Prince of Song and Sea by Linsey Miller Blog Tour + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PRINCE OF SONG & SEA by Linsey Miller Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: PRINCE OF SONG & SEA (Princes #1)

Author: Linsey Miller

Pub. Date: October 4, 2022

Publisher: Disney Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

For fans of Twisted Tales and Villains is a brand new YA series that retells the classic Disney stories you thought you knew from the Disney Princes' perspectives.

Before Prince Eric’s mother, the Queen of Vellona, went missing two years ago, she reminded him about the details of the deadly curse that has plagued his entire life. The curse? If he were to kiss someone other than his true love, he would die. With a neighboring kingdom looking for any excuse to invade their shores, and rumors of ghost pirates lurking the seas, Eric is desperate for any information that may help him break his enchantment and bring stability to Vellona. The answers he has been searching for come to him in the form of a letter left from his mother that reveals Eric must find his true love, the one with a voice pure of heart,or kill the sea witch responsible for cursing him in the first place.

Now Eric is on a quest to find the Isle of Serein, the witch's legendary home. But after he is rescued by a mysterious young woman with a mesmerizing singing voice, Eric’s heart becomes torn. Does he enter a battle he is almost certain he cannot win or chase a love that might not even exist? And when a shipwrecked young woman with flaming red hair and a smile that could calm the seven seas enters his life, Eric may discover that true love isn’t something that can be decided by magic.

 

EXCERPT: 

Overture

PAIN washed over Eric in waves, salt sticking to every scratch. Water lapped at his legs, and a  bone-deep cold shuddered down his spine. He tried to turn  his head and groaned. He couldn’t move. Why couldn’t  he move? 

The ship! He had been on the ship. A storm, worse  than any he had ever weathered, had swept over them  faster than lightning. They’d caught fire and crashed,  the powder kegs exploding, and he had been thrown into  the sea. Eric tried to call out and choked. Each breath  stung, the acrid taste of ash prickling across his tongue.  His chest ached. 

But all of it meant he was alive. He had survived. A soft hum broke through the pain. It started low  and sad, like far-off whale calls. Fingers stroked his face,  brushing salt and sand from his sore skin. The melody,  the tender touch, became a pinpoint of light in the dark,  and he struggled to hold on to it. The gentle voice grew  louder and stronger. Sunlight burned through his eye lids. Eric forced his eyes open and gasped. 

She was breathtaking, a backlit shadow glittering  with seawater. Her features were as distorted as her  words, but the hand against his cheek was so tender that  he knew she meant no harm. He reached for her, and she  eased him back into the sand. A warm, fluttering feeling  flowed over him. 

Safety, he thought. This was safety. 

She must have been strong to drag him from the  wreckage and kind, too, to risk her life for his. The sweet  lilt of her song filled his head. 

She and her voice were the only things between him  and death at sea. 

And they slipped through his fingers like sand.

 

About Linsey Miller:

Once upon a time, Linsey Miller studied biology in Arkansas. These days, she holds an MFA in fiction and can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee. She is the author of the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, The Game, What We Devour, and the upcoming Disney Princes books for Eric and Phillip. Visit her at linseymiller.com.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon | Bookbub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of PRINCE OF SONG & SEA, US Only.

Ends November 5^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/1/2022

The Reading Devil

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

10/2/2022	Celia's Reads	Review/IG Post
10/3/2022	a GREAT read	Review/IG Post
10/4/2022	Kait Plus Books	Review/IG Post
10/5/2022	@ReadsReaders	YouTube Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
10/6/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	TikTok Review/IG Post
10/7/2022	OddandBookish	Review/IG Post
10/8/2022	@simplybeccamee	IG Review

Week Three:

10/9/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
10/10/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
10/11/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
10/12/2022	bookbriefs	Review/IG Post
10/13/2022	onemused	IG Review
10/14/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
10/15/2022	Ohyouread	IG Review

Week Four:

10/16/2022	pluvioreads	Review/TikTok Post
10/17/2022	Eli to the nth	Review/IG Post
10/18/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post
10/19/2022	@ReaderOfTheWrittenWord	IG Review
10/20/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
10/21/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
10/22/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

10/23/2022	Novel Novice	IG Spotlight
10/24/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/25/2022	@bookishreviews_byalison	IG Review
10/26/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review
10/27/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
10/28/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
10/29/2022	@drew_ambitious_reading	IG Review/TikTiok Review

Week Six:

10/30/2022	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
10/31/2022	Books with Brandie Shanae	YouTube Review/IG Post

Feather and Flame by Livia Blackburne Blog Tour!

