Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

Blast of the Dragon’s Fury by LRW Lee is one of my latest reads. I found the book through the Independent Author Network and I loved the cover and the blurb sounded like my kind of book. Read on to see what I thought!

Synopsis (from the author):

Ten-year-old Andy Smithson believes he is merely a kid too often in trouble with his overambitious parents–until his destiny as the Chosen One to break a 500-year-old curse is revealed. Swept away to the land of Oomaldee of medieval times, he discovers he must collect several ingredients for a magic potion to defeat the oppressive curse that plagues the land, the first of which is the scale of a red dragon, the fiercest of all dragon species. There’s just one tiny problem, he’s never battled dragons, except in his Dragon Slayer video game. Armed with only his wits, an ancient sword and a magic key, he must overcome grave peril at every turn before he can even attempt the feat. No pressure, but it’s his skill alone that will save – or condemn – the kingdom forever.

What I liked:

 This book, the first in a series, is a unique twist on the hero tale. The hero, in this case, is a ten-year-old boy who is transported to a kingdom that is under a curse. Andy is a good character, and fits the typical kid profile. His parents are both CEOs, so he feels neglected. The king – who wears jeans and t-shirts – was an interesting take on the ruler who needs help, and Mermin (Merlin’s brother) is a bumbling sort of wizard. Alden was my favorite character. He befriends Andy and shares his adventures. The story moves along nicely, with action appropriate to the age group. Overall, the book entertained me with its humor and was a good read!

What I didn’t like:

 The one complaint I have is that the King doesn’t reveal what caused the curse or why Andy must be the one to break it. I realize the story will be revealed later in the series, but a little more information would have helped!

Overall impression: 

The first book of the Andy Smithson series, Blast of the Dragon’s Fury is a good middle grade and above read. It’s entertaining enough for adults, and younger readers will enjoy the unique use of cow farts! Full of humor, adventure, magic, and heroes, the story flowed nicely and kept me entertained! I’m adding the rest of the series to my TBR list!!

My rating:

 5 Stars

Connect with the author:

If you read Blast of the Dragon’s Fury by L.R.W. Lee, please consider leaving a review! And connect with L.R.W. Lee on her site at LRWLee.com!

Connect with me:

Want to leave a comment on my review? Please do! I love to hear from readers! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads and let’s connect. You can also email me at bill@williamlstuart.com. Subscribe to the blog and don’t miss a post!

Iron Mike by Patricia Rose – My Review!!

Iron Mike by Patricia Rose is a book I discovered on Facebook, when I saw a couple of reviews for it. I read the reviews and decided to give it a read. See below for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

NOTICE: This novel recommended for ages 16+ due to language and some sexual content.

When the black ships drop from the clouds, billions die. The weapons are silent, the effects, lethal. Nations fall. Humanity crumbles. Their mission is simple: seed the earth. Feed their creatures. Harvest the crops.

The war is over before it begins. Or is it?

From the ashes of our memory, heroes are forged. In the shell of a surviving outpost, one boy is asked to do the impossible. Rising to the challenge, Mike Sanderlin becomes a man, then a soldier, and finally, a hero. He’s more than a symbol and less than perfect, but to save his younger sister and fight for Earth, he’ll become Iron Mike.

With an alien ally, Iron Mike will hurl himself into the teeth of a war that can only have one winner.

Built to fight. Born to win.
Iron Mike is ready. Are you?

What I liked about Iron Mike:

The story grabbed me from the start. The alien extermination of the humans to allow for harvesting the planet was a great start. Mike becoming Iron Mike was a cool, but critical piece of the story, and the change in Kari (who started out as character I didn’t like) was well done. The adventures of Mike and Kari entertained me, but my favorite character of all was Hershey, the dog! I also enjoyed the efforts of the aliens to right the wrong they had perpetrated on humanity.

What I didn’t like about Iron Mike:

There were a couple of things that bothered me. It was never clear exactly why some humans survived the attack. Though it wasn’t all that important to the story, it did keep me wondering. The second criticism I had was the stereotypical bad guys who captured Mike and Kari during their mission. I thought that part could have been handled differently.

Overall impression:

Iron Mike by Patricia Rose is a great story with excellent characters, plenty of action, sacrifice for loved ones, and triumph in the face of overwhelming odds. I recommend this one for anyone 16+ who enjoys dystopian science fiction!

My rating:

5 Stars

If you enjoyed Iron Mike, please consider leaving a review! Reviews are important to authors so they will know what readers think.

Connect with the author:

Connect with Patricia Rose on her Amazon Author page or on her website! I know she would love to connect with readers everywhere!

Connect with me:

You can leave me a comment here, too, if my review was helpful. I can also be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, or just email me at bill@williamlstuart.com!

It’s time to post another review! Alora: The Wander-Jewel by Tamie Dearen is the subject of this week’s review installment. Read on to find out my thoughts!

After seeing lots of buzz on Twitter about this book, I decided to check it out for myself. Good call on my part!

Synopsis (from the author):

Unlike her friends, fifteen-year-old Alora has visions. Only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes. And then one day, he doesn’t… Alora’s safe world is soon turned upside-down as she’s thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.

What I liked:

This is the first book by Tamie Dearen that I’ve read. I liked the way she introduced her characters. Alora is a typical teen, seemingly awkward, with faults vs. perfection. Her friends, Beth and Wesley are similar in that regard, and Beth is quite the spunky fearless friend. Both Beth and Alora had dealt with loss and tragedy in their young lives, and that makes them more realistic. Alora’s interaction with her soulmate Kaevin, and their constant need to be together makes their situation perilous. Vindrake is sufficiently evil and rounds out the story nicely – especially when compared to Alora’s Uncle Charles, who is the quintessential good guy. All said, an excellent read.

What I didn’t like:

I thought Vindrake was wooden and too easily manipulated in the story. The resistance of Kaevin’s clan (and Uncle Charles) to accept the idea that he and Alora could be soulmates got a little repetitive, as did everyone’s disbelief in Alora’s abilities.

Overall impression:

Love interests, teleporting between worlds, battles, intrigue, and the sacrifices made for loved ones, makes Alora: The Wander-Jewel an entertaining read. I would recommend it to YA fantasy and clean fantasy readers! Well Done Tamie Dearen!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Connect with Tamie Dearen on her website or on her Amazon author page! I’m sure she would appreciate it!

Connect with me:

If you want to leave me a comment about my review, please do! if you want to connect with me on social media, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, or just drop me an email at bill@williamlstuart.com. I look forward to hearing from you!!

The Ruby of Helios – My Review!

After a long hiatus, I have decided to resume posting my reviews to my blog! I think the last time I posted a review was in 2013, so it just seemed the time to start again. I’m proud to relaunch my blog review posts with The Ruby of Helios by Scott Collins!

I read the first two books of this series (gave them both 5 star ratings), so it was only natural for me to read the third installment. As with the first two, this one was also an excellent read!

Synopsis (from the author):

In their quest to overthrow the reign of the evil King Argyle so they can free their parents and the rest of his slaves, a small clan of youngsters has banded together to reunite the jewels of the Scepter of Harmony.

Having stolen the Emerald of Phaunos and reuniting it with the scepter, they must once again test their skills and resolve as they face the challenge of grabbing the Ruby of Helios from a ruthless band of raiders.

With the diegylis still hot on their heels, the band of rebels navigate the waters of the Great Lake, as well as the scorching desert of the Land of Sands, before facing a tribe of reptilian beasts who would rather die than relinquish the power of the ruby.

Though unexpected help comes from two powerful sources, will it be enough to save one of them from certain death, and the others from overwhelming odds?

Failure is not an option, for if they don’t succeed, Argyle will destroy the scepter, and the kingdom will collapse into ruin.

What I liked:

The characters of Daniel, Aidan, Lilly, Olivia, and Zack are familiar and ones with which I connected early in the series. I enjoyed this particular set of trials, from pirates, and merpeople, to the diegylis, and the threat of Argyle himself. The ingenuity of the characters to exploit their own abilities to help get out of scrapes makes for a fun read.

What I didn’t like:

Argyle, the evil King, seems a little one-dimensional to me. I understand the need to portray the villain as purely evil, but a little more depth, or even some additional background on the King would help frame him better. Other than that, not much to dislike.

Overall impression:

Like the first two books of this series, I truly enjoyed the read. The familiar characters, interesting situations, and the continuing quest to free their world from the clutches of King Argyle make this book an excellent addition to the series. Recommended for fantasy readers of all ages!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Give this book a try, but I would say that it would be most helpful to read the first two books of the series first. If you do, please consider leaving a review. I know Scott will appreciate it! Find out more about Scott on his Amazon author page or on his website!

Connect with me:

If you want to leave me a comment on my review, please do! If you want to connect with me on social media, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, or just email me at bill@williamlstuart.com!

