tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75899363099017016422024-03-24T00:09:51.729-07:00Beyond the Curtain of RealityWe review speculative fiction - fantasy, UF, PNR, sci-fi - with a focus on independent work. Please check out the sidebar for submission requirements. Keep reading!JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-54312634134680806592022-01-25T13:41:00.001-08:002022-01-25T13:41:23.506-08:00The Drift by Casie Aufenthie - A Sci-Fi Human Drama that Pulls No Punches! <p> Today, I am reviewing the Science Fiction novel <i>The Drift </i>by Casie Aufenthie. The story is a marvelous one, featuring a world split amongst three genetic derivations of humanity - the Illuminatos, who can manipulate reality with their minds; the Corporii, who can control their own forms with microscopic precision, and the Unevolved...who are just like us. Controlled by powerful Illuminatos, some in the world of <i>The Drift</i> have begun a rebellion against their masters...but what hope do they really have?</p><p>I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.</p><p>Characters: 5/5. Holy crap. These people are real people. Tristian, Samara, Kip, Wyatt, everyone...I could hear them, I could see them, and they pulled me into their story so strongly that I couldn't break free. I read the first 50% pretty quickly, but then had to stop for the holidays. When I came back, the next half came rushing fast and furious, and it was because of these characters. I wanted things to work out. I was pulling for them, hard.</p><p>Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Absolutely outstanding. Aufenthie does a remarkable job in showing, not telling, and her use of flashbacks in among the best I've seen in this kind of work. She knows exactly when and how to use them. Further, alongside such redeemable characters I believed in the story, believed every action and reaction even as I was pulling my hair out or holding back tears.</p><p>Flow: 5/5. As I said above, the story pulled me along at breakneck speed because of how attached I was to the people involved. Aufenthie knows how to keep the story going but takes the right pauses to let things breathe when necessary.</p><p>That ending, though...</p><p>Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. I didn't note any spelling or structure errors, but did see a few missing commas. Nothing problematic, but not perfect.</p><p>Overall: 4.75/5. Like many of the indie reads I end up picking up, I am so thrilled that I decided to read <i>The Drift</i> and am looking forward to the sequel. This book is clearly the product of a skilled and talented author who has put her heart and soul into the work - much like Tristian and Samara, the idea and the skill combine to make something greater than the parts. Thank you, Casie, for writing this and the upcoming sequel, which is due out soon!</p><p>If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: <a href="http://www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html">www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html</a></p><p>Thanks as always, and keep reading!</p><p><iframe type="text/html" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" width="336" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="max-width:100%" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B08YKCW6RM&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_8PFSY9JAMF44BYV3FPCD&tag=curtainofreal-20" ></iframe><br /></p>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-9864308913492729862021-11-06T14:47:00.000-07:002021-11-06T14:47:17.610-07:00The Wayfinder's Apprentice by K. Dezendorf - A fantasy journey into another world with rich characters, descriptions, and story - 4.5/5!<p>Today, I am reviewing the Portal Fantasy novel <i>The Wayfinder's Apprentice </i>by K. Dezendorf. This book features Rose, a young woman who lives in an abusive household but once found her way into a magical realm known as the Umbra. With that secret held tight in her heart, she waits for the chance to return, cultivating a friendship (and romance) with some denizens of that realm who have found their way here to our world. A chance encounter upends her destiny...but is she ready for it?</p><p>I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.</p><p>Characters: 5/5. This is the biggest strength of this novel and one I greatly appreciated. Every character, from Rose to Macklass to Edward to Kyan, feels real and alive on the page. Dezendorf crafts her characters well, and they are <i>people</i>, with flaws and fallacious beliefs and agendas that make sense. Each interaction feels personal and genuine, and I loved watching Rose grow throughout the book.</p><p>Also: #teamedward, but Bal has piqued my interest :) </p><p>Plot/Storyline: 4/5. The plot in this story is a setup for the full series, but serves more than that purpose. We establish quickly that Rose is special, with her poltergeist friend and relationship to some Earthbound elves, and we move to a bigger and grander realm-wide war very quickly. I found myself able to predict some plot points - which signifies only a good use of the Chekov's Gun principle - but I was engaged by the story the entire time and enjoyed it immensely.</p><p>Flow: 5/5. I feel like Dezendorf paced her story very well. It certainly has a classic three-act structure, and the amount of time spent with each character, on each scene, always feels just right. I applaud her mastery of this skill as it makes writing much more entertaining when the flow works well.</p><p>Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. I noted three minor errors. Nothing of consequence. Sentence construction was skilled and readable.</p><p>Overall: 4.5/5. Dezendorf has crafted a unique, entertaining, and deep fantasy world with compelling characters that I want to see succeed. The ones you hate and the ones you love are both nuanced, and it's so much fun to watch them play off of one another. I eagerly await the next entry in the series and I suggest that you pick it up yourself!</p><p>If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: <a href="http://www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html">www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html</a></p><p>Thanks as always, and keep reading!</p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="550" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B094PJ4XJX&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_YM45HNHY97SZ9K9E7XQ6&tag=curtainofreal-20" style="max-width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="336"></iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-73406758058488412262021-11-01T13:29:00.003-07:002021-11-01T13:29:50.617-07:00One in the Same: Journey from Mortal to Sorcerer by Douglas Breeden: A Great Idea Hampered by Its Execution<p>Today, I am reviewing the Urban Fantasy novel <i>One in the Same: Journey from Mortal to Sorcerer </i>by Douglas Breeden. This book features a pair of autistic protagonists as the younger discovers he was born to be a Sorcerer Prince, also known as those who are One In the Same, a direct servant of God.</p><p>I give this book a 2/5. Here is my breakdown.</p><p>Characters: 1.5/5. At the beginning, the <i>very</i> beginning, I was interested in the main character Michael because he is autistic - specifically, he has Asperger's Syndrome - which is also true of my oldest son. For a short time, the internal monologues and perceptions of the character were interesting to me from that lens.</p><p>Then it all went downhill.</p><p>There are no female characters of consequence, except perhaps Satan. Every single female with the exception of mother figures are referenced immediately by their level of attractiveness. Waaaaay too many jokes are made about the protagonist's status as a virgin, and waaaaaay too many offers to relieve him of that same status. The mentor was not interesting - I could scarcely tell the difference between him and the younger, teenage protagonist. I simply was not invested in <i>any</i> of them, even by the end of the book. </p><p>Plot/Storyline: 3/5. At its core, the story is not bad. I don't have anything against the Chosen One trope, or against religious-based fiction (my own uses religious mythologies heavily). The plot itself is serviceable if not unique. </p><p>Flow: 0/5. Oh my dear. This is where the book falls apart. Far too much time spent on the mentor figure's childhood traumas as the result of him being autistic in an age where that wasn't understood. I know this is true, I know it was awful (and still is!), but I don't want to spend that many pages on it. Too much time diving into historical references that I didn't care about. Not enough time spent on exciting scenes, like the revelation of Michael's status as a sorcerer, or his conquering of his fears. One paragraph, done. The flow made no sense and kept me from deriving virtually any enjoyment from the book.</p><p>Spelling/Grammar: 3/5. There were some punctuation errors, mostly quotations, that I noted scattered throughout the book. It wasn't awful, wasn't too distracting, but I did notice.</p><p>Overall: 2/5. Breeden made an honest effort with this book but the execution is deeply flawed. I simply was not interested in most of what he wrote down as I went through the novel, and that feeling only got stronger as I continued. I hope that he will revisit the work, maybe read <i>On Writing</i> (as I recommend all fiction authors do!) and keep trying!</p><p>If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: <a href="http://www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html">www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html</a></p><p>Thanks as always, and keep reading!