August 1, 2022
Let’s welcome Hannah Carey back to West of Mars! Hannah Carey has been here twice before, in fact, if you’ve missed her and her romantic fantasy set on the island of Pern Coen. Here’s the link to The Hunter, and here’s the link to The Betrayer. And today, she’s here to tell us about her new book, The Shifter.
I really like Hannah’s books. If you like Tamora Pierce, I suspect you’ll like Hannah Carey’s world and her vision. That’s who immediately comes to mind.
Lucky for us, Hannah’s willing to drop in and talk music. (Although, to be fair, I’ve never invited Ms. Pierce to step into the spotlight.) And so, let’s get right to it: Hannah Carey, what song makes you think of your new book, The Shifter?
I listened to this song pretty consistently while writing The Shifter and I really felt like it fit both the main characters. Both the male lead, Bran, and the female lead, Seren, go on their own sort of “hero’s journey” over the course of the story and have to choose whether or not they’re going to step into the roles that await them. For Bran in particular with his troubled past, this song really felt like it fit. This song was definitely inspiration for one of my favorite moments in the book:
She saw something I didn’t. Something I didn’t dare hope to believe.
“I’m not a hero, Ren,” I quietly told her. “Not like you want me to be.”
“You are one to me,” she replied, holding my gaze.
If you’re looking for artist and title, since Hannah’s teasing us (fair!), it’s Tommee Profitt with Fleurie, and the song is called There’s a Hero in You.
And yes, the song fits the book. Totally. No argument from me.
Plus, I really like Tommee Profitt. I’ve got some of her music on my daily work playlists. So if you ever feel like no one cares what song you pick, you are WRONG. I care and I listen to it all. I really do.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE THREE LINES FROM THE BOOK? Wow! I love them.
So what’s the full book about? What do those three lines mean? Take a peek:
Bran has spent his life being hunted for what he is. Born with the gift of shape shifting, his very existence is in danger from the ruler of the Clan of Blaidd, Ri Cadfael. Bran has sworn his loyalty to a man who has vowed to see Cadfael brought to ruin, until a chance encounter with the Ri’s daughter leaves Bran questioning his future. Seren saved him years ago and the memories of her, and of his old life, aren’t so easily forgotten.
In the end, Bran must make a choice: kill Seren or spare her. And if he does spare her life, he will be forced to risk his very own. Can Bran turn away from his questionable past and help Seren save the clan from the Dark Spirit bent on destroying it? And will Seren lose her heart to a dangerous shifter in the process?
Sound good? I think so. Also, I may have already read it and know. Maybe. I’m not saying for certain.
Get your own copy, and then be someone who can and does say with certain — because leaving an online review is so important to help other readers find their next read.
Direct/My Online Store (eBook)
Smashwords *Affiliate link, so you know and so I can maybe earn a few pennies
Lots of options! Pick your favorite!
And be sure to connect with Hannah, too. She’s good people.
Website
Remember, if you’re an author or friends with an author, the Featured New Book Spotlight is open to all — and I’d love to host you. Why not take a few minutes and let the spotlight shine on you?
February 21, 2022
Woot! I love it when authors come back to West of Mars to feature their new books, and Hannah Carey’s doing just that today. She’s been here before with The Hunter, and today she’s back with The Betrayer.
(Psst, we’ve missed a few books in between, I think, so you’ve got to go find those. Hear me? Hunt ’em down, buy ’em, read ’em, and leave reviews.)
So. The Betrayer. That’s a rather… ominous title, no?
Hannah Carey, what song makes you think of your book?
There’s a lot of vying-for-the-throne vibes in The Betrayer (and in its companion novel, The Ascendant) and this was a song I found myself listening to on repeat during the writing and editing process, as it felt like it fit for multiple characters. The line of “Someday, they’ll tell my story” particularly resonated, as The Betrayer focuses on the next generation of characters in my Tales of Pern Coen series. Many of the characters are descendants of legends themselves and in The Betrayer, they get to begin carving out their own stories of bravery, sacrifice, and love.
Ooh, I like this song! I shall have to add it to my streaming playlists and keep it once I decide which streamer to stick with.
Okay, I LOVE this song.
So, Hannah Carey, what’s the book about?
Niall never imagined he would become king, nor did he ever imagine that he would be granted the abilities of a seer. His unnatural power, however, has proven to be no great gift, for it has already cost him the woman he loves and it threatens to cost him his kingship. His people already don’t trust him and if they knew of his power, they would view him as nothing more than a monster.
Niall’s future looks grim, but a twist of fate returns Ciara to his life when he least expects it. He latches onto the hope of a different future, only to discover that things have changed while he has hidden away in his castle. When the man Ciara trusted the most disappeared, she turned to his brother, a man she never saw herself falling for.
Bleddyn has shown Ciara that there is more to him than she first thought and she has carved out a life at his side, but things are unsettled on the island of Pern Coen. A dark power is stirring, one that hasn’t been seen in decades. One man is at the center of the growing darkness, but is it the man that Ciara, and the people, think? Is Niall innocent or is he hiding more than just his powerful abilities?
Let me just say that if this seems to be a book about Niall, it’s pretty evenly balanced between him and Ciara. And yet, the book description is dead-on perfect. Weird how that is working out, but you gotta trust I know what I’m talking about on this one.
Pick up your copy!
Amazon
The Violet Fox Bookshop (Local Indie Bookstore, but does ship)
Ooh, yay! Buy indie, folks! I’m a huge fan of indie bookstores.
And remember, although I’ve said it before: Be sure to leave a few words of review. I’m confident you’ll like this one, but if you’re a hardass like me, be critical. I am probably not the only person who only reads the one- and two-star reviews! And, as always, if you’re struggling to be coherent in your review, I’m here to help.
And, of course, connect with Hannah Carey online. I can vouch for what a prolific reader she is, and she writes great reviews, too.
Facebook
Instagram:
Website
That’s it! Go get it!
But if you need more, and of course you do, submit a Featured New Book Spotlight request yourself. Or send the link to your author friends. I’m not picky, and yes, I’ll post spotlights for authors I’ve never met. Why not? How else are we supposed to meet?
