Witchy Eye by D.J. Butler - A historical fantasy with amazing characters, a deep world, and everything I love in Fantasy. 5/5

 

Today, I am reviewing the fantasy novel Witchy Eye by D.J. Butler. In this story, our protagonist, a teen girl named Sarah Calhoun, lives in a fictionalized version of the early American time period where the Appalachians are ruled by emperor Thomas Penn. She discovers that her heritage is not what she grew up believing it to be when two holy men accost her in town, looking to draw her into their sides of a conflict she didn't even know existed. 

I give this novel a 5/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. Sarah is a wonderfully crafted character, with real, emotional depth. Butler originally planned this novel as a YA story but was told to dive in and make it for adults. He did this, even with younger characters, and the story is certainly better for it. I felt for her as she went through her journey. Her wonder and pain were mine, and her triumphs tasted sweet in my mouth. And she isn't the only one! Butler developed each character with their own perspective and narrative, and did it expertly. It felt like a historical fantasy version of The Stand, except none of the characters made me want to skip over them to get to the ones I liked more.

Plot/Storyline: 5/5. Love this. I'm a huge fan of revealed heritage stories (check out both my Sam Buckland Chronicles and my Dragon Monarch Tetralogy to see what I mean) and this one is a masterwork. The plot beats felt authentic and well-thought out. Character motivations played out in a realistic way. The story grabbed hold of me and didn't let me go, which is exactly what I want in a novel. Thank you.

Flow: 5/5. A textbook example of good fantasy pacing. The setup went slow, laying the foundations, then things picked up and ran like the Mississippi itself. I tore through pages like a maniac, especially in the last half of the book - I went from just under halfway to finishing in a couple of hours. No speedbumps or unnecessary slowdowns here.

Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. I counted two typos. There was a misspelling around the middle of the book, I think, and an extra word that should have been deleted near the 75% mark. Nothing else that I saw.

Overall: 5/5. Witchy Eye is the first book I've read in years that gave me a "charge." I went to bed reluctantly after finishing it and had dreams involving it all night. I woke up and bought the next in the series, Witchy Winter, and am looking forward to reading that one as well. This book is an incredible example of exactly what fantasy writing should be and I'm so glad I found it.

Thanks as always, and keep reading!


Find Witchy Eye on Amazon.

Island Realm - A lovingly crafted portal fantasy with characters that didn't leave an impact - 3.25/5

 

Today, I am reviewing the portal fantasy novel Island Realm by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson. In this story, our protagonists, two youths named Gwen and Vic, are accidentally transported to the magical realm of Elantya. As they search for a way home, they find themselves dragged into a nascent, brewing war...a war they might be more involved in than they originally thought. 

I give this book a 3.25/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 2/5. This is the weakness of the novel, and since characters are the most important thing to me in a book, this is an issue. The world of Elantya is fascinating and interesting, but most of the characters land very flat. I found no reason to be invested in Gwen or Vic, and many of the other characters are one basic characteristic, with very little behind them. I just didn't find myself caring about their interactions.

Plot/Storyline: 4/5. The book's strong point, for sure. The ideas here are great; the world is intricate, the storyline intriguing. The characters are drawn into a multi-generational conflict that threatens more than just one world. The authors obviously worked on their storycraft to bring an interesting and believable fantasy world to life.

Flow: 4/5. Another example of good storycraft. The book moves smoothly through plot beats and doesn't linger overlong anywhere. It's the right pacing for a YA fantasy, quickly introducing us to the main players, laying out the stakes, and immersing the reader in the world.

Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. A few missed punctuation errors noted, but nothing that in any way detracted from the overall experience.

Overall: 3.25/5. Island Realm is the first in a series and I'm curious as to where it'll go...but I'm not sure I'll continue reading. The book had me checking page count as I went through, wondering how much was left. I never got swept up, never carried along by the story, and it's because of the characters. I didn't feel like they were ever real people; I only got the most cursory of motivations and attributes for each one. I wanted to immerse myself in the world of Elantya, but it never really happened. 

