fantasy

NEW BOOK GROUP – Hot Paranormal Reads

What does a writer love as much as writing?

Reading.

Writers, book groups, and if you’re me..? Discovering gripping new books, as well as spellbinding old favourites.

This week I started a new Facebook book group: Hot Paranormal Reads.

Vampires, werewolves, shifters, angels, fae…paranormal mystery, thriller and romance, as well as fantasy and science fiction. If it’s a great book? It’s got a place here.

And who wouldn’t want to sink their teeth into these compelling books?

The third book in my paranormal series Rebel Vampires – Blood Renegades – is released in June.

Readers, bloggers, authors and readers of hot paranormal reads – click here to join.

Who’s your favourite paranormal writer?

To read about Three of the Best Slavery Fantasy Books click here.

February 5, 2017 0

5* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – Love, Death, Humanity, and Monsters…

underground-book-reviews badge five stars recommended read Blood Dragons fantasy book

When blinding badges are awarded? This one by Underground Book Reviews is near the top… Seriously cute and seriously…serious.

It represents a 5* Highly Recommended and Selected Read. Try saying that fast, five times. blood-dragons-cover-medium-web

It’s just been presented to Blood Dragons, which the review describes as “just a brilliant book“.

Their reviews are held up as best standard on how to write reviews. I agree: well-written, exciting and passionate.

I love Light, so it was interesting to read the reviewer’s take on the main character in Rebel Vampires: “The book jumps from the present day to the past, with the tension and drama building at a faster and faster pace. The plot itself is enough to keep you reading, but I also loved Light and the journey he went on. He’s a brilliant and believable character and his language amused me endlessly.”

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Click here to read the full review.

Underground Book Reviews’ Recommendation:

“A unique book told from the point of view of a vampire addressing his dying wife, whilst looking back on the drama they’ve left behind. Quirky, amusing, frightening and dark, Rebel Vampires, Volume One offers a brilliant story, with plenty of twists and turns, romance and gore. For anyone who already enjoys vampire or supernatural horror style stories or for anyone who is just looking for something a bit different, a bit edgy, something that will amuse you, frighten you and take you on one hell of a journey into love, death, humanity, and monsters, then I highly recommend this book” – Underground Book Reviews

And a cute badge too? What more could anyone want?

To dive into Blood Dragons today click here.

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February 1, 2017 0

THREE OF THE BEST SLAVERY FANTASY BOOKS

Fantasy has long tackled tough subjects, whether set in this world or entirely new ones.

blood-shackles-being-read In Blood Shackles Light is enslaved by the human Blood Club: click here for the personal story behind the book.

It’s a dangerous game to love your slave…

The issue of freedom: mental, physical, sexual, in society, families and between partners? That’s what allows slavery in fantasy to hold the mirror up to our own world.

As Light says ‘freedom means so little, until you lose it.’

Here are Three of the Best Slavery Fantasy Books:

Fevre Dream: George R. R. Martin. Set in the pre-Civil War South, there’s very real slavery. The clever thing? It’s mirrored in the vampire relationships. A book about friendship, trust and yeah…steamboats.
The Mechanical: Ian Tregillis. An alternate universe where the Dutch Empire rules with
clockwork men…who would be free. A thrilling and original take on free will.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: N. K. Jemisin. Here all slaves are royal. More? The gods are enslaved to the royals and used as weapons…and they’re narked.

The blinding thing? Each book deals with the same ideas but in totally different – gripping – ways.

In Blood Shackles it’s vampires who have become prey to predatory humans:

5* “When Light is captured, he refuses to lose himself, despite how his captors try to break his spirit and force him into submission. Being sold to Grayse is the ticket he needs out of his cell, even though her father owns the company that enslaves him… Blood Shackles is brutally honest, tragic, triumphant, addictive, and somehow hopeful… Johns succeeded in creating a world, characters, and a story that pulled me in until I had to finish reading it… This is a novel everyone should read, along with Blood Dragons” – Readers’ Favorite

The Rebel Vampires Collection has just released an exclusive new item: Light’s S.L.A.V.E. Ring and Keychain.

lights-ring-2 Naked and defanged, Light wears only one thing throughout Blood Shackles: his S.L.A.V.E. ring. But Light? He won’t be owned. He’ll battle to the end for his family, species and love. The ring? Becomes a symbol of everything he’s both fighting for and against: ‘Unexpectedly your fingers were tracing over my ring – S.L.A.V.E. – as if discovering something dark beneath bright waters…’ (Blood Shackles)

Click here to buy Light’s ring today.

