Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Roz MacLaren

Cover reveal for City and Shadow!

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The blurb and cover for City and Shadow has now been finalised!

As always, Ashley of Redbird Designs did a phenomenal job.

The question I’m sure you’re not asking is “Hang on… City and Shadow is the third in the series, right? So how come we’re seeing the cover for it before Fable and Legend?” It’s an excellent question.

If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’ll know that City and Shadow was actually the first in the series and intended to be a standalone novel… So after I mucked up the order and wrote not one, but two, prequels, you can understand some confusion arose. Leading to City and Shadow‘s cover being ready before Fable and Legend‘s.

The blurb

“At first, they tried to co-exist. The Good and their Mirror. The firstborn and the twin that emerged immediately after…”

In a world where every person has a Mirror twin capable of doing only bad things, Quiver is the only one born Mirrorless. Along with his best friend, City, the two must navigate a society ruled by a tyrannical queen and threatened by a dangerous rebel. And, when City’s Mirror escapes from her island prison, a chain of events is set in motion that thrusts Quiver, City and her Mirror into a dangerous struggle for power and survival.

The cover

Ready to find out what happens to Venom and Blaze now they’re all grown up? Venom and Blaze is essentially their origin story – but City and Shadow is when they truly embrace their dark sides.

Venom is now queen and still has spiders and snakes at her command.

Fable, too, is all grown up and makes a major appearance in the story. (I can’t say too much more without giving away some important stuff!)

I know I’m not really allowed to have favourites, but I do have a soft spot for City and Shadow. City is a very special character for me and I hope you love her, Shadow and Quiver as much as I do. I can’t wait for you to meet them all next year!

What 2025 releases are you most excited for?

Grab Venom and Blaze for 99p!

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The Kindle version of Venom and Blaze is on sale this October for .99p!

GET YOUR COPY!

What better way to celebrate the upcoming release of Fable and Legend than an autumn sale? So, if you’ve been eyeing up the first in the series, now’s your chance to snag it at a bargain price.

Here’s a reminder of the blurb:

“During a time when unicorns roamed free and dragons cast shadows across the sun, the wise men and women of the land told stories of a troubled future. The legends whispered of a time when every baby born would be blonde, genial and entirely Good. But straight after it would emerge a baby with black hair, dark eyes – and an entirely different nature. They would be called Mirrors, and nobody would know from whence they came or what to do with them once they arrived.”

Venom wants a normal life where no one can tell her what to do, especially her father, King Viper.

Blaze wants to be free, after all, he has been imprisoned in a dungeon since he was a baby.

Thorn wants to get the girl, which is a shame, because the girl has other things on her mind.

At least one of them is going to be disappointed.

In other news…

I finished my WIP sci-fi novel, set on the Isle of Skye, yesterday. Unlike with most novels, I buried myself straight in edits right away. I usually let my books sit, but somehow I didn’t want to break momentum with this one. There’s a host of characters I think you’ll love, along with a couple of villains.

I have no idea if this will ever see the light of day, but the first step towards future publication is getting it into a place where I’m happy with it.

With the days getting darker, it’s the perfect time for writing and reading. And, if you’re looking to add to your TBR list, let me remind you (again) that Venom and Blaze can be yours on Kindle for .99p!

If you do happen to download and read it, it would mean so much if you could pop a review on Amazon. After 50 reviews, Amazon will then promote Venom and Blaze to others and the effect of this for indie authors is not to be underestimated! Thank you for all your support!

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Why you might find errors in indie authors’ work

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You’re reading the latest novel from a new author, who has either been published by a small indie press or gone down the self-publishing route. You’re enjoying the tale when, shock, horror! You find an error.

Before immediately rushing onto Goodreads or Amazon to leave a scathing review, let’s take a look at why you might find errors in indie authors’ works and what you should do about it.

Why are there occasional errors in books?

The author has a smaller team behind them

They haven’t been published by the Big Five* and they don’t have as many eyes on their books. Does this mean they haven’t spent hours combing through it? No, it does not. It means that, despite their best efforts and the best efforts of their team, a few mistakes slipped through the net.

*However, even books that did have a larger team and even books published by the Big Five have errors in them. Unfortunately, it happens.

What should you do about it?

Speak to the author

Notice I say ‘Speak to the author’, not ‘Immediately write a vitriolic email berating the author’. My recommendation would be to approach the author and ask if they would like to know about some errors you may have found. This is particularly useful if you’ve got your hands on an ARC as it may not be too late to fix those mistakes. However, even if the book is published, it might still be reaching out to the author. They may be able to release a second edition… or even explain away some inconsistencies in the book in the series.

Become an ARC or beta reader

If you have an eye for detail, why not put your skills to use? Indie authors will appreciate you signing up for advanced reading copies and letting them know your thoughts on their work. You could even take it a step further and become a developmental editor.

What errors don’t mean

They definitely don’t mean the author hasn’t spent months on this book, giving their very best to it. And they definitely don’t mean the book necessarily warrants a bad review. As an indie author, I can guarantee you every book I write was given huge amounts of care and attention. I created the very best book I could at the time. Are any of them perfect? No. There are definitely typos I wish I’d caught and little details I missed that should have been changed. But did I give it my level best? Absolutely.

If you really feel occasional errors distract from the storyline, perhaps sticking to books published by the Big Five is the way to go for you.

That being said, I would like to one day put together a list of all the errors my editor and my team caught, especially if they’re funny, and have them as a sort of bloopers roll at the end of a book one day. Or perhaps they could make a blog post in their own right!

What are your thoughts on errors in books? Does it put you off reading?

What to read while you’re waiting for Fable and Legend to be released

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Fable and Legend is due out this autumn – but there’s still time to finish up your summer reads. If you are excited for the second instalment in The Mirrordom Legends, chances are you like dark fantasy – so here are a few books to get stuck into until Fable and Legend comes out!

Powerless by Lauren Roberts.

9/10.

This book was getting so much praise on BookTok and Bookstagram that I had to check it out. If you haven’t already read it, it’s definitely worth picking up. I’m excited to see how the rest of the series develops.

Of Kingdoms and Curses by Amy Woodruff.

10/10.

I received an ARC of this fantastic book, but it’s since been released. I wrote a full review but the short version is this was a thoroughly enjoyable escape into a magical world.

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olsen.

I must admit, I haven’t read this one yet but it’s on my TBR and I found the synopsis rather arresting. I’ll likely write a full review once I do read it.

In The Days Before by Renée Shantel.

10/10.

Once again, I had an ARC of this book and can thoroughly recommend this twisty mystery. It’s due out on 23 October. I’ve written a full review on this amazing novel as well, but I can’t praise it enough.

Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo.

10/10.

I was fortunate enough to receive the entire Foiled Stars trilogy as ARCs. The first two are both available to buy now and the third is due out in September. I really enjoyed the escapism of this series and Jennifer’s writing style very much lends itself to people with busy schedules who still want to progress through their books. I’ve written three full reviews, but I would definitely recommend anyone who likes sci-fi to check them out.

Venom and Blaze by Roz MacLaren.

I was just about to hit publish on the blog when I realised I had forgotten the obvious! Before diving into Fable and Legend it will make sense to check out the first in the series, Venom and Blaze. While The Mirrordom Legends is a series that can make sense with each book read in isolation, each story will weave together to create a complete picture. So I would definitely recommend starting with Venom and Blaze first – as one of the side characters in that story is getting a whole novel dedicated to her adventures in Fable and Legend.

Here’s what another amazing author had to say about my book on Amazon:

“I finished reading in one sitting — both because the book is the perfect length for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and because I was absolutely captivated by the story. I’d intended to start it, to put it down when I went to bed, and pick it up again after work tomorrow. Instead, I devoured it start to finish with only a short break in between for dinner.

I loved everything about this book. The concept of the Mirrors was fantastic. The world-building was simple but well done, so I never once felt bogged down by it. The characters were phenomenal, and the twists! The turns! Every time I thought I knew what was coming, I was wrong. There were so many surprises waiting just over the page that I was almost afraid to turn them!

I NEED more of this series. I need to know what’s going to happen to these characters.

10/10 would forego sleep to finish reading this again!”

As always, if you do read a book, especially by an indie author, I can testify first-hand to how deeply appreciated that will be. So, if you enjoy any of my recommendations, I’d love to hear your thoughts and read your reviews.

Inspiration for Venom and Blaze’s setting

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Venom and Blaze takes place in a fantasy world called Mirrordom. The area is split into distinct regions based on geographical features – such as the Sealands, the Heatherlands and the Cavelands. I thought it would be fun to take a look at the real-life locations that inspired some of the settings in Venom and Blaze.

Mirrordom

It’s never explicitly stated in the books (and it never will be) but Mirrordom, in my head, is Scotland. The range of scenery in Scotland can be dramatically different even over a relatively small region. So I took inspiration from Scotland’s mountains, moorlands, coastal regions and islands to create the setting for my series.

