#Tara Grayce

[kanerallels]

If I had a nickel for every fantasy story where elves and humans lived in neighboring kingdoms, and were at war for the longest time and one of the main things that brought them together was a human-elf couple (the elf has silvery hair, dual swords, assassin training, parent issues, and is kinda cranky. The human is royal, has sibling(s) they would die for, and is an adorable little dork who will ramble nervously and the elf loves it. They're also secretly awesome), I'd have two nickels. But it's weird that it happened twice

[bookwormbeat]

Honor without compassion was meaningless. Duty without love was nothing. War without the purpose of peace was just empty bloodshed.

Troll Queen (Elven Alliance, book 4), Tara Grayce

[sarcasmiclife]

Essie is such a Barbie and Farrendel is such a just Ken fr

[sukiliske]

New Covers for book series!

Heyo! Haven't really posted much here, but I just wanted to share a cool update from an author, Tara Grayce. She is the author of the Elven Alliance series and has just updated her books with some new, super fancy and pretty covers! The new covers convey with a little more feeling the kind of books these are, with some seriously gorgeous artwork. Having just finished the series, it is pretty fun to fangirl over them, lol.

The illustrator for the new artwork is Sara Morello. Her Instagram is @saramorelloart.

The new typography was done by Deranged Doctor Designs. Their Instagram is @derangeddoctordesign.

Tara Grayce also going to be running a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the new covers. The Kickstarter will be launching next week, but the page is already available so you can click the “notify me on launch” button to follow the campaign. You don’t have to donate to the Kickstarter if you don’t want to. But if you do, here is the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taragrayce/new-covers-for-the-elven-alliance-series  She will also be adding this link to her Linktree on Instagram if you want head over there.

The Kickstarter rewards will feature signed copies of the Elven Alliance series in the new covers, signed copies of the old covers (both paperbacks and hardcovers), LOTS of fun swag, and exclusive hardcovers which will not be for sale on Amazon! And for the first 4 days of the Kickstarter, all of the swag pack add ons will be on an Early Bird special!

"What kind of books do these new, beautiful covers hold?" You may ask..

Well, the books themselves were lots of fun to read. Clean and super fluffy soft, the Elven Alliance follows Essie's marriage alliance to Farrendel to preserve a very tenuous peace between the elves and humans, while war threatens to break out again between elves and trolls on the elves opposite border. In a sense, the first book especially, it's bit like a guilty pleasure. There are 7 books in total (plus two collections of short stories/novellas) and they're fun and easy reads. If you're in the mood for something sweet and sugary, but still containing a fair amount of depth, I'd really recommend the series. There's family drama, grumpy elves (secretly cinnamon rolls), a very cheerful princess married to a living deadly weapon with maybe just few issues, magic, war, political troubles, assassination plots- all kinds of good fun. Thanks for dropping by, and let me know what you think of these new covers in the comments! Do you have any personal favorites here?? (Mine is a tie between War Bound and Elf Prince) Even if you've never heard of the series, I'd love to know your thoughts!

[deborahocarroll]

My Top 20 Favorite 2022 Reads

Today I’m excited to (finally) get around to sharing my top favorite books I read in 2022! Top 5: Best of the Best Dana Illwind and War’s Shadow (by Arthur Daigle) — Dana Illwind, #2 (Read my full review.) My top-favorite read of last year! This series makes it onto a very select list of my top-favorite books of all time, and I enjoyed this one just as much as book one–maybe even more. More…

[lainalit]

I know many find this line from rhysand to feyre very romantic:

but for me It isn't that romantic when this line from an elf prince to his human wife exists:

[sukiliske]

Some more great books are

The Miraveld Chronicles by Selina Gozalez are really good. They're fairytale retellings with some great twists. Truthfully, I've only read the first book so far, but I loved it enough to buy it in paperback.

The Constantine Capers by Natalie Brianne is an ongoing mystery series, and the main detective has a surprising problem he has to work around. Very fun and well written.

The Kasmian Chronicles by Contance Lopez is also an ongoing series. The fantasy world is original and the magic system is one of the most unique and interesting I've read. Plus the storytelling is just beautiful- the author is a Christian and weaves some very Biblical themes in her stories so artfully. The first is also one I had to buy in paperback.

The Balance series buy Inghild Økland are really good too. Set in a fantasy world based on the Nordic land and middle eastern deserts, the books go back and forth between PoV of two sisters. The first book is Balance, and the second is Madalyn, but you can read either one of those first.

Illuminare by Bryn Shutt is a good book, and I think is the start of a series. It is a tad slow, in my opinion, but still a very well-written story. The author is a Christian, and makes the symbolism in her book very evident without becoming preachy.

The Scepter and Crown series by C.F.E. Black is another fantasy world, based on what seems to be Victorian Era London. There is romance in this book, but it is very slow-burn and not the main focus. (The author, in her words, write books you could read with your mom and not get embarrassed.)

Lastly is The Zheninghai Chronicles Anastasis Blythe. The 5th book is my favorite so far, but they're all good! She also just published The Assassin Bride as a beginning as a new series.

The are so many more, but this post is probably long enough already, lol.

Any of you have recommendations for fantasy or sci-fi without much sexual content?

Self-published or Christian works welcome but only if they're high quality (i.e. not worse than general market fiction).

And, of course, I have to add I've read everything by Tolkien and Lewis.

[emlinden]

War Bound by Tara Grayce.

It’s been a while since I last read a romance, but I recently remembered that I read and liked the first book of the Elven Alliance series, so I decided to check out the next one. And I can happily say that it did not disappoint! Essie and Farrendel are always a joy to read.

[roxwritings]

-Original Characters-

These characters are my own making, but are placed in several universes (most are static to those worlds, some are flex however.) These are not in alphabetical order. But organized by universe they are in.

-RWBY: Noelle Bryant, Alanna Bryant, Fiye Faune, Wisteria Greene, Aeroa Mai, Peyton Kennedy, Kyerian Marie, Vienna Reese, Xavier Bryant, Berlin "Bishop" Kortez, Lacey Aramantha, Maryis Blacksteel, Joseph "Puck" Miller, Naya Kidman, Tina Madsen, Boe Kujo, Delilah Fernrow, Grayce Carlile, Wilson Addleberry, Denella Flamewright, Mika Honeydew, Dazz Sno, Navara Jae, Tara Dodger, Tyra Carmon, Isabella Honeydew, Pearl Mauve

-STALKER: Petyr Anderiesky, Orion Marikhet, Arianna Makarov, Piper Eda

-Marvel: Harper Burke, Alex Martin

-Sword Art Online: Yashima Sakurako

-Fantasy (DND Style Stuff): Aria Aehren, Raye Vellard, Etsui Hitsu, Hunrea, Axin Faedrith, Haren Ardin, Amri Hescalt/Ardin, Vanna Phoebe Ardin, Keti Ardin, Selya Ardin, Allison Pendra, Eliza Hawthorne Harkwillow, Cellina, Rose Yeri, Eryn Vildre

-Mechs: Korean Thers, Layne Holland

-Modern: Bonnie Scaram, Orion Shirakawa, Sasori Kura, Isena Hope

[msbarrows]

Reading Recap 2023

Did one of these last year for 2022 and decided to do one again this year for 2023.

These are the published (including self-published) books that 1) I added to my library within the last year, that 2) were new to me, and 3) actually got read cover to cover at some point in 2023. It works out to 60 books, three times as many books as last year (granted some of these are short stories, not even novellas or novels - but then a few are anthologies so it sort of balances out).

(Yes, I do read a ridiculous amount, considering this is only the tip of the iceberg of what I've actually read over the last year.)

Ended up finding a lot of older stuff on good sales, and also fell into reading some fantasy romances and a few YA things as well. Sadly there are some reputedly quite excellent books that I bought this year that I either never got around to reading, or started in on and then got distracted by something I wanted to read more, and never got back around to, so there's a pile of stuff that'll never manage to show up on one of these posts.

Books and/or series I particularly enjoyed, in no particular order:

Bookshops & Bonedust, Travis Baldree - great to have a prequel for Legends & Lattes, really good story.

A Charm of Magpies series of series, K.J. Charles - interesting historical queer magic-as-technology romances.

Defiance, the start of the latest (and probably last) trilogy in the Foreigner series of series by C.J. Cherryh (Book #22!!! And yes I re-read the other 21 before diving into this latest addition). So glad she kicked cancer's ass and is still writing; I am on tenterhooks for the next two books, waiting to see if my main guess about what this last story arc will focus around will be right.

Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman - how have I gone this many years without actually reading this one!? Awesome idea, told with his usual (very high) skill.

Elven Alliance series, Tara Grayce, saw it mentioned here on Tumblr on a post wishing for stories where the Princess leans into the arranged marriage rather than revolting against it. Got curious, bought the first book and then just kept buying until I ran out of books.

Princess Floralinda and the Forty Flight Tower, Tamsyn Muir - think this was another one that was mentioned in the notes on the same thread as previous, or possibly in a similar one about female characters who win through traditional female skills rather than by being badasses who insisted on learning male ones. It's mostly a self-rescuing Princess trope in this one.

Thornhedge and A Paladin's Faith, T. Kingfisher. Of course I love both of them. I hope she also kick's cancer's ass and continues writing for some time to come.

The Master of Samar, Melissa Scott - have loved her books for decades, but there's a big gap in my collection from the years when I could only rarely afford new books. This is one of the books I missed reading, and one of her very rare forays into fantasy rather than science fiction (and it's an entertaining read).

The Sea King trilogy, Nancy Springer - another old favourite with books I missed getting when they were new. Interesting story. Made me think a little of the Epic of Gilgamesh, at least in terms of having a king and someone seen as more barbarous in nature as his best friend.

Warhorse and The Dragonback series, Timothy Zahn - author I never got around to trying back in the day, noticed a bunch of his stuff on sale, bought one to try, liked it, have bought more.

The King's Eight, Argon Masters - one of a number of books I read this year that is a published work by a fanfiction author whose works I enjoy. Was reading some of their not-my-fandom works (which yes I sometimes do when I enjoy an author enough - see also "how to trip and fall into new fandoms you have zero knowledge of"). Saw a casual mention of the book in an author's note, wandered off to grab and read it. Have already read it twice, it's excellent. Hope they publish more.

Also oh DAMN I just realized I didn't include the covers for Katherine Addision's Doctrine of Labyrinths series in the image above, I read and enjoyed those as well. Make that 64 books that met my criteria.

Edited to add: And doh, one of the covers for the Desert World trilogy by Lyn Gala has also gone missing. Make that 65 books.

[theriu]

Thanks for recommending fierce heart recently, I just finished it and it made me so happy 😊

Yay! Im so glad you enjoyed it! ^^ Tara Grayce has like six books in the Elven Alliance series, and I think her final one is going to be some short stories set in the world.

[theriu]

Oo!!! You may like Tara Grayce’s Bluebeard and the Outlaw, a take on the story where Bluebeard isn’t actually what everyone thinks. It explains what happened to his first wife and it doesn’t involve a room full of corpses. Very good read, and a much nicer take on the story imo. =)

Since you can't seem to swing a cat without knocking over a fairytale retelling that centers a different character from the original lead, you know who I want to hear from? Bluebeard's first wife.

Because, like, you can assume that every wife before the one we follow fell into the same trap of finally opening the Forbidden Closet of Mystery and discovering the hidden corpses, and was then killed to protect the secret...but the first wife would have no corpses to find. So why did he kill her?

Was it just for her money, and that's how he became rich enough to woo all the others? Was she getting ready to leave him for whatever reason? Did she cheat? Did he cheat, and kill her in the confrontation after she found out? Does he have some sordid criminal past even before his string of uxoricide, and when she found it, he killed her to protect that? Did he simply, over time, come to find her odious?

I know this was never a consideration in creating the story, and it doesn't really need to be, but...what goes on?

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

★✩★ NEW RELEASE ★✩★

Backed by Love

A Turkey Earthquake Anthology

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123121781

Hosted by DS Book Promotions

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

 books2read.com/BackedbyLove

On February 6, 2023, a devastatingly powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake and strong aftershocks decimated parts of Turkey. We've all watched, helpless, as rescuers tried to reach those trapped in the rubble, and the death toll continues to rise. 25 romance authors have banded together to try to make a difference by releasing this anthology with 100% of royalties going to a reputable charity helping those in affected areas--Turkish Red Crescent (the Turkish arm of the Red Cross). Enjoy these stories of hope and love and help us support those affected by the earthquake by backing them with love. Featuring stories from: Gwyn McNamee Scarlett Finn Katrina Marie Liz Durano Evey Lyon D. Kelly Dakota Willink Jocelyne Soto Imani Jay S.M. West Carrie Lomax DL Gallie S.L. Sterling Vi Summers Claire Hastings Lyra Parish Eve Pendle Echo Grayce and Melissa Ivers Tara Wyatt Lee Savino Lauren Stewart Cadence Keys Kimberly Quinn January James Alix Key

#newrelease #charityanthology #romancecollection #doitforturkey #availablenow #bookish #booklove #lizdurano #dlgallie #visummers #gwynmcnamee #dsbookpromotions

@Gwyn McNamee @Liz Durano @DL Gallie @DS Book Promotions

[sarcasmiclife]

Elf Prince by Tara Grayce

[yvaine-the-star]

Found this retelling of A Midsummer Nights Dream and I'm loving it 🤍

[theriu]

Ohohoho...buckle up 8D In no particular order:

- The Tales of Goldstone Wood series by Elizabeth Stengl. Epic and intricate original-world fantasy where you can technically read the books in any order, although I like them in their release order. Amazing characters and really well-done alleghorical touches that feel like a natural part of the world.

- If you like urban fantasy and don't mind occasional bloody violence, check out WR Gingell's City Between series. (I usually dont like much violence but this author does a great job not scaring me off, although the first book does have a bit of graphic detail about a dead guy.) Shes also finished one 5-book spinoff set in the same world and is working on a SECOND 5-book spinoff with completely new characters. Her characters are loveable and quirky and the worldbuilding is unique and there are so many great comedic and emotional moments! A romance angle does come up but not until later in the series, which delighted me because it's hard to find any series this day that doesnt rely heavily on romance. No spice.

- I HIGHLY recommend pretty much anything by Kate Stradling, she does really creative and original spins on fairy tales and some original stories anf her writing is top tier. (The Heir and The Spare is the only one I didnt care for because it involved an insane sister with a torture room, but it ends well.) I have read many of her books multiple times, and my favorites are Goldmayne and The Beggar Prince.

- Christina Baehr's debut Secrets of Ormdale series has three out of five books out and I think the fourth is about to release if it hasnt already. It's set in the English countryside in kind of the Jane Austin era (but it's not a Jane Austin retelling) and involves secret dragons and a plucky heroine who is a writer.

- Tara Grayce's Elven Alliance series is a very sweet arranged-marriage elf/human romance with no spice. It also deals with some PTSD from the elf husband but very tastefully. Highly wholesome! Later books explore other romantic pairings, but they are always spice-free.

- Lost on a Page by David E. Sharp is a delightful fantasy set in the modern day where book characters start realizing they are sentient and the writers are scrambling to deal with the choices they make. The main character is a private eye who teams up with a fantasy trio of a dwarf, an elf, and a lady wizard. It gets very silly at times and the sheer number of characters by book 3 is a bit overwhelming, but its so fun and creative and wraps up the main characters' storylines nicely! One character is a heroine from a "bodice ripper," but nothing crude is focused on.

- If you want a fantastic original dragonrider epic, I insist you read Songs of Chaos by Michael Miller. This one has three books out with a fourth in progress, and I LOVE the characters and the magic mechanics. It also does a great job of establishing a mutually beneficial reason for riders and dragons to bond. The audiobooks of these are also excellent!

I could go on, but this is a lot of info already so I'll stop here XD I hope you'll let us know if you find one you like!

Anyone know of some very very very very low to no spice fantasy books?