K.J. Chapman's Blog, page 73
May 27, 2016
Review: The Beach Cabin by Fern Britton
The Beach Cabin by Fern Britton 3.5/5
Ed and Charlotte have been married for fifteen years, but they have been drifting apart and now Ed suspects that Charlotte may be involved with another man.
He decides a family holiday is just what they need and rents a cottage on the cliffs near the picturesque Cornish village of Pendruggan. He is desperate not to lose Charlotte and hopes that the holiday will bring them closer together again, but Charlotte is wondering what happened to the man she fell in love with.
So into their car they all pile, including their teenage daughter Alex, her younger brother, Sam and their enormous Bearded Collie – will their Cornish escape be the holiday to make them… or break them?
Review:
A quick read, set in my home county of Cornwall. It is clear that Britton is a lover of the county, and captures the landscapes and local life brilliantly. This short story is an easy read despite broaching the topics of crisis in marriage, and a daughter struggling with her sexuality.
The revelation that Alex thinks she might be gay comes at the end of the book and was not a revelation at all. It was extremely easy to guess from early on in the story. So easy that the parents, Charlotte and Ed, wouldn’t have had such a shocked response, but otherwise I enjoyed the tale that had a happy ending all around.
The kids were a bit cliche- Sam the enthusiastic, always hungry, skate-board enthusiast son, and Alex the moody, sarcastic, likes her sleep, teenage daughter. If you can get passed this, and enjoy the fast moving tale that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort to read, then you’ll enjoy Britton’s Cornwall based tale.
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.
Review: White Sand (A Graphic Novel) by Brandon Sanderson
White Sand (Book One) by Brandon Sanderson 4/5
A brand new saga of magic and adventure by #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson. On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss — a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own. White Sand brings to life a crucial, unpublished part of Brandon Sanderson’s sprawling Cosmere universe. The story has been adapted by Rik Hoskin (Mercy Thompson), with art by Julius Gopez and colors by Ross Campbell. Employing powerful imagery and Sanderson’s celebrated approach to magical systems, White Sand is a spectacular new saga for lovers of fantasy and adventure.
Review:
Thanks go to Diamond Book Distributers and Netgalley for offering me a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
I didn’t not like this book. That is a weird start to a review, right? But I’ve never picked up a graphic novel before, and I had many people telling me that it wouldn’t be my thing, and that it is a niche audience- blah blah blah. Well, my review just goes to show that story always prevails. I’m glad this was my first taste of a graphic novel, otherwise I may not have been open to reading any more.
I’m a HUGE fan of Brandon Sanderson, and yet again his world building skills, inventive story lines, and imaginative creation of fantasy/ sci-fi races, creatures, powers has me in awe. I’m doubley impressed with the fact that he can create a detailed, engaging story in such few words.
It did take me a while to find my swing when reading, but once I got into the story and the imagery, and learnt how things progressed, I finished the entire thing in mere hours. I’d recommend this to fantasy fans, and/or Brandon Sanderson fans who may not have thought to pick up a graphic novel.
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.
May 26, 2016
Author Interview: Sarina Langer
On Monday, Sarina Langer released her debut novel, Rise of the Sparrows. I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Sarina, and can honestly say that it was a gripping, well written, captivating read. You can check out my review here.
And guess what? Sarina has stopped by my little ol’ blog on her week long blog tour! I’m thrilled to welcome Sarina to my blog today, to throw some questions at her, and get an insight into the life of the newly published author.
Firstly, congratulations on the release of your first book! Is there a particular experience, good or bad, that has stuck out for you in the drafting or publication of your debut?
There are several things which I enjoyed, like writing the first draft, doing the research, and even editing! The writing community both here on WordPress and on Twitter (or more recently on Instagram) has been amazing and incredibly welcoming. The only thing that has stuck out negatively is formatting my novel for Createspace and Amazon KDP. There were no issues with either- Createspace have responded to everything very quickly and were much faster than I expected! – But formatting anything in Open Office has proven to be a huge pain. I’ve made notes, so hopefully it’ll be a little easier next time.
Would you share your writing routine with us? Are a scheduler or an ‘as and when’ type of writer?
My writing routine is relaxed and forgiving compared to my editing routine. I usually write for roughly one hour to ninety minutes every day (apart from weekends- I take those off), which tends to result in anything between 1k and 3k words, sometimes (rarely) even more than that! If you’re not a writer you might not realise how many other things are involved. We don’t just write- we do research, we have to name people, places, maybe different magics and towns and complicated systems, and we have entire worlds to create from nothing. So, while I’m not writing every free minute I get, I do these other things which also progress the novel. My mornings are quite varied because of it.
