“The land without music”: this was the singularly insulting epithet that the German journalist Oscar A.H. Schmitz applied to England in a book of that title published in the early twentieth century. The chauvinistic Schmitz was evidently unfamiliar with the vast and varied cosmos of English folk music, not to mention the wonders of the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/12/27/save-the-english-national-opera/
The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid by Annette Marie, narrated by Chris Dukehart, is the fourth book in the Guild Codex: Unveiled urban fantasy series. Betrayals, ultimate battles and an epic epilogue await you. Grab a cup of joe and see why I love this world & series.
The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid
by Annette Marie
Series: The Guild Codex: Unveiled #4
Narrator: Cris Dukehart
Length: 7 hours and 50 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
My greatest enemy has always been myself. Over the past few weeks, I’ve painstakingly put my broken pieces back together, from the dark mysteries of my past to the heart-rending conflict of my present.
But just when I finally start to feel whole again, everything around me falls apart.
Lallakai, the newly ascended Queen of Shadow and Death, betrays us and takes Zak prisoner. Echo, the powerful fae I thought would help save Zak, threatens to kill me. And Ríkr’s nemesis, the ruthless Summer Queen, is hunting him again.
With the four ancient fae poised to battle for supremacy, I’m the only one who can prevent a catastrophic clash of their power. But stopping them will require more than druidic magic. It’ll take an act of destruction as devastating as they are.
I’m about to test the strength of my scarred heart, and if I fail, I’ll end up destroying everything—and everyone—I’m most desperate to protect.
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The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid is the last book in the Unveiled series, part of the Guild Codex urban fantasy world that Annette Marie has created. There is some crossover to the other worlds, but each series can work on its own. I recommend reading or listening to them in order because of the overall story arc and romance.
Strap in for Zak & Saber’s happily ever after. Before we get there, you’ll encounter betrayal, deceit, and danger as this audiobook picks up where the last one ended. The author gave our characters plenty of problems to solve and I enjoyed watching them face each obstacle.
Marie delivered with a well-paced story filled with twists & turns that kept me listening well past my bedtime. We get to see Tori, Ezra, Aaron and Kai, which had me smiling. Better yet, they all played a role in the story. Marie kept the story level, giving us intense action right from the beginning and hooking us until the end. Nothing was rushed, and we were even treated to an epilogue.
Cris Dukehart narrates and does a spectacular job of bringing these characters and their story to life. I started at 1.2x before adjusting to 1.45x.
I cannot get enough of the Guild Codex world. It is my hope you’ll listen to them all!
Amazon* | Audible
The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid by Annette Marie brings us an action-packed and well developed end to the Unveiled series part of the Guild Codex megaverse. #urbanfantasy #audiobookreview #CrisDukehart
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Annette Marie is the author of YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she intends to include them in every single book.
An award-winning storyteller and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Cris Dukehart has narrated books in a plethora of genres, from romance, science fiction, and young adult to children’s literature and autobiography. Her voice, with an endearing mix of sweetness and pluck, can be heard around the world and across the Web in commercials, e-learning projects, and corporate narrations.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/12/the-unbreakable-bladesong-druid-by-annette-marie.html
The Last Polar Bear follows an Inuit scientist who develops a shamanic gift to communicate with the last polar bear on earth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My initial inspiration was to write a story that hits people in the gut about climate change. Too many grim statistics can be demotivating, but stories inspire people! I thought writing from a polar bear’s point of view would be compelling and informative while also being interesting and entertaining.
When I realized I needed human characters too, I researched the indigenous people of northern Alaska (the Inupiaq culture) and made a few of the characters Inupiaq- a vanishing culture, like the polar bear. I made the main character a feisty female Inuit wildlife biologist because I identify with an independent, powerful female hero. Her shamanic abilities add a touch of magical realism to the book.
Nuli is an interesting and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I liked the concept that the two main female characters- Nuili and Anuk the polar bear- had many similarities. They are mirror characters; both young females seeking mates, struggling with their vanishing world. I wanted to make Nuli’s character reflect Anuk’s physical power. Nuli is a young female minority, but is educated and powerful and unafraid to stand up to injustice.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Mainly, I wanted to express in the form of a story why something as distant as melting ice caps and polar bear extinction should be of concern to people- how the snowball effect of climate change and loss of bio-diversity is the canary in the coal mine. Another theme often ignored in the narrative about climate change is the loss of indigenous cultures and the land they rely on for food.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have completed another novel on a different topic and genre titled One Extraordinary Thing. It is a historical novel with two mirrored female characters: a young half-Chinese immigrant woman who arrives in San Francisco during the 1850s Gold Rush and her great, great, great grandaughter- a half-Mexican woman living in the Napa Valley in 2005. The novel follows the similar struggles facing the two women and how they find a way to reach through time and help each other.
When will it be available? I might wait a year until I’m done promoting The Last Polar Bear!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/27/a-polar-bears-point-of-view/
Charlie is a lonely little mouse with only a single friend. But one day his luck turns when he finds a bowler hat on the floor. It is a magical hat that fits him perfectly and makes him so happy, until he is mocked for wearing it. But soon Charlie learns that it’s okay to laugh at yourself sometimes, and that you can make mistakes and that is okay as well. With his new found confidence Charlie goes on to be a very successfully comedian.
This is a charming children’s book that shows young readers the important of laughing a little. Charlie was so glum in the beginning of the book, and by the end his happiness is so bright. The story takes an adventurous twist, and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. But the story is imbued with creativity throughout so that each scene is captivating.
The artwork is fantastic and I enjoyed the dark shades throughout the city. It gave the story a bit of a noir and classic Disney cartoon feel. Charlie is a charming little mouse and the artwork accentuates that throughout the story.
