Category: Jill Williamson

Book Review - Squire Of Truth by Jill Williamson

1/15/2025

Cole Tanniyn, squire to the soon-to-be king, has journeyed far from his days as a stray stable boy in a distant mountain village. Haunted by the echoes of past failures on the battlefield, he seeks solace in music, hoping to find belonging among fellow musicians. His quest leads him to Mistel Wepp, a spirited songstress determined to forge her own path on stage.

For too long, Mistel has been bound by a past of confinement and control. Now on her own, she toils tirelessly to make her mark, but the struggle to earn a living in a world that fails to appreciate her talents proves exhausting. When she connects Cole with the future king and discovers he's a skilled lutist, she sees an opportunity to change her future.

When a heinous crime leaves Mistel’s roommate dead, she turns to Cole for help. Despite his inexperience as an investigator, Cole vows to uncover the truth. Together, they delve into the dark alleys of Armonguard, uncovering a sinister web of secrets and sorcery that threatens the kingdom. As their journey unfolds, their shared love of music catches the attention of the king, who commissions them to compose a song for his upcoming wedding, offering a glimpse of normalcy amid adversity. Can Cole and Mistel prevail against enemies wielding dark magic? Or will they become the next casualties in a deadly game of power?

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Genre: Medieval Fantasy

My Review

Can they uncover the truth before it's too late...

Well, I must admit that Squire Of Truth was a bit of a surprise. Who would have thought of combining a YA-ish fantasy tale with a murder mystery? Well, Jill Williamson as a matter of fact. She, is actually the reason I picked up this first Blood Of Kings: Legends novel as I have enjoyed several of her previous books – some of them set in the same fantasy realm.

I really enjoyed this story from start to finish. Jill Williamson skillfully blended just the right amount of fantasy and magic with mystery and deduction. Her worldbuilding is as vivid and detailed as ever and her characters are quite likable. I must admit that as much as liked Mistel, I loved Cole. His insecurities and attempts to measure up – even when he already has – are so endearing.

The mystery angle is also well done. It is properly set up and the various threads carry all the way through to story. I must admit that I didn't always expect the direction that the solution took them as the characters investigated and it was fun to be surprised a little.

Squire Of Truth was a a very enjoyable read. The pacing and length of the story nicely proportionate and the ending left me wanting to read the next Blood Of Kings: Legends book. I'm just hoping the wait won't be too long...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Squire Of Truth by Jill Williamson a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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Cover Reveal for Magic Hunters by Brad & Jill Williamson

4/28/2022

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It's A Cover Reveal!

I’m thrilled to celebrate with Jill Williamson and her husband Brad on their cover reveal for MAGIC HUNTERS: THE JOURNEY BEGINS, book 1 in their new middle grade fairytale mash-up trilogy.

This cover was a compilation of two talented artists. The character sketch was done by Hannah Prewett, and Emilie Hendryx of @createexploreread used Hannah’s sketch in the cover design.

Hunter, the son of the huntsman who nearly killed Snow White, is tired of the
shame that labels his family. Tricked into making a wish upon a magic mirror, he
accidentally unleashes a curse that banishes magic from the Story Realms.

In order to right this wrong, Hunter sets out to find a wizard who might be able to help.
Along the way he meets Izzy, a girl with no memory. Together, the pair embark upon an
epic quest to restore the magic—and memories—that have been lost. Do Hunter and Izzy have what it takes to bring magic back to the Story Realms? Or is magic is lost forever?

From now until release day on June 23, you can preorder signed paperback copies of MAGIC HUNTERS on Jill’s author website with FREE shipping. On release day (June 23), the free shipping deal ends, and the book will go on sale in the regular places along with the ebook version. For more information, to pre-order the paperback, or to add the book to your Goodreads page, visit jillwilliamson.com/magic-hunters.

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1.
Cry Of The Raven
by Morgan L. Busse

2.
A Curse Of Gems
by Brittany Fichter

(Fairytale Retelling)

3.
Fawkes
by Nadine Brandes

4.
The Story Peddler
by Lindsay A. Franklin

5.
The Vault Between Spaces
by Chawna Schroeder

6.
The Firethorn Crown
by Lea Doue

(Fairytale Retelling)

7.
The Lady And The Wish
by J.M. Stengl

(Fairytale Retelling)

8.
Hidden Current
by Sharon Hinck

9.
DawnKing
by Janalyn Voigt

10.
For Such A Time As This
by Heather L.L. FitzGerald

(Biblical/Fairytale Retelling)

If you enjoy Christian or Clean fantasy I recommend checking out books from the following publishers: Enclave, Bethany House, and Revell. I also recommend authors such as Thomas Locke (Davis Bunn) and Jill Williamson.

