Review of Shadowed Skies by Haley Cavanagh

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Haley Cavanagh will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In the shadowed aftermath of global destruction, humanity’s hope takes flight on the wings of the Evol-humans. River Shaw, secluded in his high-altitude sanctuary, seeks solace after a life scarred by loss. His quiet existence is disrupted when Delene Fairborne, fleeing captivity and a dark past, crashes into his world. Together, they find strength in their unique abilities, resisting the sinister forces that hunt them for a cure only their blood can provide. As love blossoms amidst the chaos, they face a ruthless scientist hell-bent on harnessing their power. Shadowed Skies is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and soaring hope, where two souls, bound by destiny, fight for a world on the brink. Dive into a world where love flies against insurmountable odds.

This is an interesting book and quite suitable for 13+ readers (and maybe some mature tweens). The action begins after the global destruction, a plague that affects all humans. The blood of the evol-humans is found to help.

There is a bit of backstory shared starting out...I actually thought for a bit that this might be the second book of a series (the story of Delene and Lily's parents sounds like it would make a good story.. just sayin'). Told in first person, present tense, alternating chapters, we see the story unfold from River and Delene's points of view. So, at times we get information from each of them that is similar as far as how everything came about.

There's a lot of story-telling, which is fine, but I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I might have...and I missed that in this book. I found River to be the more interesting of the two...I was very impressed with the survival skills his Pops had taught him. There were also a few twists in the book that I didn't see coming. Good job on that.

All in all, it was an interesting take on this trop... I've always enjoyed the idea of modified DNA and flying creatures. There are no loose ends and everything is resolved nicely. I would definitely pick up other books by Ms. Cavanagh. 4 stars

Read an Excerpt

I wake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings casting unnerving shadows. Intelligent dark eyes scrutinize me from his smooth, brown face framed by cropped black hair and raven quills. He’s been around the block.

My guard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from the climb. “Your nest, huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”

“It’s carved right over there.” He points past me to the rockface. My eyes travel over the stone, where he’d etched River in craggy letters. The carved name is so tiny I didn’t notice.

“Now you’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this goes.”

I blink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I–– ow,” I scrape against the wall and suck air through my teeth. I clamp my eyes shut.

“Are you okay?”

I shrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely near my shoulder. River’s eyebrows lower, and he comes closer.

“Let me look.”

He stows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands, and crouches to examine my injury. “Relax. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see the damage.” He’s gentle, avoiding the wound and handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches the bandage.

“Dr. Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and lab where the humans imprison and experiment on our kind. His men hunted me down and shot me with a crossbow as I tried to escape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage earlier, but without a spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off my pants to re-dress it.”

“Hmm.” He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an exit wound.”

“Yeah, I pulled it out.”

“Well, that was stupid of you. You could have died if those goons pierced a blood feather.”

My temper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather take my chances, thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m grateful for his help. I still don’t know who he is or what he wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.

River sits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes.

“Doesn’t look good. How long have you been here, kid? A day or so?”

“I’m no kid. I’m seventeen.”

“Well, I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”

“By what, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid free-climbed in the pitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get here, I guess I’m a kid.”

After examining the wound, he says, “The damage looks fixable. Let’s clean this well to prevent infection.”

“I’ve cleaned the wound.”

“Clean deeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but I’ll try to get some. Or at least honey. Honey heals.”

He hesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from his pouch and soaks the cloth. With the knife still in hand, he comes closer.

“Look … You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate solo. You have a target with a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for you. I do. But you know how it is with our kind.” He gives me a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.

“Gee, I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”

He rubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of drones. And they’ve got at least a dozen soldiers combing the forest.”

“I’m sorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any of this.”

“None of us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here.I’m screwed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the night. Then after that, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere else to hide.”

The night might be all I need. “Thank you.”

About the Author:

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is a multiple award-winning and best-selling author and the two-time recipient of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award in 2020 and 2024. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Website: https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleycavanaghbooks/
Twitter: https://x.com/haley_cavanagh
Blog: https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/blog/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4841648.Haley_Cavanagh
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ambitioushales
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleycavanaghbooks/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HaleyCavanaghBooks-bg1um
Book Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOhhlRfCv_g

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1803417714
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadowed-skies-haley-cavanagh/1146032571
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/shadowed-skies
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/shadowed-skies/id6741011722
Powell’s: https://www.powells.com/book/shadowed-skies-9781803417714?partnerid=33157

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A New Life by L.J. Ambrosio

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.J. Ambrosio will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

From America to the streets of Paris, A New Life follows two friends as they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history and hope.

