Ebook Apothecary

5 Free Fantasy Ebooks

2012-02-25T14:35:00.000-08:00

I've put together a brief list of free fantasy novels for you to download; they all have received some pretty good reviews and can be downloaded in any format.

The Queen's Blade by T.C. Southwell

A doomed kingdom, a young queen’s sacrifice and a killer who will bring an empire to its knees... In a world where men share kindred with beasts, an ageless seer predicts a child who will end the Endless War. One man is the instrument who will change fate. He will usher in a time of strife and pain that will live in legend, and forever bear his name... the time of the Queen’s Blade.

Find this book on Smashwords and Amazon.

Shatter by Elizabeth C. Mock

Less than a year ago, Faela Durante, a Tereskan mind healer, disappeared from her family home in Finalaran scared and pregnant. Hunted and living as an outcast, Faela searches for a legend that might be her only hope of gaining atonement and returning to her son. When her journey collides with two strangers, she must choose between trusting those around her or accomplishing her mission.

Find this book on Smashwords and Amazon.

Djinnx'd by Nicola Rhodes

"Your wish is my command!" What would you wish for if you were offered three wishes? When poor little rich girl, Tamar, found a dirty old bottle in the river and released an ancient and powerful Djinn, she decided to go for the big one, the wish to end all wishes. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..

Find this book on Smashwords.

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker

Imperial law enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify thugs, if not with a blade, then by toppling an eight-foot pile of coffee canisters onto their heads. But when ravaged bodies show up on the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful business coalition plots to kill the emperor, she feels a tad overwhelmed....

Find this book on Smashwords, Amazon and Kobo Books.

Amanda Ackers and the Deep Forest Elves by Glen and Sasha Gabriel

Book One of the series. This series tells of the Greatest Adventures In Modern Elvish History. This is the retelling of the ultimate war of good against evil as it actually took place, retold by the High Elves. Challenges and battles abound. Join Amanda Ackers as she meets elves, dwarves, goblins, witches, wizards, dragons and other creatures, as her adventures take her deep into wondrous lands, filled with exotic creatures. She finds a long lost and powerfully Wizitched artifact, that she was never meant to find. She must learn to control the spirits trapped within it, or all the good within all realms, will forever perish, leaving only darkness and evil. What awaits her on her journey? Be transported into the story, and find out!

Download this book on Smashwords.

Thanks for tuning in!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Author Interview with Bertel King (Painting Thoughts)

2012-02-23T08:43:00.001-08:00

I'm super excited to have Bertel King, Author of Painting Thoughts, with me on the Apothecary today.

He has kindly agreed to answer some of my questions and submit to a brief cross-examination.

Bertel King, Jr. sculpts with words. A senior at the College of William & Mary, he is studying history and government while working on a sequel. He hopes you'll enjoy your trip through Allsterra.

The Book

"Kae, a student on the planet of Allsterra, must paint thoughts in others' minds while keeping them far from his. But on Allsterra, a magical planet of elves and humans, being a one-of-a-kind mixed blood makes painting, friendships, and first love easier said than done. When a murder breaks out at Two Branch Academy, Kae finds himself embroiled in a far-reaching conspiracy threatening not only his school but also his life. With only a gleeful smiley face claiming credit for the blood spattered through the halls of Two Branch, headache and heartache push Kae's body and mind to the brink."

What Authors/Books got you hooked on reading/helped you choose which genre to write in?

One of the first series to stir passion in me was the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale. I started reading his work while I was in middle school, and I absolutely fell in love with his ability to make his characters seem believable and their world come alive. As each book in the series took place on a different world, I was impressed by the creativity he was able to channel for each new installment. I never finished the series, and I wonder what I would think of the books now, were I to re-visit them all these years later.

My favorite author is currently Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I read these books during my senior year of high school, four years ago. I was blown away by Hosseini’s prose, and these books, the second one in particular, were the first to make me fight back a few tears as I read. Actually, to this day, I think they remain the only books to have evoked such a strong reaction from me. I had already written most of Painting Thoughts by the time I read his work, but his writing style definitely inspired me, despite my chosen genre being so different from his. From the time I started writing my book, I intended to make it accessible to people who weren’t necessarily big fans of fantasy or science fiction. I wanted my characters to feel real, and by extension, so would their world. It’s all about telling a convincing story, and to this day, Hosseini motivates me to push myself further.

If you could choose one Author to read 'Painting Thoughts' and give you an honest opinion, who would it be?

When it comes to the quality of my prose, I would love to get feedback from Khaled Hosseini. I have yet to encounter an author whose story moved me so much based largely by the way it was written, rather than what it was about. I don’t want to imply that I wasn’t interested in the content of his work, because I deeply was, but his prose just took it so much further.

As for the content of my work: the plot, the character development, the authenticity of the world; I’d love to hear the opinion of Orson Scott Card. I haven’t read much of his work, just Ender’s Game, but I feel that novel had the strongest plot of any I have ever read. Every aspect of the story came together to form a cohesive whole, and I was thoroughly surprised by the ending.

When/Where did you first come up with the idea for your novel?

I don’t remember an exact time or place, to be honest. I do remember that I started the novel at the end of my sophomore year of high school and finished it a few months into my senior year, roughly four years before I made it available to the public. I had written stories for most of my life, and they were always works of fantasy or science fiction, so I knew what book I managed to finish would fall under this genre.

What made this story special was that it was immensely autobiographical. Painting Thoughts is in many ways the story of my high school experience. It’s a love story, but it’s wrapped in so much more. I’m black and my girlfriend at the time was white. We were not allowed to date each other because of the color of my skin, and this had profound effects on me as I was grappling with my identity and growing into adulthood. Painting Thoughts was a vehicle for me to acknowledge and understand what I was going through.

Painting Thoughts also reflects many of the interactions I had with other high school peers, and I feel that it is due to these personal relationships that the book is as accessible as it is. Anyone who has gone through the high school experience should be able to relate to Kae’s world, even though they’ve never been to Two Branch or witnessed someone cast a lightning bolt from their finger.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

I grew tired of sitting on the manuscript. I knew I had created a beautiful story, and I wanted to share it with others. If it doesn’t sell a million copies or get reviewed by the New York Times as a result, I’m okay with that. My passion is in writing, not in hunting for a publisher, and self-publishing allows me to focus on precisely that. If my work isn’t any good, readers will let me know, but so far, the response has been positive.

What's next?

I started the sequel to Painting Thoughts immediately after finishing the first book, but due to the rush, excitement, and workload of college, writing it has been a much slower process. I’ve also started another story on the side that is entirely unrelated to Painting Thoughts. I don’t know which I’ll finish first, but I’m excited to find out how both of them will end. I don’t plan out my writing, so where each story goes is as much a surprise to me as it is to the reader. I don’t think I’d want to have it any other way.

