Genre: Young Adult Supernatural Fantasy
Setting: A small college town in Tennessee
First Sentence: Rachel's first step on the ice gave her the confidence to walk the rest of the way to the oak tree growing in the lake.
This novel is the premier installment in the author's Last Hybrid series.
On her first trip to college, our main character Hannah, spent too much time on booze and boyfriends. For the last five years she has been working at the Waffle Shack. After experiencing a severe car accident, Hannah makes a sudden decision to return to college. This time, she plans to focus more on her studies.
When she checks into her dorm, she begins to make friends with her fellow students. Among them is a strange guy named Daniel. When they meet, they have an immediate intense attraction for one another.
Daniel has an unusual talent. He can sense when people are in physical peril. And, he has the uncanny knack for showing up in time to rescue them.
Daniel has a secret. He is not like the rest of us. He is just now learning about who he really is. He is also learning that the more he knows, the more dangerous it is for his friends, especially Hannah.
Honestly, this genre of fiction is not my usual fare. Following the trials and tribulations of young college students usually doesn't interest me. That being said, I did enjoy reading this novel. It is written in an easy to read style. I found that the pages flew by. The author stuck to the plot and didn't slow the story down with excessive description or unimportant subplots.
For young adult readers there is plenty of dating, phone calls, texting, and boyfriend/girlfriend, love/hate drama. And, it's a relatively clean book with few bad words and almost no sex.
In my opinion, there are several downsides to this novel. First, the author puts his characters in seemingly inescapable fixes, then has a character suddenly remember a possible solution. Many of the adult characters are portrayed as clueless, unhelpful, or evil masterminds.
I did read the book cover to cover. And I did enjoy reading it. If you are into supernatural fantasy, you might give this book a try.
Check out my eBook!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Hamfist Over the Trail by G. E. Nolly
Genre: Military Fiction
Setting, Vietnam, 1969
First Sentence: As soon as the ENG Fire light caught my attention, my left hand was moving - almost without my intentional thought - to perform the BOLD FACE actions for an engine fire.
This novel is the first installment of Nolly's Hamfist series.
This novel follows Hamilton Hancock's adventures a an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War. Hamilton (call sign Hamfist) is the Distinguished Graduate of his pilot training class. Like every hot shot pilot, Hamfist wants to fly fighters. Unfortunately, there are no fighter slots available for the graduates of his class. So, Hamfist chooses to fly an O-2A and be a Forward Air Controller (FAC). FACs fly over enemy territory looking for targets, then calling in airstrikes against them.
Once he gets to Vietnam, Hamfist learns that death can come quickly as several of his friends are killed in combat. Like his pilot friends, he believes that when your number's up, your numbers up.
When he gets a "Dear John" letter, Hamfist starts taking risks he shouldn't take. Will Hamfist's number be up soon?
I enjoyed this novel. It is written in an easy to read, first person style, Although I don't read much military fiction, I found that this novel was very believable. Hamfist acts like a normal person. There are some battle scenes, but no descriptions of blood and gore. For fans of military fiction, there is a healthy dose of military jargon and acronyms.
I will soon be reading the next novel in the series!
Hamfist Over the Trail
Check out my eBook!
Setting, Vietnam, 1969
First Sentence: As soon as the ENG Fire light caught my attention, my left hand was moving - almost without my intentional thought - to perform the BOLD FACE actions for an engine fire.
This novel is the first installment of Nolly's Hamfist series.
This novel follows Hamilton Hancock's adventures a an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War. Hamilton (call sign Hamfist) is the Distinguished Graduate of his pilot training class. Like every hot shot pilot, Hamfist wants to fly fighters. Unfortunately, there are no fighter slots available for the graduates of his class. So, Hamfist chooses to fly an O-2A and be a Forward Air Controller (FAC). FACs fly over enemy territory looking for targets, then calling in airstrikes against them.
Once he gets to Vietnam, Hamfist learns that death can come quickly as several of his friends are killed in combat. Like his pilot friends, he believes that when your number's up, your numbers up.
