YA Fantasy | Self-Publishing Review

Mark of the Medallion (The Wizard Academies Book 1) by Mike Shelton

With great power comes great temptation, as Kyril Siravan discovers in Mark of the Medallion, the first installment of the Wizard Academies series by Mike Shelton.

As an orphan and an apprentice wizard of the mind at the Wizard Academy, Kyril has a lot to learn about his abilities and the complex world of the mystic arts. However, not all is right at the academy, and when Kyril is drawn into a new group of secretive apprentices led by a wizard named Targon, his best friend Sylvie fears that he is treading a dangerous path.

While this fast-paced adventure […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-01-08T09:12:55+02:00January 8th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: Dragon Blood (Shadow War Saga) by Elana A. Mugdan

All journeys take unpredictable turns, as is the case for Keriya Soulstar, the intrepid protagonist of Dragon Blood, the third book in the Shadow War Saga by author Elana A. Mugdan.

When Keriya wakes up on the other side of the world, far from Allentria and her loyal companions, she must face a new and terrifying reality. Her part in the ancient war back home is over, for a time, but she remains determined to return and finish what she had started.

Armed only with her magic sword— – had saved her from the evil shadow of Necrovar – […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-04T10:54:15+02:00December 10th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, YA Fantasy|

Review: All Roads Lead to Lawrence by Craig Leener

Readers are welcomed back into the strange world of Zeke and the Seventh Dimension in the wild and wise All Roads Lead to Lawrence by Craig Leener.

A sequel to the acclaimed This Was Never About Basketball, our protagonist is a bit older and wiser, but his heart still beats with every bounce of the basketball. Now the point guard for his college team, he may think he’s done with his extra-dimensional adventures, but his journey is only beginning.

Upon the death of his brother, Zeke’s reality begins coming apart at the seams, and it doesn’t help that not […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-12-20T08:11:58+02:00November 4th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Craig Leener, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: The Journey to Oclesedor (The Legacy of King Jasteroth Vol. 2) by S. L. Wyllie

The second installment of S. L. Wyllie’s Legacy of King Jasteroth series, The Journey to Oclesedor is a high-fantasy feast for the senses and a thrilling adventure to boot. Following on strong from Volume 1, Princess Ariella and other familiar faces are back with an epic quest before them, a desperate bid to outrun the insidious evil of King Jasteroth and live to fight another day. Overflowing with descriptive passages, vivid battle scenes, mythical monsters and innovative magic, this sophomore release from Wyllie delivers a classic, but visceral thrill.

The first part of the King Jasteroth saga set a wonderful […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-11-05T04:00:48+02:00October 10th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, S.L. Wyllie, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: Dreadmarrow Thief (The Conjurer Fellstone Book 1) by Marjory Kaptanoglu

Given the barrage of young adult fantasy novels in recent years, it can be difficult to find one that truly stands out. Dreadmarrow Thief is a stellar entry into the genre of YA fantasy, and an exciting first installment of one such new series. Author Marjory Kaptanoglu has cultivated a vibrant and enthralling new world for fans of high fantasy to explore.

The spunky protagonist at the center of this wonderful adventure is Tessa Skye, an apprentice with a dangerous secret: a magical object that allows her to transform into a bird and soar over the forest – a forbidden […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-19T13:49:23+02:00June 17th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy, Marjory Kaptanoglu, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: The Legacy of King Jasteroth Vol. 1 by S.L. Wyllie

The Legacy of King Jasteroth by S.L. Wyllie is a wonderfully realized work of fantasy filled with magic, suspense, and romance. More geared toward a younger audience, readers will immediately fall in love with Princess Ariella and her tutor Austin – a half-elvish warrior – as they join them in their journey to harness Ariella’s powers, which are stronger than anyone realizes.

The daughter of the King of The Golden Peaks, Ariella is portrayed as the typical princess who is to be seen and not heard. As her mother is struck with an unknown illness that rapidly incapacitates her, Ariella […]

SPR2019-10-10T10:32:29+02:00August 6th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, S.L. Wyllie, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: Legacy of Dolyn: Volume 1 by Amelia Guillem

Told in the format of blog posts, Legacy of Dolyn: Volume 1 is an entertaining modern fantasy, replete with pop culture references and nods to anime.

Glendolyn Villem works as a secretary in a police station, with everyday problems that are easily relatable, like searching desperately for guy on an app called “Mingle.” Then, to her great dismay, she is ordained with magical powers and joined by a cat confusingly called Gwen, who, whether Glen likes or not, will be her mentor.

Glen must deal with the burden of being a sorceress and the complexities of her powers in a […]

SPR2018-08-23T07:36:04+02:00July 30th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz

A delightfully creative adventure, A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz stands alone in a very crowded fantasy genre, boasting a youthful, energetic spirit and a wonderful new world to explore for readers of fantasy.

The Enchanted Isles are the place where magic fled when the world of men became too dangerous for mages. When the fires of the Spanish Inquisition burned, it was time for the magic-wielders to find safer shores. However, after struggles and violence arose between the three founding sisters of the isles, the freedom of this magic disappeared. It once more became a sacred thing, something to […]