If 'Painting Thoughts' was a recipe, what would it look like?

Painting Thoughts is a salad. Parts of it are pretty familiar to most people. It has spinach (simply because I prefer spinach to lettuce), slices of tomato, and croutons. Some of its additions are less universal, such as the handful of olives, the slices of green pepper, and the chick peas. Salads can be deceptive, tasting completely different depending on the proportions and how thoroughly they’re mixed. Experiencing a salad is as much about the nuance of how it was constructed as it is about the ingredients that were chosen.

As for the dressing, it’s hard to identify what vinaigrette has been spread on top, so I’ll leave that up to the reader’s imagination. They’re free to use as much as they want and mix it in as thoroughly as they want. And if they want cheese on top, go for it. After all, that’s what painting thoughts is all about.

***

Painting Thoughts begins with:

"Right from the beginning, I want to disprove the belief that all dark things are evil and all light things are good."

To continue this story you will have to find it on either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Bertel mentioned that he is planning to release Painting Thoughts on Smashwords at some point in the future as well, I'll be sure to mention it when he does!

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did, Bertel really went above and beyond when answering these questions. I loved the opportunity to get to know him, not just by his works, but as an individual. Knowing that he loved Ender's Game just as much as I did, and discovering the story behind this novel has inspired me to add Painting Thoughts to my 'to-read' list.

Visit Bertel's Blog.
Find him on Facebook.
Follow him on Twitter.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: "Masters of the Sacred Fire" by R.S. Atkin

2012-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

"On a seemingly ordinary farm in the north of England, sinister events are unfolding. Two farm workers, Jacob, a serial daydreamer and would-be adventurer and Walter, a short mute, find themselves in trouble when Jacob breaks the rules set by the cruel farm owner, Grenville. The rule that no one is to talk to his beloved daughter, Eleanor. Only Jacob can’t help himself and after meeting her by chance he falls head over heels in love with her. Jacob knows his master's cruelty but is unaware of what is in store for him.

After somehow finding out his secret, Grenville uses dark and terrible powers to turn Jacob into a twisted and deformed scarecrow. To save his friend, Walter, who is the most unlikely of heroes, steals the scarecrow and takes it far away from the farm. But Grenville sets out to find and destroy him.

Having never lived away from the farm and the warmth of the barn where he slept, Walter soon finds himself lost, cold and alone. He now has to survive a death-defying ordeal on his quest to escape Grenville’s wrath and undo the spell put upon Jacob."

The Book Trailer:

The book begins... "It started as an ordinary day. The sun rose on a small, quiet town in the North of England, nestled deep within the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Rays of sunlight spilled through the clouds and glimmered on the fresh dew of the grass..." (read more)

You can find this book on Amazon (Kindle) or Smashwords (will work for most ereaders).

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: "Progeny" by R.T. Kaelin

2012-02-16T05:42:00.000-08:00

"Nikalys and his sister Kenders have grown up living a peaceful life in the small village of Yellow Mud.

On a blistering hot day, brother and sister head to the lake for a swim. There, they witness a mysterious stranger send forth a massive, living wave that swallows their village. Believing they are the sole survivors, the two strike out on their own, hoping to discover why their home and family have been destroyed. They must make their way through a countryside where magic is outlawed while struggling with the revelation that one of them can “weave the Strands.”

Through their travels, they discover that their simple life was an illusion. An epic, divine struggle has been underway for ages, and Nikalys and Kenders are at the center of it.

Ancient, powerful forces have sought them since before their birth and hunt them to this day. Some wish to eliminate the threat they pose while others want to help the pair fulfill a destiny of which they are unaware. Myths and legends come to life, whisking the pair along a grand journey neither could have imagined possible."

Find this ebook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and Kobo Books.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Celebrate Valentine's Day by Downloading these Free Romance Ebooks!

2012-02-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

Hello all, I hope you're having a fabulous Valentine's Day! To improve it just a little bit more, I bring to you a selection of free romance ebooks; yours for the downloading! I've done my best to make sure that you won't be left out, regardless of what kind of ereader you use. (And don't forget; if it says it is available on Smashwords, you can download whatever format you need there!)

**These books are all free as of February 14th, 2012.

Let us begin...

"Six Degrees of Romance", brought to you by Harlequin

"One opening paragraph, six unique stories...
What if you gave six authors the same opening paragraph and let their imagination fly? That’s what we’ve done in A Valentine from Harlequin: Six Degrees of Romance!

Experience the variety Harlequin romance has to offer with this collection of novellas from six Harlequin series, including the passionate drama of Harlequin Presents, steamy encounters of Harlequin Blaze, spooky and sensual tales of Harlequin Nocturne, and more.

Collection includes novellas by Nancy Warren, Catherine Spencer, Margaret Moore, Maggie Shayne, Michele Hauf and Christine Bell."

Download on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo Books and Harlequin

"Sleeping with Paris" by Juliette Sobanet

"Charlotte Summers is a sassy, young French teacher who is two days away from moving to Paris with the love of her life and from fulfilling her dream of studying at the prestigious Sorbonne University in France. But when she discovers her fiancé’s online dating profile and has a little chat with the busty red-head he’s been sleeping with on the side, she gives up on committed relationships altogether and decides to navigate Paris on her own.

Determined to stop other women from finding themselves in her shoes, Charlotte creates an anonymous blog on how to date like a man in the City of Love—that is, how to jump from bed to bed without ever falling in love. But, with a slew of Parisian men beating down her door, a hot new neighbor who feeds her chocolate in bed, and an appearance by her sleazy ex-fiancé, she isn’t so sure she can keep her promise to remain commitment-free.

And, when Charlotte agrees to write an article for a popular women’s magazine about her Parisian dating adventures—or disasters, rather—will she risk losing the one man who’s swept her off her feet and her dream job in one fell swoop?"

Find on Amazon.

"Irresistible Forces" by Brenda Jackson

"One week of mind-blowing sex on a beautiful Caribbean island. Of all the business proposals financial tycoon Dominic Saxon has heard, Taylor Steele's is definitely the most tempting. All Taylor wants in return is for Dominic to father her baby. No strings, no commitments...just a mutually satisfying arrangement. Make that very satisfying. For a man with no intention of marrying again, it sounds ideal.Taylor wants a baby, not a relationship. And sexy, intelligent Dominic seems like a man with perfect genes. Turns out, Dominic has perfect everything. Their "procreation vacation" is a whirlwind of sensual ecstasy. But when it's over, will either of them be able to say goodbye?"