A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page.

Read an Excerpt

They rushed out of the hotel and stopped short of the Lyft; they gazed in wonderment at the outrageously small size of the car. Reluctantly they climbed into the car. It was like the Mouseketeer’s car; it was so small and they were so tall. They wondered if they should try another Lyft but there was not enough time. As they pulled away, they smelted gasoline or oil burning. Louie shot Ron a silly look, then smiled.

Ron hit the ceiling with every bump; his head bounced almost out of the taxi. Louie held his hand up to avoid suffering the same fate. The roads were rough all the way to the Air France Terminal. Louie told the driver he should sell his car to an amusement park.

Ron decided to travel with just a carry-on bag. He had no desire to check bags after remembering a few of Michael’s airline horror stories of his lost luggage. Michael, his mentor and friend, truly taught him the right way to travel safe and as a gentleman; they might give you an extra drink if you're nice.

As Ron approached the departure gate, he tried to put the thought of leaving Rhonda behind out of his mind but not his heart. He wondered what Michael would say to him about this incident with Rhonda. He would tell Ron to smile; Rhonda was in a better place.

About the Author:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Reflections-Michael-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0F9YPJZQ3/ref=sr_1_1

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Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic by Marilyn Levinson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marilyn Levinson will be awarding a paperback copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fifth grader Rufus is unhappy when he has to attend a Samhain celebration with his mother, Grandma, and Aunt Ruth instead of going Trick or Treat with his friends. He's thrilled when, later that night, his Uncle Hector shows up outside his window and offers to take him for a ride in the sky. Rufus's family have told him that his uncle is evil and he should have nothing to do with Hector, but Rufus is enthralled by his uncle's fabulous realm that includes a small zoo and a stable of horses. He's less interested in learning about his uncle's businesses that he, as his uncle's heir apparent, will inherit one day. Then Uncle Hector tells Rufus he has to do something for him, something Rufus finds impossible to do. Uncle Hector wields his magical powers to force Rufus's hand, but Rufus's little sister finds out and encourages him to ask for help. It's Grandma who decides what they must do, and it's not something Uncle Hector ever thought would happen.

Read an Excerpt

Uncle Hector moved the chair he'd been sitting in and dropped onto the couch beside me. "Now Rufus, I think you have to admit that I've been very generous to you—teaching you spells; taking you to visit your little girlfriend."

"I guess."

"And I have every intention of leaving every penny I'm worth to you when I eventually depart this life."

He waited until I nodded.

"You will appreciate my generosity more when you are older and realize it takes strength and cunning to make your way in the world."

"So you've told me."

Uncle Hector pursed his lips. He was clearly not pleased with my lack of enthusiasm. "Anyway, the time has come for you to do something for me."

"Like what?" The butterflies in my stomach zipped around at top speed, making me dizzy and nauseous at the same time.

Uncle Hector smiled. It made him look scary. "It's really a small matter, Rufus, or I wouldn't ask you to do it. Especially since it's something you can manage very easily."

I gulped. "What exactly are we talking about?"

"Ah." Sparks flew as Uncle Hector rubbed his hands together. "There's a book of spells missing from my library. I've searched high and low for another copy—in bookstores all over the world—but I haven't been able to find one.

"I don't know what book you're talking about."

"Of course you don't. Very few witches have seen Incantations Extraordinaires, much less own a copy. It contains spells, both extraordinary and horrific. Every spell is complicated and difficult to master.

"Many years ago I found a copy of Incantations Extraordinaires." Uncle Hector glowered at me. "The very same day I acquired the book, someone stole it from me."

"Who?" The word shot out before I could think. I hadn't meant to ask. I knew the answer even before that horrible smile returned to his face.

"Your grandmother, Lavinia Haven. This was many years ago, before my magical powers had fully developed and I could protect it properly. Interfering witch!"

She took it to stop you from casting horrific spells.

"I suppose so," Uncle Hector said as if I'd spoken aloud. I'd forgotten to shield my thoughts. "And now, when I'm at the top of my form, I require a wondrous spell, a spell that can only be found in Incantations Extraordinaires."

I shrugged. "Okay, but you just said the book of spells isn't in Grandma and Aunt Ruth's shop."

