Category Archives: Review

The Only City Left

 

Only_City_Left

Generally speaking, I don’t like first person point-of-view (POV). I find it constricting in an uncomfortable sort of way because a lot of authors do it poorly. It’s a delicate balance of keeping things interesting around the main character, while also giving the reader the impression that there are still important things going on in the larger world.

That said, Andy Goldman pulled it off beautifully. The only point I had difficulty with was Allin’s ceaseless and unflappable desire to see the Roof of the World. I knew he wanted to, and it was important to him, but it never came across clearly in the book why this one particular goal was such a strong driving force for him that he would put his life in jeopardy. But then, he doesn’t sound like he had much to live for at the start, anyway.

The scenery was described with just enough information to paint a picture in the reader’s mind without going overboard. Some of the places in the City were downright creepy and one left me feeling uncomfortable. I still feel a knot in my stomach thinking about it!

The cast of characters is interesting and different from anything I’ve read before, and I loved the cats. I kind of want to dress up my cat Bob in a poncho and rename him Tumble. Except my lazy beast has little in common with the adventurous cat depicted in this book.

Without getting into spoilers, the ending is satisfying. That’s a big one for me with books lately, because I’ve been finding endings that are either half-assed or just dropped right in the middle of things in an attempt to get me to buy the next book to see how it continues. Those types of tactics don’t work with me. I hate that, and will often refuse to get the second book on principle.

About the Reviewer

ToxopeusRyanmedHusband, father, and researcher, Ryan Toxopeus spends his free time working on his epic fantasy trilogy, Empire’s Foundation. He started writing the first book, A Noble’s Quest, in 2010 and fell in love with all aspects of storytelling. He focuses on fast paced, character driven plots. His motto: “If I’m bored writing it, others will be bored reading it.”

Learn more about Ryan and his work at https://prcreative.ca/ryan/

Erelia

ereliaI picked this up at Starfest 2016 this year – the cover really drew me in. It was both simple and evocative.  This fantasy novel dives right into the story, beginning with Gavyn recounting a near miss of the life or death variety. You quickly realize that you are watching a number of threads that are loosely woven being drawn in more and more to create something.

But what? Initially, I couldn’t tell what the problem was, in the initial sections that introduced Gavyn, Kiril, and Rek. While other characters get stage time, these are the three main stories that we follow. We discover that their individual concerns are bringing them all together, and I couldn’t tell whether or not that would be a positive meeting. It certainly suggests that the meeting will cause change and problems for more than just these three.

I love Gavyn. I love the idea that someone gives up a pretty swanky life for a life of the unknown, and then, as events unfold, has cause to question his decision, and even bitterly regret it. It usually happened when Gavyn was in fairly dire straits, but I have to be honest – I snickered at his bemoaning his lost life. It’s very believable, and something most of us can relate to. I thought the characterization of him by Odo was rather harsh, but again, it was believable. We see Gavyn through his eyes; seeing him through the eyes of another is a wake-up call to not only Gavyn, but the reader (or at least, this reader).

Kiril is equally interesting. He wants to do the right thing, he knows what the expected thing is, but he no longer believes, or likes it. There are many things in his world, in the structure he’s a part of, that are done in the name of “for the good” and it’s interesting and rather sad discovering that the only good these actions help are the good of those in charge. Sounds real life, doesn’t it? He also has a lost love interest that is not completely in the past, and following his meandering over that is something I like to read.

Finally, we are with Rek, one of the three children featured in this work. I really like him, as well as Laria, one of the other children. The third child, Elsu, drove me mad, and I just wanted him to get a serious grounding. In Kiril and Rek’s world, however, there’s no gray area of “just being kids”. Everyone, even from a young age, understands the societal expectations, and if you don’t follow them, there are consequences. They are far more intense than grounding.

At the end of Book 1, all the threads of these various people are just on the verge of being drawn tight. It ended in a way that suggests there has to be another book. There needs to. I started this unsure of whether or not I would enjoy it. I read it in one sitting, and couldn’t put it down. Lee draws you along in such a manner that you’re turning each new page as fast as you can read it, and before you know it, you’re ready to pull an all-nighter.

If you enjoy fantasy, this is a great book. I am looking forward to Book 2!

About The Reviewer:

LisaHeadshotLisa Manifold is fortunate to live in the amazing state of Colorado with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and one offended cat.

She enjoys skiing and carting kids and dogs to wherever they need to go, and she adores “treasure hunting” at local thrift stores. Her other hobbies include costuming within her favorite fandoms and periods

Learn more about Lisa and her work at http://www.lmmanifold.wordpress.com/

Derelict

derelict_coverThis is great!

As a matter of fact, I think it’s the best indie book I’ve read, and I’m going to put it in my mental list of books I’d suggest for my kids to read when they’re older.

The four main characters are well fleshed out and following their individual stories fully immersed me in their lives. Each character had problems with their parents (who doesn’t at that age?), but as the story unfolds you learn more and more that puts you fully in the kids’ corners.

I think the only thing I found to be somewhat unbelievable was how each of the four kids on the backwater space station was a genius at something. Ro and Jem with their programming, Barre with his music, and Micah with his botany. If there were other young people on the station, I don’t remember them being mentioned, but the fact that it’s a lightly populated base makes it statistically improbable that you’d have 4 kids who are undoubtedly geniuses.

That one minor point aside, the book was incredible. Just when you think things can’t get worse they do. I was waiting for one other shoe to drop at the end, but it didn’t play out the way I anticipated. And that was fine. I like being wrong sometimes, and by the end of the book I was more than ready for the kids to have one less obstacle in their paths!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced, intriguing stories with no shortage of action and suspense.

About the Reviewer

ToxopeusRyanmedHusband, father, and researcher, Ryan Toxopeus spends his free time working on his epic fantasy trilogy, Empire’s Foundation. He started writing the first book, A Noble’s Quest, in 2010 and fell in love with all aspects of storytelling. He focuses on fast paced, character driven plots. His motto: “If I’m bored writing it, others will be bored reading it.”

Learn more about Ryan and his work at https://prcreative.ca/ryan/

Bodyguard of Lies

Bodyguard-of-Lies-187x300E. M. Hartshorn’s Bodyguard Of Lies takes the reader into the gritty underbelly of a not-Earth civilization in a future where the struggle for daily bread leads some to the gladiatorial arena.

This well-crafted tale follows Sabra in a journey from the arena to the highest echelons of corporate skulduggery. When she’s contracted to serve as the bodyguard for one of the drug cartels, she discovers her brother enmeshed in the mercenary forces of a rival company.

Hartshorn kicks the reader out of anything like a comfort zone with face-shifters, religious fanatics, and corporate greed. She weaves a tale of families and betrayal, of comrades and combat. Not exactly military SF. Not exactly space opera. Not exactly your average dystopian tale of failure and despair. The grim darkness of her tale glimmers with a quiet undercurrent of hope and potential redemption.

Grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com