Find on Kobo Books, Barnes & Noble and Amazon

The original gothic romance; "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

"Delve into Charlotte Brontë's gothic romance about a young girl - well-educated, but orphaned and poor - of upstanding character who is hired as a governess at a large manor. There she finds herself under the intense eye of Mr. Rochester as she cares for his ward. But as she tentatively engages in a romance with Mr. Rochester, something seems not quite right; there is a presence in the house that one seems willing to explain..."

Download this ebook free on Amazon, Kobo Books, Barnes & Noble

"Forever Mine" by Delilah Marvelle

"London, 1802
Lady Augustine Jane Ascott longs for a man who will do more than offer his hand in marriage. She wants a husband she can trust, someone who will shield her from the darkness of the world. Her heart was broken when her little brother was kidnapped years earlier, and she still carries the pain of his loss.

When the handsome Duke of Wentworth makes his feelings for her known, Augustine's past demons warn her away. Besides, every woman in London knows he's devoted to the memory of his late wife. But is it possible he cares for her after all—and that their love can bring them the peace they both crave?"

Find on Amazon, Kobo Books (Not free), Barnes & Noble (Not free)

"Meeting Destiny" by Nancy Straight

"Lauren is visited in her dreams for years by a stranger claiming to be her destiny. Destiny becomes reality when paths cross during a failed robbery attempt. Lauren and the stranger experience chemistry like no other and now her doubt over her long time relationship with her high school sweetheart is not her only secret…someone else knows about her keen intuition and sixth sense.

A mysterious clairvoyant seeks Lauren out and tells her not only of her life now but what the future may hold. Soon Lauren is in the middle of a murder investigation and a questionable friendship with the key suspect. Law enforcement, friends and family are concerned for Lauren but unfortunately they are unaware of the true danger…Sinister forces are at work and will stop at nothing to destroy Lauren’s abilities."

Find this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble

"Maid for the Billionaire" by Ruth Cardello

"Dominic Corisi knew instantly that Abigail Dartley was just the distraction he was looking for, especially since having her took a bit more persuading than he was used to. So when business forces him to fly to China, he decides to take her with him, but on his terms. No promises. No complications. Just sex.

Abby has always been the responsible one. She doesn’t believe in taking risks; especially when it comes to men - until she meets Dominic. He’s both infuriating and intoxicating, a heady combination. Their trip to China revives a long forgotten side of Abby, but also reveals a threat to bring down Dominic’s company. With no time to explain her actions, Abby must either influence the outcome of his latest venture and save his company or accept her role as his mistress and leave his fate to chance. Does she love him enough to risk losing him for good?"

Find this ebook on Amazon, Nook Books, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Thanks so much for tuning in and I hope you enjoyed these free reads!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: 'Enchantment' by Charlotte Abel

2012-02-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

"While other girls are wearing push-up bras, Channie Belks is trying to hide the fact she's a witch.

Sorta hard to do after her parents slap a chastity curse on her for flirting with "dirty-minded, non-magical, city-boys." She can't even walk by a hot guy without zapping him.

There's a way to break the curse; but one mistake could kill her. It's not worth the risk ... until she meets Josh.

Suddenly, the threat of death isn't such a deal-breaker."

First off, I would like to say that though the characters are teens, the content in this story isn't something I would recommend for anyone too young. I'd put my rating on this story at 16+ as it contains 'scenes of a sexual nature' on and off throughout the book.

Enchantment's family immediately struck me as more than a little dysfunctional, and not because of the no-frills lifestyle that they lead. Her parents border on abusive and a little crazy, and it doesn't paint a particularly pretty picture. Whether or not you're supposed to, I hated them just a little bit. Enchantment herself fluctuates between hating everything they stand for and acting just like them, something that drove me a little crazy. I like it when my characters take the high road.

The story itself was well written and I enjoyed the style of writing. Apart from a section in the middle somewhere it seemed to progress at a relatively decent pace. There were a few times that I found it a little too predictable, but all in all it was an enjoyable read.

For once, it didn't end on a cliffhanger; yes there are still a ton of things left unresolved that the sequels need to take care of, but I think the book finished at a good spot. A detail that makes me very happy as I'm finding more and more indie novels finish with a cliff-hanger, I much prefer a little bit of resolution.

/5

Find "Enchantment" on; Amazon -- Unfortunately it looks like that is the only place it is currently available.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Author Interview: L.C. Smith

2012-02-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Who Is L.C. Smith?

"L.C. lives in New Zealand, loves being outside and playing sports and has written since she was little. Her serious writing has taken place over the last three years. She has a Communication degree from Massey Univeristy where she studied a whole lot of writing."

Lisa graciously agreed to submit to an interview, even though I'm sure she is absurdly busy having just released her debut novel, "Falling".

Book Description:

"Love is a funny thing; there’s the kind that’s like you’re five and you’re looking up at your Mum’s face as she reads you a bedtime story.

Then there’s the kind that makes you nervous and twists in your stomach.

Then there’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re holding everything of worth in your hands.

After the death of her parents in a car accident when Reid South was eleven years old she gained the ability to jump into peoples bodies. Not a single person knows her secret, not her only friend Sara and especially not Keller. The problem is, every time she looks into his eyes, she starts to fall into him."

Tell us a little bit about the process of writing your book.

"I usually get an idea randomly, I can just be walking down the street and all of a sudden I’ll get an idea for something. Usually I don’t write it down, I find that my best ideas are the ones that keep coming back to me, they’ll start to develop and the characters will gain their personalities as I think about them.

I like the first scene to throw you into the middle of the main character’s world. Then I just write until I feel like the whole story is out, which has way more words than I’m going to use, and it’s always horrible, awful writing. Then it’s the re-envisioning stage where I cut things that just don’t work, that aren’t true to the character, but I wanted them to stay! This can go on for a while if I’m being a bit sentimental about certain scenes.

One scene I cut for Falling was in chapter three, actually it was the whole of chapter three and I wanted it, because I thought it was cute. It didn’t work, I always knew it didn’t but I stubbornly held on to it until my editor kindly pointed out how crappy it really was!

Then it’s editing. I hate editing! For me it’s the worst part of the whole process. You have to be slow and careful to catch all the things that are wrong.

At this point it goes to my editor, who is thankfully a whole lot better at it than I am. She really deserves giant hugs for how much she helps.

Then it’s more editing for me and I’m done.

Wow, I made that sound amazingly boring, but it’s not. It’s so great to be able to spend your day making up someone else’s life so that it’s just how you want it to be."

Why writing?

