Tag Archives: Sci-Fi

Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven – a Review

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Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven – a Review

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Description:
Magic is outlawed in the Krael Empire and punishable by death. Born with the gift of earth magic, the free trader Halani keeps her dangerous secret closely guarded. When her uncle buys a mysterious artifact, a piece of bone belonging to a long-dead draga, Halani knows it’s far more than what it seems.

Dragas haven’t been seen for more than a century, and most believe them extinct. They’re wrong. Dragas still walk among the denizens of the Empire, disguised as humans. Malachus is a draga living on borrowed time. The magic that has protected him will soon turn on him–unless he finds a key part of his heritage. He has tracked it to a group of free traders, among them a grave-robbing earth witch who fascinates him as much as she frustrates him with her many secrets.

Unbeknownst to both, the Empire’s twisted empress searches for a draga of her own, to capture and kill as a trophy. As Malachus the hunter becomes the hunted, Halani must risk herself and all she loves to save him from the Empire’s machinations and his own lethal birthright.

 

 

Review:

Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven is the second book in her Fallen Empire series.  In Dragon Unleashed, the heroes of this story are different than the first book, though in the same world; though we did meet our heroine, Halani, in the first book.  Halani is a healer, as well as having earth magic, which she needs to keep secret, as magic is forbidden.  Halani lives in a trading camp, with her mother, uncle and others she has been with for many years. 

Malachus, our hero, is a draga, desperate to find a mother bone that will allow him to shift to his dragon; if he cannot find the bone, he will die.  Malachus has been hunting for this bone for a long time, and when he arrives by the trading camp, he senses the artifact is close.  He has a vision of Halani and when he sees her by the caravan, he also meets her mother, befriending and charming both of them.  But later that evening, he is attacked by those who have stolen the bone, and it is Halini who will come to his rescue and nurse him back to health. 

Malachus stays in their camp while he recuperates, and in a short time, both Halini and Malachus feel a strong attraction to each other.   They both try to just to be friends, as there is no future, since he will leave as soon as he is better.   Malachus feelings continue to grow, but he discovers the group steals from graves to help make ends meet, and at first, he is very angry, knowing that Halani kept this secret.   But before he could leave, word comes that Asil, Halani’s mother has been kidnapped, and together Malachus and Halani will head to Krael, where the evil Empress Dalvila resides.  It is here that Malachus will come close to his mother bone; will he survive the evil Empress?

The first 1/3 or so of the book was a bit slow, but it picked up and the last 2/3 was a wild, action-packed, exciting adventure.  Malachus was a great hero, not only strong, tough, but very tender with Halani, and made friends with the other men in the camp.  I loved Halani, as she made a great heroine, being a healer, and her earth magic made her great.  I really loved them both together.   Will Malachus leave or find a way to stay with Halani?

I loved how when things were bleak, and the Empress was set on destroying both of them, Halani utilized her powers to try and save Malachus; she really was amazing.  Malachus was also a great hero, as he suffered horrible cruelty as a captive of the Empire. Dragon  Unleashed was an  excellently written fantasy that  had  a bit of everything from wonderful heroes, romance, danger, cruelty, great characters and an exciting adventure all the way through; especially the last 1/3 of the book; not to mention the delightful end.  If you enjoy fantasy, I suggest you start with Dragon Unleashed.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth – a Review

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Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth – a Review

 

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Description:
A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

 

 

Review:

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth is the first book in her The Chosen Ones series.  Having just finished reading the book, I was happy about how it all ended; thinking it read very well as a standalone; however now I see it is a series, which I will be reading, but I am curious how Roth will continue.

We meet our 5 heroes, who 10 years earlier, were the Chosen Ones who as teenagers, defeated an evil enemy called the ‘Dark One’,  terrorizing the world with death and destruction.  They were idolized by the world, and now they gather for the 10th anniversary celebration of when they saved the world.  Matt was always considered the leader, with Sloane, Albie, Esther and Ines as part of the team. Part 1 of the book revolves around how all 5 are coping, with each reacting differently.  Matt and Esther enjoy the accolades and are happy in the social media world.  Albie has PSTD and has a hard time, and Ines tries to keep her life private. The story centers mostly on Sloane, as she still suffers from panic attacks from when she had been captured by the Dark One, but though she comes across as angry and sarcastic, she is a tough, smart and independent badass. 

Before the celebration, they government calls them in to review a possible new weapon, which will cause one of the 5 to kill himself.  At the funeral ceremony, everything changes, as Matt, Esther and Sloane are pulled into another parallel universe, which is the start of Part 2.  The three of them learn that they have been chosen to help this universe fight off another evil villain, and unless they find a way to kill him, they will never return home to their own universe.  In this world, which is a little similar to their own, but filled with magic.  The leaders of this new universe are desperate for help, and work on training them on using magical siphons to enhance their powers, to enable them to be ready when they need to fight the new Dark One.

Part 2 ups the ante, with more excitement, new characters, parallel dimension and a different enemy, who has built an army of walking dead.  Whereas, Matt and Esther relish learning how to use the magic, Sloane tends to be on her own, learning everything about this world; she has never been happy, and comes across as secretive and impulsive. But when push comes to shove, she will be the one who will do anything to protect her friends, and she makes a horrifying discovery that totally changes the game.  I really did like Mox, someone she meets at a museum and a bar, as well as his friend, Ziva.  

In Part 3, Sloane will step up to discover the truth, and use her own unused powers to stop and fight the Dark One, as we raced to the wild climax in the last 1/3 of the book.  Roth does pull a few surprise twists. Extremely exciting, intense, action filled, with us holding our breaths, as we discover who the real culprit is.   I cannot tell too much more, as it would be spoilers and ruin it for you. 

Chosen Ones was very well written by Veronica Roth, which had a satisfying ending. The world building in this multidimensional world was very good; as well as exciting and actually a fun read. Now that I know there is going to be another book, I look forward to see what Roth has in store for us. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Sleepwater Static by Kathrin Hutson – a Review

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Sleepwater Static by Kathrin Hutson – a Review

 

Sleepwater Static
Blue Helix series – Book 2
Release Date: May 26, 2020

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Description:
They say home is where the heart is. Now that Sleepwater’s on the run, home is just another place to hide.

Wyoming’s Sleepwater chapter is on the run, hunted for their ability to spin a beat. With little time to mourn the members they’ve lost, Bernadette Manney takes the group to the one place she swore she’d never see again: the cabin in Hollywood, South Carolina. It’s remote enough to lay low and catch a break, but not for long.

Their beats are condemned as mutations, radical terrorist tactics, and felonies punishable both by and outside the law. Bernadette thought Sleepwater would be safe here, but returning to her Southern roots unleashes more demons than she left behind. Her past, her love, and even her own flesh and blood won’t let her move on through a venomous society intent on rooting out her people. Now, to bring a mother’s first child safely into an unsafe world, Bernadette must face her own shame from before Sleepwater itself was born. But redemption and forgiveness may be too much to ask, and it may just be too late.

 

Review: 

Sleepwater Static by Kathrin Hutson is the second book in her Blue Helix series. We met Bernadette in the last book, she’s one of the original members of the group. They are now on the run, the government want them, the public don’t understand them, and they don’t understand what’s going on themselves.  You don’t need to read the first book, but it does help. There is lots going on in the first book that will put stuff into perspective. 

Again this book jumps from past to present, this time showing us Bernadette’s story, I liked the messages from her friend, it actually filled in a few questions, without going into too much detail. We get the why she left South Carolina, what her ability or “beat” is and why she is the way she is……

It’s been six months since the last book. They are on the run from the government facility that captured a few of them. The Doctor that captured them did something to them, something terrible and half of the group will never be the same again. Sadness fills the air, losing friends that feel like family hurts them all. But Bernadette has a job to do, she needs to get them to safety, her family cabin seems like the best option. 

I have to admit I did like the first book better. But this one had its own good points. You expect a main character to be young, well Bernadette isn’t, she’s not a young woman, she’s not even middle aged, she’s an elderly woman with arthritis!!! 

She’s seen a lot in her time, a bully for a father, a jealous sister, a club owner who took advantage of her gift, friends who turned on her. But the turning point was when she turned her gift on her daughter!! She couldn’t take the guilt, and so Bernadette ran, and never stopped running. She’s collected strangers along the way, turning them into a family of sorts. We also catch up with a few old friends from the previous book, and a few surprises along the way. 

