Lovin' los libros: Morgan Wylie

There's a NEW RELEASE in The Age of Alandria series!!

Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella) is finally here! It features one of our favorite Faerie warriors. Digging into his past, I hope you get a better understanding of who he is and why he is the way he is. You will also see more from good looking, fun, and playful Halister and his sister Rheina--you might even get a greater picture of her place in this story. There's also bonus material about the realm of Alandria, the darkness that's stirring, and how Daegan came to be in the Dryad Priestess Andreinna's favor that you don't want to miss!!

Blurb:

Everyone has a story, and Daegan's began with darkness...

As a child, Daegan Waethní witnessed the murder of both his parents. He buried the tragedy in the past, desperate to forget, but the past seems to be haunting him from the Beyond. Now he is an Elite in the royal guard for the Paladin, the rulers of Feraánmar. A loyal Ferrishyn Faerie warrior, he battles the darkness that is once again stirring in Alandria.

Things are not what they seem in Alandria, and Daegan must find light before the darkness consumes himself and all he cares about. Against his will, the darkness is using him to destroy his own people. Daegan is determined to fight it with all that he is, but will it be too late? And if he can’t stop it, who will he hurt next?

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I am a huge fan of Morgan's Age of Alandria series, so when I heard she was writing a novella from Daegan's POV I got REALLY excited! Daegan has been quite a mystery in the series thus far, so I loved getting inside his head and seeing everything that he has gone through.

Even though this novella technically takes place before the events in Silent Orchids I do recommend waiting to read this novella until after you've delved into the world Wylie has created in the first novel. While I was still able to understand certain concepts and world building, I do feel if you haven't read the first book you may be a bit at a loss. Wylie does include a dictionary of terms at the end, which was also really helpful.

As a child, Daegan was forced to witness something that no child ever should and was forced to be brave and strong when he should have had someone to comfort him. Now, 16 years later, he is a warrior and takes his role as a Ferrishyn very seriously. I really enjoyed reading this and seeing all of the obstacles Daegan had to face and how he was led to Kaeleigh.

We also get to see Halister, who is not only Daegan's best friend, but he is also like a brother to him. Where Daegan is stoic and focused, Hal is more light-hearted and outgoing. Yet, Halister always has Daegan's back and vice versa. I loved their camaraderie.

I don't want to spoil anything, but things are definitely not as they seem and evil is lurking around every corner. There are times Daegan is not in control of his own self and I am desperate to know what is the cause of this!

There are so many unseen forces at work in Alandria and I am beyond intrigued to see how it will all come together and how it will turn out. Wylie has created a magical world that will leave you questioning who and what is truly good and evil.

