"Ameca J and the Demon God of Mythrania" by Paul Xavier Jones

Ameca J and the Demon God of Mythrania by Paul Xavier Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: MG to YA (10 to 13 and up with that caveat that parental guidance should be provided for those under 15)
Recommended for: Anyone who can read it, with the caveat that more sensitive readers should be guided
Trigger Warnings: Torture, murder, child abuse, slavery

Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from the author (a member of my LinkedIn network) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The synopsis, directly quoted from the blurb for the book that is commonly available, contains spoilers if you have not read the previous books in this series. I will put these under spoiler tags on Goodreads, which is the only site to allow this, but if you are reading this on any site other than Goodreads, you have been warned.

Synopsis: Ameca and Fraya, the legendary Flame and the Flower, Heirs of Menindus on the magical world of Mythrania, have achieved the impossible: (view spoiler)[they have rescued their mother from the vile Bellatrix, High Priest of the evil entity known as the Scelestus and brought their father back from the dead (hide spoiler)]. Surely now, their adventures on this alien world are over and they can now return with their parents to their own world…? But things are never that simple. When their father begins acting strangely, is accused of murder and goes missing, the two girls and their mother are forced to embark on a dangerous mission to redeem him before they face the final battle with the enemy

Series information: “Ameca J and the Legacy of Menindus”:–Part I of the Ameca J Chronicles—released October 9, 2012
“Ameca J and the Revenge of Lex-Ultar”:–Part II of the Ameca J Chronicles—released December 13, 2012
“Ameca J and the Demon God of Mythrania”:–Part III of the Ameca J Chronicles—released January 16, 2013
“Ameca J and the Rise of the Serpii”:–Part IV of the Ameca J Chronicles, release date unknown

My Background with the series: This is the third book in the Ameca J Chronicles, following Ameca J and the Legacy of Menindus (review linked here where formatting allowed) and Ameca J and the Revenge of Rex-Ultar (review linked here where formatting allowed) (if you are not on one of those sites, go to my blog, Now is Gone, which is linked to in my profile, and read the review there to see the links and formatting). An additional book is planned called Ameca J and the Rise of the Serpii. I had hoped to have this read and review prior to the publication date (January 16, 2013, but unfortunately I just was not able to fit it in any sooner, so my apologies to the author for the delay.

My Thoughts: This one picks up right where book two left off, so if you can, I recommend reading all these books right in a row for maximum entertainment. It is fast-paced; since most of the character development was done in the earlier books it can stick to the action. I was happy to see the reappearance (however brief) of Squire Fluffy, who did not feature nearly enough in previous books. More Squire Fluffy!

I think this has been my favorite of the series so far. The girls have grown so much, and are very mature now, making difficult decisions and standing up for themselves as needed. It ends the first trilogy, but the author is obviously continuing the story. And I ended the book with a smile on my face, which is always the sign of time well-spent. For fans of MG to YA fantasy adventures, you really can’t go wrong with these books. While there is some content that might prove disturbing to more sensitive readers, with parental guidance I think these books would be perfectly appropriate for any reader. I really do recommend these wonderfully fun stories to anyone.

I’m capping off the review some some random comments and reactions, but they’re really not important, and this has been pretty long already. The important stuff is over; what is left is fun. Read it or not, as your inclination leads you.

Random Comments: I know it is standard British usage, and I know it is not incorrect, but it still jars me every time the ground is referred to as the “floor.” Am I the only one who just cannot move past that? One would think, as many BritComs as I’ve watched, and as many British authors as I’ve read and edited, I’d be accustomed to it, but I... just can’t do it. The “floor” is inside in my brain, and a field in front of a forest is no place for a floor... Sorry!!

At one point, toward the end, I literally stopped reading, put my hand on my head, and said, “Oh, no!” I was so dismayed. How into it was I? Let’s just say, I had to read for another 20 minutes before I could even stop and make this comment... Excellent!

I was so incredibly amused by the Scelestus’ cape fixation. Such an evil villain thing to do. Also, this quote make me laugh like crazy: “Ameca freaked out when she heard the Scelestus do the evil genius laugh...”

Lovecraftian monster? FTW!

Random Rant Inspired by this Book: What on earth is up with evil dudes destroying everything? They kill everybody, wreak havoc on the ecosystem, turn everything into a barren wasteland... why? What point is it to rule a barren world devoid of life? For starters, there is nothing to eat! Even evil dudes have to eat, don’t they? And why take over entire universes? It would be exhausting to keep everyone in line, especially the iron-fist rule that most of these evil dudes undertake. They would constantly be having to shuttle from system to system, putting down rebellions, enforcing their mind-control...

