Recommendations and Reviews

The Star Realm – My Review!!

As a fantasy author, I’m constantly on the lookout for that genre. When Amazon recommended The Star Realm by Julie Elizabeth Powell, I gave it a shot. Read on for my review!

Synopsis (from the author):

What would you do if you were called to another world…a world filled with seemingly impossible things?

Faced with this choice, Davie, Ben, Anne, Chrissie and Billy embark upon a mysterious quest, finding themselves transported to the spectacular and extraordinary world of Avalon, whereupon they are catapulted into one of the uncountable heptagonal pieces that make up the magical sphere of the Orb of Caprice…namely, the Star Realm question remains…will Time be on their side?

What I liked:

The Star Realm has all the elements in place for a great story. 5 friends embarking on a great quest, danger lurking around every corner, help from unexpected places, and a satisfying conclusion made the book an enjoyable read. I liked the talking flowers and the various challenges the children accepted. The goblins were my favorite characters!

What I didn’t like:

My dislikes included some of the dialogue, especially from Billy, which was difficult for me to follow. Billy’s constant food obsession irritated me. Lastly, I never really understood Ezrin’s reason for choosing the children for the quest.

Overall impression:

I think this book would appeal to middle grade readers and maybe very young teens. The Star Realm has fun characters, touches on many of the issues in the world today, and enough action and adventure to hold the reader’s attention.

My rating:

3.5 Stars (rounded to 4 stars)

Connect with the author:

What do you think? Will you  read The Star Realm by Julie Elizabeth Powell? I think you should give it a chance. Visit Julie’s Amazon author page to see the rest of her books (and maybe buy 1 or 2)!

Connect with me:

Do you like my reviews? If so (or if not), leave me a comment and let me know. If you would rather, send me an email at bill@williamlstuart.com. And, don’t forget to connect with me on the socials! I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to the blog! I enjoy meeting new friends!!

The Threat Below (Brathius History Book 1) – My Review!!!

The Threat Below (Brathius History Book 1) was in my Kindle recommendations recently. The title intrigued me, and the blurb sounded good, so I decided to give it a shot. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Three hundred years ago, something arose and pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. Now, a small remnant – the descendants of the few survivors who were able to escape the massacre below – lives above the clouds, on the top of a mountain. But there’s been a change. Their water supply is being poisoned. Someone, or something down below is trying to kill them. Now an expedition, including seventeen year-old Icelyn Brathius, must descend and face the monsters that wiped out civilization centuries ago.

As Icelyn faces dangers in a world humans are not meant to survive, she learns that not everything is as it seems, uncovers an ancient revelation, and then faces a choice that may change the fate of everyone above and below the clouds.  Will Icelyn be strong enough to both survive and bear the terrible secret?

Join Icelyn Brathius as she leaves everything she has ever known to journey to the place no one was ever supposed to go.

What I liked:

The Threat Below was a fresh take on dystopia. The premise of a handful of humans clinging to life at the top of a mountain, while the threat to their existence lurked just below the cloudline fascinated me. Add to it the rigid society existing among the humans, the clear class distinction inherent in their world, the background intrigue for power, and the stage is set for a great tale. Icelyn, with her conflicting feelings about two males and a predestined future, makes a compelling character. The two rivals for her attention become unwilling participants in her quest. But, I have to stop there as you’ll get no spoilers from me. Overall, a good read!

What I didn’t like:

At times, the story was slow. Additionally, I didn’t understand why they sabotaged the water supply in that way. Other than that, good book.

Overall impression:

The Threat Below (Brathius History #1) was a good read! Though slow in spots, the characters, action, and story kept me interested. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys dystopia with a scientific twist!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

If you’ve read or plan to read The Threat Below by Jason Latshaw, please consider leaving a review. As an author, I know the value of reviews, and I’m sure Jason Latshaw would appreciate it!

Connect with the author:

If you want to connect with Jason, you can find him on his Amazon Author page. Stop by, check out The Threat Below and his other books, and say hi (and maybe leave that review we talked about)!

Connect with me:

If you liked (or didn’t) my review, leave a comment and let me know. You can also drop me an email at bill@williamlstuart.com, or connect with me on the socials. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest, so don’t be shy, say hi!

Remnant – My Review!!