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><iframe type="text/html" width="336" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="max-width:100%" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B07964MD2B&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_JHT0FG9P8H3M4DTAG2MQ" ></iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-61266843198819214192021-10-30T22:14:00.001-07:002021-10-30T22:14:55.703-07:00The Fires of Treason - Historical Fiction with Plots, Betrayals, and Amazing Characters!<p>Today, I am reviewing the Historical Fiction novel <i>The Fires of Treason </i>by Michele Quirke. The first in a planned series of novels, <i>The Fires of Treason </i>follows Prince Gregory and Princess Elizabeth as they struggle to survive against enemies much more powerful than they who have both the motivation and the means to see them dead.</p><p>I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.</p><p>Characters: 4.5/5. You may have noticed that I complimented the characters in my title for this review. That's no mistake; everyone, from the noble Gregory (whose shining armor may seem to be tarnishing a little) to the too-selfish Clara, has a character and a personality that I'm going to remember later. They're easy to sympathize with, easy to identify with; those you like you like a lot, and the scum are some of the worst villains to grace a page. </p><p>Why then, the lost half-point? Because Gregory seems a little TOO stubborn. I know he's noble, I know he's wounded, and life is falling down around his ears...but he's the one I put myself into (a thing I do when I read, or write, or play games, or...) and his failure to "rise" to the occasion disappointed me at the end. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book, as yet unpublished, but he needs to get his act together. Elizabeth, the other main character, was excellent in every respect, and I appreciated her sassiness and her attempts to grow past where she began. I suspect she has hard lessons coming forward.</p><p>Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Now, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction. Had I known this was historical fiction, I may not have read it, but I bought this book when the author was talking about it on Twitter as a show of support. It took some time to get to reading it. It doesn't read like most historical fiction I've seen; instead, it's more like a classic fantasy novel, but without magic. It has that "vibe" to it, and that made me able to enjoy it more. I didn't count any plotholes, and the story is solid and compelling. I enjoyed it immensely, read it through in about 3-4 hours all told, and am eager to see where it goes from here!</p><p>Flow: 4/5. Overall, Quirke's pacing is excellent and she keeps the story moving forward as well as I would expect or hope. I didn't feel bored or like things were moving too quickly for me to keep up with. That being said, some of Gregory and Elizabeth's arguments, toward the middle-end (maybe around the 70-80% mark?) started to feel a little repetitive, like they'd had these same problems before and neither one of them had learned the first time. It wasn't glaring, just something I felt at this point in the book.</p><p>Spelling/Grammar: 5/5. That rarest of ratings, meaning I did not notice any typographical or grammatical errors at all. Well done!</p><p>Quirke was kind enough to endure me live-Tweeting my responses to this story as I read through it. I enjoyed <i>The Fires of Treason </i>very much, and I think it will serve as the foundation to an excellent series...if Gregory can get over himself, step up, and do what needs to be done!</p><p>If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: <a href="http://www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html">www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html</a></p><p>Thanks as always, and keep reading!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />
<iframe type="text/html" width="336" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="max-width:100%" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B08FDGY6C4&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_S7QWR4T0DNXQXKAZEJT2" ></iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-7671621149614431272021-10-28T09:25:00.001-07:002021-10-28T09:25:49.155-07:00The Turquoise Spider - Female Steampunk Holmes with Great Character Development! 4/5<p>Today, I am reviewing the Steampunk story <i>The Turquoise Spider </i>by Mikala Ash. The first in a series of short works (this one is about 100 Kindle pages), <i>The Turquoise Spider</i> stars recently-widowed Elizabeth Hunter-Payne through a classic English Steampunk setting as she solves mysteries and confronts opposition. There is sexual content in this book, which is explicitly called out at the beginning of the work, though to be clear it is NOT an erotic story. It has a plot, a throughline, and the intimacy and sexual content is there to enrich the writing, not be the focus of it. I had a good time in Ash's world, though there was something about it that lowered my enjoyment and I can't, for the life of me, put my finger on it.</p><p>Maybe reviewing will help.</p><p><br /></p><p> I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.</p><p><br /></p><p>Characters: 5/5. This is definitely the biggest strength of the work. Ash introduces us to a few important characters and gives them life within a short amount of time. Elizabeth feels <i>real</i>, but my favorite was easily the assistant/bodyguard of Archie. I loved that guy. The antagonists have realistic (for a steampunk book) motivations and no one acts in an unexplainable way.</p><p><br /></p><p>Plot/Storyline: 4/5. A classic Holmesian mystery. Much like Conan Doyle's Holmes stories, the reader is left a little bit in the dark by the revelations that the main character comes up with later, but still left in appreciation of their superior perceptive talents. The storyline was clean and concise, made sense, and didn't have any gaping holes or contradictions.</p><p><br /></p><p>Flow: 4.5/5. This is a short book so it goes from point to point quickly, without a lot of time to linger. This is fine; I respect the pacing the author has set and enjoy it. As mentioned before, there is still enough time to get to know our main characters and identify with them, and the plot beats move well. I didn't feel bored or like I needed to put it down. I read the whole thing in the space of about an hour.</p><p><br /></p><p>Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. There were a few typographical errors, but nothing of consequence. The book was polished and the English used pleasant and expertly crafted. Nothing took me out of the story, which is what I want.</p><p>As I said above, I don't know what it was, but while I enjoyed what I read and the characters, I didn't come away from the story wanting to read the next one. That being the case, if you enjoy this type of work (and don't mind a little spicy sexual content!) then I recommend you pick it up. You can find the link below. I make no money off of these links.</p><p>Thanks as always, and keep reading!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><iframe type="text/html" width="336" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="max-width:100%" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B089H1N2X7&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_PFMTPKPZC8CB60G8819K" ></iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-10953217685105324392019-05-02T09:07:00.000-07:002019-05-02T09:07:11.019-07:00Deception of the Damned - Make Sure You Check the Fine Print! 4.5/5!Today, I am reviewing the Dark Fantasy novel <i>Deception of the Damned</i> by P.C. Darkcliff. A thrilling tale with twists, turns, and negotiations with (basically) the Devil himself, I had a great time in this book!<br />
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I give this novel a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. Darkcliff crafts very interesting main and side characters, from the despairing Hrot, a mind too advanced for his time, to the cryptic and magical Anath and the almost-too-compassionate Jasmin. I enjoyed their interactions and watching how they dealt with the tribulations they faced.
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Plot/Storyline: 4/5. It kept me reading and turning the page! The overarching story was consistent and made sense, and I couldn’t identify any major holes or hiccups in verisimilitude. My only concern was the end - as the ending approached, I felt Darkcliff may have rushed things just a bit rather than letting the consequences and impending doom fully descend on the reader. And what happened to Hrot...well, let’s just say I might have preferred a slightly different path.<br />
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Flow: 5/5. Easy to read, with period-appropriate vocabulary and a fun style. Darkcliff is obviously a master storyteller, knowing how to keep the reader riveted the whole time.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 5/5. I didn’t notice any spelling or grammar issues, which is a rarity for published novels! Either they weren’t there, or the story was so compelling that I didn’t see them. So, well done!<br />
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Overall: 4.5/5. It took me a while to finish (life stuff), but I am thrilled by Darkcliff’s novel. <i>Deception of the Damned</i> is a deep, rich story that illustrates the nature of deception and consequences expertly. I am glad I got to read it, and I wish the author the best!
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You can find the Amazon link here: <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Damned-P-C-Darkcliff-ebook/dp/B07PMR5SCK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=deception+of+the+damned&qid=1556811112&s=gateway&sr=8-1#customerReviews" target="_blank">Deception of the Damned.</a></i>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-52756616704350941542019-04-12T23:09:00.002-07:002019-04-12T23:09:24.201-07:00Wergild: A Truly Terrifying Tale of Devotion and MurderToday, I am reviewing the Dark Fantasy novella Wergild: A Heartwarming Tale of Coldblooded Vengeance by Boris L. Slocum. This story speaks to my heart, incorporating many of the elements I love in my own writing, and it made me laugh and smile in several places.<br />
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I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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<b>Characters</b>: 5/5. This novella focuses on a very few characters, but it does so expertly. Slocum creates a world primarily through the perspective of his characters, and each is distinct and easy to identify with, from the vengeance-starved Tuppence (I loved that nickname!), the fish-out-of-water Isabel, and the Fiend...the worldy, enigmatic, but completely understandable Fiend. So well done.<br />
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<b>Plot/Storyline:</b> 5/5. You got me. A story about granting a wish, with far-reaching consequences? Hidden motivations and a deep desire to do the right thing...whatever that might be? Questions of free will, something that I literally wrote into my current WIP? I love everything about this story. Everything made sense, everything had a place, and I thought it was a unique telling. Thank you so much, Boris!<br />
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<b>Flow</b>: 5/5. As a novella, this book moved faster than a novel might, but it suffered none for that. The pacing kept the hits coming, with the evolution of characters moving at just the right speed for me. I kept reading, never bored, never skipping to see what would happen next. Every action and every paragraph progressed the story, just as they should.<br />
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<b>Spelling/Grammar</b>: 4/5. There were a few typographical errors, but it was otherwise expertly edited. The language was fantastic and Slocum obviously has skill as a writer, both creatively and technically. A treat to read!
Overall: 4.75/5. This book made me smile because it’s the exact kind of book I love to read. I am so glad that Boris submitted to Beyond the Curtain of Reality, because it alerted me to a talented author that I hope keeps writing for years to come.
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If you want to pick up a copy yourself, you can find this book at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wergild-Heartwarming-Tale-Coldblooded-Vengeance/dp/1733542507/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3S1G1QJRAPIYZ&keywords=boris+l+slocum&qid=1555076036&s=gateway&sprefix=boris+l.+sl%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-13354820691795942572018-04-03T10:04:00.001-07:002018-04-03T10:24:25.992-07:00Abyss and Apex, April 1st, 2018 - Many hits and a couple of misses, but overall excellent!Today, I am reviewing the April 1st edition of the short story periodical <i>Abyss and Apex! </i>Published quarterly, this issue contains seven short stories, listed below as presented to me by the publisher. I will be reviewing each separately, then the periodical as a whole. Because these are short stories by different authors, I will be dispensing with my customary rating system, instead focusing on the content of the stories themselves.<br />
The stories are:<br />
"Penmanship" is about a magical archivist of the dead, and it being easier to get forgiveness than permission.
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From Nigeria involving a modern man, magic, and Boko Haram: "Middle of Nowhere."<br />
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"All and Nothing" is a tale of a Viking woman, her relatives, and outsmarting her way to their god of the dead.<br />
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"Roadmaster" is about a sort of time-traveling antique car, and heroism.
"The Long Way" is the story of a child who runs away to see his daddy on Mars, and his mother's and his searches.<br />
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"What Does a Time Machine Cost?" (flash) is the poignant tale of a woman who devotes her life to unraveling her mother's death.<br />
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The lyrical "Barleycorn" tells of a modern fertility goddess trying to keep a man from sacrificing himself for her.<br />
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<i>All and Nothing</i>, by Chadwick Ginther, is an expertly-told fantasy tale rooted in some Norse mythology that isn’t as well-known as Thor and Odin. The protagonist, a woman named Aught, faces prejudice and discrimination as she seeks to prove herself worthy to the god of the dead and take her place as His emissary. Although this god chooses any who are worthy, some feel the position is worth ensuring there are no other supplicants. Ginther uses evocative language very effectively in this story, and I feel like the characters really came to life over the 16 pages. A worthy inclusion, and a fine read for anyone interested in the interplay of magics and traditions rather than combat.<br />
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<i>Barleycorn</i>, by Cae Hawksmoor, is rich with detail and curious in its story. While not confusing, Hawksmoor describes things that I am familiar with through new eyes, which gives them an interesting tint and forces me to see them afresh. The tragedy of life given so that more life can proceed from death is intensely well done, and I was enraptured by the whole story.<br />
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<i> Middle of Nowhere</i>, by Walter Dinjos, plays off the stereotypically Western desire for self-determination by pitting the protagonist’s will against that of a god. He struggles against his dictated destiny, but once he accedes to it (for reasons of his own), he finds that fulfilling his role completes him and makes him whole. Dinjos has created a fascinating magical system and populated his world with interesting people - I would have liked to see this expanded into a full novella or novel - and the interplay between the protagonist and the “savages” is fascinating.<br />
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<i>The Consequential Effects of Practiced Penmanship</i> by Marc A. Criley describes an urchivar, someone who transcribes the events of the past and puts them in book form that can be read and accessed; apparently, it is also possible to change events through these books, called uhrbuchs, provided one hasn’t done too much meddling before. In honesty, I did not like this story; there were glimmerings of things I thought were very interesting and cool concepts, but the construction and the flow defeated me. I didn’t understand most of the premise, and the interactions made little sense at times. I think this story could have been served well by being book-length, to allow for scene-setting and world-building, so that the reader could understand the rules the characters are playing by.
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<i>Roadmaster </i>by Randall Andrews is a touching story wherein an old man uses his car to revisit his memories - and more - while his young grandson learns a little about his family’s history and about magic he didn’t know existed. While the story itself is emotional, touching, and interesting, it was too brief and events happened too fast for me to really enjoy it. My pdf review version clocked in a 7 pages, and I just don’t feel Andrews gave his work enough space. There were also a few typos in this version, but I don’t know if they made it to the final work.<br />
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<i>The Long Way </i>by William Campbell Powell is also short, at seven pages, but much more intensely interesting. Written almost in epistolary style, wherein the information is provided in the forms of letters or testaments by the primary actors, <i>The Long Way</i> brought tears to my eyes throughout as I imagined my own children in that situation. Powell’s portrayal of a young boy trying to reach his daddy on Mars by walking struck home to me and rang true, and the resolution of the story brought everything together succinctly and satisfyingly. Truly an excellent story.<br />
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<i>What does a Time Machine Cost</i> is a work of flash fiction by Elliotte Rusty Harold. Clocking in at only two pages, Harold manages to make Time Machine sing. Chronicling the efforts of a young girl working towards saving her mother by building a time machine, the work feels realistic, powerful, and the ending lines echo a truth that all would be well-served to understand: that life is worth every moment of itself.<br />
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Overall, this edition of <i>Abyss and Apex</i> has many excellent stories, and a few that could use some lengthening. I would recommend the periodical to anyone who enjoys these types of works, and look forward to reviewing more in the future! You can find <i>Abyss and Apex</i> at the link <a href="http://www.abyssapexzine.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-33599929443754237172018-03-22T12:00:00.002-07:002018-03-22T12:00:45.124-07:00The Last Voyage is one worth taking!Today, I am reviewing the collection of short stories titled <i>The Last Voyage and Other Stories</i> by Fernando Sacchetto! Holding six or seven tales (depending on how you reckon them) of fantasy, magic, technology, and subterfuge, this collection alternately confused, enthralled, saddened, and thrilled as I moved through the stories.<br />
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This review reflects the work as a whole; I’m not going to drill down into each individual story, as all were approximately of the same quality and interest.<br />
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I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. In short stories, much less time is spent developing characters than in novels. Regardless, I enjoyed each and every characterization in Sacchetto’s stories; they were unique, easy to tell apart, and, mostly, with clear motivations.