*Received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

~~~Also in The Age of Alandria Series~~~

Silent Orchids (Book One)

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Blurb:

A dying realm.

The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.

The Orchids have been silenced… but for how long?

Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.

Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there… somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.

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Veiled Shadows (Book Two)

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Blurb:

Shadows linger where light is obstructed, and truth is veiled.

Evil is an untreated disease in the once beautiful realm of Alandria.

Kaeleigh is faced with a revelation that she must reconcile. She will decide if discovering the truth is worth the unknown consequences to both herself and her friends.

Daegan, the Ferrishyn warrior, is conflicted by more than his loyalties, and is confronted with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. A choice must be made. A choice… that may cost him more than he ever wanted to give.

The Droch-Shúil—enforcers and servants of the ancient darkness—continue to cast their shadow over Alandria seeking those who can be turned to their side.

The magic of The Orchids is growing, but not everyone will survive what is to come.

Veiled Shadows is the second installment in The Age of Alandria series: the story of the Sol-lumieth’s quest for freedom of self and the power to battle the evil of the Droch-Shúil.

Buy links:

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About the Author:

Morgan Wylie, originally from the Pacific Northwest, now resides near Nashville, TN with her husband and daughter. She and her husband work everyday at their individual and combined creative pursuits while she learns to balance being “Mama”, wife, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head.

You can find her and news on her books at the following:

MorganWylie.net

MorganWylieBooks on Facebook

@MWylieBooks on Twitter

Info@MorganWylie.net Email

Goodreads and Amazon (Author Bio)

Welcome to my stop on the Veiled Shadows blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my review and a giveaway with you all!

Veiled Shadows (Age of Alandria #2)

by: Morgan Wylie

Publication Date: Oct. 1, 2013
Publisher: Red Cabin Publishing
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from InkSlingerPR and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 360 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Shadows linger where light is obstructed, and truth is veiled.

Evil is an untreated disease in the once beautiful realm of Alandria.

Kaeleigh is faced with a revelation that she must reconcile. She will decide if discovering the truth is worth the unknown consequences to both herself and her friends.

Daegan, the Ferrishyn warrior, is conflicted by more than his loyalties, and is confronted with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. A choice must be made. A choice… that may cost him more than he ever wanted to give.

The Droch-Shúil—enforcers and servants of the ancient darkness—continue to cast their shadow over Alandria seeking those who can be turned to their side.

The magic of The Orchids is growing, but not everyone will survive what is to come.

Veiled Shadows is the second installment in The Age of Alandria series: the story of the Sol-lumieth’s quest for freedom of self and the power to battle the evil of the Droch-Shúil.

My Review:

I was so excited to sign up for the second book in Morgan's Age of Alandria series! I really enjoyed reading Silent Orchids earlier in the year and so I definitely wanted to jump back in with Kaeleigh, Daegan, Finn, and Chel and see what was next for them. Veiled Shadows picks up where Silent Orchids left off, after a rather surprising revelation in regards to Kaeleigh's family comes to light. Veiled Shadows is a very descriptive book. Morgan does not leave you lost or unable to pick back up where the first book left off, which I really appreciated. Sometimes too much description can take away from a book, and while I did find I struggled a bit to find my groove, I felt it was necessary to understand the lore and the world-building. Those two elements alone are what make this series really stand out in the fantasy genre.

Kaeleigh- Oh Kaeleigh. She has so much thrown at her that I felt overwhelmed FOR her! She has finally found a sense of belonging- of discovering her roots and ancestry and for someone who has longed for a family for so long- this is HUGE for her. She is so overcome by emotion and I felt so much for her in this book. She is no stranger to loss, and as much as her friends want to protect her from it- they can't. They can only offer to support her and promise to continue the journey with her.

Finn and Chel are tried and true companions. They would do whatever necessary for their friend and I found their loyalty to be awe-inspiring. Chel, on the brink of learning how to shift, is there for Kaeleigh and ready to be her rock. Finn, was kept at a bit of a distance at first, but then new developments concerning his and Kaeleigh's relationship are made a factor. I can't particularly say I care for those developments, but I will trust Morgan knows what she's doing. It IS her story after all. ;) Finn remains a loyal friend to her, though I am quite curious to find out more about him and his exile!

