Spring 2024 Read

Hello, everyone! Spring is here . . . and so, naturally, the cold has returned after a week and a bit of sunshine, because that's how the world works apparently. Happily, this spring is also full of so many exciting releases, which provide a very handy distraction from the weather. In fact, there's enough releases that have me really hyped that I can't actually cut down my list to just five — so I'm posting the full version on both Light and Shadows and Dreams and Dragons! (I actually have an ulterior motive for doing this as well, but I'll get into that in a week or two.) What has me so excited? Let's find out. 

Spring 2024 Reads

1. The Queen's Curse by J.F. Rogers (February 27). Ok, yes, this released in February, which is not spring by any means, and it's the third in a trilogy that I haven't actually started. However, the trilogy does sound pretty cool — it's an epic portal fantasy (a genre that used to majorly dominate my reading), but with the hero coming from one fantasy world into another, which I've always thought is an underused concept. Better still, apparently at least one of these worlds is steampunk with elves and fae. If that isn't worth a try, I don't know what is.

2.  What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge (March 5). Past experience with Rosamund Hodge's work gives a roughly 50/50 chance on whether I like it . . . but that past experience also suggests that if I end up liking it, I'll really like it. And What Monstrous Gods sounds like it potentially has a lot in common with Cruel Beauty (which I liked enough to buy), so I am hopeful that this will will end up in that "really like it" category. It's a Sleeping Beauty retelling with what sounds like secrets and quests and an unexpectedly arranged marriage romance, and a lot of people with excellent taste in books have recommended it. I haven't gotten my hands on it yet, but I will request it from the library as soon as it becomes available in one of the systems.

3. Water Horse by Katie Hanna (March 19). I already read and reviewed this one! So, go read that post if you want my full thoughts. But in short: I think the fantasy and Western genres are an underrated combination, and I'm pleased that at least one author has also realized that and started to fill that void with this book. Water Horse blends Western adventure and drama with Irish mythology, and aside from having more swearing than I expected and a few quibbles with the writing style, I quite enjoyed it.

4. Nobody's Hero by Janeen Ippolito (March 21). This one actually released just yesterday, but I got an ARC, so I got to read it early. You can check out my Goodreads review for my full thoughts, but in short, this is a fun, fast-paced superhero adventure that has a lot in common with H.L. Burke's SVR-verse books. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, and I also thought Ippolito had an interesting take on what a world populated in part by people with superpowers might look like, especially in the early stages when supers are a relatively new phenomenon.

5. No Man Left Behind by W.R. Gingell (March 23). And here we get to the part of the season when I possibly start exploding from an overload of awesomeness — otherwise known as what happens when four (four!) of my favorite authors release new books in rapid succession. First up: No Man Left Behind, the final book in the Worlds Behind series. I have very steadily enjoyed each book in this series more than the last, so I have very high hopes for how this tale will turn out, especially after all the revelations and general awesomeness of Book 4's ending. And the snippets Gingell has been releasing only reassure me that this book is going to be so, so good.

6. Dark & Dawn by Suzannah Rowntree (April 5). I have an ARC of this book waiting on my Kindle right now, and the only reason I haven't already devoured it is that I had a book club (or group read, whatever you want to call it) read I had to get through first. But I desperately, desperately, need to find out what happens next to Molly, Vasily, and the rest of the crew . . . particularly because there's a part of me that hasn't stopped screaming since I finished Dark & Stormy. Plus, this one is apparently going to delve into some mysteries of Molly's own past, and given that I have been wondering if foul play is somehow afoot for a while now . . . well, all I can say is that Rowntree's Miss Dark's Apparitions never fail to deliver, and I can't wait to see what's in store next.

7. Castle of the Winds by Christina Baehr (April 14). Speaking of stories that consistently deliver: I am so looking forward to returning to the cozy Gothic world of the Secrets of Ormdale series. Even better, this story sees Edith venturing off to Wales (in some interesting company, no less! — though I can't say more than that), apparently to encounter a legendary Red Dragon, and I just know this will be quite the adventure. I'm excited to find out what mysteries Edith will uncover next, and I'm also eager to see how certain relationships continue to develop.

8. The Erlking's Daughters by Claire Trella Hill (April 19). Wrapping up our streak of awesomeness-overload: The Erlking's Daughters is by the same author as Black and Deep Desires — aka that historical paranormal romance that I went uncharacteristically feral over last year — but this time she's giving us a dark fae fantasy tale with a slowburn romance and strong sibling bonds. We all know that fae and slowburn romance and sibling bonds are like catnip to me . . . and while I can go either way on dark, I trust Hill to handle it well. (I also have an ARC of this one, so I'll be reading it well before the release date — the only reason I haven't gotten to it yet is because I've had other books-with-deadlines that had to be read first.)

9. Shattered Resistance by Madisyn Carlin (May 28). This is the third book in the series that began with Shattered Reflection, which came out as part of the Arista Challenge Shattered Mirrors release. I liked Reflection, so I'm kind of ashamed to have missed the fact that the sequel is already out! But I'm eager to get my hands on both Shattered Reaction (the sequel) and Shattered Resistance and return to this world and these characters.

