A delightful illustrated story for fans... Legend of the Dragon Slayer by Brandon Mull & Brandon Dorman (Review) #middlegradebooks #fantasybooks #dragonwatch #newbook @ShadowMountn

Legend of the Dragon Slayer
(The Origin Story of Dragonwatch)
By Brandon Mull
Illustrated by Brandon Dorman
Middle Grade Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 64 Pages
May 4, 2021 by Shadow Mountain

Summary

In ancient times, dragons posed the ultimate threat to the rest of the magical world. During the Dragon War, a group of specially trained Dragon Slayers banded together to stand against the onslaught. They called themselves Dragonwatch, and they succeeded in confining the majority of dragons to sanctuaries. Legend of the Dragon Slayer is the illustrated story of the very first Dragon Slayer who took to battle.

As the legend tells it, powerful monsters terrorized the kingdom of Selona on all sides. An unlikely hero named Konrad, the cobbler's son, accepts the king's challenge to defeat the monsters: fierce yeti, a merciless vampire, a dangerous gorgon, and a deadly phoenix. But Selona's biggest threat will come from the Dragon, and it will take every ounce of wit and experience that Konrad has acquired to stand a chance against such a formidable foe.

Legend of the Dragon Slayer features a never-before-published catalog of Dragon Slayers, a detailed map of the kingdom of Selona, and lavish full-color illustrations. Fantasy fans will love this stand-alone tale of valor, destiny, and magic.

(Affiliate links included.)

Book Trailer


My Review

LEGEND OF THE DRAGON SLAYER is a great addition for fans of the Dragonwatch series. It tells the story of the first dragon slayer that is included in the fourth book in the series, Champion of the Titan Games, as well as a list of all the dragon slayers since. The illustrations are colorful and imaginative. A fun book to add to your Dragonwatch collection!

This is just a fun and short book for fans to add to their shelves. It's short enough that it also works well for younger children. The illustrations add just the right touch to make the story a bit more engaging. I couldn't tell with my advanced copy if there were illustrations for each of the dragon slayers, but if there aren't, that's one thing that would be a great addition.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable read, even the second time around. It's a great addition for fans of the series or for younger children.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my reviews or an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author & Illustrator


BRANDON MULL is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.


BRANDON DORMAN is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times best-seller The Wizard. He graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with his wife, Emily, have three children and live in Washington. He is best known for his book cover artwork on popular series like Dragonwatch, Goosebumps, Fablehaven, and The Land of Stories. With more than twenty picture books under his belt, he is an accomplished visual storyteller.


Are you a fan of the Fablehaven or Dragonwatch series? Will you be adding this to your library?

Another absolutely thrilling story... Dragonwatch: Champion of the Titan Games by Brandon Mull (Review) #5starread #mustread #bookrec #middlegradebooks #fantasybooks #dragonwatch

Champion of the Titan Games
(Dragonwatch #4)
By Brandon Mull
Middle Grade Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 544 Pages
October 13, 2020 by Shadow Mountain

Summary

New York Times best-selling children's series. Dragonwatch is the sequel series to Fablehaven.

Who will win the battle between Dragons and Giants?

As the war with the dragons intensifies, all eyes are turning to Titan Valley for help. A dragon sanctuary unlike any of the others, this one is home to enslaved dragons ruled by the powerful Giant Queen, one of the five monarchs of the magical world. In addition, it houses the arena for the Titan Games, a series of gladiator-style battles presided over by none other than Humbuggle, the demon who stole Seth s memories!

Seth is seeking for his memories. Kendra is seeking for Seth. And everyone is seeking to stop the dragons from taking over the world everyone but Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who has his own devious agenda. In the monstrous battle between giants and dragons, who wins? In the race to retrieve a magical talisman that could help win the war, can Kendra trust Seth? Will they find the answers they desperately need in a realm of trolls and titans? Or are more betrayals imminent?

