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  • Immortal Dark: Eternal Ruin – A Vampire Saga Worth The Haunting?

    Book Overview: Immortal Dark: Eternal Ruin

    Content Warnings: violence, gore, dark themes, strong language

    Summary: Like all ruinous things, he came from the abyss.
     
    Kidan Adane has finally embraced her darkness. She’s killed without remorse, lied, and broken Uxlay University’s most sacred law by inviting elusive rogue vampires, the Nefrasi, into Uxlay.
     
    Trapped with a violently unstable vampire and reeling from her sister’s return, Kidan wields her anger like a weapon. She vows to master her house and protect the sacred artifact hidden inside, even if it means forging an alliance with the depraved leader of the Nefrasi, Samson Sagad–and betraying Susenyos.
     
    A dangerous new philosophical text seems to hold the answers and promises the very thing Kidan has lost: control. Even as the dark pages consume her, Kidan knows no soul at Uxlay is trustworthy—least of all Susenyos. For Kidan and Susenyos, the lines of loathing and attraction may blur, but the quest for power rules them both. And neither is willing to surrender.
     
    As devastating secrets resurface from the past, Kidan and her sister, June, must finally confront each other and take their rightful places in the looming war.

    Image Source: Courtesy of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

    Kidan’s Journey Into Darkness

    Kidan Adane is not the same eager student from before. In Eternal Ruin, she’s taken the helm of her own fate, and it feels electric. Imagine your favorite character leveling up into a darker version you still root for. From page one, the stakes are sky high as Kidan grapples with new powers and old mistakes. She’s killed without remorse and now faces the fallout. Every choice she makes clangs like a warning bell: will she save her world or watch it burn? You can practically feel the tension seep off the page.

    Vampires, Villains, And Wild Alliances

    Think vampire drama only happens in ancient castles? Think again. The Nefrasi vampire clan, led by the volatile Samson Sagad, crashes the party in a way that feels fresh and dangerous. This isn’t a typical fangs and moons story. Samson is dangerously charming in a twisted way, making you think “uh oh, here we go” on every page. Kidan has to make a deal with this wild card, which leads to backstabbing feints and power plays worthy of the coolest supernatural TV series. One moment, Kidan’s enemy Susenyos is on her side; the next, she’s out for blood. The tension is so thick you’ll want to rewash your hands!

    Love, Hate, And Everything In Between

    Okay, we all love a little romantic chaos, right? The chemistry between Kidan and Susenyos is a magnetic tug-of-war. These two swing from savage arguments to sizzling looks faster than you can say “vampire kiss.” It’s like their hearts and hate grow stronger with every chapter. Imagine your favorite Romeo and Juliet in a supernatural hustle: one minute they’re trading flame sparks, the next they’re leaning in for a fight or a kiss, and honestly, you’re here for it! Every twist is messy and affectionate without ever feeling syrupy; perfect for fans of slow burn enemies to lovers.

    Sister Spells And Savage Secrets

    Grab your tissue box, because family feuds get epic here. Kidan’s sister June returns with a bang, and their sibling bond is as twisted as it is tender. Think of it like a heated family game night gone wild: every move could hurt or heal. No spoilers, but secrets from Kidan and June’s past are leaking out, and it adds layers of suspense. There’s betrayal at the dinner table and then some. These sisters fight like hell and care like hell, and watching that pull between them is intense!

    Magic, Mayhem, And Ancient Mysteries

    If you like lore and hidden puzzles, you’re in luck. Uxlay University isn’t just a school; it’s practically a haunted mansion full of secrets. A creepy old philosophical text holds clues to Kidan’s lost control; imagine unlocking a secret app on your phone you didn’t know existed. Every chapter has something uncanny: a corridor that shouldn’t exist, a midnight monster hunt, or an artifact with a mind of its own. Reading this feels like stealing a flashlight to sneak through an old library… deliciously eerie yet oddly comforting.

    Why We Can’t Stop Turning Pages

    Finally, why does this book wring out our souls and leave them begging for more? Picture finishing your favorite late-night series on an absolute cliffhanger. Each chapter of Eternal Ruin makes you gasp, then flips the scene before you can catch your breath. The pacing is wild but controlled, driven by Kidan’s raw grit and determination. It’s polished in writing but feels chatty and urgent like a friend texting, “Wait, what happens next?!” You’ll stay glued to the pages with your heart in your throat. By the time the final scene ends, you’re salivating for the next book!

    In the shadows of Uxlay, Kidan’s journey becomes a wild ride through darkness and light.

    What are your thoughts on Immortal Dark: Eternal Ruin? You can get a copy here if you don’t have one already! Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

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    Asia M.

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  • Why The Samurai of the Red Carnation Will Surprise You

    Book Overview: The Samurai of the Red Carnation

    Content Warnings: violence, war, fire, heartbreak, betrayal

    Summary: An irresistibly winning romantic historical adventure, set in medieval Japan and tinged with fantasy, revolving around the art of waka poetry.