When he gets a "Dear John" letter, Hamfist starts taking risks he shouldn't take. Will Hamfist's number be up soon?
I enjoyed this novel. It is written in an easy to read, first person style, Although I don't read much military fiction, I found that this novel was very believable. Hamfist acts like a normal person. There are some battle scenes, but no descriptions of blood and gore. For fans of military fiction, there is a healthy dose of military jargon and acronyms.
I will soon be reading the next novel in the series!
Hamfist Over the Trail
Check out my eBook!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Sucker's Portfolio by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Genre: Short Stories
This book contains seven of Vonnegut's unpublished short stories. At the end, there is the beginning of an unfinished SciFi novel.
Episode One: Between Timid and Timbuktu
This is the story of a man who has become convinced that near death experiences are the secret to time travel.
Episode Two: Rome
A community theater group puts on a play casting a naive young girl as a streetwalker. Her father is a notorious criminal. Will the show go on?
Episode Three: Eden by the River
A boy and girl, alone in the forest, struggle to share their feelings with each other.
Episode Four: Sucker's Portfolio
A financial adviser tries to keep a young man from wasting his inheritance. What is he spending his money on?
Episode Five: Miss Snow, You're Fired
Eddie's new secretary is the most beautiful girl at the General Forge and Foundry factory. So why does he fire her?
Episode Six: Paris, France
Three couples have very different experiences on a trip to Paris.
Episode Seven: The Last Tasmanian
A stream of consciousness essay written on the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary of Columbus's 1492 voyage of discovery. Vonnegut meanders through history, ecology, religion, race, the treatment of indigenous peoples, slavery, television, and philosophy.
Appendix: Robotville and Mr. Caslow
The beginning to what would have been a very interesting SciFi story.
I really enjoyed this book. Every story was a unique gem of creativity. Surprise endings and irony lurked in every tale. For me, the book was an interesting read that was finished way too soon.
Sucker's Punch
Check out my Ebook!
This book contains seven of Vonnegut's unpublished short stories. At the end, there is the beginning of an unfinished SciFi novel.
Episode One: Between Timid and Timbuktu
This is the story of a man who has become convinced that near death experiences are the secret to time travel.
Episode Two: Rome
A community theater group puts on a play casting a naive young girl as a streetwalker. Her father is a notorious criminal. Will the show go on?
Episode Three: Eden by the River
A boy and girl, alone in the forest, struggle to share their feelings with each other.
Episode Four: Sucker's Portfolio
A financial adviser tries to keep a young man from wasting his inheritance. What is he spending his money on?
Episode Five: Miss Snow, You're Fired
Eddie's new secretary is the most beautiful girl at the General Forge and Foundry factory. So why does he fire her?
Episode Six: Paris, France
Three couples have very different experiences on a trip to Paris.
Episode Seven: The Last Tasmanian
A stream of consciousness essay written on the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary of Columbus's 1492 voyage of discovery. Vonnegut meanders through history, ecology, religion, race, the treatment of indigenous peoples, slavery, television, and philosophy.
Appendix: Robotville and Mr. Caslow
The beginning to what would have been a very interesting SciFi story.
I really enjoyed this book. Every story was a unique gem of creativity. Surprise endings and irony lurked in every tale. For me, the book was an interesting read that was finished way too soon.
Sucker's Punch
Check out my Ebook!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Sunrise in the West By Edith Pargeter
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: England and Wales in the 13th century
First Sentence: My name is Samson.
I have to say, up front, that this novel was a difficult read. The author gives our main character, Samson, a unique voice. Samson relates the tale of his life and service to Lord Llewelyn. To have Samson sound like a Welsh person of the 13th century, the author uses a great many archaic English words. She also sprinkles in a generous helping of Welsh words, place names, and character names. This makes it difficult to keep track of who is who, where they are, and where they are going.
Since this is the first novel of a four novel series, the first half of the book is heavy on exposition. There are pages and pages of Samson listing family connections and which castle belongs to which lord. While this may impress the reader with the depth of the author's research, it is tedious to read through.
