Queen of Blades Release

Release of Realm of Hope’s Sequel

Excited to finally announce the release of Realm of Hope’s sequel, Queen of Blades! It was released back in February and I’m beyond thrilled with the feedback from early reviewers!

I know it’s been a longer time than expected in between releases of Realm of Hope and its sequel. Apologies for the wait! It’s been a struggle the past few years balancing personal life changes along with getting a new but absolutely amazing editor and having to get her up to speed on everything! There were many drafts and rounds of revisions that went into this sequel and getting it to be the best it can be! I hope for some of you at least, it was worth the wait!

Some early reviews:

“Oh my gods, E. L. li has done it again! I loved this sequel so much! we got to watch the team grow and face challenges together. skye is learning to become human and oh i wish i could give her a hug, she needs so many cookies and warm tea. if you are a lover of kingdom hearts, i urge you to give this series a read. it reminds me of the game and i listened to the soundtracks from the series while reading (which is the move honestly it really fits the vibe). Thank you so much for letting me be an arc reader for you! I can’t wait for book 3!!!”

“The world-building? Next-Level. The Character arcs? Chef’s kiss. I was already obsessed, but now i’m officially unwell over this series. The team dynamic was also top-tier and the other characters got some great development which made every moment shine even more. and that ending??? Diabolical.”

“E.L Li has upped her game with Queen of Blades. I was a fan of the first book, but this one had me committed. Realm of Hope perfectly sets up Queen of Blades, and Li expertly captures how her characters feel as young adults with the burden of the world on their shoulders. Li knows how to create a shocking plot twist and heart-rending flashbacks, slowly revealing her plot and building tension to an epic final battle. this was an absolute rollercoaster.”

BLURB:

In the pursuit of doing good, they must sacrifice some of the good in themselves.

After their deadly encounter at the Typhon’s Base, Skye and her team are left with more questions than answers. Now ranked among the elite within the Agency, they’re thrust back into the chaos of a world in peril. Rogue Cerberus members and terrifying new Risen threaten the fragile balance of the Realm.

To uncover the truth and halt the Typhons’ destructive plans, Star Strike must venture into the treacherous Labyrinth. As battles rage and secrets come to light, the young Agents face new foes, forge unexpected alliances, and grapple with the cost of their mission.

With the Realm’s survival at stake, the team must confront their greatest fears and darkest truths. The war between Mortals grows ever more desperate, and the clock is ticking.

Queen of Blades, the electrifying sequel to Realm of Hope, cranks up the action, drama, and stakes in a battle for the fate of the Realm. Packed with epic fights, unforgettable characters, and jaw-dropping twists, it’s a must-read for fans of video games, Dungeons & Dragons, and adrenaline-fueled fantasy adventures. Don’t miss this next chapter in the fight against darkness!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPJLWCWK

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/queen-of-blades-e-l-li/1146891663?ean=9798341869066

Updates and Realm of Hope's Sequel

It’s been over a year since Realm of Hope’s release. And since then, I have met all of my sales goals and hit 11K followers on Tiktok and 2.8K followers on Instagram. I’ve also sold out of signed copies several times and keep seeing plenty post about Realm of Hope. I’ve also had my book sold at a local bookstore that I will talk about more in a later blog post.

Read more

Get Realm of Hope's E-Book for 99 Cents!

Realm of Hope E-Book Edition Is On Sale For 99 Cents!

It’s My Birthday!

Yep! My birthday is on the 24th of April and to celebrate, I’ll be having Realm of Hope’s E-Book version on sale for $0.99 until the 25th!

So, go get your books!

Need a refresher on what Realm of Hope is about? Here’s the blurb!

Blurb

Darkness is rising...

Gripping and action-filled, Realm of Hope is an epic science-fantasy tale with magic, supernatural powers, superheroes, and a large and diverse cast, perfect for fans of Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kingdom Hearts, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For the first time in several millennia, nations set aside their differences. Only an interplanetary level threat could simmer down any tensions between leaders. Peace has never been eternal. Throughout the Mortal Realm, powerful bloodlines, clans, and royal families stepped up to save their worlds from the brink of destruction. Past heroes had plenty of living descendants with exclusive powers.