I appreciate each and every one of you. Thanks, and keep reading!


Find Island Realm on Amazon.

Notes from Star to Star by Brian Dolan - A journey worth spending a hundred years to have! 4.75/5

Today, I am reviewing the debut science-fiction novella Notes from Star to Star by Brian Dolan. In this story, our protagonist, last name Hamilton, finds herself awakening from a century-long induced stasis as her ship nears Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth, over 4.2 light years away…and the site of possible signals from an extraterrestrial civilization The only person aboard the ship, she has to discover why she’s there, how she came to be the only crew member onboard for such an important mission…and pierce through the coma-induced amnesia to remember who she is.I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. We only interface with one main character, Hamilton, and her perspective colors everything. The true draw of the novella is that we’re experiencing everything as she does, putting the pieces together at the same time and making discoveries alongside her. Dolan does a fantastic job of crafting a realistic character in such an isolating scenario; she deals9with self-doubt, worry, and pushes through with practiced routines to keep herself engaged. We feel her triumphs and her frustrations, which culminate with a critical discovery at the end, and a lovely epilogue that brought a tear to my eye.

Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5. Narratively, this novella felt smooth and easy to understand. The plot, streamlined as a novella should be, focused on two main issues: who is Hamilton, and what is sending the signals? Everything else was peripheral to that, atmospheric or tension-building, and this story doesn’t suffer from narrative bloat or overexplanation. The story hooked me in immediately and kept me paging through to discover what happened next. Another big plus.

Flow: 4.5/5. As I mentioned, smooth and easy. Time gaps are dealt with masterfully and the pacing is excellent. Dolan introduced a useful story-telling device in the computer system of the ship, allowing Hamilton to have someone to interact with and bounce ideas off of to move the story forward. Well done.

Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. Toward the last half of the book, I noted a slight increase in typos and grammar errors. This distracted a little bit just as the tension rose and the story started running toward its conclusion, so I’d recommend a quick editing pass to find these nagging problems.

Overall: 4.75/5. Notes from Star to Star is a wonderful, introspective, hopeful piece of (overall) hard science fiction that makes excellent use of character study and interesting story-telling to craft a compelling narrative. I blew through this novella in about half an hour and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take a quick trip through the stars without being shot at, blown up, or exploded (much).

Thanks, and keep reading!


Find Notes from Star to Star on Amazon.

Lights Along the Interstate by Adam Fike - An appropriate title for such a trip! 4/5

    Today, I am reviewing the urban fantasy novella Lights Along the Interstate by Adam Fike. This book flashes between several different points of view as a bus driver collects passengers on his route...but the passengers are lost souls, or those who work with them. Each vignette gives insight into the characters and their connections.

I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. This is certainly the strongest point of this novella. Fike ties together a myriad of characters from all walks of life, each in a different situation. None of these situations are simple or easy to navigate, with murder, incidental death, or simple betrayal rife among the rest. The characters are engaging and interesting, and the empathy developed for each one is real and powerful. Well done.

Plot/Storyline: 4/5. I very much enjoyed the storyline here, the idea of this "divine" bus driver traveling on his route to find lost souls. He certainly knows more than he lets on and does his best to nudge things in better ways, despite being a long-standing servant of a system that doesn't seem particularly merciful. The story is creative, intriguing, and worth a reader's time.

Flow: 3/5.  Fike has made a deliberate choice with his writing technique here, and it mostly worked for me. Not only do we jump through multiple characters' perspectives, the style is more jittery and less conventional than I'm used to. It makes the narrative a bit harder to follow at times, but I applaud the courage and the creativity behind the technique. It's certainly more literary and unconventional than most!

Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. I think I noticed one typographical error, maybe two. Insignificant issue.

Overall: 4/5. Lights Along the Interstate is an exercise is real-world philosophy wrapped up in novella form, giving readers peeks into the world around us and the prices we pay for decisions...and how, sometimes, others end up making those decisions for us because we didn't have the information at the time, like how a bystander can be shot at a diner just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It took a bit of effort to read, but Fike made it worth my time.