To dive into the dark world of the Blood Club? Click here and prepare yourself for Blood Life…

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January 30, 2017 1

THIRD BOOK IN VAMPIRE TRILOGY – First Draft Complete

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Time to break out of the chocolate, crank up the Nirvana and… start typing. Because I’ve finished the first draft of Blood Renegades: the third volume in the Rebel Vampires series. By hand. So now? There’ll be some busy fingers over the keyboard.

Blood Dragons is a story of love. Blood Shackles family. Blood Renegades? Is a story about home.

blood-renegades fantasy book — Title From My First Draft

Blood Renegades is released in June.

Light has only two weeks to give his witness, on trial for his life for being a ‘Renegade’, before he’s burnt at the stake.

The Renegades are the terrorists of the Blood Lifer world. They’re dedicated to hunting down human slavers, just as they’re hunted by the ruthless Blood Life Council, who believe their leader is…Light.

Here’s a sneak peek at the first line:

‘Betrayal. Death. Hope. Isn’t that how all truly great stories start?’

And if you want to start this ‘great story’ at the beginning before Blood Renegades comes out?

Click here or catch the second volume Blood Shackles here.

blood-shackles-set Rebel Vampires series fantasy books — Buy Here

January 25, 2017 1

READERS’ FAVORITE REVIEW 5* – “A Novel Everyone Should Read”

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Blood Shackles was a difficult book to write: personal, challenging and unflinching. Passionate about slavery and human trafficking, I knew this would be an important book. As a writer of the paranormal, I asked: what would happen if humans enslaved Blood Lifers?

Blood Shackles was reviewed this week: Readers’ Favorite awarded 5*

“When Light is captured, he refuses to lose himself, despite how his captors try to break his spirit and force him into submission. Being sold to Grayse is the ticket he needs out of his cell, even though her father owns the company that enslaves him… Blood Shackles is brutally honest, tragic, triumphant, addictive and somehow hopeful… Johns succeeded in creating a world, characters, and a story that pulled me in until I had to finish reading it… This is a novel everyone should read, along with Blood Dragons” – Readers’ Favorite

blood-shackles-cover-medium-web That brutal honesty? Light calls it ‘the truth flayed bloody‘. Same thing for a writer: your Soul wide open. Takes courage that…but I was never one to play it safe.

Blood Shackles is written as the Slave Journal of Light: it’s direct and immediate for the reader. A diary? Means you live each day in Light’s mind. You become the slave as well…if he’s ever truly one.

The journal is meant to control Light’s thoughts – no secret can be hidden – but Light is anything but a reliable narrator. His fangs might’ve been taken but he still has his words. And to Light? They’re a weapon.

blood-shackles-being-read ‘So, dear Reader (because I know you’re reading this), did you reckon giving me this poncey journal – all softness and stink of leather – would make me spill my Soul? You already have my body, bought and paid for. You think you have my mind. My thoughts, however..? They’re my own. Write in it every day, you’d ordered, with that little smile. What do you think this is: Bridget Jones’s Diary?’ (Blood Shackles)

To dive into the world of the Blood Club click here.

To read and share the full Readers’ Favorite review click here.

The reviewer says, “I was so engrossed in Light’s story that I didn’t notice my Kindle was dying until it died.”

And that? Is why a writer flays their Soul.

