Author: sharisakurai

Shari Sakurai is a British author of paranormal, horror, science fiction and fantasy novels that almost always feature a LGBT protagonist and/or antagonist. She has always loved to write and it is her escape from the sometimes stressful modern life! Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work. Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month challenge ten times!

Review: The Queen’s Curse by Natasja Hellenthal

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The_Queen's_Curse

The Queen’s Curse by Natasja Hellenthal

It’s time for change! In a country with a cursed justice system, two women; the mysterious Queen Artride and her loyal bodyguard Tirsa, set out on a secretive perilous quest. They hope to find the sorceress, the only person powerful enough to be able to lift the curse, in Dochas; the strange Magical Land.

But they have to hurry as they only have three weeks to save Tirsa’s teenage brother’s life, sentenced to hanging for a petty crime.

The women are soon drawn to each other, however struggles and questions arise. Will the sorceress be willing to help them and for what price?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed reading The Queen’s Curse. You are immediately pulled into the story and this makes it very difficult to put down!

The world that Natasja Hellenthal has created is very real, and carefully crafted as is Queen Artride and Tirsa’s quest. They brave many dangers together and through the perils that they face the two who, at first are at odds with each other, become closer.

I loved the developing relationship between the two. It was not rushed and occurred very naturally. I was glad that Tirsa was able to make peace with her past and that it would not continue to be an obstacle that prevented the two of them from moving forward together.

The quest itself allowed both characters to grow and develop, and their journey had many twists that kept me reading and willing for a happy outcome, not just for the protagonists but all the characters that they met along the way.

This was a captivating and wonderful read that will not disappoint and I look forward to reading more novels by Natasja Hellenthal.

Links: Goodreads, Amazon

Book Recommendation: Downtime by Tamara Allen

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Downtime by Tamara Allen

On assignment in London, FBI Agent Morgan Nash finds himself moments away from a bullet through the heart when the case he’s working goes awry. But fate has other plans, he discovers when he wakes in a world far removed from his own.

At work cataloguing ancient manuscripts in the British Museum, Ezra Glacenbie inadvertently creates the magic that pulls Morgan out of the twenty-first century and into the nineteenth. It’s an impromptu vacation which may become permanent when the spellbook goes missing. Further upsetting Morgan’s search for a way home is the irresistible temptation to investigate the most notorious crime of the nineteenth century. But it’s the unexpected romance blossoming between Morgan and Ezra that becomes the most dangerous complication of all.

Book Recommendation: Illumination by Rowan Speedwell

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Illumination by Rowan Speedwell

Adam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. After the final concert of their latest tour, he flees the after-party in pursuit of memories of lost summers and carefree days, until he passes out on the patio of a shuttered lake resort.

Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. When he discovers Adam asleep in a deck chair, he’s furious but intrigued. Adam soon charms his way into Miles’ bed, and they lose themselves in a summer idyll, safe from the compromises and claims of reality.

But Adam’s life, with all its demands, is waiting for him. And Miles, uncertain of Adam’s true feelings, is battling demons of his own. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together.

 

 

Meet my Character Blog Tour

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This week I’ve been invited to take part in the Meet my Character Blog tour. This is a blog tour in which authors interview one of their main characters from an upcoming or recently published novel.

The author who tagged me is Katheryn J. Avila.

Katheryn J. Avila has always dreamed of being a published author, and recently, that dream has come true! Her novel, Reckoning, is the first in a paranormal sci-fi trilogy she’s titled The Breach. Reckoning tells the story of Lexia, a young woman who discovers that she’s psychic and is thrown into the dangerous world of the supernatural, where she must place her trust in an unexpected ally in order to protect her family.

Website: http://about.me/katheryn_avila
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexiaReckoning2014
Twitter: @katheryn_avila

The Interview

Today I sat down with Kokawa Taku, the main protagonist of Demon’s Blood, and asked him some questions about himself and the novel.

1. What is your name? Are you a fictional or historical person?

My name is Kokawa Taku. I’m a fictional character that you made up!

2. Where and when is Demon’s Blood set?

The main story is set during modern day, in the fictional city of Norfield, England, but there are also flashback scenes connecting the story to the Edo period of Japan’s history, as well as modern day Tokyo and Yokohama.

3. And tell us a bit about yourself. What should we know about you?

I’m a two hundred and twenty-five year old vampire. I burn in sunlight, although I can go out during the day if there is sufficient cloud cover or if it’s raining – but I do receive some burns if I do this, kind of like sunburn!

I drink human blood; animal blood cannot be a substitute for this. I kill to survive or if threatened, and I don’t agonise over it. I have to live after all and humans kill other humans for much less!

I’m not very social. This isn’t because I’m shy – far from it, I’m quite overly confident – I simply don’t relate to other people well. I have a temper which I would lose more times than I actually do were it not for Thane.

Who is Thane?

Thane is my gorgeous English lover. We have been together for a hundred and twenty-four years now.

Wow that’s a long time! I admire your devotion to each other!

Thane means the world to me and I know I do to him too. I can’t imagine us ever being apart.

You’re so sweet!

*frowns* In my two hundred years as a vampire I have never been called sweet!

^^;; he he….moving on…

4. What’s your main conflict? What messes up your life?

You mean what have you done to mess up my life?

Urm…yeah I guess ^^;;

Now you did say before we began this interview to avoid spoilers so my answer is going to be vague!

Something happened to me when we were in Yokohama and since then I’ve felt as though I’m fighting a darkness that resides inside myself. I’m trying to keep it from Thane as he had a part to play in what happened to me and it would cause him a lot of pain to know this. I’m also afraid. I rarely confide in anyone under normal circumstances and this darkness has made it harder for me. I’m frightened that I am going to lose myself.

You’re making me want to hug you

You may if it makes you feel better but remember you did this to me!

*hugs him anyway*

5. What are your personal goals?

On the surface I appear very materialistic. I like living in luxurious apartments and buying sports cars, but my personal goal is protecting Thane. He’s still the same kind, naïve (sometimes infuriatingly so!), gentle person that he was before I turned him into a vampire. To retain so much humanity is very rare and precious for our kind. I would gladly give my own life to preserve that and protect Thane.

6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

Demon’s Blood is the title. It’s listed on Goodreads, amazon and smashwords to name a few! You can also visit http://www.sharisakurai.com for more information.

7. When can we expect the book to be published?

The novel was published on 25th January. You can purchase it from amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I11W9FE), smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/393858) and other ebook retailers.

There will be a sequel but I’ve been told not to give away too much about that at this stage!

Thank you, Taku!

***

Here are the awesome authors I tagged who will be participating next week. Be sure to check out their work!

Kyra Halland, author of romantic fantasy novels including “Urdaisunia” and “The Lost Book of Anggird”. You can find out more about Kyra and her work by visiting her website or on Goodreads.

Stuart Keane, author of horror/suspense novels “The Customer Is Always…” and “All or Nothing”. You can find out more about Stuart and his work by visiting his website or on Goodreads.

Monica Enderle Pierce, author of the historical fantasy novel “Famine” and the science fiction novel “Girl Under Glass”. You can find out more about Monica and her work by visiting her website or on Goodreads.