TYGER, TYGER (GOBLIN WARS BOOK ONE) by Kersten Hamilton_Review

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


another multiple-star well beyond 5 novel!


This is a really fun YA which readily and easily suspends disbelief and at the same time deals with issues of interest to adult readers: mythology, exceptional children, blending families, foster care system, and appreciating, acknowledging, and valuing one’s ethnic heritage. Suspension of disbelief comes so easily in this story that it is almost magical-and really, the reader will feel that magic exists and has been performed here. Author KerstenHamilton skillfully welds the two worlds, of mundane reality (urban Chicago) and Mag Mell, one of the original lands of the Fir Bolg, a land in which the Sidhe roam free, from which they venture forth into consensus reality to wreak havoc.

I truly loved this first entry into the story of Teagan and her exceptional younger brother, Aiden; Finn her cousin, who believes himself to be THE Finn Mac Cumhaill of Eire legend; Teagan’s delightful parents, Aileen who is Irish and John Paul who is Welsh; Abby-Teagan’s Mob-related best friend forever; and many, many more. I’m eager to read the next book in the series, and I must add, I hope the series extends to 10 or 12 books!




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BELIEVE (NEW ENGLAND IMMORTALS #1) by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever_Review

Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


“Believe” is the first in a series, and a multi-layered novel, indicative of the author’s rich and vivid imagination. Vampires, Vampire Hunters, Royalty, varied Shapeshifters, Indigenous Americans, American pre-colonial history, Western European settlement in America, romance, jealousy, envy, Supernatural powers, and much, much more-it’s a massive undertaking but author E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever seems to manage to keep it all straight. I found the book quite enjoyable in terms of content (though there were a couple of instances when I thought characters changed too suddenly to be realistic) and I admire the author’s forethought in putting together such a collection of different types of folklore, mythology, superstition, history, and Supernatural elements of many types. My only objection is that the book would benefit from a good proofreading, and that I found the grammatical errors and typos distracting. However, I am glad that “Believe” is the first of a series (“New England Immortals”) and I look forward to the sequel.



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PANDORA'S KEY by Nancy Richardson Fischer

Reviewed via Goodreads Group Shut Up & Read R2R program.


Pandora's Key by Nancy Richardson Fischer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I quite enjoyed this lovely new approach to one of the most important legends in Classical Greek mythology. Highly suspenseful, adventurous, and roller-coaster paced, “Pandora’s Key” kept me turning the pages and reading it in one sitting due to the likable characters, intricately convoluted plotting, and author Nancy Richardson Fischer’s smooth and talented writing style. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, so I can find out where the protagonist goes from here. However, “Pandora’s Key” functions well as a stand-alone novel, ending in not so much a cliffhanger as a promise for further stories for eager readers (such as myself  ).

Evangeline is the sole daughter of a single mother, Olivia, who was herself a sole child, orphaned at seventeen by the sudden grisly death of her mother. She has a lifelong best friend, Melia, who still finds time for her despite Melia’s current love interest, Tristin, a new student in Portland; and another good friend, Raphe, for whom E continues to wish there could be something in addition to friendship.

E (as her friends call her) and her mother Olivia both have nightmares (and in her mother’s case, bizarre hallucinations) over a period of weeks leading up to Evangeline’s birthday. On her sixteenth birthday, E receives from her mother the onyx key which Olivia herself had always worn as a pendant, and almost immediately Evangeline’s world turns topsy-turvy and inside out in a reversal of everything she ever thought she knew as fact-both for her personally, and for the world at large.

I highly recommend “Pandora’s Key,” which has appeal to readers of many different sub-genres.




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THE DEMON'S LIBRARIAN by Lilith Saintcrow

The Demon's Librarian by Lilith Saintcrow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A well-constructed accomplishment of world-building with a good balance of sorcery and sensuality, suspense and romance, well-thought out characterization, “The Demon’s Librarian” is a good introduction to the worlds of Lilith Saintcrow. Francesca “Chess” Barnes is not one’s ordinary Head Librarian-living in Jericho City, a “free city” in terms of sorcerous input, Chess discovers a well-concealed archive of sorcery books missing for decades and thought lost. So being an independent and studious reader, Chess studies the books, develops her innate talent, forges a sword-and hunts demons.

“The Demon’s Librarian” is not just a fun urban fantasy, though-the author has a nicely tuned sense of humour and knows just when to wield it. Although too graphic for YA audiences, older readers will enjoy the rapid paced thrills, the suspense and adventure. Personally, I’m moving on to more of Ms. Saintcrow’s novels.




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LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD

Much thanks to Author Shawn Keenan
Errant Author
for including me in the Liebster Blog Awards.
As quickly as I can fulfill the requirements, I will post here and "send it on."

UNDER WITCH MOON by Maria E. Schneider_Review

Under Witch Moon by Maria E. Schneider

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A totally captivating, non-stop adventure into a new perspective on contemporary society, in which witches, vampires, and shifters live right along with “normals,” even though in many cases normals choose to figuratively close their minds and remain in denial, “Under Witch’s Moon” had me speedily turning pages and not realizing the passage of time. A lovely escalating buildup of tension keeps the reader on the edge, constantly hovering between “Oh no!” and “All right!” as our heroine battles evil (yes, literally) while simultaneously striving to maintain balance in her own chosen life, as a scientifically-based witch who avoids black magic at all costs.

Not all witches are that morally upright, though, and Adriel finds herself drawn into a web cast by one who scares even vampires. Budding romance, magical surprises everywhere she turns, friendships, sibling rivalry, and much much more make this intriguing tale of a Santa Fe not so far removed from our consensus reality endearing and a re-read.