Uncle Hector tapped my head. "Think, Rufus. If the book isn't in their shop, where would it be?"

"I don't know. In their . . .?"

His piercing gaze forced me to finish my sentence. "House."

"Of course! In your grandmother's house, which is next door to your house. A house you go in and out of with great frequency."

"You want me to steal the book?"

Uncle Hector shrugged. "To retrieve what is mine."

"But—" The butterflies that flew around my stomach when I was nervous or afraid zoomed straight up to my brain. "I can't! Grandma would never forgive me. Besides, I haven't the slightest idea where it is."

I suddenly felt a blinding pain in my head. "I think you'll do exactly as you're told—if you don't want bad things to start happening to people you love."

I slumped in the corner of the limo as Nero drove me to the corner two blocks from my house. What an idiot I'd been! Uncle Hector was everything Grandma had said and worse! He'd used me—showed me a few spells, took me to see Danielle—so I'd be impressed by it all and get him what he was really after—the book of powerful spells that Grandma had taken from him.

About the Author:

  A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense, and books for kids. Marilyn's middle grade novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council "Children's Choice." A new edition, the first book in a series of four, came out in 2023. Rufus and the Witch's Drudge, the second book in the Rufus series, was released in 2024. Her YA horror, The Devil's Pawn, came out in a new edition in January, 2024. Soon to be published are new editions of And Don't Bring Jeremy, which received six state nominees, and Getting Back to Normal.

Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com,br> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonBrookML
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/
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Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Rufus-Dark-Side-Magic-ebook/dp/B0F7NW6DN4

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Boo's Blue Poo and Goo by Toni Nelson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Toni Nelson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

'Give a helping hand to someone in trouble today and you will be richly rewarded!'

Diamonte De Dazzle (owner of the world's most famous department store) read her daily horoscope and was puzzled. Who was in trouble?

Who, what, why, when and where? How on earth could she help?

She then encountered Boo, a homeless blue cat, trying to escape from TCC, the horribly horrible Cat Catcher. Boo was the only truly blue cat on the planet, so TCC intended on cat-napping and exhibiting her to become rich and famous.

(Evil laugh from TCC . . .)

The combination of an eccentric department store owner, as well as TCC, two snobby socialites, plus a fashion event which is unexpectedly and thoroughly thrown into chaos, is life- changing.

Read an Excerpt

Meet Boo: A sweet-natured, gentle, cuddly, affectionate cat—as well as being a gorgeously gorgeous cat! Few adults realized how lovely Boo was, because few adults would approach her. This was because Boo was blue. Blue! She was born blue, and the colour hadn’t faded … in fact, if anything, she seemed to grow ever bluer. Children liked her very much. They wanted to cuddle her, stroke her, and play with her. They knew she was simply a cat, no matter what colour she was.

Boo was homeless. She had to live on the streets of the city in all kinds of weather; sometimes she was freezing cold, and sometimes she was so hot she wished she could unzip her blue coat, take it off, and cool down. She was very wary of all the tall people who were constantly walking past her, but most people were so busy looking at their phones, or hurrying somewhere, that they rarely noticed her as she hunted for food.

As if that wasn’t enough, Boo also had to keep a look out for The Cat Catcher— known as TCC—an extremely grumpy man. Not only was TCC grumpy, but he was also a bully! He was employed by the City Council to remove stray animals from the city streets. Unfortunately, TCC had spotted Boo some time ago … and was now obsessed with catching her.

About the Author:

Toni is Australian-born, considering herself extremely fortunate to have had parents who encouraged her love of books. Seventy years on, she is still an ardent reader.

(Thanks Mum and Dad.)

She enjoys writing, previously assisting in the production of a monthly community newspaper: The Bayswater Buzz.

This story is derived from a brief news report she watched some years ago, which has somehow morphed into this book.

She truly hopes you enjoy the story of Boo, the blue cat.

Website: https://toninelsonwriter.com/

Amazon: https://amazon.com.au/dp/0228825008
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9780228825005
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780228825005
Abebooks: https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780228825005
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/search?q=9780228825005

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The Adventures of the Unicorn Poo by Reice Godfrey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Reice Godfrey will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Join Sonny and Bailee on their adventure to find a magical Unicorn. The only way to find the magical Unicorn is to follow the trail of POOs until they find a rainbow-coloured, cotton-candy smelling, glitter-covered POO.

