Of Stormlarks and Silence by Constance Lopez

To kill the prince, she must first kill her heart.

Princess Riona was eight when the Revonian king murdered her family and conquered her kingdom with a mysterious magic. She has spent the last decade training—and waiting for her moment to avenge them all and reclaim her rightful title.

Now that the king is ailing, Riona secures a position within the Revonian royal palace. Her goals? Get close to the prince. Kill him. Uncover Revon’s secret magic. Make the king suffer. Only then can she take back her country.

But the closer she gets to the prince, the more he surprises her with kindness, honor, and wit. He is nothing like his cruel father. Worse yet, he sees right through to her heart. When she planned this assassination, her heart didn’t factor in.

And now it’s about to ruin all her plans.

Of Stormlarks and Silence is a slow-burn clean YA romantic fantasy standalone in the Kasmian Chronicles, a series of romantic fantasy connected standalones.

Of Stormlarks and Silence is an enchanting debut fantasy romance. It is also a tale of forgiveness, something I haven’t seen tackled quite like this in any fantasy novel I’ve read before. Bitter after the murder of her parents, Ria vows revenge on the king and the mages who caused their deaths and the annihilation of her people. They will experience the pain she has felt, beginning with the murder of the crown prince, Tristan. Constantly marginalized by his ambitious father, Tristan seeks to do good for his people, to treat peaceably with foreigners, to end the age-old prejudices against magic users. His kindness to the least among his people, servants and children, touches Ria’s heart, but can it be real? When revenge is within Ria’s reach, she must decide what true justice looks like. Will she follow the path of peace her uncle advocates, seek the death of her enemies as her aunt insists, or find a third way? “How are you supposed to be wise and compassionate when your whole life has been consumed by hatred for the man who killed them?” She flinched at his words. “What else should consume me?”

“Forgiveness? Determination to find a better way than your parents’ murderer did?” Told with humor and heart, Constance spins a tale that questions how we respond to evil and injustice. We also see much light shining through all the darker themes in this book. Loyal friends. Devoted servants. Caring rulers. People willing to place the needs of others above their own. People willing to be open about their own shortfalls. It’s a beautiful story that I highly recommend to children and adults of all ages. Content warnings: A few kisses. Couple sleeps in the same room (sleep is all that happens though). Kidnapping and imprisonment on several occasions. Flashbacks to battle scenes. No foul language.

This guest post was written by Sara Lawson.

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Stalks of Gold by Celeste Bazendell

Magic isn’t a solution; it’s a trap.

All her life, Aurelia has been taught that if she comes across magic, she’s supposed to run in the other direction. Life is no longer so simple. If the tower door opens, and she doesn’t have any gold, her life will be forfeit.

The only person who can help her is the mysterious stranger who appeared on her doorstep and in her tower room. If she takes his deal, she might live, but what will she sacrifice in order to do it?

For years, Sandor has done everything he could to keep Aurelia far away from the king and the truth about his identity, but the second Aurelia stepped into the castle, it was all for nothing. Is the king truly so desperate to get out of debt, he’s willing to believe such nonsense as a girl who can spin straw into gold?

Aurelia is Sandor’s closest friend; if she was a witch, he would be the first to know… unless he’s not the only one keeping secrets.

Time is running out. The trap is springing shut. Sandor is the only one who can save Aurelia from the king… or so he thinks. Is the king the real threat, or is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows?

Stalks of Gold, a reimagining that combines Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel, is the first in the Bewitching Fairy Tales Series, a series of interconnected fairy tale retellings that are best enjoyed together but can be read separately. If you enjoy epic fairy tale retellings filled with clean romance, high-stakes adventure, and complex, compelling characters, download Stalks of Gold today!

I’ve been admiring this cover for ages and was thrilled when Celeste offered me an ARC copy. The story hidden within the pages was every bit as beautiful as the cover. Aurelia is a simple miller’s daughter. But when the king hears a rumor that she can spin straw into gold, he arrests her and holds her captive until she can come up with enough gold to pay the nation’s debt. Of course, that isn’t even the real story, simply the first in a long string of plots and events centered around the miller’s daughter. She must find a way to escape several towers and guess the name of the man behind all of the schemes or she could stay trapped forever. It’s a brilliant mashup, really. But while the core of each fairy tale is there, plenty of the details are different and there are enough twists to keep you guessing all the way to the end. I loved it. And I think anyone who loves a good fairy tale (or in this case, two) will love it as well. I received a free ARC copy of the book from the author and have reviewed it willingly.

This review was written by Sara Lawson.

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How to Train Your Goblin King by Erin Vere

Floss is most definitely NOT marrying the Goblin King, even if it saves her a trip through the labyrinth.

