Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review: Bento Box (The Gray Hat series) (Volume 1) by Tina Shelton

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Bento Box (The Gray Hat series) (Volume 1) by Tina Shelton

A Sci-Fi Thriller published by Barely Salvageable Press (07/01/15)

Summary:

“How do you catch someone who’s riding inside of someone else?” (Kindle Location 2644).
Carnelia is stuck working for future Seattle’s version of the mafia. Her boss has the goods on her, literally. He has her body and she has to get it back when a job she’s forced to do for him goes South. She’s a body jumper, stealing people’s bodies to do all sorts of criminal/sordid things with them. But her last body jump isn’t going so well and now her new skin is under attack and she only has so long in this new body before her boss does something to her original body or the tech prohibits her from jumping back.

Keywords:

Body Jumper, Tech, Bad Boss, Cops, Crime, Evil, Power, Mind, Soul, Out of Body, Seattle, Running for Your Life, Mind Control, Thief, Mirror, Struggles, Mafia, Thugs, Escape

 

My Review:

I was overjoyed to find that this book was set in my ‘hometown’ Seattle, but this is a Seattle in 2291. It is a Seattle that’s twisted and yet still familiar. The tech is out of this world, or at least out of body. In a bit of irony/hilarity, the rain is no more a problem, read the book to find out why.

Everything about this story was well done, well written, down to the names of the characters and the small details about future Seattle.

The level of sci fi detail was a total mind spin – like Inception but instead of dreaming, the characters are body jumping. What a fun and thoroughly detailed concept brought to life by Tina Shelton.  I really enjoyed it.

Shelton even delves into the particulars of what it would be like for a petite woman to jump into a 7’2″ man’s body, but never takes this too far.

This novel was published by Barely Salvageable Press July 1st, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating:4.75

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Tina Shelton’s Website

Twitter

Book Review: The Corsican by Tina Shelton

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The Corsican by Tina Shelton

A Sci-Fi Thriller published by Amazon Digital Services (04/02/14)

Summary:

“You’re not on Kalix any more, and those people have no further hold on you, except what you allow them.” (Page. 50).
It will take much more than simply grabbing and running to free these slaves from captivity. Their parents paid for their passage and the older kids will finally be able to hope for a future, but from the beginning of the rescue, things didn’t go as planned. Complications will arise from without and within the Corsican is it plods along to the planet Caserne, where slavery is illegal. The Corsican and her crew will have less than eighteen months to ready the kids for a new life and to battle their way to freedom from those who would keep them from it.

Keywords:

Slaves, Freedom, Pirates, Ship, Space, Journey, Revenge, Friendship, Loyalty, Pilot, Fighting, Training, Enemies, Technology, Leadership, Skills

My Review:

The Corsican is an enclosed world with lots of older kids who must learn to live together and learn together. There is a larger world out there that is trying to shut them down. This setup reminds me a lot of Ender’s Game, but Tina Shelton’s world has much more going on and the relationships she builds are more interesting and more varied than Card’s.

Shelton builds a story of change and forgiveness. Of friendships and loyalty. Of action and adventure. Of learning and growing. Of figuring out who they are and what they stand by. Of letting go of the past and embracing a free future full of possibilities. Of finding out what they’re good at. Of forming allegiances and seeking out revenge. Of petty complaints and drama. There is almost no end to what is going on in this story.

Everyone has their own story. In the large cast of characters, everyone has a backstory. Every character is fleshed out and different. Blaise is the noble who has a foot in both worlds and wants to be accepted for who he is but has a hard time of letting go of the prejudices he learned in his past. There is so much to learn within the story of Blaise and how he grows and develops. Violet is a mod with strength and speed, taught to be meek and doubtful of doing anything with her strengths. She could kick anyone’s butt but has learned to not stand up for herself. Rix has a unique ability with machines and putting her neck out for others. Tristan and Payet both have secret abilities that set them apart from the others. Then there’s Jestyn and Jack and the Corsican’s pilot and the mysterious Syrah. Tina Shelton gives us so many wonderful characters to root for.

This is a science fiction novel for anyone. It has fighting and revenge. Drama and peace negotiating among teenagers. You might even learn something about yourself, or at least how to handle stubborn, obnoxious, and at times pretentious kids.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services April 2nd, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating:5.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Tina Shelton’s Website

Twitter

Book Review: The GearMaker’s Locket by Shannon L. Reagan

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The GearMaker’s Locket by Shannon L. Reagan

A Clockpunk/Steampunk Adventure Novel published by Amazon Digital Services(03/31/14)

Summary:

“Lace, chains and sophistication.” (Page 14).

MIT student Copper Rose has always been gifted when it comes to machines and anything with gears and a motor, but when she finds her late grandmother’s locket, it doesn’t make sense to her. Its gears work on their own, without any battery and when she opens it to try to figure out more she is thrust into a different world, where clocks and gears prevail. In this new city everything is made of metal, even some of the people and she is infamous in this world, known as a GearMaker. Copper Rose must find her family and a way out as she gets caught between a GearMade’s demand for her to build machines that come to life and a life she never knew could exist for her.

Keywords:

Clocks, Gears, GearMaker, Mechanical, Good with Hands, Female Protagonist, Cliffhanger, Portal, Locket, Family, Loyalty, Machines, Life, Evil Leader, Power, Air Ship

My Review:

I liked the idea and premise of the story. It was like the author combined the idea of creating real life figures such as in Pinocchio with a Terminator type outcome. Combine this with gears and all the fun stuff of Steampunk and you have a compelling book just based on the details.

However, the plot points and plot arc were not as sophisticated as the book’s central idea and details. This novel went back and forth between capture and escape and the pattern become tired. I wanted an ending or something different. The ending I got was – read on to find out. The cliffhanger was not much of a cliffhanger because it could have ended with any one of Copper Rose’s escapes and the final one was almost no different. There was a twist at the end, but because the author didn’t give me any other possibilities, it was easy to guess. If you read this book I’m sure you’ll figure it out too.

I liked the characters more than the plot. Copper Rose, what a lovely name, was smart but not too smart. She was good with her hands but didn’t figure things out immediately. Alum was probably my favorite character because he is the underdog and I really enjoyed the romance in this book.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services on March 31st, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information:

Shannon Reagan’s Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Book Review: Firestar Released (Truestar Trilogy Book 1) by Lilly Wilson

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Firestar Released (Truestar Trilogy Book 1) by Lilly Wilson

A Science Fiction Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (11/03/2014)

Summary:

‘“Isolation in a necessity, when there is no one you can trust,” Lia retorted.’ (Page 129).

Lia has been a slave on General Oort’s slave ship for seven months, but she hasn’t lost hope, she is waiting to be chosen. She has been waiting until the moment when she will be taken from her 4×4 foot cage, but it isn’t Oort who chooses her, but a visiting captain, Border Relic. Lia had a plan, but after it was thwarted she must find a different way to get to General Oort to fulfill her goal of revenge. Border Relic is an intergalactic space peacekeeper and couldn’t just let Lia suffer when she clearly was not like the other slaves. Ultimately Relic gets caught up in her plans and her story and must choose to follow the rules or go with his gut.

 

Keywords:

Space, Travel, Slaves, Slave Ship, Captain, Queen, Space Peacekeepers, Scientific Advances, Loss, Struggle, Revenge, Resilience, Biding Time, Mission, Powerful Enemy

My Review:

I normally don’t pick up science fiction as it strays so far from reality, but Firestar Released had many realistic grounding elements to keep my interest. Though not all characters are “human” the main characters are enough human for them to seem completely relatable. Though technology has advanced to intergalactic space travel (necessitating a peacekeeper) the everyday technology is still familiar (or at least not everything familiar has been upgraded). There were science advancements and unbelievable changes, but Wilson does well in controlling how much she has changed between life now and life in the Truestar Trilogy.

The characters are relatable, even though their names may truly be science fantasy. I loved the names. Border Relic is the captain and I can totally imagine it being his name even while both parts indicate words known in English. Lia’s name is Ipoliamalandria, which can be pronounced if you think about it (and Border does say her name multiple times out loud).

Lia is a great character. She has a high resilience and a fixation on her revenge. Her growing feelings for Border don’t interfere with her personal goals. She is a determined woman and even though she might not be the greatest role model, the fact that she is determined makes her a worthy hero.

