* “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
― Haruki Murakam
* “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
― Lemony Snicket,
* There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
― Ernest Hemingway
•Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
•Beloved, Toni Morrison
•Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
•The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
•Grimm’s Complete Fairytales
•Edward Eager’s Magic Series, especially Half Magic
•Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
•The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
•The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
•The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka
•Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler
•The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
•The lord of Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien • All Of Jane Austen’s Works
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In the heart of Venice, a woman is sacrificed to a forgotten god,
sparking a mystery lost for thousands of years.
The Da Vinci Code meets Discovery of Witches in this story of murder and magic
Welcome to The Immortal City, book 1 in the Magicians of Venice series
The Magicians of Venice is a fresh and exciting new treasure hunt series featuring magic, mystery, and romance in an exhilarating blend of history and dark magic. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful city of Venice, fans of Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon will find a new favorite in Dr. Penelope Bryne, an anxiety-riddled academic. She’s fascinated with the city of Atlantis, much to the chagrin of her father and the academic community, and has devoted her life’s study to unlocking its secrets.
In The Immortal City, book one in the series, an ancient and mysterious script is found at a murder site with possible clues to the lost city of Atlantis. Determined to learn more, she agrees to help the police before the killer strikes again, and she heads to Venice in search of answers.
There she meets the enigmatic Alexis Donato, who challenges everything she thought she ever knew about Atlantis. As Alexis draws her into a dark and seductive world of magic and murder, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head to find the answers she seeks. With Carnivale in full swing, and time running out, Alexis and Penelope must work together to stop the killer and prevent a dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea.
DIGITAL ARCS OF THE IMMORTAL CITY:
Book reviewers and bloggers interested in reviewing the book may request a digital ARC of The Immortal City. ARCs are available through NetGalley and at the publisher’s website.
Title: The Immortal City
Series: The Magicians of Venice, Book 1
Author: Amy Kuivalainen
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy/Adventure
Publication date: September 19, 2019
Publisher: BHC Press
Available Formats:
Hardcover, 978-1-947727-77-9, $26.95, 324 pages
Trade Softcover, 978-1-947727-79-3, $15.95, 324 pages
Ebook, 978-1-947727-78-6, $7.99
LCCN: 2018948478
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The Immortal City releases on September 19, 2019 in hardcover, trade softcover, and ebook. Preorder is currently available from select retailers.
The Inspiration Behind the Magicians of Venice Series With Author Amy Kuivalainen
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The Magicians of Venice is a three-book series and is the culmination of many weird pieces of ancient history and personal passions finally coming together.
I’ve always loved characters like Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon, but I wanted to write a story that turned the adventurer archaeologist trope on its head. It was important to me to create a female character that is not an oversexualised, badass Lara Croft figure. My character, Penelope Bryne, is an anxiety–riddenacademic refusing to give up on the impossible dream of discovering Atlantis and who continues to be brave despite her failings.
I’ve always loved the legends and theories behind Atlantis and continue to this day to follow any new discoveries that might pertain to it. I wanted to play with some of the legends and mash them up with my own ideas and love of magicians, creating a story about survivors who become close to immortal because of the powerful blast that destroyed the island kingdom.
If there was ever a place that is so impossible and beautiful and could make you believe it was founded by magicians, it’s Venice. Even though my Venice obviously has many fantasy aspects, I wanted to ensure current issues were correctly portrayed especially concerning global warming, the MOSE project, the problem with cruise ships, and the impact that tourism has on the city.
While The Immortal City (book one) is mainly a magical, murder mystery, Sea of the Dead (book two) and The King’s Seal (book three) have a treasure hunt feel. As a student of ancient history, I’ve studied the Dead Sea Scrolls, and I knew about the discovery of a new cave in 2017 and was determined to write it into my book. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding the scrolls, and I wanted to play into that while incorporating my own magical twist and theories of why the Essenes vanished.
