I’m excited to have been included on this blog tour for BLACK DAWN. A copy of the book was provided and I was so ready to dive in and read this intriguing fantasy. I hoped to be surprised, captivated, and thrilled with the story and, well, you’ll just have to read my review to find out if this book lived up to its epic promises.
Scroll down to find out more about the book, my review, read a selection of exclusive excerpts, and enter to win a free signed copy!
About the Book
Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney (2017)
NA Fiction | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
Blurb:
“The end of an Empire, The rise of a Queen
Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and upon Emory’s arrival she will discover she is the long lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne.
With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.
Some things are better left in the shadows.”
-Goodreads
Publication Date: February 14, 2017
Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing
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Purchase Links:
BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks
pooled ink Review
Black Dawn is a story with a cool concept. Retrieving Emory from where she hides on Earth and pulling her back into a world of supernatural powers, war, and destiny, old friends she can’t remember guide her to her throne.
Interesting ideas are woven throughout the story including complicated relationships, betrayals, complex characters, sneaky motives, romance, and taunting threads of power. Emory is forced to face her new reality without the memories to properly equip her. As she tries to settle into the Academy she struggles to recall her former life, relying on instinct and mere glimpses of memories and dreams to guide her.
The plot was pretty interesting and the world crafted in this novel was pretty cool. Emory proves to be a protagonist I think I could get along with. She’s completely confused and unprepared for the war zone she’s dragged into at first but she steels herself and pushes herself to remember, to learn, to train, and to accept her duties as their long lost queen.
It’s told in several alternating POVs which sometimes had me a bit confused. I can’t decide if I liked it or not for this particular story. I also admit that it took a bit for me to fall into its rhythm. It begins with an exciting opening chapter but then it gets a bit disorienting until Emory is brought fully into the story. Although it took a little while it did eventually have me hooked and seemed to charge forwards with lots of excitement. The book isn’t very long and I sort of wish it was longer so that it could spend some more time explaining certain characters, events, details, and motives. It got pretty exciting and then suddenly we had to face down the ending despite being ready for more.
Regardless, I thought this book was based on an interesting and exciting concept.
The whole book has a pretty cool vibe, an interesting mix of fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal, and I really like the cover art. I was excited to be included on this blog tour and get to read a copy of Black Dawn!
Mallory McCartney writes a book filled with conflicted hearts, buried promises, and a war ready to rage.
Cheers.
Excerpts
Excerpt #1
The Black Dawn rebellion greeted them quietly, dressed as formally as they could, looking towards her.
To their Queen.
She didn’t hesitate.
Without a backward glance, Emory walked to the middle of the room and spun around to come face to face with Memphis, his eyes locking with hers in a fiery gaze. She held out her hand to his and bent to her waist. His other hand wrapped her too closely, too low around her hip. Her breath hitched in her throat. She felt her body start to the music that erupted around them, leading Memphis into her well-learned steps. Her mind was on a different plane. A different planet for that matter. Her body was humming from how his hands felt on her skin. Her ability and thoughts rushed through her like fire wanting to devour more, never satisfied.
His thoughtful eyes held hers. She felt her heart drumming fiercely against her chest, and in that moment no one else existed in the room. It was her and Memphis.
An echo of happiness crossed his face as he whispered, “Did I mention you look beautiful tonight?”
She radiated in that moment, wishing she could say a thousand things. She couldn’t.
Instead, she went for a safer route. “How did you get the music playing?”
The familiar soft serenades swam around her, and Memphis simply said, “Look in my right ear.”
She focused her attention and realized one of the earbuds was in his ear. Her shock was evident as she murmured, “It’s you?”
“It’s a new trick I learned for tonight. Being a telekinetic, I usually communicate to a single individual. This was the next level.”
She was in awe.
Excerpt #2
It was half-whispered, but his face drained of color all the same. A knife she didn’t know he had on him was suddenly at her throat as he shoved her against the nearest tree. The steel bit into her neck, droplets of blood trickling down her skin.
A slight breeze tousled her hair as he breathed heavily, eyes flicking back and forth as he took her in. Narrowing them, he murmured, “So you are both dangerous and important.”
She had nothing to say because she agreed. He huffed, talking more to himself, “Today really couldn’t get any worse, could it?”
Dropping the knife, he ran his hand through his hair.
“I’m assuming you had mistaken my twin brother for me, but the more important question is, how he could be alive when I thought him to be dead years ago? When the Academy fell—”
She cut him off, “It never fell.”
He tilted his head in question.
“Over the years, a resistance has been building…hiding from Adair until we were betrayed. Alby was part of this, but Adair—he has him.” The words came out in a rush.
“So it was true. There were always theories, but it seemed too unrealistic that some of the most influential people of our country would stand by and do nothing while thousands died.”
She cringed as if he had slapped her.
“Especially you, Emory Fae…you alone could have gotten Adair’s attention. Anyone who is anyone knows about Adair’s blood feud with your family. Exactly how is it that you of all people are alive?”
Before she could answer, a husky voice called out, “Azarius!””
He snapped to attention, the knife flashing back to hold her from running. His anger was stifling.
About the Author
Giveaway
Three (3) winners will receive a signed copy of Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney (INT)
Tour Schedule
May 22, 2017
Mythical Books – Guest Post
Sara is Reading and Listening to What – Review
thepaperworlds – Review
May 23, 2017
Crystal’s Chaotic Confessions – Spotlight
Read. Eat. Love. – Review
Pooled Ink – Review
Aspiring Joy – Review
May 24, 2017
Books,Dreams,Life – Spotlight
Shirley Cuypers – Review
May 25, 2017
Perspective of a Writer – Guest Post
6 Feet Under Books – Spotlight
Lisa Loves Literature – Spotlight
May 26, 2017
Simple Wyrdings – Spotlight
Rockin’ Book Reviews – Review
Dana Provo – Review
May 29, 2017
Book Lady’s Reviews – Review
BookHounds – Interview
BooksChatter – Interview
May 30, 2017
The Avid Reader – Spotlight
Seraphina Reads – Guest Post
To Be Read – Review
May 31, 2017
A Fold in the Spine – Review
hauntedbybooks13 – Review
Twirling Book Princess – Spotlight
Becky on Books – Interview
The Page Unbound – Guest Post
June 1, 2017
A Book Addict’s Bookshelves – Spotlight
deal sharing aunt – Interview
Lovely Loveday – Review
June 2, 2017
Madison Loveday – Review
Booklove – Review
Chapter by Chapter – Guest Post
pooled ink 
I felt the exact same way!! Totally agree with everything you said!
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