TITLE: The Witch Hunter
AUTHOR: Virginia Boecker
SERIES: The Witch Hunter Book 1
PUBLICATION DATE: June 2 2015
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books
SOURCE: Netgalley ARC
RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Goodreads Summary

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. When she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to die at the stake. Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can track down the person who laid a deadly curse on him.

As she's thrust into the world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and all-too-handsome healers, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

MY REVIEW

Elizabeth and her best friend Caleb are two of the best witch hunters in the land. Together they capture witches and warlocks and bring them to the inquisitor, Blackwell. They can catch but not kill them. Killing them as well as being found guilty of witchcraft is a direct path to being burnt at the stake. Elizabeth has always loved Caleb but is sure he doesn't feel the same way and on one drunken night, Elizabeth's safe world comes crashing down around her. Witch herbs are found in her pocket and she is accused of being a witch, even though she isn't. She is dragged into prison and Caleb promises to get her out, But hours turn into days and days into weeks. The night before she is scheduled to die, a famous and wanted wizard appears in her cell and takes her away. In exchange, she has to find the person who has cursed  him and ultimately stop his death. And despite her upbringing to capture witches, she finds herself caring for the wizard and his friends, especially the handsome healer, John. But everything Elizabeth believes in is soon shattered as she realizes that everything she has been taught was a trick. But why did the wizard rescue her and not someone else? What is Blackwell's real goal?

The Witch Hunter was one of the best witch books i've ever read! I am obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials and this story had that background and takes place in the 1500's if i remember what was said in the book. And i liked that the book wasn't too predictable...i mean predictable would be a witch hunter being a witch herself. This story stuck to the fact that Elizabeth is a witch hunter and not a witch. 

I loved the romance in the book! Even though i was wrong about the love interest... So we know she's in love with Caleb but i wouldn't  call it a love triangle. At first i thought she had something going on with George, one of Nicholas' friends. No wait scratch that, when i read the synopsis i thought Nicholas was the love interest but when i found out he was old, i got that out of my head. Then i thought it was George, he's hilarious and sweet and they seem to get along fantastically. But when nothing happens i think they're more like best friends. I never ever thought John was the love interest. Yes he was absolutely handsome but there was absolutely no clue that they were attracted together! So no insta-love. But when Elizabeth starts to have feelings for him you see their relationship grow. But he's a perfect love interest! He's sweet and lovable!

So the characters in Nicholas' family are-Peter (a pirate), his son John( healer and love interest), George and Fifer (Nicholas's apprentice). I loved Fifer! Despite her initial dislike of Elizabeth. She was feisty and her relationship with her "boyfriend" was absolutely hilarious! I really hope we get treated with a novella from her POV! She's a kickass character and i wish we knew more about her and her boyfriend!

Even though i loved the romance i wished we had a little more of it. Also i think this booked lacked stuff about Malcom-the king. I won't spoil it but let's just say he is very important in the actions that led to Elizabeth's imprisonment, I hope that in the next book they come face to face or something. He was mentioned a lot in the book but we never meet him and that's unfortunate because as i said he is the reason Elizabeth had the herbs in the first place. So i really really want to see him in the next book.

Other than that, it was an amazing book with a steady pace and loads of mysteries and unexpected revelations. This is a series i will definitely be following!

TITLE: Hexed
AUTHOR: Michelle Krys
SERIES: The Witch Hunter book 1
PUBLICATION DATE: June 10 2014
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
SOURCE: Bought
RATING: 3.5 STARS!!!

Goodreads Summary

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

MY REVIEW

Indigo is at the height of popularity at her school-cheerleader and a jock boyfriend. As she drives home after school with her neighbor in the car, they witness an accident as a young man covered in blood dies right in front of their eyes. Frightened, the two girls go to school and vow not to mention it until two men come after them at school. But what's weird is Indigo can't remember the accident or the two men in the school. Her mother is a bit crazy and into the witch stuff as well as totally paranoid over this book. So when this mysterious guy follows Indigo and tells her her mom is in trouble, she rushes home to find her mom under the bookshelf and the sacred book gone. She has to get the book back before her mother becomes for frantic than she already is. But who is this infuriating guy? Why are strange men threatening her if she doesn't break a curse? And why is everyone after that book?