Annually, mortals aged five to six take an examination to determine if they’d possess inherent capabilities, such as heat immunity or the ability to travel at the speed of light, which would grant them the privilege of becoming trained Agents. Lumière Inc. placed those with potential into teams, training them for more than a decade.


Agents were symbols of hope. Decades passed, however, and cynicism rose. Morale needed a boost. Dream Teams formed. With bloodshed and shattered dreams recorded throughout history, they can only hope their fates won’t face inevitable doom. In the pursuit of tracking down the root cause of the rising everlasting darkness, our heroes must not lose sight of themselves.

Realm of Hope is the first book in the thrilling science-fantasy trilogy and sets up the Celestial Legacies Universe. E.L.Li’s debut novel depicts modern themes of dealing with loss, harsh realities, self-doubt, acceptance, rising up to pressure, and expecting the unexpected. Expect brutality, danger, and revelations in the fight for a cause that may be lost.


Interested? Check out the link to buy!


Link To Amazon Page

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QKFBS52

Indie Book I Recommend: Snowborn

Snowborn, A Mystical Sci-Fi/Fantasy Tale

Hello! It’s been a while!

Recently, I’ve been reading almost entirely indie books! As an indie author myself, I love to support fellow indies! There’s a lot of freedom we have, and it’s always amazing to see the range in creativity and talent!

As a Sci-Fi/Fantasy author myself, I was pleased to come across the book in the same genre! I was fortunate enough to receive a free copy of Snowborn in exchange for an honest review!

Such a pretty cover!

The blurb:

A millennium has passed since the small world of Incari was struck by a meteor known as the Kutsal Stone. In the celestial object's wake, two powerful inhabitants of another realm—beings of light and creatures of shadow—ravaged the land with war until they were ultimately banished. Time distorted tales of these god-like creatures into myth and legend, but Princess Elurra quickly finds there is legitimacy amongst the lore. After her parents' deaths pave the way for her exiled aunt to claim the throne, she finds herself desperate and on the run. Elurra must uncover the truth about magic and untwist the legends of old in order to protect the future of her homeland and thwart her aunt's malicious plots. Mysterious visions lead Elurra and her unlikely allies down a path to the truth; however, they find the conflicts of the past may be impossible to repair before they rip Incari apart

Sounds amazing, right?

The Worldbuilding & Magic System

I’m a sucker for worldbuilding and lore! It’s very rich and immersive. The world feels like something you want to be in and live through and you definitely get to see that through the lens of the characters we follow. There’s plenty of depth and you can tell the author put a lot of heart and soul into crafting this world!

The magic system really stood out to me. I’m a sucker for magic systems and spells and elemental abilities! It was well-thought-out and not difficult to follow! Sometimes with Fantasy, you might run into some weird inconsistencies or things that don’t line up, but I never found any issue with it! Creatures, cool spells, and other entities of the supernatural were well presented as well! I loved visualizing how all of it was happening in the book. Again, love the sci-fi aspect to it!

Plot & Characters

We follow Elurra and Terrin regain the throne from the main antagonist - Elurra’s aunt. The plot is well done and you are kept on your toes. The book itself is on the longer side, but the author is able to keep the readers engaged all throughout!

I’m a sucker for characters. That’s the thing that I care the most about when it comes to stories. The characters are likeable and well-developed. You really feel for Elurra and her struggles and are invested in her journey to achieve her goals. Terrin is also likeable and he also has a strong arc! The characters are all fleshed out with their motivations and backstories, including the main antagonist! I’m glad multiple common tropes were subverted and done well!

Overall Thoughts

I am very much excited for the next book in the series, which is coming out later this year! This is a series to invest your time into and I highly recommend this book! I gave it five stars, and you should definitely check it out!

Link to buy:

https://www.amazon.com/Snowborn-Larema-Dixon/dp/B08KHGDWTW

This is E.L. Li, and I’m still writing what I want to read!

