I knew I was gonna love this book!
An announcement, a reading rec I know you're gonna love, and a brief update from the writing cave... Squee with me, book devourers.
Greetings, friends and fellow book devourers.
I want to start this post off by sending you all an I-think-you’re-awesome-and-extra-squishable hug because I have an announcement to make. For the first time ever, we now have over one thousand subscribers here on MIRI AND THE MUSE. Someone pinch me, real quick!
Thank you so much for joining me on this crazy adventure we call life as I share a glimpse into the sometimes inspiring, often cray-cray world of a hedgehog-loving indie author. I’m going to launch an exclusive giftaway for my readers here on MIRI AND THE MUSE to celebrate this wonderful milestone real soon.
But first, can I let you in on a little secret?
In August, I planned a whole bunch of posts for this month because it’s my fifth authorversary. Mind blown, right?
It’s hard to believe that in a few days it will have been five years since I published my debut novel—PYRO, PYRO, BURNING BRIGHT—and kicked off the adventures of the PHOENIX CREW, a fire-fighting shifter crew from Bear Falls led by their namesake on an epic mission to take down their cloak-and-dagger nemesis.
I think it’s high time we got together to celebrate our mutual love of the PHOENIX CREW and their lethal friends inhabiting a rough-and-tumble-motorcycle-and-pizza-loving crew called the KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION. In fact, I had a whole plan laid down for this newsletter—set up with a draft post and everything—but then, do you know what happened?!
Yep, you guessed it. More madness and mayhem ensued. This time in the guise of a real life fire event which included evacuations in our neighborhood.
(Don’t worry, everyone—including my family, our friends and neighbors, and their properties—are all okay. But it made for a pretty scary weekend and it was certainly an eye-opening experience for this kiwi girl living in the fire-prone Land of Oz.)
So, while I promise to get back to that giveaway post soon, after my adrenaline-fueled weekend I decided it would be a good idea to take it easy for a few days and just soak up the good vibes of the Northern Beaches.
And I’m so glad I did because yesterday turned out to be a truly magical day.
I had lunch at a local cafe and spent time lost in the pages of a binge-worthy book which I’m about to rave to you about. Oh, and as I took my morning walk to the cafe, I reveled in a spot of whale watching, losing count of the number of times those beautiful dancing creatures of the sea made full breaches out of the water.
It had me laughing out loud at the magnificence of this world we live in.
Now let’s get onto this reading recommendation because I am fan-girling hard and have developed a serious author crush with this one.
Are you ready for some big book love?
DOONA DIVES… BOOKS WORTH LOSING SLEEP OVER
From the moment I first discovered this author while staying in New Zealand, I knew her series was going to be wild, brilliant, and that it would steal all my sleep.
When I accidentally picked up a book from the library which was way further along in the series than intended, I nearly couldn’t put it down. Even thrust into the middle of a complex world, I had to force myself to stop reading and find the first book instead.
The writing was just that good.
Thankfully, I managed to get a copy of WHO’S AFRAID by Maria Lewis sent to me once I got back home to Sydney. Isn’t she pretty?!
I’m most of the way through it now and—oh my goddess—this book has been both a balm to my weary soul and a flash of fresh inspiration for the Muse as well. It honestly couldn’t have found me at a better time.
The story starts off with one of my all-time favorite tropes for an urban fantasy / paranormal romance arc. A feisty independent woman, brought up as human, is suddenly thrust into the paranormal world when she discovers that she is a werewolf and forced into her first brutal transformation.
From there, it just gets better and better.
I don’t want to spoil the plot for you because, as they say on the back of the cover—this tale has more twists than a tornado—but I will say for anyone who has triggers please proceed with caution. This series is billed as urban fantasy and horror/suspense for a reason. There are some on-the-page events which I had to read slowly and take a few breaks from.
Once it got going, though, I was utterly hooked.
Aside from the incredible world-building, WHO’S AFRAID includes a delicious slow-burn between our main character and her love interest. And—hot damn—does it have me gripped by the short and curlies. I love it when an author makes me throw my paperback across the room and curse at the moon, all the while knowing it’s gonna be oh-so-good when the characters I’m falling for finally give into the inevitable.
However, although there is a juicy romantic subplot baked into this story, the series is definitely leaning more into urban fantasy side of things than the romance. The main through-line of the plot is driven by Tommi, the main character, as she comes to terms with her dangerous new reality and steps into her power.
That’s all I’m gonna say for now, but I predict a sleepless night ahead as I get this one over the finish line. Luckily, I have the second book in this epic trilogy* already sitting pretty on my bookshelf.
Oh, and one more thing that makes this find even more awesome?
The author, Maria Lewis, is also a kiwi expat living in Australia with a vibrant career as an award-winning screenwriter, a pop culture etymologist, and as a journalist writing about the film and entertainment industry. She's the presenter, writer and producer of award-winning audio documentaries, The Phantom Never Dies, and hosted other programs like the EFF Year Film & Feminism podcast and the Bad B*tches of History segment on Australia’s only gay and lesbian radio station JOY 94.9FM.
Yeah, I definitely have a new crush!
Have you got a reading recommendation for me in return? I’m always looking to add something epic and spicy to my TBR. Which author or series has been causing you to stay up waaaaaay past your bedtime of late, book devourers?!
A wee update from the writing cave before I go…
I don’t want to jinx it, but this month the Muse has been gently tugging me back to the KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION.
Given everything that’s been going down, I think William and his motley crew have been mighty patient with me. However, I’m pretty sure I’m about to get my butt kicked if I don’t get back to the open page and add some words, stat, so I’ve got the manuscripts for WEATHER WITCH and MAMMA BEAR open in my writing app, Scrivener.
It’s slow going, but I’m grateful to be sliding back into sync with this group of unconventional, barely house-trained shifters. I much prefer my madness and mayhem when its part of the plot of a book I’m writing, that’s for damned sure!
So the plan is—once I’m done binge-reading Maria Lewis’ first duet—I’ll embark on a read-through of LONELY KITTY and BIKER BEAR to help ground me in this wonderful world. Want to join me? Nab your copy at the link below.
Let me know in the comments or by replying to this email if you are keen for a read along. Until next time, book devourers, happy reading!
With love,
M.S. xox
P.S. Update… I’ve already finished the second book and discovered that Tommi Grayson’s werewolf books actually make up a trilogy—surprise!—embedded into the greater world of the SUPERNATURAL SISTERS, a series made up of eight books. Guess who’s gonna be out of pocket and staying up waaaaay passed her bedtime on the regular for the next few weeks? This gal. I told you they were good! <3