Title: Scarlet Odyssey Author: C. T. Rwizi Publisher: 47North Publication date: July 1, 2020 Genre: Science Fiction and Fantasy Summary: Salo is an outsider in his tribe despite being the firstborn son to the chief. This is because he is more interested in magic (women’s domain) than becoming a warrior (men’s domain). But, when his people are attacked by a witch, he has no choice but to convince his queen to let him awaken as a mystic. She allows it, but only because she plans on using him and sending him as an emissary to the Jungle City. Along his journey, he befriends a fellow outcast, a female warrior who grew up not too far from…
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Book Review: Whammy by Ted Akin
Title: Whammy Author: Ted Akin Publisher: Self-published Publication date: May 5, 2020 Genre: Humor, General Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy Summary: In the real world, Klive works in an oil field in Texas while writing a comic book without the pictures when a colleague dies suddenly, leaving a mystery on his hands as he notices inconsistencies. Klive’s roommate Stacey owns and runs the coffee shop, which fronts for a certain illegal activity. Born and raised in Lily Grove, she’s sure nothing every happens in Lily Grove. Until a mysterious stranger who likes to read books starts frequenting her coffee shop without ever buying anything. In another universe, a superhero and a supervillian are constantly facing off, destroying…
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Book Review: The Ranger of Marzanna by Jon Skovron
Title: The Ranger of Marzanna Author: Jon Skovron Publisher: Orbit Publication date: April 21, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: After his father is murdered by imperial Aureumian soldiers, Sebastian and his mother are taken to Gogoleth where he is persuaded to join the Aureumian army stationed in his homeland of Izmoroz. As an elemental wizard, the Aureumian commander sees him as vastly useful as they anticipate a Spring invasion by the Uaine. Despite being half Izmorozian and half Aureumian, Sebastian’s loyalties become aligned to the Aureumians. But Sebastian has an older sister, one of the last remaining Rangers of Marzanna who protect Izmoroz, Sonya, who will do everything in her power to liberate her homeland as she…
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Book Review: Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward
Title: Legacy of Ash Author: Matthew Ward Publisher: Orbit Publication date: April 7, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: On the night their mother was killed for leading a rebellion, southwealders Josiri and Calenne became prisoners in their family home at Eskavord. Fifteen years later, Josiri is on the verge of calling on the secret rebels to spark rebellion anew while his younger sister seeks to escape the shadow of her mother’s memory by marrying a northwealder of high standing. The Black Knight, Viktor Akadra, the man who murdered their mother, gains the ruling Council’s approval to march into the Southshires to fight off the invading Hadari Empire. However, the Council dangles from puppet strings, promising nothing more…
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Book Review: The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag
Title: The Sisters Grimm Author: Menna van Praag Publisher: Harper Voyager Publication date: March 31, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: When a demon seeks to dominate humanity and spread darkness, he fathers a string of sons and daughters, pitting them against each other once his daughters turn 18 before giving them the choice of joining his side. Goldie, Scarlet, Bea, and Liyana are four such daughters. As children they discovered the unique link between them, their powers, and a magical place called Everwhere that can only be accessed in dreams at certain points in their lives, and specific gates. When they turned 13, Everwhere became lost to them, as well as their memories of the place and…
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Book Review: Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri
Title: Realm of Ash Author: Tasha Suri Publisher: Orbit Publication date: November 12, 2019 Genre: Fantasy Summary: The Ambhan Empire has been plagued by a curse, which seems to have become worse since the death of the Maha. Now that the Emperor lies near death, it becomes gravely apparent to young widow Arwa, who hides the true lineage of her blood and the curse it carries, and bastard prince Zahir they must find the answers from their ancestors in the treacherous realm of ash. This is the second book in the Books of Ambha series. I did not know that going in, but I don’t feel like I necessarily needed to have read the first book.…
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Book Review: Pricked by Scott Mooney
Title: Pricked Author: Scott Mooney Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing Publication date: August 13, 2019 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Briar is summoned to meet with Count Grimmour and hired to find his daughter’s boyfriend, a Know Not that doesn’t know about the fairy tale world hidden from view in New York City. The boyfriend, Rick, has been kidnapped, and Briar is tasked with using her unique magic to find him as all the wizards have failed. At her side is the knight Antoine, who both protects her and divulges important information about the Royals. With time working against them (they only have three days to find Rick, and it’s actually less than that as some of that…
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Book Review: If Only by Melanie Murphy
Title: If Only Author: Melanie Murphy Publisher: Hatchette Books Ireland Publication date: June 6, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Women’s fiction Summary: Erin has just broken up with her fiance, has a job she hates, and is jealous of her new flatmate who is basically everything she isn’t. On the bright side, she has a fantastic friend in Reid, has just discovered her childhood friend Finn has moved to the same building, and is about to celebrate her thirtieth birthday with her beloved grandmother in Ireland. But her granny has a surprise for her: a special pendant that can give her the opportunity to briefly live a life she could have had that will…
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The Weekly Question #3
Do you believe in magic? Since I’m taking this blog in a magical direction, I’m curious to know how many people believe in magic. I don’t remember what first introduced me to fantasy and magic, but I had fallen into fantasy books by the time I was 10. A lot of my memories are of magic, witches, and dragons. I spent a lot of my free time devouring them, or trying desperately to make magic work. I tried writing my own spells and reciting the words given to me in the books I read. This was years before Harry Potter, though I tried those, too. I used to wish on…
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Motherhood is Magical: Redefining The Lily Cafe
Lately, I’ve been struggling with my motherhood posts. I’ve gotten caught in wanting to both fit in with other mom bloggers even though motherhood is only one focus of The Lily Cafe and with trying to talk about the kind of mom I am, which sometimes is at odds with what other mom bloggers write about. I adore reading mom blogs. I’ve found honesty, funny stories, encouragement, and a plethora of ideas. But the more and longer I read them, the more I feel out of place. After trying to fit in last year, I decided to focus on my mom truths and write about how I raise my kids,…
