Book Tour: I Was A Teenage Death God by M.J. Beasi

I Was A Teenage Death God

by

MJ Beasi

YA Fantasy

Publisher: Page Street YA

Publishing Date: March 3, 2026

Page count: 368 pages

SYNOPSIS:

Seventeen-year-old Charlie can’t touch anyone without stealing bits of their life away, which would be enough of a curse without Lou—a ghost—forcing them to steal that life for her own use.

Lou has kept Charlie in line for years by threatening to take life directly from their twin sister, Sam. But when Lou goes after their friend and secret crush Ravi, Charlie refuses, and Lou makes good on her threat.

As Sam’s health rapidly declines, Ravi discovers that Charlie may not be the only person born with their unusual power. The trio embark on a weekend road trip to meet a pair of self-proclaimed “Death Gods” who may be the key to saving Sam and understanding Charlie’s abilities . . . . But with all roads leading back to Lou, Charlie is forced to face a dark legacy—one that calls their humanity into question.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M.J. Beasi is a YA author, songwriter, former singer, voice teacher, and the founder/director of a teen opera workshop in western Massachusetts. Born and raised in Michigan, M.J. moved to Pittsburgh to study vocal performance at Carnegie-Mellon University, then on to New York to make a career in music and theater. On tour, M.J. was known for scouting out each new city as a potential future home, but it was love that finally lured M.J. to New England and a new career blaspheming Handel with a group of brilliant teens. As a librettist/adapter, M.J. has written Il sogno d’Arianna, an English-language narrative adapted from the madrigals of Claudio Monteverdi, an expanded adaptation of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and a queer adaptation of Handel’s Rinaldo. Their own songwriting and vocals are featured on their 2002 album, Dorrie’s True Story. M.J.’s debut novel, I WAS A TEENAGE DEATH GOD, will be released in early 2026 from Page Street Publishing.

When not writing or nerding out over Baroque opera, M.J. can be found reading, gaming, obliviously lost in their own inner world, streaming on Twitch at the crack of dawn, or binging cartoons with their spouse and cat. Some of the many keys to M.J.’s heart include rambling takes on musical theater, Vernors ginger ale, oatmeal scotchies, and queer disasters in any setting.

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Book Review: Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teamwork makes the Happily Ever After dream work!

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow is an enchanting young adult romantasy that reimagines the Cinderella fairytale and combines it with an enemies-to-lovers trope. Newly graduated as the head of her class from the Mortal Outcome Academy, young fairy Darling Sparkleton is given her first assignment to guide Mortal, Lucy Addlesberg, onto the path to her HAPPY EVER AFTER, with the added incentive that, if she is successful, she will win a much-coveted mentorship with the ruling board, the Mortal Outcome Committee. What Darling doesn’t realize is that Calamity, a celestial Misfortune and another recent graduate of the academy, has been given the same opportunity. However, his success means he must guide Lucy away from the risky path to an HEA and make a safer choice that would result in an ORDINARY EVER AFTER, without her one true love.

This book had such a fun plot, with an absolutely delightful main couple: Darling and Calamity (or Calam, for short). Darling is all glitter and light and sweetness, while Calam is her opposite. Competitors for the same life-changing prize, they have entirely different missions until they discover they really want the same outcome. Their gradual understanding of the nature of mortals, free will and self-determination, love, and each other, as well as their slow-burn, inevitable, sweet romance, make for a wonderfully layered tale.

The story moves at a fast pace, and I found it hard to find a good stopping point in the narrative without being loath to put the book down and take a break. The banter between Darling and Calam sparkled from more than fairy dust, and I laughed out loud in several places. I loved Darling’s interventions to improve the lot of the entire village of Fulham, especially her solution for the toxic Mrs. Arconia, who used her local status and means to make people, including Lucy, miserable.

However, the story isn’t all froth and fun. Both Darling and Calam face tough personal struggles. While Calam’s success means he can finally escape a lifetime of criticism and disapproval from his cold, emotionally-aggressive father, Darling suffers from the highs and lows of Vacillating Disorder, where negativity and self-doubt can send her into a frightening downward spiral of self-hate; both issues have real-life parallels.

This Cinderella story has a number of twists on the original, and I found it entertaining, hard to put down, and so very, very satisfying when I reached the last page. I recommend UNTIL THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT to readers of young adult romantasies, young adult fantasy coming-of-age stories, and fairytale reimaginings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.


View all my reviews

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - Circle of Nine: Mercy in the Mist by Valerie Biel

CIRCLE OF NINE

by Valerie Biel

October 27 - December 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

CIRCLE OF NINE: MERCY IN THE MIST

The danger was supposed to be over.
The sacred treasures are safe.
The enemies banished to the Otherworld.

But Brigit Quinn’s dreams tell a different story.

The condemned return to haunt her sleep—pleading, accusing, refusing to be forgotten. Something is still wrong, even if the rest of the Circle of Nine insists the threat has passed.

When anonymous warnings surface and the police begin asking questions about the missing, Brigit’s visions intensify, blurring the line between dream and prophecy. The Circle is unraveling. Shadows are gathering.

To restore what’s been broken, Brigit knows they must return to the Otherworld and seek answers from the immortal Elders—knowing that to question them is to risk everything.

In this spellbinding fourth installment of the Circle of Nine series, ancient magic, mortal danger, and Brigit’s quest for the truth collide in a journey that will test the bonds of loyalty, love, and the fragile trust between gods and mortals.

Find CIRCLE OF NINE: MERCY IN THE MIST on Amazon | KindleUnlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

 

Praise for Circle of Nine: Mercy in the Mist

"Mercy in the Mist delivers spellbinding suspense. Positively enchanting!"
~ Tracey S. Phillips, award-winning author of Forewarned for CIRCLE OF NINE: MERCY IN THE MIST

Series Details:

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published by: Lost Lake Press

Find CIRCLE OF NINE series at Amazon & Lost Lake Press

 

Author Bio:

Valerie Biel writes award-winning books for middle grade to adult audiences--stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles. She's also the author of HAVEN, a contemporary middle grade novel, and BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE, a mystery suspense story. She's a founding member of the Blackbird Writers & a member of Sisters in Crime & the Wisconsin Writers Association. When she's away from the computer, she's likely wrangling her overgrown garden, reading multiple books per week, or traveling the world--often on trips for the The World Orphan Fund charity she and her husband run. She calls a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old Wisconsin farm home, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.

Catch Up With Valerie Biel:

ValerieBiel.com
Valerie's Substack Newsletter
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @valerie_biel
BookBub - @ValerieBiel
Instagram - @valeriebielauthor
Threads - @valeriebielauthor
X - @ValerieBiel
Facebook - @ValerieBielBooks
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Pinterest - @ValerieBiel

 

Review:

5 stars!

Could the Tuatha elders have made a mistake? 

Mercy in the Mist is the fourth novel in author Valerie Biel’s imaginative and addictive young adult paranormal mystery series, the Circle of Nine, and in it, we pick up Brigit Quinn’s story soon after the birth of her baby sister Bree, almost a year from the events that kicked the series off. Back in Massachusetts and settling into life with her reunited family now that her mother and father have reconnected, reconciled, and remarried, Brigit’s sixteenth birthday approaches. 

Bree is growing like a weed, and Brigit has discovered she can hear the baby’s thoughts when Bree is thinking about her big sister. But not all is joyful in Brigit’s life. She is experiencing frightful nightmares about the showdown in Ireland last summer between the Circle of Nice and her evil grandfather, Malachi, and his coven, which the Tuatha elders had banished to the Otherworld. She fears that Malachi compelled the coven members to support him against their will, and that the elders mistakenly punished innocent victims rather than willing participants in Malachi’s plans. 

Someone else blames Brigit’s father, Rowan, for Malachi’s doings, and he’s received anonymous messages threatening revenge for his part in the confrontation. It appears the only way to get to the truth is to return to the land of her ancestors once again. 

After such an exciting third book in the series, I wondered how the author would follow it up, but I was not disappointed. Filled with magic and infused with Celtic vibes, this latest adventure is fast-paced and another absolute page-turner, while also providing a close, sympathetic look into the daily life and feelings of the teenage Brigit, with all the normal hopes, dreams, and worries of someone growing up today. Besides her special gifts, Brigit is a regular teenage girl at heart. I loved how she immediately meshed with her new sister, easily taking on the role of a loving, protective older sister, and how she tries to gently manage the hopeful aspirations and continued attentions of her former boyfriend, Tyler, despite having moved on from their relationship. 

