A MONSTER LIKE ME by Pamela Sparkman

Heart of Darkness series #2

HELLO STRANGER by Lisa Kleypas

The Ravenels series #4

THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT by Emma Scott

Companion to the Full Tilt series

PLAYING FOR KEEPS by Jill Shalvis

Heartbreaker Bay series #7

UNWRITTEN by Jen Frederick

Woodlands series #5

Cross My Heart by L.H. Cosway

Hearts series #5.75

MOONSHADOW by Thea Harrison

Moonshadow series #1

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Spotlight: His Secret Mistress by Cathy Maxwell


At the Logical Men's Society—an exclusive bachelor's club—brandy flows like water, bawdy stories abound, and a gentleman tempted to marry is always persuaded to reconsider...


HIS SECRET MISTRESS by CATHY MAXWELL
Series: A Logical Man's Guide to Dangerous Women #1
Publication date: February 25, 2020
Published by: Avon Romance
Genre: historical romance

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SYNOPSIS

Brandon Balfour made the mistake of trusting his heart to the exquisite, strong-willed actress, Kate Addison, with whom he shared one intimate night before fate intervened. Now a decade later, Brandon is a leading member of the Logical Men's Society—for no woman since Kate has managed to captivate him.

To Kate, the memory of that night still burns strongly, because it was followed by a stunning betrayal. A chance encounter may have brought Brandon back into her life, but that doesn't mean Kate will ever forgive him. She's vowed to make him pay—even as she realizes the promises of the young love they once shared are still etched upon her heart...

Loving her exiled him.

Trusting him ruined her.

And now, a clash of passions threatens everything each of them ever desired.  

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.

She lives in beautiful Virginia with her children, horses, dogs, and cats.

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Spotlight: Engaged to the Earl by Lisa Berne


A spirited debutante—a brash adventurer—the perfect fiancé—and good intentions gone terribly, deliciously bad. The Penhallow Dynasty continues in this sparkling Regency romp!


ENGAGED TO THE EARL by LISA BERNE
Series: The Penhallow Dynasty #4
Publication date: February 25, 2020
Published by: Avon Romance
Genre: historical romance

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SYNOPSIS

Christopher Beck came striding into a glamorous London drawing-room and can’t believe his eyes. The last time he’d seen Gwendolyn Penhallow, she was a dreamy, strong-willed girl with a wild imagination, and now she’s a beautiful and beguiling young lady... who’s engaged to Society’s darling, the Earl of Westenbury. Christopher had fled England to seek adventure elsewhere. Has he found it here, too—the most delightful adventure of his life?

Gwendolyn is sure she’s betrothed to the most wonderful man in the world. But then, shockingly, Christopher Beck shows up. Nobody has heard from him in years—and not only he is very much alive, he’s also sinfully attractive, blithely unconventional, and disturbingly fun to be with. Which wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that she’s, well, promised to another. And just what on earth is she going to do about it? 

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Praise for Engaged to the Earl:

"The beguiling fourth installment of Berne’s Penhallow Dynasty series (after The Bride Takes a Groom) is full of witty banter and sweet romance...This expertly plotted love story is a must-read for Regency fans."
- Publishers Weekly

"...is another sophisticated, elegantly written study on character and love...lovely and satisfying. Graceful, lyrical, and charming."
- Kirkus Reviews

"The author’s effortlessly elegant writing and impeccably rendered Regency setting are perfectly paired with a full cadre of exquisitely realized characters and a delightfully done friends-to-lovers love story that is fueled by equal measures of sweet charm, sharp wit, and heart-melting sexual chemistry."
- Booklist (starred review)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Lisa Berne is a bestselling author of historical romance who’s published exclusively by Avon/HarperCollins. To learn more about Lisa, her books, and her quirky interests (as revealed in her blog), you are cordially invited to visit her website, www.LisaBerne.com, and to sign up for her newsletter, too, so that you’ll never miss a new release or giveaway!

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Monday, February 24, 2020

Review: The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet


A penetrating tale of magic, faith and pride...


THE UNWILLING by KELLY BRAFFET
Series: Standalone
Publication date: February 11, 2020
Published by: Harlequin/Mira
Genre: fantasy, YA

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SYNOPSIS

The Unwilling is the story of Judah, a foundling born with a special gift and raised inside Highfall castle along with Gavin, the son and heir to Lord Elban's vast empire. Judah and Gavin share an unnatural bond that is both the key to her survival... and possibly her undoing.

As Gavin is groomed for his future role, Judah comes to realize that she has no real position within the kingdom, in fact, no hope at all of ever traveling beyond its castle walls. Elban - a lord as mighty as he is cruel - has his own plans for her, for all of them. She is a mere pawn to him, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

But outside the walls, in the starving, desperate city, a magus, a healer with his own secret power unlike anything Highfall has seen in years, is newly arrived from the provinces. He, too, has plans for the empire, and at the heart of those plans lies Judah... The girl who started life with no name and no history will soon uncover more to her story than she ever imagined.

An epic tale of greed and ambition, cruelty and love, this deeply immersive novel is about bowing to traditions and burning them down.



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Praise for The Unwilling:

"Kelly Braffet is extraordinary... Familiar yet entirely unique, The Unwilling is the sort of story that seeps under your skin and pulses there, intimate and vibrant and alive. Fantasy at its most sublime."--Erin Morgenstern, NYT bestselling author of The Starless Sea and The Night Circus

"A juggernaut of an epic fantasy novel with ingenious, thrilling twists and turns. Put this on the shelf beside Naomi Novik and George R. R. Martin. Kelly Braffet is a marvel and I'll read anything she writes." --Kelly Link, MacArthur Genius Recipient and author of Get in Trouble

"Kelly Braffet's The Unwilling is a viscerally powerful book. Full of complex and compelling characters, this is the story of the corruptions of power and the strength it takes to resist. This is an incredible, brilliant story." --Kat Howard, author of Roses and Rot

"Gorgeously told, The Unwilling is at once a sweeping epic and an intimate portrait of being trapped in an oppressive regime. Meet your new favorite fantasy writer." --Gwenda Bond, NYT bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

"Suspenseful, magical, wonderfully written, and never predictable, Braffet's first foray into speculative fiction is an essential addition to all epic-fantasy collections." –Booklist, STARRED Review

"Wow...The characters, the world, the magic and greed and politics and pain--all of it adds up to something wonderful. I love it."–Ellen Datlow, award-winning editor and anthologist


“Braffet has a real gift for dialogue, and Judah’s quick cleverness is a constant joy… Readers will fall in love with the contemplative pace, brisk dialogue and rebellious heroine of The Unwilling.” –BookPage


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Braffet writes stories about unhappy people making bad decisions, occasionally with magic. She is the author of The Unwilling (available 2/20 from Mira Books), Save Yourself, and Last Seen Leaving; her first novel, Josie and Jack, has been made into a feature film starring Olivia DeJonge, Alex Neustaedter, and William Fitchner, and directed by Sarah Lancaster. Her writing has been published in the Fairy Tale Review, Post Road, and in several anthologies, as well as on Salon.com. She is a graduate of Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence College.

She is married to the tall and immensely talented writer Owen King. He's dreamy. For more, see www.kellybraffet.com.

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REVIEW


The UnwillingThe Unwilling by Kelly Braffet
My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I need to start this review by saying if you're a reader who's sensitive about reading abuse and violence on the page, this is not the book for you. This is just about the darkest and most depressing YA fantasy I've ever read and that's saying something. There were quite a few reasons why I struggled to finish this. I kept hoping that eventually it would hook me and everything would turn around but sadly that wasn't the case.

The Unwilling was excruciatingly slow. I would read for 3 hours and only move forward 5-10%. The page count is lengthy, and every bit of it is felt. I felt as if I was dragging myself through quicksand for the majority of the book, trying to reach freedom with no lifeline to be found. Just painfully sinking...sinking...sinking. The fact that the reader is left in the dark about a lot of things doesn't help matters.

The plot centers around the Slonimi people who have carefully honed the vestiges of magic remaining after the world was "bound." Through generations, they've plotted and planned to do whatever is necessary to return the world to its rightful order. No sacrifice is too great, no life more valuable than the cause. We are vaguely told about the doing "Work" which is what they call this magic that they wield. We see glimpses of it at most, but never an explanation of what the mechanics of it are, or why it's so important until the end. Who is Mad Martin, and why did he bind the world's power? How will the chosen one restore the world? This is all left on the back burner as we watch everyone tear each other to shreds.

Nate is introduced in the prologue as a young boy in the Slonimi caravan who is taken in by Derie as a kind of apprentice. She's a nasty, abusive woman who physically abuses Nate and Charles as she trains them to be "useful" to the cause. She is the first of many to abuse, maim, play mind games, and use people as if they were chess pieces on a board rather than human beings. It was so hard to find a single redeeming quality with anyone in this story. Even the unwilling victims are hard to root for as they were forced to make vicious choices to stay one step ahead of those toying with them. For a while, I thought Nate was a decent guy, but the more the book wore on, the more he seemed to fit right in with the most deranged and immoral.

Nate finagles his way inside Highfall in order to step in the shoes of the current Magus (healer). Arkady is just as vile and corrupt as everyone else in this godforsaken place. He has an array of sins such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, abuse of power, and heartlessness towards the poor workers who support the rich. In this social system, the poor are forced to work as long as 96 hours straight with barely any food or rest. Their money goes to support rich courtiers as their family members are brutally used and murdered of on a whim without a second thought. They are less than disposable, and treated inhumanely during their sad lives.

Then we have "The Children." Gavin is the heir to Highfall. His father Elban is the depraved ruler who takes great delight in torturing those around him both mentally and physically. I think sadist is a great descriptor for him. If you were to make a list of the most horrifying ways to harm a human, he's done every single thing and then schemed to come up with more. I can't tell you how long I was impatiently waiting for someone to take this evil waste of space out of existence. But I digress. The rest of the children are Theron, Elly, and Judah. Theron is the second born son, Elly is Gavin's chosen bride, and Judah is the foundling who was raised in the palace with them all. Admittedly, these four do seem to genuinely care for one another and they do try to make the best out of the cesspool they're trying to survive in. It's hard to retain values, morals, and honesty when you're constantly abused and put in life altering situations.

Gavin and Judah have a mysterious bond that ties them physically to one another. When one is hurt, the other feels it. They also share heightened emotions and pleasure, as well as drunkenness. This bond is the only thing protecting Judah's life. At the same time, it's also used against her in many various ways over the years, and used as a tool to harm Gavin when Elban felt the need. It was all about pushing the boundary between pain and death to manipulate and control. This was the one thing about the story that I found intriguing, and quite original. I liked the way they could communicate with one another in secret by scratching on their own wrist. It was like ASL in scratches, and they could check on each other or call for help from a distance.

Overall, there were so many graphically violent scenes that it began to overrun any sense of a solid, linear plot. We're just flung from one grotesque or devastating moment to another as the characters tried to stay one step ahead of getting disfigured or killed. Someone built up to be an invincible antagonist is abruptly disposed of and another steps in. In the end, things are not left in a good place and I just can't fathom slogging through fresh hundreds of pages to see where this all resolves. I can say with certainty that this wasn't the right book for me, but hopefully others will have a much different experience than I did.


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Review: How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks


Raised in isolation on the magic-shrouded Isle of the Moon, five girls became five sisters. Now women, they are ready to claim their places in the world—and perhaps change it forever . . .


HOW TO LOVE YOUR ELF by KERRELYN SPARKS
Series: The Embraced #4
Publication date: February 25, 2020
Published by: Kensington Books
Genre: fantasy

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SYNOPSIS

FLAME AND FORTUNE

Sorcha knew the mission was dangerous. Leaving the safe grounds of her brother’s kingdom and parlaying with the elves across their border . . . well, treachery seemed at least as likely as true peace. But to support her sister, Sorcha would brave far more than the underhanded ways of the elves. Or so she thought, before she was taken hostage.

Of course, her captors didn’t count on her particular abilities—or on the help of the Woodsman, the mysterious thief who made his home in the forest. He saw the battle from the trees, saw the soldier attacking against incredible odds to save a comrade—and then saw the valiant fighter revealed as Princess Sorcha of Norveshka. He can’t tell if he wants to kidnap her or kiss her. But despite Sorcha’s stubbornness, his inconvenient honor, and a rebellion on the cusp of full war, something burns between them that neither can let go . . .

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kerrelyn Sparks apparently has issues with reality. After writing more than a dozen books about vampires, she has now completely gone off the deep end and wound up on another planet. But how thrilling that she can share this magical new world with her readers! Although she is best known (so far) for the Love at Stake series, which has hit as high as number 5 on the New York Times list and 22 on the USA Today list, she hopes her readers will love The Embraced as much as they did her merry band of vamps and shifters.

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REVIEW


How to Love Your Elf (Embraced by Magic, #1; The Embraced, #4)How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When I requested this, I was really excited by the synopsis and the fact that I found a first book in a new series centering around elves. It's listed as Embraced by Magic #1, unfortunately that's deceptive. This book is actually the fourth in The Embraced series, which I haven't read. I quickly noticed after starting that this did not have a first book feel at all. Details of side characters and wordbuilding were explained briefly in the assumption that these facts are merely to refresh the reader's memory of what came before. Although this can be read as a standalone, be aware before you start that you will have some mild spoilers about previous couples when reading this as their stories are discussed.

Princess Sorcha is one of five girls who were raised as sisters on the Isle of the Moon. Because of the circumstances of their birth, they are all considered "Embraced" because of the powers they were gifted with. Sorcha's brother Silas Dravenko, is the new king of Norveshka, and one of the few dragon shifters in existence. Three of her sisters have found love already, Gwenmore with her brother Silas.

Sorcha has made a vow to herself that she will resist falling in love because she fears growing an attachment to anyone. She sees herself as weak, feeling helpless and scared when her sisters were in danger in the past. This was one of the main conflicts which I felt was a pretty flimsy one. It was a matter of one or two days after meeting the hero that Sorcha believed herself in love with him. The insta-love was a bit much for me in this case. Their feelings were too much, too fast, making me question everything between them. After two days together, and another day spent apart she's already decided that she's in love with him and she knows almost nothing about him, not even his name and true identity. She still refers to him by his outlaw nickname very late into the book, because his secret identity is deliberately kept from her.

    Dammit. She rubbed her brow. She’d had only three days with the Woodsman. It simply wasn’t enough time. There was still so much she didn’t know.

And the same goes for him. He feels an obsessive attraction for her, which he just rationalizes is due to falling in love with her. Why? He's not really sure.

    How could she mean so much to him so quickly? He paused at the top of the stairs leading down to the courtyard. There was only one explanation. He loved her.

Sorcha meets "The Woodsman" when her party is set up for an ambush in the forest. We're told that in the previous book, a treaty was formed between the Norveshki and the elves who have always been bitter enemies. Sorcha and her family are led into a trap, attacked, and she and dragon protector Aleksi are taken prisoner. The Woodsman is a Robin Hood type outlaw who stumbles upon the incident and reluctantly decides to lend a hand. He has the ability to converse with the magic trees of the forest. This is his biggest strength because the trees see and hear everything and they not only give him important information about people, but they can warn and protect him.

The Woodsman is immediately smitten with Sorcha but for various reasons he constantly struggles internally with his feelings. The timing is the most important deterrent. Ever since his father was murdered, he's been plotting revenge, and his plans are on the verge of coming to fruition. He's also uncomfortable with her power to create fire with a snap of her fingers. Oddly, he believes she could accidentally set fire to the Living Oaks which didn't make a whole lot of sense to me to be honest. Is it really possible to accidentally snap your fingers? Fortunately, neither of them have much willpower to resist their paltry objections as to why they shouldn't fall for each other. Before long, they've waved the white flag to their chemistry and are fully devoted, despite the power struggle with the mysterious Chameleon and the Circle of Five who plot to destroy them.

