I’m very pleased today to welcome The BBNYA 2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour for Donna Morgan’s Ember and Stee! This book made it to the semi-finals, so you know there’s something good going on–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.
BBNYA:
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (18 in 2026) and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official.
Book Details:
Title: Ember and Steel by Donna Morgan
Series: Breitho Chronicles
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Length: 425 pg.
Publication Date: March 9, 2026
About the Book:
The gods are gone. Magic is lost. Vengeance is nigh.
There is death in the north; entire settlements slaughtered in the night by unknown hands. But dead things do not rest. Mages and scholars from across Breitho search for answers, to no avail.
The church clings to a whispered prophecy to bring back the gods and end the horrors in the dark.
But none of them understands what is truly at stake.
In her tiny village, Sarah Brandt has her own problems. She has witnessed her friend’s murder and is now running for her life.
Her frantic escape takes her to a circle of Druid stones, where something ancient and powerful is waiting in the darkness. When she encounters the burning presence within the stones, Sarah’s world changes forever.
Now it isn’t just justice she seeks, but salvation.
Not for herself, but for all humankind.
What is the opening line? Branches whipped my face as I ran, scoring fresh lines of pain across my skin.
What’s a fun fact about the book? I have immortalised my late mother-in-law as one of the characters in the story
What food or drink pairs best with the book? A glass of spiced mead
What music pairs best with the book? There is an official playlist, but Wardruna works fine
Book Links:
Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph
About the Author:
Donna lives in Somerset, England and has a passion for dark fantasy epics and horror. She lives with her husband, son and two incredibly stupid cats. Diagnosed in her forties with Autism Spectrum Disorder, her debut novel aims to bring a realistic representation of autism into a fantasy world. She is also trained to swing a longsword.
Website ~ Bluesky ~ Instagram ~ Twitter
My thanks to The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.
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