@AttwoodRandy @CuriosityQuills #Review HEART CHANTS by Randy Attwood

Heart Chants review
Author: Randy Attwood
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Suspense
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those interested in Diné culture, those who enjoy a good story
Book Available: January 3, 2014 (subject to change)
Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, murder, rape


My Thoughts: This book provides a peek into the legends and lore of the Diné, or as they are commonly known, the Navajo. Their creation story is beautiful.

“In the beginning was the wind. And when the earth came, the wind cared for it. And when the darkness came, the wind breezed across it beautifully. And when the dawn came and laid its lightness over the darkness, We, the People, were created. And the wind kissed our faces.”

Phil McGuire's portion of the story focuses on two young women—Hsu Chi and Zonnie—whom he takes in to try to protect, Hsu Chi from anti-democratic Chinese gangs, and Zonnie from whoever or whatever has taken away two of her friends, also Navajo, from their college. Attwood has obviously done a great deal of research into the Diné culture, legends and lore and shows the reader exactly how beautiful that culture was, and how much the European settlers destroyed in their hubris. I do not know if there are any reparations to be made for the damage we did to the native cultures here, but I find it been heartbreaking how much knowledge has been lost. It would behoove us to find those who have kept this knowledge and preserve it before it is gone forever.

I found the talk Ko-yo-teh had with the old man at the filling station very funny, especially when the old man repeated the message he had sent to the moon in Navajo: “Watch out for these guys; they come to take your land.” Sad, of course, but also very funny. It fits in with the overall theme of the book, which is well represented by this quote:

“I'm convinced the deepest passion mankind has is the need to inflict belief on another person. Belief in God, belief in these words as God's words, belief in this interpretation of these words, belief in these acts in the name of God. If it's not religion, it's politics.”

Overall this is a fairly clean book, but I did note some editing errors, mostly extra, missing, or repeated words, awkward commas, and misused words, such as “rationale” for “rational” and “statute” for “statue”. Not enough to lower my rating or lessen my enjoyment, obviously.

Like all of Randy Attwood's stories, this one is absolutely amazing. I kept having goose bumps from reading it. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good story, especially if you are interested in Native American stories and culture.

Series Information: Phillip McGuire Mystery/Suspense novels
Book 1: Tortured Truths, I edited this book. I did not write an official review, but it's an awesome story.
Book 2: Heart Chants

Disclosure: I received an early ARC e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Burnt-out foreign correspondent Phillip McGuire, who gave up journalism, is now happy owning and running a bar in Lawrence, Kansas. He's happy with his new house in the country. But he's not happy. When two Navajo female students are missing from Haskell Indian college, he agrees to shelter a third. And then a mysterious beautiful Chinese woman stumbles into his life. And all the while, Coyote is working on the largest sandpainting ever created and advancing his plan to reopen the gates to the Navajo's Holy People.

@MGraybosch @CuriosityQuills #Review "Without Bloodshed" by Matthew Graybosch

Without Bloodshed review
Author: Matthew Graybosch
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Speculative Fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of metal, scifi, fantastic worlds
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, abuse of power, murder, violence, fighting

My Thoughts: First of all, I absolutely love the cover on this thing. It is just gorgeous. This is the first book in the Starbreakers series, and it was a terrific read. It is described at the Starbreakers series website as: “Androids unaware of their nature fight demons from outer space. It's totally metal.” If I had known that little bit going into the book I might have caught on to what was going on that much more quickly, but it is eventually revealed to the careful reader. Additional stories that can provide background can also be found and read online by starting at the Starbreakers series website story page.

I love the complexity of the characters in this book. None of them are one-dimensional, nothing is really ever quite what it seems, and every time I started to figure out what might be going on, a new twist or kink was thrown in and I was right back at ground zero. It was beautifully done to keep the reader engaged with the story rather than frustrated. I particularly was amused by some of Claire's random ejaculations and swearing, which I am unable to add into the review due to Terms of Service issues at some of the sites where I post them. I did post some updates including some of them on Goodreads, which were apparently amusing enough that one of my friends told me she'd picked up a copy of the book based on my updates on only the first 11 percent of the book.

The “metalness” of the stories is more obvious in the short stories available on the website, but it comes through a bit in this book, too. I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, so if it sounds like your sort of thing, definitely check it out.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: "All who threaten me die."

These words made Morgan Stormrider's reputation as one of the Phoenix Society's deadliest IRD officers. He served with distinction as the Society's avenger, hunting down anybody who dared kill an Adversary in the line of duty. After a decade spent living by the sword, Morgan seeks to bid a farewell to arms and make a new life with his friends as a musician. Regardless of his faltering faith, the Phoenix Society has a final mission for Morgan Stormrider after a dictator's accusations make him a liability to the organization. He must put everything aside, travel to Boston, and prove he is not the Society's assassin. He must put down Alexander Liebenthal's coup while taking him alive.

Despite the gravity of his task, Morgan cannot put aside his ex-girlfriend's murder, or efforts to frame him and his closest friends for the crime. He cannot ignore a request from a trusted friend to investigate the theft of designs for a weapon before which even gods stand defenseless. He cannot disregard the corruption implied in the Phoenix Society's willingness to make him a scapegoat should he fail to resolve the crisis in Boston without bloodshed.

The words with which Morgan Stormrider forged his reputation haunt him still.

@WheatonKathleen & @JKSLitPublicity #Review "Aliens & Other Stories" by Kathleen Wheaton

Aliens & Other Stories review
Author: Kathleen Wheaton
4 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Short story anthology/fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy short fiction, interesting stories
Trigger Warnings: infidelity

My Thoughts: This is not the sort of book I would ordinarily read, and I'm not really certain why I agreed to review it, but I'm glad I did. It's not obvious how every single story links up, but several of them are quite easy to track due to shared characters.

Each story was well-written and fascinating, an insight into how it feels to not belong, literally. Not angsty, just honest. Each character is defined quickly yet thoroughly; it is obvious this writer is a master at creating characters efficiently. Short stories can be very challenging sometimes, but these are all wonderfully well done.

If you enjoy short stories that are interesting and well written, be sure to check out this book.

Disclosure: I received this book from JKS Communications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: The characters in Kathleen Wheaton's linked stories are exiles-from their native countries, their families, their objects of desire. Political refugees from Argentina's "dirty war," survivors of a Cuban shipwreck and of Franco's Spain all navigate life as foreigners, whether in Madrid, Buenos Aires or suburban Washington, D.C. With wry, nuanced compassion, Wheaton follows these resilient people as they reconcile the absurdities of contemporary life with a legacy of dislocation, loss and longing.

#Review: @MaraValderran "Heirs of War"

Heirs of War review
Author: Mara Valderran
4 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Urban/Epic Fantasy
Reading Level: Upper Young Adult/New Adult
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy
Book Available: October 13, 2013
Trigger Warnings: child abuse, murder, torture

My Thoughts: I think my favorite thing about this book is the way Celtic mythology is woven into it. It's not overt, but subtle things, and also the naming conventions. Which means pronunciation will drive you crazy, since Gaelic is the closest thing to Celtic and the way things are spelled vs. how they are pronounced is nowhere near the same.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and so the book goes back and forth between the point of view of the five girls: Zelene, Ariana, Isauria, Rhaya, and Terrena. It goes by chapter, though, so there is no head-hopping. I had an ARC and have heard that there have been some changes made for the final copy, but the essential storyline remains the same.

The abuse that Zelene and Sheridan both experience is heartbreaking. It's unfortunately also all-too-common, especially in the foster-care system like Zelene experienced. I suspect we're in for a big reveal about Sheridan at some point in one of the next books.

This is the first book in a proposed series. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm hoping that the author will hurry up and right the next book so I can learn what happens next. The book is a real page-turner and I found myself completely engrossed in the story. If you like fantasy, and have been looking for something that sort of mixes urban fantasy with epic fantasy with tough heroines, than definitely check this story out. It's really enjoyable.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Zelene doesn't believe in magic or prophecies. When she's told she is part of the prophecy foretelling five powerful girls bringing peace to the war-torn worlds, she scoffs. The idea of other dimensions layered on top of the world she lives in is almost as ludicrous as the idea that she might be able to save them. After she is attacked by magic-wielding assassins, she finds she can't argue with reality.

As their enemies strike, the girls are taken back to their world and discover the ties binding them together. Rhaya has always had an uncanny knack for reading people, but can’t seem to unravel the mystery tying her to Isauria, the new friend she bonded with instantly. For years, Isauria has been dreaming of Terrena, a girl living her life on the run in a magical world ripped apart by the tragedies of war, completely unaware that she is psychically linked to the world she was born in.

Zelene views them all with a distrustful eye, familial bonds or no, and can think of a place or two she’d like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When she learns that her long-lost twin Ariana has been captured by the rebels, Zelene’s attitude changes. She doesn’t know how she is supposed to go against an army of magic-wielding rebels when her own ability to manipulate the elements is still locked within her. But can she trust the elders to rescue Ariana when it seems their medieval politics are what brought about the war in the first place? With all that is at stake, the answer becomes clear to Zelene.

Screw the worlds. She’s getting her sister back.

#Book #Review: "Yonni Hale and the Cosmic Wind" by Rajah Hill

Yonni Hale and the Cosmic Wind by Rajah Hill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Middle Grade, or Young Adult, or Adult—see comments
Recommended for: those who are missing Harry Potter or other magical fantasies and are able to look past the errors to the story underneath
Book Available: Please note: this book is only available at Smashwords to my knowledge, linked here where formatting allowed. To view links and other formatting, please visit my blog, Now is Gone.
Trigger Warnings: bullying, murder, attempted assault, hints of sexual slavery and rape, attempts to destroy a neighborhood for profit, maybe kidnapping

My Thoughts: I've had this book sitting waiting for a review for about a year and a half. To my intense amazement, when I went looking, I saw that no one else had it on their shelves on Goodreads, it didn't even exist on Shelfari or Amazon, no one had reviewed it on Smashwords (which is the only site on which it is available to buy as far as I can tell) and there are only four short reviews on LibraryThing, which is where I originally won a copy! This astonishes me, as I've never seen something like this before. It's really a pity, because it's a quite decent story featuring an almost-eleven-year-old girl with a vivid imagination.

There are a few formatting problems early on, in the several pages of quotes from other books about the wind that begin the book, where the font changes size and is almost too small to read at times, but once I was into the actual book that ended, and it's easy enough to change the font size on my Nook to see the smaller areas, so all it did was slow me down a little.

I will say that while this is a decent story, a good content and line editing would really make it shine. There aren't a lot of spelling or grammar errors (a few, like “heal” for “heel” are fairly endemic, though), but it could still use some cleaning up. For instance, at one point Yonni talks to one of her friends, and walks away. Rather than remaining in Yonni's head, like we have all the way so far, suddenly we're in her friend's head for a paragraph. There are also a lot of tense shifts from present to past to a couple future tenses that will probably drive some readers nuts. Also, it is repeatedly said throughout the book that Yonni is 10, but also that she is in 6th grade, which is not possible unless she was skipped ahead a year. Otherwise the law requires that a child be at least 11 before they are in the 6th grade, or have their 11th birthday within a certain period of time after starting 6th grade.


Horses appear throughout the book in Yonni's dreams.

While it seems I have a lot of criticisms, I really did love this story and this book. There is mention of a sequel, called Yonnie Hale and the South Wind, but I do not know if this sequel actually exists. If it does, I would love to read it. However, I would strongly encourage the author to have this book further edited. What is a very enjoyable and fun read could be something truly amazing with just a little more polishing. There was a chapter toward the back where I literally cheered aloud, and then two of my favorite series were mentioned: Harry Potter and the Dark is Rising, which also feature (at least initially) 10-year-old going on 11 characters.

The reading level on this one is a little hard to assign. The main bulk of the story is about Yonnie Hale, who is 10 through most of the book, which would be middle grade (MG). However, a lot of the issues deal with reaching maturity and taking control of your own destiny, so that leads me to think that it might be better for Young Adult (YA) readers. But then there are the chapters with the mayor, in which we receive an in depth look at a truly despicable character doing truly despicable things, some of which are very adult in nature. So that leaves me thinking this is a very adult book in many ways. I would recommend that any consideration for younger readers be filtered through their maturity level. While I might have had trouble with this one when I was 10 myself, I think by 12 I would have been fine with it, while other people I know might not have been able to really understand some of the themes until they were much older.

