Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara Larson

Dark Breaks the Dawn

by Sara Larson

Published by Scholastic Press

May 20, 2017

320 pages

Plot: On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price. (Goodreads.com, 2019)

Review: Let me start off by saying that I loved Larson’s Defy series.  That was the main reason I picked up Dark Breaks the Dawn.  I definitely recommend that series if you haven’t read it! The cover for this book was very eye-catching and beautiful and was the second thing that caught my attention. That being said, I must admit I found it hard to get into this new series. Which was very disappointing for me since I loved Larson’s other books.  

The idea of light and dark kingdoms was interesting, but the fact that the queen would be fighting on the war front against the dark kingdom seemed unrealistic to me.  Especially since that if the queen was killed, the power of the light kingdom would also cease until the new queen got her powers. Which, by the way, was done by ritual and did not guarantee the heir would survive it.  This would leave the whole light kingdom very vulnerable because everyone was powerless when the queen died. So this was not something believable. It seemed too convenient a way for the queen to die and her daughter, Evelayn to take over.  

I do not remember the story of Swan Lake, but I believe that if you are going to build a romance throughout an entire book, than that romance needs to survive to the end of the series.  Especially, if a book is themed as part romance. Overall, the writing is good and the story was fine, but the characters and plot holes didn’t leave me anticipating the next book. In addition, the next book in the series, Bright Burns the Night, continues the story 10 years later.  That is quite a large gap in time from the end of one book to the next.  I still look forward to any new series that Sara Larson writes. This one just didn’t work for me.

Rating: 3 Hearts

                 💖💖💖    

The Ageless Beauty Grail by Sandra Bloom

The Ageless Beauty Grail

by Sandra Bloom

Published by Universal Brands

284 pages

Review:  This book is a holistic approach to wellness. It's not about beauty regimes and products, but about the causes for hair loss, inflammation, and even leaky gut! She also addresses how imbalances in our hormones can wreak havoc on our bodies and internal systems.  In The Ageless Beauty Grail you’ll get remedies, info on essentials oils, foods that heal, and much more!  

You will get a deeper understanding of ingredients in beauty products and what to avoid. Bloom also provides recipes for natural deodorant, toothpaste, face masks, home cleaners, and even air fresheners! I have read, from many different sources, that hormonal imbalances and inflammation in our bodies can cause all sorts of health problems. So, there is good information in this book. That being said, I'm no beauty expert, and with any holistic approach to wellness, it is important to do your own research and seek information from multiple sources.

*A DRC was given for an honest review.

Rating: 3 hearts!

                 💖💖💖

Write the Book You're Meant to Write: A Guide for First-Time Authors by Gail Woodard

Write the Book You're Meant to Write: 

A Guide for First-Time Authors

by Gail Woodard

Dudley Court Press

February 6, 2018

126 pages

Review: In Woodard's book, Write the Book You're Mean't to Write, she helps you identify why you want to write a book and if it's something you are ready to do - now or ever.  This is a great section for aspiring authors.  You don't want to commit to writing something that you won't finish, or to start writing a book without understanding "why" you want to write it.  In this relatively short resource, Woodard talks about 4 Myths many people believe about publishing, how to identify what type of book you want to write (Fiction, Nonfiction, or Memoir), and how to proceed and what to expect with each type.

She also covers how to choose between self-publishing and professional publishing. For many aspiring authors, this is a common question, and it's helpful to understand the differences. The main part of the book focuses on 6 Phases of writing and publishing, such as manuscript prep and requirements, cover and interior layout design, metadata creation, printing/production, distribution, and marketing.

The last chapter talks about what to do once you decide you will write a book and ideas to get started. This handy little resource is definitely a good start for anyone thinking about writing a book now, or in the future. I enjoyed the layout and information in this book and I would recommend it to someone who wants to write a book.

*A DRC was given for an honest review.

Rating: 4 Hearts!
              💖💖💖💖

The Young Adult Writer's Journey by Janet Schrader-Post & Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds

The Young Adult Writer's Journey 

by Janet Schrader-Post & Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds

Published by Tell-Tale Publishing Group

November 23, 2018

199 pages

Review: The Young Adult Writer's Journey is a handy resource for anyone looking to write for the young adult audience. There is a great section on the hero's journey that is especially worth looking into.  The authors use examples of current bestselling novels and movies to help you identify why they were such a hit and how to incorporate those themes into your own stories.

Lots of advice and nuggets throughout the book that will help you to understand how to format and plot your YA novel.  There is also a chapter that gives insight as to what agents and editors are looking for when selecting novels to represent. There is even a chapter on how to market your book before and after publication.  It includes advice on how to create a brand, media kit, book pitch, virtual book tours, and more!   Definitely a useful handbook for aspiring writers or current authors who want to revamp their stories.

*A DRC was received for an honest review.

Rating: 4 Hearts!

                💖💖💖💖