Okay i have two issues with this book that stops it from being on my absolute fav slideshow on the sidebar. The first being Indigo herself. So i get that her neighbour, Paige, might be a little clingy but come on-your oh-so-mighty reputation won't be ruined if someone sees you with her. And that's mostly what her whole dialogues are about-how embarrassing it would be to be seen with Paige, how she can't walk into a party with Paige, how sitting with her would mean bye-bye popularity and social suicide-blah blah blah. She had this kind of attitude like Paige is not good enough for her and i wanted to shake her and yell "WAKE UP YOU'RE HUMAN TOO!" and yet Paige is the one she calls when she needs help, oh did i mention she gets mad when Paige hangs out with other girls? she's also totally BLIND. I could see that thing with Bianca and her boyfriend from the start of the book. That was just a big cliche. And i don't know about you guys but if my boyfriend cheated i wouldn't be calm, rational and agree to go to prom with him! No, i was practically begging Indigo to give them a slap!! But nope-none of that...

Second issue is the pacing. The plot was cool and all but i felt like we had to wait waaaay too long for the finale and even that was a bit too simple. I mean i think a story should have actions throughout the book and a big one in the end that may or may not end in a cliffhanger, just something epic to show you that-wow this is nearing the end something big is going to happen! But the last battle felt like just a minor battle-not really cliffhanger worthy. And i'm getting tired of EVERYTHING happening on proms and homecoming. A lot of books have their finale at those things but seriously? Does everything have to happen at a high school dance?

Now onto the good part. BISHOP!!!!! Okay let us take a moment to appreciate the awesomeness that is Bishop. Black spiky hair, luminous eyes, tattooed, motorcycle boots, a permanent leather jacket and an infuriating personality and grin. Man, this is the epitome of a bad boy! I really loved him! the romance was hilarious at times!

So i just wanted to share some of my favorite quotes!

“Bishop?”

“You’re expecting another ridiculously handsome man to appear right now?”

“Oh Bishop, thank God it’s you!” I push to my feet and plow into his chest, wrapping his arms around his middle and holding to him like he might disappear at any moment.

“Uh, okay.” He laughs, then pats my back. “Not exactly what I was expecting, but I’ll take it. Shall we find a bedroom, or is here good enough for you?”

Everything else was pretty much awesome and i can't wait to find out what happens next!

TITLE: Such A Secret Place
AUTHOR: Cortney Pearson
SERIES: Stolen Tears Book 1
PUBLICATION DATE: April 1 2015
SOURCE: Netgalley ARC
RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Goodreads Synopsis

Raids splatter across the news--Arcaian soldiers are stealing magic left and right, using it against the people they steal it from.

When sixteen-year-old Ambry Csille's brother gets taken in one of these raids, her utter fear and panic should be enough to invoke tears in any normal world. But for Ambry, tears are a thing of the past.

Because of a spell, people can no longer feel emotion; not enough to cry, and definitely not enough to defend themselves against the tyrannical soldiers stealing her people’s magic. A rare vial of enchanted tears chooses Ambry to reverse the spell, and soon she finds herself the target not only of the Arcaians, but of battle-scarred Talon Haraway, who wants the tears for his own reasons.

All Ambry wants is to rescue her brother, but when her tears get stolen, Ambry determines to work with Talon to get them back. Any day the Arcaians could drink her tears. Any day they’ll succeed at draining her people's magic completely, and all hope will be gone—not only for her brother, but for her world. 

MY REVIEW

A long time ago, a wizard cast a spell over the world so that everyone would feel very little emotion-next to none. A while later, the Arcaians came from another world and started stealing the people's magic. Problem is, with their lack of emotion, they can hardly bring themselves to care even though they are treated mostly like slaves and hunted. Ambry is the only girl who hasn't got her magic yet and still has her emotions. You can't say the same about her parents and her best friend, Gwynn. though. Gwynn has lost her emotions and is the constant victim of her stepdad's abuse. They say that some people, it is extremely rare, have a dream so powerful that they shed tears and get their emotions back for a little while. So one night, Gwynn has a dream and gets her emotion back and she heads straight to Ambry. Together, they decide to attend the secretive market that comes around only once and as luck would have it, they were in town that night. They seek tears which seem to be magical. Gwynn wants tears so she can become aware and defend herself against her stepfather and Ambry wants them to get magic so she can finally fit in,

Things don't go as planned when the Arcaians raid the place and Ambry is saved by a mysterious boy. Together they go on a journey to reclaim Ambry's tears. Her brother gets captured and she teams up with him to get him and the tears back. But the more she delves into her journey the more she realizes the tears have chosen her for something she never even considered possible. As Ambry fights her way to her destiny, she discovers love and betrayal...

Amazing world building! Everything was totally original, nothing like i've ever read before!

Loved Ambry, She's stubborn, dedicated and hilarious, She never gives up on finding her brother and doesn't take crap from Talon. Talon is a real mystery man, He never answers Ambry's questions and i never really trusted him. His motives seem to be good but then suddenly something will make you think they aren't! It was a real roller coaster trying to figure him out! The author presents him in such a way that you feel the same frustration, anger and affection as the protagonist for him. Gwynn never reacted when her stepfather hit her but i really saw the difference from the submissive girl she was and the agitated, sparkly and determined girl she was after she got her emotions back.

The mystery surrounding Ambry's magic was super intriguing and the book keeps teasing you with little snippets of the big image until it rams into you all at once! UGH i just can't describe how AMAZING this book was! It even has sirens and nymphs! Add that to a deadly weapon that sinks into your marrow and drains your blood-you've got a bestseller! All the little elements come together beautifully in this book! 100% original!
my reaction at the end:

Spine tingling adventures, romance, treachery and a -oh-my-god-what-just-happened-cliffhanger!!!

TITLE: Traffic Jam
AUTHOR: Melissa Groeling
SERIES: Standalone
PUBLICATION DATE: May 6 2012
PUBLISHER: Black Opal Books
SOURCE: free copy from author in exchange for honest review
RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Goodreads Summary

When you’re caught in traffic, you’ve got nowhere to go…

Val Delton’s life is spiraling and there’s nothing she can do to stop it. Her dad lost his job, her mom works fourteen hour days to pay the bills and yet somehow there are high-end shopping bags and an iPod in her older sister’s room. Naturally, Val becomes suspicious but her sister’s lips are sealed. Then by accident, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret hidden behind her sister’s bright smiles and cool indifference. Val has no idea how far and how deep the repercussions of her sister’s secret will reach but she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Will she succeed before her sister’s secret destroys everyone she loves?

MY REVIEW

This book has a very serious subject of human trafficking. I didn't really expect it because the synopsis doesn't give any clue whatsoever and i've never read a YA book like that.

Sam is the popular girl at school. Val is the nerdy type. Their family has been going through loads of stress and financial problems, add that to extreme sibling fight and you've got a disaster zone! That being said, i really loved this book. Val was an amazing protagonist and no matter how mean her sister is to her, she never forgets the fact that they are family. She had immense courage to pursue her mission for Sam's safety and that really made me love her. She's incredibly stubborn and doesn't let Sam's constant warnings get to her.

Val pretty  much made me laugh at every encounter she had with John, her crush and her sister's best friend. Every time he says a simple 'hello' she just freezes and doesn't say anything else. I can absolutely understand her mortification but it was so hilarious!

The writing was simple and yet raw and very intense, the writer really makes us aware that this isn't just a fiction book. This stuff actually happens all over the world while we're complaining about chores. You get to see how a person slowly falls into this darkness and it isn't lone before the whole family tumbles in. Val listens to snippets of conversations and watches as her sister seems to be more and more broken everyday.

Overall Val really proves that she's more than just a nerd like everyone thought she was. The romance in this book is very subtle so as not to overcome the real gist and message of the book which i guess is solidarity and family. But the romance is still there! If you've read any of  my past reviews, you know that i need romance in every single book i read. In this book, i ddin't feel the lack of it. I didn't want more of it and i found myself more intrigued with the story than i normally am with books having little romance.

I really enjoyed this book and i think everyone should read this eye-opening novel! It's about love, family and all the tears and battles they loose but still standing together at the end. Melissa Groeling is definitely an amazing writer that can bring out real emotions with her books! I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

TITLE: Alora
AUTHOR: Megan Linski
SERIES: Standalone
PUBLICATION DATE:November 1 2014
PUBLISHER: Gryfyn Publishing
SOURCE: free copy from publisher in exchange for honest review
RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Goodreads Synopsis

For hundreds of years, Alora has been queen. Ruling over the most remote regions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she spends her summers riding upon a wild stallion, her winters as a winged wolf, never aging, forever at an eternal sixteen. 

This is what it means to be an Anmortal. 

