To Bind the Court: an continuing fantasy adventure series as one woman embraces her destiny to rid the world of evil

To Bind the Court is the second book in the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy by D.E. Carlson. Iris is destined to destroy the hold on the world held by the Fire Empire. She searches for clues in the Fire City and her greatest hope becomes her worst nightmare. She finds herself pulled into the political games. The Fire Emperor puts her through trial after trial of fire and she is determined to beat his games. However, she knows when you play the games, you will pay a ransom. Games she may lose. Prince Besaun has lost everything. Cassandra, the woman he loves, betrayed him and he finds himself in a personal prison as he knows that his mother tortures her and backs him into a corner to make sure he cooperates in his mother’s plans. However, when an assignment, meant to control him, brings him face to face with the one person who brings up questions in his very soul. Will he risk everything to fight back against the empire? 

I recently read the first book of the trilogy after finding D.E. Carlson on social media. After finishing that book, I immediately turned around and ordered the last two books. To Bind the Court picks up immediately after the events of the first book and it doesn’t let the reader go. It is action packed that I eagerly turned pages to see if Iris would be able to resist the Fire Emperor’s temptations. Can she find allies in rooms filled with enemies? I closed the book with a breathless “Wow!” and grabbed the third book. I wrote down a few great quotes to post above my computer. One of these quotes is “It is always possible to resist…It is not always possible to resist and see victory, but that does not make the fight unworthy.” If you enjoy fantasy stories with lots of action and intrigue, I highly recommend the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy, start with To Bind Fire. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend To Bind the Court. 

To Bind the Court is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Color of Destiny: do we chose our path or is it chosen for us?

The Color of Destiny is the second book in Julianne MacLean’s The Color of Heaven series. Eighteen years ago, a teenage pregnancy changed everything for 16-year-old Kate Worthington. Faced with difficult decisions and an unforgiving father, she chose to follow her heart and face an uncertain future with the father of her baby and her first love. A tragic accident leads her to pursue a career as a paramedic. At the same time, in another part of the world, 16-year-old Ryan Hamilton makes his own share of mistakes. When a tragic accident opens his eyes to the path he was taking, he devotes himself to pursue a career in the medical field. When Kate’s and Ryan’s lives cross paths, a strange series of events begin to link together. They begin to ask themselves about the possibility of destiny and miracles. Do our decisions forge the path in front of us? Or do  we end up exactly where we are meant to be? 

The Color of Destiny is a beautiful story about the twists and turns of life and the miracles that can happen when least expected. While the story wasn’t as emotional as the first book, The Color of Heaven, it was an engaging story. There is a slow build as to how Kate and Ryan’s stories are connected. The last third puts the story on the fast track as their connection is revealed. I enjoyed the characters as they were relatable and their reactions to events seemed realistic. One downside is the constant changing point of view. The narration shifts between Kate, Ryan and Ryan’s stepdaughter, Marissa. However, I understand why the author changed POVs as she did. It allowed the impact of the story to be seen from three different perspectives. Overall, I enjoyed The Color of Destiny and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend reading the books in order, starting with The Color of Heaven. 

The Color of Destiny is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.

Book 1 The Color of Heaven is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Bone Witch: a fantasy world of magic and monsters

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco is a story in a mystical world where bone witches are feared for they can raise the dead and have very powerful magic. Tea is a young girl who lives with her parents in Knightscross, a small village in the kingdom of Odalia. Her older sisters are respected witches of water and forest. One day, without meaning to, Tea raised her brother, Fox, from his grave. Another bone witch, Mykaela, comes to see Tea and informs her that she needs to leave her home and train with other ashas or witches. When Tea arrives in Ankyo, the capital of the kingdom of Kion and enters The Willows, the home of the most powerful asha, Mistress Parmina, she is thrown in a world of lessons and intense training. During her training, she visits an oracle who tells her she is hovers between being a force of good and a source of evil. She will change the world. Will Tea heed the oracle’s warning? Will she strive to be a force of good? Or will she turn to darkness?

The Bone Witch is an interesting premise and story which certainly opens itself to multiple books. It was a bit slow at points with no real action until about 75% into the book. However, the descriptions of this world draws you in. The reader learns with Tea as she deciphers the oracle’s message. I can't discuss too much of the events as it would give away too much information, If you enjoy fantasy worlds and the realms of magic and adventure, I recommend The Bone Witch.

The Bone Witch

Is available on Amazon

In hardcover and on the Kindle