Review & Giveaway: Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk

Series: Blood and Sand #1
Release date: January 16th 2018
Publisher: Tor Teen
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

FORGED IN BATTLE...

FROM THE DUST OF THE ARENA...

A LEGEND WILL RISE

The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared to take on the Roman Republic―and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus...

For teens who love strong female protagonists in their fantasy and historical fiction, Blood and Sand is a stirring, yet poignant tale of two slaves who dared take on an empire by talented debut author C. V. Wyk.

Roma Victrix. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to create an empire―an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master’s favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end―and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus...

The story continues in Fire and Ash, coming in 2019 from Tor Teen.

*Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

After spotting Blood and Sand on Goodreads, I knew I just had to read it. While I haven't watched or read anything regarding Spartacus or Gladiators before, I do love female protagonists that are strong and more than capable of saving themselves when it comes down to it. And in the case of warrior princess Attia, she had all this and more, plus she was able to become vulnerable and compassionate beyond the tough exterior. 

I loved the two main characters from start. Both Attia and Xanthus had endured so much in their past and it made them real and even more interesting. It was also wonderful to see how much their adversity motivated them to rise to the top and face things head on and that more than anything else drew them closer and became a beautiful bond in the wake of all the chaos.

Romance aside, the overall setting and historical aspect of the story was magnificently executed and I applaud the author for her superb writing and the way in which she kept the novel so intriguing. From the fight scenes to the atmosphere outside of the arena, every moment was important and not once did the story feel dull or draggy. I enjoyed every bit of this thrilling tale and I cannot wait to read the second book. 

Speaking of follow-ups, the ending really broke me and left me with questions, and I'm nervous about what will happen next for each surviving character. I'm looking forward to finding out where their paths will lead and if Attia and Xanthus will have a happy ending once the people responsible for their suffering falls. 

In conclusion, Blood and Sand is quite a thrilling adventure that pulls you into the lives of two determined individuals fighting for love and justice in a time of brutality. I highly recommend reading this fantastic story.

About the Author

C.V. Wyk is the author of BLOOD AND SAND, debuting from Tor Teen in winter 2018. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Wyk now resides on the east coast along with a precocious mini poodle and demanding guinea pig. 

In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys playing MMORPGs, kayaking, coding, hiking, staring listlessly at blank walls, and nursing a totally healthy coffee addiction.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

~GIVEAWAY~

Finished copies of the book will be provided by the publisher to 3 winners.

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CAN'T WAIT TO READ: Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk

Release date: January 16th 2018
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pre-order: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic--and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus....

Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire--an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master's favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end--and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus....

About the Author

C.V. Wyk is the author of BLOOD AND SAND, debuting from Tor Teen in winter 2018. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Wyk now resides on the east coast along with a precocious mini poodle and demanding guinea pig. 

In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys playing MMORPGs, kayaking, coding, hiking, staring listlessly at blank walls, and nursing a totally healthy coffee addiction.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Review: A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess

Series: Kingdom on Fire #2
Release date: September 19th 2017
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository{Affiliate Link}

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The magicians want her to lead. The sorcerers want her to lie. The demons want her blood. Henrietta wants to save the one she loves. But will his dark magic be her undoing?

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the bloodthirsty Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own.

So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

*Received a physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After falling into this dark and magical world in book one, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I loved the characters and wanted to see how they would grow and where the author would take us next. And while I enjoyed the story once again, I must say I'm a bit disappointed with the situation of Henrietta and Magnus. I absolutely loved the latter in the previous and wanted so much more for his character, sadly it seemed he was ignored for the most part of the book, even though he was still very much present. 

Yes, I know readers don't always get what they want, but I could have sworn things would have taken a different turn in this book. I definitely did not expect how it went with Blackwood. Maybe I missed something previously but his character had me confused, and I just couldn't understand why Henrietta would react in that way toward him. But anyway, we'll see how it goes in the third book because there were certain revelations that became clear about Blackwood's character and I'd like to see how he develops further. 

Speaking of development, I think Henrietta has grown somewhat, but still has ways to go. After all, she's a teen. They're all young adults who have to put up a strong front and take on a horrible situation such as fighting horrific creatures. Henrietta did have naive ways about her but like I said, she's still a teen girl figuring things out. And the whole thing with her childhood best friend is quite sad, but I honestly never felt like it was the type of love you feel in a relationship. Not in the way Rook or Henrietta believed. I think it's because both grew up together leaning on each other and had developed this sense of reliance. Indeed, they had a special bond. But as for being in love, I don't think either truly felt that or even understood what that was.  

The topic of love and character growth aside, I liked how there was some more inclusion of adventure, finding powerful weapons, learning more about the ancients and Henrietta's ties to one in particular, and also the introduction of Maria. She's a lovely character. I figured her out right away so it wasn't a surprised for me when the truth was unveiled, but I still loved her presence throughout the story and the blossoming friendship between her and Henrietta. Maria is another one I'm looking forward to learning more about in the next book. 

In conclusion, A Poison Dark and Drowning continued the intrigue and reinforced my interest in the story. Once again, great writing from Jessica Cluess. She had my emotions all over the place. I liked how she kept it dark and twisted, but still gave a few moments of vulnerability and lightheartedness. It is a series I'm not sure I want to end, and with Henrietta facing such turmoil, I'm anxious to find out how she will overcome. What will happen next with her and the other characters, especially Magnus? I'm hoping he will return because he definitely has a sweet spot in my heart. If you haven't started this series I highly recommend you do asap. You'll enjoy it!  

About the Author
Jessica Cluess is a graduate of Northwestern University and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories.

www.jessicacluess.com | twitter.com/JessCluess 

Review: A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

Series: Kingdom on Fire #1
Release date: September 20th 2016
Publisher: Random House
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. 

Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.

Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one.

As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves?

Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces Henrietta Howel, a powerful, unforgettable heroine, and an entertaining world filled with magic, monsters, and mayhem.

*Received physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This story was definitely intriguing and will keep you interested from start to finish. However, if you're looking for lots of action you'll find that it's a slow build and doesn't come often. But as mentioned in the blurb, it's an introduction to the main character and her abilities, as well as all the other individuals that become part of her magical world.

Henrietta Howel isn't your average sixteen-year-old. Working as a young teacher at a school where the headmaster could get quite brutal, she had to fight hard to not only survive her unfortunate situation, but she also had to hide the fact that she could burst into flames. With the help of her dear childhood friend, Rook, who had severe issues of his own, they're able to keep her secret while envisioning a better life away from their current. Then all of a sudden some dark forces spring out of nowhere and Henrietta's power is discovered. And so her journey to being recognized as a so-called chosen young girl who could destroy the monsters once and for all began. Henrietta is introduced to counterparts, as young as she was, and all shared the same goal: to be commended by the queen. Most of the story is about Henrietta's training and the confusion as to why she was unable to perform certain things a sorcerer would easily. We later discover the reason why, along with the mystery surrounding her parents. 

It was quite interesting, learning about the Ancients and how they came to be. But I was mostly fascinated with Henrietta's dilemma and wanted to know how it would all play out. She knew the truth yet she kept it from the other sorcerers, fearing they wouldn't accept her. And after the way people like her were dealt with in the past, I didn't blame her. 

Other interesting aspects of the story involved Rook's battle with the dark side. He seemed like a true friend to Henrietta and his deep feelings for her were obvious, but for some reason I just didn't want them to be anything more than friends. I really felt for him and all his anguish, and at some point I wanted them to put him out of his misery because it was obvious what would happen later on. It'll be interesting to see how his character develops in the next book.

Henrietta is a strong female character. In a time where women were definitely told to hold their tongues, she was headstrong and unafraid to stand up for what she believed in. I loved those traits of her character. And when it came to her heart, I rooted for her and Magnus. Their connection was evident throughout the pages and I hope they find a way to be together soon. Hopefully Magnus will sort out his situation and fight to be with her. 

In conclusion, A Shadow Bright and Burning is a wonderful, alluring story with great writing. Love the historical setting with dark and magical elements. Can't wait to read the sequel and see where the author takes us next.

About the Author

JESSICA CLUESS is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel. 

When she's not writing books, she's an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories. 

Visit her at jessicacluess.com 

Follow her on Twitter at @JessCluess.

CAN'T WAIT TO READ: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Release date: December 27th 2016
Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

About the Author

With a B.A. in English, Erin had aspirations to write the next great American novel. But writing proved tougher than she first thought, so she grabbed a Nikon and became a professional photographer while she worked on manuscript after manuscript. 

The scenic detour of shooting weddings across the United States, as well as internationally, provided world-building inspiration. It gave her the vision to draft her debut YA fantasy, EVER THE HUNTED. Now when she isn’t writing, or shooting a stunning wedding, she’s chasing her four kids, two dogs, one cat, and five chickens. This could be why she downs massive amounts of Coke Zero and Hot tamales. 

Erin and her family live in Utah.

You can follower her on twitter: @erinsummerill