Tag: reviews

Review: Frost Burn

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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: You Have Been Murdered and Other Stories

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You Have Been Murdered and Other Stories by Andrew Kozma

You Have Been Murdered and Other Stories is a collection of weird, speculative fiction containing four stories dealing with the end of the world, both in terms of the death of the individual soul and the running down of the universe as a whole.

The title story presents a woman who’s been murdered and still has a dinner party to prepare for. In “Teller of Tales,” a young girl must take on the responsibility of being the necessary conscience of her city. “Breach of Contract” describes the plight of an oil man who just wants to insure production quotas, but is roped into saving the world. Lastly, “The Trouble-Men” details what happens when a man trying to survive the end of the world meets up with those who are ending it.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

You Have Been Murdered and Other Stories on Goodreads

Review

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

Rating: 3 stars

You Have Been Murdered and Other Stories is a collection of four short and strange stories.

The first ‘You have been murdered’ is my favourite of the tales. It tells the story of a woman who has been murdered and tries to cover up this fact and her denial by still continuing to prepare for a dinner party that she had planned before her death. The author conveys her feelings regarding her death and her anxiety very well and you get a real sense of the pain and confusion that she is going through.

I enjoyed reading the other stories in the collection too, told through the eyes of a variety of different protagonists.

The collection is well-written and the author knows how to build plenty of atmosphere. The twists are surprising and unexpected. A great short read for fans of speculative fiction.

Review: Beyond the Storm by Adam Jones

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Beyond the Storm by Adam Jones

Man tries to remember his past while Jude tries to forget hers.

Years after the nuclear holocaust decimated Britain, Man wakes up, naked and alone but for the murdered corpses whch surround him. Struggling with amnesia, Man travels the wastes trying to piece together his past.

Across the crumbling remains of the city, Jude flees a depraved fiend, running for her life. Beyond the Storm is a journey of horror and suspense which paints a broken future world and the events that made it that way.

Beyond the Storm is the brutal and disturbing new novel from cult bestselling author, Adam Jones.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Beyond the Storm on Goodreads

Review

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

Rating: 3 stars

Beyond the Storm is a post-apocalyptic thriller set in Bristol, England. It follows the stories of Jude and Man, at first on separate paths and then when they come together. Jude is on the run from a monster who abused her terribly, and Man is suffering from amnesia and has no idea who he is or how the nuclear war almost destroyed the planet.

Whilst I did enjoy reading Beyond the Storm, I did find the description generally in excess and my attention was prone to wander, especially in the first half of the novel, and I felt that perhaps less would have been more in places. However, the second half of the story was more captivating and, eager to find out just who Man was and the fate of the rest of the cast, I found it difficult to put down. The truth about Man I never saw coming and there were plenty of twists that did not fail to disappoint. Beyond the Storm is dark, gritty and certainly not for the faint-hearted!

Review: Wind Down by Mark Ewig

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Wind Down by Mark Ewig

Aaron Starks survived a near death experience when he was stabbed by an unknown assailant. All of his college roommates were suspects. However, investigators could turn up nothing to catch the attempted murderer.
Fifteen years later, Aaron is all grown up with a family. Things are going great until he starts experiencing strange blackouts and other paranormal visions. During the blackouts he still interacts with others, but he cannot remember anything he said or did. Doctors are unable to provide an answer. It is not until Aaron has an encounter with Ju’van, a local shaman, that he realizes what he needs to do. He is sent on a journey to meet up with all his old roommates to discover the truth on what really happened the night he was stabbed in the back.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Wind Down on Goodreads

 

Review

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

Rating: 2 Stars

Fifteen years ago university student Aaron Starks was stabbed in the back and left for dead. His attacker was never caught and Aaron had always suspected that one or more of his friends and flatmates may have been involved. Fifteen years on and Aaron is married to his university sweetheart, has three children and his dream job. Then his perfect life is shattered when he starts experiencing blackouts. When doctors are unable to find a reason for these, Aaron learns that his blackouts are connected to the attack on him all those years ago.

I really liked the concept of this novel. The ideas are very clever and original, and this had the potential to be an excellent paranormal/mystery. Unfortunately there were quite a few things that let it down.

The grammar is very poor. It jumps between tenses almost constantly making it very difficult to read, and also punctuation has been used incorrectly throughout. Whilst the characters have potential they are undeveloped and very immature for their age. They act more like primary school children than university students. The writing itself isn’t bad, but it yo-yo’s from either rambling long descriptions to very short sentences.

However, as I said this has great potential. In my opinion it needs to be longer with a lot more time taken to character build (especially the university part of the novel). A revision that adds to this good start combined with addressing the points I made above would make this a really unique and page-turning read.

And I loved the twist at the end! I never saw that coming!