"Even if I didn’t write I would be thinking about writing, so it’s easier to just get the stories written down."

Tell our readers one random fact about yourself!

"I love growing things I can eat. I have a tiny back yard and have over twenty fruit plants. I need to be stopped, I have no more space."

What's next?

"YA historical called One Minute. It’s set in World War Two England; Will (the main character) goes to help his friend rescue his girlfriend who’s Polish, but it all goes wrong and he gets left behind in German occupied France."

If 'Falling' was a recipe, what would it be?

"It would be a big fat chocolate cake.

Keller would be the chocolate, dark of course, because he’s sweet, but has character.

Reid would have to be the baking powder because she can disappear and she lifts everything up.

Sara would be the frosting because she’s about the best friend you could want."

Thanks again to Lisa for agreeing to the interview; please feel free to post your thoughts below!

Lisa's book "Falling" is currently being given away on this very blog. It's easy (and free) to enter, so be sure to take a moment and put your name in!

Find this ebook on Amazon and Smashwords.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

2012-02-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

"After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.

This first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions."

As much as I enjoyed the movie; I was always under the impression that there was supposed to be so much more to the story... Seeing this trailer reminded me that I reeeeally should borrow these books from my niece! (She's 11 and a huge fan of Percy Jackson!)

The Trailer

You can find Percy Jackson and the Olympians as an ebook at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books or Ebooks.com.

Or as a paper book at: Amazon, Chapters Indigo and Barnes & Noble.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Ebook Giveaway: "Falling" by L.C. Smith

2012-02-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I'm pleased to announce a brand new giveaway! This one will run until February 18th, 2012 so be sure to get your entries in before then. There are a bunch of new ways for you to enter the giveaway, so please feel free to tell me what you think in the comments section below.

The Book: Falling by L.C. Smith

"Love is a funny thing; there’s the kind that’s like you’re five and you’re looking up at your Mum’s face as she reads you a bedtime story.

Then there’s the kind that makes you nervous and twists in your stomach.

Then there’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re holding everything of worth in your hands.

After the death of her parents in a car accident when Reid South was eleven years old she gained the ability to jump into peoples bodies. Not a single person knows her secret, not her only friend Sara and especially not Keller. The problem is, every time she looks into his eyes, she starts to fall into him."

Find this ebook on Amazon and Smashwords.

Enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Luck!

Find the Ebook Apothecary on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

New Ebooks: February 2012 Edition

2012-02-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of great books being released as ebooks this month!! EEK!

Ahem. What I mean is...

We are pleased to announce that the following books will all be available as ebooks very shortly. Any one of these books could be exactly what you need. Long nights awake? Roaring fires but no book to curl up with? Never fear... we have the cure for that.

Available February 7th:

The Voice by Anne Bishop - A novella of Ephemera.

"An original novella from the New York Times bestselling author of Bridge of Dreams…

In a small village outside the city of Vision, the people know no sorrow or grief. But this seemingly idyllic community is hiding a terrible secret. As a young child, Nalah did not know why she was told to bring a cake to the mute girl known as the Voice whenever she was upset, only that doing so made her feel better. Now grown, Nalah understands the dark truth, and yearns to escape from the oppressive village that has been her life-long home. But it is only after visiting the city of Vision and discovering the Temple of Sorrow that Nalah understands what she must do to be free…"

Pre-order The Voice on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

AND... These are the ones I am most excited about. Finally, they will be available on Kindle, my ebook reader of choice. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I'm an HUGE fan of Piers Anthony. My favorite series of his, The Apprentice Adept, has not been available... Until now!!!

Available on Valentines Day. (The perfect gift for your sci-fi or fantasy lover.) ;)

"On the technological, decadent world of Proton, someone was trying to destroy Stile, serf and master Gamesman. His only escape lay in Phaze, a world totally ruled by magic. Soon he learned that his alternate self had already been murdered, and that he was next. On Proton, his fate depended on winning the great Games. On Phaze, he must master magic to survive. And if he used any magic at all, his friends were determined to kill him at once!"

It's a classic!!

The cover art for these books was done by Rowena. Not sure how I know that, but I figured I would share that interesting tidbit with all of you!

Find Split Infinity (The Apprentice Adept #1) on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Also soon to be available by Piers Anthony is the Incarnations of Immortality Series, of which I somehow own all but the first novel and have thus never read them. Seeing this has reminded me I really need to get on that!

"When Zane shot Death, he learned, too late, that he would have to assume his place, speeding over the world riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Sooner than he would have thought possible, Zane found himself being drawn to Satan's plot. Already the Prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved...unless he could discover the only way out....
The first novel of the INCARNATIONS OF IMMORTALITY series."

Find On A Pale Horse (Incarnations of Immortality Book #1) on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Available February 24th:

The Legend of Eli Monpress (3 Novels in 1) by Rachel Aaron

"Eli Monpress is talented. He's charming. And he's a thief.
But not just any thief. He's the greatest thief of the age - and he's also a wizard. And with the help of his partners - a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demonseed who can step through shadows and punch through walls - he's going to put his plan into effect.

The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he'll need to steal some big things. But he'll start small for now. He'll just steal something that no one will miss - at least for a while.

Like a king.

The Legend of Eli Monpress includes the novels: The Spirit Thief, The Sprit Rebellion, and The Spirit Eater."

Find The Legend of Eli Monpress on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
(You can find the individual books on Kobobooks.com: The Spirit Thief)

Available February 28th:

The Scar by Sergey and Marina Dyachenko

"Reaching far beyond sword and sorcery, The Scar is a story of two people torn by disaster, their descent into despair, and their reemergence through love and courage. Sergey and Marina Dyachenko mix dramatic scenes with romance, action and wit, in a style both direct and lyrical. Written with a sure artistic hand, The Scar is the story of a man driven by his own feverish demons to find redemption and the woman who just might save him.

Egert is a brash, confident member of the elite guards and an egotistical philanderer. But after he kills an innocent student in a duel, a mysterious man known as “The Wanderer” challenges Egert and slashes his face with his sword, leaving Egert with a scar that comes to symbolize his cowardice. Unable to end his suffering by his own hand, Egert embarks on an odyssey to undo the curse and the horrible damage he has caused, which can only be repaired by a painful journey down a long and harrowing path.

Plotted with the sureness of Robin Hobb and colored with the haunting and ominous imagination of Michael Moorcock, The Scar tells a story that cannot be forgotten."

Find The Scar on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Fated by Benedict Jacka

"Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future--allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.

But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none..."

Find Fated on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Whew, that was quite the lengthy post! If you stuck with it this long you have my thanks! Do stop by on Saturday, February 4th - I'll be announcing a giveaway! (No country restrictions.)

