Tag Archives: Reviews

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

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Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it’s all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different…every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.–Description from Goodreads

Paperback, 287 pages
Published April 2nd 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN
1402277857 (ISBN13: 9781402277856)
edition language
English

My Thoughts:

This book is heartbreaking, beautiful and the kind of novel will stay with you possibly even forever. I do not think I will ever hear about this subject again without thinking of this character.

I wasn’t sure what I would think of this book when I first started reading it. This is difficult subject matter and I thought it might be too sad to read. It turns out that it is pretty realistic, but it is written in such a way that it offers you hope for the young woman that is the main character.

You struggle with her as she learns the truth of her situation, learns about her options and the disease itself. You are there as she discovers that her life may not end abruptly and without warning as she first feared. This is an incredibly moving book with many different facets that make it interesting.

The family dynamic is wonderful. The parents are supportive of her and try to improve her situation with understanding and compassion, yet the author also gave them time to grieve and react to the news of their daughter’s illness. I thought the relationship the main character shared with her birth mother was tragic, but also resulted in a beautiful gift that made this story even more worth reading.

The romance is plausible and the author did a superior job of making the here today gone tomorrow feeling of high school relationships shine through. It takes talent for an adult to write as a teen, and Jessica Verdi did it wonderfully.

The only thing I would say that I would have liked to see and perhaps wasn’t quite explored enough, is that it is not always the one night stand or the creepy guy who sleeps around that can be the cause of this disease. I felt it would have been important to focus on the possibility of her ex boyfriend being someone who should have been tested for the disease. I also found it very hard to believe that one of the characters would have kept her mouth shut about what she knew in a certain situation when she had been built up as a spoiled brat who hated the main character.

All in all, this was an amazing book. It deserves a read. If you have a teenager, it might be a good choice. This book covers some harsh reality, but in a way that I think would speak to a teen audience in such a manner that they could not only understand, but also relate to.

Very well done.

This review is based on a digital ARC.

Sihpromatum: I Grew My Boobs In China by Savannah Grace

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  If you have been looking for a travel memoir that will make you laugh, make you cry, make you think–this is the book for you.

 

http://www.sihpromatum.com
Here is the description from Goodreads:
SIHPROMATUM (Sip-row-may-tum) is a memoir series of one family’s four-year backpacking adventure around the world. The first installment, I Grew my Boobs in China, is the beginning of an intensely fascinating, sobering, and emotional memoir of Savannah’s introspective and innovative family adventure.

In 2005, 14-year-old Savannah Grace’s world is shattered when her mother unexpectedly announces that she and her family (mother, 45; brother, 25; sister, 17) would soon embark on an incredible, open-ended journey. When everything from her pets to the house she lived in is either sold, given away or put in storage, this naïve teenage girl runs headlong into the reality and hardships of a life on the road.
Built around a startling backdrop of over eighty countries (I Grew my Boobs in China relates the family’s adventures in China and Mongolia), this is a tale of feminine maturation – of Savannah’s metamorphosis from ingénue to woman-of-the-world. Nibbling roasted duck tongues in China and being stranded in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert are just two experiences that contribute to Savannah’s exploration of new cultures and to the process of adapting to the world around her.

ebook
Published August 19th 2012 by Sihpromatum Publishing House (first published August 16th 2012)
ISBN13
9780988123113
edition language
English
Here are my thoughts:
I dare you to read this book and not fall in love with it. Seriously, I dare you to. If you have been looking for a memoir that will make you smile, make you laugh and help you to look at the world through different eyes, this is surely the one to do it.

The first portion of this memoir tells the story of the average teenage girl. She is somewhat insecure, has had plenty of experience being the new kid in town and is trying to settle into a rhythm in her young life. She loves her dog, her best friend and her family. A phone call changes all of her plans, when her mother decides they are going to travel through China and live out of a backpack for a full year.

I could feel the devastation that young Savannah felt through her writing. She is very talented at expressing her memories and emotions through words and truly makes the reader feel as though they are right along beside her for the duration of the journey. What a journey it turns out to be–so many ways to experience all of your senses in this book!