Read an Excerpt

They ran over to the Poo and Bailee said, “Is this Unicorn POO?”

Sonny asked, “Is it the colour of a rainbow? NO!”

“Is it covered in glitter? NO!”

“Does it smell like cotton candy? (Sniff, Sniff) NO!”

This is fox POO as a little tiny fox runs away into the bushes.

About the Author: Join Sonny and Bailee on their adventure to find a magical Unicorn. The only way to find the magical Unicorn is to follow the trail of POOs until they find a rainbow-coloured, cotton-candy smelling, glitter-covered POO.

AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Unicorn-Poo-Reice-Godfrey/dp/0228878942/ref=sr_1_1

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Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens by Dana Hammer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dana Hammer will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift certificate to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What is your ideal summer vacation?

Hot springs! I’m obsessed with hot springs and soaking in them. I want to go to any and all of them, but I especially want to go to Chena Hot Springs in Alaska, or Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland. Summer would be a great time to visit those places, because I’m a giant baby about the cold, but I do love some beautiful scenery. I would go alone, because traveling alone is the only way I like to travel. I would soak in the healing waters, all by myself, eating when I’m hungry, sleeping when I’m tired, and compromising on nothing. I would wear lots of floaty kaftans and muumuus and big floppy hats.

What superpower would you like to have?

Healing powers! I think it would be super cool to be able to heal people of their ailments, both mental and physical. The only problem would be, once people found out about my ability, they might try to kidnap me, or use my powers for nefarious purposes. I would have to keep my ability secret, and only use it on occasion. But that would bring a lot of guilt with it, because how would I decide who to heal and who not to heal?

Ok, so maybe I don’t actually want healing powers. How about flying? Flying would be cool.

What reality show would you like to be on?

I don’t know if it counts as a reality show, but I’d love to be on Wheel of Fortune. I’m pretty good at it, when I’m shouting at the TV from my couch, and I would very much like to win money for being good at word puzzles. I love word puzzles.

Who are four literary characters you’d like to have over for dinner?

First would be Arturo Binewski, from Geek Love, no question. The bald, flippered, cult leader is the best written character I have ever encountered, and it makes me sad all day that I’ll probably never write a character as compelling. But having dinner with him would be a good start.

The second guest I would invite is Hannibal Lecter. So insightful, and full of knowledge! So cultured! He could tell me all about Dante and stuff. He would not be in charge of menu planning.

Next would be Lisbeth Salander, from the Girl With a Dragon Tattoo series. She’s the ultimate hero, and I wouldn’t be at all bothered by her taciturnity or her lack of humor, because I know she’s a total badass, and I would be pleased just to get to know her. Maybe she could fix my ipad, which has issues.

Finally, I would invite Shit Turd, the world’s most charming crow. I’m aware that it’s probably odd to invite a crow to dinner, but if you’ve read Hollow Kingdom, you understand that this is a special crow, a marvelous crow, and one that you definitely want to have in your home. I would feed him a gigantic bag of Cheetos.

You are given a million dollars, but can’t save any of it. What would you spend it on?

I would set aside two hundred fifty thousand dollars for taxes. I would pay to upgrade my house, including fresh paint, new furniture, and repairing the stone wall in the backyard that is soon going to ruin everyone’s lives if we don’t fix it. Then I would buy a new car. Then I would buy myself a vacation to Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland. I would donate the rest to the ACLU. They need it right now.

It’s the end of the school year. For most kids, it’s time to relax and get ready for summer. For Fanny, there’s work. She has a brand-new baby brother, and she’s been hired by Zeus to look after his “injured” son. And she still has her and her friends’ cheesemaking business! Fanny is overwhelmed.

But then she meets three sirens who want Fanny to join them on Feather Island for a summer of singing, instrument playing, and fun at the beach. The program is totally free and could start an amazing musical career-the thing that Fanny has always wanted the most.

Athena and Gemma are dead set against it. Athena says that the sirens are bad news; that their whole purpose in life is to lure men to their deaths with their beautiful singing. Gemma says that Feather Island is part of a network of unmappable islands, the type of place where criminals and sketchy organizations hoard their wealth and do their crimes.

Surely, the sirens don’t do that anymore, right? All that stuff was a long time ago. If the sirens want to keep their island paradise a secret, well, that’s not so weird, is it? Fanny has talked to them, and she just knows that they aren’t as evil as everyone says. They are perfectly nice ladies.

