It’s finally summer and vacations are right around the corner! Countdowns have begun, pack-lists have been created and tickets booked – this is truly the most wonderful time of the year. There’s nothing quite like exploring a new destination, finding incredible indie bookshops or curling up with a good book by the beach. I generally relish the thought of going on a book excursion in a new city and tend to leave the country with very little reading material (it gives me room for more books to pack!). For those of you staying here for the holiday – or looking for a recommendation to find when you travel – I’ve got you covered. Let the summer reading list begin with the books I just recently got my hands on.
The first one came to me in the form of a PDF, so check out Amazon, and you’ll be able to find a copy there! I couldn’t help but be intrigued when author C.M Loren emailed with news about her debut self-published title. A young adult title, Blackwell Manor is full of intrigue, mystery and magical adventure. Set in Wales, and revolving around ancient Welsh legends, this book takes you on a journey through historical lore. Following sort-of-orphaned Finley and Brenna Ashton, the story starts as they “lose” their parents, move to an orphanage, stay with guardians and end up in the deep dark world that is Blackwell Manor.
This next one takes the infamous writer and poet, king of the macabre Edgar Allan Poe, to London where he tries to make sense of an inheritance and the life his grandparents led. A murder/mystery, the story takes the dreadful tales of slasher-mayhem unleashed in the streets of London in the 1800s. The culprit – dubbed as the London Monster – seems to be related to Poe as him and his detective friend attempt to solve the mystery. And in true Poe manner, with the intonation ‘something wicked this way comes’ there’s a sinister air brewing underneath. Author Karen Lee Street has combined this tale with a fitting, yet, unlikely character, giving us the brilliantly dark Edgar Allan Poe and the London Monster.
The final book suggestion comes from the author of the YA Stoneheart trilogy, Charlie Fletcher. Known as The Oversight trilogy, this engrossing Dickensian-esque fantastic that brings dark magic into the adult realm follows The Oversight organization’s battle to protect our world. Set in Victorian London, The Oversight starts when a girl is kidnapped and taken to the organization’s headquarters. The first installment in an ongoing trilogy (book two is out and book three is in the works), this adventure epic takes us on a historical tour of London mixed with brilliant fictional aspects. If you’re heading to London this summer, make sure to have this book with you to give yourself the ultimate fantasy walking tour!
Read on and prosper – or something to that effect! And remember, sunscreen is just as important as a good read when out and about. Happy reading, and more importantly, happy summer!