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be kicking off the FEATHER AND FLAME by Livia Blackburne Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post, including an exclusive excerpt and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 About The Book:

Title: FEATHER AND FLAME (The Queen's Council #2)

Author: Livia Blackburne

Pub. Date:  June 14, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

She brought honor on the battlefield. Now comes a new kind of war...

The war is over. Now a renowned hero, Mulan spends her days in her home village, training a militia of female warriors. The peace is a welcome one, and she knows it must be protected.

When Shang arrives with an invitation to the Imperial City, Mulan’s relatively peaceful life is upended once more. The aging emperor decrees that Mulan will be his heir to the throne. Such unimagined power and responsibility terrifies her, but who can say no to the Emperor?

As Mulan ascends into the halls of power, it becomes clear that not everyone is on her side. Her ministers undermine her, and the Huns sense a weakness in the throne. When hints of treachery appear even amongst those she considers friends, Mulan has no idea whom she can trust.

But the Queen’s Council helps Mulan uncover her true destiny. With renewed strength and the wisdom of those that came before her, Mulan will own her power, save her country, and prove once again that, crown or helmet, she was always meant to lead. This fierce reimagining of the girl who became a warrior blends fairy-tale lore and real history with a Disney twist.

Reviews:

“Vivid and gripping, Feather and Flame richly blends Chinese history, folklore, and magic to tell the next chapter of Mulan’s epic story. With elegant prose and meticulous attention to detail, Blackburne weaves a tale of strength and sacrifice that will enchant readers.”—Emma Theriault, author of Rebel Rose

 

Grab REBEL ROSE now!

 

EXCERPT:

Prologue

A drop of sweat trickled down the soldier’s neck. It settled briefly atop her sun-warmed shoulder before a vigorous swing of her arm jostled it loose. She raised her staff. Kicked the air. Jumped. And brought her staff down with a yell.

A hundred quarterstaffs thudded on the dirt. A hundred voices shouted. The soldier smiled at their bright timbre, the lack of baritone and bass notes.

The women around her were red with exertion and covered in dust. Their braids hung damp and dark with sweat. Still, they blocked, punched, and kicked as one. Not a single soldier lowered her kicks or softened her blows as the sun climbed higher, its rays blazing hotter. On their tunics, the soldiers had embroidered names of women long gone—generals, soldiers, wrestlers, fencers. It was a homage to those heroes, and perhaps an attempt to summon their spirits, if the embroiderer herself proved worthy.

Their leader stood in front, shouting commands in a clear voice. Mulan, war hero of China, barely recognizable from the girl who’d run off a few years ago to join the army in her father’s stead. Looking at Mulan, the soldier felt pride, but also compassion. Mulan had mastered the art of war, but there remained obstacles ahead, dangers more nuanced than a simple exchange of swords. She was close to fulfilling her destiny, but first, she’d have to learn the way of the spirits, to use their strength as her own. And she would know pain. Because the fenghuang, the phoenix, that guardian of imperial harmony, does not grant its blessing to everyone. Only the most honest, loyal, and selfless. The one who is brave against encroaching darkness.

 

About Livia Blackburne:

Livia Blackburne is a New York Times bestselling author who wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she’s switched to full time writing, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a three tesla MRI scanner. She is the author of the Midnight Thief, and Rosemarked series, as well as the picture book I Dream of Popo.

