Recommendations and Reviews

Crystal Horizon by Doug J. Cooper

I read the other two books of this series, so when Doug J. Cooper came out with the prequel, Crystal Horizon, I knew I had to read it, too!

Synopsis (from the author):

Crystal Deception is a science fiction thriller and this work, Crystal Horizon, is a prequel to that book.

I wrote this short piece with two thoughts in mind. One was to give new readers a low cost opportunity to sample the larger story and meet a couple of characters from the series. Perhaps you’ll enjoy yourself so much, you’ll want to read the full length books?

My second reason was to give current fans the backstory on Sid and Cheryl. This prequel takes place five years before the time of Crystal Deception, where we meet Cheryl as a captain of a military space cruiser and Sid as a covert warrior for the Defense Specialists Agency.

We learn in Crystal Deception that Sid and Cheryl have a shared history and, in particular, a romantic relationship that has somehow gone awry. In this prequel, we join them on the day they first meet and we experience that history with them.

What I liked:

As mentioned above, Sid and Cheryl are two of the main characters throughout the books. In the later books, Sid is the fearless operative in a shadowy organization and Cheryl is working her way up the military chain of command, but you’ll get no spoilers from me on the later books. We do find out in the sequels that Cheryl and Sid have a history and Crystal Horizon gives a great backstory, and details how they met and the start of their relationship. For fans of the series, it is a satisfying completion. For those who haven’t read any of the books, it is a great introduction!

What I didn’t like:

The only disappointment I had with the book was the relationship between Sid and Cheryl was a bit predictable. Other than that, good stuff!

Overall impression:

Well-written, with a good introduction to the characters, Crystal Horizon was a quick, interesting, and entertaining sci-fi read. If you haven’t read the series, read this one first and then go enjoy the other two! Well done, Doug J. Cooper!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Visit Doug J. Cooper on his website, or find his books on his Amazon Author Page! If you read one (or all of the books), please consider leaving a review! It’s important for authors to hear from readers!!

Connect with me:

If you enjoyed my review or want to make a comment, please leave me a note and let me know. You can also connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. You can drop me an email, too, at bill@williamlstuart.com. If you don’t want to miss a post, consider subscribing to the blog!

Blott (The Canvas Chronicles Book 1) – My Review!!

I saw the cover for this book (recommended to me in my Amazon feed) and was intrigued. I read the blurb and liked what it said, so I picked it up. I’m glad I did!

Synopsis (from the author):

When a devastating famine forces Blott to disobey his parents and leave his remote village in search of food, he learns three things that change his life forever.

1. The world outside his village is made up of a giant canvas that stretches all the way to the horizon.

2. A freakish ability that he has kept secret for years means that he can paint life into the fabric, and shape new land around him to save his people from extinction.

3. A sinister voice inside his head has other ideas, threatening to consume him and unleash an untold evil onto the community.

Will Blott create a perfect world, or will he let his inner demon paint with darker colours?
The fate of his people rests in the balance.

What I liked:

This book started with a bang! Blott running for his life! The action continued throughout the book and kept me in the story. Daniel Parsons did an excellent job of building a strange world and filling it with interesting characters. Blott, the awkward teen who bleeds ink, Seraph, his best friend, and Arcana, the leader of the town, are instrumental in the book. I connected with Blott and sympathized with his plight. And the evil Alkali was cool! All said, a good read!

What I didn’t like:

I thought Seraph could have played a bigger role than she did. Another thing that didn’t make sense to me was Blott’s reluctance to his creations. Blott was brave enough to strike out to find food for the town, but waited until others died at the hands of his creations before fighting them.

Overall impression:

I liked this book! The story is original, the characters easy to identify with, and the action well done. I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a different kind of fantasy world!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with the author:

If you read Blott, please consider leaving a review where you purchased the book. Authors always like to hear from readers! You can also connect with Daniel Parsons on his Amazon Author Page or at his website.

Connect with me:

If you want to leave me a comment on my review, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. You can drop me a note at bill@williamlstuart.com or just leave a comment below. If you don’t want to miss a post, please subscribe to the blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tacenda by Christine Vann – My Review!!

When I’m looking for books to read, the cover, the blurb, or the title can attract me. Tacenda got me with the cover and the blurb. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):  

Can a unique partnership discover who is stealing the minds of children? Life isn’t easy when you don’t own yourself, not all humans are aware that other species exist, and your ship is semi-sentient. Kerris and Arucken are an interspecies messenger team, tasked with aiding communication across the galaxy. Haunted by the grief of her sister’s murder and stranded, Kerris must discover who is stealing the minds of children.

What I liked:

The concept of the book amazed me! The idea of the alien/human partnership and the mental connection between Kerris and Arucken was cool! I liked their ship, a hybrid in itself. Add in the sibling rivalry with Arucken’s sister, hinting at familial conflict, the deception about Kerris’ sister’s death, and the elements are there for a great story. I enjoyed Lily, and the interaction with the other species that stole the children’s minds was interesting. All told, Tacenda is an excellent story.

What I didn’t like:

As much as I enjoyed the story, the book has some technical issues. The grammatical errors pulled me out of the story, and I found a few formatting errors, too, that interrupted the flow of the book.

Overall impression:

For me, this could be a 4.5 star read, but the issues mentioned above knock it back. I did enjoy the story, and I connected easily with the characters. Tacenda is a good sci-fi novel that is worth a look!

My rating:

3.5 Stars (rounded to 4 Stars)

Connect with the author:

If you would like to connect with Christine Vann, you can find her on her Amazon Author Page or on her site! Give her books a look and, if you read one or more, please consider leaving a review!

Connect with me:

If you have comments on my review or what to connect with me, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and  Goodreads. You can email me at bill@williamlstuart.com. If you don’t want to miss a post (including my reviews), subscribe to the blog!

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!!