Right?

Follow Fanny Fitzpatrick as she navigates big sisterhood, friends who disapprove of her life choices, burning ambitions, and a bunch of sirens luring her away to their private island.

Read an Excerpt

But I don’t have a chance to practice or not practice, because I remember that I have a Zoom date with Gemma and Athena. I head down to the computer and log in to the meeting.

Gemma and Athena are already in there, talking about something. They look serious and sour, but Gemma is wearing the most adorable newsboy hat with embroidered flowers on it, and I squeal when I see it.

“Gemma, that hat though!”

They stop talking and look at me, not smiling. I realize something weird is going on, and so I stop smiling.

“Fanny, we need to talk,” says Athena.

That’s not good.

“Um. Gemma? How’s England?” Gemma shakes her head at me.

I look back to Athena, who has crossed her arms, which makes her look like a strict disciplinarian who’s about to give me a terrible lecture. And I realize that’s exactly what’s about to happen.

“Herman told me everything,” Athena says.

“Um.”

“You let those things in your house! After I specifically told you how dangerous they are!”

“I didn’t let them in,” I say, which I realize is a wimpy thing to say, but I can’t think of anything better. “My dad did.”

“What did they want? Why were they there, at your house?”

“Well—”

“Do you have any idea how many people sirens have killed over the course of these millennia?”

“But that was a long time ago!” I say, sounding desperate and silly, even to my own ears.

“Fanny,” Gemma says, quietly, looking around to make sure no one is listening to her. “I’m not supposed to say this. But there are these islands. A few of them. And they have special deals with the UN, NATO, the African Union, and a few others that I’m not allowed to even say the names of. They have diplomatic immunity. They operate under their own laws, and they answer to no one. They’re unmappable, untraceable. I’ve been talking to Athena, and I think these islands are owned by the sirens.”

“You sound like conspiracy theorists,” I say, rolling my eyes. “How do you even know about these top-secret islands if they’re so top secret?”

“My parents,” Gemma says, like it’s obvious. I guess it should be obvious. I still have no idea what her parents do for a living, but they seem to jet around the planet a lot, with machete-bearing security guards, so I guess it must be important. Still.

“Well, Feather Island is a school. A school for musicians,” I say, trying to reassure them. “There’s a brochure and everything.”

I wish I had the brochure so I could show it to them, how lovely and harmless the place is, but my parents have put it somewhere and I don’t know where it is.

“How do you know about Feather Island?” Athena demands, looking even more furious.

Whoops. I guess I’ve gotta tell them now.

“That’s what the sirens wanted. To tell me about their music camp.”

“NO!” Athena shouts, banging her fist on the table in front of her. Splinters of wood fly everywhere and I’m kind of scared now. This is intense, even for Athena. “You can NOT go to this island. I don’t care what they told you. It’s bad news.”

About the Author:

Dana Hammer is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright. She has won over forty awards and honors for her writing, few of which generated income, all of which were deeply appreciated. She is not a cannibal, but she is the author of A Cannibals Guide to Fasting. Dana is also the author of middle grade fantasy My Best Friend Athena which was inspired by a desire to write something her 9 year old daughter could read.




Website: https://www.danahammer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danahammerwriterofthings

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fanny-Fitzpatrick-Sirens-Dana-Hammer/dp/1962308243/ref=sr_1_1

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A Fable of Wood and String by L.T. Getty

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.T. Getty will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do you write juvenile fiction? What draws you to it?

I didn’t start out writing juvenile fiction so much as wanted to write books I wanted to read. I did start writing young, writing and finishing my first novel at the age of fourteen, but I didn’t consider it Young Adult or anything other than a fantasy novel.

My sisters started having kids and I wanted to give them stories that aligned with our values. I wrote The Mermaid and the Unicorns for my oldest niece when she was barely into chapter books, but didn’t publish it until she was a young teenager. She wanted to know more about a scene, so I wrote A Fable of Wood and String but aimed it at a teenage audience.

Honestly I was worried it was a little on the long side, but then I realized that I would have been fine with this as a teen.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I am a tea drinker but I like my iced coffees, not gonna lie. My go to is an iced Hazelnut Latte but, every once in a while I switch it up. Yes, I will drink a regular hot but I’m Canadian and if it’s not flipping cold out (like, colder than -25 Celcius) , I’m at least considering it iced. It depends on what I’m doing, too; we used to go for slurpees after ice skating.

