Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter... A Deadly Duel. A Forbidden Love. One Jaw-Dropping Twist.

Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter

A centuries-old covenant forces the heir of the witches of Arturea to fight the heir of the dragon riders of Vatra… to the death.

Astrid—princess of Arturea—is powerful, proud… and not a warrior at heart.
Zryan—Vatra’s lethal champion—is a battle-hardened force of nature, bonded to a massive fire-breathing dragon… and completely obsessed with Astrid.

What should be a death sentence becomes something far more dangerous:
a forbidden, undeniable pull neither of them can resist. Blood Bound is the kind of romantasy that hooks you fast and doesn’t let go. 

The world-building? Incredible. From the witches’ distinct magic and their familiars to the dragon riders’ raw, elemental power—every detail feels vivid and immersive. I swear, I was living in Vatra the entire time. (Still waiting to find out if “reading” counts as a magical talent… I’m claiming it.)

What fills this story out even more is the political intrigue and the rebellion hiding in the shadows—adding layers of tension and depth that make the stakes feel even higher.

And the characters? I was in. Fully invested. Practically third-wheeling alongside Astrid. The friendships that develop are true and touching. I loved the way the female friendships unfolded.

But let’s talk about what really delivers:


Forbidden love…. Enemies to lovers….That slow burn tension…. Touch her and you’ll die… Dragons & Familiars… Political intrigue… Great banter!… Found family… Great female friendships… Magic & Potions… Did I say Dragons! And Familiars!
  

And then—THE TWIST. The kind that makes you stop, reread, and immediately need to talk about it with someone. I want to scream about it… but I won’t ruin it for you.

Just know: It’s big, it’s bold and it brings everything together in a jaw-dropping way. There is so much packed into the story - you’re going to love it. I know I did. This is the first book of a promised 3 book trilogy. 

And I am already whining that I want the second book! 

Published by Atria Books on April 28th! And available at your favorite bookstore right now! I want to thank Atria Books for an advanced copy of Blood Bound to read & review! I loved it!

 

Immortal Game by Allison Saft is coming August 4, 2026! Mark Your Calendars and read my Review...

“Chess opens a door between two souls.”

That line lives at the heart of Immortal Game by Allison Saft — and it’s exactly what this book does. It opens a door. Step through it and you’re no longer in the ordinary world. You’re in the Otherworld, where the Fae are immortal, the magic hums beneath every breath, and Mortals are allowed to cross the veil only once every hundred years… to play a game of chess that could cost them everything.

I am not your typical fantasy reader. I don’t usually gravitate toward Fae courts and ancient magic systems. And yet? I was completely swept away. Allison Saft builds a world that feels lush and dangerous and achingly alive. The Otherworld isn’t just a setting — it pulses. The Fae cannot lie. The landscape shifts with thought. Magic is woven into speech, into bargains, into love. And at the center of it all is the Immortal Game, where chess becomes more than strategy — it becomes fate.

The characters are what truly anchored me.

Shea, a chess prodigy, is driven by fierce, almost desperate love for her sister Aideen. Every move she makes — on the board and off — is shaped by that devotion.

Daniil, brooding and sharp-tongued, carries his own complicated loyalty to his sister. His seriousness hides something tender, and I found myself softening toward him with every chapter.

Ciara, the Fae princess who adores everything mortal, brings spark and warmth into a realm that could easily feel cold.

And then there is Midir, the Fae King — immortal, powerful, and in love with Aideen enough to steal her away beyond the veil.

As for Fuamnach… trust me. You’ll want to meet her yourself.

What makes this story so compelling is how these characters — from different worlds, with different loyalties — collide over the chessboard. The relationships layer and tangle in ways that feel real and earned. Alliances shift. Motives blur. Love becomes both weapon and shield.

And the chess? It’s brilliant. Whether Allison Saft is secretly a grandmaster or simply did amazing research, she makes the game feel electric. The terminology, the strategy, the references to real-life masters — it’s all woven into the narrative so seamlessly that it never feels like a lecture. It feels like tension. Like you’re holding your breath between moves. I actually pulled out my old chess set just to follow along with some of the moves.

Immortal Game isn’t just about magic or competition. It’s about devotion. About the cost of love. About what we sacrifice for the people who define us. There were twists I didn’t see coming, tenderness that caught me off guard, and moments of quiet heartbreak that lingered.

When I reached the final page, I wasn’t ready to leave the Otherworld — but I was satisfied. The story closes its loops. The emotional threads are honored. Nothing feels rushed or abandoned.

If you’re hesitant about fantasy, let this be your doorway. Walk through "The Veil". Sit at the chessboard. Let Allison Saft show you what happens when strategy meets soul.

Immortal Game by Allison Saft is coming out on August 4th, 2026! Mark your calendars because you won't want to miss this one! (Categorized as YA teen, romance and LGBTQIAP+)

I want to thank St. Martin's Press for sending along an advanced copy for me to read and review. I really enjoyed it. 

BTW, Isn't that cover gorgeous!!

                           My travel chessboard and mini iPad

P.S. Shea Fury, our chess prodigy in Immortal Game reminds me of Judit Polgar, a 12-year-old who became the youngest Grandmaster in history, and eventually beat world champion Garry Kasparov. I watched a great documentary about her called Queen of Chess on Netflix. Her life was chess and the documentary shows how and why her Father raised her to become a world champion. 

First Lines Friday... a Romantasy to swoon over

 

I NEVER WOULD HAVE ENTERED the tunnels if I'd known what was going to happen. But that's the thing about making stupid decisions, they never seem that way at the time.