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: God of Ruin by Michael John Grist

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God of Ruin (Ruins Sonata #3) by Michael John Grist

In the battle to defeat King Ruin and protect the Bridge between souls, ex-Arctic marine Ritry Goligh tore his own soul into pieces. Now those pieces, embodied as six rugged marines spread across the tsunami-blasted world, are adrift without Ritry to guide them.

Their captain, Me, is addicted to dying in raids against the remnants of King Ruin’s army. Ray longs for the love he lost. Far seeks the mythical heart of the Bridge, So is lost to her calculations, while twins Ti and La have split as far apart as possible. They trudge from bunker to bunker blinded by loss, mopping up holdouts from the war.

But the war isn’t over. It’s only just begun. From the ashes of King Ruin’s defeat a godlike power rises, one that understands the Bridge better than Ritry ever did, and means to bring a flood so vast it will erase every soul from history. Me’s only hope is to ascend to godhood himself, before everyone he loves is washed away forever.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

God of Ruin on GoodreadsGod of Ruin on Goodreads

Review

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

Rating: 5 Stars

God of Ruin is the final instalment of the Ruins Sonata Trilogy and picks up where King Ruin left off. The seamless transition means that you are immediately drawn back into the struggle for all humans’ souls.

For me God of Ruin is the perfect conclusion to this outstanding trilogy. Action-packed with underlying poignancy throughout, this final instalment cannot fail to disappoint. I’m reluctant to say too much as I don’t want to give away any of the twists, but I will say that Ritry’s chord are determined to ensure that his sacrifice at the end of Book Two will not be in vain. Their determination against seemingly insurmountable odds and much personal loss makes this novel almost impossible to put down.

I highly recommend the Ruins Sonata trilogy to fans of science fiction, that is filled with action, suspense, loss and plot twists aplenty!

Review: Operation Earth (Project Ark 2) by L.T. Gibbons

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Operation Earth (Project Ark 2) by L.T.Gibbons

Can a team of teenagers from another planet help change the world?

Six months after fifteen year old Mia McAdams lands on the secret planet Usonia, a shipment of Earth’s most brilliant individuals descends on the colony. Tasked with speeding up progress on the utopic planet, the determined and ambitious new arrivals aren’t afraid to ruffle a few Usonian feathers.

Meanwhile, Mia is preparing to say goodbye to her idyllic new life on Usonia, leaving her boyfriend and first love, Noah behind. Joined by her best friend Stella, her devilishly charming new teammate Kale, and a host of Usonians, Mia is set to fly to Earth on a mission to change the world. But will they succeed?

Operation Earth is the second book in the teen sci-fi trilogy, Project Ark.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Operation Earth on Goodreads

Review

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

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Operation Ark picks up where Project Ark left off and Mia McAdams is about to leave her new home on Usonia for Earth together with fellow Usonians who are tasked with assisting with the  migration.

I was looking forward to reading about Mia’s mission and hopefully how she could bring together two planets with very different views and ways of living. Unfortunately the direction was lacking somewhat and too much time was spent on ‘filler’ scenes and not enough on the important ones such as their time in Scotland and Japan.

Whilst it was good to see some more of the friends that Mia had left behind it just felt to me that she was looking down on them and didn’t really care about them at all. Her treatment of her best friend Ellie, whom understandably was a bit upset that she hadn’t seen Mia for a long time and when she finally does Mia’s brought someone else along (Stella who has also taken Ellie’s place as Mia’s best friend), was really horrible. Mia should have tried to put herself in Ellie’s shoes but instead she just wrote off the friendship like it meant nothing. Mia’s mother’s advice about their friendship was the worst advice I have ever read and I hope that no one’s parent ever really encourages their child to give up on a friend like that! That being said I do wonder if this was what the author intended as Mia’s mother is a pretty poor parent and example; after all she dumped Mia with a relation Mia hardly knew in favour of her career! Mia’s father’s presence was felt a lot more in Operation Earth and it was great to see his character developing further and also the much more positive example he set for Mia.

For me Operation Earth suffered most from missed opportunities. I think it’s a great idea that on Usonia everyone gets to have a say and that being a teenager doesn’t automatically exclude Mia and her friends from getting involved in the migration and helping to unite both planets. I really enjoyed the parts that were mission-focused and seeing young people make such a difference. It was amusing reading Stella’s adjustment to life on Earth and Operation Earth was a great opportunity for her character to shine and develop further. Ideally Operation Earth should have been longer so that more time could be taken on all aspects of the novel; Mia’s former life and the mission. Despite aspects for me feeling somewhat flawed, Operation Earth is a well-written read and the cliff-hanger leaves me wanting to know how the series ends.

