SEASONS OF SORCERY: A Fantasy Anthology by Jennifer Estep, Grace Draven, Jeffe Kennedy and Amanda Bouchet- Dual Reviews

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About the book: Release Date November 13, 2018

Description:
WINTER’S WEB BY JENNIFER ESTEP
An assassin at a renaissance faire. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, if you’re Gin Blanco. This Spider is trapped in someone else’s icy web—and it seems like they don’t want her to leave the faire alive . . .

A CURSE FOR SPRING BY AMANDA BOUCHET
A malevolent spell strangles the kingdom of Leathen in catastrophic drought. Prince Daric must break the curse before his people starve. A once-mighty goddess trapped in a human body might be the key—but saving his kingdom could mean losing all that he loves.

THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER BY JEFFE KENNEDY
As unofficial consort to the High Queen, former mercenary Harlan Konyngrr faces a challenge worse than looming war and fearsome dragons. His long-held secrets threaten what he loves most—and he must make a choice between vows to two women.

A WILDERNESS OF GLASS BY GRACE DRAVEN
The stretch of sea known as The Gray rules the lives of those in the village of Ancilar, including widow Brida Gazi. In the aftermath of an autumn storm, Brida discovers one of the sea’s secrets cast onto the shore—a discovery that will change her world, mend her soul, and put her in the greatest danger she’s ever faced.

SANDY’s Review:

SEASONS OF SORCERY is a multi-authored fantasy anthology by Jennifer Estep, Grace Draven, Jeffe Kennedy and Amanda Bouchet. A great mix of writing styles, the anthology is a fantastic and entertaining peek at the other.

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WINTER’S WEB by Jennifer Estep
WINTER’S WEB by Jennifer Estep is instalment 17.5 in the author’s contemporary, adult ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN paranormal/ urban fantasy series focusing on Gin Blanco aka The Spider aka The Assassin –the reigning Queen of the paranormal Underworld of Ashland. WINTER’S WEB can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Winter’s Web takes place after Venom in the Vein.

Told from first person point of view (Gin Blanco) WINTER’S WEB follows Gin and the gang as they are ‘coerced’ into participating at Ashland’s annual Winter’s Web Renaissance Faire. Surprising himself and everyone he loved, Gin’s lover Owen Grayson won tickets to the local fair but things don’t go according to plans when Gin finds herself stalked by a group of giants, and the man that she loves, goes missing. As Gin battles to save her life, Owen faces a familiar face in a battle between money, his life, and power.

WINTER’S WEB is a quick read; a fast paced, action packed story of power and greed, elemental magic, and love. A heart pounding tale with familiar faces, energetic fight scenes, and a captivating couple WINTER’S WEB is the perfect addition to Estep’s Elemental Assassin series.

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A CURSE FOR SPRING by Amanda Bouchet
A CURSE FOR SPRING by Amanda Bouchet is an adult, stand alone, fantasy story line focusing on Prince Daric and the woman he loves as they journey in the hopes of ending decades of drought for the kingdom of Leathen.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Daric and Rain) A CURSE FOR SPRING focuses on the kingdom of Leathen, and the decades old drought. Daric has loved Rain for most of his life since the day he pulled her from the magical mist, but the ongoing drought is threatening the people of Leathen. Promised to another woman in exchange for water, Daris refuses to accept his father’s demands, hoping he and Rain will be able to find what is necessary to restore the land, and continue together towards a happily ever after. But Rain knows that her time with Daric has an expiry date, an expiry date that is tied to the Leathen drought, and the curse that surrounds the man that she loves.

Amanda Bouchet draws the reader into a love story; a cross-country adventure wherein our couple will profess their love as they search for a way to break the curse. A CURSE FOR SPRING is an intriguing and passionate tale of ill-fated lovers.

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THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER by Jeffe Kennedy
THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a novella set in the author’s Uncharted Realms fantasy series, and takes place after The Arrows of the Heart.

NOTE: THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is an adult fantasy story line with recalled spousal violence that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from first person perspective (Harlan) THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a story of magic, dragons, war, secrets and struggle. Harlan is head of security for Castle Ordnung, and the people are preparing for a two-pronged attack. Tensions have been high between Harlan and the woman he loves, High Queen Ursula of the Thirteen Kingdoms, but betrayal from within, Harlan’s sacred vows to his family back home, and loyalties to the Queen, threaten the peace between our leading couple. Secrets from the past, dividing family and friends, once again threatens the relationship between Harlan and Ursula.

THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a revealing story line of family, betrayal, loss and love. A mesmorizing and intriguing story, THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a magical, sexy and spirited tale.

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A WILDERNESS OF GLASS BY Grace Draven
A WILDERNESS OF GLASS is a novella set in Grace Draven’s fantasy World of the Wraith Kings.

Told from third person point of view A WILDERNESS OF GLASS follows Ancilar’s magical flute player and widow Brida Gazi and friends as they have accepted an invitation to perform for Lord Andras Frantisek at Castle Banat. Intrigued by her music, a stranger would embark on a journey in an effort to regain what was once lost. A sudden storm brought a bountiful harvest to the small village but a bounty rich with fantastical beasts and promises of more.

A WILDERNESS OF GLASS is an engaging and entertaining, forbidden love story; of family, friendship, betrayal and loss; a journey into the fantastic between a woman and the creature she has grown to love.

BARB’s Reviews:
Seasons of Sorcery Anthology are novellas written by Jennifer Estep, Amanda Bouchet, Jeffe Kennedy and Grace Draven.   I looked forward to reading this anthology, as some of my favorite authors have stories that I must always read.   I will write a short review of each arc to give you my thoughts on each book.

Winter’s Web by Jennifer Estep
This is a novella that takes place in Estep’s wonderful world of her Elemental Assassin series. Anything even short, is a must read for me, because we get more time to spend with Gin Blanco, our spider assassin heroine. 

In Winter’s Web, Gin and the gang (Owen, Bria, Finn, Sophie) all attend in costume the renaissance faire.  Gin isn’t thrilled to be in costume, but she is determined to have fun. Of course, anywhere Gin goes there is bound to be problems.  At the faire, she watches a woman that marvels the crowd with her sword expertise, and before the day is out, Gin is face to face with a dangerous enemy, who is out to kill someone she loves.  We have come to know that Gin will go through hell and back to save those she loves.  This was an exciting, action- packed short story that I savored from start to finish.  I will not tell too much more, as it would be spoilers.  If you are an Elemental Assassin fan, you need to read this and enjoy the fun.

A Curse for Spring by Amanda Bouchet
I looked forward to reading this short story, since I had read and loved Bouchet’s last series. Prince Daric is desperate to save his land, the Kingdom of Leathen.  They have been in a catastrophic drought for many years, and now they face losing their land to another kingdom.  Rain, our heroine, has lived with Daric and his family for many years, since they pulled her out of a magic weather mist; she was a goddess of Spring, and is now human. With the threat of having to merge Leathen with the enemy kingdom, as well as marry the enemy’s Queen’s daughter, Daric desperately needs to find a way to break the water curse, and save his family.  He and Rain, who have come to fall in love with each other over the years, go on a journey that will change their lives and destiny.  I loved Rain and Daric together, and this was a heartwarming quick fun story, that had moments of sadness. 

The Dragons of Summer by Jeffe Kennedy
This story revolves around our hero, Harlan, who is the consort of the High Queen, Ursula. With war on the horizon, Harlan, who is also head of security, is extra cautious protecting his Queen.  We learn quickly that Harlan and Ursula are lovers, but she also knows he is keeping secrets of his past, that threaten their relationship.  When members of the Queen’s team arrive to help plan on stopping the attack, Harlan loses his cool with some of the members of his family and must decide to reveal to Ursula his secrets of his past or lose her for good. What follows is a wonderful story where Harlan’s family betrayed him and his sister years before, and when he explains the terrible truth about his sister, Ursula is fully by his side.   As the group put differences aside, Harlan will come to terms with his brother and together they will all prepare to fight for survival in this war.  It is a wonderful story of family, love, loyalty, betrayal, with excellent characters, sexy romance and dragons.

A Wilderness of Glass by Grace Draven
Brida Gazi, our heroine, is a flute player with elements of magic.  When Brida plays her flute with others from her town at a Lord’s party, a stranger accosts her.  The stranger wants to know where she got the flute, which was created by her brother, using a bone found by the ocean.   When she walks during the evening by the ocean she comes across two strange species badly injured.  Brida will try to save them, and use her flute to communicate with sea creatures. What follows is a sweet and impelling story of Brida learning the secrets of the sea and her flute, and changing her life along the way with an unlikely romance, and the danger when evil rears its ugly head.  This was a different and well written story.

Copy supplied for review