Floss, an aspiring law student, has enough troubles to ruffle anyone’s bustle. Her school of choice won’t let her in because of her gender, her equal rights league is hopelessly ineffective, and there aren’t enough calming tonics in the world to stave off her panic attacks.

Now her niece is missing, the roguish Goblin King keeps proposing, and sinister forces threaten Floss’s city. She’ll have to brave a dangerous labyrinth and question everything she believes in to save not only her family, but an entire kingdom down below.

If only the Goblin King wasn’t quite so distracting, she might actually be able to do it.

If you like sensible heroines, ridiculously handsome heroes, fantasy creatures, and dreadful puns, you’ll love this romantic gaslamp romp by Erin Vere.

This was great! Fans of CJ Brightley and Suzannah Rowntree will enjoy this!

This is a retelling of the Labyrinth, with more gas lamp Victorian prose, a mermaid, a fight for justice for minorities and the fight to top a war between the Anglish and the Goblins. It was great. Hilarious, charming. Tongue in cheek humor and an imperfect heroine were all spot on. Floss is trying to become the first female Lawyer when he runs into a hunk of an elf. When her niece is stolen, she must then go through the labyrinth to recover her, but frankly, to grow herself and expand her perspectives. It was lovely! Highly recommend.

This guest post was written by Alora Carter.

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Firesight by Jessica Deen Norris

The power of the Light blinds him, and danger lurks in the Shadows…

The Dragon Guardian’s return was supposed to heal the world split by storm, frost, and fire. Instead, the crazed conqueror sends his Shadow Knights to swarm the land, searching for any sign of a dangerous, fire-wielding mage like Tiber.

If only that’s what he was.

The blinding Light that comes with Tiber’s powers doesn’t seem to be worth the small, pitiful flames he can create in his hands. But it was enough to make the emperor kill his family, forcing him into hiding. And when he meets a mysterious girl named Luci, Tiber finally sees a way out.

Except hatching a dragon egg wasn’t part of the plan.

As the emperor’s Shadow Knights close in, Tiber must learn to rely on his new friends to help him find the truth about his past… and resist the Shadows that tempt him to revenge.

Firesight is the first book in a young adult epic fantasy adventure, full of elemental magic, humor, friendship, and classic good vs. evil!

A charming coming of age story, Firesight is rife with fascinating magic, worldbuilding and charming characters.

Tiber’s magic is not only a little useless–it’s dangerous. Living in the shadow of a tyrannical emperor, Tiber must hide his magic or risk his life, because anyone with the Spark tends to vanish at the hands of the emperor’s Shadow Knights.
When Tiber steals from the wrong people and exposes his magic in the process, he’s forced to flee with the very people he tried to steal from–and the newly-hatched dragon the emperor wants back.

Tiber is (for a thief) a caring, selfless young man. Luci is a bit more fiery(there’s an irony in that ), but she’s fiercely loyal to those she cares about.

The two of them are thrust on the path of rebellion–because if someone doesn’t take down the emperor, the continent might not survive the Shadows.

It’s a quick paced story, with flashes of humor and lovely glimpses of deeper, noblebright themes. I REALLY loved the magic system, and I look forward to finding out what happens next with out heroes.

I received an ARC, and I have left this review willingly.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

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A Conspiracy of Prophets – Suzannah Rowntree

The last thing Lukas Bessarion wants is to warn the crusaders…yet if he refuses, a bloodthirsty demon will seize power.

Syria, 1098: After a gruelling siege, the crusaders finally capture Antioch—but within days, the besiegers become the besieged. Clawing for survival in a doomed city, the Franks turn to a new power for help: the mad prophet, Peter Bartholomew.

Plagued by his own unwanted visions, Lukas Bessarion knows the vicious Bartholomew is controlled by the demon Lilith, now growing in power. But none of the Franks—from naïve ladies to murderous counts and princes obsessed with political rivalry—seem worth saving.

Worse, if Lukas accepts his destiny as a prophet, he’ll need to renounce earthly power—like his father’s enchanted lance, hidden beneath Antioch. With the Lance, he hopes to avenge his beloved Ayla and lead his own people to victory. But Lukas isn’t the only one who wants the Lance.

Lilith’s thirst for blood is insatiable. And to satisfy it, she will stop at nothing to gain control of Lukas, the Lance, and the entire crusade…

The Watchers of Outremer historical fantasy series continues with this dark and thrilling sequel to SPFBO finalist A Wind from the Wilderness! Pick up A Conspiracy of Prophets today to experience the darkest days of the First Crusade, as demons and demigods battle for the soul of an army.

A Conspiracy of Prophets by Suzannah Rowntree This book was difficult for me to read. I will be the first to admit that I like happy books.This book was…not, really. One might be wondering why I’m sharing it in this group, but… bear with me.Let me begin again. This book followed several characters. Some were threads of hope and goodness in a sea of desolation(one of which legit made me tear up because it was so utterly beautiful). Others wholly succumbed to the darkness pulling them down.So, yes. Many parts of this book were hard for me to read. I ached for Some Characters to see reason, to make good choices, and… they didn’t, and it broke my heart a little.But it was masterfully done. Because it was the perfect example of seeing how goodness can come from darkness. Knowing how things play out in the future(which is…the last couple books….this series is timey wimey), it’s evident that the poor choices made out of greed and hatred here will/do directly lead to good things down the line. (And THAT is why I share this review here.)The historical aspect, as always, was well researched and portrayed. History was definitely not as picturesque as it sometimes gets portrayed, and Rowntree does NOT shy away from that. She embraced the pain and suffering and downright gross stuff. She made the world feel real and immersive for all the senses. She portrayed the complex political battlefield as well as the physical battlefields. She doesn’t shy away from showing people as they were, either–how there were good people and bad people on every side of a conflict…and many people were somewhere between the two extremes. These books are hard. But it is the sort of story that will linger, the sort of story that is worth thinking about long after you close the book. I look forward to the next installment in The Watchers of Outremer series.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

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Cry Wolf by Jacque Stevens

She went out searching for a killer. She never expected to find love…

Isabelle Berger has little interest in men. So when a boorish hunter proposes, the timid girl begs her protective father to decline on her behalf. But after her beloved papa is killed tracking a wolf with her would-be-husband, Isabelle flies into a rage and sets off in pursuit of the fiendish creature.

Thrown from her horse while hunting the beast, the bookish young woman is quickly drawn to the mysterious stranger who rescues her. But when her rugged savior loses his temper, Isabelle is terrified by the dark secret he’s hiding.

With nothing left for her at home, has she met her end, or is she about to discover a new beginning?

Cry Wolf is the first book in a thrilling YA shifter and historical romance series. If you like determined heroines, adorable heroes, and fresh takes on familiar stories, then you’ll love this dark retelling of Beauty & the Beast, inspired by the Beast of Gévaudan and the French Revolution.

This B&B retelling was unlike any other I’ve read, and it was absolutely THE BEST VERSION EVER. I liked Belle, but I adored Howl. He is perfection and anyone who says otherwise is just wrong. Funny and lighthearted while still being strong, he really made this story shine.To be clear, it is an amazing story regardless. I just. I can’t because spoilers, but the ending was BRILLIANT. WELL PLAYED, STEVENS. WELL PLAYED.This rendition of the story held all the right notes of the original while still being completely fresh. The foreshadowing was incredible. The characters were charming. I laughed out loud throughout. It was just all around amazing.Book 1 was the actual retelling. The sequels veered into new territory, but every single one was a delight and the perfect addition to the story.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

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Pendragon’s Heir series – The Door to Camelot (1), The Quest for Carbonek (2), and The Heir of Logres (3) – by Suzannah Rowntree

Camelot is falling.

Can she save it?

Blanche was an ordinary girl in 1900 England…until the knight crashed through her door. Now, her guardians say she’s a princess lost in time.

Now, her father’s enemies want her dead.

Raised in the wild, Perceval has never known his father. Hoping for answers, he pledges his sword to the legendary King Arthur Pendragon.

But dark forces threaten Camelot. And darker crimes fester behind the legend.

Together, Blanche and Perceval uncover a secret that could destroy the kingdom – and in a world of immortals, knights, and deadly combat, they must join forces if they hope to survive.

Even if Camelot could be saved, is Blanche the one to do it?

Or is someone else the Pendragon’s heir?

If you loved Narnia and Middle Earth, you’ll be enchanted by this beautifully crafted Camelot.

I meant to review book one, but then by the time I remembered I hadn’t, I’d nearly finished book two, and then I got swept up in the story and next thing I know I’ve finished all three. So I’ve done a series review instead, which really feels more fitting.

Pendragon’s Heir is a trilogy, but the story is cohesive across the three; so much so, it felt like one long book to me. A feeling probably helped by the fact that each book was only 180 or so pages—and I regularly read 300-600 page books.

This story is lovely. It’s slower than a lot of the books I’ve read recently—not because it’s boring, but because it reads like a classic. I could have been reading a real tale of Arthur. The prose fit in, the pacing of the story, the dialogue and word choices and everything. The spirit of it fit. The themes and questions the characters struggled with. Such good noblebright.

Perceval, one of the two main characters, was probably my favorite in the story. He was just… so great. Everything a knight should be, striving for the world he believed in, but not perfect.

Blanche was lovely too, but admittedly—I didn’t like her much at first. Which translates to: she had an amazing character arc, and by the end I did love her, and I loved seeing how she grew and changed.

Everything came full circle; even the smallest details I didn’t think were relevant came back up by the end. That was really fun to see. The foreshadowing was layered in well; I didn’t suspect a thing, but when a twist happened I went, “WELL OF COURSE.” Perfectly surprising yet inevitable, as one of my favorite authors puts it.

I enjoyed the last novella I read from Rowntree, and I’ve had my eye on some of her other works. Reading this series just solidified it for me: she’s amazing and I am definitely reading everything else she puts out.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

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The Bird and The Sword by Amy Harmon

Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive. The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird?

This one might be more noblebright-adjacent, but it’s worth mentioning.

Words have power.

If I had to describe The Bird and The Sword in three words, they would be ‘subtle’, ‘stunning’, and ‘beautiful’.

Yes, those last two are basically the same thing. The sentiment of the stunning beauty of this book is strong.Harmon has created a fascinating world where words are literally magic. The main character, Lark, can wield those words to make inanimate objects do what she wants—until her mother curses her to silence. The magic is simple, but unique, and it awed and delighted me throughout the whole story. Harmon did an amazing job of showing what it would be like to not be able to talk, how that would completely affect how Lark interacts with the world, and how the world interacts with her. She’s strong yet insecure, self-conscious yet uncaring what others think. It’s contradictory, but it works well, because it’s realistic. Every character felt the same—each was unique, complex, and so very real.

The romance is amazing—Lark and Tiras’ dynamic is a dance, and so much is left unsaid, but shown perfectly.

Harmon is an artist with the words; the prose flows like a river, gorgeous and smooth. And hints foreshadow so subtly that you don’t realize it until you reach the turn in the river that the hint warned you about. It is surprising yet inevitable, in the best way possible.

Lastly, I adore the title. “ ____ and ____ ” is a common formula for book titles, but usually they’re rather mundane and straight-forward. The Bird and The Sword is clever, because it’s more nuanced than you think when you first see it. And details like this abound in the story, making it just a gem—one I’ve been thinking about for days after finishing the last page.

Warnings/anxiety alert: Nothing super in depth, but some steam for those that care.Definitely much peril—there was a moment where I was certain all would NEVER BE WELL. But the ending was appropriately satisfying.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

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The Lord of Dreams by C. J. Brightley

When a fairy king grants a human wish, there’s more at stake than dreams.

Claire Delaney has a good life, despite her adolescent angst. But she wants more. In a moment of frustration, she wishes to be “the hero.”

What she actually wants is to be the center of attention, but what she gets is a terrifying Fae king demanding that she rescue an imprisoned fairy, facing fantastical dangers and hardships she could not have imagined.

Yet the dreams–and the rescue–are only the beginning of her journey. She is at the center of the king’s audacious gamble to end the war that has raged in Faerie for half a century.

The Lord of Dreams follows Claire—she wishes to be a hero, to be noticed, and when that wish is granted by a Fae king, Claire is thrown into an adventure she is woefully unprepared for.

This story is like a puzzle. With each chapter, we are given one more puzzle piece, gain another part of the larger picture. At first we understand very little, but it unfolds, slowly, naturally, until we see everything. It’s subtle and clever and I enjoyed it immensely.

Brightley really has a way with fae, and just like every other story by her I’ve read with them, the fae and their world and their magic shine here too.I loved watching Claire go from selfish and afraid at the beginning of the story to selfless and brave at the end. It was a gradual, subtle shift, and it really was beautiful to watch.

And the fae king. He is a fascinating character to peel back, layer after layer. His hair made me chuckle every time it was mentioned. He’s enigmatic and definitely a little crazy and I loved every moment of it.Like the rest of the story, the romance was subtle and gradual, and it ends with a great HEA.

I highly recommend this story. I hope Brightley writes more about Claire and the fae world one day.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

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Pangur Bán by Fay Sampson

Pangur Ban—the white cat—is based on an old Irish poem dating back to the 9th century. That poem is about a monk and his companion, and this story is true to that theme—but goes far beyond a quiet evening at work. Pangur Ban and the monk Niall, after causing a terrible tragedy, are sent away on a journey of recompense.This is technically a children’s chapter book. I adored it, but it was a bit…gruesome… at times, I think, for young children. Nevertheless, it is a story I would happily share with my kids when they’re slightly older, as it is a perfectly lovely introduction to Irish folklore(and the folk story style in general, where the strange and bewildering are accepted and commonplace). It was whimsical and heartfelt, and the characters all grew a great deal by the end of the story. This is definitely one to remember and reread.

This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.

Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.

The post Pangur Bán – Fay Sampson appeared first on Noblebright.