atldwordhaven

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Book Review: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I decided to read this book after seeing it pop up in several book-related posts on FaceBook and BookTok. If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you know I gravitate toward the Fantasy genre, often, so this book piqued my interest. I knew nothing about the book other than it was a dark fantasy romance (I have gone down a dark romance of all genres rabbit hole recently, and…

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Oh hey, it’s been a minute.

Spring is here and Magic in Her Blood (MIHB) has been unleashed into the world for a little over two months now, I couldn’t be happier with its reception so far. For those of you who have been with me since the beginning, I am forever grateful that you have stayed with me on this amazing journey. Your support, however small you feel it may have been, is the reason I was able to accomplish this…

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Get Your Copy of Magic In Her Blood Today!

TODAY IS LAUNCH DAY!! Magic In Her Blood, my debut novel is finally available to share with the world! I have enormous gratitude for everyone who has helped make this dream come true. It truly doesn’t feel real. Even as I hold the finished novel in my hands, I can’t quite get my head around the enormity of it all. There are so many “working parts” when it comes to publishing a novel, that…

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Is it too late for Happy New Year?!

Is February 12th too late to say Happy New Year?! Even so, Happy New Year! I hope January wasn’t too harsh for you and look on the bright side, February is nearly half over. I appreciate the grace you’ve extended me by not being too upset that I’ve taken so long between posts. This time of year gives me the winter saddies, which inevitably affects my motivation… BUT! I have been reading a…

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Exciting Announcement!!!

Writing a novel is an enormous undertaking. I couldn’t have imagined how much I would learn in the process. Sure, I learned about the more technical aspects of writing and the ins and outs of the daunting beast that is the publishing industry. More importantly, I learned about myself. Writing became a therapeutic outlet that I didn’t know I needed for my mental health, and it challenged me to…

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Book Review: Scotland by History Brought Alive

⭐⭐⭐⭐ History Brought Alive does a great job of summarizing Scotland’s history with this book. It was interesting to see how the nation grew and developed over the past two millennia. As someone with Scottish heritage, I appreciate the time and effort of History Brought Alive and their team in researching, compiling the facts, and presenting them to the world. What I found disappointing was the…

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What I've Been Reading...

Photo taken by ATL Doyle 26 October 2024 Crisp nights, colorful leaves, and magical sunsets! I love Autumn. It’s my favorite time of year. Perfect for snuggling up and reading! I said I would post about the dark romance books I’ve been reading lately. Below are some snack-sized reviews that you will hopefully find intriguing enough for you to read the books yourself (if that’s your cup of tea…

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LONGLISTED!

I am thrilled to report Magic in Her Blood has made it through another round of judging in the Page Turner Awards (eek!). Being longlisted alongside such talented authors is humbling and I am truly honored. While I am still wading through the writer’s block swamp I’ve been stuck in for several months, I have used the lull to read as much as possible. I’ve been on a bit of a dark romance kick. I…

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Hello! It's Been A While

There are many aspects of being an author that I wasn’t aware of until I plunged into this world. I have learned a lifetime’s worth of knowledge and met some exceptional people in the process. I knew there would be a learning curve, and I am so grateful to all the industry professionals, fellow authors, and writing enthusiasts who invest in the writing community with resources, courses, and…

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Book Review: House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alexis Menard knocked this book out of the park. I loved it. House of Bane and Blood had many of my favorite tropes—enemies to lovers, and magic in a real-world setting. “Two households, both alike in dignity” (thank you, Mr. Shakespeare). Set in the age of steam, Camilla is the heiress of her family’s company, but the company has amassed substantial debt. Her brothers decide to set up an…

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Book Review: Fairy by Morgan Daimler

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ As always, Daimler has given those interested in Irish myths and folklore a solid and thoroughly researched work, particularly that which refers to the Other crowd. Fairy not only lays out the popular ideas surrounding the fair folk but also draws from authentic Irish lore found in the limited textual records and writings that Daimler has spent a great deal of time translating and…

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Book Review: The Fae Princes by Nikki St. Crowe

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This series has been a trip. Despite it violently thrusting me out of my comfort zone (not entirely a bad thing) and exposing me to reverse harem dark romance (not my thing, I’ve discovered), I have grown to adore St. Crowe’s version of Neverland, the Peter Pan story, and characters that are dark and twisty, and pretty effed up. The Fae Princes is book four in the Vicious Lost Boys series…

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Book Review: Their Vicious Darling by Nikki St. Crowe

⭐⭐⭐⭐ After the third book in this series, I am no longer clutching my pearls, but I can confidently say that I prefer a committed, two-person romantic relationship. It doesn’t matter how dark of a romance, as long as it’s between two consenting adults…not like 5 consenting adults. I guess that makes me old-fashioned or something but more than one person to focus on overstimulates me (take or…

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Book Review: The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shadows and pirates and fairies — Oh My! The Dark One is the second book in Nikki St. Crowe’s Vicious Lost Boys series and I am so glad I didn’t let book one (The Never King) turn me away from it. This book, while still full of debauchery, has an enemies-to-lovers vibe that I can’t get enough of. I think there is something so primal about it. Is the undeniable pull of opposites toward each…

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Book Review: The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

⭐⭐⭐ I picked up this book with extremely high expectations. Who doesn’t love a good re-imagining or twist on something familiar? The Never King spins the familiar story of Peter Pan, Neverland, and Captain Hook into a dark, debauched romance with magic and menace. If you are not a fan of reverse harem stories (which I have discovered that I am not), then this book will be jarring at the very…

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Book Review: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I see this book recommended everywhere, and since I’ve been on a bit of a dark romance kick lately, it was an obvious choice to read. I had no preconceptions before I read it so I was delightfully ignorant about what I was getting myself into. Imagine if you can, the deliciously dark almost taboo desire for vengeance that lies deep within the human psyche when we’ve been wronged. Feed that…

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Book Review: Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’ve often heard it said that sequels can be a dangerous venture. There is a balance required where you give the reader more of what they love but also improve upon the first so as not to repeat what you’ve already done. I think Jacqueline Carey masterfully executed this sequel. Not only do we get to see more of her fabulous world-building, but well-loved characters return and we meet new…