Giveaway & Book Review: Poisoned Web by Crista McHugh

Poisoned Web
The Deizian Empire
Book Two
by Crista McHugh

Genre: Fantasy Romance /
SF Romance / Paranormal Romance
 Number of pages: 278Cover Artist: Jaycee Delorenzo
at Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs

Our Review:

Admittedly (although I don’t know why), I was prepared to struggle with this book, yet was pleasantly surprised. I felt an immediate camaraderie with the characters, and their story swept me up right away.

In this second book concerning the Deizian Empire, we find that someone may have played a hand in the former Emperor’s death, and there are only two people, however unlikely they may be, who can unravel the mystery. Slave handmaid to the soon-to-be empress Azurha, Izana has knowledge that must remain hidden on pain of death. Modius, son of a powerful official, was banished from the kingdom years before, yet he, too, has specialized knowledge that may solve the mystery.

This is a grand adventure, but my enthusiasm was dulled somewhat midway through by writing that seemed to run out of gas. Emotions and worries became repetitious and hurried, scenes of great peril seemed contrived to fill space. I sense the author was rushed, which is too bad. Nevertheless, everything picked up again toward the end, emotions and terror were well portrayed, and I was left satisfied to have read the story.

Book Description:The fate of the empire hangs on one slave breaking her silence…
 As the Deizian Empire prepares for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus and Azruha, one mystery remains unsolved—the sudden and unexplained death of the former emperor. And as her wedding gift to Titus, Azurha wants to give him answers. She suspects an unknown poison was involved, and her search for the truth enlists two unlikely allies.
 Modius Varro’s thirst for knowledge caused an uproar in Emona three years ago and exiled him to the border town of Madrena. But when Titus falls victim to the same poison, his expertise in medicine becomes essential in solving both the riddle of the former emperor’s death and finding a cure to save the current one. His search leads him to far reaches of the Alpirion realm, to an ancient culture shrouded in secrets, and into the arms of one slave who must break her silence to save the empire.

a Rafflecopter giveaway: $100 Amazon gift card and 20 autographed print copies of the first book in the series, Tangled Web.

About the Author:
Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained. She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends. 

Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she’s had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant. And she’s also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)
Author Contacts:

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