Daegan- Be still my swooning heart! I said in my first review that he is such a stoic character that really runs hot and cold. One minute he is hard, unfeeling and the next he is compassionate and caring. In this book, he is much the same for the beginning of the book, but once Kaeleigh makes a life-altering decision, she begins to see those flashes of vulnerability more often and she starts to see him as more than the man who is bound to protect her. She sees him as a friend, someone she can trust, but more than that- she starts seeing him as more. As I said earlier, this book really has more description than it does action- However, once the Kaeleigh/Daegan interactions started up, I HAD to see how this was going to play out. And I want to pull out my hair!!! I love Daegan. I ship him and Kaeleigh so hard ok?! They have delicious tension and it's amazing how much a simple touch can bring both of them to their knees. However, we knew Daegan was in some trouble with the evil Maliena, and at one point I was quite frustrated with him. Thankfully, Daegan is filled with loyalty and honor and we have to hope he'll make the right choices in the end.

Needless to say- I'm ready for book 3! I am anxious to see what will happen next, especially now that Kaeleigh and crew have made some very powerful enemies. We have to hold out hope that she has more allies on her side and that they all are aiming for a common goal: to save Alandria from being destroyed and fading into nothingness.

You can view my review of the first book in the series, Silent Orchids, HERE.

About Morgan Wylie:

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Giveaway:

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Veiled Shadows (Age of Alandria #2)

by: Morgan Wylie

Young Adult Fantasy

To be released: Fall 2013

Just so you guys know- I was a part of the blog tour for Morgan's first book Silent Orchids. If you love YA fantasy, this is definitely a series to start! I am beyond excited for this second book!

ABOUT MORGAN WYLIE: Morgan Wylie has been writing on and off throughout her growing up years, but started seriously working on her first novel in the Spring of 2009. 7 months pregnant with her first child, she didn't start off with a lot of focused writing time. But Morgan had an epiphany, if you will, and the story flashed before her so she began to write. And she’s still writing. Her debut Young Adult fantasy, SILENT ORCHIDS, will be out this summer.

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Silent Orchids (Age of Alandria #1)

by: Morgan Wylie

Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: American Majestic Entertainment
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: e-ARC from InkSlinger PR
Page Count: 238 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

A dying realm.

The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.

The Orchids have been silenced… but for how long?

Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.

Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there… somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.

My Review:

Silent Orchids was a great start to the Age of Alandria series. Wylie does not hesitate to throw us right into this fantastical world, introducing us to the lore of the world she has created. In fact, some of it felt almost Lord of the Rings like describing the faeries, elves, and the other mystical beings. (And I'm a huge LOTR fan so this so worked for me!) She does quite a bit of world building in this novel, getting us acquainted with not only the realm of Alandria, but also with the characters.

We are first introduced to Kaeleigh, our main character, who is experiencing flashes and dreams that she cannot explain nor understand. She knows nothing of her heritage, only her true name (Kaeleighnna) and that the orchid has some kind of special meaning to her. She lives in Montana and while she may not have any family, she does have two best friends: Finn and Chel. Both are fiercely loyal to her and she considers them to be her family. Chel is fun, upbeat, and bubbly where Finn is more introspective. There are several occasions throughout the novel where we see just how protective Finn and Chel are of Kaeleigh and how the binds of friendship will not be broken, even when tested.

We then meet Daegan: angry, determined, stoic, he is a warrior who has been trained by the Ferrishyn, the elite warrior race of the Faeries. He lives with his great aunt and uncle who are the current rulers of Feraánmar (the Faerie dominion). It is clear his great aunt is the one with the power and I am eager to find out more about her in the next book, as she is powerful, manipulative, and not to be trusted. Her son Halister treats Daegan as a brother and he is the one who accompanies Daegan on a recon quest to find out if they are in danger from a distant threat. On this quest Daegan is accompanied to see the Elders, who inform him there is a human girl of great value that he must seek out and protect at all costs. After disclosing this information to his great-aunt, he unwillingly sets out to find this girl and to bring her back. Easier said than done.