    Matsuo is expected to be a samurai, like his father before him. But as he is training in the art of war, he realises he was destined for a different art altogether. Turning his back on his future as a warrior of the sword, he decides instead to do battle with words, as a poet.

    Thus begins a story of intrigue and adventure, passion and betrayal. Matsuo’s quest to find his true self, and his true love, takes him across medieval Japan, through bloody battlefields and burning cities. But his ultimate test will be the uta awase – a tournament where Japan’s greatest poets engage in fierce verbal combat for the honour of victory, and where Matsuo will find himself fighting for his life.

    The Samurai of the Red Carnation is both a thrilling, swashbuckling adventure and a sensitive meditation on love and poetry. Denis Thériault, is known for his award-winning novel, The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman, which also made extensive use of original poetry in Japanese styles and which won the author the Japan-Canada Book Prize.

    Image Source: Courtesy of Penguin Random House

    Imagine training with a sword and realizing your true weapon is a poem. Denis Thériault’s novel mixes swashbuckling adventure with tender romance in a lyrical way. It’s like watching a grand samurai film with a poetry score. From its vivid medieval Japan scenes to an epic poetry duel, the story feels fresh and full of wonder. For those of you who crave both adrenaline and artistry, this tale delivers something truly new!

    The Samurai of the Red Carnation follows Matsuo, born into a samurai family but secretly a poet. Instead of wielding a sword, he picks up a pen. Bending tradition, the biggest battles in his life shift from war to words; Matsuo must fight for his life with verses instead of blades. His journey begins with one bold choice: abandon his destiny as a warrior. That kind of passion, choosing art over duty, makes Matsuo surprisingly relatable.

    A Samurai By Name, A Poet By Nature

    From the start, Matsuo is torn between duty and desire. He trains as a warrior, but a secret longing for poetry calls. When he walks away from his armor, he shows courage of a different sort: the courage to follow his true self. He learns waka, a classical form of Japanese verse, from a wild Zen master on his journey. This mischievous teacher, more rogue monk than sensei, turns Matsuo’s world upside down with riddles and verses. Thériault lets us feel Matsuo’s dreams and doubts. Even when Matsuo stumbles, he remains a hero you root for!

    An Ancient Japan Painted In Words

    The setting is a major draw. Thériault, long fascinated by Japan, paints Heian-era Kyoto and beyond with vivid detail. You can almost smell incense in a shrine and feel the heat of a burning city. In fact, the novel opens on a night when Kyoto is ablaze, hinting at intrigue to come. Peace and turmoil live side by side: in one chapter Matsuo meditates in a garden; in the next he hides from samurai on a mountainside path. You sense an era where beauty and danger collide… where courtly grace meets clan rivalries on the horizon.

    Battles Of Wit And Wordplay

    Forget sword duels; the book’s fiercest fights are poetry contests called uta-awase. Picture a medieval rap battle: poets duel with clever verses and sharp insults. A panel of nobles listens as if lives depend on each line (because they often do). Losing can mean ruin. Thériault treats these word duels like life-or-death matches. Between the quips and metaphors, you really feel the tension. Fans of wordplay will relish it. Every so often, even a single line can feel as sharp as a blade!

    Forbidden Love And Family Loyalties

    Of course there’s romance. Matsuo falls for a princess’s attendant, a poised young woman with a secret smile, who is already promised to a powerful general. Their situation feels like star-crossed fate: an ache anyone who’s loved from afar will recognize. Even with war swirling around them, their quiet connection blooms. This romance brings real heat and heartbreak. Family expectations and battle pressures add drama! Each choice tests Matsuo’s loyalty and honor. Yet hope flickers through it all, and each setback strengthens his resolve while keeping the story moving.

    Mystery, Myth, And A Touch Of Fantasy

    The novel isn’t just historical… it hints at something mystical! Heian Japan was said to be “haunted by spirits of Nature,” and Thériault weaves in that sense of the uncanny. The story opens with a mysterious figure watching Kyoto burn, casting a strange shadow over Matsuo’s path. Other moments feel dreamlike: a shrine that murmurs secrets, or a poem that reads like a prophecy. The line between reality and myth blurs in small, eerie ways! These touches give the journey a magical sheen.

    Thériault’s Poetic Legacy

    Denis Thériault’s earlier hit The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman also mixed Japanese verse into its tale; it even won the Japan–Canada Book Prize. Fans of that quirky, lyrical style will find plenty here! Thériault’s prose often reads like poetry itself: carefully chosen, rhythmic, and full of gentle humor. Even the action scenes have an elegance, as if choreographed. The English version keeps that charm, making the verses and jokes land smoothly. All in all, it feels like a novel as carefully crafted as a poem.

    For anyone who wonders if the pen is mightier than the sword, Matsuo’s world might have the answer!

    What are your thoughts on The Samurai of the Red Carnation? You can get a copy here if you don’t have one already! Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

    Want more book reviews? Check out our library!

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    Asia M.

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