The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland - #bookspotlight #blogtour

I am thrilled to be shining the book spotlight on this book today. The Spirit of the Times is set in 14th century Central Asia.

The Blurb

From a land of milk,

And a Road of Silk,

To a ring of roses,

And a dance of posies,

Comes the tale of the spirit of the times! 

In fourteenth-century Central Asia, Karia is a young woman living under the yoke of Mongol occupation. But she’s different. She’s a fighter with supernatural powers. She could use them to keep the Black Plague at bay and solve the mystery of the purple skies at dawn – if only she could overcome her self-doubt. 

Travelling in caravans on the Silk Road, she faces dangers seen and unseen – from sandstorms and slave traders to the desert djinn and folk who believe she’s a witch. She fears losing Abi, her little cousin, who’s fascinated by roses and the dance of the Whirling Dervishes of Bukhara.

When Karia falls in love with an English sailor fleeing the Knights Hospitaller, they sail to England with Abi to unravel the meaning of the purple skies, a dance, a posy tree, and a ring of roses.

The Spirit of the Times is part history, part fiction and part speculation: on the origin of disease; the power of innocence; the unfortunate aspects of custom and dogma; and humanity’s ability to respond to the governing influence or spirit of the times.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1806344154

Publisher: Troubador Publishing

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 264 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Author's Website (with free personalised dedication)

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Troubador Publishing

About the Author

Justin Newland’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres, from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism.

Undeterred by the award of a doctorate in mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies. Next came The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall. 

The Coronation (Matador, 2019) features the Great Enlightenment and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution. The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

At this point in his writing career, after four self-published books, Justin was offered a part-funded contract with the Book Guild.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book ‘The Island of Angels’ series. It tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era. The second in the series, The Midnight of Eights (Book Guild, 2024), charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada. 

His latest novel, The Spirit of the Times (Matador, 2026), is to be published in July. It tells the story of a young Kyrgyz woman’s journey westwards along the Silk Road. With purple skies at dawn, and a supporting cast of Genghis Khan, the Black Plague, a perplexing rhyme, a ring of roses, it explores the greatest mystery of all – the spirit of the times. 

Justin’s enduring passion is to explore the origins of our current time. This prompted a broad research into what we’ve inherited from history – encompassing Egypt, China, Prussia and Tudor England. He also writes entertaining talks which he gives to the WI, U3A, Probus, Rotary and local historical associations. Please visit his website for a current list of the talks. 

Alongside the talks, Justin promotes his work with regular book signings at TG Jones (ex. WH Smith) high street stores, selling over 3,500 books since 2019. He has sponsored over 40 UK and US blog tours, given frequent radio interviews and penned many guest posts. 

His current book signing motto is: Enjoy, Imagine, Discover.

As a member of the Society of Authors, he has Public and Products Liability Insurance.

Born in Essex, England, three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his lady in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

You can also find Justin at:

Author Website

Facebook

Instagram

(media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Lochbound by Rebecca Templeton - #bookreview

Autumn steals through the highlands towards the village of Kilmara. A haze of drizzle obscures the topmost branches of the pine forest and the heather that flares over the hills surrounding Loch Moine...

***

It has recently come to my attention that I must make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the publicist. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

There is no happily-ever-after . . .

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter - the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver - is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.

Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.

And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what - or who - she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.

. . . when you are the monster.

My Review

Every now and then, I read something outside of my usual reading fare. It is so easy to read within the genres that we know we like. This one isn't my usual cup of tea, but I am so pleased that I read it as it was a fabulous read and I gave it five shiny stars. What's more, I got to read it ahead of publication, which, even after all these years of blogging, still gives me a thrill.  The book is being released on the 16th April so there's not long to wait to get your hands on a  copy.   It is a dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in Scotland. However, get the Disney image out of your head immediately, as this is something very much different, darker and better in my opinion. 

Iris is the main character in the book. By night she is human, forever in her twenties, but by day she is a monster who is bound to the loch. Iris traded her fully human form to be forever young with the man she loved.

The author has crafted her story beautifully. It was a joy to read as the writing was perfect. It has a dark, gothic feel to it which is steeped in Gaelic folklore with its tales of kelpies and seelies hidden in the lochs and forests respectively.

There is a mystery element within the story as bodies are being found with their hearts ripped out. Everyone suspects Iris of these murders and even she doesn't know if she is responsible. When the Laird hires Henry, a hunter, to find and destroy the monster, it would seem that her days are numbered. However, whilst he is intent on his task, even he questions whether she is indeed responsible for the deaths or if there is a murderer within the village.

Furthermore, both Iris and Henry are attracted to one another, which adds a romantic element to the story. However, Duncan, who was her childhood friend, has cared for her and helped her hide her secret since their youth.

Whilst the majority of the chapters are told from Iris's perspective, some are told from Henry and Duncan's points of view, which added another dimension to the book.

The setting was well described and added to the eerie atmosphere of the book. The descriptions of the mist rolling in from the loch were visceral and gave me the occasional shudder.

 I thought this was a fantastic book to read and I highly recommend it. Even if you are like me and monsters and folklore aren't your cup of tea, this is well worth reading and I suspect you will enjoy it as much as I have.

I am going to Scotland in a couple of weeks' time and I shall be keeping a careful eye on the lochs and the forests, as who knows what may be lurking within!

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1408724873

Publisher:  Sphere

Formats: e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  400 (hardback)

Preorder Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

About the Author

Rebecca Templeton has had a love of books from a very early age and had lofty childhood aspirations of being a writer, though she ended up joining the legal profession instead. When her husband encouraged her to start writing again, she re-discovered her creative outlet and hasn't looked back since.

When not writing or working, Rebecca can usually be found crocheting giant blankets, baking or watching Gilmore Girls. She is also owned by a couple of very energetic children.

You can also find Rebecca at:

Instagram

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(ARC and media courtesy of the publicist)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson - #bookspotlight #blogtour

I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this book today. Trial of the Alchemist by author, Trevor Melanson was the third place finalist in BBYNA Award 2024.

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

The Blurb

Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows.

Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets.

But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not.

He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night.

Book Details

ISBN:  979 8857292624

Publisher:  Independently Published

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  451 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

Trevor Melanson is the author of four novels, including Trial of the Alchemist, a semi-finalist of both the SPFBO and BBNYA competitions and previously one of the twenty best-rated completed stories on Royal Road. 

A former journalist, Trevor now spends his workdays running communications at a think tank and advancing the transition to clean energy. He lives on the scenic Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and two cats, having gleefully abandoned the big city life that once beckoned him as a younger man.

You can also find Trevor at:

Linked In

Sage and Savant

(ARC and media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)