour for The Jade Labyrinth by Alanna Mackenzie. In The
Jade Labyrinth a young rebel leader undertakes a perilous mission to reprogram the artificially
intelligent rulers of a colonial empire, traversing through hostile landscapes and braving
grueling mental and physical challenges.

This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 2 till 15 October. You
can see the tour schedule here: 
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October 07, 2023

When Ghosts Call Us Home

 





Title - When Ghosts Call Us Home
Author - Katya De Becerra
Release Date - October 3rd 2023
Genre - YA Horror

Synopsis
  Haunting of Hill House meets found footage horror in this edge of your seat thriller that explores the power of family ties and the trauma that lurks there.

When Sophia Galich was twelve, she starred in her older sister Layla’s amateur horror movie Vermillion, which recorded raw footage of her very real reactions to scenes her sister concocted in their old Californian house on the coast – Cashore House.

In the years after the film’s release, Sophia’s relationship with her sister became more strained, while her memories of the now
- infamous house fueled her nightmares. Vermillion amassed an army of fanatical fans who speculated about the film’s hidden messages, and it was rumored that Layla made a pact with the devil her soul in exchange for fame and arcane knowledge. Sophia dismissed this as gossip...until Layla disappeared.

Now, Sophia must study the trail of clues Layla has left behind,
returning to the very place where it all began. As she gets closer and closer to Cashore House’s haunted heart, she must once again confront the ghosts of her childhood. But the house won’t reveal its secrets without a fight


Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Review:
When Ghost Call Us Home was incredibly atmospheric in the most spookiest way. The cover of this one incapsulates the feeling of this book perfectly, beautifully haunting but forever watching. It also contained one of my favourite tropes of an unreliable narrator. Because our main character Sophia was a child when she starred in her sisters horror movie she is unsure of what was real and what was special effects, she can only go off what was told to her and her foggy memories. Everything from the writing, the on page dialogue, the location was just perfect for this fall spooky time. You don't want to miss out on this one this Halloween session.

I would like to thank TBR Tour's, the author and netgalley for my copy of When Ghost Call Us Home.

Favourite Quotes
"I could never shed this feeling of being constantly watched while in this house, and I don't mean Layla's ever-present camcorder. Ite really felt like the house itself was watching me"

 

 "I hate jump scares, too," he admit. "But I do like to watch horror when I'm feeling down. There's something morbidly attractive about people have a way worse day than I am"

 

 "Over the years, I've learned that -for the most part- our ghosts stay silent. But there are times when our busy, exhausting world quiets just enough for the ghosts to emerge."








Katya de Becerra writes atmospheric young adult horror featuring determined characters, complicated families and enigmatic places. Critics called her debut What The Woods Keep “a thoughtful and compelling horror fantasy” (The Bulletin) and “a narrative that will keep readers enthralled” (Booklist), while her second novel Oasis earned a starred review from Booklist. Katya regularly publishes short fiction in anthologies and literary magazines. She is also co-editor of the anthology This Fresh Hell, which reimagines and subverts horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. As a child, Katya wanted to be an Egyptologist, but instead she earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and now works at a university, where she teaches and researches as well as supervises graduate students in Anthropology, Creative Writing and Education. Katya is a short version of her real name, which is very long and gets mispronounced a lot. Her third novel, When Ghosts Call Us Home, is forthcoming in 2023.






I would like to Thank TBR Tours, Katya De Becerra, and Netgalley for a copy of the book for review and blog tour purposes.
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Pets In Space 8




Title - Pets in Space 8
Author - R.J. Blain, Susan Hayes, Honey Phillips, Skye MacKinnon, Arizona Tape, Carol Van Natta, Tana Stone, S.J. Pajonas, Carysa Locke, JC Hay, Gail Koger and Elva Birch
Genre: Science Fiction Romance Anthology
Age category: Adult 
Release Date: 3 October 2023

Synopsis
 Join the PETS IN SPACE crew!

Blast off into adventure with the eighth installment of PETS IN SPACE, a dynamic anthology of 11 never-before-seen science fiction romance stories! Rocket through the multi-verses brimming with heart-pounding escapades, swoon-worthy romances, and the best pet sidekicks ever!

Each story will pull you into the far-flung corners of the cosmos with intrepid heroes and heroines you’ll want to cheer for as they fight to save their world and find their happily ever afters. You’ll adore the furry, feathered, and scaly friends who have come to help their brave human companions on their quests.

This limited-edition anthology includes novellas by some of the biggest names in science fiction romance including USA TODAY bestselling authors R.J. Blain, Susan Hayes, Honey Phillips, Skye MacKinnon, Arizona Tape, Carol Van Natta, Tana Stone, S.J. Pajonas, Carysa Locke, JC Hay, plus award-winning authors Gail Koger and Elva Birch.

The Pets in Space 8 authors continue their vital support of Hero-Dogs.org, the non-profit charity that provides trained service dogs for disabled U.S. veterans and first-responders.

So, grab your space helmet to discover adventure and love — buy Pets in Space 8 today!

Except:

This post is written by Honey Philips who wrote The Cyborg Way which is one of the stories included in Pets in Space 8.

Meet Ellie and Levi!

In The Cyborg Way, the settlements on the terraformed Mars (still a work in progress) are coming along slowly.

Ellie is one of the rare human females who has taken Earth Government’s offer to claim a homestead on Mars. She and her mother had intended to work the claim together, but Ellie’s mother passed away before she could make the trip. Ellie is determined to succeed, not only for herself but in honor of her mother. Because of her past, she prefers to remain isolated but that doesn’t mean she isn’t lonely. Her only visitor is the gruff, attractive cyborg ranger in charge of her territory.

