The Northern Witch's Book Blog

SONG OF BLOOD & STONE Earthsinger Chronicles: Book One By L. Penelope From the very first pages of her debut, L. Penelope delivers as a new force in the fantasy genre. The first book in the historical fantasy Earthsinger series was originally self-published, earning a quick fan base, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association Self-Publishing Award and a starred Publishers Weekly review calling it a “fantastic opening to a promising series”. Now traditionally published to kick off the new series, SONG OF BLOOD & STONE (St. Martin’s Press; May 1, 2018) is a treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. With the world building of Brandon Sanderson, the romance of Ilona Andrews, the epic quest of Lord of the Rings , and the doomed star-crossed love of Romeo & Juliet , the start of the Earthsinger series has something to keep any reader entranced for books to come. Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a la...

Medium Wave by Rose Zolock 4 out of 5 Synopsis Becky Moran has built a career claiming to talk to the dead. A successful clairvoyant medium, a Cambridge graduate with her own radio show ‘Medium Wave’ and a team dedicated to crafting the celebrity myth – because Becky Moran is a fake. Until, one night, something supernatural, inexplicable, breaks through live on air as she is broadcasting. Becky Moran discovers the paranormal is real, the dead can indeed speak and she is being pursued relentlessly towards a battle for her very survival. ‘This thing has no defined shape. Whatever energy exists within it, it cannot settle on a shape. The strands of darkness curl out and then wrap back inwards. The bulk of the shadow becomes concave, then bulbous, the height building in on itself but lacking any skeletal structure to wrap itself around. There are no eyes, no clearly defined head shape. It is creating itself from darkness, like a swirl of ebony ink dropped into a vat of putrid wate...

Boy of Blood By Megan O'Russell Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing Series: Girl of Glass Genre: YA Dystopia Release Date: April 10, 2018 After Nightland’s vicious attack on the domes, the safety and perfection of the world within the glass has been contaminated. Desperate to rebuild, outsiders are allowed into the domes to help, breaking the cardinal rule: outsiders and Domers must always be separated. But the city is in shambles, crumbling into chaos without the Vampers of Nightland to keep order, and one name is carried on the wind: Nola. Clinging to Jeremy, Nola struggles to find a way to exist in the domes, turning her back on all she learned in the city. But when one of the outsiders brings the dark secrets of the domes to light, the line between survival and murder blurs against the spectre of the dying world. Can Nola follow the dark path laid out by the Domes? Will the dangers of the night become her new sanctuary?

How You Can Save the World and Enter to Win a $175 Prize Pack! “If you like action-packed adventure books that will keep you reading well into the wee hours, I would recommend  The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh .” –Jennly Reads To celebrate the release of my second action adventure The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh , I’m offering up my largest prize pack to date! But, first let me tell you about the book… When it came to writing The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh , I wanted to create a story in the same vein as City of Gold , maintaining what reviewers described as “a fast-paced action adventure” that is “akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times.” So in this second installment, archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his two closest friends set off for Egypt to save the world. I even splashed in a bit of the police action my readers know and love. “Why does the world need saving?” you may ask, possibly skeptical. Well, an old friend and colleague of Matthew’s...

Blind Dates, Big Love & Six Tinder Weeks Helen's children leave home at eighteen. She sleepwalked through her marriage of twenty years for their sake. But when they go, she leaves her husband. Her house is a mess, as is her image and Helen breaks down. Through her pain, she draws blood and allows the universe to guide her and her decisions. The unexpected happens, scientist Helen gets thrown into a new life of hedonism, dating, and self-discovery. A charming lawyer steals her heart, but is Helen ready for the fast lane? Will the local village firefighter provide the romance of her dreams? Or the military spy CJ, who is convinced that Helen is part of a Romanian smuggling gang. With the help of her sister Portia, Helen starts to transform her life. The universe guides her to finding something in herself. Debut author Bena Robert's provides a unique perspective in this witty black comedy. Dark humor meets chick lit with a robust and realistic voice.

Blind Dates, Big Love & Six Tinder Weeks by Bena Roberts 2 out of 5 Synopsis A gripping laugh out loud romance novel with a spy and mistaken identity. A captivating tale about Helen and her journey after divorce. Humorous black comedy with a cultural twist that anyone over-forty or divorced and looking for love online will love. Helen is a British girl living in Germany.  Helen's children leave home at eighteen. She sleepwalked through her marriage for twenty years for their sake. But when they go, she leaves her husband. Her house is a mess, as is her image and Helen breaks down. Through her pain, she draws blood and allows the universe to guide her and her decisions. The unexpected happens, scientist Helen gets thrown into a new life of hedonism, dating, and self-discovery. A charming lawyer steals her heart, but is Helen ready for the fast lane? Will the local village fireman provide the romance of her dreams? Or the military spy CJ, who is convinced that Hel...