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THE RITUAL by Adam Nevill_Review

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


36 stars!!!


I was totally engrossed in this book from the first sentences. A graphic, gory, terribly suspenseful, tense, horrifying, mystery-adventure-horror-untangling of emotional revelations, this novel riveted me completely. I so wanted to stay up all night to finish it! The compulsion to know “who’s next” and “what’s going on,” “why oh why is this happening,” and “is there inexplicably a human cause-or is this truly all Supernatural?” kept me turning pages nearly at the speed of light.

Mr. Nevill is a fine writer-I enjoyed his “Apartment 16,” but “The Ritual” in my opinion surpasses it, both for superbness of writing, for characterisations, and for sheer unmitigated terror. (Make no mistake, “Apartment 16” is very scary!) In “The Ritual,” the lives of four former collegiate friends, now in their mid-thirties, are peeled down quite literally to matters of survival-who will, who won’t, will any, survive? “The Ritual” is an actual “page-turner,” and refuses to be set aside. Even if one puts the book down, the story line will linger in the mind, demanding one’s attention.

I cannot rave highly enough about this novel! So I am off to read the author’s “Banquet of the Damned,” and count the days till the 2013 publication of his newest novel, “Last Days.”




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THE THIRTEEN by Susie Moloney_Review

The Thirteen: A Novel by Susie Moloney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Well, wow-this book was everything I had expected, from the blurbs, and more-much more. I’m so glad I read it that I am reading all of Ms. Moloney’s earlier books (this is the most recently published). “The Thirteen” is so multi-layered that it would take me enough pages for a novel to pick all the layers apart, so I won’t. I can’t even label it as one sub-genre or another. Urban fantasy, horror, Supernatural, paranormal, literary, mother-child entanglements, some romance, wealth vs. poverty, suburb life vis a vis city, sacrifice, evil vs. good, otherworldliness-there’s nothing not to love here and readers will surely be as entranced as I was.

Haven Woods is, on the surface, ostensibly just another pleasant suburb-quiet, not too busy, early to sleep and early to rise-a wonderful, comfortable place both for parents to raise their children to adulthood, and for seniors to enjoy relaxing retirement. But Haven Woods, of course, is not your ordinary suburb. Under the sway of a coven of witches, who are themselves tightly bound to a creature of Evil, who is itself only a minion (albeit a powerful one), Haven Woods is only safe and secure for some, the chosen few. Even the chosen must sacrifice also.




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BULLETPROOF by Jeff LaFearny_Review

Bulletproof by Jeff LaFerney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Bulletproof” is another exciting adventure by author Jeff LaFerney, focusing on the father-son due of Clay and Tanner Thomas, men whose cranial capacity affects their lives (and the lives of others) in totally unexpected ways. Each has a second opening in the medulla oblongata of the brain, and has developed what would otherwise be considered “psychic” abilities, such as thought projection, mind control, and telekinesis.

If you liked the previous Thomas & Thomas novel, “Skeleton Key,” you are surely going to rave over “Bulletproof.” If you haven’t read “Skeleton Key,” well, what are you waiting for? Get them both, and you will quickly see why I am such a fan of this series, which gently and subtly blends paranormal with science, emotion with skepticism, adventure and thrills with mystery and suspense. There’s always a good guy, but they’re never perfect; and some of the secondary characters demonstrate serious failings, in a very human way. In any event, you’ll find yourself racing through enjoying these exciting novels.




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THE WARRIOR'S WAY by Zoe Saadia_Review

The Warrior's Way by Zoe Saadia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’ve really enjoyed reading Author Zoe Saadia’s “Pre-Aztec Series.” I’ve long had an interest in the historical eras of the Aztec and the Inca, and Ms. Saadia brings so vividly to life the characters, the settings, and the events. Perhaps it is being older now that inspires me to awareness of the sociological underpinnings of these novels, and to draw parallels to other historical societies (such as the European Middle Ages, and the at-that-time-still in the future Spanish Conquest), and to contemporary society with all its foibles.
Ms. Saadia makes history readable, enjoyable, and readily accessible. No longer can the subject be considered dry or untimely. I recommend this quartet of novels, and hope to read more from this accomplished author in future.




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THE JAGUAR WARRIOR by Zoe Saadia_Review

The Jaguar Warrior (Pre-Aztec Series, #3) by Zoe Saadia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Pre-Aztec Series #3

At the time of the setting of this book, some centuries ago, the island locale of Tenochtitlan was an Aztec city. By rights, it should have been a thriving metropolis: good population, warriors to protect it, market, crops, ongoing construction, temple. But Tenochtitlan instead failed to thrive because it was held in stasis by a sort of feudal society, under the Tepanec overlords of Azcatpotzlco, who kept the Aztecs in grinding poverty, and summoned Aztec warriors to raids from which the spoils flowed straight to the Tepanec, and never to the Aztecs. Comparably this occurred later in a sense, with the Spanish invaders; and certainly Feudal Europe of the Middle Ages experienced similar rule and society. I draw parallels to contemporary society as well, in the rule of an oligarchy which grinds the masses underfoot, to live in abject poverty while working themselves near to death to support the overlords. This is the third novel in author Zoe Saadia’s “Pre-Aztec Series,” and in each, as much as I have enjoyed the finely delineated historical detail and backdrop, I have is the third novel in author Zoe Saadia’s “Pre-Aztec Series,” and in each, as much as I have enjoyed the finely delineated historical detail and backdrop, I have been kept very much aware of the sociological and cultural implications-truly, humanity has not evolved much in some respects.



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