Book Review: The Weight of a Wing (The Stolen Wings Book 1) by Ioana Visan

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The Weight of a Wing (The Stolen Wings Book 1) by Ioana Visan

A YA Fantasy Novel published through Amazon Digital Services (04/13/15)

 

Summary:

“One day, a pair of wings will change the world,” (Kindle Locations 3093-3094).

After suffering her wings being chopped off by the evil Gorem, Alise flees to the human realm. Gorem, however, is not done with her and hunts her down. Alise is not alone, though, she has the sympathies of the human Cassie and the suprising help of two Guardians: Rafe and Vale. The Guardians’ goal is different from Alise’s but ultimately, they need her alive to get what they want. The four of them are now hunting down Gorem, but a lot of fantastical elements will get in their way.

 

Keywords:

 Fairy, wings, Guardians, magic, wizard, mermaid, witch, prophesy, humans, caught in the middle, fighting, strength, healing, complications, battle, kidnapped, protecting the innocent

 

My Review:

I don’t usually go for the fantasy novels full of witches and wizards and fairies, but I liked the concepts presented in the book summary. Alise is in trouble and she has to get herself out of it. The book is a lot less pro-Alise and a lot more political trouble that is above her, but involves her.

Alise is in dire straits for the majority of the book, even before the book begins, but there is not much about her that endears her situation to the reader. Visan has not made me care about Alise. Visan has not made me sympathize with the character and her many near death experiences. Her near-misses with death aren’t agonizing and the tension in the scenes is just not felt. Alise isn’t even very worried about her own future or her mortality, so why should I be?

Cassie’s attitude is unrealistic. As a reader you must suspend disbelief that a human would get caught up in otherworldly affairs without a second thought or disbelief. Her attitude never struck me as real and I couldn’t think of her as a real person.

The book starts off after what I would consider a very important plot point has taken place, as if this is book two and not book one. The initial incident with Gorem and how he cut off her wings and how she pleaded with the Counsel to allow her to come to the human side of the world was all part of the backstory and not part of the main action. I would have wanted to read about this and it would have probably gotten me more attached to Alise and her struggles.

If fantasy with lots of varied magical creatures is your thing and you like a story where one single purpose is continuously thwarted until the end and the main purpose of the trilogy is alluded to in the end, then perhaps Weight of a Wing might be for you.

This novel was published through Amazon Digital Services April 13th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Iona Visan’s Website

Twitter

Book Review: The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster

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The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster

A Fantasy/Paranormal Novel published by Kerr-Ann Dempster (08/07/2014)

 

Summary:

“Just because something doesn’t last forever doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.” (Kindle Locations 2038-2039).

Aubrey Shaw will fulfill the prophecy. She will be sacrificed on the 12th day of the 12th month and all the Aramithian souls will be forgiven. There is just one problem. Aubrey doesn’t want to die. They thought she would be an easy target as a Dud with no special skills, but as it turns out she’s been gifted as a Jumper and by switching bodies she’s managed to evade capture for a while. However, her predictability is guessed by her previous crush and best friend Joshua, who is now tasked with finding and turning her in to her heartless sister Morgan and the other hunters.

 

Keywords:

Paranormal, Myth, Sacrifice, Souls, Switching Bodies, Living, Friendship, Trust, Loyalty, Love, Lust, Scars, Revenge, Death, Violence, Murder, Fire, Invisibility, Fog Manipulation

 

My Review:

This book was fast paced with quite a bit of action. It will keep you engaged and interested and hold your attention throughout.

Let’s talk paranormal. I am not one to seek out a book marketed as “paranormal” as I’m tired of the paranormal tropes and I prefer more realistic fiction. The Reluctant Sacrifice, though paranormal, was not a run of the mill story. It was a paranormal world full of different abilities, not your usual vampires or werewolves or witches. Dempster gives us something not completely unusual, but not wholly stereotypical of the genre. She gives us enough uniqueness to keep the reader guessing and enough commonality to give the reader something to relate to. Aubrey is an almost normal girl in an almost normal world.

My favorite part about Dempster’s writing is her dialogue and the witty banter she writes, as well as the relationships between the main characters. The back and forth dialogue between Tessa and Aubrey was so much fun to read.

This novel was published by Kerr-Ann Dempster 08/07/2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Kerr-Ann Dempster’s Website

Twitter

Donuts in an Empty Field (For the Love of Donuts Book 1) Call for Quotes

by in For the Love of Donuts, Miscellaneous Mondays, Rachel Barnard and tagged

Would you like your words to be in my upcoming For the Love of Donuts Book? I’m looking for quotes about donuts to feature on the back of the first book in the series.

Donuts in an Empty Field (For the Love of Donuts Book 1) Coming in 2016!

Letting go of anger is life’s greatest challenge.

Vanessa Smith hasn’t been the same since her father’s death. A hero until the end, he died saving a restaurant owner’s wife and son from a burning building. Nessa has always blamed the boy, Ben, for her loss, and her thoughts are consumed with ways to make him as miserable as she is.

Nichole Adams knows Nessa can never heal until she learns to let go of her hatred, but bringing back her best friend is proving more difficult than she could’ve imagined. In a last ditch effort to break Nessa’s obsession, Nichole hopes signing up for the local food challenge is just the thing to bust her out of her shell.

A single choice defines the road ahead for Nessa. Doing the right thing isn’t easy, but living with the consequences of doing nothing might be worse.

World Con is Here! And We are at World Con!

by in Local Events

So cool of FreeValley and NIWA to be at Worldcon.

freevalleypublishing's avatarFreeValley Publishing

It’s exciting to have World Con, aka Sasquan, nearby in Spokane, WA this year! There’s a great co-operative indie author book booth at Con, so be sure and check out the titles available from talented up and coming writers. FVP author Jeffrey Cook will be there to meet you.

Some of our FVP authors have books at the booth. Here are photos of the display taken and sent to us by a couple of our supporters…

Rachel's books - photo by Casondra Brewster Rachel’s books – photo by Casondra Brewster

David's books - photo by Thomas Alexander David’s books – photo by Thomas Alexander

Vicky's, Kennedy's, and some of Jeffrey's books - photo by Casondra Brewster Vicky’s, Kennedy’s, and some of Jeffrey’s books – photo by Casondra Brewster

Broad Table View - photo Casondra Brewster Broad Table View – photo Casondra Brewster

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Book Review: The Beast Hunter: a Keltin Moore Adventure (The Adventures of Keltin Moore Book 1) by Lindsay Schopfer

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The Beast Hunter: a Keltin Moore Adventure (The Adventures of Keltin Moore Book 1) by Lindsay Schopfer

An Adventure/Fiction Novel published through Amazon Digital Services (05/08/14)

Summary:

“He deeply resented how his difficult, though simple life, had become complicated by the problems of groups and nations that he had never visited or even seen before.” (Kindle Locations 2178-2179).

Keltin Moore is a beast hunter in a world where beasts roam far and wide. Usually they are isolated, but to the north in faraway Krendaria they have become a thick problem, keeping farmers from their crops. The local duke has put out a call for hunters far and wide and the bounty is enough to entice Keltin away from local Riltvin, but when he gets there he is told the hunters must work together to thin out the plague of beasts. Will the Beast Hunter be able to work with others or will politics between races of hunters cause a rift greater than that created by the presence of the beasts?

Keywords:

Fighting, Hunting, Prey, Beasts, Determination, Heroics, Strategy, Politics, Discrimination, Hate, Farming, Working Together, Survival, Thoughtfulness

 

My Review:

Keltin Moore’s world is much like stepping into the fictional wardrobe of Narnia with all sorts of creatures, most of them unfriendly. The Beast Hunter’s monsters are varied in form, function, and appearance. Not everything is known in this world. Schopfer is slow to build up his world and introduce the main elements of the story but when the action gets going it will suck you right in, even if fighting monsters is not something you usually read.

Schopfer explores different concepts in his story, the one that specifically interested me was the theme of ‘species’ discrimination, the interactions between different types of human or human likes. I like the buildup of different types.

There are hardly any women, but in this type of society it seems almost genderless as the biggest divide is by ‘type’ of person. There is the typical political and war like goings on, almost like the campaigns of Mulan with an impossible enemy that can only be brought down through the joining of efforts of an unlikely army.

The author brings real emotion to the scenes with thoughtful introspection by Keltin of the situations he finds himself in.

If you liked the heroics and otherworldly real feel of Rob May’s Kal Moonheart Series you may find you enjoy the Keltin Moore Adventures.

This novel was published through Amazon Digital Services May 8th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.50

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Lindsay Schopfer’s Website

Book Review: Ghost Storm by Sechin Tower

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Ghost Storm by Sechin Tower

A YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel published by Sechin Tower (07/17/15)

Summary:

“…sometimes it’s better to stand out badly than to fit in adequately.” (Page 68).

Dean Lazarchek is still dean of students at the Mechanical Science Institute… for now. He still feels inadequate to lead his students and to keep them from harm, after all he was just a firefighter before he stepped in to fill his dead fiancé’s role as dean. She left large shoes to fill, but after fighting off the near destruction of the world as we know it, another threat looms on the horizon and this one has memory lane written all over it. Will Dean be able to prove to himself that he’s right for the job and save his students?

 

Keywords:

Tesla, Twain, Scientists, Hackers, Save the World, University, Experiments, Mad Scientists, Explosions, Bad Guys, Danger, Thugs, Technology, Clueless, Lighting, Storms

 

My Review:

Ghost Storm is told only from the point of view of Dean and in the beginning he’s a bit pessimistic/depressing/sad. I miss the chaotic brain of Soap and her female perspective in Ghost Storm. Having the POV of just one person and for him to be a grieving adult, pushes this third book in the series to a more advanced age group. There are explosions and evil and fighting to save the world still, but the mood and tone of the narrator makes for a more ‘adult’ book that would probably appeal more to an adultier audience.

Soap, a character we grew to love in books one and two is almost nonexistant in this third book. Most of the students are given less time and less action in this book, though we are introduced to a new student who helps to save the day, Cake.

Technology and science in the book is cool, still above my head, but way cool the things that they can do. The technology really is able to move the plot along, for without the Predecessors and their Teslanium there would be no bid to end the world or to destroy everything in the name of saving the world.

This novel was published by Sechin Tower on July 17th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Sechin Tower’s Website

Twitter

Book Review: Dragons in Flight (Maze Beset) (Volume 3) by Lee French

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Dragons in Flight (Maze Beset) (Volume 3) by Lee French

A Fantasy Novel published by Emily French (2/14/14)

 

Summary:

Everything is chaos, but Bobby has one dragon free. The safe haven was not so safe and was infiltrated and all the people with peculiar eyes and peculiar talents were kidnapped again. This time, it won’t be a picnic to escape or free them either. This time, there is a new weapon. This time, Bobby won’t be able to go it alone.

 

Keywords:

Dragons, Superheroes, Fighting, Powerful, Government, Experiment, Testing, Survival, Friendship, Vampire, Helping Others, Conflicted, Disaster, Ulterior Motives, Mind Control, Leadership

 

My Review:

This final book in the Maze Beset Trilogy is super exciting. French tones down the philosophical musings of Bobby and focusses on the immediate danger for the group. Bobby once again must free them all, but this time it’s different. This time they are up against something completely different, yet working for the same people. This time, Bobby will truly learn what Maze Beset means and where they all came from, who gave them their unusual eyes. Everyone has their theories, but Bobby will finally learn the truth.

This book was a whirlwind of commotion and action. Bobby is his usual charming self, which apparently makes him very dangerous to his enemies. Someone who only heralds the truth and will always jump in to save those in need is truly the most dangerous individual indeed, especially against an organization that is rife with lies and manipulations.

I thought the ending did well tying up the loose ends and fully revealing the big picture. However, there could be more. A world open to children and young adults with powers such as bursting into a swarm of dragons has so much more potential. Perhaps Lee French will write a second trilogy to chronicle Bobby and his friend’s journeys as they integrate into society or segregate themselves apart. Who knows? A world like Maze Beset has never been seen and can only be imagined.

This novel was published by Emily French on February 14th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

 

Links for more information:

Lee French on Facebook

Lee French on Twitter

Goodreads

Book Review: Dragons in Chains (Maze Beset) (Volume 2) by Lee French

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Dragons in Chains (Maze Beset) (Volume 2) by Lee French

A Fantasy Novel published by Emily French (10/04/13)

 

Summary:

“Purpose rushed through his veins, a more potent drug than anything he’d ever tasted before.” (Page. 154).

Bobby has pulled together most of the 35 people with super abilities, but the missing 11 (the 11 that were kidnapped by the government and might now be experimented on while Bobby and the others settle into their base of operations) are continually on his mind. He can’t forget about them. They are his half siblings after all. Bobby and Stephen decide to go on a mission of their own, not even informing the others of what they’re doing, in an effort to find out where the missing 11 are and how to free them. Bobby and Stephen end up in Afghanistan, working for the very people who are most likely holding the missing 11 hostage somewhere. Will Bobby be able to deal with real war and death?

Keywords:

Dragons, Superheroes, Fighting, Powerful, Government, Experiment, Testing, Survival, Friendship, Vampire, Helping Others, Slaughter, Conflicted, Afghanistan, War, Mission, Torture

My Review:

This second book is just as exciting as the first book, but it gets a bit heavy in the conflicted thoughts of Bobby because of the killing he’s done. Lee French puts Bobby through a whirlwind of chaos and has him asking if he is a monster. Bobby doesn’t know if he has control over himself. Is he a hive mind? Are his dragons in control or is he? What does that mean when they/he kill someone? These are all interesting questions, but the book takes too long pondering these questions and focusses too much on Stephen the Vampire and Bobby the Dragons and almost leaves behind the rest of the characters for another story.

Finally Bobby and Stephen return to their home base and Bobby questions even more what he is doing and how it makes him feel. The first book was about the group and the premise and the setup, but the second book is more on Bobby and his feelings and emotions and how he’s handling being who he is and doing what he does.

The book ends on a high tension note with a great cliffhanger to propel readers into the third and final book of the Maze Beset Series (or maybe there will be more books…)

This novel was published by Emily French on October 4th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

 

Links for more information:

Lee French on Facebook

Lee French on Twitter

Goodreads

Book Review: Dragons In Pieces (Maze Beset) (Volume 1) by Lee French

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Dragons In Pieces (Maze Beset) (Volume 1) by Lee French

A Fantasy Novel published by Emily French (6/30/13)

 

Summary:

“Yes, it is a little disturbing to realize the only thing really preventing you from taking whatever you want is your own commitment to morality.” (Pages 153-154).

Bobby didn’t really have much going for him, but when the feds picked him up for a crime he didn’t commit, he used his upbringing to calm himself. Southern boys are polite, that is, until he was accused of being a terrorist, locked away, and experimented on like a lab rat. After discovering an unusual ability and meeting others with similar eery eyes, Bobby joins together with them to escape. But they find a list with more names then their own, and they can’t leave anyone to go through the hell they went through as lab rats, even if only for several days, and they make it their mission to save all the almond shaped eyed superheroes.

Keywords:

Dragons, Superheroes, Fighting, Powerful, Government, Experiment, Testing, Survival, Friendship, Vampire, Helping Others

 

My Review:

Dragons in Pieces starts with a focus on Bobby. He seems normal. He acts normal. He talks normal. He does normal youth-ish type things. There is a key difference, though, as Bobby is a Southern boy and he was never well off. He is quick to anger when something sparks the Southern Gentleman in him. His story starts when he takes it upon himself to tell off his mother’s boss and punches him right in the face. He is cooling off when he’s picked up as a terrorist. They must be wrong, Bobby didn’t do anything, just punched one guy.

Waking up hours or days later, Bobby doesn’t know, he is confronted by something quite unusual. Bobby and three others were being experimented on like lab rats and it won’t take long for Bobby and them to figure out why. They have super powers.

I loved Bobby. He had so much character, even if all that he said and did weren’t the best choices or the most smart decisions. Bobby has Southern charm and it’s apparent he has a Southern upbringing and grew up quite different than I did and I found him fascinating for these differences. It’s downright adorable that Bobby says “Heckbiscuits” as a curse word and tries to do what his momma done told him about being polite and how to handle himself in social situations. Bobby is rough around the edges but an extremely likeable main character.

The story was also fascinating and the choices Lee French made for the super powers was interesting. French gives is interesting characters, a compelling story, and a hint at something more going on than Bobby and his friends know.

This novel was published by Emily French on June 30th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

 

Links for more information:

Lee French on Facebook

Lee French on Twitter

Goodreads

Author Tuesdays: My Favorite Indie Authors 8 – AJ Downey

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Indie Star Badge

AJ Downey

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I met AJ Downey at the Destination Staycation event at the AFK in Renton, WA. Her taglines and down to earth witty manner pulled me in. Her covers got my attention. When I picked up the first book in the Scacred Hearts MC Series I was hooked on AJ Downey.

 

I really like how Downey’s covers in her Scared Hearts MC Series are unique to the romance genre, they aren’t just bare chested men. Just like her stories aren’t just sex and romance, but also involve a larger story and the bigger picture of the Sacred Hearts MC.

 

I love AJ Downey’s writing style and how she describes the world in the Sacred Hearts MC. All her characters come alive and every book is interconnected with the others through the overarching story-line and the characters’ involvement in each other’s lives. I would like to mention how fantastic Downey’s character names are, very unique and purposeful.

Downey also has a knack with descriptions. I like how she describes everything: people especially. Shattered and Scarred, for example, was more sophisticated than the average book. The way Downey looks at a scene and describes it is fascinating.

links for more information: