Category: Fairytale

Book Review · Dark · Fairytale

Release & Review //\\ Zhànshì

Louise H

Zhànshì by Anna Edwards

Collection: Sinister Fairytales Collection

Release: May 26, 2020

Genre: Dark Fairy Tale Retelling

Whilst I’m not quite convinced that this was quite a 4 star read but it was much closer to that than 3 stars, so 4 it is.


Zhànshì is a well paced, entertaining, has a great heroine, a sexy hero and held my interest throughout. The story is set in modern times, though this is only obvious when modern technology is mentioned. Most of the time it had either an historical or a fantasy feel to it, but that made it more interesting not less.


Whilst this didn’t totally absorb me it did retain my attention and, unlike a couple of other recent reads, I never considered DNF’ing it. I appreciated how skillfully the author wove a tale that really did feel like a darker retelling of the Disney fairytale (as opposed to the original Chinese legend). Lia has always felt like an outsider, uninterested in becoming a warriors wife but rather wanting to be the warrior herself. I liked both her and Jaxon, they both held honour, faith and family in high regard and were prepared to die for their principles.


We all have our own interpretation of dark, so for me it was more that this had dark themes. However it does need a trigger warning as it contains one more detailed scene, and another implied, of sexual assault on the heroine. There are also incidences of physical assault too. However I find my darkness in the psychological effects and emotional impact on main characters but Lia was too strong, too much of a warrior to allow the enemy to break her, so for me it made the dark aspects easier to read. It fitted well with Lia’s strength of character so I had no qualms about her response to Wang’s treatment.


I would have liked just a bit more drama, a touch more angst and not quite such a quick resolution (I won’t say easy because it wasn’t). Not so much plot holes as glossing over the difficult parts. However I still enjoyed this story and read it in one sitting, it’s a decent story.

Blurb:

Lia has known she was different since the age of five when her father taught her the skills of her ancestors. His stories of heroic exploits have fueled her fantasies for years. Little did she know that her expertise would be called upon when two cities, two triads, go to war. Will it be a step too far to think she can hide who she really is? 


Jaxon has known his career path since he was a little boy when his father promised his only son to the leader of the Yu Shi triad. Jaxon doesn’t mind—it allows him to center his chaotic thoughts and fight his opponents to the death. But when he’s partnered with a mysterious new recruit, he begins to question everything he knows. What is the young boy hiding from him? 


Zhanzhi is a modern day retelling of the tale of Mulan for the Sinister Fairytales Collection. Warrior Lia must find her inner strength to defeat a deadly enemy, who’s been left bitter by his quest for absolute power, while at the same time falling in love when she least expects it. Nothing will be as it seems in this dark triad world where a moment’s hesitation can be your downfall.

Buy Links:
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/bzv6NG
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZtoY1d
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3ed9OkQ
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2Zu2b5q
ITunes: https://apple.co/2WYhGkt

Author Bio:

All I am a British author, from the depths of the rural countryside near London. In a previous life, I was an accountant from the age of twenty-one. I still do that on occasions, but most of my life is now spent intermingling writing while looking after my husband, two children and two cats (probably in the inverse order to the one listed!). When I have some spare time, I can also be found writing poetry, baking cakes (and eating them), or behind a camera snapping like a mad paparazzi.

I’m an avid reader who turned to writing to combat my depression and anxiety. I have a love of travelling and like to bring this to my stories to give them the air of reality.

I like my heroes hot and hunky with a dirty mouth, my heroines demure but with spunk, and my books full of dramatic suspense.



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Email: anna1000edwards@gmail.com

Also Available

Venom (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Dee Garcia
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/32bmFOF
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/31fSncd
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2VC9ns0
iTunes: https://apple.co/32cLzh1

Cold Queen (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by K Webster
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/31XvTxm
Eden Books: http://bit.ly/2Wl4qUN
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2pHdlnt
Apple: https://apple.co/2pSa84x
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2niT07e

Sacrifice (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Isabelle N. Blanco
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2CutWhg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36LrPUt
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/34M619f
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2NApwMs

Insolent (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Cynthia A. Rodriguez
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/37BUdc4
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2RuYCaT
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2rmDusW
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2PjmtrD

