Tag Archives: Bookstagram

CrowTower – A Mesmerizing #DarkFantasy of #Myth and #Reality

09 Friday Jul 2021

Posted by in Poetry

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

SYNOPSIS

The priests of Vatu are locked in an endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Their constant reincarnations are defined by service to the dark spirit, hatred for each other, and ruling the world of eternal night in which they live, broken only by a single day each year when Vatu releases the Sun. They have suffered and enjoyed this existence for millennia, for an eternity… until now.

In the Tower of the Sun at the centre of the world, the reborn Utas returns to fulfill his destiny to become High Priest. He has scarcely completed his education, however, when a shocking secret of his resurrection emerges. Now questioning everything he knows, he takes a path never before followed in his long existence. Yet darkness and pain still shadow everything he does, and all his attempts at freedom seem only to lead back to Vatu.

Can Utas ever escape hatred and death, or will darkness forever rule his heart as it does the shadowed land?

 

My 5-Star Review

Darkness seeks like a questing marauder through the pages of this complex second installment of this unique trilogy. The story and its unforgettable characters is filled with lust, hatred and memory. Memory of past lives and new beginnings. Memory that drives our main character, Utas, to change everything he’s done before in his many past lives in order to escape.

Escape the Darkness. The Dark Lord, Vatu, but escape may or may not be possible. As Utas transforms himself, the realm into which he has been reborn is also transformed; yet some things are as immutable as the Darkness itself. The priests of Vatu, for example, are beyond change. They exist to consume darkness and dispel whatever flickers of light Utas attempts to ignite. They take twisted pleasure in betrayal and domination…and in this way they were a stark parallel of our own darkness.

This complex series comes to life through elaborate characterizations and timeless themes. It whisks readers away into the unfamiliar, then surrounds them with masterfully woven tangles of well-known concepts and mythological reinventions. Like it’s predecessor, CrowMan, the story is carried by dialog, but there are still times when I had to pause in wonder (and sometimes in revulsion!) Lush whispers of ethereal landscapes tease the reader into tranquility while hint of the grotesque taint the placid waters. Meals of warm milk and blood, for example, which our main character seems to relish, sent shivers down my spine!

Labyrinthine, magical, and engrossing, Dave Rae has once again filled each page with mesmerizing imagery, elegant beauty and chilling corruptions. If you long to lose yourself in a truly spell-binding read, look no further. The Sun Thief trilogy delivers!

Author David Rae lives in the West of Scotland. He lives in a world of his own; a world of wonder, a world where hoards of workers spill out of factories, a world were fog and smoke shroud all kinds of creatures, a world where ruined castles, factories and houses were haunted by ghosts, gangs and memories. He lives in world where witches have been burned at the cross and martyrs have been hung on the Gallowgreen. He writes poetry and short stories and reads every trashy novel, every children’s book and every comic that comes his way.

I hope you’re intrigued and will take a moment to look David up:

Find David on Amazon

Find David on GoodReads

Find David on WordPress

Subscribe to David’s Newsletter

Connect with David on Twitter: @DRDVDRAE

.

~Morgan~

When Hope and Treachery Collide – A Glimpse into Celts and the Gladiator by P.C Darkcliff

19 Saturday Jun 2021

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Life is short and cheap in Nero’s arenas. A single stab might cause the death of humanity.  

Rome, 54 AD: In a dazzling twist of fate, Rawena becomes a gladiator, vanquishes an impossible opponent, and infuriates the emperor. Cursed to start a plague when steel pierces her heart, the Celtic woman fears that Nero’s wrath will force her to trigger a catastrophe.

As she fights against her destiny, arrogance, treacheries, and intrusions from magical realms hamper her at every turn.

Then a fellow gladiator, a young, love-struck Briton, promises the unimaginable. His oath and devotion fill Rawena with hope for the future.

But nothing will be clear until the ultimate combat.


A multi-award-winning author, P.C. has always had a vivid imagination.

When he was in kindergarten, he convinced his classmates that his grandma was a tribal shamaness. Then he learned his letters, and kidding his friends no longer seemed adequate—so he started writing fantasy.

P.C. has published two standalone novels and a series. His latest project, Celts and the Mad Goddess, is the first installment of The Deathless Chronicle. The sequel, Celts and the Gladiator, is coming out this summer.

His stories have been featured in various publications, and ‘A Poisoned Gift’ received an Honorable Mention in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. He is Spillwords Author of the Year 2020.

CELTS AND THE GLADIATOR by P.C. DARKCLIFF
CHAPTER ONE – A FREE Snippet ……
As she paraded in front of the vicious crowd, Rawena wondered who of her
‘family’ would try to kill her today.
The spectators filled the amphitheater to the awnings, ready to see her fight.
Nobles, consuls, and priests sat in the first two rows, wrapped in togas against the cool
February air. Behind them, plebeians shouted and placed bets while they watched
Rawena and her familia—the fighters from her gladiatorial school—tread the sand of
the arena. Slaves stood in the back, chatting and enjoying their freedom until the end of
the games when they would carry their masters back home in litters.
Since her enslavement six months ago, Rawena had fought with blunted swords
and pointless spears in a practice arena near the amphitheater. Although she had often
won, bruises covered her body like a mosaic. Today would be her first combat with
sharp, deadly weapons.
None of her familia were aware that a curse hung above her, protecting her from
their weapons and exposing them to deadly peril. She could only be killed by fire or
beheading. If her heart was pierced, though, it wouldn’t be Rawena but everyone around
her who would face death.
Trumpets pealed and cymbals clashed as a horde of guards led the gladiators
past the orchestra and to a projecting podium reserved for the emperor, the senators, and
the veiled Vestal Virgins. A breastwork surrounded the podium to protect the emperor
from wild beasts—although most Romans thought the emperor was the wildest beast of
all.
Nero reclined on a couch inlaid with mother-of-pearl. He wore a purple tunic
and a cloak embroidered with gold. Although he was only twenty-six, he had been
emperor for ten years, and he looked much older. Rawena found him ugly, with a fleshy
neck that connected his spotty face to his narrow shoulders, and with weak, thin legs
that contrasted with his prominent belly.
At the guards’ order, the gladiators knelt in the sand. There were a hundred of
them, all barbarians, and mostly men. Rawena was one of five gladiatrices, or female
gladiators. They all wore breastplates over their tunics, but they wouldn’t get weapons
until the combat.
“Hail Caesar!” they said in unison, as they had practiced before every training
session. “I vow to endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the
sword.”
Scared of fire, Rawena winced as she murmured the word burned.
Nero yawned and popped a plump date into his mouth. Then he waved his thin
hand, and the gladiators stood. The guards marched them to a large waiting chamber
that had long benches and tables with cups of water and heads of garlic.
Rawena took a few sips from a wooden cup, but she was too tense to sit. So were
most of the others. They fidgeted and looked around as if they tried to guess who had
been chosen to fight against them. According to the veterans, nearly a quarter of the
gladiators lost their lives during each games. Rawena feared that a spear or a sword
would make her an immortal cripple…

Join P.C.’s VIP reader club to get his debut novels for free

Find him everywhere in one click

CELTS AND THE GLADIATOR is available for preorder for just $99! Click here to grab your copy!

The prequel, CELTS AND THE MAD GODDESS, is discounted on Amazon

.

~Morgan~

When #Life, #Death, #Mortality and Forever Tangle – #Heavensgate – A #5Star #DarkFantasy Series

09 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Every living creature’s experience of reality is unique; therefore, life and death can be imagined in an infinite number of ways. In Heavensgate there is no line between life and death and no veil between the immortal and mortal. However, not every character realises this essential fact of their existence and those that do are quick to take advantage.

Heavensgate: Faith (Book Three)

Where the line between life and death is erased.

In the presence of Seraphim sent to despatch her violent husband’s spirit, Faith delivers a daughter – Mercy – whose miraculous birth triggers an ancient prophecy, forcing Heavensgate’s inhabitants to seek sanctuary in the high sierra.

The newborn is snatched on Lucifer’s orders, transforming the happy widow into a vengeful mother with immortal powers. Abandoned by the Creator, Faith threatens to destroy belief in both Heaven and Hell unless her lost child is returned.