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Plot/Storyline: 5/5. There were some real page-turners here, some storylines that surprised and invigorated me simultaneously. The first story in the roster, as well as the last, were especially to my taste, but each and every one had something to offer. Fantastic work!<br />
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Flow: 4.5/5. I felt each story ran for as long as it needed, without cutting things short or padding them out. The words kept coming and bringing with them tidbits of imagery and development. Only once or twice did I find myself rereading, just to be sure I understood what was happening; this was more of a testament to Sacchetto’s intricate storylines than anything else!<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. High standards achieved. I counted one minor spelling error across all stories, and that’s saying something. Keep up the good fight!<br />
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Overall: 4.5/5. A short story collection worthy of inclusion in any discussion of intricate, well-designed plot threads and characters, <i>The Last Voyage and Other Stories</i> captured my attention and held it until I was finished. I hope that Sacchetto keeps writing, and wish him luck! You may visit his website at https://worldlinecollapse.com/.<br />
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<br />JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-86134290755246182632017-12-16T22:30:00.004-08:002017-12-16T22:30:30.533-08:00Province of a Thief by Scott Borgman - a fantasy with magic, mystery, and characters you'd want to know!Today, I am reviewing the Fantasy story <i>Province of a Thief (Tal’Avern Chronicles Book 1)</i> by Scott Borgman. An innovative and unique take on the Hero’s Journey, we follow our protagonist, a master thief named Jaelyth, as she discovers that what she believed to be true - her history, her world, and those around her - was but artifice and lies, a web of deceit with dark magic at its core.<br />
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I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.
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Characters: 5/5. Jaelyth was a fully three-dimensional woman with a rich internal life that Borgman brought out with her every word and gesture. The supporting cast echoed this richness without seeming like mirrors or copies; Captain Dalen Moore’s disdain for magic (and the reasons behind that), the King’s Mage calmness in the face of near-certain disaster, and the Princess Selia’s concern for her sister all felt real and honest. Toward the end of the novel, a few side characters rotate to enjoy more of the spotlight, and it feels earned and true. Well done, Scott!<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 4/5. Well-crafted and enjoyable. Borgman develops his world through the actions of his characters, which is my favorite way to experience writing. While much of the story is the typical Journey, Jaelyth experiences enough twists and turns throughout the way to keep its outcome in doubt. Strange allies, enemies where friends once were, and a masterful twist toward the end that my brain had only the faintest idea was coming make this story a fantastic read.<br />
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Flow: 4.5/5. I finished this book quickly; the descriptions melded with the action, working to enhance the scenes without drawing me away from them. There were no info-dumps, no huge blocks of exposition or scenery that pulled me from the story. Thank you.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. A well-edited, competent work. I can count the typographical errors on one hand, and the grammar errors are even fewer. Excellent...but not perfect. :)<br />
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Overall: 4.5/5. A great introduction to a fantasy series that I look forward to continuing soon. Borgman weaves his pen (or keyboard) like a master, delivering a tale that I would be proud to have written. Keep up the good work, and don’t let Jaelyth know where your valuables are; they might end up missing!
JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-32612937854811890912017-05-12T14:54:00.001-07:002017-05-12T14:54:56.053-07:00The Prince of Knocknafay - Truly a Noble Bastard of a Man!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I am reviewing the mythological stew of a story </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travers McCraken: The Prince of Knocknafay</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Bret Bouriseau. A self-styled “grown-up bedtime story,” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travers</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reads more as a goulash of old-world faerie tales and Christian and Islamic myths, bundled up into a well-seasoned meal. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters: 4.5/5. Bouriseau has definitely spent a lot of time with his characters; they’re distinct, lively, and credible as beings. The good ones are good (though often roguish), and the bad ones are bad (to the tune of eating human flesh). Their banter is entertaining and definitely gives off the impression that these people have known each other a long time. That being said, some of the supporting characters - in particular Margay, the current object of Travers’s affections - fell a little flat. On occasion, she felt like her main purpose was to stand in awe at the things Travers was doing or showing her, and I got very little in the way of development from her actions.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plot/Storyline: 4/5. Simple but effective. The rakish Travers McCraken steals away a sultana from an angry lord, and the story splits in two as he prepares to bring his treasure and love interest to Cibonay while the aggrieved Sultan hatches his own plot to destroy Travers. The fun part comes in the interplay between the characters and in the flipping back-and-forth between the antagonist group and the protagonists. It made for a fun reading experience that I’m eager to return to.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flow: 3.5/5. Bouriseau chose to use a heavy brogue to represent his characters’ speech patterns. While I was able to understand most of the speech, there were times when I had to backtrack or sound it out to myself in order to piece it together. As a fast reader, the brogue felt like a speedbump, tripping me up and ripping me out of my verisimilitude. That was the only negative quality about the flow, however; the story moved at just the right speed, and we spent a good amount of time with each character and scene without dragging it out.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. Bouriseau’s editor and proofreader did a solid job. There were a few issues - mostly missing quotes at the end of a paragraph or line - but nothing that disturbed me or presented an issue.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: 4/5. Solid and entertaining. The world of Knocknafay is engaging, intriguing, and a load of fun. While the book isn’t perfect, its flaws do nothing to detract from the ingenuity and creativity of the author. I look forward to the next installment, which drops around Christmas! </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-658b6905-fea7-a84e-911d-80cad4e56a4c"><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those interested, you can find </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travers McCracken: The Prince of Knocknafay </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at Bret Bouriseau’s website: </span><a href="http://knocknafay.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://knocknafay.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-51176693372082927552017-02-16T15:56:00.000-08:002017-02-16T15:56:42.375-08:00Tatyanna (Light and Darkness Book 1): A fun adventure into a deeply-described fantasy world!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I am reviewing the Fantasy story </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tatyanna (Light and Darkness Book 1)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Lindsay Johnston. A solid and enjoyable “portal” fantasy which pulls elements from both Eastern and Western mythologies, we follow the titular Tatyanna as she grapples with feelings of alienation and being pushed to the fringe...only to find out that those feelings are justified. She </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">different. She’s destined to save a world. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters: 4/5. I enjoyed these characters very much. Tatyanna was interesting and fun to follow as she went through her journey, although I did feel that some of her reactions to the strangeness were a little subdued; she seemed to accept things much more easily than I would have at 21. Her companions, especially Emmett and Dimitri, were also well-fleshed out and real. My favorite, though, was Malek, the Phoenix Lord (I don’t know if that was an official title or not). He felt extremely realistic and deep, and I look forward to learning more about him!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plot/Storyline: 4/5. Nice and solid. While I wouldn’t point to any elements of this storyline that really </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wowed</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> me or made me stop in amazement or shock, I did enjoy the entirety of the book. I didn’t notice any holes or unrelated elements that would have pulled me out of my reading. The story is classic, a standard “hero’s journey,” but that doesn’t make it any less fun to read.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flow: 4/5. The book moved forward at a good clip, taking just enough time to set the scene before dropping the next bomb. The only reason this didn’t receive a higher score is due to the author’s tendency to ignore contractions in dialogue. The dialogue itself was solid, even enjoyable, but the constant use of “I will” rather than “I’ll” or “He is” instead of “He’s” makes the speech seem stilted and artificial. Contractions are your friend!.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spelling/Grammar: 3.5/5. There were several minor typographical errors and a few moderate problems that I noticed. A couple of times, there seemed to be paragraphs that duplicated content immediately previous to them, almost as if Johnston had gone through and changed it up during an edit but forgot to delete the previous version of that paragraph. </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8d577fc6-495b-098a-64e6-4d72f1fdc418"><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: 4/5. A solid, fun, enjoyable work that I’ll recommend to anyone who likes this kind of story. While a few elements were classic and a little derivative, I really liked the way Lindsay put them together and fleshed out her world. The universe she’s created is, itself, unique and interesting, and I look forward to the sequel.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-59968075654086398972016-10-01T00:06:00.001-07:002016-10-01T14:31:51.133-07:00The Order of the Four Sons: Book I - Action-packed, deep, and thrilling; a highly-recommended read!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I am reviewing the Urban Fantasy story </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Order of the Four Sons: Book 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Coyote Kishpaugh and Lauren Scharhag. A </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mission Impossible-</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">esque thriller with a team drawn from the dregs of the mystical Order of the Four Sons, this book boasts amazing action and character interaction alongside a mythology that stands favorably next to any that I’ve read. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters: 5/5. Absolutely outstanding. Each and every one of their characters drew my interest and stood apart from the others. I loved the dynamics between them, from the gruff leadership of the Colonel to the growing teacher-student relationship between Doug and Kate and the firm grasp on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">real</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reality that Murphy tries to hold onto. Each feels like a real person to me, a real personality. Each of their actions is in line with their established traits, and they do a fantastic job in setting them up quickly.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Enthralling. I lost a good couple hours today of my own writing on this book because the story hooked me so strongly. The plot elements follow one another in completely believable sequence, with no instances of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">deus ex</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, with no coincidences or elements coming out of left field, but yet trickled with twists that made my eyes widen as I realized what was going on. This is an excellent, excellent story.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flow: 5/5. As I do with my own writing, Kishpaugh and Scharhag did not delay their characters’ actions just because they wanted to talk about them or describe them. The story moved with the speed of plot, with the sense of urgency strongly felt in each delay, in each question the characters had to ask themselves, and I loved the tension and drama this created..</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. I counted 3 or 4 typographical errors in this book - a missing quotation, a few misspelled words - and that was it. It’s better than most other published works that I’ve read, and the smoothness definitely added to my enjoyment of the book.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: 4.75/5. Wow. What a thrill ride. Ending on a fantastic cliffhanger, I became an instant fan of Kishpaugh and Scharhag's writing and this series. I will be picking up the next book soon. I can’t recommend it enough.</span></div>
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-46652329017911831352016-09-19T19:06:00.001-07:002016-09-19T19:06:57.674-07:00Inevitable Ascension by V.K. McAllister - a fun, fast-paced time-travel fantasy! 3.75/5 stars!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I’m reviewing the YA Fantasy/Time Travel novel </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inevitable Ascension </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by V.K. McAllister. This book follows Violina and Lux, two young ladies who have a very Robin-hood style approach to life: hunting down extinct critters and selling them to a museum, they get involved in a heist from that same museum when they get stiffed for their fee. A chance encounter with a mysterious and addled woman involves them in adventures that lead them back and forth through time to save their world. Or destroy it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, and whatever they do, they’ll have a blast. Lux insists.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I give this book a 3.75/5. Here is my breakdown.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters: 3/5. This is the weakest part of the book. I enjoyed the adventures that Violina and Lux put themselves through (or found themselves put through, or...you’ll see), and I enjoyed the background of characters that they interacted with. There just...wasn’t much about them that made me understand or empathize with them. Their banter was funny, but occasionally the circumstances made funny banter seem strange. I just couldn’t connect well with them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5. The storyline here was reminiscent of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chrono Trigger</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a very well-loved RPG from the Super Nintendo era. Time hops back and forth to make things right, action and adventure and danger...it was a lot of fun, a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lot </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of fun. The author wraps up the story well and elegantly, and the plot is consistent with little to no “gotcha” factor. Well done!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flow: 3.5/5. This goes hand-in-hand with the character development issue. The two protagonists were go-go-go! from the beginning, and that left little to no time to get to know them. Even gravely wounded, they never took a break, never performed at any less than their best. A little more pacing might have improved the book.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grammar/Spelling: 4/5. Mostly clean and consistent. I didn’t note any misspellings, but did see a few places where a comma was needed or extraneous. High quality, but not perfect. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall: 3.75/5. This book deserves the positive attention it will get. For many people, the fast pace and hurried development will detract little, and they’ll be pulled into the great and engaging storyline. For others, they’ll be left wanting more in a few areas, as I was. Regardless, this was a solid first outing in a projected series, and I’m very, very curious as to where Violina and Lux will end up next!</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=behithecurtof-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1537026208&asins=1537026208&linkId=91430f4301bd8f1f11206f163b46d290&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-58733266693800064752016-08-05T14:27:00.003-07:002016-08-05T14:27:49.118-07:00Dracula: The Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt - a worthy sequel to the original! 4/5 stars!Today, I am reviewing the Horror/Paranormal story <i>Dracula: The Un-Dead</i> by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt. This is a story set in the beginning of the 20th Century, decades after the first interaction with the Transylvanian Prince. The characters have aged, and are each dealing with the repercussions of those events on their lives in their own ways...some less successfully than others. The story centers around Quincey Harker, the namesake of the Texan who stabbed Dracula during their confrontation and the son of Jonathan and Mina. Obsessed with drama and desiring to pursue a career in acting rather than law as his father commands, he falls in with a young, exotic actor who is taking Europe by storm, As he interacts with the world, he discovers there is more to the young actor's story - and his own - than he could have ever imagined.<br />
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I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. I enjoyed hearing about the familiar characters and found their reactions to their lives after Dracula to be plausible. The interactions between them - and the forced separations - rang true for me. I also enjoyed the dialogue and the new additions - Bathory, Quincey Harker, and the rest - and found myself wrapped up in their stories.<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 4/5. Solid, serviceable, and enjoyable. I liked the changes they made to the original and the explanations given. I know that many people felt that these changes perverted the intent of the first book, and that may be so, but I had a good time with THIS story, and judge it on that basis.<br />
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Flow: 4.5/5. Nice and easy to read. The scenes cut well together and the sentences flowed smoothly. I was able to immerse myself in the book easily and well.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 5/5. This book, unlike many of my reads, is a traditionally-published work, and the editing reflects what that is SUPPOSED to mean. I found no issues of spelling or grammar.<br />
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Overall: 4/5. I enjoyed this book very much. The world of Dracula is a fascinating one, something that I enjoy in many different ways over many different adaptations and interpretations, and this added something new yet familiar to the mix.<br />
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To purchase, just check out the link below. Thank you for reading!<br />
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-33104654448097502152016-03-30T11:30:00.002-07:002016-03-30T11:30:57.320-07:00Sol of the Coliseum by Adam Gaylord - An enthralling, rich Fantasy world from a unique perspective.Today, I am reviewing the Fantasy story <i>Sol of the Coliseum </i>by Adam Gaylord and published by Mirror World Publishing. Seen through the eyes of a born slave, Sol, Gaylord paints the picture of a tyrannical empire that condemns its prisoners and conquests to death by combat in the eponymous Coliseum…where, once you enter, you never leave. Sol climbs the ranks, becoming a fighter of skill and renown, but when a special prisoner is offered to him as one of his victory prizes, he learns that the world outside is more enticing than he knows…but will he risk his life, and those he cares about, in a possibly futile escape attempt?<br />
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I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 5/5. This is the real strength of the novel, the best thing about it and what made me excited as I kept going. Gaylord has created a world populated by relatable, interesting characters that each have stories of their own – the stoic yet paternal guard captain Grall, the Spoils offered to Sol as victory prizes, the shifty and misunderstood Slink – even “bit” characters jump off the page and demand to be recognized as real. And they are. Well done!<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 5/5. By setting this story in the Coliseum, Gaylord sets himself up for a story in which we, the readers, are necessarily denied all the perspectives. It allows us to discover the world through Sol’s eyes, revealing secrets as he discovers them. I found the plot gripping and highly entertaining, and once I got into the meat of it I couldn’t wait to devour the book. .<br />
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Mechanics: 4/5. When I first started reading the story, I got scared – there are heavy exposition periods throughout the book, and, especially before I had gotten invested into the book, I was worried that the exposition would drag on too long, weigh too heavily. It did not. While I won’t claim that I needed all of the information that Gaylord shared through his “author voice,” none of it was boring and the way he wrote it was entertaining. Overall, the language of the book was high-quality, descriptive but concise, and I have nothing but praise for the combat scenes and the character interactions, both of which can be difficult for authors.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. Only a few typos throughout the book. Nothing of significant consequence.<br />
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Overall: 4.75/5. An excellent low-magic fantasy read, filled with rich, fun characters and offering a sobering look at hope and will. It was a pleasure to read, and, like so many indie books that I have reviewed, I found myself wondering why I had taken so long to get started on this one!.
Thank you, Adam. It was a fantastic read, and I wish you continued success!
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-56610138481001772812016-03-11T14:44:00.000-08:002016-03-11T14:44:09.589-08:00Capering on Glass Bridges by Jessica Hernandez - A very promising first installment and a great Fantasy read!Today, I am reviewing the YA Fantasy story Capering on Glass Bridges by Jessica Hernandez. Telling the story of Kaia Stone, a young woman who has grown up differently than the others she knows, the book describes how the Utdrendans send her and others into the cursed kingdom of Mar, with knowledge from years ago that may undo their horrific doom.<br />
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I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 5/5. I enjoyed these characters very much. Hernandez did a fantastic job in creating an interesting interplay between the various members of Kaia’s party. Their back-and-forths were fun and credible, and their griefs and sorrows equally so.<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 4/5. A very solid fantasy adventure story. I think that Hernandez did a good job making her fantasy world interesting (a coming-of-age ceremony in which people are bonded to a homunculus-type being, for instance, and the magical power of Speaking). The effort is apparent, and she does it justice.<br />
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Flow/Construction: 4/5. I have no complaints here. The story moved quickly and easily. I can’t recall feeling like the scenes were dragging or slowed down. Again, a solid performance here.
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Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. Very insignificant, minor mistakes occasionally found. Nothing problematic or unusual.<br />
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Overall: 4/5. Jessica Hernandez shows her talent in this book. I’m not sure if it’s her first book (but I think it is), and if so then she can only improve from here. I really hope there’s more to come!</div>
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-72752379307670022802016-02-10T16:02:00.002-08:002016-02-10T16:02:49.517-08:00Artificial Light by Nathan Wall - A mix of elements I love...but a book that I didn't.Today, I am reviewing the Science-Fiction/Fantasy story <i>Artifical Light</i> by Nathan Wall. As with my last entry, this one crosses genres by mixing science with mythology and religious apocrypha. It is the third in a series, and I can’t help but think that I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two.<br />
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This genre describes one of my favorite types of book – in this one, several gods/Angels are factioning off, breaking into different groups. The birth of an “angel-born” sets off a pogrom of sorts, leading to the death of Osiris and the exile of his family.<br />
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I received an ARC copy of this novel to provide my honest review. However, I was not able to complete the book, stopping after about 30% due to issues with its construction that will be covered below.<br />
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Still, I give this book a 3/5, based on what I did read. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. Easily the strongest point in the book. The idea of intermixing mythologies appeals to me enough that I do it in my own writing, and, individually, the characters that Nathan has created seem like real people – even with all their strange, supernatural powers – and have realistic motivations. I wish I could have gotten to know them a bit better in the first third of the novel.
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Plot/Storyline: 2/5. I still have no idea what was going on in the story. The prologue, showing the death of Osiris (presumably…again, I only finished 1/3rd the novel) was well done and exciting, but after that, I feel like the author lost track of his character threads. I understand the concept of a slow build, but after 30% the book had failed to hook me at all.<br />
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Mechanics: 2.5/5. The pace and the constant jumping between perspectives worked together to defeat me. I felt like my attention was being divided by too many different points-of-view, by time-jumps, and by occurrences across time and space. This kept me from engaging with the story – I don’t know who’s doing what, I’m not even sure who IS what.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. The copy was very clean and easy to read. The words chosen were well-picked and I didn’t find any significant issues of grammar. Thank you!<br />
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Overall: 3/5. This could be good. This could be SO, SO good. All the essential pieces of an excellent story are here. I believe that <i>Artificial Light</i> is an uncut gem – ready to burst forth, once we trim away the parts that are obscuring the inner beauty. I couldn’t finish it, but that doesn’t make it bad – just a little too slow, a little too jumpy for me.
Keep at it, Nathan. Thank you for writing.
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You can find the book at the link below.<br />
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<br />JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-80646061543515790572016-01-28T11:16:00.000-08:002016-01-28T11:16:17.045-08:00Birth of Hope by A.J. Trevors - A rushed, cliched story...but glimmers of potential show through. 2.75/5.Today, I am reviewing the Science-Fiction/Fantasy story <i>Birth of Hope</i> by A.J. Trevors. I classify it as both genres because, although the novel has a strong science-fiction element, with unexplainable technology, alien races, and multiple planets, there are also things that are unexplainable through the lens of science in the book’s universe. This is the first in the <i>Gaia Chronicles</i> series, and releases in early February. In this story, there is an interplanetary invasion by the Vangarian, a lizard-like race capable of summoning extra-dimensional beings called Spectres. These Spectres are so powerful on the battlefield that only another can defeat one…but the allied races don’t have the ability to summon them.<br />
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Or do they?<br />
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I received an ARC copy of this novel to provide my honest review.<br />
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I give this book a 2.75/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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<b>Characters</b>: 3/5. Meh. The characters in <i>Birth of Hope</i> were, in the main, one-dimensional and uninteresting, although not actively dislikeable. The main character is very much a “Gary Lou,” someone who has few defining characteristics other than that he is a prophesied “Chosen One” who has the most power of anyone, despite his lack of training. It’s a tried-and-true cliché, but that doesn’t change the fact that it IS one, and so the author needs to use special skill in pulling it off. J.K. Rowling pulled it off by making Harry Potter weak in several areas, making him relatable, plying him with flaws and supporting him with other characters. The other characters in <i>Birth of Hope</i> feel like window-dressing for the drama that is Damien, props that propel him toward bigger and better things rather than people in their own right. Even his struggles with negativity, hopelessness, and anger don’t feel genuine.<br />
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<b>Plot/Storyline</b>: 2/5. Even more clichéd than the characters. The story is fast-paced and allows little time for character development. Twists are thrown in with little or no foreshadowing and the whole thing feels generally unsatisfying. It picks up a little bit at the end, but I still was left feeling like I had wasted my time.<br />
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<b>Mechanics</b>: 3/5. The pacing wasn’t bad. Although I was dissatisfied with the storyline, I didn’t feel like the writing itself was dragging me down, or that the author spent too much time on any particular thing. The time advances were difficult to wrap my head around, as the situation would greatly change during a chapter break and I would have to dig into the text to find out how much time had gone by.<br />
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<b>Spelling/Grammar:</b> 2/5. In the ARC version that I received, there were several missed periods (several per page in many places) and verb tense shifts, flipping from past to present and back again. The author has told me that these were fixed, so I won’t factor them too heavily into my final rating.
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<b>Overall</b>: 2.75/5. I think that this author has potential. The idea of the Spectres is interesting and his descriptions of them are actually very well done. I think that he could benefit from another two drafts, getting some feedback from beta readers on what is working and what isn’t in the story. I recommend looking at Stephen King’s <i>On Writing</i>, as I do with all new authors. It’s a highly informative book that really helped me get started in my writing career.
Thank you, A.J. Trevors. I wish you the best.<br />
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Good luck!<br />
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-70909007071762691572016-01-14T22:21:00.002-08:002016-01-14T22:24:37.400-08:00The Keeper and the Rulership by Emily Martha Sorensen - engaging, a lot of fun, and a worthwhile read!Today, I am reviewing the Fantasy story The Keeper and the Rulership by Emily Martha Sorensen. While this is definitely a YA (Young Adult, for our newcomers) style book, I enjoyed its in-depth character development and plot very much.<br />
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In this book, we follow the adventures of the young woman, Raneh, as she learns why she has magic and comes to terms with her destiny.
This is a very solid YA fantasy, with enjoyable characters, that stays away from the most onerous of tropes.<br />
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I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. Sorensen does a great job in establishing the characters and their motivations. Each is sufficiently distinct from the others and has obvious motivations that make sense. Their interactions are fun and they fit well within the world that she’s established. I enjoyed spending time with them; their behaviors were consistent and well-reasoned, with little of the “random” things that characters can do because of “plot necessity.”<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 4/5. A fun story that, while it doesn’t leave profound, lasting marks on my soul, was a very worthy use of my time. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent in Raneh’s world, walking beside her as she came to her realizations and made her decisions. The development of the world was well-done, and felt very real to me.
My only concern with the storyline is the ending. The ending itself was fine, but it felt abbreviated, like it came too soon after the climax of the story with insufficient denouement. I would have liked more wrap-up.<br />
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Technical Aspects: 4/5. The story moved quickly and was a treat to read. I had a good time and didn’t trip up over choppy sentences, poor dialogue, or exposition. A well-constructed book that allowed me to access the story.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. There were a few, very few, typos in this book. Well done!<br />
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Overall: 4/5. This is a very solid book, clean, fun, and well-crafted. I enjoyed it very much and want to read more from Sorensen. She is very talented and I look forward to seeing more of her work. Thank you!
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</iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-2967407393377190402015-12-11T13:02:00.000-08:002015-12-11T13:02:33.818-08:00The Mansion's Twins by Rose Channing - Exciting, engrossing, and a treat to read!Today, I am reviewing the YA portal fantasy story <i>The Mansion’s Twins</i> by Rose Channing. The first in the <i>At The Crossworlds </i>series, we get pulled into the lives of two ordinary teenagers who discover they have extraordinary powers. Fleeing from their unpleasant and borderline abusive home lives, Ellie and Savannah, aged 14, learn that they are unwitting refugees from a world of magic, and that it lies in their hands to save it from itself.<br />
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I give this book a solid 4/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. I found Channing’s characterizations interesting and well played. She added a large cast to the story, which can get a little confusing when they’re introduced rapid-fire, but did a good job of delineating and clarifying who is who and what each of them could do. I could have used more clear descriptions of the gifts and magical talents that each knew, but overall I feel this is a strength of the novel.<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 4/5 Classic portal fantasy – kids brought from our mundane world into a magnificent, wondrous place filled with magic, but they have to save it, and they’re the only ones who can do so. But classic doesn’t mean boring, and the world that Channing has created weaves itself into the storyline like a tapestry. I enjoyed it very much.<br />
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Flow: 5/5. Another strength, and always a pleasure when done right. This book was fairly long for a YA intro book, but it blew by very quickly. Channing does her pacing right, keeping us in suspense just long enough before the reveals, and ratcheting up the tension at the right times. Well done!<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 3/5. I noticed several typos, many that could be attributed to autocorrect error or which were simply missing words. Another run through by a good proofreader would clear up almost everything.<br />
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Overall: 4.5. A real treat. I haven’t read YA in a long time (most of my submissions are adult fantasy/sci-fi) and I’m pleased to recommend Rose Channing and The Mansion’s Twins. Pick up this book if you want realistic characters, an intriguing storyline, and a great time.
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-22564695681222882822015-11-21T11:16:00.001-08:002015-11-21T11:19:10.365-08:00GR3T3L-1 by V.M. Sawh - Uniquely amazing! 4.75/5 stars!Today, I am reviewing the Science-Fiction story GR3T3L-1 by V.M. Sawh. The book opens with two robots, interestingly named H4NS3L and GR3T3L, crash-landing on a strange planet with no clear mission. GR3T3L quickly shows herself to have mental abilities far beyond the combat drone H4NS3L, including asking questions about feelings and emotions, and using reasoning to solve their problems.<br />
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This is an excellent book, filled with character development, interesting scenarios and environment, and intriguing plot. I give it a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown:<br />
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Characters: 5/5. I really enjoyed both the main and supporting characters of this story. Both robots played their parts well, and watching their interactions and their development over the course of the book made me happy and made me care about them. The supporting human characters, met chiefly through flashback and recorded programming input, felt realistic and understandable, viewed as they were through the lenses of robotic understanding.<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Engaging from start to finish. Sawh drops us in the middle of the action and pulls off the slow reveal with aplomb. Like the breadcrumbs from the titular characters’ original story, I was hooked from the beginning, wondering where we were going from here. I won’t spoil the ending, but I was reading it to work, and it made me tear up. It was good.<br />
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Flow: 4.75/5. Every reveal is timed well, keeping the reader interested the whole time. The language used is clean and effective, telling the story and maintaining the sense of immersion. My only stuttering point was at the beginning, when Sawh used the word “metal” like ten times. In the first page or two. It just made me shake my head and laugh a little.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. There were some typos in this book. Overall very good, but I did note a few missing words and misspellings.<br />
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Overall: 4.75/5. I knew going in that this was a solid piece of work, but as it went on it pulled me deeper and deeper. It’s not long, but it’s amazing and unique. I’ve never seen a book take on this perspective before, and not since R. Daneel Olivaw have I been as interested in what is going on in a robotic mind. Well done!
