Demon Dance (#1) by Brian Freyermuth

26 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Fantasy, Paranormal Tags: , , , , ,

Published: 8th April 2013 Goodreads badge
Publisher: Middark Press
Pages: 334
Format: ebook
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

You can run all you want, but the game’s in your blood. And blood never forgets…

Nick St. James was born different. His extraordinary gifts have saved him time and time again, but they couldn’t save the one thing he loved most: his wife.

Now he just wants to forget his old life, but more importantly, he wants to forget the magical underworld that lives beneath the “real” world. A place where a man’s faith can determine the very fabric of reality. Where ancient forgotten gods walk hidden among us, and angels and demons fight for our very souls.

But nothing stays hidden forever. Nick’s peaceful world is ripped apart when a demon slaughters his ex-partner and marks him for death. Now he must use all his gifts to find the one who summoned the nightmarish creature, but more importantly, he needs to find the one thing he lost long ago.

Himself.

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

From an exciting beginning to an extraordinary conclusion, this is a novel that will astound you and keep you on your toes. The mixture of the supernatural world with our own is not uncommon, but Freyermuth’s approach is one that adds that little something extra to make it stand out.

Nick is an amazing character, I fell in love with him instantly. He has the ‘just want to live a quiet life’ thing going for him but it doesn’t come across as cliché or annoying. This desire is interrupted by his past catching up to him and his nature to do the right thing and it soon turns into something much bigger then it first appears. Nick is special but how special we have to wait and find out, Freyermuth giving off snippets of detail here and there. I loved that we aren’t told, and all references are included naturally and casually, never once feeling like a point of explanation for the reader.

As with Nick, the rest of this magical world is introduced to us slowly and in well-timed moments. What I loved was that we are actually told very little. Hints are dropped, and references are made but nothing is stated outright, and when answers are given it only adds to the story. This made reading it that much better because you can see how easy it would have been to sit us down and give us a long explanation, but instead it is woven brilliantly throughout.

The mix of characters are wonderful, and Freyermuth’s great writing captures banter, friendship, all the perks, quirks, and problems of having friends both in the supernatural world and out. There is depth and history given to these characters, both their history with Nick and their own lives, and with offhanded comments and throwaway lines histories and pasts can be conjured up quite excellently making the characters well rounded and more real.

The narration is wonderful, it is intense and fun and enthralling from the early pages and lasts until the very end. The mixture and balance and creativity of the real world and supernatural is sublime and there is never a dull moment and always something to marvel at and pique your interest. There are mysteries and not just for the reader but for Nick as well, and working them out as you read, creating theories and just generally being captivated by the story is where so much enjoyment lies. Freyermuth has written a brilliant story, it’s messy and complicated, has secrets and the supernatural, and is a truly amazing read.

You can purchase Demon Dance via the following

Amazon

Amazon Aust

Pilgrim by Terrence Atwood

24 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 2 Stars, Science Fiction Tags: , , ,

Published: 5th March 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 146
Format: ebook
Genre: Science Fiction
★   ★  – 2 Stars

An exploratory probe is launched into space on a mission to investigate the possibility of extraterrestrial life. However, a cabal of military forces have covertly converted the probe into a weapon of mass destruction – arming it with a nuclear payload. 

When the launch of the craft goes awry, the probe crashes back on Earth and begins carrying out its mission – eradicating all life. It’s up to Catherine Tennison, an intrepid NASA scientist, and Army Colonel Walt Macken to capture and disarm the probe before it brings about Armageddon. 

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

This is quite a short novel, and one that captures a single event and moment in time, focusing on the action and outcome rather than offer too much background detail and depth of characters and environment. It is also written in present tense which took a while to adjust to. Whether the approach was to make it feel more in the moment I’m not sure, but while I got used to it, it never felt right.

The narrative is told and presented in snippets and in paragraphs rather than a flowing narration. It jumps from scene to scene quickly, a bit like a movie cutting from one place to another, without connection sentence or any clear indication where it will go. This wasn’t a real problem overall but it did feel a bit like we were jumping all over the place with random moments put together rather than a steady story.