See you soon,
Beth

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: "Fallen" by Lauren Kate

2012-01-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

"Some Angels are Destined to Fall

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her."

Book 1: Fallen

Book 2: Torment

Book 3: Passion

Meet the Author:

Find Fallen on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobobooks.com and ebooks.com.

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: "The Unfinished Song: Sacrifice" by Tara Maya

2012-01-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

I had to continue on with this series, the first books were simply too compelling to stop! This review is for the third book in the "Unfinished Song" series.

Read my review for Book One: Initiate
or Book Two: Taboo

"As war looms on the horizon, Kavio continues to teach Dindi forbidden magics. Dindi’s cohort of fellow Initiates secretly select her to be the target of a vicious prank; an enemy of Kavio has targeted her for an even viler crime. Meanwhile, Brena seeks allies hidden among the enemy, which puts her on a collision course with her former captive and husband, Rthan, who is sent to stop her by any means necessary. As powerful magic spins out of control, the fae themselves are in peril, and what started as a tribal war could become the cataclysm that wipes humans from Faearth. For, in Faearth, there is a price to be paid for breaking taboos, and it can only be atoned for with a terrible sacrifice."

When this book begins you feel for a moment that you are being propelled towards some happy occurrence. There's 'something' that you think you know and you race through the pages trying to determine if you're right.

I finished the previous books with a feeling of satisfaction; eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the story. Though no less entertaining and vivid than its predecessors, I finished this book with a feeling of dread.

I can no longer say that I think I know what is going to happen next.

There is quite a harsh difference in the emotion this novel evokes; there is so much magic, heart-wrenching hope and disaster that it can only leave you feeling like you swallowed something bitter-sweet.

Again, there were a few typos, but they weren't that bad. For me to really get into a story it has to flow, I have to stop noticing the words and then I get swept up in the story they are telling. These books definitely do that for me, once I start them, I need to keep reading until I'm done.

/5

Now before you run off, I should mention once again that the first book in this series is free. You can pick it up for any ereader as it is available on Kobobooks.com, Amazon and Smashwords.

Sacrifice can also be found at Kobobooks.com, Amazon and Smashwords.

See you Tuesday; Have a great weekend!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

News: eBooks.com Updates

2012-01-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure that I've ever really mentioned eBooks.com before; if I haven't, they are another website that sells ebooks. I know, it's pretty self explanatory.

Their list of supported devices just grew quite a ton; as such their books are available for pretty much all ereaders. (Just not Kindle). You can check out their list of supported devices if you're interested.

eBooks.com is also offering 20% off in the following categories:
Body Mind Spirit
Reference
Biography and Autobiography
Medicine.

You can use the coupon Categorysalecp to receive the discount!

That's pretty much it for the news today; but since it's a short one:

A FREE EBOOK!

The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt.

"James, a high school senior, went looking for a job. But instead, embarks upon an adventure of a lifetime. Whisked unexpectedly to a world where magic works, he must learn to master its power, all the while searching for the meaning behind why he was brought there and what he must do. "

This ebook is available on Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobobooks.com

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: 'The Light of Asteria" by Elizabeth Isaacs

2012-01-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

"If Nora Johnson hadn't been on campus that day she would have never known her true destiny. Helping her friends move into the dorm that she wanted to call home, Nora accidentally collides with mysterious stranger, Gavin Frey. His very first touch sends flames through her heart. The world seems different-something within her has changed.

She tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald.

Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength. Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions.

Negativity allows all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive?

A gripping tale of unbounded love and ancient power, The Light of Asteria will take you on an epic adventure filled with war, treachery, and demons, as well as unimaginable delights."

The average review for The Light of Asteria is 4.5 stars.

You can find this ebook on:
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Kobobooks.com (Kobo)
Smashwords (Multiple ereader formats)

What do you think of book trailers? Or the fact that I post them once a week? Share your opinion in the poll on the sidebar; I'd love to know!!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

You can Win a Tropical Vacation just for Reading!

2012-01-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

If you own a Kobo or download books from Kobobooks.com then you'll want to pay attention to this one!

Kobo books has just announced "Winter Escape"; a lovely contest that they are having starting today! It will run from January 23rd to February 19th! Every week for those four weeks each time you buy an ebook you will be entered in to win an all-inclusive trip for two! (You must be from Canada or the US/UK to win.)

You want to know more about the prizes don't you?! I thought so...

Week 1: Aruba

Week 2: Punta Cana

Week 3: Mayan Riviera

Week 4: Los Cabos

Did I mention that these trips are all-inclusive?? After looking through a gazillion pictures of gorgeous sunny locations to include in this blog post... I looked out my window. What I saw is the epitome of a Canadian winter.... Snow. And that is all.

I could definitely handle a nice vacation to a verrrry warm location right about now!

Alright, so according to the rules, it doesn't matter how much you pay for a book in order to be entered in the contest. Free books don't count BUT $0.99 ones do!

On that note; you can check out this list of cheap reads for Kobo.
or
Indie ebooks for Kobo all under $1.

If you don't really care about the price, just pick up whatever book is on your to-read list; there certainly isn't a better time to stock up!

If you don't have a Kobo, there are ways to read the books they sell anyway. You can download a free App for your smartphone, computer or tablet. So if you are interested in entering the contest you can download their apps and get reading!

If you buy a book during Week 1 you will be entered in to win the trip to Aruba. Week 2, the trip to Punta Cana, etc...

They have the contest on Kobobooks.com in case you want to confirm what I'm talking about!

Thanks for reading, good luck and I will see you tomorrow!

The gorgeous pictures are via pooruglyhappy, Salvatore.Freni, tedmurphy and jeffgunn

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Romance with a Paranormal Twist - or Paranormal with a Romantic Twist?

2012-01-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks I have come across the following paranormal novels, all of which I have added to my 'Potential Cures' list. I figured why not share them with the rest of you, if they looked good to me, they might be right up your alley! I hope you enjoy this list and if you've read any of the books, let me know what you thought of them!

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

"New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?"

Find this ebook on:

Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

You can also enter to win Incarnate, contest ends January 30th.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

"Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal."

Find this ebook on:

Kobobooks.com (Kobo)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

"Lucy Valentine is as smart as can be, as single as you can get, and so not qualified to run a matchmaking service. But when her parents temporarily step down from the family business, Valentine, Inc., it’s Lucy’s turn to step up and help out—in the name of love.

Plus, her rent is due.