The story takes off immediately and is set after Christmas, or Yule, in both Massachusetts and Ireland, where readers are treated to the vivid descriptions of the sights of Ireland through Brigit’s eyes. The author does a great job crafting the story so that those new to the series can pick it up with this book and still understand and enjoy what’s transpiring. However, for the best reading experience, the first three books are not to be missed, whether read first or later. 

I recommend MERCY IN THE MIST to readers who enjoy young adult paranormal mysteries or fantasies.

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Virtual Book Tour: Rewind to Us by Shells Walter

 

Rewind to Us

by

Shells Walter

About Rewind to Us

 

Rewind to Us
Young Adult Romantic Fantasy
Setting - In a small town, then to California, and part in South Korea
Independently Published
Publication Date: October 1, 2025
Paperback Print length: 283 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8267898584 / Digital ASIN: B0FTDTGBGW

Rewind to Us is a heart-pounding K-Pop romance that asks the ultimate question: Would you choose fame, or the one you love?

Big is the shining star of the hottest K-Pop groups in the world. On stage, he’s adored by millions. Off stage, he’s trapped in a career that no longer feels like his own. Then fate intervenes and he meets Kelly, an ordinary person whose warmth and honesty ignite a spark he never expected. She doesn't know who he is at first as he is in hiding. Instant chemistry turns into something deeper, but tragedy soon strikes, forcing Big to make an impossible deal. His career, his freedom, and his love all hang in the balance. Will he ever see Kelly again, or will the choice he makes change both of their lives forever?

Perfect for fans of K-Dramas, BTS, Blackpink, and heartfelt celebrity romances, Rewind to Us is a story of passion, sacrifice, and the courage to fight for love in a world built on fame.

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About the Author

 

Shells Walter has been writing for several years, creating stories that span across multiple genres, from mystery to fantasy to contemporary romance. Her work has been recognized in the Top Ten of the Preditors and Editors competition for Dead Practices, showcasing her ability to captivate readers with compelling characters and unforgettable plots. An avid K-Pop fan, Shells brings her passion for music, fandom culture, and emotional storytelling into her latest work, Rewind to Us. She currently lives on the East Coast with her three cats, where she continues to write, dream, and connect with readers who love stories about resilience, love, and chasing dreams.

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Book Review: A Fable of Wood and String (Puppetmaster Duology, #1) by L.T. Getty

A Fable of Wood and String by L.T. Getty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imaginative and action-packed young adult fantasy.

A Fable of Wood and Strings is the first book in author L.T. Getty’s new Puppetmaster Duology and is an imaginative tale of what happens when an evil puppeteer comes to the small village of Stagmil. Lily and her young twin siblings, Seth and Tiffany, are targeted by a beautiful stranger who stumbles into their town when the men are away hunting an injured wyvern that has been attacking their livestock. The stranger, a monster behind a magical mask, lures the children of the village into the woods and them into marionettes with spider silk as strings. Lily and Seth, with the help of a mysterious village outcast and other magical beings, must work together to save Tiffany and the other children before it’s too late.

The author’s world-building is extensive and detailed as the story unfolds. Lily is a kind and considerate daughter who longs for more than her life in Stagmil, and her parents depend on her so much to help not only their family but the village as well. Seth and Tiffany are fun as a typical bratty younger brother and sister. They are relatable characters and easy to get behind and root for. I thought the adult villagers were a pretty sorry lot to Lily as a whole. They were demanding and ungrateful, using and abusing Lily verbally. She’s way more forgiving than I would have been in her shoes.

The plot was by far one of the more creative ones I’ve encountered, with vividly frightening monsters, magical foxes, and a wise sword master in Zin. The characters are definitely put through the wringer, and this is just book one!

With its engaging and relatable characters and imaginative plot, I recommend A FABLE OF WOOD AND STRINGS to young adult fantasy readers.


View all my reviews

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - Circle of Nine: Sacred Treasures by Valerie Biel

CIRCLE OF NINE

by Valerie Biel

October 27 - December 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

CIRCLE OF NINE: SACRED TREASURES

Brigit Quinn thought uncovering her magical heritage was the biggest shock of her life. But a year after learning she’s descended from a legendary Celtic tribe sworn to guard the mystical power of Ireland’s ancient places, the real battle is just beginning. As she trains for her place in the Circle of Nine, Brigit is determined to protect the secrets and sacred traditions of her people.

But when a cryptic warning arrives—hinting at a shadowy force hunting the Sacred Treasures—everything she’s fought for is suddenly at risk. If the ancient weapons fall into the wrong hands, The Circle could be shattered forever.

Haunted by doubts about her powers, the true intentions of those around her, and disturbing revelations about her family’s past, Brigit must navigate a dangerous path of betrayal, magic, and myth. The enemy is closer than anyone suspects—and time is running out. Can Brigit uncover the truth before darkness claims the Circle?

"The first time I summoned a portal, I didn’t understand how I accidentally opened a doorway to another realm. The second time wasn’t a mistake. I was ready—and I stepped through with the grim resolve that my mission must succeed." —Brigit Quinn

Find CIRCLE OF NINE: SACRED TREASURES on Amazon | KindleUnlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

 

 

Praise for Circle of Nine: Sacred Treasures

"Great writing, enthralling plot, fast-paced, and utterly seductive. . . . This is an extraordinary story with a fantastic setting and characters that remind readers of the sacred in them. I enjoyed the way the author explored the struggle between good and evil in this work and how the conflict reaches every aspect of the story."
~ FIVE STARS from Readers' Favorite for CIRCLE OF NINE: SACRED TREASURES

Series Details:

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published by: Lost Lake Press

Find CIRCLE OF NINE series at Amazon & Lost Lake Press

 

Author Bio:

Valerie Biel writes award-winning books for middle grade to adult audiences--stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles. She's also the author of HAVEN, a contemporary middle grade novel, and BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE, a mystery suspense story. She's a founding member of the Blackbird Writers & a member of Sisters in Crime & the Wisconsin Writers Association. When she's away from the computer, she's likely wrangling her overgrown garden, reading multiple books per week, or traveling the world--often on trips for the The World Orphan Fund charity she and her husband run. She calls a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old Wisconsin farm home, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.

Catch Up With Valerie Biel:

ValerieBiel.com
Valerie's Substack Newsletter
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @valerie_biel
BookBub - @ValerieBiel
Instagram - @valeriebielauthor
Threads - @valeriebielauthor
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Facebook - @ValerieBielBooks
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Pinterest - @ValerieBiel

 

Review:

5 stars!

Wow! A definite page-turner from the start! 

When a diary from 1969 is discovered in a secret hiding place during their home’s remodeling, Brigit Quinn and her parents, Rowan and Celeste, are alarmed by its contents in more ways than one. Written and concealed in a hidden drawer behind the stones on the back wall of their house by her grandmother Phoebe, it precipitates a renewed search for the missing Adele McGrath, and for her father to seek out his mysterious and elusive father, Malachi, for some solid answers about the identity of Rowan’s mother. Furthermore, when Brigit and Celeste scry for answers, the resulting vision warns of a coming attack on the Tuatha, which, left unanswered, leads to the breach of The Otherworld, the theft of the Sacred Treasures safeguarded there, and the destruction of their ancient line. Worst of all, it hints that Adele’s missing son will be at the center of it all – but on which side is yet unknown. 

Sacred Treasures is the third book in author Valerie Biel’s riveting Circle of Nine series and returns to focus on the present-day situation in the Quinn household. So much happened in book one, BELTANY, and this story gives a wrap-up of those events without spoiling the story for those who haven’t read it yet. (So, readers new to the series can jump in on the story with this novel and have an entertaining experience. However, for best enjoyment, the books should really be read in order.) Brigit has matured so much since her introduction, and her joy over the changes her small family has experienced and awaits is infectious. However, the happiness is overshadowed by the warnings of the unknown danger to the Tuatha and the gasp-inducing possibility that her newly returned father may be involved. Not only that, but information in the diary hints at ramifications that could affect Brigit’s relationship with Tyler McGrath in a very big way. 