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

CHAMPION OF THE TITAN GAMES is the best book in this series yet! Full of an ever-more-complex plot, and a series that grows more climatic with each book, readers will feel the intensity build as a preclude to what is coming next. Beloved characters continue to develop, while readers will also fall in love with new characters. Highly recommended to fans of the series and readers who enjoy books both characters and plot driven with great fantastical elements!

These books just keep getting better. This definitely was my favorite so far! There was so much going on, but I loved how the author fit all of the pieces together and how the main characters continued to come into their own. I also loved travelling to the giant's realm and seeing another dragon sanctuary come alive. I fall in love with these characters more as the series goes and I'm definitely ready to see what happens in the next book.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I loved reading this! Full of great characters, a fully-fleshed fantasy world and an exciting plot that is perfect for middle grade readers on up. Highly recommended! The next book can't come fast enough!

Content: Some violence but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my reviews or an Amazon affiliate link.)

Have you read this series yet? Do you know anyone who would enjoy it?

A Gothic story with a twist... Black in Time by Brynn Chapman (Review & #Giveaway) #yalit #yafantasy #yabooks #newbook @prismbooktours

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the tour giveaway below...

Black in Time
(Synesthesia Shift #2)
By Brynn Chapman
YA Historical Urban Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 143 Pages
April 6, 2021 by Burns and Lea Books

Summary

Patient Twenty-Nine, or Jane, is within reach of her heart's desire: a home outside of Soothing Hills Asylum, where she has been raised.

Her sister Jules wants to take her in, and a man, Mason, is deeply in love with her and wants to care for her. But before Jane can leave, she must be examined by the Board of Lunacy. Jane is still hearing voices and songs from the cornfield outside the asylum, voices and songs that tell her what she must do, and that no one else can hear. So the Board may not allow her to leave.

But the asylum is becoming more and more dangerous. Its lead alienist, Dr. Frost, has disappeared, there have been frightening sightings of a woman in white, running through the corn at night, and perhaps worst of all: lobotomized women from the asylum are turning up pregnant.

Jane is desperate to get away and go to her new home. Mason and Jules only want to rescue Jane from the asylum.

But there is a complication: for Jane, the voice in the corn calls. And she must obey.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

BLACK IN TIME is a story about Jane, who was raised in an asylum and still seeking her freedom, and Jules, who was raised in opulence and wants her sister free. The asylum has dark secrets and a mysterious twist that the sisters and their intendeds must figure out in order to be free. This is a dark tale with points of hope, friendship and love in a very Gothic setting. Recommended to fans of the author and Gothic tales with supernatural aspects.

I remember bits and pieces of the previous book, The Requiem Red, and appreciated how the author recapped it, giving enough information that even if you haven't read the first book, you won't be lost in this one, but also not so much that you feel likes she's dumping information. I remember being endeared to Jane before, who really has had a rough life inside the asylum, but loved her even more in this second book. I think living in that type of place, seeing violence and having it done to you, would make just about all of us a bit insane. Then there are the voices and the music she hears. The poor girl. The asylum is a bit of a terrifying setting and feels very Gothic. It leant an eerie feel to the story from start to finish. Then there is the cornfield mystery and the asylum staff. I just really wanted these characters to be safe and free. It's quite a rollercoaster ride as they figure things out. I also enjoyed reading the author's notes that talked about some of the inspiration and research behind the book.

I think that there could have been some additional smoothing to the writing and a bit more development in places. Some of the subject matter is more suited for older teens or adults.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This story was a fairly quick, engrossing read. The setting is mysterious and dark with a plot that will keep readers turning the pages. The characters are likable and the romance is sweet. Definitely a series to check out if you enjoy Gothic tales with twists!