The desperate search for Mercy, and the battle between good and evil, love and hate, threatens the lives of many creating conflict between the immortal sisterhood, Hope, Joy and Faith.

Only Jake’s redemption can save them… but first, he has to save himself

My 5 Star Review:

If you haven’t partaken of either book one or two, Heavensgate book three: Faith will probably leave you as muddled as its main character(s) Jacob/Jake. He’s one man, but two distinct people. One ‘good’, one, well…not so good. I wont say evil, because honestly, I like Jake. What am I saying, I love Jake! He’s the perfect, imperfect bad-boy that you love to hate, hate to love, love to love. Now, this review isn’t going to give you a bunch of spoilers because like any reviewer worth their salt, I want you to pick up these books. Talk about hidden gems! If you enjoy a great brain-twister, a hint of sex, lust, horror, romance, and good ol’ fashion ‘What-in-the-name-of-Harry-Potter’ is going on here, then you’ll find this little-known series as tantalizing as I have.

Book Three, Faith, dives right in…so don’t cheat yourself….read Hope and Joy first!!! Faith opens with a few beautiful verses about love, motherhood, and the blessing of birth- then plummets you into the tortured, vengeful mind of Jake. He’s the powerful, virile lead and alter-ego of main character Jacob. Like most split personalities, they were traumatized when they were young and have grown into two VERY different people, each aware of the other and strong enough to drive the story forward in ways that entangle the reader into their chaos and confusion.

This story delves into that confusion and chaos, spiraling everyone into a unique and entirely unforeseen variant of the traditional Good vs Evil fable. Characters find themselves on the brink of eternal damnation as well as the bliss of sweet rapture while taking readers on a demented, wild ride that will leave you breathless….for more than a few reasons!

Now, don’t be fooled. This story is about far more than a love-struck, sex-addicted man with delusions of demonhood and immortal goddesses led astray by the aforementioned rogue. Author Kane cunningly weaves the abstracts of morality and virtue into this relentless, head-spinning parable by ingeniously personifying those concepts into relatable characters readers will understand and connect with, find entirely confusing and incomprehensible, out-and-out hate, passionately adore, and, ultimately, never-ever forget!

WANT MORE?  Read on!

Jake – An Insight by Author Leo Kane

The immortal sisterhood of Hope, Joy and Faith become entangled with the key protagonist, Jake, an inimitable personality of Jacob Andersen, a shattered soul suffering from multiple identity disorder who is unable to ground himself in a single reality. Jake’s strength births a charismatic, highly sexual, psychopath who, perversely, serves evil whilst seeking redemption for both real and imagined sins whilst wreaking havoc in the lives of everyone whose path he crosses.

My beloved readers often say that crazy Jake is their favourite character. Who doesn’t love and hate a bad boy in equal measure? However, I am especially fond of the Angel Gabriel – Gabi to his friends. The androgynous, ditsy, dramatic, deceptively dangerous Gabi is a wonderful being who cannot seem to decide whether to smite Jake or kiss him. Gabi and his companion Ruby, the Angel of Redemption, are bright and fearsome Seraphim with the sharpest tongues in Creation.

Books are allegedly created by writers and my name is certainly on the covers. However, Jake often seizes the pen or wakes me in the small wee hours to bully me into writing scenes I never planned. All the sex scenes are his idea. I am too shy to contemplate putting such filth on a virgin page, therefore, I cannot say that any such scene is a favourite, they are all shameful.

Jake lives amongst angels, demons, ghosts, humans, a sweet and unappreciated husky and some downright weird characters. However, he holds special places in his dark heart for the immortal sisterhood of Hope – he hates her; Joy – he adores her and Faith who… Well, I think it’s best you find out for yourselves what he does to her because, quite frankly, I am shocked.

By the way:   If you are in any way offended by Jake’s irreverent shenanigans please remember that the Creator loves a good joke.

Heavensgate: Hope  by Leo Kane

When Jacob is a child, a mysterious girl comforts him at the funeral of the family he accidentally killed.

Years later, grieving for his lost wife and son, Jacob is at Heavensgate. He strongly believes that the dead should stay dead, but sees things other people don’t see.

Even worse, Jacob is besieged by his alter ego: the taunting, foul-mouthed, sex-crazed and dangerous Jake. A personality with a twisted sense of fun and no conscience.

Jacob battles for his sanity and soul, surrounded by supernatural enemies and allies, as he struggles to free the Keeper of the Forbidden Book and ignore the menacing pink Cadillac that drives by his lakeside lodge every night.

Wherever Jacob goes, people die, and the cops are moving in when a terrifying and seductive presence arrives on the frozen lake.

Now, Jacob will discover that even hope has a dark side.

My 5 Star Review of HeavensGate: Hope

I began reading this book with an advantage.  I had recently hosted a Character Interaction between Jacob and Jake on my blog, so I had some idea what to expect; however, as the story began to unfold, its complexities and multi-faceted layers wove a web of intrigue in my mind I could not ignore.  In fact, I could barely put the book down (though I had to) and I found myself more and more curious about the main character…or main characters, perhaps.

The authors approach is both mesmerizing and, like any hypnotist worth his/her salt, equally confusing.  Many times I had to stop and re-read, searching for the meaning behind the meaning; seeking truth where there, perhaps, wasn’t any to find.  I felt the turmoil of the characters and was drawn into their psychosis with frightening clarity.

Hope is a tale not only of Hope, but of trauma and darkness and the slippery slopes of the human psyche.  It kept me thoroughly beguiled and Im looking forward to book two of the series.

My 5 Star Review of Heavensgate: Joy

A Tumultuous tale about tortured souls.

I shall begin by saying that this is definitely not a standalone:  If you haven’t read Heavensgate Hope and think you can jump into the story in this second book, your thoughts will end up more twisted than the main characters.  Yet having stated that, I will also say that Leo Kane has written a masterful sequel to her initial story, filling page after riveting page with confusion, disarray, and enough steam to power a locomotive from the character you love to hate and hate to love: Jake.

As the story delves deeper into the incursions and capitulations of the main character, Jacob, and draws in the new, haunting character of Joy, you are lead down an increasingly twisted avenue into the darkness, connecting you in an extremely powerful way to the tortured soul(s) about which Leo write.  You begin to THINK you understand; then the carpet is pulled out from beneath you, leaving you re-reading frantically trying to figure out just what you missed.  But the truth is, you didn’t miss anything and that is the Brilliance of the author’s writing which allows you to experience the inescapable chaos of the main character(s).

I found myself emotionally and mentally drained after reading this second installment, yet thirsty for more!  Bring on Book Three, Leo…I’m ready….I think.

You can connect with Leo Kane at:

HGleokane@hotmail.com

Twitter

Facebook 

Heavensgate Website 

Amazon Author Page

.

You can read more about the characters of Heavensgate through a recent Character Interaction I hosted between Jacob and Jake. 

.

~Morgan~

A #ThankYou to You from Me: My #PoetryBook Entirely #FREE

09 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Poetry, About Me (since you Insist)

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

.

My newest release, and long overdue, Poetry Book is now Available. YOU made this possible, through your Support, Friendship, and Encouragement since day one!  Because I appreciate YOU so much I’ve made Whispers FREE through Friday the 12th 🙂

Grab your copy Now  

Whispers in Verse is a collection of Subtle, Gentle Poems that Encompass the Beauty of a Quiet Hush; the Serenity of Lush Calm; and the Tranquility of Stillness that Transcends place and time. It is a Journey into the Heart to Discover what Stirs the Spirit and a Vision of the Memories we have unintentionally forgotten.
Immerse yourself in Lyrical, Exquisite Poetry and Remember the Magic of Breath, Pulse, Earth and Sky!
As always Whispers is also FREE on Kindle Unlimited 🙂
.
I hope you enjoy what YOU Helped to create through your Generous Kindness.  Thank You! 🙂
~Morgan~

#Alien meets #TheArrival, with a Hint of #The xpanse- The #MilijunSeries Fires All Thrusters!

13 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

. Connect to the alien journey that will change your life… They have awoken as far away from home as it ever gets: Laura and Jason Sinclair did not want to be transported from Earth, but their alien hosts have plans to take them even further beyond their comfort zone. They are on a space station, orbiting a mysterious planet in a strange new galaxy. And they must battle for the future of a group of humans who are being used in a breathtaking scheme of cosmic survival—for both aliens and humans alike. In the process, they will determine the future of Earth. To succeed, they must solve the puzzle of extraterrestrial races in the throes of a perplexing and historic conflict. But who can they really trust as they struggle to understand the challenging and hostile environment that holds them in a grip of iron? And will humanity survive the trauma of First Contact? If you like Close Encounters, Contact, and Arrival, then you’ll love Amidst Alien Stars, the standalone second novel of a gripping new alien interaction series from Clayton Graham. “There is world building of such depth and lush detail that you could almost feel it.” Kay Mack TOP 1000 REVIEWER “Not only is this an exciting, action-packed page turner – I love the intelligence reflected, the witty dialogue, and the genuine depth in the characters’ emotions.” Meenaz Lodhi “Admirable world-building and the unsurpassable, indefatigable, drive of the human spirit to not just survive, but to thrive, power this engrossing sequel to the author’s debut science fiction novel, Milijun.” Mallory A Haws . . My 5-Star Review
Rjebnigerrsel
No, I didn’t sneeze…thats just one example of the creativity proffered in this expansive Sci-Fi Fantasy of aliens and humans. Names aren’t the only thing author Clayton Graham does so well; there’s detailed technologies to discover, foreign landscapes to explore, and of course, aliens to meet.
Although a fairly comprehensible stand-alone, I would recommend reading the first book first, as I lacked understanding of some of the nuances between characters and history. It wasn’t difficult to catch up though, as I came to realize the two lead characters, Laura and Jason, have been abducted by aliens. Not for the typical pre-conceived reasons however (no probes here!) The aliens are hoping to create a hybrid race that will be capable of space exploration on a scale that is beyond the ability of either species presently.
It’s a grand notion, (although it may have been less forced if the humans had been recruited willingly), yet it’s not without obstacles. As ever, mistrust, misperceptions, and misplaced loyalties stand in the way of true partnership on any scale, setting the stage for intense action and tangled mysteries. Great fodder for any reading enthusiast!
Alien meets The Arrival, with a hint of The Expanse, the Milijun Series holds as much promise as the coalition it characterizes. I could easily be drawn into a NetFlix Mini Series!
.

Biography

As a youngster growing up in the cobbled streets of Stockport, UK, Clayton Graham read a lot of science fiction. He loved the ‘old-school’ masters such as HG Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov and John Wyndham. As he left those formative years behind, he penned short stories when he could find a rare quiet moment amidst life’s usual distractions.   He settled in Victoria, Australia, in 1982. A retired aerospace engineer who worked in structural design and research, Clayton has always had an interest in science fiction and where it places humankind within a universe we are only just starting to understand. Clayton loves animals, including well behaved pets, and all the natural world, and is a member of Australian Geographic. Combining future science with the paranormal is his passion. Milijun, his first novel, was published in 2016. Second novel, Saving Paludis, was published in 2018. They are light years from each other, but share the future adventures of mankind in an expansive universe as a common theme. The sequel to Milijun, entitled Amidst Alien Stars was released on December 1 2019. In between novels Clayton has published short story collections ‘Silently in the Night’ and ‘Looking for Life’ where, among many other adventures, you can sympathize with a doomed husband, connect with an altruistic robot, explore an isolated Scottish isle and touch down on a far-flung asteroid. He hopes you can share the journeys. His web page is: https://claytongraham.com.au You can also follow Clayton on Twitter @CGrahamSciFi His Facebook author page is at: https://www.facebook.com/claytongrahamauthor
.
~Morgan~
 

Crowman by David Rae – An #Interview with the #Author of #EpicFantasy, #Myths&Legends & #ConceptualFiction

21 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

.

Touch the light. Hold the light. The light burns. The light runs away. Hold the light. Lock the light away.

The great spirit Vatu keeps the Sun in a box, where no thief can steal it. Once a year, the box is opened and life springs across the dark lands. The whole world belongs to Vatu. He is darkness, he is master of all. There is no hiding from him.

But Utas must try, for his daughter’s sake. She is sick from darkness, and yet she glows with a mysterious light. If Vatu can find them, he will destroy them, or worse, drag them back into his mad, dark world. Torn between duty and mercy, between justice and freedom, Utas tries to escape, but it seems inevitable that the darkness will reclaim him.

For the greatest mercy and the greatest punishment Utas can suffer is to return to his true self.

Author David Rae lives in the West of Scotland. He lives in a world of his own; a world of wonder, a world where hoards of workers spill out of factories, a world were fog and smoke shroud all kinds of creatures, a world where ruined castles, factories and houses were haunted by ghosts, gangs and memories. He lives in world where witches have been burned at the cross and martyrs have been hung on the Gallowgreen. He writes poetry and short stories and reads every trashy novel, every children’s book and every comic that comes his way.

David recently chatted with me about his remarkable story:

Is there an Author you consider your inspiration? Just one? I was that geeky, spectacled boy that always had a book under his nose. I’ve read and read my whole life. As a boy I loved Tolkien. I also love the classics. My current favorite is Amin Maalouf. If you have not read SAMERKAND then get a copy now.

What Inspired you to write your book? CROWMAN is inspired by the Native American myths about the sun being kept in a box and freed by the crow. Once I started to think about what such a world would look like, the book began to form in my head. I lived near the arctic for a few years, and I got some insight into what a world with no sun is like. It’s a lot brighter than you’d think. The moon, the stars, the northern lights and the reflection of light from the snow, all become very important. I even learned to tell the time by the position of the moon.

Although it’s often hard to select just one, do you have a favourite or least favourite character? In CROWMAN, my favorite character is MUKITO. He’s a young bandit boy who once he meets up with UTAS and ERROI changes his outlook on life. He’s not always the smartest, but honest with himself and in the end shows a great deal of bravery and resilience. The story would have been very different without him

My least favorite is GUTUZO who is a greedy, cowardly bully. He abuses his power and the people around him. He is completely self-centered.

Which one of your characters would you like to meet and why? In my latest project, I have a character called Tito. He is a bit clueless and gets into all sorts of trouble, but his heart is in the right place. He’s usually the butt of someone’s joke or victim of someone’s scheme yet somehow always lands on his feet. He’s sweet and innocent and very kind. I wish I was like that.

What is the hardest part of editing- grammar checks, reducing content, or something else? I am terrible at editing. I use all sorts of soft-wear and text to speech but I always miss something. The hardest part is not to get discouraged. No one ever wrote a first draft that didn’t need work. Thank God for editors, I say.

If you could live in a book, which one would it be- why? Well, I would not want to live in CROWMAN. It’s an interesting world for sure, but it’s a harsh world and it’s ruled by an evil spirit. Life is cheap there, and did I mention no sun.

What’s exciting you about your next project? I’m finishing the Sun Thief trilogy, CROWMAN is book one and CROWTOWER comes out in June. I’ve started on CROWBAIT, the final book, and I am surprised and excited at the way things are heading in that book.

OH I cant wait for these follow-up! Thank you so much for sharing some of your insights with us. I truly wish you all the very best success with this unique and amazing series.

.

.

My Recent 5-Star Review!

I was intrigued by this metaphysical dark fantasy from the moment I read the description. Uniquely named characters and concepts drew me in immediately and filled my mind with questions and lush imagery…a masterful book blurb to say the least!

Vatu, the great spirit of darkness. I could see him, an ethereal and all-consuming shadow intent upon absolute control. Utas, the hopeful apparition fleeing from himself, and his beautiful daughter who is delicate and mysterious. Their plight pulled me along. I was invested in their harrowing journey, their disappointments, their hopes. Symbolism and spirituality are illustrated like characters, filling the narrative with thought-provoking themes that made me pause and consider.

As father and daughter make their way, they are joined by a melange of artfully created characters: Erroi, the warrior, whose body and spirit are independent of each other and who travels in dreams. He is beautifully silent and deliciously mysterious. Mukito, a boy whose cruel stepfather has left him few alternatives other than thievery. The innocent Zintoa, and noble Eskanza. The characters are elaborate, simple, fully-developed, flawed and entirely captivating.

The narrative is rich with unfamiliar people and places, intriguing me page after page. Dialog forms much of the story, yet there are descriptions that whisk the reader away. Poetic tangles of dream-like reveries adorn the journey, some so intricate and imaginative I simply had to read them again….and again! There were times I wasn’t sure what was reality and what wasn’t and I was reminded of an episode of STNG, ‘Masks’, where the hunt of Masaka and Korgano parallels the birth of Athena at the Parthenon.

Mythological and magical, Rae’s Crowman is a masterpiece of epic fantasy, conceptual and allegorical fiction in which I would willingly immerse myself book after book after book.

I hope you’re intrigued and will take a moment to look David up:

Find David on Amazon

Find David on GoodReads

Find David on WordPress

Subscribe to David’s Newsletter

Connect with David on Twitter: @DRDVDRAE

.

~Morgan~

337- A #Book that #Challenges #Perceptions-#NewRelease #Mystery #Thriller

28 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

.

Hello readers,

Today I’m bringing to you an exclusive interview with Samuel Darte, lead character of M Jonathan Lee’s upcoming release ‘337’. When Sam was just a boy, his mother disappeared without a trace leaving him and his younger brother, Tom, at home with their father. This forced family relationships to breaking point to fracture. The disappearance of Sandra Darte changed his life forever.

Hi Sam, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Please make yourself comfy!

Thank you.

So we’ve read all about what happened to your mum and the events after, but how would you describe your experience of it all when you were just a young boy?

Well, I guess like you said, I was quite young when it all started and there are bits that don’t remember all that well. When she first disappeared, I just remember being scared and confused, I just couldn’t fathom how she could leave us. I think that’s why I pursued it for so long – none of the conclusions answered all my questions. It was a weird feeling of betrayal too, when Tom and I read that note addressed to Dad it just said “I’ve left you. Look after the boys”… glossing over the fact that she was leaving us too. Then with everything that came out afterwards, some things made sense and other things just didn’t fit, it was so confusing.

I can only imagine how overwhelming it was for you. If you could go back and change anything, is there anything you regret doing, or not doing, during that period of your life?

It was a tough time for all of us and I’ve definitely done things I’m not proud of. But my biggest regret is not talking to Gramma sooner and trying to make things right. It’s shameful that she had to be on her deathbed for me to be brave enough to go and talk to her, but at least I did go in the end. Better late than never. But yeah, I wish I’d been kinder to her, understood more.

You were just a boy, it can’t have been easy. Now you’re older, how do you think the events of your youth changed you?

Well I’d never heard voices before it all, I can tell you that much. [He chuckles grimly] I think it’d be impossible to pinpoint something it didn’t change. I’ve lived with it for so long now that what happened… it’s part of me. I guess after going through so much, I felt justified in closing myself off from stuff, relationships and all that. But I don’t know what I’d have turned out like if it hadn’t happened so who knows, just got to work with what I’ve got and make the best of it.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Sam. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you today. I can’t wait to read more about your story when 337 is released on 30th November!

My Review: 5-Stars!- One added simply for ingenuity!

What’s unique about 337 is the simple fact that you can read the book from both directions.  Yes, you can start at the beginning or you can start at the end.  The cover is cleverly designed to be the same, with the exception of color, no matter which way you hold the book.  It’s an intriguing device to get you to think ‘outside the box’, to consider what you wouldn’t usually consider the norm as the norm.  The characters step out from the crisp pages like person you meet on your travels through the day.  Some stay, some disappear, but you are left with an indelible memory of them.

Emotive and poignant, the gentle story picks up its pace, weaving imagery like a painter transposing a landscape.  I became aware of a heaviness within the main character, Sam, and quickly understood how sad he was, how the confusion he faced as a child permeated his entire life.

A powerful story about perceptions and learning how to look beyond, 337 is a quiet thriller…. if that’s possible.  A mystery memoir…so to speak.  It’s not what you anticipate when you dive in and suddenly, just when you think you’ve got things sorted, the ending happens.

Beautifully written and ingeniously devised, 337 is a book you need to experience.

Yes, its Available to pre-order on Amazon now!

Author Bio and Handles: @mjonathanlee @hideawayfall

M Jonathan Lee is a nationally shortlisted author and mental health campaigner. His first novel The Radio was nationally shortlisted in the Novel Prize 2012. Since that time he has gone on to publish five further novels with ‘337’ being his sixth novel. Jonathan is a tireless campaigner for mental health awareness and writes his own column regularly for the Huffington Post. He has recently written for the Big Issue and spoken at length about his own personal struggle in the British national press on the BBC and Radio Talk Europe.

Endlessly fascinated by the human condition and what leads people to do the things they do to one another, Jonathan is obsessed with writing stories with twists where nothing is exactly how it first appears.

.

~Morgan~

THIS BOOK Y’ALL GOOSEBUMPS, REVOLUTIONARY, STUNNING- A #BookReview by Amy Johnson

22 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in The Mercy Series

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

.
I simply had to share this delightful, not to mention (dare I use the word) stellar review of Misericorde …I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!

Posted on by amyjohnson895

In the year 2446, the world exists as a mere shell of what it used to be. The Great Catalyst tore the human race apart as the Horsemen rode. War, Pestilence, Famine… All that remains to ride is Death.

Archangel Tzadkiel, Angel of Mercy, had taken the task upon himself to find one human on the planet who understands what mercy is. Humans are a vile species, though, and as his journey nears its end, he fears he may never find that person. When he is captured by the soldiers of The Bastion, hope wanes even further.

A mere scullery maid, Lourdes hears screams from her room every night. They break her heart and haunt her nightmares, and even though she doesn’t even know who they come from, she swear to find him and help him.

When she does exactly that, though, Lourdes discovers she’s opened a door that she might regret and entered a world darker than she ever imagined.

.

Style/Length:
Let me just get this off my chest before we start.

OMG THIS BOOK Y’ALL GOOSEBUMPS REVOLUTIONARY STUNNING!

*clears throat* I, um, really enjoyed this book, guys. Morgan’s style is absolutely breathtaking. It’s thick with descriptions of the world she has created (which is incredible) and the people who live in it. It reads like a fantasy in that way, because it seems like a brand new created world. In reality, it’s what’s left of ours.

It was a rather long read, and at first, I struggled to get into it. My kindle is set up to track my percentage through the book because that’s how I set my pace. So, I was about 30% of the way through and had been reading for DAYS. Thats a bit unusual for me, considering how fast I read. But the beginning was just so description heavy that I didn’t want to miss anything by hurrying.

But DUDE did it get good after 50%. I scarfed this book down like Tzadkiel eating oatmeal (you’d understand that if you read Misericorde 😂). One night y’all. ONE. NIGHT. When I say I stayed up till one am, I 100% mean it. Please tell me you’ve done that before. I was lying in bed, telling myself that I needed to stop. One more chapter. Just till the end of this one. Oh wait, I can’t possibly stop THERE. Okay, till the end of this part them. But apparently my eyes don’t listen to my brain. Because I kept on going.

And boy, did this leave me with a book hangover. That awful feeling of MAN, NO BOOK WILL EVER COMPARE.  ugh. This is a lot to say: It had a slow start, but once I got in, it was just perfect. Chef’s kiss.

Characters:
The two “main” characters are Lourdes and Tzadkiel. That’s obvious. I’ll talk about those for a bit and then touch on some secondary characters.

Lourdes is a scullery maid. She is the perfect submissive slave, doing what she has to without complaint or attracting attention. The author makes sure to describe her as beautiful, of course. But she is so much more than that. Lourdes is incredibly strong, kind, brave and just… a wonderful female lead. She’s my favorite female MC that I’ve read in a while. Now, Lourdes does go through a lot, and there were tears shed for her. I’ll have to go into detail about that later.

Next up is Tzadkiel. I don’t read a lot of books about Angels and such. My background knowledge about angels comes from out Trenchcoat King Castiel. 😂 So, the standards were REALLY high for Tzadkiel. And lord a’mercy, he did not disappoint. While being the typical strong, macho male character that you expect from him, you also get to see a really vulnerable side of him as demons attempt to bring him down. He’s far from perfect, and endures so much along his search that I just… ugh. I love him. Happily simping over here.

Now we’ve got some other characters. There’s Levesque, head of the Tower Obligar and man in charge of “controlling” Tzadkiel. I didn’t like Levesque to start off with but there was a quick change in his personality that somewhat redeemed him in my eyes. He got what was coming to him, though. Then, there’s Philippe who deserved every ounce of HATE I felt for him. Sauvage: the man who deserved TO BURN IN THE FIRES OF HADES *clears throat* sorry. He’s a, um, bad guy.

I had no issue with the characters! Nothing negative! There were a lot to juggle, but each one stuck out enough for me to be able to pluck them out of the story easily. I was never confused. So Kudos to the author for balancing them out so well.

Plot:
There’s actually a few things I want to talk about in terms of plot. The structure of this book is fascinating to me. There are only nine chapters (and you thought CAGED had long chapters 😬) but each one is cut up into different sections. The story jumps around in time quite a bit to build this world that the author is developing.

You have an omniscient and omnipresent narrator who seems to just oversee and explain the history, then you have Gabriel and Anna’s storyline (2060), Tzadkiel’s arrest storyline (2445), and then Lourdes and Tzadkiel’s combined storyline (2446). Each storyline is very clearly marked at the start by telling you what year and era the part is taking place, like below.

I only mention this to show to complex the story really is. It was a bit off putting at first because I wasn’t used to it, but as I grew familiar with the style of jumping, it didn’t cause any problems at all. Just make sure you pay attention to the headings!

Other than what I’ve said before, I think this plot was exceptionally well done. It’s complex, beautifully wound together, logical throughout, and intense.

**Please note: This next paragraph has some sensitive topics. Read carefully.**
Last note about the plot: Morgan has added a trigger warning in the book’s description on Amazon. The book does contain a few short instances of rape as Lourdes faces some particularly despicable guards. It wasn’t an issue for me personally, but some readers might be thrown off guard. *****

All in all, I would give this book a heaping 10/10. If I could, I’d give it 11/10. Buy it here!

My book hangover says I need to give it a 3/10 because OOF. 😂 That’s how you know it’s good.

You can follow Cynthia Morgan at the following links:
Website: https://www.cynthiaamorganauthor.com/
WordPress: https://booknvolume.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/morganbc728?s=21
Amazon: Author.to/CAMorganAuthor

.

I’d like to Thank Amy for such a remarkable review.  I’m not sure if reviewers truly realize the amount of Joy (or pain!) their words produce, but Amy’s will have me smiling for days!

.

~Morgan~

Nobody Eats Parsley – and Other Things I Learned from my Family with David Oakley

06 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

.

Nobody Eats Parsley. Sit down, grab a beer and let me tell you some stories about my family. They’re so ridiculous you may think they’re fiction. Like the time I went to a drive-in X-rated movie without realizing my parents were in the next car. Or how I let my kid throw a rock through the living room window. There’s the time I bought a camouflage thong in a bait shop, and the time I ruined a kid’s birthday party. And the other time I ruined a kid’s birthday party. There’s no way I could have just made these stories up. I can’t guarantee that they will make you laugh, but I can guarantee that I didn’t make them up.

DAVID OAKLEY has been telling brand stories at BooneOakley for years. He has won many prestigious honors, including the Kaopectate Award in the eighth grade for having diarrhea of the mouth. His first book, Why Is Your Name Upside Down?, is full of stories from his life in advertising. Despite this, he was recently inducted into the North Carolina Advertising Hall of Fame. He lives with his wife Claire and their dog Walter in Charlotte, where they raised Sydney and Lucas. He loves his family very much and hopes they still love him after reading Nobody Eats Parsley.

Hi David! Let’s dive right in, huh? What do you love most about Writing?

I’ve got an ego, and sure, I enjoy the attention that authors get. (Like being asked to be on Morgan’s blog! I’m very excited about this, by the way.) But when it comes down to it, I write because of the way it makes me feel. And because of the way it makes you feel when you read it. I like surprising people and making them chuckle. It thrills me, it excites me, it invigorates me. Writing, and making people laugh, gives me meaning and purpose in life.

How did you get your start writing?

Storytelling is such a big deal in the South. I grew up listening to my grandma tell stories of growing up as a tobacco sharecropper during the Great Depression. I was fascinated at how much humor there was during such hard times. She always made me laugh and I really like laughing. So, I decided that that was what I wanted to do. The only difference is that I write my stories down. And her stories were better. LOL

Is there an Author you consider your inspiration?

I read my first David Sedaris book in 2007, and he instantly became my favorite author. His story “Big Boy” about an unfortunate incident in a bathroom at a dinner party made me howl with laughter. Not only because it was so absurdly ridiculous, but because it was so relatable to me. I thought to myself, stuff like that happens to me a lot.

What Inspired you to write your book?

Laughter inspires me. When something happens in everyday life that makes me really laugh or someone around me laugh, I write about what made them laugh. At lot of funny things, (at least they’re funny to me) have happened in my life. I found myself telling these stories and laughing about them with my friends over dinner or beers, and one day I decided that I’d better write them down before I forgot them.

That’s probably every authors nightmare – having a great idea and then forgetting to write it down! Do you have a preferred POV that you write from and why?

My stories are about stuff that happens to me and my family, so I write from my POV. I see things through the eyes of a father, a husband and a son, who probably has smoked one too many joints in his life.

Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?

I’ve written two books now, and the characters in them are real life people that I hang out with every day. The first book is about my life in advertising, my work family. And my new book is about life with my real family. So, they do dictate how I write. Because they say funny things. Like my daughter Sydney, who told a friend that my new book, “might not be the best book my dad has ever written, but it’s definitely in the Top 2.”

Although it’s often hard to select just one, do you have a favourite or least favourite character?

My Aunt Hallie, without a doubt, is my favorite character in Nobody Eats Parsley. She’s an 83-year-old church going, sweet tea drinking Southerner who can strike up a conversation with a signpost. She’s sweet, humble, kind and the best natural born trash-talker in the history of North Carolina. Imagine if Aunt Bea from The Andy Griffith Show and Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver had a love child. That would be my Aunt Hallie.

What’s your number one tip for an aspiring Author?

The first thing for an aspiring writer is to keep writing. Just keep writing. Then after you have written for about 10 years, suddenly you’re not an aspiring writer anymore. You’re a writer.

Is there a book you consider a must-read- why?

No, I don’t consider Nobody Eats Parsley a must-read. That’s because I just recorded an audiobook. So, I consider it a must-listen. LOL (Even though I can’t stand the sound of my own voice.)

Do you have a Mantra- a Quote you try to live by?

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” This is a quote from Steve Prefontaine, a runner from the 1970’s.


<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/468177255″>Nobody Eats Parsley</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/user11098752″>Kara McCoy</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

I want to thank David for taking time out of his busy schedule to stop by and talk about his book. Please look for David on his social media network:

Author Website

Twitter: @oakleydavid

Instagram @oakleydavid16

Facebook

Nobody Eats Parsley on Amazon

David is giving away 5 Signed Copies of Nobody Eats Parsley!
Contact him using the form below and he’ll send you one
While Supplies Last!

Crowman by David Rae – A Masterpiece of #EpicFantasy, #Myths&Legends & #ConceptualFiction

27 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

.

Touch the light. Hold the light. The light burns. The light runs away. Hold the light. Lock the light away.

The great spirit Vatu keeps the Sun in a box, where no thief can steal it. Once a year, the box is opened and life springs across the dark lands. The whole world belongs to Vatu. He is darkness, he is master of all. There is no hiding from him.

But Utas must try, for his daughter’s sake. She is sick from darkness, and yet she glows with a mysterious light. If Vatu can find them, he will destroy them, or worse, drag them back into his mad, dark world. Torn between duty and mercy, between justice and freedom, Utas tries to escape, but it seems inevitable that the darkness will reclaim him.

For the greatest mercy and the greatest punishment Utas can suffer is to return to his true self.

My 5-Star Review!

I was intrigued by this metaphysical dark fantasy from the moment I read the description. Uniquely named characters and concepts drew me in immediately and filled my mind with questions and lush imagery…a masterful book blurb to say the least!

Vatu, the great spirit of darkness. I could see him, an ethereal and all-consuming shadow intent upon absolute control. Utas, the hopeful apparition fleeing from himself, and his beautiful daughter who is delicate and mysterious. Their plight pulled me along. I was invested in their harrowing journey, their disappointments, their hopes. Symbolism and spirituality are illustrated like characters, filling the narrative with thought-provoking themes that made me pause and consider.

As father and daughter make their way, they are joined by a melange of artfully created characters: Erroi, the warrior, whose body and spirit are independent of each other and who travels in dreams. He is beautifully silent and deliciously mysterious. Mukito, a boy whose cruel stepfather has left him few alternatives other than thievery. The innocent Zintoa, and noble Eskanza. The characters are elaborate, simple, fully-developed, flawed and entirely captivating.

The narrative is rich with unfamiliar people and places, intriguing me page after page. Dialog forms much of the story, yet there are descriptions that whisk the reader away. Poetic tangles of dream-like reveries adorn the journey, some so intricate and imaginative I simply had to read them again….and again! There were times I wasn’t sure what was reality and what wasn’t and I was reminded of an episode of STNG, ‘Masks’, where the hunt of Masaka and Korgano parallels the birth of Athena at the Parthenon.

Mythological and magical, Rae’s Crowman is a masterpiece of epic fantasy, conceptual and allegorical fiction in which I would willingly immerse myself book after book after book.

.

.

David Rae lives in the West of Scotland. He lives in a world of his own; a world of wonder, a world where hoards of workers spill out of factories, a world were fog and smoke shroud all kinds of creatures, a world where ruined castles, factories and houses were haunted by ghosts, gangs and memories. He lives in world where witches have been burned at the cross and martyrs have been hung on the Gallowgreen. He writes poetry and short stories and reads every trashy novel, every children’s book and every comic that comes his way.

He studied Botany, Architecture, Mathematics, Computers, Geography, and Ecology. He worked in a sweetie factory, as a scaffolder and ditch digger. He worked as draftsman and as an ecologist, as a statistician and as a policy maker. H is married and has four children, lovely children and now lovely grandchildren. And He continues to read and to write and marvel at the world He live in.

.

Find David on Amazon

Find David on GoodReads

.

~Morgan~

The Superiority of Supporting Characters – An #Author’s Diatribe by Jake Lanum

10 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

.

I’ve never liked the protagonists in stories. Too often, they are just too gosh-darn graceful in adversity, as if they’re in the eye of a hurricane. People tend to reserve their love for “the proverbial Tyrion Lannister(s) and Aragorn(s) rather than the rounded (sometimes ugly) Hound(s)” and Boromir(s) of the world. From where I sit, the measure of a man is not in effortless perfection, but his struggle against adversity. Flaws and tribulation, internal and external, is what makes characters human, fallible, and worth rooting for. My quiet love affair with supporting characters drove the development of my own debut novel, Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, in a few key ways.

 

  • You’ll Hate the Protagonist.

The main character in Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a young man named Wilhelm Geier. Readers spend quite a bit of time in Will’s head, and they’ll quickly learn that he, unlike most protagonists, is terrible. This is not an iteration of revisionist Disney origin stories which cast villains as misunderstood (see: Maleficent). He is a spoiled, drunken, man-child by design. Geier has few redeeming qualities, and is patently unworthy of any love of he receives from other characters (furthermore, unworthy of reader’s admiration). I made a deliberate choice to steer readers affections away from the main character and, based on the feedback I have received so far, it has worked.

 

  • You’ll Love the Antagonist.

Professional editors and reviewers who have read the book have all favored another character, called Roo. If not in reality, she is Will’s perceived antagonist. Roo is a Cimaroon, an escaped slave-turned-insurgent, in the Spanish Main. She is Will’s opposite. He was born into privilege, coddled, and externally motivated. In contrast, her traumatic past is an unexplored certainty. In the face of slavery and living for subsistence, she proves capable and cunning. She is internally motivated, but not at the expense of generosity or warmth.

 

  • But, in my Opinion, the Supporting Cast is Peerless.

 

Personally, I like Roo as well, but you’re supposed to. At the risk of being labelled a hipster, I think that superlative adoration for Roo is almost as cliché as fandom for Katniss or Harry Potter himself. So, I wanted to take a moment to share why my prospective readers should give “Ugly,” and “Drunk Johnny,” a fair shake.

 

“Ugly,” was a green sailor, much like Will, who might’ve been called Jim before life at sea.  Ugly had been a promising farrier’s apprentice at age ten, and had an unimpeachable work ethic, but had gotten kicked in the face by a mule. He was left disfigured, and developed a crippling fear of all large animals. His apprehension thrust him towards privateering, where he hoped the only horses he’d encounter would be seahorses. The former-farrier never fails to stand his post or deliver on his assigned shipboard duties, but landfall eventually brings him face-to-face with his greatest fears. In his moment of weakness, will he continue to deliver, or will he falter?

 

“Drunk Johnny” was an apt description for the seasoned drunk and veteran seaman who sailed with Will and Ugly. He lived in an impressively uninterrupted state of inebriation. He managed to wake and stand post as scheduled, but his aptitude for such was dubious. When we meet Johnny, he escapes punishment for his shoddy work by bribing his ranking officer, a glutton, with salted pork. He was a slightly built man with gaunt features, and a ghastly dental malady that ensured that every time he spat it came out a shade of brown or red, depending on the amount of blood in it. Despite his shortcomings, both in sobriety and virtue, Drunk Johnny is the most capable and functional alcoholic you will ever hear of. On multiple occasions in the book, Johnny proves himself to be a resourceful combatant, and an astounding marksman – redeeming qualities for a privateer. Unfortunately for Johnny, privateers are subject to high rates of attrition. There is no guarantee that the next Quartermaster will be swayed with extra rations of pork – there is no promise that his failings will continue to be overlooked.

 

I have always had a thing for supporting characters in books and movies. As the writer of Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, I fell in love with Ugly and Drunk Johnny, and I hope that you will too. These are not vacuous placeholders, but they have backstories that leave a bit to the imagination. The balance of detail and omission in these characters, to me, makes them both complex and mysterious. At the same time, I invite you to read the book, and to disagree.

Biography

Jake Lanum has worked in corporate security, investigations, and intelligence since 2011. In this capacity he was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and eventually published an academic study in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. At 30, Jake endeavored to undertake law school, and to write his first book, “Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen.” While Jake remains in steadfast pursuit of his Juris Doctor, the latter made its debut in Fall of 2020.

Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/jake-lanum

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakelanum/

.

Synopsis

After the Spanish discovered the Americas, world powers endeavored to project naval power and occupy the promise-filled void. This gave rise to the golden age of privateering and piracy.

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a fast-burning tale of maritime adventure. A cobbler’s son, Wilhelm “Will” Geier, joins an English privateer, Captain Drake, on a journey at the ends of the earth. In search of gold and glory, Will learns the trade. He hunts for subsistence in wildlands, finds allies in far-flung insurgencies, and struggles against the perils and threats looming in every navigable stream.

5- Star Review

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen by Jake Lanum is a tale of old. A young man who feels as if everything should be given to him. It’s the year 1572, and Wilhelm Gaier is that seventeen-year-old young man. Will dreams of a lavish lifestyle and therefore purposely ruins every apprenticeship his father sets up for him. Will’s father is a cobbler, and he does work for the right Socialites to get him on a ship as a privateer.

Will struggles to grow up and mature, even with his new life. While raiding a village one night, they come into the company of Cimaroons. This is where we meet “Roo”. She is fluent in her native tongue but knows little English. She is very cunning, and Will admires her prowess skills. They became thick as thieves, inseparable as they steal from the Spaniards. Will devises a plan to help Roo.

My favorite character is Roo. She is different, in every way possible, but that does not stop her. She is herself and everyone loves her. In a world where women did not navigate the seas, let alone do anything other than be a Debutante, she gains the respect of all the men. They listen to her. She fights alongside them. She is not a sex object to them. She is one of them.

