Book Promo: Taking Wing

About the Book

Title: Taking Wings
Author: Clemency Crow
Genre: Middle Grade Adventure
12-year-old Freya enjoys karate and is the only one in her class who’s trusted with a part-time job. But everything changes when she meets a boy with yellow eyes. She learns about the guardians, and how an age-old fight has stopped them from fulfilling their purpose. Freya finds new friends in the crow tribe but not everything in the castle is blissful. A destructive shadow lies within her and all she needs to do to summon it is close her eyes. But as the guardian’s war rages on, Freya realises that, although the shadow’s power can be useful, it can’t create peace. Freya and her friends must solve the crime that began the war, but can they bring the guardians together before they destroy each other?

Author Bio

I can’t remember when I wrote my first story. We had a word processor when I was very little. It was an archaic piece of technology with no mouse, which meant you had to know the codes for it to work. My sister, Judith, and I wrote several stories using this. I think one of my stories was about a mammoth, probably during my I-want-to-be-a-mammoth-when-I-grow-up stage.
When I was a bit older, during Year 3 at Primary School, another sister brought home several A5 grey jotters and gave one to Ginny and Judith to plan and write their stories in. Naturally, I wanted a notebook too, so I said I was writing a story called “The Rule of the Unicorns”. I never finished that rather peculiar tale, but it meant I got one of those A5 grey jotters!
A good few years down the line and I’m a Primary Teacher in the tip-top north of Scotland. To encourage a love of reading in my pupils, I write a story with them in for their Christmas present. The first thing they do is flick through and try and find their name – but I hope they enjoy the story too!
When I’m not teaching, I love writing, working on my allotment and I’m crazy enough to be doing a Science degree at the same time.

Links

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Author Website

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Release: Dreams Illuminate

About the Book

Title: Dreams Illuminate Author: Michelle Iden & Emerson Miller Genre: Middle Grade Urban Fantasy Mystery “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." --Albert Einstein What could possibly be happening to Emerson Hill? When she touches an index card, the first color in a rainbow (red)---she's whisked away to another domain--and given a glimpse of her first dream illuminating. She finds herself in a very hot desert having fun sand-boarding. This mystery unfolds within a three year period. Emerson gets six more exploding dreams and experiences that coordinate with the other colors of the rainbow. Emerson has headaches from keeping her secret. She's afraid to tell her parents that secret because they might commit her to a psych facility. She finally lets her best friend, Morgann Stone know what's going on. A mystical creature named Mondulalore follows and records Emerson's movements without her knowledge. He's able to make himself invisible with a touch of a button. And at times morphs into a human. He reports to his bosses, King London Dolloway and Queen Cortex Dolloway of the Kingdom Galen which is perched on a faraway planet, Bamore. This planet is unknown to the whole world. Time's ticking as EM and Morgann attempt to solve this mysterious force. They research sixteen areas, such as, witches, domains, realms, planets, telepathy, etc., to help them uncover clues of these unexplained events. In the end, Emerson, now a junior in high school is faced with a difficult choice. Will she keep living her present life or forever have her entire past erased from memory to be handed a bright future? Which one will she pick? Which one would you select? This electrifying, jaw-dropping urban fantasy mystery will bedazzle you. Get reading. Join Emerson on her journey of magic, excitement, fear, and mystery.    

Author Bio

Michelle Iden is a retired counselor. She is published in her area of academia. She penned her first fiction novel, Emma Beware, Book One in her YA suspense series. Book Two, Clara Beware soon followed. She is currently working on the final book in the series, Helen Beware. Michelle loves God. She likes spending time with family and her two grand-daughters, traveling, writing, reading, researching, cooking healthy dishes and working out. Emerson Miller lives in the Midwest and attends middle school. She lives with her parents and two cats. She likes to dance, hang-out with friends, travel, bake, camp, run, read and write.   Website: Website Facebook/Suspense Thriller Books: Facebook / Suspense Twitter: Twitter Instagram: Instagram     Get the Book Amazon Kobo B&N B&N Print    

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Book Review From Frights to Flaws

Title: From Frights to Flaws
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Originally published in 2013, the book has been updated to its full potential with edits, while keeping the storyline the same.

Twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy longs for a better life. She lost her parents at age seven and her aunt at nine. Her uncle also enforces unfair rules. But Alyssa discovers something she has never thought existed before… magic. A wicked sorcerer hunts her down. He kidnaps her from her ordinary New Jersey town to Yanowic, an enchanted island in Fiji.
Alyssa is trapped in the country due to a giant shield covering it. She must defeat dangerous creatures and the evil wizard in order to leave. But with sorcerers and enchanted technology getting in her way, can Alyssa succeed?