A lot of the magical ideas in this are particularly interesting. I love how the author has worked in so many different cultures. If only it were better edited I would be willing to recommend this wholesale to almost anyone, but as it is, too many people I know would not be able to see past some of the issues and just enjoy this wonderful, excellent story. It's been a year and a half since I received this book and in this time not a single person has reviewed it on Goodreads or Smashwords, and only four on LibraryThing. I had to physically add it to Shelfari myself. In some ways this is very good, as that means there has not been any negative attention put on it yet. I would recommend that the author take the time to have this gone over professionally and then re-release it on a wider market. I truly think that with just a little more work this could be a major hit among the crowd that has been missing Harry Potter. I hope the author will see this review and take this advice to heart, and also take the same steps to polish the next book in this series. This has already been an extraordinarily long review, but it's an extraordinary book, and I can only hope that my passion for it will help in some small way to reach a larger audience. Meanwhile, if you're interested, go to Smashwords, grab your own copy, look past the few problems and see the bigger picture, because I think this one is a real winner. I can't give it the full 5 stars, no matter how much I want to, because of the flaws, but I am willing to give it 4 just on its overall merits. Check it out. It's truly magical.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Members' Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: She was warned. She tried to avoid it. But Yonni Hale had to learn that life is not safe, not even in her small Kansas hometown of Pratt. After having a vision, strange horse-women begin haunting her dreams, calling her to obey the will of the Cosmic Wind. Balancing good and evil, the Cosmic Wind recruits Yonni to stand against greedy men who desire nothing but power and money, no matter who they harm in the process. When her friends' homes are in danger because of the greedy mayor's real estate scam, Yonni must use her abilities to control the wind to help her friends save their homes. In the process, though, she exposes her family to danger, and must decide what is more important: justice or her family.



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Review: Quiet River

Quiet River by Natasha A. Salnikova

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Suspense/Psychological Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Those who enjoy a dark and suspenseful story and can be forgiving of the multitude of editing errors and misused words
Trigger Warnings: murder, stabbing (view spoiler)[in utero fetus, child goes missing (hide spoiler)], child abuse
Animal Abuse: dog (view spoiler)[is killed (hide spoiler)]

Please be aware: The author has contacted me to let me know that the book has been edited since the copy I received (which was provided to me about a year and a half ago). If I have a chance I will try to read the revised edition and let you know the differences. So please note that the copy I read was the original edition and that an updated and revised edition is available.

My Thoughts: This is quite an engaging story, but the editing is really sadly lacking. There are lots of words dropped in many of the sentences, leading to sounding like... well... like someone speaking pidgin English. You can find an example on almost any given page.

Some examples:
--> “Especially it was true when she needed to empty her bladder.”
--> or “He opened Snickers and bit off half of it.”
--> or “I said I need bathroom.”
--> or “Couldn't he find different time to be happy?”
--> or “His head was light, his muscles relaxed. Maybe it was tea? Than it was really helping.”
--> or “He was a publisher of two magazines and he got used to take fast decisions.”
--> or “...fighting current of air...”
--> or “...Matt took him four weeks ago for boy's fifth birthday.”
--> or “...looking in the window...” used twice to describe a passenger looking out the window of a car.
Unfortunately, I could go on with these sorts of things for pages.

I have found that these sort of speech errors are most common in those who initially spoke Slavic languages, something to do with the differences in prepositions and prepositional phrases, I think. Even my husband, who has worked hard for 20 years to adapt his language, still slips into these sorts of speech patterns. This book really needs to be edited again to fix this. While there are a lot of people who will willingly overlook these sorts of errors and simply enjoy the book, there are at least an equal number who will fling this book at the nearest wall. I've seen lots of one-star ratings on books that are much better edited than this one complaining about editing. If I hadn't at least enjoyed the story, this would be at most a two-star rating, but the story itself has a lot of potential.

I really hate to be so critical, because I've spent some time talking to this author and she's absolutely delightful and has a lot of experience writing under her belt, but she desperately needs an editor to fix the language in this book, and to fix the multitude of misused words, such as “defiantly” for “definitely” and “philological” for “psychological” and “overage” for “average” and many, many more. If you can look past these problems, you might enjoy the story itself, which was dark, suspenseful and creepy. I could usually at least tell what it was the author meant to say, although I will admit there were a few sentences that completely defeated me. I do have a few more books by this author, and this is her very first English-language novel, so hopefully they will have improved, but be aware: if you are very sensitive to errors, this book might frustrate more than entertain.

Disclosure: I won a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Member's Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Quiet River is a small town and people are friendly. But evil lives in quiet water, don't you know?

Lisa and Matt Collins spend a weekend in the town of Quiet River, Washington, where their son Evan meets a woman who says he looks like her son. She gives him cookies. The hotel clerk, an older woman, also gives him cookies, explaining to his mother that they came from the hotel's kitchen. Lisa ignores the clerk's strange behavior and forgets about her. The family goes back home to Seattle where Matt returns to his job as a magazine editor and Lisa finds out she is pregnant for the second time. Soon Matt's personal assistant dies in a car accident and he hires a new one: Kristine. One day Kristine presents Matt and Lisa with tickets to a ballet performance and that night their quiet lives change forever when they get involved in a violent store robbery and Lisa loses her unborn child.

Lisa and Matt think it is their worst nightmare, but how little did they know. They have to return to Quiet River to learn what the darkest dark is and what face it can wear.



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#Book #Review: "The Infernal Detective" by Kirsten Weiss @KWeiss01

The Infernal Detective review
Author: Kirsten Weiss
4 out of 5 stars

See also my guest post from Kirsten Weiss, "The Magic of Salt".

Book Info: Genre: Paranormal mystery
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of paranormal/supernatural mysteries.
Trigger Warnings: murder, assault, stalking, hints of human trafficking and slavery

My Thoughts: Well, it's been a great journey, and now I'm at the end. And I'm sort of depressed about that. I do hope this series will continue, but honestly? I have no idea if it will. But there are so many questions that are left unanswered, that I really hope they will. More details in my “about the series” section.

I absolutely adored Peregrine and Dot (and what little we saw of Livinia). Riga's aunties are an absolute hoot! I think it would be great to have a break-out series with their various adventures, and especially about Livinia, who I found the most intriguing. But I think those would be books I would very much like to read.

I was very bothered by Riga's attitude, especially at the beginning of this book. She's supposedly 44, but she was acting like an insecure 20-something in a lot of ways. It seemed out of character, which is why I've ended up only giving this four stars.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story a lot. And the series as a whole. If you like your mysteries with some paranormal, be sure to check out this series.

