The Northern Witch's Book Blog

Raven Storm Fear walks with those in power. Divided, the land of Chem hangs in the balance. In the west the Ravens seek to bring safety to women, and an end to slavery. In the east the remaining covens cling to their power, refusing to give up their way of life to foreign invaders. Across both lands the priests whisper and plot, their gods a shadowy threat hanging over them all. To protect their young family, Kesta and Jorrun have made their home in the Raven Tower of Elden. Unable to abandon their responsibility or friends, they remain embroiled in the fight to the north. Whilst peace and friendship blossom between the Fulmers, Borrows and Elden, the arrival of strangers turns the court of Taurmaline upside down.  The history of the Fire-walkers is about to catch up with them, and the Fire-spirit’s truth will be revealed. Purchase Links  UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raven-Storm-Fire-Walker-Book-3-ebook/dp/B08BWK1QJZ US - https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Storm-Fire-Walker-Book-3-...

Raven Storm  by Emma Miles  5 out of 5  Synopsis  Fear walks with those in power. Divided, the land of Chem hangs in the balance. In the west the Ravens seek to bring safety to women, and an end to slavery. In the east the remaining covens cling to their power, refusing to give up their way of life to foreign invaders. Across both lands the priests whisper and plot, their gods a shadowy threat hanging over them all. To protect their young family, Kesta and Jorrun have made their home in the Raven Tower of Elden. Unable to abandon their responsibility or friends, they remain embroiled in the fight to the north. Whilst peace and friendship blossom between the Fulmers, Borrows and Elden, the arrival of strangers turns the court of Taurmaline upside down.  The history of the Fire-walkers is about to catch up with them, and the Fire-spirit’s truth will be revealed. Review  The Ravens face a new threat during their liberation of Chem; and a powerful new enemy rev...

  Flash Point  Nite Fire Book 1  by C.L. Schneider  Genre: Urban Fantasy  Slated for execution, shapeshifting assassin, Dahlia Nite, flees her world to hide in the human realm. As payment for the shelter they unknowingly provide, Dahlia dedicates herself to protecting humans from what truly lives in the shadows. Moving from town to town, she hunts the creatures that threaten an unsuspecting human race; burying the truth that could destroy them all. But the shadows are shifting. The lies are adding up. And when Sentinel City is threatened by a series of bizarre brutal murders, light is shed on what should never be seen. The secrets that have kept humanity in the dark for centuries are in danger of being exposed. Wrestling with a lifetime of her own deceptions, Dahlia investigates the killings while simultaneously working to conceal their circumstances. But with each new murder, the little bit of peace she has found in this world begin...

Smoke & Mirrors  by C.L. Schneider  5 out of 5  Synopsis  Secrets are a dragon’s best friend. Deception is a close second. Both provide a sturdy armor, allowing half-dragon shapeshifter, Dahlia Nite, to live undetected among the humans. Walking in two worlds, belonging in neither, she wraps herself in a shroud of lies to hide in plain sight. But nothing stays hidden forever. When dismembered bodies of multiple species are dumped on the riverbank, the case falls to Dahlia and Detective Alex Creed. Backed by Sentinel City’s new task force, the pair find themselves urged along by clues that seem too good to be true. Bouncing from one crime scene to the next, they hunt for a clear motive in a murky sea of conflicting evidence. Already on edge from the recent string of unexplained crimes, the city begins to unravel. Drowning in missing creatures, slaughtered remains, masked men—and the search for her sidekick’s missing sister—Dahlia burns the candle at both ends. Seek...

Secrets of the Lavender Girls  by Kate Thompson  4 out of 5  Synopsis  Nell Gunn, Snowball and Esther will be back, along with more characters from Britain's biggest beauty factory, as they battle the twists and turns of war in Stratford. Will Nell find lasting love? Will Snowball reveal what forced him onto the streets? And will Esther be able to tame the wild child she takes under her wing as part of her new bursary? As flowers and vegetables blossom in the Shoot's new Dig for Victory allotment, can the inhabitants really bury their pasts? Review  One little community in the East End has had to endure years of war, but that won't stop them living their best lives. I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book I've read in this series, and it was really easy to jump into this story. That being said, I am keen to read Secrets of the Homefront Girls. This follows the lives of many people in the Shoot, but has three...

The Prince's Son  by Deborah Jay  5 out of 5  Synopsis  Nessa Haddo has been raised to pursue what every young noblewoman needs: a suitable husband. Unfortunately for her, as a younger twin, her prospects are limited. Things start to look up when she lays eyes on the handsome foreign envoy sent to escort her sister to an arranged marriage, but her romantic fantasies quickly entangle her in events beyond her darkest nightmares. Compared to his last mission, ex-spy Rustam Chalice’s new assignment sounds simple: wrangle an unwieldy bridal caravan across a mountain range populated by bandits, trolls, werecats, and worse, try to cajole a traumatized princess out of her self-imposed isolation, and arrive on time for the politically sensitive wedding. What could possibly go wrong? Meanwhile, Lady Risada—the woman who haunts Rustam’s dreams—is struggling to adjust to a normal life. All her carefully honed assassin’s instincts scream warnings of foul play, yet she can find no...