Here’s the problem: Lucy doesn’t have the knack for matchmaking. According to family legend, every Valentine has been blessed by Cupid with the ability to read “auras” and pair up perfect couples. But not Lucy. Her skills were zapped away years ago in an electrical surge, and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You’d be surprised. In a city like Boston, everyone’s looking for something. So when Lucy locates a missing wedding ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who lives upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it…"

Find this ebook on:

Kobobooks.com (Kobo)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

(This book also has a sequel called Deeply, Desperately -- which looks equally good!)

All the books in this list have some rather fabulous reviews floating around on the inter-webs! They haven't been tested at the Apothecary yet, but they look like they might contain some pretty riveting ingredients!

Thanks for stopping by; Check back on Monday for some exciting news!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: "The Unfinished Song: Taboo" by Tara Maya

2012-01-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

This review is for the second book in the series; you can read my review of the first book "Initiate" if you like. (The first book is free for all ereaders!)

"A DEVASTATING SETBACK
Enemy tribesmen attacked during the Initiation. Dindi used the magic of the corn cob doll to protect herself and others but at a terrible price. Now her dreams are in shambles. In despair, she decides to step into the forbidden faery ring, and dance herself to death with the fae. Then she discovers another choice that saves her life…but breaks the ultimate taboo.

A DESPERATE OUTREACH
After being unfairly exiled from his own people, Kavio may have found a new home, but only if he can protect it from another attack by the enemy. He gathers a small group to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory in search of the ultimate prize…peace.

But by the harsh laws of their land, they cannot both break taboos and keep the peace. They will each have to choose, what, or whom, to betray."

Taboo begins shortly after the first novel, Initiate. The book is a great length, not endlessly long, but it definitely has enough girth to satisfy!

If you read my review of Initiate, you will know that I really enjoyed the story; amazingly enough, I liked this one even more. It is fast paced from the very first page; there is no delay while you learn about the world because you already know it!

You can't help but cheer for Dindi, the main character, you want so badly for things to turn out right for her, especially as circumstances turn more dour. You just 'know' she has the right of it...

Initiate was definitely adult due to the violence and graphic imagery; Taboo adds 'scenes of a sexual nature' into the mix to bump up the rating just a little more.

When I first read the synopsis for these books I was mildly concerned about the fact that the books were about the same characters; this doesn't worry me any more. There is so much going on in the world above and beyond the trials of the main characters I doubt they will become repetitive or boring -- there is just waaay too much story to be told. I think there is a good chance I will enjoy each novel!

Taboo continues to switch between the POV of several characters and the transitions seem to happen a little more smoothly. By the beginning of this book you're familiar with all the characters so I didn't find it at all hard to follow.

My only negative comment about this book would be the fact that there are some typos, but none were detrimental to the health, or my rating, of the book.

The description of the book (at the top of this post) doesn't seem to do it justice - there is so much more going on in the world and so much detail in this story, that brief description just isn't enough!

If you are intrigued by this story and haven't read the prequel; don't hesitate! It's free!

/5

Find this ebook:
Kobobooks.com (Kobo)
Amazon (Kindle)
Smashwords (Multiple ereader formats)
- It doesn't currently seem to be available on Barnes & Noble

Thanks for stopping by!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Free Fantasy Ebook Directly From the Author

2012-01-18T08:24:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have written a 'free ebook' post; so I have decided to share one that comes directly from the author of an indie fantasy novel.

Below is the email that I received in regards to the ebook!

"Yes, this book can downloaded by everyone. Not one, not a hundred, not even a thousand, but by everyone who wants a copy. Imagine a free copy downloaded in your favorite format! It's free, free, FREE! This message was brought to you by lonely and desperate authors everywhere.

All kidding aside, would you please tell your readers I exist? I seem to be stuck in obscurity with little social-networking acumen. I'm working at it. Thanks, Terry

Use the Smashwords.com links provided below, and find the format your reading device uses. I can be Kindled, Nooked, iPad and smart phoned. Please enter the Smashwords.com coupon code prior to completing your checkout, and please share this coupon code with everybody plus your email lists, your blog or website, and/or with your social networks. Spread the word and have fun! Write a review if you’re inclined.

In The Dreaming by Terrance Foxxe - Dark fantasy. A mosaic novel. A collection of short stories bridged together by a larger narrative.

Foxxe's unique novel offers a wide variety of stories to suit any tastes. From Native American legend to urban detective. Science fiction, magic and love, alongside vampires, barbarians, presidents, elves, and (walking talking) toys. "

You can find the ebook on Smashwords (which has formats for all ereaders).

"The coupon code is: JP54R (and is not case sensitive).
Promotional price: $0.00
Coupon Code: JP54R
Expires: March 1, 2011"

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: "Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurances Novel" by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

Yes... It's Steampunk.

"Evil is most assuredly afoot—and Britain’s fate rests in the hands of an alluring renegade . . . and a librarian.

These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing, then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames, drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences—the Crown’s clandestine organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling—will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza D. Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest . . . and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray.
For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows, intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun—he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices—must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot . . . or see England fall to the Phoenix!"

Find this ebook on:
Amazon (Kindle)
Kobobooks.com (Kobo)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: "Changes" by Gene Wolf

2012-01-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

This is the first short story collection that has ever made its way onto the Ebook Apothecary. There are a total of five stories in this book, all of which take place in the same world.

"Changes - After three decades of painstaking research Dr. Richard O’Brian has decoded the genetic structure of mammals and can change one mammal into another while making their immune system invulnerable to all disease. The discovery seems well timed when an outbreak of a deadly recombinant strain of H1N1 is discovered in India. But is it?

The Trickster – It’s Shanara Fox’s wedding day and the Trickster wants only one thing, Shanara herself. The Trickster has never been bested but Shanara has some tricks of her own.

Karma – Brightcloud is a wolf who is shunned by her pack because of her “deformities.” In striking out on her own she finds welcome in another pack and shows them that Karma truly does exist.

Challenge – What do you do when your best friend challenges you to a duel?

The Bottle - Grendal finds himself marooned on a small deserted island and discovers a note in a bottle. The note makes no sense, instructing him to destroy his only chance of rescue in order to be rescued. Does he have faith in the note or rely on common sense?"

When I initially started reading this I was I expecting to find something more or less fantasy, but the first story is undeniably science fiction. The first story, Changes, sets the stage for the rest of them, creating a world that is completely unique. It is more of a novella than a short story and takes up about 50% of the book.

The remaining stories have more of a fantasy bent to them and take place in the all-new world that is revealed in Changes. They are also a completely different style; they reminded me of folk tales, but more for grown-ups than the whole family. Some are more serious, like Karma, and some like Challenge are brief entertaining episodes that reveal a small fragment of the dynamics between the rather one-of-a-kind characters that Gene Wolf has created.

