BOOK REVIEW: The Borealis Queen (Henry Guard)

 

The Borealis Queen is a delightful read that exceeded my expectations. It follows Nin's transformation into the Borealis Queen.

Yes, there are some possible plot holes that raise my eyebrows and knock half a star for me, I still round it up. Although they significantly distracted me, fortunately, the rest of the book still makes up for them. For example, why would two prisoners have access to her weapon before her battle when the enemies know well what she is capable of? The other prisoner, access to her scout? The timeline of the princess's capture and how her tribe has sort of recovered within a short period of time. The powerful and conveniently forgotten sling through some moments like Artko's distraction and final square off?

Besides that, it's a very well-written and enjoyable book. When an enemy is conquered, others arise, keeping the readers on their toes. Although many prominent characters are introduced along the way, they each hold their own and are distinctive, leaving their own marks in the story. The story is fast-paced and very imaginative. The battles are great, vivid, and I feel like I'm there with them.

It's a very enjoyable read and worth every minute.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: A Quick Spin Around the Galaxy (J.A. Freely)

I had my own quick spin around the galaxy by reading this book. It introduces itself in the beginning as a non-fiction, a statement that gets better and better as the book goes on. We start by meeting one of the most unremarkable humans (although I’d admit he would make a better candidate than me, even in the beginning, as I would just suggest, “Do it, but do it quickly, please.”

The beginning feels a bit clunky to me, and I was afraid I had to suffer through the mediocre, predictable jokes, excessive name-calling (literal), and poopy burritos. However, I was pleasantly surprised because apparently, I care about the whales, too.

After the initial nitty-gritty before the journey, it became a treat to read the book and the plethora of imaginations and nostrils that come with it. It genuinely drew laughs and smiles from me, and the author does a good job inserting real messages without being patronizing, preachy, or cliché.

While I, a sadist, would love to see how Jake probably faces with ‘nothing’ back on earth at the end, with no one acknowledging his effort with his possible new tin foil Youtube channel and three subscribers, I think the story ends in a good note.

I’m still unsure what is going on in Nimpossipho with all the ice cream, but pass me the road-kill stew, please, as I’d love to recommend the quick spin and its exquisite cuisines.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Children of Jotunheim (Mehmet Caliskan)

 

Children of Jotunheim explores an idea that is a reflection of many aspects in real life. It's not unique, as there have been many books and stories that touch this subject. The presentation, however, is unusual. It reads more like a detailed exploration and expedition report that stretches throughout time. While there is a standout character, most of the books stay away from it, as if we readers observe the situation from far.

The ideas and plot, especially about how the colonization is revealed, are intriguing. Personally, I think it would be much more powerful if the book were more immersive, if the readers experienced all this from a character's point of view and were more involved, attached, and conflicted. It might not be the author's intention for the book, but I can't help but think how much potential it has and how stronger the story and message would be.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It just goes away very fast and feels detached to me. I wish to have a more immersive reading experience, as I love the idea and the world-building.

4 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Afterlife (Ed Morawski)

 

I rounded up my rating to 5 stars, but not because the book is without flaws. In fact, I can list them, but I can also explain the rating in this review. 

Afterlife is an acquired taste. It touches on sensitive subjects and is very daring in exploring the topic. I have read multiple books from this author, and one thing remains consistent: there is always a burst of creativity and original ideas. Ed always prods deeper into unusual topics and delivers them with a bang.

The best part of this book is the first half, when readers learn about the reality of this dystopian society and when some characters go with their diabolical plan. Although I wish it were explored more, at least we learn things about these characters and their motivations. The intricate and grim society builds up to why this diabolical plan is necessary. Readers are left to decide whether the road to hell is really paved with good intentions, or the heaven on earth is built on blood and sacrifices. It’s intriguing, and the question I love to explore myself since I write in this genre as well.

The events before the ending are the weakest part, imho, where the suspension of belief has to be strong, and I admit it almost knocks a star off, but the ending itself is conclusive and probably provokes many potential close-minded readers, but it’s refreshingly unapologetic.