The story had romance, but the romantic element didn’t overpower the main story or personal character development.

The only character I wanted to see/know more about was General Oort. His cruelty was only seen through the eyes of others and his personal story might be interesting to read.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Servies 11/03/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Lilly Wilson’s Blog and Website

Book Review: Faery Swap by Susan Kaye Quinn

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Faery Swap by Susan Kaye Quinn

A Middle Grade Fantasy Novel published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (12/16/13)

Summary:

Finn is the protective older brother, but he can no longer protect his little sister when he’s tricked into the Otherworld by a faery Prince. Zaneyr doesn’t mind humans and performs the soulswap with Finn with little remorse because his plans are to save the human species. Zaneyr is in up to his elbows and the human world is much more complicated than he thought, but his father wants to merge the faery world with the human world and Zaneyr will stop at nothing to keep that from happening. Zaneyr is a warrior but with Finn consumed with getting his body back from the faery, things just got a bit more complicated.

Keywords:

Soul Swap, Exchange, Otherworld, Faery, Dimensional Energy, Warrior, Separation, Body, Self, Other Creatures, Power, Spell, Wand, Two Worlds, Tricked, Friendship, Loyalty, Brothers

My Review:

This book was fun to read, surprisingly fun to read as an adult since it’s marketed for a middle-grade crowd. It had more intent and attempted violence and evil than I would have thought for a typical middle-grade novel, more like a young adult novel actually.

The genre was also not quite a typical fairy fantasy because there were wizards and spells and wands. This book had everything! There were even creatures that were different. The fantasy world was separate from the human world and action took place in both. There was world building but it wasn’t off-putting because much of the action and the beginning of the novel took place in the close to reality human world.

There was only one true female but only because it’s about someone else, she isn’t a strong female type or a damsel in distress. Her character could almost also be another boy, she isn’t gender stereotyped into a female corner.

This book covered a lot in its longer than you would expect for a middle grade novel pages. There was a glimpse at friendship and family dynamics and loyalty as well as grief and emotional turmoil over loss and perceived loss of loved ones.

I liked Finn just as much as I liked Zaneyr and even though the faery boy was doing something seemingly wrong by soul swapping with Finn, I understood and was able to sympathize with his motives later on.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on December 16th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Susan Kaye Quinn’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: The Duality Bridge (Singularity #2) (Singularity Series) (Volume 2) by Susan Kaye Quinn

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The Duality Bridge (Singularity #2) (Singularity Series) (Volume 2) by Susan Kaye Quinn

A YA Science Fiction Novel published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (8/17/15)

Summary:

There is a duality inside you, and the merging of those two sides is your calling, Eli. (Kindle Locations 2802-2803).

“It means that you represent the possibility of more in a world very carefully balanced on the idea that more does not exist.” (Kindle Locations 3855-3856).
Elija Brighton now knows who he is and what his purpose was to be according to the faction of Ascenders who wanted to know whether they had souls, but what he doesn’t know is how he’s supposed to be the bridge or answer this question. He’s the face of the Human Resistance and the one concept that will create chaos among Ascenders if he really is the ‘prophet’ people think he could be. He is important. He must discover himself, what he can do and answer their questions and his own before he is captured or killed or worse.

Keywords:

Teenagers, Humans, Ascenders, Machines, Bots, Legacy, Technology, Science, Soul, Art, Dance, Painting, Meditation, Love, Friendship, Opportunity, Rebels, Fighting Back, Captured, Betrayal

My Review:

Marcus gets more in this book. Where we thought of him as singularly focused on his own purpose and incapable of being helpful, now we see him as furthering a different set of goals for the greater good of Ascenders, not just himself.

Eli has really developed into the persona, the Bridge, the unlikely and unprepared hero with the superpower that gives the book out of this world action and out of this world adventure and tension. Eli was a bumbling legacy human in book one that slowly came to terms with who he was and what he could do and in book two he embraces himself and furthers his abilities, realizing he serves a greater purpose than simply living his own life. He is still Eli, but he is also enlightened and wise.

