Today we’re excited to participate in the Creative Blog Tour for Secrets of Isoria by Cristina Macari hosted by MTMC Tours. Set in an elite academy for sorcerers filled with magic, romance, betrayals, and jaw-dropping twists and turns. Secrets of Isoria is the first installment in a spellbinding YA Contemporary Fantasy series published on December 13th, 2021.
Now read on below for a book review, a book-inspired recipe plus an International giveaway were you can win a physical copy of Secrets of Isoria!
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Secrets of Isoria by Cristina Macari
Series: Secrets of Isoria #1
on December 13th, 2021
Genres: Fantasy, YA Contemporary
Pages: 375
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon|Book Depository|B&N
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.
Uncovering the past can save the future.
Sixteen-year-old Orion Candor has always felt like an outsider. Concealing her weird, unexplained abilities hasn't been easy, and a near-death experience turns her world upside down. She learns she has elemental powers and must train at an elite academy in Isoria, a hidden country for sorcerers. But dark forces begin to test Orion in ways she couldn’t have imagined.
Fear and treachery haunt Isoria's streets as the country’s most malicious sorcerer, Cyril Obsidian, craves domination. But Orion discovers her late grandmother hid clues leading to a relic that can turn the tide of evil. Determined to solve the mysteries of her past, Orion finds herself on the run from Cyril and entangled in a spy ring with questionable motives—the same spy ring her grandmother once belonged to.
In a world that thrives on deception, Orion must choose her allies carefully. One wrong move and she could lose Isoria’s last chance at freedom—along with her life.
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Why you need to read Secrets of Isoria
Orion has a bit of a rough beginning. She has been sent to live with a family friend she barely knows, her bizarre abilities are out of control and after her near-death experience, Orion will need to adapt to her new reality: magic is real & she’s a sorceress. Hidden in plain sight, she enters Isoria, a breathtakingly beautiful realm home to magical creatures and magical beings. Only the problem is, it’s currently at war with an evil sorcerer, tensions are high and Orion finds herself right in the middle of it.
Wow, what an amazing start to the Secrets of Isoria series! From the small town of Crystal Manor, we get quickly introduced to the realm of Isoria, and let me say it truly sounds like every fantasy lover’s dream place to visit. With the perfect combination of medieval, modern and eclectic fashion, Orion has a lot to see and learn from this new enchanting land. More so since she enrolls to a magical academy to master her abilities.
However, there’s a mystery waiting to be solved and it has everything to do with Orion’s late grandmother. And for that she turns to the help of her friends Julian, Rae and a sulky Alec. Despite these three not getting along, they were eager to help out and I just really enjoyed reading about these characters’ dynamics.
I really cannot wait to see what comes next in the Secrets of Isoria series. I hope to see more about these enchanting land, learn more about its inhabitants, get closer to achieve peace and follow along in Orion’s journey!!
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Secrets of Isoria Inspired Recipe
As part of my creative stop, I created a hot chocolate recipe based on a coffee shop Orion visited with Julian and Rae. The place is called “The Enchanted Mug”, and if I were to ever visit Isoria, this coffeehouse would definitely be on my top priority destinations! I would definitely ask for a Red Nugget Pick-Me-Up, or RNP (for short). It’s basically a chocolate drink with a hint of strawberry and coffee flavors, Orion’s swears it’s delicious and it warms your body like a cozy blanket. However, since I cannot visit Isoria today, I decided to make my own version! So without farther ado, here it is:
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cup of milk
2 tbsp of cocoa powder
2 tbsp of chocolate chips
1 tbsp of instant coffee
1 tbsp of sugar
1 tbsp of strawberry syrup
1/2 tsp of vanilla
cinnamon powder (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
-Place a saucepan on the stove and turn on to medium heat.
-Pour the milk and add all of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips.
-Once it’s simmering, stir in the chocolate chips until dissolved.
-Serve on a warm mug and enjoy!
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INTL Tour-wide Giveaway!
Head over to my Instagram account to enter the tour giveaway where three lucky readers will win a physical copy of Secrets of Isoria!
Ends on December 24th, 2022. Winner will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.
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Tour Schedule!
December 12
@paperfury – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@dreaminginpages – Bookstagram
December 13
@bookspired – Bookstagram & BookTok
@monikasbookblog – Bookstagram
December 14
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@itbeganwiththestars – Bookstagram & BookTok
December 15
@gwendalyn_books_ – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@bookishqueenreads – Bookstagram
December 16
@amordeluna0 – Bookstagram & BookTok
@over.on.my.bookshelf – Bookstagram
December 17
@afaerytalee – Bookstagram & BookTok
@myrelationshipwith – Bookstagram
December 18
@dovireads – Bookstagram & BookTok
@purely_bookish – Bookstagram
December 19
@pavlinamich – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@mels_booksandhooks – Bookstagram
December 20
@rozanne_visagie – Bookstagram & BookTok
@dbookishprincess – Bookstagram
December 21
@heathen_booker – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@mulberryreads – Bookstagram
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About Cristina Macari
Cristina Macari is the author of the young adult contemporary fantasy series, Secrets of Isoria. She grew up in New Jersey and is the proud child of Italian immigrants. She holds a B.S. in History and double minored in Creative Writing and International Business at the Ramapo College of New Jersey. She has always loved the idea of magic hiding in our modern world and gets lost in creating in-depth worlds filled with secrets and danger. She hopes that she can help readers escape the everyday with her writing while entertaining and finding themselves and those they care about in her books. Just like her character, she hopes readers will discover they too have a place in this world. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found horseback riding, spending time in nature, gaming, weightlifting, doing yoga, or playing piano.
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