The Hat by Darya Lenkou is an entertaining picture book that will take readers on an imaginative adventure where they will learn about one of the funniest people in history.
Pages: 25 | ASIN: B0BJ14C13Z
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/27/the-hat/
Frigid and frozen, we find ourselves in a not-so-distant dystopian future on Earth. In Periodic East, a second ice age has arrived because of a calamity known only as The Blast. Nuclear winter is in full season, shortly after alien contact with the President of the United States. Tiberius is the leader of a group of survivors we follow in South America whose struggles against man, extraterrestrials, and the freezing tundra. At the same time as he struggles on Earth, we meet some more survivors on Icarus, the space station NASA spent its dying day building. Here we learn more about the days leading up to the end of days and how humanity will struggle against them.
Gabriel L Rodriguez gives us mystery and intrigue through his words. You will find yourself unable to set the book down and dying to know what happens next. Throughout this novel, suspense builds, and we are thrown into survival mode and left with more questions than answers. Through plot twists and mysteries, we fall in love with the characters Rodriguez has written into existence. It leaves you wanting to read chapter after chapter. The style in which we follow the story, with multiple threads and storylines, is wonderfully woven in a way that makes sense and gives us just enough from each storyline to successfully tell this story.
Periodic East is a riveting adventure, leading us into the cold and tragic future. It sets us up for more adventure and leaves you excited for the next book. I would say that sci-fi lovers and teachers of older students would be the best audience for this book. I can picture using this book to discuss alternate dystopian futures in class or to talk about the future possibilities of intelligent life coming here from elsewhere. I look forward to reading the rest of the series as it comes out!
Pages: 200 | ISBN : 9798986989129
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/27/periodic-east/
Güngör Buzot is a woman from Turkey who takes exceptional pride in her appearance with perfectly manicured nails, neatly combed hair, and an exceptional sense of style. She exudes love for her children and her husband. She showcases an empathetic heart to friends and strangers alike. She, however, has been riddled with pain for 61 years. The first illness presented itself when she was only 6 -months old. During the 61 years, she underwent 20 surgeries and was prescribed countless medications. She traveled between 5 countries in search of a cure. Ultimately, she was in so much pain that she begged her family to end her life.
I Was Dying, Then I Changed My Mind, by Güngör Buzot, is an exceptional story of a woman who has lived in pain for 61 years but undertook a difficult journey to release herself from the pain. Buzot, aged 69, provides an incredible insight into her journey of chronic illness. Her book reminds you of journal entries, which lean into the authenticity and transparency of her story. The book immediately captures your attention when Güngör decides that euthanasia is the only remedy to end her suffering. Güngör takes you back to Turkey in 1953 and takes you along her life journey, where every moment of joy was overshadowed by her pain. The reader spends the entirety of the book rooting for her healing.
I Was Dying, Then I Changed My Mind, by Güngör Buzot is a great read for those who are open-minded, as they will thoroughly enjoy this book about the power of self-healing and alternative medicine. Buzot’s journal-style writing makes this book easy to read. It is not peppered with medical terms that are difficult to understand. I highly recommend this book to everyone on a journey of healing the mind, body, and soul.
Pages: 132 | ASIN : B0BNP5WH7D
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/27/i-was-dying-then-i-changed-my-mind/
In the book, In His Hands: A Spiritual Journey, Olie K. Teeter Jr. takes the reader on his spiritual journey, discussing various aspects of religion, sharing lessons, and demonstrating how faithful God has been. This book is written in a clear-cut manner, in that as much as it feels religious; the reader is able to see the human aspect of it all. Olie K. Teeter Jr. starts the book by introducing himself to the reader. He writes of where he comes from, his parents, friends, and acquaintances he has made throughout the year. This part of the book is a favorite because the author intentionally created a bond with his audience. By telling his background story, the author makes the reader connect better with his discussions and even feel like they can relate to certain issues.
Olie K. Teeter writes with zeal, love, and genuineness. The author’s authenticity is visible throughout his narration, and one can point out the objectivity in his writing with ease. In His Hands: A Spiritual Journey is a straightforward book to read. Apart from the division of the book into two major parts, the author added an appeal to the book by arranging the chapters into categories that discussed God and his divinity and those that had discussions on the author’s personal experiences and of others. The first chapters in part 1 of the book taught me about my personal relationship with God, while most of the chapters in part 2 of the book made me reflect on life and my spiritual journey.
Part II of the book was meant for anyone trying to find themselves in their spiritual journey. The teachings shared, his style of sharing the word of God, and the multiple real-life examples of how God’s work manifested in his life that the author wrote about are enough reasons to enjoy this book. In this section, the author touches on topics like deception, power, love, holiness, and the church. I thoroughly enjoyed the bible teachings and the scriptures that the author shared in this part of the book. If you want to learn your bible well, then you need to look at what Olie K. Teeter Jr. writes in this chapter. Everything imperative from the Old Testament to the New Testament is discussed with precision, and the reader fully comprehends the holy book.
As a reader, I found discussions on the silent voice of God, prophecy, prayers, ministry, and the Holy Spirit to be eye-opening. Olie K. Teeter Jr. was insightful in each of these topics, giving comprehensive explanations and throwing in personal tales when he wants to drive the point home. Reading about his encounters was both fascinating and inspiring. The best thing about Olie K. Teeter Jr’s writing is that his stories easily flow. His storytelling skills are astounding, and the author understands how to fuse more than one story without losing the reader.
Pages: 186 | ASIN : B08P8482VZ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/27/in-his-hands/