Genre

Book Spotlight: The Mountain of Souls by Marcus Lee
How far would you go, and what lines would you cross, simply to survive? Within the depths of the Mountain of Souls, an ancient sect raises orphans to become remorseless assassins. Abandoned by an empire ravaged by war, hundreds die during selection, leaving a determined, bloodied few, honed by training and enchantment, to emerge as The Chosen - an elite cohort tasked with delivering an ancient prophecy. Malina is one of those orphans. Cursed with yellow eyes and deathly pale skin, she is neither popular nor strong and appears certain to die on her first day, twisted and broken like so many before her. Fate, however, has other, far more sinister plans for Malina than a quick death. As the forces of darkness rise and the prophesied return of the Once and Future King draws near, Malina must be prepared to sacrifice her very soul to ensure both her survival and his ascension. But is it a price she is willing to pay?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: The Half Killed by Quenby Olson
A dark apparition stalks the streets of Victorian London... Dorothea Hawes has no wish to renew contact with what lies beyond the veil. After an attempt to take her own life, she has retired into seclusion, but as the wounds on her body heal, she is drawn back into a world she wants nothing more than to avoid. She is sought out by Julian Chissick, a former man of God who wants her help in discovering who is behind the gruesome murder of a young woman. But the manner of death is all too familiar to Dorothea, and she begins to fear that something even more terrible is about to unleash itself on London. And so Dorothea risks her life and her sanity in order to save people who are oblivious to the threat that hovers over them. It is a task that forces her into a confrontation with her own lurid past, and tests her ability to shape events frighteningly beyond her control.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes
From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there's more magic to the world than he thought... When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he's drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too. Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something - yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: The Exile of Zanzibar by Daniel Maidman
Claire built a device to fold space and time. It had a flaw... When the smoke clears, she finds herself halfway across the world, thousands of years in the past, and no device in sight. In bronze-age Florence, war has lasted for generations. All Claire wants to do is get home, but she’ll need help from the locals. She wins an ally in Marcus Diophantus, a pickpocket turned soldier turned general, who hopes to turn into something more than just her champion. Together, they broker peace between Florence and its enemy. If Marcus is going to help Claire, he’ll have to survive. Peace has upset the balance of power in the capital city. The king stands increasingly alone against: the Constantines, a commercial enterprise as much as a clan, who aim to profit from peace as they have from war – the warrior nobles, descended from the founders of Florence and quick to turn against a weak throne – and Reburrus, the high priest of Florence, convinced Claire answers to hostile foreign gods. As the city comes to a boil, Claire and Marcus – and Marcus’s formidable army – will have to decide where their allegiance lies. Claire becomes a reluctant participant in a savage campaign. While Marcus leads the battles, she tries to gain control of the unimaginably powerful Ctesiphôn – a ghost tower in the heart of Florence, shrouded in magic and myth.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Shakespeare vs. Dickens: Exploring Two Literary Legends
William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens are pillars of English literature, each leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and literary landscape. Though separated by centuries and writing in distinct genres, both authors captured the complexities of human experience in ways that have made their works timeless. Shakespeare’s eloquent verse continues to inspire, while Dickens’ vivid characters and sharp social critiques still resonate with modern readers. In this article, we will delve into the distinctive qualities of their writing, examining their impact on literature and the ways in which their works continue to shape our understanding of society and the human condition.
By Lawson Brooksabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: The Dame on the Dock by Louise Gorday
In 1922, private investigator Tatum “Shoe” Shoemaker—fresh off a sensational case and a Pulitzer Prize nomination—finds himself working in a bad section of Washington, D.C., and drowning in debt. So when a well-heeled solicitor offers a substantial retainer to solve the brutal murder of a wealthy industrialist’s daughter, he jumps at the chance. Against the advice of his girlfriend-cum-wise-cracking assistant, Shoe decides to risk potential retribution from elected officials and return to Nevis, Maryland—the bayside town that ran him out six months earlier for exposing corruption in government. But his hope of solving his new case is immediately imperiled when he learns archrival Rudy Becker has been retained on the same case. Clues pile up without connection as neither investigator fully trusts the other, and each withholds information vital to solving the case. Soon, both investigators find themselves prime suspects in the murder, and they must either learn to work together with complete trust, or one of them will certainly go down for the murder.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: The Bridesmaid's Brother by Olivia Lockhart