I am awarding this book 5 stars. It is well-written and well-edited. It does contain minor profanity, violence, and some nudity. The year in which our story takes place is 1572, so there are subjects like slavery and how people of color were treated, which could make this book inappropriate for young or immature readers. Being a sailor myself, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to mature readers who love a historical piracy novel. Who doesn’t like pirates?

REVIEWED BY

Nikki Libby at Discovery Reedsy
.
I would very much like to thank Jake for taking the time to share his story and his insights with BnV.  Its always a delight to meet new authors and share their books!
.
~Morgan~

#YAFantasy #BookReview #BookRecommendation via #BookBub

29 Saturday Aug 2020

Posted by in Dark Fey

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

.

I am so Blessed and Delighted by this amazing review of Dark Fey The Reviled, I simply had to share it with you 🙂

If you’re looking for a Fey fantasy book with a well rounded blend of good and evil, all warped into one climatic adventure… then look no further than The Reviled, by Cynthia A. Morgan. It’s the first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next books in the set! This author has been on my to read list for some time, and now that I’ve dove in, I’m a little disappointed in myself to have taken so long to pick up one of her books!
The characters in this book are well developed, especially the main character Ayla. I really like her. She has a kind heart and a brave soul. Being a particularly gifted Fey of the light, she’s been blessed with sight that goes beyond that of the average Fey. She can feel the presence of those around her on a different level, her telepathy is unique and her magic runs deep. She’s been given the job of watching over the young Fey, as to do her part in protecting them from those of the darkness and shadows.
You see, there’s another dimension that contains the Dark Fey and in the protection of the shadows they lurk, waiting to snatch up the young Fey and turn them to their dark side. But what happens when they take a Fey of the Light that is a bit older than usual, who is stubborn and possesses a certain incomparable strength?? Gairynzvl is what happens, and he’s possibly my favorite character. He spent a lifetime being tortured and forced to perform acts of unspeakable evil. However, his determination to return the light cannot and will not be brushed aside.
Gairynzvl went behind the backs of the Dark Fey Legion, and found a way to access Ayla. He watched her for months from beyond the shadows, feeling her power, and longing for her help. One night he crossed a portal and surprised a frightened and ignorant Ayla. She’d known she was being watched and followed all along. She’d felt his presence and known that he wasn’t a threat to her, yet brought with him great danger. Together, and with the help of Ayla’s friend, they worked their taxing magic and fought hard to bring his presence back to the light, but at what cost??
The Reviled offered sacrifice, love, battle, and heart thumping action. It has it all, and I highly recommend it to all fantasy readers!
.
Thank You Didi Oviatt for an amazing review.  I’ll be smiling all weekend!
.
~Morgan~

Assassins Rising – A #ReverseInterview – One #Readers Thoughts on a #Dystopain #DarkFantasy

23 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

.

Aliens. Assassins. And the Apocalypse. They killed his mentor. They tried to kill him. And now, they are trying to kill her. Tortured by his past and uncertain of his future, the Assassin Core’s most promising apprentice, Aero, vows revenge on the time-shifting Anarchists, but soon finds himself caught in a web of lies, deceit and espionage. The Central District is under attack from above and within: the Alien Hosts have been silent for days, the Assassin’s Core has a mole, and when Aero discovers Fletcher, the man like a father to him dead, it’s all but too late and things spiral out of control. On the run, he encounters Astrid, the undefeated decagon champion who seems to be at the center of the murders, and despite his best efforts, seems to always be one step behind. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape the Anarchist’s clutches-and if they fail, they’ll lose everything, including their lives… Hit “Buy Now” and start your ya scifi, cyberpunk journey today. ★★★★★ A short, heart-pounding thrill-a-minute, post-apocalyptic dystopia!

.

.

Tell us your initial thoughts of Assassin Rising?

I don’t typically read much science fiction, but I do read a lot of dystopian futures. I loved the unique twist that Assassin Rising has, and how simple yet well thought through the characters are.

What was your favorite aspect of Assassin Rising?

I love how anything goes. Aliens, alternate universes, Neuralink technology, why not? It seems like it would be overpowering, but there is just a pinch of everything and it ties it together.

Who was your favorite character? Why?

Even though he was only in Assassin Rising shortly, I loved Ben. I loved how he interacted with the other characters, and was mature and professional enough to not lash out against Aero or respond to Aero trying to get a rise out of him.

Who was your least favorite? Why?

I don’t have a specific least favorite character, but I do remember when I first read through I had a dislike for Larissa. I’m not quite sure why, as reading through a second time, I see nothing that she did or say that would make me dislike her. In fact, after reading it again I have to say I like her character more, and loved how she interacted with the others in the second scene she’s in.

If you were to compare Assassin Rising to any other book, which would it be? And why?

I can’t really compare Assassin Rising to anything I’ve read before, as this is the first time I’ve read something like it! It’s something fresh and new, yet still has the dystopian aspect like in The Hunger Games.

Who would you recommend read Assassin Rising?

I would recommend Assassin Rising to people who love dystopian futures. I’ve already recommended it to a few friends who love books like Divergent, The Giver, and Legend. It’s not your typical dystopian storyline, but instead takes it and twists it into something new and exciting.

What sparked your interest in this story that made you want to read it?

The first sentence really pulled me in, but what really caught my interest was the tie in with events happening in our current year, how it affects the rest of the timeline, and how they deal with it.

What surprised you about the story that you didn’t expect?

I was not at all expecting the end of the book. The last few chapters were a big surprise, especially the thing with Astrid. I especially loved chapter 15, the final chapter, due to how different it is from most books and movies.

Which scene has lingered with you the most? Why?

I can’t stop thinking about the scene in chapter two, where we get a backstory for what has happened. I love how Assassin Rising talks briefly about COVID and nuclear wars. That scene also had me wondering about other things that were mentioned, and to top it all off, I loved the interactions between Ben and Aero.

If you could ask the author anything about the book, what would it be?

I’d love to learn more about the Sky Wars, as it’s just mentioned once or twice, enough to keep the reader interested and needing more information.

What are you hoping to see happen as the story moves forward?

As a tie in to the previous question, I’d love to dive deeper into the backstory of the Sky Wars, and learn what went down in 2044. I’d also love to read an interaction with the Hosts, and meet them

.

Ryan Carriere broke out in 2019 with the bestselling Eternal Stones series and is back with a new sci-fi, time-travelling, cyberpunk dystopia!

Assassin Rising: 2044 The Alien Gene Project is the first novella in the series. Stay tuned for next in the series, coming out late 2020!

Find Ryan:
Books2Read

Website

Facebook

You Tube

.
~Morgan~

Penthara- A World Governed by Elements and Season – #Spectacular #EpicFantasy #BookReview

15 Saturday Aug 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

.

ENTER THE WORLD OF PENTHARA … a world governed by five elements and their five seasons …

The human kingdom of Barredom has been at war with the qindrid territories of Aggedon ever since the Qindrid Curse gripped the land. What were once humans are now grey-skinned, ageless, sleepless abominations, enhanced by the shadow element of their descendancy.

When the entire border army of Aggedon vanishes overnight, the obsessive General of Barredom orders the Westwalker, the infamous hunter of hunters, to investigate the disappearance. But the actions of men may test the resolve of the outsider who was long ago forced under the cursed transformation himself.

The new cycle of Kingfall proves worthy of its name when the savage elvan king of the Glace Isles is slain during an ambush. His elite war party, along with his three legendary axes, are deposited in the dungeons of the Frostdale Deeps, the domain of the Royal Inquisitor Honorah Bayn. Her task is to extract information from the enigmatic prisoners, but her desire is to exact revenge, and her lust for suffering is set to thwart the distracting aspirations of her unwitting son and daughter.

The unusual fortune of Barredom delivers one other gift when the leader of the Aggedonian qindrid surrenders herself into the custody of the elusive king of Barredom. It’s up to the renounced prince of Barredom, Ondrew Roth, and his motley group of spurned knights to escort her on a clandestine mission beneath enemy territory, through the underground tomb of an elvan race thought long defeated.

