Mother’s Heart: Book Three of the Mother-Earth Series By Alan Tucker Paperback ISBN 978-0982686447 $14.99 Kindle ASIN B007CL4ISU $3.99
Alan Tucker brings...moreMother’s Heart: Book Three of the Mother-Earth Series By Alan Tucker Paperback ISBN 978-0982686447 $14.99 Kindle ASIN B007CL4ISU $3.99
Alan Tucker brings the story of Jenny Kershaw and her friends to a dramatic conclusion in the third installment of the Mother-Earth series, Mother’s Heart. At the end of the last book, Jenny was stranded back on earth in the company of a fire-spirit named Neseus and his daughter, an air-spirit named Xenia. Jenny was searching desperately for a way back to mother where all her friends and now even her parents are. Eventually, after trying many different locations Jenny makes her way back to Mother. This time Jenny isn’t the only human who finds a way to Mother, in fact an entire group of Army members find a way to make a portal between Earth and Mother and are there to explore the planet and exploit its resources. What they don’t realize is that like every other human who has ever come to Mother they are all changing into whatever the planet will make of them. Thankfully the officer initially in charge of the team on Mother has one of his men record the changes taking place as a way to let the people back on Earth know that perhaps coming to Mother might not be the wisest decision they can make. When Jenny makes it back to Mother she discovers herself on the opposite side of the planet from her friends and family. While there she makes friends with a young Gobinstratorai boy who is essentially a victim of forced slave labor. Jenny manages to free him, but becomes extremely aware of the fact that outside of Seren’naie, the advanced city where Jenny and her friends eventually ended their initial travels on Mother, there exists grave injustice. Realizing she has to pick her battles, Jenny has to ignore what is going on with the mind controlling class of elves and concentrate instead on getting back to her friends and family. There is a ton of action in this book involving Jenny, her old friends and new ones, the Army and relatively new extremely dangerous threat. Mogritas is at it again and is out to destroy Mother itself this time; taking away all that makes magic thrive on the planet. Can Jenny and her friends stop him in time? Is there even a chance of winning when the battle, this time, is so stacked in favor of the opposition? I highly recommend you read this exciting YA and Middle Grade series. (less)
A Cure for Chaos By Alan Tucker Copyright 2011 by Alan Tucker, published by MAD Design , Inc paperback $14.99 from Amazon or Barnes and Noble ISBN 978-0...moreA Cure for Chaos By Alan Tucker Copyright 2011 by Alan Tucker, published by MAD Design , Inc paperback $14.99 from Amazon or Barnes and Noble ISBN 978-0982686430, eBook from Smashwords $3.99 ISBN 978-0-9826864-2-3
A Cure for Chaos is Alan Tucker’s much anticipated sequel to A Measure of Disorder the premier book in Tucker’s Mother-Earth series. A Cure for Chaos reacquaints us with beloved characters from A Measure of Disorder including Jenni Kershaw, now a freshman who still wants nothing more than to be an ordinary teen and who finds herself being forced into situations that repeatedly require her to rise above the ordinary into the extraordinary.
A Cure for Chaos takes you across America and into Mother, a world beyond ours where beings from our fairy tales and mythologies come to vivid life, offering a unique glance into a world that offers a chance to experience what life could be like if all these things were real.
Jenni Kershaw, one of our heroes/heroines finds her kind, helpful, giving nature keeps landing her in difficult and often dangerous situations. Newcomers to Mother find themselves undergoing transformations and Jenni makes an unforeseen sacrifice.
