Exciting December 2015 Fantasy Book Releases

Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdom #4)
by Morgan Rhodes
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: December 15th, 2015

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Rebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes.

CLEO: Reeling after a bloody showdown in Limeros ending with Amara’s abduction of the water crystal, and a vacancy in the Mytican throne, Princess Cleo must cast aside her feelings and look toward her kingdom with the eyes of a Queen.

MAGNUS: With the kingdom in chaos, Princess Lucia still missing and quite possibly in danger, and a shocking realization about Cleo, the steely prince is once again torn between love and duty, leaving him wondering whether he’s strong enough to rule his people.

LUCIA: The young sorcercess has had her vengeance after the cruel death of her first and only love. Heartbroken and unable to trust anyone, she allies with the awoken Fire god, who also seeks revenge.

JONAS: After escaping death by the skin of his teeth, the defeated rebel—along with a mysterious stranger–leader reunites with Princess Cleo, only to find himself a mere pawn in a dangerous hunt for the elusive Kindred.

KING GAIUS: Abandoned by Melenia and betrayed by his own children, Gaius flees Mytica and sails to Kraeshia, where he attempts to ally with the famously brutal emperor across the Silver Sea.

Death's Leash (Hellhounds #1)
by J.D. Stroube
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Publication Date: December 1st, 2015

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The myth is wrong…

Death is only a man, but one who has control over all living beings. He chooses who will live or die. He commands the fates and gives the order to cut the thread of life. However, Death isn’t alone. 

In the beginning of time, he realized that it would be impossible for a single figure to wield power over life and death, while still having time to punish the wicked. Death summoned the tainted souls of the dead and from them created a race of females. They would be the takers of souls, the guardians of the afterlife, and the harbingers of death.

They are Death’s Hellhounds. Wild, impulsive, and terrifying, these sisters have a solitary goal: to hunt down unspeakable evils. When Death calls his Hellhounds to embark on the Wild Hunt, they must forsake their humanity to consume the most depraved souls in existence. Six remain in the veil between life and death, but step through the threshold when Death calls. 

Kali has spent her immortal life avoiding attachment. She hides her true self from all but her sisters. When Death gives her an assignment to hunt a rogue angel, she must confront the one man who places her heart in danger. Alone, she must face an enemy too powerful for a solitary Hellhound and find a way to break Death’s leash. 

When wicked souls turn from the light,
And baying calls ring through the night.
Face your end or turn to flee,
For Death’s Hellhounds have come for thee!

Gateway to Fourline(The Fourline Trilogy #1)
by Pam Brondos
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: December 1st, 2015

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Years before, a gateway opened between their world and ours. Sending one young woman through may be the key to survival for the kingdom of Fourline.

Strapped for cash, college student Natalie Barns agrees to take a job at a costume shop. Sure, Estos—her classmate who works in the shop—is a little odd, but Nat needs the money for her tuition.

Then she stumbles through the mysterious door behind the shop—and her entire universe transforms.

Discovering there’s far more to Estos than she ever imagined, Nat gets swept up in an adventure to save his homeland, an incredible world filled with decaying magic, deadly creatures, and a noble resistance of exiled warriors battling dark forces. As she struggles with her role in an epic conflict and wrestles with her growing affection for a young rebel, Soris, Nat quickly learns that nothing may go as planned…and her biggest challenge may be surviving long enough to make it home.

Inherit the Stars
by Tessa Elwood
Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi
Publication Date: December 8th, 2015

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Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.

Visions (The Mystical Encounter #1)
by Kimberly Readnour
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date:December 6th, 2015

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Book One of a Thrilling Trilogy

Having clairvoyance isn’t easy...

After moving to a new town, Heather Reiner struggles to keep her psychic abilities a secret and establish a sense of normalcy…at least for her overprotective mother’s sake.

But when Heather starts having terrifying visions of a missing boy, she can’t simply ignore them. This time she feels an inexplicable pull to solve the crime, and slowly begins to believe that her supernatural gifts could actually help others.

After meeting Barry, the cute boy next door, Heather uncovers a few interesting facts that might help unravel the mystery. She wants his help, but getting Barry involved also means exposing her “gifts” and potentially putting both their lives in danger.

Because if she’s not careful, these terrifying visions might be driving Heather straight into the killer’s lair.

Changeling (The Faewyld #1)
by Leigh Teale
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: December 15th, 2015

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Tinsley Scott isn’t having the greatest year. Her boyfriend refuses to let her meet his family, her mother is convinced she’s on drugs, and her little sister’s meddling has hit an all-time high.

When she tries to run away from her problems, though, they only get worse. One accidental plunge through a puddle later and she finds herself in the mysterious Faewyld. There, she learns that she’s a changeling, the spirit of a dead Fae who took refuge in a mortal body. Now she has a whole other world she can escape to.

Perfect, right?

But being a long-lost fairy princess has its own set of problems. War, magic, betrayal… Death. Suddenly, passing calculus doesn’t seem like such a big deal.

Doomsday League: Beginnings
by Kandie Delley
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: December 18th, 2015

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The "Doomsday League" brings a band of paranormal misfits together to save the world. 

But what happens when the world needs saving from them?

On the eve of her high school graduation, Ember Dawn learns that she’s a Sentinel, protector of one of five magical relics used to defeat the evil sorcerer, Nero Ignis, from casting the Harvest Spell.

Now, after centuries of peace, there’s another threat to magic and all the realms--including the dead realm, Earth--and Ember, along with her aunt Maven, a spell caster, and Archemedes, a Griffion Guard, must recruit five magical beings in order to save them all.

Options
by Abbi Glines
Genre: New Adult Paranormal
Publication Date: December 2015

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Two paths.
Two completely different roads.
Each one standing before me.
Each one holding a different destiny.

In life you're just supposed to choose one path. 
In life you're not given the chance at choosing one specific future.

Until now.
Until me. 

Why am I different? I don't know. But I'm going to see those roads and walk down each one. When it's over I'll know which one to choose because I'll know my - options.

Click here for more anticipated releases for December 2015 based on Goodreads followers!

Review: The Goddess Inheritance (The Goddess Test #3) by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance (The Goddess Test #3)
by Aimee Carter
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: February 26th, 2013

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Synopsis: 
Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

My Thoughts: What an ending to the second book, Goddess Interrupted, it really sets the pace for this book!! I cannot believe how severely Kate's best friend betrays her and Henry!!! I could not set this book down, I had to know what was going to happen to Kate and the rest of the group as Cronus's power grows stronger.  I really did enjoy this series but I honestly had a hard time with some of the more dramatic scenes with Kate.  Overall I loved reading the journey Kate and Henry each take and I was glad they were each able to come together in the end. Although I was happy for Kate and Henry I was pretty sad to see one of my favorite characters not make it out alive in the final battle with Cronus. 

Review: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) 
by Aimee Carter
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: March 27th, 2012

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Synopsis: Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Thoughts: I finished this book in a day, but it was a love hate relationship.  Now don't get me wrong I love the story line and the path that Kate has to take to save the people she loves.  What I did not like was her constant need for reassurance from Henry, I understand her need but it was hard to read and sort of stressful. Why the author felt she needed to drag out the difficulties of their relationship in the way she chose is beyond me, and I feel sort of took away from the story as a whole.

Saying all of that I still love this series and, like I said before, finished the book in a day.  The story keeps you captivated the whole time and once things are finally settled a little bit for Kate and Henry its easy to love the relationship they develop.  I continue to love all the main characters and the roll each of them play in Cronus, the Titans, struggle to escape the underworld. This second book is pretty fast paced and keeps the reader intrigued.  The ending is pretty shocking in more way than one and definitely leaves you hanging needing to find out what will happen next.  Luckily for me and you the third and final book in the series is already released and downloaded on my kindle.

Review: Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Goddess Test
by Aimee Carter
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: April 19th, 2011

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Synopsis: Every girl who had taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

If she fails...

My Thoughts: Great book! Very intriguing story line for a Greek mythology.  I loved reading about the struggles Henry, Hades, has gone through over the last thousand years.  It was very interesting reading another twist in Hades story and having him as the leading guy in this book, rather than the bad guy. I loved Kate in this book, always looking out for others, even if it means putting herself in a precarious situation.  The two of them together fit well when both are willing to let their guard down and allow the other in.

I could not put this book down, I needed to know what would happen next. Very surprising twists at the end of the book, one after the next, involving all the characters I came to love while reading this story. I never would have guessed the way this book ends, and thankfully the second book is already out so I don't have to wait to see what will happen next!!