It was amazing to read about this girl and her family and how much she grew up and changed over the course of their adventures. The descriptive language she uses to tell of her surroundings and each new place they visit made this somewhat like watching a movie. You could smell the air and see the colours through her words.

This is more than just a simple travel memoir. This is a story of spiritual and mental growth, physical change and family. Be careful when you read this, you might just want to sell everything you own and buy a sturdy backpack for your own adventure.

One of the main things I enjoyed about this book was the humor. There is a thread of hilarity that spans the course of the story, and the author never loses the ability to make her reader feel warm inside even during the portions that are more serious.

This is an excellent book from a talented author, and I recommend checking it out. You won’t be sorry you did.

On one final note–what a great title for a book!

Someone left a little review

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Dear Charles,

This is dedicated to you from the other bloggers and I, even if they don’t know it. We wuv you. Do we tell you often enough? Because we do. You are always the bright spot in this daily existence, so please accept the following as my, our, my, whatever–token of appreciation–all of us (and me)

 

Earlier today there was a new review on Charles’ book, Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero. Now knowing that Charles is the professional that he is, he will not post this and bitch about it, so I will do it for him. He has morals, me? Not so much.

The reviewer basically said that he read the first few scenes and said it was all ‘show and not tell’.  Basically, he read the equivalent of the free sample and decided to review the book.

Here is a quote from Charles, and yes I got his permission first.

“He rated me lower that a pack of 500 Bicycle Ball Bearings, Bike Pedals, and Pepperoncini Peppers.  I’m tearing up laughing at that one.  To this reviewer, my book is worse than the mildest hot pepper and spare bike parts.”    Top Ramen, Charles, Top Ramen.

 

So here goes: (voice check memememememe. honey lemon tea. memememememe.)

 

Someone left a little review

on Amazon today

and when I see a new review

I jump up screaming YAY!

 

But on this one occassion

this reviewer went too far

he compared my stuff to  peppers

and forgot three of my stars

 

It isn’t that I’m picky

come on say a word or two

I welcome your opinion

and all your comments too

 

All I’m really asking

is that you reserve judgment until

you’ve gotten past the title

before using your reviewing skills

 

So don’t go  judging something

that you know nothing about

and cause all those who haven’t read

to suddenly have doubts

 

If you must compare my stuff

to some other person or thing

you could at least pick nouns worth while

like gold or diamond rings

 

You see I am a writer

so you better watch your back

I’ll write you into my next book

and give you lots of flack

 

I’ll feed you to a dragon

and then make you kiss a Lich

I’ll use you for target practice

and then make you Fizzle’s bitch

 

But I don’t take it personal

not in any way

negative reviews sell books

I wish you a good day

 

So thanks for offering your thoughts

and also for being frank

I will be thinking of your words

as I am in line at the bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Don’t you take a night walk?

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  This week has been an excellent week for getting free books. This free book experience would not be complete without getting David Hudnut‘s Night walk. I love to mention free kindle books of any type, but it particularly makes me happy to mention books that I have already had the chance to read and review. That has been the case twice today:)

If you would like to download and read Night Walk you can do so here for free, through Sunday the 19th:

Also David has been kind enough to contribute a guest piece with his thoughts on the importance of reviews to indie authors, which you can see below.

You can find David HERE

tell him I sent you, he might give you a coupon for a cocktail. Or at least some pretzels.

Night Walk Free

HERE

This book sort of crosses the boundaries between genre. It does have some horror elements, but it is not terribly graphic and even those who don’t particularly care for horror of any type have had a good experience with it.

Here is the description from Amazon:

Like any cookie-cutter suburban family you know, on the outside the Wistfell family appears fresh from the oven with their Tic-Tac smiles and formica hair styles. On the inside, beneath their Sears Family Portrait exterior, lies a pitch black heritage. The Wistfell family knows a thing or two about the Devil’s business.

Rob and Amelia Wistfell are all set to enjoy the weekend with their four-year-old daughter Eva, but their troubles begin immediately. A run-in with a menacing bunch of locals over a parking space sets off a chain reaction. No matter where the Wistfell family goes, trouble follows. Rob and Amelia have no idea why.

They don’t realize that their daughter Eva has blossoming telepathic powers and she’s messing with people’s heads.

