Fantasy

Blood of an Exile by Brian Naslund | Review

August 8, 2020 Yvonne Leave a Comment

Blood of an Exile by Brian Naslund
Published by Tor Publishing on August 6, 2019
ISBN: 9781250309624
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Epic, Action & Adventure
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased Book
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four stars - Blood of an Exile by Brian Naslund | Review

2019 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year2019 Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year
First in the Dragons of Terra series, Brian Naslund's Blood of an Exile is a fast-paced adventure perfect for comic readers and fans of heroic fantasy
Bershad stands apart from the world, the most legendary dragonslayer in history, both revered and reviled.
Once, he was Lord Silas Bershad, but after a disastrous failure on the battlefield he was stripped of his titles and sentenced to one violent, perilous hunt after another. Now he lives only to stalk dragons, slaughter them, collect their precious oil, and head back into the treacherous wilds once more. For years, death was his only chance to escape. But that is about to change.
The king who sentenced Bershad to his fate has just given him an unprecedented chance at redemption. Kill a foreign emperor and walk free forever.
The journey will take him across dragon-infested mountains, through a seedy criminal underworld, and into a forbidden city guarded by deadly technology.
But the links of fate bind us all.
Dragons of Terra SeriesBlood of an ExileSorcery of a Queen
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Great holy Zeus! Blood Of An Exile packs a powerful punch, and this debut punch is a knockout! This book has the capability of just burrowing under your skin and taking root there. The plot is thick, enriching and complex. This story is completely character driven and it knows exactly how you tick! We have a glorious magic system that enriches the narrative, but it isn’t the main focus, which I have found to be a refreshing change. Blood Of An Exile has fired up my synapses and it will stay with me for the long-term – in all its raw complexity.

Dragons are my favourite magical creatures in fantasy, but I do struggle with the perception of them. I hate how they are uncontrollable but not a revered creature. Blood Of An Exile challenges that view. The magnificent creatures are respected for their power but the killing of one is reserved as a punishment. This really did crawl under my skin and the thought of killing one of these majestic creatures would tear me open. It’s like the ocean – it’s pretty to look at but I respect her for the power she can unleash upon us all.

Thank you to Brian Naslund for writing a book that has got me excited about becoming immersed in the fantasy genre again.

Blood of An Exile follows the story of Silas Bershad, who was supposed to die after the attempted assassination of a noble lord. His punishment is to be banished and live out his life as a dragonslayer, forever displayed to the world by the tattoos that are etched upon his face. He is summoned back to undertake a task given to him by the king that banished him in the first place. He must kill a lord and save his kidnapped daughter. This will ensure his pardon once this task is completed. Bershad has hidden some magical ability of restoring health and healing and it had me hooked! I wanted more, I need more – you know what they say about curiosity.

Blood Of An Exile is a journey of self-discovery. Who can Bershad and company trust? Their journey to reclaim the lost princess will open wounds, forge new relationships and break barriers. Naslund has done a stellar job of giving us the multiple POV of several characters. This brings us the relatable card to the storytelling. The narrative was bulked out with meaningful dialogue and the ultimate portrayal of fates intertwining was superb. Naslund has created a an amazingly accessible world and his writing was like a kid consuming cake – it was addictive.

Bershads quest is filled with doubt and many questions. He examines the turn his life has taken and whether he could ever go back to his old life, even if he was pardoned. Naslund has captured the essence of the ultimate dilemma of the human condition. The razor-sharp narrative and the flow just went down like the most exquisite rum and coke. Naslund made me ponder the existence of dragons and once again wishing I was a part of the plot.

Blood Of An Exile has dragons, assassinations and revenge, this debut by Brian Naslund has it all. Epic scope and fantastical world building makes this your next read.

ABOUT BRIAN NASLUND

BrianNaslundHeadshot02 683x1024 - Blood of an Exile by Brian Naslund | Review

Brian Naslund was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he never quite learned to love crab cakes. As a technology-soaked millennial, his first taste of fantasy wasn’t from Tolkien or the other amazing fantasy writers he now loves, but instead from watching his older brother play video games in the basement.

After healthy doses of many Final Fantasy games during his formative years, he developed a lifelong obsession with flawed characters lugging swords around in the wilderness.

Brian spent his early twenties living in Manhattan and subsisting off ramen and cheap vodka, and now lives in Colorado. He still eats ramen but traded the vodka for craft-brewed IPAs.