Find Lights Along the Interstate on Amazon.

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

Quantum Consequence: A Tale of Physics, Lust, and Greed...Oh my! An enjoyable romp through time and mystery with humor that (mostly) lands. 4/5!

   Today, I am reviewing the science-fiction novel Quantum Consequence, Book 5 of the Physics, Lust, and Greed series by Mike Murphey. An unconventional novel, Quantum Consequence sees us move through several different perspectives, timelines, and alternate realities as our protagonists attempt to pin down the forces behind a friend's death...and discover much more than they anticipated.

Note: This is book 5 of a series, and I have NOT read the first four. When Mr. Murphey sent this book for my review, I expressed concerns about that, and he told me that others found it understandable as a stand-alone. Reading it, I found this to be correct, as I wasn't really lost or finding myself in need of information that Murphey didn't provide. However, you should be aware of this fact.

I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 4.5/5. Murphey is obviously comfortable with these characters, and even though I haven't read the books previous, I became so as well. Each has a distinct personality, humorous moments, and clear motivations. I enjoyed the interactions between the various factions, as well as the dynamic of "past-future" self that Murphey implements through his time-travel mechanics. There were a lot of them, though, probably because of the accumulated momentum of four prior novels, and a few got lost in the shuffle toward the middle-end. Still, a strong point of the book for sure.

Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5.The storyline for Quantum Consequence works because Murphey has well-established rules and characters, and that holds the verisimilitude together very effectively. The plot is engaging and fun to interact with, keeping the reader guessing with good twists that Murphey sets up well ahead of time. I had a lot of fun reading this book overall. My one issue is the humor; the humor isn't bad by any means, but it gets a little thick in certain places and became just a bit much for me. I also didn't like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, so take that for what it's worth.

Flow: 3.5/5. Above-average, but the above-mentioned humor and some of the convoluted time-travel mechanics made me need to back up and reread a few times, causing a little turbulence in my literary ride. The punches and punchlines came a little too fast and heavy about a hundred pages in, but it smoothed out later.

Spelling/Grammar: 3.5/5. There are a few more typos and misspellings than I'm used to in work of this quality. Some missing punctuation, s's left off words, that kind of thing. Not problematic, but noticed.

Overall: 4/5. Quantum Consequences is a fun, energetic, character-driven science-fiction story that hits almost all the right notes. I do think it would have been even better if I'd been more familiar with the world, but it certainly works as a stand-alone read. I would recommend Murphey's writing to anyone who's a fan of this kind of story and enjoys a little bit of irreverent, tongue-in-cheek humor...especially if you're good with social commentary and references to a certain character's...equipment.

Find Quantum Consequences on Amazon.

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

After Halastaesia - A deeply thrilling YA story with characters you'll care about long after the story is done: 4.75/5.

     Today, I am reviewing the YA portal-fantasy novel After Halastaesia by Janina Franck. Our protagonist, Ben, is a former chosen hero who fell into the magical land of Halastaesia after being hit by a truck in our world. After being sent back, he has to adjust to the fact that he's no longer a mystical Chosen One, reconcile his former love with the girl who is drawing his attention now, and come to terms with the idea that, perhaps, none of it ever happened. 

I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. Franck really seats us in our main character's mind. We get a real sense of how Ben feels about his situation, dealing with his former life in Halastaesia and the mundanity of now. The supporting characters, especially Viv, are also treats, written effectively and well. I am also pleased by how Ben handled the "love triangle;" it's exactly what I hoped would happen.

Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5. I'm a big fan of portal fantasies, but this one took the reverse tack; in the entire book, we never get to see Halastaesia, and Franck allows us to believe, several times, that it might not be real at all. There is an element of unreliable narrator that adds spice to the story and makes it unique. I was intrigued and hooked the whole way through.