Thoughts on the Series as a Whole: Since I'm at the end of the series thus far, I thought I'd share some thoughts about it. Overall, I liked the series a lot. I was a bit disappointed that only the first book was set in San Francisco, but I did like the Lake Tahoe setting, and the smaller town atmosphere and casino added some interesting aspects that would have been missing in the larger San Francisco. However, there were a number of questions and plot threads that were brought up and never answered, or hinted at and never outlined, and I would love to see a book or books that would explain the following:

What is up with Riga's necklace? It is described as a “strange, twisted cross” but no further details are ever provided. How is it strange and twisted? What is the significance of it? How did she acquire it?

Details on her shamanic training with Sal and what went wrong there. What was the story with her running off with a “hot fae from the upper”? Why did she end her training? What happened in that infamous journey?

Why does Riga dislike the fae so intensely? What happened to cause her to distrust and dislike them so?

What is the full story behind her acquiring Bridgette and the death of that necromancer? How did she end up involved in the situation? There are so many mentions of this story it also feels like there was an earlier book that no one has seen, and it has driven me crazy the entire time.

How did she initially hook up with the Tarot and Tea ladies? There seems to be a larger story there that is never mentioned.

What happened in Afghanistan, really? Again, there are so many hints and mentions, but very few details. We know she went over there with some sort of relief operation, but then what happened?

Is Donovan still looking for Erin?

These and many other questions are really haunting me. So, to the author I say: start writing! Enquiring minds what to KNOW!

Series Information: Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mysteries

Book 1: The Metaphysical Detective, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 2: The Alchemical Detective, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 3: The Shamanic Detective, review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 4: The Infernal Detective, received from author for review

Disclosure: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… that’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she’s believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives.

Book #Review: "Tales from Lovecraft Middle School" by Charles Gilman

Substitute Creature review
Author: Charles Gilman
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Recommended for: fans of the series, fans of Lovecraft, middle grade on up.
Book Available: September 24, 2013 in hardcover and Kindle editions
Trigger Warnings:

My Thoughts: This is the first book in this series in which I have noticed any typos or mistakes. There were only maybe two typos, but it is said repeatedly that Glenn and Robert were on a fourth-story ledge, but all the pictures of the school in this book show only three stories.

I was really amused by this conversation:

Glenn turned to Robert. “What's more important?” he asked. “A stupid Valentine's Day concert of saving the world from an army of ancient monsters?”

When Glenn put the question that way, Robert felt as though he had no choice. “I guess saving the world.”

“I'll save your seats,” Karina offered. “Have fun.”

What amused me about that? Robert's extreme enthusiasm about saving the world... “I guess...”

It wouldn't be a Lovecraftian series without the mention of Miskatonic University and/or Old Ones, and to my delight we have both here. Of course, these Old Ones are a bit different than the reptilian forms we normally see, being more tiny little fluffy things, but that's okay. I'm sure there will be reptiles at some point, and we have already had the snake sisters in the second book anyway.

At any rate, I am enjoying these stories immensely. There are some major changes by the end of this book, and things are really starting to hit the fan, so I'm very excited to see there things will go from here. Unfortunately, there is no word about what comes next, what the next book will be, or what is going to happen. The Lovecraft Middle School website only has information about the first two books. So, I guess it'll be a game of wait and see. Still, I heartily recommend these books for middle grade on up. They're a lot of fun.

Series Information: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School .
Book 1: Professor Gargoyle, reviewed October, 2012, linked here where formatting allowed
Book 2: The Slither Sisters, reviewed January, 2013, linked here where formatting allowed
Book 3: Teacher's Pest, reviewed March, 2013, linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 4: Substitute Creature, scheduled for release in September 24, 2013.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When a giant nor’easter dumps a blanket of snow on the village of Dunwich, Massachussetts, Robert Arthur and his friends find themselves marooned inside Lovecraft Middle School. The kids have no choice but to spend the night—while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on classroom floors, and facing off against a mysterious substitute teacher who may have a sinister secret. 

Book Review: "Few are Chosen" by M T McGuire

  

Few Are Chosen
by M.T. McGuire

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and other zany British comedy
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder (implied)

My Thoughts: Do you like Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and the like? You do! *gasp* So do I! That's awesome, call me, let's do lunch.

Now, as to this book. It's quite a crazy quilt. You have parallel universes, gangster Swamp Things, a Hamgeean with eyes on the back of his head, snurds (like flying cars), and all other sorts of things.

Speaking of, have you ever wondered what a snurd chase would look like? Wonder no longer.

Anyway, the book is completely full of absolutely ludicrous nonsense, like this: “He'd told her his name was Robin Get, 'like Stan, only without the z'.” And of course you have to love Ada and Gladys, the Grongles, and the K'Barthans idea of religion, which is basically “Be decent to each other.” (Now that's a religion I can get down with...)

At any rate, if you like absolutely ludicrous nonsense all tied up in a most interesting story of alternate worlds, parallel dimensions, fight for freedom, and a hero that would much rather just live in peace with a nice ale and hot supper, then you really need to read these stories. Really fun stuff!

Series Information:
Prequel: Unlucky Dip. I thought I had this, but it turns out the version I downloaded actually contained the wrong file. I have the corrected version and will read it next!
Book 1: Few are Chosen
Book 2: The Wrong Stuff
Book 3: One Man: No Plan, tentatively scheduled for release around Christmas 2013

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: The Pan of Hamgee isn't paranoid. There must be some people in K Barth who aren't out to get him; it 's just that, right now, he's not sure where they are. His family are dead, his existence is treason and he does the only thing he can to survive: getaway driving. As if being on the run isn't bad enough, when he finds a magic thimble and decides to keep it, he unwittingly sets himself on a collision course with Lord Vernon, K Barth's despot ruler. Unwillingly, The Pan is forced to make choices and stand up for his beliefs; beliefs he never knew he had until they were challenged. But faced with a stark moral dilemma, will his new-found integrity stick? Can he stop running?



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"Gateway to Reality" Scavenger Hunt Clue and Review

First I will be posting my review, and then I'll add in the Scavenger Hunt post and Rafflecopter form again, so be sure to scroll to the end!

Gateway to Reality review
Author: Becca J. Campbell
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Speculative Fiction
Reading Level: New Adult (references works written to appeal to ages 18 – 23)
Recommended for: People who enjoy a mind-trip of a story
Trigger Warnings: Violence and destruction, assault on a woman

My Thoughts: The idea behind this book really appeals to me. I frequently have very vivid dreams, dreams that feel more real to me than reality. I recall one when I realized I was starting to wake up where I actually grabbed onto another person in the dream and begged them to help me stay in the dream world! So, the idea of the sort of dream world that Wes experiences... it appealed to me.

This book is often really trippy. That fact that so much of it reminded me of some of the crazy-vivid dreams I've had in the past freaked me out at times. But I really enjoyed it overall. I was a little bothered by the fact that there was no resolution to the Brune/Destructives issue, but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story—and I remind myself that not everything in life is neatly resolved, either.

If you like a story that will seriously twist your mind, you will enjoy Gateway to Reality. There is really no easy way to explain it; you simply have to experience it. So do so today!

Blog Tour and Blog Stops: I have several blog posts associated with this book. Each will be linked here (on sites where formatting allowed; if you are not reading this on one of those sites, please visit my blog, Now is Gone, a link to which is in my profiles on all sites).
Cover Reveal: I posted a cover reveal for this book on January 22, 2013
Blog Blitz: I hosted Becca J. Campbell for a Blog Blitz on March 26, 2013
Scavenger Hunt Schedule: I posted up the schedule for the Scavenger Hunt on March 30, 2013
Scavenger Hunt: My stop on the Scavenger Hunt will be April 12, 2013, which will also feature this review and the Rafflecopter form for the giveaway (also on the Blog Blitz post)

Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, and am taking part in the blog tour. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.

Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself—the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.

The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.

Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.

But now he has feelings for the real Emily.

SCAVENGER HUNT Schedule and CLUE!

The Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour

You can enter the giveaway now, but to really amp up your odds at snatching one of these prize packs, check out each site along the blog tour.

April 1^st     Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

April 2^nd     The Peasants Revolt

April 3^rd     Catharsis of the Bogue

April 4^th     The Pen and Whisk

April 5^th     Write for Life

April 6^th     S.M. Boyce

April 8^th     Paranormal Lounge

April 9^th     Lisa Is a Bookworm

April 10^th     Jade Kerrion

April 11^th     Paper Book Princess

April 12^th     Now is Gone

April 13^th     Worlds Away Book Blog

April 15^th     FU Only Knew

April 17^th     Sarcasm and Lemons

April 18^th     Brandon R. Luffman

Your Eleventh Clue

Wes visits many worlds in the Existence. Here’s your challenge in this scavenger hunt:

Collect the names of the fifteen worlds in Gateway to Reality (one will be revealed each day).

Following the schedule above, collect a world name at each stop, and when you have them all, plug that list of 15 worlds into the giveaway below to win a BONUS TEN ENTRIES.

HERE’S YOUR ELEVENTH WORLD:  Free Fall

Continue with your hunt tomorrow at Worlds Away Book Blog. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: "The Lost": Celestial Blues #2 by Vicki Pettersson

The Lost review
Author: Vicki Pettersson
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/Noir
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of urban fantasy, Noir, Rockabilly lifestyle, paranormal romantic suspense
Trigger Warnings: drug use, abuse, and overdose; gangster/mobsters; murder

My Thoughts: I have to say that I think I would probably kill for a car like Kit's. I looked it up and the Duetto is just a gorgeous piece of machinery.


I was really impressed by a bit of detail I noticed in the story, and that is Sergei and Yulyia Kolyadenko. Sergei is described as being from Kiev, and Kolyadenko is a proper Ukranian name. Not every author would take the time to make sure they had the correct regional name!

The drug mentioned in this story, krokodil (street name for desomorphine) is just as nasty as described. If you do a Google image search, you will find image after image of people with the flesh literally rotted off and exposing their bones. It's a truly nasty drug. You would think, “why would someone do that to themselves?” but this drug is the type that is almost instantly addictive. It takes about a half hour to cook it up, and the high lasts only 90 minutes, so once a person has taken that first hit, they're pretty much doomed unless they have the stamina to last through the month it takes to clear out of their system. The fact that people created this thing just blows my mind, and that fact that other people are willing to make their living by basically destroying other people with this sort of drug... it's a terrible thing. I found a very interesting video (and short article), which I've linked here (for sites that allow links and formatting) if you're interested in learning more.

As to the story itself... like the first book, this sort of crossed the urban fantasy/noir/romantic suspense genre lines. However, this book is much more action-based than the first, since most of the characters have already been established in that first book, and the romance aspect is even more subdued, since Grif and Kit are actually together in this book. It's an enjoyable story, and I'm definitely liking the overall story arc of the series, in addition to the specific stories in the books. This is a series I will absolutely be continuing! Recommended!

Series Information: The Lost is the second book in the Celestial Blues series.
Book 1: The Taken, read and reviewed in September, 2012. Review linked here where formatting allowed.

Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Griffin Shaw and his wife were both murdered fifty years ago. Now a minor angel, Grif's been granted permission to solve the mystery of his own death... if he helps the Pure angels guide those souls who might otherwise be Lost.

Souls like Jeap Yang, a drug addict in his final moments of life. Grif knows that death is coming, but he cannot intervene. However, Grif's mortal lover, reporter Katherine "Kit" Craig, isn't constrained by angelic protocol. If she can stop a death, she will.

But as Kit is about to find out, there are things more traumatic and evil than murder. A strange new drug is literally eating tweakers' flesh from their bones, and Kit's crusade to get it off the streets is set to propel her and Grif into a battle with a vicious drug cartel. They'll have to scramble to stay alive, stay together, and choose their own fate... before it's chosen for them.

Of Gods and Elves review
Author: Brian D. Anderson
4 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Epic Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: Fans of epic fantasy
Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, fighting to the death

My Thoughts: The editing in this book is much better. While I still noticed a few, minor things, they were indeed very minor and hardly noticeable for the most part. So, much better! My copy had some formatting weirdness, but hopefully that won't show up in the ones that are for sale, since mine is a review copy.

We learn a lot more about the elves in this book, which is fascinating. We also have further interactions with some of the more interesting bit players, such as Felsafell, and learn more about the elf Elders. Like the first book, this one ends on a cliffhanger, so be sure to have the third one handy when you're finished, as you'll want to move right on to it. This is a very fast-moving series, and each of the books so far has held a very strong momentum, so you'll be turning the pages quickly. Check it out if you like epic fantasy.

Series Information: Of Gods and Elves (or find it on Amazon here) is book two in the Godling Chronicles.
Book 1: The Sword of Truth (or on Smashwords here) (review here where formatting allowed)
Book 3: The Shadow of Gods (or find it on Amazon here), to be reviewed next.
Also, see this author's guest post on my blog, linked here (where formatting allowed).

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Great Minds Think Aloud Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I am doing the review now in conjunction with a blog tour set up by JKS Communications. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Armies gather for war in the frozen land of Angrääl threatening to set the world ablaze. The elves are divided and scattered and humans fall prey to the dark influence of the Reborn King. Now, Gewey is faced with his greatest challenge yet. Unite the world of elf and human before it is too late...

Book review: "The Sword of Truth" (Godling Chronicles #1) by Brian D. Anderson

The Sword of Truth review
Author: Brian D. Anderson
4 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Epic Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: Fans of Epic Fantasy, those who enjoyed stories like the Chronicles of Prydain, stories about the fight between good and evil
Trigger Warnings: murder, violence

My Thoughts: I used to read a lot of epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, all that sort of thing, but in recent years my tastes have turned more toward urban fantasy. Still, it's fun to read one of these once in awhile.

The editing was pretty bad, honestly. Lots of the wrong homonyms being used (passed for past, bare for bear and so forth) and extra words, missing words, randomly added or missed punctuation. But if you're willing to look past that, the story is enjoyable enough. It certainly held my attention!

In the end, I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read, and if you're able to ignore the problems with the editing and enjoy epic fantasy, stories about the ultimate fight between good and evil for the ultimate survival of the entire world, you should enjoy this book. I found it somewhat reminiscent of the Chronicles of Prydain, at least at a certain level, with the farm boy going out into the world to fight evil. A lot of fun, and a series I want to finish. I believe I'll be asking if I can't have a review copy of the third book as well!

Series Information: The Sword of Truth is book one in the Godling Chronicles.
Book 2: Of Gods and Elves (or find it on Amazon here), to be reviewed next
Book 3: The Shadow of Gods (or find it on Amazon here), just released, I do not have

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Great Minds Think Aloud Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I am doing the review now in conjunction with a blog tour set up by JKS Communications. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: It has been five hundred years since the Great War between Elf and Human ripped the world apart, and the Dark Knight of Angrääl has stolen the Sword of Truth. With it, he has trapped the Gods in heaven. If left unchallenged he will kill the Gods and reshape the world into an unimaginable hell. The only hope for all of creation is a boy named Gewey Stedding, the only being born from the union of two Gods. Aided by Lee Starfinder, the son of Saraf, God of the Sea, and a mortal woman, he must discover the true nature of his power. However, this will not be easy. He is bound to the earth a mortal man, and in many ways is very human. When Kaylia, a young elf woman, joins their party, Gewey discovers that perils of the heart can be as treacherous as any sword. Gewey, Lee, Kaylia and other friends they meet on their journey, must battle the Dark Knight, find a way to heal the hatred between elf and man, and restore heaven itself.

Book review: "Shattered Souls" by Delilah Devlin

Shattered Souls review
Author: Delilah Devlin
3 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romantic Paranormal Thriller
Reading Level: Adult (lots of explicit sex and sexual language)
Recommended for: Fans of Paranormal Romance, paranormal romantic thrillers, urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: alcohol abuse, murder, sex between 17-year-old girl and adult man

My Thoughts: I hadn't realized when I selected this book that it would be considered romance, since it was under thrillers, but reading the synopsis made me realize my assumptions were incomplete; so I was, needless to say, a bit uncertain when I started reading it.

Truth to tell, I enjoyed the story, but had to skip huge swathes of nothing but sex. I'm not a prude, but it felt really gratuitous to me. I would have enjoyed the mystery and thriller aspects of the story more if the sex parts had been more fade-to-black in nature, rather than explicit. I was also annoyed by Cait's constant thoughts of sex: “oh, he's bruising my arm, that gets me hot; oh, he's growling at me and looking angry, that gets me hot; oh, he's being gentlemanly, that gets me hot.” Yuck.  So that's why it's rated the way it is. If you like sexy paranormal thrillers, urban fantasy with lots of sex, romantic paranormal thrillers, then you'll really like this book, which is the first in a proposed series. Me? Nah, I won't be continuing.

Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When her mentor is brutally murdered by a supernatural force, an alcoholic former cop turns to her past lovers—her ex-partner and a powerful sorcerer—to help her hunt down a demon terrorizing Memphis.

Caitlyn O’Connell had it all: a career with the Memphis PD, a passionate marriage, and the satisfaction that her work made a difference in the world. But she also had a secret, a supernatural “gift” that cost her everything. Now she scrapes by as a private investigator, taking cases the cops won’t touch and counting down the minutes until happy hour. But when Sam Pierce, her former partner and estranged ex-husband, comes to her for help with a bizarre murder case, Cait can’t say no. And not just because Sam is still as irresistibly sexy as he was on the day they met. Something sinister—and demonic—is terrorizing Memphis, leaving a bloody trail of bodies and clues only Cait can read. Together she and Sam will venture into a dark world of magic and unholy terror, hunting a killer who will lead them to the brink of reality as they know it—and back into the thrall of their stormy past.

Book review: "Throat of the Night" by Karyn Henley and JKS Communications blog tour

Throat of the Night review
Author: Karyn Henley
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Christian fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: People seeking family-friendly fantasy, those who enjoy epic fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence

My Thoughts: As far as I'm aware, this is the final book; I believe this is a trilogy. And it is a most satisfying ending. This is a very fast-paced book, and we're presented with the answers to a number of questions, and a number of secrets are exposed.

I was really enthralled throughout this whole series, which is what enabled me to read all three books in about a 2 ½ day period. I think a wide range of readers will enjoy this family-friendly epic fantasy, which has great character development, an intricate plot, and an uplifting and joyful overall message. I really do recommend it highly, and hope you'll give this great trilogy a chance.

Disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am part of a blog tour hosted by JKS Communications for this book. A guest post by the author will be posted on Saturday, March 23, 2013. All opinions are my own.

Series Information: Throat of the Night is book 3 in the Angelaeon Circle, published in March, 2013.
Book 1: Breath of Angel, published in June 2011 (review linked here where formatting allowed)
Book 2: Eye of the Sword, published in June 2012 (review linked here where formatting allowed)
More information can be found at Karyn Henley's website, linked here where formatting allowed.

Synopsis: Melaia sends Trevin into enemy territory to retrieve the third harp she needs to restore the stairway to heaven and free the angels trapped in a human world. But an assailant wants Trevin dead, an unknown traitor is passing information to the invading enemy army, and the Firstborn immortal has vowed to destroy all three harps, along with anyone who stands in his way.

Separated, Trevin and Melaia try to keep their faith, hope, and love for each other alive. From the land of Windwing horses to the mountaintop lookouts of Stargazers, from the blight-ridden fields of the Camrithian homeland to the night-dark caverns of the Under-Realm, they face the ultimate test: What are they willing to sacrifice to restore the stairway and save their world? Will they lay aside their love for each other? Will they give up their future together?

Book Review: "The Inner City" by Karen Heuler

The Inner City review
Author: Karen Heule
5 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Dark fiction/short stories, anthology
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of the strange, the dark, the macabre, the beautiful

My Thoughts: Usually when I review anthologies I'll put up a list of stories in the books and try to give a bit of info about them, but this particular anthology is all by the same author, so I'll just address the writing. Which is brilliant and creepy. Each of the stories is a brilliant gem, and each has a wonderfully strange or macabre or surprising ending. For those who enjoy the strange, the dark, the weirdly beautiful, these stories are definitely for you. Check this great little anthology out right away.

For more information about this book, please follow this link to see John Scalzi's Big Idea post about this book, which is very good. To purchase the book directly from ChiZine, you can click here (where formatting allowed) or on the cover image.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from ChiZine Publications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I also was part of the cover reveal, and that post can be seen here (linked where formatting allowed).

Synopsis: Heuler’s stories dart out at what the world is doing and centre on how the individual copes with it. Anything is possible: people breed dogs with humans to create a servant class; beneath one great city lies another city, running it surreptitiously; an employee finds that her hair has been stolen by someone intent on getting her job; strange fish fall from trees and birds talk too much; a boy tries to figure out what he can get when the Rapture leaves good stuff behind. Everything is familiar; everything is different. Behind it all, is there some strange kind of design or merely just the chance to adapt? In Heuler’ s stories, characters cope with the strange without thinking it’ s strange, sometimes invested in what’ s going on, sometimes trapped by it, but always finding their own way in.

Review: "The Ripple in Space-Time" by S.F. Chapman

The Ripple in Space-Time by S.F. Chapman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Science Fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of character-driven science fiction.
Trigger Warnings: Violence, piracy, (implied) drug use

Please note: This is also part of a blog tour. A guest post from the author can be seen here on the 15th. A giveaway for this book will start on the 16th and can be viewed here on or after that date. Additionally, this book will be free through a KDP promotion on Amazon from March 1-3, 2013, so if you’re interested in picking up a copy and don’t win through the giveaway, you can pick it up from Amazon then.

My Thoughts: This is set a bit over 400 years in the future on Earth, and things have become quite dismal. I was interested by the idea of the world breaking up into fiefdoms, but would have liked to have explored that a bit more, and had a better understanding of the current setup of the world. Since this is either a short novel or long novella, there probably wasn’t much room to do that, but there were a couple places where information was obviously thrown in for the reader’s information on other things (“Remind me again why you’re called CRAMP?” and “I know you are aware of this, but we are ...” and such like things), so why not a brief geography/history lesson somehow?

The editing on this is really sloppy. The punctuation is a hot mess, and there are missing words and a lot of misused words. I obviously didn’t keep track of them all, but just to give you some examples, “seating” is used for “sitting,” “in route” is used for “en route,” “and “repeal” is used for “repel.” Another instance of misusing a word came up fairly early in the book when something is described as “ubiquitous” in one paragraph and “one of a kind” in the next. Since ubiquitous means “so common it should be expected at any time,” anything that is ubiquitous cannot, by definition, be one of a kind.

For the first half of the book, I was pretty well set on a three-star rating at the most. The first half is sort of slow moving, and I never did feel particularly connected to the characters, but the second half made up for that. The pacing speeds up and I started to have a better feeling about the characters and action. I think fans of character-driven science fiction tales will enjoy this story. I will likely watch for the upcoming sequel to this, and also take a look at some of this author’s other books in the future.

Disclosure: I received a free e-book copy of this book from JKS Communications (the author’s publicists) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Series and Author Information: This is the first book in the Free City Series. The second book, Torn from on High, has not set date for release, but is listed as “coming soon.” This author has another other book available, if you like his style, called I’m Here to Help, which is listed as literary fiction. There are a number of books scheduled for release in addition to the one already listed, so we can look forward to a lot of works from this author.

Synopsis: When the huge lunar Ultra Energy Laboratory is destroyed by a mysterious blast, Inspector Ryo Trop of the Free City Inquisitor's Office is called in to sort out who is responsible for the disaster. Early reports imply that rogue moon miners are to blame, but Ryo quickly discovers that a far more complex and sinister scheme is afoot.

With the help of a promising young Liaison Agent and a faltering Grad student, Ryo searches for clues and culprits in the corrupt and moldering feudal fiefdoms of the Warlords that dominate human affairs in 2445. Ryo’s longtime friend, Biology Professor turned spy Malcolm Evans, suggests that the wave of space piracy that has recently vexed the Solar System could be connected to the obliteration of the lunar lab.

But why would reckless and marauding space raiders have an interest in a research facility?



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Review: "The Magic Wakes" by Charity Bradford

The Magic Wakes review
Author: Charity Bradford
4 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Romance
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of romance, fans of science fantasy, people who enjoy a good story
Book Available: February 19, 2013
Trigger Warnings: Some violence, genocide

My Thoughts: This is a very interesting world that Charity Bradford has created. In many ways it is much like ours, but there are enough differences that it feels exotic. I’m especially impressed by how well this book turned out, since it is her debut novel. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The characters are believable and complex, the world building is terrific, and I really enjoyed the way she blended two of my favorite genres: science fiction and urban fantasy. Plus... dragons! Who doesn’t like dragons, right? There were only a couple things that bothered me, and neither should really bother most other people.

First thing, is that in some ways, there is too much romance in this story for my tastes, including the cliché of love interests reacting to each other with irritation and snappishness without even understanding why. Fortunately there are enough other things going on to hold my interest that it didn’t significantly detract form my enjoyment of the story, and for many people that romance element will probably be the selling point.

The only other thing that really bothered me is that we don’t learn what is planned for the magic users going forward. I’m not certain if this is to be continued in another book, but that one thread dangling is itching at my brain terribly!

However, that wasn’t enough to significantly lessen my enjoyment of the story, and I think most others will agree that this is a very well-written and enjoyable story. I can definitely recommend it if it sounds like something you would enjoy.

I’m also a stop on Charity Bradford’s mini-blog-hop, and you can see that post here.

Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Talia has a secret, one that will save her world and yet rip it apart. Only she can decide if the price is worth it.

Scientist Talia Zaryn has always had visions of an alien invasion and of her own death. She has kept it a secret, hoping they are nothing more than childish nightmares. But when her face in the mirror matches that of her dreams, she fears the dreams are prophetic. Talia must prove that life exists beyond their planet, Sendek; perhaps then people will prepare to fight.

Talia's work at the Space Exploration Foundation leaves no time for personal relationships, but Major Landry Sutton is not looking for a friend. He is looking for a traitor. His ability to sense emotions convinces him Talia is that traitor until a touch sizzles between them. In an instant their minds are connected. Just as the two begin to trust each other, the invading force arrives.

Talia and Landry must uncover the secrets of Sendek’s past if they hope to defeat these terrifying creatures. And Talia is the key—if only she can learn to trust the magic coursing through her veins.

Book review: "The Book of Paul" by Richard Long

The Book of Paul by Richard Long

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: People fascinated with occultism of all stripes, alternate ideas behind spirituality, dark suspenseful stories
Trigger Warnings: Torture, serial killing, explicit sex, (implied) rape, mutilation, betrayal

My Thoughts: This book. Wow, I don’t even know where to begin! I ended the book, shook myself all over, and said, “Oh my GOD!" This book was amazing, mesmerizing, engaging, wonderful... twisted... And I learned more about the more extreme forms of body modifications than I ever really wanted to know (and I thought I was already fairly well-informed... just goes to show you, there is always something weirder out there. Nullification, anyone? That means, “cutting off bits,” if you didn’t know this...). Maybe a good place to begin is here:

“...everything you’ve ever known, everything you’ve ever believed about yourself... about the description of reality you’ve clung to so stubbornly all your life... all of it... every bit of it... is an illusion.” I know I’m repeating the quote from the beginning of the synopsis here (shown below), but it encapsulates the ideas behind this story beautifully.

Something you need to understand about me, to maybe help you understand why I loved this book so very, very much. I love villains. I’ve always loved villains—it all stems from early exposure to the Joker, I think. I root for the villain in superhero comics and cartoons and movies; I love stories where the villain has a good showing. A good villain will just make my entire month. And Paul? He’s an awesome villain. He’s charismatic. He’s joyfully cruel, gleefully evil. He loves to torture people. He’s like Hannibal Lecter if Hannibal Lecter had been kinda stinky, Irish, and not as dashing. Best of all, he’s absolutely convinced of the righteousness of his own actions. Paul... is my ideal sort of villain. I just wanted to follow him around (hiding of course—you don’t want that sort to notice you, after all) and watch everything he did with a sick and morbid fascination.

The ending is a complete spin, and just amazing. I don’t even know what else to say about this book other than you must read it! If you are fascinated with occultism, Hermeticism, the Celts, druids, like dark suspenseful stories... There are some things in this book that will probably distress more sensitive readers, so be sure to check my trigger warnings, but overall? I loved this book, and I am now on tenter-hooks hoping the next will come out soon.


Disclosure: I purchased this book for myself upon the recommendation of Kriss Morton (a death mask may have been involved). All opinions are my own.

Series information: A best-selling novel, The Book of Paul is the first of seven volumes in a sweeping mythological narrative tracing the mystical connections between Hermes Trismegistus in ancient Egypt, Sophia, the female counterpart of Christ, and the Celtic druids of Clan Kelly. The next two books in the series are to be called The Book of Druids and The Bone King.

Synopsis: "Everything you've ever believed about yourself... about the description of reality you've clung to so stubbornly all your life... all of it... every bit of it... is an illusion."

In the rubble-strewn wasteland of Alphabet City, a squalid tenement conceals a treasure "beyond all imagining"—an immaculately preserved, fifth-century codex. The sole repository of ancient Hermetic lore, it contains the alchemical rituals for transforming thought into substance, transmuting matter at will... and attaining eternal life.

When Rose, a sex- and pain-addicted East Village tattoo artist has a torrid encounter with Martin, a battle-hardened loner, they discover they are unwitting pawns on opposing sides of a battle that has shaped the course of human history. At the center of the conflict is Paul, the villainous overlord of an underground feudal society, who guards the book's occult secrets in preparation for the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy.

The action is relentless as Rose and Martin fight to escape Paul's clutches and Martin's destiny as the chosen recipient of Paul's sinister legacy. Science and magic, mythology and technology converge in a monumental battle where the stakes couldn't be higher: control of the ultimate power in the universe—the Maelstrom.




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Review: The Slither Sisters

The Slither Sisters by Charles Gilman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Middle Grade (10 on up)
Recommended for: fans of MG adventure series with Lovecraftian overtones.
Trigger Warnings: Snakes

Disclosure: I bought this book for myself because I so enjoyed Professor Gargoyle, the first book in the series. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension–a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts.  For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina.  Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I just finished re-reading the first book in this fun series, Professor Gargoyle (review linked here where formatting allowed). These are very quick reads, since they’re illustrated and large print on small pages.

Things are becoming weirder at Lovecraft Middle School. Robert is learning a few people he can trust, but there is always treachery lurking where it is least expected. Just brilliant and a lot of fun.

I was a little annoyed by an illustration of a snake with rattles on its tail and fangs when the text was talking about a boa. Boas do not have fangs, and only rattlesnakes have rattles on their tails. That was just sloppy on the part of the illustrator, trying to make the snake look more menacing. Other than that the illustrations were fun; I especially liked the first one in the book, of the principal’s office, with a huge, worried portrait of H.P. Lovecraft himself behind the secretary’s desk. Mr. Loomis, however, looks like just a taller student rather than a teacher in the one toward the back where he is featured. At first I was confused and thought it was Howard Mergler.

If you enjoy a fun adventure with Lovecraftian overtones, you can’t go wrong with this enjoyable middle-grade adventure series. I know I’m eager for the third book in the series, Teacher’s Pest, due out in May 2013! This time I’ll try to be patient to see if it comes out through Vine before I buy it for myself; if I had waited one week, I could have had this one free through Vine, but no, I had to be impatient and buy it myself...



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