    ...Creatures of Chaos by Julie Hall

And with those two simple yet ominous lines, starts the story of Creatures of Chaos by Julie Hall, said to be "Perfect for fans of forbidden love, high-stakes games and everything supernatural". And I picked it up because the special edition hardcover is absolutely gorgeous! This is book one of a three book series. The 2nd book is available now, and the third book will be published on May 20th, 2026. So if you do read these and get totally addicted, book 3 isn't far behind. This isn't my typical read, but I really have been doing a lot of reading about these "Romantasy" books and they sound like so much fun. This is on top of my TBR pile and will be next in the reading cue. What's even better... if you want to try the genre, or if you are a fan already and want to read Creatures of Chaos, right now the Kindle version is only $3.99! 

BTW, Julie Hall writes these books and self publishes at Julie Hall Author! (so you are directly supporting the author!)

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton … A Review

A Seeker seeks the truth. It's an ancient following that takes years of training and one in which you must be born into. For Quin, Shinobu and John their training was almost over and the final test of their skills was upon them. Would they pass and become Seekers?

I really enjoyed Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton. Young love, jealousy, revenge, regret and redemption all play a part in this epic fantasy adventure that has elements of sci-fi and steampunk sprinkled on top.  Quin is 15, the star of this tale, and has endured years of harsh training to become the next Seeker in her family. The Seeker seeks the truth, but the methods can be brutal. A Seeker is basically a highly trained assassin that possesses ancient magic in the form of weapons and mental abilities that give them the choice of life or death. Quin has no idea what is in store for her as a Seeker. There are unimaginable secrets (and horrors) that will change her forever. Her companions are Shinobu, a distant cousin who she's grown up with (and who's had a thing for her), and John, a little older than Quin and Shinobu, who is from another family and is being trained by Quin's father and uncle (who Quin has been in love with).

It's an adventure that starts out in Scotland and travels to Hong Kong thru ancient time portals only accessible by Seekers. The story starts out slow introducing us to the players and turns into a roller coaster ride of an adventure with a soft landing at the very end, leading us into book 2.

What did I think?… It's a great story, the writing is good with a good foundation for developing the story further and the characters are well developed. One of the things that I love about the story is that it's told thru the eyes of more than one character, giving us such a great perspective. I liked Quin, Shinobu and John, although I did think Quin got a bit whiney at times about some things. And I thought the very ending was a bit too quiet, but I definitely want to read the next book to see the choices these characters make and their futures. And this book? I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days!

This series is being sold as the next "Hunger Games". I don't see Seeker as dystopian, but if you enjoy YA epic fantasy adventures this should be your cup of tea! Definitely write this one down in if you love adventure stories period!

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton is coming out February 10th 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers. I want to thank the publishers for sending along the eGalley to me for review!

A Thousand Perfect Things Blog Tour!

Historical Fiction… Epic Fantasy… Sci-Fi with a Twist

A Thousand Perfect Things… 

In this epic new work, the award-winning Kenyon, whose work has be compared to Larry Nivens and Stephen R. Donaldson, creates an alternate Earth in the 19th century. This Earth is ruled by two warring factions—scientific Anglica (England) and magical Bharata (India).

Tori Harding, a Victorian woman, whose heart aches to claim the legendary powers of the golden lotus, must leave her reasoned world behind and journey to Bharata. In pursuit of the golden lotus, Tori will be forced to brave its magics, intrigues, deadly secrets and haunted places, to claim her destiny and choose between two lovers in two irreconcilable realms.

As a great native insurrection sweeps the continent of Bharata—Tori will find the thing she most desires, beautifully flawed and more wonderfully strange than she could have ever dreamed.

What did I think? I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Though sci-fi and fantasy are not my "norm", it's nice to step out of the box once in a while. What tempted me in the first place was the alternate world which I love so dearly in the dystopian fiction I read. What Kay Kenyan creates is nothing less than wonderful! The world is so believable, the fantasy easily becomes reality, and her writing is so easy to breathe in. I would have to say that even though this is characterized as both sci-fi and fantasy, it felt more fantasy to me because the world created, though sprinkled with magic, didn't make me reach to believe it. I also liked the dichotomy of the two worlds, one of science and one of magic. It's a plot that I think works well and I've enjoyed in other books. Other pluses… a story with a strong female protagonist is always a treat! And the India setting, also gets high marks. Reading A Thousand Perfect Things makes me also want to try other stories written by Kay Kenyan, and there are plenty to choose from! P.S. LOVED this cover!

About the Author...

Kay Kenyon is the author of eleven science fiction and fantasy novels, including A Thousand Perfect Things. She is the author of the critically acclaimed science fiction quartet, The Entire and The Rose. Bright of the Sky was among PW’s top 150 books of 2007. The series has twice been shortlisted for the ALA Reading List awards and three times for the Endeavour Award. Four of her novels have been translated into French, Spanish and Czech. Along with her novels Tropic of Creation and Maximum Ice, two of the works in the quartet received starred reviews from PW.

You can learn more about Kay Kenyon at her Website, and can connect with her on Facebook & Twitter.

I want to thank Kathy from I Am a Reader, for inviting me to be a tour host for A Thousand Perfect Things! Loved the book!

First Lines...

"There are many misconceptions of which I must disabuse you, but the most offensive concerns the wands and warts and black pointed caps. Some of us may be wizened and rather hairy in unfortunate places, but we're certainly no uglier than the rest of you lumps."

Pretty Magic by Camille Deangelis