Tag: fiction

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Title: Sky in the Deep
Author: Adrienne Young
Pub. Date: 24-Apr-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

The gorgeous cover is what drew me to Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. After reading the blurb, I was like; I have to read this one. The story is a Vikingish YA fantasy with a heroine you will fall for within the first few pages. It is a beautifully crafted tale and I dare you not to get hooked by the end of the first chapter.

Eelyn is a warrior for the Aska clan and has been training since a young girl to fight their sworn enemy the Riki. She fights alongside her friend Myra and together they are fierce on the battle field. Until one day Eelyn almost gets killed by a young Riki warrior. Her brother, Iri, saves her. Yet, this cannot be possible, Iri died five years ago in another battle against the Riki. Continue reading “Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young”

The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp

Title: The City of Lost Fortunes
Author: Bryan Camp
Pub. Date: 17-Apr-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

I have always associated The City of Lost Fortunes with Las Vegas. Not anymore. Bryan Camp has forever changed that for me. His debut novel is packed with magic, the supernatural and occult of New Orleans and all of these other worldly elements come together to effect the fortunes of the characters in the most unanticipated ways.

Jude, a demi-god and would be magician, living in New Orleans, has been hiding and drifting ever since Katrina left New Orleans broken and a shadow of her former self. He has lost control over his magical gift that allows his to find lost things. That is until one day when the Fortune God, Dodge, calls in a favor that Jude owes him. Continue reading “The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp”

River Rising by John A. Heldt

Title: River Rising
Author: John A. Heldt
Pub. Date: 20-Sep-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

River Rising by John A. Heldt is a historical fiction/fantasy novel set in 1888/89 and today. It follows the adventures of a time traveling family, who end up in the wrong place at the right time, as they attempt to find lost love ones and return to the present day.

Adam Carson, along with his siblings: Greg, Natalie, Cody and Caitlin, are devastated when their parents fail to return from a hiking trip. As time goes by, they are presumed dead. Then they find out the most unbelievable thing, their parents are time travelers. Continue reading “River Rising by John A. Heldt”

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Title: The Last Magician
Author: Lisa Maxwell
Pub. Date: 18-Jul-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell is full of surprises. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out the author would throw me another curve ball. By the end of the book I was wanting more. I want to know all about this world and more about characters, such as Dolph Saunders and Harte Darrigan. Their stories are begging to be told.

However, this story is about Esta. She is one of the few people remaining that have an affinity for real magic, one of the Magues, and a talented one at that. She can manipulate time. She is also a first class thief, she can steal anything. Her teacher and mentor has sent her back in time to steal the book Ars Arcana.  It is the definitive book on magic that contains the secret to destroy the Brink, the magical barrier around New York that lets Magues in, but not out. Continue reading “The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell”

10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer by Kate Murdoch

I am very pleased to have author Kate Murdoch offer her insight into becoming a better writer on this guest post. Kate is the author of Stone Circle a historical fantasy novel.

 

Guest Post:

  1. Read widely and often

The more diverse your reading the better – research books, different genres, authors you’ve never tried before. Go outside your comfort zone and watch as it influences your own expression.

  1. Declutter your prose

It sounds basic, but this is, for me, the most crucial point. Are your sentences pared back enough? Have you cut adverbs, ‘that’, and ‘was’ as much as possible? Extraneous words are your enemy and must be annihilated. Clarify your sentences. Better to be plain and make sense than be clever and confusing.

  1. Beta readers

Join beta reading groups, either online or in real life. These readers will be professional, unbiased and possibly quite blunt. But this is what you need. To see your work exactly as it is, not what you wish it to be.

  1. Watch people and observe them

It sounds cold, but it’s important to watch others, truly observe them. How do they express themselves when they’re upset or jubilant? Eavesdrop on conversations, make up potential stories about people you see in the street. Observe your own emotions — how do they manifest physically? What kinds of thoughts go through your mind? You own reactions will be the resource you will use the most. Continue reading “10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer by Kate Murdoch”

Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch

Title: Stone Circle
Author: Kate Murdoch
Pub. Date: 1-Dec-2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch is a mixture of fantasy, historical fiction and coming-of-age set in Itlay during the 16th century.  It is a fascinating story of a young man’s first steps into adulthood.

Antonius has always known he was special. He can hear others thoughts.  So when he finds out that the local seer, Savinus, is having a trial to accept a new apprentice he is eager to go.  Once Antonius demonstrates his abilities to the seer, there is no question who will be the next apprentice. However, the Conte’s son, who is a major employer of Savinus, also shows a small amount of talent. Rank is everything in this society and the seer is left with no choice but to accept both as apprentices. Continue reading “Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch”

Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper

Title: Greatest Enemy
Author: Jason Kasper
Pub. Date: Dec. 2017
Rating: 4 Stars

Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper is book one of the David Rivers series and an explosive way to start. It is a roller coaster ride, full of action and suspense, that will you have rushing to the end.

David Rivers is adrift in life and suffering from PTSD from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as an Army Ranger. Since his release from the military, he has become an alcoholic with suicidal tendencies and is in desperate need of an intervention. He gets one of sorts, just not in the form he truly needs. He is recruited to join a team of mercenaries because of his experience in BASE jumping. Just the thing an adrenaline junkie needs to stave off the suicide thoughts. Continue reading “Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper”

High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler

Title: High Noon in Hollywood
Author: Warren Adler
Pub. Date: 2017
Rating: 4 Stars

High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler is a down and dirty look inside of Tinseltown. It is what is left after the glitz and glitter have been stripped away from the surface and you are left with the seedy under belly of the beast we call Hollywood.

Zane Galvin has made a movie, Drowned Rats, an apt name since it has left him drowning in $5M of debt. To him it seems like every debt collector in Hollywood is after him and he is facing bankruptcy. He will never make another movie again. In addition, Mim, his budding actress girlfriend, is depending on him to jump start her career. Continue reading “High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler”

The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan

Title: The Lightning Stenography Device
Author: M. F. Sullivan
Pub. Date: 19-Mar-2018
Rating: 1 Star

The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan was not what I expected. I can sum it up in one word – boring. I tried multiple times to finish. In the end I could not force myself beyond 28% complete. Therefore, it goes to the DNF list with no regrets.

I knew going in the book was classified as literary ; therefore, I expected the pace to be slow and the story thought provoking. I got the slow part, but never in a million years would I count it as thought provoking. Maybe I did not read far enough to get into the real philosophical parts. Continue reading “The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan”

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano

Title: Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions
Author: Mario Giordano
Pub. Date: 6-Mar-2018
Rating: 3.7 stars

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions is the first in a series of murder mysteries by Mario Giordano.  The story is related to the reader by Auntie Poldi’s nephew who is staying with her while he writes, or attempts to write, a book.

The main character, Auntie Poldi, is an eccentric sixty year old German that has recently arrived in Sicily, after the death of her husband, to retire and be near family. Her only goal seems to be to drink herself to death. That is until Valentino Candela, a young man who does odd jobs for her, fails to show up one day to fix her leaky roof.  Unfortunately, Poldi is the one to find him dead, of a gunshot to the head, a few days later. On the spot, she vows to him that she WILL find his killer. Continue reading “Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano”