 | What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries… In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist. Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death. The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead. |
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release date: August 10, 2021
Release date: August 10, 2021
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
Her world is about the change...
OK, I'll admit it. I never thought in a million years that I would ever read a book with the undead. Zombies. Whatever you want to call them, I had no intention of picking up any book with them anywhere in the plotline. And honestly, I didn't know even know they would make their appearance until they were right there on the page. But, Secrets In The Mist IS a Morgan L. Busse novel after all, and I loved her Ravenwood Saga series, so I braved my way through. You know what? It was a good start to her Skyworld series and a really great read so I don't regret it at all.
So, before you think that Secrets In The Mist is nothing but a bunch of zombies roaming the printed page, it's not, it's also Steampunk fiction! Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I'm new to the world of Steampunk, I've only read one previously, but I couldn't believe how well Morgan L. Busse merged the whole undead theme within a Steampunk world. Seriously, she had to have guts to try this out! But, it worked, and worked very very well!
If there's one thing Morgan L. Busse is good at it's creating fantastical realms that are believable. She is a master at creating worlds and peoples that are familiar and yet completely different from anything we've ever known. Cass, Theo, The Daedalus, all of it, are direct proof of that.
Anyway.... Secrets In The Mist may be aimed at a YA audience but I sincerely enjoyed it as an adult. There is plenty of danger, adventure, mystery, and maybe even the tiniest breath of romance to come. My only real problem with the book? It ended on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the second Skyworld novel to release!!!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Secrets In The Mist by Morgan L. Busse a 4.5 Bark rating.
OK, I'll admit it. I never thought in a million years that I would ever read a book with the undead. Zombies. Whatever you want to call them, I had no intention of picking up any book with them anywhere in the plotline. And honestly, I didn't know even know they would make their appearance until they were right there on the page. But, Secrets In The Mist IS a Morgan L. Busse novel after all, and I loved her Ravenwood Saga series, so I braved my way through. You know what? It was a good start to her Skyworld series and a really great read so I don't regret it at all.
So, before you think that Secrets In The Mist is nothing but a bunch of zombies roaming the printed page, it's not, it's also Steampunk fiction! Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I'm new to the world of Steampunk, I've only read one previously, but I couldn't believe how well Morgan L. Busse merged the whole undead theme within a Steampunk world. Seriously, she had to have guts to try this out! But, it worked, and worked very very well!
If there's one thing Morgan L. Busse is good at it's creating fantastical realms that are believable. She is a master at creating worlds and peoples that are familiar and yet completely different from anything we've ever known. Cass, Theo, The Daedalus, all of it, are direct proof of that.
Anyway.... Secrets In The Mist may be aimed at a YA audience but I sincerely enjoyed it as an adult. There is plenty of danger, adventure, mystery, and maybe even the tiniest breath of romance to come. My only real problem with the book? It ended on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the second Skyworld novel to release!!!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Secrets In The Mist by Morgan L. Busse a 4.5 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Morgan
I’m afraid to fly. At first, I tried to ignore it. Then the panic attacks came. And the one time I accidentally grabbed my neighbor’s arm during turbulence, which was really embarrassing. But it was when I was waiting for my flight at the airport and felt like I was going to burst into tears right there at the gate that I knew I needed help.
I didn’t want to stop flying. I love traveling! But the fear of plummeting to the ground scared me, so I talked to my doctor and was given medicine to help me calm down. The problem is it made me really groggy. But hey, at least I could fly again.
I didn’t want to stop flying. I love traveling! But the fear of plummeting to the ground scared me, so I talked to my doctor and was given medicine to help me calm down. The problem is it made me really groggy. But hey, at least I could fly again.
 | Then I started writing Secrets in the Mist. Half of this book is about flying and one third is hang gliding. You know, flying with just a kite on your back. To write realistically about hang gliding, I started studying the sport. I read all the articles I could find, watched a lot of YouTube videos, and in the end spent over 10 hours immersing myself in the sky. |
As I first imagined, then wrote each scene in Secrets in the Mist, something started to happen. I started to lose my fear of flying. It wasn’t the first time I tried to read the science behind flight to help me lose my fear of flying, but this time, I was doing it in my head. I was feeling the air and wind, tilting my glider, catching the air drafts, and not just understanding how to fly in my mind, but also with my heart.
| I realized a plane couldn’t fall out of the sky just like my character couldn’t fall out of the sky. That an experienced flyer understood what to do in storms and sudden gusts of wind. And should the plane actually lose its engines, the pilot would help it glide to the ground the same way my gliders eased their way to a landing. Not only that, by creating the exhilarating feelings my character felt when she was gliding began to seep into my psyche. I felt her joy and freedom, her lack of fear, and even more, how she felt more connected to God when it was just her, the wind, and the sky. I saw the beauty of flying through my character’s eyes. |  |
I can fly now. Without medication. I actually enjoy the takeoffs and the feeling of the plane gliding through the air. Will I try hang gliding someday? Probably not, I still hate heights. But I never dreamed that writing about flying would help me overcome my fear of it. This is the power of imagination, and the power of story.
 Morgan L. Busse | Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize package of
Steampunk themed basket that includes a signed book, coffee by barnies,
a soy candle (so it should be safe for everyone), and a $20 B&N gift card!!
Steampunk themed basket that includes a signed book, coffee by barnies,
a soy candle (so it should be safe for everyone), and a $20 B&N gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31
Texas Book-aholic, September 1
Wishful Endings, September 2
Inklings and notions, September 2
Remembrancy, September 3
For Him and My Family, September 3
deb’s Book Review, September 4
Blogging With Carol, September 4
The Christian Fiction Girl, September 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 5
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 6
Mia Reads, September 6
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 7
Rebecca Tews, September 7
Aryn The Libraryan 📚, September 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, September 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 9
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, September 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 11
Mary Hake, September 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12
Simple Harvest Reads, September 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Through the fire blogs, September 13
Daysong Reflections, September 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31
Texas Book-aholic, September 1
Wishful Endings, September 2
Inklings and notions, September 2
Remembrancy, September 3
For Him and My Family, September 3
deb’s Book Review, September 4
Blogging With Carol, September 4
The Christian Fiction Girl, September 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 5
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 6
Mia Reads, September 6
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 7
Rebecca Tews, September 7
Aryn The Libraryan 📚, September 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, September 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 9
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, September 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 11
Mary Hake, September 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12
Simple Harvest Reads, September 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Through the fire blogs, September 13
Daysong Reflections, September 13