Rosmary A Johns Urban Portraits

January 22, 2017 1

FANTASY REVIEWS -Midwest Book Review and Vamped Magazine

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It has been one busy week in the world of Blood Life. Two reviews came in this week – one for each book because everything has to balance, right? I love both magazines, so bonus.

blood-dragons-cover-medium-web The Midwest Book Review took on Blood Dragons:

“…Set in a precarious world where vampires are both predator and prey, Blood Dragons deftly blends elements of paranormal thriller and passionate romance. Blood Dragons is a character-driven, sizzling-hot saga for vampire literature connoisseurs to sink their teeth into!” – Midwest Book Review

Click here to read full review.

Click here to buy book today.

blood-shackles-cover-medium-web And it was Vamped Magazine, who dived into Blood Shackles:

“A strong book because of a strong voice. I liked the playing with the genre and making the vampires vulnerable (if still dangerous, deep down), and the cynicism about First Lifer morality. As Johns has said, “There’s no darkness in Blood Life that humanity didn’t invent first” ” – Vamped Magazine

Click here to read full review.

Click here to buy book today.

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January 18, 2017 0

LAUNCH OF FANTASY REBEL SHOP – Rebel Vampires Jewelry Collection

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The last few months I’ve been battling to keep quiet about some seriously blinding things coming your way…

They include Fantasy Rebel’s first Shop. Watch out for exciting merchandise being released over 2017.

Today the first collection is launched.

Rebel Vampires‘ very own exclusive jewelry collection. It’s inspired by the series (including the yet to be published third novel Blood Renegades). Each piece is connected to one of the books, including quotes and an interpretation by me.

See the whole collection here.

See their inspiration here.

I was buzzing when I saw the bracelets: as Light would say, they called to me. Here’s a taste:

Rebel Vampires Diligo Bracelet

diligio

Diligo: in Latin means esteem highly, prize, love.

In Blood Life emotions are amplified: ‘They survived but twisted, like a blasted tree after lightning. Where once they were pale and sickly, now they were intense, powerful and dark.’ (Blood Dragons) Light fights for those he loves. He suffers, endures…saves the world. Love, yeah, he was always one for that.

Yesterday on The Hot Spot I ran a takeover, including a contest to win the Servitutem Bracelet. See the winner here.

Rebel Vampires Servitutem Bracelet

servitutem

Servitutem: in Latin means bondage, servitude, enslaved.

Light is a slave to love. To his Author Ruby. The darkness of a second desperate and brutal world of blood. But he’s also a true slave. Bought and paid for, like a puppy in a shop window – unless he can free them all. ‘I’m not a slave; I’m the bloody superhero.’ (Blood Shackles)

I’ll spotlight other parts of the collection soon and new items as they become available.

Have a browse in the shop – we wanted to find a way to give back something special and unique.

What’s your favourite and what would you like to see next in our shop?

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January 15, 2017 0

FANTASY REVIEW – Watch Blood Dragons’ First YouTube Review

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All right then, so what’s more exciting than getting a review? A review you can watch.

Downright Bookish reviews Blood Dragons. What do you think? Leave her comments and join in the discussion!

January 13, 2017 0

NEW LOOK WEBSITE – What’s In a Quote?

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Along with the redesign of the website last week came my choice of favourite quote.

A quote has to stand alone, be memorable, make you feel something and at the same time take you back to what the book stands for.

It can be funny, powerful or true in a way that kicks you in the gut. They’re best if they make you want to know more. About the world it comes from. The narrator who spoke it. The writer who thought it.

Rebel here, yeah? Is one of my favourite quotes because in one of Light’s typical phrases it sums up the Rebel Vampires series. It allows me to imagine him in leather jacket, with London accent and British sense of ballsy humour. Because it’s not thrown out in the midst of one of his MMA fights or end of the world battles:

‘So, I guess you did read my journal then? I noticed it’d been straightened on the crochet table. It’s not like I leave anything straight, is it? Because rebel here, yeah?

I knew you’d read my pissed off ramblings, when you tossed the black jeans and t-shirt at me, before slamming down a cup of blood and banging out. Not a single glance at me. Not one word.

blood-shackles-print-and-iphone OK, wanker here, and you’re a… I don’t know yet. That’s what brings me out in a cold sweat – the uncertainty, which haunts all slaves – because nothing is under their control, least of all what their new owner will be like.’ (Blood Shackles)