K.J. Chapman's Blog, page 66

Review: Dark Secrets by Leeah Taylor

Dark Secrets (Surface Below #1) by Leeah Taylor 3.5/5

What happens when everything you thought you knew was a lie? Tha t’s exactly what William must face when he meets Becca one night in a local bar. Their connection curious as William feels a familiar draw to her. Sure that he knows her, William digs deeper for information by returning to the Bottom. His curiosity, though, reveals twenty years of lies, secrets and betrayal; all at the hands of his parents.

William is thrust back into the world of vampires, conjurers and wolves when Becca is taken by an old enemy. And as family is reunited and truths revealed, William is faced with a legacy that will change everything he thought he knew about himself, his father and the world he came from.

All that matters, though, is his growing affection for Becca. A bond forged at birth and reignited as they discover who they are and what they are meant for. And as they do, they will awaken the Heir and Heiress within them. Setting into motion their legacy to once again rule the Bottom World.

But first, they must die before they can live.

Thanks goes to the author for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review:

Secret realms on earth that are hidden from humans. Vampires, conjurers, and wolves cohabiting without our knowledge. The three Marks brothers and the three Lorde sisters are reunited to fulfil a legacy that will see a new Heir and Heiress of the ‘Bottom’ world, but there are those who wish to thwart the legacy for their own gain.

There are many stereotypical tropes of a paranormal romance novel, but I’m not saying this is a bad thing. I read paranormal romance for such tropes. I know what I’m getting: easy read, insta-love, action, and a team of supportive sub-characters. Oh, and not forgetting a hunky guy whom I can keep as a fictional boyfriend for the length of the book.

The narrative was fast paced, and sometimes this led to me feeling a little overwhelmed with information to process, but it held my interest. Once I understood the new family dynamics in relation to the old ones, I was on a roll.

If you like paranormal romance, steamy scenes, new realms, and can handle a few distressing moments, then this is the book for you.

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties

All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman

K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review

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What’s Your Name? Letter X

The next installment of the current narrative is in Xena’s POV. As you may have guessed, I had already picked out this week’s X name ahead of schedule. It was still at random, but I had to pick it out in advance to enable the narrative to move smoothly.

To check out the previous installments of this story, click the following links:

   

Xena: (Xene or Xenia) A feminine first name meaning hospitality. Greek.

Xena

Tate smiles at me, but I know something is different just by the look in his eyes. I’m torn between the joy of having him back in my life, and the heartbreak of knowing that we’re not what we once were. I can kid myself and hope that he’ll just wake up and be the old Tate, but five years passed with him believing he’d never see me or Quentin again. I grieved for him, and he moved on with his life… with his relationships, I guess.

Sabine reckons he’ll come around, that he needs time to adjust. I don’t want him to ‘come around’. If he loved me like I love him, then there is no need for thought, discussion or otherwise. Tate loves me, but he is not in love with me. Whether I’m okay with that, is yet to be seen.

He talks animatedly with his friends, even Val has managed to make amends with him, and Quentin eats his casserole hanging off of every word out of his Dad’s mouth. It’s selfish of me, but I found it easier when they were estranged; I wasn’t the only one out of the Tate Edmond’s loop. Now, Quentin is an indoctrinated member of the ‘alien squad’ as he has started calling them. Even Sabine is submerged in the conversations about retrieving the comm box thingy. I’m all for it, if it keeps my family safe, but I’m not sure what it means for me.

From what I’ve heard, the box is not within the detention centre. The ship and the box are at some T.D.E.D top secret, administration headquarters. Whilst the new comers are happy to plan an extraction mission, Tate is worried about the current focus on him, Quentin, and Val. If they can draw Ulric’s attention elsewhere, then Ulric will dispatch the full force of his operatives to the wrong location, minimising the security of HQ for he will no doubt ensure the security of the detention centre over that of ‘offices’. That, in turn, opens up the possibility of a less protected HQ.

“How about plane tickets?” asks Sabine.