Prepare for a dark tale where all are the many hues of grey, and where any might not be as they seem

.

My 5-Star Review!

There are fantasy writers; there are Epic Fantasy writers, and then there’s the stellar few, like Tolkien and Steven Erikson, who build an entire universe in spectacular detail just to share a side story that has little or nothing whatsoever to do with the main story, but you cannot imagine reading the story and not knowing the side story because of the skill with which it’s relayed.   Mr. Eversand’s spectacular tale is right up there in the stratosphere of extraordinary story telling alongside such masters.
Character development in this sweeping saga is remarkable and the dialog between characters scores off the charts as well.  Smiles and Norah quip and banter with the best of ’em, leading me to re-read again and again just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  There are heroes to love and villains to despise, and some very intriguing sorts that you love to despise and despise that you love!
But this story has much more than amazing characters and dialog worthy of Henry Cavil or Robert Downey Jr., oh yes!  Page one sends you careening into the tale through riveting action scenes that allow you to finally draw breath around Chapter Five!  I Could Not Put This Book Down!  There are 449 pages and each one is a sumptuous delight; a nerve-wracking edge-of-your-seat thrill; and a delicious temptation that keeps you turning pages, faster and faster and faster!
Now, don’t let me spoil it for you, but be prepared.  Prepared to be awed, swept up and away, and unable to extricate yourself from the mastery of fantasy Mr. Eversand flawlessly displays chapter after intoxicating chapter.  But draw breath.  Step back and admire…and give yourself plenty of time to devour the last 1/4 of the book because I assure you the story will latch on and not let go.
If you want a true fantasy epic, something you can not only sink your teeth into, but utterly immerse yourself in and become entirely entangled, Kingfall is waiting for you.
.
Author Bio
Ezekiel Eversand was born in Southeast Texas. He has spent most of his adult life in operations management for high-volume nightlife venues throughout his home region of Texas and Louisiana, and eventually in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he now resides. He is a travel enthusiast and absolutely loves anywhere that has a beach. He lives with his French bulldog, Hero. Creating unique worlds, characters, and stories has been his true passion behind the scenes since he was a child.
.
~Morgan~

Kings of Muraine – #BookReview #Spotlight with #Author J.R. Vaineo

10 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

.

Book Description

My Review

Everything he thought he was, he wasn’t. Everything he thought he understood he had to re-discover to actually learn the truth. Tyler, a 13-year-old who has lost much very early in life stumbles into a shocking revelation that makes such a loss seem inconsequential at best.
Author J R Vaineo has crafted a unique, imaginative and truly fascinating realm of fantasy and magic where things are not as they seem. Readers are taken on an exciting adventure, following Tyler and his companion, Gemma, who seek to unravel a mystery that will ultimately change his life forever.
Cryptic clues and paradoxical numbers confuse and, often, confound both the characters as well as this reader, as the plot thickens. Characters pour out of the pages in droves, and like the many people we run into in our daily lives, some are important and some are just there to fill the void. I might have liked a glossary to help keep the multitude sorted, but having read Charles Dicken’s Bleak House (where there are more characters then you know what to do with) the imaginative array was not overwhelming. They added to the complexity of the tale and gave a true-to-life feel to the story.
Kings of Muraine is the first book in The Journals of Ravier and end with a perplexingly pleasing puzzle that points readers to part two, Hunt the Dragon Within. Thrilling and bewildering at the same time, this is a tale readers will find as difficult to put down as it is to unravel. Recommended for readers who love to not see what’s coming next!
.
Behind the Story with J.R. Vaineo

Let me tell you a little about the beginnings of creating this story. I’m thirty years old now. But the idea for The Journals of Ravier series started back when I was fifteen. It was in the Fall, the first week of school. Oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention I was homeschooled K – 12th grade. Though not an ideal way to grow up, as I spent a lot of time alone, I survived. A lot of things happened, prior to school starting that year. I was never the same. This story helped me to stay sane, during a time in my life when I was lost and lonely; hurting so, so bad inside. I needed an escape. And I got it through writing that first horrible, ugly draft in a spiral-bound notebook. It’s true what the battle-scarred authors say. First drafts are never pretty. The original story began with something like this: ‘What if horses had wings, and could fly? A boy once found this horse, and he named her Angel. He found her in the woods by his home. A boy named, Tyler Craven. This is their story.’ Not a good beginning, I’ll admit. But it was a beginning.

In 2005, around the time Hurricanes Katrina then Rita hit, is when I made the start. It was such a sad year. Yet a good year. Lovely Texans opening their hearts to their Louisiana neighbors . . . that was a beautiful thing. Recently home from a lengthy visit to Texas, my heart was bursting with so many emotions. Through it, I found a love for writing. And here I am, fifteen years later. My third book will be out, at the end of this year or sometime at the start of 2021.

In 2013, I changed the focus of the story. I made it better. Closer to what it is now. Caucasian Tyler Craven became Tyler Malik Ravier—half Caucasian, half Iraqi. Angel was renamed to Awngelic and then finalized as Awngeleik, similar in sound to the name of Angelique. I won’t even mention what Gemma Galloway’s name used to be. I will say this, however. Tadashi’s name was Ted! Amira was Gloria. All the characters were Caucasian. But I changed that, in 2013. Started thinking of new things. New names. New storylines. Then I wrote a rough draft, in 2015. That draft became the foundation for the first three books in Tyler Ravier’s series.

I’ve spent countless hours dreaming of the landscape of Muraine, tweaking it as needed . . . I wanted something unique. See, I grew up in a place with few trees around. Southwestern Wyoming. Always took twice as long for trees to grow to a “normal” size. It was a place at risk of droughts, well, quite a lot. Very dry. Unbelievably windy. Lots of snow, in the winter (usually). As you can imagine, I wanted a place vastly different to escape to. A place with lots of trees. Hence, Paragon was born. A model of excellence. The ideal sort of place I’d love to escape to. I later realized it needed a foreign name. Therefore, Pawv’Ragaen it became. I think that was in 2014.

Writing the books in this series has been a wild ride. I never thought I’d be an author. Though I’m self-published, I’m proud of it. Proud of the work I’ve put it. My writing isn’t perfect, but it is heartfelt. I’m honored to be the author, who’s steering Tyler’s story. Being a writer is so many things, really. I hope the product of my imagination wins you over. And know that I’m just warming up. I can feel it. Tyler demands that more be said than what the three books contain. And who am I to stand in the way of an amazing story being told through his eyes? Truly, there are days I simply feel like the characters are writing the story. That I’m their voice. Lol! I feel what they feel. I laugh with them, cry with them, cheer for them. As they grow, I grow. Not the other way around. Being a writer has changed who I am, as a person. I’m better, kinder, stronger. I actually like who I am. I didn’t, before. I simply existed. But that’s not living.

In parting, I must tell you . . . if you want a dream badly enough, chase it. Don’t give up. Just know that it takes time. Persevere.

Bio

J.R. Vaineo is a self-published indie author, residing in Salt Lake City, UT. In 2018, she published her first book: Kings of Muraine. When she’s not writing, she and her husband, Jessie, have many adventures together. Mostly in cooking, hiking, photography, analytical talks, and fawning over their two adorable fur-babies.

While J.R. Vaineo writes mostly fantasy fiction—combining elements of epic, portal, paranormal, and dark fantasy—she enjoys reading all genres; except, perhaps, for horror stories. After finishing a creative writing program, through the Institute of Children’s Literature, she continued to improve her craft of writing. In 2013, she graduated with her AA degree in psychology. During that time, she expanded on many things, especially focusing on what would prove invaluable for fleshing out characters and plot twists. What started out as a writing prompt, in 2005, has now become a nine book series she is currently working on: The Journals of Ravier. Sometimes, she is quite jealous of the characters’ abilities, found within her own writing. If that is a sign of anything, it is this: Obsession.

All the best,

Julie

.

Find Julie on:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Instagram

JR Vaineo Author website

.

Where to Purchase

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:

Books2Read / Other

.

Thank you so much to Julie for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her story with BnV and Word Mongery and Musings 🙂

.

~Morgan~