Tag Archives: Sci-Fi

Zorak (Lunar Uprising 1) by Cyndi Friberg-a review

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Zorak (Lunar Uprising 1) by Cyndi Friberg-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 18, 2021

When Cat’s father is kidnapped by her alien boss she turns to Zorak, one of the mysterious lunar raiders “cultivated” by the aliens to protect Earth. Cat isn’t sure she can trust Zorak, but she has nowhere else to turn. Lunar raiders are ruthless hybrids created for war, so why does Zorak make her feel safe? She has never been so intensely attracted to anyone before and has a hard time believing her feelings are real. They’re surrounded by conflict and deceit, and Cat’s father isn’t the only one in danger. If they can’t learn the truth about the aliens, the entire human race could be enslaved.

••••••

REVIEW: ZORAK is the first instalment in Cyndi Friberg’s sci-fi/paranormal romance series. This is lunar raider / guardian Zorak Savoy, and Catriona Barco’s story line.

SOME BACKGROUND: Eight years earlier, six Pylorian spaceships arrived on Earth asking for asylum claiming they were fleeing their immortal enemy, the wolf-like Morax, but in the ensuing years, the Pylorian began to take control, using their considerable powers to force the governments of Earth to do their bidding. In an effort to protect Earth, the Pylorian’s claim to have cultivated aka created the lunar raiders, a hybrid of three alien species (Morax, Pylorian, Dox Tory) one of which reacts instantly when their destined mate is near.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Zorak and Cat) ZORAK follows the building relationship and mating between lunar raider Zorak Savoy and Catriona Barco. Catriona Barco, a human ambassador at large between the Pylorians and the US Government, despises her position as assistant to Advisor Erot, a Pylorian warrior who demands more from our heroine than she is able to give but when her father is imprisoned by Advisor Erot, Catriona finds herself asking for help from a group of ‘cultivated’ hybrid aliens, known as lunar raiders, created to protect Earth from the marauding Morax. Enter lunar raider Zorak Savoy, and the male with whom Cat will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Cat and Zorak, as the lunar raiders begin to uncover the truth, as they set out to rescue our heroine’s father.

The relationship between Cat and Zorak is one of immediate attraction predicated upon fated mates, and DNA. Cat acknowledges there is definitely something between them but refuses to accept Zorak’s claiming until she fully understands his need to mate. As the story line progresses, Zorak’s need for his mate intensifies with every encounter. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the stop, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including lunar raiders Zorak’s friend Prime Commander Vosic Parso, recon-class commander Leko, munitions-class commander Rogar; medic-class commander Benlon, Cat’s father Matthew Barco; DC One Governor Yaved Kreth, infantry class Dracus, Secretary of State Danielle Schweitzer, Ambassador to the UN and Cat’s friend Marisol Conti, and Morax adolescent Max.

ZORAK is a tale of specieism and discrimination, power and control. A detailed introductory story that reveals some of the history and background between planets, the different species, and the war that destroyed so many lives. The Pylorians are determined to destroy everyone they consider beneath them and unworthy, using Earth and her moon to secure their position within the system. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is captivating and seductive; the characters are colorful, determined and animated.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Vampire Cure by Kat Stiles-Review & Giveaway Tour

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The Vampire Cure (The Vampire Cure #1) by Kat Stiles-Review & Giveaway Tour

The Vampire Cure
The Vampire Cure #1
by Kat Stiles
Release Date: March 12, 2021
Genre: adult, sci-fi, paranormal, romance

ebook only 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 12, 2021

In the search for a cure to a viral pandemic, scientist Liz Meyer discovers something far more deadly…Vampires exist. And what’s even more amazing, they’re immune to the virus.

Liz is both afraid and intrigued. Gifted with dreams that reveal the future, she sees how bad the pandemic will become. A blood sample could be the solution to a cure.

Sexy vampire Ryan awakens a desire within Liz, something she’s never felt before. Too bad the rest of the coven want nothing more than to feast on her blood.Can Liz get the blood she needs to find a cure? Or will it be her blood that’s taken instead?

•••••••

REVIEW:Liz is working at a cure for a virus that is sweeping the world! And trying to save her dad who has an illness!

