What's on the Reading Radar? #TBR #WishList

What have I been doing? Can anyone say World Cup? For the last two weeks I have been glued to the TV off and on as I root for my teams. Since the USA didn't make the cut, I've been cheering for any country of the Americas as well as Nigeria and Iceland. The games are part of the reason I didn't get the Reading Radar post put together  for last Saturday. Sorry!

I have also been working on the blog story for Tuesday. Assassin's Retirement will start up again this coming week so watch out for that. I've been adding new words to Constant (The Valepsian Pact, 3). But later in the week, I started working on edits for Alpha Trine. You can find the news about that HERE.

So a ton of stuff going on. With the games, I can't say that I have been doing a lot of reading. I discovered that one of my favorite series, Their Vampire Queen by Joely Sue Burkhart, is now on audiobook. I bought them all and have been listening when I can. But that doesn't mean I didn't browse the books the last couple of weeks. :-)

Title: A Trust to Follow
Series: (Wild Magics Book 1)
Author(s): Diana Waters
Length: 64 pages
Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc (June 1, 2018)

Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Gay / 

Note:

Blurb: Daymon is the second prince of a kingdom in which Evokers—those who possess intuitive magical abilities—have long since been treated with fear and mistrust. Marked as an Evoker himself, Daymon is captured by those who wish to take advantage of these powers. Now, the prince must put his faith in Rhyder, the captain of his guards—and the man Daymon has claimed as his own—to free him.

Title: Blood Bathory: Be Not Proud
Series: The Guardians of Gaia, 3
Author(s): Ari McKay
Length: 
Publisher: 

Genre: Romance / Urban Fantasy / Shifters / Vampires / Magic / Gay / 

Note: this just had a cover reveal this week! Release Date: August 6 2018

Blurb: Death, be not proud…

The conclusion of the war between Elizabeth Bathory and the Guardians of Gaia draws closer, but the theriomorphs and their allies are caught between vampires loyal to Elizabeth Bathory’s daughter, Anna, and humans controlled by Elizabeth and her sire, Thrace. With the forces of evil now pressing on them from two sides, the theriomorphs need help, and they need it fast!

And soonest our best men with thee do go…

It has been five hundred years since Antonio de Barajas, one of the oldest surviving theriomorphs, lost his mate at the hands of his worst enemy. But Gaia never revealed the whole truth about Raphael’s fate, and Antonio is shocked when Raphael arrives to train Evan St. John and Adam Carson as true Dark Guardians. Yet the man who returns after so long is not the same man Antonio once loved. The hard and lonely life as Gaia’s hunter has changed Raphael almost as much as his lost memories of Antonio and the love they once shared.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men…

Antonio must work with the stranger who wears his lover’s face, and while Raphael is welcomed by most of the team, one member sees his return as a threat to his own place in Antonio’s life. But Thrace has allied himself with terrorists who possess a weapon of mass destruction. Now the theriomorphs and Dark Guardians must work together in a race against time to discover Thrace’s plan. Even as Antonio and Raphael are irresistibly drawn to one another, Antonio risks losing far more than his heart this time. If he and his team fail in their mission, millions will die, for Thrace will stop at nothing to destroy Gaia once and for all.

Title: The Gallery Volume Two: The Special Exhibits
Series: The Gallery, 2
Author(s): Megan Derr
Length: 20k
Publisher: LT3 Press

Genre: Romance / Bisexual / Gay / Urban Fantasy / Poly / 

Note: This book will be released on Wednesday 18 July, 2018

Blurb: Welcome to the Gallery, where you can admire hundreds of beautiful paintings, and perhaps find what you didn't know you were looking for...

In these rooms you will find the Special Exhibits, those paintings which remain at the Gallery only temporarily. Their time here can range from weeks to decades—even centuries. But they do eventually leave, so admire while you can. The subjects of these paintings come from all walks of life, from lonely individuals seeking respite while they await their true love, all the way to dangerous beings captured by the Curator or given to him for safekeeping until such time as they can be trusted out in the world again.

Today's featured Special Exhibits include: The Assassin, about a killer on the run and a painting of a man who once chose surrender over murder; The Lion and the Mouse, where a grouchy accountant escapes the snow only to find himself on a beach with an ancient gladiator; The Gargoyle is a beautiful, erotic statue not for the faint of heart; Shapeless brings a new and rather unique guest to the gallery when he is bequeathed to Silenus by a dead alchemist; and finally, in Fallen Soldier, a man escaping his kidnappers hides behind a statue of an unusual being who once betrayed a dying kingdom...

Title: Ancients
Series: Heroes of Necessity, 1
Author(s): Riley S. Keene
Length: 523 pages
Publisher: 

Genre: Non-Romantic / LGBTIAQ Character(s) / Fantasy / Sword & Sorcery / 

Note:

Blurb: An ancient spell of immeasurable power lies hidden beneath the holy city of Khule.

Athala Dohn, wizard and scholar, wants that spell. She has no idea what it does, who put it there, or why it calls to her. But it could be the greatest magical discovery of the Age, and she'll do everything she can to get it.

Going alone isn't an option though, so Athala has enlisted the help of a Conscript of Ydia, named Elise Bresch, and a northern barbarian, named Ragan Ermolt, to protect her.

Athala and her companions were prepared to face giant rats, and they assumed there would be animated skeletons. But they didn't expect to uncover a dragon.

Or to be carted off to jail for their discovery.

Will Elise, Ermolt, and Athala escape and secure the ancient spell of immeasurable power, or will a dubious outsider take advantage of their jailed status and steal it first?

Ancients is the first book in the epic Heroes by Necessity series, a Dungeons-and-Dragons inspired take on the fantasy genre, overflowing with rich world building, diverse characters, and heart-pounding adventure. Pick up your copy today!

Title: Hawk in the Rowan
Series: (The Rowan Harbor Cycle Book 4)
Author(s): Sam Burns
Length: 158 pages
Publisher: 

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Gay / 

Note:

Blurb: Devon Murphy has been back in Rowan Harbor for three months. He’s taken on a host of new responsibilities, and is in a serious relationship for the first time in his life. He loves the town and its inhabitants, but it’s starting to feel like too much for the former drifter.

Now there’s a storm on the horizon, and it doesn’t seem like things are going to slow down and let him catch his breath. A blizzard is brewing, and three people have gone missing in the woods south of town. Devon needs to find them before time runs out.

This book is the fourth of nine in The Rowan Harbor Cycle, not a standalone. Devon and Wade will return in book seven for their HEA.

Title: Gryffon Hall
Series: 
Author(s): Alexia Duran
Length: 177 pages
Publisher: ShadowSpinners Press (May 8, 2018)

Genre: Romance / Historical / Fantasy / Fairy Tale / Gay / 

Note:

Blurb: Fated to be born the useless fourth son of the Lord of Glimmerveen, Wryler dreams of getting married and escaping the rustic confines of his father's castle. A wealthy merchant's son seems to hold the key to Wryler's safe if somewhat dreary future. However, the arrival of a mysterious stranger on the eve of Wryler's betrothal sends his plans into disarray and Wryler finds himself traded off in marriage to one of the most notorious rogues in the land. 

Is Lord Aeric Rouchet the scoundrel he appears to be, or is he something much worse? Separated from his family and thrust into a strange and dangerous new life at the foreboding Gryffon Hall, Wryler must unravel the secret of his husband's shadowed life and defeat the curse which threatens not only his growing affection for the barbarian in his bed, but the lives of everyone the Lord of Gryffon Hall is sworn to protect.

Title: Planet Noglion
Series: Alien Lovers, 5
Author(s): Olivia Black
Length: 85 pages
Publisher: Siren Publishing (May 4, 2018)

Genre: Romance / Poly / Sci-Fi / Aliens / Gay / 

Note:

Blurb: Eric Wilson volunteered to leave Earth to get away from his homophobic family. The only way he'd ever be able to have a life and fall in love was for him to start over somewhere far away. From the start, Eric knew there was no guarantee which planet he would live on. But, he never expected to go to the desert planet of Noglion. Eric doesn't know much about the alien world. The only thing he's heard are rumors, and those rumors terrify him. Commander Gru Poez'iq knew he wanted Eric as soon as the beautiful human boarded his starship. But, in order to claim a pet, Gru has to get permission from his older brother, Finn. On Noglion, the males of the same bloodline share a mate. With his brother's blessing, Gru goes to the arena and fights for Eric. After claiming the human's body, Gru and his brothers, Khaun and Finn, must love and protect their pet, even if it's from other Noglions, jealous that they claimed a human.

Title: The Blood Pendant
Series: Mage Knights, 1
Author(s): Soney Clink
Length: 262 pages
Publisher: 

Genre: Non-Romantic / Fantay / LGBTIAQ Character(s) / 

Note:

Blurb: In a land where strange magical creatures roam the night, and dark cults constantly plot to overthrow the government, being powerful enough to stop them can be a blessing—and a curse. 

When a reclusive noblewoman in a patriarchal society awakens a rare magical talent, her life gets turned upside-down. No stranger to keeping secrets, Cassandra Windspark enlists the help of her chambermaid and best friend Jill to help keep her secret until the day comes that she’s safely away from the clutches of her manipulative father.

But when Jill becomes embroiled with the anti-government conspirators, will she be able to protect herself, or Cassandra from them? Or will the cult discover Cassandra’s powers and manage to use them against the Kingdom?

The Blood Pendant is the first in a series of a dark adventure novels that explores the life, love, death, and courage of both the weak and the powerful, the rich and the poor.

Title: Something like a Fairy Godfather
Series: 
Author(s): Leon Hart
Length: 226 pages
Publisher: 

Genre: Romance / Gay / Historical / Fairy Tale / 

Note:

Blurb: Love isn’t something Avery wants to deal with right now.

Stuck painting the royal palace walls to pay rent and barely evading a man he’s loathed all his life, Avery runs into his old friend, James, from university. James, however, turns out to be royalty and he needs Avery’s help with some princely troubles. Avery despises the traditional hierarchy his nation follows, believing it archaic in these modern times.

As Avery's own family secrets tangle with those of the rest of court, a slew of new dangers arrives with them. Certainly not a time for love. Such feelings must remain buried deep. And he certainly couldn’t be gay. But then, why does the prince’s bodyguard keep catching his eye.

Avery must rely on new friends to navigate the trenches of this highborn battlefield, finding unexpected love along the way.


This is a modern retelling of the classic Cinderella tale, from the perspective of the fairy godfather. The story is a light read, with a happily-ever-after ending.

Title: Roughnecks and Butterflies
Series: (Ore 5 Book 1)
Author(s): Meraki P. Lyhne
Length: 248 pages
Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc (May 25, 2018)

Genre: Romance / Sci-Fi / Gay / 

Note:

Blurb: What should have been the start of a life with lots of money, a prestigious job, and adventures in space, quickly turned sour as the promised job got downsized while Ethan was in route to Ore 5. Now there, he doesn’t even have enough money for the return ticket to Earth.

Stuck in the outskirts of the housing for the miners, he quickly finds that his usual standards are impossible to uphold. A new coworker opens up a new world to him, and in this world, the center of gravity is a big tattooed strip club owner named Ryder.

On the outside, Ryder is a player—promiscuous and superficial. And he has no problem throwing a punch if patrons get too frisky with his dancers. But he has hidden a side of himself since he came to Ore 5.

Both Ethan and Ryder see themselves differently from what others see. One is a body-conscious, chubby accountant—the other is a sex-symbol who has become the center of attention of every gay man on the planet—even a few straight ones who want to prove they are man enough to win the challenge.

They have one thing in common, but will their differences keep them too far apart?

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

Pact Day: Alpha Trine News

I wasn't sure what to do on Pact Days now that all the species have gone up. So I decided to start with Valespian Pact news and go from there. 

The contract for Alpha Trine comes up for review on July 1st. I let the publisher know I would like to continue with them but I wanted to do a bit of editing on Alpha Trine. Yesterday, I received the manuscript from them so the next week or so I will be giving the story a hard look through. There will not be new content, just a clean up. I'm sorta excited about the prospect. There are a couple of things that I have wanted to do for a long time and now is my chance! :-)

I did consider changing the cover. I'm sure there are people who have passed the series by because the cover(s) didn't draw them to look further. I thought perhaps that we could renew the cover with illustrations of the characters. I have done several different character sketches... but my vision of the character may not be the same as the readers. I didn't want to ruin that experience for them. Beside, the current covers for the Valespian Pact are some of my favorite. I've had a while to consider what the next ones will be and they would follow the current series continuity. So, the covers will remain the same.

So that's it for this week's Pact Day. Next week, I'll share some the illustrations I commissioned for the series. I might recommission them since I can no longer reach the artist who did these colorful illustrations from my original sketches. Until then, have a great weekend!

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

Pact Days: Wolfine #ValespianPact

Welcome to the last of Thursday's Pact Days! Astonishingly, we have come to the end of the species of the Valespian Pact. Thank you for stopping by every week. What will replace this? I'm not sure what I'll have going forward. I'm going to attempt to draw more of the characters of this series. I have maps and such that I have started. I've been asked for flash fictions but I think I'll save those for the promotion of the next book in the series. I guess we'll see what I come up with.

Today, we have the... well, currently I am calling them Wolfine, but that is not the correct characterization of this species, so the name will change. I just don't have a clue to what yet but I'll need to get one soon for they play a part in the series in book six.

Enjoy!  

A couple of side notes: For a list of species that have been posted so far, see the The People of Valespia page. I'm placing these in alphabetical order so I won't unintentionally place importance on any specie. I will leave off information on the species that will spoil future books. My standard sheet has the same categories for all species. So there will be blank categories just because that species didn't need them.

Species: Wolfine (perhaps Wolfian or Wolfene… in process)

Planet:

Other races on the planet:

Planetary Terrain: 63% Rocky Forest, 2 moons with bases.

Capitol:

Country:

Patron Ryo'Pardeep:

Description: average height four feet to six feet. Iron blood. Fingers tipped with strong thick nails, fangs, and bushy tails. Biped and humanoid. Shortened muzzles (allows for speech). Eyes come in various colors. Short, Soft body hair, long hair on their heads. Superior hearing and smell but are color blind.

The Wolfine mind, being elementally linked, is very hard for psionics to read. Those who try pass out from the exertion.

Culturally communistic by nature, having no concept of personal ownership of material goods or land when it comes to common basics; food, housing, and medical. Knowledge, tools and other resources are considered community property, and all distribution of goods is handles through shamans of the clans.

Influence by shamanistic leaders and ties to the spiritworld. Can be very superstitious.

They don't often leave their planet. Those who do are usually exiled heavy magic users or those who can't live in the community and contribute. They chafe under the oppression of always contributing.

A few wolfine leave the planet to explore space. They never stay away long.

Few outsiders are allowed on the planet's surface. They have great planetary shielding bought from the Gaziniti and enhanced by their own specialties.

There is a starport on one of the moons that has a college where others developing mentalist abilities come to study with the wolfine.

The T'Sali are never allowed on the planet or the starport. Wolfine have no use for them.

The fusion of magic and physical tech is the basic way of life. Technomagic and virtual reality systems have both been utilized in wolfine society for a long time. Since they don't war against each other, the homeworld doesn't have advanced weapons system. The most sophisticated weapons on the surface is a crossbow. They are more likely to kill using magic.

They are born linked to the four elements: Air, fire, water, earth, spirit. This designation helps to determine personality.

Earth: conservative, slow to anger, tranquil

Fire: Assertive, quick to anger, energetic

Water: emotional, moody, variable

Air: intellectual, distant, unfocused

Wolfine favors spells from their birth element.

Only shamans can communicate with spirits and elementals.

Wolfine magic is closely linked to the energies of their planet. It is difficult to realign energy fields, but they can when off planet.

All alien trade goods are carefully scrutinized by shamans before the goods are allowed into Wolfine society.

Common Occupation: Shaman, elemental mage, technomage

Government Systems:  Shaman

Current Leader:

Council of Neighn of Member:

Allies: Chi-Lin, Gaziniti, Ryo'Pardeep, Chtichlian, Dar Massaga, GyrFalconi,

Star System: Red Wolf Star System

Other planets occupied by species: elves, dwarves, and giants.

Military Leader: The have a defense system but no armies. They do have police and security specialists.

Cultural names and terms specific to species:

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

What's on the Reading Radar #TBR #Wishlist

What am I doing? Writing blog posts for Caledonia Destiny's release. Proofing. And Proofing. Checking ARC formatting.

When I'm not doing that, I have been working on Assassin's Retirement. I need to hurry and catch up. Get several chapters under my belt before the end of the month.

For the reading list, I've been rereading again until last night. I do this because I can't afford to get ensnared into a new world when I'm super busy. It's distracting if the story is super engaging, especially when I have to leave a book in the middle because I don't have time to finish it. Example: last night I read a new to me author. The book is the first one on the list below. I really, really enjoyed the story but it stopped on a cliffhanger. I decided to get the next book and read until the emotional turmoil was mostly resolved -- hence, find a stopping point. I didn't find a great stopping point and the emotional turmoil only went up. When I forced myself to bed I dreamed about the book and then four hours later I woke thinking about the book. I ended getting up and working in order to take my mind off it because I couldn't sleep. That is why I reread when super busy. Distracting with a capital D. I'm going to try something on the lighter side tonight to sort of get my thought process off the unresolved book. (I read the reviews and the second book has a cliffhanger, too. I don't know when the third book will be out so I'm putting that read on hold.)

Now for this week's wish list...

Title: My Broken One
Series: True Mates series
Author(s): G.L. Stiles
Length: 201 pages
Publisher:

Genre: Romance / Contemporary Alpha/Beta/Omega World / Step/Adopted Brothers / Snark / Angst / Cliffhanger / Bisexual / 

Note: I have a hard time getting into contemporary Alpha/Bets/Omega worlds. But this sucked me right in.

Blurb: With the human race divided into secondary gender designations -- alpha, beta, and omega -- Matthew Le'Marte's future looks bleak as the only senior in his high school who still hasn't presented. Add to that the occasional riot over sudden-onset omega heats and knothead alphas thinking they own the universe, and Matt is pretty sick of this whole puberty thing. But getting beat up by alphas, pitied by omegas and ignored by the rest of the world doesn't even top the list of Matt's problems. Also attending Matt's high school is a sweet, handsome, unfairly perfect alpha named Teddy, and Matt has been in love with him for a literal lifetime. 

Teddy is also Matt's step brother. Things can't really get any worse for Matt from this point.

Which is of course when Matt finally presents. Somehow, it doesn't end up making his life any easier. He just hopes to get out of his adolescence without Teddy ever knowing how he truly feels; that despite a one in a million chance, Teddy might be Matt's true mate. And true mates aren't always reciprocated. Matt can handle a lot of disappointment, but losing Teddy would be the one blow that breaks him.

Title: Blessed Curses
Series: 
Author(s): Madeleine Ribbon
Length: 
Publisher:

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Gay / 

Note: 


Blurb: Though he’s a sorcerer with a talent for creating blessings, David can do very little with any other magic. He works the night shift for his cousin’s magical supply shop because he’s cursed—his brother did it when they were kids—and now people can’t stand to be near him since he inspires irrational fear. Many experts have tried to remove it, but the curse has proven completely binding. Then David meets Vaughn at his brother’s wedding.

Vaughn works for the magical enforcers, picking apart complex curses and making sure sorcerers stay within the law. He loves solving supposedly irreversible curses, though his interest in David quickly turns into something more. David, however, is too afraid of getting hurt if he lets Vaughn get past his prickly outer shell...

Title: Blood Bathory: Absence of the Sun
Series: The Guardians of Gaia, 2
Author(s): Ari McKay
Length: 
Publisher:

Genre: Romance / Urban Fantasy / Shifters / Vampires / Paranormal / Gay /

Note: 


Blurb: Tyger tyger, burning bright…

As theriomorphs in the service of Gaia, Tyr Gustavson and his lover Aaron fought against the vampires aiding the Third Reich during WWII. But even the fierceness of Tyr’s tiger form couldn’t save Aaron from being torn apart when a mission went horribly wrong. Lost in his pain, Tyr remained feral until he was unwillingly recalled to Gaia’s service seventy years later.

In the forests of the night...

When fighter pilot Adam Carson’s plane was shot down, he thought the worst that could happen was being sent to a Nazi prison camp. Little did he know there were other monsters in the shadows, and one of them wanted to claim him. But refusing Elizabeth Bathory had a price. Adam was turned against his will and trapped in a coffin as punishment for his resistance.

What immortal hand or eye…

While hunting ghouls, Tyr and his colleagues discover Adam’s prison. Believing he could be an asset, Marielle Du Lac frees him. Adam joins the team and is drawn to Tyr, despite Tyr’s hatred of vampires. When Tyr rejects Adam out of fear, Adam accepts a suicidal mission to find Thrace, the original nosferatu. If their desperate plan works, the theriomorphs could destroy not only Elizabeth, but the sire of all vampires as well. But if it fails, they could unleash a force leading to the destruction of them all… and perhaps of Gaia herself.

Title: His Wicked Love
Series: Spells and Steel
Author(s): Mila Bensen
Length: 202 pages
Publisher:

Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Gay /

Note: 


Blurb: As a warlock, Corbin trusts only himself and his master, Nereza. When that master is stolen from him by the kingdom that has long terrorized his kind, vengeance is the only answer. He has traded everything for the power to avenge her, and nothing will stop him. Being arrested is a minor setback. The paladin who arrested him is a bigger obstacle—but not even the heavily muscled, devastatingly gorgeous man who managed to slip past his defenses can keep him from his dark purpose. 

Leonid, a paladin of Sithia, obeys the Archmage’s orders without question. It’s the least he can do to make up for his failures in the past. So when he stumbles on a warlock breaking into a Crown outpost, he doesn’t hesitate to arrest him. Between the warlock’s teasing touches, captivating eyes, and heart-stopping smile, it will be all Leonid can do to deliver him for judgment without yielding to temptation.

But all is not well in Sithia, and neither man can face the chaos alone. If they cannot learn to trust each other, neither will live long enough to see his mission completed.

His Wicked Love is a stand-alone M/M fantasy romance with a happily ever after and no cliffhanger.

Title: Broken Accord
Series: Forged in Blood, 2
Author(s): Holly Evans
Length: 172 pages
Publisher: Chaos Fox (April 20, 2018)

Genre: Slow Burn Romance / Urban Fantasy / Gay / 

Note: 


Blurb: The work of a Guardian is never done.

I didn’t even get a week off before the goddess called us in for our next assignment. Witchlings, none more than fifteen years old, have been going missing, and we had to find out why. That meant I had to deal with witches, and the memories of my childhood that came with it.

I have to work with Alasdair to track down the missing teens and save the day whilst trying to navigate the treacherous waters of our fledgling relationship. Knowing that the goddess made us for each other doesn’t erase my past and all of the scars that come with it. Falling in love is the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

Of course, nothing’s ever simple. The missing witchlings are just beginning of a dark path that I have no choice but to walk down. The supernal world is fracturing, dangerous politics are bubbling beneath the surface. One false move could ignite everything. Sometimes, if we want to save the world, we have to get our hands dirty.

Title: Sacred Band
Series: 
Author(s): Jospeh D. Carriker, Jr.
Length: 380 pages
Publisher: Lethe Press (March 19, 2017)

Genre: Romantic Elements / Superheros / Paranormal / Age Gap /

Note: 


Blurb: The golden age of heroes is decades past. The government could not condone vigilantism and now metahumans are just citizens, albeit citizens with incredible talent, who are assisted in achieving normal lives (including finding good fits for their talents employment-wise) by a federal agency. Rusty may have been a kid during that glorious age but he remembers his idol, Sentinel, saving lives and righting wrongs — until he was outed in an incredible scandal that forced him into isolation. When a gay friend of Rusty living in the Ukraine goes missing, Rusty is forced to acknowledge that while the world’s governments claim that super teams are outdated and replaced by legal law enforcement, there are simply some places where the law doesn’t protect everyone — so he manages to find and recruit Sentinel to help him find his friend. But the disappearance of the friend is merely one move in a terrible plot against queer youth. A team of supers may be old-fashioned, but this may be a battle requiring some incredible reinforcements.

Title: The Last Sun
Series: (The Tarot Sequence)
Author(s): KD Edwards
Length: 367 pages
Publisher:  Pyr (June 12, 2018)

Genre: Gay Protagonist / Fantasy / 

Note: This is also on audio which I might use instead.


Blurb: In this debut novel and series starter, the last member of a murdered House searches for a missing nobleman, and uncovers clues about his own tortured past.

Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment's missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home.

With his companion and bodyguard, Brand, he questions Addam's relatives and business contacts through the highest ranks of the nobles of New Atlantis. But as they investigate, they uncover more than a missing man: a legendary creature connected to the secret of the massacre of Rune's Court. In looking for Addam, can Rune find the truth behind his family's death and the torments of his past?

Title: The Necromancer's Reckoning
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerers, 3
Author(s): SJ Himes
Length: 340 pages
Publisher:

Genre: Romance / Urban Fantasy / Vampires / Dragon sidekicks / Gay / 

Note: 


Blurb: Every action has consequences.

For a decade, Angel Salvatore has been the most powerful sorcerer and only necromancer in all the Northeast. Never one to ask permission nor apologies, he has acted with near impunity for years.

Until now.

The High Council of Sorcery has come to Boston, and Angel is their target. Charged with numerous violations of practitioner laws, his freedom and family are placed in jeopardy.

If found guilty, Angel's apprentice Daniel will be imprisoned to serve out the remaining years of his apprenticeship. Isaac, his brother, is too vulnerable to be left unguarded, and Angel fears for his sanity and health. And Simeon, Elder vampire and Angel's mate refuses to see Angel convicted under the laws of the Council and his actions to keep Angel free threaten to start a war that could destroy their world. And Angel faces the severest of punishments—the castration of his gifts.

The Council has never cared for the people of Boston, and Angel doubts their motives. They have come for some insidious reason, and it has nothing to do with upholding the law and everything to do with Angel.

Dealing with an impending trial, a wayward ghost, and a graverobbing ring of thieves leaves Angel on the edge. He thinks he may have a handle on things until violence erupts across the city, and a stranger comes to town...a stranger with his own dark powers of necromancy.

This is book 3 of a series, and the previous books should be read first for full enjoyment. Trigger Warnings are on the Copyright Page and can be seen using the Look Inside feature or by downloading a sample of this book.

Title: The Hunter
Series: 
Author(s): Jordan Reece
Length: 322 pages
Publisher:

Genre: Romance / Steampunk / Gay / 

Note: 


Blurb: It begins with a mysterious package in the mail . . . 


There isn’t much excitement to be found in the small farm town that Elario Repse calls home. But when a letter arrives from his deceased uncle, begging him to deliver a dangerous dragon’s eye to a man named Westen at’Inamon, Elario has no choice. With the military in pursuit, he flees across the country of Phaleros.

By the time he reaches his destination, he has a new problem. The dragon’s eye has attached itself to Elario, allowing him to see through time and even read minds. Westen has no idea how to separate them, but he does know the Crown will stop at nothing to kill Elario for bearing it. A dragon’s eye is the key to bringing down the greedy, corrupt upper class of Phaleros, if only Westen can keep Elario alive long enough to use it.

The attraction between them is undeniable. Westen is the most handsome man that Elario has ever seen, yet his quirky, secretive personality runs hot and cold. Still, he will do anything to protect Elario. They are falling in love at the very worst time . . . and with peril around every corner, there is no guarantee of a happy ending.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

Pact Days: V'Saar #ValespianPact

Welcome to Thursday's Pact Days! Today, we have the dreaded V'Saar.

The V'Saar are the big bad in the Valespian Pact. They are basically the destroyer of worlds, leaving extinct species in their wake.


Enjoy!  

A couple of side notes: For a list of species that have been posted so far, see the The People of Valespia page. I'm placing these in alphabetical order so I won't unintentionally place importance on any specie. I will leave off information on the species that will spoil future books. My standard sheet has the same categories for all species. So there will be blank categories just because that species didn't need them.

Species: V'Saar

Planet: Xoneran (Queen Isolt); Ranux (Queen Orla)

Other races on the planet:

Planetary Terrain:

Capitol: Xeyria (Queen Isolt); Therth (Queen Orla)

Country:

Patron Ryo Pardeep:

Description: Thick armor plating over most of their bodies. Three sets of eyes. An extendable lower jaw of razor-sharp teeth. Two sets of arms and legs. The lower set of arms can be used as legs = 8 limbs. The beady eyes can roll but not blink. The head can twist eerily. A tail that curves over its body ends in a stinger. Spindly throat (the fragility a deception). The face is comprised of hard angels and has an oblong countenance. The underside of the scorpionlike tail is covered with tiny hairs that detects movement and allows the V'Saar to attack in absolute darkness.

They secrete gelatinous mucus from pores on their exoskeleton that allows them to be dropped from planetary orbit into atmosphere without burning upon entry.

The stinger hold a compound that converts the victim, making them a tool for the V'Saar and controlled by the V'Saar. The converted hybrid only survives 40 hours as humanoid, then they begin transformation into a V'Saar. If they are taken away from the bugs, and the venom flushed from their system, they will not become bugs but will be sensitive to the proximity of the bugs. The victims keep their abilities but are sterile.

V'Saar manipulate and cannibalize, leaving only carnage and destruction in their wake. Live to create havoc, swooping into swallow down despair. They devour worlds, stamp out life, enslaving those they can use until the usefulness is gone.

V'Saar enter the region with scouting parties. They would solicit help from locals to bring more of the hive over with false promises.

Diplomats wear three blue horizontal strips over their hard-plated noses. One had 2 thick white bands circling the abdomen near the tail (emissaries)

Submissive posture: folded up, legs tucked under the body as close to their form their flexibility allows. The scorpionlike tail curled in upon itself. This is how they entreaty. The posture is supposed to be non-threatening.

Atizen ate his own venom.

"They only know violence and hate. They manipulate and cannibalize, leaving only carnage and description in their wake. They live to create havoc and then swoop in to swallow the despair. There is no rehabilitating them they devour worlds, stamping out any life and enslaving those they can use until that use is gone." ~Alpha

"You will not win against us. We are many. You are broken with your opinions and debates. We are one in our resolve. We are one in our action. While you scramble in your confusion, we will subjugate you. Some will be out pets and others our cattle." ~Atizen

Common Occupation: drones, warriors, trackers

Government Systems: hive queen

Current Leader: Queen Isolt; Queen Orla

Council of Neighn of Member:  n/a

Allies: n/a

Star System: Arthro Galaxy; Horkos Star System (Queen Isolt); Palioxis Nu System (Queen Orla);

Other planets occupied by species:

Military Leader: Atizan (Queen Isolt)

Hunters: huge massive beasts that can easily plow through a throng of V'Saar, plasma rolls off their outer shell like water. Bellows. Triple set of eyes, and a nose. Screeches. Four legs. Long scorpionlike stinger arching over the armor-plated back. Stinger the size of Zeus's forearm. Pincers. The sting of its venom enthralls, cause the person to be addicted. On the underside is a line in between the armor plating that is the weak spot. The line of bristlelike hair on the underside allows them to see in the dark. At the Y is the bug's weak point.

Cultural names and terms specific to species:

"clicking voice"; sharp angry clicks tattooed a peculiar rhythm.; chittering, movement = skittering, cackling.

Queen – surviving females, the center of the hives

W'Resk – Hunters, trackers of unparalleled talent, much larger than normal warriors/fighters

I'olon – drone, take care of the queen, all domestic duties

S'aae – fighters whose sting converts victims to V'Saar hybrids. Are not allowed to use unless they are in a fight and need more soldiers.

T'yrdo – fighters whose sting controls the victims. These make up the majority of the V'Saar fighting force.

Hybrid – sterile beings that live only about 40 months after being stung. They keep their knowledge and skills that the V'Saar will use to their benefit.

Thank  you for stopping by and reading!!