Tag: 4 stars

Review: Frost Burn

~ sharisakurai ~ Leave a comment

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Frost Burn by K.T Munson and Nichelle Rae

Fire and Frost; no two nations have ever been so divided. Only two bridges across the great River Gora connects them and their long standing hatred. When spring comes early the Frost Nation looks upon the Fire Nation with suspicion. Soon they will discover that the rising rivers, warmer temperatures, and the quakes are all a result of something far more terrifying then each other. When the world seems to turn against them they will only have each other to look to. Can they put their differences aside long enough to fix their planet?

They must or face extinction.

Purchase Link: www.amazon.com

Frost Burn on Goodreads

Review

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review *

Rating: 4 stars

Frost Burn tells the story of two nations who must put their differences aside in order to save their world.

The authors have cleverly developed two very different nations; the Fire Nation and the Frost Nation who have been at odds with each other for many, many years. As a consequence their queens of the past opted to isolate the two countries from each other. Now they find themselves having to work together or face the destruction of both their nations. The world building in Frost Burn is very well-thought out, which creates a very detailed backdrop for the novel to unfold. The characters, both major and minor, are developed, but with room to grow in strength and personality as the story progresses. The politics of the different nations has been addressed in such a way, and the two queens both written sympathetically, so there appears to be no ‘taking sides’ on the part of the reader who can see the entire picture clearly. The healing of the rift between the nations as a whole, as well as the main characters, occurred slowly but naturally and as a consequence the strengthening of the, at first uneasy alliance, was very believable.

I really enjoyed reading Frost Burn. The story evolves at a steady pace that hooked me almost immediately. A great fantasy read, which I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone who is a fan of the genre!

Review: Those Who Remain by Ian Blackport

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Those Who Remain by Ian Blackport

Mallory travels forests and abandoned towns with her little sister as a lone companion, scavenging for meager food scraps. Almost one decade has passed since civilization collapsed in the wake of an incurable pandemic, leaving behind a ruined world without meaning or hope.

Only one thing in this unforgiving existence is worth protecting, and no line exists that Mallory is unwilling to cross for her sister. Compassion is a fatal weakness when each day might be her last and the only protection comes by way of a loaded gun. Every stranger is a threat and each human an adversary. In this bleak life, Mallory follows one rule: trust will get her killed. There can be no alternative, because she learned long ago that survival meant sacrificing her humanity.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Those Who Remain on Goodreads

Review

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review *

Rating: 4 Stars

Those Who Remain is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has almost been wiped out by the stricken. Sisters Mallory and Mckayla are taking a perilous journey across America to reach the cape in the hopes of finding a permanent and safe home. Mallory is the older sister and forced to grow up at a young age she will do whatever it takes to protect her sister. Mckayla is younger and possesses more compassion and empathy than her older sibling. On their journey they come across a group of fellow survivors and for the first time the sisters are divided. Mallory wants to push on to the cape whilst Mckayla wants to make a home with their new friends.

Those Who Remain is predominately an action novel with generous descriptions and well-crafted scenes that draw you into the dystopian world. The sisters and their comrades are well-developed characters whom you find yourself really caring for and hoping they all survive.

The only thing that I found slightly disappointing was the ending, which felt to be somewhat abrupt and I would have liked to have this extended somewhat.

Overall, Those Who Remain is a gripping and action-packed read and a great addition to the post-apocalyptic genre.

Review: 2513

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2513

2513 by Miles Kohl

Matthew Andrews shouldn’t be alive. He is the victim of a clerical error by Death, Inc. With a twist of Fate and the oversight of a Reaper, he now has the opportunity that most would kill for: a chance to choose a new life.

But it’s not all fun and games. With the help of a Reaper and a Vampire, Matthew sets out to rewrite his fate before the boss at Death, Inc. – Hades himself – comes to collect what is rightfully his.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

2513 on Goodreads

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 4 Stars

2513 is a unique story that depicts dying and the process of collecting souls as a business and Grim Reapers as employees of the corporation.  Due to an error, Matthew Anderson is alive and shouldn’t be. Instead of dying he is offered the chance to choose a different life for himself.

Much of the novel is about Matthew’s choices and the situations that he finds himself in following on from those choices. The banter between the three main characters had me laughing in several places, but as well as humorous this is a thought-provoking read. The end was left somewhat open for a follow up which I’d love to read too.

Overall this was a good, fun read which I enjoyed immensely.

Review: The Cautionary Tale of Butch Black

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The Cautionary Tale of Butch Black

The Cautionary Tale of Butch Black by J.B Maynard

Enter the Black Diary: A cursed book so evil that it writes itself. The Cautionary Tale Of Butch Black chronicles the last two hundred and thirty six days of a madman, through the pages of this tome. Butch is a retail slave, trapped in his own life. His flights of fancy send him into the heart of the evil corporation known as World-Mart, on a daily basis. Faced with termination, he must expose, and try to take down, the company that has imprisoned him for the last ten years! Are the demons surrounding Butch mere delusion or terrible truth? Join Butch Black as he faces an army of reticulated, rampaging robots; ravenous, talking rats; and devious demons by the dozen.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

The Cautionary Tale of Butch Black on Goodreads

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 4 Stars

The Cautionary Tale of Butch Black is a diary-style novel telling of World Mart employee Butch Black’s descent into madness after ten years of loyal service in a job that isn’t really going anywhere fast.

I really enjoyed this story and J.B Maynard’s style of writing. Butch’s documented descent is an intriguing read as you try to decide whether he has uncovered the terrifying truth about the company he works for or if the repetitive and monotonous years have finally taken their toll.

This is a quick read filled with amusing one liners and observations about life and I look forward to the next instalment, Black Wonderland.

Review: The Voivod

~ sharisakurai ~ 1 Comment

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The Voivod: A Ghost Story by Dominic Selwood

London, 1897. An elderly bibliophile receives a letter from the recently retired head of the Bodleian Library in Oxford. But the tale it relates of a book buying journey to Cracow soon turns into a hellish nightmare. A homage to M R James. A short story.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

The Voivod on Goodreads

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 4 Stars

The Voivod is a really creepy tale that leaves you with goosebumps after the final page. It’s a short story written in a Victorian style that Selwood captures perfectly. It’s subtle, but darkly atmospheric and the final twist at the end is unexpected. Cleverly built up this is a great read and I look forward to reading more like this from Dominic Selwood.

Review: Arkadium Rising (Brother’s Keeper #1)

~ sharisakurai ~ 2 Comments

Arkadium Rising

Arkadium Rising (Brother’s Keeper #1) by Glen Krisch

The Arkadium’s time has come. A religious cult intent on setting history back ten thousand years, destroying modern man’s domination of the planet.

Growing up, the Grant brothers were close, but as they reached adolescence they drifted apart, taking opposite paths into adulthood. Straight-laced Jason works for a small town newspaper. Marcus is into drugs, violence, and self-destruction.

Marcus finds salvation and sobriety when he joins the Arkadium and reaches out to his brother, wanting him by his side to record the new prehistoric era, Arkadium’s era. Jason faces a choice, join his brother in the destruction of humanity, or die like one of the millions of innocents who will fall in the Arkadium’s ascent.

Purchase Link: www.amazon.com

Arkadium Rising on Goodreads

Review

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 4 Stars

Arkadium Rising is the first book in the Brother’s Keeper series by Glen Krisch. It is the story of two brothers, one of whom is estranged from the family due to his drug addiction. When the story begins Jason is visited by his brother’s ex-girlfriend, Delaney, who informs him that not only is his brother clean, but that he has found religion. At first Jason is sceptical and despite knowing this he does not want anything to do with Marcus. His mind is changed, however, when the family receive some bad news and Jason leaves with Delaney to bring Marcus home. What Jason hasn’t been told is that Marcus is high up in the hierarchy of Arkadium, a religious cult that intends on bringing an end to life as Jason knows it.

Arkadium Rising is a fast paced and gripping read with a host of interesting and complex characters all with their own desires and beliefs driving them forward to survive in the new world that dramatically unfolds. There was a lot of violence and bloodshed as you would expect. The emotions running throughout the book were unfaltering and the existing (and new) relationships and connections between the characters made it feel very real.

As it is the first in the series the ending is left open, but without detracting from being able to enjoy the novel as a standalone. I very much look forward to reading the second book in the series.

Review: On the Border by Christina Roberts

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On the Border by Christina Roberts

It started as nothing more than a simple mistake: The accidental arson of a 7-Eleven and a brother convincing her to run. It has become something she cannot control: Finding her name – an alias she had not chosen – in headlines across America.

Cassidy Sundance has become a national phenomenon, a beloved rebel running from her responsibilities and leaving authorities behind. Officials must rely on a composite sketch to track her down. With a name suddenly as infamous as the outlaws themselves, Cassidy finds herself trying to make the best of her time as America’s most wanted criminal. Her name precedes her before she arrives.

Follow her travels across the United States. Witness how she cons cars out of strangers, hitchhikes across the interstates of the country, and even travels to Washington DC just to see the historical sights.

The fun does not last. Unseen officials lurk around every corner. Lighthearted moments are shorty-lived, and Cassidy finds herself struggling to stay one step ahead of those who want her. Even her friendships on the run do not last as the odds continually mount against her.

Cassidy Sundance cannot help but wonder what adventure will be her last.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

I really enjoyed reading On the Border by Christina Roberts.

Cassidy Sundance is on the run from the law after accidentally setting fire to a 7-eleven store. On the Border tells the story of Cassidy’s adventures across the US whilst evading her pursuers.

This is a great debut novel from Christina Roberts. It’s extremely well written and has a cast of very interesting and developed characters. I felt very much for Cassidy and what she was going through, dealing with events that were beyond her control and not really her fault. Jason is her perfect partner (in crime!) and the bond between the two of them adds to an exciting and unforgettable journey!

Links: goodreads, amazon