When the family accidentally crosses paths with two thugs bent on murderous destruction, the Wistfells face a life-threatening challenge.

Will Eva’s powers save them or destroy them?

Find out in Night Walk by David Hudnut.

The importance of leaving Book Reviews

by David Hudnut

Why are Book Reviews important for self-published, and many traditionally-published, authors?

That’s pretty obvious, right? Reviews help sell books. A book review is a virtual form of word-of-mouth advertising. You’ve heard the conventional wisdom: a book review can gently take the hand of a reluctant book buyer and say “Hey, this book really is good. See, all these other people have said so.”

Think about what happens when you stumble onto a book online, and it has only one review, or none. What’s the first thought that crosses your mind? Well, if the book was released that morning, ok, it just came out. But if it wasn’t, and unless you’re a fellow struggling independent author, you’ll probably assume the book isn’t that good, right? Because if it was good, wouldn’t there be a ton of reviews?

Of course, we know that’s simply not true. We’ve all discovered great books by independent authors that we’ve thoroughly enjoyed, and yet such books often have few reviews online. That’s why writing and posting a book review for a book you’ve enjoyed is vital to the support of independent authors, and the Independent Voice in general.

So why does this matter? Because without the Independent Voice, what do we have? The Corporate Voice. You know what I’m talking about:

Iron Man 3.

Unless you live under the proverbial rock, you’ve probably seen plenty of ads for Iron Man 3 in the last month. Don’t get me wrong, I love Iron Man. It thrills me to see what was once a marginalized character targeted at nerdy boys between the ages of 9 and 90  (yes, you read that right, 90) has now become normalized. It’s cool to like Iron Man. I’m grateful for that change. I wish it had happened 20 years ago, but I can’t complain.

But here’s the thing: Iron Man is owned by The Walt Disney Company, which owns Marvel Entertainment (the owner of Marvel Comics). Iron Man has been around since 1963. That’s 50 years of promoting the character constantly in various media, with a massive amount of creative talent behind the character in terms of writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, and letterers (who worked on the comic books), the massive video game companies putting out the games, the animation studios putting out cartoons, and the movie studios putting out the movies. With all that creative talent backing Iron Man, of COURSE he’s going to be popular. And with the tens of millions that are spent annually on advertising, Iron Man is now probably more famous the Hercules, and that guy’s been around for thousands of years.

So what if, dare I say it, you are tired of Iron Man? Or what if you don’t even like Iron Man to begin with? This applies to all genres, from action heroes to romance heroines (Twilight, anyone?). What options do you have?

The Independent Voice.

Compared to the bellowing corporate behemoth of Iron Man and The Walt Disney Company, most independent authors are but tiny ants clicking and whispering about their stories. How can an independent author compete with the efforts of literally thousands of creative people backing ONE character for fifty years? He or She can’t. Period.

Which circles us back around to the book review. For independent authors who don’t have a massive marketing budget, your book review is crucial to helping keep their books alive. Otherwise, their books are buried under the landslide of corporate advertising, and the infinite distractions that bombard us every second.

If you like a book, leave a review, whether it be on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you shop for books online.

Support independent authors. Support the Independent Voice.

Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser

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Questions of TravelQuestions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser

A mesmerising literary novel, Questions of Travel charts two very different lives. Laura travels the world before returning to Sydney, where she works for a publisher of travel guides. Ravi dreams of being a tourist until he is driven from Sri Lanka by devastating events.

Around these two superbly drawn characters, a double narrative assembles an enthralling array of people, places and stories – from Theo, whose life plays out in the long shadow of the past, to Hana, an Ethiopian woman determined to reinvent herself in Australia.

Award-winning author Michelle de Kretser illuminates travel, work and modern dreams in this brilliant evocation of the way we live now. Wonderfully written, Questions of Travel is an extraordinary work of imagination – a transformative, very funny and intensely moving novel.–Goodreads

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My thoughts:

I am really not sure what to think of this book. It has an interesting plot and it definitely has some beautiful prose, but the characters just fell flat for me. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it, I came up somewhere in the middle.

I liked the idea for this story, but honestly the idea was somewhat lost in miles of description and the slow pace of the novel. There are things happening in the book, but it takes the author a decent while to make sense of the situation and after a 100+ pages the book was still just meandering along.

