Fantasy

#Fantasy Worth Reading: A Starlet’s Secret to a Senstational Afterlife #BookReview #fantasybooks #Booklover

Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books / /

 

Looking for a fun and fantastic read with a bit of the supernatural and a little romance? A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife by Kendall Kulper is the novel you need.

fantasy worth reading A Starlet's Secret to a Sensational Afterlife

A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife is a mesmerizing tale that effortlessly blends the unglamourous side of Hollywood with a touch of mystery and a sprinkle of romance.

Set during the golden age of Hollywood, the novel introduces us to the charismatic protagonist, Henrietta. She announces to her family over dinner once evening that she’s going to be a star and leaves Chicago. As a newcomer to Hollywood, Henrietta finds it’s not so easy to get into pictures. Then she starts seeing dead starlets. Wha??

This mystery of the many, many dead girls gets entwined with her shot at stardom. What’s a girl to do?

Then she meets Declan, who has his own secrets. He can’t die. At first this serves him well as a stuntman. Then, it becomes a problem when there’s an accident where he should have died and he’s not even injured. He had a hard life and came to Hollywood hoping to find his mother. She had run off to try her hand at stardom when he was a boy.

The pacing is well-balanced, keeping the reader engaged with a combination of suspenseful revelations and heartfelt moments.

I loved the balance of supernatural, mystery, history, and romance. I highly recommend this book.

Here’s the blurb:

A budding starlet and her handsome-but-moody co-star go from bitter enemies to reluctant partners when they get tangled up in the disappearance of a beautiful young actress in 1930s Hollywood.

Eighteen-year-old Henrietta arrives in Los Angeles in 1934 with dreams of trading her boring life for stardom.

She’s determined to make it as an actress, despite her family’s doubts and rumors of would-be starlets gone missing. And by the skin of her teeth, she pulls it off! A serendipitous job offer arrives and Henrietta finds herself on a whirlwind publicity tour for a major film role—with a vexingly unpleasant actor tapped by the studio to be her fake boyfriend.

But fierce Henrietta has more in common with brooding Declan than she realizes. They both have gifts that they are hiding, for fear of being labeled strange: he is immune to injury and she can speak to ghosts. When the co-stars get tangled up in the disappearance of a beautiful young actress, they go from bitter enemies and pretend lovers to reluctant partners—and possibly even friends.

Together, they might be the only people in Hollywood who can do something about these poor missing girls. And in doing so . . . they might just fall in love for real.

This whip smart, seductive caper by the author of Murder for the Modern Girl has the perfect combination of romance, vengeance, and a hint of the supernatural, set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

 

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Unveiling the Unseen: The enchanting world of The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear #Fantasy #Adventure #scifi #booktwitter #booklover

Character, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books, Speculative Fiction / /

 

science fiction fantasy series

The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear beckons readers into the seemingly ordinary life of Hetty Locklear, a young woman whose daily life takes place amid the interplay of fantasy, fate, and the unseen.

At the outset, Hetty clutches her hard-earned diploma from community college like a ticket to a new beginning. Yet, the transition into adulthood proves to not be what she expected. Trapped in a dead-end job at a convenience store, Hetty’s aspirations seem distant and her dreams deferred.

However, beneath the veneer of daily drudgery lies a rich inner world—a sanctuary where Hetty reigns as the heroine of her own cosmic saga. In her imagination, she navigates the stars as the savior of an ancient galactic race,. Yet, reality intrudes. Her parents, absent but for the occasional missive, extend an invitation to join them on the Renaissance Faire circuit for the summer. Initially hesitant, Hetty’s decision takes a quick U-turn when a ghost begins to stalk her.

A seance tells her she’s in peril, so she runs as far from it as she can. This begins a journey of self-discovery and adventure, where the lines between reality and fantasy blur.

The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear is a masterful blend of genres, seamlessly weaving elements of fantasy, mystery, and coming-of-age narrative into a tapestry of intrigue and wonder. Through Hetty’s eyes, readers are transported into a realm where the mundane and the magical coalesce, inviting reflection on the nature of identity, destiny, and the power of imagination.

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#Fantasy With Reading: Murder for the Modern Girl #BookReview

Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books / /

best-selling fantasy

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper

Another supernatural fantasy set in a bygone era. In this book, the main character, Ruby, is a killer. It’s the 1920s in Chicago, and Ruby has the ability to read minds. She uses this skill to kill horrible people. The book opens with her committing a murder. That certainly caught my attention and kept me reading. Despite this deadly flaw, Ruby is a likable character that I ended up rooting for.

Her father is the district attorney and becomes the victim of violence. Will he live? However it turns out, Ruby is determined to continue his work fighting corruption in the city. Her proclivities and investigation take her to the morgue where she meets Guy. Guy isn’t his real name and he can change his appearace. Yes, he can shift his face and his body to appear like someone completely different.

He’s a scientist and is on the trail of a serial killer… Ruby. He ends up helping her with her investigation, which puts them together and in conflict from the moment they meet.

This was a fun read with some twists and turns. It’s the second in this series, and I liked it as much as the first.

Here’s the official description:

A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.

A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shape-shifting.

It’s a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl’s purse conceals a flask.

Until now, 18-year-old Ruby’s penchant for poison has been a secret. No one knows that she uses her mind-reading abilities to target men who prey on vulnerable women, men who escape the clutches of Chicago “justice”. When she meets a brilliant boy working at the morgue, his knack for forensic detail threatens to uncover her dark hobby. Even more unfortunately: Sharp, independent Ruby has fallen in love with him.

