bookreview

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Book Review – The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies

Find it on Amazon

Amazing Worldbuilding and Beautifully Flawed Characters

5 Stars

I’m going to try to keep this review spoilers free.

Trudie builds a world as unique as they come in my recent memory. She constructs the City of Chime, a central realm connected to the 12 God ruled realms via a gate near its central clock tower. Each domain, and its associated Deific ruler, share traits and unique abilities: from skin color and mannerisms, to magical abilities. I won’t detail them all, but I am particularly fond of the Diviner with their control of Time itself, and the Ember’s just general personality regarding taking pleasure in life – besides, who wouldn’t want to be able to throw fireballs.

The story centers around a Vesper named Kayl and her friends, the Godless, as they try to protect the downtrodden citizens of Chime’s underbelly from the wrath of their tithe demanding Gods. When the aether that powers Chime begins to fluctuate out of control. the Godless are dragged into something far bigger than they anticipated.

A richly detailed, unique world coupled with deep characters who are realistic in their strengths and weaknesses. This is the start of a great series and I’m definitely eager to for the next book to be released.

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Book Review – Re: Camelot Part One: The Descendant of the King by E.C. Fisher

recamelotECFisher

Re: Camelot Part One: The Descendant of the King
E.C. Fisher
5 Stars

King Arthur is one of my favorite literary legends. I’ve read lots of variations and this one delivers on so many levels. Potentially spoilerish comments follow.

Young Arthur is an orphan and outcast at the private school his guardian sent him to. That all changes when he walks through a door and finds himself on the planet of Avalon. He quickly learns that not only is Avalon the birthplace of the real life King Arthur and Merlin stories he grew up on, but that he himself is a descendant of King Arthur.

Darkness of old has returned to threaten the kingdoms of Avalon and Arthur is the only one who can wield Excalibur to defeat it. Now he must race to reunite Excalibur with the sacred weapons used by the original Knights of the Round Table.

The only negative I have about this story is I need the next installment. Like, really must have it.

Grab your copy on Amazon now.

You can check out my interview with E.C. Fisher here.

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Book Review – Hatching the Phoenix Egg by Joel Horn

Hatching The Phoenix Egg

(Mare Tranquillitatis Series Book 2)

Joel Horn

5 Stars

Joel Horn takes his precocious band of misfit geniuses from ”Lost Coast Rocket” (see my review here) to the next level in this exciting sequel. I always try to stay spoiler free in my reviews but…

A trip to Jupiter, epic science, world ending comet, and a trip home nearly missed while his own government decides to take him out of the sky. Top this off with a deeply held secret finally revealed to his true love (aside from the science of course)…

Life’s never been so precious, or complicated, for Ken O’Brien.

If you enjoyed “Lost Coast Rocket”, you should pick up this sequel right away.

Find it on Amazon.

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Book Review – The Dandelion Farmer by Mathew McCall

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The Dandelion Farmer
Mathew McCall
4 Stars

Well, my Gentle Readers, Mathew McCall delivers an interesting view on Mars Colonization through his novel, “The Dandelion Farmer“.

The story centers on one, L. Edwin Ransom, the self professed Dandelion Farmer, and an incident with evil millionaire mogul, Du Maurier. Du Maurier has a strange interest in Ransom’s little farming operation, but is it greed? Or something deeper? The planet Mars has seen its share of bloodshed when the peoples of Earth came calling upon its longtime denizens. An uneasy peace has held for a couple of decades since the Tellurians (Earth people on Mars), broke free of their Earthbound governments to establish their own rule. This peace is tenuous at best and the ever present threat of more war keeps everyone on edge. When Du Maurier’s threats escalate into more violent attempts upon the life of Ransom and his people, he heads to his father-in-law’s home where he is caught up in the man’s quest to find out what happened to the Aresians (original settlers of Mars who disappeared after years of war witht he Tellurians).

McCall fashions this world and the storytelling as a collection of letters, journal entries, telegraphs, and excerpts from historical texts. This means sometimes telling the same scene from different perspectives. Some readers may find this tedious, but it does provide insights into the personalities of the various characters. Some of the more historical records included could probably have been trimmed or cut out for sake of keeping the action going, but they allow the reader to see the depth to which McCall has developed the setting he created his story within. Of particular interest to me was the character of Adam Franklin and later, Aelita: an Aresian who grew up in Tellurian society after she was orphaned during the war.

I won’t hold back here. This is a long read with some dry parts (the aforementioned historical texts for one). The overall story though is intriguing. McCall leaves you wanting to finish the chase to discover the Aresians, and see Du Maurier get his just rewards along the way.

Grab your copy on Amazon now if you’re ready to join the Dandelion Farmer on his quest.

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Book Review – Marked by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia #4)

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Marked (Running Toward Illumia #4)
Angel Leya
5 Stars

This installment of Running Toward Illumia brings Astrea and her friends through dragon infested tunnels to a waiting ambush, culminating in her first confrontation with Xia, the Dragonfae, and current Mouthpiece of the Mythics. Astrea must face the trial designed for moon elves in order to become the Mouthpiece. If she survives, she will only have a multitude of races depending on her, and an angry half-blood whose power and seat on the Council she usurped. Overcoming her lineage is only one problem she faces in Illumia.

Angel Leya has dragged me headlong through this series as I couldn’t put them down. Now, I have to wait for part 5 to find out what happens next. Grab this series now so you are ready for part 5 when it releases.

Marked on Amazon

Links to my reviews of the other parts of this series.
Book Review: Banned by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia Book 1)
Book Review: Lost by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia 2)
Book Review – Drenched by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia #3)

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Book Review – Drenched by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia #3)

drenched
Drenched (Running Toward Illumia #3)
Angel Leya
5 Stars

I am rushing headlong through this series and you should too. Astrea is approaching her destination with her companions: the unicorn, Windmane and the elf, Gander. Secrets are revealed and Astrea is struggling to reconcile her origins with her present state. The fog is compounded by a constant drizzle that only seems to darken the hopes and mood of her little party. Windmane and Gander are constantly at each other’s throats, while Astrea tries to sort out the strange attraction she has for the elf. As they draw nearer to Illumia, Astrea is worried over what will happen to her once she reaches the city.

 

Grab your copy on Amazon today. Don’t forget to check out Angel Leya’s website.

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Book Review: Lost by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia 2)

Lost (Running Toward Illumia 2)
Angel Leya
5 Stars

Angel does it again in this installment of her Running Toward Illumia series. The tension mounts as Astrea and Windmane race to get to Illumia before time runs out. Along for the ride is an elf named Gander. The trio all hold secrets they refuse to share with the others and several times it seems the conflict will come to a point (literally, as there is a unicorn involved here.) By the end, Astrea gets some of the answers she seeks, but are they worth it?

Come find out for youself when you pick up Book 2 of Running Toward Illumia.

Angel Leya’s website

Lost (Running Toward Illumia #2) on Amazon

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Book Review: Banned by Angel Leya (Running Toward Illumia Book 1)

Banned
(Running Toward Illumia 1)
Angel Leya
5 Stars

You need to grab this book now and start a magical journey with the talented Angel Leya.

Astrea is an outcast amongst outcasts, the Banned. Her lack of red hair and freckles, a trait that seems to protect them in the mists of their forest home, make her stand out when all she wants to do is fit in. The forests of her home are lacking in sustenance of late, creating a real fear of famine and starvation. When Astrea spots a unicorn in the forest, she’s thinking it’s her lucky day. But, what if killing such a majestic creature brings about a worse curse then starvation?

Come get your feet wet with this quick trip into the latest realm from a talented writer. I’ll be quickly moving on to the next book in the series.

Banned on Amazon

Angel Leya’s Website

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Book Review – Trading Darkness: A Dark Fairytale by Lisa Hofmann

Trading Darkness : A Dark Fairytale
Lisa Hofmann
5 Stars

My Gentle Readers, Lisa Hofmann delivers on all counts in her novel, “Trading Darkness : A Dark Fairytale”. She gives us love and betrayal, magic of many kinds, and the classic dichotomy of light and darkness.

Our story begins with a realm gripped by witch hunting madness and poor Agnes is caught in the middle. She makes a deal with a demonic power in order to try and save her family, but the demon has designs of its own.

The Blackvale familial lands of Wildenburg have a dark secret, and younger brother Gregory is about to find out just what his family’s prosperity costs. When his older brother refuses to see through his end of the pact with the Century Demon that protects their tiny fiefdom, Gregory faces a difficult decision. He must choose one of his twin daughters to sacrifice to the demon. Lose one, or lose everything as his brother so recently discovered.

Gregory gives up Louisa, but then spends the rest of his life and his sanity trying to discover if she lives. He even goes so far as to make a deal with the Immortal Wishmaster, who hides his own dark past.

Lisa weaves these characters together in such a way that you’ll be deep into the book before you realize it. She draws you into this world and makes you care about each character, even the ones you should dislike. Gregory, the father who had to make the most impossible choice. The Wishmaster, bound to balance his own light and darkness within. The Century Demon, wholly given over to revenge, even has a past that makes her bitterness understandable.

I’m so glad I picked this up and will be keeping my eye out for more from Lisa.

Grab your copy on Amazon now.

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Book Review – Land of The Free by Michael Huard

landofthefree

Land of The Free
(Mystical Slayers Book 1)
Michael W. Huard
3.5 Stars

Today, my Gentle Readers, I have a futuristic post apocalyptic story for you to check out. I enjoyed this book and recommend it, but with a few disclaimers.

Huard has built us a world where in the wake of widespread destruction and warfare, a corporation has arisen to take over all important aspects of our lives. The rich get richer and the poorer, well, maybe they live something akin to a life. To the average person, the American Dream is beyond dead. Enter the Q-Jin, the Mystical Slayers: a group of genetically, chemically, and in some cases cybernetically enhanced women with elite martial arts training across a spectrum of disciplines. Their mission is to return America to the great country it was and bring down Y-Wood Corporation.

Sounds exciting right? And it is. Huard delivers a diverse cast of women with their own unique styles and quirks, bonded by their sisterhood’s ideals and philosophy. The fight scenes are well described and, to my limited knowledge of such things, accurately portrayed. The one difficulty one may have with this cast is the hopping about from character to character is reminiscent of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, but not quite as long between jumps.

For me, the detractors center on two things. First is a constant repetition of the Q-Jin being the Mystical Slayers, being dedicated to bringing back America’s greatness. This seems to happen almost every time the focus shifts from one character to another. After the information drop in the opening chapters, it should be readily clear to all readers and not need repeating as often as it was. It seems like word count padding that pulls away from the driving action of the women’s battle against Y-Wood. Second are scenes that seem superfluous and don’t really drive the plot or provide a clear character development device. I don’t like to post spoilers, but suffice to say there were scenes that I don’t think would have been missed if they weren’t there.

Overall this was a delightful read with some really great fight scenes and a diverse cast of strong female characters. Don’t know if I would recommend it for kids, but late teens should be able to handle the violence and suggestive themes.

Find it on Amazon