Kaeleigh is a lot of fun to read about. She is actually a believeable protagonist. She is still an 18 year old girl and acts like one. She puts on a tough face, but is also vulnerable and frightened at everything that is beginning to happen to her. Slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) she begins to trust Daegan and does eventually accompany him (along with Finn and Chel) to Alandria.Watching them interact is fun, but frustrating at the same time. Daegan does not wear his emotions on his sleeve, but in those moments of vulnerability, Kaeleigh sees something more in him and I am excited to see where Morgan is going to take their relationship in the next installment.

Overall, fans of high fantasy will really enjoy this book, even though it does end quite abruptly. There is a pretty big revelation towards the end of Kaeleigh, so I'm eager to learn more already!

~Interview with Morgan Wylie~

So excited to have Morgan join me on the tour today for an interview!

Thanks for the interview Morgan! I am super excited to talk to everyone about the release of your new book, Silent Orchids!

Thank you so much for having me today!!

First off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I see you currently reside near Nashville? (Wooo! Me too!)

What?! Give me a shout…I’m always up for coffee!! Yes, I live near Nashville via the Pacific Northwest (east side of WA) I’m a wife to a fantastic man and talented musician and Mama to a beautiful little girl :) I’m a book addict, coffee lover, and I secretly love to watch my daughter’s cartoons with her.

How did you come up with the idea to write Silent Orchids?

I was sitting and relaxing, watching some TV (I was 7 months prego, so I was probably more like sprawling). A commercial came on and it had an orchid in it… probably a perscription commercial or something like it, don’t they usually have flowers? lol. And, without trying to sound cliché, the story flashed before my mind’s eye. I saw it all unfold. Now granted, it has evolved quit a bit since then, but basically I started writing this story and haven’t stopped. The characters wouldn’t leave me alone—they still don’t ;)

How did you come up with creating the realm of Alandria? What inspired you?

I always wanted to create my own world. It actually was quite a bit more challenging than I thought it would be trying to keep it credible and believable but still otherworldly. I love trees! So there are a lot of forests filled with ancient and mysterious trees. I think they were my main inspiration. I have a map someone created for me if you want to check it out here.

When did you start writing? And why choose fantasy?

I started seriously writing in 2009. I have always LOVED fantasy. I think for me, at times it can be an escape from reality, but also a place to foster imagination and creativity beyond what’s “normal”. You can bend the “rules” in fantasy more than you can with other genres of fiction.

Which character would you say you relate to the most in this book?

I think I am a mix of Kaeleigh and Chel. I have Kaeleigh’s independent and stubborn and self-reliant characteristics as well as some of Chel’s light heartedness and fun.

Which was your favorite to write?

Chel is fun to write, but I think Halister is my favorite to write. We see a lot more of Hal in book 2 so I’m excited about that.

This is your debut novel, correct? What thoughts, feelings have you been experiencing these last couple of weeks, knowing the release date is almost here?

Yes it is! It’s a very surreal experience. It’s very exciting and for me has been a long time in the works. I go from feelings of giddiness and shouting with arms flailing to a “feaked out” feeling of “OMG! People I don’t know are going to be reading my book!” It’s also a very vulnerable and humbling feeling as well. I’m very grateful for this journey and where it has brought me.

I noticed you have a soundtrack to go along with the book. Can you tell us a bit more about it? What motivated you to create one?

YES!! Thank you so much for asking about it. My musician husband and a very talented friend of his are the master minds behind the soundtrack. It is all original music, professionally mastered and produced. It’s a beautiful and hauntingly melodic piece that fits really well with tone of the book. It releases the same day as the book, May 7^th by Steven James Wylie and Blair Masters.

When you aren’t writing, what books do you like to read?

I like to read mainly YA fantasy and paranormal romance (I also throw in some adult too). I read both traditional and Indie. I recently just finished The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (love all her stuff) and I have Clockwork Prince in my TBR pile. I also just read Darkness Kindled by Samantha Young (love her) and I love Lizzy Ford and Julia Crane and Quinn Loftis and so so many more!!

When can we roughly expect the second book in the Age of Alandria series?

Actually, if all goes according to plan, I’m hoping to have book 2 out early this Fall :)

ABOUT MORGAN WYLIE:

Morgan Wylie has been writing on and off throughout her growing up years, but started seriously working on her first novel in the Spring of 2009. 7 months pregnant with her first child, she didn't start off with a lot of focused writing time. But Morgan had an epiphany, if you will, and the story flashed before her so she began to write. And she’s still writing. Her debut Young Adult fantasy, SILENT ORCHIDS, will be out this summer.