The Wrong Foot by Stephanie Burgis

(c) Stephanie Burgis and Daily Science Fiction

The Wrong Foot is a cute twist on Cinderella, and the perfect size for a quick winter read! 

Have you ever read the story of Cinderella and wondered just how the shoe could fit just one person out of the whole kingdom? No? Well, I have and this story plays into the scenario perfectly! Our heroine, Sophia, has come into the predicament of fitting the shoe that was lost at a ball at midnight. Her mother is ecstatic that her daughter will become royalty, the prince is thrilled to find his long-lost love, and Sophia is utterly...miserable. What is one to do, when one prefers reading and studying to the politics of court? Read The Wrong Foot to find out - you can find it online here!

Stephanie Burgis always has great stories lined up, which is why she is one of my favorite authors! If this short story tickles your fancy, I highly recommend her other works, such as Snowspelled, which is for older audiences. If more YA is to your taste, I definitely recommend the adorable, dragon-filled story, The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, or the series that introduced me to Ms. Burgis, Kat, Incorrigible.

Photo: Stephanie Burgis (Press Kit)

About the Author (from her website):

Stephanie Burgis grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, but now lives in Wales with her husband and two sons, surrounded by mountains, castles and coffee shops. She writes fun MG fantasy adventures and has published five so far, including The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart (Bloomsbury 2017), The Girl with the Dragon Heart (Bloomsbury 2018) and the Kat, Incorrigible trilogy (published in the UK as The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson). She also writes wildly romantic adult historical fantasies, including Snowspelled (2017), Spellswept (2018) and Masks and Shadows and Congress of Secrets (Pyr Books 2016). She has published nearly forty short stories for adults and teens in various magazines and anthologies.

September Days: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Spinning Silver Cover (c) Naomi Novik, Del Rey Publishing

Happy September everyone!

I just finished Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. I have to say, it was worth the wait! A tale based on Rumpelstiltskin, Spinning Silver has many voices that share their perspective of the events that unfold. We have Miryem, daughter of a moneylender, who is a strong and determined young woman. When her father cannot bring himself to collect on the funds he lends out, Miryem takes it upon herself to do the job. You could say she turns silver into gold! There is also Wanda, daughter of an abusive man who does not take care of his children, and her brothers Sergey and Stepon. Although minor characters at first, they end up helping Miryem and her family in unexpected ways. Another strong female lead is Irina, daughter of a duke, who is to be bargained with as a tool, by marriage, for a stronger connection with the tsar. You will also meet the leading men of the story, one of whom is an ice king, a winter being called a Stayrk, who thrives in cold weather and looks to bring an eternal winter, as well as a fire demon, who uses dark power and bargains to feed upon those around him.

I had read Uprooted before, also by Naomi Novik, and highly enjoyed the twists and turns on fairy tales. Spinning Silver is done in a similar vein. You will see a little bit of familiar tales woven into the main story line, one based on Rumpelstiltskin. The women in this story made me laugh, made me worried, made me want to go out and do something, because even though they were not dealt the best hands, they made the best of it and overcame what came their respective ways. A long book, but a book worth the journey. Perfect for those cooler days where you can bundle up with a book and a hot cup of coffee or tea and read away!

Are you guys excited for any book being released this fall? Let me know in the comments!

Storm Raven by K Hansen

Yo-ho-ho, how is it already the end of July? I love summer, but it calls for some exciting reads. I have been in a pirate mood lately (anyone for sailing?), so please read on for my latest book review.

Storm Raven by K. Hansen is a thrilling, action-packed pirate adventure! A mix of Pirates of the Caribbean, Les Miserables, and a bit of one of my favorite pirates series growing up, Bloody Jack! Storm Raven holds its own and will become a series to watch progress.

Neredya is most at home on a ship at sea. A young captain of the ship the Storm Raven, she her days stealing from the rich, only fighting if necessary. Unfortunately, Neredya bites off more than she can chew with one heist and ends up captured by the government, torn away from her crew, to navigate to the Shattered Sea. Her crew, on the other hand, gets sent to the mines, where they will toil away for the rest of their days. Here, the story splits between Neredya and her first mate Brynja, who seems a little more than bitter at not having the title "Captain." Neredya promises to save her crew, no matter what, and undergoes unexpected changes in doing so. Without spoiling the book, we are left at the end of a beginning of a war in which Neredya and her crew want to not be a part of, but in order to save the innocent people of their land and to escape Commander Erhan's constant following and promises to defeat them (Javert complex, anyone?), they may just have to battle it out in the upcoming sequel! 

Storm Raven was not what I expected. Once started, it grips you until the very end. The characters focus on two strong women, who can hold their own, no matter the circumstance. I was curious if there was going to be any romance, but there was none in this book. Only adventure, piracy, and a bit of the supernatural, which makes Storm Raven a really fun read. The level of detail and descriptions really add to the scenes. Add a bit of the Pirates of the Caribbean score and the beach, and you will feel right at home. I highly recommend reading this first book in the series--I know I cannot wait to read what happens next. I guess it is a pirate's life for me!

Photo: Emily Conroy At Love & Cupcakes LLC

About the Author (from his website):
K Hanson is the author of The Azrael Initiative, a thriller, and Storm Raven, a fantasy novel. He’s currently working on the second books for both series.

K lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he works as a software developer. In his spare time, when he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading, working out, playing video games, and spending time with his wonderful fiancee, Bobbi.

Some of his favorite authors are Tom Clancy, George R. R. Martin, and Sarah Maas.