Madness (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Kailee Reese Samuels
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/SamuelsMADNESS
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/34pNija
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2RUPHjf
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/35qCaDZ

Siren (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Hazel Grace
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/bM9gqV
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2v24KhO
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2Os99RT
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2v6rBss
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2UseIDM

Legend (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by M.R. Leahy
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2U6zzeg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2UwCZbI
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2vTauLr
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3beoEXk

Mirage (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by C.M. Radcliff
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2SFshi7
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2HypsJa
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/38Feg9n
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2P4gKqn

Imprisoned (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by KL Donn
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2mTCt96 
Apple: https://apple.co/2llcIOv  
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mQTbpD  
Nook: http://bit.ly/2mV7ytb 
Eden Books: https://edenbooks.org/product/imprisoned/

Lock (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Kimberly Knight
Universal (Books2Read): http://bit.ly/2moQVpD
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QklSqK
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/3cZCVYZ
iBooks: https://apple.co/2Wf9qfP
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3d4dwxa

Stealing Cinderella (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by A. Zavarelli
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/34bD6fW
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2xJSyDA
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2wVVEVa
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2xKnYd2

Abducted (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by K.I. Lynn
Universal: https://books2read.com/AbductedKILynn
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dgX645
iBooks:  https://apple.co/2KSsKIS
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3aTBnO0
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3aXEKDG

Book Review · Fairytale

LEGEND by MR Leahy

Louise H

Title: Legend

Collection: Sinister Fairy Tales Collection

Author: M.R. Leahy




Release: February 6, 2020

Genre: Dark Fairy Tale RetellingGoodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46260363-legend




A bit (lot?) of a “me not you” situation because technically there wasn’t anything wrong with the technical writing, plot or pace, but this just didn’t engage me emotionally. It’s quite a short read and felt more Lion King than Sinister Fairy Tale but it’s still a decent read and well worth trying for yourself.


It took too long, in my opinion, for the H and h to meet and I know they are fated mates and I know they had dreamed of one another BUT there was no real attempt to develop any other type of connection between them. It was all just very instant (as in next second instant) and I’m just one of those PITA readers who needs convincing of a bond.

The story was nicely written and easy to follow, the world building was decent, though I didn’t care for the overuse of the F word – it didn’t seem to fit the low technology setting. I expect the word in Mafia, MC and even contemporary romance but it felt jarring here. However it’s a fairly minor thing and I’m sure many of you would disagree on that 😊.

Whilst it isn’t a dark read, it is steaming hot (when Karzan and Janey do eventually meet) and entertaining.





Blurb:

Far, far away, hidden on Insula Sacra—Island of the Accursed— lives a forgotten world of man and beast.

Damned by the Gods, and forced to live in everlasting darkness, they continue to fight a war that has long since been buried in time.

With each rise and fall of the cursed moon, they are reminded of all they’ve lost.

Desperate for freedom, they await the night the one true king will rise to power and free them from the curse.

The King, however, cannot rise without his Queen—both blessed with the mark of the Gods, they must end the war to save them all.

Or so the legend says… 



Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39asjnc
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2UwCZbI
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2vTauLr
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3beoEXk




Excerpt:

“They abandoned us, cursed us. An endless war, a dying race…the prophecy states that once united, the chosen one, bearing the mark of the gods, will bring forth the one true king.” Balling my hand into a fist, I turn and face the great room. “I will be that King. No matter what it takes, no matter how many people must burn to make it so, we will rise again and this time, not even the Gods will be able to stop us.” 



Social Media Links:
Author Like pg – https://bit.ly/2uXGHw9
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Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/cOoQa1
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Also Available

Venom (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Dee Garcia
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/32bmFOF
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/31fSncd
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2VC9ns0
iTunes: https://apple.co/32cLzh1



Cold Queen (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by K Webster
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/31XvTxm
Eden Books: http://bit.ly/2Wl4qUN
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2pHdlnt
Apple: https://apple.co/2pSa84x
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2niT07e



Sacrifice (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Isabelle N. Blanco
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2CutWhg
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36LrPUt
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/34M619f
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2NApwMs



Insolent (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Cynthia A. Rodriguez
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/37BUdc4
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2RuYCaT
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2rmDusW
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2PjmtrD



Madness (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Kailee Reese Samuels
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/SamuelsMADNESS
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/34pNija
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2RUPHjf
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/35qCaDZ



Siren (Sinister Fairy Tales Collection) by Hazel Grace
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/bM9gqV



Fairytale · Promotion

Eternal Nightmare by Aria Adams

Louise H




Can you handle a dark twist on a fairytale favourite …

The Darkholm series by Aria Adams is OUT NOW!!