The story is fast-paced and a definite page-turner. I was delighted with Brigit’s growth as a character and how far she’s come since her 15^th birthday, when she learned about her matriarchal lineage, and how she’s embraced her emerging powers and learned the ways of the women in her family from her mother. They were close before, and their shared experiences and heritage have brought them even closer. With the confidence of youth, Brigit is ready and willing to test her abilities. I was shocked by her leyline traveling and her mother's willingness to even let her attempt it! I loved the rhyming spells, messages, and the details of their ancient ways and there's so much excitement and drama throughout the story, I read long and late and was reluctant (and annoyed) to have to put the book down for the evening.

I recommend SACRED TREASURES to readers of contemporary fantasy and magical realism, as well as to fans of the previous books in the series.

Tour Participants:

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CIRCLE OF NINE Series by Valerie Biel

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - Circle of Nine: Novella Collection by Valerie Biel

CIRCLE OF NINE

by Valerie Biel

October 27 - December 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

CIRCLE OF NINE: NOVELLA COLLECTION

Return to the Celtic magic that began with the suspenseful, award-winning novel Circle of Nine – Beltany.

Descended from a legendary Celtic tribe that guards the secrets of the ancient stone circles, the Quinn women have a great responsibility to protect their pagan rituals and way of life. As members of the formidable Circle of Nine, they celebrate the holidays of the year from Yule to Samhain, keeping the traditions of the Tuatha de Danann alive through the centuries against insurmountable odds. We first met these women in Circle of Nine – Beltany, and now a set of three novellas reveals more of their engaging stories.

In Bressa’s Banishment the power struggle between Father Banan and village healer Bressa Gormley unfolds amidst accusations of treachery, heresy, and murder. Can the Circle protect their trusted healer and the path of the Tuatha against a growing religious fervor?

Dervla’s Destiny brings us to medieval Ireland where the beloved character Dervla Quinn learns of her gifts and fights tremendous loss, betrayal, and violence, all the while never giving up on finding the love she deserves.

In Phoebe's Mission, when an evil force on a quest for ultimate power threatens the Circle of Nine, Phoebe Quinn must leave Ireland for the first time and travel to the United States to protect their way of life. Along the way, she meets the handsome Macklin Scott, taking her mission, and possibly her future, on a far different course than expected.

Find CIRCLE OF NINE: NOVELLA COLLECTION on Amazon | KindleUnlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

 

Praise for Circle of Nine: Novella Collection

"Each story is intriguing and suspenseful. I enjoyed learning about three generations of strong, independent women, who were tasked with protecting their ancient heritage, and about the men who loved and supported them."
~ Jerena Tobiasen, award-winning author for CIRCLE OF NINE: NOVELLA COLLECTION

Series Details:

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published by: Lost Lake Press

Find CIRCLE OF NINE series at Amazon & Lost Lake Press

 

Author Bio:

Valerie Biel writes award-winning books for middle grade to adult audiences--stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles. She's also the author of HAVEN, a contemporary middle grade novel, and BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE, a mystery suspense story. She's a founding member of the Blackbird Writers & a member of Sisters in Crime & the Wisconsin Writers Association. When she's away from the computer, she's likely wrangling her overgrown garden, reading multiple books per week, or traveling the world--often on trips for the The World Orphan Fund charity she and her husband run. She calls a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old Wisconsin farm home, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.

Catch Up With Valerie Biel:

ValerieBiel.com
Valerie's Substack Newsletter
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @valerie_biel
BookBub - @ValerieBiel
Instagram - @valeriebielauthor
Threads - @valeriebielauthor
X - @ValerieBiel
Facebook - @ValerieBielBooks
YouTube - @ValerieBielAuthor
Pinterest - @ValerieBiel

 

Review:

5 stars!

Excellent, in-depth stories featuring three of the women of the Tuatha Quinn line. 

The Circle of Nine: Novellas is the second book in author Valerie Biel’s magical fantasy series and is a trio of tales, each one focusing on the backstory of a woman introduced in Book One, Beltany. The Quinn matriarchy is rich in lore and magical stories. This collection features Bressa Gormley, the teacher and mentor of Onora Quinn, the originator of the family book passed down from mother to daughter through the ages; Dervla Quinn, who lived more than a century later; and Phoebe Quinn, a more recent writer in the book from the 1960s. 