This is a book that requires the reader to focus. The story is quite unique and intelligently written. The author has a pretty astonishing command of language, but I just can’t say this is my favourite book.

Sometimes the descriptions get so far off track that you can’t figure out what the original object the author describes actually is. Although there are some incredible passages in this book that are definitely worthy of being quoted, I found this novel rather lengthy for a book with such a slow moving pace.

Would I read another book by this author? Definitely. This one just wasn’t my personal taste.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.

Five Star Unicorns of Happy Reviews (also known as my review of Legends of Windemere by Charles Yallowitz) Holy cow this is a really super very long title.

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Luke Callindor was born into Windemere’s most decorated family of adventurers. Since his birth, he has been treated with the greatest amount of respect and awe. Now, with a lifetime of training and the reckless cockiness of youth, Luke has set out to prove that he deserves the admiration that comes from being a Callindor.

Luke gets his chance when he convinces a royal messenger to hire him to protect the heir of Duke Solomon. This future leader is secretly attending Hamilton Military Academy, an esteemed school run by the former mercenary, Selenia Hamilton. It is a dangerous secret mission requiring that Luke pretend to be an average student while keeping an eye out for any sign of danger. Unfortunately, Luke has no idea which student the heir is and a demonic assassin is already several steps ahead of him. Finding himself in over his head and constantly in trouble, the young warrior realizes that the only things he has on his side are some new friends and his unwavering courage.

Can Luke find and protect the heir while keeping his own head attached to his neck? And, can he avoid being suspended long enough to see his mission through to the end?–Goodreads

ebook & paperback, 353 pages
Published February 26th 2013 (first published March 13th 2006)
ISBN
1482585146 (ISBN13: 9781482585148)
edition language
English
Website
My thoughts:
It has been a long time since I found an opener for a fantasy series that was better than some of the big names in this genre. Dare I say that Piers Anthony, Anne McCaffrey and David Eddings may have some competition in the works? I think so. Charles Yallowitz is one of the most talented new voices I have seen hit the fantasy market in recent memory.Charles Yallowitz clearly has the required imagination to write a top notch fantasy novel. He has an excellent grasp of the elements that all good high fantasy books should entail. His world is rich, descriptive and filled with dazzling sights that have not been visited time and again. He utilizes more than just the common senses that we typically see in characters, and that made this a pretty mind blowing experience.

There were some really original and unique aspects to this book. I thought the use of zombies in this novel was an out of bounds achievement. I wasn’t expecting to see popular genres of fantasy and horror cross that way, and the mindless killing machine mentality of the zombies in Windemere were somewhat reminiscent of “The Five Kingdom” Novels by Vivian French, another series of books that I adore that also crosses genres.

There is a lot of humour along the way, so even when things are serious for the characters and there is peril and danger, the author keeps you laughing and enjoying the comedy of the character’s situations. I appreciated this quality, as it has always been one of my favourite things about fantasy. The character’s also have the chance to be reflective, serious and compassionate, as I had hoped they would.

Luke is a well thought out character. He is trying to live up to the family name and meet the expectations of everyone around him, but in the process, is also trying to forge his own path and be who he is.

In the beginning, I was concerned that basing a character on expectation had been done before and may be a weak point for the story, but Charles Yallowitz made it his own. Luke makes friends, enemies and ultimately chooses to hone the gifts he already has for the betterment of his situation and that of those he cares for. This is my definition of a hero. Appropriately titled book–”Beginning of a Hero.”

One of the other things I liked about this story, was that you never quite knew what was going to happen next. The author did not waste miles of paper telling the reader every single thing that was about to happen, and managed to keep his narration to a minimum and let the reader discover the events as they occurred. Many fantasy author have a tendency to narrate their stories to death, but this author didn’t. I like it.

The book was written in third person and really fit in keeping with the RPG feel of the story. Since everything is progressive, the reader always feels as though they are moving through time at the same rate as the characters. This genuinely made me feel like the action was happening in front of my eyes. I think Charles Yallowitz may be ruining my love for the past tense. Perhaps I should deduct a star after all.

My favourite part of this book, hands down–was when Luke arrived at the training camp. He was self assured, cocky and a brat. All within a matter of hours, he learned that he should not be so certain of himself after all.

The way Mr. Yallowitz handled this was most impressive. Luke could have copped out and become a groveling fool, or he could have become even cockier and as a result, a less likable character. Instead, he accepted his faults, admitted his weaknesses and renewed his spirit by becoming even more determined to learn. This showed me two things: 1.) This is a character that can be both resilient and endearing. 2.)This character will not fail me in further novels. I can trust him to be reliable and intelligent.

The emerging friendship between Luke and Nimby is another strong point for this novel. Every great hero needs a sidekick of sorts, and that is the role that Nimby fills in this first book. What would Harry have been without Ron? What would have become of Frodo without Sam? Nimby is the glue that binds Luke to this tale.

I really don’t think there is anything I would have changed about this novel. I liked the dog (Stiletto). I liked the magic. I love the Lich. (Think epitome of evil.) I thought all of the supporting characters were well done. I am totally infatuated with Fizzle. I think I may even love him. I also enjoyed that each character has a personality of their own. You don’t have to worry about having “says so-ad-so” every sentence as the speaker is identifiable through the pattern of their speech. I think I may actually go into withdrawals until I get more Fizzle.

I do have to say, it has taken me a bit of time and effort to drop the R from windermere and get Windemere. I blame Oscar Wilde. Not the author’s fault, classic literature buff here.

I am really looking forward to the next book. If you love a good fantasy and have been missing the way things used to be, when heroes were truly heroic and didn’t back down from a challenge, pick up a copy and read it. You won’t be sorry you did.

Wild Song by Jane Eagland

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Wild SongAn atmospheric historical romance for teens, from a gifted and acclaimed author. Beautifully packaged with a foiled jacket. Anna is living a lonely life on a small island with only her ageing mathematician father and his helper Max as company. When Rob washes ashore after an accident, Anna’s world is turned upside-down. Is Max really devoted to her father? Is Rob the love she’s been waiting for? Could she really leave the island? Drawing inspiration from The Tempest, Jane Eagland has woven a rich and moving story of mystery, love and deception.Particularly suitable for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic teens.

Wild Song by Jane Eagland

Paperback, 73 pages
Published July 1st 2012 by Barrington Stoke
ISBN
1781120447 (ISBN13: 9781781120446)
edition language
English

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My Thoughts:

First of all, I would like to say that I do understand That this book is intended for dyslexic students/children at about a third grade reading level. I agree with that assessment. The material is easy reading, the language would be perfectly appropriate for the intended age group and the paragraph spacing and formatting is perfect for children that struggle with longer passages of text.

The story itself has a beautiful and somewhat haunting atmosphere. The young heroine finds herself in an impossible situation with an aging and ailing father who is extremely overprotective of her and wishes to keep her from life outside the island they inhabit. He guards her so closely that he refuses to even let her access books that describe life away from their home, although she gets them anyway.

The romance is sweet and does not come to much, so parents don’t have to worry about their child reading something that is too emotionally advanced for them. I liked the interaction between the main character and Rob.

While the writing was age appropriate and the over all story that was emerging was entertaining and piqued my interest, the ending was a somewhat disappointing. I did not feel that much of anything was resolved, and I felt that the book was setting up to be a series, but cannot find any indication that this is true. I don’t see anything anywhere that says “watch for book two coming soon” or anything else.

I found many parts of this book enjoyable, and think that kids age 10-14 would more than likely enjoy it, even with the end not resolving all of the issues raised in the story. My hope, is that there will be another book to follow soon.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher, Stoke Books.

Emma Jean’s Bad Behavior by Charlotte Rains Dixon

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EmmaJeanCoverFinal

So, I am not a huge fan of popular women’s titles and the type of romance/whatever they are called novels that I was sure this book would fit into. Let’s face it, I like to read the stuff that most people don’t. (Except for you Julian. You are my wonderful exception. and I am so happy for it:)

I digress. What I was saying is that I am occasionally plagued by idiocy and make my mind up about a book before I even read it, based on what I can surmise from the cover and the blurb. I knew I would hate this book before I even began reading it. I opened the first page, rolled my eyes once or twice (JS Riddle), considered adding whiskey (now I’m talking to you Charles) and started reading.

