2022 was a bit of a mixed bag, but here's to you!
You made it through. Thank you for all your support this last year. It's meant the world to me. Every comment, like, or reaction to my posts has kept me going. I hope you have a fantastic New Year. I hope that 2023 is kind to you, and I hope that you find the good things outweighing this coming year. All my love and best wishes to you for 2023 Ari xx
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Seasons greetings, and happy holidays
Can you believe we've only got 8 days left of 2022? How is it even December already?! How is it Xmas Eve tomorrow?! This might be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the busiest! So, do you wanna find out what I've been up to? Alright then, let's dig in... Shadow and Soul, Book Three 'Of Wild and Witchcraft' is the third book in the Shadow and Soul series, and it picks up immediately from the ending of Book Two with a world-shattering revelation for one of our main characters, Cordelia. Stuck on the strange Island they find themselves on, Percy and Cordelia can't run from what they've discovered there, and that's just the first blow of many. 'Of Wild and Witchcraft' really puts Cordelia through the wringer, and she struggles to overcome not only the aftermath of book two, but each subsequent blow in this book seems to wear her down further. Beyond Percy, and the presence of the Winterbite Wolves, however, is the brightspot that is Willow. A young girl that Cordelia takes under her wing. Children are, admittedly, where most books lose my interest, and I did find myself struggling through parts of this book due to the prominence of this newly introduced character. But not due to the authors lack of skill. Cassandra Diviak handles the sisterly relationship between Cordelia and Willow with skill, and although I sometimes found myself wishing to see more of Cordelia and Percy instead, I can see how the connection between Cordelia and Willow can potentially grow to be very important in subsequent books. As for poor Percy, I feel like he spent a great deal of this book holding Cordelia together, but there's some important revelations for him within the 'Of Wild and Witchraft' too. Especially in terms of his wolf. Who finally has a name to put to his gruff inner voice. And that's something else I'm excited to see in the final installment. All signs of which point to one hell of a ride. Another enjoyable read from this author, 'Of Wild and Witchcraft' leaves you on the edge of your seat, with a cliffhanger ending, that will have you scrambling to pre-order the next book in the series. Of Wild and Witchcraft is available now.
You can purchase a copy in E-book or Paperback form via; Amazon UK or Amazon US Barnes & Noble Kobo UK or Kobo US Chronicles of the Dawnblade, Book Two I've been looking forward to getting my hands on this book basically since the moment I finished the first one. To the point where I recently backed the author's Kickstarter for signed physical copies. I waited to read it until my paperback arrived, and it was most definitely worth the wait. We rejoin the main character, Nicolas, back at home after his adventures in the first book, and Nicolas is not handling the trauma of those events well. He sees danger in every small sound, he's scared of the dark, his hands shake when they shouldn't, and his compulsive tendency to remind himself that 'there are no monsters out there' every time he has to open a door after the sun goes down is almost painfully believable in its realism. When a chance encounter with old friends leads him on a new adventure, I'm not sure if it's Nicolas who is more shocked, or us! Throughout 'Strange Companions' we meet up once more with many familiar faces from the first book, like Auron and Garaz, and even Potter, whom instinct tells me may become an important character later in the series. Each of them, in their own way, help Nick to overcome what he's already been through, and face the current conundrums they're faced with. Like a chicken that won't stop following them around. Andrew Claydon's unique and delightful humour flavours 'Strange Companions' as thoroughly as the first book, and makes this epic adventure a sheer delight with every turn of the page. But the beauty of this series is that Nicolas isn't a reluctant hero of the stereotypical variety. He has a genuine streak of cowardice, yet also a deep reserve of genuine bravery to counter it, and that pushes him to do the good thing, the right thing, in spite of his fears. Being brave isn't a lack of fear, it's being afraid and acting despite that fear, and Nicolas fully embodies that goodness of heart. It also makes him the reluctant, but ideal, role model for a surprise re-occurring character who may or may not be searching for redemption. All Nick's weary heart wants at the end of this adventure is to return home, but his journey isn't over yet and I, for one, can't wait to see how he and his friends handle the events of Book 3! Strange Companions is scheduled for release on December 5th.
You can purchase a copy in E-book or Paperback form via; Amazon UK or Amazon US Barnes & Noble Googleplay Smashwords Kobo UK or Kobo US |
Arista Holmes
I'm a writer in her thirties, who is based in the South East of England. Archives
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