Samantha Cook's Blog, page 5
June 21, 2018
Book Review: Heart of Mist
HEART OF MIST by Helen Scheuerer
5 Stars
Verdict: One of the best fantasy book I've read this year!
Bleak wants a cure for her illegal magic, if possible, but mostly, she wants wine every day. A summons from the king is a death sentence to her.
Henri is the queen of Valia, a race of strong female fighters, but she isn't the queen of the realm. A choice she makes could send her people to war
5 Stars
Verdict: One of the best fantasy book I've read this year!
Bleak wants a cure for her illegal magic, if possible, but mostly, she wants wine every day. A summons from the king is a death sentence to her.
Henri is the queen of Valia, a race of strong female fighters, but she isn't the queen of the realm. A choice she makes could send her people to war
June 14, 2018
Book Review: The Moonlight Palace
THE MOONLIGHT PALACE by Liz Rosenberg
4 Stars
Verdict: A light historical novel about a poor princess in Singapore.
Note: I listened to the audio-book version.
Agnes lives in the Kampong Glam Palace in Singapore, once grand but now in the 1920s it's falling apart. Without a male heir or enough income to support their family, Aggie worries they'll be forced to leave her childhood home.
This
4 Stars
Verdict: A light historical novel about a poor princess in Singapore.
Note: I listened to the audio-book version.
Agnes lives in the Kampong Glam Palace in Singapore, once grand but now in the 1920s it's falling apart. Without a male heir or enough income to support their family, Aggie worries they'll be forced to leave her childhood home.
This
June 7, 2018
Book Review: The Death Cure
THE DEATH CURE by James Dashner
3 stars
Verdict: Well, that didn’t answer anything.
#1 - The Maze Runner
#2 - The Scorch Trials
The Trials are over, supposedly. It’s time for Thomas to get his memories back, and help Wicked with the final stage of their cure.
Oh, Maze Runner. You absolute tease.
I’ll try my best to describe the reading experience without any spoilers, so basically I’ll keep
3 stars
Verdict: Well, that didn’t answer anything.
#1 - The Maze Runner
#2 - The Scorch Trials
The Trials are over, supposedly. It’s time for Thomas to get his memories back, and help Wicked with the final stage of their cure.
Oh, Maze Runner. You absolute tease.
I’ll try my best to describe the reading experience without any spoilers, so basically I’ll keep
May 31, 2018
Book Review: The Scorch Trials
THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner
4 Stars
Verdict: Action packed, just don't overthink it!
#1 - The Maze Runner
#3 - The Death Cure
Out of the maze and into the frying pan, Thomas and his friends now have to make it across the scorched earth if they want to be cured of the Flare. To get there, they'll have to survive the Cranks who already have the flare, and some are more Gone than others.
4 Stars
Verdict: Action packed, just don't overthink it!
#1 - The Maze Runner
#3 - The Death Cure
Out of the maze and into the frying pan, Thomas and his friends now have to make it across the scorched earth if they want to be cured of the Flare. To get there, they'll have to survive the Cranks who already have the flare, and some are more Gone than others.
May 24, 2018
Book Review: Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet
MAGIC BITTER, MAGIC SWEET by Charlie M. Holmberg
3 Stars
Verdict: A strange way to bake a cake.
Note: I listened to the audio-book for this one, which was a new experience for me.
Maire is a baker who can infuse her creations with emotions, enriching the eater with love, happiness, luck, strength - anything she puts her mind to. She only has memories of the last four years, and so doesn't
3 Stars
Verdict: A strange way to bake a cake.
Note: I listened to the audio-book for this one, which was a new experience for me.
Maire is a baker who can infuse her creations with emotions, enriching the eater with love, happiness, luck, strength - anything she puts her mind to. She only has memories of the last four years, and so doesn't
May 17, 2018
Book Review: Secondborn
SECONDBORN by Amy Bartol
2 Stars
Verdict: Hard to connect.
Although Rosella is royalty, she is also secondborn in a society that only has room for firstborns. At eighteen, Rosella's rights are stripped, her last name is changed to 'Sword', and she is sent to the front line to serve her country.
This one started strong and had a lot of creatives little ideas - the black and red disks
2 Stars
Verdict: Hard to connect.
Although Rosella is royalty, she is also secondborn in a society that only has room for firstborns. At eighteen, Rosella's rights are stripped, her last name is changed to 'Sword', and she is sent to the front line to serve her country.
This one started strong and had a lot of creatives little ideas - the black and red disks
May 10, 2018
Book Review: Ready Player One
READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline
4 Stars
Verdict: The most predictable book I wouldn't be able to write.
The hunt is on to find the egg, hidden inside an endless virtual world known as the OASIS, and shrouded in eighties references. Whoever finds it will inherit the creator's empire and entire fortune, which naturally means an evil corporation is playing dirty to win the contest. However,
4 Stars
Verdict: The most predictable book I wouldn't be able to write.
The hunt is on to find the egg, hidden inside an endless virtual world known as the OASIS, and shrouded in eighties references. Whoever finds it will inherit the creator's empire and entire fortune, which naturally means an evil corporation is playing dirty to win the contest. However,
May 3, 2018
Book Review: To Kill A Kingdom
TO KILL A KINGDOM by Alexandra Christo
5 Stars
Verdict: A killer little mermaid retelling.
Lira is a murderous siren known as the Prince's Bane, for each year she steals the heart of a promised ruler to add to her collection. Her horrid mother, the sea queen, enjoys tormenting her, and thinks that the mercy Lira shows her victims makes her unfit to rule the sea.
Prince Elian is a siren
5 Stars
Verdict: A killer little mermaid retelling.
Lira is a murderous siren known as the Prince's Bane, for each year she steals the heart of a promised ruler to add to her collection. Her horrid mother, the sea queen, enjoys tormenting her, and thinks that the mercy Lira shows her victims makes her unfit to rule the sea.
Prince Elian is a siren
April 27, 2018
Writing Festival 2018: Round Up
Well, that's it for another writing festival. I hope you've all enjoyed the mix of posts.
A huge thanks to all the contributors. I'ts been a pleasure working with all of you and reading all of your writing tips and experiences.
Below is the full list of fabulous article, interviews, and other bits and bobs. Also, the two book giveaways will be running to the end of April, so hop on over and
A huge thanks to all the contributors. I'ts been a pleasure working with all of you and reading all of your writing tips and experiences.
Below is the full list of fabulous article, interviews, and other bits and bobs. Also, the two book giveaways will be running to the end of April, so hop on over and
April 25, 2018
Beta-Reader Classifieds
Below is a list of manuscripts which the authors would very much appreciate some feedback. Take a browse and if anything takes your fancy, drop me a line in the contact form on the right. I'll connect you with the author, and you can take it from there! Alternatively, follow the link to the story where provided and send the author a direct PM.
Enjoy!
SIGGI
by Milo Maia
Dark Fantasy
21,000
Enjoy!
SIGGI
by Milo Maia
Dark Fantasy
21,000
