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The Masque of Count Milado
The Masque of Count Milado by GJ Scherzinger is a fantasy mystery centered around a powerful masque thought to be long lost. Xavier Gaines, a man from Earth who found his way to the magical world of Terranovae, has been asked by a friend to use his magical and physical abilities to retrieve this mask from Count Milado, who has acquired it. So Xavier sets off to infiltrate the count’s court with his wife and daughter in tow. Shortly after arriving, the count is found mysteriously dead, and the race is on to locate the missing masque before it’s lost forever.
This was a fantastic story. This world had excellent story building. There was some nicely done backstory that really brought the characters to life and made them richer. The magic was beautifully described. I love how each transformed state was kind of its own being and not the magic user in just a different form. They each had their own personality and were treated as such, complete with different pronouns. There was a beautiful mystery that I wanted to solve. There were twists I wasn’t expecting that kept me guessing how the story would play out. I got excited when things were revealed to me, making the story more engrossing. This kept me reading on, captivated.
The beginning has a slow burn as things get set up but really picked up as the plot progresses. I felt that it was redundant that every time Xavier became a tiger, the beast was described to us. Seeing as how it was the same tiger each time, I feel the initial description was enough to give us a clear picture of what it would look like from then on.
The Masque of Count Milado is a fascinating new fantasy novel with mythology and folklore elements. A world filled with magic, mystery, and mischief to keep readers engaged. I definitely want to read more of this world.
Pages: 267 | ASIN : B0B1P9YDW3
I Had The Most Amazing Dream
Believe follows a 13-year-old girl who is transported to the land of believers and magic, where she meets new friends and embarks on a great new adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My inspiration actually came from a dream I had. After previously self-publishing two books relating to my time during the COVID pandemic, a friend asked me if I’d ever thought about writing a novel. Having only written the diaries, poems, and short stories before, I didn’t believe I had the ability to write a novel.
Then, one night I had the most amazing dream about a crazy holographic professor who ate sticky, sparkly-green Christmas tree marshmallows, and Professor Mortley was born. I sat down to write about him, and my mind was flooded with all the characters from Believe and their stories. My fingers couldn’t type fast enough.
I felt that kids everywhere had had such a tough time with the pandemic and all the other horrors and difficulties going on in the world today, that I just wanted to write a world for children and adults to escape to and warm their hearts. Believe was written to bring big, beautiful smiles to all its readers.
Abigale starts off life in the world of grayness and non-belief and becomes one of the believers. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I want to convey to the reader that it does not matter where you come from or what you were before, if you believe in yourself, you can do anything and achieve anything. Having grown up and loved Disney my whole life, I wanted the characters to emulate the Disney feel. I wanted the good to be very good but be floored enough to be tempted by the bad, and the bad to be bad enough to dislike, but still, show signs of hope that one day they will change.
It was really important to me that the characters displayed real feelings. For example, how even the best of friends can sometimes be envious of each other and that we can all make bad decisions for the right reasons.
Abigale, especially, needed to hold the driving ideal that even though she was born a Never-Believer, that deep within her if she believed in herself and believed in her friends, one day she would find where she truly belonged.
I think when writing family, magical fantasy books, as Believe is, there is a delicate dance between including enough reality for readers to relate to and enough magic for them to escape and be wistful about. I hope that Believe has achieved all these ideals.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The power of friendship and its many forms was an important theme for me, as well as the ability for friends to feel like family. I want to convey that friendship is a powerful and beautiful relationship for both the young and old, even if the relationships are not always smooth sailing. I wanted to show that friends forgive, love, lie, share, and cry, they catch you when you fall, surprise you and inspire you. And those relationships that have the peaks and the troughs, are the ones that are the strongest.
I also want to share that you should never judge a person until you have walked in their shoes. Aunt Violet goes through a massive transformation throughout the story and is miles from where her character first starts out. People can change and people hide very well what was always there from the beginning. You just have to look hard enough.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have just finished the first draft of the second book in the Believe series. I am hoping that it could possibly be ready for release by Christmas, but I see where the editing takes me. I am super excited as it has taken the characters on an amazing journey, and I have included some twists and turns that hopefully no one will see coming!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Abigale Johnson was born a Never-Believer, in a world full of greyness: no Christmases, no birthdays, no smiling and most definitely, no magic. That all changes with a fateful train journey when Abigale is catapulted into the world of the Believer Fae. A crazy, holographic professor, an enchanted train, and new magical best friends, combined with the tinkering of first love, a wicked queen and a host of lost family secrets all await you, in a story that is likely to become part of your heart forever.
A Few Hidden Messages
Cinderella Didn’t Live Happily Ever After, is an in-depth analysis of fairytales and how women are portrayed and treated in comparison to men. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It’s an important topic because fairy tales are among some of the first stories we learn as children, and these stories are told and re-told in many books and movies. Even modern novels sometimes put forward versions of these fairy tales where the female heroine finally gets her “prince”—the high-status man who has wealth and status. Because these tales are so ubiquitous, it’s important to unpack them and really understand what they’re saying. They have quite a few hidden messages.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
One thing that I wanted to get across was that male characters are largely powerful, active, good people. In contrast, female characters tend to be weak, passive, and powerless. And when female characters are powerful, they are often evil. This idea of a powerful woman generally being evil concerns me because it may set us up to be wary of women who have ascended to powerful positions in our society.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from reading your book?
I want people to really question whether the fairy tale life is desirable. I found that female royalty has very little power and are the most unhappy. Queens cry more than any other character, and princesses are terribly treated—imprisoned, kidnapped, etc. Marrying the prince or king has some tremendous disadvantages in fairy tale land, but that is put forward as the ultimate goal.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book is called Only Prince Charming Gets to Break the Rules: Gender and Rule Violation in Fairy Tales and Life. It’s an analysis of fairy tales and folktales from around the world and I learned in my research that male and female characters are treated differently when they break rules in stories. Men are often rewarded or unpunished, whereas women are punished very severely. In fact, one-third of them are executed! I draw parallels with modern life where I found that men and women are treated differently when they break rules. For example, men and women in the legal, financial, and medical fields are given very different punishments for the same behaviors. I hope to have that published later this year or early next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Azaron
Neera lives a peaceful and untroubled existence with her aunt, until one day she discovers her own extraordinary powers. Due to her druid heritage, Neera’s abilities are the stuff of fairy tales; romance and adventure abounds as she sets off on a quest to fulfil her destiny. There is danger in store, however; the current Unseelie Queen, Visha, desires that Neera be brought to her, and has sent a mercenary to do her bidding. Pursued for her gifts, Neera must undergo great sacrifice and risk to her life – all while finding out who she truly is, and uncovering love in the most unexpected of places.
Set in a medieval-esque fantasy universe, Jennifer Creighton’s Azaron follows a young woman’s riveting journey that sets her on the path to self-discovery. Neera’s magic filled adventure allows her not only to realize where she comes from, but also what she desires out of life. The different versions of Neera, as viewed by Tristan and Caleb, demonstrate how far she has grown over the course of the story; she is no longer the timid, uncertain girl who left her aunt’s village, but a capable and decisive woman in control of her abilities.
While I heartily enjoyed this fresh fantasy story, I felt that certain characters felt somewhat one-dimensional, with Tristan’s distinguishing characteristic being his love and devotion for Neera. Nevertheless, this is a dynamic and action-filled story that fantasy and romance readers alike can appreciate.
Neera’s development as a character is the linchpin that holds this steamy fantasy together and makes it successful. Her growing preference for Caleb, who teaches her to fight and encourages her to harness her abilities, rather than Tristan, who still sees her as vulnerable and in need of protection, reflects the significant changes she has undergone.
The magical elements of this novel also make it an enjoyable read, as we watch Neera traverse a richly-imagined world while also exploring her own identity. Azaron is a spellbinding romantic fantasy that is highly entertaining.
Pages: 324 | ASIN: B09W8XSX7H
Take A Closer Look
Pastel Pink follows a girl who was murdered on Earth and reincarnated on Zadok, but when her human spirit is drawn back to Earth she’s plunged into a world of intrigue on both planets. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My son Randall Jackson, AKA RJ, helped to inspire The Zadok Series.
We were sitting in the library waiting for his sister to finish her art class when the question “I wonder what happens after you die” came up.
RJ said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if every time we died, we regenerated onto a different Planet?”
Of course, I jumped on this idea and together we discussed what the different races on the next planet would look like and what new capabilities/powers they would have.
As a tribute, I’ve modelled a character after my son RJ. He has Aspergers/Autism and is quirky with a brain like an encyclopaedia.
Harlow is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wanted Harlow to be different to Ruby even though they are theoretically the same Zeek/person. Ruby is confident and outspoken whereas Harlow’s confidence has been crushed due to years of being told she is worthless. Harlow starts meeker and milder and then builds into someone much stronger. She learns to stand up against the haters.
I thought the color caste system was creative and intriguing. Where did this idea come from and how did it evolve as you wrote?
The overall message of The Zadok Series is one of acceptance. Just like here on Earth with humans, Zeeks face prejudice characters who are intent on making their lives a living hell.
Not only that, there are different Zadonian races, and they feud with one another. Not everything is as it seems. Sometimes there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
Don’t let others force you into believing a certain race, colour, or way of living is wrong. Take a closer look and let yourself be the decider.
This is book one in your Zadok Series. What can readers expect in book two?
Expect to see more of the Drakes and Vallons and discover how they live in the following two books of the series.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Instagram
The Treasure of the Crystal Cave
Miiliinda is a newly-minted mage who has tumbled to earth but doesn’t know why. She soon meets Alaric, an adventurer and treasure-hunter. He tells her his story about a journey to find a mythical cave full of riches, the perils that met those who went before him and what he found when he finally succeeded in his quest. Meeting Miiliinda turns out to be exactly what he needs.
The Treasure of the Crystal Cave by Kelsie R Gates has the subtitle “A Fairy Tale Fantasy”, which is an apt description of this vibrant story. It has all the elements of an imaginative fantasy story with magical powers, faraway lands, and a protagonist who must face danger and treachery to reach their goal. But it is definitely a fairy tale too, with an imperiled good queen, an evil sibling and the potential for love.
The author tells the story in an engaging manner with eloquently descriptive passages, such as his sketching of the bartender in ‘Rest and Drinks’: “While he stood waiting for an answer, he wiped at the counter with a rag that was as dirty as the tunic he wore.” I also found the dialogue to be interesting, as I thought it worked well and created very good rapport between the characters, although at times I felt that it was very rich and sentimental.
Readers who enjoy classic fantasy and fairy tale stories will find many of the classic tropes they have come to appreciate driving this story forward. While I enjoyed the story overall I felt that there is a lot of potential for improvement in structure and flow that an editor can catch. With these small adjustments this novel has the potential to be an epic fantasy novel.
The Treasure of the Crystal Cave is an engaging and straight-forward fantasy story that is imbued with an adventurous spirit that takes readers through a creative and fascinating story.
Pages: 156 | ISBN: 1682561453
Pastel Pink
![Pastel Pink: Zadok Series by [Nikki Minty, Indicreates Indiana Maria Acosta Hernandez, Cissell Ink Amy Cissell and Christopher Barnes]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51K+f5C9G5L.jpg)
Pastel Pink is the first book in Nikki Minty’s young adult fantasy series. Sci-fi enthusiast Harlow, from the planet Zadok, remembers her past life as Ruby, a human living on Earth, and her murder. Harlow, a pink Zeek, is the weakest of her race on the planet of Zadok, which is divided into four races: Vallon, Rukes, Drakes, and Zeeks, and has a color-superior cast system. However, she is no less significant: she is now receiving attention from the upper-class people at Zeeks, the purples. The reason is as big a mystery to her as to the reader. With her life on Earth and life in Zadok, her conflicting feelings, and her relationship with her race’s enemy in Zadok, the vallons, Harlow’s destiny is putting her on a perilous path.
In Pastel Pink, Harlow and Floss, and Lucas and Alex, both human and non-human twin characters, represent the faces of two coins in their antithetical traits. Humans, as shown by these damaged characters, who lack parental care and love, and always have the option of acting empathetically or degradingly. Also seen in the book is Krista’s attitude and conduct, which represents a woman who has surrendered to a toxic husband and an intolerant society. For fear of stigma, she is willing to break the unthinkable laws of society in private rather than stand up against the toxicity.
I find the concept of the coexistence of two planets, with some Zadok residents being able to live dual lives, intriguing and refreshing. With the unique characteristics of each of the races on Zadok, according to their names, readers will certainly appreciate the author’s imagination. I also enjoyed seeing the rarely-seen sisterly affection between Harlow and floss, where they provide one another with services in exchange for what they are each seeking. As on Earth, Zadok’s color system mimics the racism that still determines people’s position of worth in many areas. However, Zadok comes off better than earth in that two girls dating each other doesn’t seem to be an issue there. One cannot help but ponder Harlow’s statement that Floss never mistreated her because of her color before she started school.
While I enjoyed the story, I would have enjoyed more inclusion of other inhabitants of Zadok in Book 1, besides the Zeeks and humans. I felt that it would have been interesting to have some scenes swapped with more information about Zadok’s life. But in the end I’m just glad that this is the start of a series as I feel like there is so much more to explore and I can’t wait to get to it.
Pastel Pink is an imaginative fairy tale fantasy that intelligently combines mystery, action, and romance into a compelling story that fans of young adult novels will devour. This is a captivating fantasy novel with subtle but deep social commentary and a storyline that is captivating and highly entertaining.
Pages: 381 | ASIN: B08T1HC81S
We Go On A Journey
War Bunny follows a young bunny who’s banished from her warren and must face a dangerous post-apocalyptic world alone. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
When my partner and I first started collecting rescue bunnies ten years ago, I knew nothing about rabbits. Like most people, I had been acculturated to think of rabbits as living plush toys: 24/7 snugglers created to be pets for tween girls.
I was surprised to discover how complex their lives were. How territorial they were. And how fierce.
We were bringing home rabbits one or two at a time from rescue organizations, and we gave them free run of the house. We did not know then that rabbits who don’t know each other may be highly suspicious on first meeting, and very protective of their perquisites.
We attempted to make them all one big happy family (called “bonding” in rabbit parlance) and were shocked to learn they had minds of their own.
The rabbits eventually organized themselves into two opposing gangs, each with its own leader. They competed for territory. They competed to control food, even though there was plenty for everyone. And they competed to monopolize the petting that came from the two amiable herb-dispensers and litter-box attendants who hovered over their world. Watching this, I was amazed at how “human” they were.
Anastasia is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideas behind your character’s development?
Making any change in the world also means making changes in yourself. We go on a journey with Anastasia and she struggles to find her way out of the maze of beliefs she has been taught. The innermost kernel of herself is her guide. That is the thing that she will not give up. It’s her foundation in terms of judging what to do next.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Often the “truths” about the world are drummed into us at a very young age. In our own lives, we see enormous evils that we are taught cannot be changed because “they have always been this way.” Acquiescing is what the predators want you to do. If a rabbit can take on a world that assigns her the role of “victim,” so can you.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
War Bunny is the first book in a series. The next book, Summerday, picks up right where War Bunny leaves off. I’m working on it now and it will be published in 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![War Bunny: Book 1 in the War Bunny Chronicles by [Christopher St. John]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Zh5nrLg1L.jpg)
A young rabbit fights back against a world that assigns her the role of “victim.”
In a post-apocalyptic world where humans are extinct and animals thrive, rabbits believe their god, Yah, has decreed that they must be Glorified by a Blessed One. That means becoming a predator’s meal, accepting their fate in a surrender called the Giving.
But Anastasia, a brown yearling doe living in Bloody Thorn Warren, is different from the other rabbits. She starts asking pointed questions of the warren elders and gets exiled for it.
Without a warren, she’s enormously vulnerable, but she reaches out to others in desperate straits. Soon, she’s leading a group of outcasts in a ferocious battle for survival—and maybe even freedom. It’s a fast-paced story about friendship, honor, love, and coming of age.
A great adventure read for teens and adults! (Fantasy, 13+)
Summerday, Book 2 in the War Bunny Chronicles, will be published in 2022.
LITERARY TITAN 