Avalon Hall by Ruth Miranda ^_^

Avalon Hall is available for Pre-Order now and launches October 3!

The Short:  Fans of modern paranormal fantasy and Arthurian medieval fantasy rejoice, for Avalon Hall celebrates both, weaving them together through magic and Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice into an engrossing and entertaining tale.  It’s an interesting, fresh, and unique concept, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey.

The Long:  Avalon Hall is like two books in one in which Ruth Miranda explores Arthurian legend through the past and present by serving up a slice of modern paranormal fantasy in Part One and a slice of medieval fantasy in Part Two.  A tidy epilogue bridges them as a platform upon which the reader must eagerly await the next installment.

In Part One, fans of the The Blood Trilogy will recognize a few faces and places as they are swept into majestic Avalon Hall, a modern day academy for witches with its own resident vampire and too many secrets.  Surrounded by gates, magical barriers, forest, and a misty lake, Avalon Hall’s setting is perfect for the mystical mysteries the characters either keep or must uncover before they can understand the true powers within themselves, of the school, and of a history enveloped in legend.  Be forewarned that the cliffhanger into part two is a sheer drop, so watch your footing.  ;)

In Part Two, the reader is whisked into the heart of medieval fantasy and the early origins of King Arthur’s tale.  Miranda’s voice shifts here, and appropriately so, to fit nicely amongst nobles and castles and the magical world of Avalon—a world they must carefully curate and maintain through strict tradition and strategy.  Themes of personal freedom and gender roles/equality glide along the undercurrents and punch the surface to add ugly truths atop the romanticized legends of the dark ages.  Life, death, love, hate, sorrow, joy, betrayal, loyalty —all of these things blend the past with magic to build the foundation for a future that must be protected at all costs.

But what happens when that future comes crashing into its foundation while still in its infancy?  Well…this is a trilogy, so stay tuned!

My Thoughts:  As with anyone, my reading habits skew my views, but they’re particularly pertinent here because I may read a lot of paranormal fantasy manga, but I don’t read many fantasy novels (I do read some – I read a bit of everything as long as it sounds interesting).  As a fan of Ruth Miranda’s The Blood Trilogy, I am partial to Part One.  If you’ve read it (no spoilers from me), this fills in the gap.  I envisioned the twins on the island listening to this story, and, for me, that made it even more interesting.  Many of these characters were minor or secondary characters in The Blood Trilogy and you get to revisit them and/or learn more about them, so you not only get this new story with this new trilogy, but you also get a companion tale from within the same universe that encompasses most of Ruth Miranda’s books.  Avalon Hall holds true to Miranda’s writing style, but it’s subtly tweaked in ways that match this story and its needs.  The modern Part One doesn’t punch as hard and fast as The Blood Trilogy, and it doesn’t need to.  It’s a sweeping tale in which Miranda holds nothing back and explores many of the same hard-hitting gritty bits of reality like domestic violence, self-discovery, and self and peer acceptance, while pulling the reader into the lives of these magical characters in a realistic manner.  The shift into the past in Part Two is abrupt and I think it’s beneficial to the reader to know that going in.  I loved tales of chivalry and knights in my youth, but they’re not usually in my reading piles these days.  That said, I enjoyed it and I was sucked in.  The flow slows a bit at first, which I think allows the reader to recover from the momentum of the previous section and adjust so they can sink into the lives of characters that were merely glimpsed in the present.  Part Two carries a palpable emotional weight that is easy to identify with.  These characters feel real despite originating from historical legend and being wrapped in magic.  The story is simply crushing at certain points and that speaks volumes of Ruth Miranda’s skill at adapting her voice and writing style to support the setting and era as she deftly weaves her words. 

Overall:  Avalon Hall is essentially two books in one:  a modern paranormal fantasy with the intrigue of legend and a plunge into that legend for a delightful Arthurian/medieval fantasy.  Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice and writing style draws the reader into both parts with skillful shifts in her techniques that match the settings of both present and past.  She delivers a thoroughly captivating pair of intertwining tales that are not only fascinating, but also tackle real life issues that you can sympathize with or that make you think.  Miranda’s fans are sure to love Avalon Hall, which also serves as a welcoming invitation to new readers to discover her magical writing!

I am the Night by Ruth Miranda

The short: If you like intense reads with bloody vampires and a gritty reality that holds nothing back, READ THIS.

The long: This companion novella to The Blood Trilogy fits between Blood and Scars, books 1 & 2. It can be read alone simply for the story of a newly turned vampire learning about his new life, or with or after reading the trilogy. Where you jump in depends on what you want - if you want Marcus's POV and character development from the events in Blood before moving on to Scars, then read it after Blood. If you want the maximum emotional effect, read it after you finish Marianne.

Marcus's energy and confusion are palpable from the start as the whirlwind of his life throws everything but kindness at him. This poor boy, from a poor family, knows nothing of true friendship or love, but is intimate with ridicule and brutality. It's no surprise that he both embraces and loathes what he becomes. It speaks to the effects of abuse and the questioning nature of accepting our actions, acting on impulse, enacting revenge, learning from mistakes, and growing to love ourselves. Although it comes from a preternatural angle, the emotions are raw and quite human. The wild fluctuations of Marcus's state of mind transition seamlessly and believably. Caught in a moment where everything ever known shifts in an instant, adrenaline and base emotion deliver a powerful blow that forces us to stay on our feet however we can. Marcus's resolve makes him do just that. Life keeps kicking him, but he's not one to fall flat and get trampled.

As a fan of the original trilogy, I loved seeing Marcus's side of things from Blood, seeing his character development, and hearing his thoughts, feeling his emotions. Ruth Miranda has a distinct voice and a writing style that flows with the way many of us think. We generally don't think or speak with grammar in mind - there's a stream of thought, of words and fragments - and that's what makes slipping into Marcus's head so easy. The reader becomes one with his thoughts and, to me, that pulls you in even more. I don't mean this as a slight or insinuation that grammar is foregone. On the contrary, I feel that there is magic in the wordsmith'ing that Ruth Miranda pulls off and it sets her writing apart.

All in all, I loved all of it. It's an emotional, gritty read that tackles tough issues while delivering an entertaining and thought provoking story. I enjoyed the entire series, with Marianne standing out as the highlight and emotional peak, but this adds layers and insight into Marcus that fans will love. I'm so happy Ruth Miranda choose to write this companion novella, and, as others have said, I hope she writes more like this in the future.

Praetorian Rising by J. McSpadden ^_^

With a writing style and turns of phrase all her own, yet reminiscent of epic fantasy from the days of yore, Author Jessica McSpadden lulls you into the simple, and, at times, harsh, life of small village Aspera before plunging you into the depths of chaos.  She welcomes the reader into her richly detailed world on a note of pressing intrigue and grows that world around vivid, believable, and connectable characters.  Fierce and headstrong Camille throws herself between anyone and anything that threatens harm to those she loves and seeks to protect.  Camille's snap-to decisions aren't always the wisest and sometimes (usually) make things harder, but she follows through and keeps her traveling companions on their toes.  Praetorian Rising is a delightfully fun, yet gritty and dark, fantasy that will have readers curling their toes while their fingers twitch to turn the page.  But in one's haste to reach the climax, pause to enjoy the scenery, sink into the emotional depths, and don't be surprised if McSpadden coaxes out a few tears and laughs before she takes your breath away and leaves you gasping for more! 

Praetorian Rising is a fast-paced must read for fans of Tolkien style fantasy that rides an undercurrent of tension all the way to the breathtaking end. 

(My reader review is available on GoodReads!)