Fairytale Retellings from Other Genres

The Piper's Pursuit
by Melanie Dickerson

(Historical)

The Lost Princess
by Lacy Williams

(Romance)

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7th Blogoversary Celebration - Chapter Excerpt from Thirst by Jill Williamson

12/7/2019

3 Comments

The end of the world is only the beginning.

A waterborne disease has contaminated the world’s fresh water, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including the mysterious Hannah, who is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings out the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?

Join some old friends from Glenrock and Jack's Peak in this thrilling first book of the Thirst Duology. Best-selling author Jill Williamson has brought back the breathtaking suspense of the The Safe Lands series in this chilling prequel that will leave readers panting for the next installment.

ISBN-13: 978-0998523064

Excerpt from
Thirst

Chapter One

“First!” I jogged up the split log steps of Deadwood Lodge and yanked on the antler door handle. It didn’t budge.
“This ain’t a race, boy.” Andy Reinhold clumped up the stairs behind me. “What? Is it locked? Shouldn’t be.” Our guide and the owner of Wilderness Way Adventures was a retired US Army Ranger who had become the quintessential mountain man. His hair and beard were so bushy that his eyes, nose, and cheeks were pretty much all you could see of his face.
I cupped my hand against the glass window on the slab door and peered inside. “The lobby is dark.” I shrugged off my pack and let it fall to the planked porch. My shoulders loved the weightless freedom. The twelve-day extreme survival training camp had been awesome, but I was ready to go home.
Reinhold stepped past me and tugged on the handle. “No biggie. I got a key stashed over here.”
While Reinhold approached the aspen tree on the side of the building, I turned back to the yard. The dirt parking lot held four vehicles: Reinhold’s rusty Ford pickup, Mark’s Impala, Antônia’s Prius, and Riggs’s fancy new Range Rover Evoque. No sign of my dad. Bummer. Our group had left our campsite at dawn. I checked my watch. It was 9:40 a.m. now. We were a bit late, if anything, so Dad should be here by now.
If we left soon we’d be home in time for dinner. Mom, knowing we’d be eating vegan meals all this time, had promised to grill steaks tonight. I honestly hadn’t minded the camping food, but I missed me some meat.
Across the grassy clearing, Riggs trudged out of the forest with Jaylee, followed closely by Kimama, Reinhold’s eleven-year-old daughter. Jaylee’s reddish-brown pigtails swung as she walked. She laughed at something Riggs said. The sound carried all the way to where I stood and gnawed at my stomach. Stupid Riggs, anyway. When Wayne had gotten sick, Riggs had jumped in at the last-minute to be our “male leader,” but the dude was only two years older than most of us.
Squeaking hinges diverted my attention from Riggs and Jaylee. Reinhold stepped inside the lodge. I followed. In the lobby, a strong, fishy odor hung on the air.
I wrinkled my nose. “Smells like Chipeta’s been eating salmon.”
Reinhold inhaled deeply. “Don’t know what that smell is, but it ain’t salmon.” He flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. “Power’s out.” He walked to the front desk and snatched up a sheet of paper. He squinted, tilted the paper toward the light from the open front door. His eyes flicked back and forth as he read, eyebrows scrunched. He grunted and his hands fell to his side, the paper crumpling in one fist.
“What’s it say?” I asked.
“Chipeta’s home sick.”
“Must be bad to keep Chipeta home.” Reinhold’s wife, a Ute native, could have led any wilderness adventure on her own. She was one tough lady.
“I’ll give her a call.” Reinhold walked behind the desk and picked up the cordless phone, put it to his ear, then slammed it back in the charger. “Cursed technology. Got a corded phone in my office.” He strode down the hallway, his boots clumping on the hardwood floor.
I went back out to the porch, expecting to see Jaylee and Riggs, but Kimama sat alone on the bottom step. I sank down beside her and stretched out my legs. My hiking boots were dusty from the Colorado mountain trails. “How you doing, Kimama?”
“I just like to give them a moment, you know?” Kimama looked at me and smirked. “It has been twelve days.”
Only a kid like Kimama would think of something like that and not be weirded out. “No worries. Your mom’s not in there. She left a note that said she’s home sick.”
Kimama frowned. “Mama doesn’t get sick.”
I shrugged and looked back out over the grassy yard. Zach, Josh, and Cristobal were crossing the lawn followed closely by Antônia, our female sponsor. A hundred yards behind them, Mark and Erin had just stepped out of the forest. They looked bad. They’d gotten sick a couple days ago—or one of them had gotten sick and given it to the other. For the past few nights we’d been awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of dry heaves.
Maybe they’d caught something from Reinhold’s wife before we left.
Still no sign of Logan. Big surprise. I hoped Riggs hadn’t murdered him and left him for dead.
A horn beeped in the parking lot, making me jump. I stood up, looking for our silver Honda minivan, but there were only the same four vehicles in the lot.
“They’re in his car,” Kimama said.
My stomach slid into my boots as my gaze shifted to the Range Rover. Sure enough, I could see Riggs and Jaylee’s silhouettes in the front seats. Jaylee in the driver’s seat. I slumped back to the step, propped my elbows on my knees, and ran my hands through my greasy hair. I needed a shower.
“You like her, don’t you, Eli?”
I tensed and glanced at Kimama. She looked just like her mom. Tanned skin, round face, dark brown eyes, and black hair twisted into two braids that ran down to her waist. She was giving me that look. The one my sister always gives me when she knows I’m lying. I hadn’t even said anything!
“She doesn’t deserve you,” Kimama said. “Mother says, ‘those who have one foot in the canoe and one foot on the shore are going to fall into the river.’ Jaylee is nuts to chase after Riggs.”
