As an editor, (both freelance and under REUTS Publications), I have the wonderful opportunity to see amazing novels during their developmental phase. And I wanted to find a way to share them with all of you as they became available. (I also wanted to find a way to help support the authors that trusted me with their manuscripts.) So think of these posts as my own personal book recommendations, straight from the editor’s desk.

This week, I’m excited to bring you the latest release from REUTS:

Dracian Legacy

By Priya Kanaparti

At seventeen, Ren Pernell knows the meaning of tragedy.

But then, a year after losing her parents, Axel Knight walks through the door and changes everything. Strange creatures start to appear, her best friend suddenly finds her irresistible, and an undeniable, unexplainable bond with Axel threatens to drive her insane. She knows he’s the key. There’s something he’s not sharing, and she’s determined to find out.

Demanding answers, she finally learns the truth: everything she ever believed is an illusion. Caught in a centuries-old blood feud between races she never knew existed, Ren discovers her true destiny. She’s the chosen one, the Echo, preordained to end the bloodshed.

There’s just one catch–in order to save those she loves and a homeland she’s never seen, she’ll have to die.

With the clock running out, she’ll have to navigate a new world of betrayal, lies and deceit. If she can forgive, finding love even in the darkest places, she just might be able to escape the prophecy. But how much is she willing to sacrifice for a cause she didn’t know she was part of? And what will it take for her to be free?

Dracian Legacy is the first in a YA paranormal romance trilogy. Steeped in mystery, action, and steamy love scenes, it follows Ren, a seventeen-year-old girl who’s anything but normal.

A year after losing her parents, she comes face to face with her destiny. She just wasn’t expecting it to be wrapped up in the attractive Axel Knight. But destiny isn’t the only thing riding Axel’s coattails. Strange things are happening: creatures who clearly aren’t human appear; Axel has abilities that can’t be explained and that, apparently, only she sees; and her best friend–Dean–suddenly finds her irresistible after treating her like dirt for the past four years. Confused, Ren struggles to understand, until finally, she stumbles on the truth:

Everything she’s ever believed about herself, her family, and her friends is a lie.

She’s not even human, belonging instead to a race she never knew existed–the Dracians. Now, caught in an age old war between the Dracians and their enemies, she’s forced to make a choice. Accept her destiny as the Echo, the one person who can put a stop to the bloodshed, or lose everyone and everything she cares about. Clearly, it’s not much of a choice. But what will she have to sacrifice to save those she loves?

Kanaparti has created an intriguing new world, meshing it seamlessly with our own. Her characters are complicated, real people, bringing a refreshing quality to the familiar love triangle. Neither male lead is 100% good, or 100% bad, and I actually had a hard time deciding which to root for. (Technically, I was solidly Team Axel after the first read-through, but by the end of Book 2–as yet unreleased–and the revisions to Book 1, I’d switched to Dean.) Ren is a feisty, strong female lead, quick with the snarky comeback and ready to fight for what she loves. Even the supporting cast is well-rounded, hinting at the potential for spin-off books in the future.

But the thing I enjoy most about Kanaparti’s work is her voice. There’s a happiness infused into it, a brightness, even in the heart-wrenching scenes (and trust me, there are quite a few that will have you aching for the characters), that I found to be a complete joy to read. The author’s self-proclaimed motto is “I strongly believe true love conquers all”. That quality definitely rings through, and I highly recommend this book. (And the ones to come. I’ve seen what happens next, and you definitely won’t want to miss it! 😉 )

Dracian Legacy is currently available in digital format (eBook) at all the usual online retailers. The print version (which will contain bonus content–including 2 Deleted Scenes & 3 Alternate POV Scenes) will be available March 11th, 2014. Preorders can be placed through the REUTS Publications website. And if you’d like to connect with Priya, you can find her at these locations: Website | Twitter | Facebook |

**Content Note: This is classed as a YA, but parents should be aware that the content, in my opinion, is appropriate for 16+ years. There’s nothing too explicit, but it does contain swearing, discussions about sex, and steamy make-out sessions that will leave adults looking for a cold shower.**

Echoes of Balance

by Cally Ryanne

For Chloe Moraine, fighting wild bears — and the occasional vampire — is a better pastime than the tediousness of keeping the universe in balance. But balancing is the family business. It comes with being one of the last in the ancient line of Naimei.

So when the impending return of the Original Demons threatens global harmony, Chloe is obligated to help. Even when that means the dull-as-dirt task of following a human girl who “might be involved, maybe,” instead of the thrilling hunt she craves.

With their powerful magic and ancient Ways, Chloe’s family is unconcerned, certain they’ll quickly fix the imbalance while she’s preoccupied with human high school. But when the Ways start to fail, the threat becomes more serious, and the only person that seems to know anything is a debonair vampire with an offer to help.

If Chloe chooses to trust him, and the darker side of the supernatural he represents, she’ll betray her family and risk losing them, and herself, in the process. But if he’s right, he may just be their only chance to stop the return of the Originals and save the world.

Maybe high school won’t be so boring after all.

Echoes of Balance is the first in The Ways Trilogy. Featuring a cast of sarcastic, quick-witted characters, and an interesting twist on the paranormal creatures we all know and love, this YA, urban fantasy debut is fast-paced and fun. It introduces us to Chloe, one the few remaining Naimei (a new race of paranormal creature unique to Cally’s world) who passes her time as a vampire hunter. At least, until a grievous injury to her arm leaves her sidelined and her cousin shows up with sinister news. The Ways (an instrument the Naimei use to predict world events and maintain the balance of the universe) are severely unbalanced, pointing to the catastrophic return of demons that had been banished from the world centuries ago. And they (the Naimei) need Chloe’s help to stop it.

However, what they have in mind isn’t quite what Chloe expects, and instead of being sent on a high-intensity mission, she finds herself in high school, charged with following a human girl who may be involved. Frustrated at being benched yet again, Chloe decides to find her own information on the scenario, leading her to Sam — a young vampire who’s more puppy-dog than anything else; Josef — the debonair vampire who speaks in riddles and mystery; and Ducante — a wise-cracking bar owner and bona fide demon. All while navigating the social landmines of high school.

Cally’s style is smooth, with a simplicity and elegance that allows readers to become engrossed in Chloe’s world, and her storytelling is deceptively straightforward. Like Chloe, readers will find themselves unraveling an intricate web of plot lines and clues, until finally, everything falls into place. Do Chloe and the Naimei figure it out in time to stop the impending demons’ return? You’ll have to read and find out. 😉

And, because today is Black Friday, REUTS has decided to honor the shopping tradition by offering the chance to pre-order Echoes of Balance. The official release date is December 17th, but you can reserve your copy now through the REUTS Publications website. This is exclusive to the REUTS site, so don’t miss out! (Echoes will be available via the regular online channels after 12/17/13). Head on over to the book’s page, check out the first chapter for free and reserve your copy!

You can also learn more about the series and Cally by visiting her website: Ducante Originals.

Cally, it’s been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your book’s journey. I wish you all the success it deserves and look forward to the next installment! 🙂