Merchant of Alyss by Thomas Locke

About the Book

★★★★★

Life for Hyam is bittersweet. Admired by the citizens of Falmouth for his heroic rescue mission, he cherishes these peaceful days with Joelle by his side. Yet grief over the loss of his magical skills during the great Battle of Emporis threatens to engulf him. Sometimes he even wishes he had never known magic at all.

When Hyam comes into possession of an ancient Milantian scroll, he is thrilled to feel the surge of power that courses through him whenever he touches it. But what he discerns in the text could mean war. He embarks upon another journey to determine its true meaning and forestall any attack. But as Hyam is seeking answers, he is unaware that the merchant of Alyss is seeking him…

This second Legends of the Realm novel offers an epic story equally as satisfying as Emissary. Thomas Locke once again immerses his readers into Hyam’s fantastical world with plenty of magic, action, and good-versus-evil adventure, and I loved revisiting it and its cast of diverse and memorable characters. The story is fascinating and intriguing, as Hyam begins another quest, and left me eager and hopeful for another one. Fans of fantasy and adventure will not be disappointed with Merchant of Alyss, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of Merchant of Alyss and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Author

Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn, the award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies. With a lifelong passion for speculative stories, he is also the author of Emissary and Trial Run. A screenplay adaptation of Emissary is currently under development as a feature film with a British production company.

Davis's work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. He divides his time between Oxford and Florida. Learn more at his website.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Sweet Misfortune & If I Run

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 
to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

Title: A Sweet Misfortune

Author: Maggie Brendan

Publisher: Revell

Expected Publication Date: 2 February 2016

Rachel Matthews isn't one to rely on others to take care of her. Destitute and alone, she still wants to make her own way and her own money – even if she's forced into the life of a dance hall girl. Horrified by her circumstances, Rachel's brother sends a friend – the widely admired cattle baron John McIntyre – to rescue her, then sets off to earn enough money to buy back the family ranch. But when months pass without her brother's return, Rachel isn't sure she can take one more day in John McIntyre's home – especially once she discovers that he's the one who holds the deed to her family's ranch.

Sparks fly between this spunky, independent heroine and the ruggedly handsome hero as they navigate the snarled terrain of pride, greed, faith, and love in Maggie Brendan's delightful series set in the Old West.

Title: If I Run

Author: Terri Blackstock

Publisher: Zondervan

Expected Publication Date: 16 February 2016

Casey knows the truth.

But it won’t set her free.

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested… or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up. Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?

Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer… or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

Curio by Evangeline Denmark

★★★★★

Grey Haward has always detested the Chemists, the magicians-come-scientists who rule her small western town. But she has always followed the rules, taking the potion the Chemists ration out that helps the town’s people survive. A potion that Grey suspects she—like her grandfather and father—may not actually need.

By working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking risks seems the only decision she can make.

But with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.

From start to finish, Evangeline Denmark’s novel, Curio, captures its readers within a fantastical, dystopian adventure. With not one, but two fascinating worlds, intriguing and diverse characters, and life-threatening controversy, it is a unique and addictive read - very hard to put down. I absolutely loved Denmark’s imaginative world-building, as well as Grey’s coming-of-age growth over the course of the novel. Fans of young adult fiction, especially with elements of steampunk, should make time to read Curio as soon as possible - I highly recommend it and now look forward to reading more from Evangeline Denmark in the future.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of Curio and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Be sure to read Curio's novella prequel, too!

Top Ten Tuesday: 2015 Releases I Meant to Get to But Didn't

Hosted weekly by The Broke and the Bookish.

Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund

★★★★★

Tessa Taylor arrives in 1870s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, planning to serve as a new teacher to the town. Much to her dismay, however, she immediately learns that there was a mistake, that the town had requested a male teacher. Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since they won't be able to locate a new teacher before then, and Tessa can't help but say she is in his debt. Little does she know that Percival will indeed keep track of all that she owes him. 

Determined to become indispensable, Tessa throws herself into teaching, and soon the children of the widowed lighthouse keeper have decided she's the right match for their grieving father. Their uncle and assistant light keeper, Alex Bjorklund, has his own feelings for Tessa. As the two brothers begin competing for her hand, Tessa increasingly feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.

In the third Beacons of Hope novel, Tessa Taylor moves into the role of female protagonist. While not the most likeable character by the end of Hearts Made Whole, she receives her necessary chance for growth and maturity in Undaunted Hope and proves to be an all-around fabulous main character. She is sassy, strong-willed, and stubbornly choosing to secure her future in teaching and away from lighthouses. As is expected, complications abound when she arrives in her new town - especially when two men (who happen to be brothers, as well as the local lighthouse keepers) express their romantic interest - and in the midst of drama and danger, challenge her to learn from the mistakes of her past. It’s a completely heartwarming story (with another charming lighthouse setting) and will not disappoint Jody Hedlund’s fans. I loved it and highly recommend it to fans of historical romance.

Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of Undaunted Hope and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.