Tag: coming of age fantasy

Interview with Author Samuel Joseph

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I have been writing on and off professionally for a long time. I started at U.C. Berkeley (where I briefly went) when I took a playwriting class. I then went to film school where I focused mostly on screenplays.

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2) What inspired you to write your books?

Phil co-starred in a play I wrote and we became friends. I had the idea for The Magic Maze and thought it would be interesting to collaborate with him and he agreed. I had written quite a bit of animation for TV like Duck Tales and Batman and wanted to do something for kids.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your books?

Through love and perseverance, you can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I’ve always liked fantasy.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your trilogy, what would you ask them and why?

I would ask Simon Percival why it’s so important for him to have power. I’m interested in why some people desire to rule others.

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6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Our website: www.MagicMaze.com

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Make sure you have a way to support yourself so you don’t have to depend on making a living from your writing. That is why I eventually became a college English professor.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Currently, I am writing a new stage play that is sort of a mystery thriller.

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About the Author

Samuel Warren Joseph is a writer whose credits include DuckTales, Batman, Beast Wars, and the film Off Your Rocker. His plays and musicals, including Window of Opportunity, Campaign, and God Help Us!, have earned critical acclaim. He co-authored Ed Asner’s autobiography and teaches college English and Creative Writing.

http://www.magicmaze.com/

https://amzn.to/4j66f2A

Transgression of Magic (Town Magician Series Book 2) by S.A. Schneider Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A town magician must determine if his father is guilty of harming a villager in the past in author S.A. Schneider’s “Transgression of Magic”, the second book in the “Town Magician” series. 

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The Synopsis

Samual has finally stepped into his role as the Town Magician, using his magic to protect the village and dazzle the crowds with Advisor Rory by his side. Life is good—until a ruthless bounty hunter arrives, demanding the town hand over a fugitive. The fugitive? Samual’s father.

Joseph, once a respected Town Magician himself, has spent years on the run after allegedly harming a villager. Now, the past is catching up, and Samual is faced with an impossible truth: his father might be a criminal. Determined to uncover what really happened, Samual and Rory begin digging into the past—only to unearth more than they bargained for. Someone has been hiding the truth, and the real traitor may still be out there.

As time runs out and the bounty hunter closes in, Samual must decide where his loyalties lie and whether he can trust the magic in his veins. Because if he chooses wrong, he won’t just lose his father—he could lose everything.

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The Review

This was such an imaginative and enthralling fantasy read. The coming-of-age story is filled with excellent world-building, where magic is the norm and is a way of life for the towns of this land. The balance of storytelling with world-building and action was perfect, and the pacing allowed readers to become re-immersed in this world and connected to the character’s journey. 

The story itself was very character-driven, not only honing in on Samual’s journey into being the town magician, but in the relationships he has with both Advisor Rory and his father Joseph. The developments with his father play well into the theme of moral responsibility versus family relationships and loyalty. For many young readers, the age-old question of who they are destined to be and whether their family ties play a role in that led them to become more easily immersed in the world itself.

The Verdict

Memorable, compelling, and entertaining, author S.A. Schneider’s “Transgression of Magic” is a must-read coming-of-age fantasy story and a grand entry in the Town Magician series. The twists and turns the story takes as Samual delves further and further into the secrets of the past and the journey he takes to embrace magic more fully will keep readers on the edge of their seats as the story progresses. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

S.A. Schneider has a wolf, so of course he writes middle grade fantasy, wouldn’t you? Since his Lego and action figure days, he’s crafted worlds and stories within those worlds. This pursuit

continues into his middle grade fantasies.

He doesn’t stop with writing stories – he works with kids to pass on the joy of writing books and videogames. He wants others to join him and delve into creating fantastical worlds.

Enjoy the Adventure!

S.A. Schneider – Story Purveyor – Author homepage

https://amzn.to/3MBF57p

Code Name Seven (The Starstruck Hunters Trilogy Book 1) By Suinne Clara Lee Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young woman finds herself on a path to destiny she could never have seen coming as she investigates the death of a queen in author Suinne Clara Lee’s “Code Name Seven”, the first book in the Starstruck Hunters Trilogy.

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The Synopsis 

A spellbinding tale of the Enrici, the starstruck shapeshifters

In a world where the breath of a star transforms humans in ways we thought impossible, Sarah, a nerdy, rather cocky sixteen-year-old girl, investigates the mysterious death of the last queen. It is not much later, however, that she is visited by a dream… a dream that calls to her like a siren in the sea; a dream that foreshadows a great predestined bond and a perilous journey.

This debut novel by the musician Suinne Clara Lee invites readers on a journey unlike any other—through intricately woven plots, ingenious devices, starstruck love and enthralling insights into the laws of nature that only she, as an adorer of physics and mathematics, can offer. Though crafted for young readers, the story’s rich layers promise an equally captivating experience for adults.

