IE Reviews Winter Omens

You may recall me raving about Trisha Leigh's Whispers in Autumn, the YA dystopian novel with a very original twist. It was one of my favorite books that I read last year, one of my favorite ever really. It was so good that I immediately bought the second book when I finished reading it. Here is my review of the sequel, Winter Omens.

Not all sequels can stand up to the first book. Many fall flat and the author becomes a one hit wonder. Not so with Trisha Leigh and Winter Omens. It was everything I hoped it would be and then some, earning a full and enthusiastic five stars. So good, in fact, that tomorrow I'm buying the third book, and for me that's huge. I'm hard to impress to the point where I will keep reading an author's next books because there are so many authors that I want to read that I feel guilty spending all my time on one. Here is my official review:

This heart-pounding sequel to Whispers in Autumn raises the stakes and deepens the characters in a way that keeps you flipping the pages. I loved the glimpse of a post-apocalyptic world that we get to see in this one, and how Althea responds to it. I didn't think the author could top the first one, I loved it that much, but she did and then some.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Here is a bit about it:

Althea and Lucas barely escaped the Others’ clutches in the autumn, and were separated in the process. Alone and on the run from the cruel alien race determined to exterminate her, Althea struggles to adapt and survive in a world she never imagined.

When a boy named Pax appears out of nowhere, he quickly recognizes Althea for what she is – a human/Other hybrid just like him. Althea begs him to help her find Lucas, but Pax refuses, intent on following his own mysterious agenda.

The Others’ presence continues to devour the planet’s resources, and if history is an indication, they won’t leave until Earth is destroyed beyond repair. Althea and Pax sense the only way to save themselves – and maybe their home – is to understand the powers simmering inside them.

Together they push the limits of their capabilities in the quiet Wilds, but are soon confronted with a terrifying fact: no place is safe from the relentless pursuit of the Others.

Least of all their own minds.

~Heather McCorkle

Author of the paranormal Earth-conscious channeler series: Born of Fire (FREE novella), The Secret of Spruce Knoll, Channeler's Choice, Rise of a Rector, and the historical fantasy, To Ride A Puca. Heather also has stories in the following anthologies: In His Eyes (FREE) and Winter Wonders. 

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IE Reviews Blood Of Requiem

After scouring seemingly every shelf, I finally came across an epic fantasy novel that caught my attention and held it. I love epic fantasy but I'm picky about it. Some of my favorite authors were Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, and Anne McCaffrey, not easy standards to hold up to even now. But Blood of Requiem did that and then some. Here is my review:

From the first pulse-pounding page to the last, this book seized my attention and refused to let it go. While gritty and bold, it still manages to bestow a vulnerability that makes it's characters corporeal and sympathetic. This novels brings dragons back into the spotlight in a brilliant way. Mr. Arenson has made a fan out of me, which is no easy feat. I can hardly wait to read the next novel. I recommend this novel for those who enjoy rich descriptions, a lot of action, and of course, dragons. I don't recommend it for younger readers or the faint of heart. 

Here is a bit about it: 

Long ago stood the kingdom of Requiem, a land of men who could grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem ruled the sky.

But Dies Irae, a tyrant leading an army of griffins, hunted Requiem's people, burned their forests, and shattered their temples. Requiem fell. This ancient land now lies in ruin, its halls crumbled, its cries silenced, its skeletons littering the burned earth.

In the wilderness, a scattering of survivors lives in hiding. The griffins still hunt them, and every day promises death. Will Requiem's last children perish in exile... or once more become dragons and fly to war?

At only .99 cents it's a steal. I will happily pay more for the sequel! You can find it at: 

Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

~Heather

Author of the paranormal Earth-conscious channeler series: Born of Fire (FREE novella), The Secret of Spruce Knoll, Channeler's Choice, Rise of a Rector, the historical fantasy, To Ride A Puca, and coming next month, The Dragon Empire. Heather also has stories in the following anthologies: In His Eyes (FREE) and Winter Wonders. 

IE Reviews Whispers In Autumn

You'll be seeing a lot more reviews here from the IE (Indie Elite) authors, kind of our way of giving back. We aren't paid to do these reviews, and they are our honest opinions so when you get a recommendation here, you know it's going to be good. 

Today's book is Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh, reviewed by IE member Heather McCorkle.

My thoughts:

This book earned every single star and then some, and I'm not one to give out five stars lightly. From the very first page it grabs you with its originality and compelling writing then it simply refuses to let go. An intimate, original look at alien invasion told in a completely unexpected and captivating way. This is one of the best books I read in 2012 and one of my favorite all time books. 

Here is a bit about the book:

In 2015, a race of alien Others conquered Earth. They enslaved humanity not by force, but through an aggressive mind control that turned people into contented, unquestioning robots.

Except sixteen-year-old Althea isn’t content at all, and she doesn’t need the mysterious note inside her locket to tell her she’s Something Else. It also warns her to trust no one, so she hides the pieces that make her different, even though it means being alone.

Then she meets Lucas, everything changes.

Althea and Lucas are immune to the alien mind control, and together they search for the reason why. What they uncover is a stunning truth the Others never anticipated, one with the potential to free the brainwashed human race.

It’s not who they are that makes them special, but what.

And what they are is a threat. One the Others are determined to eliminate for good.

You can find Whispers in Autumn on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and more.

~Heather

Heather is the author of the paranormal Earth-conscious channeler series: Born of Fire (FREE novella), The Secret of Spruce Knoll, Channeler's Choice, Rise of a Rector, and the historical fantasy, To Ride A Puca. She also has stories in the following anthologies: In His Eyes (FREE) and Winter Wonders.