What candy do you give out at Halloween?

Last year I ran out of candy! I was giving out cans of pop – and not like rootbeer or orange crush, neither but what I had left over from Thanksgiving (in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October). I tend to hand out chocolate I like, like Reese’ Peanut butter cups but I make sure I have Mars or something nut free in case there’s allergens. I learned the hard way to not buy my candy last minute a few years ago I had to go to multiple stores to get Halloween candy the day of.

Coal or candy in your Christmas stocking? Why?

My sister has given my candy coal several times. Traditionally though, in my family growing up I would get a mandarin (small orange) from my parents. And a toothbrush. Not a good combination together.

What book is on your nightstand currently?

I have several on my to be read pile – soon to be read are The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman and Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas Atwater & Olivia Atwater. Haven’t read any of the authors before, I’m told The Blacktongue Thief is more Grimdark and Echoes of the Imperium is a steampunk adventure. They have one thing in common though: Goblins ahoy!

Ideal summer vacation.

I like being outdoors, so ideally somewhere with a nice beach or a mountain where I could go hiking.

Manitoba weather is pretty rough during the winter, but during the summer it can get hot. I tend to head out towards the Whiteshell and do a lot of kayaking, but I’m up for lots of adventures: bike riding, roller blading, or just going on a hike. I love to swim and do water sports, so heat is a plus for me.

Favorite pizza toppings.

I’m one of those people who like Hawaiian pizza. Half my family loves it, the other half tolerate it for us. I will try different pizzas when I’m going out depending on the group.

Playlist for your current book.

I made a Soundtrack! I own the rights to none of these, but the mandolin and music play an important role I the story, so I studied various jigs and reels as well listened to other music. This is not a conclusive list, but here’s some on Youtube:

Flook – Reel for Rubrik/Towards the Sun
I used this one on Instagram when I did the cover reveal. I love the energy and it feels like it could be used in several chapters.

The Arcadian Wild – Yurgen’s Theme
This was developed for The Windfeather Saga animated series. So far the music for this series has been phenomenal, you can watch the first season on Angel Studios without a guild membership. Part of the O’Connell Legacy is studying and understanding the animals in the wild beyond the ones they hunted, this feels like a song Lily or Seth could be playing. The other big song, “My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” is also stunning.

Bodh’aktan – Reels
Feels like a Seth focused-chapter.

Pigeon on the Gate - Tam Lin
This is a traditional song based on the Scottish Tale of Tam Lin. First link is the more famous rendition, second is a retelling of Tam Lin. There’s multiple versions and retellings, it’s a great story about a young woman rescuing her beloved from the fae, so check it out. Pigeon Gate isn’t the only artist who’s done this song, and there are beautiful renditions of one instrument playing it as well.

Faun - Tamlin and the Fairy Queen
Another (slightly snarky) explanation of Tam Lin

Would it hurt you to just do as you're told?

The O'Connell siblings live in the shadow of their parent's past, held back by obligation to keep the people of Stagmil safe when their father has to lead the non-hunters of their village to drive off a wyvern.

Lily doesn't trust the stranger who calls herself Madeline when she staggers into the pastoral lands. The puppeteer seems to take an interest in Lily's talent with the family mandoline, and she teaches Lily new music. Lily's had songs stuck in her head before, but nothing like this.

Twins Seth and Tiffany however can't wait for their father to return so they can get on with the shearing. Seth should at least be helping hunt the wyvern, and Tiffany wants to take her best friend Molly and head to the nearest city and see the world.

The twins and several other villagers are lured by song into the woods and transformed into marionettes: Seth breaking free before he can be strung, and Lily tainted in a way she doesn't understand. They have the skills to track the woman down, but to restore Seth to his body, and rescue Tiffany and the others?

Tracking the woman takes them far from the familiar woodlands they know, across the sea to an enchanted castle, where in an effort to rescue their sister they'll learn something much more sinister than turning folk into puppets is going on. They'll get help, of course, but not from who they expected.

After all, last Seth checked, foxes are only supposed to have the one tail.

Read an Excerpt

“Got any more kitsunes or other surprises?” Caleb asked, squatting down without spilling his buckets. “I’d like to hear the story you were trying to tell me in the castle a little later. Right now it seems like you need help. I’ll take my sword back.”

