Page Princess: RELEASED by Mia Fox

Title: RELEASED

Author: Mia Fox

Publish Date: 04.09.13

Publisher: Evatopia Press

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Steampunk

Recommended for: Young adults (and those of us who think we’re still young)

Grammar/editing: B – a few small errors

Tour Dates: Aug. 17-25, 2013

Tour Organizer: B3 Tours

Received from: Mia Fox (in exchange for an honest review)

Goodreads: Released

Date completed: 08.17.13

Description from the publisher:

The discovery of an ancient bottle unleashes a Genie - and the wrath of the Demon Gypsies chasing her...

When Suzette (“Suki”) is released from her bottle by two teen girls, she is more than a bit surprised that a Genie of her calibre is beholden to two average high school students. After dealing with dignitaries and noblemen, however, she believes this will be a welcome break.

Until she discovers the teens’ hidden powers and that one will come to possess the Amulet of Pollox, a necklace that contains the secrets from some of the greatest minds throughout history. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one who notices. The Amulet draws the attention of the two powerful and vengeful Demon Gypsies who have pursued Suki through time and will stop at nothing to snatch the girls and the Amulet.

Suddenly, Suki is not just helping the girls navigate high school crushes, she’s safeguarding them from danger unlike anything they’ve ever known. To make matters more complicated, she must also fight her attraction to James - her protector through the ages - whose sudden arrival threatens her resolve and her heart.

A time-traveling Genie and her unrequited love...
Demon Gypsies with an insatiable quest for power...
And the teen girls whose existence threatens them all.

This is the world of “Released,” book one of The Romani Realms series by Mia Fox, a Young Adult trilogy featuring elements of paranormal romance and steampunk.

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James reached for a bottle with a beautiful label of scrolling vines adorned by delicate daisies whose petals were starting to fall. My eye traveled to the bottom of the label and I caught my breath in spite of myself. There, the petals had pooled into a lush heap and lying atop them was a woman with alabaster skin, brown hair that fell in waves past her shoulders and almond-shaped eyes of the darkest brown accented with long, black lashes.

“It looks just like you,” James said appreciatively.

Indeed it did, and I wondered immediately about its origins.

“It’s from a little winery in Southern Italy called ‘Muse Winery’,” James explained. “Seems apropos,” he said looking straight at me.

“What do you mean?” I said feeling somewhat put off by his comment. There was no way he could know about me and yet, he seemed to know me through and through. I tapped my finger nervously on the cold, black marble of the bar and he placed his hand over mine. Within an instant of feeling the warmth of his hand over mine, a vision entered my mind of the two of us running through total and complete destruction.

My heart quickened and my instinct was to pull my hand away, but I was drawn to the images playing throughout my mind. I closed my eyes to focus on what danger was associated with James and how it involved me. The moving pictures came fast and I felt the emotions that would someday soon affect James...fear, trust, and an overpowering desire to protect. But why? I was so tuned to his energy that it was impossible to tell if these emotions were his or my own.

Finally, I managed to pull my hand away and gathered by James’ expression it was as if no time at all had passed. He was still looking at me happily, pouring the wine with one hand and now reaching for a napkin with the one that had been covering mine.

“And, this wine just beckons to be paired with chocolate. It has a fruity undertone and I happen to have some dark chocolate passionfruit truffles that I picked up on a whim today.”

I swallowed hard. “Passionfruit?”

“Uh huh. Want to try?”

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I had to grin during the first chapter – honestly Ms. Fox could have been describing my best friend from high school and me! Cheryl Caliguiri had fire red hair and an avant garde style, while I was white-blonde and conservative, yet we were completely inseparable! In this book, it is Samantha who had the fire red hair, and her best friend with the straight blonde hair is Charlotte. That was enough to hook me into this story.

While Sam was browsing through the racks of a local thrift store in search of the perfect dress, Charlotte happened upon a beautiful, blue bottle with filigree details and a butterfly of clear, delicate stones.

Before they even know that they own a Genie’s bottle, the Demon Gypsies have the girls in their sights and Sam is in a scary accident with a car that the demons have set in motion.

Their story is of young adults, senior year crushes, time travel, magic, and tragedy.

This is the first book in a trilogy, so, of course, we are left with questions at the end with hints of what is yet to come, but Ms. Fox has weaved a story of intense dynamics between the characters. This book can stand alone, but why would you want to deny yourself more and more of this unique universe. There is more to be said and you won’t want to miss it. I know I won’t be missing it!

The Romany Realms Trilogy: