Category: Juvenile Fiction

#TheWriteReads blog tour | “My Heart is Hurting” by S.E. Reed A #BBNYA Finalist in (2024)

Posted Thursday, 6 March, 2025 by jorielov , , 0 Comments

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Acquired Book By: I found out about this novel via The Write Reads who was hosting a blog tour in March, 2025. I read a sampler of the novel online and found it such a compelling story. I knew I wanted to read the novel in full and marked myself down to host a review. I was able to purchase a copy of the novel about a week and a half ahead of the blog tour and I was wicked happy I was able to feature the novel for the tour. 

Thereby, this is a self-purchase of mine and I was not obligated to post a review. I am sharing my ruminative thoughts for my own edification and for continuing to share my readerly life on Jorie Loves A Story. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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Why I found this story to be a harder read than I expected it to be:

I have had a keen interest in reading more Children’s Lit over the years – which is why I developed my own concentrated readathon over the Summer, which I refer to as #MyYASummer. This past Summer, I made strides towards accomplishing that very goal (see also Post) – of reading a healthy array of YA Lit over the months of Summer but I was unable to finish reading the stories I had begun. This year, I’m doubling down and will start sooner than I had last year – all whilst, in the months leading into June, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for #newtomeauthors of Young Adult novels which are featuring the types of stories I’d love to be reading right now. I have a penchant for Indie Authors – as I’ve long been a champion of Indies since I first started as a book blogger in this community in (2013). I also actively read Middle Grade Fiction, too.

I truly felt this was going to be a good fit for me as a reader – which is why I elected to be on the blog tour and choose to purchase a copy of the novel in order to read it for the tour itself. However, as you will find throughout my review – there were grave disappointments for me as reader who struggled to come to terms with where the author’s initial framework for the novel led me to believe it was going in one particular direction and then, took a much darker path entirely and wrecked the story for me. I earmarked what went wrong and what I believe are warnings in content for sensitive readers who might want to know what is inclusive of the story ahead of reading it for themselves. I know those help me a lot as I navigate stories to read and am grateful for book bloggers who discuss them on their own reviews.

This story might not have the same effect on someone else and they might not feel as dearly shattered at the end of reading the novel like I had either. Stories affect us in different ways and we each experience a novel differently. What suits one of us, might not suit the rest of us and vice versa. Being a finalist in the BBNYA, I know this story already found a strong audience and that readers resonated with the story as it was told. For me, it just fell short and left me wanton for an ending which matched better with the foundation Reed had established earlier on in the novel.

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#TheWriteReads blog tour | “My Heart is Hurting” by S.E. Reed A #BBNYA Finalist in (2024)My Heart is Hurting
Source: Purchased | Personal Library

Jinny Buffett is lonely…

She’s never had the comfort of a white picket fence with a loving family. Her subsidized apartment in Hollywood Florida echoes with the void of her dead Daddy, and the nights drag long into twilight while her Mama works the block outside the Margaritaville resort.

It’s idealistic Ms. Fleming, who’s brave enough to come knocking first. She wants to see Jinny rise up and use her ace scores to escape the wheel of poverty, convincing Jinny to start a school book club, where she finds the friends and boyfriend she never knew she needed.

But when her Mama spirals out of control and threatens her entire existence, it’s Jinny’s Everglade ancestors who arrive in a mist of magic, bringing the swamp and hope with them.

Genres: Children's Literature, Young Adult Fiction, Upper YA Fiction, YA Contemporary



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781958531259

Published by Wild Ink Publishing

on 16th July, 2023

Format: POD | Print On Demand Paperback

Pages: 180

Published by: Wild Ink Publishing (@wild_ink_publishing) via Instagram

BBNYA Finalist Badge 2024 provided by The Write Reads and is used with permission.