Overall, this is a read up to my alley. I finished it in less than a day, and if you are looking for something daring and original, I’d recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Eye of Ebon (P. Pherson Green)

 

 

The Eye of Ebon is a rich fantasy with two strong women as the main protagonists, navigating in a world dominated by men to fulfill their purposes and duties.

The author has woven a beautifully written story that promises many adventures to come. It doesn’t shy away from heavy subjects and intricate world-building. Readers are introduced to one of the main characters, Samiare, through the darkest moment of her life, which is very powerful.

I understand this is the first book of many, and there is much more to discover. Book One provides a complete story on its own. Almost. However, I think it’s missing an important bookend, Nechare. From something so prominent in the beginning, it dwindles down and disappears to nothing in the end. It doesn’t need to be resolved, but a reminder about an oath, something that is felt so strongly by the character. Samiare’s struggles and resilience in the beginning make her very intriguing. However, as the book progresses, we barely see that side of her anymore, and she unfortunately becomes less three-dimensional. The battles also feel repetitive after a few times.

Having said that, overall, this is an enjoyable book. It’s beautifully written, and there are too many characters to keep track of at times, but it will pay off over the course of the series.

4 out of 5 stars

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Millennial and the King (Miriam Schwellnus)

 

The Millennial and the King is not the book I thought it would be. From the title, it could be an awesome fantasy. When I found out about the actual content, I was ready as well.

As a late Gen-Xer, I can relate to the time period. Although Michael Jackson was not at the top of my preferences, I had one of his albums, which says a lot for a broke teenager who could only afford a few cassette tapes throughout the years. The quality of his music was mostly undeniable, and he was the greatest showman.

The book starts out great, but unfortunately, it goes downhill halfway for me. I like the parallel and how the author relates to her experience in life and as a fan. It was on par at first, but the book drags on for too long, making it feel forced and out of focus as it gets into 200+ pages. The out-of-focus is the one that doesn’t do it well for me. I think I’d be more prepared if this were categorized as part of an autobiography, because it focuses much more on the author. There are many relevant ones (and they are good), but there are many distracting ones that contribute nothing to the ‘plot.’ It makes me forget what I was reading. The author herself acknowledges this, but I have to agree with the unnamed beta readers. Two boring books are not a good option, but one solid, compact one is much better. I draw the number from the air, but maybe 35% of the book can be streamlined. The Screenplay chapter is an unnecessary filler, especially because it’s a mock screenplay. The first AI interview was okay; it tells many unspoken feelings, but the second one, although the last part is a good way to end the book, is also a very questionable filler, in my humble opinion. It blurs the facts and fiction. I’m not sure what the message is here. The other one that is absolutely out of focus is the political rants. Does the book really need this? Again, it distracts too much and weighs on the credibility, which is a pity because I’m sure a lot of efforts were put into making this.

Having said that, others might enjoy the book more. I admire the research, the sources, the details, and the experience of reliving the time again. It is nostalgic, and I reminisce about my own experience. That is the best part of this book. It is also raw and honest, which I appreciate.

3 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Bird Streets Vampire Murders (Ed Morawski)

 

This is a creative book, and it quickly pulls my attention from the start. There are many characters, but almost all of them are distinctive enough. We follow the story from the main protagonist, Janice, who investigates bizarre murders after joining her new team. Unfortunately, some of the victims are famous, which escalates the situation and media attention.

I enjoy how this book doesn’t bother in being politically correct, and it’s both strange and cliché in a certain way. Although the revelation comes late into the book, it doesn’t frustrate me because it’s interesting along the way. My only but main complaint is the ending. It’s front-heavy with a lightning speed ending. While I don’t have any problem with how the plot is solved, it feels very rushed, and the best part is only fleshed out in a few pages. No spoiler here, but I’d love to see more of the catastrophe and the days leading to it. I can’t help but feel that the author wants to wrap it up and get it over and done, and it’s such a waste after all the build-up.

Then again, I don’t think this book is meant to be taken too seriously, after all, it’s a satire. There are many great details and interesting information along the way, including unusual characters’ behavior.

If you enjoy fast-paced mystery crime thriller with a touch of paranormal, try this book.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Memory of Lost Dreams (Joseph Minart)

 

The Memory of Lost Dreams is an ambitious tale about a speculative world where we can enter and live in the dream. It explores the good and bad and how it can be used for the wrong purpose. It also brings readers to the world beyond imagination that exists far into the future.

The story is everywhere in the book's first half, and I had to recheck some parts to ensure I didn't miss anything. However, it's easy enough to pick up once readers understand the main idea of REQUIEM, the contraption to dream and mind control. It helps to follow one main character, although the story occasionally shifts to another area or perspective, but never in confusing moments, which I appreciate.

Imho, the book can be compacted because there are many mundane tasks and explanatory sentences that can be trimmed down. The dialogues are also clunky at times. While I'm not against using adverbs at all, there are too many of them everywhere. There are also some outdated references to what is supposed to be the future world, like manila folder, keychain, etc. I would imagine all these will cease to exist even in our current time soon enough.

Having said that, I applaud the original idea of the book and the way it's presented. Although it seems complicated, as mentioned, once readers understand the concept of the story, it becomes intriguing to see how it works back and forth between timing, the real and dream, past and present. It does get confusing at times, especially when characters have the same name, appear in the past and present, or when new characters are introduced late in the story, but one character driving the plot helps to keep it grounded. I also appreciate the story doesn't stray from the intended purpose, and the ending is satisfying to conclude everything.

4 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Breath of the Sea (Jeff Chapman)

 

 

The Breath of the Sea is another chapter of Merliss’s adventure. This time, it follows a very interesting journey of a family of a poor fisherman struggling to make ends meet.

I hate to say I saw the twist coming since the very beginning, when I had started to become familiar with the characters. However, it didn’t reduce my enjoyment in reading the tale.

The stories stand out great on their own, and when they intertwine, it becomes a massive tale of creative imagination. I like the characters, even the weird and despicable ones are intriguing. The sense of solidarity in this poor friend who sacrifices her best dress for a fishy smell reminds me of the childhood books I like, with beautiful illustrations about kids playing in the woods and doing all sorts of things like gardening, having a tea party, flying a kite, carrying a bucket over the river with their little goat companion. Somehow, I got that very nostalgic vibe from the scene, although my current self was on the edge about pushing them to hurry.

Besides a few jarring, questionable decisions made by the characters, like a secret that lasts a very, very short time, disregard for child safety, and distracting scenes, I really like this book. I’m lucky to have read the first book, because I think it could be confusing for others who don’t know anything about Merliss’s background, especially during the prolonged scenes about her magical friends that almost come out of nowhere for those unfamiliar.

Overall, this is a solid, entertaining read. I recommend this for readers who love fantasy or even someone like me, fantasy is not my preferred genre, but I can appreciate this. The story is captivating, the characters are realistic, the world is rich and imaginative, and it’s very well-written.

Also, it’s fortunate that I only read the blurb after the book because I think reading it beforehand could have diminished my enjoyment of many scenes’ revelations.

5 clumsy tea parties of 5 buckets of sea water

Goodreads Review

Free Short Stories and Rambles

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Book Review: The Blackened Yonder (J. Gibson)

The Blackened Yonder is the first book of the series. The author plans for the series to have at least four books, based on a sentence I read at the end of this one.

The book follows three PoV, which I get to read from two different perspectives. This is one of my favorite styles because it’s always intriguing to see the opposites of a coin. Unfortunately, besides some mentions about the main conflict, the stories of both sides only start to integrate about 75% into the book, which, imho, makes this style non-beneficial. It makes me question the purposes, the timelines, or if they are in the same universe. At some point in the story, I even wondered if Garron’s PoV is set in the past for a brief period (it could be an awesome idea).

The characters start out very good. I’m invested in their causes, stories, and inner struggles. However, it becomes repetitive near the end of their journeys without much growth. I change from sympathizing with Athenne to feeling indifference about her wishy-washiness. The revelation of her backstory is also way too late and doesn’t have much impact to counter her reason to join the Saint in the first place. Her main friend/love and one of the reasons for leaning on her chosen path are probably not there for 90% of the book, and readers know almost nothing about him. I appreciate the humanity and how the two main characters are not following the path of The Chosen One, but Athenne is barely more than a pair of eyes. I would rather see the story from the other female Saint. (I will not attempt to spell more names)

The big task of the first book is that there are many names, places, histories, and lore to learn. It is common in fantasy, especially when it’s planned as a big series, however, some simplifications might help. For example, it’s hard enough to refer to the character as one name, but using the first name here mixed with the last name there and other attributes certainly doesn’t make it easy to follow. I understand that it could be intentional, depending on the conditions and the speakers, but it can work against the readers’ will to ensure who they are referring to. There are also a lot of ramblings at the end of the book where some characters go on and on with their monologues.

I think the plot has good potential. There is enough going on, but hopefully, the stories will be told by more intriguing characters. (Amun is good, and I like how she is built up before taking the task.) The world-building is rich, except for some questionable modern terminologies (I’m not sure about the time setting, but epoxy resin doesn’t feel like it belongs in this universe).

The best part of all is the writing style. It’s beautifully written, very imaginative, and descriptive. I feel like I’m really there absorbing the settings and scenery, where I can feel the grime on my skin, smell the air, and hear the noise.

If you are a fantasy fan and want to invest in learning the lore of everything in this universe and appreciate great writing, this book is for you.

4 of 5

BOOK REVIEW: GORY STORIES (JOEY WEBB)

 

This is an interesting short story collection. The tales are short and fast-paced. At times, I could see the endings and twists coming, others, not so much. They don’t always provide satisfying endings, and sometimes, they end abruptly, but for some reason, I don’t mind them. The stories feel classic from the way they are told and unfolded, which feels like narration. They never dwell too long on the characters and plots, and this works fine for short stories.

There are some typos, like missing punctuation and alphabets. I’m not sure if it’s because of the format since there are some limitations to the digital e-book, like the fixed fonts. I can’t change the size, and the contents are not linked/clickable. I’m reading this with Amazon Kindle apps since it’s not compatible with my Kindle, which is another question for the format.

Other than the technical hiccups, I enjoyed the stories. Some are not my cup of tea, but they’re easy to read and still provide some entertaining value. They are engaging, some are unintentionally funny, and there are snippets of real-life facts. My favorite story is Life Imitating Art.

If you enjoy a quick-paced, creative read without the need to feel attached to the characters, this is the book for you.

BOOK REVIEW: THINKING WITH RHYTHM (CECILIA ANASTOS)

A tricky book to read. The stories are both all over the place and never going anywhere, about everything and about nothing. They jump from real and fictional characters, back and forth, from different periods without warning, from another love of her life to another love of her life. Then the book switches to current political affairs, then something about movies, then a long preach about things that, I have to say, underestimate readers’ intelligence, drawing shallow conclusions, and poorly informed research, basing on theories that had been challenged multiple times. One of the examples is about TV influence.

I like non-linear time frames if they’re done well. I’m sorry this is not the case. There are incomplete words and a story that stops mid-sentence and changes to another chapter (end of Chapter: Abram) with different elements: another POV, now first person, non-fictional, about something else unrelated.

Overall, I don’t feel this is a coherent book. It’s like a diary entry with a plethora of names, mixed with writing ideas, opinion pieces about current news and entertainment, and social media level of analysis thrown and bundled together.

I failed to relate to the characters and there is barely any plot. Some of the stories are entertaining, like when the author went on a road trip with her brother and cat. Unfortunately, most of the content is dominated by Alessandra’s endless love affairs, told like one-dimensional weather forecasts and chapters about anything and everything else.

Please don’t count on my review; books are subjective, and I’m sure some readers might appreciate this unusual piece.

2 stars out of 5

BOOK REVIEW: JOANNA JAMES' JOURNAL (TRISH HENRY GREEN)

 

What I like the most about this book is the earlier few chapters. The reality is gripping, and I feel for the character. The fear of growing old, getting out of the familiar and comfort zone, and watching something she has built over decades crumbling down. It's heartbreaking to see the indifference when someone closest to her slowly becomes a stranger, especially when she has given him her best younger years.

 

The almost drama-free separation also works well, and I can see it happening between two responsible adults. I'm grateful for it because I had become the shoulder to cry on and ears for the ugly and childish similar processes in the past. There were many moments when I wondered how something beautiful turned into an empty shell of itself, sometimes crushed and withered without a trace. So, I find the book's first quarter very powerful and realistic.

 

Regrettably, everything goes in another direction from there. It feels cringey and meta when every character the MC meets loves her book. The story turns into a mundane diary entry style with many fillers, but fair enough, it's a journal, after all. I understand the nature of slow burn in this kind of story, but nevertheless, I feel a bit lost, and unfortunately, it never picks up for me again. I sincerely hope these kinds of stories happen in real life somehow, somewhere, and often, but it gets fairy-tallish, which is the path many romance stories take as the ending. From the gripping emotional and realistic character's life, it turns into Melrose place strings of events.  The book sends the message that the character manages to overcome her fear, insecurities, and the biggest turn in her life, which I applaud. Unfortunately, it's hard to get the point across when everything comes that easy, and the MC has everything cut out perfectly for her financially and romantically with every support imaginable. I get that there are still 'ups and downs,' but I really think only a tiny percentage of ordinary people can relate to all those because it turns into a fairy tale that is loved by many daytime TV viewers and becomes unrealistic. I love being wrong and wish many people had this kind of life.

 

Moving past my nitpick, I think the book is well written, there are many likable characters, and the dialogues are believable. There are many funny snippets here and there, and I also like realistic characters like the fireman and the con artist who conducts the worst writing class ever. It's easy to continue reading, and I actually finished the last 60% in one sitting.

4 out of 5

 

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN THE MIND AWAKENS (OBINNA ONWUGBENE)

 

When I was young, I read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. To be honest, I barely remember what I read now, and I'm not sure it would work the same now that it has been almost three decades later. Still, I can safely say I learned several things from it, mainly because there are concrete ways to implement the strategies in realistic situations, not merely theories.

Personally, this book is exhausting to read. The points are repetitive, and it almost feels like, for each point, I would read multiple permutations that say the same thing, some theories also tend to repeat in another chapter. The book feels like a prolonged preaching without offering real insights or solutions. True, there are many good bits of advice here and there, but they are apparent points that barely add any skill or more profound understanding. Sometimes, the authors are a bit out of touch. These are not the actual quotes but the impressions I got. Do you feel stressed about bills? Then, pay the bills. Is there an obstacle? Overcome it. Be motivated. Surround yourself with influential people. Crank your self-esteem. Save your money. Believe in yourself. If you do these, you will succeed.

They sound good, but what do I learn? Elaborate theories. There are examples given in story format, which, in my opinion, is the more effective way to do it, but most are very basic and don't inspire much; they are also far between.

As mushy and predictable as they could sometimes be, the Chicken Soup for the Souls series actually provides many inspiring stories and ways to face realistic difficulties and challenges. They are good at opening the mind to looking at things from different perspectives.

I'm very sure the author is a very wonderful and optimistic person, and he means to help people with this book. I genuinely believe and applaud that. Unfortunately, challenges in life are not black and white. Theories are good (maybe), but I think most decently motivated people already know most of those; the challenge is how to fit them into specific circumstances, which is the area in which we need the most help. And unfortunately, it is hard to find a good fit without adjustments, and in reality, nicely polished advice doesn't apply to everyone.

This is my personal opinion though. It might fit into what others are looking for.

