Vial of Tears by Cristin Bishara

Release: October 5, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Holiday House
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Two sisters become trapped in the underworld and in the scheme of deities, shapeshifters, and ghouls–in this lush and dangerous Phoenician mythology-inspired fantasy.

Sixteen-year-old sisters Samira and Rima aren’t exactly living the dream. Instead, they live with their maddeningly unreliable mother in a rundown trailer in Michigan. Dad’s dead, money’s tight, and Mom disappears for days at a time. So when Sam’s grandfather wills her the family valuables–a cache of Lebanese antiquities–she’s desperate enough to try pawning them before Mom can.

But she shouldn’t. Because one is cursed, forbidden, the burial coin of a forgotten god. Disturbing it condemns her and Rima to the Phoenician underworld, a place of wicked cities, burning cedar forests, poisoned feasts of milk and lemons, and an endless, windless ocean.

Nothing is what it seems. No one is who they say. And down here, the night never ends.

To get home–and keep her sister safe–Sam will have to outwit beautiful shapeshifters, pose as a royal bride, sail the darkest sea… and maybe kill the god of death himself.

About the Author:

Cristin grew up in a small Ohio town where she got her first library card at age three. She’s been reading and writing ever since. Before publishing Relativity, Cristin worked as a freelance business writer, authoring magazine articles, as well as copy for food catalogs, ads, websites, and tourist guides. She’s taught composition and creative writing, both at the college level and in community workshops. In her spare time, she loves to travel, attempt to learn Spanish and Arabic, and cook, especially her grandmother’s Lebanese recipes. Learn more about Cristin by following her on Instagram.

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Vial of Tears Review:

“Vial of Tears” is a fantastic middle-grade adventure mythological fantasy filled with Lebanese culture that also takes you to the Underworld, and I could not put it down.

I loved everything about this story from the get-go. The author tells the story so grippingly that something thrilling happens in nearly every chapter. Some fantastic scenes just stood out and etched in my mind. For instance, I loved Sam’s part with the women in the tent, skeptical to know her future. My second favorite was when she gets a sense of Deja Vu when she sees the picture before the guards chase her. Another unforgettable moment was when Sam swims and sees a shadow circling beneath her.

Similarly, world-building is also incredible. The Underworld is a place where nothing is what it seems, and it was fascinating to see what was real and what wasn’t. The story impressed me because the author has the underlying current of love and family throughout the book. For instance, my heart went out to Sam and Rima when they thought they saw their father. The author also adds unique fantasy elements like Shapeshifters and magical artifacts to the story, giving it a special touch.

The characters are also lovely. I loved Sam in the lead as she coped with what happened to her father and her mother’s disappearance. Even the supporting characters like Eshmun, Teth, and Meem added nicely. I also adored the middle-eastern terms I got to know, like the “Baalbek” and “Ruha.” The author perfectly executed everything about the story, from the characters, plot, and mythology aspects.

Overall, I loved “Vial of Tears” and found it one of the best middle-grade adventure mythology books I have read this year.

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of VIAL OF TEARS, US Only.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Vial of Tears by Cristin Bishara Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!