I really like Bernadette, she’s a very complex character, a hard life made easier with a few wonderful years, then given a second chance with her new family. She also comes into contact with her old family, how will she react with that? 

The ending definitely ended a little abrupt, so I’m hoping it’s not the end. 

Description:
They say the pen is mightier than the sword. In Sleepwater’s world, words are literally more powerful than bullets.

Leo could always make people believe anything she says—really believe. When her chest burns and the words come from her mouth, her targets’ eyes glaze over, they forget their own thoughts, and they’ll do anything she says. It’s what keeps her alive after being on the run and living on the streets for years. But after using it on her girlfriend and her dad’s drug dealer, it’s
also what got her here on the streets in the first place.

Then Sleepwater finds her. When Leo discovers there are others out there with similar powers, scattered across the country, she can’t say no to the underground organization. After all, what’s a little sit-down with the only people who may ever understand her? What she doesn’t expect is to be thrust into Sleepwater’s guerrilla war, hunted by government agencies, and used as a weapon. Worse than that, she might be more valuable not for what she can do but for who she was before they found her.

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Review:  Sleepwater Beat by Katrin Hutson is the 1st book in her Blue Helix series.  Leo can persuade people to see things her way, convince others they didn’t see it, or that they imagined it a different way. Living on the streets has taught her a few things, suspicion is one of them. So when a random man takes her in, she readily accepted the offer. (I was surprised she wasn’t more resistant, but could a spinner be making her mind up?).

To be honest, I think Leo was looking for a connection, maybe even someone to care about her. And when she gets a job spinning stories and illusions, Leo thinks she’s found a home…..

We do jump from past to present a lot, and it does take a little getting used to. But persevere, it’s well worth the read. I think it’s more of a thriller, the other “beat spinners” are hiding something, so it makes me wonder what they are really planning. They seem to know more about Leo than they are letting on.

The way I see the beat spinners are a type of hypnosis, the suggestion is in their voice, they can weave you into the story, so you think you are there. This reminds me of  the X-Men, people that are different from humans, in hiding from the rest of the world, scared to show their true selves. (But it didn’t use to be like that, now it’s illegal). But they also need to hide, wealthy people want them as “pets”, to show their abilities in clubs and private homes, the spinners are forming resistance groups, targeting drugs companies (this is one of the reasons why Leo leaves home) there are a few surprises that kept me reading. The ending didn’t stop on a cliffhanger, but it does leave a few unanswered questions.

The story is dark, Leo has had many knock backs in her life, her mother abandoning her, her father dying of an overdose, living on the streets. So I did understand where she was coming from, always wary, always angry. Sleepwater gave her another chance at a normal life, but she had to earn her way in, and I did find that a little hard going (it seemed as the rest of the group were always laughing behind her back). But there is something going on in the background, I get a feeling that the death of her father, the drug he was using and the Sleepwater beat spinners are all connected. You’ll have to read the book to see if I’m right?

I liked how all the people seemed to be lost, and Karl and Bernadette were bringing them all together. Each person had a different ability, no one seems immune. The voice seeps inside your soul and the mind brings it into focus. I think this borders on adult rather than young adult. There are a few moments in the book I felt aren’t suitable for the market it’s aimed for.

But I did enjoy it, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

 

Reviewed by Julie B

Copies upplied for review

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Angelika Leanne by M.A. Abraham – a Review

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Angelika Leanne by M.A. Abraham – a Review

 

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Description:
Angelika moved to the land beyond the portal when she was only sixteen and has lived with Tyndal for four years. She has been successful, but misses her people as well as her home world. Despite this, she is happy in her work.

With the intention of bringing Tyndal back home to the Valley, Ravel and his brother, Rafe, journey to the outside world. She is needed at home, it is time for her to take her place in their society. It is Rafe’s hope that he will catch her interest and return as his wife. It is, however, not to be, as with one kiss, Ravel realizes that she belongs to him. He will fight anyone that gets in his way, even his brother. How can he get her to come back willingly though?

