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Judith Sterling

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Judith Sterling

Tag Archives: The Spear Alight

THE CAULDRON STIRRED ~ Five Stars from Readers’ Favorite!

29 Friday Apr 2022

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five-star review, gothic cozy, Guardians of Erin, Judith Sterling, mystery series, paranormal fantasy, Readers' Favorite, The Cauldron Stirred, The Gothic Gwyn Mysteries, The Spear Alight, Trip the Light Phantasmic, work in progress, young adult series

Great news! I woke up this morning to learn The Cauldron Stirred earned a five-star review from Readers’ Favorite. Woohoo! Here’s a bit of the review:

“The dialogue is fantastic with descriptive details and attitudes that give a little extra spark to the tone of the story…Delightfully Irish, The Cauldron Stirred delivers a rich and original take on Irish mythology through a coming-of-age journey that has romance, destiny, and family.”

As you know, The Spear Alight–the last book in the Guardians of Erin series–was recently published. It’s wonderful to know the first book is still making a positive impact. If you’re interested, you can find buy links here.

Now, I’m off to continue writing Trip the Light Phantasmic, the first book in my new gothic cozy series, The Gothic Gwyn Mysteries. Wishing you a beautiful day and weekend ahead! 🙂

5++ stars for THE SPEAR ALIGHT!

14 Monday Mar 2022

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five-star review, Guardians of Erin, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, paranormal fantasy series, The Spear Alight, young adult series

Good morning! I just read N. N. Light’s review of The Spear Alight, and it received 5++ stars!!! I’m honored and thrilled that the story touched someone so much. Here’s a bit of the review:

“The Spear Alight is an exceptional young adult paranormal fantasy from start to finish. I’ve read every book in this series and this book is the best of them all. Yes, this is the last book in the series but I’m telling you, it’s a masterpiece. The characters, the conflicts, the emotional tension, the world-building, the expressive narration all blend together to make this story one of the very best I’ve ever read.”

If you’re interested, you can read the full review here. If interest becomes a desire to buy, the first three books in the series are still on sale for 99 cents apiece, and you can purchase the whole series here.

Wishing you a beautiful day and week ahead! 🙂

THE SPEAR ALIGHT ~ Worldwide Release

07 Monday Mar 2022

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books on sale, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, supernatural, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, worldwide release, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Today’s the day: the worldwide release of The Spear Alight! I’m excited yet a little sad too, just as I was with the last of The Novels of Ravenwood. As for this series, I planned the entire thing in great detail before starting Book One, so even though my characters sometimes surprised me, the ending (Book Four) was exactly as I envisioned. I hope it gives you joy.

The story in a nutshell:

Ashling Donoghue has almost lost hope of finding her missing parents. As her faith wanes, her love for two men waxes, rending her heart and causing friction in the Breasal household. The time has come to make a choice, to create a future untarnished by doubt. But how can she embrace the light when lured by the soft seduction of shadow? 

At last, her brother Conall channels the Spear of Illumination. He’s a natural shapeshifter, and he sees through illusions in both the material world and the Otherworld…not a moment too soon. An ancient evil has surfaced, and it threatens all worlds.

Only the Donoghues can save Ireland. They must face their greatest fears and act as one to fulfill their destinies as guardians of Erin.

A peek inside:

            Freeing my hand, Kian grinned. “Welcome to the fourteenth century.”

            I lifted my gaze to the top half of the stone keep. A shuttered window caught my attention. Aengus is there.

            Hugh had given us a good idea of where to go, but how I determined his son’s precise location, I can’t say. Maybe I knew because I needed to know. Or maybe our souls were bonded in a way that defied all logic.

            I pointed to the window. “Up there, right in the middle. Let’s jump up and go through the wall.”

            We leapt into the air and paused at the third-floor level. Like ghosts, we floated through stone and entered the medieval bedroom. Then we lowered ourselves until our feet touched the plank floor. Tapestries, oak furniture, and a crackling fire on the hearth made the chamber feel homey and inviting.

            “Awesome,” Kian breathed.

            Aengus’s sleeping form drew my gaze. He lay on his back, with his bare and beautifully sculpted arms and chest visible above the fur coverlet. His golden hair was longer, touching his shoulders. I couldn’t look away.

            Fortunately, my brother could. “I think the manuscript is over there.” He went to investigate.

            I crept toward the bed. Aengus. I’m so sorry. I love you. Compelled beyond rhyme or reason, I leaned over and pressed my lips to his.

            I’d intended a quick kiss, but my mouth lingered, savoring an experience it might never have again. His lips were softened by sleep; his breath was warm with a trace of spices. Mulled wine? Maybe.

            “Ash, I got it. We have to go.” Kian waited close by.

            Regretfully, I ended the kiss and straightened. I’ll always love you.

            Aengus stirred beneath the covers. “Caer,” he murmured. His eyes opened.

