Tag Archives: Sarah Hawley

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley – a Review

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Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley – a Review

 

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Description:
In the underground Fae realm, only the strongest and most ruthless have power—but a young human woman forced into a life of servitude is about to change everything.

Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say “half feral”—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will… but even that may not be enough.

 

 

Review:

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley is the first book in her new The Shards of Magic series.   I loved this book from start to finish, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. We meet our heroine, Kenna Heron, who is human, and every 6 years the Fae, 4 women are selected to live a life of luxury within the faerie land of Mistei. Kenna’s best friend was one of those selected, and she goes out of her way to follow the selected, only to find out their lives are in danger; with the 4 missing, Kenna becomes trapped in Mistei to become a handmaiden to the heir of Earth House.

Kenna slowly becomes close to Princess Lara, especially trying to help her survive the dangerous and deadly trials, which each house will need to complete the six trials, to get immortality and magic. Each of the faerie houses are, Fire, Earth, Light, Illusion and Blood. Kenna was strong, in her ability to fight others secretly for Lara, using her cunning intellection in facing grueling and magical tests, as well as monsters; but her sentient dagger was her strongest ally, talking to her mentally; and always needing blood from the victims. 

Kenna will find herself caught up in a secret rebellion against the sadistic King Osric.  She begins to have strong feelings for the rebellion’s leader, Drusten, Fire Prince, which will change as we get closer to the end.  Void Prince, Kellan early on managed to get Kenna to discover the secrets he wants to know about; though as truths are revealed, the real culprit becomes a dangerous enemy. This was a very dark story, that is filled with twists, romance, intrigue, betrayal and an evil cruel King.

Servant of Earth was a fantastic story that kept me unable to put the book down, with an exciting plot that had friendship, rebellion, spice, alliances, politics, danger, magic and secrets. Servant of Earth was so very well written by Sarah Hawley.  Kenna was a fantastic heroine, helping to survive the trials and finding a way to overthrow the evil king.  I cannot wait for the next book.  I suggest you read Servant of Earth, as it was a terrific read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley-a Review

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A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley-a Review

 

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Description:
Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what’s a witch to do when he won’t leave her side—and she kind of doesn’t want him to?

Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.

Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).

But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.

 

 

Review:

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley is a fun paranormal romantic standalone novel.  The setting is in Glimmer Falls, a small town filled with charming characters and magic, as well as the town being supernatural with other creatures living there too.

We meet, Mariel Spark, our heroine and witch, who has been prophesied to become the most powerful witch in the powerful Spark family.  Unfortunately, to the displeasure of her family (all witches), Mariel loves gardening, making potions and practicing spells. While practicing, Mariel unsuccessfully summons flour or a chicken that explodes, and then to her horror, she accidently summons a demon.

Ozroth the Ruthless (Oz) is the demon, and he is determined for her to offer her anything to give him her soul.  Mariel doesn’t plan on giving him her soul, and since he refuses to leave until he convinces her; so, they are both stuck with each other. Oz follows Mariel wherever she goes, and to hide that he is a demon, she tells her family, he is her boyfriend.  In a short time, Oz senses how powerful Mariel is, not to mention how beautiful, smart, caring she is, and despite his needing a soul, to his surprise he finds himself falling for her; though demons do not fall for humans.  Mariel begins to have feelings for Oz, and their relationship becomes steamy, especially hiding from her family that he is a demon.  Oz tries to convince her that she is very powerful, and needs to rise above her family’s constant downgrading her.

What follows is an enemy to lovers’ story that is fun, cute, entertaining, enjoyable, and many hysterical moments.  The banter between Oz and Mariel, as well as her two friends, were so much fun.  It was wonderful to watch the chemistry between them heat up, and eventually they made a great couple. I really loved how Oz would support her always, especially with her toxic family, as well as the politics threatening to destroy the local lands. The ending was sort of a surprise and emotional.  A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon was well written by Sarah Hawley.  If you like Paranormal, Romance and a fun laugh out loud story, you need to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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