Starla by Terrilynn Moore and Quade B. Smith | Book Review ~ 1 Hardback Copy Available ~Guest Post From Authors | #YoungAdult #UrbanFantasy @iReadBookTours
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Book Details
Starla by Terrilynn Moore and Quade B. Smith
Published by Lauren Elite Books on March 2023
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 434
Source: iRead Book Tours"Tonight, Flamme would be free. If they were successful, they would be the first humans in five centuries to see a real, live, fire-breathing dragon."
High school is stressful enough without having to save your town from evil incarnate.
But Starla never really had a choice in the matter.
Starla, an aspiring artist, lives an uneasy life with her mom after the sudden loss of her dad. She seeks refuge at the home of her grandmother, Ma Mère, where she feels safe. As a teenager, Starla begins to demonstrate magical abilities. Among them, she discovers her hands glow with purple light and she can understand the squeaks of her pets.
Her new abilities are no surprise to Ma Mère, who reveals a long-hidden family secret of power and magic. Starla's new abilities have been passed down for generations and were awaked by the shift in power when Hel, an ancient evil being, escaped containment.
Hel and those under its power are determined to gain possession and control over the citizens of East Pine and the magical dimensions concealed there. Starla and her friends refuse to let that happen.
If she hopes to thwart Hel's insatiable quest for power and regain control over it before East Pine and all of the dimensions of existence are destroyed, Starla will have to trust her instincts and find the courage to harness the ancestral magic she was born to wield.
Content Rating: PG + M: Mild profanity; the lead character lives in a mentally and verbally abusive household. Living in an unhealthy household and getting help is a theme in the book.
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Purchase Links for Starla
Amazon-OneLink for all countries BookShop/IndieBound
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My thoughts on Starla
“Starla” by Terrilynn Moore and Quade B Smith is a captivating blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, weaving together the challenges of high school life with an epic fantasy storyline. The book is narrated in the third person, allowing readers to delve into the experiences of its main character, Starla.
The story kicks off with an intriguing premise: Starla, an aspiring artist, lives a tumultuous life following the sudden loss of her father. Seeking refuge at her grandmother Ma Mère’s home, Starla begins to display unusual magical abilities, such as her glowing purple hands and the ability to understand her pets’ squeaks. These newfound powers are not surprising to Ma Mère, who unveils a long-hidden family secret of ancestral power and magic.
The narrative takes a thrilling turn when Hel, an ancient evil being, escapes containment, setting the stage for a classic battle of good versus evil in this coming-of-age tale. Hel and its malevolent followers are determined to seize control over the town of East Pine and the concealed magical dimensions, but Starla and her friends are equally determined to thwart their sinister plans.
The authors excel in creating a vivid and immersive world, bringing both the ordinary and fantastical elements to life. Readers will be drawn into a richly developed universe filled with magic, mythical creatures, and the timeless struggle between darkness and light.
“Starla” is not only a story of magical abilities and epic battles but also a tale of personal growth and self-discovery. Starla must trust her instincts and find the courage to harness the ancestral magic she was born to wield in order to prevent the destruction of East Pine and all the dimensions of existence.
In Conclusion
“Starla” offers a compelling blend of average teen life and an epic fantasy adventure, making it a must-read for those who enjoy tales of magic, bravery, and the eternal battle between good and evil. Moore and Smith have crafted a narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish, making “Starla” a standout addition to the genre.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About Terrilynn Moore and Quade B. Smith
Meet Terrilynn Moore and Quade B. Smith
Terrilynn Moore is a retired police officer who now lives as an artist and storyteller. She expresses her passion through her words and art. The book, Starla, was largely written but not completed until after she reconnected with Quade B Smith after a high school reunion. Quade has prior experience as a co-author of a non-fiction book called, The Bark of the Cony.
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Guest Post from the authors of Starla
The importance of vocabulary and why you consciously incorporated this into the STARLA manuscript
As an author, I want to pique the readers’ interest in the story and at the same time challenge them to learn and use words that add richness to our wonderful English language. I wanted to add a glossary of some of these words so if a reader lacked familiarity with a word, the definition would be close at hand and not take them too far from the story.
I believe with all the distractions and interruptions we experience in our every day lives, there is need for our books to be entertaining and informative. I agree with Jody B. Miller MA, CCC-SLP, who wrote that a robust vocabulary improves all areas of communication-listening, speaking, reading and writing. A healthy vocabulary helps our children be successful in life.
If a person brings up the Meriam Webster online thesaurus and types the word “love,” there are thirty synonyms and other similar words that can express the idea of love. And, there are twenty-seven antonyms to express the opposite of love. It is important to say things in unique and memorable ways. A stunted vocabulary limits a person’s ability to express themselves adequately.
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Purchase Starla online from your local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Links
Amazon-OneLink for all countries
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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Giveaway!
Win a signed hardback copy of STARLA by Terrilynn Moore and Quade B. Smith (one winner) (USA only) (ends Oct 2)
Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Full Tour Schedule:
Sep 5 – Character Madness and Musings – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 5 – China Sorrows – book review
Sep 5 – The Sexy Nerd Revue – book spotlight
Sep 6 – Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – book review / giveaway
Sep 6 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review/ guest post / giveaway
Sep 7 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 7 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review/ giveaway
Sep 8 – Ilovebooksandstuffblog – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 11 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Sep 12 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Sep 13 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review / giveaway
Sep 14 – Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Sep 15 – Diane’s Book Journal – book review / giveaway
Sep 18– The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Sep 19 – Books With a Chance – book review / guest post / giveaway
Sep 20 – I’m Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 21 – Leanne Bookstagram – book review
Sep 22 – Authors on iTours: Let’s Talk Books – book review
Sep 25 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
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Book Title: Starla by Terrilynn Moore and Quade B. Smith
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 434 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Laurel Elite Books
Release date: May 2023
Tour dates: September 5 to September 25, 2023
Content Rating: PG + M: Mild profanity and the lead character lives in a mental and verbally abusive household. The theme of living in an unhealthy household and getting help is a theme in the book.
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Shared on:
Dear Ms. Gina Rae Mitchell:
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our first novel ‘Starla’. Your thoughtful review will help us to make the next book in this series even better!
We very much appreciate your time and effort!
Terrilynn Moore Smith
Quade B Smith
You are most welcome. 🤗