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Posted Thursday, 6 March, 2025 by jorielov in 21st Century, Bullies and the Bullied, Childhood Friendship, Children's Literature, Coming-Of Age, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Modern Day, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Post-911 (11th September 2001), School Life & Situations, Teacher & Student Relationships, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, Upper YA Fiction, Young Adult Fiction

A #WyrdAndWonder Wednesday | “Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow” by Peter David

Posted Wednesday, 26 February, 2025 by jorielov , , 2 Comments

#WyrdAndWonderWednesday graphic made by Jorie in Canva.

Acquired Book By: I started hosting blog tours with The Write Reads in 2020 and prior to hosting with Dave (who runs the tours and has built an incredible community of the socially bookish behind it) I was following their feeds via Twitter. I took an unexpected hiatus from hosting their tours until Summer, 2024 wherein I reconnected with Dave and started to get back into the tours as they were available to join.  I love finding new Independent publishers as much as I love finding new niches of fiction and Non-Fiction alike in which to absorb a story or style of narrative I haven’t yet come across and through hosting for The Write Reads I am finding my journey of discovery is regularly heightened to travel into new spheres of where story can take us all.

I received a complimentary copy of “Buddy and the Queen of Sorrow” from the author Peter David in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I was particularly attached to my stuffies growing up as I believe most children are as they find the comfort and friendship in stuffed animals. I had such a wide variety of stuffies, too, including my teddies – each of them were their own unique personality and had their own distinctive names, too. I still have most of them today – though, sadly, not exactly with me as their packed away. Whilst deciding how to feature the novel socially for the blog tour – I took inspiration by other book bloggers who were showcasing the book alongside their own teddies. And, mine will reflect a new addition to my shelves as well as a few friends who also give me loads of smiles by being present in my readerly life.

The concept of the story is what truly gave me courage to read the novel as I was quite intrigued by how the author set the tone and the narrative to begin. I also knew that he might be mistaken quite a lot for the ‘other’ Peter David of whom I had the pleasure of meeting once at a Trek convention and one of who wrote some of my favourite stories in the world of Trek. I was also wicked happy to find a #newtomeauthor of Middle Grade Fantasy as that is one of my focuses whenever I am seeking out new Fantasy novels to read.

In fact, I try to hone in on new voices in both Middle Grade and Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. I have quite a few I’m reading at the moment – leftover from last year when my work hours went bonkers and time elapsed off the clock before I could fully tuck into the stories. Those will be featured in the coming weeks as March starts to arrive and I’m able to finally settle into the novels I received at the close of (2024).

I wasn’t sure what I would find within the pages of Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow but as I started to read this story, I found it quite wondrous indeed! It is as if David was able to peel back the layers of time and entreat us all a reprised visitation to our own childhood wherein toys and stuffies and teddies occupied our hours with endless imagined play and the curious adventures we took them as we lived our lives. It is a testament to the joy of being a child whilst firmly still embracing the innocence of childhood as an adult, too. It has poetry and lyrical prose as much as it has heartwarming sequences of brave courage. There is a bit of everything in this novel but what leaves you the most JOY of all is having taken the journey David envisioned us all to undertake. And, that is the best blessing of all, truly. 

I found a particularly wicked good interview with Peter David about this novel, too!

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A #WyrdAndWonder Wednesday | “Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow” by Peter DavidBuddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow
by Peter David
Source: Author via The Write Reads

Buddy is no ordinary teddy bear.

He’s a Knight, crafted by The Nameless Wizard himself, and sworn to protect his Person, 10-year old Mieya, from all the Things-That-Go-Bump-In-The-Night.

When Mieya is cursed into a magical sleep, it’s up to Buddy and his friends Esteban the Bard, Sasha the Warrior-Princess, and Copper the Butterfly to journey across The Realm-Under-The-Bed and find the one responsible.

But this is no ordinary Quest. The Realm is a dangerous place, filled with jungles, deserts, lightning storms, and Monsters. But worst of all is The Queen of Sorrow who waits for them in her dark castle in the crags. To break her curse, Buddy will need more than his skill with a blade, Esteban’s witty songs, or Sasha’s ferocious might.