And that's probably how you feel after slogging through all of that. But congratulations! Here's a cookie for a reward...




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Mythos and Monsters - The Importance of Being Bad: Guest Post by J.G. Faherty

Today I am honored to have J.G. Faherty (click on his picture to go to his Amazon author page) providing a guest post for the blog. I just finished reading his great novel The Burning Time and you can see the review for it here. I have also read Cemetery Club, which review can be seen here. Watch this blog on Monday for a giveaway for e-book copies of The Burning Time. Without further ado, here's J.G. Faherty!

Mythos and Monsters – the Importance of Being Bad

When writing horror, one of the most important parts of any book – possibly the most important, other than the plot – is coming up with a monster or villain who will really capture and hold the reader's attention. In many ways, the monster – the Evil – of the story is more critical than the hero. It has to be bad, it has to be nasty, and it has to be different, yet there needs to be some familiarity as well. That's why vampires and zombies and ghosts remain popular. We want to see new versions of them, but ultimately we also enjoy the familiarity of stereotypes.

When I started work on The Burning Time, I had a basic idea for my antagonist. He was a stranger who'd come to town, an evil man. That was the familiar part, the building block for the character. But I didn't want him to be something typical, like Satan or a vampire or a sorcerer. And that's when I remembered something from a trip I'd take to Sedona, Arizona. The Native American's have a sort of demi-god, Kokopelli, who, depending on the tribe and the legend, can be a fertility god, a Trickster, or an agent of Chaos.

That last one really sounded good. So I did some research and discovered that many people, from Native Americans to Eskimos to tribes from other countries, had a similar being in their legends. And so my monster was borne, an agent of Chaos who brought nothing but death and sorrow to each town he visited.

The next question was, 'why?' There had to be a reason for his actions. My Trickster was not some kind of mindless beast; he had to have an agenda. One that made sense for a being who'd been around as long as the human race.

And that's when I thought, how cool would it be to mix a couple of different mythologies together? Combine the Native American Trickster with the Elder Gods of Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. However, I didn't want the book to be a Lovecraftian tale; I just wanted this to be a part of the story. That's why, when you read it, the word Cthulhu actually only pops up once or twice; there are a few other quick references to some of the Elder Gods and their place of dwelling on the far side of the stars, but for the most part I kept things intentionally vague. Even my monster Asuggath is a combination of several Cthulhulian-type beasts rather than one of Lovecraft's own creatures.

Did my strategy work? I like to think so – early reviews are all saying that the book is a great entry into the Cthulhulian genre. So I guess my evil characters are resonating with people.

And when it comes to horror, that's where it all starts.
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JG Faherty is the author of Cemetery Club, Carnival of Fear, The Cold Spot, He Waits, and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Ghosts of Coronado Bay. His latest novel, The Burning Time, comes out Jan. 18. Visit him at www.jgfaherty.com, www.facebook.com/jgfaherty, www.twitter.com/jgfaherty, or www.aboutme.com/jgfaherty.

Buffy fans, note: "Mayhem at Grant-Williams High" by Vera Nazarian review

Mayhem at Grant-Williams High by Vera Nazarian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy satire
Reading Level: YA
Recommended for: anyone
Trigger Warnings: Monsters and mayhem

Disclosure: I picked up this book for myself from Amazon during a free promotion because I enjoy this author’s style of writing. No review was requested. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Think your high school experience was Hell? Vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghouls... and moron idiot students. Welcome to Grant-Williams High.

My Thoughts: So, the basic premise: each finals week, the teachers turn into monsters. Oh, dear lady... I about choked when I started reading and saw that, because I just find the whole idea... to be HILARIOUS!! Vera Nazarian will kill me with her silliness yet, I do declare...

This book actually contains the first two adventures at Grant-Williams High; another one is planned with the next two adventures, and I will totally be there. This book was wonderfully fun—sort of like a milder version of Buffy—and I just loved it. The characters were a lot of fun, and the idea was an absolute hoot. Since it is novella-length as it is, and that contains two stories, there isn’t much I can tell you about it without putting in spoilers, so let me just say: if you enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will enjoy these fun stories. Check it out.

I will now have to take a break from my Vera Nazarian marathon, as I realized I had promised a couple of reviews over the weekend that were not done because I forgot what week I was in. I will be back to finish Vera Nazarian’s books after a brief break to read the two I was supposed to read over the weekend.



