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Explosive Chemistry
Paige E. Ewing’s Explosive Chemistry immerses readers into the gripping and mystical world of Liliana, a spider-kin seer juggling the complexity of her prophetic abilities with the trials of a society fraught with discrimination and danger. As she navigates visions of death, perilous alliances, and ethical dilemmas, her journey becomes an intriguing tapestry of action, introspection, and relationships—human and Other alike. The novel intertwines themes of survival, morality, and belonging in a richly textured narrative.
The writing in this book is a bit like Liliana herself, spunky, clever, and layered with complexity. Ewing excels at worldbuilding, painting vivid scenes like the lush forest settings or the tense interactions with other supernatural beings. Liliana is the heartbeat of the novel, and I adored her grit and wit. Her transformation from a cautious loner to a reluctant but steadfast hero is compelling. I particularly loved the subtle humor in her observations, such as her irritation with mundane injuries clashing with her dramatic, mystical life. The way she bonds with Janice, a rabbit-kin homemaker, shows another side of Liliana, a desire for connection in a life that’s often lonely and fraught with danger. However, her constant inner struggle seeing death but sometimes failing to prevent it brought a poignant layer of vulnerability that made her feel real. It wasn’t hard to feel both her triumphs and failures. The interactions between Liliana and the Fae prince are deliciously tense, embodying the push-and-pull of trust, power, and respect. Their conversations bristle with undercurrents of potential alliance or conflict.
Explosive Chemistry is an engaging read that combines rich storytelling with sharp characters and a healthy dose of suspense. I’d recommend it to readers who love urban fantasy with a splash of mystery and a protagonist who’s both fierce and flawed. If you’re a fan of intricate worldbuilding and moral quandaries wrapped in fast-paced action, this one’s for you.
Pages: 253 | ASIN : B0CLMXW7W4
Something Magical Just Around the Corner
Precise Oaths follows a woman with paranormal abilities and part of the spider-kin who is questioned about the deaths of six soldiers from spider venom. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A lot of the series involves military folks from Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, the oldest military base in the U.S. That long history becomes an integral part of the plot, and part of the love interest, Colonel Bennett’s, back story. Also, since special units like Delta Force are housed there, it seemed like a logical place for a unit of soldiers meant to fight genuinely “special” threats.
Being accused of murder was an impossible to ignore reason for Liliana to be forced from her comfortable near shut-in life, out into the wild world. Proving her innocence, solving a murder mystery, and saving a new friend from getting killed are all challenges that Liliana would never have imagined she could handle, until she does.
With so many unique and interesting characters in your story, what character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Liliana is always my favorite. I love seeing through her unique vision a world just slightly askew. She is also my chance to show how mysterious and difficult I have always found many things people take for granted. For instance, I have often wondered why it hurts less sometimes to break a bone than it does to stub your toe. Why do people sometimes say the opposite of what they mean, yet everyone understands them perfectly? Liliana is my chance to point out life’s absurdities, and the fact that the biggest challenges in life are often just getting through the day. For obvious reasons, I also get a big kick out of writing Siobhan, the tiny flower sprite who adores machine guns and has a “take no guff from anyone” attitude.
The Colonel is probably the hardest character to write. He’s very locked down in what he expresses. He rarely has only one motivation for anything, and even more rarely wants anyone to know what his motivations are. So I have to think a lot about what he’s trying to accomplish but put very little of that on the page while still dropping just enough hints that the reader can eventually figure out who he is and what he wants. He’s a mystery, but one that I want the reader to slowly solve, teasing away the layers of his personality. Writing that is as tricky as dropping clues in a murder mystery, without giving away the ending too soon.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
A lot of it came from North Carolina itself. I worked in North Carolina for a year, back when I was a consultant, and one of the things that struck me was how green and beautiful the whole state was. The dense forests could hide virtually anything so that if you didn’t have a map, something as big as a shopping mall a hundred yards away could be invisible. It felt like bits of civilization carved into faery land. Like there could be something magical just around the corner, out of sight.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes! Precise Oaths is the first book in the Liliana and the Fae of Fayetteville series. The second book, Explosive Chemistry, just came out in November. It takes place right after Precise Oaths. Liliana and her friend, Pete, thought they stopped the murderers in the first book, but her visions of the future are full of blood and death. Liliana has to figure out how to stop the tide before it sweeps away all the people she’s become attached to.
The third book should be out sometime this year, but I don’t have a publication date yet. It dives a lot more deeply into the burgeoning relationship between Colonel Bennett and Liliana since the Colonel is now the target of an assassin who never fails. Only Liliana has any chance of finding a way through to a future where her favorite Fae prince survives.
Watch any of my socials for an announcement on the timing, or sign up for the newsletter on the website. You’ll get a free little interlude story that takes place between book 2 and 3, and get notified right away when book 3 has a publication date.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Bluesky | Facbook | Website
Wolf-kin Peter Teague of Fort Bragg’s Criminal Investigation Division analyzes the venom in six dead soldiers. The victims were killed by a spider-kin, and Liliana is the only spider-kin in Fayetteville.
Pete’s handsome boss, the dangerous fae Colonel Bennet, watches Liliana with burning ember eyes, but refuses to call his investigator off.
It’s up to Liliana to keep Pete from executing her and convince the skeptical scientist she’s not the murderer, all while keeping her new friend from getting eaten by the real killers. And if that’s not enough, she might even have to socialize!
How will she survive the paranormal mystery that puts her as the prime suspect?
Precise Oaths is the first book in the Liliana and the Fae of Fayetteville series, urban fantasy Fae romance for adults containing a strong female lead, intense action, a diverse cast of charming characters, offbeat humor, Fae and shifters like you’ve never seen them before, and a touch of slow burn spider romance.
Precise Oaths
In Precise Oaths, the reader is introduced to a captivating world where the future can be altered with all its uncertainties and possibilities. The protagonist, Liliana, is a seer spider-kin gifted with the rare ability to glimpse into the future. Her life, marked by a peaceful existence of offering guidance to clients, takes an unexpected turn when detectives knock on her door, seeking answers about a mysterious case involving spider venom and six deceased soldiers. Among these detectives are Pete and his superior, who, like Liliana, belong to a group of paranormal beings with anthropomorphic abilities.
This novel is set in a richly imagined world populated by both endearing and intriguing characters, a testament to Paige E. Ewings’s skill in creating a welcoming universe. Liliana is crafted as a relatable character, not an invincible hero, but an empowered woman grappling with everyday challenges. Her journey through social interactions, emotional empathy, and moral dilemmas rooted in her past traumas paints a portrait of a character whose motivations become clear and compelling as the narrative progresses. The book excels in its world-building, which, despite initially seeming daunting due to the intricacies of the kin system, unfolds organically through character interactions. This approach to exposition allows the reader to immerse themselves in the novel’s universe without being overwhelmed by dense explanatory text. The blend of thrilling action, including Liliana’s strategic maneuvers and close encounters, and informative dialogues maintains a brisk pace and adds depth to the narrative. The novel’s immersive storytelling captivates the reader, though at times, distinguishing between Liliana’s visions and reality can be subtly intricate, especially during more extended visions.
The unique concept of the story is likely to appeal to fans of supernatural romance, offering a fresh take on the genre. Precise Oaths is recommended for those seeking a book with a novel twist on fae narratives, blending the mystical with the relatable in a compelling and enjoyable manner.
Pages: 216 | ASIN : B0C4ZJH81L
LITERARY TITAN 