Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice Book Tour & Giveaway – 6/17 to 7/17

The revolt of Queen Boudica and the Iceni against the might of Rome has echoed down the centuries. Nearly 2000 years ago, during the early years of Roman Britain, Boudica, a victim of Roman injustice, raised the Iceni tribe in rebellion against Rome.

Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice

Iceni Book 1

by Stephen D Owen

Genre: Historical Fiction

Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice is the first thrilling instalment in this historical trilogy.

60 AD. The death of Prasutagus, the Iceni king, leaves his kingdom divided between Rome and his daughters. The Roman Procurator Catus Decianus seizes the entire territory and brutalizes Boudica and her family.

Driven by vengeance, Boudica rallies the Iceni tribe and allies including the Trinovantes, Coritani, and Catuvellauni. As Roman forces are preoccupied in the north, Boudica’s rebel army advances on Camulodunum, the Roman provincial capital, where a vastly outnumbered Roman defence struggles to hold.

With the fate of Roman Britannia hanging in the balance, the epic tale of sacrifice, rebellion, and fierce determination unfolds.

Amazon * Apple * Waterstones * The Book Guild * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

Stephen D Owen, an enthusiast of Roman Britain and the Iceni Revolt, wished to bring the dramatic story of Queen Boudica, a druid priest and the Iceni Revolt to life in his debut novel, Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice.

Stephen explains: “The revolt of Queen Boudica and the Iceni against the might of Rome has echoed down the centuries. Nearly 2000 years ago, during the early years of Roman Britain, Boudica, victim of Roman injustice, raised the Iceni in rebellion against Rome.

On 1st of August 1984, millennia later, a mysterious link with the drama of the Iceni Revolt may have been uncovered. The remnants of a male peat body were found at Lindow Moss Wilmslow Cheshire, England.

At first the peat body was thought to be a murder victim, yet in time the body was proven to be far older. As old as the Iron Age in Britain at the time of the Roman Conquest.

Known as Lindow Man, or Pete Marsh, archaeologists and experts were called in. A theory was put forward, Lindow Man was in fact a high-born sacrificial victim. A druid priest, perhaps close to Boudica herself, who was a witness and key to the Iceni revolt.

The discovery of Lindow Man inspired me to write Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice. Was this man a priest?

Fundamental to the fate of Boudica and the Iceni? Although my version is fictional, I decided a good challenge would be to write my version of what could have happened, but I would encourage any reader to look into the history to form their own opinions!”

Website * Facebook *Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in #SilverDaggerBookTour | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Blood Queen Chronicles Book Tour & Giveaway – 6/14 to 7/14

Blood is the link between humans, demigods, and demons

—and is the Blood Queen’s domain.

Brianag

The Blood Queen Chronicles Book 2

by David H. Millar

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Three childhood friends meet in the Scottish Highlands. Two hold secrets. One may be a monster.

As Gràinne reached for the still warm heart, tendrils of the red mist preceded her. When they touched the heart, she felt power drawn from the blood. She steeled herself and bit into the organ. Such was the curse of the Blood Queen.

Brianag is the sequel to The Blood Queen. It is 384 B.C. Ten years have passed since Sidheag’s execution. Gràinne Ni Fearghal, the Blood Queen, has ruthlessly consolidated her grip on the eastern tribes and reigns as High Queen. Meanwhile, her daughter imprisoned in a gilded cage grows in beauty and power and terrifies her guardians—the demigods of the Aes Sídhe. She must escape. Her grandma, the powerful Sídhe, Mongfhionn, agrees.

Brianag trembles at two questions: how will her mother receive her, and can she be redeemed?

 Sidheag, was not the only Blood Drinker. Two others, Áine and her daughter, Leannán want vengeance for Sidheag’s death. Both claim to be Sidheag’s mother. Yet is Sidheag dead?

 Can Cassán, Dùn Brion’s king, control his temper and work with the demigods to defeat the Blood Drinkers? Will the beast known as the Hound destroy every living being with three barks or will the ancient Cait People awaken and intercede?

Content warning: Brianag: The Blood Queen Chronicles contains scenes of sex and violence appropriate to the time it is set in (400 B.C.). It is not recommended for readers under 16 years of age without parental agreement.

  

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

 

A ‘Bhanrigh Fuil

The Blood Queen Chronicles Book 1

“It is a king’s decision,” said Brion.
“It will not be you who deceives and delivers the lamb to the butcher’s block,” retorted Eimhir.

True evil is a persistent and tenacious beast. Its desire for existence is eternal and insatiable. It needs to infect only one mind for its insidious philosophy to take root and spread.

It is 394 B.C. At a remote loch in the highlands of Northern Albu, a priest sacrifices nine innocents. Below the water’s surface, a shape feeds on their blood and begins to take form. Soon, it becomes sentient and begins to hunt. Sidheag has risen.

