Blood of the Sands (The Ballan Desert #1) S.C. Grayson

 

Blood of the Sands (The Ballan Desert #1)

By: S.C. Grayson

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fiction, Science-Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

Length: 415 Pages

Pace: Medium

Moods: Romantic, Adventurous, Page-turner, Great World Building, Entertaining, Action-Packed, Easy To Read

S.C. Grayson has created a unique world filled with sand, sun, and nomadic tribes. The main female character, Keera is endearing and easily likable. Having overcome hardships to survive her teenage years, her moral and ethical values prevent her from doing harm, even against her enemies. For someone who has earned the right to be bitter about the bad cards life has dealt her, Keera takes things in stride and does her best to move forward with where life takes her. Unlike Keera, the main male character, Viper lives life with a big a chip on his shoulder. He is your typical steamy, sexy and hot villain. Viper has his moments of potential redemption interspersed with self-serving deeds.

 Synopsis:

Keera has lived in exile for the past decade. Her clan forced her out into the Ballan desert when she was fifteen. Normally, that would be considered a death sentence. She quickly learned to survive and get by on her own, mostly by theiving from those passing by her oasis. Upon one such attempt to steal food and water, she finds herself face to face with a mask wearing warrior named Viper. After escaping sure death at Viper's hands not once but twice, Keera finds herself in the beautiful city of Kelvadan. Keera is urged by Kelvadan's Queen to participate in the upcoming Trials in which the winner will be crowned the Champion of the Desert. Losing these warrior games could have dire consequences for all those that inhabit the Ballan desert.

 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.                                            

Currently available for purchase:

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Crown of Briars (Crowns of the Fae #2) R.L. Perez

 

Crown of Briars (Crowns of the Fae #2)

By: R.L. Perez

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fiction, Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Fairytale Retelling

Length: 624 Pages

Pace: Slow

Moods: Romantic, Happily Ever After, 

I love a fairytale retelling and one based on my favorite fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, will always be a win for me. R.L. Perez has written a unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast with all of the expected easter eggs; there is a rose, a library, a sentient castle, a blue dress, a handsome male villain who is full of himself, characters who do not appear in their true form, a main female character with 'Belle' in her name, a curse and a beast. 

Crown of Briars is the second book in the Crowns of Fae series. Each installment can be read as a stand alone and you can jump in and begin your journey at any point in the series. I didn't hate this book but I also didn't love it. There was a lot going on, many moving parts, and  sometimes it was too much to take in and follow. For example, Sybelle's best friend is a dragon that no one else knows exists. While reading, I never really grasped why there was a single dragon in the story and what it's purpose was. Ater finishing the book, I read the book blurb and discovered that the dragon was Sybelle's familar, even though Sybelle was not a witch. The book contains several contradictions, Sybelle comes from a human kingdom that despises Fae and yet she is half human and half fae. Some of the storylines are too much, both Varius and Sybelle's fathers were beyond evil. So evil, they excessively used and tortured the females in their lives. These things don't make the book unreadable, they just make it harder to focus on the storyline.

Synopsis:

The Court of Shadows and the Earthen Court have a long standing contract, every generation a human female will be married to the Wraith King. This agreement is beneficial to both parties, but for the human court it ensures that the deadly, poisonous shadows created by the Shadow King stay out of their kingdom. Sybelle was born, bred, and trained to infiltrate the Court of Shadows and assassinate their king. After arriving in the Court of Shadows she discovers that not everything is as it seems, not everything is as she was brought up to believe, and the Wraith King is not what everyone believes him to be. Sybelle develops feelings for Varius and the people in his court. She believes she is the key to save them and lift the curse that has been plaguing them for hundreds of years.

 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.                                            

Available August 4, 2025

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