Brian is now a product director for a tech company, and first started writing about dragons to escape the crushing boredom of his incredibly long bus commute. When he’s not writing, he’s usually griping about video games on Twitter, hiking with his dog, Lola, or whitewater kayaking in the mountains. The last activity makes his mother very nervous.

Blood of an Exile is his debut novel, and the first in The Dragons of Terra series.

Brian Naslund

The Wrack by John Bierce | Blog Tour

August 5, 2020 Yvonne Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

the wrack by john bierce - The Wrack by John Bierce | Blog Tour

The Wrack by John Bierce
Published by Independently Published on April 24, 2020
ISBN: 9798636465911
Genres: Fantasy, epic fantasy
Pages: 240
Format: eBook
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four stars - The Wrack by John Bierce | Blog Tour

Plague has come to the continent of Teringia.As the Wrack makes its slow, relentless march southwards, it will humble kings and healers, seers and merchants, priests and warriors. Behind, it leaves only screams and suffering, and before it, spreads only fear.Lothain, the birthplace of the Wrack, desperately tries to hold itself together as the plague burns across it and its neighbors circle like vultures. The Moonsworn healers would fight the Wrack, but must navigate distrust and violence from the peoples of Teringia. Proud Galicanta readies itself for war, as the Sunsworn Empire watches and waits for the Wrack to bring its rival low.And the Wrack advances, utterly unconcerned with the plans of men.

The Wrack gives us the topical insight of a plague that wreaks havoc throughout a fantasy world. I’m a bit of a freak in a way that I have enjoyed reading about plagues/pandemics whilst living through one. The format that it was told in was refreshing and thought provoking. Multiple POV’s that give us a snapshot of lives, some are cut short and some last several chapters. The plague pays no attention to stature, race or social class. It takes no prisoners, but it will cause insurmountable amount of pain and will take your last breath if your guard is down.

The Wrack gave me something that I didn’t realise I was looking for during this given time. A fantasy novel that is rooted in its epidemiological plight. So far, my reading career hasn’t had its path crossed with something quite as intricate and just plain fascinating as this story. This is a narrative that won’t grant you rest and relaxation. It keeps your brain ticking over, questioning aspects of the disease and the ultimate end game for many of the characters. It’s a fast-paced journey that resonates during our darkest days.

The only thing I did find slightly frustrating was the lack of follow up. Often, I felt like the lack of information and clarification of what happened to characters just left me wanting more. My brain was conjuring up scenarios and outcomes and I just greedily needed that conclusion. Although I found this frustrating it absolutely doesn’t take away my love for the story and just how Bierce masterfully brings each character to life in such a condensed format. I loved the uniqueness and it felt like swimming against the current – it was inevitable and as sure as the sun rising.

There is one thing that The Wrack does incredibly well – emotion. It is bursting at the seams with emotion. We get differing aspects and thoughts on how the The Wrack affects each character, the pain and anguish. It felt like a lot of little stories in amongst the bigger picture. Many of the chapters were memorable for me and brought another layer to the overall story. It was so incredibly written from a characterisation standpoint that I went from moments of joy, sadness to laughter. It had a well-developed magic system that had my love for fantasy kept at a constant level.

Thanks to Storytellers on Tour for my spot on the blog tour.

ABOUT JOHN BIERCE

John Bierce is a history buff, fantasy and science fiction lover, and fan of talking about himself in the third person. He also has a background in the earth sciences, and has been caught licking rocks before. For science.

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Author Links

Website: https://johnbierce.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/john_bierce

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbierce

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18510329.John_Bierce

The Hollow Gods by A.J. Vrana | Blog Tour

July 31, 2020 Yvonne Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

the hollow gods by vrana a j - The Hollow Gods by A.J. Vrana | Blog Tour

The Hollow Gods by Vrana A. J.
Published by The Parliament House on July 28, 2020
ISBN: 9781733386821
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban
Pages: 400
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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four stars - The Hollow Gods by A.J. Vrana | Blog Tour

"Vrana's dark, folklore-infused debut, the first of a duology, introduces readers to the residents of Black Hollow, who hold their daughters close and their twisted secrets closer...Vrana crafts a unique local mythology and draws from existing lore to create a sense of creeping dread. Vrana is off to a strong start with this solid, suspenseful tale."