Flow: 5/5. I have rarely read a book that flows as well as this one does. Franck has put together a story that has the pauses and the beats in all the right places, ramping up the tension just like a good movie would and letting it hang when needed. I read through the whole thing in an hour and a half, and that's fast even for me.

Spelling/Grammar: 5/5. This is a well-edited piece of work. I didn't notice any grammar or spelling concerns. The sentences worked well together. Pretty flawless.

Overall: 4.75/5. Unlike some other readers I know, I am still a fan of YA fiction. This kind of book is why. When it's well-written, the emotions and characters put on the page rival anything made for a specifically older audience. The themes and motifs of the book come through in riveting, emphatic fashion. I had a great time with After Halastaesia, and would definitely read more work by Franck.

Find After Halastasia on Books2Read. 

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

Talio's Codex: A thrilling, well-paced legal mystery set in a unique world with fascinating characters: 4.5/5

    Today, I am reviewing the fantasy novel Talio's Codex by J. Alexander Cohen. Our protagonist, Talio Rossa, is a former magistrate for the country of Merin, which is divided into four main cities. An incident occurred ten years ago that saw him abandon his profession and go into exile, but a request from his ex-wife brings him back...only to find himself immersed in a conspiracy that goes far deeper than he thought possible. 

CONTENT ADVISORY: This novel contains M/M sex scenes.

I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. Cohen knows how to put the reader into the characters' world, that is clear. Talio is a very human, flawed character that grows as the novel progresses. The supporting characters fulfill their functions well, and, contrary to what another reviewer has posited, they are certainly NOT cardboard cutouts. Each has their own motivations, and, like any good mystery, the twists and revelations feel genuine to each.

Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5. I love myself a good courtroom drama, and adding fantasy and magic to the mix just makes it better. Like any good detective story, the main character and associates have things to figure out; unlike many of them, this one has big social implications as well, as Talio takes up the cause of the oppressed Incarnates (a religious sect frowned upon by the rest of society). The world of Merin interacts with issues in the real world as well, including agender individuals and their rights. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Flow: 4.5/5. This book flows very well. I never found myself bored or confused. The text compels and demands the reader continue, and I found myself devouring pages as I got deeper in.

Spelling/Grammar: 5/5. I don't recall any significant editing errors. Everything seemed well-put together, the formatting was nice, and it was a pleasure to read.

Overall: 4.5/5.The world of Talio's Codex is a world populated by real people. Cohen has spent time and effort crafting this world and it shows. I had a great time during my read; I actually went back to the Amazon page to see if there was a sequel (there's not, yet). Well done, Mr. Cohen! Thank you for the opportunity. As an aside, I love the cover art. Who's your artist?

Find Talio's Codex on Amazon. 

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

The 5 Moons of Tiiana by PT Harry - Reminiscent of Lewis with a well-crafted world, but ultimately loses me in the middle: 3/5.

   Today, I am reviewing the Science-Fiction novel The 5 Moons of Tiiana by PT Harry. Our protagonist, Rez Cantor, is a military captain whose people have been conquered by an alien force. He is charged with getting the royal princess off-planet and somewhere safe, but, of course, things don't go according to plan. He ends up stranded and alone, searching for his charge. By the time he finds her, not only is she different than when they separated, but so is he.

I give this book a 3/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 3.5/5. PT has created a set of interesting characters from a diverse group of cultures and species. Rez and Leanna, the princess, make sense in their actions and motivations, and most of the smaller side-characters contribute to the narrative in interesting ways. Unfortunately, there are developments in the book that change the characters against their will, and these make it harder for me to identify with them. When established characters' capabilities suddenly change, it's hard to keep up; when that change happens very quickly without giving me enough time to accept it, it leaves me in the dust.

Plot/Storyline: 2.5/5. I feel like this is a weak point for this book, but not because the story is bad. Far from it; it reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet, a book which I enjoyed. The problem with Tiiana's plot is that it goes too far and does too much in too little time, I think. We end up on several different planets; we deal with enslavement that lasts years and journeys which take months, yet I get very little sense of how much time is actually passing in context. It makes the whole thing seem disjointed and strange.

Flow: 3.5/5. The book moves along, but there are times when it slogs. I definitely felt the story could have ended two or three times before I ended up putting it down--and that was halfway through. I skated through parts of the story that were very enjoyable, and others I had to push and push to make sense of what was going on.

Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. I didn't notice any significant spelling problems and very few grammatical ones. There are a few places where the closing quotations are missing. Overall, high quality work.

Overall: 3/5. Please understand that I don't think this book is bad. Far from it; it has a lot of interesting lore, well-thought-out cultures and characters, and it's obvious the author has a passion for this kind of writing. It just doesn't check my boxes. There is a mismatch of how fast certain things happen and how slow other ones do, and the reinvention of the characters strains my verisimilitude. I highly recommend that you give it a try if you like Lewis's Space Trilogy and similar work.

Find The 5 Moons of Tiiana on Amazon. 

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

The Girl from Teacup Village: An Excellent Opener to a Fantasy Epic!

  Today, I am reviewing the Fantasy novel The Girl from Teacup Village by Michael Kanuckel. Our protagonist, Tessa Gardener, is a kilner (pottery maker) from the aforementioned village who has suffered family tragedies: her brother is dead, killed by a raging giant, and her father's mind is slipping farther and farther out of reach. When Seed Koga, the godlike figure responsible for administering seeds for planting to the lands, declares that some of her fellow villagers are to recolonize a nearby, shattered township, she can't hold herself back; off now on her first adventure, she soon comes to find out that not everything is the way she was made to believe.

I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 5/5. Magnificently done. Michael excellently delivers people that have real motivations, feelings, fears, and loves. I felt as if I was travelling alongside the group, sharing stories. Several times I felt surges of strong emotion, and it was purely due to the strength of these characters. A real strength of this novel.

Plot/Storyline: 4.5/5. Michael has written a tight, forward-moving plot that has strong verisimilitude and ties together well. I believed in the story and enjoyed reading it. There is one small inconsistency regarding the giants' behavior that I noticed, but that could also be explained away. Overall, fantastic.

Flow: 5/5. Michael has an obvious command of pacing in his work. The story flowed along very well and I was never bored or waiting for the next point, but it also didn't seem as if anything moved unrealistically fast. The fantasy "campsite scenes" which are so prevalent in the genre felt good and well-executed, giving needed background without dragging things out.

Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. The book has a simple formatting issue. The copy I have has margins that go too far into the page. I don't know why. Once one gets past that, everything else is excellently put together.

Overall: 4.75/5. My wife recommended this book to me after purchasing it from Michael. She hasn't yet read it, but I am thrilled that I can heartily return the recommendation with accolades and honors. The life of an indie author can be difficult, so I hope Michael keeps heart and pushes onward. He is a fine storyteller and the world is richer for his work.

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

The Drift by Casie Aufenthie - A Sci-Fi Human Drama that Pulls No Punches!

 Today, I am reviewing the Science Fiction novel The Drift 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 The Drift have begun a rebellion against their masters...but what hope do they really have?

I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

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.

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.

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.

That ending, though...

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.

Overall: 4.75/5. Like many of the indie reads I end up picking up, I am so thrilled that I decided to read The Drift 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!

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

The Wayfinder's Apprentice by K. Dezendorf - A fantasy journey into another world with rich characters, descriptions, and story - 4.5/5!

Today, I am reviewing the Portal Fantasy novel The Wayfinder's Apprentice 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?

I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

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 people, 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.

Also: #teamedward, but Bal has piqued my interest :) 

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.

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.

Spelling/Grammar: 4/5. I noted three minor errors. Nothing of consequence. Sentence construction was skilled and readable.

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!

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

One in the Same: Journey from Mortal to Sorcerer by Douglas Breeden: A Great Idea Hampered by Its Execution

Today, I am reviewing the Urban Fantasy novel One in the Same: Journey from Mortal to Sorcerer 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.

I give this book a 2/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 1.5/5. At the beginning, the very 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.

Then it all went downhill.

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 any of them, even by the end of the book. 

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. 

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.

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.

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 On Writing (as I recommend all fiction authors do!) and keep trying!

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

The Fires of Treason - Historical Fiction with Plots, Betrayals, and Amazing Characters!

Today, I am reviewing the Historical Fiction novel The Fires of Treason by Michele Quirke. The first in a planned series of novels, The Fires of Treason 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.

I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

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. 

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.

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!

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.

Spelling/Grammar: 5/5. That rarest of ratings, meaning I did not notice any typographical or grammatical errors at all. Well done!

Quirke was kind enough to endure me live-Tweeting my responses to this story as I read through it. I enjoyed The Fires of Treason 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!

If you liked my review, check out my books over at my main site: www.jasonpatrickcrawford.com/bookstore.html

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

The Turquoise Spider - Female Steampunk Holmes with Great Character Development! 4/5

Today, I am reviewing the Steampunk story The Turquoise Spider by Mikala Ash. The first in a series of short works (this one is about 100 Kindle pages), The Turquoise Spider 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.

Maybe reviewing will help.

 I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.

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 real, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks as always, and keep reading!

Deception of the Damned - Make Sure You Check the Fine Print! 4.5/5!

Today, I am reviewing the Dark Fantasy novel Deception of the Damned 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!

I give this novel a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

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. 

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.

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.

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!

 Overall: 4.5/5. It took me a while to finish (life stuff), but I am thrilled by Darkcliff’s novel. Deception of the Damned 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!

You can find the Amazon link here: Deception of the Damned.

Wergild: A Truly Terrifying Tale of Devotion and Murder

Today, 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.

 I give this book a 4.75/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 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.

Plot/Storyline: 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!

Flow: 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.

Spelling/Grammar: 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.

If you want to pick up a copy yourself, you can find this book at Amazon.

Abyss 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 Abyss and Apex! 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.
The stories are:
 "Penmanship" is about a magical archivist of the dead, and it being easier to get forgiveness than permission. 

 From Nigeria involving a modern man, magic, and Boko Haram: "Middle of Nowhere."

 "All and Nothing" is a tale of a Viking woman, her relatives, and outsmarting her way to their god of the dead.

 "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.

 "What Does a Time Machine Cost?" (flash) is the poignant tale of a woman who devotes her life to unraveling her mother's death.

 The lyrical "Barleycorn" tells of a modern fertility goddess trying to keep a man from sacrificing himself for her.

 All and Nothing, 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.

 Barleycorn, 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.

 Middle of Nowhere, 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.

 The Consequential Effects of Practiced Penmanship 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. 

Roadmaster 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.

 The Long Way 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, The Long Way 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.

 What does a Time Machine Cost 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.

 Overall, this edition of Abyss and Apex 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 Abyss and Apex at the link here.

The Last Voyage is one worth taking!

Today, I am reviewing the collection of short stories titled The Last Voyage and Other Stories 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.

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.

 I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

 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.

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!

 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!

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!

 Overall: 4.5/5. A short story collection worthy of inclusion in any discussion of intricate, well-designed plot threads and characters, The Last Voyage and Other Stories 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/.

Province 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 Province of a Thief (Tal’Avern Chronicles Book 1) 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.

I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

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!

 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.

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.

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. :)

 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!

The Prince of Knocknafay - Truly a Noble Bastard of a Man!

Today, I am reviewing the mythological stew of a story Travers McCraken: The Prince of Knocknafay by Bret Bouriseau. A self-styled “grown-up bedtime story,” Travers reads more as a goulash of old-world faerie tales and Christian and Islamic myths, bundled up into a well-seasoned meal.

I give this book a 4/5. Here is my breakdown.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

For those interested, you can find Travers McCracken: The Prince of Knocknafay at Bret Bouriseau’s website: http://knocknafay.com/.