He’ll need Heart.

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Fantasy Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy



Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 979-8227115102

Published by Self Published

on 30th August, 2024

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 168

About Peter David

Peter David

A native son of Massachusetts, Peter has been living in the Deep South for over 25 years. By day, he’s an insurance professional, saving the world one policy at a time. But at night, well, no one really wants to see him fighting crime in his Spider-Man onesie.

Instead, Peter develops new worlds of adventure influenced by his love of science fiction, mysteries, music and fantasy. Whether it’s running role-playing games for his long-time friends, watching his beloved New England sporting teams vie for another championship, or just chilling with a movie, his wife, two boys, one puppy and three cats, Peter’s imagination is always on the move. It’s the reason why his stories are an eclectic blend of intrigue, excitement, humor and magic, drawn from four decade’s worth of television, film, novels and comic books.

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Posted Wednesday, 26 February, 2025 by jorielov in #EnterTheFantastic, #TheWriteReads, #WyrdAndWonder Wednesday, 21st Century, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Children's Literature, Fantasy Fiction, Jorie Loves A Story Features, Juvenile Fiction, Middle Grade Novel, Modern Day, Organised Blog Tours, Portal Fantasy, Post-911 (11th September 2001), Supernatural Creatures & Beings, Supernatural Fiction, Witches and Warlocks

A #SciFiMonth Inner Space Odyssey Book Review | “The Heart of the Uni-verse” by S.D. Henke

Posted Monday, 13 January, 2025 by jorielov , , , 0 Comments

#SciFiMonth Book Review banner created by Jorie in Canva.

Acquired Book By: I’ve been wanting to read this lovely novel for the past year, as I received it ahead of #SciFiMonth in (2023) and had fully intended to either read it ahead or feature it during the event itself. Due to various reasons, I was delayed, and my review was pushed forward until now. The author reached out to me via my Review Policy page, and I was truly grateful they had as it was a different kind of story and format of a book, and I was most eager to read it. I am hoping by featuring it this year during #SciFiMonth other readers might give it a chance to leave an impression on them as well.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Heart of the Uni-verse” direct from the author S.D. Henke in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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An apology to the author for taking a bit longer to read this lovely story:

I had fully intended to read this lovely story closer to the time it arrived by Post, however, as it turnt out, the best timing for me was this #SciFiMonth instead. Everything was going fine, too, as I was hugged so dearly close into the story and appreciating the diversions of where the poetry moved along in sync with the journey we were undertaking with Pi. Then, of course, the events I mentioned on a book spotlight happened and I expanded what was going on personally in my life on The Sunday Post. To put it simply, I lost my footing with my final reads of #SciFiMonth and had to redivert my attention into reading by selecting some #cloakanddaggerchristmas reads (such as Prison Break Hostage) instead as well as some INSPY Contemporary Romances (such as The Doctor’s Christmas Dilemma) to put me back on track!

By the time I *finally!* realigned into the novel, it was a breath of fresh air as I truly loved the uniqueness of how its told and the style in which it was written. Thereby, I truly apologise to the author for taking a heap longer to read this novel than originally intended. I can honestly say, the times I’ve spent inside the story were wicked brilliant and I definitely look forward to seeing more stories by Henke now that I firmly have a grasp on her artfulness of storycrafting!

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A #SciFiMonth Inner Space Odyssey Book Review | “The Heart of the Uni-verse” by S.D. HenkeThe Heart of the Uni-verse
by S.D. Henke
Source: Direct from Author

PI confronts the everyday trials of an eleven-year-old grappling with the complexities of life, family, and friends, and the prospects of losing it all in a heartbeat as he faces his third and final round of open-heart surgery for a congenital defect. Struggling with the family dynamics of his exhausted mother, his deployed military father, and his declining grandfather, BIG PAW, Pi feels as if his life is spiraling out of control.

When it’s announced that his school will host the 3M contest an idea to alter his misfortunes springs into action. Pi sees this as his chance to change the course of his life. There’s just one problem, only eligible 6th-grade students are allowed to enter, and although he should be in 6th grade based on his age, he was held back a year due to his health condition. Crushed by the news that his dream could be foiled by the limits of space and time, he and his friends concoct a plan that can take them to the stage of the national science contest. 

Other things are changing for him as well as he navigates a budding new friendship with a sixth-grade girl, CEYLAN who has offered to enter the contest for him. With the added moral support of his best friend JAMAL, and the solace he’s found in science, Pi sees his own cosmic connection with the power of positive thinking as a path to help heal the hole in his heart.

Pi and his friends enter the contest and work together to bring ‘Mind Matters’ into the scientific spotlight. The evidence rests in the countdown toward Pi’s impending surgery. On top of that, the changes in Pi’s grandfather are taking a turn for the worse as Pi watches him drift away in direct conflict with what he is working to achieve.

Meanwhile, his own timer is up with his deployed father’s scheduled homecoming and the surgery moving ahead as planned. Pi is out of time and out of hope and failure seems to be allied with his everyday reality. Just when he thinks he has no other option than to give up, his own efforts to promote the positive has left an impact and his friends and his grandfather step up to show him that “Mind Matters” really do matter.

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Poetry & Drama, Science Fiction



Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781738125401

Published by Self Published

on 10th April, 2023

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 241

Published By: SDH Publishing / Self Published

Available Formats: Trade paperback and Ebook

Converse via: #SciFiMonth

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11th Annual Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

This story took the award for BEST Science Fiction.
(Middle Grade Science Fiction
)

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • Sci Fi November 2024
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Posted Monday, 13 January, 2025 by jorielov in 21st Century, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Review (non-blog tour), Children's Literature, Indie Author, Juvenile Fiction, Literature for Boys, Middle Grade Novel, Modern Day, Post-911 (11th September 2001), Reading Challenges, School Life & Situations, Sci-Fi November, Science Fiction

A #SciFiMonth One Way Ticket Book Review | Space Opera [set in the Rims!] novella series #HeavensEdge by Jennifer Silverwood (stories 1-3!)

Posted Thursday, 28 November, 2024 by jorielov , , , , , 0 Comments

#SciFiMonth Book Review banner created by Jorie in Canva.

Acquired Book by: Long before Sci Fi November 2019 – I started planning which authors I wanted to host during @SatBookChat (my Romance & Women’s Fiction chat wherein I discuss multi-genres in/out of those spheres of interest) – whilst I also had a hearty knowledge of which stories I would be reading throughout November during the event. I wasn’t sure if this was available to request for review – and due to a slight misreading of an email I nearly missed my chance to have a copy of it in time for the event itself – all I knew prior to event starting is I wanted to feature Ms Silverwood and I wanted to chat about Heaven’s Edge due to the fact this series is first told through novellas and secondly I have a newfound affinity of interest of Space Opera Rim stories! Being blessed with an omnibus print edition of the first three stories is something which filled my bookish heart with loads of happiness – such a beautiful edition, with lush purple cover art and a series of bookmarks tucked in for added random joy from Ms Silverwood’s other series I already love reading the Borderlands Saga!

Uniquely, it has taken me more years than I deemed possible to continue my journey into this series and to complete my ruminative thoughts about what I was reading therein. I am thankful for the patience of the author and of allowing me to continue this journey into Heaven’s Edge at a timeline which suited me best as a reader. This might have taken a long time to finish reading and reviewing – but the journey of being held inside this series was an experience I shall not soon forget and am grateful for being able to undertake.

I received a complimentary copy of the omnibus edition of “Heaven’s Edge: Novellas No. 1-3” direct from the author Jennifer Silverwood in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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on why i am itching
to read this novella series:

Ever since I first learnt about Space Opera stories set at the Rims – those tucked off remote areas of space where Spacers and Miners have to come to an accord to live amongst each other whilst they mine & live so far removed from inhabited planets & interstellar civilisation – it begs the question, what kind of people can take that kind of challenge and how would they thrive in that kind of chaotic environment of wit, stamina and fortitude?

My first introduction to this Rim side of Space was within the delightfully addictive audiobook “Rimrider” of which I had this to share about the environment & atmosphere of Rim set stories:

I truly loved the humourous takes on Spacer life through the pen of Ms Kelley,.. I knew from the jump-start this was going to be a fast moving story, as soon as Jane’s voice filled my earphones – the was something happily different about this Space Opera. It was written from the perspective of teens – wherein this would fit well with Young Adult SF, but it’s more layered than your typical teen angst novel set in Space. No, it’s more about the curious way how if you have the fortitude to change your own destiny, you can do incredible things!

The author kept the ‘pirate’ traditions and legacies of their rituals in place throughout Rimrider – including sorting out how to ‘insert’ this culture into a Spacer’s experiences. Basically if your familiar with this culture, the interesting bit is watching how even in outer space, pirates can surprise you! There was one aspect of their lives which took me back to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – especially when we are treated to another ‘parlay’.

As Jane learns more about how free traders can lay claim on both ships and land – she gets a wider picture of how her life can play out. She doesn’t want to make too many plans too far ahead – not that you can blame her truly, she’s lost a lot and is just starting to gain her confidence back in knowing she’s living for the moment. Except even in this new life of hers, she has hard choices to make – including how to help someone whose dying but who has a lost daughter. She surprises herself for the rising strength inside her bones – of being able to table her own anguished emotions and focus on someone else who needs someone to care about them more than worrying about things which cannot be changed. It was here – in those hard moments where Jane was no longer a teenager but a young woman – one step closer to being an adult, Jane emerged as a leader.

From this moment forward – Jane is coming into her own skin. She’s taking on more responsibilities but also finding within her the strength she needs to carve out her own niche amongst the free traders by sorting out how she can help take a stand against the UEC. There is so much going on – I simply found myself fully absorbed into the action of it all! When Jane goes undercover in order to seek out the ‘missing’ – you get caught up in the fuller back-story of how the UEC is truly working against the will of humans and aliens alike – you start to see how what is held back from sight is really right there waiting for someone to take notice and do something to affect change!

I am in love with the fuzzy aliens with paws on Rimrock! Jem and Jane are a dynamic duo of a team – there are elements of telepathy and inter-species communications which I found fascinating as it showed how despite the differences between species, there is a general acceptance for what is ‘right and what is wrong’. The overlays between this culture and ours are clearly present – especially when it comes to scathingly horrid practices of non-environmental friendly industrial mining – this in of itself, is worth watching unfold.

Honestly – the narrator nailed the characters and the theatrical mannerisms which make this audiobook ‘SING’ to the reader – meaning, you can easily forsake whatever else you intended to do and simply ‘listen’ to this Space Opera! The humour is bang-on brilliant, the setting is intoxicating because you dearly want to know ‘more’ rather than ‘less’ and if this first installment is the gateway into the series at large – your going to want to consume the next books in sequence! I truly loved this audiobook – it was wonderfully produced, but it’s more than that — my sci-fi geeky heart was overjoyed getting caught inside a world which simply gripped me from the first moment I heard ‘Jane’ come through my headphones!

-as quoted from my review of “RimRider”

You can clearly see what motivates me into the Heaven’s Edge series now – as Kelley gave me the curiosity about how young persons reliant on themselves can do extraordinary things on the Rims. I cannot wait to see what Silverwood has done with her series as I entreat inside Heaven’s Edge and sort out what is about to befell her characters in this lovely hidden niche of Space Opera Lit!

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On my connection to Jennifer Silverwood:

When our paths first crossed, Ms Silverwood and I shared a mutual interest and connection; however, our friendship did not form for a while afterwards. It was truly after the interview went live and after I noticed I was reading her blog as much as she was reading mine – where I realised we shared a lot of commonalities in our reading lives as well as our writerly lives! We decided to stay in touch, and it is an honour to find someone who understands the bridge between reader, blogger and writer.

I am disclosing this, to assure you that I can formulate an honest opinion, even though I have interacted with Ms Silverwood through our respective love & passion of reading inside the twitterverse whilst I hosted her Silver Hollow blog tour and privately as well. I treat each book as a ‘new experience’, whether I personally know the author OR whether I am reading a book by them for the first time or continuing to read their releases as they are available. This also applies to hosting a guest feature by the author I share a connection.Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

A #SciFiMonth One Way Ticket Book Review | Space Opera [set in the Rims!] novella series #HeavensEdge by Jennifer Silverwood (stories 1-3!)Heaven's Edge | Novellas No. 1-3 (omnibus edition)
by Jennifer Silverwood
Source: Direct from Author

Series Introduction from the author Jennifer Silverwood:

Welcome to Heaven’s Edge! Grab your scythe blades, strap on your plasma gauntlets and prepare yourselves for one steampunkish adventure to the far corners of space with Qeya and co.

But before we begin, did you know this series about a group of stranded space teens was among the first stories I ever penned? A long time ago, in the year 1998, my folks had just bought our first computer. I wanted to write stories set in a world like Star Wars, but without adults interfering, of course. I spent my first formative writing years exploring Heaven’s Edge with Qeya and the gang. So it seemed only natural to update the story and make it my first publication twelve years later. My struggle to see Qeya published was what directed me to self-publishing and the rest is history.

We meet a crew of former Royals, the Miners who once served them. In Qeya, the crew was attacked by a mysterious alien force, then crash landed on the primitive world below. Trouble is, none of the adults survived and now a small band of children and teenagers must cross the boundaries their parents imposed on them to survive.

Over the years and between releasing my “big” books, I worked with editor and friend, Jessica Augustsson to breathe back life into this mini-series. It’s been one epic steam-clunking ride, reinventing this world from my childhood.

I hope you’re ready to take a tour of the Rim with me. Enjoy the adventure!

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Young Adult Fiction



Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-1717897091

Also by this author: Author Interview: Jennifer Silverwood (Silver Hollow), Stay, Book Spotlight: Borderlands Saga, Silver Hollow, Book Spotlight: Blackbriar Cove

Published by JayHenge Publishing

on 4th April, 2019

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 326

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The Heaven’s Edge novella series:

Qeya by Jennifer SilverwoodOhre by Jennifer SilverwoodTamn by Jennifer Silverwood

**Omnibus includes first three Heaven’s Edge Novellas**

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Qeya (book one)

Qeya, the future Queen of Datura, can’t do much about her red hair, but she knows how to wield a scythe blade and suck the life out of her enemy, literally. Life seems great, if a little boring on heaven’s edge. Until her ship is attacked and nearly everyone on board is murdered. Now, the miner who saved her is the only thing standing between her and the hungry beasts hunting them.

Ohre (book two)

All Ohre wants is the kind of freedom a life in the sea can give. But he doesn’t want to live it alone anymore. He wants the princess and if Qeya won’t come willingly, he’ll make her.

Tamn (book three)

Tamn has always lived by a code. He doesn’t question his duty. Until his crew is stranded on a hostile alien world and he’s forced to watch the girl he loves burn in the sky. Stripped of his reason for living, the voices from his past haunt and guide him in a path of endless retribution. Only the strongest will survive the trials ahead and Tamn is determined to keep the family he has left alive.

As revealled in #SatBookChat,
there are a potential 2x novella sequences & a full-length novel!

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Formats Available: Trade Paperback (omnibus) or Ebook (individual or combined)

Genre(s): Space Opera | Stories set on the Rims | Young Adult Speculative Fiction

Converse via: #HeavensEdge, #SpaceOpera, #YALit,
#FuellYourSciFi and #SciFiMonth

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11th Annual Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

This story took the award for BEST Space Opera Series.
(Young Adult Science Fiction
)

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About Jennifer Silverwood

Jennifer Silverwood

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of two series—Heaven's Edge and Wylder Tales—and the stand-alone titles Stay and Silver Hollow.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • Sci Fi November 2024
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Posted Thursday, 28 November, 2024 by jorielov in Anthology Collection of Stories, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookmark slipped inside a Review Book, Brothers and Sisters, Children's Literature, Coming-Of Age, Novellas or Short Stories, Sci-Fi November, Science Fiction, Siblings, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, Young Adult Fiction

Jorie’s #KidsLit Summer | feat. “The Phoenix and the Firebird” by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford

Posted Thursday, 29 August, 2024 by jorielov , , , 0 Comments

Children's Lit Summer photo collage created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: jorielovesastory.com

Acquired Book By: I started to notice I was receiving quite a few enquiries on my blog the last few months – in respect, to authors reaching out to me directly about reviewing their novels and one publicity firm I hadn’t worked with in the past as well. Mr Crawford was one of those lovely authors who reached out to me and told me about the novel he co-wrote with his wife. I was taken by the premise of it and asked a few questions as potential trigger warnings for the book in respect to violence or other issues I might be unaware of as a potential reader. I have been actively asking these questions for certain stories in Children’s Lit (ie. Middle Grade and Young Adult) as more times than not, these stories can sometimes be inclusive of scenes and depictions I am not interested in experiencing as a reader. Blessedly his responses reassured my concerns, and I realised the novel was written for an Upper Middle Grade or early Young Adult reader in mind. 

I received a complimentary copy of “The Phoenix and the Firebird” direct from the authors Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I have oft sought out the stories which speak to me to read – stories which have the tendency of being independently published and outside the scope of the mainstream, too. Especially if you consider all my top favourite reads within Speculative Fiction (ie. Fantasy, Science Fiction and Cosy Horror) are either published by Indie publishers, Small Trade Press or are self-published by the authors themselves. I love seeking out the stories which might not have a wide audience yet and are as eager to find us as readers as we desire to find them to read. I love finding stories which are uniquely told, share a different perspective and have incredible world-building. Which is why when I read the message from the author asking me to consider this for review, I was immediately smitten with curiosity.

I am also one of the few readers who doesn’t judge a book or select a book strictly on cover art alone – it has to have some teeth behind it in respect to plot, character and the overall arc of journey. I love to feel emotional connections to the stories I’m reading, too whilst finding myself carted off to someplace new – whether that is by location, time or dimensional shift. I love exploring timescapes as much as worlds – seeing how writers choose to tell their tales but also how they develop the world round the story, too. In essence, one of the reasons I love reading SpecFic is because it is redefined and evolved through each new writer who writes a story within its scope of the craft.

When it comes to Mythological Fiction – that is something I credit as an interest of my own to a fellow book blogger and friend of mine, Louise @ FoxesFairyTales who developed the readathon #Mythothon years ago. I was one of the first to join the ranks of readers and bloggers and the socially bookish to follow in her stead and see where that challenge took us. For the initial challenge, I took it a step further and sought out Mythological stories in Fantasy and Fiction which parlayed into the prompts. It is still an on-going quest of mine to read those books in full and to travel prompt by prompt of the other events she’s held over the years, too. I am endeavouring to participate in the current round of #Mythothon whilst being active with the community of the event via Discord this year as Round 9 Climb the World Tree begins this September!

Previously, I did start to dip my toes into Mythologically inclined stories or stories which bent into other aspects of SpecFic into their plots such as The Ghost Bride. However, by participating in #Mythothon off/on over the years, I’ve become much more inclined and open to seeking out a wider variety of stories in this scope of literature. Including my on-going project to read The Cycles of Norse Mythology.

And this brings to the book I am featuring today. My journey as a reader has been evolving these last eleven years, I’ve been a book blogger – each new story and writer or co-author team I find offers a new window into literature and a new way of experiencing a ‘story’. Thereby without the journey leading into today, I might not be reading The Phoenix and the Firebird because I might not have been ready to read it. I’m hunger for stories like this right now and I am grateful I started opening doors into books like this one a while ago now to where I can pivot and dive into a novel like this one and savour every single second of it.

This one is meant to be at the intersection Middle Grade and Young Adult – as it could appeal to both readers of those kinds of stories. What perked my interest the most was the premise itself – combined with the research the authors did on the story’s behalf and how they lived in China, too. Their a unique writing team and there was just something wicked special about this story that felt like a story I could really sink my teeth into and become entranced by it.

It is considered Historical Fantasy rooted in the authors’ own family’s journey during the Russian Revolution. Described as a merger of Chinese and Slavic myths – we entreat into the 1920s and follow in the footsteps of Lucy whose father has been kidnapped. I love stories which feature brave children facing incredible circumstances and how their journey is both external and internal, too. This one feels like the kind of story the Wyrd And Wonder community would appreciate, too, based on the fact it parallels both the fantastic and the reality in which we all know.

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I did find this interview by the authors, but I didn’t read it until I read the story myself as I wanted to keep the experience of discovering the story to myself for a bit longer. Sometimes I read interviews ahead of reading stories and other times like now, I keep them to read afterwards. It just depends. I hope by sharing my thoughts and reactions on behalf of reading The Phoenix and the Firebird – I might inspire you to take a chance on reading it, too!

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Jorie’s #KidsLit Summer | feat. “The Phoenix and the Firebird” by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes CrawfordThe Phoenix and the Firebird
by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Dinara Mirtalipova (cover artist)
Source: Direct from Author

War and revolution took almost everything from them. Now they must brave a world of magic and monsters to save what’s left.

A bullet-riddled train staggers into the station, delivering an ominous message that will change Lucy Markov’s destiny: her father, a Russian officer, has been kidnapped. A refugee who lost so much before she found a home in China, Lucy refuses to lose her last remaining family. Guided by a mysterious feather, she must cross into an enchanted realm to find him.

Lucy’s quick-witted, spirited friend Su joins her quest. Following the clues, they discover a warlord commanding an army of human soldiers and magical beasts has seized Lucy’s father – and now plots to invade their city. To save her father and their home, Lucy and Su must confront the criminal underworld, cross a haunted forest, and outsmart creatures they thought lived only in fairytales. With each step closer to the warlord’s lair, dangers test their courage and their bonds to each other. Will they unlock the secrets of the feather in time?

The Phoenix and the Firebird melds the turmoil of 1920s China with the majesty of Slavic and Chinese myth. Join Lucy and Su as they soar into a world woven from history and folklore and learn whether friendship is the strongest weapon of all.

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fiction, YA Fantasy, Historical-Fantasy, Mythological Fantasy



Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-9888843381

on 20th August, 2024

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 224

Published by: Earnshaw Books

Follow @EarnshawBooks (via Instagram)

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11th Annual Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

This story took the award for BEST Middle Grade Fantasy.

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Posted Thursday, 29 August, 2024 by jorielov in #EnterTheFantastic, 20th Century, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, Autobiographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookish Discussions, Childhood Friendship, Children's Literature, China, Chinese Folklore, Chinese Literature, Coming-Of Age, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Cosy Horror, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Earthen Magic, Equality In Literature, Family Life, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore, Folklore and Mythology, Geographically Specific, Good vs. Evil, Historical Fantasy, Indie Author, Inspired by Stories, Multi-cultural Characters and/or Honest Representations of Ethnicity, Russian Folklore, Russian Literature, Seers, Shapeshifters, Supernatural Creatures & Beings, Supernatural Fiction, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, the Nineteen Hundreds, Upper Middle Grade, Witches and Warlocks, World Literature, YA Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction