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Wednesday 28 June 2023

BOOK REVIEW: Kian of Swisgurth by A.J. Adam

Kian of Swisgurth
Series: Epic Journey of an Extraordinary Boy, Vol.1
Author: A.J. Adam
Genre: YA Fantasy Adventure / Sci-Fi
Publication Date: 3rd February 2023

Book Description:

KIAN OF SWISGURTH - An Epic Journey of an Extraordinary Boy!

No matter what the future holds, you can always take solace in your favourite fantasy books! 

Let's meet a remarkable young boy named Kian and find out, through the YA fantasy book’s pages, if he has what it takes to rule his home planet, Swisgurth.

An ancient king and an alien race had a catastrophic conflict 100,000 years ago, and the aliens have since been keeping a close check on Earth to ensure no new king has risen to power. But they had no idea that the king's pregnant wife had teleported herself to Earth, where unborn Kian awaits his time to fulfil the prophecy on his home planet of Swisgurth.

He is far from the average boy.... He is The KIAN OF SWISGURTH!

Kian was no ordinary boy; it was impossible to keep his identity a secret from alien race. When they finally learned the truth, it all went upside down in space. It's safe to say that the alien leaders spared no effort in their quest to destroy Kian. After a long journey, our hero arrived on a new planet. He met interesting people, learned about his past, and discovered the prophecy foretold he would become Emperor of Swisgurth.

TAKE A BREAK FROM THE REAL WORLD!

A.J. Adam wrote adventure book "Kian of Swisgurth" with an exceptional world in mind to take the reader on an amazing adventure. This YA thriller book will take you to a vivid, fascinating world with a wide range of characters and intricate plots - a reason to stay up past bedtime. The young adult book follows the fantasy tradition; it drops the reader into a richly detailed world and gradually reveals its background, culture and history through the protagonist's growth, epic adventures, and explorations.

IN THIS UNFORGETTABLE BOOK, YOU'LL FIND:

  • Characters: Kian - the protagonist, Lizardian starship, Sussi starship's commander, Dahlia and more
  • Written by: "Kian of Swisgurth" is an intense and captivating fantasy book for Young Adults is written by A.J. Adam.
  • Written for: This historical fantasy fiction book, loaded with excitement, enchantment, and anticipation, is written for young adults and the forever young-at-heart.

A THOUGHTFUL YA BOOK GIFT TO INSPIRE SMILES ALL AROUND!

The YA fan is a complex individual with too many feelings and an insatiable desire for more and more books. Whether the teen in your life has a mountain of books waiting to be read or enjoys reading but has trouble finding something good to read, this fantasy adventure novel makes a terrific gift for the holiday, birthday, or Christmas.

Stay true to your shelf - bookshelf!

This young adult mystery novel has everything: politics, power, defeat, victory, and suspense, and it's worth adding to your TBR pile.

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BOOK SUMMARY

After her daughter, Aaliyah, and husband, Jake, get in a terrible car crash and end up in a coma and on life support machine, Dahlia finds herself having a recurring dream that keeps pulling her to Antartica. Could there be a cure in Antartica that could help save her family? Desperate for answers and to find a way to keep her family alive, Dahlia recruits a group of trained specialists, including her pregnant sister, Lola, and heads to Antartica for answers. What they find in Antartica, however, is something beyond their wildest imagination. Incased in a 100,000 year old ice is the body of a woman. A pregnant woman. Was Dahlia's trip to Antartica on a whim or was it fate? Dahlia's life takes a drastic change when the woman awakens from her deep slumber. Just what exactly has she stumbled upon?

WHAT I LIKED

There was certainly a lot of intrigue about the story that pulled me in from the get-go. It was a very dramatic introduction to Dahlia's world and very unexpected with the car crash incident. I was not expecting this to be the situation, so it was very interesting that there was so much substance in the opening chapters. From the blurb, I had expected Kian's POV throughout the course of the story, so having it begin with Dahlia was an interesting angle, and I understood why, and I actually liked it as we got to get a little insight into Dahlia and Lola as they would eventually play key roles in Kian's life.

I liked the Clark Kent / Kal-El vibe that Kian brought to the story. Kian is clearly different to other humans and showcases his strengths and abilities from a very young age. I liked the relationship dynamics between him, Dahlia and Lola. It's clear they care deeply for him and while knowing how special he is, they still approached him with caution due to his age and not wanting to overwhelm him with the information surrounding his true origins. I liked that they nurtured him when needed and supported and guided him in becoming an independent person. I liked how Kian became more and more aware of his surroundings as he aged and how it affected him mentally in the sense that the older he got the more out of place he felt in his world. Again, I was reminded of Clark Kent as he tried to juggle between trying to be human and realising the advantage and danger he posed to others due to his strengths and difference.

We got to explore Kian's home planet in some aspect, which was nice as throughout the first half of the book, the story centred around one location. We were introduced to a few new characters and got to learn a lot more about Kian's origin and the dilemma he's faced with as the Swisgurthians look to him as the person they've been awaiting to save them from the chokehold of the evil Emperor.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

I am very picky when it comes to telling instead of showing as it dampens my imagination. There was a lot of telling as opposed to showing in this book, and I couldn't visualise the world being portrayed for the most part. Even when Kian entered Swisgurth, I couldn't picture the world and didn't get to see how it operated as it was mostly told to us. Visual storytelling was very limited in this book, and it affected the way I connected with the story and the characters. I like to make my own determination on characters, and I felt I wasn't afforded that luxury with this story, which made it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level, so I ended up not really caring much about what happened to them, which was a shame as I felt there was a lot of potential with these characters as their background was intriguing. It just wasn't explored in much depth to allow me to form a connection with them.

Another issue that affected the development of the story, I feel, was the fact that for the majority of the book, the story was centred around one setting, which sometimes placed a limitation on character and plot development as we only saw Kian interacting with Dahlia and Lola for the most part. I also anticipated that there would be more action. I don't know if it's the book cover that gave me that impression or the blurb, but I thought there would be a lot more adventure and action, so that was a little disappointing.

There wasn't much fluctuation in ambience throughout the book, which made it appear very monotone. While I felt the story took on a different energy once Dahlia and the crew found the frozen pregnant woman, it wasn't long-lasting. It didn't feel as if the story started until more than halfway through the book, and then it just felt rushed the last few chapters that I didn't get to embrace the action and the chaos of what was taking place in Kian's life and the dangers afoot.

VERDICT

This was an interesting story with a lot of potential. However, it needed better execution as I didn't form a connection with the characters as I would have liked to. Still, I did enjoy what I read, so I think it was worth the read.

RATING:


Source: Author

Monday 19 June 2023

Book Blitz & Giveaway - My Fair Thief by Delta James

My Fair Thief
(Relentless Pursuit, #2)
Author: Delta James
Publication Date: June 16th, 2023
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance / Suspense

Book Description:
When the thief he is chasing becomes more than just a job, will the distraction be his undoing or her death sentence?

Claire Mitchell is a master jewel thief, who has a secret. Although the thrill of the heist is exciting there is a reason behind her choice of profession. Family honor above all else. It was the perfect plan… until he interfered.

Ryland Fletcher is the investigator determined to catch her. As he tracks Claire and gets to know her he finds there are more questions than answers. He doesn’t trust the beautiful thief in his bed but it doesn’t stop him from wanting her. The risk is life or death but the rewards are too great to resist.

What begins as a heist of the century turns into a game of cat and mouse. When their game of cat and mouse turns deadly it’s time to bring her in.

This book is the 2nd book in a duet and will be enjoyed more if it is read after book 1.

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Monday 12 June 2023

Book Blitz & Giveaway - If I Asked You to Stay by Brianna Remus

If I Asked You to Stay
(Pebble Brook Falls, #1)
Author: Brianna Remus
Publication Date: June 6th, 2023
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:
For readers of Elsie Silver, Laura Pavlov and Catherine Cowles, fall head over heels for this binge-worthy read of two hearts who have always been destined to come together…even after twelve years of being apart.

*****************

We were both orphans.

While Johnny Moore was the product of alcohol and bad decisions, he never let his family define him. And me? Well, let’s just say that my mother’s unwanted pregnancy almost destroyed her family name and leaving me behind was the best decision she ever made.

Johnny and I made a pact all those years ago—never leave. Two simple words that always gave me hope. Something solid to lean on when things got tough.

But I guess promises are meant to be broken. The memory of Johnny walking away on his eighteenth birthday will forever be burned into my heart like a brand.

Ten years of forgetting him. Ten long years of forging my own path and trying to make my dreams come true…without him.

Nothing could have prepared me for the series of events that brought me back to Pebble Brook Falls and face-to-face with Johnny Moore. The very man I wanted nothing more than to forget…forever.

And nothing could have prepared me for the man that was the embodiment of my weaknesses. With his towering height, southern accent, and a smile that made me weak in the knees, I was completely helpless against him.

He had been my first for everything, and I mean everything. And even though I knew he was the only person who could break my heart, the moment I laid my eyes on him after ten years, I knew I wanted him to be my last—my forever.

The only question was, would he even want me to stay?

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Friday 9 June 2023

Blog Tour Spotlight - All That Glitters by Mike Martin


A light mystery set in Grand Bank on the easternmost tip of Canada featuring food, friends, fun and a few dead bodies…


All That Glitters
Author: Mike Martin
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing
Pages: 140
Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description:
Sergeant Winston Windflower is moving on to a new chapter of his life, no longer an RCMP officer but now a Community Safety Officer in his home of Grand Bank, Newfoundland.

But when a body is found in the bed and breakfast he co-owns, diamonds are found in the body’s digestive system, and then Windflower’s friend Dr. Sanjay, who was given the diamonds for safekeeping, is kidnapped, it’s clear that crime has returned once more to Grand Bank.

Windflower finds himself back in the thick of it, helping his newly promoted friend, RCMP Corporal Eddie Tizzard, track down a ruthless diamond smuggler who will stop at nothing — kidnapping, even murder — to pull off his dirty business.

This is another finely spun Windflower mystery that contrasts suspense and tension with the joys of friendship, family, and gratitude.

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Monday 5 June 2023

Book Blitz & Giveaway - It Had to be You by Tracy Solheim

It Had to be You
Author: Tracy Solheim
Publication Date: June 5th, 2023
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:
It’s hard to keep a big secret in a small town . . .

When Paige Hollister discovers her “Mr. Right” already has a “Mrs. Right,” she swears off men forever. Even more humiliating, she suddenly finds herself labeled the other woman and out of the teaching job she loves. So Paige does what every unemployed single woman staring thirty in the face does:  She hightails it to the beach. Bad luck like hers is hard to outrun, however. Her getaway is stalled when her car breaks down in a small-town chock full of meddling, nosy residents. The worst of them being the local sheriff—none other than her estranged father.

Finally on top of the golf world, Tanner Gillette is poised to show everyone he’s not just an entitled playboy coasting through tournaments on his pedigree. That is until his life is turned upside down by a little girl who shows up on his doorstep with a birth certificate inexplicably bearing his name. Complicating matters more, the kid isn’t talking. When the stress of caring for a child whose mother is AWOL gives Tanner a bad case of the yips, he’s forced to enlist help from the one person in town who can’t wait to leave.

Sticking around Chances Inlet and her father’s shiny new, über-successful family isn’t on Paige’s to-do list. Especially when she’d prefer to keep her embarrassing incident under wraps. Yet she can’t walk away from the troubled little girl. Or the sexy Australian golfer who just might make her want to take a chance on trusting her heart again.

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