Website  | Facebook  | Twitter  | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a finished copy of FEATHER AND FLAME, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/1/2022	The Reading Devil	Excerpt
6/2/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
6/3/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
6/4/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review

Week Two:

6/5/2022	More Books Please blog	Review
6/6/2022	BookishConnoisseur	Review
6/7/2022	A Backwards Story	Review
6/8/2022	The Litt Librarian	Review
6/9/2022	celiamcmahonreads	Review
6/10/2022	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
6/11/2022	Karen Dee's Book Reviews	Review

Week Three:

6/12/2022	Book-Keeping	Review
6/13/2022	lexijavabookish	Review
6/14/2022	The Book Review Crew	Review
6/15/2022	The Reading Wordsmith	Review
6/16/2022	Bri's Book Nook	Review
6/17/2022	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review
6/18/2022	Once Upon a Twilight	Review

Week Four:

6/19/2022	The Girl Who Reads	Review
6/20/2022	Don't Judge, Read	Review
6/21/2022	Laura's Bookish Corner	Review
6/22/2022	Bookwyrming Thoughts	Review
6/23/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
6/24/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
6/25/2022	The Momma Spot	Review

Week Five:

6/26/2022	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
6/27/2022	Nat Reads	Review
6/28/2022	BookBriefs	Review
6/29/2022	popthebutterfly	Review
6/30/2022	onemused	Review

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be hosting the kick-off spot on the BRAVELY by Maggie Stiefvater Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 About The Book:

Title: BRAVELY

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Pub. Date: May 3, 2022

Publisher: Disney Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

What if you had one year to save everything you loved?

ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love.

TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences.

THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself?

FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER. 

 

Penelope's Review 

So going into this book, I really wasn't sure what to expect! I absolutely adored the Disney film, Brave, so when I saw a "sequel" in the form of a book by none other than Maggie Steifvater, I knew I had to sign up for a copy. I was a little worried that it would feel a bit too 'young' for me, and I was terrified that it would ruin the image of Merida and her rambunctious family that I had in my head.... I am SO happy to be able to say that NONE of these things happened. This book was great! I feel like Maggie really had a handle on how to write Merida and stay true to her character while also having her grow up a bit.

I love love love the elements of history and mythology woven expertly into this book. It was fun to explore the Cailleach and Feradach in a tale such as this one. The concept of having to change one's entire family in the span of a year was exciting and thrilling. It was great reading about the small differences in Merida and her family that come with growing a little older - I loved that Maggie was able to give me the family that I came to love in Brave, and make them even more loveable! She really did stay true to the original characters without coming off as a direct movie replica. Cheers to her writing skills for that lol! 

And the new characters were equally as fantastic in their own ways. I liked watching them contribute to the story, yet remain interesting themselves rather than just interesting in relation to the DunBroch's. 

I think the beginning and end were both amazing - they were fast-paced and really kept me captivated. Some parts in between were a bit on the slow side. But change takes time, and I think the author did a good job of showing that. It's just worth noting however.

Overall, I think the writing style in this book is great, I loved reading more about Merida and her story. I loved the ending, though I secretly hoped for more about a particular character. I think Maggie did a wonderful job with this, unsurprisingly, and I look forward to seeing where her writing takes us next!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

About Maggie Stiefvater:

Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Raven Cycle, the Shiver trilogy, and other novels for young and adult readers. She is also an artist, an auto enthusiast, and a bagpiper. She lives on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, two children, and an assortment of fainting goats.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of BRAVELY, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2022	The Reading Devil	Review/IG Post
5/2/2022	YABooksCentral	Excerpt
5/3/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
5/4/2022	Kait Plus Books	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
5/5/2022	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review/IG Post
5/6/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
5/7/2022	ChristenKrumm	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

5/8/2022	Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	IG Review
5/9/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
5/10/2022	onemoreexclamation	Review/IG Post
5/11/2022	Quill Tree Fox	Review/IG Post
5/12/2022	My Fictional Oasis	Review/IG Post
5/13/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
5/14/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Review

Week Three:

5/15/2022	Mallory Books	Review/IG Post
5/16/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
5/17/2022	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
5/18/2022	Pages_and_Procrastinaton	Review/IG Post
5/19/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
5/20/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
5/21/2022	Karen Dee's Book Reviews	IG Review

Week Four:

5/22/2022	@drewsim12	IG Review/TikTok Post
5/23/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
5/24/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review
5/25/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
5/26/2022	onemused	IG Review
5/27/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
5/28/2022	zaineylaney	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

Week Five:

5/29/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post
5/30/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
5/31/2022	The Clever Reader	Review/IG Post