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Book Review Repost: "The Four-Year-Old Guardian" by S.L. Madden

Please note: This review originally posted 9/13/11 on Goodreads. Copied here to make it even easier to read review of both books in the Only Human on the Block series. You'll note the difference in my review styles, which I have now created a consistent template for.


The Four-Year-Old Guardian by S.L. Madden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“The Four-Year-Old Guardian” is book 1 of The Only Human on the Block series. In it, we’re introduced to Averton, OR – Monster Capital of the World – when Nick and his mother Michelle move there from Yakima. Nick is accustomed to being the new kid on the block, because they moved around a lot; however, Michelle has purchased a house in Averton and plans on them staying there for Nick to finish school. Nick quickly learns that the cool kids aren’t going to give him the time of day, but he also quickly becomes friends with his neighbor, Myles, a nerdy home-schooled kid, and Melody and Wendy. He discovers that the people who used to live in the house where he now lives had a daughter named Heather who died around five years prior. And then, one night, he meets Heather – well, Heather’s ghost – and finds out that he is the new Seeker, the one who has to find the new Guardian of the Orb, who is the one to protect the power of the Orb to keep the human world – Earthspace – and the demon world – Valos – separated. Heather tells him that the new Guardian will be activated on his fourth birthday. While fighting demons as best they can, Nick and his friends seek the new Guardian. Will they be able to find the Guardian in time?

This was another excellent book by S L Madden, a young-adult novel that is fast-paced, well-written and filled with unique and well-defined characters. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and look forward to learning more about them in the next book in the series, “Bravado/Dramatique.” Also watch for Madden’s new series, Unseen Things, book 1 “The Shadow Walker.” Judging by the quality of Madden’s books so far, it should be wonderful!



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Book review: "Bravado/Dramatique" by S.L. Madden

Bravado/Dramatique by S.L. Madden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy Reading Level: Young Adult

Disclosure: I received a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review of this book.

Synopsis: The play’s the thing....

Between training, fighting demons and studying for school, Nick has more than enough to worry about. So how did he end up starring in the school play opposite Reva and Wendy, the two girls he can’t decide between?

Reva’s beautiful and popular and has a crush on him, but she wants to keep it a secret. Wendy’s a good friend, but she’s too wrapped up in thinking her father’s new care provider is a witch to notice Nick slipping away from her.

It’s enough to distract him from what’s important, like the demons who crave the Orb’s power. Then there’s Cal Phibbs, the school outcast, who’s been heard having conversations with himself. It’s almost as if he’s talking to someone — or something — no one else can see...

My Thoughts: This is book two in Only Human on the Block. I read and reviewed the first book in the series, The Four-Year-Old Guardian, in September, 2011, and that review can be seen here.

Since it has been so long, I was tempted to re-read the first book before starting on this one, but decided I need to get moving through some of these older books, so just had to hope my memory would come through for a change. As it turned out, I fell back into the plot fairly easily. Being able to see how these characters are growing and changing is a real treat, and having the play be such an essential part of this story was a rare treat, as I was in drama throughout grammar, middle and high school, and well into University. I’ve always loved performing in front of a crowd, to the point where karaoke is one of my favorite things to do, if I can find a place where I enjoy hanging out.

I particularly liked Cal Phibbs – to tell the truth, he is exactly the sort of person I would have hung out with in school, if anyone in my little town had the guts to be a Goth. My parents would have blown a gasket, but I’ve always favored the outcasts and the misfits – being one myself – so I really related to Cal. I’m very concerned about Myles – when you read the book you will know why. He’s a sweet boy, and I’m terribly afraid something horrible is going to happen to him. We will see.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of editing errors in my copy. I enjoyed the story, obviously, but the constant parade of extra words, missing words, wrong words, incorrect tenses, wrong forms, redundancies, etc. really started to wear on me – there was something on pretty much every page. Like this sentence, for instance: “He his him in his lap.” What was meant was “He hid his hand in his lap.” Despite that, I quite liked the book; if the story had been any less, I would have taken off a star for the editing, but the story was so fun and engaging that I will leave it at five stars.

This is to be a five-book series; the next book, Together Alone should be out soon, and I will definitely be watching for it. If you enjoy young adult urban fantasies, you should definitely enjoy the Only Human on the Block series, set in Averton, OR – the monster capital of the world. I’ll be reading another book by Madden next – from a separate series – so watch for my review, coming soon!



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