– Publisher’s Weekly

Black Hollow is a town with a dark secret. For centuries, residents have foretold the return of the Dreamwalker—an ominous figure from local folklore said to lure young women into the woods and possess them. Yet the boundary between fact and fable is blurred by a troubling statistic: occasionally, women do go missing. And after they return, they almost always end up dead. When Kai wakes up next to the lifeless body of a recently missing girl, his memory blank, he struggles to clear his already threadbare conscience. Miya, a floundering university student, experiences signs that she may be the Dreamwalker’s next victim. Can she trust Kai as their paths collide, or does he herald her demise?And after losing a young patient, crestfallen oncologist, Mason, embarks on a quest to debunk the town’s superstitions, only to find his sanity tested.A maelstrom of ancient grudges, forgotten traumas, and deadly secrets loom in the foggy forests of Black Hollow. Can three unlikely heroes put aside their fears and unite to confront a centuries-old evil? Will they uncover the truth behind the fable, or will the cycle repeat?

The Hollow Gods made me feel like I was transported to another dimension. So many things brought the supremely imaginative plot to life. It was the kind of book that you forgot you were actually reading – it felt like an out of body experience. I almost felt like I could feel the wind blowing in my hair and my eyes witnessing the spectacular vistas that the author so expertly inserted me into the bones of the novel.

Black Hollow.

A place with a dark history. A magical source of unquestionable power. A place that is revered for many a good reason. A place that wouldn’t be out of place in some fantasy series on Netflix. Girls that occasionally go missing, they return to their families who descend into madness and kill them. Interested? Good, because it only gets better from here. There are mutterings that a girl named Dream walker is behind the killings having being ostracized a number of years ago. Is it possible that revenge is the motivator or is something more obscure at play? Trying to decide and decipher the decisions and motivations of the characters had me hungering for more details. Any little titbit of information that Vrana gave me had me on my knees being grateful for the smallest morsel.

The Hollow Gods was written in such a fantastical way that the reader immediately feels that they are in the centre of the plot. We have the luxury of having three perspectives, Kai – a shapeshifting wolf who is heartbreakingly human. A psyche that is at war with itself. Miya, a girl that is at one with the woods, it has been her safe space, but will the realisation that she could be Dreamwalkers next victim change that perspective? Finally, Mason, a legend hunter who is determined to uncover the truth, come what may.

The pace at which this narrative careened along had my appetite truly whetted. Fasten your seatbelts because the pace will make your head go wild! The story has everything you could possibly need and crave in a fantasy novel. The hope that constantly builds up in your heart, the fear that is imbedded in the book’s DNA and the intense thoughts and feelings that get wracked from your body. I finished the book over a week ago and it still gives me goosebumps, it was a magical experience. The characterisation gives the tangible thread to humanity and the reader is given a logical but imaginative appreciation of the worldbuilding from that basis.

The Hollow Gods features a bit of romance, but I loved how that wasn’t the actual storyline, it enhanced and propped the plot up. There’s mystery and intrigue and characters that you just can’t help but fall for. The learning curve and fighting in the characters corner gave everything a three-dimensional experience. Everything came full circle and I couldn’t help but smile at the direction and conclusion that the story took.

The Hollow Gods was just one of those books where I was entranced from beginning to end. It was intense, immersive and Vrana’s prose is utterly spellbinding.

Thanks once again to The Storytellers On Tour for my place on the blog tour and organising yet another stellar tour.

ABOUT A.J. VRANA

a j vrana 731x1024 - The Hollow Gods by A.J. Vrana | Blog Tour

A. J. Vrana is a Serbian-Canadian academic and writer from Toronto, Canada. She lives with her two rescue cats, Moonstone and Peanut Butter, who nest in her window-side bookshelf and cast judgmental stares at nearby pigeons. Her doctoral research examines the supernatural in modern Japanese and former-Yugoslavian literature and its relationship to violence. When not toiling away at caffeine-fueled, scholarly pursuits, she enjoys jewelry-making, cupcakes, and concocting dark tales to unleash upon the world.