Forced to go to Ravel’s help, Angelika’s family travels to Tyndal’s home and the fun begins. It takes the female members to track her down, and then, much to the dismay of the men, they decide to indulge in their idea of having a good time before they leave for home. The problem with this is that it does not involve the men. How are they to not only find their wives, but get them to go home peacefully after they have been allowed to run wild in this world?

 

 

Review:

Angelika Leanne by M.A. Abraham is the 3rd book in her Daughters of the Valley series.  Angelika, our heroine, moved out of the valley through the portal when she was 16 years old, feeling neglected by her family and issues with her sister.    She stays with her godmother, Tyndal and becomes a major success in creating bakeries. 

Both Rafe and Ravel decide they need Angelika to return home, where her abilities are required, as she reaches her powerful  destiny.  Rafe will realize quickly that Ravel is the one who will mate with Angelika, as their bond is apparent.  Though she feels their attraction, she wants nothing to do with Ravel, and spends most of her time at her bakeries.  Ravel, despite his determination to win Angelika, will have his hands full, even to the point of giving up.

It was nice to see the family and previous heroes return (Teryka, Merika, Riven, Tyrus, etc)  as they try to help Ravel and Tyndal to bring Angelika back.  In the last book, when Teryka (Angelika’s mother) was the heroine, she worked for an evil film producer, and eventually escaped back home to the Valley. It is this same producer who wants to find the portal, hoping to gain immortality.  He is a very powerful and evil man, who will stop at nothing to get his way.  He hires people to kidnap Angelika, and the last half of the book becomes a bit more exciting, though the shenanigans of the wives against their husbands was fun.

What follows is a wonderful fun and exciting story, with a nice romance of two people determined to fight their destiny.  I really enjoyed seeing all the wonderful characters Abraham has given us, as well as Ravel and Angelika.  This is a story that you need to read and enjoy, so giving too much information would ruin it.  M.A. Abraham once again gives us a sweet lighthearted story line, and dangerous excitement.  I suggest you read Angelika Leanne.  It was a fun read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy – Review & Guest Post

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The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy – Review & Guest Post

 

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Description:
Following The Orchid Throne, Conri and Lia’s marriage of convenience has turned into an uneasy alliance. If only the two leaders could agree on something. Driven by revenge, Conri wants to attack Emperor Anure before the tyrant gets to them first. But Lia needs to keep Calanthe safe, and refuses to sacrifice her kingdom. Their ongoing battle for control has built up tension they’re both more than happy to release in bed, the only place where they find common ground. But Conri and Lia are developing deeper feelings for each other that are complicating matters. In the second book in the Forgotten Empires trilogy, Conri and Lia find their loyalties torn, and with Emperor Anure’s threat growing, will they be able to risk everything with each other before it’s too late?

 

 

Review:

The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy is the 2nd book in her Forgotten Empires series.  The story picks up immediately following the ending of the first book, The Orchid Throne.  Lia and Conri are now married, and though they are both attracted to each other, especially in bed; they both have their own differences how to move forward to fight the evil Emperor Anure.   Conri continues to want vengeance against Anure, who destroyed his home (Oriel) and his family.   Lia, knowing that Anure wants her and her powerful Orchid ring, is determined to keep Calanthe safe, even if it means her life.  The two of them continually argue over what is best, though when it’s bedtime, their sizzling chemistry takes over.

With word passed on to Anure about the marriage, he is now bent on coming to Calanthe to take the Queen, even if she is now ‘spoiled’.  Despite his unbending determination to enact his vengeance against the emperor at any cost, Conri begins to have strong feelings for Lia, though using her as bait, could cost her life.  Lia, is a fantastic heroine, who is tougher than she looks, and her bravery, especially nearer to the end was amazing. Slowly, she reveals a little bit throughout the book about her magic (she is an elemental), especially why there can be no blood on Calanthe.  A surprise twist here. 

What follows is a fantastic fantasy set in a world of magic, a flower island, and queen who puts her island first. The Fiery Crown is a much faster paced story line, with a lot of plotting and plans early on, and then the last half of the book was nonstop action, tense fighting, some of which held my breath. I will say that some torture scenes were painful to read.  Besides Lia and Conri, Kennedy created some wonderful characters, including Ambrose, Sonia, Ibolya, Kara, Raven, Vesno, just to name a few. 

