Marie Sinadjan
Bio
Filipino spec fic author and book reviewer based in the UK. https://linktr.ee/mariesinadjan • www.mariesinadjan.com
Stories (303)
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Book Spotlight: A Blend of Magic by Kate Kenzie
A witch cannot exist on potions and tea alone. Hiding in the shadows, staunch singleton Willow Anderson is content running her successful business, The Enchanted Emporium. With Christmas days away, she’s eager to exchange selling bespoke tea blends and spells for extended bubble baths and binge-watching festive movies snuggled next to her Maine Coon, Vincent. Nate never usually runs away from his problems, but drunk and disorientated, he finds himself in a small fisherman’s cottage in the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby. After discovering his girlfriend’s affair, he is in no rush to return to the City. His wish for time alone in a Christmas-free zone comes true until an uninvited feline guest arrives. Neither Nate nor Willow want company, especially from each other, but they have little choice when concussion means they must spend at least twenty-four hours together. Sparks fly and not just the romantic kind. When darkness from Willow’s past returns and threatens to destroy all she has worked for, pursuing a love affair is the last thing she needs. With meddling ghosts and a teenage apprentice with her own matchmaking agenda, love and change are in the air. But can Willow face her fears, and the past, to capture the happiness she deserves?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Audiobook Review: The Briar Crown by Helen Rygh-Pedersen
They say love conquers all… but can the conquered ever love the conqueror? Twenty-five years ago, there was life. Twenty-five years ago, there was peace when the descendants of the dryads and naiads kept all life in balance. Until one fateful night when the Oderbergs invaded, executed the royal house of Domonov and took Domovnia for their own, ruling with an iron fist and an edict of fear. Roslyn Pleveli, like most of the orphans of that night, wants revenge and an end to the persecution of her kind. Yet, even if the Domovnian’s use of magic was permitted, she wouldn’t be much help, able to command only a few lowly weeds. But everything changes when she saves the life of an injured young man in the forest not knowing it was the prince of the Oderbergs himself. Ordered to see to the rest of his treatment, Roslyn is snatched from her home and all that she loves by his soldiers. Now, in the Oderberg stronghold, she has the chance to change things. With the royal family within her grasp all she has to do to free her people is kill them… but can she do it, or will something more powerful than revenge heal the wounds of the past?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Tales of the Dragons by Sky Sommers
How can you break a curse when the only remedy is an accidental True Love's Kiss? They say 7 mysterious princes rule the Dragon Realm. Nobody knows for sure. Their kingdom is hidden and access is by invitation only. Headcount per prince is...more than anyone should have, they say. Scales as black as their souls, they say. "They" say quite a few things. Including about an unbreakable curse plaguing the dragon princes, none of whom can find love. But what if they could? What if accidental True Love's Kisses could be orchestrated? Read this enchanting last instalment in the Mirrors-Shoes-Dragons short story sets and find out. The stories in this set include: To Snare a Prince - a Hans&Greta spin-off (previously in the Enchanted Forests anthology); To Find a Queen - where dark elves try to prevent Greta's rise to queendom (previously in the Twice Upon a Name anthology); To Steal a Kiss - where Greta breaks the dragon curse (previously in the Enchanted Flames anthology); To Host a Ball - a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling (previously in the Enchanted Skies anthology); To Catch a Thief - a Rapunzel / Snow White mashup retelling (previously in the Third Name's a Charm anthology). These short stories link to the author’s other works, but are related standalones that can be read separately as small soundbites.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Cover Reveal: A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hastjarjanto
Hello, book friends! Today I'm happy to help reveal the cover of Tessa Hastjarjanto's upcoming historical horror short story A Dress to Kill For, perfect for those who love The Picture of Dorian Gray and Crimson Peak. Tessa designed the cover herself with cover art from Feastock/Depositphoto.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Songlight by Moira Buffini
They are hunting those who shine . . . Don't be deceived by Northaven's prettiness, by its white-wash houses and sea views. Many of its townsfolk are ruthless hunters. They revile those who have developed songlight, the ability to connect telepathically with others. Friends, neighbours, family will turn on each other in an instant. Lark has lived in grave danger ever since her own songlight emerged. Then she encounters a young woman in peril, from a city far away. An extraordinary bond is forged. But when power is everything, how will they survive?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Perception Check by Astrid Knight
Her favorite tabletop roleplaying game is real, and her kidnapped childhood best friend is trapped in a far off land. Will she be able to save her? Let's roll initiative! Violet Spence wants nothing more than to have a normal life. After witnessing her childhood best friend get abducted by monsters, that’s easier said than done. At twenty-three years old, Violet cannot seem to move past that fateful night ten years ago. Her only solace is Mages of Velmyra, a tabletop roleplaying game filled with goblins, fairies, and all-powerful magicians. But of course, that’s all fantasy. Or, so she thought. As it turns out, the land of Velmyra is very real and the home of the monsters that took her best friend. With the help of her friends (and the creator of the game itself), Violet must navigate the once-fictional creatures and powerful mages of Velmyra to retrieve a set of ancient relics—all in the hopes that the journey will lead her back to her friend. But for Violet, fighting monsters and magic workers doesn’t seem nearly as terrifying as confronting her own demons. And she’ll soon realize fighting the battle within herself can be just as tough as those fought against demigods. Perception Check is the magical first installment of the Mages of Velmyra Saga, great for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Critical Role, and The Magicians. With endearing and hilarious characters, an exploration of mental health and trauma, LGBTQ+ representation, gut-wrenching twists, and a whirlwind of an ending, you will never want to leave the world of Velmyra. NOTE: Perception Check deals with the topics of mental health (specifically depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidality) with mentions of childhood sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and animal violence.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Audiobook Review: The Magic Circle by Barry Ryerson
Forty years ago, nuclear war devastated vast swathes of the world. Since then, the remaining countries strived to rebuild and grow stronger. Continents formed The Peace Accords, an agreement that cut all contact with each other to prevent such a war from ever happening again. Three strangers—an art student in Paris, a Russian spy, and a South African programmer—find their lives intertwine as magic returns to Earth. Guided by the mysterious Celestials, they must choose how they use this force in a fight that will determine the fate of every single living thing on the planet. --- Set in a dystopian future where half the world is uninhabitable, different continents develop technology along different paths. Russia depends heavily on its old military technology, though they are the only superpower left that can launch satellites. The Federation of Africa were left untouched in the devastation and use highly-developed electronic devices such as chips in their scalp that lets them communicate with machines through thought, laser rifles and drones, and haptic shields. The remains of Europe have removed all traces of fossil fuels and computer technology, preferring a mixture of basic electronic devices and biological engineering.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Review: Blood of Midgard by Baptiste Pinson Wu
The end is near. The war is just beginning. Ragnarök’s shadow looms over Asgard. The gods grow fearful, and Odin, in a desperate attempt to fill the benches of Valhöll with more slain heroes, sends his elite warriors to Midgard to spark conflicts. Drake, their leader, would rather fight to prevent the end of the world before it began, for Muninn, Odin’s daughter, is fated to die during the last great battle. But as Drake and his brothers strive to accomplish Odin’s will on Midgard, a plan born in the darkness of Loki’s cell—and acted upon by someone close to Drake—is set in motion. The snare tightens around Drake, and every step the warrior takes toward the woman he loves in secret brings Ragnarök closer.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Review: Blood of Beasts by Rebecca Lemke
This one was truly powerful. Dangerously perfect. Humanity has fallen, decimated by biological warfare. Survival is only afforded to the elite. Super soldiers were created to protect the vulnerable remains of the United States. Titania has been in hiding since she escaped the program. For years, she has kept her origin secret, even from her best friend, James. When she is forced to manifest her power, she and James must flee from her creator. As forces work to tear them apart, they must find a way to stay together and answer the question: Can you love someone who isn’t human anymore?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Review: Heretical by Emma Whitehall
Ignatia Heretical isn’t shaping up to be much of a Hero. The daughter of the most famous Villain in the country, Ig is finding that no matter how hard she tries, no one at her illustrious Hero academy seems to trust her. Or, you know. Like her. At all. Her only friend is Pisces – the beautiful, popular girl she’s been hopelessly in love with since she started school at the Lunalist Academy For The Gifted and Talented. However, Ig’s chance to prove herself comes when she’s signed up for a secret reconnaissance mission; infiltrate Shackleton School for Villains and work out their nefarious plans. Pretend to be a Villain. Make friends with an unhinged botanist, a mad scientist, and his insufferable clone/lab assistant. Find out their secrets. Go home a Hero. What could possibly go wrong?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Audiobook Review: Feathers of Snow by Alice Ivinya
In Brianna’s new world of ice and snow, the coldest things by far are the eyes of her betrothed... Brianna bears a deadly secret: she’s not the princess she is pretending to be. If the prince finds out, her life will be forfeit and her country plunged into war. But there is more to the icy prince than meets the eye, and Brianna slowly unravels the secrets of his dark past while surviving in a strange culture. However her goodness and wit will only get her so far. Terrifying beasts stalk the border and a murderer is at work in the town. They know the truth of Brianna’s identity and will stop at nothing to destroy all she has fought for.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