A Cure for Chaos offers Tucker’s unique and fantastical perspective to children, teens and adults alike in a wonderful world where dreams can come true and where they can be magical things. It is a visit to the best places in the human spirit, where good prevails and uniqueness is celebrated. It’s a stellar trip into the world of imagination and a voyage you will never want to return from. I can’t wait till the third volume comes out! (less)
Clementine by Cherie Priest copyright 2010 by Cherie Priest, published by Subterranean Press, PO Box 190106, Burton, MI 48519 http://www.subterraneanpre...moreClementine by Cherie Priest copyright 2010 by Cherie Priest, published by Subterranean Press, PO Box 190106, Burton, MI 48519 http://www.subterraneanpress.com ISBN 978-1-59606-366-2 available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble for $4.99 for the eBook
Clementine is the second installment set in Cherie Priest’s “Clockwork Century” world. It is a world where the American Civil War still continues, great and terrible machines are being made and the city of Seattle, Washington is walled in and quarantined.
Clementine picks up the story of Croggon Hainey, a runaway slave who years before stole a Union war dirigible he renamed the Clementine. The Clementine is stolen so Hainey sets off in another stolen airship to try to recapture the Clementine and a race across the country, from Seattle, Washington to Louisville, Kentucky is on.
As Hainey races to recapture the Clementine, Maria Isabella Boyd, better known as “Belle” Boyd, a former Confederate spy has just gone to work for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, her job, to make sure the Clementine makes it safely to her destination. She’s given the information that Hainey, a man wanted by the Confederacy Belle used to serve, is hot on the Clementine's tail. Belle is given a free hand to deal with Hainey any way she wants, including turning him over to her former pals within the Confederate Army.
Clementine is a really good read, although I didn’t like it as much as the first Clockwork Century novel Boneshaker. There is plenty of action in Clementine, but I didn’t feel as though there was enough tension in the book. It’s there in places, but it builds and releases coming to only a moderate climax at the end of the book. I personally prefer novels that continue to build their tension throughout the book without any of the periodic drop-offs that I experienced while reading Clementine.
I really enjoyed the characters in Clementine and the interplay that takes place between them. I was already slightly acquainted with Croggon Hainey through Boneshaker. To me he is the Civil War equivalent of a Rambo, rushing in guns blazing saying to hell with the consequences. He knows he wants his ship back and he’ll run over anyone or anything that gets in his way.
Clementine is worth the time it takes to read it. It’s relatively short. It’s fun and it’s a definite must read if you are a fan of Priest and her Clockwork Century world. (less)
Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra’s Last Hope by Elizabeth Isaacs, is a refreshing and enchanting expedition into a fascinating and well-developed land of f...moreLight of Asteria: Kailmeyra’s Last Hope by Elizabeth Isaacs, is a refreshing and enchanting expedition into a fascinating and well-developed land of fantasy. Isaacs has developed interesting characters who come vividly to life on the page, as well as a funny and refreshing romance that teaches young adult’s the value of waiting until marriage for intimacy.
I absolutely love Isaac’s characters, and her pages are populated with them. There is Edna, the wonderful woman who raised her when she was abandoned at eight-years of age by her alcoholic father. There’s her love interest, Gavin, who is an Alfar, or what we would call a light-elf. He is surrounded by his family, Rena, an artistic soul who takes Nora, our heroine under her wing and teaches her the rudiments of art. There’s Tark, who is Rena’s mate and who becomes closer to Nora during some time the three spend together in the wilderness. Then there is Elias, a taciturn, but loyal friend of Gavin and finally, Elaine, Elias’ warm-hearted and fashion-savvy mate. All of these characters play ever increasing roles in the story and become key characters for the novel’s sequel.
In Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra’s Last Hope Isaac’s paints a picture of true love and mutual respect that should form the basis of any marriage. By bringing a different culture into the picture she helps highlight how our traditions should be, without throwing any stones.
Isaacs’s makes excellent use of foreshadowing, both through hints dropped throughout the novel and visions occurring at strategic moments. These events truly help to move the story along building the pace and anxiety toward its natural conclusion.
The first half of Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra’s Last Hope is very interesting and contains lots of necessary back-story and details of interest. It introduces the Dokkalfar, what we would call a dark-elf and explains their history and some of their purpose here. It shows the ongoing conflict between the two groups of man, and the spill-over to humanity. It shows that the Dokkalfar have grown stronger and can now plant their evil thoughts directly into the minds of humans. It makes you understand how critical the battle raging between the two people is. It also makes you realize how important Nora, as Gavin’s source and his one chosen love, is.
Unfortunately, Gavin’s mother has other plans for him.
The second half of the story takes place in another land, where customs and lifestyles differ and our heroine Nora finds herself striving to fit in. there are many challenges, not just for Nora but also for Gavin. Along the way it is revealed that Gavin’s “family” from his time in the human world has now become the clan of Nora and him in fact. Each member of the clan is given a key role to play in the future of the kingdom and in the very existence of the elves.
What follows is an excerpt from the book:
“Foreign woods and black silhouettes smothered out the orange; the memory so strong, adrenaline rushed through my veins. A painful spear of fear stabbed the pit of my stomach.
“When did you dream this?” he whispered.
Early this morning … Gavin, what’s going on? His blank eyes refocused; he stood and went to the window.
“When the elves of darkness find one of our kind, they track them until they find the source that feeds their power, and then they destroy the source. The evil ones cannot recognize the cause of our strength, and so they must wait until we draw from it. Love, joy,peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, patience, gentleness and selfcontrol—these are our sources of energy. We are strongest with pure love flowing through us. We can only perish if our energy is drained, until we are physically as weak as a human.” My heart jumped to my throat.
“What happened to you the morning I found you?” I had to know. I remember the pain you were in. I’ve never felt such despair. His emotions were hot and blistering, but I concentrated on listening, instinct screaming to pay attention.
“I was attacked by the Dokkalfar. We have been tracking their leader for quite a while. He came back to this area several months ago. When you said you were spending the night on campus, I stayed to make sure you were not harmed.”
Lights washed against the windows as a car pulled into the drive.
Gavin hesitated for a moment. I walked to him, putting my hand in his.
“If it hadn’t been for you, I would have died.”
“Me?” What did I do?
“You took my pain when it was unbearable. I was practically beaten to death, and your compassion gave me the strength to survive.” I just stared at him. He laced his fingers with mine.
The doorknob turned, and I jumped, my jumbled nerves were suddenly in a knot
“My family is here.” The mammoth door creaked open. Gavin kissed my forehead making my pulse speed, and self consciously, I turned to find four pairs of jewel-toned eyes staring back at me.”
Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra’s Last Hope by Elizabeth Isaacs, copyright 2010 by Elizabeth Isaacs, published by iUniverse, 1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403 http://www.iuniverse.com 1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677) eBook ISBN 978-1-4502-1703-3 $9.99; soft cover ISBN 978-1-4502-1702-6 $21.95 (less)
A Measure of Disorder by Alan Tucker is a wonderful foray into fantasy and imagination. Technically a young adult book, the book is just as likely to...moreA Measure of Disorder by Alan Tucker is a wonderful foray into fantasy and imagination. Technically a young adult book, the book is just as likely to appeal to middle-graders as the heroine of the book is a fourteen-year-old eighth grader name Jenni Kershaw.
Jenni and her eighth grade science class are on a field to a nearby campground to collect plant samples for a science project. Suddenly, after lunch, the entire class finds themselves going unexpectedly sleepy. A mist rolls over the lake they are picnicking near and when everyone awakes they discover they are now in an alternate reality that is very different from their own.
In A Measure of Disorder Jenny and her classmates find themselves surrounded by strange people and new and threatening circumstances. One after another Jenni’s classmates begin to change, some for the better; others for the worse. Then two distinct camps are developed. One wishes to live in peace, but the other seeks the destruction of the peaceable camp. What will the outcome be?
What follows is an excerpt from the story, taken from approximately midway through:
“Rodrin lowered himself down and returned shortly with a small Nomenstrastenai girl, and a tiny flying Faerstrastenai that immediately sped over to Jenni and landed on her shoulder, hugging her neck.
“Oh Jenni! I’m so glad to see you!” the Faerstrastenai said in a soft voice that sounded familiar.
Jenni let the hug continue for a few seconds, then offered her hand to step onto so she could see the Faerstrastenai face to face. She apologized and buzzed to Jenni’s hand. Jenni thought first of Rachael, but her features and hair were different.
“Deena!” Jenni exclaimed. “Oh my gosh! I wish I could hug you back!”
Deena laughed. “Me too.”
“Deena, this is Ba’ize. He’s the mayor of Seren’naie.”
Deena performed a curtsy in midair and Ba’ize smiled. “A pleasure to meet you Deena,” he said. “And who has come along with you?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Deena ushered the girl forward. “This is Feeder, she's from Crank’s village.”
The girl sniffled and bowed to both Ba’ize and Jenni. As she straightened, Jenni saw tears in her eyes. She had blond hair, like Crank, and wore a simple tan dress, typical of her people, but it was soiled and torn. She also looked incredibly tired. Jenni then recalled this was the girl she had seen tending the tamed birds in the village while they were there.
Jenni looked back to Deena, “What happened? How did you get here?”
Deena proceeded to tell the story of the transformations of Mrs. Minch, Mike, and Scott and the subsequent attack on the village. The Gobinstrastorai had arrived and camped around the village for two or three days, then somehow managed to destroy the defense mechanism that protected the Nomenstrastenai. Deena and Feeder had been able to slip out during the battle and hide. The next day when they had seen the devastation of the village, the two had decided to follow the trail of Ms. Pap and the class, and make their way to Seren’naie.”
Cherie Priest does a wonderful job in creating a world that will scare your socks off. If you live in Seattle BONESHAKER might just give you nightmare...moreCherie Priest does a wonderful job in creating a world that will scare your socks off. If you live in Seattle BONESHAKER might just give you nightmares.
Priest gives a view of an alternate reality where the Civil War has lasted for years beyond its actual span and Seattle has been destroyed by a machine designed to tunnel through the frozen Alaskan landscape in order to access gold veins far beneath the surface. The destruction caused by this machine allows a poisonous gas to escape that causes people exposed to it to turn into zombies called rotters. Priest provides reasons why all of these events takie place so it's easy to enter into her fantasy world and suspend your disbelief.
BONESHAKER is populated with villians, heroes, zombies and air pirates. There is a wonderful buld-up of action throughout the story that leaves you panting on the edge of your seat. There is one major problem, the book is missing two pages near the end. It was very frustrating because I knew I was missing a great scene and there was nothing I could do about it. After emailing Ms. Priest she contacted her editor, according to whom one need simply send the defective book to the address below and the publisher will replace the book with one that is not faulty.
But, the missing pages don't affect the plot or the backbone of the story. It's just a great action scene near the end of the book that probably would have built the tension even more before allowing its release.
Here's an example of Priest's writing:
"Briar reached for her satchel and hastily reloaded. If the rotters had breached the building, she might have to shoot her way through them on her way to the basement.
Her hands paused as she held the canister of shells, but only briefly.
If she went downstairs and they came behind her, she'd be trapped there.
She recommenced loading the rifle, and fast. Trapped downstairs, trapped upstairs. The differences were small, and she was damned either way. Better to keep her gun loaded and her options open.
The cacophony had escalated, and Briar wondered if she hadn't already lost the option of seeking a subterranean escape. She locked the cartridges into place and took another long look over the edge.
On the street the swarm gethered and clotted. The number of rotters had at least tripled, more than making up for the small handful she'd dispatched on her way up the hotel's exterior."
BONESHAKER by Cherie Priest, copyright 2009, A Tor Book, Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, http://www.tor-forge.com ISBN 978-0-7653-1841-1 %15.99 U.S., $20.50 Canada available through Tor Books at the website above, online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online retailers. Also available at local book stores.(less)
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