For Penny Archer, dating after forty has proved to be less ‘silver foxes and romantic dinners’, and more ‘last chance bargain bin’. She’s met every liar and cheater in the dating pool, and after one heartbreak too many, she is officially sworn off men. A strong, single mum, she doesn’t need a partner, and besides, the family planner is crammed with work commitments, school meetings, puppy classes, chores for her ageing parents and, of course, her beloved book club. Although a cuddle now and then wouldn’t go amiss… Penny jumps at the chance to let her hair down at a friend’s wedding, blissfully unaware that she’s about to crash into a stranger’s life in the most mortifying manner. Can something that begins in disaster ever end in happiness, or is it all too good to be true? Will Penny ever turn the pages of her own book towards that happy ever after? One wedding… One bouquet toss… The chance to change her story…
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Sushi and Sea Lions by Rachel Corsini
When a career-ending injury and a messy breakup send prima ballerina Daniela Verdi back to Queens, New York, she fills her days with countless distractions: meaningless sex, pinot grigio, and video games. It takes a chance meeting with her brother's best friend, Vincent LaBate, for her to remember who she was before the stage lights and distractions of the Upper West Side. She's convinced that Vincent could never love a girl like her: broken, insecure, and stumbling her way through life. What Daniela didn’t count on is that Vincent is as scarred as she is after divorcing his cheating wife and going through an equally messy child custody fight. Soon enough, old vulnerabilities rear their ugly heads, opening a crack in Daniela’s perfectly imperfect romance. As Daniela and Vincent's relationship develops, will Daniela learn to accept that a dream life isn't all it's cracked up to be?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Sunset by Arshad Ahsanuddin
An unlikely savior emerges to prevent the advent of mass destruction and genocide descending on the world… By Day Los Angeles, 2040. When the terrorist known as Medusa threatens to kill millions with a stolen nuclear bomb, Nick Jameson makes a fateful decision. He reveals himself on global television as a Daywalker - a vampire with a soul. To save Los Angeles, Nick exposes not only his own gifts but three separate cultures based on millennia-old magic. By Night The three metahuman races exist in careful balance, working to maintain a fragile peace. Nick and his fellow Daywalkers successfully master their natural bloodlust. The Sentinels, armed with both magic and steel, repress their warlike instincts. And even some Nightwalkers, normally their natural enemies, have deserted the Court of Shadows to join the triple alliance. Nick Jameson is deeply involved with two such Nightwalkers - handsome Lorcan and powerful Rory. Both men love Nick. But neither can protect the new Ambassador to Humanity from the events he has set in motion. By the Sword Jeremy Harkness was lured into Medusa's service under false pretenses. A loner with no one and nothing to cling to, he was willing to die for his cause. But the night Medusa tried to obliterate Los Angeles, Jeremy met Nick Jameson, triggering the onset of his own psychic gifts. For Jeremy is the third race of metahuman, a Sentinel, born to kill the Nightwalkers with no quarter asked or offered. And neither Medusa nor the Court of Shadows will settle for peace when they can make war. Betrayal and treachery lurk around every corner on the road to coexistence, and at every turn, Nick must question who to trust among his metahuman allies, friends, and lovers—before their civilization is plunged into the depths of darkness and bloodshed. With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Stone & Sky by Z.S. Diamanti
Come fly away on griffin-back! Fly off to the world of Finlestia in this epic fantasy story for readers looking for adventure, magic, and just plain fun; a tale where friendships must overcome insurmountable odds and remind readers to never lose hope. From across the sea, a shadow rises. A lone survivor may be the kingdom’s only hope against annihilation. Orin is a sworn protector. As a stalwart member of the Griffin Guard, he’s proud to protect the kingdom against a dreaded nation of orcs. But when the fires of war burn bright from the north, his entire squadron falls to deadly wyvern riders, leaving the devastated Orin bloody and alone. With his squad dead, Orin has his mind set on saving others from the same fate. Teaming up with a local huntsman’s family, Orin and his new friends must push themselves past their limits to face mysterious dangers and ancient magics. Shocked to discover the orcs’ secret weapon, the lone guardian’s last chance to save his home could require the ultimate sacrifice.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Smuggler's Fortune by Angela Boord
Kyrra d'Aliente's metal arm has always been her salvation, but will it now become her downfall? Peace may have been declared in Liera, but the city is a dangerous place for mercenary Kyrra d’Aliente. Her family is dead, her pockets empty, the man she loves missing, and now, some out-of-work sellswords want to steal her metal arm. When an encounter with an old friend leads to a smuggling job, she’s more than willing to hop on board in exchange for a bag of coins and a little revenge. But as this deceptively simple job leads down an ever more treacherous path into Kyrra's past, will the mysterious cargo be worth the danger it brings—or will it cost her far more than her arm? Smuggler’s Fortune is a standalone novella set in the award-winning Eterean Empire epic fantasy series. If you like fast-paced stories with a cast of complex characters and a strong female protagonist, you’ll love Angela Boord’s action-packed adventure.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Sledge vs. The Labyrinth by Nick Horvath
SLEDGE. THE ULTIMATE ANTI-HERO. When his former lover, Kiira, finds herself the target of a mysterious dark web assassin network, modern-day gladiator, Einarr “Sledge” Laukkanen, embarks on a blood-spattered mission to uncover who lurks at its heart. But as he bludgeons his way down to its lowest depths, one thing becomes terrifyingly clear: NO ONE ESCAPES THE LABYRINTH . . .
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub