Scripts and Empty Crypts by Trixie Silvertale

Ghostma has sold the movie rights to Mitzy’s story and they intend to film the show using the actual bookstore. The problem being that Ghostma signed the contracts in Mitzy’s name without telling her about it, and now they have no choice but to allow the filmcrew to film inside of the building, despite there being sections of the bookstore that the general public aren’t allowed to know about. In the midst of this, the election is nearing that will either return Erick Harper to the position  of Sheriff or allow Paulson to continue on, doing things her way while resenting any help offered from Harper-Moon investigations. And to top things off, you guessed it, there is a murder involving the movie crew.

I received and read a review copy of this novel. And as you might expect, I enjoyed it, just as I have the previous ones in this series. There are quite a few twists and turns involved in this cozy mystery that will keep you guessing all the way until the end. This book has the vibrant characters that we have come to love from the Mitzy Moon Cozy Mysteries and the Harper-Moon series. It is every bit as entertaining as the previous books, and while it is a quick read, it is a very fun one as well. I know that I enjoyed it a great deal.

This book ends with a twist that can be pretty easily anticipated if you're a regular reader of any of the Mitzy Moon and Erick Harper books, but that will affect this series as it goes forward, And I for one, can’t wait to see what will come next. (I really don’t want to spoil the ending for you, so if you want to know what I’m referring to, you’ll just have to read the book yourself.)

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading Cozy Mysteries, Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, or who has enjoyed any of the other books involving Mitzy Moon, Erick Harper, and Ghostma. You won’t be disappointed.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Murder in the Garden of Enchantmentby Kathryn Gaucci

After receiving an invitation to a prestigious wedding in Constantinople, Theodosia begins planning, shopping for new clothing for herself and daughter, and gifts for the bride and groom. While talking with a close friend of hers, she hears some worrisome news about the groom and his reputation, and asks one of her servants to discreetly follow the young man to determine if these rumors are true or false. For if they are true, the young woman about to be married—the younger daughter of a friend of hers—will likely have an unhappy marriage ahead of her.

This cozy, historical fiction murder mystery was a beautiful description of life in early 20th century Constantinople. While it focused mostly on the wealthier lifestyles, it did also include a small amount about those who were among the less fortunate. This was a different type of book that what I am used to seeing from Ms. Gaucci as it is not primarily based on historical events or taking place in the middle of WWII. I received a review copy of this book, and as I have her WWII historical fiction novels, I enjoyed this one too.

The descriptions of the people and places are quite vivid. And it makes it easy to imagine being in the middle of a street market in Constantinople during this time period. And while I did figure out the “who-done-it” part of the story, there were quite a few surprising twists and turns along the path to revealing much of the how and why as well as the who behind the murder. For me, this was a nice, relaxing read. One where I could sit and immerse myself in the setting and the culture described within the book. And I believe that was one of my favorite aspects of this story.

If you like historical fiction with a touch of cozy mystery added in, then you will very much enjoy reading this book. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Gaucci provides her readers with her next novel. Whether that is a return to her WWII historical fiction or another cozy mystery, we are sure to enjoy the descriptions of what life would have been like in that time period and location.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writersby Renni Browne & Dave King

This textbook is one that was strongly recommended for a class that I am currently taking. It covers a fair amount that can be problematic, especially for writers who have not previously been published. It covers such topics such as show versus tell,  characterization, exposition, point of view, voice, and more.

There is a lot of useful and helpful information in this book, along with examples of what the authors are talking about. There are also exercises in each chapter for the reader to put into practice what each lesson was about. The “answers” to the exercises are at the end of the book rather than at the end of the chapter with each exercise. I personally would have preferred them to be on the pages immediately after the exercises themselves, but being able to look at a potential solution to each one is in itself helpful, no matter where in the book it winds up.

I would recommend that anyone reading this book attempt to complete them as it lets you put into practice what you are trying to learn. They are useful and the explanations on their answers are also helpful in teaching the why behind the choice to change the passage in certain ways.

At times, this felt very much like I was reading a textbook, which is what it is, however that aspect does at times make it a little less interesting (causing it to feel a bit "dry") to me than the previous book assigned in this class. But overall, I believe this is a helpful and useful book for anyone seeking to not only improve their writing, but who is seeking to improve their self-editing skills in order to strengthen the impact of their stories.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Champion's Lord by V.C. Willis

After losing control of their land to the invaders from the old continent, life had been rough for many people, most of whom now seek only to survive. When the empire’s crown prince comes seeking an alliance with the Thompson clan, he brings along some knowledge of what the invaders seem to be looking for, though parts of the puzzle are still missing. Still, Raphael is determined to try and aid his new friends and allies as best he can while trying to keep the fate that befell the empire from happening again. With the help of Ashton’s family, hopefully he can succeed, despite the odds stacked against them.

I first read an Advance Review Copy of this book when it was originally about to be published only as a Yonder app Web exclusive and enjoyed it. But earlier this year, the book was released more widely and is now available in both a paper and ebook versions from multiple retailers. (And with Yonder closing down later this month, access to this book on the app will be lost.) I reread the book before updating my review to repost, and I can say that it is just as enjoyable to read the second time around.

I found this book to be well written; the story is fast paced and the characters are fascinating. They each have their own problems and faults, just as they bring their own strengths and abilities to the fight. They know that if they fail, things will become very dark for those still around to see it. Someone is messing around with dark magic, and without the aid of the Fates, will anything remain? And if the Fates are forced to intervene, who knows what will happen.

It does need to be noted that this fantasy/adventure story is not meant for younger readers. There are a fair amount of very graphic sexual encounters, both male/female and male/male. This book is a very descriptive, very steamy adventure/romance novel. There is also some violence in the story, as it is clearly building up to a war, or at least some sort of battle between two opposing forces; one side seeking to protect, the other, possibly to destroy or possibly simply to dominate and control the rest of the world.

If you enjoy books that involve male/male as well as male/female relationships, have read any of Ms. Willis’ other books, or are looking for an extremely steamy fantasy adventure/romance novel to read, I’d recommend giving this book a try. I think you’ll enjoy it. Ms. Willis is an excellent writer, and one whose books are worth taking the time to read.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

As & When by Alex Andre

Aileen has been running the “underground” element of Locksville for a while. And while it may not seem like an important job, without her influence chaos would take over and no one would be safe. By keeping things controlled, there is essentially peace. And even those in charge of the city on the more lawful/legal/political side of things recognize that without her and her group controlling the less than legal elements of the population, things would get very bad, very quickly. So when Aileen disappears without explanation (a highly unusual thing), it is up to her second in command, Bo, to find out what has happened to her and to arrange for whatever is needed to bring her home.

This was the second book in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian series called the E Apocrypha. While this book focuses mainly on a different part of the world from the previous book, it does include many of the characters we met in that novel. In this story, we learn quite a bit about Aileen and how she came to be in charge of the underground element of Locksville, as well as why she was kidnapped. Her adventures, as well as those of Bo, the one seeking to find and rescue her, make for a very interesting and entertaining story.

I received and read a review copy of this book and I greatly enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the references to characters from the first book in the series and learning what happened to them after the conclusion of their story. And while I do believe that readers could probably read this book even without having read the previous one, I think that they will enjoy it much more if they have read the first book. (Without the information from that story, readers may miss some of the reasons why the referenced characters from the first book are still important to know about in this one.)

I believe that anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian novels will enjoy this book a great deal. I found the mix of characters who see the usefulness of mechanical equipment and those who feel that such were the cause of the catastrophe that essentially reset the world to a pre-industrial society interesting. And the complexities of those who marvel over what was lost and historical compared to those who seemed to feel that everyone was better off without them also enhances the story. In my opinion, this is a story that is well worth reading, and I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Gifts With Hard Swordsby Scott Telek

In the early days of King Arthur’s Reign, there was much strife, many difficulties, and people either trying to influence or curry favor with the young king. And with many not believing him to be capable of being High King, or simply not willing to accept him as such, war was inevitable. As a young man who has not been a king for long, in this book Arthur is still struggling to find his way and wishing he were free to control his own destiny rather than following the path laid out for him by Merlin. Yes, he knows that Merlin’s desire is for the good of everyone, not just the rich and powerful, but when you are a young man, it is hard to suddenly find yourself the one suddenly held responsible for everything. Mistakes will happen. The question seems to be whether or not Arthur can handle it when those mistakes may be life changing—for both himself and for his people.

I read a review copy of this book, and I loved it. Mr. Telek’s story is based on historically found tales of Arthur and his knights. It is not simply a retelling of the stories that many of us have heard many times throughout our lives, though for the most part we can anticipate much of what will happen. But this series is unique in that while it is very based off of the most historical versions of Arthur’s story, the gaps that were left by the original authors have been filled in with Mr. Telek’s own contributions to the tale. And those contributions are not insignificant; they meld in perfectly with the existing information that was his source material for this story.

As such, I should warn you that there is a part of this story that some may find disturbing. The event shows Arthur’s fears for his future, and it ultimately contributes to his eventual downfall. But given that it was part of the original tale, it was not something that could, or should, be ignored by Mr. Telek. It was an important part of the story and does show us a great deal of Arthur as a young man who is unsure of himself as king. It also gives us a glimpse into the fact that there are some events that even the great Merlin could not have prevented. It may be a bit disturbing, but it was necessary to this story. And honestly, there are many historical tales of kings and other leaders who have done much worse.

Mr. Telek has woven a wonderful and very enjoyable tale for us to enjoy. One where we get to see not only Arthur’s strengths and successes, but also his failures and weaknesses. We get to see that while King Arthur may someday become a legendary figure, at this point in time he was simply a young man who felt the weight of the kingdom that rested on his shoulders. One who has been repeatedly told that only he could bring about the golden age that was to come, though how he was supposed to do that, he didn't know. It makes for a wonderful tale, and I very much look forward to seeing what happens in the next book in this series. 

If you enjoy tales of King Arthur, his Knights, Merlin, and the others, this is a series you will want to read. I do recommend starting at the beginning of the series if you have not previously read the books before this one. There are some surprises early on in the series that you won’t want to miss. Mr. Telek’s version of the King Arthur story is very unique and worth taking the time to read. Highly recommended.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

5 Editors Tackle The 12 Fatal Flaws of Fiction Writing by C.S. Lakin with Linda S. Clare, Christy Distler, Robin Patchen, and Rachel Starr Thompson

This book was recommended for a class that I am taking and having read it, I can very easily understand why. I have since recommended it to someone I know who is working on writing their first novel as I believe this book will be extremely helpful for them during the writing process. It very clearly describes the main problems that many authors face when writing a novel, and it offers potential solutions for each of these issues.

This book covers quite a bit of information, so it may take some time to read and fully absorb all of the knowledge and wisdom that it is attempting to share. But I can honestly say that those who take the time to read it and attempt to eliminate any of the “fatal flaws” that may run through their writing will not be disappointed with the results and improvement in the responses to their own tales.

While I have not written a book myself, given that I have reviewed a number of books, I was already familiar with a number of these fatal flaws and have seen them in some of the books that I have read and reviewed over the years. I may not have always been able to put into exact words why something may have bothered me about a story, but when reading the descriptions of those same issues and the potential ways to solve or avoid them, those reasons become much clearer.

This book is an excellent source of information for anyone who is writing a novel or even a short story. It will definitely help with avoiding quite a few pitfalls whether you are planning on trying to get your book published through a publisher or are planning on publishing independently. It can also be helpful for anyone just wanting to improve their storytelling skills in general. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is writing a story to share with others. It is a fantastic resource book for both new writers as well as for anyone hoping to improve on existing skills.

If you are a writer, this is one book that I highly recommend adding to your collection. This is also one that I feel could be very helpful to editors, specifically developmental editors, as it helps the reader to recognize at least some of the potential problems that authors might inadvertently incorporate into their writing. (I know that I have been guilty of some of them myself, and I've never written or tried to publish a book.)

Prudencewritten by Gail CarrigerNarrated by Moira Quirk

Prudence, now a young woman with a preternatural for a mother and a werewolf father is herself a metanatural; the only one born in centuries. She is capable of "borrowing" the form and abilities of any supernatural being she touches while they revert to being mortal for as long as she retains their supernatural abilities. Prudence is also the adopted daughter of a vampire—an arrangement that was made before her birth as the only way to prevent the local vampire hive from trying to kill her mother before Prudence was born.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which focused on the next generation of characters from the Parasol Protectorate series rather than their parents and enjoyed it.  Though I do wish that they had used the same narrator as they did in the first series; mainly because the changes in the way the characters from the original series were voiced seemed vastly different in style from how they sounded when spoken by the previous narrator. But it was only those particular characters’ voices that bothered me, and likely only because I was so used to the previous narrator's style.

The voices of the characters that were not in the original series, however, felt much more welcome and did not bother me in any way. This narrator also did an excellent job of keeping each character's voice distinct from all others.

One thing that I found amusing in this story involves a stolen snuffbox that is hiding tea inside. And, if you have been reading my reviews for at least the last year or so, you know that I have been enjoying the teas purchased from Punk Teas. Whenever I ordered tea from them, a free sample of another tea had been included with my purchase, and their sample sized tins look suspiciously like small snuffboxes. At one point, I asked a representative from their company if this had been intentional as I know that Ms. Carriger has worked with Tea Punk Teas to create at least one tea inspired by another of her books, but it seems that it was merely a coincidence. (The size of the small tin merely being very convenient for tea samples.) But it was fun to discover it as part of the story I was currently listening to.

I think that anyone who enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate Series and anyone who enjoys Steampunk tales should enjoy this one. (Especially while enjoying drinking a nice, refreshing cup of tea, something which is a very important part of this book.) I know that I enjoyed both this book and my tea while I listened to this story. And whether you listen to the audiobook, as I did, or you read the pages of the story yourself, I think that you will find it a fun tale.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Mortal Coils: The Necromancer's Apprenticeby Chris Durston

Mara is an apprentice necromancer, not by choice, but because a master necromancer decided to make her his apprentice, and if she refused, her family would pay the price for her refusal. Over time, she has gotten used to the evil nature of her existence and grown in power. They are at the last task she must complete to no longer be considered his apprentice, but will be a full necromancer in her own right, making her family finally be safe from this monster's harm. However, once the task is completed, he kills her, sending her to the realm of the dead until he can master the spell that will bind her soul to him as an undead servant; one with all her awareness and power intact. Not wanting this to be her fate, Mara is in a hurry to find a way to cross over to where her former master cannot call her back from the Sunless Crossing. But she can’t manage this on her own, and soon finds herself as part of an adventuring party for the first time.

I received and read a review copy of this book. It is a tie-in novel to the Black Ballad roleplaying campaign, and like the other Sunless Crossing novels, it is one I enjoyed reading. I enjoyed watching Mara learn to see that friends are not always a weakness. Sometimes, they are what makes life (or in this case, death) worthwhile. It’s not easy to learn to trust when for most of your life, you have had to hide your true thoughts and feelings from those closest to you.

Watching Mara grow as a person after her death made for an interesting story. It’s not often that one learns those lessons after they have died, but before then, she had no one who could show her the value of trust and friendship. And ultimately, the value of putting others’ needs and desires ahead of your own. I truly enjoyed this aspect of the story. The idea that it is never too late to learn to care about others is a very strong and important lesson.

Anyone who enjoys RPG tie-in novels, fantasy adventure stories, or character driven stories about discovering who you truly are and what you want out of life should enjoy this book. It’s a interesting story that I think many will enjoy. I did.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Safe Passage: Through the Wildlands of Capherayna by Karen Menezes

After many days of walking through an-old growth forest, The Lightbender, a man trained extensively from birth in a variety of holistic and metaphysical as well as scientific methods has found his way to a village in need of his help. The new ruler of a neighboring kingdom has declared a war on the peaceful village in an effort to steal their land, as well as the land of all the nearby villages also living in the forest. And when the villagers refuse to either join his kingdom—a much more modern society with a great deal of technology—or to abandon their homes, he sends in his military to shoot the children first, since killing the children will cause despair and make it less likely that the adults will continue to resist.

This was an interesting story, and while it took me a while to actually realize what it was about (there was a great deal of necessary worldbuilding in order to explain not only The Lightbender and those like him, but what was happening around these villages and why the neighboring kingdom was so determined to control them). It also took me a while to realize that this was likely supposed to be a world similar to if not actually our own, though it wasn’t taking place in any part of the world with which I was familiar.

The author did a wonderful job of describing the forest and the people living there, spending so much time in their world, that when the soldiers arrived with guns and a plan to bomb the villages if necessary, it was rather jarring to me; I had completely forgotten that there were modern societies in this world, as the people focused on were ones that chose to live without technology. However, to me the pacing of the book felt slightly off. There were long sections where it was very calm and sedate, with a great deal of narrative description. And though much of it was necessary, it caused much of the urgency that I expected to feel to be missing.

Also, when the people were hiding from the soldiers in the forest with The Lightbender and others like him who were trying to help hide, heal, and protect the people from discovery, some of the recovering children were not seeming to grasp the need for quiet, despite the fact that they had been shot and left for dead by the soldiers, with a great many of their friends and family having not survived. To me, this seemed like more than the few specifically mentioned as having PTSD from the violence should have been more traumatized by it, rather than acting out because they were bored, or loudly voicing a desire to return home. (I’m sure that I would find it very difficult to return to a place where I had nearly been killed and watched many others die.)

But don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy reading this book, and would happily read more of the series. I believe that many of my issues revolved around the amount of necessary world building in order for me to grasp what was happening in this story and understand the why behind it. But I do need to include some trigger warnings for this book, as there is some violence, some violent shooting of innocent children. So it is likely that this book is not a good fit for everyone. But I do feel that many people will enjoy this story. Even with the issues I felt the book contained, overall I did enjoy reading it.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

To Slay a God, by Brian Fitzpatrick

When the god of pestilence and decay seeks to enter their world to continue a path of world destruction that it has successfully completed on other worlds, Severina and her companions must destroy it before it can destroy everything. But what happens once they manage that task but die in the process. And when they all arrive in the Sunless Crossing, can they help to save the realm of the dead from a dead god that wants to take over that realm before venturing on to destroy every other world?

I read a review copy of this book and, like the previous books in the Sunless Crossing series of Black Ballad tie-in novels, this was an interesting one. I liked seeing how the characters reacted to learning not only were they now dead, but that the evil they had thought defeated was now working on taking over the realm of the dead. I enjoyed the differing perspectives from the characters. You could easily see how their lives had affected the way they viewed their deaths and afterlives.as well as the surprises that were thrown at them.

I also liked how we could see their views on multiple things changing as the characters learned more about not only their new surroundings, but about themselves along the way. I truly enjoyed the obvious character growth that takes place in this story. It is one that if you aren’t paying attention, you may not notice it, but that when you are watching to see how and if the characters grow and develop along the way, it is clearly there.

If you like fantasy stories full of adventure and that have a good vs evil theme, books that are RPG tie-in novels, and the Black Ballad RPG game then I believe you will enjoy this book. Even if you haven’t played Black Ballad or play RPG games, this is still a very entertaining fantasy adventure novel that I think many will enjoy. I recommend giving this book, and this series, a try.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Paramour Book 1: Moneta by George Bachman

Following a violent attack, Blondie lies near death. But she is not the main character in this tale: her mother Moneta is. The majority of this tale flows across two different timelines. One where Moneta is younger, and one involving her daughter Blondie at the same age. There is a parallel in these two storylines as much of Blondie’s life seems to mirror Moneta’s. Both seem to have the same interests, and they seem to often make the same mistakes.

I read a review copy of this book, and parts of this story I found to be very interesting. I enjoyed the characterizations, and the parallels between the two timelines. But I also have to warn readers that I do need to include some trigger warnings for this book. There are some incidents involving violent and descriptive sexual assault on a near-adult minor. There are some traumatic events in this story that could trigger PTSD for some readers. And there are also abusive relationships within this book.

I did enjoy much of the characterization and parts of the story, but I feel like there was too much in-depth description of the science (or made up science for this story) within the book that went far beyond my ability to comprehend. And in my opinion, these instances often dragged on for too long, causing me to want to skim over them as I was not really understanding why so much time was being spent on these specific conversations. While I do recognize that parts of them were essential to the story, I believe that shortening or condensing certain conversations would have held more fully held my interest rather than causing me to want to skim through them.

Overall, while I did have some issues with parts of the story, I did enjoy others and was often interested in what was going on, even if I didn't always understand it. Would I be interested in reading the next book in this series? Probably. I believe the second book will likely clear up some of the questions that the answers were never revealed in this book, and hopefully would explain what actually led up to the opening scene. (I have an idea about that, but I have no idea if my guess is correct, or if there are other questions that I don’t even know to ask yet.)

So while I think that some will find the technical discussions involving memory and the brain fascinating, I think that for the rest of us, if you can get past the sections that seemed to slow down my interest, and can get past the trigger warning issues within this tale, then I believe you will probably enjoy this story. It is definitely an interesting concept, even if I think some parts could have used a bit more development and refining before publication.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Memory Thief: Streets of Nox Valar (Chronicles of the Crossing Book 1)by CD Corrigan

Rasa fell to Ashen Fields of the Sunless Crossing with no memory of anything that had gone before. She didn’t know where she was, what her name was, or how she came to be there. She didn’t even know that she was dead. Almost immediately, she was being attacked by monstrous creature after monstrous creature, again, without knowing why. When Secan found her, she at first assumed he was another being simply determined to try and kill her and almost tried to do the same to him as she had to the other … things that had attacked her. Together, they set off to try and find a way to help her regain her memory and figure out where she belonged in the realm of those who had died. What they didn’t know was the dangerous plot that was being implemented by an Angel that endangered the balance of life/death in the Sunless Crossing.

I read an advance review copy of this book, and like the other tie-in novel to the Black Ballad RPG game, I enjoyed this one a great deal. There is a lot going on in this book, keeping the pace fast and drawing the reader of this fantasy series quickly into the story and making them want to know more about what is really happening.

Thus far, I have been enjoying this series. It is an easy read, well written, and quite entertaining. Those who enjoy role-playing games, have read any of the other Black Ballad tie-in novels, or who have played an RPG set in the Black Ballad world of the Sunless Crossing, will likely enjoy this book a great deal. It is a very entertaining story, and the realm of those who are currently dead, but aren't yet ready to enter their afterlife is a fascinating one that I believe readers will enjoy... whether they have played the RPG game itself or not.

The characters are another great source of entertainment for the reader, and I can easily imagine the difficulty in waking up with no memory only to have someone try to convince you that you are dead, even though to yourself, you feel as alive. It would be one thing to have a memory of being killed, but with no memory at all? That would be quite difficult, I would imagine, at least until something convinced you otherwise.

There are some interesting subplots in this story that I think made it a book that was quite difficult to put down, and one where I kept wanting to know what would happen next. I think that if you give this book a try, you won’t be disappointed.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Flight of Fate by Angelina J Steffort

Ayna, the Crow Queen, is currently trapped in her crow form, unable to change back to her human form after a bargain made with Sister the goddess who had at one point created a curse that punished all crow fae by not allowing them to fully return to their fae form. The bargain allowed the Crow Queen to save her people, but left her trapped as a crow. And no one seems to know how to return her to her human form. But who is it harder on? Ayna or her beloved mate Myron? Both are tormented, and unfortunately, neither of them can put all their energy and resources into finding an answer as not only are the few remaining Crows in danger, but all of Askerian Fae as well. The King of Tavros is still coming for them with the magic-dampening potion that Ephegos and the Fire Faeries helped to create. And right now, that is the bigger threat.

I read an advance review copy of this book and as I have the previous books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Ms. Steffort has a way of drawing you into the story that lets you feel for the characters during the rough times and leaves you cheering for them at others. And as heartbreaking as much of this story often was, it does have its happy and joyful moments as well. This is a complex tale with many moving parts, and just when you think that maybe you have it figured out, something happens to show you that there is still so much more going on than you realized. (At least that’s the way it went for me.)

I do not believe that we yet have the full story of what the Brother and Sister Guardians are up to, let alone what the Human King of Tavros and the Crow warrior who turned many of the Crow Faeries against their king are up to. I believe there is more behind their alliance than we have yet learned, and I also believe that there will be more betrayals and victories yet to come for our heroes, And I for one, and very much looking forward to finding out what will happen next, as this was not the last book in this series.