Holy Crap this is good! I was literally shocked. May I introduce to you a fabulous book by an author that I am now a huge fan of, Miss Charlotte Rains Dixon. (plus she has one of those really awesome names that is just fun to say a couple times in a row.)

Paperback, 298 pages

Published January 10th 2013 by Vagabondage Press
ISBN
0615738176 (ISBN13: 9780615738178)
Best-selling novelist Emma Jean Sullivan longed for a baby for years, but after she and her husband Peter were unable to conceive, she staunchly vowed to become the standard bearer for all childless couples. And she succeeds spectacularly. At age 48 (43 according to her blog, Life, Full Tilt) Emma Jean enjoys a rabid anti-baby fan base and her novels have sold millions. But now she confronts a dilemma larger than any that her heroines have faced: she’s pregnant. And the baby’s father is not her husband. 

 Through no fault of her own (he was just so damned adorable), Emma Jean had begun a passionate affair with Riley, a fetching airplane mechanic she met at a book signing in L.A. Terrified of losing both her fan base and her identity, she struggles to maintain her sham brand and her marriage. But Peter is busy embezzling Emma Jean’s money and completely uninterested in fatherhood, and Riley has his hands full with problems of his own. Not only that, her latest novel is a miserable failure, and a Vanity Fair reporter, who plans to out Emma Jean’s pregnancy to her fans, is stalking her. What’s a suddenly broke, failing, middle-aged, pregnant novelist to do? Why, flee to a glamorous resort town, of course. There, Emma Jean plots her next move. 

My Thoughts on this novel:
Emma Jean is a selfish, rich, spoiled brat that frankly isn’t even a great writer–at least in the beginning. Her life is based on a lie–that she hates children more particularly babies. This is what made me love her. Yep, that’s right. I love her. Emma Jean is the embodiment of the excellently designed character. She is deeply flawed, vain, rude and you can’t help but like her. She is the type of main character that you don’t want to be like but at the same time you want to be exactly like her. Fearless!Here’s what I loved about this book, other than the character previously mentioned. In the beginning of this novel, I thought I would find myself skipping passages and hurrying along to get through it. I tend to read classics and women’s literature and really enjoy literary fiction, so I thought this would automatically be at the bottom of my list of possible enjoyable reads. I was so wrong.Don’t be turned off by the idea that this woman is having an affair. It happened, this much is true, but after reading the back story and coming to understand the other supporting characters in this novel you will want to celebrate her choice.

Reading this novel takes you away from the stresses of daily life and gives you a chance to live as someone else for a while. Emma Jean is sarcastic, hilarious and when you get under all the other layers, just as normal as any of us. Charlotte Rains Dixon has crafted a book that touches upon the hidden worries, triumphs and choices that all women face on a daily basis and has done it in such a way that it is easy going and entertaining.

There is some spice in this book, but it fit the storyline and I didn’t find it to be terribly excessive. The author kept her characters moving forward and the passages weren’t cluttered with extra words and things that make you wonder why they were included.

I wondered as I read this, how the author would manage to pull off a traditional happy ending, or if she would at all. The truth is, the ending was happy, but was anything but traditional. This made me like it even more.

If you are tired of the average romance where everything is predictable, the characters came from a cookie cutter and the drama has been seen and done before, give this book a shot. The author clearly knows how to make her readers happy.

The Travelers’ Club – Fire and Ash (The Travelers’ Club #2) by Michael Bradley

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The Travelers’ Club is back!

As 1880 draws to a close, the members of the secret British adventuring group known as The Travelers’ Club are back in the saddle and looking for trouble.

After spending more than fifteen years away, former Confederate sharpshooter Ash Cooper reluctantly returns to Maryland. This time, Ash’s best friend Lord Reginald Harcourt is the fish out of water as he deals with “Colonial” culture.

With new members along for the ride, the intrepid team will take on international spies, wily women and the ancient Altantean threat at the very Gates to Hell in the Territory of Arizona and the untamed American West.