  Queer Sci Fi's sixth annual flash fiction anthology is here - "Innovation" - and there's a giveaway too! IN-NO-VA-TION (Noun) 1) A new idea, method, or device. 2) The introduction of something new. 3) The application of better solutions to meet unarticulated needs. Three definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell. Here are 120 of our favorites. Innovation features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi. Other Worlds Ink | Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads Giveaway Queer Sci Fi is giving away your choice of a $20 Amazon gift card OR a print copy of four of the other five flash fiction books in the series – Flight, Renewal, Impact, and Migration (US only unless you are willing to pay the shipping outside the US) with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter: a Rafflecopter giveaway D...

 The Black Kids  by Christina Hammonds Reed  5 out of 5  Synopsis   Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, this unforgettable coming-of-age debut novel is a unflinching exploration of race, class, and violence as well as the importance of being true to yourself. Los Angeles, 1992 Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of high school and they’re spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer. But everything changes one afternoon in April, when four police officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids. As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. Even as her self-destructive sister gets dangerously involved in the riots. Even as the model black family façade her wealthy and prominent paren...

Love Gaia  by T.L. Clark  3 out of 5  Synopsis  The future is history! To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, Aroha and her classmates must learn harsh lessons. Having led a sheltered life, their history is shocking. Nobody should have to endure what Dr. Rachel and her inmates were put through. Yet it was seemingly necessary. The burden of responsibility lies heavily upon their shoulders. Remember to maintain, “Honesty, Respect, Fortitude,” as you read this thrilling and agonizing tale of devastation, survival and hope. – A post-nuclear war, dystopian vs. utopian, environmental romance NB/ Mature content Not suitable for those with claustrophobia The events in this book are supposed to be fictional  Review  The time has come for Aroha and her classmates to learn of the trials, sacrifices and mistakes that were made; so history won't repeat itself. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Aroha is living in a post-apocalyptic utopia, in...

Jules Radcliffe has a new mm/gay pirate romance out: "Pirate Master." And there's a giveaway! A strait-laced lieutenant. A free-living pirate. A hopeless love. Quinn has never met a man quite like Perry. Stern and cold on the outside, burning up inside with secret passion. Yearning for a mastery only Quinn can satisfy. But Perry is no outcast—he’s a respectable officer in His Majesty’s navy. Reluctant to test his love for a pirate, Quinn baulks at asking him to give up everything he holds dear. Though he has no regrets about their night of glorious sin, Perry sees no future with Quinn. Unlike the pirates of Port Royal, he isn’t free to love where he pleases. If word of his illicit affair came to the ears of Commodore Pobjoy, his career would be at an end. And the disgrace might mean he could never return home to England. With war on the horizon, the Caribbean is a hotbed of intrigue. Quinn is betrayed and thrown into Monte Gris, an impregnable dungeon even the fearsome B...

Pirate Master  by Jules Radcliffe  4.5 out of 5  Synopsis  A strait-laced lieutenant. A free-living pirate. A hopeless love. Quinn has never met a man quite like Perry. Stern and cold on the outside, burning up inside with secret passion. Yearning for a mastery only Quinn can satisfy. But Perry is no outcast—he's a respectable officer in His Majesty's navy. Reluctant to test his love for a pirate, Quinn baulks at asking him to give up everything he holds dear. Perry has no regrets about their night of glorious sin, but he sees no future with Quinn. Unlike the pirates of Port Royal, he isn't free to love where he pleases. If word of his illicit affair came to the ears of Commodore Pobjoy, his career would be at an end. And the disgrace might mean he could never return home to England. With war on the horizon, the Caribbean is a hotbed of intrigue. Quinn is betrayed and thrown into Monte Gris, an impregnable dungeon even the fearsome Brethren of the Coast aren't strong...

The Puritan Pirate  by Jules Radcliffe  3 out of 5  Synopsis  The Caribbean, 1664 An uptight naval lieutenant. A free-living buccaneer. Enemies from the first. It all changes the night Quinn reluctantly rescues Lieutenant Peregrine from the consequences of his folly. Their tentative truce leads to a wild tryst and the thrilling discovery that their unconventional desires are perfectly matched. Perry is the most delightfully submissive lover Quinn has ever had, and he wants Perry by his side for good. But such an affair would not only end Perry’s career, he may never be able to return to England and his family. Fearful of discovering Perry’s desire for respectability is stronger than his love, Quinn leaves him behind in Port Royal. But in his darkest hour, Quinn discovers that Perry will risk his life for them to be together. Review  Lieutenant Peregrine thinks it's the worst punishment in the world, being assigned to the pirate ship Audacious, in the name of coo...

A Pirate's Promise  by Jules Radcliffe  5 out of 5  Synopsis  The Caribbean, 1664 Press-ganged as a boy, Job Wright has spent years as a captive on a merchant ship plying the Atlantic trade routes, until one day musketeer Garrett Dubh, a crewman of the buccaneer ship Audacious, rescues him. Garrett takes Job under his wing, and they become firm friends. It's the first real friendship Job can recall having. He is fascinated by the handsome pirate, however, and he longs for more than just kindness between them. Determined to prove his worth to Garrett, Job goes to lengths that might just cause serious trouble in the French pirate haven of Tortuga. He fears he’s bitten off more than he can chew--and this time, Garrett isn’t there to save him from danger.  Review  When Job's ship is attacked by pirates, he sees an end to the years of abuse, even if that end is death. Garrett stops his shipmate from killing the boy, and he can't deny the attraction between them....