Book Review: Brink of Dawn by Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef

Title: Brink of Dawn
Series:  Chosen
Author(s): Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Date of Publication: Nov. 28,2015

Goodreads Synopsis:

Follow-up to the multiple award-winning Wind Catcher
They walk among us as if they are gods.Only the Chosen know what they are.Only the Chosen know to fear them.And only the Chosen can defeat them.
Evolved Publishing presents the second book in the multiple award-winning Chosen series of young adult mystery thrillers, which feature an American Indian fantasy and supernatural theme, from the same author who brought you the award-winning thriller Shatter Point, and his daughter.
Juliet Wildfire Stone and her best friend, Troy Buckhorn, barely escaped their sleepy Arizona town alive. Now they’re speeding to New York City to find the three other Chosen. The Chosen must band together to face an ancient foe that threatens all humanity.
Yet Juliet doesn’t know whom to trust, and strange things are happening in the City.
The Chosen will be tested, their resolve questioned, and their flaws exposed. Each must decide whether he or she will fulfill their destiny—or run. To defeat the enemy, they must stop battling among themselves and overcome their own struggles.
Only one can lead them. Will Juliet embrace her powers in time?
Brink of Dawn picks up where the multiple-award-winning first book in the Chosen series, Wind Catcher, left off, but it can also be read as a stand-alone novel. Continue the adventure! And be sure to watch for the third and final installment in this exciting series, Scorched Souls, to launch in late 2016.
AWARDS FOR WIND CATCHER:WINNER: Readers' Favorite Awards -- Gold Medal 2015: Young Adult Coming-of-Age
WINNER: Mom's Choice Awards -- Silver Medal: Young Adult Books
WINNER: Beverly Hills Books Awards - 2015: Best Young Adult Fiction
WINNER: Awesome Indies -- Seal of Approval: "A treat to read."

My Thoughts:


Is it possible to actually fall  in love with something or someone more than you already are? 
Yep, absolutely possible.
And that is pretty much what has happened with this series, these authors, and the characters.  The Chosen series really does keep getting better and better.  
I love that  in the second installment, Brink of Dawn, we delve deeper into the prophecy and realize it isn't only central to Native American folklore; it gives us similarities and examples from the other major religions too.  So just like in the book where we have very different people from all walks of life coming together for a common purpose, we see that the beliefs have more in common than most people realize they do.  It is truly a breath of fresh air in this day and age.  
Our main character, Juliet, is still recovering from losing someone very close to her in the first book, Wind Catcher, as well as trying to reconcile herself with the fact she will have to commit crimes she may not be able to forgive herself for, even if it is to save the planet.  In this book, Juliet has to learn more about herself as she goes into a self-imposed exile internally.  
Troy is still there protecting his best friend, Juliet, and learning more about himself as well.  We see a tremendous growth in each of these characters as they learn their importance in each other's lives. 
We are also introduced to a few new characters that play pivotal roles in the progression of the story.  Connor, a young man who is very troubled and drinks to deal with the pains of the past, is an interesting character that I have to say I really enjoyed.  He proves the point "never judge a book by its cover" to be true time over time.
Akari is super fun!  I also love that we get to see Japanese mythos brought in and are able to find similarities between it and the other mythos in the story.  Akari is a strong and tough female but still has issues that she must learn to overcome.  She has panic attacks when she least needs to have them and I just find myself loving her so much because I , too, suffer from panic attacks.  I can definitely relate, even if I can't save the world from powerful aliens! 
Blake is also an enigma in his own right too.  At first glance, you would think he is a pompous and spoiled young man, but we soon come to find out he has the biggest heart you could imagine.  He, just like his counterparts, have some serious issues that he will have to work through to save the world.

I found myself reading Brink of Dawn nonstop and having a very hard time putting it down to do routine things like eat, sleep, or teach.  This is a story that has an exciting plot, relatable and lovable characters, and a theme to die for.  
I highly recommend this series to anyone that loves fantasy with a mixture of the different mythos (including Christianity) and has a scientific appeal to it too.

Connect with the Author:

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Blog Tour Review: Wind Catcher by Jeff and Erynn Altabef {Chosen book 1}

Welcome to my stop on this amazing blog tour for Wind Catcher by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef.  A huge thanks goes to the Novel Publicity for putting this all together and allowing me to be a part of it!  

This fantasy adventure series is steeped in American Indian culture and so much more.

Winner: Mom's Choice Award -- Silver Metal

Winner: Awesome Indies -- Seal of Approval

Recipient: Readers' Favorite -- 5 Star Review

Juliet Wildfire Stone hears voices and sees visions, but she can't make out what they mean. Her eccentric grandfather tells her stories about the Great Wind Spirit and Coyote, but he might as well be speaking another language. None of it makes any sense.
When she stumbles upon a series of murders, she can't help but worry her grandfather might be involved. To discover the truth, Juliet must choose between her new life at an elite private school and her Native American heritage. Once she uncovers an ancient secret society formed over two hundred years ago to keep her safe, she starts to wonder whether there's some truth to those old stories her grandfather has been telling her.
All she wants is to be an average sixteen-year-old girl, but she has never been average-couldnever be average.
Betrayed by those she loves, she must decide whether to run or risk everything by fulfilling her destiny as the Chosen.

"Wind Catcher is a suspenseful, wonderfully written story that will capture your attention and hold it prisoner. A book that you won't want to escape from. Brava!" - Stephen Fisher, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews

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Check My Review!

What an amazingly unique story!! I can honestly say I have never read anything like it! I loved the strong Native American themes running through it as well as the deep plunge into the rich culture then and now.

This story seemed to quench my thirst for knowledge of the more supernatural aspect to the Native American history and storytelling and I loved the creativity of the authors.

Even though this is, in essence, a young adult book, I was literally kept at the edge of my seat while reading. The plot has some very intense situations as well as mature threads running throughout the story. I love that our authors see our “young adult” crowd as more than older kids; they see them as very intelligent and can handle the more mature themes including murder and secret societies.

And come on, who doesn’t love secret societies?



I was also totally in love with the fact that Wind Catcher can’t be limited to just one genre. It has mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and I personally think it has this “coming of age” sense to it too. Trust me, there is something for everyone in this awesome novel!

Besides being super interesting, the book is very well written. Both authors, Jeff and Erynn, pay such close attention to details, big and small, and the words flowed easily from the pages to the mental pictures in my mind.

The characters are complex and you can see definite changes as the story progresses for the main character. Juliet Stone starts out as being torn from fitting in at her private school and still trying to hold on to a place in her culture too. I enjoyed watching her as she learned more about her past, which helped her deal with her problems with the present.

I also enjoyed immensely how at the beginning neither Juliet or Troy was very trusting of those out of the Native American society, but as the story goes on and delves deeper into the mysteries of the secret society, we see more trust being developed. We see characters of different heritages putting their lives on the line for Juliet and others. I love to see this coming together of different peoples. Awesome!



Overall, I was insanely happy with the way Wind Catcher turned out! I was hooked from the very first pages and found myself reading this story in less than two days. I already know I am going to have a really hard time making it till November for the book two, but I will probably find myself re-reading book one to make the wait a little easy. I would definitely recommend Wind Catcher to anyone who is fascinated by the Native American history and the rich mythology too, especially when it is combined with a modern twist!

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Blog Tour: Trickster's Totem by H.B. Bolton: Reviews + Giveaways

Hi ya'll!  Welcome to my stop on the The Trickster's Totem Blog Tour hosted by CBB Book Promotions.  I am very excited to be here because I love mythology and I especially enjoy reading books with the less popular mythos as the main theme.  Please click here to visit the tour page for the schedule of blogs participating in this tour.  
Also be sure to check out my son, Anthony @ Kids Corner For Super Reading, for his reviews of the first two books in Relics of Mysticus.  This is his first blog tour and I am very proud of him!  (I helped a little with the typing but he wrote the reviews all by himself.)  

Title: The Serpent's Ring
Series: Relics of Mysticus Book 1
Author: H.B. Bolton
Publisher: self
Date of Publication: July 2012
Source: paperback, 232 pages, received from author for tour for my honest opinion of it.

Book Synopsis:
Evan and Claire Jones are typical teenagers, forced to go with their parents to yet another boring museum ... that is, until something extraordinary happens to make their day a little more than interesting. After following a strange little creature into a closed exhibit, Evan and his older sister, Claire, discover the Serpent’s Ring, one of the magical relics formed from the shattered Mysticus Orb. Purely by accident, they have awakened its powers and opened a portal to Sagaas, land of ancient gods.

Before the siblings can comprehend what has happened, the Serpent’s Ring is wrenched from Evan’s hand by an enormous fish and flown back to Aegir, the Norse god of the sea. Evan and Claire, accompanied by a band of unlikely heroes, must retrieve the Serpent’s Ring before Aegir uses its immense powers to flood all the lands on Earth.

The Serpent’s Ring is FREE for Kindle May 28^th-June 1^st.  

My Thoughts:

Right before I found out about this blog tour, I was talking to my husband about how I wished there was more books out there about Norse mythology and other lesser known deities, and then BAM!  I seen this tour coming up!  Wow! Was that divine intervention or what? 

I loved the theme of this story right off!  It is really interesting that there is another place where all the different mythos have an entrance there.  Sagaas is somewhat like the meeting place of all the different mythologies and this is where Claire and Evan find themselves after unlocking a load of power on Earth.  

I applauded the author for having the protagonists be a brother/sister team.   Claire and Evan get on each other nerves but when it matters these two are there to protect each other from the dangers of this new adventure they find themselves on.  

Claire is an young lady that seems like your typical boy crazy girl but then we see her through self come out as she discovers she gets a new power.  Then we actually see her grow in maturity and understanding.  I loved watching Claire help others and you could tell she is a caring person just by how the other characters related to her.  

Evan.  Oh my dear little Evan.  He, on the other hand, was much different than Claire.  Evan's immaturity shines through the pages as he goes off by himself into the house even though it was off limits.  Its hard not to have doubt in Evan's ability to save the world but even Evan tries to grow a little in the story.  A little.   I found myself wanting to chastise Evan for not paying attention when their lives depending on it, instead he was too busy eating.  I find he does that a lot too.  

But besides me "mothering" Evan, he was a great character for boys in the 9 years old and up age group.  He has a lot of jokes and I found myself laughing at some of the things he said.  

I think The Serpent's Ring is a great story to get even your most reluctant readers into reading.  It has adventure, wonderful characters, and a surprising ending that I loved too.  

I give it four hearts!

Book Links:

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Title: The Trickster's Totem

Series: Relics of Mysticus book 2

Author: H.B. Bolton

Date of Publication: April 15, 2013 
Source: received from author for my honest opinion and for the tour

Book Synopsis:

Life has returned to normal for fourteen-year-old Evan and his older sister, Claire. That is until Dunkle, a clever but stinky little imp, pays an unexpected visit to their school. He has come to take the siblings back to Sagaas, the mythical realm of the gods. Once again, a Relic from the ancient Mysticus Orb has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Evan and Claire, with their unique mystical abilities, can help find it.

Through the power of the Trickster’s Totem, a coyote trickster has escaped. His laughter echoes throughout the realm, as he spreads mischief and mayhem. He burns an entire crop of popcorn, carves his grinning image into sacred artifacts, and things really get interesting when he shape-shifts into Evan’s friends.

Claire and Evan must capture the Trickster, retrieve the Totem, and be careful not to become sidetracked by robotic Steampunk animals, “sweet” pixie-like Pains, and a problematic mermaid … all while dodging Mothman-like aces. Most surprising, Evan discovers the true reason dragons exist in the Native American Spirit World.

My Thoughts:

I do believe H.B. Bolton is after my heart!  I love, I mean LOVE anything that has Native American beliefs and folktales as the primary theme.  I have like this minute percentage of Cherokee blood in me but I have always been drawn to books, towns, movies, etc.  that has a Native American theme or character in it.  So The Trickster's Totem really reached out and grabbed me in the first few beginning lines.  

Evan is doing what he does best: misbehaving.  He is using his power, even after he was told not to use in on Terra (Earth).  He doesn't seem very happy to see Dunkle show up for help in another relic being stolen.  

I feel like Evan is going to take a lot more books before he really grows as a character.  He is doing so slowly but I still see a lot of immaturity in him; probably more so in this book than in the first book.  I think it still amazes me that he gets such a powerful totem animal.  

I still find it surprising how much Claire just goes with the flow.  In most young adult/middle grade books, the female protagonist is the one that usually fights the logic of all the "magic" being thrown at them.  But not Claire.  She just welcomes all the info that comes her way, as well as any changes that affects her.  But we find that Evan fights this a lot more.  He likes it being about him but he tends to not like following others in leadership.  It is fun to watch Evan deal with Chayton's leadership,  Amadahy's frustrating attitude(which is similar to Evan's in my opinion), and Kehl's guidance.  

The action does seem a bit slower in this one but that didn't bother me at all.  I felt book 2 had more of a "soul searching" feeling to it.  I enjoyed it a lot and I love to see all the different creatures we see throughout the book.  I also like how eating the food there affects different abilities to everyone.  I will definitely not eat the fairies, or Pains, food at all!  

The reader can really see that H.B. Bolton loves writing and creating these amazing worlds that keep the reader guessing what will happen next.  

The Trickster's Totem has some wonderfully exciting world building and I feel like we are going through a house with different mazes, hidden rooms, undground areas; there is more places hidden in the Relics of Mysticus that I can't wait to explore with my sons.  

I give it five hearts!

Book Links:

Amazon | GoodReads | Barnes & Noble

Connect with H.B. Bolton:

Website | Facebook | Twitter  | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon Author's Link

Author Bio: A magical part of H.B. Bolton’s childhood was being swept into worlds of enchanting characters, fantastical creatures and extraordinary powers—simply by picking up a book. As a mother and a teacher, she was compelled to create imaginary worlds of her own in order to share them, not just with her children, but with all children. H.B. Bolton lives in Florida with her supportive husband and two highly spirited children. Shh, can you keep a secret? Not only does she write books for the young-at-heart, adventurous sort who yearn to dive into a good young-adult fantasy story, she also writes spellbinding, heart pounding women's fiction. These particular books are written under the name Barbara Brooke, but that's another story, altogether.

 Books by H.B. Bolton:

The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus, Book One)
Breaking Down (a short story)
Hungry (a short story)
Coming May 1, 2013
The Trickster's Totem (Relics of Mysticus, Book Two)

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Blog Tour: Book Review: Stealing Breath by Joanne Brothwell

Title: Stealing Breath
Pages: 258 
Author: Joanne Brothwell
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Source: YA Novel Reader Blog Tours &  author


Book Description: 

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, twenty-one year old Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent... creature. Sarah survives, destroying the monster by using mysterious abilities she didn't even know she had. Bloody and bruised, Sarah flees the scene and runs directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But what is Evan doing out in the forest at five in the morning? Turning to a healer, Sarah is shocked to learn her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child-an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others. But her indigo aura also makes her an easy target for those who wish to consume her powerful essence. Soon, Sarah is falling deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart and trust that he is the man he says he is. But she can't ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, leading her on a course that will force her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

 My Thoughts:
I absolutely love the cover, first and foremost! What a beautiful color to have as your aura!  I think that caught my attention before anything thing else could have; but then I read the blurb and my interest was definitely peaked.
This has a very original idea and one that has a lot of potential for the creativity that can come from it.  The idea of a very special and magical human that can "feel" people's emotions as well as having a very powerful aura to go with it, of course, can bring about a lot of different supernatural beings.
The characters are well developed but I have to say I am slightly partial to the Native Americans in the story, having 1/4 of Cherokee in my blood, and enjoying listening to the many different folktales from that particular heritage.
Sarah is pretty strong female lead, even though she does tend to question her actions a lot, I feel like she is pretty accepting of everything for the most part.  Especially since she already has that "otherworld" feel to herself.
I love that this book is an 'New Adult' one because I feel like Ms. Brothwell can push the romance factor in this story just a little bit and give us that edge that makes Stealing Breath even more breathtaking.
The relationship between Sarah and Evan does advance a little quickly but I also enjoyed the fact that there was still some distrust there; along with some angst among them that showed us it was more of down to earth relationship instead of the "too good to be true" ones.
I really enjoyed Stealing Breath so much for a variety of reasons.  I love the way the author found a way to work two different heritages together where they can find a common ground and come up with such an amazing backdrop to a very interesting story line.
I have heard many different versions of "skinwalkers" but this one by far the most interesting.  I also like the Italian lore that contributed to Evan's mysterious background.  Oh and how unique is "Indigo Child"? I love that concept too, especially with having to do with their eyes.  Eye color is a very unique trait for people and to revolve a tale around that -great idea!
All in all, I really believe everyone should give Stealing Breath a try.  It is has so many emotions playing throughout including terror, respect, betrayal, love, and loss.  It uses such an unique concept that it would be hard not to get carried away in Sarah's feelings.
I give it four hearts.

About the Author:

Joanne Brothwell lives in the country on the Canadian prairie where her stories are inspired by the dead things that appear at her doorstep on a daily basis.

Connect with Joanne Brothwell:

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