Armchair BEA 2013: Introduction

To learn more about Armchair BEA, visit HERE.
This is the second year that I've participated in Armchair BEA, and I'm very excited about it. In fact, I'm currently sitting in a hotel room, taking time from my vacation to write this post. Truth be told, this is the only thing keeping me from dying of jealousy of the bloggers that are actually going to BEA this year. I've gotten more than a few invitation to some publishers' blogger parties, and each one has made me die a little inside because I WANT TO GO! But I digress. I think I should get on to my introduction questions.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

*waves* I'm Kayla, and I am very happy to meet you. I've had Bibliophilia, Please since June 2011, but I didn't really start using it consistently until December 2011. I got into blogging because I needed another outlet to profess my love of Kevin Hearne, and my personal life blog wasn't really the place for it. I haven't reviewed one of his books on here in ages, but I try to bring him up at least once a week here. So if you think you'll be sticking around for a while, brace yourself for the Kevin Hearne fangirliness. I even have Will here with me now, who I met through Kevin Hearne fandom. Aren't we just adorkable?

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?

Blog Tour (Review): The Forever Knight by John Marco

Title: The Forever Knight (Bronze Knight #4)
Author: John Marco
Publisher: DAW Hardcover (Penguin)
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Acquired Via: Author via TLC Book Tours
Lukien was once the Bronze Knight of Liiria, close companion and champion to King Akeela, and commander of his king’s Royal Chargers. Tall, golden-haired, and handsome as a god, he never knew defeat, and was beloved by the people he protected. But that had been long ago: before he betrayed his king and closest friend by falling in love with the one woman who was forbidden to him—the king’s wife, Cassandra. This illicit love tore apart the foundations of Lukien’s world, causing war, madness, and death. But it also opened Lukien’s eyes to a force previously unknown to him—the power of magic.

In his ill-fated attempts to save his dying love, his now-mad king, and his fragmenting country, Lukien discovered a hidden fortress deep in the southern desert. In this fortress, called Grimhold, all who lived were protected by Akari—spirits of long-dead magicians. The magic the Akari imparted was unique to each person: a hunchback was gifted with the strength of ten men, an albino boy with the ability to vanish, a blind girl could see through the eyes of her Akari spirit patron. But ultimately even this remarkable discovery could not save his country, his king, or his love.

Now Lukien was a broken man, held together only by his own Akari spirit protector, a long-dead magician named Malator, who resided in the magical Sword of Angels that Lukien wore. War-weary and brokenhearted, Lukien wished only for the release of death, which he believed would reunite him with his beloved Cassandra. Instead he was given a new commission: to protect the occupants of Grimhold and Jador, the nearby desert city. And Malator had given Lukien the one thing he wanted least of all: unending life.

But though the world still teemed with war, Grimhold and Jador were unchallenged, and thus did not need protection. Why would the Akari grant immortality to a man with no cause?

My Review

You may want to step over there while I gush about this book, but don't run away. I know what you may be thinking - it's the fourth book in a series. I haven't read the others either, but the instances where that was a minute issue were very rare. The Forever Knight did fine being read alone because Lukien, the main character, is having a new adventure that has almost nothing to do with the previous books in the series. Also, who doesn't love a good epic quest?