Now it was my turn to question her. “You don’t like Riggs?”
She thought about it. “Mother also says, ‘It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.’ That’s his problem, I think.”
I chuckled, recalling my parents’ discussion about this very topic in regards to Riggs. Mom didn’t trust him. Said he was all talk and no brains. Dad didn’t trust him, either, but he’d argued that Riggs had volunteered to chaperone, and that had said a lot. Dad said we should be thankful for his generosity. I’d stayed quiet, torn, because I knew Riggs had only volunteered because Jaylee had begged him, but if I’d told my parents that, they might not have let me come.
But seriously. Talk about a no-win situation. I’d spent the last twelve days asking myself what Jaylee saw in Rigley Orcutt, which was dumb because the guy was twenty, a college student, rich, and drove that spaceship of a car. He had a trim goatee and a massive tattoo of wings on his shoulder blades that ran down the backs of both arms to his elbows. Plus every girl in my youth group—including my sister—said he was hot.
It was nice to know at least one girl didn’t think Riggs was all that great, even if she was only eleven.
I glanced back to the parking lot, past the Evoque to the road. Where was my dad? My cell phone was dead in my pack, and I couldn’t charge it with the electricity out.
Footsteps on the porch behind us preceded Reinhold’s deep voice. “No answer at home. She must be sleeping it off, whatever it is. Your dad ain’t here yet?”
I shook my head.
Reinhold stepped between us down the five porch steps and turned to offer a hand to his daughter. “Let’s get your pack in the truck so we can take off as soon as their ride shows. I want to get home and see your mama.” Reinhold hoisted Kimama to her feet, and the two set off for the parking lot. He glanced over his shoulder. “Eli, go use my office phone to call your ride.”
I dragged my weary body back inside Deadwood Lodge. It really did reek like rotten fish. The light from the door and front windows lit the hallway enough so that I didn’t run into the walls as I inched my way into the building, but I couldn’t see squat in Reinhold’s office. I fumbled around until my eyes adjusted enough to spot the outline of a desk. I managed to find the phone, and when I lifted the receiver, the dial tone rang in my ear. Weird that the phone got power when nothing else did.
I couldn’t remember Dad’s cell number, so I dialed home. It rang and rang—the answering machine didn’t even pick up. I also tried Lizzie’s cell since it was only one number off from my own. The call went straight to voicemail.
I left a message then stumbled back out to the porch. My gaze scanned the parking lot for the minivan. Still no sign.
Where was my dad?
Something hit the top of my head, fell to my boots, and rattled across the porch. A pinecone. I looked up and took another to the forehead. My best friend Zach peeked out from behind a massive ponderosa, cackled, and pelted me with a few more.
I scooped up the pinecones and returned fire. “You’re just mad ’cause I beat you back, slowpoke.”
Zach blew a raspberry. “First is the worst, man.”
I ran out of ammo. “Oh yeah? What were you, sixth? If first is the worst, what’s sixth?”
“Kimama said seeing six crows brings gold and wealth, so I figure that’s a win.” Zach approached the porch, slung off his pack, and dropped it on the ground. He fell onto the grass beside it, groaning. “No Silver Bullet?”
The Silver Bullet was Zach’s nickname for my parents’ minivan. “Nope.” I yawned. “Man, I want a shower. I feel like I’ve been deep-fried.”
“Mmm. Deep fried. I want some KFC. And some Cold Stone. I’m starving.”
“You’ve clearly wasted away under Reinhold’s cooking,” I said. “I’m surprised you’re still alive.” Reinhold had provided meals of rice, beans, pasta, potatoes, whole-grain breads, nuts, granola, and oats, along with an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. It hadn’t been a good fit for Zach, king of the junk food junkies.
“I need sugar, McShane. White. Granulated. Just a five pound bag and a spoon will do me fine.”
“You’re suffering from withdrawal. You should get into a support group before you go on a binge and hurt yourself.”
It looked like everyone had made it back, finally. My youth group was not comprised of professional hikers. This was my obsession. I had wanted to come here. I had talked my youth pastor into it. I had organized fundraisers and begged people to come along. But then Pastor Wayne had gotten sick, and Riggs had stepped in at the last minute to take his place as chaperone.
And ruined my plans to hike for twelve days with Jaylee Jennings.
Most of the others were lying in the grassy lawn, spread eagle, packs strewn about. From the sound of things, Mark was off in the trees being sick again. Poor guy.
Movement in the distance caught my eye, and I was relieved to see Logan finally dragging his way across the clearing. His face was flushed and his blond afro looked like clown hair, but he’d made it. I was proud of him.
We hung around outside the lodge, waiting for my dad to show. Jaylee and Riggs finally emerged from the Evoque and sat in the grass with the others. Those with vehicles packed up their gear. Reinhold dragged me back to his office so I could try calling home again. Still no answer.
Antônia and Erin left first, the Prius barely making a sound as it rolled away. Antônia hoped to make it back to Phoenix before the Urgent Care closed. Jaylee had ridden up with them, but I guess she’d be coming home with us now. Dad would never let her ride back alone with Riggs. I couldn’t help it. This made me smile.
Mark and my dad had convoyed on the way up, but I couldn’t blame Mark when he, Josh, and Cristobal piled into the Impala and took off. Sick or not, after twelve days in the wilderness, everyone was ready to go home. That left me, Zach, Logan, and Jaylee.
Oh, and Riggs, of course, our so-called male chaperone.
Reinhold got impatient and started a portable generator so I could plug in my iPhone and try my dad’s cell. But when I finally got power, I had no service.