Needing to stay one step ahead of her rival Frederick, she has to step it up, there are people relying on her. The author tells us Liz is a brilliant scientist, and that all men are idiots! And that’s how it starts and ends! Liz has no time for people especially not men! But meeting her new assistant (Amy, who is lovely) Liz begins to see them in a different light!

There were a few political jokes in here, and if you take it for what it’s meant to be (tongue in cheek) then it’s a good read. It’s a mixture of genres and liked them all. I did have to chuckle at the president (who also runs/owns the company Liz works at)

Ryan is a Master vampire, meeting Liz (well rescuing her) causes problems, his coven want her blood and Liz wants theirs (to study) can he really let her take his blood? He finds her fascinating, but so does his coven!

Meeting Ryan gives Liz the boost she needs, his blood is the key to finding a cure and possibly helping a few other people too! But will she go the sneaky way and take it without his consent, or can she persuade him to help save humanity?

I don’t know, I liked it, I just didn’t love it. Too political? Maybe.

I liked Liz, I liked the fact she had dreams/premonitions, (and she knows how bad this virus will ruin the world) so it gave the paranormal feel to it.

I did like the ending. It leaves it open for another book, so let’s hope Liz and her buddy Amy work out how to stop the virus from spreading…..

? Reviewed by Julie B

Copy supplied for review

USA Today Bestselling Author of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Young Adult Fiction.

Originally a Jersey girl, sunny Texas is where I now call home, in a town way up north in the panhandle called Wellington. I write super-powered urban fantasy that’s sexy, fun and dark. For fun I like to read urban fantasy, horror, and existentialist fiction, as well as watch cartoons, movies, and sometimes even cartoon movies. I try not to take anything in life too seriously and I tend to smile often. Hop over to my website, katstiles.com for bonus material, fun blog posts, news about upcoming releases, and awesome giveaways!

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider:

$20 Amazon

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/the-vampire-cure-book-tour-and-giveaway


 

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Corvus Ascending by Dale Sale-Review & Interview

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Corvus Ascending (Corvus Ascending 1) by Dale Sale-Review & Interview

ebook only 99¢ USD->  Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

When wisecracking star-sailor Gus Johansson hauls a 1400-year-old accident-prone robot out of the sea and boards a long-lost sentient spaceship his beach bum retirement goes from boring to blazing.

Captain Harrison “Hazy” Grey is out for revenge and convinced that he can finally get his Admiral’s flag, if only he can capture that ship; and he doesn’t care who he has to kill to do it.

Gus must assemble a team of old friends and add some new ones to escape. Maybe he should have stayed on the beach.

••••••

REVIEW:CORVUS ASCENDING is the first instalment in Dale Sale’s TALES OF CORVUS sci-fi adventure series focusing on the crew of the space-ship Corvus.

Told from third person perspective CORVUS ASCENDING follows former Chief Warrant Bosun and star-sailor Guster Johansson as he is tasked with captaining a sentient spaceship that has returned from the depths of the sea. With his trusty side kick, a 1400 year old robot named HAM, Gus Johansson begins to amass a crew of oddballs and renegades but not before our hero finds himself a prisoner of Captain Harrison Grey and the ruling Governance, who sets their sights on acquiring the spaceship Corvus. Outfitting the Corvus for potential war, Gus and the crew find themselves the target of Captain Grey, a target that must out maneuver a mad man desperate to claim the Corvus for his own.

CORVUS ASCENDING is a fast paced, sci-fi adventure ala Star Wars™, Star Trek™, Battlestar Galactica ™ and Babylon Five™. Dale Sale meshes together AI, cyborg and robots, a sentient star ship, a holographic constructed intelligence (CI), and an eclectic assortment of humanoid personas resulting in a quirky yet talented crew whose journey has only started. The premise is captivating; the world building includes some scientific and fictionalized terminology; the characters are diverse, distinctive and unconventional but such are the personalities of every entertaining story of science fiction.CORVUS ASCENDING begins slowly but accelerates at ‘warp speed’.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Dale and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of CORVUS ASCENDING.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Dale Sale: I served in the US Coast Guard for over 30 years. I was a Chief Warrant Officer (like my characters) for over 20 years. I served at rescue stations, large and small patrol cutters, a construction tug, and 4 different icebreaker tugs. Lots of sea time, lots of time to dream up ideas.

