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The Wisewoman is a wonderful end to a fabulous trilogy that should be read by every fantasy reader who would like something a little different. The author cleverly creates tension without resorting to the battles, complex political intrigue and predi...more
The Wisewoman is a wonderful end to a fabulous trilogy that should be read by every fantasy reader who would like something a little different. The author cleverly creates tension without resorting to the battles, complex political intrigue and predictable structure favoured by many in the traditional fantasy genre. Instead we have a sensitive journey through a series of events that culminate in the answer to the ongoing mystery of the series – who is Carin and how is earth, the world of her birth, linked to the one she now calls home?
In this book, Carin and Theil discover that despite their efforts to avoid it, some unwanted visitors have crossed the void to their home. While making their way home, they must deal not only with the strangler weed and the bleeding disease, but also with their guilt at being the likely conduit for the plagues’ appearance in their world.
I was delighted that this book didn’t see the hero and heroine torn apart after they finally got together in the second book, another departure from so many series with a romantic element. Though the events test their relationship, I enjoyed seeing Theil smiling and the two of them happy together.
Much of this book is told from the Wisewoman’s point of view, a delightful character that, although mentioned in the first book, we only meet now. Her story helps us fill in the missing pieces of Theil’s family background and explains Carin’s original need to go north. Interestingly, seeing the lovers’ relationship through her eyes adds another dimension to the characters. Theil’s noble character shines out, surprising in the depth of his compassion and concern for his people, while Carin’s power grows alarmingly.
Many characters from previous books reappear, one with tragic results. I loved the ending, particularly Theil’s response to what he sees in the well (I’m trying not to give anything away here, you’ll have to read the series to know how your heart leaps with joy at this man’s transformation. I give it 5 stars without hesitation. Deborah Lightfoot’s books well deserve their place on the Awesome Indies listing.(less)
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This is a highly enjoyable, expertly written and thought-provoking work of contemporary fiction that looks at the reality of the post women’s liberation world. Women wanted the freedom to have a career, but the bottom line is that men can’t have the...more
This is a highly enjoyable, expertly written and thought-provoking work of contemporary fiction that looks at the reality of the post women’s liberation world. Women wanted the freedom to have a career, but the bottom line is that men can’t have the babies, so what women actually got was the burden of juggling two jobs–one to earn money and the other to bring up the children—often without the satisfaction of doing either job well. Karen Bell raises these kinds of issues in a delightfully entertaining read about a very real and easy to relate to woman.
Suze Hall is in danger of loosing her job, thanks to a reshuffle at work. A work mate who hates Suze as much as Suze hates her has been promoted and is now Suze’s boss. The company has been taken over and the stakes and workload raised. Wanda, the boss, gives Suze a task that is so out of her area of expertise that she is clearly meant to fail in order to give a good reason for Wanda to fire her.
At the same time, Suze’s husband, Bob, is leaving her and the three kids for a six-month sabbatical down under, and her best friend, Marcia, is involved with a new boyfriend, so Suze is alone with the kids. As well as this, David, the gorgeous artist who broke her heart at college has coincidentally popped back into her life and has what she desperately needs to keep her job. Suze is forced to confront old demons—her feelings for David—and new ones—negotiating office politics to avoid being sidelined by her career woman boss who is keen to make Suze feel inadequate and unnecessary.
The issues are serious but the writing is light-hearted. The characters are delightful and very real. Suze goes through a kind of midlife crisis where she questions everything about herself and her relationships. The story raises all her insecurities, ones shared by woman of all ages throughout the western world, and her imagination throws up some romance novel options in her renewed relationship with David. They could lead her on a dangerous path but she’s smart enough to keep her cool.
One of my favourite bits is where Suze bemoans the fact that a woman no longer has the luxury of growing old, fat and respected—a kind of reward for her years of childrearing and the maturity and wisdom that comes from it. This would be a mature mother’s status in a matriarchal society and that’s how the story relates to elephants—not size, matriarchal society.
I recommend Walking with Elephants to every woman and I give it 5 stars and a place on the Awesome Indies listing.(less)
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Beauty in the Beast is a delightful and moving novella about a troupe of four performers on their way to a fair who get trapped in a blizzard and tale shelter in the cabin of a gruff, handsome stranger. Rolph asks only for stories in return and each...more
Beauty in the Beast is a delightful and moving novella about a troupe of four performers on their way to a fair who get trapped in a blizzard and tale shelter in the cabin of a gruff, handsome stranger. Rolph asks only for stories in return and each of them tell a tale. Tara's story is of an orphaned girl raised by the Fae in the world of the spirits and Rolph’s is of an alchemist whose experiments with transformation doom him to transform into a wolf on the full moon. It soon becomes clear that there is chemistry between them and Tara becomes concerned when she sees his hands shaking. She follows him outside and… you’ll have to read the result because the ending is… fabulous. It’s a 2 hour read and I recommend it for anyone who likes a good tale. It has a tender beauty about it and it’s a good one for anyone who doesn’t like a lot of romance. It’s also quite suitable for older teens.(less)
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Raise the Gipper is crazy, perceptive political satire, and if you’re going to buy it, you should buy it now because I have the feeling that it might just be about what’s happening in US politics right now. As a not-particularly-interested-in-politic...more
Raise the Gipper is crazy, perceptive political satire, and if you’re going to buy it, you should buy it now because I have the feeling that it might just be about what’s happening in US politics right now. As a not-particularly-interested-in-politics Australian, who knows little about the US system and even less about the actual candidates, a lot of the subtlety of this book is lost on me. Nevertheless I found it a delightful tale of a reanimated president, a couple on different sides of politics who are falling in love despite their ongoing political arguments, a couple of possible vice president nominees and their spouses and Josh who is, well, Josh. This book made politics a lot more interesting than it actually is, at least for me.
I’m guessing that Americans will find it hilarious. Some of the writing reminded me of that wonderful British farce, Yes Minister, where politicians and their minions make long speeches that go around and around and never actually say anything. I particularly enjoyed Reagan’s thought processes and his relationship with his minions –yes, he’s back, deader than ever and very, very hungry.
The book is well written. I recommend it for everyone interested in US politics, give it 4 stars (though if I were more politically aware, it would probably be 5) and a place in the Awesome Indies listing.(less)
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I began reading this collection as I sat in my eye doctor's waiting room. By the time the tech came for me, she had to call me twice to drag me back into my present reality. The first story, "The Drorgon Slayer's Choice," had carried me away with...
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I'm sorry I didn't have time to do a longer review of this one, but if you like urban fantasy, then this really is one you should read. It's an excellent book, well written and a unique idea in a genre already overflowing with ideas. The plot moved a...more
I'm sorry I didn't have time to do a longer review of this one, but if you like urban fantasy, then this really is one you should read. It's an excellent book, well written and a unique idea in a genre already overflowing with ideas. The plot moved along at a good pace, leading to a very satisfying ending. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and look forward to more from this author. Go Indies!(less)
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Here’s another great title from Carina Press, and another terrific fantasy romance from Cindy Spencer Pape. This urban fantasy should satisfy lovers of traditional fantasy as well because the story takes us through portals into totally different worl...more
Here’s another great title from Carina Press, and another terrific fantasy romance from Cindy Spencer Pape. This urban fantasy should satisfy lovers of traditional fantasy as well because the story takes us through portals into totally different worlds populated by some delightfully bizarre creatures.
Des is a mage and a cop who keeps paranormals in line. The league of Mages he works for has a history of mistrust/predjudice of the other paranormals and though Des has a family who embraces the other races more than most, he has a hard time trusting them. Even so, he has the hots the beautiful werewolf Lana, someone he’s pretty sure he can’t have – not if he wants to keep his job.
She's sexy, gutsy, flamboyant and no ones pet moggie. He thinks she’s not his type but he can’t stop lusting after her. Lana admires Des, but she can't be with someone who won't take her seriously, no matter how much she'd love to rip off his dress shirt. A nasty new drug turns up in Detroit, Des is sent to investigate, and Lana insists on coming along. But they end up in a cell in a demon dimension. To get home, they must break out of prison and escape through a series of unpredictable alternate realities – together. In true romance fashion, their relationship develops after it starts with hot sex when they can’t deny their mutual attraction. By the time they get home Des is wondering if keeping his job is worth giving up Lana and they still have to bust the drug ring. The end is in keeping with the romance genre and though some might say that it ties up a little too neatly, I like a happy ending. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for all fantasy romance lovers.(less)
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As expected, zombies populate this book, complete with rotting flesh, sunken eyes and mindless shuffling gait. They’re not my favourite characters, but if you like zombies, you’ll like Ed Undead. It’s a strong story that never bores, and Ed, the 16 y...more
As expected, zombies populate this book, complete with rotting flesh, sunken eyes and mindless shuffling gait. They’re not my favourite characters, but if you like zombies, you’ll like Ed Undead. It’s a strong story that never bores, and Ed, the 16 year old almost Zombie, shows us what true courage is.
The story is set in a post apocalyptic world, where a plague has turned most of the population into zombies whose only concern is finding some living flesh to tear into to satiate their hunger. Ed has the virus but hasn’t turned into a zombie – yet. He hopes he never will and aims to find someone with a cure, if there is one, before the virus takes him over the edge. The living dead are after him and he and his girlfriend, Lisa Jane are running and fighting for their survival.
They team up with a mother and her child, and for a short while with Ed’s rival from school. Lisa sends him off when he shows himself too cowardly to help her out of a sticky situation. Throughout the story, Ed has flashbacks to life as it was and these are very well handled. He faces zombies that were once people he knew and the remains of others who became their food. It’s gruesome stuff, but the writing keeps a good balance between description of the details and not over doing the horror. His grief as he recalls what he has lost is real and moving.
The author called it a paranormal romance, but I’d call it urban fantasy. Ed and his girlfriend are in love, but that doesn’t make it a romance. This is more action based than character and relationship based, and the main issue is escaping the zombies and the strange ‘boss’ that some of them refer to, rather than overcoming obstacles to a relationship as in a romance.
Regardless of what genre you stick it in, it’s a good yarn and I think boys in particular would like it. The two main characters are strong, but I would have liked to have got to know the mother and daughter better, and Sam Ed’s little sister seemed a bit silly for a ten year old. I think her character could be developed further.
I give it 4 stars and a place in the Awesome Indies listing. Ed and Lisa are great characters to spend time with, even if it is in a zombie infested town.(less)
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Unspent Time is a collection of short stories and I loved it for its humour, originality and general craziness. If you have a prejudice against short stories, drop it and read this. It’s highly entertaining and the author’s commentary links the stor...more
Unspent Time is a collection of short stories and I loved it for its humour, originality and general craziness. If you have a prejudice against short stories, drop it and read this. It’s highly entertaining and the author’s commentary links the stories into a unified and satisfying whole.
Graham’s vibrant characters shine from the first page of each story. His sensitive portrayal hooks our empathy and makes them, and even their sometimes fantastical stories, very real. I love the way fantasy and reality play alongside each other in this collection, and like the best short stories, there’s more to them than just entertaining tales. For example, in the Goki Feng Ho story, a ridiculous system of decoding the meaning of car license plates takes on cultish overtones and makes us wonder at man-kind’s ability to find and defend meaning in all sorts of places.
I give this book 5 stars and add it to the Awesome Indies listing. I haven’t read No Hope for Gomez because it isn’t available on ebook, but if it’s anything like this, then I’d love to.(less)
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