3 out of 5

BOOK REVIEW: Dogteeth and Other Tales of the Paranormal (Gene Kendall)

 

Rounded up from 4.5

This book is a collection of short stories, full of imagination and creativity. One can jump from one story to another and be amazed at how the characters and world have changed. Some endings are abrupt, but that is the charm of short stories. Some leave us wanting more, while the rest feel incomplete.

Some elements made me chuckle, like how the author pokes at many questionable things in our current society. For example, the absurdity of social media that continues to exist because there is a demand for it, and the willingness to go into ‘character’ when portraying and investigating something beyond common sense in Judith Rintaro and Fatty Blue. These topics are entertaining in a sad way. There are stories that are touching and intriguing in different ways, like Easy Peasy and Temptation.

Ironically, my least favorite story is the one picked as the title. Perhaps because I checked out the performed audio version pointed out by the author. Maybe it’s just not my thing because it is a very high-quality production. I grew up during the time when radio drama was a thing. We listened to stories performed by multiple actors without any visuals, and that was sometimes the only entertainment we got. This is something similar. However, I found it overacted, and the pace is a bit off, making the story feel so slow that I still barely had any idea what creatures they were and how the world worked with fifteen minutes left, which, sorry, I gave up and switched to the book. The background noises are too loud and distracting and sometimes become headache-inducing. The narration style also takes away the fight scene; it’s like I’m hearing the story recited by my grandpa, not by someone experiencing it like the protagonist. Again, this is my personal view; I believe others would appreciate it more because, as said, it’s a high-quality production. Besides this, which shouldn’t affect my review of the story, I found it’s not as compelling as others.

Overall, this is a good short story collection for fans of the supernatural and paranormal genres. I am not one, but I can appreciate the creativity, storytelling, characters, and world-building.

BOOK REVIEW: Black Hole Radio (Furilani) by Ann Birdgenaw

 

3.5 out of 5

I was hoping to read some deeper character developments or improvements to the main storyline; after all, this is the fifth book I have read in the series. However, everyone remains the same, and the plot remains the same: little mentions about the characters’ school lives, sucked into the black hole radio, meeting alien species, bad ugly, good cute, and characters do some elaborate things to save the oppressed aliens, all the while barely have any sense of danger or worries, and everything always goes in their way, regardless of how elaborate the challenges and threats they face. I also have more struggle to like the characters; they still feel detached and annoying at times, and the implication of cheating in their sports game is a bit hard to brush off.

However, maybe I’m reading and wanting it to be a more mature book that doesn’t simplify issues that much, and that must be the wrong way of reading it because this book is definitely not intended for me. Most likely, the target audience would like it the way it is. Furilani is a fast-read, entertaining book, with the idea of sploot being the winner. I like their uniqueness and their camouflage ability. Besides that, world-building is creative and fun.

The main storyline is for the characters to take pity and try to free these sploots, who have become merely fashion, hanging onto the owners as part of accessories. Although thankfully, they don’t have to be dead for that. I feel that with this plot, a big loophole hasn’t been answered. For their ability and intelligence, it becomes questionable why sploots can’t save themselves because they are clearly very capable of doing so. Something is missing about why they ‘oblige’ when they can easily escape. It doesn’t have to be extravagant; maybe the bad guy has some other control over them instead of just questionable physical control. In that way, the ending would work better, that the sploots want to entertain, not have to, and maybe they can still become ‘fashion’ by being happy pets and bring out the colors without being forced because, after all, the evil characters and community changing their minds, habits, and cultures over a parade is just too magical.

PNW Affliction I: Recycled

 

This is probably the first time I've read something in this format. The story picks up quickly, and I appreciate the author's backstories and explanations; they help when you read this book as a standalone.

We follow the main character, who sometimes talks to readers throughout the night. He is caught in an unfortunate situation and has to spend the night outside his home, trying to survive, which is the book's whole premise.

I wish to know the character and the plot better. I know bits and pieces of what the MC is like from how he looks at things, which is interesting, but I don't know the motivation and his actual purpose yet. I would love to better understand why someone like him, who is resourceful, fearless, and seems very logical, feels the need to spend the night out there, risking frostbite, instead of going home, somewhere nearby. I believe there will be more justifications to help me understand his choice in the subsequent books. It would be nice to have a clearer indication if the group he meets at the end is the perpetrator of the first incident or, at least, if it's related. It seems like he has another suspicion for another group of people.

Multiple scenes make me hopeful about the possibility of this turning into something epic (like the card), and everything is done for a reason. The ending opens the potential for more stories and answers to all questions. This book One feels a bit incomplete, but it starts well and captivates me to the end. It is easy to read, I like the writing style, the character is thought-provoking with many indications about the intriguing past that shaped him into what he is now. I like every detail, and this deserves a more complete assessment, so I'll read the follow-up book and return to this review.

A Tale of the Young Witch

 

A tale of a young witch is a very ambitious fantasy. However, I am not sure why it’s divided into three parts because all three happen continuously and in the same timeline, involving the same characters.

The book has a simple but interesting beginning. We follow the story of Amelia as some origin story because she is the titular character who starts as someone ordinary enough with ordinary life, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. From there, the journey goes to common fantasy routes with a twist ending. More on these later.

This goes throughout the book, but it’s more jarring in the beginning; it is the way the story is told as ‘Amelia this,’ ‘Amelia that’ even though the scenes only involve one character or the other character is a male. It becomes very distracting because of the number of times the name is thrown instead of using she or her. I believe it would average at least three times per page. I am also distracted by the description of Jack earlier as lanky and when he is mentioned later in the book as lean. It would be fine as the two definitions are close enough if it’s not mentioned too often. Other terms that bother me are between ‘puppet’ and ‘clone.’ I love Sci-Fi, and the way these terms are used as if they are the same confuses me. In the earlier scenes with Scarlet, I’m sorry, but I have to repeat the word ‘distracting’ to read things like ‘angelic’ voice and ‘gorgeous’ eyes while they are in dire situations and not some observations of someone about the character. But these are nitpicking, and they most likely don’t distract others as much.

I prefer realistic fantasy, if that’s a thing. I wish there were a genre for it. It’s like fantasy, but the plot, the problems that the characters face, and the characters themselves are very much in line with reality. I devour The Song of Ice and Fire with great interest and have no problem with big-sized books, but this book makes me recall my experience watching the first Transformer movie. I’d categorize it as pure fantasy, so maybe I am biased in my reading experience because, as mentioned, I prefer the other kind of fantasy, nevermind they both have a similar magical creature. It starts well, and everything is intriguing enough. Still, unfortunately, I can’t wait for it to end after the final fights that stretch over one hundred pages, more or less, with repetitive dialogues. The fights are great and well-written, but it takes one-fifth of the book, and I have to admit I don’t care anymore since the outcome is obvious to me anyway. And there is a plethora of action scenes before these final fights that already exhaust me.

Having said all that, pure fantasy readers might enjoy this book. The author put a lot of effort into this, and there are a lot of unique and great scenes for the theme that is probably quite saturated. The characters are done well; we are introduced to plenty of them, and although some have fewer scenes than they deserve, they are distinguishable enough. The fight scenes are creative and well-written, and although I am not really taken by the ending, it has the potential for more stories.

3.5 rounded up.

 

Light My Pyre (Kat Kinney)

 

The good thing about fantasy is that the imagination can be limitless. I believe I had watched some old Asian movie about dragon shapeshifters, but I certainly had never read a book about it.

The book follows the journey of Asher (a firefighter; this is not as close as Bookman as a librarian in Seinfeld, and definitely not better than a real-life firefighter, Lieutenant Les McBurney, but good enough) facing the challenge of a serial arsonist who seems to have something against him. He moves to a new place to escape from a traumatic event and meets a girl, a dragon shapeshifter, on the run of her own problems.

There are a lot of creativities in this book, but there are many times when I was distracted by 'witty comments' uttered by the characters. Some of them feel inappropriate to the situations and take me out of the moments, especially serious and sad scenes. They also blur the characters' distinctiveness. I have met many different people in my life, and trust me, not many are quote machines; some even laughed at my jokes on Monday after I told them the previous Wednesday. They are creative and funny but can become too excessive and tiresome for the above reasons.

I like the twists that make the book not very predictable and the greyness of the characters with their backstories. The ending is a bit draggy, but overall, this is a good read for those who enjoy fantasy. It's not my genre. I like GRRM books, but I categorize them more as realistic 'fantasy' (I know, it has dragons and zombies, but they lean heavily on stories, characters, social politics and the parallels to reality) than mythical ones. Over time, I have come to appreciate the fantasy genre and the amazing world of imagination that comes with it.

4.5 rounded up.

Redemption (Dave Saari)

 

For the mystery, this book has a decent case. It starts strong and intriguing with a kidnapping and ransom case of a wealthy man's wife. He then fades into the background as we learn that the said wife had been murdered, allegedly wrongfully convicted and has been sitting in prison for five years until a good friend of his hires a private investigator to relook into the case.

The private investigators called FYI are the main characters: husband and wife, Trey and Sybil, and Trey's mother, Madeleine. They are rich people who take up cases for fun as they don't need the money if they believe their clients are innocent.

I want to like this book. I really do. I like murder mysteries and detective stories, but these characters, their interactions and relationships are too unrealistic to me. In my opinion, they are very objectified, and if we take out everything sexually related, there is almost nothing left. They are unrelatable, and I don't root for them at all. Here are the examples. As an ex-FBI officer, Sybil approaches, and borderline harasses their suspect carelessly. Both of them got away with it the first time, but when she acts alone, with her husband waiting and watching, she is assaulted, slapped, groped, and harassed, complete with torn clothes with buttons flying off and everything in the daylight. That should be serious, shouldn't it? But nothing comes out of it. There are no reactions from them other than some casual remarks, and they move on to discuss a dress now that her clothes are torn as if that is Tuesday.

And the dress, sigh, so these two buy a flirty dress from a consignment shop because it reminds the husband, Trey, about their hotel receptionist, whom he flirts with openly and apparently lusts for him based on a few interactions. So, Sybil, the wife, agrees to wear it to fulfil his fantasy even though she is uncomfortable and protesting multiple times. Fortunately, it seems like she finally feels okay, and they both enjoy fooling around in it, but then she decides she doesn't like it, and then they gift it to the receptionist, Nicole, the one the husband lusts for, because she helps them with the investigation. This girl apparently expects a threesome invitation when they invite her to their room. They didn't, but still, she was delighted to get this third or whatever hand slutty dress. (I have nothing against reduce, reuse, recycle (because that is the justification), but I really don't think it's a norm to give people a used slutty dress and loudly state you give it away because you hate it, as a thank you). To top it all, she gets so excited and flustered that Nicole leaves with the new dress and forgets her bra. I don't know, but normal people don't forget undergarments, especially when they arrive wearing them. That is not all. Sybil then confiscates the bra and wears it like her own. What is happening here?

Another example is Madeleine, Trey's mother, who, in order to get the information she needs for the case, opts for performing for a man. Having a sexual encounter with her female partner while the man watches. Of course, he promises not to take pictures or videos and to leave the information if he is happy with the show. Of course. Please remember these are professional, super-wealthy investigators with money, qualifications, and reputations. Madeleine is a tech wizard; that's what I know because it is mentioned more than I see her in action.

I don't have triggers, and I'm really not against mature scenes. One or two are useful to the plot and characters, but others are very distracting and absurd.

The villain is supposed to be the charming genius and psychotic, and there is a potential redeeming ending, but the book doesn't have enough of it or more scenes about why and how this person is a chameleon and mastermind because there is almost no actual interaction that conveys his charm, a missed opportunity because I would certainly root for the villain instead.

This is my personal opinion, and books are very subjective. What doesn't work for me might work for others. I think the author writes a good murder mystery and I like the style of flashbacks as we reveal the case.

3 used flirty dress out of 5 consignment shops