Review: Alyssa is twelve years old, and she longs for a better life. Because she lost her parents, she's forced to stay with her uncle, but his rules are more than little unfair, and she longs for more in life. Then, she uncovers that magic is real. On top of that, a wicked sorcerer is hunting her down and kidnaps her to Yanowic, an enchanted island. 

If Alyssa wants to leave, she'll have to defeat a horde of magical creatures and the evil sorcerer keeping her locked up. 

Adventure, magic, this book reminds me of Harry Potter but with a completely different setting and different characters - it just has the same magical vibe. 

Author Interview

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing stories since I was 6.

What is your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy. I enjoy world-building. I’ve also been attracted to that genre.

Which genre have you never tried before, but would you like to try out?

Probably Paranormal.

Please tell us about your book.

It’s about a girl who is unhappy with her uncle when magic strikes her life. A sorcerer kidnaps her to Fiji, where she is stuck unless she defeats danger.

Which character is your favorite, and why?

Alyssa is my favorite major character. But her godfather, a minor character in this installment, is more favored to me. He is sweet and caring, and will be more major in future installments.

Author Bio

Sunayna Prasad has published a few books between her late teens and her mid-twenties. She has won a Pacific Book Review Award for her novel, Wizardry Goes Wild, which will return as a new edition, like From Frights to Flaws. Sunayna also has a blog on different creative and entertaining topics, including writing and fiction. It is called “Sunayna Prasad’s Blog”.

Aside from writing, Sunayna also likes to cook, do art, and watch videos online. She has graduated from college in May 2017 and is looking to continue more writing as well as hold a graphic design job soon. Sunayna lives on Long Island, NY.

Links

Amazon

Website

Goodreads

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Book Excerpt The Peacock Door

Book Excerpt

The Citadel:

Nothing, nothing at all, not the ancient tales of lore, nor the fables of old could have prepared the cousins for the imposing power or the exquisite beauty of the Citadel. It rose up out of the snow like an elaborate ice sculpture, with belfries and pinnacled towers climbing into the clouds and reaching higher than the peaks themselves.

There were arches and turrets and cupolas, and parapets and round keeps with lanterns flickering in spade shaped windows, and all of it as pristine and intricate as though carved from ice and decorated with snow.

The castle was hewn from the mountain itself, forged from the stone so that the posterior of the castle was fused into the rock face of the mountain. A high, thick stone wall with ramparts and battlements like the strongholds of old, curved around the castle, surrounding it like a giant horseshoe with the massive gatehouse setting the center and the two prongs fusing back into the mountain.

About the Book

Title: The Peacock Door
Author: Wanda Kay Knight
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
In a magical tale of adventure, eight cousins sneak through forbidden treehouse doors, only to find themselves separated from each other and lost in strange worlds. In their quests to return home, they must unravel mysteries, escape snares and villains, find one another, and search for the elusive Oracle. The Peacock Door is a rich story of camaraderie, loyalty, love, and determination with a bit whimsy sprinkled throughout.

Author Bio

Wanda Kay Knight lives in the Pacific Northwest, teaches literature, strives really hard to keep up with her adventurous/competitive family, makes things out of yarn (mainly unique hats), enjoys collecting pretty rocks, and writes a lot.

Links

Website: www.thepeacockdoor.com
Youtube video
Youtube video
Email address:    wandakayknight@thepeacockdoor.com
My personal email:  wkayknight@gmail.com

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Book Review Magdalena Gottschalk and The Crooked Trail

Title: Magdalena Gottschalk: The Crooked Trail
Author: M. Gail Grant
Genre: YA Fantasy
The enchanted secret of Lily Brooke was safe and sound, until Magdalena and her thirteen-year-old friends accidentally unleashed the revengeful demons of the past. How were they supposed to know that a friendly expedition in the woods on a stress-free Saturday morning would lead to the most intense and scary moments of their lives? So many mysterious happenings have occurred ever since they found that crooked trail leading to the sacrificial cave, and hidden monstrosity of a treehouse. With the chanting voices and shrill noises that only Magdalena could hear, the friends decide there is something sinister living amongst them. Time is of the essence to save Lily Brooke and their childhood club, the Mystical Alliance of Lily Brooke, knows it is up to them to capture the demons hiding in their community and set the town free. Witches, wizards, and some black magic may just be what it takes for Magdalena and her best friends to save the day.

Review: I loved this book! Lily Brooke is a cozy, quaint town inhabited by thirteen-year-old Magdalena and her friends. I really liked Magdalena, and her friends too. They all brought different personality traits to the table and could work together when needed. The story is original and surprising, and transports the reader to this amazing fantasy world.

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Book Excerpt Raising Sleeping Stones

Book Excerpt

Kiva looked closely at the sun’s golden face. Wavy rays representing shimmering heat

radiated out from it. Its cheeks were plump, the lips full and curved, the nose wide, and the

eyes were a little almond-shaped, like hers. In the middle of its forehead was a weird circle with six curving parts swirling around a six-pointed star. She’d never seen the sun drawn like that.

Wondering what was on the back of the pendant, Kiva turned it over.

The instant she saw the moon’s closed eyes, her hair flew back in the wind, her stomach

dropped, and she was pressed back against the cushions of a vessel that was flying just inches above the river. She jerked her head back up and found she was in the back of a crescentshaped boat piloted by an old man sitting up front. She was about to call out to him when he pointed at a tree that had fallen across the river and shouted, “When you get here, you must take a detour that even old Jacques didn’t know about! Hold on!”

Before she could, though, he turned the boat around so quickly that Kiva was thrown

against the side of her boat and the wind was knocked out of her. She only got her breath back when he straightened out and followed the river back down.

“Look there!” he shouted moments later. “Turn right between the tall twins!”

He banked hard again, this time steering a course between two eight-foot stones that

stood on either side of a narrow stream coming out of the forest. They followed the stream’s

crazy zigzags until they came to a fork and he cried, “Then turn here!” and cut sharply to the

right again above another small stream, flying so close to the trees on either side that Kiva

nearly got her head chopped off by some of the branches. The lane widened as the stream did, then opened where it spilled into the river.

“Here we are! Heading back upriver, just as I told you!” the old man crowed, gently

turning to the left and setting the boat back down in the water.

Kiva wiped the wind-streamed tears from her eyes and started to tug at the pendant

that had gotten blown over her shoulder and into her hair. When she finally got it free, she

brought it up to her face to untangle its chain. As soon as she straightened it out and let the

pendant go, the old man was gone.

About the Book

Title: Raising Sleeping Stones

Author: P.H.T. Bennett

Genre: MG Fantasy

Like every kid in Solasenda, 11-year-old Kiva Stone has been far too busy training for one of the five town guilds to think about something as useless as dreaming. But when she and her sister DeeDee uncover a mysterious plot to get rid of them, their only hope lies with a shadowy group of people who get unimaginable powers from their dreams. As the girls escape with them up the river, they start learning secret dreaming techniques that have been forbidden for centuries. But how can they learn enough to stand against the enemies chasing them? The answer lies in the shattered history of Orora Crona, the lost Valley of Dreams, and whoever can piece it together first will rule for centuries to come.

Author Bio

P.H.T. Bennet began exploring his dreams when he was a child and has never bothered to stop. He had the good luck to have two daughters, Juliette and Paola, who not only served as the inspirations for DeeDee and Kiva, the main characters of Raising Sleeping Stones, but also helped him turn their family dreamwork sessions into this book. His lucky streak grew when he married his lovely wife, Mim,who tolerates his turning on a light in the middle of the night to write down ever-crazier dreams and talking about them in the morning as long as he lets her sleep in, first. His favorite dreams involve flying, visiting the dead, and replaying nightmares until they reveal their secrets.

Pratt’s latest projects are editing Book Two of the Orora Crona Chronicles and planning a virtual summer dreaming camp with other dream authors.

Links

Buy on Amazon

Website: http://www.raisingstones.com/

Facebook: http://bit.ly/RSSfacebook

Twitter: @phtbennet

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Book Review Wizardry Goes Wild

Title: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions Book 2: Wizardry Goes Wild

Author: Sunayna Prasad

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

After months of living a normal life, thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy faces magic again. Only this time, though, she is cursed with it, thanks to an old depressed skeleton named Errol. Alyssa’s time with her godfather, Alex, will never be the same again, as she can perform sorcery, but never control it.

            From letting out enchantments at school to creating outdoor disasters, Alyssa is bound to face consequences. She can only get rid of her powers if she can boost her confidence levels and improve her bravery. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. She must measure those abilities with a special device called a skillometer. Will she be able to get rid of her unwanted wizardry?

Review: Alyssa is girl with magical abilities she doesn't want. She got the abilities thanks to a curse, and she doesn't know how to control them. If I had magical abilities, I'd be over the roof, but Alyssa doesn't have the best experience with magic, especially not this kind of wild, out of control, magic. It's a nice twist, and I also loved Alyssa's friends. It was easy to imagine Alyssa's world.

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Book Review From Frights to Flaws

Title: From Frights to Flaws

Author: Sunayna Prasad

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

    Twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy is sick of her uncle’s unfair rules and longs for a better life. After discovering the existence of magic, she finds out about a dark wizard hunting her down. An unforgettable storm occurs in Alyssa’s ordinary New Jersey town before the sorcerer kidnaps her to the Fiji Islands.
On the enchanted island of Yanowic, Alyssa learns that she is unable to get out of the country due to a giant shield. She must defeat some dangerous creatures and the evil wizard in order to leave. But with sorcerers and magical technology getting in her way, can Alyssa succeed?