Kamali also came into her own in this book. Before she seemed to be a reactive character, thrust into situations and not able to make her own decisions. Now she chooses to help. Now she chooses to be with Eli. Now she is part of his world and the world of the rebellion and the great question and answer that Eli embodies.

The only person I would have liked to see more of is Cyrus, he kind of drops off the radar in this book, gets left behind for most of the action and is not focused on by the narrator except for fleeting comic relief and to remind us that he still exists.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on August 17th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50

Links for more information:

Susan Kaye Quinn’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: The Legacy Human (Singularity #1) (Singularity Series) (Volume 1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

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The Legacy Human (Singularity #1) (Singularity Series) (Volume 1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

A YA Science Fiction Novel published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (2/19/15)

Summary:

“…the gift isn’t something separate from you. It’s your work that brings the gift into the world, not the other way around.” (p. 169).
Elija Brighton is a painter and a legacy human or a human descendant that was left behind when many Ascended to a higher and ‘better’ state of being. Legacies are given one chance in this future world to Ascend, by winning the ‘creative’ Olympics. Eli has a real chance to win because he is the best painter in the world –  when he’s in the fugue state that is. He doesn’t know how to control the fugue state or what makes it happen. Understanding and controlling the fugue state is the only thing standing in the way of him winning, or so he thinks.

Keywords:

Teenagers, Humans, Ascenders, Machines, Bots, Legacy, Technology, Science, Soul, Art, Dance, Painting, Meditation, Love, Friendship, Competition, Games, Chance, Opportunity, Rebels

My Review:

I love that this story discusses the soul in a science fiction (futuristic/technological) context and in a way that ties it directly into the importance of the plot. The concept of a soul is not made to feel overtly religious or overtly philosophical.

At times the plot did feel mildly contrived and the concept of Ascender versus Legacy was brought up again and again. Eli’s thoughts go again and again into the fact that Ascenders (especially his Ascender crush Lenora) don’t give Legacies the time of day unless it suits their purposes.

I liked how Quinn connected the fugue state to channeling Eli’s inner creativity and getting in touch with his inner self, his very soul.

As the book and the Olympic games went on, they reminded me more and more of the Hunger Games, just with less violence and more philosophical/moral questions involved around the end goal of Ascendance.

I loved Basha and wanted more of her in the book, she seemed like more of a dynamic character than Kamali, but I liked Kamali as well.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on February 19th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

Susan Kaye Quinn’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Love Never Dies by Loren Lockner

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Love Never Dies by Loren Lockner

A Dark Romance Novel published by Tyan Wyss-Lockner (1/05/13)

 

Summary:

“Marriage is for others— the lawyers, the children, the parents. A soul mate, that’s just for the couple, no one else.” (Page 78).

Julia was always helping her twin brother out, as he was constantly biting off more than he could chew, but the tables turn when his roommate turns out to be the best thing Julia could have found: her soul mate. Seth is everything Julia wasn’t even looking for and they fall in love almost instantly. Then, just as suddenly as their meeting and their romance, he is killed. It wasn’t an accident and neither was his more wild twin brother showing up in Julia’s life after Seth’s passing an accident.

 

Keywords:

 Romance, Love, Soul Mate, Introspective, Caring, Death, Fleeing, Victims, Architect, Murder, Twins, Sibling Connection, Lust, Mystery, Rival, Competitive, Disguise, Tattoo, Grief, Meant to Be

My Review:

The characters struck me as peculiar, as if the setting was Europe or England or maybe Seth just seemed like he was from a different culture. His personality and actions were very stiff and different from a familiar character or known “American” personality. In this difference, he was kind of an enigma and mysterious and more distant as a person.

The dialogue also seemed a bit peculiar. It was stiff and formal most of the time and stood out to me.

The idea of soul mate as Lockner has made it is just that, an idea and to build a whole novel around that one concept didn’t work out entirely well, in my opinion. The story lacked something. They’ve only known each other four months! And dated for less! How can you love someone without even truly knowing them? It’s instalove, but the wooing takes a couple of weeks. Then the I Love You’s come pouring forth.

The sibling connection was much more interesting to me than the soul mate connection – philosphically/spiritually speaking according to how Lockner described it.

I did very much enjoy the story telling aspect of the novel and how Lockner described everything and the environment she placed her characters into.

This novel was published by Tyan Wyss-Lockner January 5th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Loren Lockner’s Website

Book Review: Free Souls (Mindjack Saga Book 3) by Susan Kaye Quinn

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Free Souls (Mindjack Saga Book 3) by  Susan Kaye Quinn

A YA Science Fiction Novel published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (12/22/13)

Summary:

“Jackertown Code: no kill jacks, no stealing, no mental or physical assaults, no forced jackwork, no contracting to mindreaders, no unauthorized memory wipes, and no vigilante justice.” (Kindle Locations 7966-7970).

Kira didn’t want to be part of a clan or conspiracy. She just wanted to live her life, but mindjacker obsessed agent Kestrel and the human rights’ violations of the government have made that impossible. Kira also wants to keep her family safe and so joins the Jacker Freedom Alliance under the leadership of Julian, a powerful and different kind of mindjacker entirely. In Jackertown central they are gearing up for war, but when war comes to their door, will they be ready?

 

Keywords:

Abilities, Skill, Mindjacking, Future, Telepathy, Technology, School, Love, Friendship, Clan, Power, Special, Female Main Character, Mind Reader, Mind Control, Mind Powers, Paranormal Abilities, Hard Choices, Danger, Fighting

My Review:

There was more going on than anyone knew. Quinn closes all loose ties in this third and final book in the Minjack Saga Books. There were a few things I didn’t realize were going on that were explained in this book and everything was wrapped up nice and neat. The twist at the end creates the possibility of an entirely new trilogy based on this world.

It felt like Kira and her mindjacker rebels were always one step behind Kestral/the government and were never able to outsmart or outjack or out-action anyone. I would have liked to see them triumph in some way, instead of continually being on the defensive and being pushed back and back. Was there no way around the mind shields? I really wanted Kira and her super strong jacker buddies to figure this problem out, but they never had the time.

Overall I enjoyed the wrapup this final book presented and the concept and story in the series overall.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on December 22nd, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Susan Kaye Quinn’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Closed Hearts (Mindjack Saga Book 2) by Susan Kaye Quinn

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Closed Hearts (Mindjack Saga Book 2) by  Susan Kaye Quinn

A YA Science Fiction Novel published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (12/20/13)

Summary:

“Different isn’t a crime, you know.” (Kindle Locations 7202-7203).

After announcing herself and many others as mindjackers, Kira is hidden to the world no longer. Some of those that can only mind read are wary, scared, and prejudiced against the mindjackers. Some powerful politicians are attempting to take away the mindjackers’ rights as citizens, to lock them up and keep the general populace safe. Kira can’t live in hiding forever, either she will have to help the mindjackers in their political crusade for rights or in their physical war for freedom unless she’s discovered by the government first and they have more than just imprisonment in mind for mindjackers.

 

Keywords:

Abilities, Skill, Mindjacking, Future, Telepathy, Technology, School, Love, Friendship, Clan, Power, Special, Female Main Character, Mind Reader, Mind Control, Mind Powers, Paranormal Abilities, Hard Choices, Danger, Fighting

My Review:

As with most trilogies, I liked the first book (Open Minds) better, but Closed Hearts stuck with Kira and the story of jackers versus regular mind readers – with the government interfering in the middle. I like Kira’s story and wanted to watch her grow in her abilities and within her changing world. I wish more had happened with the love story in this second book. I also thought Kira was not as good a role model, leader and protagonist in this book. She became wishy-washy and an emotional mess. What I love about dystopian kick-butt female characters is their ability to rise above the world-in-the-toilet messe and be someone you root for that is amazing. Kira was less amazing in this book as she worked through consequences of her actions in book one and dealing with a world that thinks she and her fellow jackers are to be feared.

This second book also contained Julian, the leader of the rebels and I liked seeing different types of jackers. Kira is certainly not alone in her exceptional abilities. We also get to know more about Kira’s dad and his background working as a jacker.

The story of the mindjackers was still continued and it’s always exciting to watch the good guys versus the bad guys and to wonder how good the good guys really are…

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on December 20th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00

Links for more information:

Susan Kaye Quinn’s Website

Goodreads