2015 – A Year in Reviews! 2015 was a busy reading year for me. As an Indie author, I realize the importance of reviews. Reviews provide feedback from readers, give the author a chance to interact with readers, makes new friends, and generally improve his/her writing. In 2015, I decided I would write reviews for all the books I read, post them to as many sites as I could, and try to give constructive feedback to the authors.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I typically buy the books I read so I don’t create any obligation to provide a “good” review. However, since I am trying to help authors, if I cannot give at least a 4 Star review, I try to contact the author directly to offer my comments, rather than post the review. In this post, I wanted to list all my reviews, a link to the Amazon.com review, and the star rating I gave each book. So, without further ado, here is my 2015 review list from newest to oldest!

My 2015 Reading List:

Darkspire Reaches by C N Lesley: 4 Stars

Scroll Back by Jay Stamatis and Steven Stamatis: 4 Stars

We Journey No More by Sahara Foley: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Lodestone Book 1: Witch Hunt by Wendy Scott: 5 Stars

Necessary Evil of Nathan Miller by Demelza Carlton: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Rys Rising by Tracy Falbe: 5 Stars

Daniel’s Fork: A Mystery Set in the Daniel’s Fork Universe by Zeece Lugo: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

The Wanderer: Book One of the Godsend Series: Section One by Timothious Smith: 4 Stars

The Battle for Brisingamen by Harmony Kent: 4 Stars

Timelapse by Lorrie Farrelly: 5 Stars

Halfway Dead by Terry Maggert: 5 Stars

A Pink Zombie, With a Mist by Jada Ryker: 4 Stars

Hero For Hire (Eno The Thracian Book 1) by C B Pratt: 5 Stars

Think Murder by Cassidy Salem: 4 Stars

The Dark Masters: Tales of Nevaeh: Volume II by David Wind: 5 Stars

Worlds of the Never (Tales of the Neverwar 2) by C J Rutherford: 5 Stars

Haunted Hearts – #1: A Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery by Kim Cox: 4 Stars

The Soldier’s Secret by Heather Anne Osborne: 5 Stars

Simple by Dena Nicotra: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

I Hero: The Beginning by Jason Zandri: 4 Stars

The Dry by Rebecca Nolen: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Glitter of Magic: The Knight and the Fairy (Myth Retold, Book 1) by J. R. Biery: 4 Stars

Dragon Fireside Tales: The Dragon Chronicles by Adam Boustead: 4 Stars

The Revelation Room (The Ben Whittle Investigation Series Book 1) by Mark Tilbury: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Everwud Book 3: Revolution by Marilyn Dieckmann: 5 Stars

Edge of the World: A Dystopian Story Set in the Daniel’s Fork Universe by Zeece Lugo: 4 Stars

Doom (The Heart of the Staff Book 6) by Carol Marrs Phipps: 5 Stars

Crystal Conquest by Doug J. Cooper: 5 Stars

Birth of an Assassin by Rik Stone: 4 Stars

Born To Magic: Tales of Nevaeh: Volume 1 by David Wind: 5 Stars

Bound to Survive: The Magic Within (The Magic Within Series Book 1) by Sharon Gibbs: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Forever Boy (Clockpunk Wizard Book 1) by Lita Burke: 4 Stars

Origins of the Never (A Prequel to The War of the Neverwar Series) by C J Rutherford: 5 Stars

The Unknown Sun by Cheryl Mackey: 5 Stars

The Reaper Witch (Heart of the Staff Book 5) by Carol Marrs Phipps: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Kyrathaba Rising (Kyrathaba Chronicles Book 1) by William Bryan Miller: 5 Stars

Elevation of the Marked by March McCarron: 5 Stars

The Secret of Excalibur by Sahara Foley: 4 Stars

Crystal Deception by Doug J Cooper: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Alien Nightmares by Sharon Delarose: 4 Stars

A Demon’s Quest: The Beginning of the End by Charles Carfagno: 4 Stars

Riddle of Prague (QuickSlver Legacy Series Book 1) by Laura DeBruce: 5 Stars

Tredan’s Bane by Lita Burke: 4 Stars

Division of the Marked by March McCarron: 5 Stars

Hunter’s Haven by Linda Thackery: 4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Forest Bull (The Fearless Book 1) by Terry Maggert: 4 Stars

Looking forward to 2016:

There you have my 2015 – A Year in Reviews list. Everything from fantasy, science fiction, paranormal romance, mysteries, thrillers, adult to middle grades, and a bit of dystopia thrown in for good measure. I hope maybe you can find a new author to read in 2016 based on this list.

If you do decide to read one of these books, or if you decide to read one (or more) of The Gemstone Chronicles, please consider leaving a review. And, if you do find something interesting to read, leave me a comment, send me an email, or connect with me on social media and let me know! I would love to read your review of the books!

Connect with me:

On social media, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, or just email me at bill@williamlstuart.com! Or, if you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to the blog!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a fantastic 2016!