The Review

This was such a breathtaking and rich narrative. The author did an incredible job of world-building in this novel, giving readers a sense of the unknown right out of the gate and allowing readers to feel the chaos and curiosity, as well as the fear, that comes when the protagonist’s entire sense of reality is upended in a moment. The mythos surrounding the Enrici and the physics behind transformation as a whole was so unique and original, and something that I had not yet come across in any supernatural or fantasy-driven narrative before, making this so creative in its delivery. 

The theme of transformation was so powerful in this novel, in more ways than one. How the physical transformation Sarah was undergoing as she embraced her new life, mirrored her transformation from young adult to adulthood, was eloquently brought together. The lyrical, almost magical quality of the author’s writing style was beautiful. It transported the reader into every moment. At the same time, the heartfelt connections between the characters, especially Sarah and Carlos, kept the reader invested in the story long enough to become engrossed in the world building.

The Verdict

Remarkable, entertaining, and thrilling, author Suinne Clara Lee’s “Code Name Seven” is the perfect coming-of-age fantasy narrative and a great start to the Starstruck Hunters trilogy. The twists and turns in the narrative, the outstanding balance between mythology and physics the author brought from their own life, and the harrowing adventure readers are brought along on made this an exciting new series to get invested in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Suinne Clara Lee is a student in composition who writes stories as a hobby. With music being her lover and literature her lifelong twin, she aims to illustrate her love for the world, bringing to attention of listeners and readers the beauty, the sparks and hopes, the strife and greatness hidden beneath the scales of nature and humanity.

Lee has, in her past, journeyed through the natural sciences and storytelling. Although it may seem unrelated in the eyes of many, it all comes together in her pursuit for music. Music is one of the most fundamental things that touches the soul, speaks directly to it; and everything she has explored is something that could be molten and woven into that message. Strengthened through her studies, her music will integrate ideas of natural philosophy and stories told with or without words. This is Lee’s idea of contemporary music.

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The Orb of Destiny: Tome IV (The Lost Art of Magic) by Jonni Jordyn Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A group of witches must find a way to bring back a powerful witch locked away in a coma to stop the growing threat of the sorcerer clan in author Jonni Jordyn’s “The Orb of Destiny: Tome IV.”

The Synopsis

Following the events of The Old Child, the witches’ visions of a destroyed Earth had already begun to unfold, yet Destiny, the one who everyone believed to be uniquely qualified to avert the calamity, remained locked in a coma from which she might never return. While the sorcerer clan grew in strength and size, their deranged leader grew bold and set out on a quest of death and destruction. The witches only recourse was to revive Destiny, but that meant convincing her to return.

The Review

What a powerful read. The author did a wonderful job of delving even deeper into the long and storied history between witches and sorcerers. The intense action and the heart-pounding thrills this book produces will capture the reader’s imagination as the imagery in the author’s writing style brings an almost cinematic quality to the narrative.

The way the author focuses on character development in this story is fantastic. Not only was Destiny’s struggle with her fate and coming to terms with her circumstances when her family and allies fought so hard to bring her back was so engaging to read. The villainous turns and the shocking heroics of other characters will keep readers invested, and seeing the mystery of the Librarians grow is a great lead-in for the series’ upcoming final chapter.

The Verdict

Twisted, action-packed, and entertaining author Jonni Jordyn’s “The Orb of Destiny: Tome IV” is a must-read magical realism meets action thriller. The fusion of old-world magic and centuries-old rivalries with modern-day military assets and the climactic battle between two powerful figures will keep readers on the edge of their seats. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Jonni Jordyn, an award winning American author born in Oakland, Ca, started out playing music at age two, and moved on to singing and acting in grade school. High School introduced writing and film making followed by drawing and photography in college. In other words, she had a VERY LIBERAL arts education.

Jonni published some poetry and some india ink drawings in literary magazines while in college, won critical acclaim for her acting in a cabaret theater, but was faced with a decision to pick out the arts she wanted to pursue.

Of all the available opportunities, music and song writing won the first round when she found herself performing with legendary stars of the sixties and seventies.

Round two began years later, after leaving California for Arizona. It all started with a blank piece of paper and the question, “how can I possibly write more than eleven thousand words for a single story?” A valid question which was followed up a year later with, “How did I ever write 160,000 words?”

Now, the writing comes much easier, but still there are questions like, “How will I ever get all these ideas written down?” followed closely by, “How many times can I edit the same book?”

Jonni currently lives in Colorado with her bird.

https://www.jordynatlargebooks.com/

The Garden of Mercy by Myriana Merkovic Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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A young woman seeking redemption utilizes the power and language of flowers to help others in author Myriana Merkovic’s “The Garden of Mercy”.

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The Synopsis

The Garden of Mercy is a heart-rending coming-of-age novel about families lost and found, belonging, and finding meaning in places where fragrances stay.

If you knew the secret powers of flowers, would you use their spells to change lives?

Mercy knows humans aren’t the only beings capable of emotions and acts of compassion; flowers can also feel and do good deeds. And there are sweet-scented killers for those who won’t be saved. Mercy knows them all intimately.

Raised by a Bible-thumping mother and shunned by her peers for her peculiarity, she finds refuge in the neighboring woodlands, where she learns the secret language of flowers and the power of plants. As she grows, so does her curiosity, sense of smell, and use of the flowers’ skills to solve quandaries: Aster for patience, borage for courage, dandelion for anger…. But everything changes the day she gathers the wicked purple flower and considers the unthinkable…

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Now a young woman, Mercy finds she isn’t alone in struggling with the wounds of her past; the quirky residents of a dilapidated Victorian mansion where she works are, too. Yearning for redemption—theirs and hers—she conjures a miraculous garden where scents mend broken hearts. As the flowers come to life, healing begins for all but one, leaving Mercy with an impossible dilemma. How far is she willing to go this time? How much is she willing to risk? What he asks of her isn’t a small feat; she could lose it all: a family found, a place where she belongs, love….

Enchanting and searingly honest, The Garden of Mercy will make you look at the world differently and question your beliefs about everything.

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The Review

This was an absolutely moving and heartfelt read. The way the author can draw upon the unique and wonderful world of flowers and their inherent power in the world and the use of powerful imagery in the author’s writing allowed the flowers and the fantastic character development to become very cinematic in quality on the page. 

The theme surrounding this story of life, death, and the love connection between them both was so well represented in this narrative, not only in the protagonist’s journey in her past and present but also in the complexity of the flowers themselves, from the unassuming flowers that heal to the deadly yet beautiful flowers that kill. The growth and change that the protagonists underwent throughout their journey kept the reader invested in the story.

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The Verdict

Heartfelt, memorable, and thoughtful, author Myriana Merkovic’s “The Garden of Mercy” is a must-read coming-of-age tale, filled with mystery, tension, and notes of hope that helps showcase the power of found family and the lengths we are willing to go to keep that family intact. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Myriana Merkovic was born in Africa, educated in Europe, and later emigrated to America, the land she fell in love with at ten. Her journey in the medical field and across continents gave her an appreciation of life’s frailty and nature’s ingenuity. She lives in Florida with her husband, her four-legged children, and a menagerie of backyard tenants. This is her third novel.

Spirit & Fire (Cymraeg Tales Book 1) by T.C. Marti

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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A young outcast and a prince on the run must band together when she is blamed for the prince’s “abduction” in author T.C. Marti’s “Spirit & Fire”, the first book in the Cymraeg Tales series.

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The Synopsis

A troubled outcast on the run from her home nation’s wrath…

…An estranged prince escaping a dreary home life in a distant land

Mali LaSalle always wanted to exert revenge on a monarchy that rendered her family outcasts centuries ago. But the girl never dreamed she would cross paths and befriend a crown prince from an allied nation seeking to run away from a prearranged betrothal.

Now on the run, they learn that the monarchy framed Mali for kidnapping Prince Caer and employed more sinister entities than the duo could ever have imagined to arrest her. If caught, Mali will face a death sentence. If she and Caer can outrun the monarchy’s henchmen, then she will at least live to fight another day.

Spirit and Fire is rich in sword and sorcery, and elemental magic. If you like stories about forbidden love, chosen ones, ultra-complex plots, and thrilling fight scenes, this epic young adult dark fantasy is for you.

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The Review

Serving as a prequel to the author’s Elementals of Nordica series, this book does an excellent job of delving more into the fantasy element of this franchise than ever before. The author really honed in on the age of kingdoms and magic perfectly, crafting a narrative that felt both large in scale and yet intimate all at the same time. 

The heart of this story, as so often is in this amazing fantasy author’s work, is the rich character development and world-building that brought this world to life. The way the author was able to hone in on the history of this world, and the way the chemistry between Mali and Prince Caer brought out both the tension and the heart of the narrative really kept the reader engaged throughout this story.

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The Verdict

From rich settings and detailed writing styles that honed in on the imagery this novel was rife with, author TC Marti’s “Spirit & Fire” is a must-read dark fantasy novel. The way the story plays into the future of this world from the Elementals of Nordica franchise, including the ancestors of some of the reader’s favorite characters, made this a thrilling and entertaining novel that is not to be missed. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

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Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

TC Marti has been an avid reader/writer for over three decades. He is the author of the Elementals Universe, a shared speculative fiction universe spanning multiple series. He is also a workout fanatic, and a fan of Arizona sports teams.

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