"From Frights to Flaws" moves fast, and twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime soon enough, escaping from her uncle's unfair rules. Said uncle, mind you, isn't all bad though - he means well, he's just a little rigid. A dark wizard is hunting don Alyssa and kidnaps her to the island of Yanowic, near the Fiji Islands. 

The story is entertaining, but the characters don't always make believable choices. Sometimes things seem to go a little too easy for Alyssa. 

I liked the book though, and I'm sure kids won't mind! 

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Book Review Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

Title: The Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy / Tween Fantasy

Ulysees’ breath was ragged, and his heart filled with terror when they galloped toward the herd pursued by an enraged Icarus.

How did the Legacy of Azaria transform into the world fear it has, the unicorns barely existing hidden in the depths of the forest? Why is Icharus, the Great Stallion, so cruel and ruthless? And who is Jaresh, the invisible being who takes away their powers? Angry, the young colt Ulysees and his friend Téo rebel, following an abandoned trail where they’re discovered by humans. Now the entire herd must make an exodus. But Ulysees discovers there’s more danger then just humans when he meets a giant creature who warns them of impending doom…

Ulysees is a young foal who is being trained by Icharus, the Great Stallion, to do all kinds of things unicorns can: like riding the wind, camouflage, magic, friendship, and it's set in a suprising era. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but read it, and you'll find out.

Middle graders will easily connect with Ulysees, who seems to be about their age (were he a human) and who, despite being a unicorn comes across as surprisingly human in most his actions - like humans, he can love, be loyal, feel betrayed, and so on).

The story relies heavily on dialogue, which works great for a middle grade read. 


Watch the trailer:

And the trailer for the first book:

Author Links:

www.suzannedemontigny.com

https://www.facebook.com/unicorngirl52?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/sfierymountain

http://suzannesthoughtsfortheday.blogspot.com

Buy Links:

The Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

Amazon |  Muse It Up Publishing

The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy

Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Smashwords | iBooks | Muse It Up Publishing | Amazon.co.uk | B&N 

 

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Promo for The Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

 

About the Book

Title: The Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy / Tween Fantasy

Ulysees’ breath was ragged, and his heart filled with terror when they galloped toward the herd pursued by an enraged Icarus.

How did the Legacy of Azaria transform into the world fear it has, the unicorns barely existing hidden in the depths of the forest? Why is Icharus, the Great Stallion, so cruel and ruthless? And who is Jaresh, the invisible being who takes away their powers? Angry, the young colt Ulysees and his friend Téo rebel, following an abandoned trail where they’re discovered by humans. Now the entire herd must make an exodus. But Ulysees discovers there’s more danger then just humans when he meets a giant creature who warns them of impending doom…

Author Bio

Award winning author, Suzanne de Montigny, wrote her first novella when she was twelve. Years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with writing. A teacher for twenty years, she enjoys creating fantasy and paranormal for tweens and teens. She lives in Burnaby, B.C., Canada with the four loves of her life – her husband, two boys, and Buddy the dog.

Five Fun Facts About Suzanne de Montigny

1. I talk to my bichon frisé like he’s a normal human being. And yes, Buddy does answer back. (Funny how my mouth moves while he talks!)
2. When my son took up skate boarding, I thought I’d be the cool mom and learn it too. Unfortunately, I ended up on my back and paying a visit to emergency.
3. My two boys and I fiddle. (But they’re way better than me!)
4. My favourite season is autumn so I can kick the leaves when no one’s looking.
5. My husband says I snore so loud it wakes him up.

Book Trailers

The Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy

Links

 

Author Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Buy Links:

The Shadow of the Unicorn II: The Deception

Amazon |  Muse It Up Publishing

The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy

Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Smashwords | iBooks | Muse It Up Publishing | Amazon.co.uk | B&N 

Giveaway

Win a $50 Amazon gift card during the tour. 

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Cover Reveal Party From Frights to Flaws

Title: From Frights to Flaws

Author: Sunayna Prasad

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

                Twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy is sick of her uncle’s unfair rules and longs for a better life. After discovering the existence of magic, she finds out about a dark wizard hunting her down. An unforgettable storm occurs in Alyssa’s ordinary New Jersey town before the sorcerer kidnaps her to the Fiji Islands.

On the enchanted island of Yanowic, Alyssa learns that she is unable to get out of the country due to a giant shield. She must defeat some dangerous creatures and the evil wizard in order to leave. But with sorcerers and magical technology getting in her way, can Alyssa succeed?

Author Bio

Sunayna Prasad has been writing stories for several years, starting at the age of six. Now twenty-one, she is a college student will study who studies art and design as well write for children. Aside from that, Sunayna also likes to cook, watch movies, and draw. She lives on Long Island, New York, with her family.

Links

http://www.sunaynaprasadbooks.com/

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