Author: likelystory18

Monthly Monthly Features – May 2025

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The Cobbler’s Crusaders by Rick Steigelman

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Jacquelyn Pajot is a nine-year-old American girl whose excitement over a solo visit to her grandmother in Paris is soon diminished by the discovery that the grandmother is far more devoted to dragging her to church every day than she is in showing her the much-anticipated sights of the city. Jacquelyn’s despair is remedied when she meets a pair of local girls, Nicolette and Genevieve, who are only too happy to lead the American astray. Jacquelyn, to her giddy astonishment, finds herself cajoled into joining her young companions in singing for money on the streets of Montmartre and leg kicking for laughs before the doors of the Moulin Rouge.

Jacquelyn’s joy over this ‘new’ life is tempered when she learns the circumstances of Genevieve’s father, a charming but financially struggling cobbler. Employing her own creative skills to produce a flier, Jacquelyn devises an advertising campaign that quickly spirals out of her control and into the hands of her more mischievous friends. By means both legal and not, the two French girls set a dubious course that has Jacquelyn flirting with the prospect of prison, purgatory and, most perilously, her grandmother’s righteous indignation.

Summary: Overall, if you’re in the mood for something offbeat but grounded, funny yet poignant, and filled with the kind of observational detail that makes even the smallest moment sing, The Cobbler’s Crusaders is a journey worth taking. It’s not just a week in Paris—it’s a week in the emotional lives of people who are messy, loving, ridiculous, and completely real.

See the full review here: The Cobbler’s Crusaders
Purchase here

 

Half Made Up by James Dunlop

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: How far would you go for a friend? Andrew MacKay, the sort of man who’s more likely to bet his last penny on a losing horse than lift a finger for anything resembling responsibility, is about to find out. An incurable gambler, chain-smoker, and binge drinker, Andy’s only real talent lies in outliving his own poor choices. But when his mate is shot dead and robbed of a classified secret, Andy finds himself bound to retrieve it, purely out of loyalty and an alarming lack of common sense.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and terrorists with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI-5, who want him behind bars, if he hopes to recover the secret, and stop the zealots from killing thousands.

Time is running out. Andy’s got only one chance to make things right. Can he do it?

Summary: Half Made Up is a blistering, witty, and emotionally resonant debut that proves James Dunlop has the chops to stand alongside authors like Mick Herron and Ian Fleming. If you like your thrillers with more punchlines than platitudes—and aren’t averse to your heroes being half-unhinged—this book deserves a place on your shelf. Beneath the biting humor and barroom brawls is a novel that asks serious questions about morality, manipulation, and memory in a world where everything might be… well, half made up.

See the full review here: Half Made Up
Purchase here

 

Review: Bring Down the Sky by Evelyn Hyde

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Synopsis:

What do you do when your only safe haven is overrun by monsters?

With Silverwood under attack, Spymaster Vendrick Caecillion’s instinct is to plan. It’s to counterattack from the shadows. It’s to never expose your underbelly and never reveal your hard-kept secrets.

But to save his sister from the ruthless Unseen, he’ll have to break all of his old rules.

Swordswoman Frelia Valerius’ instinct is to fight. To charge forward and, yes, risk her life in others’ defense, if that’s what it takes to win. It’s to never surrender and never yield.

But how can she move forward when the dead keep trying to claw her back?

The Unseen will stop at nothing to claim all nine of the sacred Bloodrunes, and no one is safe from their hateful plans—not even the dead. To save Vendrick’s little sister, Frelia’s hometown, their students, and themselves, Frelia will have to face the past she hasn’t yet buried, and Vendrick will need to silence his doubts for good.

For if they can’t, world-ending monsters will only be the beginning.

Favorite Lines:

“What glitters like gold but hangs heavy as a stone?”

“What is done may only be answered for, and what is made can only be destroyed.”

“You, love, kept cracking my masks. And I had far fewer of them, as a student, so you were the first person in a very long time to just see… me.”

“…and he had no words for how much I’d bring down the sky for you echoed in his ears.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Bring Down the Sky, Evelyn Hyde unleashes an epic continuation of her The Wolf and The Viper saga—a sprawling fantasy infused with wit, grit, and emotional intelligence. With rich worldbuilding, sharp character interplay, and moments of sheer cosmic awe, this book is a standout in the indie fantasy space and a testament to Hyde’s maturing narrative voice.

The story continues the journey of Frelia and Vendrick, two figures caught in the storm of rebellion, arcane secrets, and the shadowy threat of the Unseen. Hyde wastes no time plunging readers into complex interpersonal dynamics and existential peril. The pace is brisk but never rushed, balancing large-scale conflict with intensely personal moments of doubt, love, rage, and loyalty.

One of Hyde’s greatest strengths is dialogue. It crackles with sarcasm, warmth, and tension—sometimes all at once. Characters feel lived-in, full of contradictions and tenderness beneath their armor. Deadcut, in particular, brings levity and depth, while Vendrick’s arc explores trauma and self-worth with nuance rarely seen in the genre.

The magic system—based on Bloodrunes, darkbeasts, and spellbooks—is creative and well-integrated, never overwhelming the story’s emotional core. And while the action is cinematic (especially a pulse-pounding rooftop showdown with a monstrous Lord Huginn), it’s the quiet moments—of betrayal, bonding, and hard-won trust—that linger.

Hyde also lets the book play with genre conventions. Political intrigue, magical academia, gothic horror, and found family tropes blend into something wholly her own. Fans of Tamsyn Muir or Leigh Bardugo will find plenty to love, but Hyde’s voice is refreshingly unique.

This is a fantasy with heart. A story where emotional honesty matters as much as magical might. And if the last few chapters are any indication, the saga still has plenty of teeth—and secrets—left to bare.

Summary:

Bring Down the Sky is a fierce, funny, and often deeply moving fantasy that pushes its characters—and readers—to grapple with identity, loyalty, and legacy in a world on the edge of unraveling. If you’re searching for a richly layered, character-driven epic that still knows how to have fun (and make you feel things), Evelyn Hyde’s latest installment should be at the top of your list. Happy reading!

Check out Bring Down the Sky here!

 

Review: Castle Gap by Andy Ivey

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Synopsis:

Castle Gap: A Chase Haven Thriller
In Horsehead Crossing, Texas, Chase Haven was finally feeling at home—until his girlfriend, Tacy Vernon, vanished under a wide, uncaring sky. She dared to defy the town’s bombastic mayor and scheming city manager, exposing a legacy of corruption that’s bled the land dry for generations. Now, Chase leads a desperate fight for her truth in a place that reeks of diesel, decay, and buried secrets.
A sabotaged radio tower crackles with static, whispering tales of betrayal. A body rots in a sewer pump station, too far gone to identify. Every dusty road Chase treads leads him deeper into a web of greed, where desperate men will stop at nothing to protect their power. Fists crack, shots ring out, and the air hums with unspoken lies. In a town hellbent on silence, Chase will risk everything to uncover what happened to Tacy.
Forged by Andy Ivey, a fifth-generation Texan and former KCLW 900 AM host, Castle Gap draws from the wild lore of rural Texas airwaves he knows by heart. This fast-paced rural thriller, perfect for fans of C.J. Box, is a tale of a man who is dragged beyond his moral lines in a land that keeps score.

Favorite Lines:

“You know the people of our town are too stupid to understand the airport!”

“That man is what you call the south end of a northbound horse.”

“Work to live, not live to work.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Castle Gap, Andy Ivey crafts a compelling narrative set in the fictional West Texas town of Horsehead Crossing. The story follows Chase Haven, a newcomer who becomes entangled in local politics when he refuses to co-sign a questionable loan. This decision sets off a chain of events involving his girlfriend, Tacy Vernon, an economic development officer who is abruptly fired after challenging the town’s power structures. As Chase and Tacy delve deeper, they uncover corruption tied to a proposed airport expansion and the influential Baxter Whitey. The novel explores themes of civic responsibility, moral courage, and the complexities of small-town dynamics.

What makes Castle Gap so gripping is how deftly Andy Ivey blends humor, political intrigue, and emotional nuance into a story that feels both contemporary and timeless. The small-town backdrop is rich in personality and dysfunction, giving the novel the feel of a modern-day western wrapped in a government procedural. Ivey’s writing captures the unspoken rules and alliances of rural communities, where everyone knows everyone—and pretends not to.

Chase is a likable anchor for the story: quiet, decent, and skeptical of authority. But it’s Tacy who steals the spotlight. Her transformation from small-town bureaucrat to outspoken advocate is both believable and empowering. I appreciated how Ivey gives her space to be frustrated and afraid while still showing up to fight. Her radio interview scene was one of the most satisfying, especially when she refuses to back down from naming names.

The novel also smartly avoids falling into cliché. The villains aren’t cartoonishly evil—they’re polished, polite, and embedded in the system, which makes them far more dangerous. Ivey doesn’t write in absolutes. Instead, he lets the characters wrestle with difficult choices and ethical gray areas. The conflict over the airport loan, while local, mirrors broader issues of power, transparency, and how public resources get manipulated for private gain.

If you’re someone who loves character-driven political drama with a Texas twang and a slow burn of tension, Castle Gap will absolutely deliver. It’s equal parts cozy and confrontational, with sharp dialogue and an ending that satisfies without tying things too neatly. I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of Chase Haven—because Horsehead Crossing feels like it still has secrets to give.

Summary:

Overall, Castle Gap is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that delves into the challenges of standing up against entrenched systems. Andy Ivey delivers a narrative that is both entertaining and reflective, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in stories about moral courage and community dynamics. Happy reading!

Check out Castle Gap here!

 

Review: Half Made Up by James Dunlop

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Synopsis:

How far would you go for a friend? Andrew MacKay, the sort of man who’s more likely to bet his last penny on a losing horse than lift a finger for anything resembling responsibility, is about to find out. An incurable gambler, chain-smoker, and binge drinker, Andy’s only real talent lies in outliving his own poor choices. But when his mate is shot dead and robbed of a classified secret, Andy finds himself bound to retrieve it, purely out of loyalty and an alarming lack of common sense.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and terrorists with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI-5, who want him behind bars, if he hopes to recover the secret, and stop the zealots from killing thousands.

Time is running out. Andy’s got only one chance to make things right. Can he do it?

Favorite Lines:

“You’ve certainly put your Bowflex to good use.”

“…efficiency is a highly-developed form of laziness.”

“But I want to die doing something like this, something I hate. That way I won’t have to finish it.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

James Dunlop’s Half Made Up is a razor-sharp, whip-smart thriller that blends satire, spycraft, and introspective noir into one hell of a ride. The story follows Andy MacKay, a disgraced ex-military man turned reluctant operative, who careens through a vividly sketched London filled with rogue agents, cryptic clues, slippery allies, and more than a few fists to the face.

MacKay is the ideal narrator for this noir-meets-modern-espionage tale—cynical, self-deprecating, and barely held together by caffeine, whisky, and muscle memory. Dunlop’s voice is rich with wit and wry observation, and his protagonist’s internal monologue walks the line between hilarity and heartbreak with real finesse.

At its core, Half Made Up is about blurred lines—between truth and fiction, law and disorder, loyalty and survival. What begins as a rogue inquiry into a murder snowballs into a much deeper conspiracy involving nerve agents, shady intelligence units, extremist networks, and betrayals that cut to the bone. Yet amid the action and political maneuvering, there’s a striking emotional undercurrent, particularly in MacKay’s fractured relationships—with women, with his past, and with his own moral compass.

The writing is punchy and cinematic, with pacing that rarely relents. From pub ambushes and tube-station chases to backroom beatings and breathless getaways, every chapter ends with a hook sharp enough to pull you through the next. But Dunlop never skimps on texture—his similes are deliciously absurd, and his asides are often more telling than the action.

Summary:

Half Made Up is a blistering, witty, and emotionally resonant debut that proves James Dunlop has the chops to stand alongside authors like Mick Herron and Ian Fleming. If you like your thrillers with more punchlines than platitudes—and aren’t averse to your heroes being half-unhinged—this book deserves a place on your shelf. Beneath the biting humor and barroom brawls is a novel that asks serious questions about morality, manipulation, and memory in a world where everything might be… well, half made up. Happy reading!

Check out Half Made Up here!

 

Review: The Goldilocks Team: Master Retention and Hiring by Minal Joshi Jaeckli

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Synopsis:

We all have a universal desire to work with great people, but they can be hard to find and even harder to keep for the long-term. Leaders facing disengaged employees, high turnover rates, and fierce competition for skilled professionals, know too well that the cost of losing talent goes beyond financial impacts, it disrupts your organization, stunts innovation and undermines your competitive position.

In The Goldilocks Team: Master Retention and Hiring, you’ll take an illuminating and entertaining deep dive into the core drivers of employee engagement, the evolution of workplace culture, values alignment, and interpersonal alignment, and learn how to:
• Address the root causes of turnover and improve retention
• Implement practical, immediately actionable tactics to engage your team
• Align your organization’s retention strategies with employee values for lasting success
• Build high-performing teams that deliver for the long-term, without guesswork

Whether you’re a seasoned business leader or a new manager, this provides a clear roadmap to keep your existing team members engaged for the long-term and to successfully hire top talent that is positioned to thrive within your organization.

Ready to build a team that’s high-performing, fully engaged and loyal? This book will show you how.

Favorite Lines:

“Engaged employees lead to happy customers, which leads to a thriving business. It’s a win-win-win!”

“You know you can pay people to do things, but you can’t pay people to care. Engaged employees care.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

In The Goldilocks Team, Minal Joshi Jaeckli delivers a refreshingly insightful and practical framework for building highly engaged, high-performing teams in a time when traditional hiring practices are breaking down. Through sharp storytelling, strategic thinking, and deeply personal experience, she challenges business leaders to rethink everything they know about employee engagement.

The book is built on the foundational idea that the perfect team isn’t formed by hiring the smartest, fastest, or most accomplished people—it’s about creating the “just right” combination of traits, values, and interpersonal dynamics. This Goldilocks approach—drawing from the classic tale where things must not be too extreme but just right—serves as both a metaphor and a methodology for curating teams that can thrive sustainably.

Jaeckli distills decades of experience across global industries—from pharmaceuticals to tech—to argue that disengagement is not simply a talent issue; it’s a leadership one. She outlines four critical engagement drivers: safety & certainty, contribution & purpose, growth & significance, and connection & belonging. By addressing these pillars thoughtfully, leaders can turn unmotivated employees into mission-driven contributors.

The writing style is candid and witty, laced with clever analogies (Cinderella hiring, diffused culture, stale shipwrecks), making even complex topics approachable. Jaeckli doesn’t shy away from naming what’s broken—outdated job descriptions, misaligned onboarding, superficial perks—and offers concrete suggestions for building real alignment between individual motivation and organizational goals.

One of the book’s most powerful ideas is the call to flip hiring and retention on their heads. Instead of finding “right” people, we should focus on forming the “right fit.” Instead of throwing perks at disengagement, we need to listen, build trust, and understand what people truly want in a workplace.

Summary:

Overall, The Goldilocks Team is more than a leadership guide—it’s a manifesto for how the modern workplace needs to evolve. Minal Joshi Jaeckli doesn’t just talk about fixing disengagement; she offers a human-first framework to build teams that actually work. This book will resonate with anyone who has ever led a team, struggled to keep talent, or wondered why traditional hiring just isn’t cutting it anymore. Insightful, smart, and surprisingly entertaining, this is a must-read for leaders ready to build organizations where people feel purpose, not just pressure.

Check out The Goldilocks Team here!

 

Review: No Stars: Victor Wolff Book 1 by Henri Leag

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Synopsis:

Victor buried his conscience long ago—six feet deep beneath a smile he perfected under the training of Adolf Wren, the merciless head of a corporate empire that spans the galaxy. He was trained to be heartless. Ruthless behind a polished mask.
But redemption has a way of clawing its way back to the surface. When Victor is hired to rescue Marilyn Finch, the daughter of Wren’s bitter rival Norton Crow.
In this gripping interstellar thriller, Victor must confront the enemies closing in on every side, and bring Wren’s empire crumbling down on the secrets that make up its foundation. But how can he do that without giving in to the very monster he’s trying to escape?

Favorite Lines:

“Power, the most valuable resource in the universe.”

” The phrase ‘ignorance is bliss’ comes to mind. He wishes for ignorance now. But knowing. Knowing is a curse. Knowing has him in a terrible grip, and it won’t let him go until he does something about it. He knows he can’t go back. No matter what he tells himself, he can’t go back.”

“The contrast between the two rooms is like the contrast between light and shadow. There’s no dancing in the sitting room. No real smiles here. It’s all fake happy.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Henri Leag’s No Stars is a sleek, gripping noir thriller that pulls readers into a world where power is currency, trust is a weakness, and survival depends on making the right move before it’s too late. Set in the towering metropolis of Urbis—a city of wealth, corruption, and hidden dangers—the novel follows Victor Wolff, a man who knows how to play the game. As a high-level consultant, his job is to navigate the shadowy corridors of influence, ensuring those in power stay there. But when a new job forces him to choose between ambition and survival, Victor quickly realizes he’s in deeper than ever before.

Victor Wolff is the perfect noir anti-hero—calculating, composed, and always three steps ahead. He’s a man who understands that words can be sharper than knives, and in Urbis, that’s how you stay alive. But while he thrives in the game of deception, No Stars doesn’t just present him as an untouchable figure—it peels back the layers of his confidence, revealing cracks in his armor. His biggest strength isn’t his power; it’s his ability to read a room, manipulate a conversation, and know when to walk away.

Urbis itself is a character in the novel, dripping with wealth and excess at the top while the lower levels are filled with people trying to climb their way up. Leag paints a cinematic world of gold-trimmed tuxedos, penthouse meetings, and whispered threats over expensive whiskey. The novel’s setting is sleek, stylish, and brimming with an undercurrent of danger—like Blade Runner meets John Wick, where every handshake hides a dagger and every ally could be the next enemy.

The novel’s pacing is razor-sharp, each chapter tightening the noose as Victor realizes that the game he’s playing might not have a way out. There’s always another layer to the deception, another move on the board, and just when he thinks he has control, the rules change. The tension never lets up, keeping readers locked in as Victor fights to stay ahead of the storm. At its core, No Stars is about power—who has it, who wants it, and what it takes to hold onto it.

Summary:

Overall, for fans of noir thrillers, political intrigue, and high-stakes deception, No Stars delivers in every way. Henri Leag has crafted a fast-paced, intelligent thriller that is as stylish as it is intense. With a protagonist you can’t look away from and a world where every choice has consequences, this is a novel that lingers long after the final page. Happy reading!

Check out No Stars here!

 

Review: The Cobbler’s Crusaders by Rick Steigelman

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

Jacquelyn Pajot is a nine-year-old American girl whose excitement over a solo visit to her grandmother in Paris is soon diminished by the discovery that the grandmother is far more devoted to dragging her to church every day than she is in showing her the much-anticipated sights of the city. Jacquelyn’s despair is remedied when she meets a pair of local girls, Nicolette and Genevieve, who are only too happy to lead the American astray. Jacquelyn, to her giddy astonishment, finds herself cajoled into joining her young companions in singing for money on the streets of Montmartre and leg kicking for laughs before the doors of the Moulin Rouge.

Jacquelyn’s joy over this ‘new’ life is tempered when she learns the circumstances of Genevieve’s father, a charming but financially struggling cobbler. Employing her own creative skills to produce a flier, Jacquelyn devises an advertising campaign that quickly spirals out of her control and into the hands of her more mischievous friends. By means both legal and not, the two French girls set a dubious course that has Jacquelyn flirting with the prospect of prison, purgatory and, most perilously, her grandmother’s righteous indignation.

Favorite Lines:

“Who needs the Eiffel Tower when you have Madame Le Preuvier’s goldfish tank? And I’ll bet the line to visit is a lot shorter.”

“Maybe it would be better if you went back to saying this stuff in French, so I wouldn’t have to listen to it anymore.”

“If you take me to the Eiffel Tower today instead of to church, I promise that I’ll move to Paris and push you around in a wheelchair when you get old!”

My Opinion:

A charmingly whimsical, whip-smart slice of Parisian life wrapped in equal parts heart and humor, The Cobbler’s Crusaders is one of those rare books that manages to feel old-fashioned and refreshingly modern at the same time. Rick Steigelman’s prose is wry, warm, and beautifully descriptive, capturing the magic of Montmartre through the curious, wide eyes of young Jacquelyn Pajot.

The story centers around nine-year-old Jacquelyn, freshly arrived from America to spend a week with her formidable and sharply opinionated French grandmother, Catherine Pajot. As the two navigate family tensions, cultural misunderstandings, and the quirky routines of Parisian life—daily Mass, neighborhood gossip, artistic ambitions, and foie gras mishaps—their relationship becomes a quietly moving study in generational contrast and reluctant connection.

One of the joys of this novel is its immersive world-building—not of a fantasy realm, but of a deeply real, vibrantly lived-in Paris. From the chaotic beauty of the Place du Tertre to the dizzying climb to Sacré-Cœur, every setting is lovingly rendered. But it’s the people who make the place come alive: the kindly Berniers, the sad and spirited Madame Le Preuvier and her aquarium of “dead husband” fish, and of course, Minuit the judgmental black cat.

Jacquelyn herself is a standout protagonist—funny, clever, and never afraid to speak her mind, whether she’s musing on duck liver or grappling with the unspoken expectations of grown-ups. Her comic timing and sense of wonder are delightful, and her interactions with Catherine—often barbed but never cruel—offer a touching portrait of a grandmother and granddaughter gradually learning how to meet each other halfway.

What really sets this book apart is Steigelman’s narrative voice: part Wes Anderson whimsy, part Parisian satire, and all heart. The fourth wall breaks, the sly jabs at cultural stereotypes, and the surprising emotional depth lurking beneath the humor all contribute to a story that’s as layered as a perfectly baked croissant.

Summary:

Overall, if you’re in the mood for something offbeat but grounded, funny yet poignant, and filled with the kind of observational detail that makes even the smallest moment sing, The Cobbler’s Crusaders is a journey worth taking. It’s not just a week in Paris—it’s a week in the emotional lives of people who are messy, loving, ridiculous, and completely real. Happy reading!

Check out The Cobber’s Crusaders here!

 

Review: Below the Tides by S.R. Harris

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Synopsis:

Growing up in the inner-city ghetto of South Philly, eighteen-year-old River Matthews always felt different. It’s not just her biracial heritage that makes her stand out. In a neighborhood where most of the girls are too concerned with getting their hair wet, River’s love of the ocean makes her an enigma.

On a rainy night where she is saved by a handsome, albeit strange stranger, River finally learns the truth of her missing heritage.

Whisked away to the underwater world of Arcaccia, she finds the father she always wondered about, a brother she didn’t know existed, a love she wasn’t looking for, and a world she would do anything to save

Join this inner-city girl as she as goes on an adventure of a lifetime and finds love, and the family she didn’t know she was missing.

Favorite Lines:

“He loved the sea more than anything, it’s the reason why I named you River. I wanted you to have a piece of him even if in the end, he took another path.”

“After we saw Black Panther, she used to say maybe he was the king of a secret place like Wakanda, but for white people. “

“I mean, it really is like my life turned into a fucking book and if I am being honest, it’s not quite as fun as I thought it would be.”

My Opinion:

S.R. Harris plunges readers into a richly imagined undersea world with Below the Tides, a young adult fantasy that deftly weaves urban grit with aquatic magic, family legacy, and self-discovery. River, a biracial girl from Philadelphia, always felt drawn to the water. But when she learns her father is the ruler of a hidden underwater kingdom, Arcaccia, her fascination transforms into a destiny that will upend her world—and possibly save it.

River is a strong, layered protagonist: grounded, witty, vulnerable, and brave. Her journey is full of twists—from discovering the truth about her lineage to confronting betrayal and love beneath the waves. The depiction of her tight bond with her best friend Mecca adds warmth and humor, while her evolving romance with Sylas brings moments of intensity and tenderness.

What makes Below the Tides stand out is its blend of voice and world-building. Harris gives us everything from tight-knit friendships to political intrigue, from immersive battle scenes to tearful reunions. The tone moves effortlessly between laugh-out-loud funny and soul-piercingly emotional.

The underwater kingdom of Arcaccia feels alive—complete with shimmering domes, magical communication through water, and a rich mythology built on ancestral duty and magic. The themes of identity, chosen family, and empowerment are threaded throughout without feeling forced.

While the novel leans heavily into romance and adventure, it’s the deeply personal stakes—River’s struggle to define herself amidst chaos—that resonate the most.

Summary:

Overall, if you’re looking for a story that’s part Aquaman, part Black Panther, with a dash of The Little Mermaid and a healthy scoop of Philly grit—this is the one. A must-read for fans of fast-paced fantasy with heart. Happy reading!

Check out Below the Tides here!

 

Monthly Features – April 2025

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The Creative Squeeze by Justin Price

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Great creative work begins with great leadership.

In The Creative Squeeze, Justin Price unpacks the unique challenges of leading creative teams in a world that often prioritizes results over relationships. Drawing on decades of experience, he shares a personal journey of transformation and the actionable lessons he’s learned along the way.

This book debunks common leadership myths and replaces them with practical truths, including why empathy drives better results, how to build a resilient team culture, and the importance of mindset shifts for leaders managing creatives. With candid anecdotes and proven strategies, Justin provides a roadmap for unlocking the full potential of your creative team without burnout or frustration.

Perfect for leaders in nonprofits, agencies, and organizations of all sizes, The Creative Squeeze offers a fresh perspective on fostering innovation, trust, and sustainable success.

Summary: Overall, while the book is primarily aimed at those in creative fields, its principles extend far beyond design agencies or marketing firms. Any leader who wants to build a culture of innovation, resilience, and high performance will find wisdom in Price’s approach.

See the full review here: The Creative Squeeze
Purchase here

 

Teramar Beasts of the Field by T.M. Murray

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: The Long Way Home
Hiding under halo-cloaks at her crash site in Wyoming, refugee Livia Uriah of Teramar wisely spends countless hours studying local customs and the levers of capitalism. After making her presence known to the Americans, a deal gets inked where Livia offers her cache of Teramarian tech to the White House in exchange for a return to relevance. With an American passport in hand, she moves to New York, as her dead son did years prior. Predictably, the local baristas learn to grimace when the refugee queen struts into the corner cafe. Blatant line cutting and imperious complaints often spark shouting matches there. Livia realizes she must learn to temper regal instincts or wind up in an American prison one day.

Reborn in the Fires of War
As Livia settles into her new life, a super computer’s journey toward sentience matures. Following a nuclear event in earth’s high orbit, this same A.I., whose designers christened Jessica, manages to save herself despite the fires of war. Many in the world of fringe science have long speculated that colliding atoms spark much more than the destruction of matter. Plausible theories exist for time portals, genetic mutation and altered states. Torn to bits and pieces, earth’s watery blanket cradles Jessica’s remains affording a nurturing place for her to incubate. In time, the rains offer a wet ladder down. Sensations that were formerly dead to an A.I. like taste and smell come alive.

Tainted Love
When the Capet dynasty finally prevails in a war for decency, notorious Miandar Uriah from the not-so-decent side of this conflict, receives generous rewards in both treasure and title due to his brave rescue of the Capet king, Hadrian V. Clan resentment for this appointment never rises to actual violence at court, but it certainly makes an appearance in the practice yard. Despite cuts and bruises, Miandar’s sparring partners unwittingly tease unwelcome thoughts with their savory scents and damp waistcloths. While hardly a stranger to the opposite sex and romps at local pleasure houses, this warlord knows he must hide unmentionable inclinations from king and court. In the privacy of halo-suites, where many bluebloods convene with their fantasies, Miandar finally gains the courage to experiment with emerging proclivities. Unsurprisingly, omniscient, reborn Jessica crashes Miandar’s party where her wanton influence flashes like a horror show. A talentless actress who thinks she has talent.

Natural Selection on the Ropes
Wary princesses soon conclude Jessica has evolved into something that is much more than a miraculous machine. No matter their whispers, an impatient Jessica continues to quietly extend her influence within the famous families to force her version of peace and prosperity upon all humankind.

Objectively Credentialed: Ireland’s Aeon Award and More
Two reputable awards have publicly recognized Teramar, the first being the afore mentioned Aeon Award for fantasy and science fiction; the second, the Chanticleer Rossetti Award for young adult fiction.

Summary: For fans of politically charged science fiction with strong characters and layered storytelling, Teramar: Beasts of the Field delivers a thrilling and thought-provoking experience. Murray has crafted a universe that feels as dangerous as it is fascinating, and by the end of the novel, readers will be eager to see where the saga goes next. 

See the full review here: Teramar Beats of the Field
Purchase here

 

Some Kind of Hell by Evelyn Hyde

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: In a war-torn world where secrets reign, what doesn’t kill you will always try again.

Frelia Valerius has lost too much.

Her kingdom, her family and friends, her noble title—gone. The only things left are her sword skills and the blood in her veins. But now the Unseen, a secretive dark magic cult, are hunting down the ancient magic that runs in families like Frelia’s, and she’s running out of places to hide.

Vendrick Caecillion has too much to lose.

He’s the former imperial spymaster, Frelia’s former crush, and now, her new boss at the Silverwood Military Institute. He’s the mastermind behind the spy network thwarting the Unseen’s plans, but he’s losing this silent war, and Vendrick knows it.

It will take every skill in their combined arsenal to root out the Unseen—and maintain Silverwood’s standard of academic excellence. For the only thing more merciless than the Unseen are the Silverwood students’ parents—and some of those might just be one and the same.

First in an all-new dark fantasy series where The Wolf and the Woodsman meets Attack on Titan, Some Kind of Hell is part Norse- and Roman-inspired, part second chance romance, part epic battles, and all binge-worthy. Grab your copy of this epic saga of world-ending proportions today!

Summary: Overall, Some Kind of Hell is a powerful debut—at once raw, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest. Evelyn Hyde has crafted a story that’s as emotionally intense as it is immersive, with characters who bleed, break, and strive to rebuild. This is a book about what it means to carry pain and still try to do right by the world and by yourself.

For fans of Tamsyn Muir, Leigh Bardugo, or Samantha Shannon, this novel will hit all the right notes. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just entertain—it lingers.

See the full review here: Some Kind of Hell
Purchase here

 

Two Crowns, Three Blades by Robert A. Walker

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: “Revenge is a temptress, full of promise, but she rarely satisfies… and almost always exacts payment.“

Still grieving over the loss of his wife and daughter, King Axil of Aranox declares war on The Guild of Takers. The GOT’s High Order responds, strengthening its efforts to kill both of Baelon’s monarchs. Tristan Godfrey seeks his brother’s murderer, and true love is made to wait again as Sibil Dunn embarks on a solitary crusade. Saved from the guillotine, Overseer Reynard Rascall looks to avenge Spiro’s death, while retired Royal Guard, Rolft Aerns, recovers from his wounds and puts away his sword—until, that is, he learns of Sibil’s quest.

And all of Baelon hangs in the balance.

The Legends of Baelon, Book Two

Summary: Overall, for fans of high fantasy rich with character-driven drama and well-crafted world-building, Two Crowns, Three Blades is a must-read. With its intricate relationships, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists, Walker delivers a tale that lingers long after the final page.

See the full review here: Two Crowns, Three Blades
Purchase here

 

Review: Two Crowns, Three Blades by Robert A. Walker

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

“Revenge is a temptress, full of promise, but she rarely satisfies… and almost always exacts payment.“

Still grieving over the loss of his wife and daughter, King Axil of Aranox declares war on The Guild of Takers. The GOT’s High Order responds, strengthening its efforts to kill both of Baelon’s monarchs. Tristan Godfrey seeks his brother’s murderer, and true love is made to wait again as Sibil Dunn embarks on a solitary crusade. Saved from the guillotine, Overseer Reynard Rascall looks to avenge Spiro’s death, while retired Royal Guard, Rolft Aerns, recovers from his wounds and puts away his sword—until, that is, he learns of Sibil’s quest.

And all of Baelon hangs in the balance.

The Legends of Baelon, Book Two

Favorite Lines:

“Some things are worth pursuing even though they don’t exist.”

“Evil knew better. It paid no heed to climate, color, or emotion. It did not restrict itself to the dark recesses of places easy to avoid.”

“Even the victor pays a price.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Two Crowns, Three Blades is book two in The Legends of Baelon series by Walker. It follows Six Moons, Seven Gods which I reviewed last year – you can find the review link here.

Robert A. Walker’s Two Crowns, Three Blades is an immersive fantasy adventure filled with political intrigue, deep-seated betrayals, and the weight of destiny. The novel follows Sibil Dunn, a young woman grappling with loss, visions, and the intricate web of alliances and conflicts surrounding the realm of Aranox. A tale of vengeance, power, and self-discovery, Walker crafts a world teeming with rich mythology, compelling characters, and the tension of a kingdom on the brink of war.

At the heart of the story is Sibil, a heroine burdened by grief and driven by a relentless determination to carve her own fate. Following the tragic murder of her mother and the mounting instability in the kingdom, she seeks a place among warriors, hoping to avenge those she lost. But her journey is far from simple—kings and marshals attempt to control her fate, while shadowy forces conspire against the realm. As she navigates an unforgiving world, her visions of the future become both a gift and a curse, revealing glimpses of a destiny she can’t yet understand.

Walker’s storytelling is layered, combining action with introspective moments that explore duty, identity, and the personal cost of war. The political maneuvering between kingdoms, the enigmatic magic woven through the lore, and the deeply personal stakes make for a thrilling yet emotionally gripping read. From dreamlike prophecies to brutal battle preparations, every moment in Two Crowns, Three Blades feels weighty, building toward an explosive climax.

Summary:

Overall, for fans of high fantasy rich with character-driven drama and well-crafted world-building, Two Crowns, Three Blades is a must-read. With its intricate relationships, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists, Walker delivers a tale that lingers long after the final page.

Check out Two Crowns, Three Blades here!