As my readers know, I occasionally like to step outside my favorite genres and read something different. This time, I picked up Remnant by John Stacy Worth. Remnant is a novel based on the Noah’s Ark story from the Bible. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

For Noah’s sons completing the Ark has always been the first priority, yet they must also find wives. But where, when all the world is corrupt? There is Beth, their mother’s handmaiden, who longs for Japheth but catches Shem’s eye instead. There is also the slave girl, Shandai, nursed back from the brink of death and willing to seduce either one. Meanwhile for Ham there seems to be no one, and a life of inheriting only the scraps of his older brothers. Tension within the family and from without threatens to tear them apart, as Satan uses any means available to destroy God’s remnant; vengeful enemies, the demon spawn Nephilim, and if possible, even one another.

What I liked:

Remnant is not your father’s Noah’s Ark story. The story follows Noah’s family as they struggle with the call to build the ark and uphold their beliefs in the face of constant temptation. Throw in a bit of violence, danger, kidnapping, murder, and plot twists and turns, and this is an excellent story! The overriding message of unshakable faith in the face of secular trials holds true to the Biblical message, yet Noah and his family are full of human faults. All in all, Remnant was a good read!

What I didn’t like:

While I liked the way the characters filled in the tale, the story seemed to dwell on the negatives without acknowledging any of the goodness outside of Noah’s family.

Overall impression:

Remnant by John Stacy Worth is an excellent telling of the Noah’s Ark story. It’s definitely not your run of the mill Bible story. This one has all the human faults and horrible actions that led to the flood. The characters fill the story and hold true to the original tale. If you like historical fiction with underlying Biblical themes, give this one a read!

My rating:

5 Stars

Have you read Remnant by John Stacy Worth? What about the other books in the series? If you have, or will, please consider leaving a review. Reviews help authors not just connect with readers, but also give them insights into what makes for an enjoyable story.

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Did you enjoy my review? Was it helpful? Leave me a comment or shoot me an email at bill@williamlstuart.com and let me know. And, don’t miss a post (or a review). Subscribe to the blog! Lastly, connect with me on the socials. I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest, so let’s be friends!

The Crystal Crux – The First Three Days – My review!!

As most of you know, I not only write fantasy, but I read it, too. In fact, fantasy is my go to genre, and I’m always on the lookout for new fantasy books. I found this one and the blurb enticed me to read it. Here are my thoughts on The Crystal Crux – The First Three Days by A.M Werner!

Synopsis (from the author):

Pero de Alava accepts a suicidal quest on Eagles Pass believing his sacrifice will save his people from the evil Fabbro family. Pero, however, underestimated the Fabbro’s ambition and civil war ensues. Friends are betraying friends.
This edition is an All-Ages friendly version of the original two books in The Crystal Crux series, Betrayal and Blue Grotto. The graphic sex and violence has been omitted without losing the essence of the tale.
The Crystal Crux series is an exciting ten day fantasy adventure in August 1198 AD. It is filled with knights, magic, sorcery and a dragon.

What I liked:

The Crystal Crux was an interesting fantasy read. It has all the elements I expect in the genre: battles between good and evil, intrigue, a quest, betrayal, romance, and plenty of action and adventure. Sinibaldus is a perfectly evil character and the Fabbros are the epitome of the palace intrigue players in the 12th century. AM Werner did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the historical period. Overall, The Crystal Crux is entertaining and exciting!

What I didn’t like:

The Crystal Crux did seem to be repetitive in places. Pero’s repeated recollections of his life events didn’t add to the story for me. In addition, despite cleaning up the story to make it acceptable to older YA readers, it isn’t appropriate for all ages.

Overall impression:

The Crystal Crux – The First Three Days is a worthwhile read for fantasy readers. The characters are compelling, the quest is good, and the action and adventure top notch. I recommend this one for older teens and above who enjoy a good fantasy book!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with the author:

Are you a fantasy reader? Have you read The Crystal Crux – The First Three Days? How about any of A.M Werner’s books? If you have please consider leaving a review! If you want to connect with A.M. Werner, find his books on his website.

Connect with me:

Like my review (or not), leave me a comment and let me know! Want to connect on the socials? Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. I enjoy meeting new friends!

Subnormal – My Review!!

