This doesn’t have to be a long review, because the name of the book and the name of the author tell it all. We’re talking a massive takeoff on every superhero movie, video game and graphic novel ever written for teenage guys. Nothing but fighting, sex, destruction, blood and bad language. The action is pretty […]
“Kingdom in Flames Book 1: A Fateful Journey” by Edgars Vlasovs
This epic novel leans towards a gritty style of Fantasy. We are exposed to the difficulties, small and large, that plagued the lower classes during the real Middle Ages: back-breaking labour, inequity and crude behaviour of all sorts. And war, with all its horror. There is a good swath of battle action in the story, […]
“The Adventures of Lord Bolingbroke” by Joshua Catchatoor
This review could be summed up economically by a single quote. The Preface contains one short sentence; “This is quite a silly book.” And thus prepared, we dive into a novel best described as Monty Python with the silliness level set on steroids. Especially in the opening chapters, bodily functions figure largely in the action, […]
“The Silver Prison” by Peter Shokeir
This is a novel version of a superhero movie, and it pretty well ticks all the boxes for a YA Action/Adventure. Beings with magical powers and names like “Sandtrap, ” “Incognito” and “Cloak.” Disregard for coincidence and continuity of plot. Lots of great action. The story has the required amount of comedy and quips to […]
“Lifeforce” by Annie Rodriguez
“Lifeforce” by Annie Rodriguez I would classify this story as Chicklit Paranormal. I say this because the paranormal action takes a weak second place to the romantic conflict in the story, and also because one of the settings is a hospital, which is common to the genre. I mention this because it leads to an […]
“The Silver Prison” by Peter Soheir
This is a novel version of a superhero movie, and it pretty well ticks all the boxes for a YA Action/Adventure. Beings with magical powers and names like “Sandtrap, ” “Incognito” and “Cloak.” Disregard for coincidence and continuity of plot. Lots of great action. The story has the required amount of comedy and quips to […]
“Time’s Orphan” by Hayley Reese Chow
This is a classical example of Epic Fiction, using the Hero’s Journey format. In keeping with modern trends, the heroine is a more personable and lovable character than was typical in the past. This sets warfare and mayhem at a less important level and puts the onus on the characterization to create our enjoyment of […]
“Intersections: Life-Changing Stories from my Rideshare Passengers” by Andrew Spink
This book of short stories consists of fictionalized expansions of quick tales told to a Uber driver over the course of his journeys. I have been doing some editing in the genre lately, and I was interested to see how this author would handle it. I’m glad I took it on. “True Fiction” can be […]
“Bobish” by Magdalena Ball
I’ll say that from the start, this book impressed me, mainly for what it doesn’t have. There are no Forewords, Introductions, Letters from the Author, or any of those crutches writers use to explain what they’re afraid their art does not communicate. This is art that stands on its own. The book is an interesting […]
“Shadow Cast” by Rachel Meenan
This is a young adult Fantasy that I am having trouble connecting to a specific age group. In general, it is well structured, with the layers of conflict set up neatly, most of them coming directly from the personalities of the individuals involved. The plotline is complex, involving reasonable problems with difficult solutions. The main […]