From a promising beginning that seemed as if it would develop and grow, it falters soon after. It remains flat even when there is danger and peril to characters, never quite creating the excitement of tension needed. The story itself is a bit hard to believe as well, even for science fiction, but if you suspend your belief and take the story as is the events aren’t the main concern.

The main issues I found were the lack of depth in the characters and surprisingly the lack of concern I had for them when this probe was hunting them all down. I couldn’t connect with them, and honestly did not care what happened to them. This was my feeling for most of the novel. I was not interested in the outcome and I found myself picking apart things than getting into the story.

Even aside from these character issues, the story needs further editing. There are jarring dialogue and bad grammar throughout, and punctuation needs improving. The sentences don’t quite flow and the language and description is a bit lacking.

But there were some good bits. I did like how Atwood has worked in the probe movements and actions, fitting them pertinently in between other scenes. Stepping back you can see what Atwood has tried to achieve, a quick action/Armageddon story of a wayward machine wiping out humanity, but it just hasn’t worked. The words are there, and scenes in the right places, but the feeling or the anticipation isn’t, and when you don’t care about the characters you can’t worry for them when they’re killed.

Overall the concept was ok but the execution was not that great or enjoyable to read. With some editing it may improve but as it is now, I’m glad it was as short as it was because it couldn’t have kept me interested for much longer.

You can purchase Pilgrim via the following

Amazon

Everflame by Dylan Lee Peters

15 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 2 Stars, Fantasy Tags: , , ,

Published: 29th July 2012Goodreads badge
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: 260
Format: Ebook
Genre: Fantasy
★   ★  – 2.5 Stars

Long ago, when the earth was young. . . Four ancient beings created man to be the bastion of the earth and its creatures. But when The Great Tyrant came and chased The Ancients away, the world was transformed into a place of fear and isolation. Over time humans lost the connection they had with a world they had been created to protect. Now, deep in the forests that surround Gray Mountain, two bears find a small child that is abandoned and left for dead. They name him Evercloud, and raise him as a member of their kingdom. Teaching him the secrets of the elders, they tell him of the ancient beings that created man and the rumors of their return. Evercloud must now go on a quest to return The Ancients to power. However, in another corner of the land, a man known only as The Messenger travels the land under a white hood, on a mission to prevent the return of The Ancients. We follow the paths each of these men take until their stories collide in an epic battle of good versus evil.

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

The story begins with an opening paragraph that grabs your attention about a bear who is a king, raising a human child as his son. From there it becomes a story about ancient legends, fantasy, mysticism and faith, and trying to bring peace between the bears and the human world.

The plot is not confusing so much as complicated, with many different elements quite substantially introduced early on. Back stories and pieces of information are given with long and detailed side stories before the main narrative kicks off, and throughout there are clear and obvious moments of exposition that are more tell than show.

These are not boring exactly, but they are long and excessive, and often added questions than answered them, especially concerning the bear society and the bear themselves. A lot of information is given about the Kingdom but key elements like how bears can both act like bears but also have a human-like society with commerce, construction, writing etc is left unexplained.

Characters are slightly flat, but they have enough history and depth as the story needs them to have, and some have much more than others. And even though you can grasp a bit of their personality based on interaction and dialogue, I never really connected with them, or cared much about them.

The bears have raised Evercloud well; he is smart, determined, doesn’t seem to have any Tarzan-like issues about fitting in with a society of bears. There isn’t even much of a “discovering my own species” part of the story. Evercloud manages quite fine when he meets humans for the first time which seemed strange, and while astonished at first, he adjusts quickly, not even perplexed by the women, just the usual cliché infatuation with a pretty girl. Understandably, men look like variations of himself, but having been raised by bears who have no real differences, he has no apparent issue or confusion with the other sex.

There is a bit of violence, human and animal alike, which when it first appears comes as a blunt shock having read through so many chapters of pleasantries and life with the bears. To be thrust into another side story with sudden and brutal violence is a shock, and in a way it does move the story on, but the sudden switch was a surprise, and one that immediately changes the age range possibilities. The violence continues sporadically through the remainder of the novel, not as detailed or brutal as before, but there all the same.

There are also a lot of coincidences that help move the story along, whether cliché or deus ex machina, which help out Evercloud and the others. But by the time they come along you just expect it, that’s the kind of story it is, everything goes along well with one a few bumps and troubles on the way that instantly have a solution.

It wasn’t all mediocre, the information was interesting, Peters has good timing in revealing new snippets and twists, even small ones, and the structure was good, just a bit heavy with the exposition. A good idea poorly executed. There is a cliff hanger of sorts, Peters finishes the novel nicely in that it adds a new element of surprise and revelations, and also concludes the current story before tempting your interest to get into the second.

Overall the story is likeable and the idea is sound, but there are a fair few things that stand out as you read that make it hard to immerse yourself fully. The problems lay in the construction and execution with grammatical issues, characters you can’t really connect with or care much about, and a story that is curious at best, but not really pulling you through the pages with interest. If you ignore the holes, the few implausible and far-fetched aspects, and the writing doesn’t bother you, it is a nice little fantasy.

You can purchase Everflame via the following

Kindle
Nook
iBooks
Paperback
Hardcover

CLUB MEDicine by Jack Kinsley

12 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Thriller Tags: , , ,

Published: 13th February 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: RANE Books
Pages: 309
Format: Ebook
Genre: Thriller
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

What drives a reasonable man to commit murder?

Travis Martin was the great American success story. A former addict who started the premiere private rehab in the hills of Malibu, California, he had it all: a thriving business, a beautiful wife, and a daughter who was the center of his universe. Unfortunately, when his recovery took a nosedive, everything he built went right along with it. Now, he has a rehab filled with eccentric clients he’s expected to keep sane, a dark secret he’s desperate to keep hidden, and forces from his past that are determined to strip him of anything that remains.
What’s a self-made man to do? Backed into a corner, Travis finds himself stuck on one moral question: Can he commit murder in order to keep it all from slipping away? How far down the rabbit hole will he go? And, perhaps more importantly, how does he come back from it after that life is gone?

Part thriller and part redemption tale, CLUB MEDicine explores the heart of darkness within us all as one man balances on the razor’s edge between self-actualization and self-destruction. 

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

This was a hard story to pin down, even rate. It has good moments that piqued my interest, but there were also mundane moments that I didn’t see a need for. But Kinsley connects it together well and depending how you look at it, everything plays a part in telling Travis’ story.

The characters are eccentric and have a range of problems, and some characters grow on you much more than others, but Kinsley keeps it interesting with various aspects and dramas of rehab life. The centre is the focus and connects characters, secrets, and plot development, and contains most of the drama that unfolds. Travis is also a closet drug addict himself which brings in a nice sense of the blind leading the blind and a nice case of irony, and it is a key part of the unfolding events, consequence, cause, or otherwise.

For a thriller I felt there wasn’t as much of a focus on that element. It came and went, but there was a lot more time given on the events, ordinary and otherwise, in the rehab. Granted it is connected, and seeing Travis operate in the centre and his drug addiction on top of that was a key part, but I felt the thriller aspect didn’t shine through until the very end.

There is a steady pace to the story that has rises of suspense throughout but instead of a solid thriller with a sense of gaining momentum to something bigger, Kinsley has focused on the psychological unravelling and desperations of a man trying to hold onto his reality, but in a self-focused and inner dilemma rather than have it constantly play out on the page.

It was more watching a man’s life be on the brink of crumbling and seeing him fall further into despair before finally reaching desperation. Having said that though, I didn’t feel the intense desperation I think Kinsley was aiming for. It read as a huge leap to planning murder but at the same time I understood it, which was weird. Even though Travis runs through his options and realising he is being backed into a corner, I didn’t catch a sense of urgency in the tone of the narrative despite the words telling me there was.

There are some great and surprising moments though. The story is actually unexpected and Kinsley keeps it going with a few surprises and hints at secrets and dark pasts that are withheld until the right moments. This unexpected nature makes the intermittent moments of suspense work because it does just suddenly happen, but it’s the rapid resettling into routine that is unsatisfying.

It is hard to judge a novel before finishing it which is where most of my notes came from, and I think the end is where the story finds its footing, everything falls into place and the story unites into an unexpected, thrilling conclusion. The final moments allow you to see the clues placed throughout that had gone unnoticed, and with everything linking up it shifts your perspective and opinion on how you saw the story, but while it solves some mysteries and shows off creative writing, other issues remain.

I liked the ending in as much I think Travis got what he deserved. There are consequences and lessons, and having not had much sympathy or real care for him through most of the novel I liked that he didn’t get off scot-free but got a chance at redemption, and being on shaky ground with those around him is a good solution. Condemning him entirely would not have felt satisfactory and Kinsley balances adequate punishment, the right thing, and hope nicely.

You can purchase CLUB MEDicine via the following

Amazon

Amazon Aust

Earth 5 by Hustin Lindenhall

09 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Young Adult Tags: , , ,

Published: 31st March 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: Florendia
Pages: 242
Format: Ebook
Genre: Young Adult
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

What would you do if you were sixteen and you came across someone in the woods that changed your perspective of life completely? Someone that made you realize what you thought was real wasn’t actually reality. What I did was write about it, and it’s all here in this book.

I put all the original sketches in here too – over seventy illustrations by me, Tonya and Astol.

Earth 5 is awesome. I hope you like it too.

– Hustin

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

This was an unusual story, I wasn’t sure what to expect from it so I came out of it not knowing whether I was disappointed at not having gotten it. I liked the approach Lindenhall has taken, using his own name as the character and making it read like his own personal account. It reads like a teenager who has written down the adventures of his friends, as it is supposed to be, and this is reflected in language, narration, and helps excuse some of the oddities.

The chapters are little snippets of stories and titbits rather than a flowing narrative but it all centres around the trio and their adventures during the holidays and their time with the alien Astol. Even understanding this, the narration is a bit irksome at times, the tone is odd and a lot of the time doesn’t sit right when you read it, but the story being told is likeable.

There are illustrations throughout which Lindenhall blends into the story nicely. Having the tone set as Hustin recapping his experiences with Astol means they can be slotted in suitably, and they are used constructively in the storytelling rather than just being added decoration to enhance description.

Hustin isn’t a bad narrator, he and Tonya help Astol with understanding how Earth works, both scientifically and socially, and together with the mini stories Astol gets exposed to various parts of our world. Having Hustin and Tonya describe the daily life and the social construct of Earth does make you realise how strange and peculiar the planet is, and it is a shallow reflection on what humanity has become and how we choose to spend our time. The story of Earth 5 and our place in the universe was quite interesting, and it adds a nice science fiction element to the story instead of just a simple deconstruction of Earth life being told to an alien by two teenagers.

The story ends with a “to be continued” which is intriguing in a way because it hints at future adventures, but it is trumped by feeling unsatisfied because it doesn’t feel like a conclusion. Hustin has a deep reflection on everything Astol told him and what he has experienced which starts as a nice resolution, but it’s only fleeting as he moves onto other things and it feels a tad unsatisfying; it feels like the story has been left hanging. While it is setting up for the next adventure, the first story seems unresolved and whether that means a better expression of Hustin’s reflection and discoveries with Astol is needed, or just a better sense of a conclusion I’m not sure. Either way, it is an interesting concept with a few creative science fiction elements that bumped it up to a three star story. Lindehall has been creative with his development of Astol’s universe and I think that is part of what makes this story work, in the comparison of his world with ours, making it much more than just a breakdown of Earth and all its peculiarities.

You can purchase Earth 5 via the following

Amazon | Amazon Aust

Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble

Smashwords | Florendia

 

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries