Tag: ya paranormal fantasy

The Inn Between by Wendra Colleen Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

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

A young parapsychologist must face her fears and decide whether to help two recently deceased teens who have nine days to solve how they died in author Wendra Colleen’s “The Inn Between.”

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The Synopsis

Teenagers J.T. and Sylvia have no memory of dying, only how much they hate each other. Trapped at The Inn Between, a B&B of the afterlife, they have nine days to discover how they died. If they solve the mystery, they can choose to evolve; if they don’t, they will be reborn with their memories wiped, destined to die young again.

In the realm of the living, Dr. Jillian Flaggerty, a young, newly minted parapsychologist, suppresses her childhood ability to rescue earthbound ghosts. She wants to avoid another trip to an institution and succeed in her first job. On a ghostly visit to Earth, J.T. realizes that only Jillian can see and hear him and begs for her help. Jillian denies J.T.’s existence until she uncovers a personal connection to the teen ghosts. Then Jillian has to choose between saving souls or her sanity as time winds down for J.T. and Sylvia to reconcile their differences, face the truth of their deaths, and avoid being reborn.

If you’re looking for an escape like Cemetery Boys, Neverworld Wake, and The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts with a dash of The Good Place, don’t wait to read this high-stakes supernatural novel.

The Review

This was such a compelling and heartfelt paranormal and contemporary fantasy read. The author expertly wove a unique mythos surrounding the afterlife and death while also capturing a profound and moving story of trauma, loss, and what it means to be human. The author’s powerful imagery captured the creative storytelling and rich atmosphere not only of the story but also of places like the In Between. 

The heart of this book was in the character dynamics and world-building. The afterlife and concepts of different dimensions and worlds being traversed and the idea of evolving versus being reincarnated to develop more fully was such a powerful storytelling device, and the emotional connection readers make with the protagonists of this story, from J.T.’s compounded rejection to Sylvia’s spiral and so much more, will leave a lasting impact on readers and will keep them invested in the growing narrative.

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The Verdict

Thought-provoking, engaging, and mesmerizing, author Wendra Colleen’s “The Inn Between” is a must-read YA contemporary and paranormal fantasy novel. The mystery and intrigue behind the protagonist’s deaths, the shocking revelations as they discover more about what happened to them, and the exploration of shared trauma and forgiveness will touch readers’ hearts and keep them invested in this growing story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on October 31st, 2025, or preorder your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Wendra Colleen’s motto is “Embrace your weirdness.” Her dark and humorous short stories, screenplays, and novels show how unique, unusual, and unconventional individuals transform adversity into empowerment. Funky facts include that she has a PhD in experimental psychology and deployed to the Iraq War as a civilian, all of which was a breeze compared to learning how to embrace her unique, unusual, and unconventional qualities in high school.

https://www.wendracolleen.com/

https://amzn.to/43hNp1y

Kingdom Of Embers (Kingdom Journals Volume 1) By Tricia Copeland 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 teenage girl with a hidden destiny must work with the full-grown, living version of her childhood imaginary friend to break a curse in author Tricia Copeland’s “Kingdom of Embers”, the first book in the Kingdom Journals series.

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The Synopsis

2020 Readers’ Choice Gold Medal Winner & 2019 Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Award for Fantasy

Her pale skin and weird diet make her a target at school. If only they, and she, knew the truth…

Seventeen-year-old Alena Scott is tired of pretending to be something she’s not. As an outlawed vampire-witch hybrid, she’s forced to abide by the oppressive secrecy imposed by her Vampire Chancellor mother. But she’ll have to ignore the rules when she comes face-to-face with a handsome, full-grown version of her childhood imaginary friend.

Shocked that he recognizes her as his own pretend play pal, the two embark on a quest to solve the mystery of their fantasized companionship. And as they unravel their entwined destinies, Alena realizes she holds the key to a curse which could free them all—or condemn witchkind to eternal suffering.

Can Alena and her impossibly familiar partner reverse an ancient spell before they’re sent to a mortal grave?

Kingdom of Embers is the first book in the enthralling Kingdom Journal YA urban fantasy series. If you like intriguing characters, shadowy magic, and a fresh twist on modern vampire storylines, then you’ll love Tricia Copeland’s heart-stopping tale.

Buy Kingdom of Embers to embrace a prophetic fate today!

The Review

What a rich and enthralling YA Supernatural Romance novel! The story was so fantastic, taking readers to a more grounded setting of Los Angeles and Southern California as a whole while infusing shadowy, paranormal elements into the narrative. The balance of action and magic with the more grounded high school experiences and emotional dynamics between the characters made this story feel cinematic at its core. 

The drive of this story was in the character development of the cast, especially the protagonist, Alena. The duality of her identity both as a vampire and witch hybrid, and as a supernatural being living amongst high schoolers, was a fabulous juxtaposition, and being able to see her grow her gifts while also learning to balance her life as a senior in high school with the weight of the world literally on her shoulders was both engaging and relatable for so many readers. It allowed the reader to connect with Alena’s overall journey.

The Verdict

Memorable, entertaining, and thoughtfully crafted, author Tricia Copeland’s “Kingdom of Embers” is a magical YA supernatural romance and a must-read book. The twists and turns in the narrative help elevate the thrilling world-building and mythos the author has crafted for this YA series, and the breathtaking imagery in the author’s writing delivered a narrative that could easily be fit onto the big screen. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Young adult fiction author Tricia Copeland believes in finding magic. She believes magic infuses every aspect of our lives and each of us create our own brand of magic. Whether transforming hearts, lives, numbers, ideas, art, music, or simply enjoying nature, we discover magic every day. She aims to write stories that show what is possible when one commits to finding their own version of magic. With urban fantasy and paranormal young adult titles, you’re sure to find a magical character and story line to love within her books.

Whether you’re looking for a fun romance, inspiring story of strength, fantasy, paranormal, or a dystopian sci-fi, you’ve come to the right place. Award-winning author Tricia Copeland grew up in Georgia but now calls Colorado home. If she’s not on the trail you can find her creating magical stories at www.triciacopeland.com.

Interview with Author Peggy Payne

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

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

My first thought of being a writer came in third grade in a paradoxically backwards way. My thought was: I could never be a writer because everything I write sounds like me and not like real writing. I didn’t realize at the time that a distinct voice was an advantage. But I see now that I was thinking then about writing.

Next milestone was eighth grade: my version of a homework assignment to write three paragraphs of description turned out to rhyme. More important, I found it hugely intriguingly fun to do. My course was pretty much set then.

I worked briefly for a newspaper, then began freelancing, which has led to four books and stories from more than 25 countries.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

My LIfe On Earth And Elsewhere is the first novel I began writing. I had just been sitting in a committee meeting as a news reporter and was frustrated that the committee wasn’t taking action. I felt powerless  and that led me to start doing a little world-building on paper. I started this novel that afternoon, immediately after leaving the meeting.

Why this story and not a different one? I wanted to write about out-of-body experience.

The book didn’t find a publisher then, though an editor at a major house wanted to publish it if, shockingly, I took the fantasy out. No way was I going to do that.  I put it aside, wrote several other books, and then came back to it about forty years later.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

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

Almost anything is possible. 

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

Writing about an out-of-body experience led me into another realm.

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

I would ask Risto to tell me more about life before birth and after death.

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

I’m only now beginning to have a significant presence on social media (other than socializing on Facebook). When my previous book came out, social media was not as large a force. And I was running behind in developing it.

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

Don’t let anything deter you. Just keep writing and seeking publication.

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

I’m on the verge of finishing two other books, one based on my blog Emails To My Therapist and one a combination biography/memoir Miss Chant of Cottage Lane: The Making of a Mystic.

Links:

   A video of author Peggy Payne’s reaction to Author Anthony Avina’s review

Pre-order now: 

   Amazon

 Barnes & Noble

Quail Ridge Books

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About the Author

Peggy Payne likes to write about difficult people and how they got that way.

Her novels usually venture into the realm of the supernatural, ranging from mainstream religions to the occult.

Her writing inevitably touches upon the intersection of sex and spirituality — to her surprise and no doubt that of everyone who was in high school with her. This pattern didn’t become startlingly clear until she’d published her third novel, Cobalt Blue, and reached the supposedly staid age of 65.

By the time she’d started her first novel, Revelation, she’d spent years as a travel writer, TV and newspaper reporter, magazine nonfiction writer, from Ms. Magazine and More to Travel & Leisure and Cosmopolitan. After writing from more than 25 countries, she had expected to keep rambling about the world for the rest of her days.

But then came the overwhelming need to write fiction, an event much like a spiritual awakening.

Peggy dates her first glimmers of interest in writing fiction to the third grade, when she thought:  “I could never be a writer, because everything I write sounds like me (not like real writing.)”

Home

https://www.facebook.com/peggy.payne.142

Links to my other books:

Sister India

Cobalt Blue

Revelation

The Healing Power of Doing Good, with Allan Luks

My Life on Earth and Elsewhere by Peggy Payne 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.

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A young woman discovers an ability to traverse a spiritual realm right on top of her own and must help a young boy in the spirit realm pass as a human boy while also navigating the troubles in her own life in author Peggy Payne’s “My Life on Earth and Elsewhere”.

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The Synopsis

Sensing she’s about to get bad news, Darcy, sixteen, feels herself—or her spirit, to be more exact—rise weightless, out of her body, lifting off the seat of the patio chair. How can this be happening? Her light-bodied airy self hovers high in a backyard tree.

She is not alone! A beautiful teenage boy, shy as a deer, stands in the branches nearby. He sees her and vanishes—as she is pulled back into her body, again tight-packed in her skin.

Her father is talking. Her parents are separating. She’s stunned—the three of them always seemed special, unbreakable. Yet she’s wildly excited by what just happened—though fears she’s lost her family and her mind in the same afternoon.

While her father is in his own religious crisis, she enters an entrancing spirit realm. Must she live a half-life in each of two worlds or must she make an impossible choice? Can the tree boy Risto ever pass as a regular guy? And what becomes of a young spirit being like him? In My Life On Earth and Elsewhere, Darcy has to find a way around barriers present since before the beginning of time.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

This was a powerful and captivating YA Paranormal and Fantasy read. The author does a marvelous job of crafting a narrative that felt relatable and engaging from the start. The vivid imagery the author utilized in the writing of this book helped to capture the mind-blowing metaphysical nature of the story, and the balance of serenity and chaos that the protagonist’s journey brought to each scene made for a compelling narrative.

To me, what made this book stand out was the context of the book itself, as the author focused instead on character growth and personal development over a supernatural evil or struggle to overcome. Instead, this became about our connection to the universe around us, and how in times of crisis or struggle the need to seek answers can come from the most unlikely of places. The themes of the impact divorce has on children, young love, and spirituality came through in full force in this novel, and the captivating bond between Darcy and Risto share both in the spiritual realm and in real life are captivating and emotionally charged moments in the book that make it impossible to put down.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, moving, and emotionally driven, author Peggy Payne’s “My Life on Earth or Elsewhere” is a must-read YA paranormal read. The rich character dynamics and the vivid imagery blend together to make a thoughtful and heartwarming story of two young people seeking their place in the universe. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Peggy Payne likes to write about difficult people and how they got that way.

Her novels usually venture into the realm of the supernatural, ranging from mainstream religions to the occult.

Her writing inevitably touches upon the intersection of sex and spirituality — to her surprise and no doubt that of everyone who was in high school with her. This pattern didn’t become startlingly clear until she’d published her third novel, Cobalt Blue, and reached the supposedly staid age of 65.

By the time she’d started her first novel, Revelation, she’d spent years as a travel writer, TV and newspaper reporter, magazine nonfiction writer, from Ms. Magazine and More to Travel & Leisure and Cosmopolitan. After writing from more than 25 countries, she had expected to keep rambling about the world for the rest of her days.

But then came the overwhelming need to write fiction, an event much like a spiritual awakening.

Peggy dates her first glimmers of interest in writing fiction to the third grade, when she thought:  “I could never be a writer, because everything I write sounds like me (not like real writing.)”

Home

https://www.facebook.com/peggy.payne.142

@peggypaynemysticbooks

Love on earth and elsewhere #booktok #booktoker #booktokers #bookshelf #readromance #astralrealm #astrallove #readersgonnaread #dogmagic #tbr #realms

♬ original sound – Peggy Payne