Today we’re excited to participate in the Bookstagram & Creative Tour for Amulet of Wishes by Rita A. Rubin hosted by MTMC Tours. It’s the first book in the Chronicles of the Guardians and it was published on April 28th, 2021!
Amulet of Wishes was such a fun read I’m pleased to share with you my thoughts below + an apple pie recipe inspired by Amulet of Wishes. And make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how to win an ebook copy of Amulet of Wishes with an included bonus scene titled Erica & Alexander!
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Amulet of Wishes by Rita A. Rubin
Series: Chronicles of the Guardians #1
on October 30, 2021
Genres: Fantasy, YA
Pages: 340
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon|Book Depository
Source: Author, MTMC Tours
I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Guardians are the protectors of Aloseria. They are the keepers of the peace and have the unique ability to transform into creatures that have been extinct for many years-dragons. Derek Draco is one of them. Haunted by memories of his past, Derek finds a piece of a mythical amulet, said to hold the power to grant wishes once all three pieces are brought together. Seeing an opportunity to undo his past and bring back his parents, Derek sets out on a journey to find the amulet. However, Derek is unaware of the true power of the amulet and using it to fulfill his seemingly innocent wish could have disastrous consequences.
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Why you need to read Amulet of Wishes
“All of Derek’s thoughts up until now had been about Milrath’s amulet and finding the next two pieces. He thought about how he would use the amulet to change hist past, for his parents to have never been murdered on that night nine years ago. For him to have never been adopted by the Mayor of Windfell. To just be able to live his life as if neither of those horrors had ever happened to him.”
Amulet of Wishes was a fantastic adventure! It introduces us to a world where magic, shape-shifting dragons & wood elves exist. This story is focused on our young hero, Derek, whose family was brutally murdered right before his eyes and managed to escape, only to soon after be adopted by the town’s Mayor and later on by a Guardian of the Kingdom of Aloseria. Derek’s parents warned him as a child to never become a Guardian, but after being orphaned, he decided to pursue this lifelong dream since he wanted to become stronger and be able to defend himself. However, he soon discovers that the mythical tale of the Amulet of Wishes is in fact real, and after collecting the first piece, he dreams about the possibility of fixing the wrongs of his past, including the murder if his parents.
“Magic was everywhere. It was in the air, the water and the leaves that fell from their branches and onto the ground.”
This story is full of magic and quests, but at its core, it’s a story about loss and other life horrors. Derek goes through so much in his young life and that made my heart break. He saw his parents get murdered. He was forced to live in an abusive home. And after he gets adopted by a person that genuinely cares about him, he still has to face the struggles of living in a society where wood elves are distrusted. Whispers and stares follow every step he takes, but his dream of being a Guardian is what makes Derek push through it all. Not to mention that he has the support of his best friend Jared, Prince of Aloseria, and Arabelle.
However, once the hunt for the last two pieces of the Amulet of Wishes begins, the story moves on in a whirlwind of danger and adventure. Fights against ogres and daemons, many near-death experiences, but the stakes are even higher once it is time for Derek to use the amulet. This book is an exciting page-turner, that even the epilogue will leave you holding your breath until the next installment. Definitely pick it up if you are looking for an immersive fantasy with great friendships, magical creatures and artifacts!
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Apple Pie Recipe based on Amulet of Wishes!
In the beginning of Amulet of Wishes, Derek’s family was in high spirits because they had sold well their home-grown produce and celebrated that night with a wonderful feast, which included an Apple pie. It was early autumn and the last good memory Derek has before everything changes. I felt like it would be a nice tribute to share an Apple Pie recipe, and if I ever had the chance to meet Derek, I would serve him a big slice! 🙂
INGREDIENTS:
Crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
5.3 oz salted butter cut into small squares
1 oz vegetable shortening
3 tbsp light brown sugar
6 tbsp cold water
Filling:
3 big apples
1 tbsp Lemon juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Apple juice reduction
Apple Juice Reduction:
11.32 oz Apple juice (any sweetened favorite brand)
2 tbsp Cornstarch
2 tbsp light brown sugar
Directions:
For the crust, place the flour, sugar, shortening and butter in a bowl and combine them until they have a crumbly texture. Add the water and knead just enough to form a ball of dough. Wrap the dough in plastic and store in the freezer until needed.
For the apple juice reduction, place a saucepan with the juice, sugar and cornstarch in low heat. Stir very quickly to dissolve the cornstarch then let it simmer for about 5 minutes or until it thickens. It should be about a cup.
For the filling, wash the apples very well and cut the apples into cubes, place them into a clean bowl and toss them around along with the lemon juice, the apple juice reduction, and the cinnamon. Reserve.
To prepare the pie for baking, roll out the crust dough (about 1/4 inch thick) into the 8 inch baking pie plate, poke the crust several times with a fork, arrange the apple pie filling and use the leftover crust for decorations. Brush the pie with egg wash for a golden effect and sprinkle with sugar if desired. Place in the oven (preheated to 180°C/350°F) for 1-1.5 hours (depends on oven).
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INTL Tour-wide Instagram Giveaway!
Head over to my Instagram account to enter the tour giveaway where THREE lucky readers will win an ebook copy of Amulet of Wishes with an included bonus scene titled Erica & Alexander!
Ends on February 19th, 2022. Winners will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.
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Tour Schedule:
February 7
@paperfury – Bookstagram & Book Blog
February 8
@starless.reader – Bookstagram
February 9
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram & Book Blog
February 10
@eternaldelicacy – Bookstagram
February 11
@ozbooksnail – Bookstagram & Book Blog
February 12
@tinybooknest – Bookstagram
February 13
@lilareads_ – Bookstagram & Book Blog
February 14
@rochreads – Bookstagram
February 15
@fatimaa.zainab_ – Bookstagram & Book Blog
February 16
@beingkris – Bookstagram
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Hosted by:
About Rita A. Rubin
Australian born, Rita was raised on the farms outside of Melbourne and grew up surrounded by wide open spaces, tractors and lettuce aplenty.
For as long as she can remember, Rita has always loved to make up stories. Her first literary work was an Avatar: The Last Airbender fanfiction when she was 11. Now Rita spends a lot of her writing time working on her YA fantasy series, Chronicles of the Guardians.
Apart from writing and reading, Rita’s interests include drawing, video games and pop culture. She is also the proud owner of a fat house cat named Bella, a spoilt dog named Sadie and Angel the goldfish.
Thank you for the wonderful post, loved your review. ❤️✨ And I might be a bit biased, but that apple pie inspired by Amulet of Wishes looks delicious!