Thorns at Sunrise Release Day! And a Review!

23 Mar 2023 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in book tours, Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , ,

Today is the release day for a fantastic fairytale retelling.

A young queen. Her imaginary friend. A kingdom on the verge of death.

She believes she’s crazy.

Queen Usilea has a secret–and he lives in her mind. Ever since she was six years old, her imaginary friend has been her closest companion, and her arranged marriage has been a great dread. When she learns her betrothed and the royal family have suddenly died, she feels obligated to attend the funeral in the foreign land of Absteph–and perhaps learn more behind their mysterious passing.

He only wants the truth.

Petar endures great pain to protect those he does not remember. His only solace is a shadowy woman who he loves–even though she denies that he exists. When a terrible tragedy occurs in his kingdom, that mysterious woman is his only hope of bringing justice to light. For the cage that imprisons him grows harsher every day, and he is losing the fight.

But there are thorns at sunrise.

Brought together on the barest thread of reality, Usilea and Petar must discover what really happened to the royal family. But Petar’s time is running out. Soon not even a Mender like Usilea will be able to save him.

This YA romance features a gender-swapped Sleeping Beauty in an original fantasy world on the brink of doom.

Amazon Kindle*: https://amzn.to/3XzECTH

Thorns at Sunrise autographed paperback: https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/thorns-at-sunrise-autographed-paperback/

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

My Review of Thorns at Sunrise:

Thorns at Sunrise is the second book in a series of unique fairytale retellings from author Janeen Ippolito.

While the first book Met by Midnight was a loose take on Cinderella, Thorns at Sunrise sets out to tackle Sleeping Beauty. If the Prince had been the sleeping one. Although the girl is now, the hero Thorns at Sunrise maintains a balance between both POVs and avoids the easy “girl power” narrative. Urlisa and Petar have a healthy relationship and the feels are there for those who came for the romance.

Like Met by Midnight, Thorns at Sunrise also includes original poetry, that compliments the prose.
The author is also a poet in her own right and I wondered which came first, the story or the poem?

If you live for fairytale retellings, this is one series you won’t want to miss. Met by Midnight and Thorns at Sunrise share characters, so I recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.

I was blessed with an early review copy from the author, the above review is my fair and honest evaluation of the provided work.

In addition, special edition hardbacks of Met by Midnight and Thorns at Sunrise are also available.

The special edition hardbacks will feature all-new illustrated covers by Kristen Hildebrand/Magpie Designs. 

Thorns at Sunrise autographed hardback: https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/thorns-at-sunrise-autographed-hardback/

Met by Midnight autographed hardback: https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/met-by-midnight-autographed-hardback/

Met by Midnight (book 1 of the series) Amazon Kindle*: https://amzn.to/3HrV8zA

Author Bio:

Janeen Ippolito writes about misfits who defy expectations, whether in fairy tale, steampunk fantasy, urban fantasy, humorous paranormal romance, or poetry. She also spreads wordtastic joy in her work as a fearless book strategist, nonfiction author, and coach. In her spare time, she swordfights and posts cute animal memes.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @JaneenIppolito (https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito)

Facebook: @janeenippolitounique (https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitounique)

Pinterest: @janeen_ippolito (https://www.pinterest.com/janeen_ippolito)

Website: https://www.janeenippolito.com/

Instagram: @Janeen_Ippolito (https://www.instagram.com/janeen_ippolito/)

*This site takes part in the Amazon Associates Program. That means if you click an Amazon link in this post and buy the product promoted the blogger will make literal pennies at no extra cost to you.

UUP Cinderella Blog Tour: Met by Midnight review.

14 Sep 2020 2 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in book tours, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , , ,

Do you remember back when I did a double cover reveal for two Cinderella retellings from Uncommon universes press? If you don’t check it out here.

Well release day for these books is close at hand so I’m here to dive right in with my review of the first of these awesome books.

Met By Midnight dive in Review:

Met By Midnight is advertised as a Cinderella retelling, but it’s so much better than one.

Let’s face it Cinderella always had a choice. She could have left.

Renna is a mender, a slave, locked in a secure sanctuary and forced to heal the ailments of others. She has no choice. She has no step mother, no sisters, only her gift that makes her property and a tool to be used by others. This is not the story of a nice girl getting her hearts desire.

This is a story of defiance. A story of a girl who will not be used any longer. This is not a sweet romance, this is Hunger Games level wrong. Be prepared to be disturbed and outraged on behalf of a population.

I was blown away by the originality in this story. Not only the circumstances that Renna experiences but also the way the Prince is treated. Jaric thinks he is cursed because mender’s powers are useless on him, and in a family that values perfection, every scar is literally a mark against him. To marry the girl of his dreams he will need more than a slipper, he’ll have to upset the system. A system that’s already staked against him.

This is sounding more like a commercial than a review, but it was so good. I just want everyone to read it.

So in conclusion:

This story was so good, it stirred up all the feels, all righteous anger. This has many things that Cinderella does, a girl who wants to change her lot in life, a royal ball, even a lost slipper. But do not go in thinking this is a sweet fairy-tale. This is not Cinderella.

This is DEFIANCE.

*I was given an ARC by the publisher so that I may leave an honest review of the provided book. The above review was given willingly and contains my honest opinion.*

An outcast prince. A captive healer. A single night that changes their destinies.

She lives a nightmare.

As a Mender, Renna is held captive to an endless cycle of receiving and recovering from the physical ailments of others—a cycle that led her mother to an early grave. When her father becomes deathly ill, Renna is desperate to save her only remaining family. Even if it means allying with criminals and taking an illegal mission into the royal palace on the night of their greatest ball.

He’s haunted by dreams.

Unable to be Mended, Prince Jaric’s existence is a curse to his family’s façade of health and security. Marrying him off at the ball and sending him to a distant dukedom is the royal solution—but Jaric has his own plans. For years he’s dreamed of a young woman, a strong-hearted Mender he would give everything for. When she arrives the night of his betrothal, he’s determined to discover her true identity.

Met by midnight, their fates are entwined.

While escape seems the only answer, powerful forces conspire to keep Renna and Jaric within their cages. Forces that undermine the foundations of the kingdom itself—and threaten any hope of a future together.

This YA romance features Cinderella in an original fantasy world with a dystopian twist.

Janeen Ippolito believes in Jesus, true love, and the power of your unique words. She’s a bestselling author of speculative fiction, writing resources, and poetry. She’s also an editor, author coach, marketing strategist, and the president of Uncommon Universes Press. When she’s not immersed in the geektastic world of words, she’s helping her husband with his youth swordfighting ministry, exploring a slew of random hobbies, and posting up cute animal videos on social media. This extroverted writer loves to connect, so find her on Facebook, Instagram, and her website janeenippolito.com

Media Links:

Website: https://janeenippolito.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito
Email Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/creativenewsletter
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitounique/
Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

Order your copy today.

You can still pre-order Met by Midnight and/or Ashen. Hurry it releases the 22nd.

Amazon Kindle

Ashen – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZZFKKX/

Met By Midnight – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZYXJLW/

Other Online Retailers

Ashen – https://books2read.com/u/b5ZW7A

Met By Midnight – https://books2read.com/u/3Gdpea

Autographed Paperback

UUP offers autographed copies of all their books when you buy direct. Order separately,

Ashen

Met By Midnight

Or save heavily on both.

Bundled Special (both books)
https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/ashen-and-met-by-midnight-autographed-paperback-bundle/

Add to Goodreads Want-To-Read List

Ashen – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54343688-ashen

Met By Midnight – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54343721-met-by-midnight

UUP Dual Cover Reveal, Duel.

17 Jul 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

One of my favorite publishers Uncommon Universe Press is releasing two Cinderella retellings simultaneously. So what better way to celebrate this than to host a dual cover reveal and have them fight to see which is more interesting.

First up is Ashen by H.L. Burke.

Stealer of warmth, bringer of death. What if Cinderella had a secret that kept her locked away?

Unable to make her own body heat, foundling Lizbete survives in the tavern kitchen, drawing warmth from the fires, the sun—and sometimes, other living beings. Her days are spent cooking alongside the tavern owner and avoiding the suspicious gazes of the villagers in her small northern town. While she quietly longs for the handsome Brynar, she knows she has no chance with the mayor’s son, even if he invites her to the First Frost festival.

When sudden earthquakes strike Brumehome, blame falls upon Lizbete, and not even her friendship with Brynar can protect her. She finds shelter in the dangerous caverns of nearby Ash Mountain. There she discovers mysterious people with her same ability to draw heat—and a fiery doom in the mountain that slowly awakens with every quake.

Now the festival Lizbete thought to avoid is her only chance to warn the villagers. Yet even with Brynar at her side, can the strange girl dubbed the Ash Lizard hope to save the town that fears her?

A rugged YA Cinderella retelling set in a fantasy world with light steampunk elements.

Wow that sounds super interesting and not at all like Cinderella. But can the cover do it justice?

Very nice, I love how the cover is so cold until you get to the bottom and see that fire burning inside her. I think it perfectly embodies the description.

Now Met by Midnight, by Janeen Ippolito

An outcast prince. A captive healer. A single night that changes their destinies.

She lives a nightmare.

As a Mender, Renna is held captive to an endless cycle of receiving and recovering from the physical ailments of others—a cycle that led her mother to an early grave. When her father becomes deathly ill, Renna is desperate to save her only remaining family. Even if it means allying with criminals and taking an illegal mission into the royal palace on the night of their greatest ball.

He’s haunted by dreams.

Unable to be Mended, Prince Jaric’s existence is a curse to his family’s façade of health and security. Marrying him off at the ball and sending him to a distant dukedom is the royal solution—but Jaric has his own plans. For years he’s dreamed of a young woman, a strong-hearted Mender he would give everything for. When she arrives the night of his betrothal, he’s determined to discover her true identity.

Met by midnight, their fates are entwined.

While escape seems the only answer, powerful forces conspire to keep Renna and Jaric within their cages. Forces that undermine the foundations of the kingdom itself—and threaten any hope of a future together.

This YA romance features Cinderella in an original fantasy world with a dystopian twist.

I’m starting to think that, people who go to balls, is the only thing you need for a Cinderella retelling. But let’s check out the cover.

Very, very nice. This cover is very elegant and low key. I love the vines sprouting out of the title. I think it does a good job of making the reader want to open the book while still maintaining the mysteries promised in the blurb.

Amazon Kindle

Though Sunday 7/19/2020: preorder the ebooks for only 99 cents.

Ashen – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZZFKKX/

Met By Midnight – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZYXJLW/

Other Online Retailers

Ashen – https://books2read.com/u/b5ZW7A

Met By Midnight – https://books2read.com/u/3Gdpea

Autographed Paperback Special

UUP has placed the paper back versions of both books on sale for this weekend. Get a discount on one.

Ashen – 10.99

Met By Midnight – 7.99


Or save heavily on both.

Bundled Special (both books) – 17.99
https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/ashen-and-met-by-midnight-autographed-paperback-bundle/

Add to Goodreads Want-To-Read List

Ashen – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54343688-ashen

Met By Midnight – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54343721-met-by-midnight

About the authors

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic. Her obsessions include dragons and tales about inner beauty and character overcoming extreme circumstances. Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.  

Media Links:

Website: https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hlburkewriter 
Email Newsletter: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f6o2i8  
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter/ 
Instagram: @burkesdragons

Janeen Ippolito believes in Jesus, true love, and the power of your unique words. She’s a bestselling author of speculative fiction, writing resources, and poetry. She’s also an editor, author coach, marketing strategist, and the president of Uncommon Universes Press. When she’s not immersed in the geektastic world of words, she’s helping her husband with his youth swordfighting ministry, exploring a slew of random hobbies, and posting up cute animal videos on social media. This extroverted writer loves to connect, so find her on Facebook, Instagram, and her website janeenippolito.com

Media Links:

Website: https://janeenippolito.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito
Email Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/creativenewsletter
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitounique/
Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

Okay so I love them both and I actually don’t know how to make books, or their covers, fight a duel.

Should I just admit it was click bait and leave or should I poll you?

Leave a comment answering the following questions.

So what do you think?

Which cover is better?

Is people going to a ball the only thing you need for a Cinderella retelling?

Does that make Romeo and Juliet a Cinderella retelling?

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