To tell too much more would be spoilers, and I do not want to ruin this book for you.  You need to read and enjoy every moment.  Jeffe Kennedy did a masterful job writing this story, and I for one cannot wait for the final book in this trilogy.  If you enjoy fantasy, romance, great couple, wonderful characters, including an evil villain, you should be reading The Fiery Crown.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Writing from Two Different Viewpoints by Jeffe Kennedy

When I began writing the early drafts of THE ORCHID THRONE, I thought of it as Lia’s story. I wrote it in first person point of view (POV) because it was her tale to tell, the perspective of an embattled queen awaiting the arrival of a dread enemy upon her shores. I knew Con first as only “the Slave King” in my mind, this brutal rebel who Lia would have to battle. In fact, I titled my first working draft “The Slave King and the Flower Queen,” which pretty much sums up the story right there.

Then I showed the first fifty or so pages to my agent, Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary Agency, and Sarah loved it—yay!—but she also wanted moar Con. She suggested that I write alternating chapters from his POV, to give us more of his side of the story.

Okay then! So I began writing Con’s chapters, detailing the events that led up to him arriving on the shores of Calanthe. I wrote them in third person POV, to distinguish his voice from Lia’s. I wrote about a hundred pages of the book that way and we sold the Forgotten Empires trilogy to St. Martin’s Press based on those pages.

Before I finished writing the book, I asked my editor, Jennie Conway, if she had any early editorial input before I went any farther. Guess what? She wanted even moar Con. Jennie suggested that I write Con in first person POV too, so we’d grow to know him as well as Lia.

Let me tell you, folks—no matter what anyone claims—changing a POV from third to first person takes a great deal of work. It’s not a matter of changing pronouns. I ended up rewriting all of Con’s chapters, and writing from inside his head did change things drastically. While it wasn’t always easy—and I sometimes had to fix it in edits—I tried to differentiate their voices by keeping Lia eloquent and intellectual, while Con is more working man and staccato.

By the time I came around to writing the sequel, THE FIERY CROWN, I had the rhythm of writing Con and Lia’s perspectives. And, of course, now I can’t imagine the series being told any other way. I love going back and forth between their perception of events—and their struggles to understand each other. THE FIERY CROWN is a story about the personal war they’re engaged in with one another as much as the greater battle they’re facing. Their conversations are like sword fights in my head: with Con swinging his heavy two-handed blade and Lia delicately and precisely wielding her rapier wit.

Between the two of them, they just might save the world. If they don’t kill each other first.

 

Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author whose works include novels, non-fiction, poetry, and short fiction. She has won the prestigious RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America (RWA), has been a finalist twice, been a Ucross Foundation Fellow, received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship for Poetry, and was awarded a Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) as a Director at Large.

Her award-winning fantasy romance trilogy The Twelve Kingdoms hit the shelves starting in May 2014. Book 1, The Mark of the Tala, received a starred Library Journal review and was nominated for the RT Book of the Year while the sequel, The Tears of the Rose received a Top Pick Gold and was nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2014. The third book, The Talon of the Hawk, won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2015. Two more books followed in this world, beginning the spin-off series The Uncharted Realms. Book one in that series, The Pages of the Mind, was nominated for the RT Reviewer’s Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2016 and won RWA’s 2017 RITA Award. The second book, The Edge of the Blade, released December 27, 2016, and was a PRISM finalist, along with The Pages of the Mind. The final book in the series, The Fate of the Tala, will be out in January 2020. A high fantasy trilogy, The Chronicles of Dasnaria, taking place in The Twelve Kingdoms world began releasing from Rebel Base books in 2018. The novella, The Dragons of Summer, first appearing in the Seasons of Sorcery anthology, finaled for the 2019 RITA Award.

She also introduced a new fantasy romance series, Sorcerous Moons, which includes Lonen’s War, Oria’s Gambit, The Tides of Bàra, The Forests of Dru, Oria’s Enchantment, and Lonen’s Reign. She’s begun releasing a new contemporary erotic romance series, Missed Connections, which started with Last Dance and continues in With a Prince and Since Last Christmas.

In September 2019, St. Martins Press released The Orchid Throne, the first book in a new romantic fantasy series, The Forgotten Empires. The sequel, The Fiery Crown, will follow in May 2020.

Her other works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns; the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion; an erotic contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera; and the erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under, which includes Going Under, Under His Touch and Under Contract.

She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the popular SFF Seven blog, on Facebook, on Goodreads and pretty much constantly on Twitter @jeffekennedy. She is represented by Sarah Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

http://jeffekennedy.com
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Jeffe.Kennedy
https://twitter.com/jeffekennedy
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1014374.Jeffe_Kennedy

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Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – a Review

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Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – a Review

 

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Description:
Protecting her identity means life or death in this immersive epic fantasy inspired by the Mughal Empire.

In a different life, under a different name, Razia Khan was raised to be the Crown Prince of Nizam, the most powerful kingdom in Daryastan. Born with the soul of a woman, she ran away at a young age to escape her father’s hatred and live life true to herself.

Amongst the hijras of Bikampur, Razia finds sisterhood and discovers a new purpose in life. By day she’s one of her dera’s finest dancers, and by night its most profitable thief. But when her latest target leads her to cross paths with Arjun Agnivansha, Prince of Bikampur, it is she who has something stolen.

An immediate connection with the prince changes Razia’s life forever, and she finds herself embroiled in a dangerous political war. The stakes are greater than any heist she’s ever performed. When the battle brings her face to face with her father, Razia has the chance to reclaim everything she lost…and save her prince.

 

 

Review:

Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden is the first book in her new fantasy series with the same title.  When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but upon completion of this story, I am happy to say Stealing Thunder was an excellent read.  The story did start a bit slow, which is normal for any worldbuilding in fantasy; but the second half was very exciting and awesome. 

Razia Khan is our heroine throughout the entire book, and she is a trans gender woman, who gave up life as a crown prince to live her life as a woman.  Razia escaped from her evil father, to become a hijras in Bikampur, where she lives with other girls who are dancers, some also being transgenders.  She is one of the finest dancers, a courtesan, as well as being a thief to help her leader pay bills.   Over time, Razia has become the best at everything she does.

During one of her performances, Razia meets Prince Arjun and both become attracted to each other, as they begin to spend a lot of time together.  He also discovers that she is stealing expensive items for her leader, and arranges for her to leave her dera, bringing along two of her ‘sisters’ to become his concubine.   When Razia left her family, she missed her zahhak (dragon) and Arjun allows her to ride his zahhak, bringing back her memories of her long lost dragon,  Sultana.  When Razia goes to live with Arjun’s family, his father puts her down, even though his son cares for her, but with war on the horizon against a powerful enemy, Arjun’s father will quickly change his tune.  Razia’s background as the young heir to the family throne, gives her amazing knowledge and skills that will push her into the forefront of this war.  Those who look down on her, such as Arjun’s father, her cousin, and others, will begin to see how smart she is, as well as being able to know how to stop and defeat their enemies. 

I loved how Razia finds her lost dragon, Sultana, and uses her abilities to climb a mountain, and get the help they need to defeat the enemy.   But that will bring her face to face with her father, who is determined to kill her.  Can Razia be able to use her savvy, smarts and Sultana to help her win the battle for her life?  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and you really need to read and enjoy the wild and climatic ending.   

The last half of Stealing Thunder was very exciting, nonstop action, with flying dragons, aerial battles, and a heroine who stood up to the challenge.  This was also a sweet romance, as I did like Razia and Arjun together.  Alina Boyden did a great job writing this wonderful fantasy, and I for one cannot wait for the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell – a Review

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The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell – a Review

 

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Description:
Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king’s nine-year-old son, by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family.

In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom’s royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia.

What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it.

 

 

Review:

The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell is the first book in his new fantasy series, The Legacy of the Mercenary King.  I had some mixed feelings about this book, but since this is Martell’s debut novel, and considering this is an epic fantasy, it was a well written story.