Pre-Order Realm of Hope (Paperback Edition)

It’s here, guys! You can now pre-order the paperback version of Realm of Hope through Barnes and Noble! If you like Percy Jackson, MCU, or ATLA, then this is the book for you!

What the full cover looks like

Link to Pre-order:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/realm-of-hope-el-li/1140900924?ean=9798985540109

Blurb:

E.L. Li's debut novel and first installment of the Realm of Hope Trilogy sets up the Celestial Legacies Universe. For the first time in several millennia, nations set aside their differences. Only an interplanetary level threat could simmer down any tensions between leaders. Peace has never been eternal. Throughout the Mortal Realm, powerful bloodlines, clans, and royal families stepped up to save their worlds from the brink of destruction. Past heroes had plenty of living descendants with exclusive powers. Annually, mortals aged five to six take an examination to determine if they’d possess inherent capabilities, such as heat immunity or the ability to travel at the speed of light, which would grant them the privilege of becoming trained Agents. Lumière Inc. placed those with potential into teams, training them for more than a decade. Agents were symbols of hope. Decades passed, however, and cynicism rose. Morale needed a boost. Dream Teams formed, one being: Skye, Shadow, and Zephyr’s. With bloodshed and shattered dreams recorded throughout history, they can only hope their fates won’t face inevitable doom. First step in saving the Realm: track down the root cause of the rising everlasting darkness.

Content Warning: Graphic violence, death, suicide, depictions of PTSD & gore.

If you would like to pre-order the E-Book, you can do so via Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QKFBS52

This is E.L.Li, and I am still writing what I want to read!

Debut Novel Cover and Title Reveal!

It’s finally here! My debut novel’s title and cover reveal! This is Realm of Hope, the first installment in the Realm of Hope Trilogy and the first book in the Celestial Legacies Universe! Special thanks to Miblart for the best cover ever!

Blurb:

For the first time in several millennia, nations set aside their differences. Only an interplanetary level threat could simmer down any tensions between leaders. Peace has never been eternal. Throughout the Mortal Realm, powerful bloodlines, clans, and royal families stepped up to save their worlds from the brink of destruction. Past heroes had plenty of living descendants with exclusive powers.
Annually, mortals aged five to six take an examination to determine if they’d possess inherent capabilities, such as heat immunity or the ability to travel at the speed of light, which would grant them the privilege of becoming trained Agents. Lumière Inc. placed those with potential into teams, training them for more than a decade.
Agents were symbols of hope. Decades passed, however, and cynicism rose. Morale needed a boost. Dream Teams formed, one being: Skye, Shadow, and Zephyr’s. With bloodshed and shattered dreams recorded throughout history, they can only hope their fates won’t face inevitable doom. First step in saving the Realm: track down the root cause of the rising everlasting darkness.

Release Date: 2/8/2022

Pre-order page coming soon!

Stay tuned for more updates!

This is E.L. Li and I’m writing what I want to read!

Writing 101: Ways to Strengthen Your Writing

Like many writers, I did not go to school for creative writing. A lot of tips and tricks and rules were learned on my own through random writing videos on Youtube, things I hear from other writers, books, etc. I’ve written for as long as I could remember and am on my way to publishing my debut novel hopefully by the end of the year.

I’ve made countless mistakes throughout my experiences and here are some tips I've picked up to improve my writing:

Read more

Recommended Reads: April Edition →

I’m a writer and as a writer, my standards tend to be higher than the average person. I can understand and analyze what works and doesn’t work and what is done well. However, writing is a form of art, and certain aspects of art are considered objective while others are subjective.

I’ve been a reader for as long as I could read. However, the books that I tend to read the most are within Young Adult and Fantasy or Sci-Fi. I’m not the biggest fan of most New Adult, and the only true distinction I’ve seen between YA and NA are the ages of the protagonists and/or more explicitly violent or raunchy scenes. Usually, the latter is done in a way I find to be cringe.

Moving on, I would like to start off with books that I believe are objectively and subjectively done well and that is exactly why I’m recommending them.

Read more