Even though short stories aren't usually my first choice to sit down and read I found myself enjoying them regardless. There are a few typos here and there, mostly in the form of a letter missing or something like that.

/5

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, this ebook can only be downloaded on Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed this review and I shall see you Tuesday; I'll be bringing a book trailer with me!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: "The Unfinished Song: Initiate" By Tara Maya

2012-01-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

"DEADLY INITIATION

A DETERMINED GIRL...
Dindi can't do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.

AN EXILED WARRIOR...

Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of an exile."

When I first looked at this book I assumed, for some reason, that it was romance. Not being in the mood for Love Potion No. 9, I didn't read it right away. When I finally sat down to test it out I was extremely surprised when I discovered a rather different tale from what I had expected!

What I should have done is read this book months ago when I first downloaded it to my kindle.

The story I uncovered was a detailed tapestry in a world I never thought I would find. It is unequivocally fantasy, through and through; though it isn't your usual medieval tale with dragons, castles, knights and princesses. I'm not sure that I have ever read any fantasy that had a Neolithic setting before -- it was much more primal than what I am used to.

I was also surprised to discover that I not only liked the 'dance' aspect of their magic but it added something totally new to the story. It wasn't cheesy and it fit like a glove!

The beginning of the story was a little slow, there is a lot you need to learn about the world that Tara Maya is creating. Since it isn't just castles and monarchies, you need to learn their system of government, their way of life and who these people are exactly. It seems like too much at first, and I was a little worried that the rest of the book would continue on in the same vein.

It didn't.

About a third of the way through I suddenly found myself speeding through the novel and completely lost within it.

Nothing in this book is quite as it seems; there are many examples of duality within the characters and their world. There are extremes in beauty and what I fondly like to call... "blegh". There is some pretty dark content in this novel, but you should keep in mind that the people it portrays aren't exactly what we would consider 'civilized'. There is gore, war crimes, and general unpleasant behaviour. In my opinion, it definitely falls under adult books.

There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the story jumps between them, occasionally telling the same or a similar piece of story from more than one POV. It sounds unpleasant, but it wasn't. It really helps you see the world from the eyes of the characters. By the time I figured out all the characters I was pretty much used to the style of writing. Since this is the beginning of what looks to be a rather lengthy series, taking a little while to get to know the ins and outs certainly doesn't hurt. (Just don't read it while trying to fall asleep at night, it deserves your concentration!)

One of my few complaints would be the fact that there are some typos; not a ton, and you could work around them, but they're there.

I had a bit of difficulty determining the exact ages of some of the characters but it didn't detract from the story.

There is a lot of detail and many odds and ends that I hope will be explained in the sequel, but due to the fact that it is the beginning of a series -- that is to be expected!!

The ending was a cliffhanger but since I have the sequel juuuuust waiting for me... I didn't mind! (Definitely the key to making cliffhangers bearable.)

My last suggestion would be to read the Author's Note at the end; it really is quite enlightening.

So there you have it. My opinion! Now go forth and download this book. It's free and fabulous -- you can't possibly ask for more!

/5

This ebook can be picked up at all of the following locations:
Kobobooks.com (Kobo)**FREE
Amazon (Kindle) **FREE
Smashwords (Multiple eFormats including Nook) **FREE

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Trailer: "I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore

2012-01-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

I originally heard about this book when the movie came out. I know, I know - tsk tsk - I'm supposed to know about the books first! I enjoyed the movie, but I've also added I Am Number Four to my to-read list. I got the feeling that I would enjoy the book even more. The fact that I can read the sequel right away is a big plus in my books!

"Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next."

Enjoy the trailer! (This is for the book - NOT the movie.)

The I Am Number Four ebook can be found on:
Amazon (Kindle)
Kobobooks.com (Kobo)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Ebooks.com (Multiple ereaders - EPUB format)

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: "The Trouble With Spells (of Witches and Warlocks)" by Lacey Weatherford

2012-01-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

"What does every young girl wish for on her sixteenth birthday? Not to be told she's a witch, that's for sure!
But what if it comes with powers, a hot romance, and exciting adventure?"

Me, I've never liked Cinderella; I found that particular fairy tale a little too implausible. The love was simply too naive to make any real impact on me. My feelings on the romance in this book are very similar, it was just too easy and too all-consuming too quickly. However, if you liked Cinderella, aren't completely sugared out from the holidays and have a hankering for some super sweet young adult paranormal fiction then this particular concoction might be exactly what your taste buds are waiting for.

Unfortunately it needed to spend just a little more time with a grammar/typo mortar and pestle. I can't stress enough how important it is to have that 'one more person' check over your work. It makes the difference between a decent book and a great book. Good editing can take a book from tragic to tantalizing; and who wouldn't rather read a tantalizing novel?? It is all about where in the process it is released! The answer should always be; when it is simmered to perfection, but sadly they are often released before they have had enough time to marinate.

Sorry -- bit of a tangent there!

The Trouble With Spells might be about witches but there is a definite vampirical slant to the story. There is lots of romance, some icky-ness, tragedy and a whole heap of fate mixed in.

It is in first person, which as you may know is not my favourite point of view. There are a few novels in which it serves a particular purpose, but to me, this wasn't one of them.

I wouldn't recommend this book for a young teen. It may not take the romance all the way but it does get a little steamy from time to time.

It is the first in a series, and... I feel I must warn you; it ends on a cliffhanger.

The sequel is called "The Demon Kiss".

/5

This ebook can be found on:
Amazon (kindle) **FREE
Smashwords (Multiple ebook formats) **FREE
Kobobooks.com (Kobo) **FREE
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Thanks for reading!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Book Review: "Hunted: The Flash Gold Chronicles" by Lindsay Buroker

2012-01-05T05:48:00.000-08:00

"Self-taught tinkerer Kali McAlister is determined to build an airship and escape the frigid Yukon forever. Unfortunately, she’s the heir to the secrets of flash gold, an alchemical energy source that tends to make her a popular target for bandits, gangsters, and pirates.

With the help of her bounty-hunting business partner, Cedar, Kali has outwitted and eluded attackers before, and she thinks she’s prepared for anything. Then her ex-fiancé strolls into her workshop.

As if fooling her once wasn’t enough, he aims to embroil her in a fresh scheme. Meanwhile, a new nemesis is stalking her, a shrouded figure with an arsenal of deadly machines that make Kali’s inventions seem like toys. This time, it’ll take more than her ingenuity and Cedar’s combat skills to survive.

Hunted is a 27,000-word steampunk novella.

Printed page count equivalent: 120"

This novella is the second in the series, the first being "Flash Gold" which I reviewed here.