Tate shakes his head. “No. With CCTV and passenger lists, they’ll know we didn’t board.”

“It’s a nice idea, but we might just have to take a chance and hope that Ulric is already looking in a different direction. Any guise will be thwarted. They have eyes and ears everywhere,” adds Val. “Big brother is a very real concept.”

The mention of big brother brings a memory into clarity. My Dad used to go out on his fishing boat from morning until night, sometimes taking me with him, and he’d always say the same thing, ‘I like the quiet of the ocean. The big brother world is too loud for my liking.’

A boat. That’s what needs to be done. Someone has to leave a trail of breadcrumbs all the way to the sea, and then be absorbed by the quiet of the ocean. That person has to be me. I won’t allow it to be any member of my family, and the alien squad are vital to the retrieval of the comm box. Once they have that, then Tate can ensure the safety of Quentin and Sabine. I can do this for my boy.

***

Dressing in silence, I take the envelope of cash I withdrew from all my accounts, pull on some trainers and my coat, and take Val’s keys from the table. I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do for the past few hours. I have to be seen, but it has to be subtle; the T.D.E.D cannot suspect that I’m getting seen on purpose. I’m going to head home to my home town of Portsmouth and buy a boat. I can handle a decent size yacht, and I have sailed from Portsmouth to Barcelona before with Dad and Sabine. If I’m not stopped on route, I should make it to Barcelona in about a day. The rest I’ll think up when I get there. I could hire a car and head to Italy…For now, I’ll roll with what I can manage. Thinking too much on the possibilities makes me sweat.

I kiss Quentin goodbye and watch my son sleep for what is probably the last time. You can do this, Xena. Tate is asleep in the armchair downstairs. I know he has opted to fall asleep here rather than have to face me in the bedroom for that difficult conversation, but I can’t hate him. I love the man, and I love my son, and this is for them.

Placing the letter I scribbled on the coffee table, I sneak out into the dark, misty courtyard. Thankfully, the driveway to the farm is on a slight slant, so it doesn’t take much for me to steer and push the car a relative distance away from the farmhouse. Once, I’m on the road, I start the engine and head off with a new found sense of confidence.

Content belongs to KJ.Chapman

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Review: The Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverley Lee

The Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverley Lee 5/5

In a house built on truth something lays hidden.

Beth and Stu Davenport moved to the English hillside town of Meadowford Bridge to give their young son, Gabriel, an idyllic, rural childhood. But in a single evening, the Davenports’ dream is shattered by a hidden, ancient darkness– and their lives are forever changed.

Years later, Gabriel Davenport, now a capable, curious young man, makes the ill-fated decision to go looking for answers about his mysterious past. As soon as he begins his quest, his life becomes a place of shadows. The people he loves and trusts are acting abnormally. The strange woman who lives upstairs is even more haunted than usual. Even his most trusted friend seems to be hiding something.

As one fateful night deepens, and the line blurs between darkness and light, Gabriel must confront the terrible events that destroyed his family all those years ago. He is faced with a choice: continue living the life that was never his to begin with, or give himself over to a terrifying new reality more sinister than anything he’s ever known.

The darkness is watching.

Thanks goes to the author for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review:

A priest, an eccentric rich man who takes in people with gifts, a baby saved from a malevolent being, and a mother with a snapped mind. As a baby, Gabriel Davenport was saved from a being of darkness that left his mother mentally unstable and his father dead. The priest who saved him did the only thing he could- took Gabriel and his mother to a long time friend and governer to all things supernatural. Now, teenage Gabriel and his dysfunctional family have to face the fact that evil cannot be so easily defeated. It is back and it wants Gabriel.

This book is written with such confidence and clarity that you feel pulled into the narrative from the very first page. Lee’s writing style is incredibly easy to read and flows from the page and into the reader’s imagination. From capturing the essence of relationships with such ease, to then creeping me out, Lee seems far from a debut author. It takes a lot to freak me out, but I know my face was a picture of ‘oh dear God’ on more than one occasion.