Social Media links:  Website / Goodreads/ Facebook / Amazon Author page / Newsletter

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing? In writing Science/Speculative fiction?

Dale Sale:I grew up reading the classic science fiction authors: Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein as well as great pulp writers like Robert E. Howard. The experimental stuff from the 1960s and 70s just doesn’t do it for me.

I did a lot of technical writing in the Coast Guard. I worked at the school that trains mechanics and electricians writing curriculum and reviewing lessons. I was happy to go back to sea after that, lol.

TRC: For those who do not know, what is the difference between Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction?

Dale Sale: All Science Fiction is Speculative Fiction, but all Spec Fiction is not Science Fiction. I would say that Spec Fiction is the big tent and Science Fiction is one of the bleacher sections inside. Spec Fiction could be anything from Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale to King’s The Stand. For example: one of the hardest science fiction books recently is Weir’s The Martian. It is very detailed and follows real principles of science and physics. Contrast that to Man in the High Castle which is an alternate history. Both could be called Speculative Fiction but only The Martian is Science Fiction.

One of my pet peeves is searching for Science Fiction and seeing Epic Fantasy or Urban Fantasy lumped in there.

TRC: Why do you think there are a limited number of female / women authors of Science Fiction, and what do you think can be done to increase the female / women readership?

I am hoping that as more women enter the STEM fields it will encourage them to also write and read science fiction. I think that people want to write what they know about and that women without a STEM background may not be comfortable writing those stories. I enjoy writing strong female characters. They definitely aren’t damsels in distress.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first book?

Dale Sale: The oddest problem I had actually occurred because of my name. Amazon’s bots always think that I am trying to trick them using my name, Sale, to fool the algorithm. I have to send a copy of my driver’s license to prove that is my legal name.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of CORVUS ASCENDING?

Dale Sale: The main character, Gus Johansson, has been involuntarily retired and put out to pasture on an out of the way planet. Gus is bored and feeling sorry for himself. While fishing he drags an ancient robot out of the sea that is connected to a sentient spaceship. An old enemy, Captain Harrison Grey, wants the ship for himself and will do whatever it takes to get it. Gus has to assemble a team of misfit veterans and his robot friends to avoid destruction.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the TALES OF CORVUS series?

Dale Sale: This first story arc will be three books. I do plan to continue writing in the Corvus Universe, but I want to branch out from the large ensemble cast of the first three books to focus on some smaller first-person stories. I’m thinking about writing a set of adventures for a female detective character from the second and third books.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning CORVUS ASCENDING?

Dale Sale:  started with a loose plot and let the story unfold. I do research as needed during the writing process.

TRC: Do you believe that science fiction/ speculative fiction should be based in factual statistics or information?

Dale Sale:  I’m really trying to keep from breaking physics too badly in this story. As such, there are no faster-than-light spaceships, instant communications, super aliens, or teleporters etc. I don’t think those are bad things, but that’s not the story I’m telling. I used several online calculation tools to help with orbital mechanics and asked questions of some actual scientists about the orbital behavior of asteroids.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Dale Sale:I did use a professional cover designer. I feel that a trope heavy genre, like military science fiction, should convey that basic genre information on the cover. You really need a good cover.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Dale Sale:I do use a loose outline for the story, but the characters often start thinking for themselves. One of my characters owns an arms manufacturing plant, she decided to load her fancy space yacht full of guns in the next book and take them to the underdogs in the big battle. I was just writing along and there she was!

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Dale Sale:I think dialogue is key to expressing your characters emotions. You really need to avoid exposition data dumps and let characters talk. Exposition is common in science fiction because writers are trying to compress the world building and get right to the story.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, knows about you?

Dale Sale:I play the concertina, poorly.

TRC: Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

Dale Sale:Philip K. Dick, that guy was one strange dude.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Dale Sale:I’m working on book three of the series. It should be out by June. I need to tie up some loose ends and plot lines.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Dale Sale: I would love to hear from readers. You can email me at author@DaleSaleBooks.com. I have some free stories available at www.DaleSaleBooks.com if you sign up for my newsletter.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Good pizza with a nice porter for the beverage

Favorite Dessert: Anything sweet

Favorite TV Show: Black Mirror

Last Movie You Saw: The Old Guard on Netflix

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush:  Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow

Last Vacation Destination: No vacations due to the Covid, booo.