— — —

Author Links

Website: https://thechaoscycle.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJVrana

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJVranaAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.j.vrana/Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49547508-the-hollow-gods

Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall | Blog Tour

July 15, 2020 Yvonne 4 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

knightmare arcanist by shami stovall - Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall | Blog Tour

Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall
Published by Capital Station Books on June 18, 2019
ISBN: 9780998045221
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, General
Pages: 364
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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three half stars - Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall | Blog Tour

Magic. Sailing. A murderer among heroes.
Gravedigger Volke Savan wants nothing more than to be like his hero, the legendary magical swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma. First he needs to become an arcanist, someone capable of wielding magic, which requires bonding with a mythical creature. And he'll take anything--a pegasus, a griffin, a ravenous hydra--maybe even a leviathan, like Ruma.
So when Volke stumbles across a knightmare, a creature made of shadow and terror, he has no reservations. But the knightmare knows a terrible secret: Ruma is a murderer out to spread corrupted magic throughout their island nation. He's already killed a population of phoenixes and he intends to kill even more.
In order to protect his home, his adopted sister, and the girl he admires from afar, Volke will need to confront his hero, the Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma.
A fast-paced fantasy with magical creatures for those who enjoy the Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera series) by Jim Butcher, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

Knightmare Arcanist was both an intriguing title and serious book cover love. These two combinations made me sign up for this tour like sonic the hedgehog. I’ve been on a right fantasy fix recently so getting something that is going to surprise me is a hard ask, but this was a real treat and the differentiating elements contained within gave me the warm and fuzzies – like revisiting an old friend, its familiar and endorphin releasing.

We follow two quite remarkable characters, Volke and Illia (his adoptive sister) who are gravediggers but have high aspirations of becoming arcanists. My instant attraction to these characters felt like love at first sight. They have serious bond, and both have in-depth family history looming over their heads. Flawed characters that are scared but are inexplicably strong and forces to be reckoned with. Their dream means leaving the Isle of Ruma and they arrive at the mainland, ready to tackle this head on. I connected to them both on such a deep level. Strangely, I didn’t expect to feel such a connection, it usually takes me a good few chapters to weigh a character up but they both pulled at me from the very start.

I really don’t want to delve too much into the storyline in Knightmare Arcanist as it would categorically spoil the experience but by gum, the worldbuilding was magnificent and the magic system gave me chills and had me grasping for my favourite hot chocolate. The bonds between the arcanists and the animals was just the jackpot, think Fantastic Beasts and where to find them but a gazillion times better. The execution the prose…just everything. I found it a quick book to blast through, but you could spend hours just revelling in all the information the author teases out. This book is definitely an experience.

Knightmare Arcanist is a brilliant joyride in the fantasy genre. it gives good feels and a world building delight!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction, with several best-selling novels under her belt. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/

Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

The End Of Magic by Mark Stay |Blog Tour

July 5, 2020 Yvonne 3 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

the end of magic by mark stay - The End Of Magic by Mark Stay |Blog Tour

The End of Magic by Mark Stay
Published by Unbound Publishing on February 7, 2019
ISBN: 9781789650051
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic, General, Historical, Magick Studies
Pages: 321
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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four stars - The End Of Magic by Mark Stay |Blog Tour

Two powerful mages. One steeped in privilege, the other bound by a moral code. Their world is thrown into chaos by the end of magic.
Rosheen Katell is a wandering mage and, with Anzu her griffin, she’s worked hard to build a reputation as a trustworthy truth seer. She never lies, never kills.Sander Bree is a royal mage. He lives an easy life advising the king on matters of court and politics, but dreams of an apocalypse are giving him massive anxiety attacks.Very soon, their magic will be gone. A cataclysmic event will change their lives and world forever. Sander must keep a promise to save the life of a young girl that would have been difficult enough with magic, but is a suicide mission without it. Rosheen is forced to side with a murderous warlord, and her once-solid principles are tested and found wanting. Both will be set against one another in a war unlike anything the world has seen before, in this sweeping fantasy of magic’s ending. A stand alone fantasy novel for readers of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch
** "The sort of book you give to people who say “prove to me why I should read fantasy”... A simply terrific read." – James Barclay, author of the Legends of the Raven series "Mark Stay paints his world and characters with deft, confident and dark strokes." – RJ Barker, author of the Wounded Kingdom Trilogy "The sort of book you give to people who say “prove to me why I should read fantasy”... A simply terrific read." – James Barclay, author of the Legends of the Raven series "Takes the tropes of high fantasy and uses them to wield an original, compelling and intricately plotted story... exactly the kind of fantasy that we need more of." – Gavin G. Smith, author of the Veteran series "Stay does for George RR Martin what Pratchett did for Tolkien." - Julian Barr, author of The Way Home"The End of Magic has one of the most compelling narratives as well as a strong authorial voice." ★★★★★ Amazon UK Reviewer
"Like Game of Thrones without the boobs!" ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer "This was a blast, hints of Joe Abercrombie’s books and his dark humour, but presented in a world in chaos." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer "The most fun I've had reading a fantasy novel since Red Country by Joe Abercrombie." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer "This book grabbed me in the first couple of pages... Couldn’t stop. Really want more!" ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer "I may never forgive the author for that (spoiler) death scene... *When you read it you’ll understand* Rarely have I shed tears so early on in a book." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer
"A fun and intense read." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer
"A fresh take on the perennial story of the golden catastrophe/age. The author has created a completely authentic fantasy world." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer
"Normal fantasy conventions are distorted, magic is not dependable and there are evil, bloodthirsty villains at work." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer
"The humour in the writing offset the blood and gore that featured throughout." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer
"The author effortlessly creates a world that is both wonderfully fantastical and at the same time strangely real." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer"Gripping and entertaining." ★★★★★ - Amazon UK Reviewer