Subnormal by Stuart Kenyon showed up in my Amazon recommendations. Although I don’t read dystopia often, the blurb interested me and I picked it up. The book didn’t disappoint! Read on for my review!

Synopsis (from the author):

Imagine a utopia where every person has a purpose and not a single life is wasted.

Britain has become a hive-like world, with even the weakest and most vulnerable playing their part in the nation’s transformation. Crime is low, employment high.

But all is not quite as it seems. Though the revolution was quiet and bloodless, countless lives have been torn apart before our very eyes. Whilst the silent majority are mysteriously duped into collaboration, dissenters are ignored or punished. Democracy, civil liberties and equality are replaced by corruption, discrimination and segregation.

Paul, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, knows slavery in the Zone is intrinsically unnatural. His first personal rebellion at Industrial Zone Four is crushed and he is forced to suffer alone for years in silence. Until his younger brother, Tommy, is also declared “subnormal” and sent to the Zone following an accident.

Allied with a handful of fellow Zoners and free-thinkers from the outside world, the brothers defy the powers-that-be. Can they beat the odds and restore to the British people a freedom few can remember?

What I liked:

Subnormal presented a dystopian UK, where the government systematically and silently controls the populace. They classify citizens they can’t control or who have issues (as defined by the government) as subnormal and place them in work zones. The Zoners face horrible treatment and brutal control. Despite the odds, our heroes, all considered subnormal, band together and strike out against the oppression. Will they succeed? No spoilers from me! Paul and his brother are great characters, and Paul’s Asperger’s is key to the story. The other well-developed characters include a former soldier, a scientist, and a single mom trying to regain her son. Each plays an important role in the story. All told, a scary but entertaining read.

What I didn’t like:

it was difficult for me to accept the ease with which the government controlled the populace. In addition, the evil government was too stereotypical. Lastly, the Zoners’ took action too easily in a police state.

Overall impression:

Subnormal by Stuart Kenyon was a gritty, disturbing look at a dystopian UK. Filled with both good and evil, the story moves quickly. If you enjoy dystopia, give this one a read!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with the author:

Have you read Subnormal? What about Stuart Kenyon’s other books? If so, please consider leaving a review where you purchased the book(s). Connect with Stuart Kenyon through his website.

Connect with me:

Did you enjoyed my review? Disliked my review? Please leave me a comment and let me know. Let’s connect on the socials, too. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. I look forward to getting to know new friends! Let’s start a conversation!

The Dragon Dreamer – My Review!!

I enjoy reading authors from Georgia and added The Dragon Dreamer by J S Burke to my TBR not long ago. Read on to discover my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

The Dragon Dreamer is a fast-paced adventure with flying dragons, an undersea world, and an unlikely friendship. It’s a science fantasy layered for readers age 9 to 99.

Arak is a misfit dragon called “Dreamer.” Determined to prove himself he leaves on a dangerous quest, is caught in a fierce sea-storm, and crashes on ice. Wounded and alone he faces death. Then a fearless undersea shape-shifter named Scree heals him and an unlikely friendship begins. When an undersea volcano erupts it triggers a towering tsunami and a deadly chain of events. Can Arak use his unique talents to save the dragons?

What I liked:

The Dragon Dreamer was fun to read. In addition, I learned quite a bit about octopi, squids, and, of course, dragons. I enjoyed the way J S Burke mingled fantasy, science, and science fiction into the story. Arak, our dragon hero, persevered through bullying and teasing. Scree, the octopus, was a bold adventurer, and together they bring their respective cultures together to help one another and improve life for both. Lots to learn here!

What I didn’t like:

To be honest, I really didn’t find anything to dislike in this book.

Overall impression:

I enjoyed The Dragon Dreamer by J S Burke! Written for ages 9-99, the story is easy to follow, deals with issues many young people encounter, and shows that a positive attitude can go a long way to making life better. Well done J S Burke!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Have you read The Dragon Dreamer? If you have (or will), please consider leaving a review. Just a few words to let J S Burke know your thoughts on the book. In addition, please stop by her Amazon Author page or website and connect with her. I know she will appreciate it!

Connect with me:

If you liked my review (or even if you didn’t), leave me a comment and let me know or email me at bill@williamlstuart.com Connect with me on the socials, too! I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to the blog!