Showing posts with label Sebastien de Castell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sebastien de Castell. Show all posts

Saturday, 20 October 2018

Event Report: Hotkey Blogger Brunch with Alexandra Christo & Sebastien de Castell


Back at the end of September I was really lucky to be invited to Hot Key's Blogger Brunch with authors Alexandra Christo and Sebastien de Castell. I'm a huge fan of both of these authors so I was really excited to get to meet them and it's always fantastic to get the chance to meet up with blogging friends too.

When we first arrived at the event we had time to mingle while we munched on the delicious array of treats Hot Key had laid on for us before we got to hear both of the authors give a reading and talk about their books.

Sebastien de Castell reading from Soulbinder

First up was Sebastien de Castell reading from the fourth book in his Spellslinger series, Soulbinder. If you're familiar with this series you'll already have met one of my favourite fictional characters, squirrel cat Reichis, and one of the threats he loves to make is that he's going to eat someone's eyeballs. Well apparently Sebastien is always being asked the question about whether Reichis is going to finally get the chance to carry out that threat and let's just say that the reading he gave answers that question in gloriously revolting detail during this reading! I've not had a chance to read Soulbinder yet but I loved the first two books in the series and you can read my reviews for Spellslinger and Shadowblack by clicking these links. I'm looking forward to reading Charmcaster and Soulbinder very soon so keep an eye out for my reviews.

Alexandra Christo reading from To Kill a Kingdom

Alexandra Christo treated us to not one but two readings, the first from her debut novel To Kill a Kingdom, which is a fabulous retelling of The Little Mermaid that I'd highly recommend (you can read my review here). Then she gave us a super early sneak peak at the book she's working on right now called Into the Crooked Place which she described as a darker version of Six of Crows. Unfortunately that book isn't due for publication until October 2019 so we've got a year to wait but let me tell you now you NEED to put this book on your wishlist because the preview we were given was absolutely fantastic!!

After the readings and a Q&A we had the chance to speak to both authors and get our books signed which is something I always love to do. I had taken my copies of the first three Spellslinger books with me and was thrilled to get given a copy of the fourth book, Soulbinder, and Alexandra's To Kill a Kingdom too.

Sebastien de Castell and Alexandra Christo

I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Hot Key Books for inviting me to the event, I had a brilliant time and really enjoyed getting to meet the authors. Thanks also to Sebastien de Castell and Alexandra Christo for taking time out of your busy schedules to come and chat with us!

Monday, 1 October 2018

September 2018 Recap


Books read in previous months but reviewed in September:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
  1. The Queen's Gambit - Jessie Mihalik (Read Twice) (Read in March & August, review coming soon)
  2. The Girl in the Tower - Katherine Arden (Read in April, review coming soon)
  3. Steal the Day - Lexi Blake (Read in April, review coming soon)
  4. The Amber Spyglass - Philip Pullman (Read in April, review coming soon)
  5. Recklessly Royal - Nichole Chase (Read in May, review coming soon)
  6. Temeraire - Naomi Novik (Read in May, review coming soon)
  7. Monstress, Vol 2: The Blood - Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda (Graphic Novel) (Read in May, review coming soon)
  8. Spellslinger - Sebastien de Castell (Read in June, review coming soon)
  9. Theirs for the Night - Katee Robert (Novella) (Read in June, review coming soon)
  10. Vengeance in Death - J.D. Robb (Read in June, review coming soon)
  11. Barbarian's Prize - Ruby Dixon (Read in June, review coming soon)
  12. Her Cocky Doctors - Tara Crescent (Read in June, review coming soon)
  13. The Bone Farm - Dean Koontz (Audiobook Novella) (Read in June, review coming soon)
  14. Lifel1k3 - Jay Kristoff (Read in June, review coming soon)
  15. Thunderhead - Neal Shusterman (Read in June, review coming soon)
  16. The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling (Read in June, review coming soon)
  17. The Kiss Quotient - Helen Hoang (Read in June, review coming soon)
  18. Okami - Renee Ahdieh (Short Story) (Read in June, review coming soon)
  19. Yumi - Renee Ahdieh (Short Story) (Read in June, review coming soon)
  20. Make Me Crave - Katee Robert (Read in July, review coming soon)
  21. No Mercy - Sherrilyn Kenyon (Read in July, review coming soon)
  22. Archangel's Prophecy - Nalini Singh (Read in July, review coming soon)
  23. The Girl in the Green Silk Gown - Seanan McGuire (Read in August, review coming soon)
  24. To Kill a Kingdom - Alexandra Christo (Read in August, review coming soon)
  25. Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox - Forthright (Read in August, review coming soon)
  26. Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik (Read in August, review coming soon)
  27. Beautiful Beast - Kayla D. Knight (Read in August, review coming soon)
  28. Diamond Fire - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (Read Twice) (Read in August, review coming soon)
  29. Three Trials - Kristy Cunning (Read in August, review coming soon)
  30. The Nightshade's Touch - Pippa DaCosta (Read in August, review coming soon)
Books read in September:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
  1. Siren in Waiting - Lexi Blake
  2. Okami - Renee Ahdieh (Short Story) (Read for the 2nd time)
  3. Yumi - Renee Ahdieh (Short Story) (Read for the 2nd time)
  4. Wild Hunger - Chloe Neill
  5. Mirage - Somaiya Daud (Review coming soon)
  6. Jealous in Honor - Seanan McGuire (Short Story)
  7. Quick in Quarrel - Seanan McGuire (Short Story)
  8. These Antique Fables - Seanan McGuire (Short Story)
  9. Theirs for the Night - Katee Robert (Novella) (Read for the 2nd time)
  10. Night and Silence - Seanan McGuire
  11. Suffer a Sea-Change - Seanan McGuire (Short Story)
  12. In Bed With the Devil - Lorraine Heath (Review coming soon)
  13. Forever Theirs - Katee Robert
  14. Fighting for What's His - Laura Kaye
  15. And the Ocean Was Our Sky - Patrick Ness (Illustrated by Rovina Cai)
  16. Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
  17. Rebel Hard - Nalini Singh
  18. Muse of Nightmares - Laini Taylor (Review coming soon)
  19. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Picture Book - Kim Smith (Picture Book)
  20. Courted by her Cougar - Felicity Heaton
  21. The Dowager Magus - Sebastien de Castell (Short Story)
  22. Shadowblack - Sebastien de Castell
  23. Lost in Bliss - Lexi Blake
  24. A Blade so Black - L.L. McKinney
  25. Hour of Darkness - Lara Adrian
  26. Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge - Lisa Jensen (Review coming soon)
  27. Phoenix Unbound - Grace Draven (Review coming soon)
  28. Leads & Lynxes - Rebecca Chastain (Beta read so I'll be reviewing this once I've read the final version)
  29. Daughter of the Blood - Anne Bishop (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
    Other September Posts
    September Books of the Month:
    (Choices are made from books reviewed this month and the links will take you to my reviews)

    My top YA read in September:


    The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (read my review here)

    My top adult read in September:


    The Nightshade's Touch by Pippa DaCosta (read my review here)
    Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (read my review here)
    Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (read my review here)

    September Events:

    I was really lucky to be invited to the Hot Key Blogger Brunch on Saturday and have the chance to meet authors Alexandra Christo and Sebastien de Castell. Both authors read from their latest books (To Kill a Kingdom and Soulbinder) and Alexandra even gave us a VERY early sneak peek at her next book Into the Crooked Place which isn't even going to be published until this time next year! We also had a chance to chat with the authors and get our books signed which is something I always love to do. I'll write about the event properly soon but I wanted to say a huge thank you to Hot Key for inviting me to the event!

    My Challenge Updates:

    Here are the 2018 challenges I've signed up for:
    2018 Read 100 Books in a Year Challenge - Read 157/200
    2018 British Books Challenge - Read 17/20
    2018 New Author Challenge - Read 19/20
    2018 Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Challenge - Read 84/100
    2018 Contemporary Romance Challenge - Read 20/20 - Complete

    Saturday, 29 September 2018

    Review: Shadowblack - Sebastien de Castell

    A Shadowblack plague is taking hold . . . The second book in the page-turning SPELLSLINGER fantasy series.

    It's a few months since Kellen left the Jan'Tep people. Now aged sixteen, Kellen is an outlaw, relying on his wits to keep him alive in the land of the Seven Sands. He misses home, he misses family and more than anything, he misses Nephenia, who he once loved.

    Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind, and who carries a secret that's all too familiar to Kellen. Kellen and Ferius resolve to help - but the stakes are far higher than they realise. A Shadowblack plague is taking hold - and Kellen can't help but suspect his own people may be behind it.

    Spellslinger Series:
    Spellslinger
    The Dowager Magus (Free short story)
    Shadowblack
    Charmcaster
    Soulbinder
    Queenslayer (May 2019)
    Crownbreaker (October 2019)

    Visit Sebastien de Castell's website for more information

    Review:
    Shadowblack picks up Kellen's story several months after the end of Spellslinger, now an outcast amongst his own people, Kellen is currently travelling through the Seven Sands with his mentor the Argosi Ferius, and Reichis, his violent squirrel-cat sidekick. Life isn't easy as an outlaw and the group are living by their wits trying to stay ahead of the Jan'Tep mages who have been sent after them but life gets even more complicated when they come across another Argosi and her charge. Seneria isn't a member of the Jan'Tep but she has been afflicted with the same mysterious Shadowblack illness as Kellen, it looks like a plague has broken out in the Seven Sands and both Kellen and Ferius feel duty bound to investigate it.

    I was a little surprised at the direction that this book took, I think I was expecting to see more of the Jan'Tep and a confrontation with Kellen's family but I actually really enjoyed getting to explore a bit more of this world and having the chance to meet other characters who aren't mages. Seneria was an great character but it was Dexan, a fellow Spellslinger like Kellen, and Rosie, another Argosi, who I was most interesting. I've been wanting to know more about the Argosi way of life and we did start to get answers to some of my many questions here, Ferius is as closemouthed and guarded in her answers as ever but Rosie is a little more willing to explain herself. It was really interesting to see how both Argosi interpreted their roles so differently and were on completely different paths despite having very similar beliefs. Dexan was one of those characters who always looks out for themselves but he definitely made life interesting so I hope we'll get to see more of him.

    Of course Reichis continues to steal the show for me, he's just such a funny character and I love how he always thinks violence is the answer. His constant threats to eat people's eyeballs always have me laughing and I really do think that every book should have its own murderous squirrel-cat to lighten the mood! Shadowblack has raised the stakes for the series, we're starting to uncover more about what is going on in the wider world and now it's up to Kellen to decide what he is willing to do about it. He has several options available to him at the end of this story and I think the decision he makes says a lot about the kind of man he's turning into. I'm already enjoying this series a lot and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

    Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

    Saturday, 22 September 2018

    Review: The Dowager Magus - Sebastien de Castell

    Set during the events of the first Spellslinger book, Mer’essan, a Dowager Magus of the Jan’Tep finds her contemplations interrupted by a mysterious stranger who brings unexpected danger into Mer’essan’s life.

    This is a free short story that can be read on Sebastien de Castell's website

    Spellslinger Series:
    Spellslinger
    The Dowager Magus (Free short story)
    Shadowblack
    Charmcaster
    Soulbinder
    Queenslayer (May 2019)
    Crownbreaker (October 2019)

    Visit Sebastien de Castell's website for more information

    Review:
    I really enjoyed this little short story showing the first meeting between the Dowager Magus Mer’essan and the wanderer Ferius of the Argosi.

    I'm not going to say much about it but you can get this and other short stories for free by signing up to Sebastien de Castell's newsletter here: https://decastell.com/secrets/

    Source: Read for free on the author's website

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Friday, 21 September 2018

    Review: Spellslinger - Sebastien de Castell

    MAGIC IS A CON GAME.

    Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone.

    As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path.

    Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...

    The first in a rich and compelling fantasy series bursting with tricks, traps and a devious talking squirrel cat.

    Spellslinger Series:
    Spellslinger
    The Dowager Magus (Free short story)
    Shadowblack
    Charmcaster
    Soulbinder
    Queenslayer (May 2019)
    Crownbreaker (October 2019)

    Visit Sebastien de Castell's website for more information

    Review:
    Kellan comes from a people with two very different types of citizen, you either pass your magic trials before your sixteenth birthday and become Jan'Tep (a mage) or you fail and become Sha'Tep (basically second class citizens whose only duty is to serve the mages). Kellan comes from a powerful family so there should be no question about whether he'll pass or not, there's just one small problem though, his magic is gone. If Kellan can't find a way to get it back his life will be a misery but when Ferius, a mysterious traveller, passes through his village she makes him question everything and offers him the chance at a different kind of life.

    There is a lot to love about Spellslinger, the story was fast paced and had me totally hooked from very early on. It was very easy to connect to Kellan and it felt like I was going though the trials right alongside him, I hurt for him when he failed and I wanted to climb into the book to defend him when he was bullied by other kids his age for his practically nonexistent magic. There was a lot of humour in the story but there were some really dark things too. It was hard to like any of the Jan'Tep and Kellan's parents crossed lines that were incredibly painful to read about so I'd happily set them on fire and watch them burn.

    It was only the humour that Ferius brought to the story and the addition of Reichis, the talking squirrel cat, that kept this from being a bit too dark for me but they were such fun characters to read about and I was so invested in Kellan's story that I couldn't put the book down. I have very high hopes for this series and can't wait to see where Kellan's journey takes him next.

    Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

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