What book releases are you excited for this spring? Am I missing any? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

 

Broken Mirrors Release Party: Interview with Madisyn Carlin [Shattered Reflection]

Hey'a! It's time for the second Broken Mirrors release: Madisyn Carlin's Shattered Reflection. This is a non-magical take on The Snow Queen, which promises to be fascinating. You can, of course, read my whole review over on Light and Shadows, or you can stick around here to get a little insight into the author herself in the interview I did with her. And, of course, you can check out the rest of the tour stops and the giveaway on the release main page. And now, let's learn a bit more about both the book and the author!

About . . .

Shattered Reflection

Princess Nordica Icerri’s crown will be purchased with blood—her blood. Now the sole heir to the throne, she is determined to be the queen the Snowlands deserve, but that comes with a price: a numbed heart and soul. Only when she meets kidnapped physician Loren Alocer does Nordica allow herself to hope she can become queen without completely losing herself. But not everyone wants what’s best for the Snowlands, and Nordica’s upcoming rule is compromised at every turn. Can the criminal physician—and his faith—thaw Nordica’s heart, or is she destined to be the heartless queen she is being forced to become?

War shattered not only Breac Finson’s heart, but his faith as well. Tired of fighting, Breac only wants to be left alone, but his efforts are for naught when a friend calls in a favor. He soon finds himself in an unexpected alliance with Layree Alocer, a woman determined to find her wrongfully-kidnapped brother at all costs. Can a broken soldier help right a wrong—and find his faith again in the process?

Sides must be chosen and loyalties will be tested as a new war approaches. Can broken lives be mended in time to help save the Snowlands, or is evil already too deeply embedded?

Find it on: Amazon || Goodreads

Madisyn Carlin

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales of redemption, faith, and action.

Find her online via her LinkTree.

Interview with Madisyn Carlin

Welcome to the blog! To start out, please tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, what are your favorite hobbies (aside from writing) or favorite books (outside your own), and do you prefer coffee or tea?

Thank you for having me, Sarah! I am a Christian, homeschool graduate, bookdragon, logophile, and nerd. Outside of my own books, some of my favorites are The Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight and The Ravenwood Saga by Morgan L. Busse. As for coffee or tea, I am one of those rare breeds who likes neither.

Ay, fellow former homeschooler! That's awesome. Where did you get the initial idea for your particular twist on The Snow Queen, and how (if at all) did the concept shift from its original version?

Hoo boy. The initial idea was a combination of reading the original fairy tale, listening to Ruins by Ledger, and seeing the name Nordica. Those meshed to create the beginning concept of Shattered Reflection. The plot shifted quite drastically in some areas as I wrote. I had snippets written down from when it was just an idea, and none of those snippets were used. They would have taken the story in a completely different direction. One of the main characters, Breac, wasn't even included in the beginning, and another main character, Marcus, went through seven different names before I decided which one fit him best. Breac's cousin, who portrays the Little Robber Maiden, was supposed to be different as well. I can't reveal more than that lest I give away the story, but, yeah, things changed.

I love "Ruins," so it's super cool to learn that it was part of your inspiration. What was something you learned (whether it's about writing, about yourself, or just a random thing from your research) while writing this book?

One of the things that intrigued me most about Shattered Reflection was the idea of making a nonmagical retelling. To do that, I had to tap into medical research and devise and create my own nonmagical methods for incorporating the ice and freezing aspects. God designed quite a masterpiece when He made the human body, and it is quite complex. I had to dig to learn which nerves were connected, which areas of the body would be affected, and really plan out what would happen if a substance with the ability to freeze and kill emotion entered the bloodstream.

Sounds like a lot of work, but I'm sure it paid off. What's another fairy tale you'd love to retell but haven't yet gotten to write your take on?

I would really like a shot at retelling The Riddle. It's packed with sarcasm, sass, intrigue, odious villains, and so many questions that go unanswered.

Oooh, that would be very cool! Finally, can you tell us a little about what you're currently working on and what we can expect from you next?

I am currently working on two projects (which I don't recommend). The first is 1.5 in my other fairy tale series, The Redwyn Chronicles. It began as a Little Mermaid retelling, then shifted---kind of---into Snow White and Rose Red, but neither of those really fit the concept, so I'm on the hunt for another fairy tale that will work. Lord willing (and if I can get my characters and plot to cooperate), KEY will release in March.

The second project is Book Two in The Shattered Lands series. Again, the fairy tale retelling element is eluding me, but I have the basics down and these sassy characters are so fun to write. I hope to release it in June or July of 2023.

Yeah, working on multiple projects at once is tough, but both of those stories sound pretty cool. Thanks for stopping by the blog and answering my questions! And thank you to all my readers for visiting!

Did you enjoy the interview? What's something cool you've learned or researched in the course of writing a story? Please tell me in the comments!
Thanks for reading!