Levi was a soldier in the Earth military. Because all he knew was military life, he chose to become a cyborg after he was terribly wounded, even though it meant giving up his humanity. Although life on Mars is cold and lonely, he likes being useful and is resigned to his existence - until a pretty new settler arrives in his territory. He knows she’d never be interested in a cynical older soldier like him, especially one who is no longer human, but he is determined to watch over her and keep her safe.

 This is when Ellie and Levi (L-485) first meet:

Ellie had seen some of the cyborg rangers in town before she left, but this was the first time she’d ever been close to one. Her eyes widened as he came to her side and she looked up at him - way up - his sheer size making her feel ridiculously small, and he immediately took a step back.

“Um, hi. I’m Ellie.”

“I am L-485.”

He looked down at her, and her breath caught as their eyes met for the first time. His were stern and grey and might have been intimidating, but instead she felt an immediate connection to the big male. For a brief second she thought she saw a similar response on his face, but then he looked away, his face hardening.

“You have not completed your habitat,” he said gruffly.


Pets in Space links:

Hero Dogs Charity

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $18,000 in the past seven years to help place specially trained dogs with disabled veterans and first responders. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space 8 will again go to Hero-Dogs.org. Open your hearts and grab your limited-release copy of Pets in Space 8 today and help this worthy charity! https://www.hero-dogs.org/

 The Authors:

- R.J. Blain: https://www.thesneakykittycritic.com/

- Susan Hayes: https://susanhayes.ca/

- Honey Phillips: https://www.honeyphillips.com/

- Skye MacKinnon: https://skyemackinnon.com/

- Arizona Tape: https://arizonatape.com/

- Carol Van Natta: https://author.carolvannatta.com/

- Tana Stone: https://www.tanastone.com/

- S.J. Pajonas: https://www.spajonas.com/

- Carysa Locke: https://www.carysalocke.com/

- JC Hay: https://jchay.com/

- Gail Koger: http://www.gailkoger.com/

- Elva Birch: https://www.elvabirch.com/



This is my post during the blog tour for Pets in Space 8. Blast off into adventure with the eighth installment of Pets in Space, a dynamic anthology of 11 never-before-seen science fiction romance stories!

This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 3 till 16 October. You can see the tour schedule here: Tour Schedule





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October 02, 2023

Burning Secre

 


 



Title - Burning Secret
Author - RJ Lloyd
Release Date - June 28th 2022
Genre - Historical Fiction

Synopsis
   Burning Secret is a dramatic and compelling tale of ambition, lies, and betrayal inspired by actual events.
 
Born in the slums of Bristol in 1844, Enoch Price seems destined for a life of poverty and hardship—but he’s determined not to accept his lot.
Enoch becomes a bare-knuckle fighter in London’s criminal underworld. But in a city where there’s no place for honest dealing, he is cheated by a cruel loan shark, leaving him penniless and facing imprisonment.
Undaunted, he escapes to a new life in America and embarks on a series of audacious exploits. But even as he helps shape history, Enoch is not content. Tormented by his past and the life he left behind, he soon becomes entangled in a web of lies and secrets.
Will he ever break free and find the happiness he craves?
• • • • •
Influenced by real people and events, Enoch’s remarkable story is one of adventure, daring, political power and, in the end, his search for redemption.


Except:
An hour later, Price escaped the dark, rancid claustrophobia of the crowded court and stepped briskly into the weak, late afternoon sunlight, which had penetrated low along one side of Portugal Street. Wrapping his rough, woolen overcoat tight against the bitter cold, he turned to shake Rosenthal by the hand, thanking him heartily for securing a further adjournment and reprieve from prison.

Taking Enoch’s outstretched hand, Rosenthal pulled him near to avoid being overheard. His mellifluous tones now turned venomous as he hissed a cautionary note. ‘My dear, dear friend, I may have delayed your lodgings at the debtors’ prison, but I’ve shortened your stay by not one day.’ Releasing his grip, Rosenthal continued as if cheerfully taking leave of a favourite cousin on a summer lawn. ‘May I wish you and your dear wife a prosperous New Year.’ Then, lowering his voice, ‘Should my services be again required, ensure my fees are settled in good time.’

‘Will I be assured of justice?’ enquired Enoch.

‘You will receive the law, sir. Justice must wait a higher authority.’ Tipping his silk top hat, Rosenthal bade his client farewell.

Glad of his freedom, Enoch made his way towards Covent Garden. By the time he reached King Street, the milky afternoon sky had darkened to deep indigo, and by the flickering gaslights, specks of frost sparkled on the damp cobblestones. The gutters were strewn with litter from the flower market and the putrid detritus discarded by itinerant costermongers, the last of whom were loading their barrows. The streets were now quiet, with few passers-by.



Limited time discount!
For a limited time Burning Secret is only 99 cents! You can grab your copy here:









Roger is the great-great-grandson of the main character, Enoch Price. A former senior police officer and detective, he has used his investigative skills to fashion this dramatised account of his ancestor’s extraordinary life. Fifteen years of genealogical research and interviews support the various factual strands of this pacy novel.
Roger graduated from both Warwick and UWE and has been a non-executive director with the NHS, social housing, and other charities. He is retired and lives in Bristol with his wife. He travels, writes and produces delicious plum jam from the trees on his award-winning allotment.





This is my post during the book blitz for Burning Secret by R J Lloyd. Burning Secret blurs
the line between fact and fiction, a retelling of the extraordinary life of Harry Mason - deceit,
violence, power and wealth.


This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 2 till 7 October. You
can see the tour schedule here: 
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