Book Review: "The Shadow Constant" by @AJScudiere

The Shadow Constant by A.J. Scudiere

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Book Info: Genre: Thriller
Reading Level: Adult (minor F/F situations)
Recommended for: Fans of thrillers, those who like to see a realistic representation of Asperger's
Book Available: July 16, 2013 by Griffyn Ink in Paperback
Trigger Warnings: violence, attempted murder, murder, arson, kidnapping

My Thoughts: I want to point out that I'm a huge fan of A.J. Scudiere. Not all of her books were five-star ratings for me, but all were very enjoyable. I think she has a lot of talent, and some great stories to tell. So when Griffyn Ink sent me a sample of the book and asked if I wanted to review it, I told them if A.J. Scudiere wrote it, I wanted to read it; I didn't need to look at the sample. Most of her books I was provided in exchange for a review, but once I'd read them, I went out and picked up a final copy for myself—sometimes for Kindle, and in one case, an autographed paperback.

This book has a steadily creeping and slowly building feeling of suspense that is as impressive as it is subtle. I stopped for a break and noticed my entire body was tense. To me that is a highly successful effect! Sometimes you can intellectually understand the suspense, but when it is a physical affect... that is some really decent writing.

One of the characters in the book has Asperger's, and it was interesting to me how well the author created the subcurrents that this condition can cause among different people. Reenie, Evan's girlfriend, is initially extremely intolerant of Kayla's differences, and treats her very poorly, while Ivy quickly susses out Kayla's actual abilities and provides a much-needed foil to the hostility from Reenie and the sometimes overprotective attitude of her brother Evan. I know that learning to navigate the waters with Asperger's can be very difficult for neurotypical people; even if you do your best to be very clear and transparent about things, you can be misunderstood. It's something I've been trying very hard to understand better, and I think this book will go a long way toward helping with that. There is also a subtle and very realistic F/F romance going on in the background that I quite enjoyed.

I really liked Ivy's character, and I really liked how Reenie's characters changed and grew through the course of the book. This is written in partially omniscient point-of-view, so there is some minor head-hopping going on, but it's logically done and easy to follow. I think this is Scudiere's best work yet, and am very eager to watch where she goes from here. I've been following this author since shortly after the release of her second book and am very impressed by the growth I see in her writing, and can strongly recommend any of her works if you like a great story. I've listed them below for your reference. This one I think will especially be welcomed by people living with various forms of autism, and their families. It deals with Asperger's in a realistic manner, as nearly as I can tell, and helped me to come to a better understanding of some of the challenges those with Asperger's face.

Also by A.J. Scudiere: If you are interested in this book, or have read it and like the writing, be sure to check out these other awesome books by A.J. Scudiere:
God's Eye: Read and reviewed September 15-16, 2011, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Resonance: Read and reviewed 8/20-21, 2011, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Vengeance: Read and reviewed 9/14-15/2011, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Phoenix: Read and reviewed 5/28-30/2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Dumb Blonde: Read and reviewed Aug. 27, 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.

Disclosure: I received an ARC e-book copy of this book from Griffyn Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Someone is keeping watch over the machine. Should it ever have been built?

The lure of the find behind the loose hearthstone at Hazleton House was too great. The schematic excited Evan, Reenie and Ivy for different reasons, but it is Kayla who actually begins building it. Her ability to focus to the exclusion of all else is just one of the effects of her Asperger's.

The scribbled initials E.W. were merely a curiosity until it's discovered they belong to Eli Whitney. But strange footprints and disturbing visitors let Evan know that the theft of his sister's prize schematic isn't just a coincidence.

It becomes obvious that the generator has no apparent power source. And Eli Whitney was only the first to die because of the machine.

Soon they realize their enemies are much bigger than they had imagined and the threat the device poses could topple an empire. The secret now threatens those at Hazleton House.

Who is trying to stop them?



View all my reviews

GameNation Hacks, and Hybrid Graphic Novel

Griffyn Ink was kind enough to send me this graphic novel to read and review, which I will do before too much more time elapses. But today I just wanted to tell you about it, 'cause it a neat idea!

The graphic novel, Archives: Lab Rats, is based upon an interactive game over at GameNation Hacks.  Since I know a lot of my friends and followers are also gamers, I thought you might be interested in checking this site out, to see if this is something you might have fun with.  See also Game Nation's general site.  It's created by a guy named Ruke.  I'm not a gamer, and I have no idea what the game it about, but it looks pretty cool, as does this graphic novel.  So, go check it out, and then watch for my review soon.

The text of this graphic novel, by the way, is written by A.J. Scudiere, who is an author I very much like, and whose next book, The Shadow Constant, I'll be reading in the next couple weeks as well. So keep watching this space!

Winners of A.J. Scudiere package & audio movie

Good morning, all my followers! You've been seeing some random, older reviews popping up this week, books I've noticed, as I ran across them, with reviews lacking disclosures. So, I thought I'd share them here as I updated them, give you some content, introduce you to some old favorites!

So, we have had that awesome A.J. Scudiere giveaway going on, and it ended at midnight. I just drew the winners. If you didn't win, head to the bottom of the post, where I've left you a link to try again, if you hurry! My apologies, it looks like she ended hers early. Still, while you're here, have you signed up for my Spooked giveaway?

For the AudioMovie, which was for international followers ONLY (I had to delete a US entry that apparently wasn't paying attention), the winner is:

Sarah D!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


And the big one, the complete package of all A.J. Scudiere's books: God's Eye, Vengeance, Resonance and Phoenix, all to one lucky winner - the winner is...

Craig from Marlborough, Mass.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


A huge congratulations to our winners. If you would like another chance to win Phoenix, Jessica Porter is hosting a giveaway on her blog here that is open until tomorrow night, so hurry over there and check it out!

A.J. Scudiere guest post

Today we welcome A.J. Scudiere to Now is Gone, in conjunction with JKS Communications and the blog tour for A.J.'s new book, Phoenix (review here, awesome giveaway here, blurb and author bio here). I asked A.J. for a guest post to add to the festivities, and she was gracious enough to agree, so without further ado, heeeeeeeeeere's A.J.!

Into Reality

My first book dealt with some serious SciFi—the magnetic polar reversal and the effect it could have on us all. In my second book I got revenge on some mafia hitmen. In my third book, I introduced an angel and a demon. In all these cases, I did research. I have two science degrees, I learned to shoot two-handed and I broke into my own home repeatedly. And, though I studied mythology and various religious beliefs about the origins of angels and demons, I had a lot of leeway.

For my fourth book, “Phoenix,” I had a very real scenario to deal with. I did do two things that likely won’t happen to most of us: I gave my main character, Jason, a twisted and buried past and I based his story loosely on the classic tale of Jason and the Argonauts. But that was it, everything else I wanted to be grounded in reality.

I had to weave together several characters’ pasts to create a predicament in the present for Jason. I wanted to show how the decisions we make come back to us, sometimes in unexpected ways. How those same decisions affect those around us. And how others’ choices, sometimes long dead and buried, can come back and affect our lives today.

Writing a more reality-based story meant more research, and not the book kind. I talked to firefighters at all different levels of the game. I wanted to know what their lives are like, so that Jason’s story would fit into the life of a firefighter.

I learned a lot researching this book. The firefighting life is an unusual one—this is probably why it has sparked countless movies (“Backdraft” “Ladder 49”) and TV shows (“Rescue Me” and the upcoming “Chicago Fire.”) The job is at times boring, interesting and oh-my-god-I’m-going-to-die crazy. Because of that the twists and turns of the story play well into the reality of Jason’s world.

It was great to write an edge-of-your-seat thriller that was logically plausible. There are no wild happenings, nothing comes out of the blue. The story opens with a fire and ends with a . . .

Well, I’m not going to tell you. I will say this: I don’t think you’ll see it coming.

JKS Communications presents: "Phoenix" by A.J. Scudiere - Blurb and author bio

Today we're celebrating the release of Phoenix (review here), A.J. Scudiere's latest book. Here is a blurb to get things started:

Jason Mondy’s world is unraveling.

His seemingly secure job as a fire fighter is suddenly thrown into chaos. The bright spot in his week is that he rescued two children from a house fire, but he returns home that night to find all his furniture is missing.

His girlfriend has left him without warning and his nightmares keep him from sleeping. Even just a simple trip home to find some rest leads his adoptive mother to sit him down and tell him that maybe his troubles aren’t quite as innocuous as they seem. Then she divulges a secret she’s kept for over twenty-six years . . .

Jason has a brother he doesn’t remember existed.

He doesn’t remember his life before he was adopted at age seven. He only knows that he was rescued from the fire that took his birth mother’s life. But the story is deeper than that, and the foundation on which he built his world is now cracking. The brother he doesn’t remember it out there somewhere, left behind.

Armed with only this stunning new piece of information, Jason embarks on a quest to find the truths buried deep in his past. As he searches, one by one the pieces of his life fall like dominoes. And the more he uncovers, the more everything he thought he knew about himself and his past begins to turn to ash.

His truth isn’t true at all . . .

Also, here is an author bio for you to read: 

It’s A.J.’s world. A strange place where patterns jump out and catch the eye, little is missed, and most of it can be recalled with a deep breath; it’s different from the world the rest of us inhabit. But the rest of us can experience it—when we read. In this world, the smell of Florida takes three weeks to fully leave the senses and the air in Dallas is so thick that the planes “sink” to the runways rather than actually landing.

For A.J., texture reigns supreme. Whether it’s air or blood or virus, it can be felt and smelled. Reality is always a little bit off from the norm and something usually lurks right under the surface. As a storyteller, A.J. loves irony, the unexpected, and a puzzle where all the pieces fit and make sense. Originally a scientist and a teacher, the writer says research is always a key player in the stories. AJ’s motto is “It could happen. It wouldn’t. But it could.”

A.J. has lived in Florida and Los Angeles among a handful of other places. Recent whims have brought the dark writer to Tennessee, where home is a deceptively normal-looking neighborhood just outside Nashville.

Don't forget to watch for a guest post from A.J. Scudiere, coming up, and don't forget to go back and sign up for my awesome giveaway!

JKS Communications presents: A.J. Scudiere package giveaway

Okay, so this week we're doing something a little different. In conjunction with JKS Communications, I'm giving away a great package from A.J. Scudiere, including all her novels: Phoenix (review here), God's Eye (review here), Vengeance (review here), and Resonance (review here)! These are actual books, and as a result unfortunately the books giveaway is open only to residents of the US and Canada, but I know I have a lot of international visitors, so I've made a separate giveaway for you (because you're so awesome!). For my international visitors, you can win a copy of one of A.J.'s AudioMovies!

I will have separate posts today with a blurb from Phoenix, as this giveaway is to celebrate it's release, and an author bio, plus a guest post from A.J., so it's going to be a busy day here on Now is Gone!


So, here is the giveaway for A.J.'s book package:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


And here is the giveaway for my International peeps for the AudioMovie!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Move on to the next posts to see the blurb, bio, and guest post! Thanks for dropping by - and remember, Monday I have another great giveaway in conjunction with JKS, so don't forget to drop by!

Book review: "Dumb Blonde" by A.J. Scudiere

Dumb Blonde review
Author: A.J. Scudiere
5 out of 5 stars

Please note: I have updated this review with the latest cover image, thanks to Marissa at JKS Communications.

Book Info: Genre: Horror Satire Reading Level: Adult

Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book for 99¢ on Amazon; although I am under no particular obligation, I am happy to provide an honest review.

Synopsis: All horror films have that scene – the one where the scary music is playing and the stupid girl continues to walk through the house looking for the bad guy when any sane person would run as fast as they could. Dumb Blonde tells one girl's story of shadows in windows, scary music playing, and nobody believing her.

My Thoughts: A.J. Scudiere has written such fabulous books as Resonance, Vengeance, God’s Eye and Phoenix, and I have loved them all. When I saw this little short story, I had to grab it and read it as quickly as possible. (Reviews can be reached by clicking the link from the book’s title).

This is a very fun little story, where the “dumb blonde” had to deal with mysterious shadows, strange music, and disbelieving cops. This is a wonderful little story, and all blondes should definitely read it. Highly recommended!