Valerie Biel is a skilled teller of tales, bringing each of the women to life and focusing on the years in their lives prior to the stories they reveal during their turn writing the family book. All of them describe pivotal points in their histories. In Bressa’s Banishment, readers learn how the old wisewoman came to live on the enchanted island in Lough Dooras. Dervla’s Destiny lays the groundwork for the tragic events that Derlva Quinn’s immediate family will later experience. While Phoebe’s Mission is one of mysteries and occurs early enough that Phoebe’s gran is still alive and occasionally lucid. 

The novellas expand the myth and magic of the world of THE CIRCLE OF NINE and allow an intimate view into characters previously encountered only as words on pages in the handed-down ancestral history. I recommend them for readers who enjoy contemporary fantasy stories featuring folklore and magic.

Tour Participants:

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This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Valerie Biel. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

CIRCLE OF NINE Series by Valerie Biel

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - Circle of Nine: Beltany by Valerie Biel

CIRCLE OF NINE

by Valerie Biel

October 27 - December 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

CIRCLE OF NINE: BELTANY

Brigit Quinn has always felt like an outsider. Growing up in a small town where her mom’s pagan practices are the stuff of local gossip, she’s spent her whole life trying to be normal. On her 15th birthday, Brigit makes the same wish she always has—to just fit in. But the universe has other plans.

Instead, Brigit discovers she’s descended from a legendary Celtic tribe—guardians of Ireland’s mystical stone circles. A spellbound book reveals her astonishing family history and the incredible abilities of her ancestors—powers she’ll inherit if she chooses to embrace them.

When an ancient evil resurfaces, threatening her family’s legacy, Brigit is forced to quickly make this impossible decision. Will she accept her magical heritage and fight to protect it? Or reject it to live the "normal" life she’s always wanted?

This thrilling mix of magic, self-discovery, and Irish mythology will captivate fans of coming-of-age stories with a mystical twist. Lovers of ancient legends, enchanted stone circles, and family secrets will be drawn to Brigit's journey into a world where her true power could be her greatest strength… or her downfall.

Find CIRCLE OF NINE: BELTANY on Amazon | KindleUnlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

 

Praise for Circle of Nine: Beltany

"This was a truly beautiful read. Valerie Biel has a captivating, almost lyrical quality to her work that helps the flow and the smoothness of the piece wonderfully. You can just feel the words slide along as you read and it's a remarkable experience. I enjoyed her storytelling as much as I enjoyed the characters and the plot! Circle of Nine: Beltany is a wonderful blend of present and past, mixed with a healthy dose of Celtic mythology to captivate the brainiacs among us."
~ FIVE STARS from Readers' Favorite for CIRCLE OF NINE: BELTANY

Series Details:

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published by: Lost Lake Press

Find CIRCLE OF NINE series at Amazon & Lost Lake Press

 

Author Bio:

Valerie Biel writes award-winning books for middle grade to adult audiences--stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles. She's also the author of HAVEN, a contemporary middle grade novel, and BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE, a mystery suspense story. She's a founding member of the Blackbird Writers & a member of Sisters in Crime & the Wisconsin Writers Association. When she's away from the computer, she's likely wrangling her overgrown garden, reading multiple books per week, or traveling the world--often on trips for the The World Orphan Fund charity she and her husband run. She calls a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old Wisconsin farm home, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.

Catch Up With Valerie Biel:

ValerieBiel.com
Valerie's Substack Newsletter
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @valerie_biel
BookBub - @ValerieBiel
Instagram - @valeriebielauthor
Threads - @valeriebielauthor
X - @ValerieBiel
Facebook - @ValerieBielBooks
YouTube - @ValerieBielAuthor
Pinterest - @ValerieBiel

 

Review:

5 stars!

Excellent coming-of-age story that mixes the present with the past, the mundane with the magically arcane. 

Beltany is the first book in the Circle of Nine by Valerie Biel and is a wonderfully exciting (with very relatable scenes of growing up) start to this series. As the clock ticks over to her fifteenth birthday, Brigit Quinn is surprised by her mother with an ancient family heirloom, a book that has been passed down through the women in her family for almost 700 years. While it tells the life story of each successive owner, it does so by vividly transporting the reader into the tales of the women who went before her, but only if read in the right order. However, the gift is only the beginning, as Brigit learns that her family descends from a powerful and magical Irish clan, and each woman in the family develops a magical gift of her own. But as her understanding of her family’s history grows and her own special gift begins to manifest, she also discovers an old evil has come to wrench her legacy away -- a legacy she still must decide to accept or ignore. 

I really enjoyed the story of the modern-day teenager and her best friends as they navigate the minefield of high school, growing up, discovering boys, and the changes that can cause in their own relationships. Brigit is so relatable as she faces exciting (and some unwanted) changes in her life. The other side of this dual-timeline treasure follows the lives of Brigit’s female ancestors and reads like the best action-adventure tale, combined with often heart-wrenching romance. Some of the early stories give an idea of the past when the Catholic Church was trying to woo or intimidate those who followed pagan religions to Christianity, and some of the means and methods used have tragic results. 

The author’s storytelling is mesmerizing, and I was soon completely wrapped up in Brigit’s story; the pages flew by. While Brigit displays a lot of the typical teenage brattiness toward her mother early on, she’s still an engaging character who eventually learns and grows. As this is the first book in an already established series, I look forward to diving into the rest of the story. 

I recommend BELTANY to readers of young adult paranormal fiction, fantasy, and adventure.

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Book Review: The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh

The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic modern fantasy where the lines between an artist’s webcomic and real life blur and crossover.

The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee is author Ellen Oh’s magical story of a young artist drawn into her own webcomic with unforeseen results. With relatable characters experiencing extraordinary situations in a remarkable setting, I was riveted to the story from start to finish.

High school senior Mina Lee is a talented artist stymied in her desire to attend art school after graduation rather than going to college and preparing for what, in her father’s mind, is a more practical future. Mina’s artist mother had passed away a couple of years earlier, and both father and daughter are still grieving her loss. Mina’s father has thrown himself into work and business travel, leaving Mina alone often. Mina misses both her mother and her father but is a capable young woman with a good head on her shoulders with definite goals. She hopes a successful webcomic will help convince her father of the merit of allowing her to follow her dream.

Mina is surrounded by a diverse group of friends and classmates in both her reality and the webcomic. There are a variety of personalities and physical types for readers to meet, especially in her alternate timeline, and the magical powers they display there are imaginative.

The author is a wonderfully skilled storyteller, and she clearly conveys the intricacies of an alternate timeline: the mechanics, the collateral effects, and the rules of the new world, so I had no trouble understanding the action. The technical aspects were never overwhelming and were easy to follow. The grief the various characters experienced felt so authentic that some scenes were emotional reading. On the other hand, it was fun seeing the different storyline tropes identified and put into action as the story progressed. I thought the resolution/epilogue was amazing and was left wondering if there might not be more to this story in the future.

The plot involves some serious scenarios, such as the death of a parent, the death of a child, and an abandoned child. These may be hard-hitting for younger readers or those sensitive to these situations. I recommend THE COLLIDING WORLDS OF MINA LEE to upper middle-grade, young adult, and adult readers of fantasy fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Children's/Young Adult Book Review: Amethyst, The Shallows by Kellye Abernathy

Amethyst, The Shallows by Kellye Abernathy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Return to Dipitous Beach for the exciting and satisfying continuation of the story begun in THE AQUAMARINE SURFBOARD!

Amethyst, The Shallows is the second book in the series or companion book to author Kellye Abernathy’s middle-grade/young adult magical realism novel, The Aquamarine Surfboard, which I read a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed. With its variety of characters’ experiences, multiple points of view, and atmospheric portrayal of the small oceanside community, this magical return trip to Dipitous Beach even surpasses the wonder of the first.

The main characters are a core group of friends who attend the same school and share many of the same interests, perfect for their setting as a beach town, such as surfing, oceanography, and preservation of marine life. Their hometown is slowly coming out of quarantine after a devastating sickness has swept through the country, and the friends have suffered through a long period of isolation and fear. Many of their parents or adult acquaintances died during the pandemic, and the story reflects how grief continues to affect them all. The characters’ behaviors are individualized, showing that not everyone reacts to their loneliness, fear, or sorrow in the same ways.

