Ashes on the Waves
Author: Mary Lindsey
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: June 27, 2013
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin Teen
Description:
Liam MacGregor is
cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a
demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will
never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton
arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.
With
Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but,
the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea
around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love,
testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the
tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put
the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their
love that’s in danger of being destroyed.
Based on Edgar Allan
Poe’s chilling poem, "Annabel Lee," Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly
beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.
Ashes on the Waves is a young adult fantasy/paranormal romance novel that is based off of the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe. It focuses on main character Liam MacGregor and his terrible life on the island of Dochas. Since his birth, Liam has been treated as an outcast or worse - a demon wearing a human's skin. Liam has minded his own business and kept himself linked to the only person he ever felt a true connection with: Annabel Leighton - a wealthy heiress whose family own a mansion on the island. Liam's life is forever changed when Anna is sent to the island by her family. Now that Liam and Anna have found one another, they refuse to be apart. However, the Celtic Otherworlders who have a strong hold on the island place a wager on their love, one that might just be the end of them both.
I am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe, as one can easily guess by simply looking at the name I chose for my blog, so I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the book and how it was based on his poem, "Annabel Lee." Let me just say that I was not disappointed. The novel is a complete Gothic romance with a modern setting - completely beautiful, enchanting, and tragic at the same time. There were times throughout the novel that I would smile so much my cheeks hurt and then a few pages later, I would be on the verge of tears. The story of Liam and Anna is one of hope, redemption, true love, and eternity. Liam was a wonderful main character. He's a sweet, smart, truly kind person who has been treated horribly since his birth. He is referred to in the book as the "broken one" because his arm has been paralyzed since birth, during which his mother died. Due to ignorance, rumors, and lore, the people of the island fear and loathe him, regardless of his pure and innocent heart. Anna is a great leading lady for the novel - she's an awesome complement to Liam's character. They are true halves of the same whole and they bring out the best in one another. It sounds really cheesy saying it here, but their relationship in the novel was nothing but romantic and sweet. Being a modern Gothic story, there had to be some trials, heartache, and tragedy mixed in with the romance. I don't do spoilers in my reviews, but I will say that the ending was appropriate for the Gothic genre, even if I hated that it had to be that way. The writing was impeccably well done with incredible detail and vivid descriptions that had me easily imagining myself on Dochas alongside the characters. The Celtic lore was really intriguing for me and I loved that the author put it in with the main plot. I enjoyed learning new things about Celtic mythology and folklore - it added a unique depth to the book that made sure it was one of a kind. There isn't enough time or words for me to really communicate my feelings for this novel and I'm sure it's not completely coherent since I'm still reeling from just finishing the book. This is definitely a novel that fans of fantasy and paranormal will not want to miss out on - and I wholeheartedly think that readers of all preferences should experience the beauty and tragedy that is created within its pages.
In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete First Season
Author: Rhiannon Frater
Genre: New Adult Modern Gothic Horror
Release Date: May 24, 2013
Buy Links:
Amazon - Paperback
Amazon - Kindle
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Autographed Copies at Author Store
Description:
In Darkness We Must Abide is the epic saga of one young woman caught in the dangerous world of the creatures of the night.
Already living
in the shadows due to her albinism, Vanora is just a little girl when
her older brother inadvertently unleashes a terrible evil from
the family crypt that changes their lives forever.
As she grows
up in a world where beautiful deadly beings hunt by night, one captures
her eye and her heart. Yet, can she trust the mysterious Armando? For
there is a powerful entity plotting to claim her when she reaches
adulthood in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy, and her enemy has
enveloped her in a web of deceit, casting doubt on all she believes to
be true. Soon, she will have to fight not only to save those she loves,
but also for her very soul.
Rhiannon Frater delivers a chilling
adventure once again with this multi-part epic serial with a dynamic
cast, old school vampires, bloody action, a smoldering forbidden love,
and a terrifying villain set against the backdrop of a modern day
vampire war.
This paperback includes all five episodes of the first season of the serial.
Excerpt from Episode One
With his presence still sizzling on her skin and his hazel eyes still
haunting her thoughts, Vanora pondered the words that Armando had
spoken in his silky Spanish accent.
You must go home, he had said.
Hugging
herself, she gazed into the darkness surrounding her, wondering if
Armando still lingered in the shadows observing her. That he had sought
her out both thrilled and terrified her. When she had first seen him
standing on the lighted path of her apartment complex, the mere sight of
his enigmatic smile had set her heart aflutter. But now that he had
slipped back into the darkness, her heart beat with fear.
Could
she go back to Houston and face all she had run from? Could she forget
the evils she had beheld on her eighteenth birthday? Could she just
abandon the life she had meticulously created for herself over the last
two years and return to the mansion that was haunted by death and pain?
You must go home.
Armando’s words echoed in her mind.
Vanora
lifted a hand to brush away her white-blond hair and turned to face the
dark waters of the swimming pool that glimmered in the moonlight.
To
go home meant she would at last cast aside her trepidation and face the
monsters of her nightmares. Was she strong enough to do so? Was she
strong enough to go home and save the ones she loved?
With a
surrendering sigh, she admitted to herself that it was time to return to
her childhood home. It was difficult to concede, but her reluctance to
return was partially because she feared allowing Armando into her life
once more. Though the creatures that dwelled in the darkness were
terrifying, it was Armando who surely frightened her.
Only he could truly steal away her heart and soul…
Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) , as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog),and other horror novels. Her next novel for Tor, Dead Spots, will be published in 2014. She was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets). She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dying her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.
You can find her online at:
Website: rhiannonfrater.com & astheworlddies.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/astheworlddies
Twitter: twitter.com/rhiannonfrater
Blog: rhianonfrater.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rhiannonfrater/
Email: rhiannonfrater at gmail.com
Message from the author:
"On Friday, 5/24, I'll be doing two video Q & A's via the
TinyChat application on Facebook. You'll just have to download the app
and follow the link when I post it here. You'll be directed straight into the chat room.
The
first chat is scheduled with Europe in mind. 1 PM Central Time will
place this chat in the early evening. You'll have to check a time zone
converter for the exact time in your country. This also can work for
people who work in the evenings in North America.
The second one will be at 8 PM Central Time.
Basically,
I'll be on live webcam and you guys and gals get to ask me questions
about IN DARKNESS WE MUST ABIDE or anything else you'd like to discuss
about my writing career, my books, or the horror genre."
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