Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Sacrificed (The Last Oracle Book 1) by Emily Wibberley is the story of Clio, who used to believe that her mother's powers as a mystical oracle were nothing but make-believe. Until she unexpectedly becomes the oracle herself, and learns that the things she believed to be wrong are actually right. Unfortunately, she also has to deal with the loss of people important to her, and falling in love with somebody who would like to see every single oracle dead. How will he react when he finds out that his new friend is an oracle? And how will Clio get out of the situation that brought her into a city that would also like to see every oracle killed in a rather violent manner?

I am usually a bit cautious when starting a series these days as many are just quite bad. Sacrificed (The Last Oracle Book 1) by Emily Wibberley, however, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was not one of those short first books of a series that just wants to make you buy the next one. The book is a whole story in itself, but also makes you want to read more, and learn more about the world you have been introduced to. The characters quickly grow close to your heart (or far apart from it), and it's not possible to say "just one more chapter." This is a very well written fantasy novel in an interesting world that promises quite a few conflicts in the books to come (at least I can imagine a few of the conflicts already). It's definitely a series you should have a look at if you like strong female lead characters in a fantasy setting.

Reviewed by Deepak Menon for Readers' Favorite

Circumstellar Heliocentric by J.W. Lolite is a powerful fantasy story narrated by Ingrid Fairheit, apparently an ordinary teenager. The action is rapid as she narrates a horrific experience in an encounter with some 'Ankida', an ancient race of alien hybrids who have human form. Thousands of years ago, the Ankida, living in darkness, declared war on humans in order to take the land and cities. Ingrid's father, an Ankida, married a human and so Ingrid was half Ankida with strange powers slowly disclosed as the narrative continues. The Ankida would be able to conquer the human race if they found the 'Keys' to some magical locks and opened up the four 'realms' of darkness. Ingrid is one of the 'Lock Keepers' and has to keep the keys of the locks to the realms safe. But where are the Keys?

J.W. Lolite weaves an exhilarating story. Many characters emerge, each with special powers verging on the supernatural. A running battle of great intensity takes place across the continent. Many a time Ingrid is either defeated or on the verge of disaster, but will the champions who emerge one after the other be able to salvage the situation? The development of the story is excellent, each chapter fluidly flowing into the next. Descriptions of both the protagonists, as well as events and historical background, are measured and revolve around a thread of action and tension which remains throughout the book. Heliocentric is targeted for the YA audience and succeeds admirably in this fantasy fiction thriller.

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer by Laxmi Hariharan is a YA dystopian novel set in the city of Mumbai. Soon after a terrifying encounter with a subway pervert propels her out of the hustle and grind of her everyday life, Ruby Iyer, the titular heroine, a fiercely independent and forthright young woman, finds herself on a mission to rescue her kidnapped best friend, Pankaj, from the clutches of a maniacal doctor determined to tear down the city. In a fast paced thrill ride of a novel, Ruby must do what she can to stave off disaster and save her best friend.

The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer by Laxmi Hariharan is a very exciting read. When it starts off, though Hariharan does a good job of drawing you in, you're not quite sure what The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer is going to be about. However, while you're reading you can never quite shake off the ominous feeling as the story moves on. That feeling continues to build all the way up until the fateful incident at the train station. I absolutely love Laxmi Hariharan's beautifully evocative descriptions when it comes to smells; the author has a way of really bringing the scenes to life. Her character Ruby Iyer is far from two-dimensional; she is an interesting web of motivations, determination, sadness, and intellect. A creative story wrapped around a taut, gritty, dystopian plot, and featuring a fiercely independent, if sometimes immature heroine, The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer is one hell of a read!

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Our story begins in the fairy realm where at great sacrifice to themselves, the council members join together to banish the powerful and evil Brigara from the realm of Fionia. However, Brigara manages to enter the realm of humans where she waited 300 gams ploting her revenge. When Jake and his family moved to Middlefield he expected a normal quiet, boring life; he was wrong. Ms. Bridget the science teacher assigned the students to groups and sent them to Vasona Park to gather bits of elements. Jake, Conner, Seneca, and Shayna were gathering moss when without knowing it, they walked through a portal and entered the realm of Fionia. Unfortunately, the portal closed and they could not go back the way they came. Both adventure and danger lay ahead of them. There were odd creatures in the fairy realm and the four teens are forced to do the biding of an evil old Druid.

C. Toni Graham is the author of Crossroads and the Himalayan Crystals. I was quickly caught up in this amazing tale. The author has created remarkable characters like Celestia Swan of Fionia, the guardian spirit of Gaelons Lake. One of my favorites was Keene Ardara, the Cipher Fairy who lived with very strange chairs. I was not familiar with this author and I’m very pleased to say she is now at the top of my fantasy author list. While this book is appropriate for middle school, both young and old will enjoy journeying alongside Jake, Seneca, Shayna and Conner as they search for a way home.

Reviewed by Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite

What a thrill ride Blood and Royalty: Dragoneer Saga Book Six turned out to be! I must confess that I was already a fan of this series, so when the opportunity came to review this, the final installment of the Dragoneer Series by M.R. Mathias, I jumped at the chance. This book is absolutely fabulous from its start to its finish, and brings this great series to a satisfying conclusion. In this installment, fear, death and destruction are about to be rained down upon those we’ve come to love in this series; the Dragoneers, their families and their dragons as well if they aren’t able to thwart Kind Richard’s plan to take the Mainland throne. The action never lets up in this novel, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

I love, love, love this book. I always get worried when I become attached to a series that the end will not satisfy me. Or even worse, that it will be a disappointment. But I needn’t have worried. M.R. Mathias has not disappointed me before, and he didn’t in Blood and Royalty: Dragoneer Saga Book Six either. This book would appeal to any lover of fantasy or science fiction, young adult or older, and to any reader who just enjoys inventive, creative story-telling. M.R. Mathias is a master at world building and is so good with creative descriptions that you can almost feel the wind whipping through your hair as you soar along on the back of a dragon. The only suggestion that I have for the author is that maybe he could re-think the decision that this is the last book in the series. I would certainly love to read more about the Dragoneers. As I think that is probably unlikely, the thing I would most like to say to M.R. Mathias is “Bravo!”