Lily unbelted it, but Boscoe out of nowhere nabbed it from Lily, ran towards the lake, and pitched it in. Then he sat down, never breaking the squire’s gaze, and scratched behind his ears.

“Why did you do that?” Caleb demanded. “That was my father’s!” He tried to take his boots off, the lacing slowed him down.

“You’re cold, let me do it,” Lily said, sliding off her overdress. She shot Boscoe a sour look, who simply beamed at her. Caleb on the other hand turned around and shielded his eyes.

“Could you not?” he asked.

“I know you can see me, stop pretending like you can’t or I’m indecent.” Her chemise and trousers were dark, chosen for adventuring thank you very much; she’d learned what to wear to repel after a wayward ewe long ago. She hung her overdress on a low branch and waded into the cold water.

“Do you have any idea how long it took me to get these on?” Caleb asked the kitsune, who went, Yip yip! “Fine. To your left,” he offered. Part of her spitefully wanted to disobey him, but figured his father’s sword was important. “How’s the water?”

“Refreshing,” she called back, but paused when she got to about her navel. She didn’t think it was that deep. “Tell me this lake doesn’t have an overabundance of leeches.”

“I’ll help you pick them off,” Caleb offered.

“You’re very kind,” she told him. The water was murky and dark, she couldn’t see his sword so she felt around with her feet and finding it, resigned herself to the dive. Thankfully, she got the sword on her first attempt, and she brought it backup tip first.

Caleb had waded out anyway, but really had only gotten to his knees. He also looked at her with wide eyes, kind of like an idiot for a half-second. “What?” she asked, wading towards him, offering him the sword. “Go on, take it—make sure I didn’t find someone else’s sword.”

Caleb hesitated, but upon grasping the handle unsheathed it, then cast a glare back at the kitsune, who put a paw to his nose and stuck out his tongue. “You’re not a kitsune or a mermaid, are you?” he asked eventually.

Lily couldn’t stifle a guffaw. “You see a tail or scales?” she asked, brushing her hair behind her ears.

“Sounds like something a lake monster would say,” he said with just a hint of teasing.

She flicked water at him, but the way the way the water and sunlight reflected off the blade, she noticed engraving. “It’s got an inscription?”

He held it so she could read it. “Old language. Means ‘Do not unsheathe me without reason, do not wield me without valour.’ Hey, you got a little leech, right—” Caleb gestured to his own neck.

“Waaah!” Lily panicked and fell backwards, and upon getting up, seeing him chuckling and realizing it was a ruse, reached for the sword. “Give me that! Boscoe didn’t get it in far enough.” He had longer strides so she had to settle for splashing him.

About the Author: L.T. Getty is a Manitoba Paramedic. She received her degree in English in 2006 from the University of Winnipeg, and has gone on to write several novels. Her latest title, Titan’s Ascent, is a sword and sorcery forthcoming from Champagne Books for 2025.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479207.L_T_Getty
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/getty_lt
Blog: http://www.ltgetty.ca
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leiagetty

Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/Fable-Wood-String-Getty-ebook/dp/B0DDDQZ2LF
Amazon (Canada): https://www.amazon.ca/Fable-Wood-String-L-Getty/dp/1777698073
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/it/it/ebook/a-fable-of-wood-and-string
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-fable-of-wood-and-string-l-t-getty/1145983492

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Where is Love? by Annie Caboose

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Annie Caboose will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

While walking in the garden one day, Annie, a curious little ant from Hillsville, meets a single poppy flower called Love. They become instant friends, sharing stories, laughing and talking for hours on end. Then one autumn day Annie goes to visit Love, but Love is not there. Remembering the rhyme that Love told her, she sets off on an adventure to find Love.

Love is with you every day.
Love is never far away.
Go search, go find and then you’ll see
All the places Love can be.

But don’t forget to look within
For often, that’s where Love begins.

May Annie’s story inspire anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved being, to look and perhaps still find them within their lives and within themselves.

Read an Excerpt

About the Author:

Annie, a.k.a. the Caboose, is the youngest of nine children. Her loving mother read her lots of children’s stories, including some she wrote herself. Inspired by her mom, Annie wrote her first book, Where is Love? She resides on a lake in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, fascinated by the many birds that live there too.

Website: https://anniecaboose.com
Amazon: https://a.co/d/4MLCYGf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniecaboose/

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