Do you have any pets? : I got volunteered to take care of my stepdaughters Pomeranian “temporarily” 3 years ago.

Last book you read:  Reading Deacon King Kong now

TRC: Thank you Dale for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of CORVUS ASCENDING.

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418: I Am A Teapot by Edgar Scott-a review

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418: I Am A Teapot by Edgar Scott-a review

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters Indigo / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 23, 2021

418: I Am a Teapot is a near-future dystopian science fiction novel that explores a world where people by choice, birth, or punishment, relinquish the rights to their physical body. Their brains exist in a constantly-connected virtual interface where they enjoy a fantasy world of endless indulgences. However, while their minds have fun, their bodies are controlled by implants doing the filthiest and most dangerous jobs known to humanity.

Stripped of their identities, these dredges of society are simply called staff and they are disposable. But what happens when a staff becomes cognizant of its situation and tries to break free?

When staff number 418’s physical body is broken, he must come to terms with reality before a kangaroo court determines his fate. Will an unlikely friendship save 418 from permanent retirement?

••••••••••

REVIEW:418: I AM A TEAPOT by Edgar Scott is a futuristic, dystopian, sci-fi story line focusing on ‘staff’ 418 aka George, and Brian ‘King’ Agarwal, who runs a staffing business.

Told from first person perspective (418) and third person (King) 418: I AM A TEAPOT follows 418 aka George between his daily routine as a staff, and his virtual persona online. Staff are considered the lowest of the low, either born into poverty and the lower class, or relegated by punishment to become one of the many minions to do the work that no one else wants to do but an accident, also known as an exception, finds 418 fighting for his life, a life that is about to change in many ways. Believed to be ‘brain damaged’ as a result of the exception, 418 is saved from ‘retirement’, and in the ensuing days and weeks quickly realizes that his virtual interface is no longer working as it should. Sentient, and with the ability to become self-aware, 418 begins to reconsider all that he knows, in both his virtual and real worlds. 418 works for King, and in this King is about to set 418 on a path to self-actualization and freedom from control. But all is not well in King’s once-ordered world when King finds himself facing the possibility of a life of outside control.

As mentioned above, staff are the lower class, the workers and minions who have been surgically and pharmaceutically altered as mindless drones to do the work no one else wants to do. While their minds and brains are connected to a virtual world, their bodies are controlled by artificial intelligence, and subjected to outside forces where death and dismemberment are frequent and considered part of the job-‘retirement’ is met with indifference by the people in charge. With his virtual interface working at less than optimal levels, George begins to re-evaluate the meaning of life, and his place in the world.

418: I AM A TEAPOT is, like many futuristic, dystopian, sci fi tales, a philosophical and sociological look at discrimination, power and control. I am not sure where geographically the story line takes place, or when, but the first names are all anglicized and the surnames are all East Indian in nature.

418:I AM A TEAPOT is another, complex and detailed story line of what ifs and hows but I struggled with the lack of delineation between perspectives that changed often and without preamble. A slow building story line, 418: I AM A TEAPOT does not pick up speed until part way through the book.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Code Word Access (Code Word 1) by Alex Schuler-a review

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Code Word Access (Code Word 1) by Alex Schuler-a review

ebook only 99¢ at Amazon & Nook: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N /

KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

The future is in code.

Shawn Muller is a prodigy and he knows it. It is 2051 and the militarized AI he created to hunt terrorists has begun to dominate the network that controls everything from traffic to climate. Fearful of the power of the AI he calls “Lazy Jack” and the politicians who will use it, Shawn installs an algorithm to give his creation a system of ethics.

But when that very ethical standard causes Lazy Jack to declare Shawn a profound threat to society, he is forced into terrified flight to avoid summary execution as a terrorist.

Off the grid for the first time in his twenty-seven years, Shawn will find himself pursued not only by his creation and the government it has started to control, but also by the shadowy elements of society that reject domination by AI. Captured by the outlawed Organites, Shawn falls into the hands of their charismatic captain, Destiny.

Born to be enemies, Shawn and Destiny discover that their lives and the survival of their worlds are inextricably linked. Together with a host of unforgettable characters, they will struggle to bring down the system Shawn thought would save the world, leading them to face one of the most profound questions of human existence: Will we or will our creations decide what is right and what is wrong?

•••••••

REVIEW:CODE WORD ACCESS is the first instalment in Alex Schuler’s post apocalyptic, near future, CODE WORD speculative / science fiction series focusing on prodigy Shawn Muller in the year 2051.

Told from several third person perspectives CODE WORD ACCESS follows PhD prodigy Dr. Shawn Muller in the aftermath of an attack by a counterterrorism AI (Artificial Intelligence) he designed to eliminate terrorists for the military-controlled Cyber Command, but LAZ-237 is unable to distinguish between good and bad, and in this, many innocents are about to die. Hoping to stop the onslaught of death and destruction, Shawn Muller secretly uploads a ‘virus’ but his command for the ‘Greatest Good for the Greatest Number’ pushes the AI to go rogue killing anyone and everyone it deems to be bad. As Shawn struggles to stay one step ahead of the AI he calls Lazy Jack, his commands are seemingly countered by the military and politicians in charge.

Dr. Shawn Muller is considered a ‘transhuman’-an enhanced human with a ‘fully integrated brain to operating system interface –a highly sophisticated CPU’ that allows our ‘hero’ to communicate with both man and machine. As a young child, Shawn’s parents implanted a neuro-chip into his brain rendering Shawn a virtual participant in a virtual world. Everything about his life was an illusion, an illusion of which he was completely unaware.

Years earlier, a terrorist attack by the al Tehrani killed Shawn’s parents, and along with his mentor Lt. Colonel Amun Gurk, Shawn set to work on an counterterrorism AI that would eliminate the man and people responsible but as pandemics, environmental disasters and wars ravaged the earth, a resistance group known as the Quills, members of the organization who call themselves Organites, takes aim at our hero, in an effort to shut down the systems destroying the world.

CODE WORD ACCESS is a complicated, complex and multi-levelled tale of what if. A dramatic, richly detailed and gritty story of a world controlled by artificial intelligence. CODE WORD ACCESS is a philosophical and sociological look at the ethical conundrum of integrated man and machine; of the potential for sentient and self aware artificial intelligence; a computer with a conscience and reasoning, and the ability to act on its’ own. There are numerous references to late 20th and early 21st century sci-fi movies and stories including The Matrix ™, Terminator ™, Star Wars ™ and War Games™; climate change, plagues, pandemics, nuclear power, the ‘Cloud’ and social media- reading like a warning of things to come if man doesn’t change the current direction of power and control.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Shades of Allegiance by Sandy Williams – a Review

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Shades of Allegiance by Sandy Williams – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Lieutenant Ramie Ashdyn takes a leave of absence from the Fighting Corps to return to the hellhole that is her home world. With vengeance in mind, she searches for a dangerous criminal who could help her unravel the conspiracy that’s threatening the Coalition. But old enemies sabotage her efforts and jeopardize the lives of the few people she trusts. She will need to be cunning and ruthless to accomplish her mission, and that means scrapping her conscience and burying emotions her adversaries could exploit.Being cold and heartless would be easier if the Coalition hadn’t sent “Rest in Peace” Rykus to retrieve her. Ash is their only way of detecting the telepaths who have infiltrated the government. Rykus must keep her safe until they can escape the planet, but with secrets between them and Ash determined to contact the Known Universe’s most feared crime lord, staying alive and together might be an insurmountable feat.

 

 

 

Review:

Shades of Allegiance by Sandy Williams is the 3rd and final book in her Anomaly series.  I have read and loved the first two books in this series, but I worried that after a 4-year absence, that I would not remember much.  No worry, since I just needed to read my previous reviews, and once I started this book, I could not put it down.  Refresher: Ramie Ashdyn (Ash), our fantastic heroine, is an Anomaly, a human who is smarter mentally and physically than the normal person, which makes her an elite soldier, who is faster, stronger, with phenomenal endurance then the regular soldiers. Because of her training, though she is close to her friends and team, she can be difficult to get along with, as she is very tough, brash and independent. 