The End Of Magic…an ambiguous title that could suggest many things. One thing that it does deliver on is the benchmark that epic fantasy should aspire to reach. In very grim times it brought an element of light-hearted hilarity that was very much needed. The magical system is very cleverly constructed in which that it is integrated seamlessly into the bones of the story. It is believable and is manifested as an everyday occurrence. I very much liked that aspect of the story. Stay is a genius in that he took the usual formula for fantasy novels and turned it upside down. Rules be damned!

I instantly knew the reader was going to be in good hands with the author. Mark Stay’s personality was pretty obvious in the initial few pages of The End Of Magic and I knew that this was a tale that was going to stay with me for the long term. Rosheen Katell, a freelance mage and truth seer, a strong character with an undercurrent of vulnerability and a narration that is both wary and exciting. Her character runs deep, and I often felt a bubbling cauldron of trepidation fizzle my nerves. I could anticipate disastrous events coming but when and where?

As a mage her job takes her from town to town and in any great fantasy, you need a trusty sidekick, let me introduce you to, Anzu, the pretty amazing griffin. I am partial to a dragon in fantasy plots but give me a griffin and I’m anyone’s. I mean, who wouldn’t want to own the most magical mythical creature? The king’s mage, Sander Bree – a mage that is fed up and desperately looking for a way out. One major thing they have in common is the Lapis moon – the place where they draw their power from. It has been relied upon for hundreds of years but what happens when a cosmic event happens, and magic disappears. Lives are drastically changed forever.

What are the consequences of such a world altering event? What choices are ultimately being forced into fruition? Rosheen, against her better judgement and morals is forced to help an evil warlord in order to save the life of her brother, Oskar. The things we do for love. Conversely Sander Bree has to come to the rescue of the king’s daughter. It’s a race against time and both mages will be tested beyond anything they have experienced before.

The End Of Magic takes on a sinister edge at times, but it is essentially a story of epic proportions, one of loss, betrayal and hilarity in equal measures. The writing invites the brain to ask questions, it didn’t feel unbelievable, a reason that I couldn’t stop reading. The author did a fantastic job of laying hints and this book lover was only too happy to lap them up. The human condition was constantly at the forefront of this story and the ability to examine and process the very real human emotions and motivations behind decisions and actions.

The End Of Magic was a non-traditional coming of age epic fantasy that was thrilling and exciting in equal measures. Fans of Raymond Feist and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire. Action aplenty with a generous splattering of gore!

A massive thanks to the author and Heather @ Overview Media for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark 2 - The End Of Magic by Mark Stay |Blog Tour

Mark Stay co-wrote the screenplay for Robot Overlords which became a movie with Sir Ben Kingsley and Gillian Anderson, and premiered at the 58th London Film Festival. Author of the fantasy novel The End of Magic, he is also co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast and worked in bookselling and publishing for over twenty-five years. He lives in Kent, England, with his family and a trio of retired chickens. He blogs and humblebrags over at markstaywrites.com

Guild Of Tokens By Jon Auerbach

June 24, 2020 Yvonne 2 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

guild of tokens by jon auerbach - Guild Of Tokens By Jon Auerbach

Guild of Tokens by Jon Auerbach
Published by ARC Worlds Publishing on June 25, 2019
ISBN: 9781734799002
Genres: Urban, Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic, Magical Realism
Pages: 420
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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five stars - Guild Of Tokens By Jon Auerbach