“You had service before. All y’all did!” Reinhold stalked off, muttering to himself about the ills of technology.
Jaylee, Zach, and Logan went inside to try Reinhold’s old-school phone. Now that my iPhone had some power, I wrote down my parents’ cell numbers on a sheet of paper from my journal, just in case I needed them again. When I was done, I joined everyone in Reinhold’s office.
“The power must be out in Phoenix too,” Logan said. “None of us are getting through.”
Jaylee clicked her tongue. “Land lines should still work.”
“Only if they’re corded phones like this one,” Logan said. “Does your apartment have a corded phone?”
Jaylee rolled her eyes and left the office.
I took the receiver from Logan and tried my parents’ cell phones now that I had the numbers. Both went to voicemail without ringing. I pressed my thumb against the reset button. “This is starting to freak me out.”
“If our country was invaded, they’d attack the big cities first and cut the power,” Logan said. “That would hamstring most our population.”
“You know what?” Zach said. “It’s probably aliens.”
“It could be,” Logan said.
“Dude, I was joking.”
“Still, it’s not an impossibility,” Logan said, “though an invading country is more likely.”
I wasn’t in the mood for Logan’s conspiracies, so I headed back outside. Zach and Logan’s footsteps clumped behind me in the hallway, Logan still working his point.
“I’m just saying, we’ve made ourselves vulnerable to infiltration from the inside. There are plenty of sleeper cells living in America, and when they’re ready to attack, they’ll take us by surprise. Boom. Done.”
“Okay, I got you,” Zach said. “But how about you keep that quiet, okay? Reinhold won’t like it if you get Kimama all scared.”
“Good point,” Logan said.
I grinned, amused by Zach’s cleverness and the knowledge that not much in this world could scare a kid like Kimama.
I stepped back onto the porch and squinted in the sunlight. Jaylee was standing beside Riggs, who was doing pushups with both hands on the rail. Show off.
“I can’t get through,” I said. “I just get voicemail on cell numbers, endless ringing on land lines.”
Jaylee looked right at me, fixed her big, brown eyes on mine. “How are you going to get home?”
The question tangled the thoughts in my brain.
“Guess you should have gone with Antônia and Erin,” Logan said. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because I didn’t want to catch whatever Erin has,” Jaylee said, turning her attention to our male sponsor. “And Riggs said I could ride with him.”
My gut churned, and I again searched the driveway for signs of my dad.
“What about the rest of us?” Logan asked.
“Hey, it’s no problem.” Riggs shoved off the railing. “I’ve got belts for five.”
“I call shotgun!” Jaylee said.
No, no, this was not happening. The only reason my dad had taken a day off work to drive us up here was so that we would not be in the car with Rigley Orcutt. I couldn’t very well say that, so instead I tried, “But what if my dad gets here and we’re gone?”
Riggs shrugged. “We’ll probably pass him, but go ahead and leave a note on the door just in case.”
“Seriously? A note?” I couldn’t believe Riggs was being so nonchalant about this. “The man drives seven hours to pick us up and we’re not here?”
“What if something happened to him?” Jaylee said, tugging on one of her pigtails. “What if the van broke down or something like that and he’s stranded?”
“Eli’s dad’s a mechanic,” Logan said. “He could handle it.”
“But he might not have the parts or tools or whatever with him,” Jaylee said.
“Yeah,” Riggs said. “What if he’s miles from anywhere? Has to walk to a gas station and call a tow? By the time he gets the van fixed, we could be to Flagstaff. And if we don’t pass him on the way, you’ll have reception by Flagstaff and can call him and tell him what’s up.”
“I think it’s a great plan,” Jaylee said, beaming.
Sure she did.
“Makes sense,” Reinhold said. “Might as well get on the road while it’s still early. Likely will save time in the long run.”
Great. Now even Reinhold was siding with Riggs. I looked to Zach. At six-foot-one, he was taller than anyone here, Riggs included. I needed him on my side. “What do you think, man?”
Zach met my gaze, and his eye twitched, a sign he was thinking hard about this. “Your dad’s never late. Something must be up. It’s pretty desolate for miles. If we don’t see him, one of our phones is bound to have some bars by Flagstaff.”
Traitor. I was completely outnumbered. “Fine. Let’s go home.”
Jaylee whooped and ran toward the Range Rover. I went back for my pack. I wrote my dad a note, and Reinhold stapled it to the door so it wouldn’t have a chance of blowing away.
“Hey,” he said when we’d finished. “I know this is the last thing you wanted at the end of this trip.”
He was talking about Riggs. There’d been a couple nights up in the mountains where Riggs had gotten on my nerves. I might have vented to Reinhold about it a time or three.
I sighed. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. But if things get hard, remember what I told you. The guy is just a substitute teacher. There’s more to being a leader than telling people what to do.”
“I know.” People actually needed to listen. The sad thing was, no one ever listened to me because I wasn’t a cool, tattooed college student or a six-foot-one athlete. “I guess I’m just worried about my dad,” I added.
“Your dad’s a smart man. I’m sure he’s fine.”
I hoped so.
I said goodbye to Reinhold and Kimama, who reminded me to follow the wolf, whatever that meant. Then we loaded up Riggs’s Evoque. The thing was like an iPhone on wheels. It was candy apple red with a tinted sunroof that covered the whole hood of the car. It had a touchscreen computer console with GPS and internet—internet that couldn’t find a signal either. A pewter skull hung by a string from his rearview mirror. Seemed kind of ominous.
Jaylee sat shotgun—she had called it, after all.
“Jaylee,” I said, following her to the car, “you’re really going to make Zach fold himself into the back?”
She turned a pouty smile on Zach. “Do you mind? Would you rather have the front?”
Say “Yes!” I thought. But Zach just shrugged. “Don’t matter to me.”
Jaylee hugged him. “Thank you!” Then ran off to claim her seat.
Zach caught me glaring his way. “What?” he asked, then a smile stretched across his face. “Oh, I get it.” And he switched to baby talk. “Did I wooen aww your pwans to sit wiff Jaywee?”
“Shut up,” I said.
Honestly, though, I wasn’t sure what bothered me more, that Jaylee wanted to sit by Riggs or that she’d force someone as big as Zach to squish into the back seat for a seven hour drive.
Regardless of my internal conflict, Zach, Logan, and I crammed into the second row. I lost rock-scissors-paper with Logan and had to sit in the middle. Forget Zach. There wasn’t much leg room for any of us back there, but I guessed it beat walking. Riggs put on some music, loud enough that I couldn’t hear what he and Jaylee were saying to one another.
And so we headed for Arizona. The Colorado roads were barren but for road kill. We saw two dead skunks, several squirrels, and three deer. Strangely, we never saw one moving vehicle, even when passing through some small towns, though there were several abandoned cars on the roadside.
It wasn’t that early in the day. Where was everyone?
Logan must have been thinking the same thing, because he said, “What is this, Christmas day?” then guffawed at his own joke.
Logan’s laugh . . . I’m not even kidding . . . it’s loud.
I didn’t find the situation funny. I kept thinking about how the cell phones weren’t working and the power was out and my dad hadn’t showed to pick us up and how, at that moment, Riggs had steered the Evoque into the opposite lane to avoid driving over a dead coyote.
We passed into Arizona and continued to see an unusual amount of road kill. I don’t think we passed a mile without seeing a dead bird, snake, or javelina, which are hairy, wild pigs.
The first place Riggs stopped for gas was closed. The second place was boarded up. Someone had nailed one-by-sixes over the windows and doors. I would’ve guessed the place had been out of business for years except we’d stopped there on the way up.
True to form, Logan was the first to panic. “We’re not going to make it home without gas. What are we going to do? Phoenix is another 400 miles!”
In the rearview mirror, Riggs’s cold blue eyes flashed our way. “Don’t start freaking out, kid. There are more than two gas stations on this highway, I promise you.”
Logan had driven Riggs nuts the past twelve days. Logan can do that to a person. It made me feel a bit better, knowing I wasn’t the most paranoid person in the car, until Riggs said, “Dude, is that your dad’s van?”
My gaze shot out the front as Riggs steered into the oncoming lane and slowed to a stop, nose-to-nose with the Silver Bullet. I shoved Zach toward the door, my pulse skyrocketing.
“Get out of the car, man. Move!”
“I’m going!” Zach climbed out, and I followed, leaving the door open.
The Honda was parked on the gravelly shoulder of the road, northbound. The doors were locked. No sign of my dad. I circled the van, checked all four tires. What was going on?
Logan yelled out Zach’s open door. “Check under the hood, Eli.”
I lifted my hands. “The doors are locked!” I could pop it if I got on the ground under the engine, but I’d need a long screwdriver. And Riggs didn’t have any tools.
“Do you have a spare key?” Riggs asked out the driver’s side window.
“No. And I’m not going to break a window, either, Logan, so don’t suggest it.”
“If you did, I could hotwire it,” Logan said.
“You could not.” Zach slammed the door on Logan’s rebuttal and walked to where I stood between the two vehicles. “What do you want to do, Eli?”
My skin crawled, heat rolling from my stomach to my chest. I read the concern in Zach’s eyes but shrugged it off with a deep breath.
“I don’t know.” I checked my cell phone. “Still no signal.” I squinted out over the endless sagebrush. “Let’s wait a few minutes. He could, uh, could be out taking a leak.”
“Good point.”
But the minutes ticked by, and my dad didn’t show.
“What are we doing, people?” Riggs asked from the car.
“May as well keep moving,” Zach said. “I mean, we didn’t pass him walking.”
I nodded. “Yeah, okay. He probably headed back the other way, to a gas station or something.”
Back at the car, I ripped a sheet of paper out of my journal and wrote my dad another note. I secured it under the driver’s side windshield wiper and hoped he’d see it. Then I climbed back into the Evoque, but it felt wrong, like I was leaving my dad for dead, like I would regret this choice for the rest of my life.
“What’s the plan?” Riggs asked once we were inside. He’d shut off the music, and everything seemed extra quiet inside.
“Keep going,” I said, as if it were no big deal, though I felt sick saying it. “He must have walked south since we didn’t see him on the road.”
“South it is.” Riggs stepped on the gas and steered back into the right lane.
Helpless, I watched the van as we rolled away, craned my neck until it hurt.
“I can so hotwire a car, Eli. Anyone can. It’s not that difficult.”
“Logan,” Zach said. “You’re not helping.”
“But you guys are acting like you don’t believe me, and I—”
“Fine,” I said, fire shooting through me. “You could have hotwired it. But what good would that do us or my dad? He’s probably just up the road. We can’t steal his ride.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s a good point,” Logan said. “But once we find Mr. McShane, he might need my help to get it started. What kind of engine does that Honda have? A four-cylinder?”
I pushed down my desire to throttle Logan, my eyes scanning the road for any sign of my dad. “Six-cylinder.”
“Oh. I think the wires on a six cylinder are on the side, near the center of the engine. I’d have to take a look to be sure.”
I gritted my teeth and glanced at Zach. His lips were curved into a small grin.
I elbowed him and whispered, “Laugh it up, chuckles.”
Riggs slammed on the brakes.
Jaylee screamed.
I jerked my gaze out the front windshield. About ten yards away, a body lay on the side of the road, a red gas can beside it. The sight just about stopped my heart.

Used with permission from author Jill Williamson.

Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson writes fantasy and science fiction for teens and adults. She grew up in Alaska, staying up and reading by the summer daylight that wouldn't go away. This led to a love of books and writing, and her debut novel, By Darkness Hid, won several awards and was named a Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror novel of 2009 by VOYA magazine. She loves giving writing workshops and blogs for teen writers at www.GoTeenWriters.com, which has been named as one of Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers.” She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children.

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Cover Reveal - Thirst by Jill Williamson

9/25/2019

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The end of the world is only the beginning...

A waterborne disease has contaminated the world’s fresh water, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including the mysterious Hannah, who is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings our the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?

Join some old friends from Glenrock and Jack's Peak in this thrilling first book of the Thirst Duology. Best-selling author Jill Williamson has brought back the breathtaking suspense of the The Safe Lands series in this chilling prequel that will leave readers panting for the next installment.

Pre-order

Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and an award-winning fantasy and science fiction author of over twenty books including By Darkness Hid, which won several awards and was named a Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror novel of 2009 by VOYA magazine.

She has also written several books on the craft of writing fiction and teaches writing in person and online on her YouTube channel and at www.GoTeenWriters.com, the latter of which has been named as one of Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers.” She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. To learn more about her novels, visit her online at www.jillwilliamson.com.

