I don’t remember anyone telling us that this was supposed to be a Beauty and the Beast rewrite, but I was definitely getting those vibes in this second book. But it also has it’s very own unique take as well!

About the Book

Ancient relics, power, and the tensions between light and darkness await.
Liliana finds herself caught in the crossfire of the scheming, bloodthirsty nobility of the Continent. Enemies lurk not just across the border but even within the ranks of El’s family at Castle Finsterwald.

As she uncovers secrets about the past and the power of the vampiric Curse, Liliana must find her own ways to fight in order to protect her daughter and the man she starts to, against better judgment, fall for once more.

Content Warnings: Violence, Fear, Imprisonment, Threats to a Child, Fear, Adult Situations, Adult Language

My Thoughts

There were so many interesting elements and characters in this one that I think almost anyone would enjoy it – as long as you enjoy fantasy, vampires, political intrigue, and a little romance for good measure. It felt like an appropriate read for #spookymonth because it features a monster romance. This particular mythos is no sparkly gang of biters. Sure, they have beautiful human facades, but they have a very unpleasant side as well. I always appreciate unique mythos instead of just taking what is available and pressing copy and paste. Obviously, it’s okay to do research and take ideas, but at least have some originality!

This story also delves into aspects of humanity through the lens of the vampires and the humans living in their world. This is always one of the things I love about vampires and other “monster” books; they give us a chance to look at our world and mistakes through a filter and examine what we might be able to do better.

This book delves deep into politics, family life, and other socio-political issues that really brought the social commentary aspect of fantasy books to life – one of my favorite things!

I’m so grateful to the author and LBT for including me on this sequel tour! I can’t wait to read the next one- because, again, that sure felt like a massive cliffhanger!

Who’s It For?

The book is labeled as a low fantasy/supernatural/gas lap/romantasy book. So, if you’re already a fan of any of those genres, I believe you’ll love this book. If you’ve been interested in any of those – especially Gas Lamp or Romantasy, I think this is a great one to dip your toe in the water. It’s a good one for low fantasy, too. I’m always going to recommend a vampire or a witch book if you’re interested in getting into fantasy. They’re very much classics at this point.

Content Warnings: Violence, Fear, Imprisonment, Threats to a Child, Fear, Adult Situations, Adult Language

Question of the Day

Do you have any fun Halloween plans? What are they?

Answer of the Day

My daughter is having a party at school, and we’ll do trick-or-treating. We moved, and I’ve never had trick-or-treaters show up at my house. So, fingers crossed, I’ll finally get some!!

About the Author

D. S. McColgan emigrated from the Swiss mountains to Wales, where she now writes her stories surrounded by green hills, countless sheep and castles. She writes in German and English, and her short stories reside in the realm of fairy tales or magical realism. This year, she has published the first two books of her fantasy series: A Tale of Something New & A Tale of Something Red. If you are not afraid of blood and fancy a historical tale with slow-burn romance, secrets, authentic characters and atypical twists, you will love her series.

Links

Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Something-Red-ATO-Book-ebook/dp/B0D4R89XKT
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tale-Something-Red-ATO-Book-ebook/dp/B0D4R89XKT
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214911219-a-tale-of-something-red
Author’s Website: www.ataleofbooks.com