I grew up on fairy tales and mythology, and wanted to not only write about a famous relic that I’ve always been fascinated with, but also one that mainstream entertainment hasn’t plundered. Like Atlantis, the ring of King Solomon has been the centre of many legends, especially from those found within the pages of One Thousand and One Nights, and it was a natural fit to a story about defeating a demon prince.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Kuivalainen is a Finnish-Australian writer who is obsessed with magical wardrobes, doors, auroras and burial mounds that might offer her a way into another realm. Until that happens, she plans to write about monsters, magic, mythology and fairy tales because that’s the next best thing. Amy is the author of The Firebird Fairytales Trilogy and The Blood Lake Chronicles series that mash up traditional tales and mythology in new and interesting ways.
EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL CONTENT!
Be sure to visit The Immortal City’s publicity page to download free exclusive digital content, including posters, phone wallpapers and more!
The Paper Wasp
Lauren Acampora
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https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com
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This book was received as an ARC from BookishFirst,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
Ambition knows no bounds
Lauren Acampora,new novel The Paper Wasp is subliminal gripping contemporary book. The main protagonists is darkly unhinged .
This a multi layered thought provoking story. It is perfectly paced with interesting twist. This a creative riveting novel that will keep engaged all the way through.
I am looking forward to reading more books by this author!!
Storm of Steel
Matthew Harffy
Book 6
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https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com
This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley ,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
Storm of Steel, is another masterly written historical fiction in The Berrnicia Chronicles.
Harffy is am immensely talented author. He delivers once again in creating each scene is richly atmospheric. Every detail has been put in place for a reason. Always brutally honest in recreating historical fiction time periods. This book lives up to its promise. Well developed characters and the authors strong ability to catapult you to that time period. Makes for thrilling adventurous read. I really enjoyed this last book in this series and highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more books by Matthew Harffy in the future.
I just reviewed Storm of Steel by Matthew Harffy. #StormOfSteel #NetGalley
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The Tiger Queen
Annie Sullivan
YA Fantasy
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This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley ,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
The Tiger Queen, by Annie Sullivan is a creative retelling of Frank Stocktons famous short story.
Sullivan’s mythical desert kingdom, Achra ,comes to life under exceptional world building. Princess Kateri , must become a fierce fighter to save her people from being enslaved. Fast paced with detailed combating scene makes this a an enjoyable fantasy.
Sullivan’s interesting characters and lots of mystery and twist makes for a thrilling book.
I just reviewed Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan. #TigerQueen #NetGalley
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No Place Like Here
Christina June
The story follows A young girl , Ashlyn Zanotti. Who has recently been away at boarding school because of an arrest. She is looking forward to coming home after being away. Events began to take a different turn, and she discovers that her father is going to prison and her mother is checked in to rehab. She is then sent to stay with her relatives in Pennsylvania. She has to work at a summer camp with her cousin, She is uncertain of her job at the the camp. But, she realizes how capable she is, and develop coping skills. Which help her stand up to her father. She becomes a stronger individual, with self esteem. What a great coming of age story of developing Friendship and family ties.
In reality this is about standing up for what is right, and finding your voice .
Thanks NetGalley for this complimentary copy for an honest review
All my opinions are my own
In the Night of Memory by Linda LeGarde Grover
From University of Minnesota Press
A story of the struggles of two Ojibwe Indigenous women.
A compelling story of a journey home of two girls, Azure and Rain . Their hardships and struggles after being placed in the foster care system.
With its creative multi layered different points of view, the story moves along beautifully.
A powerful and poetic story that is Heart wrenching. A realistic fiction.
The characters are well developed and the story style flows.
A moving and sometimes tragic look
look at the years of foster homes and separation . With the help of the family members and the Indian Child Welfare Act , they eventually reunited.
The story is gripping and thought provoking.
Thanks for this complimentary copy for an honest review
BookishFirst and University of Minnesota Press
Gwendalyn’s Books 