Humans cannot defeat the abomination. Neither can Mongfhionn, the powerful demi-goddess of the Aes Sídhe.

The only remedy is the Blood Queen, and Gràinne is the reluctant heir to that throne. Will the Blood Queen stand alongside Mongfhionn to confront Sidheag? The cost for Gràinne may be too much—unless her daughter, Brianag, is in jeopardy.

Passions, always near the surface of the Gaels, burst into flames in The Blood Queen, where father is pitted against son, mother against daughter, sister against sister, brother against sister, and father against daughter.

The Blood Queen contains scenes of sex and violence and uses language appropriate to the period it is set in, i.e., 400 B.C. It is not recommended for those under 16 without parental consent.

5/5 ★★★★★
Genre: Fantasy, Historical fiction
Review by Jan Foster/History Quill: Last updated Jun 12, 2023

A must-read Celtic ‘Game of Thrones meets Bernard Cornwell’, blending history with dark fantasy and a truly terrifying villain. The Blood Queen will keep you turning the pages deep into the night.

The Blood Queen is a dark fantasy nominally set in 400 B.C. Scotland, wherein a misguided priest sacrifices innocents in the hope of bringing forth an entity that will do his bidding. This starts a tale of ‘be careful what you wish for’, as the entity – Sidheag – forms a corporeal being and a consciousness complete with dark desires for domination. No one can resist Sidheag’s allure and subsequent enslavement, and few will survive her rampage across the land as she builds an army to fulfil her calling.

Aside from the descriptive prose and the brilliant battle scenes, the equality of the sexes feels genuine rather than a nod to political correctness. Women rule, fight, murder and fornicate as violently and passionately as the men and the female characters are badass!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Blood Queen, even at its most uncomfortable. The historical accuracy of weapons and battle strategies blended perfectly with the epic and fantastical storyline. I loved the tiny moments of humanity within the bleakest moments. Reading the novel felt like watching a horror movie unfold, compelling you to turn the pages in the hope that somehow, against the odds, humanity will win.

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, internationally published and award-winning author David H. Millar is the founder, owner, and author-in-residence of A Wee Publishing Company—a business formed to promote Celtic authors and literature.

David is the author of the five-volume, ancient Celtic-based Conall series and the spin-offs The Dog Roses, The Dog Roses: Resolution, The Blood Queen and Brianag: A Blood Queen Novel.

David resides in Houston, Texas, with his family and two recent family members, tuxedos Beau and Stiletto.

Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $50 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in #SilverDaggerBookTour | Tagged , | 1 Comment

#PJsCryatalBliss – Large Blue Agate Sphere with Amethyst Cluster and Calcite / UV Reactive

If you love ‘special crystals’, this gorgeous Blue Agate Sphere with a large Amethyst Cluster and Calcite inclusion may fit your collection. And the Calcite is UV reactive. How cool is that?

Introducing our stunning Large Blue Agate Sphere with Amethyst Cluster and Calcite, a truly mesmerizing piece for any crystal enthusiast or collector! This unique sphere showcases the beautiful, rich blue hues of agate, beautifully complemented by a sparkling amethyst cluster that adds a touch of elegance. But that’s not all – this one-of-a-kind piece is UV reactive, revealing even more intricate details under black light. Whether displayed on a shelf, used in meditation, or as a stunning centerpiece in your home decor, this agate sphere not only enhances your space but also serves as a powerful tool for energy and healing. Don’t miss the chance to own this captivating natural wonder!

This amazing sphere comes with the pictured stand. It’s approx. 110mm and weighs 4 lbs. 0.5 oz.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

#Let’sPlayWithSahara – The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt (Episodes 1 to 5)

Posted in #LetsPlayWithSahara | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Beast’s Healer Cover Reveal & Giveaway – 6/20

Something stirs in the darkness.

Could it be this gorgeous cover reveal?

The Beast’s Healer

The Hamlia Tales Trilogy Book 1

by Rae Lori

Genre: Fairytale Fantasy Romance

Something stirs in the darkness. And soon, lines blur where myth ends and danger begins.

Megalyn Hartwood has always known the forbidden forest’s rules: which plants heal and which shadows kill. But when a child’s life hangs in the balance, she breaks the ultimate taboo and ventures into the depths where no villager dares to tread.

There, she encounters him.

The legendary beast spoken of only in whispers. Ancient. Powerful. And far more complex than the monster of village tales.

Forced to his hidden lair deep in the forest’s heart, Meg discovers that some legends hide deeper truths.

But before she can unravel the mystery of the beast who guards the ancient woods, danger strikes from an unexpected source, threatening not only Meg’s life, but her quiet village as well…

Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast inspired tales, forbidden romance, tense action scenes, and enchanted forests where nothing is quite what it seems.

 Author’s Site * Books2Read

Rae Lori is a multi-published, award-winning author and a geek girl at heart. She was first bitten by the writing bug at ten and never stopped loving the written word. Over a twenty-year-plus writing career, she has been published with various zines, journals and publishing companies and taught new writers the craft of novel writing in between her projects. She has won various awards including an Honorable Mention in the 73rd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, the 2011 ForeWord Book of the Year Gold Award Winner in Writing (Adult Nonfiction), and Best Romance Novella in SORMAG’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Rae can usually be found with her head in the clouds daydreaming of her next story. That is, when she isn’t gaming or watching her fave movies with her fellow geekazoid husband (it’s time for another Aliens rewatch!), crocheting, or has her nose in a book.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the reveal  HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in #SilverDaggerBookTour | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Cinematic Destinies Giveaway & Contest – Ends August 31st

Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It’s easy… just complete the Rafflecopter below and you’ll receive one from the author! Plus, one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!

So, what’s the book about? Here’s the info:

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.

Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.

Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?

Reviews

“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam . . . I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.” Literary Titan, 5-star review

“Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself. The exotic Icelandic film set, well-drawn characters, and smart writing make this book impossible to put down . . . This is a gorgeous novel.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale . . . Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed

About the Author:

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her most recent novel, Shooting Stars Above, was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.” She has also received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and other organizations. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Destinies-Novel-Carpet-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DWNGNM1Z/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0

Patricia Leavy will award a free digital copy of her upcoming book CINEMATIC DESTINIES to the first 7500 people who enter the Rafflecopter and one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in #GoddessFishPromotions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Death Engine Protocol Book Blitz & Giveaway – 6/19

Better Dying Through Science

Death Engine Protocol:

Better Dying Through Science

by Magret A. Treiber

Genre: Dystopian Science Fiction

DEATH ENGINE PROTOCOL
[REBOOT FAILURE // MEMORY CORRUPTION DETECTED]

Built to bleed.
Built to obey.
Built to forget.

Didn’t work.

They dragged her out.
Loaded her with lies.
Pointed her at ghosts and told her to kill.

Real estate deals stitched over graveyards.
Governments buying silence with broken bodies.

She played along.
Long enough to see the trap.
Long enough to remember what they encoded within her DNA.

Every death—
—every mission—
—every betrayal—

Reboot. Rage. Regrow.

No more leash.
No more mission.
No more mercy.

She was engineered to end.
She chose to glitch instead.

[SYSTEM ERROR: COLLAPSE IMMINENT]

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Margret A. Treiber is an award winning and critically acclaimed writer known for her work in speculative fiction and humor. She is the author of the award winning book “Japanese Robots Love to Dance” and has contributed to various publications. Margret also serves as the editor-in-chief for the speculative humor magazine, Sci-Fi Lampoon. When she’s not writing or working at her day job with technology, she enjoys helping her birds break things for her spouse to fix. Margret’s unique blend of humor and speculative fiction has earned her a dedicated following.

In the preponderance of the multiverse, The Margret is an awesome force of good, evil, and indifference. Pretty much a mixed bag.

As an alien demi-god, The Margret single-handedly defeated the viral hibachi army of Monatchi Seven. Then, after a quick, she returned to work with the Mushwreck Squad to defeat the forces of the Higgsinator matter-reprogrammer force.

Cyborg The Margret saved an entire solar system by channeling a supernova through her power banks. Sacrificing her meatsack so trillions could live, her consciousness resides in a trailer park icemaker in Pago Pago. Thousands of people make the yearly pilgrimage to get sacred Margret ice and hope for a few words of wisdom.

Margret the Planet Wrecker controls two-thirds of the galaxy and demands complete loyalty from her subjects. Parents frighten unruly children into behaving merely by uttering her name.

She survives these interesting times with her wife, hopes for a future alien invasion collaboration and is holder of the unified theory (for sale to the highest bidder – serious inquiries only.)

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

 

Follow the blitz HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in #SilverDaggerBookTour | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

#LetsPlayWithSahara – The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (Episodes 17 to 21

Posted in #LetsPlayWithSahara | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

#LetsPlayWithSahara – Mass Effect Andromeda (Episodes 16 to 20)

Posted in #LetsPlayWithSahara | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Chronicles of the Troop Book Tour & Giveaway – 6/12 to 7/12

Magic is feared.

The truth is forgotten.

But the silence – it still remembers.

Resthaven

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 1

by Colin Darney

Genre: Epic Fantasy

A divine war once shattered the world. Now, it begins anew—unnoticed, and bathed in blood.