Ash returns home to Glory, after being away for 5 years, and assumed dead. She is determined to use her old contacts to find a crime lord to get information to fight a conspiracy trying to destroy the Coalition. As Ash meets some of her old friends, who are shocked and upset not knowing she was still alive; she also must face many of her enemies who hate her and want her dead for real.

Rykus, our hero, is a well-known commander for the Coalition and is Ash’s fail safe, and lover.  Over the first two books, we know about the strong chemistry and feelings they have for each other, and us loving them together.  Rykus follows Ash, making sure to have her back, since she is always getting into terrible situations.  Some of our old friends, Hauch, Chance, Mira are back, but not pleased about her return.

What follows is an all-out battle that will put their lives constantly in danger during this non- stop, exciting, intense, wild adventure. Ash also tends to keeps things secret from her friends, as she is determined to find the people who were responsible for the deaths of her team years before, as well as learning more about the conspiracy.  As they continually face battles, Ash & Rykus‘s love for each other, continues to be hot and heavy. I do love them together, but with Ash’s penchant for putting her life on the line, we worry about their future.  Ash and Rykus will accept some help to get where they need to go, even if they can’t trust the source.  To say too much more would be spoilers, as a lot happens. 

Sandy Williams does a fantastic job in continuing the flow of this complex world , and she has created some great characters.  Most of all, I love Ash, and her chemistry with Rykus is off the wall. Shades of Allegiance was an action packed, exciting, dangerous, pulse pounding story that had me unable to put the book down, especially as we raced to the tense climax. I was very happy with Williams giving us a fitting end to this series.   If you like Sci-fi, lots of action, great romance, and twists and turns along the way, then you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

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One’s Evil Desire by M. Short-Review & Guest Post

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One’s Evil Desire ( A Saga of Dogs of War-A Story of Mercenaries 4) by M. Short-Review & Guest Post

/ Amazon.com paper / Amazon.ca Paper/

 

ebook ONLY 99¢  Amazon/B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / books2read /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 27, 2020

One’s Evil Desire THE FOURTH BOOK IN THE SCI-FI SERIES: A SAGA OF DOGS OF WAR-A STORY OF MERCENARIES.

XTECH and The Corporate Alliance collaborated to create The Earth Space Alliance to start the exploration of space outside of the Earth’s Solar System. But others were not happy with the alliance between XTECH and The Corporate Alliance. With only two of the original Big Six Corporations still unaligned, one’s evil desire conceived a plot to take over the remaining two unaligned corporations. After years of plotting and planning, surgeries and the implantation of a voice synthesizer the doppelganger was ready to infiltrate the SME Corporation with the killing of its CEO.

Stone and Zhivago soon caught wind of the plot. While Stone and Zhivago were trying to reveal the doppelganger plot, The Earth Space Alliance built their first Starship to explore beyond the Earth’s Solar System. As they sped towards the outer limits of the Solar System at the speed of light, they were confronted by Senior Emanuel’s Starship from the Confederation of Planets. Will Stone and Zhivago be successful in their efforts to reveal the doppelganger? Will the Confederation of Planets be a friend or a foe?

••••••••

REVIEW:ONE’S EVIL DESIRE is the fourth instalment in M. Short’s A SAGA OF DOGS OF WAR-A STORY OF MERCENARIES science fiction series set in a futuristic twenty-third century. I recommend reading the series in order for back story, history and cohesion as ONE’S EVIL DESIRE picks up shortly after the events of the previous story line.

SOME BACKGROUND: Approximately one hundred years earlier Earth suffered a cataclysm, and close to half of the Earth’s population escaped to Mars and its’ surrounding moons. Fast forward a century, and the governing Corporations are now resettling Earth with the people on Mars. Four regulating Corporations formed the Corporate Alliance, while the remaining two were driven from Earth because of their tyrannical rule.

Told from third person perspective following several intersecting pathways, ONE’S EVIL DESIRE covers approximately a twenty year span wherein the newly formed Confederation of Planets discovers the existence of a race of people who call themselves the Kapacaras, an early descendant of the people of Earth but all is not well as the Kapacara’s enemies, the Trajan and the Cnut, are readying for war in an effort to claim more of valuable space, and targeting the Confederation of Planets along with the Kapacarians. Forming their own alliance, the Confederation of Planets and the Kapacarians prepare for war, amassing a large fleet of spaceships and technology in defence of their area of space. War ensues several times, with new combatants at each battle but in the end the Confederation of Planets is victorious, once again.

ONE’S EVIL DESIRE reads like a serialized or episodic television program akin to Star Wars ™ and the numerous Star Trek ™ franchises with all of the familiar jargon from Earth’s twentieth and twenty-first century science-fiction/ speculative fiction movies and shows-the characters reference several of these programs and movies, including important battle strategies of WWII. There are a number of time-jumps throughout the story line from days to weeks, months and years, in an effort to explain how the Confederation was able to prepare for a war, years in the making.

I had a few issues that I want to address: From the outset, the reader is thrust into the story line without any preamble or introductory build up. There was more telling rather than showing, and in this the story reads like a script for a television series. The numerous characters and references to previous plotlines was a little confusing therefore I recommend reading the series in order. ONE’S EVIL DESIRE is awash in repetitive and redundant text whereby the characters often recapitulate instructions, directives, stories and scenarios when new visitors arrive without prior information. The individual characters, most of whom were introduced in the previous story lines, are identifiable via too many names, nicknames and aliases for the same character, often leading to confusion wherein I had to go back and forth several times throughout the story to ensure that I didn’t miss the introduction of someone new. There was also no marked delineation between different points of view-often, each successive paragraph would address or concern a different scenario, a different character, and a different timeline, all within a few sentences of one another.

ONE’S EVIL DESIRE is an interesting and entertaining story similar in presence and style to the Star Trek™ franchise. As I read, I imagined watching Star Trek Voyager or Deep Space Nine, in an effort to place myself into the story line action.

99¢- Book 2 -THE GRIM CLAN: Amazon/ /Amazon CA /Nook / Indigo

Book 3-THE VENDETTA AGAINST VENDETTA: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy


Young Women, the next generation’s readers of Science Fiction.

I started writing my science fiction series, A Saga of Dogs of War-A Story of Mercenaries, in the fall of 2019. Everything I read about writing a book always said you should write about what you know best, first. My first book was based on experiences as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam at the ripe old age of 19 and my passion for science fiction. I wanted to write my books from a military point of view, but stay away from the horrors of war. I wanted to emphasis the honor of serving your country and the strong relationships developed in combat. That was the predominate theme in my first book Cry Havoc.

One day my daughter pointed out to me that there were no strong female roles in the book. She told me that if I want women to read my books, I needed to incorporate strong women role models. Young women do not want to read the old James T. Kirk style science fiction books. Young women want to read about strong women role models in science fiction now.
So, with my daughter’s advice in mind, my next book in the series The GRiM Clan introduced three strong women Carrie, Marge, and Madeline. These three characters, one a strong influencer in her family, the second a strong woman ascending to Territorial Governor and the third that rose up to lead a large Corporation where the first strong women role models in the series.

In my third book The Vendetta Against Vendetta a fourth strong woman role model, Elizbeth joined Carrie, Marge and Madeline. Elizabeth grew in the book to control another large corporation.

In my fourth book One’s Evil Desire Mia a Kapacarian and Senior Coritha a Corilian joined as the next generation of strong women role models. Mia would be the first woman of the Confederation of Planets to head their new Military Intelligence Department and Senior Coritha one of the first women to achieve Senior (Captain) on a battle class Starship.

In my fifth, not yet released, book Frontier Space Chronicles, the strong women characters increase with the introduction of Senior Cynthia an Earthling commanding one of the biggest Starships ever built, the Explorer Class Starship, Captain Alala of the Amazon Warrior Class and last but not least Queen Adria, Queen of the Helenistic Kingdoms. As the numbers on my book list increase so does the number of strong women role models.

I wanted to convey in my books that while women are different in many ways, they have the same mental ability as men. In some way women are even stronger than men.

This next generation of young women are seeing more and more strong women roles in science fiction movies which has seemed to draw their attention. If we want to bring these young women to join the readership of science fiction books, we need those strong women roles in our books.

My grandson, 13, reads my books and likes strong women roles as well. He says they remind him of his Grandmother and his Mom.

~~Michael Short~~

Social Media: Blog/Website/Goodreads /Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

As a 19 year old CW2 helicopter combat pilot, M. Short served as an aircraft commander being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and eleven Combat Air Medals while serving the U.S. Army in the Vietnam war. His passion for Science Fiction and his experiences in combat as a pilot gave him his inspiration for the series -A Saga of Dogs of War. A Mercenaries Story.

The series started with him first writing forty nine short stories that were later combined into his first book Cry Havoc. From those first short stories he was encouraged to continue his writing, which now consists of three books with many more on the horizon.

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The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill – a Review

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The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill – a Review

 

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Description:
Kit Brightling, rescued as a foundling and raised in a home for talented girls, has worked hard to rise through the ranks of the Isles’ Crown Command and become one of the few female captains in Queen Charlotte’s fleet. Her ship is small, but she’s fast–in part because of Kit’s magical affinity to the sea. But the waters become perilous when the queen sends Kit on a special mission with a partner she never asked for.

Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, may be a veteran of the Continental war, but Kit doesn’t know him or his motives–and she’s dealt with one too many members of the Beau Monde. But Kit has her orders, and the queen has commanded they journey to a dangerous pirate quay and rescue a spy who’s been gathering intelligence on the exiled emperor of Gallia.

Kit can lead her ship and clever crew on her own, but with the fate of queen and country at stake, Kit and Rian must learn to trust each other, or else the Isles will fall….

 

 

Review:

The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill is the first book in her new Captain Kit Brightling series.  I always enjoy Chloe Neill’s books, but wasn’t sure about this new seafaring fantasy series.  WOW I totally loved the book and can’t wait for more about our wonderful heroine, Kit.  I enjoyed this wonderful story from start to finish, and absolutely loved Kit, Grant and all the secondary characters that Neill created.  It did not take long to read this book, as I could not put it down.

Kit Brightling, our heroine, is one of the few female captains for the Queen’s fleet.  Kit, who has a magical affinity to the sea, and is only in her mid-twenties, has risen up quickly through the ranks of the Isles’ Crown Command, and has gained much respect from the Queen, and especially her magnificent crew.  She has successfully completed all her assigned missions, even though her ship, Diana is small, but it is the fastest ship.  Kit has such a fantastic crew, especially her top people, who were totally loyal to her. 

Upon completion of her assignment, Kit is surprised to be called to see the Queen.  She learns that the exiled emperor of the previous victorious war, is secretly getting help to plan a revolt.  Seems there is a traitor in the Crown Command, as one of their best undercover agents has been kidnapped, and the Queen wants Kit to find a way to rescue the agent, as well as find the traitor.  But she is told that someone else will go this dangerous mission with her, and she isn’t too happy about that.

Colonel Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, is a former soldier and veteran of the previous war; and because the missing agent is a respected friend, he agrees to join the mission.  Rian may be a veteran of the wars, but he too is not thrilled to be sharing the mission with Kit, whose crew and ship will be used. The start of this mission pits Kit and Rian constantly sniping at each other, and their banter was fun to watch.  Rian feels his experience should allow him to lead, but he will learn quickly that Kit is a master at what she does, and her alignment to the sea is a definite plus, not to mention how her crew respects and adores her.  In a short time, Rian will see Kit in a different life, especially when she puts her own life in danger to rescue one of her crew members.  He not only begins to respect her decisions, but finds himself slowly falling for her.  The chemistry between them though slow burn, was flirty, fun and sassy.  But the knowledge that he is a viscount and she is a captain destined to be at sea, keeps them at a forced distance. 

What follows is a wonderful exciting tense adventure, where Kit and Rian work together to find the traitor, as well as stop the exiled emperor from regaining his power; the Queen will send them both on another mission that is also dangerous. The more time they spent and work together, the more they learn to respect each other.  I totally loved them together, and cannot wait to see what Neill has in store for them in future books.

The Bright and Breaking Sea was a wonderful magical world created by Neill, filled with two great heroes, fabulous secondary characters, exciting adventures, seafaring escapades, pirates, and a budding romance.  I for one look forward to the next book in this series, so very well written by Chloe Neill.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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