Bill Stuart

Simon and Kate are back in Diana J. Febry’s Trouble at Sharcott. As my readers know, I enjoy Simon and Kate’s adventures in the Chapman and Morris cozy mystery series and added this one to my TBR list when it was released. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Appearances can be deceptive.

A charming English village mystery.

Simon is asked to protect the eldest daughter of a local property developer during a family celebration. The family have received a series of disturbing threats, but the developer has reasons to not to want to involve the police. The celebration goes well, but Simon makes a decision with fatal consequences.

When the younger daughter asks for his help, there are many reasons why he should stay away from the family. But Simon wants to redeem himself. A friend’s future depends on him getting it right this time. But will he?

What I liked about Trouble at Sharcott:

This installment of the series was a bit different than the others. It focused on more contemporary issues like environmental activism, but at its heart it is a story about Kate, Simon, and their relationship. This backdrop provides much of the story while interweaving their detective work around it. Charlie adds a nice touch to the tale, as do Simon’s dogs, Kate’s love of horses, and Popeye. With all that, you almost forget there is a murder to solve!

What I didn’t like about Trouble at Sharcott:

While I enjoyed the story, I thought the client’s daughters were too stereotypical as were the reactions of their father. Each could have been fleshed out more.

Overall impression of Trouble at Sharcott:

Trouble at Sharcott entertained me! I enjoyed the plot twists and turns and a couple of the side characters made me chuckle. If English cozy mysteries are your favorite, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Connect with Diana J. Febry:

Find Diana on her Amazon Author page or her Goodreads page. Stop by, say hi, and maybe pick up a book or two. Consider leaving a review for any you’ve read!

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I read The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles #1) by Farah Oomerbhoy and added the second book of the series, The Rise of the Dawnstar to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

 Synopsis (from the author):

The seven kingdoms of Avalonia are crumbling and evil is spreading across the land like a plague. Queen Morgana is close to finding a way to open the Book of Abraxas and it’s only a matter of time until she uses the power trapped inside its pages to enslave the entire world.

With Avalonia growing more dangerous by the day, Aurora must travel through war-torn lands and deep into the heart of the fae kingdom of Elfi. Her goal is to find a legendary weapon infused with the last of the realm’s ancient magic—the only weapon in the world powerful enough to stop the queen.

Aurora might have survived her first battle against Queen Morgana, but the true fight to save her kingdom and restore her throne has only just begun…

What I liked about The Rise of the Dawnstar:

This book builds on the story from the first book. While I’m still learning to like Aurora, the book had plenty of action, a few interesting plot twists, and romance brewing in the background. I enjoyed the characters’ development and the world-building was good. It has many of the elements that make fantasy my go-to genre!

What I didn’t like about The Rise of the Dawnstar:

Perhaps part of my struggle to like Aurora stems from the way her human realm background seems forgotten and she adapts quickly to the new world with few difficulties. In addition, parts of the book were predictable.

Overall impression of The Rise of the Dawnstar:

The story continues to improve and I’m starting to like Aurora’s character. The story has a few slow spots, but overall, I enjoyed The Rise of the Dawnstar. If you like fantasy, good world-building, and a nice amount of romance, pick this one up (after reading the first one)!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Farah Oomerbhoy:

Find Farah Oomerbhoy on her website, her Amazon Author Page, or her Goodreads page. If you’ve read the book, please consider leaving a review or a comment.

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Time for a new review! This one is for The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles #1) by Farah Oomerbhoy. I found the second and third books on IndieBRAG (where I find many of the books I read and where a couple of mine are listed), so I had to get the first book. Read on for my thoughts on the first book of the fantasy series!

Synopsis (from the author):

She never felt like she belonged…until magic pulled her into a world beyond her wildest imagination.

Sixteen-year-old Aurora wishes she were anyone else. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she believes things can’t get any worse. But when she’s kidnapped and dragged through an ancient tapestry into the magical world of Avalonia, she soon discovers that some dreams can easily turn into nightmares.