Content: One fade-to-black love scene between a married couple, innuendo, some blatant remarks and violence, references to rape and subsequent pregnancies, and some English swear words.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Prism Book Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

The Requiem Red
(Synesthesia Shift #1)
By Brynn Chapman
YA Historical Urban Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 300 Pages
February 4, 2019 by Burns and Lea Books

Summary

Life for Patient 29 is full of medicated day dreams of a life outside the walls of Soothing Hills Asylum. But fantasies are not all that consume her. A monster roams the halls of the sanitarium she reluctantly calls home and three girls have been found dead. The dead girls share one common thread . . . each was 29's cell mate. As the investigation gets under way, she retreats into her mind, listening to the voices that call to her. She is endowed with the cursed gift of perception. Through it, she hears messages carried upon the notes of music, discerns words hidden among the strokes of paintings, and minds pleadings for help from the corn field outside.

Could the key to the murders lie within 29's broken mind? Mason, an orderly, does not see 29 as a lunatic and as his belief in her grows so does her self-confidence. The possibility of one day leaving the asylum seems less and less like a fantasy. But the monster has other plans for her. Leaving will not be so easy, at least not while she is alive.

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.


Tour Schedule


Tour-Wide Giveaway


- One winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card and an audiobook of HERE WALK THE DEAD
- Ten winners will receive a print copy of REQUIEM RED

US only
Ends May 5, 2021

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Do you like reading Gothic stories? What do you think of this one?

I Can't Wait for... Untethered by KayLynn Flanders (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #yalit #yafantasy @kaylynnflanders @DelacortePress


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

Tag me on your CWW posts on Twitter (@wishfulendings) and I'll like and retweet!

I read Shielded, the first book in this series, just a few months ago. I still need to get my review posted, but I loved it! The characters were easy to like and the plot kept me turning the pages. Plus I found the fantasy world to be really interesting. The sequel is my pick this week...

Untethered
(Shielded #2)
By KayLynn Flanders
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 464 Pages
July 20, 2021 by Delacorte Press

Summary

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes the thrilling sequel to Shielded about a world in a deadly magical war and the newly crowned king and feisty princess who must defeat the deadliest of foes before there's nothing left to save.

Although King Atháren's sister, Jennesara, saved Hálendi from the Gray Mage, the reprieve came at a steep price--the life of their father. Now Ren rules over a divided kingdom, with some who want him dead, and a Medallion that warns of worse trouble brewing in the south.

As second born, Princess Chiara is the perfect Turian royal--perfectly invisible. She longs to help restore peace on the Plateau, but with no magic and no fighting skills, she doesn't stand a chance against a mage. So when a member of the Turian royal family goes missing and Chiara finds a clue about the rumored resting place of the mages' long-lost artifacts, she decides it's time to be seen.

As Ren's and Chiara's paths cross, they find the depth of the mages' hold on the Plateau is more powerful than anyone suspected, and that they must learn to trust themselves, and each other, before the mages retrieve their artifacts and become too powerful to ever defeat.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

A delightful story for book lovers... Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham (Review & #Giveaway) #christfic #christianhistorical #christianfiction #newbook @celebrate_lit


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out my review and enter the giveaway below...

Hope Between the Pages
(Doors to the Past #2)
By Pepper Basham
Christian Time-Slip, Historical, Contemporary
Paperback & ebook, 267 Pages
April 1, 2021

Summary

Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

HOPE BETWEEN THE PAGES is a story about two women who are related through blood, only a few generations apart, who both share a love for books. The future of one woman relies on uncovering the past of the other, and through letters, searching histories, and travelling across the sea she finds that it's never too late for an adventure. With two delightful stories to follow as the reader slips from present to a past time, and wonderful characters, this is a book Christian romance and historical romance fans will love!

I loved these characters so much! The author did a fantastic job in switching from the historical to present day and endearing me to the characters in both times. Sometimes stories like this can spend too little time on one of the stories, or one story can be much better than the other. That wasn't he case at all in this one. The characters came alive in both time periods and I couldn't help but want them to both find their happiness. I also loved all the references to books, libraries and bookstores. It was a very sweet part of this story. I loved the relationships, both of friendship, family and love. I especially loved the banter and relationships between Sadie and Oliver, and Clara and Max. Both made me laugh, swoon and pulled on my heart. The inspirational element was also weaved through both stories well and felt natural and authentic.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This story had it all! Fabulous characters, an engaging plot revolving around books that any book lover will adore, and two well-written stories linked together through time. It pulls on the reader's emotions. I loved reading every single page!

Content: Some references to marital relations, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author


Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

More from Pepper

Books are a uniquely portable magic – Stephen King

Appalachia is known for having a high illiteracy rate. A place of beautiful scenery and rugged landscapes, the people of the mountains developed stories through oral storytelling much more than “book learning”. As a young girl growing up in this world, I loved hearing my granny share tales from up to five generations ago, filling in the narrative gaps between a birth date and a death date on a tombstone – giving flesh and breath to the stone-etched names.

It’s no surprise then, with a heart cultivated from rich oral stories, I fell in love with reading. Books became that “portable magic” that took me places my little Appalachian community couldn’t provide. I fell in love with the Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew. Wept through the end of Bridge to Terabithia and Old Yeller. Traveled to the plains with Sarah Plain and Tall and fell in love with horses with The Black Stallion. But when I was in seventh grade, I read my very first “British” novel, The Secret Garden. In that one introduction, my world expanded into mysterious English manor houses and British classics. Before long, I’d consumed Jane Eyre, Austen’s classics, some Dickens, Dracula, Frankenstein…and the list goes on! And then…I found Tolkien and Lewis – and the ‘real’ world swelled into OTHER worlds.

I’m grateful for true stories of book-loving pioneers traveling into the world of Appalachia to provide books and literacy training to “my people”, because I know some of those books made their way to my tiny elementary school library…and not only brought me the chance to discover stories, but to write them too!

Isn’t it amazing how books can do that?

In Hope Between the Pages, I wanted to bring the same awe and discovery I felt as a child (and continue to feel as an adult reader) to the story of two people whose words had seemed small. Stories stretched their worlds, but the stories also gave them wonderful imaginations and positive perspectives. It’s still amazing to me that ink-and-paper words can make such a lasting impact on hearts and minds. They can lead us to dream, teach us new things, encourage our hearts, help us to think outside the box, swell our imaginations, broaden our horizons, and encourage our hope.

Books are not a replacement for real adventures and relationships, but they certainly provide a beautiful “door” into other lives and worlds that we may never have a chance to experience in real life. Sadie, my historical heroine, and Clara, my contemporary heroine, both have kept close to home but traveled greatly through books…and BOTH are given the opportunity to reach beyond the bindings to discover real-life adventures. I’d like to think that their love for stories helped them have the courage to step away from the page and into their own tales even more prepared than they would have been without stories.

What are some of your favorite books you read as a child? Did any of them influence you to become a more avid reader?

Tour Schedule

The Avid Reader, April 24
Worthy2Read, April 24
Wishful Endings, April 27
Bigreadersite, April 27
Betti Mace, April 30
Mary Hake, May 2
Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Tour-Wide Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.


Are you a fan of this author? Will you be reading this one?

Check out the tour for this new YA urban fantasy... Black in Time by Brynn Chapman (#Giveaway) #yalit #yafantasy #yahistorical @prismbooktours

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Black in Time
(Synesthesia Shift #2)
By Brynn Chapman
YA Historical Urban Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 143 Pages
April 6, 2021 by Burns and Lea Books

Patient Twenty-Nine, or Jane, is within reach of her heart's desire: a home outside of Soothing Hills Asylum, where she has been raised.

Her sister Jules wants to take her in, and a man, Mason, is deeply in love with her and wants to care for her. But before Jane can leave, she must be examined by the Board of Lunacy. Jane is still hearing voices and songs from the cornfield outside the asylum, voices and songs that tell her what she must do, and that no one else can hear. So the Board may not allow her to leave.

But the asylum is becoming more and more dangerous. Its lead alienist, Dr. Frost, has disappeared, there have been frightening sightings of a woman in white, running through the corn at night, and perhaps worst of all: lobotomized women from the asylum are turning up pregnant.

Jane is desperate to get away and go to her new home. Mason and Jules only want to rescue Jane from the asylum.

But there is a complication: for Jane, the voice in the corn calls. And she must obey.

(Affiliate link included.)

Tour Schedule

April 26th:
April 27th:
April 28th:
April 29th:
April 30th:

Other Books in the Series

The Requiem Red
(Synesthesia Shift #1)
By Brynn Chapman
YA Historical Urban Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 300 Pages
February 4, 2019 by Burns and Lea Books

Life for Patient 29 is full of medicated day dreams of a life outside the walls of Soothing Hills Asylum. But fantasies are not all that consume her. A monster roams the halls of the sanitarium she reluctantly calls home and three girls have been found dead. The dead girls share one common thread . . . each was 29's cell mate. As the investigation gets under way, she retreats into her mind, listening to the voices that call to her. She is endowed with the cursed gift of perception. Through it, she hears messages carried upon the notes of music, discerns words hidden among the strokes of paintings, and minds pleadings for help from the corn field outside.

Could the key to the murders lie within 29's broken mind? Mason, an orderly, does not see 29 as a lunatic and as his belief in her grows so does her self-confidence. The possibility of one day leaving the asylum seems less and less like a fantasy. But the monster has other plans for her. Leaving will not be so easy, at least not while she is alive.

(Affiliate link included.)

About the Author


Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.


Tour Giveaway


- One winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card and an audiobook of HERE WALK THE DEAD
- Ten winners will receive a print copy of REQUIEM RED

US only
Ends May 5, 2021

Grab Our Button!

A story of two worlds clashing and a twisted war in the fairy lands... In the Jaded Grove by Anela Deen (Review) #fantasybooks #newbook #KindredRealmsTour #CaffeineBookTours @CaffeineTours


Welcome to my tour stop! This is a new-to-me author, but the book sounded good and it's
been a while since I read a book with fairies, so I took a chance. Check out my review below...

In the Jaded Grove
(Kindred Realms #1)
By Anela Deen
Cover Artist: Jenny Zemanek
New Adult Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 335 Pages
April 15, 2021 by Fine Fables Press

Summary

Simith of Drifthorn is tired of war. After years of conflict between the Thistle court and the troll kingdom, even a pixie knight known for his bloodlust longs for peace. Hoping to secure a ceasefire, Simith arranges a meeting with the troll king—and is ambushed instead. Escape lies in the Jaded Grove, but the trees of the ancient Fae woodland aren’t what they seem, and in place of sanctuary, Simith tumbles through a doorway to another world.

Cutting through her neighbor’s sunflower farm in Skylark, Michigan, Jessa runs into a battle between creatures straight out of a fantasy novel. Only the blood is very real. When a lone fighter falls to his attackers, Jessa intervenes. She’s known too much death to stand idly by, but an act of kindness leads to consequences even a poet like her couldn’t imagine.

With their fates bound by magic, Simith and Jessa must keep the strife of his world from spilling into hers—except the war isn’t what it appears and neither are their enemies. Countless lives depend on whether they can face the truths of their pasts and untangle the web of lies around them. But grief casts long shadows, and even their deepening bond may not be enough to save them from its reach.

On-page Representation:
Filipino (main character)
Secondary sapphic characters

Trigger and Content Warnings:
Violence
Trauma
Grief
Death of a loved one (in the past - not on page)

(Affiliate link included.)

My Review

IN THE JADED GROVE is a story of a pixie who is tired of war and seeks peace and the human who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and mixes her future with his. It's set in the human and fairy worlds with plenty of fantasy elements that fans of the genre will enjoy, and twists that make for a well written story. An enjoyable read!

Jessa is a woman who has suffered great loss and in the process has lost herself. She's closed off her heart to everyone and secludes herself. Simith is a pixie who has savagely fought an enemy who sought to destroy his people, but wants to leave the violence behind and forge peace. As Simith seeks that peace, Jessa stumbles upon a fight and they meet. I liked both of these characters as well as the other side characters, but I love Simith. I liked how easy it was to connect with him and that he felt genuine. The banter was also a great part of this story. Jessa I liked, but sometimes she kind of got on my nerves. Things do get better though, and I liked her more in the end.

I really enjoyed the plot and pace of this story. There were so many great twists and they all worked for me, which has been an issue for me in other stories. The author did a great job in working in the different elements and the twists so that everything pulled on my emotions and made me invested in this story. I also really liked the slow build of the romance and the bits of humor here and there.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable story with likable characters and an engaging plot. Definitely recommended for fans who enjoy stories with fairies

Content: Some violence, references to a one-night stand (completely off page), a lesbian couple (side characters).
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Caffeine Book Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author


A child of two cultures, this hapa haole Hawaiian girl is currently landlocked in the Midwest. After exploring the world for a chunk of years, she hunkered down in Minnesota and now fills her days with family, fiction, and the occasional snowstorm. With a house full of lovable toddlers, a three-legged cat, and one handsome Dutchman, she prowls the keyboard late at night while the minions sleep. Coffee? Nah, she prefers tea with a generous spoonful of sarcasm.



What do you think? Will you be reading this one?

A beautiful new look that changes the atmosphere of a whole room... Photowall Wall Mural Review + Discount Code! #dyi #wallpaper #wallmural #discountcode #ad


I'm excited to share my experience with putting up a wall mural from Photowall with you guys today (product courtesy of Photwall)You can use my discount code, wishfulendings25, for 25% off your purchase through June 21, 2021 (I don't receive any kickback or anything from you using this). Read my review, including some tips for hanging your own wall mural, below...

Ordering Your Wall Mural

First off, you obviously need to carefully consider where you will use a wall mural or wallpaper. I can't say my past experience with wall paper was great and it was a big decision to go back to this product. Honestly, wallpaper has come a long way and it was so much better this time around. So, if you have those same concerns, I'll lay them to rest here a bit. I really loved that Photowall's murals and wallpaper use wall paste. It made it so much easier to put on than when the paper itself is sticky (and tends to stick to itself and get all messed up and also be really hard to reposition). They also have a wallpaper kit you can order that comes with everything you need (they were out of stock so I did have to go find the tools I needed which Home Depot did not carry, but Lowe's did). Their product also comes with wall paste, so they try to give you everything you need to successful. 

We have lived in this house for almost ten years. I painted the kids' bedrooms, the hallway, the entry and the family room the first couple of years we were here. Then the kitchen got a remodel and new paint two years ago. Those areas now need to be repainted again (kids have such dirty hands and feet, lol!) and the kitchen still needs a backsplash. I think a home is a never-ending project, but can be a fun and exciting one. 😃 Our master bedroom was all white and the walls were a bit scuffed and dirty. It was still like that. If you're like me, the master bedroom always seems to be last on the list, but really shouldn't be. I decided that was the place I want updated. Plus if it didn't turn out, no one would have to see it except for me and my husband. 😉

Once the room was picked, then I went to Photowall's website and had to pick a mural. I could have gone with wallpaper, but I really wanted a landscape that would make our room feel calm and relaxing. They have so many gorgeous choices! It took me over two weeks to pick something that my husband was okay with and that I liked (a wall mural is really bold for him and he doesn't do decorating or painting so it was a bit of a leap for him to be okay with it - at least he's generally okay with me doing things like this).

We went with this misty mountain scene in gray. I wanted green, my favorite color, but he wanted more neutral. I have to say that I think either would be wonderful and we really like the gray.

Then you put in the dimensions of your wall, adding four inches to the sides (ideal since most walls aren't completely even or level - something I found when I actually put the mural up). You also decide on the quality of the wallpaper. I went with premium as I wanted a durable, matte finish.

I had a moment of hesitation pushing that order button. I rechecked my measurements, took a breath and hit submit. Then I just had to wait for the week or so for it to arrive.

Installing Your Wall Mural

My mural came a little over a week later and arrived in three boxes all wrapped together. The number of boxes depends on the dimensions of your wall.


Photowall has an installation video that I recommend watching more than once. They also have a list of everything you need if you don't get their wallpaper kit (or it was out of stock, like in my case). You'll want to make sure you have everything you need and prep your wall. This means sanding the wall if it's painted with a glossy paint, levelling any areas, filling in holes, etc. and then washing the wall and letting it dry.


Next is making the wall paste. I will say that I wish someone had warned me about the wall paste. I poured it into the water too fast the first time and it just made one large glob. I threw that out and then started over with the next pouch (thank goodness that one pouch was enough for my wall and they sent one in each box, so I had three of them and room to mess up!). The second time I used a wire whisk and slowly poured the paste into the water as I quickly whisked it. This was so much better. There were still a few clumps, but overall it was a smooth paste. The smell wasn't overpowering either and I appreciate that they use natural, vegan approved, materials.

Then you prep your mural segments. Ideally you should cut each and then lay them out in order with the numbers face up so you put them up on the wall in order. I love how they label everything so there's really nothing to figure out. I didn't have a ton of room since we had to push furniture out of the way for me to do the wall, so I had my daughter cut each section for me as I went. When I grabbed one section, she cut the next.


It finally starts to come together as you hang the wall mural, segment by segment. I knew there would be some extra wallpaper that I would need to trim off and I wanted more of the top than the bottom of the my mural so I started with that in mind. However, I did make the mistake of not properly measuring my walls for where it was level/even and where it was not. It turns out that my ceiling is about a half inch higher on the right corner than the left. I made it work, but there ended up being a very slight gap on the right side. Not one you can see unless you know it's there though and are right up to it. Thank goodness. So, learn from me and check the level of your wall and ceiling before beginning so you can adjust your strips accordingly.


After it's all hung, now you trim and fix any places that need a bit more glue. Once I had all the segments up, I then took a handy cutting guide and my knife and just cut along where it needed to be trimmed. I also reapplied glue where I had trimmed to make sure the paper laid as it should and there wouldn't be any spots pulling up. I also did this along some of the seams. You definitely want to roll those seams with the roller. It took me about five hours or so to put it all up.

Your Finished Wall Mural

I was really happy that I went with the premium paper. It was so worth it! It's strong and I love the matte finish. My master bedroom is night and day different than it was. Of course it was just white walls before, but this scene literally transforms the space from just average to an escape and haven. I think we could all use more of that in our lives.


My Review

Photwall murals and wall paper are perfect for those of use who want an artistic or scenic atmosphere in our homes. There are plenty of options to choose from, including uploading your own creations. Their website is easy to navigate, ordering is user-friendly, and orders arrive quickly and in perfect condition. The premium wallpaper has a durable, easily wipeable, matte finish. In addition to the natural wall paste (please mix carefully as to not clump), the paper is easy to reposition when needed. Directions are easy to follow. Be prepared to take your time to apply properly and meet seams and make sure you have all the right tools. The finished product is just outright gorgeous! It completely changes the whole atmosphere in any room.

Personally, I have loved this product! I also have one of Photowall's canvas prints, which I love, but this... it makes me happy to walk into my bedroom now and I love just looking at this wall. It feels like a bit of a haven for me, my husband, and our kids who seem to come piling onto the bed with us more often than they did before. It's so realistic that the room even looks slightly misty depending on the light and angle. If this is something you're considering, I'd highly recommend going for it! It will take some work, including prepping and making sure you have what you need, but it is well worth it! I'm hoping to do another wall in our spare bedroom and possibly the girls' room and I'm expecting the effect to be just as transporting as this one has been.

Source: I received a complimentary wall mural of my choice from Photowall, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

What do you think? Would you like your own wall mural? If you did, what type of scene would you pick and where would you put it?