Author: Randi-Lee Bowslaugh

Synopsis

A prelude to the Kingdom Journals…The Edict of Châteaubriant, signed 27 June 1551 by King Henry II of France, censored Protestant rhetoric and enabled seizure of funds for punishment. The Edict of Compiègne, of 24 July 1557, allowed the death penalty for crimes of heresy. The witch community, garbed in the Catholic faith, hunted and killed vampires under the guise of bringing the pagans to justice. Anne’s family is among the vampires targeted by the witches. She escapes with the help of a loyal friend and they hide among the humans. At seventeen, another atrocity ignites her passion for justice. Anne circumvents the globe in a quest to unite her people and build peace. Although she attracts powerful enemies, her friends number many, including a mysterious hero. In a war for survival love feels elusive and extravagant, and even heroes don’t always prevail. Can she best her enemy and find happiness at last?

Review

This book was a fascinating and unique take on vampires and witches. There is nothing traditional about the way the vampires act, and the author does a great job of developing entirely new lore. 

The characters are well-written and easy to connect with, and their dialogue feels natural and sharp. The first-person perspective pulls you right into the story, making everything feel more personal and immediate. When you start getting attached to certain characters, the story takes a different turn.

The story spans centuries, but it is not boring and keeps readers intrigued. It also spans the world, and we are visually brought along for the journey. The author does a wonderful job describing the various countries.

The ending wraps things up while leaving you eager to jump straight into the next part.

If you enjoy myths and new lore this is a great book for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for your support).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOUR SONGWRITING DREAM IS SLIPPING AWAY?

You write. You pour your heart into it. But somehow, it’s never enough.

Rejection stings. Comparison eats you alive. The dream you once lived for now feels buried under the grind of everyday life.
I get it. I’ve been there. Back in 2003, I almost walked away from music completely. The rejection was constant, and I was tired of feeling like I wasn’t good enough. But I learned something powerful: the only thing standing between me and the life I wanted was the belief that it wasn’t possible.

This book is for the songwriter who refuses to settle — the one who knows there’s more inside of them: more songs to write, more connections to make, more chances to take.

Inside, you’ll discover:

🎵 How to turn rejection into fuel, not failure
🎵 The brutal truth about the music business (and how to survive it)
🎵 Why showing up matters more than talent
🎵 How to finish your songs and stop procrastinating
🎵 The mindset shift that sparks accountability
🎵 How to protect your creativity so you don’t burn out
🎵 And most importantly — how to reconnect with the dream that got you started

This is a straight-talking, heart-on-sleeve guide for songwriters who are done waiting, done making excuses, and ready to claim their place in the music world.

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this,” this book is here to prove you wrong.
Your dream isn’t dead. It’s waiting for you to fight for it.

Pick up your copy today and start turning the songs in your head into the career you dreamt of.

 

Review:

I loved how it started with a bit of the author’s own story. It feels like someone sharing the messy, learning-as-you-go parts of life. That really ties into one of my biggest takeaways: being self-taught isn’t a weakness. If anything, it’s proof that you’re showing up, figuring things out, and growing – which is what being a human is all about. 

There’s a line that stuck with me: “Grieve a little in this moment and never give up.” I read it more than once because it applies to everything in life. It acknowledges that things are hard sometimes, that you’re allowed to feel that, but you don’t stop. Very similar to my motto: “Don’t tap out to tired.”

The part about putting your phone down felt a little too real. I actually laughed because I was reading (and now writing this) on my phone. But it makes such a good point: if we want to truly relax or create, we need space from the constant distractions. It’s one of those obvious truths we all kind of ignore until someone calls it out.

What I really appreciated is how the wisdom is woven into real-life stories. It’s not just tips thrown at you by someone who has never been in the industry. 

Even though the book is aimed at songwriters, it honestly applies to any creative pursuit. Writing, art, music, there’s something here for you. It’s really about creativity as a whole, and the mindset behind it. Some parts are very specific to songwriting and will help a new songwriter break into the industry.

If you are looking for a how-to book that brings real-life experience, this is the book for you.

Get the booked here (affiliate link – thanks for the support).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

OUTSIDETHETHALSPARR

The Dokkrisdottir is not your ordinary Norse woman of the Viking age.One of the great warriors of her time, she soon learns that the hardest battles are not always those fought with a sword and shield. Through countless trials and tests, she is led by visions and omens on numerous adventures with the help of steadfast friends and family to discover her mysterious supernatural destiny ,one more extraordinary than anyone could ever
have imagined.

RUNEOFSPIRITS

Every road to an ultimate good is paved with monstrous deed…by a monster. Sometimes the monsters are all that stands between the living world and annihilation. In the struggle to survive her own life ,Josephine Peele becomes the monster in
service of the Light,but it takes all her torments to ready her for her own purpose that only she can accomplish.

Review

This one is my favourite in the series so far. It’s got this gritty, almost gangster vibe that really sets it apart. Instead of the Viking or Myrgjol, we are following one of her descendants, who was mentioned in previous parts but was never there. 

What I loved most was the character development. Josephine’s life was such a roller coaster (glad the author shared it). Everyone grows, changes, and reacts in ways that actually make sense. The way this book connects with other characters across the series is incredibly satisfying; it reminds me of a spiderweb with how intricate the storylines are. 

If you enjoy well-written, intricate storylines that keep your attention, this is the book for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for your support).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

Sentenced to a life of solitude, she relishes fleeting periods of happiness unaware of the consequences of her joy.

Lilith enjoyed many comforts in her life with Adam, but contentment evaded her. Desperate for companionship, she flees Eden betraying her covenant with God. Faced with being stripped of her powers, she accepts a sentence of never knowing the beauty of a marriage.

One handsome stranger, then another weave into her life bringing her love and contentedness for a time. Each leaves Lilith with very different children. Her first, like their father are fast and strong, with superior senses. The next set take after Lilith and her second love that, like her, possesses ethereal abilities.

Can she raise these two lines in harmony? Or are they destined to destroy one another?

Of Witches and Vampires is a short paranormal prequel to the Kingdom Journals Series. If you like fresh takes on vampire and witch lore, you’ll love Tricia Copeland’s short story.

Review:

I loved how the author put a whole new spin on witches and vampires. How they came to be and how they are related.

The first-person perspective works well here, pulling you straight into the character’s head and making the story feel personal and immediate. Even in such a short format, it sets the tone and suggests a bigger world waiting to be explored.

This was a quick read, but it still left an impression. After reading this book, you will definitely want to pick up the rest of the series. 

If you enjoy interesting short stories with a twist on tradition, this is the book for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for the support).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

Myrgjol the Dokkrsdottir’s path may be fraught with physical dangers and battle, but some wars are fought with whispered words and deceitful lies. While in Saxon lands, she must learn to maneuver the battlefield as well as her position on the board in the game of Saxon politics. Will she be successful?
And though she is blind to all the pieces in The Game, a Saxon gamemaster plays on her behalf as well as his own against many others, and the enormity of the risk spirals out of control for everyone.

Review

Just like the rest of the series, it’s an easy, enjoyable read with strong characters and vivid visuals that make everything play out like a movie in your head. Going back just before the pivotal point in the Viking world, we learn more about what is happening. This book gives a deeper look at that settling period, which was fascinating. The author does a great job building the world, and it feels like you’re a fly on the wall.

What really stood out was how it quietly tied up loose ends from book four, especially when it comes to Wuldrid. The why behind the things he does and his motives, as seen in book 4, is explained through the action in this book.

If you enjoy a great side story in an already exciting series, this is the book for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for your support).