Mirror Island

Mirror Island is a location that won’t be properly developed until the fourth book at the earliest. However, it’s a location that is frequently mentioned in all of the books. It’s the place where all the Mirror babies are banished to. Given the population of the Good, we can determine that Mirror Island must be quite sizeable.

Mirror Island, for me, is based on the Scottish Isle of Skye – large enough to house a generous population of Mirrors and with a varied terrain from beaches, rocky coastlines, mountain ranges, moorlands, bogs and forests.

The Castle

King Viper’s castle is one of the few places not inspired by something Scottish.

Mont Orgueil Castle or Gorey Castle on Jersey CI formed the basis for the Venom’s home. All of the book was written on the Isle of Jersey, so it made sense that some island inspiration crept into the book.

A small section in the novel describes Venom spending many a happy hour reading in the courtyard of the castle and this particular scene was based on an hour or so I spent in castle courtyard basking in the gorgeous sunshine surrounded by very cute lizards and reading on my Kindle.

Are the locations that inspired Venom and Blaze‘s setting similar to how you pictured them in your head? I’d love to hear how you imagined the places.

Venom and Blaze is available now.

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Book review: Of Kingdoms And Curses by Amy Woodruff

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10/10

Thank you so much to MTMC Tours and Amy Woodruff for an ARC of this amazing book. My views are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Of Kingdoms And Curses is a YA fantasy novel and the first in the Blood And Curses series.

Bridget is trapped in a magical realm and has no memory of her human existence. When she enters a tournament to marry the Prince, she hopes she can use this to get back to the human world – and remember who she is.

What I loved…

The characters. Every one was multi-faceted and had their own agenda. From the ones I liked to the ones I hated, they were all beautifully portrayed.

The plot. This is a phenomenal plot that unfolds beautifully.

The love story. Amy has done a fabulous job at creating a deep and touching love story (and I am a self-professed cynic.) I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

What I didn’t love so much…

While I love the way the book got straight into the action, I feel a little bit of world building at the start would have been good to set the scene. There’s a tiny bit of an info-dump in the early chapters that I think could have read more engagingly if they had been woven through at a slower pace. That being said, it didn’t put me off the book and it wasn’t hard-going to get through the early chapters.

Of Kingdoms And Curses has left me itching for more and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It has easily earned a full ten out of ten from me.

Book review: The Lost Empress by Jennifer Ascienzo

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10/10

WARNING: SPOILERS

I didn’t expect to get my hands on the final installment in the Foiled Stars trilogy until it came out – so imagine how thrilled I was when Stag Beetle Books sent me an eARC of The Lost Empress by Jennifer Ascienzo.

I read and reviewed ARCs of both the first and second in the series, so I was itching to see if the third one answered all my questions and wrapped the trilogy up in a satisfying way.

The Lost Empress kicks off with Autumn abducted by a cruel alien and Dante in deep trouble with the Grand Supreme. And those in trouble with the Grand Supreme don’t usually live for very long…

What I loved…

The action. Jennifer did a great job keeping the tension amped up, especially during the early part of the story where Autumn and Armienti are trapped on a frozen planet. When the main character is wandering around an ice world, there’s a danger that the storyline can become quite monotonous (ice, ice, ice, danger, near-death, eventual rescue). However, Jennifer keeps the story tense.

Character development. In this final book, we really see Autumn’s shift from innocent young girl to grown woman. It’s bittersweet but satisfying to watch her make decisions as an empress. We see her learn that tough choices have to be made for the greater good and it’s a sad but necessary fact.

Mr Hiss. Autumn’s pet once again has a starring role and, if you’re like me and hate books where the animals get hurt, I am delighted to report nothing bad happens to Mr Hiss.

The twists. An unexpected reveal regarding Maeve really kept me on my toes and shocked me.

What I didn’t love so much…

I am being ultra-picky with this one! The phrase “the hairs on the back of his/her neck stood at perfect attention” is repeated multiple times throughout the book. I feel variations on that theme would have added variety.

The traitor. The main villain, an alien called Izzo, said that there was a traitor in Dante and Autumn’s palace – but their identity was never revealed. I’m going to re-read again and see if I just completely missed it (not being terribly good at getting subtle hints.) However… I am wondering if this does leave room for another installment in the series – perhaps a sequel?

All in all, even though I do have a few unanswered questions, this was a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. The action and drama was realistic and enjoyable. I particularly love Jennifer’s writing style, which consists of very short chapters. This makes it perfect for reading quickly on the train to work or during a lunch break – and you make progress through the book without realising how far you’ve come.