It is a steampunk adventure that is filled with Lindsay Buroker's usual flair and humorous banter. The limited amount of characters in the story ensure that everyone is nice and easy to keep track of, something that is great if you're looking for a concoction that is both enjoyable and relaxing.

As always, Lindsay has used at least one word that I've had to pause a moment over; this book's mystery ingredient was 'ablutions', which for the record means:

1. a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual.
2. the liquid thus used.
3. a washing of the hands, body, etc.

There, now you're just a little bit smarter... unless of course you knew that already, in which case you're just as smart as you were before!

Ahem.

The only bad thing about this novella, aside from a few typos, was the fact that it was just way too short. I like knowing that once I've really gotten into a story, that I have at least a few good hours of reading. This is unfortunately never the case with a novella. Since I was enjoying it, I really didn't want it to end!

Regardless, whether you're a steampunk lover, adventure seeker or just happen to enjoy a fun read; I would definitely suggest you try out this particular potion! As always, if you happen to try it, I'd love it if you came back and let me know how it tasted to you!

/5

Hunted can be found for sale on Smashwords (offers multiple ereader formats), Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook) and Kobobooks.com (Kobo).

Thanks for reading!

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!

Upcoming January Releases

2012-01-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

All the books in this list are available to pre-order and will be released in January of 2012!

Release Date: January 5th, 2012.

A Shadow on the Glass by Ian Irvine

"Once there were three worlds, each with their own people. Then, fleeing out of the void, on the edge of extinction, came the Charon. And the balance changed for ever. With A SHADOW ON THE GLASS, Book One of A View from the Mirror, a major new fantasy epic begins. Karan, a sensitive with a troubled past, is forced to steal an ancient relic in payment for a debt. But she is not told that the relic is, in fact, the Mirror of Aachan, a twisted, deceitful thing that remembers everything it has seen. Llian, meanwhile, a brilliant chronicler, is expelled from his college for uncovering a perilous mystery. Thrown together by fate, Karan and Llian are hunted across a world at war, for the Mirror contains a secret of incredible power. More information on this book and others can be found on the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.net"

This ebook can be pre-ordered on:
Amazon (Kindle)
** 9 Books by Ian Irvine are being released on Amazon on Jan 5th.
Currently available at: Barnes & Noble

Release Date: January 10th, 2012.

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

" "The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.
She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.

In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.

Filled with characters both fascinating and fantastical, THE ROOK is a richly inventive, suspenseful, and often wry thriller that marks an ambitious debut from a promising young writer"

This book can be pre-ordered on:
Amazon(Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Release Date: January 16th, 2012.

Don't Bite the Messenger by Regan Summers

"Anchorage, Alaska

The vampire population may have created an economic boom in Alaska, but their altered energy field fries most technology. They rely on hard-living—and short-lived—couriers to get business done...couriers like Sydney Kildare.
Sydney has survived to the ripe old age of twenty-six by being careful. She's careful when navigating her tempestuous clients, outrunning hijackers and avoiding anyone who might distract her from her plan of retiring young to a tropical, vampire-free island.

Her attitude—and immunity to vampires' allure—have made her the target of a faction of vampires trying to reclaim their territory.

Her only ally is Malcolm Kelly, a secretive charmer with the uncanny habit of showing up whenever she's in trouble. Caught in the middle of a vampire turf war, Sydney has to count on Malcolm to help her survive, or the only place she'll retire is her grave...
32,000 words"

This book can be pre-ordered on:
Amazon (Kindle)

Release Date: January 24, 2012.

**FREE** A Pehov Duet by Alexey Pehov

"Two original, exciting and engaging short stories from Alexey Pehov that feature master thief Shadow Harold, the protagonist of the Chronicles of Siala epic fantasy series.

In "The Snake", Harold, the most accomplished thief in the world (and reluctant hero of Alexey Pehov's award-winning series, Chronicles of Siala) may have finally met his match in what could prove to be his most dangerous escapade. A stand-alone short story appearing for the very first time.

“Battle of the Margend Horseshoe” is an additional scene from SHADOW BLIZZARD, Pehov’s upcoming conclusion to the Chronicles of Siala. Harold and friends, old and new, prepare for a spirited offensive attack after cleverly cornering the Orc army at the Margend Horsehoe river bend. An exciting taste of the masterful battle scenes that are Pehov’s forte."
This ebook can be pre-ordered on:

Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Against the Light by Dave Duncan

"The Hierarchy, high priests of the religious order the Light, has installed King Ethan as the monarchical figurehead, ruling both the magical kingdom of Albi and its predominant religion. Scattered throughout the land, worshippers in the old ways of the Earth Mother are persecuted as heretics. And when young missionary student Rollo Woodbridge returns home to Albi, he is immediately arrested for heresy and treason, setting off a chain of events that plunges the land into utter chaos.

The Hierarchy has more treacherous motives, however, and when Rollo is rescued from jail, his family’s home is destroyed—but Rollo and his siblings are left alive. While Rollo tries diplomacy to end the religious and political conflict, his brother and sister swear vengeance. With the hours to deliverance counting down and their lives hanging in the balance, they must decide whether to stay and fight or leave Albi forever in the suspenseful, action-packed Against the Light."

This ebook can be pre-ordered on:
Amazon (Kindle)

Release Date: January 31, 2012

The Sword of Albion by Mark Chadbourn

"Two-time British Fantasy Award winner Chadbourn (the Age of Misrule trilogy) offers a grim and decidedly current take on supernatural Elizabethan intrigues. Will Swyfte, England's greatest spy, is charged with stopping the faerie and their Spanish tools from acquiring the Skull, the Key and the Shield, magic items whose combination could devastate all of Britain. Scenes range from squalid London slums to King Philip's monumental El Escorial palace and the mighty confrontation with the Armada in the English Channel. Readers familiar with cold war spy novels will wryly note Swyfte's visits to Dr. John Dee for the latest in spy technology, à la James Bond and Q. Graphic presentations of tortures from the rack to waterboarding recall contemporary issues in national security, carefully contextualized with Swyfte's dilemmas of personal versus professional codes."

Note: The second book in this series is also being released January 31st.

This ebook can be pre-ordered on:
Amazon (Kindle)
Kobobooks.com (Kobo)

Giant Thief by David Tallerman

"Meet Easie Damasco, rogue, thieving swine and total charmer.

Even the wicked can't rest when a vicious warlord and the force of enslaved giants he commands invade their homeland. Damasco might get away in one piece, but he's going to need help.

Big time."

This ebook can be pre-ordered on:
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)

__________________________

If you enjoyed this post, why not Subscribe to the Ebook Apothecary!