Literary Quest

This week we're discussing The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. Rin, a war orphan from the southern region of Nikara, is determined to get out of Tikany and the marriage her aunt has arranged for her. She scores astonishingly high on a national test and is accepted at Sinegard, a highly respected military academy in the north. At school she excels, despite the doubts of many, and her path leads her to study shamanism. Nikara's tentative peace with the Federation of Mugen grows shakier every day, and Rin's gifts may be the only way to save her people. Join us!

This week we discuss Apprentice to the Villain, the second in Hannah Nicole Maehrer's Villain series. The Villain has been captured by the Valiant Guard and King Benedict is determined to unmask him. However, Evie and The Villain's guards are plotting to save him. In this book Evie and The Villain must navigate their feelings while also trying to solve the mystery of her mother and try to stop the King from fulfilling a prophecy. If they are unsuccessful, magic may be gone from the Kingdom forever...

This week, we're discussing Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Evie Sage would never have guessed that literally falling into Rennedawn's notorious Villain would result in the most stable and fulfilling job she's ever had. It's not without it's risks though--a bombing, dead bodies on her desk, and a burgeoning crush on her boss. When a mole infiltrates the ranks of Massacre Manor and thwarts the Villain's efforts to exact revenge on King Benedict, Evie is determined to set things back to order. Join us!

This episode we discuss Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts! The first in an alien romance series with spider-type aliens. Ivy was part of a mission to start a new colony on a new planet. However, when the ship crashes onto an alien planet she, and several other humans, remain in their cryo-chambers. Until Ketahn, a male Vrix, stumbles upon the ship. When he accidently releases Ivy from her slumber, things get interesting. Ivy has quite a bit of adjusting to do on a strange alien planet but with the help of Ketahn she begins to settle in. They slowly begin to develop feelings for each other but are their differences too much to overcome? This book surprised both of us and was a delight to read!

This week, we discuss Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. Emily Wilde, professor of dryadology, journeys to a quiet village in the north to complete the research for her book by studying the Hidden Ones, or the fae, of Ljosland. Things start rough between Emily and the townfolk, but the appearance of academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, serves to create chaos while also endearing her to the people of Hrafnsvik. Emily and Wendell form a partnership that serves to further her data collection, while also driving her into greater danger.

Join us this week while we discuss What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez. When Inez's parents die on an expedition in Egypt, she is suspicious. Determined to find out the truth she travels to Egypt but encounters many obstacles. Her uncle and his attractive but questionable "assistant" Whit, try desperately to convince her to return to Argentina. Inez is persistent though and manages to join them in their search for Cleopatra's tomb. Luckily for Inez, she has the ability to sense magic which will make the find easier. As she starts to get closer to the truth, things become more dangerous. Will Inez discover what really happened to her parents or will she be forced to return to Argentina with more questions than answers? A fantastic read for anyone who is a fan of The Mummy!

Join us for Onyx Storm, the third installment in the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. Violet Sorrengail is faced with the impossible seeming task of finding the seventh breed of dragons, who disappeared from the continent many years ago. Their hope rides on obtaining the dragons help to re-establish the wards around Aretia while also with saving the lives of thousands of civilians as the threat of the venin to the rest of the continent grows. Will she and her squadmates be able to pull off one of their most challenging missions yet?

This week we discuss The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue. When Violet turns 30 a hex she accidently cast on herself and her former friend Silas starts to push them together. Unfortunately, Violet is now a witch in the Celestial Coven and Silas is the Alpha of the Moon Walker Pack, which has a long and fraught history with her coven. Their quest to find a way to break the hex reminds them why they had feelings for each other in the first place. Will they be able to overcome their differences? Can shifters and witches ever mingle? Will Violet's grand-mere sabotage everything? Find out on this episode of Literary Quest!

This week we're discussing Blood and Steel by Helen Scheurer. Althea Zoltair dreams of becoming a war sword, a famed protector of the Mid Realms. Though women are no longer permitted to wield weapons or fight in her country, a chance encounter results in her taking up shield bearer training with the men in Thezmarr. Thea must face the scorn of several of the men she trains with, as well as the threat of monsters escaping through the magical veil in their world, bringing death and chaos. Thea will need the help of her friends, as well as the skilled war sword, Wilder Hawthorne, to become a guardian of the mid-realms. Join us this week!

In this episode we revisit Zoey Draven's Horde King world, only it is is 200 years in the future. This is the start of a new series set in the same universe.

Despite being the daughter of the Dothikar, Klara has spent her life as an outcast, hiding her visions from everyone. When she's presented with the opportunity to travel to a new continent she barely hesitates. Being a queen to a fierce people who have dragons was not in her plans but she is ready to face the challenge head on.

Sarkin never intended to take a wife, but when he see's Klara's scar, he knows she is marked for him. He believes that she can help with the diminishing power of the heart stone. He had to fight for his position as king and prove himself to his people, so bringing in a foreign queen is a risk. He is determined to help Klara succeed but does not believe he is capable of love. Can they work together to solve the heart stone problem? Or will they be unable to overcome their differences?