            Crap! Any second, he might shift into the Otherworld and see me. I seized my brother’s hand as Aengus sat up in bed. “Hurry, Kian!”

            The next instant, the room was quiet. The Otherworld twilight remained, as did the medieval furnishings, but the fire and the man were absent.

            A sense of loss swept through me. “Funny how empty a room can seem.”

            “I’m sorry, Ash.” Kian squeezed my hand, then released it. “It’ll be okay.”

            I turned to him. “Will it?”

Buy the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

Remember, the first three Guardians of Erin books are on sale at all Amazon stores, so there’s never been a better time to dive into the series. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! 🙂

Literary Giveaway ~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

01 Tuesday Mar 2022

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Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, The Spear Alight

Happy March! If you’re a booklover, the fabled pot of gold might represent something literary, and here’s your chance to find it. I’ve teamed up with forty authors for N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s latest giveaway, and my prize is a copy of my upcoming release, The Spear Alight.

As you may know, the book takes place in Ireland, which seems perfectly aligned with this giveaway. Check out all the prizes, and if you’re feeling lucky, enter here! Good luck!

GUARDIANS OF ERIN 99-cent sale!

25 Friday Feb 2022

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books on sale, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, new release, supernatural, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Good news! With the release of The Spear Alight fast approaching, the first three books in the Guardians of Erin series are on sale for 99 cents for a limited time. Buy them at Amazon here, and you’ll be ready for the final installment, hitting stores on March 7, 2022. Here are the basics for all three:

Ashling Donoghue never dreamed moving to Ireland would rock her perception of reality and plunge her into a mystery that brings legend to life.

At seventeen, she’s never had a boyfriend, but she feels an immediate connection to Aengus Breasal, the son of the wealthy Irishman who’s invited her family to stay at his Killarney estate. For the first time in her life, a guy she likes seems attracted to her.

But Aengus is secretive, with good reason. He and his family are the Tuatha DĂ© Danann, ageless, mythical guardians adept at shifting between this reality and the magical dimension known as the Otherworld. Evil forces from that world threaten the Breasals, the Donoghues, and all of Ireland. Ashling must open her heart, face her fears, and embrace a destiny greater than she could ever have imagined.

Since moving to Ireland, Ashling Donoghue has tackled one challenge after another. Now the mystery of her parents’ disappearance seems unsolvable. Are they dead or only missing? No one—not even the godlike Breasals—has a clue. Hope and fear war inside her, but she’s determined to find answers and stay strong for her siblings. Even as she hones newfound powers, her banshee-in-training sister Deirdre needs her support.

Ashling could use a little help herself. She’s struggling to navigate her first romance, and while Aengus Breasal stirs her body, mind, and soul, his nemesis Lorcan does too. Both men harbor secrets about her past life as Caer. One has ties to Aoife, the scheming wind demon whose influence is on the rise.

As the Stone of Destiny awakens, so does the conflict within.

Ashling Donoghue is no closer to finding her parents than she was the night they disappeared. But hope returns as her brother Kian channels the Sword of Light, revealing past-life secrets and truths long suppressed.

The more she learns, the greater she fears the darkness that drowns the Netherworld also drives her. Is Aengus her true love, or is it Lorcan? Does her future wait in shadow or the light?

One point is clear: the threads of her past-self are woven inextricably into the tapestry of her soul. An impossible choice looms before her, and all the while, evil is poised to strike.

Have a great weekend, and happy reading! 🙂

THE SPEAR ALIGHT ~ Available for Preorder

09 Wednesday Feb 2022

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Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, new release, preorder alert, The Spear Alight

The Spear Alight, the final book in my Guardians of Erin series, is now available for preorder! The release of this book will be bittersweet. I’ll truly miss the characters and their adventures in Ireland. But you can still tag along and see how it all ends. Here’s the story:

Ashling Donoghue has almost lost hope of finding her missing parents. As her faith wanes, her love for two men waxes, rending her heart and causing friction in the Breasal household. The time has come to make a choice, to create a future untarnished by doubt. But how can she embrace the light when lured by the soft seduction of shadow? 

At last, her brother Conall channels the Spear of Illumination. He’s a natural shapeshifter, and he sees through illusions in both the material world and the Otherworld…not a moment too soon. An ancient evil has surfaced, and it threatens all worlds.

Only the Donoghues can save Ireland. They must face their greatest fears and act as one to fulfill their destinies as guardians of Erin.

A peek between the pages:

            All aspiration toward sleep left me. I needed company. Now.

            Lorcan.

            Bad idea. Far worse than waking up my sister. But he wouldn’t judge. In fact, he’d probably be glad to see me. Me, Ashling Donoghue, pariah and maven of mistakes. I’d made a million of them. What was one more?

            I imagined the interior of Lorcan’s tent at Dun Aengus on Inishmore. Then I flexed my will and was there, surrounded by rich colors, sumptuous fabrics, and perforated hanging lanterns. The intricately patterned Persian carpet felt soft and soothing to my bare feet.