Thank you very much, Stag Beetle Books, for the eARC. The Lost Empress is out on September 22 and you can keep up with the latest news on Jennifer’s Instagram.

Meet the characters in Venom and Blaze

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Venom and Blaze has been out for over a week. I thought it would be fun to introduce you to the characters and tell you a little about the inspiration for each one. If you haven’t already read the book, this will give you a flavour for who everybody is.

The book is set in a fantasy world where every character is divided into either Good or Mirrors – with the Good being as wholesome as their name suggests and the Mirrors being their twin that is the opposite of good in every way. Where the Good are incapable of killing, lying and stealing, their Mirror is capable of all that and more. In this world, every Mirror is banished upon birth to Mirror Island, where they all live together.

Venom

One of the titular characters in the book is Princess Venom, who lives with her abusive father. When we start the book, Venom is anxious to please her father and, although she is rather lonely and sad, she very much tries to be one of the Good. When she is given an assignment from her father, she is forced to make a decision that ultimately affects the entire world around her.

The inspiration for Venom actually came in a backwards way. I had completed what went on to be the third book in the series, in which Venom is a grown up character. A throwaway remark in that book made me think “I need to explore this a little more and delve into Venom’s backstory.” Venom and Blaze was born!

Favourite quote from Venom: “You’re the worst father in the world. I’ve always wanted to tell you that.”

Blaze

Blaze is a Mirror who has had probably the most traumatic experiences of any of my characters. As part of a cruel experiment, King Viper decided to keep Blaze and four other Mirrors locked up in the dungeons to see if he could ‘tame’ them or turn them Good.

Like Venom, Blaze also makes an appearance in the third book. His initial inspiration was because I wanted a character to challenge Venom, almost as an antagonist for her.

Favourite quote from Blaze: “I was nothing more than a pawn in your twisted chess game.”

The spiders

This book is definitely not suitable if you have arachnophobia! Venom’s main friends are spiders – and she can actually communicate with them!

I particularly wanted to include spiders in the book as I have always felt really affectionate towards them and I really hope that by anthropomorphising them, it might encourage people to, instead of squishing them on sight, pop a glass over them, slide some paper over the hole and gently let them out into the garden.

Thorn

Thorn is a Lawkeeper, one of the law enforcers assigned by the reigning monarch to transfer babies to Mirror Island. Thorn is deliberately painted as quite an insipid character – but is there more to him than meets the eye?

Favourite quote from Thorn: “I had this all under control.” (Did you really, Thorn?)

King Viper

Every good story needs a good villain. King Viper fills that role splendidly. Venom’s father is a cruel and tyrannical ruler – even though he’s meant to be one of the Good. His one aim in life is to increase his power and social standing – and if that means using Venom as a pawn, that’s exactly what he’ll do.

As the villain, Viper definitely gets some of the best lines in the book, so it was a struggle to pick a favourite quote from him. Ultimately, this is the one that won out, simply because he delivers it with such conspicuous sarcasm and unsettling calm.

Favourite quote from Viper: “Do you have any idea how disconcerting it is to awaken from your slumber and find a corpse in your chamber?”

Queen Saffron

Hailing from the Sealands, Queen Saffron is one of the few characters in this book that manages to perfect the balance of being decent and self-serving. It’s a brief association with her that ultimately ends up shaping Venom’s character and causes her to make the choices she does.

The queen has such an air of calm serenity about her, as if she’s always in control. She is the only woman in the series that even King Viper shows a modicum of respect for. Perhaps future chronicles will explore her backstory – because there’s definitely a story to be told there.

Favourite quote from Saffron: “Saying you don’t have a choice is an act of weakness. Because there’s always a choice. Often, we’re just too afraid to make it so we make excuses instead.”

Fable

Fable may not get much of a starring role in this story – but watch out for her in the second book. Fable and Legend is out this autumn.

Like Venom and Blaze, Fable’s original appearance is in the upcoming third novel. However, in both the first and second books I wanted to explore her backstory. Fable is one of The Five, the group of Mirrors imprisoned in the dungeon by King Viper.

While she doesn’t immediately have the leadership skills of Blaze, she does possess a determined spirit.

I don’t have a favourite quote from Fable, but she does elbow Blaze hard in the ribs, which takes a certain amount of courage as Blaze is rather fierce!

Have you ordered your copy of Venom and Blaze? If not, you can do so here. And, when you do, come back and tell me which character is your favourite!