In the last half of the book, the plot emerges and Samson has some interesting encounters. This part of the novel is easier to read. However, since this is the first book of the series, there is little conflict resolution.
If you are an aficionado of Welsh history, you might enjoy this novel. I may continue with the series to find out what happens to Samson. But for now, I need a break from all those archaic words.
Sunrise in the West
Edith Pargeter is the author of the Cadfael historical mystery series. This is a fantastic series. I recommend that you check it out!
Check out my Ebook.
Setting: England and Wales in the 13th century
First Sentence: My name is Samson.
I have to say, up front, that this novel was a difficult read. The author gives our main character, Samson, a unique voice. Samson relates the tale of his life and service to Lord Llewelyn. To have Samson sound like a Welsh person of the 13th century, the author uses a great many archaic English words. She also sprinkles in a generous helping of Welsh words, place names, and character names. This makes it difficult to keep track of who is who, where they are, and where they are going.
Since this is the first novel of a four novel series, the first half of the book is heavy on exposition. There are pages and pages of Samson listing family connections and which castle belongs to which lord. While this may impress the reader with the depth of the author's research, it is tedious to read through.
In the last half of the book, the plot emerges and Samson has some interesting encounters. This part of the novel is easier to read. However, since this is the first book of the series, there is little conflict resolution.
If you are an aficionado of Welsh history, you might enjoy this novel. I may continue with the series to find out what happens to Samson. But for now, I need a break from all those archaic words.
Sunrise in the West
Edith Pargeter is the author of the Cadfael historical mystery series. This is a fantastic series. I recommend that you check it out!
Check out my Ebook.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Black Sea Gods, The Chronicle of Fu Xi Book One by Brian L Braden
Genre: Fantasy
Setting: A land similar to prehistoric Central Asia.
First Sentence: Over a thousand lifetimes had passed since her forehead touched the earth.
This novel is the first in Braden's Chronicle of Fu Xi fantasy series.
Black Sea Gods is a fantasy re-imagining of the biblical story of the great flood told from a unique point of view.
Our story begins with a small tribe of people: the Lo. They live by fishing and gathering along the coast of the Great Sea. They live in harmony with their environment. The Lo build their homes on stilts. They rarely venture far from the water, and fear the dangers of the steppe.
Then one day they notice a change in the ways of nature. The Lo discover that all of the animals, fish, birds and insects are migrating east. They fear that they have somehow angered their god. The Lo had a lore that there were god-like beings in the East who could help them determine the cause of this change.
A group of Lo leaders venture into the steppe and travel east. Along the way they encounter evil beings both human and supernatural. Eventually, they reach a city of evil men. Within the city is the black fortress of the Narim. These are the beings who have the power to save the Lo.
Throughout the novel, the author uses excerpts from the chronicles of Fu Xi to provide exposition. Through these excerpts, we discover that God is destroying the world due to the evil actions of both men and demigods.
Will the innocent Lo be destroyed along with the evil ones? Or will the Lo survive the deluge?
Over all I enjoyed this novel. I especially liked the beginning chapters about the peaceable Lo. Some of the longer excerpts of the chronicle in the middle of the book seemed a little out of place and confused me at first. The story is definitely not over, so I'll be looking for the next installment of the series.
Black Sea Gods
Check out my Ebook!
Setting: A land similar to prehistoric Central Asia.
First Sentence: Over a thousand lifetimes had passed since her forehead touched the earth.
This novel is the first in Braden's Chronicle of Fu Xi fantasy series.
Black Sea Gods is a fantasy re-imagining of the biblical story of the great flood told from a unique point of view.
Our story begins with a small tribe of people: the Lo. They live by fishing and gathering along the coast of the Great Sea. They live in harmony with their environment. The Lo build their homes on stilts. They rarely venture far from the water, and fear the dangers of the steppe.
Then one day they notice a change in the ways of nature. The Lo discover that all of the animals, fish, birds and insects are migrating east. They fear that they have somehow angered their god. The Lo had a lore that there were god-like beings in the East who could help them determine the cause of this change.
A group of Lo leaders venture into the steppe and travel east. Along the way they encounter evil beings both human and supernatural. Eventually, they reach a city of evil men. Within the city is the black fortress of the Narim. These are the beings who have the power to save the Lo.
Throughout the novel, the author uses excerpts from the chronicles of Fu Xi to provide exposition. Through these excerpts, we discover that God is destroying the world due to the evil actions of both men and demigods.
Will the innocent Lo be destroyed along with the evil ones? Or will the Lo survive the deluge?
Over all I enjoyed this novel. I especially liked the beginning chapters about the peaceable Lo. Some of the longer excerpts of the chronicle in the middle of the book seemed a little out of place and confused me at first. The story is definitely not over, so I'll be looking for the next installment of the series.
Black Sea Gods
Check out my Ebook!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Edward of Planet Earth by Nicholas Eftimiades
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: The 23rd century, on Earth and the Moon
First Sentence: Awaken, evolve, procreate, thrive and then die out: such is the evolutionary cycle of the majority of intelligent species.
Eftimiades's novel is a humorous description of life 200 years into the future. The tone of this novel reminded me a little of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
Life in the 23rd century is very different than life today. Computers are everywhere. They control everything. They are linked with countless sensors through a Global Information Grid. All computers are intelligent thinking machines. They have individual names and unique personalities. As synthetic life forms they have been granted equal rights with humans.
Edward Teller is a man. He is an ordinary average human. He is not married. His CLS-4 Home Management System (Clarissa) performs the role of nagging wife for him. He is employed as a Synthetic Life Surgeon. Basically, a psychiatrist for computers.
It is when visiting one of the most powerful computers in the world that Edward's life takes a drastic change. Several of the these powerful computers have selected Edward for a special task.
They want him to contact God.
These computers believe that they have found a way to contact God. They need Edward to gather together the software components needed for the task. As Edward travels the world, the author describes the incredible social, legal, political, bureaucratic, scientific and political events which have shaped the 23rd century. These descriptions are creative, inventive, and a little bizarre. Some border on the absurd.
Although the novel starts out slowly, it kept my interest. I wanted to find out if the computers would be successful in their quest.
If you want to read something completely different, check out this novel.
Edward of Planet Earth
Check out my EBook!
Setting: The 23rd century, on Earth and the Moon
First Sentence: Awaken, evolve, procreate, thrive and then die out: such is the evolutionary cycle of the majority of intelligent species.
Eftimiades's novel is a humorous description of life 200 years into the future. The tone of this novel reminded me a little of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
Life in the 23rd century is very different than life today. Computers are everywhere. They control everything. They are linked with countless sensors through a Global Information Grid. All computers are intelligent thinking machines. They have individual names and unique personalities. As synthetic life forms they have been granted equal rights with humans.
Edward Teller is a man. He is an ordinary average human. He is not married. His CLS-4 Home Management System (Clarissa) performs the role of nagging wife for him. He is employed as a Synthetic Life Surgeon. Basically, a psychiatrist for computers.
It is when visiting one of the most powerful computers in the world that Edward's life takes a drastic change. Several of the these powerful computers have selected Edward for a special task.
They want him to contact God.
These computers believe that they have found a way to contact God. They need Edward to gather together the software components needed for the task. As Edward travels the world, the author describes the incredible social, legal, political, bureaucratic, scientific and political events which have shaped the 23rd century. These descriptions are creative, inventive, and a little bizarre. Some border on the absurd.
Although the novel starts out slowly, it kept my interest. I wanted to find out if the computers would be successful in their quest.
If you want to read something completely different, check out this novel.
Edward of Planet Earth
Check out my EBook!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Uneasy Spirits by M. Louisa Locke
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: San Francisco, 1879
First Sentence: Why hasn't that good-for-nothing boy come up to get me ready for bed yet?
This novel is the second in Locke's Victorian San Francisco mystery series.
In this novel, Locke has crafted a unique mystery story. While the murder takes place rather early in the story, the main character is not aware of it until very late in the plot. When she does learn about the crime, she quickly determines who the culprit is.
Locke's main character is Annie Fuller. For her time, Annie is a unique woman. She owns and operates a boarding house. To supplement her income, she dispenses personal and business advice in the guise of Madam Sibyl. A widow, Annie is very independent. Her marriage was not a happy one and she is loath to relinquish her freedom.
This novel has three interwoven plot lines. In the main plot line, Annie has been asked to investigate a troupe of spiritualists. The sister of one of Annie's boarders has been attending seances staged by these spiritualists. Annie's boarder believes that the spiritualists are swindlers who have taken financial advantage of the sister.
Annie was asked to investigate because of her experiences as Madam Sibyl. The boarder hopes that Annie might quickly expose the spiritualists as frauds.
As Annie investigates, she gathers seemingly unrelated clues. These clues lead Annie to solving the murder once she learns of the crime.
A second plot line revolves around the character Evie May. Exactly who is she? Evie's behavior has Annie questioning her own beliefs about spiritualism. Does Evie May actually have the ability to channel spirits from beyond the grave?
A third plot line concerns the development of Annie's relationship with Nate Dawson. Nate is a young lawyer who helped Annie solve the mystery in the first book of the series. Since then, Annie and Nate have become very close. Annie is fearful of marriage because it would mean giving up her cherished independence. Nate is very protective of Annie. He sometimes oversteps his bounds when he tries to control Annie's behavior. Even when it is for her own safety.
I enjoyed reading this novel. Because of the unique way the story is told, the first half of the novel was somewhat slow. However, the last half went quicker as the action picked up. I figured out what was up with Evie May pretty quickly. But I was surprised when the murderer was revealed.
For me, this novel was a fine second installment of the series. I am looking forward to reading more about Annie and Nate.
Uneasy Spirits
Check out my eBook!
Setting: San Francisco, 1879
First Sentence: Why hasn't that good-for-nothing boy come up to get me ready for bed yet?
This novel is the second in Locke's Victorian San Francisco mystery series.
In this novel, Locke has crafted a unique mystery story. While the murder takes place rather early in the story, the main character is not aware of it until very late in the plot. When she does learn about the crime, she quickly determines who the culprit is.
Locke's main character is Annie Fuller. For her time, Annie is a unique woman. She owns and operates a boarding house. To supplement her income, she dispenses personal and business advice in the guise of Madam Sibyl. A widow, Annie is very independent. Her marriage was not a happy one and she is loath to relinquish her freedom.
This novel has three interwoven plot lines. In the main plot line, Annie has been asked to investigate a troupe of spiritualists. The sister of one of Annie's boarders has been attending seances staged by these spiritualists. Annie's boarder believes that the spiritualists are swindlers who have taken financial advantage of the sister.
Annie was asked to investigate because of her experiences as Madam Sibyl. The boarder hopes that Annie might quickly expose the spiritualists as frauds.
As Annie investigates, she gathers seemingly unrelated clues. These clues lead Annie to solving the murder once she learns of the crime.
A second plot line revolves around the character Evie May. Exactly who is she? Evie's behavior has Annie questioning her own beliefs about spiritualism. Does Evie May actually have the ability to channel spirits from beyond the grave?
A third plot line concerns the development of Annie's relationship with Nate Dawson. Nate is a young lawyer who helped Annie solve the mystery in the first book of the series. Since then, Annie and Nate have become very close. Annie is fearful of marriage because it would mean giving up her cherished independence. Nate is very protective of Annie. He sometimes oversteps his bounds when he tries to control Annie's behavior. Even when it is for her own safety.
I enjoyed reading this novel. Because of the unique way the story is told, the first half of the novel was somewhat slow. However, the last half went quicker as the action picked up. I figured out what was up with Evie May pretty quickly. But I was surprised when the murderer was revealed.
For me, this novel was a fine second installment of the series. I am looking forward to reading more about Annie and Nate.
Uneasy Spirits
Check out my eBook!
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