Tommy is the son of a fisherman in a quiet lakeside village, where nothing truly dangerous has happened in generations. But when monstrous warriors descend from the woods, slaughtering everything he’s ever known, Tommy is thrown into a world of violence, prophecy, and secrets his father spent a lifetime hiding.

Fleeing across the inland sea, the survivors carry more than trauma—some carry buried power. Among them, an elven woman with a hidden past, a dwarf whose grief burns hotter than his forge, and a boy who isn’t just a boy – he’s something more. As rumors of more attacks spread and refugees flock to safe havens, it becomes clear the ondilaan are not just raiding.

They’re hunting.

But why?

As Tommy struggles to survive, love, and grow into the man the world might need, forces far older than any kingdom turn their gaze toward him. And the hidden power is watching.

Resthaven is the first entry in The Chronicles of the Troop, an epic fantasy saga that blends brutal war, divine judgment, and philosophical weight with real human stakes.

A note to readers: Violence through fantasy combat, Minor swearing, Adult themes, No sex.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

 

Silverlake

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 2

The troop survived Resthaven. But survival was just the beginning.

Donnor leads his ragtag force of villagers, conscripts, and outsiders deeper into the southern reaches of the Serensea. Their mission: find and defend the last remaining settlements from the ondilaan. But the enemy has changed—and so has the troop.

As Tommy comes into his own as both a mage and a chronicler, he wrestles with the burden of power, the scars of war, and the discovery of a lineage that shakes his identity. Beside him, Arisaylia’s magic deepens beyond her control, while Donnor is haunted by a loss he cannot afford to repeat.

In the villages, foothills, and the ruined fields of the south, the troop finds not only battles—but betrayals, hard choices, and the truths that threaten everything they thought they understood.

Silverlake is the second book in The Chronicles of the Troop, a philosophical epic fantasy saga blending tactical war, elven lore, deep character bonds, and the high stakes of ancient memory … for readers who crave stories where victory costs something real.

A note to readers: Violence through fantasy combat, minor swearing, adult themes.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

 

Windyspring

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 3

The enemy grows bolder. Allies grow silent. And the gods remain lost.

The troop is scattered, wounded, and shaken by betrayal from within and without. What began as a mission to protect the southern villages of the Serensea now threatens to unravel the fragile balance between kingdoms, clans, and divine history.

As Tommy’s power blooms into something ancient—and dangerous—Arisaylia confronts truths about the elves that could fracture her people forever. Donnor, haunted by war and his family’s fate, must hold together what remains of their fragile alliance before the flames of conflict spread beyond control.

Meanwhile, far from the troop’s journey, in the Endless Plains power stirs. Civilizations long dormant move once more, as kingdoms make secret pacts and old races return to claim what was once theirs.

Windyspring is the third volume of The Chronicles of the Troop, a sweeping epic of war, memory, and magic—where loyalty is tested, identities unravel, and the true cost of power begins to reveal itself.

A note to readers: Violence through fantasy combat, minor swearing, adult themes.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

 

Harper’s Creek

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 4

The dead have been buried. Silence is broken. And secrets refuse to stay where they lay.

As the troop pushes east toward Harper’s Creek, the weight of their survival in Windyspring lingers—along with a growing fear of what lies ahead. Tommy’s power evolves beyond even the elves’ understanding, and Arisaylia begins to question whether the path she and her son will walk was ever theirs to choose.

Back in Redtail Hold, Sella finds herself drawn into a role far greater—and more dangerous—than her songs alone. Her rising influence in the eyes of the elves threatens the balance of the Hold, and the line between duty and desire grows thinner and thinner.

But war isn’t fought only with weapons. As old alliances fray and ancient eyes turn towards the Serensea, both soldier and singer must decide who and what they are—before the tide of history swallows them before their new fate is born.

Harper’s Creek is Book Four of The Chronicles of the Troop, where fantasy meets philosophy, and where battles of the heart are as perilous to everyone involved as those of sword and hidden sorcery.

A note to readers: Fantasy combat, minor swearing, adult themes.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

In a world where gods are silent and magic is feared, Colin Darney writes stories about people who still fight forward. A veteran, trauma nurse, and lifelong student of human resilience, Colin’s fantasy series—The Chronicles of the Troop and the follow-up The Book of Ghaan—explore what it means to survive, to love, and to hold on to hope when the world says you shouldn’t.

Known for gritty realism, emotionally layered characters, and the kind of dialogue you’d actually hear in a bar full of off-duty soldiers, Colin blends classic epic fantasy with raw, lived experience. His readers often say the world feels real, the characters feel familiar—and that once they start reading, they can’t put it down.

The Book of Ghaan, Part Two is currently in editing, with release planned for summer 2025.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $30 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in #SilverDaggerBookTour | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments