debut author | Suzanne Rogerson Fantasy Author

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy of this debut by Georgia Summers.

The Blurb

Curses are made to be broken.

‘ENTHRALLING TO THE LAST PAGE’ SHELLEY PARKER-CHAN

Filled with magic, stardust, and a shockingly dark heart, this is a stunning standalone fantasy perfect for fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Starless Sea and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

For centuries, Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.

Ten years ago, Violet Everly’s mother left to break the curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.

Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods, and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.

Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel to the edges of the world to find her mother and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began . . .

My Review

This was a very enjoyable read from a debut author. The blurb drew my interest straight away and I really liked the simplistic beauty of the cover, which fits the story perfectly.

From the first page, I knew I would like the story and it didn’t disappoint. There’s plenty of intrigue at the beginning when you have to keep reading to uncover the mystery along with Violet. As she grows up and the story develops secrets are revealed, trust is broken and Violet must face up to her fate or do all in her power to change it. Her journey of discovery drags you along and the final confrontation is satisfying.

There is a certain strangeness to the world Georgia Summers has created which reminds me of Neil Gaiman.

I’m looking forward to more books by this author.

I’m especially looking forward to meeting her at my local Waterstones later this month! I’ll have to try and think of some questions for the Q&A and will hopefully post more about the night here.

You can pick up a copy of The City of Stardust on Amazon and add to your Goodreads shelf.

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Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy, heart-warming romance and short stories

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Today’s Book Spotlight is for ‘A Distant Summer’ by Deborah Martin – contemporary fiction / women’s fiction.

Published 22 February 2021.

Note from the author

“Writing the book gave me a chance to think back about my childhood growing in Midwest USA. We all have those moments of wondering ‘what would have happened if….’ and that was the starting point for my story. I wanted to look at how reliving those memories can affect us and I also wanted to explore the idea that our perception of our past lives may not be as accurate as we think.”

‘…an evocative account of a woman’s life, from girlhood with all it’s anxieties, hopes and dreams to her adult life and it’s daily challenges. The past discovered through letters is a good device and seamlessly takes us from present day to that ‘distant summer’. Highlighted political and world events act as a back drop to the times. All contribute to an easy but satisfying read.’ Amazon Reviewer

‘A brilliant read. Written so well that you could easily picture the people and the lives they lived…’ Amazon Reviewer

Blurb

The discovery of letters from a pen pal 50 years ago pushes Elizabeth to review a past which was mostly forgotten. Against the backdrop of the tumultuous year of social unrest and politics in 1968, she was a teenager at risk of being in love with someone she had never met. Her family was in danger from the encroachment of the Vietnam war and its own internal battles. It’s a quiet farming area of Indiana where nothing seems to happen, but an accident causes a rift through the family and Elizabeth’s uncle is expunged from its history by the strict Methodist patriarch, Grandpa Ernest. Now settled in suburban Virginia with her husband and about to become a grandmother, Elizabeth is helping to clear out the family home after her father’s death. Looking back, she is taken over by a restlessness to know whether a life with the boy from the letters would have been a better path than the one she took. She yearns to discover what happened to him and to locate another childhood friend. In her quest to find them, she catches glimpses of an alternative narrative to that distant summer.

The book has just gone live on Reedsy Discovery. Check out this great review of A Distant Summer and don’t forget to upvote it.

‘This is a riveting contemporary fiction that draws you in from the first page through the last.‘ – Gail Kaufman Reedsy Reviewer

About the author

Deborah Martin has drawn the setting for her debut novel, A Distant Summer, from her origins in MidWest America. Her recollections of life in a farming community feed into the characters of the story.

She’s an example of how life can take unexpected directions as she surprised herself in living most of her adult life in the UK after moving there to marry an Englishman.

Wanting to write a novel since her teens, she has taken a wandering path through a variety of jobs and hobbies before accomplishing that goal, but now hopes the next book will not take as long.

To Buy Links

A Distant Summer is available as an ebook and paperback on Amazon UK Amazon US

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

This book is on my TBR for 2021 so I will return with a book review later this year. Why not check it out now and let me know what you think.

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Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy and heart-warming romance

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You can also join my Newsletter for writing updates and news of promotions.