The cliffhanger ending of this book was not as heartbreaking as the one in the previous book, but it does leave quite a bit open as to what will happen next. One thing is for certain, I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I don’t know if it will be the final one or not, but either way, it should be a very good read as well.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

To Be Fair: Illyrian Boy Series Book 1 by Julieta Moss

James is an adult gay man from the United Kingdom who is currently living in Italy. His life has not always been easy, and it seems to weigh on him a great deal. Bogdan is a sixteen-year-old refugee seeking asylum in Italy after having fled from a war torn area. To his knowledge, he has no living relatives, or at least none that he knows of who have escaped the war. And as such he is essentially considered a ward of the state (or in this case, country). But for all that he has had a much more difficult life than James, more often than not Bogdan manages to hold on to a generally positive outlook on life. But even he has his darker moments and is also tormented by nightmares of his escape to freedom.

This appears to be the story of two lost souls finding each other, though their journey along the way is anything but easy or simple and does include many missteps. I received a review copy of this book, and am honestly not entirely certain how I feel about the story after I finished reading it. While I enjoyed the ending, the journey for the characters to reach that point is a very difficult one, especially when you consider that James is an adult, and a good deal older than Bogdan. And while the physical relationship that develops between the two does not start immediately, it appears to me to be far from an equal relationship by any means even before that happens. 

Bogdan is all in, but unsure of himself, while James is lost, depressed, and has a fair number of other emotional issues that he needs to come to grips with, though neither of them seems overly concerned with the age difference between the two of them. Had Bogdan not been so young and still a minor, this would not have bothered me so much, but the fact that he was only sixteen and seeking out a relationship with an older man sets off alarm bells in my mind. Though in all fairness, the age disparity in the relationship seems not to be an issue for anyone else in the story. I’m not sure why that is, but it may be a cultural thing. I am not familiar with what the age of consent is in Italy.

This book is written by what I believe is a British author, as all the spellings are in British English rather than American English, and as such some words and phrases may appear a bit unusual to some readers if they are unaware or unfamiliar with the differences. One minor issue I ran into was that all times were merely referred to as “.am” or as “.pm” with no actual time listed. I don’t know if this was intentional or if the actual time of day in each instance was accidentally left out in the version that I read. I think that if the reader is patient, they can guess at an approximate  time for activities that were being referred to, but for me it was a mild annoyance. 

Bogdan is all in, but unsure of himself, while James is lost, depressed, and has a fair number of other emotional issues that he needs to come to grips with, though neither of them seems overly concerned with the age difference between the two of them. Had Bogdan not been so young and still a minor, this would not have bothered me so much, but the fact that he was only sixteen, and seeking out a relationship with an older man sets off alarm bells in my mind. Though in all fairness, the age disparity in the relationship seems not to be an issue for anyone else in the story. I’m not sure why that is, but it may be a cultural thing. I am not familiar with what the age of consent is in Italy.

This book is written by what I believe is a British author, as all the spellings are in British English rather than American English, and as such some words and phrases may appear a bit unusual to some readers if they are unaware or unfamiliar with the differences. One minor issue I ran into was that all times were merely referred to as “.am” or as “.pm” with no actual time listed. I don’t know if this was intentional or if the actual time of day in each instance was accidentally left out in the version that I read. I think that if the reader is patient, they can guess at an approximate  time for activities that were being referred to, but for me it was a mild annoyance.

I do also need to warn that  there are some incidents in this book that some readers may find triggering. Bogdan does have nightmares from his time fleeing a war. This book also does include a suicide and themes of emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression, and bullying. For much of this story, it is not a happy book by any means. And as I mentioned above, I am not entirely certain how I feel about it. But I also do not believe that I am the intended audience for this story, and as such, that may be coloring my view of what happens within the tale. For some readers, I could easily see many of these experiences being helpful or allowing a reader to feel “seen” and less alone in the world. And this would easily be a redeeming factor of the parts that I had a difficult time reading, as those sections were not speaking to me, but very well could be helpful and meaningful for someone who has been through similar difficulties, or who is also going through a tough time themselves.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The 5 Moons of Tiiana by PT Harry

Rez Cantor is a soldier and the captain of the guard. He has been assigned the task of protecting the princess and heir to the throne. When this story begins, the war between their worlds has been lost and in the morning they are expected to surrender to an invading empire. What the general population of this world doesn't know is that the surrender will mean the death of everyone by the invading aliens, including the princess he is sworn to protect. Rez and a select few are charged with helping the princess to escape and live somewhere in hiding off-world. However, as their ship flees the planet, the invading force attempts to stop them, firing on them and damaging the ship. While Rez survives crash landing on a distant world somewhere, he wakes completely alone, not knowing what happened to the rest of those on his ship, including the princess that he was charged with protecting, where he is, and whether or not any of the others had also survived.

This was an unusual science fiction story. I will admit that early on I felt a little confused since I wasn’t sure if this was going to wind up being solely his story of survival or whether it would find a way to tie back to the rest of those he had been travelling with. All I can say about that is that it does tie back to the stories of the others and more, but that this is overwhelmingly Rez Cantor’s story, while the others are secondary characters. Yes, they are an important part of his tale, but their stories are not the main focus of this book. While we do learn a little of what happened to each of them when their ship was attacked and they crashed, their stories are very clearly secondary plotlines in this book. (It is possible that the author may write others books focusing on these secondary characters stories, but we will have to wait and see if he chooses to at some future date or to leave the fullness of their tales of survival left to our imaginations.)

I read a review copy of this book and I enjoyed it. This was a classic science fiction story that involved other worlds and cultures as well as multiple alien species. And for those who enjoy classic science fiction, I feel that you will definitely enjoy this book. We learn a lot about the characters, as they learn much about themselves, survival, and other worlds/peoples. If you are able to read this book on a color device or tablet, I would recommend doing so as this book does contain color illustrations throughout the story that do enhance the tale by allowing you to see what the author was describing when various alien species or people were encountered along the way. If you are reading this book on a black and white kindle, the pictures are still quite helpful and very nice, but they truly shine when viewed in color.

Overall, I think that anyone who enjoys science fiction, alien worlds, alien beings, and multiple cultures or languages, will enjoy this complex and interwoven tale. I don’t know if this is intended to be a stand-alone novel or if the author intends to continue the story with another book. It does work well enough on its own, but I could easily see another book written about what happens to the main characters after the end of this tale. (And yes, I would willingly read that book as well should I get the chance.) It was an interesting and entertaining story.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Cost of Lies by Samantha Price

Wilma had lied about her first husband not leaving a will. And for years Florence has mourned the fact that the apple orchard she so loved was not hers, especially when Wilma married Levi and the orchard suffered due to his lack of knowledge in how to effectively manage an orchard. But now it has come out that there was a will and that all these years it had been meant to belong to Florence. Levi was furious at Wilma and told her that she needed to make it right. And then he suffered a heart attack.

As with the previous books in this series, I enjoyed reading this one. Despite any family troubles, it comes through clearly how much family means to everyone in the Baker family. No matter how angry they may get with each other, they are always there for each other no matter what.

This series makes me smile when reading it. I get drawn into each book and want to know what will happen next for everyone involved. I think that anyone who enjoys Amish romance books, any of the other books in this series, or any of Ms. Price's other books would also enjoy this story as well.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

TimelessWritten by Gail CarrigerNarrated by Emily Gray

A member of the Kingair werewolf pack has gone missing after being sent to investigate the advancing plague of humanness that is happening in Egypt, where werewolves and vampires in an increasing area are rendered completely mortal/human while within its borders. Alexia, her husband Connell, and their daughter Prudence have been summoned by the oldest of the vampire queens to visit the Alexandria Hive. And such a summons cannot be ignored. At the same time, it gives them the perfect opportunity to investigate what is happening in Egypt.

I listened to the audiobook version of the story and greatly enjoyed it. There is a lot going on in multiple plotlines within this book, with the narrator doing an excellent job of differentiating the character voices so that there is no confusion as to who is supposed to be speaking. The story was entertaining and held my interest throughout. The twists and turns taken, along with the outcomes of those decisions will keep you wanting to know what happens next.

I believe that anyone who enjoyed the previous books in the series, whether reading or listening to them, will enjoy this story. It was a great ending for this series and left me looking forward to reading the series about Alexia and Connell's daughter Prudence. This is a fun series that is easily enjoyed as either an audiobook or a physical book. And either way, this series always keeps me coming back to enjoy other books by this author, whether in this same series or in another. I do, however, recommend either reading or listening to the previous books in this series before beginning this one if you don't wish to feel a bit lost when reading this one.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.