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William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

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Crystal Horizon by Doug J Cooper – My Review!!

March 14, 2016 by Bill Stuart 3 Comments

Crystal Horizon by Doug J. Cooper

Crystal Horizon Cover

 

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!

Filed Under: Amazon, author, Book Posts, KDP, Kindle, Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, William L Stuart Tagged With: adventure, Amazon, amazon book, author, Crystal Deception, Crystal Horizon, Crystal Series, crystals, Doug J Cooper, ebook, ebooks, fiction, KDP, Kindle, sci-fi, science fiction, william l stuart, william stuart

Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy by Susan Waterwyk – My Review

June 29, 2013 by Bill Stuart 1 Comment

Lantamyra – My Review!!

Lantamyra - Cover-Web

Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy by Susan Waterwyk was a delightful read! Filled with ruling dragons, magical crystals, and humans possessing extraordinary powers, Lantamyra is an alternate world. Against this intriguing backdrop, Susan Waterwyk constructs her tale.

The story follows the journey of a grandmother and her granddaughter to Lantamyra. Marooned on Earth 40 years earlier due to an accident during which she lost her scepter, Lenora longs to return home. Her granddaughter, Tylya, and Tylya’s boyfriend Josh Hamilton, find the scepter, and it opens a portal to the dragon-ruled world. Josh hitches a ride back to Lantamyra with Tylya and Lenora, her grandmother, and is grudgingly accepted in the dragon’s world – unlike Tylya and Lenora, who are most welcome. From there, the adventures of all three begin as they try to find their places in this alternate reality.

Susan Waterwyk weaves an intriguing tale filled with nice elements of romance, sacrifice, and acceptance. She drops hints of a deeper mystery that gradually reveals itself. You’ll have to read the second book of the series to find out how it all ends!

As an amateur rockhound and collector of gemstones, I loved how they used crystals and the key role they play in the story. Since crystals allegedly have many mysterious properties, it was not a stretch imagining the awesome powers they possess in the book.

The only drawback to me was the pace of the story. It unfolded a bit slowly for my tastes, but that was a minor distraction.

All told, Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy was an easy and charming read. I recommend it for anyone who loves dragons, romance, love, new worlds, crystals, fantasy, science fiction, and a great story! Well done Susan Waterwyk!

My rating: 4.5 Stars

Find Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy  on Amazon! Please consider leaving a review, too! Authors always appreciate hearing from their readers!! It helps us become better writers when we receive feedback.

Connect with the Author:

Find out more about Susan Waterwyk on her Facebook Page or her Amazon Author Page! Leave her a comment and let her know what you think of her books! I know she will appreciate it!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Let’s connect! I welcome new friends!!

Filed Under: Book Posts, Recommendations and Reviews Tagged With: adventure, Amazon, amazon book, author, books, crystals, dragons, ebook, fantasy, Kindle, Lantamyra, magic, young adult

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