Michael Kingman is our hero in this series, though in the first half of the book, he wasn’t a good hero, being somewhat unlikeable.  Michael, whose father murdered the King’s son 10 years earlier, has lived with his family branded as traitors.  Michael works with friends to con royals to make ends meet.  Michael is determined to prove that his father was innocent and framed; he pushes his way into situations that endanger himself and his friends. The story did begin with Michael on trial for supposedly killing the King, and it then switches to the past, detailing how Michael ended up being accused of murder.

In order to get closer to the royal family, he helps a Fabricator, who is looking for evidence and in doing so becomes more visible, especially to the Corrupt Prince, who wants nothing better than to have Michael killed.  In any first book of a fantasy, I recognize the author trying to give us a lot of information of the worldbuilding.  My mixed feelings were more that the first half was a bit slow, the hero wasn’t overly likable, the secondary characters were ok, and the storyline was somewhat confusing with each chapter.  I wasn’t sure I would continue.  However, I am glad I did, as the last half of the book picked up, with a bit more clarity, and excitement and the hero becoming more focused.

We learn more later in the book about Fabricators and their magic, as well as Mercenaries.   I also did like Michael’s sister, Gwen, who was a heroine in her own right; and Naomi was another interesting character.  This is a difficult review to write, as so much is going on from the start to finish that is hard to put in writing without being spoilers. 

The Kingdom of Liars was an interesting fantasy, that became exciting and intriguing in the last half of the book.   The finale was a surprise, and did have me pushing to find out the end. Being fantasy, Nick Martell wrote a good story, especially being his debut novel, which I expect to see some improvements in the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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HE MIGHT STILL BE ON MARS by Paul Dalzell-a review

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HE MIGHT STILL BE ON MARS by Paul Dalzell-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N paper/

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 24, 2020

He Might Still Be On Mars is a thriller set in the latter years of the 26th Century. Mankind has spread out into the rocky planets of the Solar System and the rocky moons of the Gas Giants such as Jupiter and Saturn. Despite light speed and near light speed travel, the number of people emigrating to these new worlds is in the doldrums.
This lack of enthusiasm is driven primarily by the savagery of raids by pirate chief, Wilson Black. Powerful politician and scientist, Stella Ling, sends Owen Bone and his Synthetic partner Sandi Shaw on a manhunt for an absconded husband, Freddie Ling. This is camouflage for a plan to eliminate Wilson Black. Owen and Sandi are subject to terrifying injuries and stresses that test what it means to be human and Synth. In overcoming these challenges, they find help in the most unlikely places, leading to a showdown with Black in the frozen remote taiga forest of Siberia.

••••••••

REVIEW: HE MIGHT STILL BE ON MARS by Paul Dalzell is an adult, sci-fi stand alone story of suspense focusing on galactic bounty hunter Owen Bone, and his synthetic partner (synth), an artificial intelligence being named Sandi Shaw.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line content, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Owen Bone) HE MIGHT STILL BE ON MARS is set in the year 2586 wherein millions of people have emigrated to a number of the planets in the solar system, planets that have been augmented to sustain human life but like present day Earth, there remains the political wars, racial tension, specieism, classism, discrimination, and evil that break the laws, and perpetrate heinous crimes upon innocent victims. Owen Bone is a renowned bounty hunter who has been hired by the wife of a missing Chinese billionaire but our hero will soon discover his real target is an intergalactic space pirate, a cyborg whose methods are dangerous and often fatal. As Owen begins his hunt for Wilson Black, our hero will amass a posse of powerful politicians, scientists, thieves, hunters and his own band of pirates in an effort to stop the man who intends to stop them all.

HE MIGHT STILL BE ON MARS is a slow building story in which we are witness to the numerous attacks against Owen Bone; his ill-fated capture, imprisonment and eventual rescue; and his dogged determination to take down Wilson Black. From Mars to the frozen tundra of Siberia, Russia HE MIGHT STILL BE ON MARS pulls the reader into a galactic journey; a hunt and rescue; a take down and capture; a story of love, life (artificial, real or a combination thereof): revelations and retribution; a little bit of Star Wars ala Han Solo episodes 4, 5, & 6 😉 , Star Trek Total Recall and Babylon 5. There is plenty of scientific and fictional terminology-prepare to be transported to a world that is but a dream – or- nightmare  away.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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