She wants to level up her humdrum existence. But her next quest could spell life or death.
Jen Jacobs's nights are spent traversing a strange city finding hidden objects, slaying dragons, and tangling with a host of fellow adventurers. And her days are spent counting down the seconds until she can return to the grind and continue racking up tokens and leveling up.
Except Jen isn't playing a video game.
It's all real and happening right in New York City.
After a particularly harrowing quest pairs her up with Beatrice Taylor, a no-nonsense and ambitious mentor, Jen hopes she's on the path to becoming a big-time player. But as she dives deeper into the game's hidden agenda, she realizes Beatrice has her sights set on the Guild, the centuries-old organization that runs the Questing game. And the quests Jen loves are about to put both of them in grave danger.
Will Jen survive the game before powerful forces cut her real life short? Guild of Tokens is a thrilling new twist on conventional urban fantasy. If you like determined heroines, gritty cityscapes, and vampire-free adventures, then you'll love Jon Auerbach's rollercoaster tale.

Guild Of Tokens. An urban fantasy that gives you everything you didn’t know you were craving. A plot that warrants its highly ambitious execution, Auerbach has created a world that chews you up and spits you back out with his rich and vibrant world building. It certainly didn’t take long to be transported into the world of questing, tokens and mystique. I typically know if a book is going to be for me within a few chapters, but it was even shorter with Guild Of Tokens. Auerbach quick paced prose keeps the dramatic stimulus rocketing forward.

We meet our protagonist, Jen, sick and fed up with life. Dissatisfied with her lot in life. She’s searching for more. Needing something that will give her a sense of excitement. Jen’s coding job isn’t what you would call exciting. Her boyfriend is a long-distance tool. He doesn’t treat her right and some, okay a LOT, of his actions are highly questionable. Jen’s friends are self-absorbed, bitchy females that can’t see beyond their own fakeness. You immediately get a sense of why she is sick of this monotonous life. When a spam email keeps reappearing in her inbox could this be the key to leaving that life behind?

The Guild Of Tokens is highly engaging and often humorous. You get a real feel for his love and affection for his characters. They are close to his heart – an obvious outpouring of love. Jen is introduced to a world she didn’t know existed. Just how could magic exist without there being any evidence of it ? was she just blind to it or was it protected and only given glimpses to the chosen few?

Quests, tokens and a strange council was beyond anything she expected to encounter when she opened those emails all those months ago. The crux of the story is just that – falling into the unknown.

I enjoyed Guild Of Tokens so much because of the realism I felt whilst immersing myself within its pages. It’s not outwit the realms of possibility that this could be possible. The narrative engaged with me on such a personal level – its tone was assured. A story about assertiveness, responsibility and power and was effortlessly expressive. I also picked up on a feministic feel to the writing – we didn’t have the girl propping up the hero she was one in her own right. It came full circle and complimented the elements perfectly and it was spellbinding.

Guild Of Tokens is one of those rarities – it grips you and will not let go until the very end. It’s an entirely fresh and addicting tale. The originality and the attention to detail had me hooked. Auerbach has written something worth the temporal investment. Read it now!

Huge thanks once again to The Storytellers On Tour for another incredible blog tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

jon auerbach 1024x683 - Guild Of Tokens By Jon Auerbach

Jon Auerbach’s love of fantasy began at the tender age of six, when his parents bought him the classic 1977 animated version of The Hobbit (the less said about the recent trilogy, the better). His passion for sci-fi developed from nights watching Star Trek: The Next Generation and from his dad’s old paperback copies of Foundation and I, Robot.

Jon writes in both genres and hopes to pass on his stories to the next generation, including his kids, who have their own copy of The Hobbit that they lovingly call “the Bilbo book.”

Jon Auerbach

Fantasy

Blood Of An Exile has dragons, assassinations and revenge, this debut by Brian Naslund has it all. Epic scope and fantastical world building makes this your next read.

ABOUT BRIAN NASLUND

ABOUT JOHN BIERCE

The Hollow Gods was just one of those books where I was entranced from beginning to end. It was intense, immersive and Vrana’s prose is utterly spellbinding.

ABOUT A.J. VRANA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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