While the instant romance was not to my particular taste, it may not be an issue for others. The romance was cute, if a little cheesy at times, but I did enjoy the banter between the main characters. I think my reading experience may have been a little more enhanced if I had read the previous books in the series first, so those who have been faithfully following will likely find more to appreciate as well. Overall, not a bad read, but it lacked the butterflies in the stomach romantic tension I hope to find. On the positive side, this was a fast read, and a simple fantasy if that's what you're searching for.


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Monday, February 17, 2020

Review: Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas


Everything has a price except for her...


CHASING CASSANDRA by LISA KLEYPAS
Series: The Ravenels #6
Publication date: February 18, 2020
Published by: Avon Romance
Genre: historical romance

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SYNOPSIS

Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.

Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win.

When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride:

Never underestimate a Ravenel.

The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun...


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Praise for Chasing Cassandra:

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY-Starred Review

"Opposites attract in spectacular fashion in the sixth Victorian-era Romance in bestseller Kleypas’s Ravenel series (after Devil’s Daughter), which pairs a true romantic with a cynical intellectual. Lady Cassandra Ravenel has turned down many proposals, holding out for real feeling. That doesn’t stop railway magnate Tom Severin from asking for her hand within moments of meeting her. Though she ignores his proposal, the shrewd businessman fancies her from just a glance and sees winning her as a thrilling challenge. His pursuit leads the pair to grow close. But when Tom starts to feel more than lust, he abruptly ends their budding friendship to avoid the liability he feels his emotions pose on his cold, calculated life, leaving a smitten Cassandra confused and hurt. They continue to run into each other, and their physical and mental attraction proves too strong to ignore. When one of Cassandra’s scorned suitors slanders her reputation, Tom is determined to protect her. The plot is well-balanced, the pace steady, the characters deliciously complex, and the chemistry electric. Returning readers will also be pleased by cameos from characters from earlier installments. Kleypas fans and first timers alike will fall in love with this refreshing romance.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.

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REVIEW

Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels, #6)Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


With every new installment in The Ravenels series, by excitement grows by leaps and bounds. Tom Severin has been intriguing from the very first introduction, so it's safe to say I was counting down the days until I could get my greedy hands on his story. On paper, he sounds like a guy you'd love to hate. Borderline sociopath. Unabashedly money hungry and ruthless in his pursuit of it. Lacking empathy for others and a heart encased in ice. You wonder why you could possibly find a character like this appealing let alone charming. But someway, somehow, Lisa Kleypas infused her magic once again and made me fall head over heels for this enchanting couple. For all of Tom's faults, he sneaks an admirable trait in to balance the scales. He's capable of seeing his faults and growing as a person. He's an absolute genius at business, and how can anyone resist a huge brain? Not me. Add to that decisive, dynamic, and vulnerable with just the right woman and he makes a man worthy to marry a Ravenel.

    No one—least of all Tom—had doubted that he would someday become an extraordinarily successful businessman. Whether he was successful as a human being, however, was still open to question.

This is a perfect example of opposites attract and why they work. Cassandra Ravenel is everything Tom is not. She's such a warm and open woman who dreams of having a family and her own home. He's closed off from other people and doesn't allow anyone to get close enough to see the man under the magnate. Though he has no interest in marriage, he's awestruck and infatuated at first sight with Cassandra. He believes he can bulldoze over her protests and win her over like he's done everything else in his life, but she's a woman who knows her own mind. She's not willing to sacrifice a loving marriage for Tom, and he doesn't feel he's even capable of love as an emotion. After all, he's only been able to observe six types of feelings in his personal arsenal. Adding any more would be dangerous to his peace of mind. Cassandra sees something in him that he thought was missing. And she was willing to take the biggest risk of her life with him.

    He’d been taken apart by her and reassembled differently. Outwardly, everything seemed to work well enough, but he wasn’t the same inside.

I loved how Kleypas kept Tom the flawed, quirky man he is and didn't try to give him a personality transplant. He's the same oddball, yet you get to see him mature right in front of your eyes through Cassandra's unwavering faith. The Ravenels are very protective of their own, and they were horrified at first that she was making a huge mistake with him. But there's just something about him that makes you feel like he can be more than he believes he is. It was hilarious to see their reactions to him as he integrated into the family. They were part supportive, part perturbed. Luckily, she saw through his facade and was able to coax Tom into looking deeper into himself as well. He deserved more than the empty life he'd been existing in, and with Cassandra, she gave him more than he could have ever dreamed.

    What was the name of this feeling? It was if he’d fallen through the surface of his life into some strange new territory, a place that had always existed even though he hadn’t been aware of it. All he knew was that the careful distance he’d put between himself and other people had finally been crossed by someone . . . and nothing would ever be the same.

This was another amazing read from the incomparable Lisa Kleypas. It was lighter on the angst, leaning more toward witty and sweet which is why some of the others in the series edged this one out for me. But I wholeheartedly enjoyed every minute between the pages. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a light historical with the beauty we've all come to expect from this seasoned author. I'll never tire of her lyrical descriptions and charismatic characters. Definitely another must read!


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Friday, February 14, 2020

Blog Tour: The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet


A penetrating tale of magic, faith and pride...


THE UNWILLING by KELLY BRAFFET
Series: Standalone
Publication date: February 11, 2020
Published by: Harlequin/Mira
Genre: fantasy, YA

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SYNOPSIS

The Unwilling is the story of Judah, a foundling born with a special gift and raised inside Highfall castle along with Gavin, the son and heir to Lord Elban's vast empire. Judah and Gavin share an unnatural bond that is both the key to her survival... and possibly her undoing.

As Gavin is groomed for his future role, Judah comes to realize that she has no real position within the kingdom, in fact, no hope at all of ever traveling beyond its castle walls. Elban - a lord as mighty as he is cruel - has his own plans for her, for all of them. She is a mere pawn to him, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

But outside the walls, in the starving, desperate city, a magus, a healer with his own secret power unlike anything Highfall has seen in years, is newly arrived from the provinces. He, too, has plans for the empire, and at the heart of those plans lies Judah... The girl who started life with no name and no history will soon uncover more to her story than she ever imagined.

An epic tale of greed and ambition, cruelty and love, this deeply immersive novel is about bowing to traditions and burning them down.


Purchase your copy now!
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EXCERPT

Prologue

On the third day of the convocation, two of the Slonimi scouts killed a calf, and the herbalist’s boy wept because he’d watched the calf being born and grown to love it. His
mother stroked his hair and promised he would forget by the time the feast came, the following night. He told her he would never forget. She said, “Just wait.”

He spent all of the next day playing with the children from the other caravan; three days before, they’d all been strangers, but Slonimi children were used to making friends quickly. The group the boy and his mother traveled with had come across the desert to the south, and they found the cool air of the rocky plain a relief from the heat. The others had come from the grassy plains farther west, and were used to milder weather. While the adults traded news and maps and equipment, the children ran wild. Only one boy, from the other caravan, didn’t run or play: a pale boy, with fine features, who followed by habit a few feet behind one of the older women from the other caravan. “Derie’s apprentice,” the other children told him, and shrugged, as if there was nothing more to say. The older woman was the other group’s best Worker, with dark hair going to grizzle and gimlet eyes. Every time she appeared the herbalist suddenly remembered an herb her son needed to help her prepare, or something in their wagon that needed cleaning. The boy was observant, and clever, and it didn’t take him long to figure out that his mother was trying to keep him away from the older woman: she, who had always demanded he face everything head-on, who had no patience for what she called squeamishness and megrims.

After a hard day of play over the rocks and dry, grayish grass, the boy was starving. A cold wind blew down over the rocky plain from the never-melting snow that topped the high peaks of the Barriers to the east; the bonfire was warm. The meat smelled good. The boy had not forgotten the calf but when his mother brought him meat and roasted potatoes and soft pan bread on a plate, he did not think of him. Gerta—the head driver of the boy’s caravan—had spent the last three days with the other head driver, poring over bloodline records to figure out who between their two groups might be well matched for breeding, and as soon as everybody had a plate of food in front of them they announced the results. The adults and older teenagers seemed to find this all fascinating. The herbalist’s boy was nine years old and he didn’t understand the fuss. He knew how it went: the matched pairs would travel together until a child was on the way, and then most likely never see each other again. Sometimes they liked each other, sometimes they didn’t. That, his mother had told him, was what brandy was for.

The Slonimi caravans kept to well-defined territories, and any time two caravans met there was feasting and trading and music and matching, but this was no ordinary meeting, and both sides knew it. After everyone had eaten their fill, a few bottles were passed. Someone had a set of pipes and someone else had a sitar, but after a song or two, nobody wanted any more music. Gerta—who was older than the other driver—stood up. She was tall and strong, with ropy, muscular limbs. “Well,” she said, “let’s see them.”

In the back, the herbalist slid an arm around her son. He squirmed under the attention but bore it.

From opposite sides of the fire, a young man and a young woman were produced. The young man, Tobin, had been traveling with Gerta’s people for years. He was smart but not unkind, but the herbalist’s son thought him aloof. With good reason, maybe; Tobin’s power was so strong that being near him made the hair on the back of the boy’s neck stand up. Unlike all the other Workers—who were always champing at the bit to get a chance to show off—Tobin was secretive about his skills. He shared a wagon with Tash, Gerta’s best Worker, even though the two men didn’t seem particularly friendly with each other. More than once the boy had glimpsed their lantern burning late into the night, long after the main fire was embers.

The young woman had come across the plains with the others. The boy had seen her a few times; she was small, round, and pleasant-enough looking. She didn’t strike the boy as particularly remarkable. But when she came forward, the other caravan’s best Worker—the woman named Derie—came with her. Tash stood up when Tobin did, and when they all stood in front of Gerta, the caravan driver looked from one of them to the other. “Tash and Derie,” she said, “you’re sure?”

“Already decided, and by smarter heads than yours,” the gimlet-eyed woman snapped.

Tash, who wasn’t much of a talker, merely said, “Sure.”

Gerta looked back at the couple. For couple they were; the boy could see the strings tied round each wrist, to show they’d already been matched. “Hard to believe,” she said. “But I know it’s true. I can feel it down my spine. Quite a legacy you two carry; five generations’ worth, ever since mad old Martin bound up the power in the world. Five generations of working and planning and plotting and hoping; that’s the legacy you two carry.” The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. “No pressure.”

A faint ripple of mirth ran through the listeners around the fire. “Nothing to joke about, Gerta,” Derie said, lofty and hard, and Gerta nodded.

“I know it. They just seem so damn young, that’s all.” The driver sighed and shook her head. “Well, it’s a momentous occasion. We’ve come here to see the two of you off, and we send with you the hopes of all the Slonimi, all the Workers of all of our lines, back to the great John Slonim himself, whose plan this was. His blood runs in both of you. It’s strong and good and when we put it up against what’s left of Martin’s, we’re bound to prevail, and the world will be free.”

“What’ll we do with ourselves then, Gert?” someone called out from the darkness, and this time the laughter was a full burst, loud and relieved.

Gerta smiled. “Teach the rest of humanity how to use the power, that’s what we’ll do. Except you, Fausto. You can clean up after the horses.”

More laughter. Gerta let it run out, and then turned to the girl.

“Maia,” she said, serious once more. “I know Derie’s been drilling this into you since you were knee-high, but once you’re carrying, the clock is ticking. Got to be inside, at the end.”

“I know,” Maia said.

Gerta scanned the crowd. “Caterina? Cat, where are you?”

Next to the boy, the herbalist cleared her throat. “Here, Gerta.”

Gerta found her, nodded, and turned back to Maia. “Our Cat’s the best healer the Slonimi have. Go see her before you set out. If you’ve caught already, she’ll know. If you haven’t, she’ll know how to help.”

“It’s only been three days,” Tobin said, sounding slighted.

“Nothing against you, Tobe,” Gerta said. “Nature does what it will. Sometimes it takes a while.”

“Not this time,” Maia said calmly.

A murmur ran through the crowd. Derie sat up bolt-straight, her lips pressed together. “You think so?” Gerta said, matching Maia’s tone—although nobody was calm, even the boy could feel the sudden excited tension around the bonfire.

“I know so,” Maia said, laying a hand on her stomach. “I can feel her.”

The tension exploded in a mighty cheer. Instantly, Tobin wiped the sulk off his face and replaced it with pride. The boy leaned into his mother and whispered, under the roar, “Isn’t it too soon to tell?”

“For most women, far too soon, by a good ten days. For Maia?” Caterina sounded as if she were talking to herself, as much as to her son. The boy felt her arm tighten around him. “If she says there’s a baby, there’s a baby.”

After that the adults got drunk. Maia and Tobin slipped away early. Caterina knew a scout from the other group, a man named Sadao, and watching the two of them dancing together, the boy decided to make himself scarce. Tash would have an empty bunk, now that Tobin was gone, and he never brought women home. He’d probably share. If not, there would be a bed somewhere. There always was.

In the morning, the boy found Caterina by the fire, only slightly bleary, and brewing a kettle of strong-smelling tea. Her best hangover cure, she told her son. He took out his notebook and asked what was in it. Ginger, she told him, and willowbark, and a few other things; he wrote them all down carefully. Labeled the page. Caterina’s Hangover Cure.

Then he looked up to find the old woman from the bonfire, Derie, listening with shrewd, narrow eyes. Behind her hovered her apprentice, the pale boy, who this morning had a bruised cheek. “Charles, go fetch my satchel,” she said to him, and he scurried away. To Caterina, Derie said, “Your boy’s conscientious.”

“He learns quickly,” Caterina said, and maybe she just hadn’t had enough hangover tea yet, but the boy thought she sounded wary.

“And fair skinned,” Derie said. “Who’s his father?”

“Jasper Arasgain.”

Derie nodded. “Travels with Afia’s caravan, doesn’t he? Solid man.”

Caterina shrugged. The boy had only met his father a few times. He knew Caterina found Jasper boring.

“Healer’s a good trade. Everywhere needs healers.” Derie paused. “A healer could find his way in anywhere, I’d say. And with that skin—”

The boy noticed Gerta nearby, listening. Her own skin was black as obsidian. “Say what you’re thinking, Derie,” the driver said.

“Highfall,” the old woman said, and immediately, Caterina said, “No.”

“It’d be a great honor for him, Cat,” Gerta said. The boy thought he detected a hint of reluctance in Gerta’s voice.

“Has he done his first Work yet?” Derie said.

Caterina’s lips pressed together. “Not yet.”

Charles, the bruised boy, reappeared with Derie’s satchel.

“We’ll soon change that,” the old woman said, taking the satchel without a word and rooting through until she found a small leather case. Inside was a small knife, silver-colored but without the sheen of real silver.

The boy noticed his own heartbeat, hard hollow thuds in his chest. He glanced at his mother. She looked unhappy, her brow furrowed. But she said nothing.

“Come here, boy,” Derie said.

He sneaked another look at his mother, who still said nothing, and went to stand next to the woman. “Give me your arm,” she said, and he did. She held his wrist with a hand that was both soft and hard at the same time. Her eyes were the most terrifying thing he’d ever seen.

“It’s polite to ask permission before you do this,” she told him. “Not always possible, but polite. I need to see what’s in you, so if you say no, I’ll probably still cut you, but—do I have your permission?”

Behind Derie, Gerta nodded. The bruised boy watched curiously.

“Yes,” the boy said.

“Good,” Derie said. She made a quick, confident cut in the ball of her thumb, made an identical cut in his small hand, quickly drew their two sigils on her skin in the blood, and pressed the cuts together.

The world unfolded. But unfolded was too neat a word, too tidy. This was like when he’d gone wading in the western sea and been knocked off his feet, snatched underwater, tossed in a maelstrom of sand and sun and green water and foam—but this time it wasn’t merely sand and sun and water and foam that swirled around him, it was everything. All of existence, all that had ever been, all that would ever be. His mother was there, bright and hot as the bonfire the night before—not her face or her voice but the Caterina of her, her very essence rendered into flame and warmth.

But most of what he felt was Derie. Derie, immense and powerful and fierce: Derie, reaching into him, unfolding him as surely as she’d unfolded the world. And this was neat and tidy, methodical, almost cold. She unpacked him like a trunk, explored him like a new village. She sought out his secret corners and dark places. When he felt her approval, he thrilled. When he felt her contempt, he trembled. And everywhere she went she left a trace of herself behind like a scent, like the chalk marks the Slonimi sometimes left for each other. Her sigil was hard-edged, multi-cornered. It was everywhere. There was no part of him where it wasn’t.

Then it was over, and he was kneeling by the campfire, throwing up. Caterina was next to him, making soothing noises as she wrapped a cloth around his hand. He leaned against her, weak and grateful.

“It’s all right, my love,” she whispered in his ear, and the nervousness was gone. Now she sounded proud, and sad, and as if she might be crying. “You did well.”

He closed his eyes and saw, on the inside of his eyelids, the woman’s hard, angular sigil, burning like a horse brand.

“Don’t coddle him,” Derie said, and her voice reached through him, back into the places inside him where she’d left her mark. Caterina’s arm dropped away. He forced himself to open his eyes and stand up. His entire body hurt. Derie was watching him, calculating but—yes—pleased. “Well, boy,” she said. “You’ll never be anyone’s best Worker, but you’re malleable, and you’ve got the right look. There’s enough power in you to be of use, once you’re taught to use it. You want to learn?”

“Yes,” he said, without hesitating.

“Good,” she said. “Then you’re my apprentice now, as much as your mother’s. You’ll still learn herbs from your mother, so we’ll join our wagon to your group. But don’t expect the kisses and cuddles from me you get from her. For me, you’ll work hard and you’ll learn hard and maybe someday you’ll be worthy of the knowledge I’ll pass on to you. Say, Yes, Derie.”

“Yes, Derie,” he said.

“You’ve got a lot to learn,” she said. “Go with Charles. He’ll show you where you sleep.”

He hesitated, looked at his mother, because it hadn’t occurred to him that he would be leaving her. Suddenly, swiftly, Derie kicked hard at his leg. He yelped and jumped out of the way. Behind her he saw Charles—he of the bruised face—wince, unsurprised but not unsympathetic.

“Don’t ever make me ask you anything twice,” she said.

“Yes, Derie,” he said, and ran.


Excerpted from The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet. Copyright © 2020 by Kelly Braffet. Published by MIRA Books.



Q&A WITH KELLY BRAFFET


Q: The Unwilling is your fourth published book. How are you feeling? Is the excitement from the first book still running high with your fourth?

A: It’s my fourth published book, but it’s my first fantasy novel, so it feels a little like my first novel! Obviously some of the mechanics of having a book out are more familiar (like blog tours!), but it’s hard to not be anxious about a book release. This is a huge project; I’ve been working on it for twenty years, and will hopefully be working on it for several more. Right now I’m really just trying to immerse myself in writing the sequel so I don’t spend too much time obsessing about the first one.


Q: The Unwilling is different from anything you’ve ever written. Why the change in genre, and what was the inspiration? Were there any challenges that came about from writing in a new genre?

A: I’ve always been a fantasy reader, and I do mean always. I remember bringing my parents’ copy of Lord of the Rings to school in second grade - mostly because it had a cool spooky cover, but still. The first ideas I ever had for stories were for fantasy, and in fact The Unwilling was the first novel I ever seriously tried to write. After my last novel, Save Yourself, came out, I spent about a year and a half working on another crime novel that just never took off, and when I finally gave up on it my agent suggested I try to write a draft of the fantasy novel I’d been talking about forever. I’ll always be grateful to her for that, because one of the things holding me back had been the concern that she wouldn’t be interested.

As far as challenges go, I think there’s a tendency in fantasy novels to go a bit lofty with language, and I didn’t escape that. This sounds silly, but in the early chapters, I had to remind myself to use contractions, which is a problem I never had when writing about a guy who works in a convenience store. And so much of our language comes from technology that doesn’t exist in Highfall - light switches, computers, telephones - that I had to really think about the words and images I used to make sure that they weren’t anachronistic, although I’m sure a few anachronisms slipped in. I also did a lot of thinking about the mechanics of everyday life; do they have plumbing? Where does their coffee come from? What happens when they get sick? We don’t think much about those things in contemporary life, but we probably should.

Q: What is your favorite under-appreciated novel and why?

A: I’m not sure exactly what’s considered under-appreciated, so here are some books that I’m baffled don’t have more Goodreads reviews. There’s a wonderful series by Nathan Larson called The Dewey Decimal System, which is about a man who lives in post-apocalyptic New York City and has taken it as his duty to protect the NYPL. Things don’t go as planned. All three of the books are incredibly fun. Adam Christopher’s Ray Electromatic Mysteries are just a joy, particularly for somebody who loves a good genre-bender as much as I do. Science fiction and classic-style noir? Sign me up.

Beth Lewis wrote a great novel a few years ago called The Wolf Road, which is an amazing (also post-apocalyptic!) road novel with a twist that I still think about on a pretty regular basis. More people should definitely read that. And Jenni Fagan’s books are both amazing - The Pantopticon was just adapted for the stage by the National Theatre of Scotland, but I loved The Sunlight Pilgrims just as much. Also, why don’t more people read Louis Bayard? That baffles me. His YA novel, Lucky Strikes, made me weep with joy.


Q: What does literary success look like to you and with that definition in mind, are you successful?

A: The problem with success - and I’m sure this is true for every field, not just the literary - is that the goalposts are constantly moving. If you’d asked me this question when I was 22, literary success would have been signing with an agent. At 25, it would have been getting a book published. My personal goal with every book has been, first, to publish the best book I could possibly write, and second, to sell enough copies of said book that somebody will be willing to publish the next one. I mean, look: who doesn’t want to sell a gajillion copies and win all the prizes? But at this point in my career, I feel like the next goalpost is to feel confident that I’ll be able to sell the next book, whatever it is.

Q: Out of all your writings, published and unpublished, which is your favorite?

A: My favorite book is always the one I haven’t written yet. Which is kind of a joke, but also kind of serious: the ones that only exist in my head are still all shiny and full of potential. It’s hard to look at the ones that I’ve already written and not see the things I didn’t manage to do. I am still pretty proud of Save Yourself, although there are aspects of it that I wish I’d written differently. Honestly, I think The Unwilling is the most fully realized. I would say that I love the sequel I’m working on right now even more, but it’s still at that awkward stage where it all feels rough and terrible. (I think most writers will agree that it’s incredibly difficult to go from a very polished piece of work to a rough draft!)


Q: What has been the most difficult thing about writing not just this book, but a book with cross over potential geared towards young adults?

A: Honestly, this is going to sound like one of those canned answers, but I don’t really think about that when I’m writing. (Maybe I should!) I just write the story in the way that feels true, and trust that we’ll all be able to figure out the marketing afterward. I will say that there was a moment early on when I was talking to my agent about crossover potential, and I said that I was fine with it as long as I didn’t have to cut anything, content-wise. Fortunately YA today is a pretty broad and forgiving umbrella, so that wasn’t a concern.

Lots of writers will rail against labels like YA - or thrillers, or literary fiction. Honestly, I want my books to go on the shelves where my readers are most likely to find them, and the more shelves, the merrier! When I was an actual young adult, I read adult fiction. My mother, whose adult bonafides are without question, reads young adult fiction. Everything is for everyone.


Q: What advice would you give to new and even experienced authors?

A: Actually, I was just talking with an author friend yesterday about this very thing. The only advice I have - and experienced authors know this, but most of us have to be reminded occasionally - is that the only way to write a book is to write it. I meet so many people who, when they hear I’m a writer, will tell me with enormous enthusiasm about their awesome book idea; and that’s great! Awesome book ideas are awesome! But you actually have to write the book - the entire book - and then you have to write it over again four or five times. That’s the hardest part.

(Also, have a trusted love one screen your internet reviews, and only read you the ones that are laudatory or hilarious. But if a negative review should cross your path and break your heart, I suggest looking up a book you loved on one of the book sites, and reading that book’s bad reviews. It will be baffling, and it might make you feel better.)

(Also, don’t let bad reviews break your heart. It’s an opinion. Life goes on.)



Praise for The Unwilling:

"Kelly Braffet is extraordinary... Familiar yet entirely unique, The Unwilling is the sort of story that seeps under your skin and pulses there, intimate and vibrant and alive. Fantasy at its most sublime."--Erin Morgenstern, NYT bestselling author of The Starless Sea and The Night Circus

"A juggernaut of an epic fantasy novel with ingenious, thrilling twists and turns. Put this on the shelf beside Naomi Novik and George R. R. Martin. Kelly Braffet is a marvel and I'll read anything she writes." --Kelly Link, MacArthur Genius Recipient and author of Get in Trouble

"Kelly Braffet's The Unwilling is a viscerally powerful book. Full of complex and compelling characters, this is the story of the corruptions of power and the strength it takes to resist. This is an incredible, brilliant story." --Kat Howard, author of Roses and Rot

"Gorgeously told, The Unwilling is at once a sweeping epic and an intimate portrait of being trapped in an oppressive regime. Meet your new favorite fantasy writer." --Gwenda Bond, NYT bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

"Suspenseful, magical, wonderfully written, and never predictable, Braffet's first foray into speculative fiction is an essential addition to all epic-fantasy collections." –Booklist, STARRED Review

"Wow...The characters, the world, the magic and greed and politics and pain--all of it adds up to something wonderful. I love it."–Ellen Datlow, award-winning editor and anthologist


“Braffet has a real gift for dialogue, and Judah’s quick cleverness is a constant joy… Readers will fall in love with the contemplative pace, brisk dialogue and rebellious heroine of The Unwilling.” –BookPage


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Braffet writes stories about unhappy people making bad decisions, occasionally with magic. She is the author of The Unwilling (available 2/20 from Mira Books), Save Yourself, and Last Seen Leaving; her first novel, Josie and Jack, has been made into a feature film starring Olivia DeJonge, Alex Neustaedter, and William Fitchner, and directed by Sarah Lancaster. Her writing has been published in the Fairy Tale Review, Post Road, and in several anthologies, as well as on Salon.com. She is a graduate of Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence College.

She is married to the tall and immensely talented writer Owen King. He's dreamy. For more, see www.kellybraffet.com.

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