#thirstduology #jillwilliamson #coverreveal #coverlove #yabookstagram #ireadya

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Cover Reveal - The Profile Match by Jill Williamson

8/31/2018

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Cover Reveal!

When Spencer Garmond’s friend is kidnapped, the young Mission League agent-in-training decides he’s had enough. Determined to stop the criminals he suspects are responsible, he petitions the Los Angeles Field Office to give him the lead on the case. Now he’s investigating his favorite actress, the movie director who pretended to be his dad, and even his own uncle. Weird much?

As he struggles to find the connections between this unlikely group of suspects, he uncovers a clue that could create a worldwide scandal. When the Field Office steps in, Spencer realizes he’s not really in control of the investigation at all. Can Spencer trust God to bring about justice, or will his need to be in control jeopardize the very people he's trying so hard to protect?

Don’t miss this final installment in the award-winning Mission League series by author Jill Williamson.

Releases October 15, 2018

Pre-Order for only $2.99 during the month of September.

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#jillwillimson #themissionleague

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2016 Favorites (E-Books & Audiobooks)

1/7/2017

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Favorite E-Books & Audiobooks From 2016

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite
e-books and audiobooks read/listened and reviewed in 2016.
You can find all of those reviewed and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2016 Reviews

Fiction

Charity's
Cross

Flower
Swallow

On The Wings
Of A Whisper

Pointe
And Shoot

Policed

Protective
Duty

The Ruby
Locket

The End Of
All Things

Valor's
Vigil

Widow

Audiobooks

The
Gifting

The Tethered
World

The
Unrelenting Tide

Non-Fiction

Giant
Killers

Social Media
Strategies

The Roots Of
Irish Wisdom

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

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E-Book Review - The End Of All Things by Jill Williamson

5/6/2016

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Genre:
Epic Fantasy

The End Of All Things
The Kinsman Chronicles book 1.3
by Jill Williamson

-From Amazon-

With the Five Realms on the brink of total destruction, everyone faces a final mad scramble to find a safe haven. The realm is divided on what should be done. Wilek and Trevn join those who are preparing the realm for a seaward evacuation, but the king stands in their way. Wilek must battle against his own father to try and save the people of Armania.

ASIN: B013EW2TJA

Life as they know it ends...NOW!

Wow, I think The End Of All Things was the best part of the story yet. More excitement, more adventure, more danger, and an epic battle against a god. Sides are chosen, lines are drawn, and time is rapidly running out.

In part 3 Jill Williamson starts drawing the various threads of the story together and I can't wait for the next parts to start releasing.

As the inevitable loss of the Five Realms came closer and closer and things became more desperate I found myself more and more drawn into the story. Even the title, The End Of All Things, has a haunting note to it that captures the imagination.

This E-Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Jill Williamson

Author Website

Fans of epic fantasy with highly detailed worlds, descriptive scenery, widely varied peoples, intricate histories and customs, will find exactly what the are looking for in Jill Williamson's The Kinsman Chronicles.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The End Of All Things by Jill Williamson a 4 Bark rating.

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E-Book Review - The Heir War by Jill Williamson

4/5/2016

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Genre:
Fantasy

The Heir War
The Kinsman Chronicles 1.2
by Jill Williamson

-From Amazon-

With Prince Wilek still searching Armania for a murderer, his brother Prince Trevn finds himself pulled deeper into the dangerous politics of who will be Heir. Trevn, though, is far more interested in his studies with a local priest and the attentions of a young honor maiden.

The book that he has been copying during his lessons is not the book that teaches of the god of the soil. Instead, it teaches of a one true God. If accurate, then it means there is no soil god to satiate. There is nothing they can do to save their world, and all of King Echad's sacrifices have been futile.

ASIN: B013EW2SG4

Intrigue and danger abound...

The epic battle between sons continues and the fate of countries hangs in the balance... Jill Williamson has penned a story with all of the necessary elements for an epic fantasy: a small band of disparate characters on a desperate quest, an angry magic-wielding woman, a prophet, cataclysmic natural disasters...
When I read part 1 I wasn't really sure I liked the characters but in The Heir War I really started to warm up to Sar Trevn, Mielle, and even Sir Kalenek. And of course, some of the new characters like Onika and Grayson.

This Book received a 3.5 Bark rating.

Jill Williamson

Author's Website

But what really impressed me was the sheer detail that Jill Williamson has put into the landscape and customs of the various peoples in this story. On that note I will say that this book is not a kids fantasy, it is definitely aimed more toward older teens and adults. The world of The Kinsman Chronicles is harsh, dangerous and even cruel at times.
I also started to see some Biblical parallels in The Heir War: people doing what is right in their own eyes and following false gods, a prophesied savior, and end-of-the-world events that only few recognize.
If you enjoy epic fantasy with magic and the battle between good and evil you really should check out Jill Williamson's newest book, of which The Heir War is part 2.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Heir War by Jill Williamson a 3.5 Bark rating.