The supernatural, religion, and modern day life is interwoven in a believable, undoubting narrative, and the characters came across with such subtly that they jumped from the page. I was hooked from start to finish. An author to watch in the future.

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties

All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman

K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review

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Blog Tour Stop! Welcome to Brianna West

Woohoo! Guess who I get to host today on their book release blog tour?… Brianna West, that’s who! Her latest book, Pavel, book two in the Guardians in Love series, is out today!!! If you follow my reads and reviews, you will know that I’m a huge fan of Brianna’s novels. Guardians in Love is a spin off series that runs smoothly alongside Brianna’s highly acclaimed Promiscus Guardians series.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing Brianna before- check out the interview here. Today, we are talking all things Pavel, hunks, bad ass heroines, and the next step. So, buckle in…

Firstly, let me introduce you to the book of the hour: Pavel!

Eve’s entire existence and the secret power she harbors is forever changed when she meets the incredibly gorgeous Russian, Pavel Volkov, one night after he single-handedly saves her from being attacked. Claiming he’s part of an elite group of Guardians that police the Light and Dark, Pavel takes her into his protection.

The playboy warlock-faerie helps Eve unlock the secrets of her past, training the hidden power within as they attempt to keep her from the Dark that seeks to capture her. But with nothing short of disdain for the man claiming to be her protector, can Eve discover the truth behind who she really is? Will she be able to learn how to use her powers efficiently? And more importantly, will she be able to deflect the relentless advances of her so-called protector?

I was lucky to be an ARC reviewer for Pavel and gave it a massive 5* rating. Check out my review here.  You can buy your copy from Amazon today, this minute, right now! Just follow the link: Buy Pavel now!

Welcome! Thank you for stopping by today. Tell us a little bit about the Guardians in Love series.

The Guardians In Love Series is all about the secondary characters from the Promiscus Guardians series and their love stories. Each book can be read separately, however, the spin off series runs along the main series (for right now) and adds extra depth to the main story.

Pavel has been highly anticipated by your readers. Why do you think this book in particular has been so sought after?

Simply, it’s all about Pavel. I joke that it’s either #TeamLucas or #TeamPavel for my books because of their highly contrasting personalities. Pavel is a sexy Russian with sticky hands and a playful nature. He’s the entire reason that this book is so sought after.

What can readers expect from not only Pavel, but also book one in the series, Victor?

They can expect to find a new book boyfriend of a high quality as well as a kickass heroine and their story. Each book is unique in its storyline but offers something for the main series as well. Each hunk is drool-worthy and will not disappoint. You’ll have a difficult time choosing who you truly love at the end of my series.

Would you share a Pavel teaser with us? Pretty please.

Do you have an idea of how many books shall be included in the Guardians in Love series?

Currently, there’s no set number. I like delving into the many different characters and their possible love interests. I’ll probably continue to add long after the Promiscus Guardians series concludes!

Who’s next? Which character is under the spotlight in the next book?

Wouldn’t you like to know! Honestly, I’m still going between a few characters that I’d like to delve into. There’s idiot and fun-loving Bernie, as well as slightly sadistic but always perfectly authoritative Simon. There’s also a few people that are curious about the princes in the main series, which may be its own spin off series altogether, who knows?

What is next in store for Brianna West?

Next is the final book in the main series. The hot tamale I’ve been planning this entire year. The final frontier…and all that crap. You can expect that the next book will tie up everything in the main series and leave you desperate to never say goodbye to Izzy and Lucas and their fun-loving Guardian crew.

A big thanks to Brianna West, and all the best for the remainder of your blog tour!

Author Links:

 Amazon
 Facebook.
 Blog
 Twitter
 Goodreads
 Newsletter

Brianna has a release event on Facebook that you can join: Pavel Release Event.

For use of content, excerpts, or images, please seek permission from the author, Brianna West.