Review: Boy Versus Self by Harmon Cooper

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Boy Versus Self by Harmon Cooper

There are moments when a creation pushes its creator to the brink of their imagination, to the fine line between true ingenuity and blistering insanity. Boy is such an artist, an artist who can’t seem to shake the demon he has himself created – Glass Wings. With his career taking off, will Boy overcome the darkness within? Will he reconcile with his family, his sister, his demons? And the people surrounding him – his erotic novelist girlfriend with violent night terrors, his drug dealer friend, the married Irish woman who brings him to New York, the mysterious Japanese man financing his art – where do they fit in all this? Will he ever be able to tell them the truth?

A serrated existence that runs from Texas to Mexico, New York to Tokyo, BOY Versus SELF is a disquieting journey into the mind of a penniless artist as he struggles with shocking hallucinations that could kill him. The novel is a psychological coming of age story full of suspense, horror, struggle and ultimately, triumph.

True fear is easily created and rarely destroyed. True art is always the opposite.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Goodread Link: Boy Versus Self

 

Review

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

Rating: 5 Stars

Boy Versus Self is a part psychological horror, part paranormal novel. The protagonist, known only throughout the novel as Boy, is an artist who is tormented by visions of ghosts and a terrifying monster whom he calls Glass Wings. Glass Wings first appears as an apparition devouring his sister’s glass collection, but as the novel progresses Boy is continuously haunted by its presence.

Boy Versus Self is a very original and cleverly developed novel. The main character and those supporting characters who are closest to him are referred to only as Boy, and Mom, Girl (his sister) and Friend. Not knowing the real names of the characters isn’t really that critical and the lack of them actually adds to the atmosphere and tone of the story. Told entirely through Boy’s eyes you get a real sense of his struggle against his visions and also his real life problems to do with his family and relationship.

I really enjoyed reading Boy Versus Self. It is a very unique, compelling and dark read. The ending is left open, but not frustratingly so, and I highly recommend Boy Versus Self to lovers of horror and paranormal novels.

King Ruin (Ruins Sonata #2) by Michael John Grist

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King Ruin (Ruins Sonata #2) by Michael John Grist

The sadistic Mr. Ruins is gone, swallowed by a tsunami at the edge of the floating slums, and ex-Arctic marine Ritry Goligh’s long nightmare is finally over. His family are safe, his soul is his own, and at last he can go home.

Then comes an explosion that makes no sound, but blows all his thoughts to shreds. In an instant Ritry is prey again, hunted by a power so vast he can’t even comprehend it. This is King Ruin, and before him all Rit can do is run, so far and so fast he starts to forget who and what he is.

Soon half his mind is gone, and the souls of billions are at stake. King Ruin wants the Bridge, a direct path into the minds of every living thing, and only a lost and broken Ritry Goligh can stand in his way.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Goodreads Link: King Ruin

Review

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

Rating: 5 Stars

King Ruin is the second novel in the Ruins Sonata trilogy. It picks up right where the first novel ended and almost immediately you are drawn into a fast paced and thrilling read.

King Ruin is stronger, smarter and more ruthless than Mr Ruins. He seeks to possess the minds of every human. To do that he needs the mind of exhausted and battle-scarred Ritry Goligh.

For me I often find that the second instalment of a trilogy is the weakest novel, but this certainly isn’t the case here. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Ruins and King Ruin not only keeps to the same excellent standard set by the author, but it surpasses it. King Ruin is full of action, emotion, humour and suspense, and I’m really looking forward to reading the conclusion of this outstanding trilogy.

 

Review: The Freezer (Genesis Endeavor Book 1) by David Kersten

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The Freezer

The Freezer (Genesis Endeavor Book 1) by David Kersten

1966 has been a bad year for retired Army officer Jack Taggart. Still reeling from the tragic loss of his wife and daughter, a visit to his doctor reveals the worst possible news: cancer. Going in for surgery, he is uncertain if he can, or even should, face the fight for his life. When he wakes up to find over three hundred years have passed, an entirely new set of challenges lay before him – and a new reason to survive. Thrown into a scorched world he barely understands, Jack’s first battle will be to figure out where he is, how he got here, and how it all ties back to The Freezer, a 20th century underground military facility that could very well be the key to saving humankind.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

The Freezer on Goodreads

Review

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

Rating: 5 Stars

The Freezer is the first book in the Genesis Endeavor series. Set over three hundred years in the future where humanity is on the edge of extinction, the survivors have turned to science to ensure the future of the human race.

The protagonist, Jack Taggart, is the oldest ‘reborn’ who has been brought back using advanced cloning techniques. His last memory is going into surgery for cancer in 1966 and when he awakes he is shocked to learn that hundreds of years have passed and that the citizens of New Hope need his help.

Jack is an extremely likeable character with a lot of depth and who develops further throughout the novel. His supporting cast are just as well thought out as is the future that Jack finds himself in. It is very clear that the author has put a lot of time and effort into thinking through and researching the science behind The Freezer and ensuring that it is entirely plausible. There is an excellent balance of action, world building and character development as well as some romance too!

The Freezer is one of the best books that I’ve read this year and I’m really looking forward to the next instalment in the series.