Waltzing between a supernaturally enhanced romance, the battle to take down a gentleman’s club, and loyal friendships worth their weight in diamonds, Ruby brings defiant charm to every spectacular chapter of Murder for the Modern Girl—not to mention killer fashion. An irresistible caper.

 

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Unveiling the Mystique of Dante Grimes in The Rifter Series #fantasy #steampunk #scifi #sciencefiction

Character, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books, Speculative Fiction / /

 

In the fantastical world of The Rifter series, where steampunk aesthetics meet magical rifts, one character stands out with an aura of mystery and power—Dante Grimes. As a Governor, Dante holds a position of authority where the rift is concerned. But Dante is not your typical ruler, nor your typical librarian; he harbors secrets that could shake the foundation of Settler.

the popular steampunk fantasy series The Rifters
The Disguised Governor

Dante Grimes wears the cloak of normalcy with finesse. In his assumed identity, he appears as a mild-mannered older gentleman managing the county library. Little does the world know that behind this façade lies a being of immense power and intrigue. Only a select few, including Earl Blacke, Daelin Long, and Charming Moon Knight, are privy to Dante’s true origins—he hails from the rift itself.

Dante Grimes from the popular steampunk fantasy The Rifters

Otherworldly Appearance

When Dante sheds his disguise, he reveals a form that transcends mortal beauty. With skin as blue as the deepest seas and tattoos of chrome that ripple beneath the surface as he channels his rift-based abilities, Dante presents a visage akin to that of a god. His long silver hair, composed of ethereal leaves, adds an otherworldly charm to his already striking presence.

Master of the Rift

Dante Grimes is not just a Governor; he is a master manipulator of the rift. His talents extend beyond the conventional, allowing him to traverse time and space effortlessly. He orchestrated the arrival of Earl Blacke from 1888 into the present day, as well as the appearance of Daelin’s ancestor from Revolutionary War times. Yet, his motives remain shrouded in secrecy.

The Puzzling Agenda

What drives Dante Grimes to weave the threads of time and bring individuals from different eras into the present? No one, not even those closest to him, fully understands his motives. He persistently urges Earl Blacke to become his general, insisting that without an army, Earth’s universe is doomed. However, the identity of the impending enemy remains a closely guarded secret, known only to Dante himself.

A Sandwich Shop Proprietor

After relinquishing his librarian position, Dante adopts the guise of a sandwich shop owner located 90 minutes from Settler. It is here that Daelin Long first encounters him. Despite attempting to keep a low profile, Dante’s presence is marked by an undeniable air of authority and an aura of unresolved destiny.

Tormenting Earl Blacke

Dante’s relentless pursuit of Earl Blacke as his potential general adds a layer of tension to the series. He remains insistent, undeterred by Earl’s resistance, compelling him to accept a role that may decide the fate of not just Settler, but the entire universe.

As readers delve deeper into “The Rifter” series, Dante Grimes emerges as a captivating enigma—a character whose motives, powers, and connection to the rift continue to intrigue. The path he treads is paved with secrets, and as the series unfolds, one can’t help but wonder: What lies at the heart of Dante’s cosmic machinations?

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#Fantasy Worth Reading: Bookshops and Bonedust #BookReview

Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books / /

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

If you loved Legends & Lattes, you’ll love this second novel just as much. At least, I did. The first novel was so good, I feared not enjoying this new installment to the series. But I did. I loved it so, so much.

The story centers around the orc, Viv, once again. She’s just as lovable as in the first novel. This story takes place earlier in her life but has all the elements that made the first book so loveable. While in pursuit of a necromancer with her mercenary group, Viv gets injured and is left to recuperate in a quaint seaside town. Bored out of her mind, she enters a bookshop.

The story unfolds as beatifully with rich, loveable characters, lots of fantasy originality, and lots of charm. Returning to this cozy and comfortable world was pure joy.

My only complaint is I’ll have to wait quite a while for the next in this series. So yeah, I highly recommend Bookshops & Bonedust.

Here’s the description.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

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Blight of the Necromancer: #LitRPG Worth Reading #BookReview #fantasy #booklover

Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction Books / /

best in fantasy booksBlight of the Necromancer: Khthonia Book 3 by C. Rains.

The problem with this book is that it’s the last in the series. It was a pleasure getting lost in this fantasy world for the third time and as pleasurable as the first two times. What makes this stand out from other LitRPGs is that it’s a well-rounded and well-crafted novel. Many are just a series of battles, which isn’t my favorite kind of story. This one has a lot of character and emotion in it that keeps the story moving forward and pulls the reader farther into this made-up world.

Khthonia is familiar and new, which is an irresistible combination. Part of this made me very sad. Not many books get emotion out of me, so that’s a good thing. And I took something away at the end, about the true love. Maybe it’s not what the author meant, but I took it to mean something other than another person.

No one rational ever wants to play a bard, but Nora Quinn believed she could use her class’ skills of perception to her advantage as an investigator. As Essaerae the elven bard, she regrets picking the role now that the players are trapped in the dark realm of Khthonia. She desperately desires to go home, but her friends want to stay in the fantasy world, causing a rift in the party. To lift the Specter Plague curse from the land and win the game, the heroes must defeat the conniving necromancer. Yet he’s shadowing them with death the entire way.

Seeking the tools they need, Nora and her friends must survive perilous side quests and hordes of undead. The answer to how to slay the villain lies in the western ruins, but Nora is certain he is the only one who can get her home. And for that, he needs to stay alive.

Nora must choose between killing the necromancer and lifting the curse or siding with him and going home. Neither choice feels like a victory.

A fantasy LitRPG/GameLit for fans of table-top role-playing games.

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