Tarotmancer

Tales from the Riven Isles #2

by W.A. Simpson

If the first book was "...a riveting tale about personal strength and hidden magic" ( Foreword Reviews) , this next one is about working together to defeat a great enemy in the magical Riven Isles.

Following Tinderbox, the acclaimed first title in the The Tales of the Riven Isles, the story of magic and revenge continues with Tarotmancer . Harper holds the Gift of Divination. Red is the infamous Reynard the Fox, fugitive shapeshifter. When his past finds him Red is taken to the Kingdom of Vale within Underneath so he can pay for his crimes and Harper is taken as hostage. With the Rot drawing on the hatred of the citizens, including Harper she realizes she must put her feelings aside and save Red from the punishment of the Cesspit. As the Rot continues to grow, all must take control of their emotions and join to protect Vale.

FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress

Genres: Fantasy

Unknown Binding

About the author

Wendy has been writing since the age of five and finished her first novel at fourteen. Her debut novel Tinderbox and its sequel Tarotmancer are available both in-store and online. Tinderbox made the Top 100 on the Amazon Best Sellers List in Black &African American Fantasy Fiction and is the 2022 GOLD Winner for Fantasy Foreword Reviews Indie Award.

When she’s not writing, she’s reading, working in her garden, or gaming and streaming on Twitch under the handle of Runic Nightshade. She shares her home with her older brother and two diva cats. Visit her blog at www.authorwasimpson.com to learn more! Girl Gamer. Bibliophile. Gardener. Chocoholic. Cat Person. Breast Cancer Warrior. Black Lives Matter.

Reviews for Tinderbox:

Tinderbox is a riveting tale about personal strength and hidden magic. — Aleena Ortiz Foreward Reviews, July / August 2022

I enjoyed reading Tinderbox due to its wonderful description and characters, as well as the plot itself. In my opinion, it’s well-paced and most of the chapters are short, which I also love. The title and cover are so beautiful! It fits in the fantasy and adventure genres, with some romance in the mix. If that’s something that you like, maybe check it out. – Million Pages

“This promising debut features strong world building and well-developed systems of magic. It will appeal to readers of Kacen Callender’s Queen of the Conquered (2019), N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010), and L. Penelope’s Song of Blood and Stone (2018).” — Booklist

Fans of Andrea Hairston’s Master of Poisons and other secondary world fantasy will enjoy this expansive magical adventure. — Publisher’s Weekly.

A tinderbox, three huge hounds within, and an underground kingdom of old magic. Fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, myth and magic, fairy tales and fantasy, will love the dark adventures of the Riven Isles. — Amazon.com

“A grisly murder, a missing box, a dangerous task, and a cranky magical talisman. Expect betrayals, intrigue, peril, and romance in this smartly moving fantasy.” — Jacey Bedford, author of the Psi-Tech and Rowankind series.

“W.A. Simpson begins with a simple tale of revenge and quickly weaves a grand adventure bound together with the threads of fairy tales and fey creations… where possessed staffs speak, wil-o-wisps roam, and Jack’s giant vine protects the world both above and below.” — Troy Carrol Bucher, author of Lies of Descent

Reviews

[Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when you mix a sly fox and a clever tarotmancer? You get W.A .Simpson's fantastical journey of Harper, Red and the rot that terrorizes the Kingdom.

Can the duo and friends stop the terror that plagues the vale?

An intriguing fantasy story you won't soon forget.

I'm hoping to read more from this author very soon!


Thank you, NetGalley\W.A.Simpson\Flame Tree Press\ For this e-Book in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was challenging to get into initially, but I'm pleased I persevered and finished it. The character development was excellent. The magic system was meticulously planned and detailed. The characters were a little hazy, but the more you read, the more you realise. The FMC is strong and straightforward, but the MMC is intense yet convoluted and dark. I wholeheartedly suggest it. The book has an enticing cover that draws you in right away. Harper is a Tarotmancer, and her divination ability is linked to her reading of the Tarot cards. Red is the famed Reynard the Fox, a shapeshifter, trickster, and man of many crimes. When Red is pulled back to the magical Vale to face his misdeeds, Harper is dragged along with him. However, an evil known as the Rot is infiltrating all elements of the Vale. If Harper and Red are to save each other, they must resist it. There is an innovative magic system as well as some unexpected surprises.

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Tarotmancer’ is the second book in theTales of the Riven Isles series and I was very excited to pick it up! Although I was initially disappointed that we were not returning to the characters from the first book ‘Tinderbox’ it was great to return to the world as a whole.

Harper is a tarotmancer and holds the gift of divination through the use of her tarot cards. Red is the infamous Reynard the fox, the fugitive shapeshifter. When Red’s past catches up with him he is dragged back to his home, the Vale within Underneath, and Harper is taken as along as a hostage. The Rot is a malignant force which is drawing on the hatred of citizens Harper realises that she must use her powers to save Red and the place she calls home.

Even though I was looking forward to seeing what Isebt and the gang were getting up to I did enjoy meeting new characters and the expansion of the world in the Riven Isles. We got glimpses of our favourites but that has only heightened my eagerness for the next book where hopefully they will all be able to join together. I particularly liked Harper who was a great female main character. Strong, loyal, intelligent, beautiful and an open book. I think she will be pivotal in the forthcoming story. Red I wasn't as keen on, I just wanted a bit more emotional development from him in relation to his crimes. But his storyline was strong otherwise and I liked his cunning and ability to get out of situations.

I did think there could have been a more detailed development of certain plot points. For example, the crimes with which Red was involved in. It kinda passed very quickly over the reveal and then bam everything was okay in relation to that. Also, I personally would have thought that Isbet when she joined Harper behind the veils would have explained The Rot a bit more to help her. It meant that new readers who hadn't read the first book would have been in the dark about certain aspects. But these are tiny niggles in a world which is still unique in its premise. The Vine storyline is strong, distinctive and unusual.

Can't wait for book three! Let me know if you pick this one up.

[KMart Vet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tarotmancer, the second installment in The Tales of the Riven Isles series, continues the story of Rot overtaking the kingdoms of the Riven Isles. I had many of the same issues as with the first one, but Harper is an interesting new character with the Gift of Divination and Red as the notorious fugitive shapeshifter. As Red's past catches up with them, they are brought to the Kingdom of Vale within Underneath to face the consequences of his previous actions with Harper as a hostage of this unique animal-based kingdom.

One aspect that shines in Tarotmancer is the fascinating incorporation of diviner and tarot magic. Additionally, the nods to characters from the previous book serve as delightful connections without overshadowing the main focus of this installment.

The author's writing style, characterized by presenting an event and subsequently providing an explanation in the following chapter, is intriguing yet unconventional. While it adds a unique dimension to the storytelling, it may not resonate with all readers.

However, there are areas that detract from the overall experience. The continued use of derogatory comments about women remains a concern. The writing style still exhibits a tendency towards clumsiness, relying heavily on telling rather than showing. As a result, the story feels more like a series of events rather than a journey of emotional depth. Furthermore, the inclusion of spicy romance, particularly given the context of animal forms, was uncomfortable.

This book has a promising premise but still struggles with issues of writing style and a lack of emotional depth. Readers who enjoyed the first book and are invested in the world of The Tales of the Riven Isles may find enjoyment in this continuation.

Thank you for Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the eARC. This is my honest review.

[JL Henker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shape-shifters, magic, dark forces emerging, portals, and a strong female lead, all the elements necessary for a great fantasy! Harper is tough and lives on the rough side of town. Her divination powers through the tarot cards always at her side garner her respect and the notice of a few shady characters. She survives by her street smarts and by the guidance of her cards. She saves shape-shifter, Reynard the Fox (Red) from the gallows and he pulls her into a plot by a creeping darkness (the Rot) that seeps upwards to engulf not only Red's home, the magical vale, but Harper's world as well.

Gritty, with dark undertones, this adventure is beautifully woven between interesting characters whose lives become unwillingly entwined and a quickly emerging threat. They must join forces to fight the evil that threatens both their worlds, and in the process, they just might find each other.

Thank you Net Galley and Flame Tree Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Geo king · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.*

I already knew of W.A. Simpson, having read and loved Tinderbox. So when I saw Tarotmancer on NetGalley, I had to request instantly.

This is a gripping tale about magic and revenge. It follows our protagonists, Red and Harper, on a journey of personal strength and teamwork. In this book, the two main characters uncover hidden magic and have to work together to protect everything they love and defeat a great enemy.

It features strong world building and a very solid magic system. However, I found the pacing very difficult and struggled to get through it. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and I struggled to empathise with them.

Overall, I thought this was a good book but paled in comparison to Tinderbox.

[Lucinda Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since a book took hold of my senses and I spent the afternoon reading without a care. I'm delighted to say that this book did percisely that.

The second book from the Tales of the Riven Isles is another wonderful twist on the fairy tales of old. The originial tales were things of horror and realness. Yet, in Simpson's world there is hope. What happens after the story ends, people live and work and where evil seeks a way back into the world through the weakness of man.

Harper, our unwilling heroine, agrees to go with Renyard the Fox to steal a mysterious mask. (If you are unfamiliar with the tales of Renyard, don't worry I had to Goolgle and now I have another few books for my reading list) The theft is successful but that as you can imagine is not the end of the adventure.

[Jacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a gorgeous cover that tempts you in right away Harper is a Tarotmancer with the gift of divination tied to her reading of the Tarot cards. Red is the infamous Reynard the fox, shapeshifter, trickster and with a lot of crimes to answer for. When Red is dragged back to the magical Vale to answer for his crimes, Harper is taken there too. But there’s a darkness worming its way into all aspects of the Vale – called the Rot. Harper and Red must fight it if they are to save each other. There’s an intriguing magic system and some interesting twists.

[Taylor Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC COPY OF TAROTMANCER.

Overall I enjoyed the story however I do wish the characters popped off the page a bit more. At some points it felt as if they were doing things for the sake of the plot and not because of thats how the character would reaction. I also felt like some of the action sequences were a little rushed through which inhibited the sense of danger and fear for the characters. I enjoyed the magic system/ and the world itself was interesting to step into. Overall was an interesting read and I look forward to more from this author.

[Haley Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im immediately pulled into this world and story. I love the way the author writes, it begs you to get sucked into story. Begging you to stay and see what’ll happen next. If you like any kind of heist-like or fantasy heist like book this is definitely your gem. This is the second book in the series, but you do not have to read the first to get the gist of the second, although I do recommend reading that one too!

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

his book was challenging to get into initially, but I'm pleased I persevered and finished it. The character development was excellent. The magic system was meticulously planned and detailed. The characters were a little hazy, but the more you read, the more you realise. The FMC is strong and straightforward, but the MMC is intense yet convoluted and dark. I wholeheartedly suggest it. The book has an enticing cover that draws you in right away. Harper is a Tarotmancer, and her divination ability is linked to her reading of the Tarot cards. Red is the famed Reynard the Fox, a shapeshifter, trickster, and man of many crimes. When Red is pulled back to the magical Vale to face his misdeeds, Harper is dragged along with him. However, an evil known as the Rot is infiltrating all elements of the Vale. If Harper and Red are to save each other, they must resist it. There is an innovative magic system as well as some unexpected surprises.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided this book as an ARC with the expectation of an unbiased review, which is what I will be giving.

This book was hard to get into at first, but I'm glad I took the time to finish. The character development was wonderful. The magic system was well thought out and described. The people involved were a bit muddled, but the more you read, the more you begin to understand. The FMC is strong and easy to understand, while the MMC is strong, but complicated and dark. I would recommend wholeheartedly.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this story, the characters were likable and the magic was believable. I'm looking forward to reading the first book.