Hello Friends,
How is everyone today is my stop on the iReads Book Tours for,
Laura Englehardt’s Fith Mage War Series.
I am reviewing the first installment, SIRENS UNBOUND.
Make sure to come back on Dec 15 for my thoughts on the second book, MAGES UNBOUND
Book Title: Mages Unbound: Book 2 of the Fifth Mage War Series by Laura Engelhardt
Series: Fifth Mage War Series
Category: Adult fiction (18+), 480 pages
Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Laura Engelhardt
Release date: Nov 2020
Format available for review: Print (USA and Canada),. ebook (mobi, epub, PDF)
Tour dates: Nov 18 to Dec 22, 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 + M for battle sequences, bad language including F-words, and adult-themes mildly referenced. Euphemisms are used in lieu of graphic descriptions of sex/violence. There is NO sexual violence or child abuse.
It’s ironic to find out your whole life has been a lie when you’re married to a truth-teller.
If only Mary could find some humor in it. She’s drowning her sorrow in vodka and song when a surprise visit from her youngest sister jolts her into accepting the magical reality hidden from her for fifty years.
Mary’s epiphany can’t come soon enough because her fresh start may be the only thing that can save her siblings and the world from an utter melt-down.
As the two Bant sisters grapple with sirens, faeries and the FBI in America, their brother is trapped in a high-stakes game of mage politics in Australia. Meanwhile, middle-sister Amy’s malfunctioning mage-sight forces her to seek help from the very same mages who tricked her once before.
Can Mary pull herself together in time to rescue her family from the coming war?
Mages Unbound is a paranormal women’s fiction novel, told from the perspective of the Bant family members. This is Book 2 in the Fifth Mage War Series, a magical epic about sirens, fae, and family ties.
Amazon
Giveaway:
$20 Target Gift Card courtesy of the author of MAGES UNBOUND series (1 winner) (open internationally)
link to the giveaway page:
Book Title: Sirens Unbound: Book 1 of the Fifth Mage War Seriesby Laura Engelhardt
Series: Fifth Mage War Series
Category: Adult fiction (18+), 548 pages
Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Laura Engelhardt
Release date: July 29, 2019
Format available for review: Print (USA and Canada),. ebook (mobi, epub, PDF)
Tour dates: Nov 18 to Dec 22, 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 + M for battle sequences, bad language including F-words, and adult-themes mildly referenced. Euphemisms are used in lieu of graphic descriptions of sex/violence. There is NO sexual violence or child abuse.
“a unique take and meshing of different established ideas… Sirens that feed and aid? Fae trapped in England as a prisoner camp? Mage’s getting optical surgery for magick sight? I really loved the combination of ideas and I thought they all worked together surprisingly well … I found myself immersed in watching the fae emerge and interested in Amy’s work. I appreciated not being talked down to on either side, as a reader. Some writers over-explain or use too much jargon. This was just the right mix for me. And the descriptions placed me in each scene. I’d definitely buy this.” — Mel Candea, Ink & Insights
Amy’s day starts with three things: Coffee, breakfast, then brains. In that order.
Relax, it’s not what you think. She’s just your everyday neurosurgeon who can fix everyone’s brain but her own. It doesn’t matter if she has fifty years of life experience and regularly works with mages—she’s still a mundane.
She’s turning fifty, and her last achievement was what, ten years ago? She’s not sure if anyone even remembers it.
Determined not to be a one-hit-wonder, Amy jumps head-first into a new opportunity. Literally.
Some people have affairs to deal with a midlife crisis—Amy has brain surgery.
The results are even bigger than her career ambitions, and Dr. Amy Bant will need the help of her siblings to survive what comes next. Cordelia, an agoraphobic underwater photographer, Thomas, a playboy with a Brazilian tourism business, and Mary, a choir director with a truth-teller husband are all keys to unlocking secrets a whole lot closer to home than any of them could have realized.
Turning fifty doesn’t have to be mundane—not when you’re in the Bant family!
Sirens Unbound is a paranormal women’s fiction novel told from each member of the Bant family. This is Book 1 in the Fifth Mage War Series, a magical epic about sirens, fae, and family ties.
AMAZON
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
Sirens unbound is Laura Engelhardt first book in the urban fantasy Fifth Mage War Series.
The story takes off immediately with Amy Bant, who is one of the four siblings in the Bant family. Approaching fifty years old, she is accomplished Harvard neurosurgeon. Wanting to make a name for herself in her medical field, she has been working on an experimental operation with Danjou enclave. Her other siblings play key roles in this book series. We meet Amy sister, Cordelia who is an agoraphobic underwater photographer; Thomas, with a Brazilian tourism business; and Mary, a choir director.
Both of the Bant parents are dead or so the thought. The book is steeped in elemental magic, involving sirens, vampires and Fae. Along with magical beings the book depicts the relationship between humans.
The Faith Mage war is on the horizon, In this first installment The Bant family saga begins. The author has done a great job creating a compelling immersive fantasy.
The book is a four hundred page urban fantasy, with all the intricate politics of a fast page family paranormal saga.
Told in various perspectives that flows perfectly, giving the reader the complete playing field.The expansive cast of characters are easy to fall in love with, and the world building extensive. The magic system is done well, and is easy to understand. The storyline is well paced, with just enough reveals that come at the right time.
This book sets up for the others to follow. I had a hard time putting it down, I really enjoyed reading it. I am excited to read the next installment in Laura Engelhardt fantasy world.
An avid sf/fantasy reader, Laura Engelhardt writes the kind of book she likes to read: fantasy with intricate worlds and complex characters facing moral dilemmas. She started writing plays in college, then moved to Germany, where she continued to write while teaching ESL to executives. After moving back to the U.S., she supported her playwriting by teaching ballroom dance and working retail. Deciding that living in her parents’ attic wasn’t for her, Laura went to law school and then spent the next seventeen years as a lawyer and compliance officer in New York City. In 2017, she quit Wall Street and began helping people resolve disputes as a mediator and arbitrator. She now lives in New Jersey with her family.
Nov 18 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author Blog – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 18 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 19 –Stephanie Jane – book spotlight
Nov 19 –Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / guest post / author interview / giveaway
Nov 20 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 20 – I’m Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 23 –Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight
Nov 24 – Instagram.com/asreadbydanielle – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / author interview / giveaway
Nov 25 –The Momma Spot – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND
Nov 26 –The Review Crew – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / author interview / giveaway
Nov 30 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Nov 30 – Pine Enshrined Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 1 – eBook Addicts – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 2 –Instagram.com/asreadbydanielle – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 3 – Amy’s Booket List – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 4 –Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / author interview
Dec 4 – Locks Hooks and Books – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 8 –Amy’s Booket List – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 9 – The Momma Spot – book review of MAGES UNBOUND
Dec 10 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 10 – Gwendalyn’s Books – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 11 – The Review Crew – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 11 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 11 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 15 – Locks Hooks and Books – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 15 – Gwendalyn’s Books – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 16 – Westveil Publishing – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND
Dec 17 – Westveil Publishing – book review of MAGES UNBOUND
Dec 21 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review of SIRENS UNBOUND / giveaway
Dec 22 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review of MAGES UNBOUND / giveaway
Gwendalyn’s Books 
Added to my TBR. Thank you.
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This series sounds really interesting.
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