 

 

 

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What’s Your Name? Letter W

Today’s What’s Your Name post features the Letter W. The name picked at random fromt he first page of my naming book is…

Walburga: Feminine diminutive of Valborga.

This story is a continuation of the previous posts. You can catch up on posts Q to V here:    

Walburga

Quentin could barely look at me. I’m not sure what I expected after five years, but a ‘hey, Dad’, would have been better than the cold shoulder. Xena’s following me around like a lost puppy, and although I’m grateful for her understanding, I’m not sure how to explain to her that five years has changed a lot of things for me; for us.

Sabine, sensing my need for space, asks Xena to help her set a fire and cook breakfast. The two sisters were always a great team in the kitchen and the aromas wafting around the house, curb my anger a little- my anger at Val for telling Quentin the way he did. He may as well have said ‘Hey, buddy, even though your Dad should be the one to tell you, I’m going to drop the bomb shell that we’re aliens that crashed on a scout ship in 1983, and have been stuck on this damn planet, escaping ignorant government bastards who want to stick probes in every orifice, for the past thirty three years.’ Has it really been thirty three years? Shit.

Val sits on the porch smoking, whilst Quentin writes in a leather bound book that he hasn’t put down since they arrived. When he sees me watching, he slams it shut and stares off at the horizon.

“A word, Val,” I say, ignoring his side smile. Quentin doesn’t look to move. “Alone?”

“Whatever you two have to say, you can say it in front of me. I’m done being the last to know shit,” Quentin snaps. “I mean, I’m part alien, right? I’m part involved in all of this.”

Val flicks his cigarette butt into the dirt, and I glare at him. “You know how much Walburga hated it when you did that!” I snatch it from the dirt and thrust it into his chest.

“Yeah, I also remember Walburga telling you to stop being such a patronising, condesending asshole toward me,” he retorts. He’s still smiling, mostly because he knows I hate how he can be so blase about absolutely anything in life. 

“I wouldn’t have to be condesending and patronising if you acted like a grown man once in a while. Someone has to look out for you.”

“Really? Where have you been for the past five years, Tate? I’ve managed quite well by myself. In fact, better than quite well; if it wasn’t for me your family would be dead or worse. And what thanks have I had?”

He’s right, and my stomach sinks. “Thank you, Val. I mean it, thank you.”

We stand in awkward silence for a few moments. “I shouldn’t have told the kid. That was your place. I’m sorry,” Val says. He extends his hand to me, and I take it, pulling him into an embrace. “I knew you’d get the location,” he adds.

“Of course, Walburga was the only mother I’ve ever known,” I say. Standing on this porch is bittersweet. I always felt safe here, and Walburga took us all in without a second thought. We lived here for four years until she died. For a ninety year old woman, she had a potty mouth and a fiery spirit, but she was the first person we met who showed us that not all humans were like the T.D.E.D.

Val and I were in a team of new recruits, sent on a scout run of earth. We were both just nineteen years old, raised from birth for the specific role of exploration that we failed on our first flight. We were chased for a year by the T.D.E.D before we happened upon this farmhouse. We holed up in the barn for a few nights, but then the frost came, and Walburga came out with blankets and hot chocolate. She’d known we were there all along. Within weeks we were living in the main house and working the farm for our keep. She knew the truth, and still she opened her house and her heart to us.

“The best woman I’ve ever known,” Val says, quietly.

“Who’s Walburga?” Quentin asks.

“A great woman. A kind woman. She would have loved to have met you.” I place a hand on his shoulder, surprised that he doesn’t pull away. “Once we realised our ship was attained by the T.D.E.D, and there was no chance of returning home, she made me promise I’d have a family and children. I’m sorry, it didn’t work out as I had hoped.”

Quentin shrugs. “I guess you were keeping me and Mum safe. So, what now?”

“Now, we hide. I’ve managed okay for five years, but it won’t be easy. This is life now, son. I wish it could have been different for everyone.”