            Was he in bed? There was one safe way to find out. “Lorcan? Are you here?”

            “Ashling?” His silken voice, warm and rousing, flowed from the bedroom and washed over me.

            “Yes. It’s me.”

            A heartbeat later, he appeared between the drawn, red curtains that separated his bed from the main section of the tent. He wore a black velvet dressing gown and an expression of mingled surprise and pleasure. With relaxed strides, he closed the gap between us. “You’re the last person I expected to see tonight.” His heated gaze roamed over me.

            Too late, I realized I was wearing a thin, white night shirt that refused to cover anything below my upper thighs. I grabbed the hem on both sides and pulled downward…in vain. “I never planned to come.”

            “Why did you?” His shoulder-length black hair looked as luxurious as his robe. I stifled the urge to touch both.

            “I needed a friend.”

            “Haven’t we traveled beyond the bounds of friendship?”

            My stomach trembled at the memory of our passionate kiss. Stop it! I huffed. “That never should’ve happened.”

            “But it did, because it had to.” His ice blue eyes held my gaze. “You belong to me. We belong to each other.”

            “Aengus would disagree.”

            “If he were here, but he isn’t.” He reached for my left hand and turned it over. Gently, he caressed my palm with the pad of his thumb.

            “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?” My palm tingled.

            “You are the answer. Nothing and no one else.”

Preorder the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

I hope you’ll enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Incredibly, we have less than a month to go before the release! 🙂

Cover Reveal ~ THE SPEAR ALIGHT

03 Monday Jan 2022

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cover reveal, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, release date, The Spear Alight, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Here it is: the cover of my upcoming release! The Spear Alight is the fourth and final book in my award-winning Guardians of Erin young adult paranormal fantasy series. It’s set to release on March 7, 2022. Here’s the scoop on the story:

Ashling Donoghue has almost lost hope of finding her missing parents. As her faith wanes, her love for two men waxes, rending her heart and causing friction in the Breasal household. The time has come to make a choice, to create a future untarnished by doubt. But how can she embrace the light when lured by the soft seduction of shadow?

At last, her brother Conall channels the Spear of Illumination. He’s a natural shapeshifter, and he sees through illusions in both the material world and the Otherworld…not a moment too soon. An ancient evil has surfaced, and it threatens all worlds.

Only the Donoghues can save Ireland. They must face their greatest fears and act as one to fulfill their destinies as guardians of Erin.

While preparing for March 7th, I’m also starting the first book of my new gothic mystery series. Believe it or not, I’ve had a detailed outline ready and waiting for almost 7 years. But I was so busy writing The Novels of Ravenwood and the Guardians of Erin series, there wasn’t time. Now there is! I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again for your interest in my work. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead! 🙂

Best Time Travel Romance of 2021 ~ RETURN OF THE RAVEN

16 Thursday Dec 2021

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Best Time Travel Romance of 2021, gothic mystery series, Guardians of Erin, Judith Sterling, N. N. Light Book Awards, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, Return of the Raven, The Novels of Ravenwood, The Spear Alight, winner, YA paranormal fantasy

I’m thrilled to announce that Return of the Raven won Best Time Travel/Time Travel Romance of 2021 in the N. N. Light Book Awards! What an honor, and a wonderful end to the five-book series, The Novels of Ravenwood. Congrats again to all the finalists and to the winners!

In other news, my publisher gave me a release date for The Spear Alight, the fourth and final book in my young adult paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin. I’ll be sharing the date and cover soon, and come January, I’ll start writing the first book of my new gothic mystery series. Stay tuned! 🙂

GUARDIANS OF ERIN News

29 Thursday Apr 2021

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Amazon, Booksprout, free books, Guardians of Erin, Judith Sterling, read and review, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

If the above photo of Killarney, Ireland speaks to your heart, we’re kindred spirits. If you’re reading my Guardians of Erin series, which takes place there, I’ve got good news: I finally finished the fourth and final book, The Spear Alight, and turned it in to my editor. Woohoo!

Amazon still has The Cauldron Stirred, the first book in the series, on sale for 99 cents. The next two–The Stone Awakened and The Sword Unsheathed--are available for free on Booksprout for a limited time. Reviews are much appreciated!

Check out The Stone Awakened here! For The Sword Unsheathed, click here!

That’s all the news for the moment. Hope you’re having a good week! 🙂

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

17 Wednesday Mar 2021

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#irishreads, books on sale, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, St. Patrick's Day, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Will you be celebrating? I will with my family tonight. Until then, I’ll spend the day deep in Irish lore, writing more of The Spear Alight, the last book in my Guardians of Erin series. I’ll also be making soda bread. Yum!

Remember, the first three books in the series are on sale for 99 cents apiece. If you’re longing to travel to the Emerald Isle, here’s your chance to go in spirit.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books

Have a lovely, magical day!  🙂

 

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