Two particularly interesting characters are Tad, Lorelei’s younger brother, and Isaac, the son of the aquarium director. Tad, who quickly became my favorite character, is doing his best to be there for his mother, who is in a coma and is still ill from the recent sickness. He is neurodivergent but growing in his ability to control his emotions, which he experiences as colors. Isaac has just arrived in town from back East to live with his non-custodial father after the death of his mother from the sickness. He’s angry and resentful and hates the beach and ocean. His only solace seems to come from music. He, too, is neurodivergent and experiences musical notes as colors. I loved these two very different characters together.

As in the first book, there is a brief sojourn underwater for a couple of the characters. While this visit isn’t as extensive as the first, the wonder and the magic are still ever-present and provides some new surprises.

While this book could be read independently, I feel it should be read after the first one for the best reading experience and comprehension. While time has passed and new life situations and struggles present themselves and are the focus of this companion story, the previous book lays a necessary and magical foundation on which these subsequent events rely.

I recommend AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS to middle-grade and young-adult readers of fantasy and magical realism.

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Book Tour: The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni

The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire

by

Anna Fiteni

Young Adult Fantasy

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publishing Date: September 9, 2025

Page count: 272 pages

SYNOPSIS:

An irresistible dark fae romantasy, inspired by Welsh mythology and perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Faebound, Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince.

Ceridwen Parry has run away with the fairies.

But this is not her story.

For Sabrina Parry, the world is tough, cruel and practical. With her father in prison, her aims in life are 

1. hold onto her job, 

2. hold her tongue, and 

3. set up her sister Ceridwen with a man rich enough to look after her. 

Ceridwen is lovely, romantic, timid – everything that Sabrina isn’t. But then Ceridwen vanishes into the eerie woods leaving only an iron ring behind and Sabrina is drawn into a beautiful but decaying world of fairies and monsters of old. And when an annoyingly handsome fairy prince offers her a dangerous deal, Sabrina is forced to put her own freedom at risk to save her sister.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anna Fiteni is an author from Cardiff. She studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, before going on to the University of Oxford to complete a PGCE. When not writing, Anna enjoys travelling, fashion history, and daydreaming about writing. 

Her debut YA fantasy novel, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire, is due out in October 2025 from Electric Monkey in the UK, and Little, Brown Young Readers in the USA.

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September 10th
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Book Review: Dream by the Shadows (Shadow Weavers Duology, #1) by Logan Karlie

Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Atmospheric slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers young adult fantasy.

Dream by the Shadows is the first book of the Shadow Weavers Duology by author Logan Karlie, and it is an atmospheric young adult enemies-to-lovers tale within a frightening world of nightmares and dreams, shadows and light. Young Esmer’s world falls apart when her parents succumb to “The Corruption,” a horrific disease that turns normal people into slavering, demonic killers, plaguing her village. With her only desire being the protection of her younger brother, she soon becomes a pawn in an eternity-long struggle between her world’s leader, Lord Mithras, the Light Bringer, and his evil antithesis known as the Shadow Bringer.

Esmer Havenfall is the heartbreakingly engaging young heroine trapped by the circumstances of her parents’ actions and their subsequent deaths. She already carries a load of guilt, feeling responsible for her older sister’s death, and she is the only support for her sweet, much-loved younger brother, Elliot. I was exhausted for this young woman, as each time she tried to sleep, she found herself in the nightmarish Dream Realm, where she encountered the notorious and reviled Shadow Bringer.

The plot moves quickly as the author builds a complex setting and an intricate system of magic. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and I had some difficulty keeping up at times. I enjoyed the push-pull of Esmer’s emotions toward the Shadow Bringer as she was both repulsed by his reputation and sympathetically drawn to the man suffering behind the mask. The descriptions of the diverse and vivid settings were at times lush, stark, and always atmospheric.

As I mentioned, I did have some trouble comprehending the full nature of the world of Noctis, the lore, and the magic system; it was just that vast. It took the entirety of the book for me to gain a modicum of comfort with it all, as much is revealed during scenes in the Dream Realm that early on played out with all the well-known confusion one experiences in a nightmare. The excitement of the story really takes off toward the end of this book, leaving me anxious for the next, so I can see how this will all resolve.

I recommend DREAM BY THE SHADOWS to readers of young adult fantasy.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

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