Centuries pass until the arrival of something new in the woods, a small boy named August. Alora watches through the years as the child grows into a young man. Slowly she finds herself falling for him, unable to tame her wild heart. Madly in love, she ignores the fact that humans and Anmortals can never be together...a mortal cannot love a creature that lives forever. 

Distracted by romance, Alora doesn’t notice that there is a monster lurking in the shadows, a hunter who is determined to make Alora his prize. With no time left to run and no way out, Alora is about to make the most challenging decision of her life. What's more important...her true love, or her freedom?

MY REVIEW

Alora is immortal and spends her winters in the form of a glorious white winged-wolf and the rest of the time as a beautiful sixteen year old living in the forest. She's all alone and yet she loves her freedom. She loves the power she has over the forest as a monarch. Her loneliness has never bothered her before until she saves a little boy from drowning in the forest. Alora is captivated by the sweet young boy and starts to follow him as he wanders into the forest until one day he disappears. Alora feels sad at the loss but a couple of years later, the boy comes back, a strong young man and Alora cannot help but fall for him as they spend time together. But will Alora reveal her secret before the monster destroys her?

Alora was a quick and captivating story. It felt almost like a fairy tale! Alora was such a beautiful and unique character to read about in the sense that through her narration, you really felt her animal instinct and that was shown by her reactions to some events. I loved that little touch!

It was definitely fast paced so there was action from the beginning till the end, loved the twist and turns, especially the mystery behind the monster that's after Alora.

Alora is one heck of a character-stubborn and strong, she's worthy of being a queen. She protects those she loves but will never lose sight of what is truly right. So the monster is made up of metal and he eats Alora's kind and she is supposedly the last. But somehow he was pretty lenient with Alora and we suspected he wanted something more than to gobble her up, but what is it?

Loved this story, cannot wait to read more from this amazing author!! I recommend it for anyone looking for fast-paced and original standalone!

TITLE: Onyx Moon
AUTHOR: Constance Roberts
SERIES: Onyx Moon trilogy Book 1 
PUBLICATION DATE: December 2 2014
PUBLISHER: Diff Jones Press
SOURCE: Free copy from author in exchange for honest review
RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Goodreads Synopsis

What if you were forced to live a double life while you sleep, and pursued by Demons while you were awake? City girl Ora Gondry has spent all of her nights in a dreamless sleep, until one night she finds herself awake in a foreign realm. Through the help of long forgotten heroes: a legendary swordsman and a former witch, Ora learns her soul teleports to a separate twin body while she slumbers. In Alethia, a land plagued by demonic legions, she must awaken her true power before the world falls to dark forces. While in the city, she struggles to pass exams and keep her best friend from joining a wannabe vampire cult. Oblivious to just how connected these two worlds are, Ora must wager which new friends are true allies, and which are Demons in disguise. But after a crushing betrayal, she is left questioning everything. Armed with only faith and unseen Angels, Ora learns to fight for beliefs and a courageous power she never knew she possessed.

MY REVIEW

Ora has never dreamed in her whole life. Until one night she dreams of stepping out of a tree into another world called, Alethia. She brushes it off as a dream but it seems to be recurring  and they feel so vivid and real as well as the people she meets. In Alethia, there are seven legions of demons all ruled by the dark lord. However the ruler of the legion of the Sardion sends his half-breed servant, Doeryan to earn Ora's trust and lure her to be a sacrifice during the onyx moon. However, as Doeryan follows Ora around he seems to be enthralled by her. Will he go ahead with his plans to lead her to her death or will he save her despite his orders? Every time Ora sleeps in the real world she goes to Alethia and every time she sleeps there, she wakes up in her world where her best friend seems driven on becoming a member of this cult. But the enigmatic and dangerous leader, Seven, seems to be more evil than the average teenage girl. Is she really just a weird cult leader or she is more entangled in Alethia than Ora could have guessed?

This was one of the most gorgeous and unique plots i've ever read! The idea of girl waking up in another word is simple yet so intriguing! This goes without saying that Alethia was beautifully described-vivid and so alive. Everything seemed magical from the "abandoned castle" to where the Sardion ruler lives. The plot was well explained and extremely complex. Each world felt like a totally different story and yet there were so many things linking them together! So basically there's a prophecy about someone with a soul and two bodies that will destroy evil and Ora is that person. And the demons want to sacrifice her on the Onyx Moon to get a lot of EVIL power! I honestly think you can't go wrong with a plot like that!