ONE CLICK NOW! Or read for FREE with #KindleUnlimited!


Belle’s Betrayal → https://amzn.to/2J65tCC


“They want to destroy me. Use me. And they have no souls.”

Cast out of her village. Left as a sacrifice on the doorstep of a mysterious castle. Fighting to survive. Marea Belle’s only sanctuary is a mysterious mirror-world buried deep within the castle, where she falls for two men. But when their darkest secrets are revealed, how can she ever hope to redeem them?

This 60,000-word novel is a dark why choose fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The protagonists are the villains. The heroine endures much suffering. If you like your HEAs to come at a great price, this series is for you.


Formerly published as The Belle Jar.

ADD TO YOUR TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48337265-belle-s-betrayal



Torn Apart → https://amzn.to/2Q7QI6Z



“I was an enslaved mermaid. Now I have legs. And my master is coming for me.”

Taken as a child. Trained underwater. Lied to and manipulated. Aylia escapes by accident, but once she glimpses the surface world, she never wants to go back. Although she cannot speak, Prince Edward falls for her, and swears to protect her. But when her evil master returns, how can Edward disentangle Aylia from the dark wizard’s clutches?


This 40,000-word novel is a dark fairytale retelling of The Little Mermaid. The heroine has an unreliable point of view. The hero cannot always save her. And the villain is very evil. If you don’t like your HEAs to come easily, this series is for you.

Formerly published as Grim Mermaid, this version has been vastly expanded and re-written.

ADD TO YOUR TBR: http://bit.ly/2nUimZr





Eternal Nightmare → https://amzn.to/3709fqM




BLURB

“I sleep forever. Dream after dream. Tormented by them. I never get to awaken.”

Lucy has slept for a hundred years. Everyone she ever knew is dead. Her kingdom is in decay. She doesn’t have anything to wake up for, but it has to be better than the nightmares, doesn’t it? Every time she thinks she’s opened her eyes, another nightmare begins. Endless horror. Can anyone help her?


This is a dark fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The heroine is asleep. The hero can’t save her. The villain is long-gone, but her legacy lives on. If you don’t like your HEAs to come easily, this series is for you.


ADD TO YOUR TBR: http://bit.ly/38tMZqM




About Aria Adams

Aria is an author of dark erotic romance that dances on the boundary between horror and romance. Her heroes are not always immediately obvious, and neither are the villains. Her books often have elements of horror, and the characters at the end of a story are forever changed by the events that befell them. But she always makes sure there’s a happy ending, even if the characters have to work for it.

Aria also writes the warm fuzzy romance stuff as Katie Douglas, where she has had USA Today and multiple Number One bestselling books in the US and worldwide.



Follow Aria Online!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Adams/e/B079VFP8CW/
Website: www.ariaadams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriaAdamsDarkER/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KatieAndAriasWildcats/
Newsletter: www.freeeroticabook.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aria-adams  

Book Review · Fairytale

ETERNAL NIGHTMARE

Louise H



A retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a dark twist you won’t want to miss…

Eternal Nightmare by Aria Adams is OUT NOW!!



Eternal Nightmare is a well written and entertaining read, a dark and twisty retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with a dash of Romeo and Juliet for good measure. I did struggle with the flashback/flashforward aspect at first as I hadn’t had chance to develop an understanding of the world and it’s characters. This left me feeling a little confused and lost at times though once I’d reached about 20%, and had experienced enough of Lucy in the past, I felt the story coming together more.

Whilst Lucy’s passiveness occasionally irritated me I did still find it fitted both her upbringing and character. As the book progresses we do see her growing more of a backbone, which was great. I love to see characters grow and develop.

