Title: THE LANTERN’S EMBER

Author: Colleen Houck

Pub. Date: September 11, 2018

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 416

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD

Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare.

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

---

About Colleen:

New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she’s not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | YouTube | Instagram

---

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE LANTERN’S EMBER, US Only.

---

My Review

“Do not let fear of the unknown prevent you from discovery, vampire; otherwise, the story of your life will be a dull tale indeed.”

The Lantern’s Ember is the perfect book for Halloween. As Halloween is my favorite holiday, I could not pass up this book, nor could I pass up another book by Colleen Houck. I loved the wonderful take on Halloween and how it came to be. This unique story will grab you from the first line and won’t let go. As the reader, I wanted to know what would happen to Ember when she crossed into the Otherworld. And there was no way I was missing any scenes with Jack (he’s a fascinating and beautiful character). Trust me, if you love the fall time and/or Halloween, you are not going to want to miss this book!

Adventure mixed with paranormal and romance is what you will find in Colleen Houck’s newest book. Ember, the main character, is a powerful witch who wants to venture into the Otherworld, a place filled with magic and lore. The only problem: Jack, the lantern that guards the bridge to the Otherworld, won’t let her pass. The whole aspect of this book was fascinating and so different from Halloween books I have read. I loved that it was more focused on navigating through the Otherworld and building relationships than the horror (which, might I add, is not present in the story, so this is perfect for those who prefer to steer clear from the horror genre).

My favorite part about The Lantern’s Ember was the world building. Most of the book is spent in the Otherworld, where vampires, werewolves, goblins, and more creatures reign supreme. Ember is introduced to so many aspects of the Otherworld, and it’s quite amazing to see it all. The world itself has a steampunk feeling to it, something that is very different and unique. The Otherworld is ruled by the Lord of the Underworld; however, the world is powered by Witchlight, a power the High witch tries to maintain. The world was so distinctive and beautifully crafted; I loved Houck’s writing that brought this world to life. All in all, the world was haunting and perfect for all those Halloween creatures.

Ember is a spunk of a witch, and I loved that. She’s full of sass and refuses to be told she can’t do something (which is what leads her to the Otherworld in the first place). She’s someone I would want as a friend; Ember is a fighter and a protector, especially when it comes to Finney, her best friend (who is exceptionally smart and a trustworthy companion). Whereas Ember has her witch power, Finney has his brain and his instruments. Ember is overall a character that refuses to give up and fights for what she wants, which is something I resonate with and love to read about.

I also enjoyed the relationships Ember has with Jack, Finney, and Dev. Ember has a somewhat playful yet romantic relationship with Jack, once she finally meets him. He’s protective of her but lets Ember be her own person, which makes for a great relationship. And then there’s Dev. Oh, the mysterious and alluring vampire Dev. I loved Dev’s personality and how he acted around Ember (most of the time). On the page, he lures the reader in with his style and his captivating presence. Though I loved Jack, I loved Dev’s character almost as much.

My overall reaction toward The Lantern’s Ember is positive, and it’s definitely a story I won’t forget any time soon. The story line is mesmerizing and so are the characters. The story itself read more like a middle grade novel than a Young Adult; however, I was still able to resonate with the characters. If you are looking for a book with a rich storyline and world building filled with lore, then The Lantern’s Ember is for you!

---

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/3/2018- Captivated Reading– Review

9/4/2018- Jrsbookreviews– Review

9/5/2018- Portrait of a Book– Review

9/6/2018- YA Books Central– Interview

9/7/2018- Zach’s YA Reviews– Review

Week Two:

9/10/2018- Such A Novel Idea– Review

9/11/2018- Lisa Loves Literature– Review

9/12/2018- Wishful Endings– Interview

9/13/2018- The Bookish Libra– Review

9/14/2018- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review

Week Three:

9/17/2018- The Desert Bibliophile– Review

9/18/2018- Smada’s Book Smack– Review

9/19/2018- Book-Keeping– Review

9/20/2018- A Dream Within A Dream– Review

9/21/2018- A Court of Coffee and Books– Review (You’re Here!)

Week Four:

9/24/2018- Do You Dog-ear?– Review

9/25/2018- Savings in Seconds– Review

9/26/2018- Book Briefs– Review

9/27/2018- Pacific Northwest Bookworm– Review

9/28/2018- Two Chicks on Books– Excerpt

Thank you Rockstar Book Tours for hosting this amazing book blog tour! I loved being part of this tour!