 

Paperback, First, 363 pages
Published November 3rd 2012
ISBN13
9780985450816
edition language
English
You can find Michael Bradley here: http://mbtimetraveler.com/
You should go say hello to him. He posts a lot of really interesting things and he is very smart–a great guy to have a discussion with.
My review of Fire and Ash:
“The Traveler’s Club: Fire and Ash” by Michael Bradley is a quirky, exciting and altogether unique book. One of the things that I found enjoyable about this novel was the over-the-top personalities of the characters. This author has a clear and defined sense of how to write interesting characters that you will grow to love throughout the story. Nobody in this book is average or the slightest bit boring, so the adventures they go on seem very appropriate for the way they are represented.

The plot moves at a good clip and the historical aspects were well planned and worked for this style of writing. I think this book could easily fall into the classification of being a bit “steampunk.” No matter which exact genre you place this in, the fantasy elements of the book were not only interesting, but were also original. I didn’t feel like I was reading someone else’s work with a different wrapper over it, which made me happy. It has been a while since I found a book that could fit into so many different genres and do well in each one. Clearly this author is talented at making his writing stand out from the crowd.

The main character has plenty of quirks and there are a lot of opportunities for laughs as the novel is laced with good humor. This book is a true adventure, with airships, villains and heroes that really understand the meaning of the word. I could visualize the author’s words in my mind during reading and it played along in my head just like a movie. The descriptiveness of the writing was at times, my very favorite thing about this book. There were a few places where I felt the author was a little wordy, but it wasn’t anything that brought the pace to a standstill and it was still enjoyable.

If you are looking for a book to settle into that will keep you wondering at every turn, give you a reason to smile and make you want to tell the other people around you all about it, this would be perfect!

The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin

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The Darkening DreamThe Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Darkening Dream is the chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.–Description from Goodreads

Paperback, 382 pages

 

Published January 10th 2012 by Mascherato Publishing (first published December 22nd 2011)

 

ISBN
1937945014 (ISBN13: 9781937945015)

 

edition language
English

 

url
http://the-darkening-dream.com

 

This is a different sort of book, and one that I find really hard to classify. If I had to put this book in a category, at least age wise, I would say new adult might be the thing. There are some pretty dark elements and some sexual references that I think might be too strong for the YA market, but the book features young teens, so it might be a bit too young for a solidly adult audience. One things is for sure, this book is definitely original.

I’m going to start by saying that the author has done a fabulous job, with a few minor exceptions, of researching his material and crafting a unique tale that can absorb the reader. I don’t think this book will fit everyone’s tastes, but find a book that does and you will be performing a miracle. The subject matter and the magic is dark. If you read the description, you know that going in, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Here’s what I liked:

The story is not like anything else I have read. The famous Salem is not used as a breeding ground for all witch related themes in this book, which was a pretty refreshing change. Since the author did his research before writing this, he was able to craft a story that both keeps you wondering what will happen next and doesn’t distract you with loads of inaccuracies.

The writing is solid. The passages flow pretty well and it is easy to read, so you get a long way into the book without even realising you have done so.

Here’s what I loved:

The descriptions are terrifying and fabulous. Andy Gavin has done a good job of creating characters that are quirky and interesting and the reader lives through the terror they feel right along with them. The darkness in this novel was handled well. The vampire is not fluffy and cute as we have recently come to think of them. Evil, greedy, and dark would be the best way to describe this character.

There is never a dull moment in this story. From the beginning there is mystery and action and it keeps going right through to the very end. The pace does not fall off unexpectedly.

What I didn’t like as much:

The amount of research (as mentioned above) that must have gone into this novel is amazing. Still, I felt the actions of the teens at times seemed a little strange for the time period the book was set in. They pretty much do as they please and often behave in ways that I couldn’t see a teen doing in the early 1900′s.

There are a few jarring point of view changes in this novel that leave the reader wondering who is speaking and how they got to where they are.

There are a lot of different themes going on in this novel. I understand that the author had many great ideas, and I congratulate him for his efforts. He is definitely creative and puts it to good use. Still, I think toning down the different themes in this story might have benefited the audience. There were places where in my opinion, there was simply just too much going on and it detracted from the point in the story.

Overall, this was a good read. It was interesting, exciting and different. That’s what I like to see in any book. If you like a bit of horror, some well written fantasy and unexpected twists, this would be a good choice.