Even though there were times when I really didn’t understand what was happening, particularly in the ‘present’ dream scenes, I still found the story engaging. I also felt that it was a deliberate technique employed by the author. Not only does it mean we don’t get an unwieldy information dump, it allowed me to appreciate Lucy’s own sense of confusion, frustration and weariness. Details and clues are slowly drip fed to us at a perfect pace, not too quick so as to bombard and not so slow that boredom or irritation sets in.

There were a few occasions when I felt the pace could have been a little quicker, but that might just have been me wanting to get to the HEA, which was great by the way!


ONE CLICK NOW!!

Amazon US → https://amzn.to/3709fqM
Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/390TEsU
Amazon CA → https://amzn.to/2rgUGzW
Amazon AU → https://amzn.to/2PK9EYK

Or read for FREE with #KindleUnlimited!!!





“I sleep forever. Dream after dream. Tormented by them. I never get to awaken.”


Lucy has slept for a hundred years. Everyone she ever knew is dead. Her kingdom is in decay. She doesn’t have anything to wake up for, but it has to be better than the nightmares, doesn’t it? Every time she thinks she’s opened her eyes, another nightmare begins. Endless horror. Can anyone help her?

This is a dark fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The heroine is asleep. The hero can’t save her. The villain is long-gone, but her legacy lives on. If you don’t like your HEAs to come easily, this series is for you.

ADD TO YOUR TBR: http://bit.ly/38tMZqM



Read the Darkholm series now:
Belle’s Betrayal → https://amzn.to/2J65tCC
Torn Apart → https://amzn.to/2Q7QI6Z



About Aria Adams

Aria is an author of dark erotic romance that dances on the boundary between horror and romance. Her heroes are not always immediately obvious, and neither are the villains. Her books often have elements of horror, and the characters at the end of a story are forever changed by the events that befell them. But she always makes sure there’s a happy ending, even if the characters have to work for it.

Aria also writes the warm fuzzy romance stuff as Katie Douglas, where she has had USA Today and multiple Number One bestselling books in the US and worldwide.

Follow Aria Online!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Adams/e/B079VFP8CW/
Website: www.ariaadams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriaAdamsDarkER/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KatieAndAriasWildcats/
Newsletter: www.freeeroticabook.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aria-adams

Dark · Fairytale · Promotion

Darkholm Pre-order

Louise H

PREORDER ALERT!!!!

Can you handle another dark twist on a fairytale favourite?

The Darkholm series by Aria Adams continues with Eternal Nightmare  … out on January 3!!



AND YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW!!
Amazon US → https://amzn.to/3709fqM
Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/390TEsU
Amazon CA → https://amzn.to/2rgUGzW
Amazon AU → https://amzn.to/2PK9EYK






BLURB

“I sleep forever. Dream after dream. Tormented by them. I never get to awaken.”

Lucy has slept for a hundred years. Everyone she ever knew is dead. Her kingdom is in decay. She doesn’t have anything to wake up for, but it has to be better than the nightmares, doesn’t it? Every time she thinks she’s opened her eyes, another nightmare begins. Endless horror. Can anyone help her?

This is a dark fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The heroine is asleep. The hero can’t save her. The villain is long-gone, but her legacy lives on. If you don’t like your HEAs to come easily, this series is for you.




ADD TO YOUR TBR: http://bit.ly/38tMZqM

FOLLOW ARIA FOR RELEASE ALERTS: http://bit.ly/2neJCkP






Read the Darkholm series now:

Belle’s Betrayal → https://amzn.to/2J65tCC
Torn Apart → https://amzn.to/2Q7QI6Z



About Aria Adams

Aria is an author of dark erotic romance that dances on the boundary between horror and romance. Her heroes are not always immediately obvious, and neither are the villains. Her books often have elements of horror, and the characters at the end of a story are forever changed by the events that befell them. But she always makes sure there’s a happy ending, even if the characters have to work for it.

Aria also writes the warm fuzzy romance stuff as Katie Douglas, where she has had USA Today and multiple Number One bestselling books in the US and worldwide.


Follow Aria Online!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Adams/e/B079VFP8CW/
Website: www.ariaadams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriaAdamsDarkER/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KatieAndAriasWildcats/
Newsletter: www.freeeroticabook.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aria-adams