I think my favorite characters are Joel Xader and Doeryan. Joel was a hero in the war against demons but was cursed to remain in the castle after the death of his beloved. You really felt like he had his own personality. He's super overprotective, sweet, haunted by the loss of his beloved, skilled and loves telling tales of his battles. He really intrigued me. I loved the battle scenes he described-it felt like a bonus story to the book! Doeryan was the most realistic character to me, Being a half human and half Sardion, he is rejected and shunned by the other Sardions and yet the ruler uses him to do his dirty jobs. He is often taunted, beaten and degraded verbally because of his origins. He longs for freedom with an immense passion and this is why he accepts to betray Ora. A part of him, i wouldn't say hate, but more like dislikes Ora because she has such an effect on him and the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that she is an obstacle stopping him from getting his freedom.

I'm also quite curious about Letty, a little girl living with Joel. At times she seems like a normal jumpy, sparkly kid but sometimes she says really weird stuff like premonitions! I'm really suspicious of her and i can't wait to find out what is really up with her! I somehow didn't like Vanessa, Ora's best friend. I mean i get their friendship but she just felt very cold to me-always sending indirect jabs to Ora.

The ending really shocked me and i cannot wait to see what happens next!!! The revelations were so shocking i couldn't believe them! The author definitely does a fantastic job at keeping you hooked, This is such an intricately woven high-fantasy novel that grips you into a whole new world with endless possibilities with a war raging between demons and angels in the background! *Fangirls in the background*

TITLE: Omega
AUTHOR: SM Reine
SERIES: War Of The Alphas Book 1
PUBLICATION DATE: April 2 2015
PUBLISHER: Red Iris Books
SOURCE: ARC Netgalley
RATING: 4 STARS!!!

Goodreads Synopsis

Ten years ago, Deirdre Tombs died. When she was reborn the next day, Deirdre had become a shapeshifter who can't shift shapes. Nobody knows what animal she's supposed to be. She's definitely not a werewolf. The Alpha, Rylie Gresham, can't force her to transform like other members of her pack.

Now Deirdre is considered an omega, the weakest shapeshifter in the pack--a vulnerable position when Everton Stark demands tribute from Rylie. He wants to be the dominant Alpha. The only Alpha. And he plans to make her pack submit whether they want to or not. Stark can make every shapeshifter obey him by force of will alone.

Every shapeshifter except Deirdre.

The shifter who can't shift is the only hope for Rylie to win the war against Stark. It will take everything Deirdre has to survive undercover in his den. But can an omega's will be stronger than that of a charismatic, deadly Alpha like Everton Stark?

MY REVIEW

When Deidre was a kid, darkness-demons covered the planet and everyone died. And they revived but with the ability to shift into animals. Deidre however has come back but she can't shift into any animal. Rylie is an alpha and lives in the sanctuary with her pack but the problem is, only a few are allowed into the safety of the sanctuary. As a kid, Deidre, wasn't awarded such privileges. Due to her inability to change into an animal, she has been shuffled from home to home until she earned enough money to get her own apartment with her roommate. Then there's Everton Stark. His hatred for Rylie burns just as bright as Deidre's..the difference? He does something about it. He starts to build a rebel group and plans to take down Rylie. Everything is set into motion when she is attacked by her demon boss and Rylie brings her to the sanctuary and asks her to go undercover and join Everton Stark-all the while reporting to her. The reason? She cannot be compelled by Stark like the others because she can't shift.

Deidre was one kick ass heroine! Her hatred for Rylie was justified and i couldn't help but despise her a little because she was using Deidre. For her, Deidre was just a means to protect herself and sometimes i was irked by her 'i'm a good and sweet alpha' persona, 

There was loads of action as she got more involved into the rebellion and i could actually feel her indecision. She was torn between fighting with Stark-they both had the same reasons to fight-and keeping her promise to Rylie. Stark is a butt! I'm sorry but i really do not get him. But he's totally badass and it's supposed to fit his character so yeah-at times he seemed like an emotionless evil bastard and at times he would get so passionate about what he was fighting for. Point is, i felt no connection between him and Deidre but i think that will seriously change in the next book!

You get swept into the opposing sides really quickly and even though i don't like how Stark is handling the situation, i agree with his motives behind his actions-not his actions though.  He believes that everyone should be given equal rights and safety and not prioritized like Rylie's pack. To me, she basically started a discrimination between the shifters even if that wasn't her intention,.

I did love the love aspect in this book between Deidre and Gage! I could not believe the ending! Super interesting idea and great world building!

Hello! So today i'm doing a promo post for THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE!! I absolutely loved this book and i received a free ARC from Netgalley. You can find my review here and enjoy the promo post!

The Thorn and the Sinking Stone 
by C.J. Dushinski 
Release Date: March 2015 
Entangled Teen 
313 pages 

Summary from Goodreads: ADD TO GOODREADS

Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape… Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future… To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know. But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love… 

Buy links: Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books 



About the Author 

While attempting to navigate life as a responsible human being, CJ graduated from university with a B.Comm and worked her way along as marketer, copywriter, and graphic designer to earn a paycheck while pursing her passion for creating fantastical stories set in dark and wondrous corners of the world. Born amongst the wheat fields and open skies of the Canadian prairies, CJ’s imagination has always run wild, taking her on adventures across the world from modeling in Seoul, South Korea to backpacking through Europe and surfing (poorly) in Hawaii. After wandering through ancient cities and civilizations, learning from diverse cultures, and surrounding herself in new experiences, CJ was inspired and began work on her debut Young Adult novel THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE, to be published by Entangled Publishing 2014/15. CJ currently resides in Calgary, Alberta Canada – home of the Canadian Rockies – and keeps one hand on her passport and pen at all times, ready to pick up, see the world, and weave her experiences into stories. CJ is represented by Marlene Stringer of the Stringer Literary Agency LLC. Author Links: Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook

Character Profile: Bast 


Photo Credit: Colton Haynes 

Full name: Sebastian Leold 
Age: 18 
Affiliation: The Two Daggers 
Birthday: May 6 
Eye Color: Green/Blue 
Hair: Light brown/auburn 
Height: 6’1” 
Family: Brothers: Callan Leold and Kane Leold (A.K.A The Irishman) Father: Lucky Leold Mother: Gemma Leold Uncle: ‘Corduroy’ Leold 



Likes:  The sunrise  The sea  The sound of laughter  Old t-shirts  Dogs  Rich, black coffee  Salted caramel toffee  Playing video games with Callan  Heavy, dark ale  Stories about the old world 

Dislikes:  The rain  Wet socks in boots  Killing  The smell of blood  Spicy food  Overconfidence  Money and greed 

Biography: Of Celtic descent, Sebastian Leold is the middle of three brothers— the trio known throughout Rain City as the Leold Brothers. Raised by an honorable man, Bast has always understood the difference between right and wrong, even in a place as violent as Rain City. Now that his father is dead, Bast struggles to understand where loyalty ends and honor begins. He has no bloodlust, unlike others in the Two Daggers and still, after everything, wants to believe the best in people. Trusting to a fault and loyal beyond reason, Sebastian is the man you want on your side in the end. Talented with a dagger and sharp with his wit, he can hold his own in any fight. Despite his generally amicable, accepting, and caring nature, he is quick to strike when needed, but just as likely to forgive. With a huge heart weighed heavy by death and destruction, Sebastian finds himself swimming against the current and sinking like a stone, searching for a reason to fight. 

5 Things You Don’t Know about Sebastian and Valencia from the Thorn and the Sinking Stone 

Sebastian
1) He has a cousin named Avery who has been adopted by his uncle Corduroy. The two boys are the same age and grew up learning the ins and outs of being a Dagger together. Sebastian and I both hope to see Avery make an appearance later in the series, because we both think our readers would love him very much. 
2) Sebastian was incredibly close with his mother. She taught him to dance, and cook, and even sing a little. Though, since her passing, he avoids everything that reminds him of her…until he meets Valencia that is. 
3) He has a tattoo of two crossing daggers on his forearm, just like every member of the gang to reach maturity. It was “gifted” to him by his father on his 15th birthday. 4) Sebastian graduated from high school the year earlier, albeit barely. 

Valencia 
1) Though the katana is her prized weapon, Valencia is a talented martial artist overall and can whip your butt with a pair of nun chucks.
 2) She likes to paint in the traditional Japanese style. 
3) She is devout in her worship of Shinto 
4) Valencia once had a childhood friend named Micah– brother to Aston Mori. He died tragically when she was seven, the same year she met Sebastian Leold for the first time. 
5) Valencia is incredibly intelligent and was homeschooled. Because she spent so much time alone, she had ample opportunity to read and study and teach herself new things.