Val tucks his hands in his pockets and kicks at the dirt. “It still could be.” He doesn’t make eye contact, a tell he has when he’s about to suggest something stupid or dangerous. “The T.D.E.D still have the scout ship. The ship itself is scrap metal, but the comm box will still be there. They have no clue what it is or how to use it, but it’s Ulric’s most prized possession. All we need to do is get that box, and we go home. We can go home, Tate.”

“How do you know all this?” I ask.

“Because I’ve been working for the T.D.E.D for the past twelve months, and they sure as hell have that box. I’m done hiding and running. I’m done with this fucking planet, Tate. I want off.”

“Even if the box is still functioning, how the hell are we going to get it from the T.D.E.D? We’re the two most wanted aliens on their radar. We’ll not get within ten miles of headquarters.”

Val laughs, and there’s a glint in his eye that I haven’t seen since we first launched the scout ship. “We won’t, but they will.” He points to the horizon and a truck speeds toward us, kicking up the dry dirt. “You’re not the only one who understood the message about this location.”

“No way,” I say, watching the truck approach with unbridled excitement.

Sabine and Xena appear at the sound of the approaching vehicle, and the five of us watch as the truck skids to a stop, and four people jump out: Lex, Neema, Yas, and Marko.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Lex calls out.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. The gang is alive, and they’re all here. I wish Walburga was here to see this.

Content belongs to KJ.Chapman

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Ten Weeks, Ten prompts, Ten Minutes #1 (Prompt Me Special)

Today sees the return of my Ten Weeks, Ten Prompts, Ten Minutes writing exercise, and these are extra special because the prompts have been selected from my Prompt Me ebook. You are more than welcome to join in, I only ask that you tag me, so I can read your creations.

Week One’s Prompt:

What would you do if every book on your bookshelf has a page turned down and the first word of every page spells out a message to you?

The beach is heaving with sun chasers. I can barely glimpse the sea through the crowds. I prefer winter, when the ‘Beach Shack’ is cooler, and I’m making hot chocolates for the dog walkers, and not sweating to death serving ice creams to stressed parents with screaming kids. Andy’s idea of air con is a crappy fan that blows hot air around the shack, but I know that without the manic summer months, the Beach Shack wouldn’t survive, and I wouldn’t have a job.

As soon as the clock flicks to 6pm, I shut the serving hatch, and start the clean up. A knock on the back door, startles me, but it’s not unusual to get a cheeky holiday maker trying their luck at getting an ice cream or cold drink. I usually give them what they want- karma and all that.

Tonight, however, a suited and booted man stands in the doorway. “I’m looking for Willow.” He takes another step into the shack, allowing the door to bang shut behind him, and offers his hand. He looks to be in his late twenties with a shaved head and a tattoo behind his left ear.

“That’s me,” I say, shaking his hand.

“Andy sent me to introduce myself. I’m going to be joining the team,” he says, leaning back on his heels and surveying the shack.

I know I stare at him like a weirdo, but he’s totally taken me aback. “Andy’s hired you?”

“Yeah, you could do with some help, right?” He eyes me warily, taking another step into the shack.

“Andy can barely afford to keep me in a job. Sorry, I’m just a little shocked.”

“Oh, he has big plans for the place. You’ll be needing the help.”

Now, my shackles are up. Andy is a seventy year old man, with a head for traditions and the simple life. He refuses to sell any coffee other than Nescafe because he can’t pronounce cappucino.

The man leans against the counter, and crosses his ankles. There is a knot in my tummy, and his intense glare eats into my core.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Jai.”

He continues to look around the shack, his eyes coming to rest on the bookshelf.Andy has a small shelf of exactly eightteen books that do nothing but gather dust. I’ve never looked to read them, and Andy said they were there when he bought the shack ten years ago. It would be weird to move them now.

“Well, Jai. It’s nice to meet you. Did Andy say when you’ll be starting? He’s a stickler for training. The man has a passion for a well made coffee. I’m sure he said, you’ll have to perfect the art of cappucino making before he’ll take you on,” I feign a laugh and a shrug.

“Oh yeah, he said my cappucino making skills would be the deal breaker. He was drinking one when I saw him, actually.”

Edging toward the door, I feel my heart beating throughout my whole body. I keep the mop and bucket in between us. I have no idea what is going on, but I know that every fiber of my body is screaming at me to get away from this Jai- if that’s even his name. Why is he lying?

He notices my sudden loss of composure, and his eyes flit over the menu. “You don’t sell cappucinos, do you?” He smiles, and wipes his thumb along his bottom lip. “Very good, Willow.”

I back in to the door. “Why are you really here? What do you want?” I ask, fighting the panic attack about to overcome me. I lunge for my phone in my bag that hangs on the rack, but Jai pre-empts me, and tackles me into the wall, wrapping his hand over my mouth as I scream bloody murder.

“Shut it, Willow! I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help you.” Sobbing into his palm, I nod my head when he asks me to keep quiet. He slowly removes his hand, and turns me to face him. “I guess I didn’t handle this very well, did I?” he says, wiping tears from my cheeks.

“Who are you?” I sob.

“I’ve already said- I’m  Jai.  I had to see how much you knew, but clearly you have no clue about any of this. I’m looking for something, something important. ”

“Then, look. Just let me go, please.”

He nods, but locks the door and takes the key. “Help me, and then you can leave. Where in this dive could someone hide a chip, SD Card, memory stick, something along those lines? Is there a safe?” He lets me go and walks to the far side of the shack.

“Yes, but it’s empty. I take the cash to Andy’s every night.” I hold myself in the corner, wondering if I can reach my phone without being noticed.

Jai growls. “Think Willow. Is there a cupboard? Something that is rarely used that could hide something?”

“Everything here is used. Except the books. They’ve not been touched in the five years I’ve worked here, probably not ever. I don’t know what you want from me!” I bawl at him.

Jai starts removing books from the shelf, then turning to me, he shows me the folded down pages at the front of every book. “Well, it seems that someone has touched them. Help me open them.” I do as I’m told. Crossing the shack, I take the first book. “Willow, tell me the first word on each folded page.”

The… link…is…within…the…mind…of…the…girl

Jai stares at me, his mouth hanging open. “Keep reading,” he orders.

She… is…the…key..to…opening…the… final…portal. What does that mean?” I ask. My shock at the hidden message makes me momentarily forget the situation I’m in.

“It means you’re coming with me.” He slips his hand under my arm, and pulls me toward the door.

“I’m not going anywhere with you! What has that message got to do with me?”

Jai sighs, and spins on his heel to face me, taking my upper arms forcefully. “It means that you have exactly what my people need locked away in that pretty little head of yours. Your one of us, Willow.”

“One of who?”

“The Port Keepers. You’re the missing link.”

Content belongs to KJ.Chapman

Any prompts used must be associated with the author, KJ.Chapman

 

 

The Return of Ten Weeks, Ten Prompts, Ten Minutes!

I have been re-reading my Ten Weeks, Ten Prompts, Ten Minutes posts from last year, and I have decided to start them once again. They’re pretty self explanatory- I have one prompt a week for ten weeks, and allow myself ten minutes to expand on it.

Last time, I created ten prompts in advance, this time, I have picked ten prompts from my writing prompt ebook: Prompt Me. And just like last time, you are welcome to join in with the exercises and use the prompts for your own expansions. Just remember to tag me, so I can read your masterpieces.

Here are the prompts:

What would you do if every book on your bookshelf has a page turned down and the first word of every page spells out a message to you?
When they began splicing organic tissue with machinery to create advanced artificial intelligence, that’s when the world was lost.
The moon is an engineered structure built for the purpose of observation. Someone of something has been watching us.
What would you do if you were woken by a ringing phone in your coffin?
In total, sixteen ships came to rescue us. That meant that only sixteen thousand humans had survived the death of earth.
“There are a number of things to remember: don’t make eye contact, do not accept any food or liquid, and if she scratches her ear she is planning to kill you.”
“When I said come bearing gifts it was code for weapons. I can’t believe you brought cheesecake.”
They said that I was insane and that I never had a sister. They even went as far as to edit her out of my photographs. I know they did because they missed one- the one I keep in my locket.
“As soon as I admit that someone is my friend they end up dead. So, for all intents and purposes, I don’t like you.”
What would you do if the news reporter on your television started talking directly to you?

I have prompt one scheduled for tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled. Why not have a bash yourself?

Content belongs to KJ.Chapman.

Any prompts used must be associated with the author, KJ.Chapman.

Prompts taken from KJ.Chapman’s book: Prompt Me: 150 Writing Prompts for Beating the Block. Only 99p!

 

 

 

 

Review: The Aurora Stone by G.S.Tucker

The Aurora Stone by G.S.Tucker 3.5/5

“An Elvish girl with changeable eyes will lose her family through the void. Three companions she will travel with. They will be identified by their gems. To get back what was lost, the Aurora stone must return to its home. In no more than a year and four days must this quest be completed, or the realms will be pulled into the void and lost.”

An ancient prophecy, a special gift and an epic adventure awaited Evangeline of Hermoria. On her 18th birthday Eve’s whole world is turned upside down. Learning of her long lost twin brother and the prophecy, she alone must fulfil. Eve sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Battles are fought and friendships made, as Eve journeys through the realms or Orea. All the while a great evil is on her tail. It’s aim? To stop the prophecy coming to pass at any cost! Will Eve fulfil the prophecy and save all of Orea from the void?

Will she ever find her twin brother? One thing Eve knows for sure, she will fight to the death and beyond to save her friends, and all that she holds dear. After all darkness cannot survive where there is light.

Thanks to the author for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review:

I love anything fantasy, otherworldly, and elvish. Evangeline ‘Eve’ is a elf from Hermoria who receives her unique gifts upon her 18th birthday. She also receives shocking news from her mother… or the woman she thought was her mother. Yes, Eve’s parents disappeared when she was a baby, and her twin brother was lost. Quickly into the narrative, Eve learns of a prophecy that starts her off on an adventure in search of the Aurora Stone and her long lost twin. She has a year and four days to find it before the realms are sucked into the void.

The narrative moves along at a fast pace, and sub characters pop up fairly quickly, giving the reader time to get to know them from early on in the narrative. The sub character’s roles were to help Eve in her quest. I would liked to have seen them develop a little in their own right with their own destinies, but I suppose not being sucked into the void is as good a motivator as any.

I found Caleb’s character the most endearing. He was flawed, and this added to his charm and made him feel well rounded. Don’t get me wrong, you know from the start that he is a gentleman, but he has secrets, fears, and annoying habits like the best of us.

Even though Eve is 18, younger children will enjoy the narrative. It is a YA novel due to the character’s age, however, the writing style is teetering on the edge of children’s literature. The idea of right verses wrong, good and bad, and good morals, is interwoven through the entire narrative.

The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties

All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman

K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review

What’s Your Name? Letter V

I feel like I have exhausted my ‘communications’ posts. There are only so many letters, memos, texts, etc that people can write before meeting up, right? I plan on continuing the story for as long as needs be, but I shall revert back to my short stories from here on in.

Here are the links to catch up on the previous installments of this story:

    & 

Today’s letter is V, but I had randomly picked the name Val a while ago to make sure the stories flowed.

Val: a masculine diminutive form of Valentine.

Val

The kid is such a little shit. If he’s not back chatting his mother, he’s making sly remarks about anything I damn say. I know most teenagers are the same, but shit, I could do without his mouth. Half of me thinks that he’s a little gobshite, the other half knows that he’s nervous at the thought of meeting his old man. I guess he’s had a shed load to deal with in a short space of time.

I turn the radio on to keep an ear on the news. Nothing will be broadcast, but I can’t help but listen. No one knows where we’re going, not even the guy who dropped off the car. Tate owes me 3k for this hunk of crap.

“Hey, are you even awake?” Quentin asks, shoving my shoulder, and snapping my attention from the radio. He leans between the headrests, changing the radio to a music station.

“What kid? I thought I told you to sit down and shut up.”

“I want to know what you know about my Dad? Why are there people after him- after me?”

Looking in the mirror, I see that Xena is asleep. The kid knows how to be discreet. I’ll give him that.

“Your old man should be the one to explain it to you.”

“But I’m asking you.”

“No time,” I say nodding to the farm house up ahead. Relief washes over me, at the interruption. It really isn’t my place to say anything, and in truth, I wouldn’t know where to start.

Quentin swallows hard and slumps back into his seat. I see the colour drain from his face before my eyes. He nudges his mother awake, and they both stare out of the window as the farm gets closer.

The upstairs curtain falls as if someone has been watching our approach, and within seconds the door flies open. Two figures emerge; one male and one female. Tate and Sabine. Quentin exhales loudly, and Xena bursts into tears. She throws the door open before I have even pulled to a stop, and races into Tate’s arms. He looks well, really well considering.

Tate opens his free arm to his son, but Quentin turns away from his Dad. “Val, seriously man, I’d rather hear it from you,” the kid says, sidling up beside me.

Tate shakes his head, a stern glower at me, almost threatening me to keep quiet. Fuck you, I think to myself. I just saved your skin, you family’s skin, and you give me that same look you gave me all those years ago? I thought I could get over it, but seeing him has only proven that it’ll always be there between us. I love the guy, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him.

“Okay, kid, but it’s a mind fuck.” I guide Quentin further away from the farm house, from Tate. It may be childish to want to rile Tate, but his son needs the truth, and he wants it from me. “We’re aliens, and the T.D.E.D- the Tracking and Detention of Extraterrestrials Department have been hunting us since 1983.”

Content belongs to KJ.Chapman

Ten Suggestions Tag!

Big thanks to Al over at Hyperactive Pandemonium for tagging me in this unique tag. It’s great to know that I’m one of the first to get in on this new tag. Head on over and check out Al’s page for musings, haikus, book reviews, and much more.

 

The tag is straight forward: share ten of my own suggestions:

The person I suggest you follow on Twitter is:

Al Nobody.

Yep, the main tag man himself. Al shares all sorts on Twitter, especially haikus, motivational tweets, and anything writerly. Oh, and he has a cat called Ruby!

The person I suggest you follow on Instagram is:

Sarina Langer.

If you want your fair share of bookish, writerly, cat related pictures, this is the person to follow.

The book review blog I suggest you follow is:

Dream by Day Book Reviews.  

I would also suggest following this blog on Instagram for some of the prettiest bookish photos.

The indie author I suggest you check out is:

Brianna West.

Brianna is the author of the Promiscus Guardians Series, and the Guardian’s in Love Series. Her paranormal romance books are highly praised, and she has just been nominated for the 2016 Summer Indie Book Awards run by Metamorph Publishing.

The book I read in 2016 that I suggest you read is:

The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R.Carey.

The graphic novel I read in 2016 that I suggest you read is:

White Sand by Brandon Sanderson.

The series I watched in 2016 that I suggest you watch is:

Stranger Things (An Original Netflix Series)

The film I watched in 2016 that I suggest you watch is:

Deadpool.

The music artist I discovered in 2016 that I suggest you listen to is:

Frances.

The science fiction and urban fantasy books I suggest you check out are:

My OWN! Yep, a bit of shameless self promotion in this tag, but why not, eh?

EVO Nation.

EVO Shift.

Who knows, if you’re interested in this series, drop me a message, and a free copy may come your way… *Just a suggestion* Hehe.

Content belongs to KJ.Chapman

Videos sourced from Youtube.com

Tag created by A.Morgan (Hyperactive Pandemonium)