The Witch's Handbook to Hunting Vampires by Amy Boyles 4 out of 5 Synopsis All Andie Taylor wants is a quiet life. Andie Taylor is your average single mom. She's got a beautiful toddler, a great job at the local preschool, a neurotic best friend and one huge secret—she used to hunt vampires. Now retired, Andie would much rather be wiping kid snot off her clothes than stalking the undead. But after a meteor rips through her small town, strange things start happening—like the school janitor is found dead with fang marks in his neck. Andie's retired, it's not her problem. Until vampires attack Andie on her front lawn. Now she has to figure out who the head bloodsucker is and stop him from taking any more victims—all while juggling single motherhood, a crazy great aunt and Andie's own lust for a fallen angel. Can she solve the mystery before the vampires claim someone else? Or will she become the next target of the bloodsuckers? Don't miss this...

Science Fiction Date Published: September 5, 2017 Publisher: Post Hill Press The Gender Wars won’t be fought with machines—they’ll be fought with people. And when the women of West America wage war with men in the East, it’ll be anything but unimaginative. In East America, the most fertile women go through excruciating body- and mind-altering training until their identities satisfy that of the State. They are the “Nancys”—white hair, light eyes, and no way to differentiate themselves from their identical “sisters.” Nancy159 is fifteen. She’s auditioning to be the seventh wife of President X, the ruler of the Eastern States. If she wins, she’ll be married to the most powerful man in the world; if she loses, she’ll die. Avis Baron is the daughter of the Luminary of West America. Recently, she stopped taking her Amplexus pill, taken by all woman in W.A. to control their emotions. It turns out there’s a lot she didn’t know a person...

XX v XY by Christina Cigala 2 out of 5 Synopsis In a world divided by gender allegiance, two young women navigate dangerous new terrain. The Gender Wars won’t be fought with machines—they’ll be fought with people. And when the women of West America wage war with men in the East, it’ll be anything but unimaginative. In East America, the most fertile women go through excruciating body- and mind-altering training until their identities satisfy that of the State. They are the “Nancys”—white hair, light eyes, and no way to differentiate themselves from their identical “sisters.” Nancy159 is fifteen. She’s auditioning to be the seventh wife of President X, the ruler of the Eastern States. If she wins, she’ll be married to the most powerful man in the world; if she loses, she’ll die. Avis Baron is the daughter of the Luminary of West America. Recently, she stopped taking her Amplexus pill, taken by all women in W.A. to control their emotions. It turns out there's a lot she ...

Title: Hiding Author: Jenny Morton Potts A gripping psychological thriller with chilling twists, from a unique new voice. Keller Baye and Rebecca Brown live on different sides of the Atlantic. Until she falls in love with him, Rebecca knows nothing of Keller. But he’s known about her for a very long time, and now he wants to destroy her. This is the story of two families. One living under the threat of execution in North Carolina. The other caught up in a dark mystery in the Scottish Highlands. The families’ paths are destined to cross. But why? And can anything save them when that happens? Goodreads I Amazon ~Review~

Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts 2 out of 5 Synopsis A gripping psychological thriller with chilling twists, from a unique new voice. Keller Baye and Rebecca Brown live on different sides of the Atlantic. Until she falls in love with him, Rebecca knows nothing of Keller. But he’s known about her for a very long time, and now he wants to destroy her. This is the story of two families. One living under the threat of execution in North Carolina. The other caught up in a dark mystery in the Scottish Highlands. The families’ paths are destined to cross. But why? And can anything save them when that happens?

She’s Bad News What would you do if you woke up with super powers?  For Bella Brown, life hasn't gone according to plan. She's almost thirty, still living in her uneventful hometown, and her dreams of becoming an investigative reporter have fallen by the wayside. That is, until she wakes up one morning to find she's been gifted with some amazing new abilities. What’s a girl to do with heightened senses, super speed and the ability to lift a truck one-handed? Bella quickly discovers that her new powers can easily help her land front-page leads at local newspaper The Hartleybourne Gazette. Soon Bella's out every night chasing down local criminals for stories, while keeping her powers a secret from everyone besides flatmate Chloe. But when a burglary-gone-wrong accidentally turns her into the mysterious Hartleybourne Heroine, Bella finds herself on the front page for the wrong reasons. Her secret becomes harder to keep as she tries to track down the source of h...

She's Bad News by Elle Spellman 4 out of 5 Synopsis What would you do if you woke up with super powers? For Bella Brown, life hasn't gone according to plan. She's almost thirty, still living in her uneventful hometown, and her dreams of becoming an investigative reporter have fallen by the wayside. That is, until she wakes up one morning to find she's been gifted with some amazing new abilities. What’s a girl to do with heightened senses, super speed and the ability to lift a truck one-handed? Bella quickly discovers that her new powers can easily help her land front-page leads at local newspaper, The Hartleybourne Gazette. Soon Bella's out every night chasing down local criminals for stories, while keeping her powers a secret from everyone besides flatmate Chloe. But when a burglary-gone-wrong accidentally turns her into the mysterious Hartleybourne Heroine, Bella finds herself on the front page for the wrong reasons. Her secret becomes harder to kee...