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<br />JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-72502591759632026252015-11-05T15:07:00.006-08:002015-11-05T15:07:48.877-08:00Spider Mafia by Ville Merilainen - unique, very cool, and a lot of fun. 3.75/5.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Today, I am reviewing the Urban Fantasy story Spider Mafia by Ville Merilainen. A thrilling, pseudo-horror story set in a world populated by sentient, anthropomorphic cats, Spider Mafia follows Trucillo Brown, agent for the FBI (Feline Badass Institution) as he picks up the trail of an ancient evil that’s kidnapping kittens and plotting to overthrow society as we know it. Despite its use of animal characters, the book definitely has plenty of adult themes, including the murder and enslavement of children, cursing, and family. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">I give this book a 3.75/5. Here is my breakdown.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Characters: 4/5. I feel like I could have known so much more about the characters than I do. Each one is interesting and unique – I didn’t feel burdened by generic, stock roles or archetypes, and the ideas of destined bloodlines brought out in the book hit the right notes with me. Still, I wish I knew more about Trucillo’s life before the story, about his romantic relationships (or lack thereof) and more detail about what happened with his niece. There are some awesome bits hanging out there, waiting for more development.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Plot/Storyline: 4/5. Spider Mafia does a very good job of blending the hard-boiled detective shtick with the magical elements of urban fantasy, and adds a healthy amount of tongue-in-cheek humor to boot. The plot hit the right beats and maintained its verisimilitude all the way through. I really enjoyed the storyline (despite the sneaky nature of some of the reveals) and felt for the characters.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">One thing, though: a life bar? Really? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Flow: 3.5/5. Throughout most of the story, the writing flowed very well. Spider Mafia isn’t a long book, but it went very quickly, even so. I maintained interest throughout the work, digesting it quickly and enjoying it along the way.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">So why the 3.5?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Because, at the very end, there is a moment where the character looks at the author. The writing explicitly states that he breaks the fourth wall. It was completely jarring, unnecessary, and didn’t work for me at all. I know the author’s trying to be funny and/or cute here, but it just annoyed me.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. Fairly solid. I noticed a couple of mistakes, but nothing worth writing home about or protesting outside the author’s home. A good, well-done editing job all around.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.98px;">Overall: 3.75/5. This book is very unique and a great take on the genre. The characters are cool and you’ll find yourself smiling, if not laughing aloud, more than once. If you’re looking for deadly serious, dark-and-gritty work, stay away, but if you like a touch of humor in your urban fantasy, then check out Spider Mafia.</span></span><br />
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</iframe>JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-16024467805337657292015-10-31T00:59:00.000-07:002015-10-31T00:59:01.076-07:00Iron by Robin L. Cole - Exciting, compelling, and sure to draw you in. 4.5/5 Stars!<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I am reviewing the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy story <i>Iron</i> by Robin L. Cole. The first novel
in the exciting <i>The Warding </i>series, we’re
introduced to a world where fae folk (don’t call them “faeries;” it pisses them
off) walk between the worlds. Some of them, however, have run afoul of the increasingly
mad High King, and have been exiled to Earth, searching for some way to return.
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Unfortunately for Caitlin, a regular woman who’s rapidly
approaching her 30<sup>th</sup> birthday (and feeling every minute of it), she’s
exactly what they’re looking for. She has the Warding, the ability to repel fae
magics and glamours, and the exiles need her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is an absolutely stellar book, filled with action,
character development, and intriguing plot. I give it a 4.5/5. Here is my
breakdown:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Characters: 5/5. A definite strength of this novel. It’s
often a trope of urban fantasy how easily and quickly the characters shift from
their “normal” lives into the new powers and/or responsibilities thrust upon
them. It’s tough to make the journey seem natural and realistic, but Cole has
done just that. As Caitlin evolves from a soft woman lamenting hitting 30 into
an absolute badass, I felt every step on the journey as she struggled to come
to grips with lying to her best friend, her guilt about her new fae compatriots…even
the first life she stole. Beyond that, the whole supporting cast was played
fantastically, with particular favorites of mine being Mairi and Gannon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yeah, definitely like Gannon. /looks over his shoulder and
wipes his brow.<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Realistic yet fantastical, Cole blended fae politics and
intrigues with the present day like a seasoned professional. Every plot twist
was handled excellently, with just enough “whoa” and none of the “WTHeck?” The
final reveals made total sense, and I loved the unfolding of interpersonal
relationships and how they drove the story. Character-driven storylines are the
best, and this one did it just right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flow: 5/5. Perfection. Cole paced between beats like a
marching band – always in rhythm, always in tune, and when things got heated
you could tell by the tap-tap-tapping of your heart along with the words. The
pages passed through my fingers until, at the end, I was astonished that it was
already over. In fact, the first thing I said to Cole was “Is the sequel done
yet?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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(No, not yet. But she’s writing as fast as she can!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. There were a few typos in this book. A
few homophone errors and a couple dropped words round out the mistakes, but I’ve
seen much worse. It was a solid, but not fantastic, editing job.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall: 4.5/5. I loved <i>Iron</i> and, if
you’re a fan of E.J. Stevens’ <i>Ivy Granger</i>
series, or Neil Gaiman, or <i>Curse of
Prometheus </i>by Morgan St. Knight, then you’ll absolutely adore it too. I’m
waiting on tenterhooks for <i>Faster</i>,
the sequel, and I’ll let you know what I think!<br />
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Pick up your copy of <i>Iron </i>at Amazon today:<br />
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589936309901701642.post-20223530723832048402015-10-16T23:49:00.000-07:002015-10-16T23:54:01.482-07:00Saving Maggie - A shifter novel with heart. 3.75/5 stars.Today, I am reviewing the Paranormal Shifter story Saving Maggie by R. Mac Wheeler. This is a story set in the modern day, with opposing/cooperating councils of Lycans and Vampires (who call themselves “talents.”) The main character, Carter, is a lone wolf without ties to the normal immortal society. He encounters a dying piece of street-trash, Maggie, and finds himself inexplicably attached to her, drawn to help the poor girl rise from the gutter, even against her will.<br />
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I give this book a 3.75/5. Here is my breakdown.<br />
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Characters: 4/5. Very solid. The characters are developed through the story, and we keep getting peeks at the hidden society that drives them. I didn’t know that vampires were a thing until a bit into the book, but that’s good – if our protagonist isn’t worried about them, why should I be? Wheeler also did an amazing job with the character of Maggie – her comments about her life, her sullen acceptance of her “place,” and her disbelief of the idea that someone might just be trying to help made her very real to me.<br />
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Plot/Storyline: 3.5/5. Not bad. The story was exciting, and I found the battle scenes excellently described. The way the narration flipped between Carter and his Beast were also well done. Plot-wise, though, I’m still not sure where the story is headed. I mean, I got the reason for the battles and the conflict with the Red Court…but after that, it seemed like it was kind of on a treadmill of “Meeting. Make demands. Retaliation.” This happened at least three times without much in the way of development for the characters or story. I think that maybe it was because of the time that Maggie needed for her arc (no spoilers here!) but it was still a little off-putting. Overall, though, I enjoyed the story.<br />
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Flow: 4/5. Very good. The biggest issue with flow I had was that Wheeler has a strange tendency to make Carter think Ack when things are going wrong. And sometimes he’ll do it three or four times in a row, very quickly. The use of such a word so often drew my attention and threatened my verisimilitude – I mean, how many people really think Ack?.<br />
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Spelling/Grammar: 3/5. There were several grammatical mistakes sprinkled throughout this book – and, unlike with cakes or pies, the sprinkles don’t make it better. Wheeler shifted back and forth between past and present tense narration a few times, and there were some homonym usage (bare vs bear is one that I remember offhand). Was it horrible? No. But it wasn’t great.<br />
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Overall: 3.75/5. I very much enjoyed this read. It ended on a note that left me wanting to know where the story went. I plan to pick up the sequel as soon as my schedule permits. If you like shifter novels, you’ll do well to check out this series.<br />
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JasonPCrawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14654434575683772968noreply@blogger.com4