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2015 Favorites (E-Books)

1/3/2016

3 Comments

Favorite E-Books From 2015

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite e-books read or reviewed* in 2015.
They are in not listed in any particular order.
You can find all of those reviewed and many more by visiting our Book Review List page,

Here

The Reckoning*

Paralyzed*

Isle Of Hope*

Texas K-9 Unit Series books 1-3*

Exiles*

Virtues And Valor 7 part serial story*

Love's A Stage*

Queen*

Torn Asunder*

Home Before Dark*

Darkness Reigns*

Wings Of Refuge series

Double Edge

Saltwater Taffie

A Matchmaker In Middlebury

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

3 Comments

E-Book Review - Darkness Reigns by Jill Williamson

11/28/2015

0 Comments

Genre:
Fantasy

Darkness Reigns
The Kinsman Chronicles part 1
by Jill Williamson

-From Amazon-

Part 1 of Jill Williamson's Epic Fantasy Series The Kinsman Chronicles 

The god of the soil is furious. Volcanic eruptions, sinkholes, earthquakes--everything points to his unhappiness. At least this is what the people of Armania in the Five Realms believe.

Amidst the unsettling state of the world around them, the princes of Armania live their lives focused more on who will claim the throne after their sickly father, King Echad, dies. That is until Prince Wilek's concubine turns up dead--beside her, a bloodied message that seems to have come from the

Darkness Reigns is collected together with parts 2 and 3 in King's Folly.

ASIN: B013EW2SV4

Epic fantasy begins...

And so begins Jill Williamson's epic tale of fantasy. Lands are in ruins, natural disasters are terrifying to say they least, mysterious prophecies maybe being fulfilled, and the sons of an aging king vie for his favor in being named Heir. The lives of disparate characters are linked together in known and unknown ways. The lands they live in are harsh and the wills of the various gods are unbending and unmerciful.

This E-Book received a 3.5 Bark rating.

Jill Williamson

Author's Website

Wow, Darkness Reigns was quite a start to the King's Folly tale. It is a fairly short and quick read, short at only around 160 pages, and quick because you really don't want to put it down. This is only the first part in this epic story and I can only imagine what will come next.

I would add that this is more of an adult story, or older teens, versus YA. With more mature themes Darkness Reigns will catch the attention of longtime fantasy fans looking for a new and exciting read.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Darkness Reigns by Jill Williamson a 3.5 Bark rating.

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It's A Cover Reveal!

1.​Cry Of The Ravenby Morgan L. Busse

2.​A Curse Of Gems​by Brittany Fichter

3.​Fawkes​by Nadine Brandes

4.The Story Peddler​by Lindsay A. Franklin

5.The Vault Between Spaces​by Chawna Schroeder

6.The Firethorn Crownby Lea Doue

7.The Lady And The Wishby J.M. Stengl

8.Hidden Currentby Sharon Hinck

9.DawnKingby Janalyn Voigt

10.For Such A Time As Thisby Heather L.L. FitzGerald

The Piper's Pursuitby Melanie Dickerson

The Lost Princessby Lacy Williams

Excerpt from​Thirst

​The end of the world is only the beginning...

Cover Reveal!

Favorite E-Books & Audiobooks From 2016

Fiction

Audiobooks

Non-Fiction

The End Of All ThingsThe Kinsman Chronicles book 1.3by Jill Williamson

The Heir WarThe Kinsman Chronicles 1.2by Jill Williamson

Favorite E-Books From 2015

Darkness ReignsThe Kinsman Chronicles part 1by Jill Williamson

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1.
Cry Of The Raven
by Morgan L. Busse

2.
A Curse Of Gems
by Brittany Fichter

3.
Fawkes
by Nadine Brandes

4.
The Story Peddler
by Lindsay A. Franklin

5.
The Vault Between Spaces
by Chawna Schroeder

6.
The Firethorn Crown
by Lea Doue

7.
The Lady And The Wish
by J.M. Stengl

8.
Hidden Current
by Sharon Hinck

9.
DawnKing
by Janalyn Voigt

10.
For Such A Time As This
by Heather L.L. FitzGerald

The Piper's Pursuit
by Melanie Dickerson

The Lost Princess
by Lacy Williams

Excerpt from
Thirst

The end of the world is only the beginning...

The End Of All Things
The Kinsman Chronicles book 1.3
by Jill Williamson

The Heir War
The Kinsman Chronicles 1.2
by Jill Williamson

Darkness Reigns
The Kinsman Chronicles part 1
by Jill Williamson