Hunted by the evil tyrant Queen Morgana, who will stop at nothing to get rid of the last surviving heir to the powerful Firedrake dynasty, Aurora struggles to fit into her new life as a mage at the prestigious Academy of Evolon. Threatened by treachery at every turn and desperate to prove herself worthy, she uncovers a dark, complicated web of political intrigue that threatens the very existence of the seven kingdoms of Avalonia.

Aided by the powerful Duke of Silverthorne, a fae friend, and a handsome but mysterious outlaw called the Black Wolf, Aurora struggles to master her magic and get her rare powers under control before it’s too late.

If she fails, her new home and her family will be enslaved forever…

What I liked about The Last of the Firedrakes:

I enjoyed the way Aurora arrived in Avalonia. It was an interesting way to introduce her character to the political intrigue that provides the backdrop for the book. Added to the interesting characters that fill the pages, and bits of romance, the story develops nicely.  Overall, an entertaining book!

What I didn’t like about The Last of the Firedrakes:

There were a couple of things about the book I didn’t like. First, Aurora wallowed in self-pity quite a lot and it annoyed me. Secondly, she kept making poor decisions. I realize these bad decisions helped move the story forward, but there were just too many of them. It made it hard to sympathize with the character.

Overall impression of The Last of the Firedrakes:

I liked the way the book started, and the intrigue was good. Some of the characters were well-developed, but Aurora’s character left me unsure whether I liked her or not, but I think I’ll read the next book to see what happens. If you enjoy fantasy, this could be a nice addition to your collection.

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Farah Oomerbhoy:

Find Farah Oomerbhoy on her website, her Amazon Author Page, or her Goodreads page. If you’ve read the book, please consider leaving a review or a comment.

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I read the first of the Conor Archer books (Roan, The Tales of Conor Archer #1) not long ago and enjoyed it. It was a nice combination of fantasy, Celtic myths, Native American mythology, and modern technology. I added the second book of the series to my TBR and here are my thoughts.

Synopsis (from the author):

RUMORS OF MAGIC AND MURDER hung over the tragedy at Tinker’s Grove which destroyed a town and killed some fine people. Aunt Emily thought sending Conor Archer to Ireland to see his godmother was the solution to keep him safe and out of harm’s way.

Conor went and immediately got himself in trouble with a local landowner, a Japanese war criminal, and a bunch of Otherworld things that wanted to destroy him. Not everyone was an enemy. There were the secretive Travelers–the Tinker folk with legends that tended to come true. Of course, the Roan were there, the People of the Sea, promising to watch over him. But there was something more–an ancient being camped out on the mysterious Skellig Islands, intent on protecting him and the land.

He remembered Aunt Emily slapping an envelope into his pocket saying, “Here’s your ticket; have a nice flight; stay safe.” Not a chance he thought. Ireland might be a spectacular place, but it was bound to be dangerous. Good thing he had his shapeshifting powers. But would his newfound abilities be able to defeat the Dark who wanted him dead?

What I liked about Skellig:

Skellig was an excellent conclusion to The Tales of Conor Archer. The cast of characters changed, but the stakes stayed just as high as Conor pursued his destiny. The combination of mythology, fantasy, and modern technology kept me entertained, and the end was satisfying. If you want a book with all those elements, give Skellig a try!

What I didn’t like about Skellig:

While I enjoyed Skellig, the story tried too hard to get all the aspects of the mythology included. It mostly succeeded, but there were times when it seemed forced. Other than that, no complaints.

Overall impression of Skellig:

The book had all the elements of a great fantasy story. Magic, prophecy, danger, and mythology combine to create an excellent tale. As mentioned above, if you like these elements, try Skellig!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with E.R. Barr:

Find E. R. Barr on his Goodreads page. Find Skellig and his other books, pick up a copy for your reading pleasure, and maybe leave a comment or a review if you’ve already read it!

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