What has been the most rewarding part of publishing your novel?
I write for myself- and I think every writer should- but I do want to inspire other people with my writing. Whether my writing inspires them to write themselves, improve their writing, or to do something else entirely doesn’t matter. Every time someone tells me that my writing makes them want to write or do something, I know I’ve done well, and that’s a very rewarding feeling.
What were your reasons for choosing the self-publishing route?
I am a control freak to a personal extent, and didn’t want to give up control over important aspects of my book, such as the cover design. It’s my business, my baby, and I want to be the one who makes all the big decisions. To be honest, I did want to go the traditional way when I started writing Rise of the Sparrows, but I thought that if I published a trilogy by myself first and did it well, my chances of getting a great agent and publishing deal would improve! A year later, and I’m not so sure anymore that I want an agent or traditional publisher. I like being in charge. This is my book, and I will work my butt off to make it work.
Can you describe Rise of the Sparrows in ten words of less? A quick summary for anyone thinking of purchasing your novel.
Oh my! Let me think…
Misjudgements, swords and daggers, magic, prophecy, trust issues, demons, prejudices and death. (You weren’t hoping for one sentence, right?)
I’m going to name three characters and I would love for you to describe them in just three words.
Rachael– survivor, paranoid, and defensive.
Cephy– young, naive, and pyromancer.
Cale- strong, fiercely loyal (we’ll treat that as one, shan’t we?), and protective.
Would you share an excerpt from Rise of the Sparrows, pretty please?
This is a moment from the first chapter, where we first meet Rachael. Two men have come to rape her, and I think it shows nicely that she can defend herself when necessary, despite being homeless and malnourished. She maybe tired, hungry, and weak, but she can kick as if her life depends on it!
What is next for Sarina Langer?
I’m working on two novels at the moment- the sequel to Rise fo the Sparrows and a scifi novel, which is a bit of an experiment for me. I’ve never written two books at once and I’ve never written scifi either, so it’s a learning curve for me. But it’s an interesting and fun learning curve, and I’m enjoying all the new research I get to do! ( The end of the world, anyone? Multiple universe theory, anyone?)
Do you have any parting advice for unpublished writers out there?
A lot of people will love your writing, but a lot of other people won’t. That’s fine. You can’t please everyone, and that’s perfectly alright. Whether your first book does well or fails, you write another. And maybe make a note of some of that awesome feedback you get along the way- it will cheer you up when you get a bad review!
Thank you, Sarina for stopping by today, and I wish you every success with the blog tour and your debut novel!
Buy Rise of the Sparrows: here.
Find Sarina on:
Permission to use excerpts, quotations, or content must be sought from the author, Sarina Langer.
May 24, 2016
Last Day of the Free Promotion
EVO Nation is FREE for just one more day! I shall be doing a promotion for book two, EVO Shift, next month, so make sure you get your copy of EVO Nation before it’s too late!
Need some encouragement? Check out some revews:
AliasFaithRivens- EVO Nation Review
Cookie Break- EVO Nation Review
HyperactivePandemonium- EVO Nation Review
Check out even more reviews on Goodreads!
Content belongs to KJ.Chapman
May 23, 2016
EVO Nation is FREE for 3 Days!
Get your copy of EVO Nation for FREE from May 23rd-25th! There is no particular reason for this promo other than I felt generous… and I would appreciate reviews *cough*. If this promo goes well I might hold another of some sort for EVO Shift.
Get your free copy of EVO Nation: here!!!
Thanks for the continuing support!
Content belongs to KJ.Chapman
May 22, 2016
Review: Rise of the Sparrows by Sarina Langer
Rise of the Sparrows (The Relics of Ar’Zac Book One ) by Sarina Langer 5/5
Blurb:
Growing up homeless and orphaned in a town that hates her, Rachael must assassinate the king of Rifarne to become queen to a people who once wanted her dead. Rifarne is a country opposed to magic. When its people demand harsh action, King Aeric sees himself with no other choice but to outlaw those with the gift. Rachael, who possesses the rare gift of a Seer, soon finds herself with visions of her own violent death. When her escape goes wrong and she ends up in the clutches of a vicious Mist Woman lusting for her blood, she finds she is the only person who can stop the war against people like her – and assassinating the king to take his throne may well be the only way to do just that.
Review:
I was privileged to be a beta reader for Sarina Langer. My review of this book is based on the beta copy I read.
Fantasy, action, magic, and abilities- this book has it all. The main character, Rachel, was a breath of fresh air- wise for her age, untrusting, and a heroine who wants anything but to stand out. Blending in, being ‘normal’, has always been Rachel’s wish in life, but she has to embrace the fact that normality isn’t hers. She is destined.
Her hard street life and encounters with the intolerant townsfolk and the White Guard have left her wary, tired, and outcast. Her character arc develops perfectly and true to Rachel’s personal growth throughout the narrative. All the characters are believable, and have essence of light and dark in them. Cephy, in particular, was brilliantly written. An impressionable, scared, powerful child- a boiling pot for disaster, right?
Langer masterfully builds a world of magic, prophecies, outlawed organisations, corrupt royalty, and dangerous beings. Rachel has to join the only people who have ever tried to help her, but risk her own life to do so, and fulfil a prophecy she doesn’t fully believe.
Dark twists, heart breaking moments, and a fight for what is right keeps the pages turning. I wholly recommend this book, and can’t wait for the next installment. I need to find out how the ever adapting street girl handles her new role?
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.
WIP Update #2
I have been holding off with this update because I didn’t feel that I had much to report, but I thought I could still ‘update’ you on my lack of motivation. However, when I started thinking about this update I realised that a lot has happened slowly but surely.
Two WIPs!
I kept being drawn into a new idea (one I blogged about before), and it took my attention away from EVO Ghost. So, I decided to start drafting both. I like to make more work for myself *hehe*.
New WIP:
My new WIP is a fantasy with two POVS- Princess Ezrahli, and a skilled archer named Reed. I wrote 12k words of the draft in just Ezrahli’s POV, and got stuck with how to progress the narrative with the sub-story that she is to become a huge part of. Once I started writing from Reed’s POV, I knew that his narration was equally important, and went back and added/ rewrote chapters.
I have been calling this WIP ‘Thrown to The Blue’ because of an important act that is necessary for witches to have their magic awakened. The title may change, but it is kind of stuck in my head for the time being. I’m unsure if this will be a series or not, but only time will tell. I like the idea of a stand alone book.
Current Word Count: 15,470 words
Excerpt from Thrown to The Blue:
“I wanted to understand, is all.”
“And what is it you think you understand, archer?”
“A lot. I am sorry for you, Princess.”
“I don’t need your pity!” I scream. How dare he? “I am not to be pitied!”
The guards bang on the door at my outburst, throwing it open and almost breaking its hinges. The thunder of feet race through my chambers, and the archer throws himself from the balcony, effortlessly scaling the building like an animal of the night.
“Your Majesty,” shouts a guard, gripping my forearm forcefully. I stare at him in a moments confusion, and then tear my arm from his hold. “Princess?”
“I’m fine. It was just a dream. Get out! All of you get out!” He eyes my wrist, and I pull my sleeve down fully. “I could have your eyes removed from your skull if I wished.”
He averts his gaze, bowing low to the ground. “My apologies, Your Majesty.” He backs away without any further eye contact, ushering the other guards with him.
Quinn slips into the room, rushing to my side as I lie on the bed. He wears a simple negligée, showcasing smooth legs to rival any woman’s. “Was it another dream, Ezra?”
I want to tell him of the archer- of how both he and the guard saw more of the real me today than anyone save him. Even Brenneth has never seen them since I was a child. The words won’t form in my mouth. I feel like there is a mystery to the caped man that I’m the only one privy too, and that interests me more than it should.
“Yes, just another dream,” I say, choosing to keep the encounter to myself. “Tell me a story, Quinn. One of the tales your mother would tell you.”
Lying beside me on the bed, Quinn plays with my hair and recites a renowned story about a Queen who fell in love with a poor man with nothing to his name but an enchanted bow and arrow.
EVO Ghost:
I think I’ve been enjoying getting know the new characters a little too much and EVO Ghost has suffered because of it. That being said, I have decided on a time jump of about three to four months. Just getting everything in place for that jump has been a slog, but I’m confident it will work out well. Yesterday, I had a plot twist idea that needs to simmer a little longer in my head. I haven’t even written it down because I want to see where my mind goes with it- if anywhere. It’s a fragile one that has to be handled with care- a ‘this could go amazingly right or drastically wrong’ idea, but that alone makes me keen. Go big or go home, right?
Current Word Count: 23,673 words
Excerpt from EVO Ghost:
Rafe retrieves a laptop from his bed, sits on the pristine, army style sheets, and gestures for me to sit beside him. “Things have stepped up a gear since the rally. What has it been- eight days? I can’t fully believe it myself.” He hands me the laptop, presses play, and gets up to leave, taking the others with him. “Come and find me when you’re done.”
A news broadcast, dated two days ago, plays as smoke billows from a high rise building. People run from the building, clutching infants, carrying injured people, and some throw themselves to the ground in an attempt to put out the flames that engulf their clothes. The news reporter can’t be heard over the noise, but he comes into view, and gestures for the camera to swing to the right.
Soldiers and military vehicles fill the area to the right of the burning building. Every person who rushes out of the flames is restrained by soldiers and tested with a kinetic reader and a swab. Injured men and women are cuffed and thrown forcefully into the back of large trucks with guns trained on their heads; none are offered medical treatment. Screaming kids are bundled into separate trucks from the adults. They look so terrified.
“I thought this was an E.N.C attack,” says the reporter to the camera man, the carnage making him oblivious to the camera still rolling. “I don’t understand this.”
“It’s a flush,” shouts a bloodied man, running passed them at speed. The reporter grabs his arm, almost whipping him off of his feet.
“Can you tell us more about—”
“I’m EVO. We’re all EVO. I need to get away from here,” the man shouts, trying to free himself. “This is a flush. The E.N.C have been protecting us here. The government bombed the building to flush us out. There are children inside. There are kids in there and they still bombed us! Let me go!” He frees himself and races off between buildings.
The reporter just stares at the camera. “It appears this is a government orchestrated attack against EVO. We do not have facts, but… hell, I don’t know what this is.” He pushes the camera aside. “Come on, man. Let’s get out of here.”
I think I have been generous with the long excerpts, but I hope that makes up for my lack of updates.
God knows when my next update will be, but if I have anything to report, I will do.
All content is the property of KJ.Chapman
Image sourced from CraftaholicsAnonymous.net
May 16, 2016
Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 3/5
Blurb: Paulo Coelho’s enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
Review:
I went into this read with high expectations. Many people have recommended it to me, but I was also aware of the many who detested it. I think that’s part and parcel of a bestseller, right? I like to judge for myself, so I got myself a copy.
What side am I on? Well… I liked it. It was well written, the prose beautiful, but the story was slow. I know, I know, the narrative is full of statement, life lessons, and an overriding message to ‘follow your dreams/destiny’, but it was preachy.
I wasn’t interested in the religious side of the narrative, but liked that Coelho managed to write it like a long fable, quoting tales and adding metaphors to get his point across. The morals could be applied whether you are religious, spiritual, or other.
The ending was rounded, and Santiago had travelled full circle with his personality and wisdom following suit. I would have liked to have seen him reunited with Fatima, but the narrative suggests all along that if he follows his heart he’ll get to where he needs to be.
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.
Review: Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlett
Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlett 3.5/5
Blurb:
Leonie Woodville wants to live an unremarkable life. She wants routine, she wants repetition, she wants predictability. So when she explodes in a blaze of light one morning on the way to her college, it’s enough to put a real crimp in her day.
And things only get weirder…
Leonie learns from her father that she is last of the Pulsar, a phenomenally powerful member of a magical species called the Chosen. It will be her sole duty to protect the Imperium, a governing hierarchy, from all enemies, and to exceed the reputation of the Pulsar before her. So – no pressure there, then.
Leonie is swept away from her rigorous normality and taken to a world of magic. There, she is forced into a ceremony to join her soul to a guardian, Korren, who is both incredibly handsome and intensely troubled, a relationship for which ‘it’s complicated’ just really doesn’t cut it.
But Leonie is soon to learn that this ancient world is no paradise. With violent dissidents intent to overthrow the Imperium, and dark entities with their own agenda, she and Korren find themselves caught in a war where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to survive.
Dare to dream. Dare to hope. Dare to be a legend.
Review:
Thanks go to WWS Publishing Limited and Netgalley for offering me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Okay, so the ‘chosen one’ YA trope is pretty much the basis of the story, but did I like the concept? Yes! I was drawn in to the world building, magic, and the relationship between Leonie, a newly awakened Pulsar, the first to be born in many years, and Korren, a Kytaen who is soul-bound to Leonie as her protector.
The narrative was captivating, and understanding the politics, landscape, and magic of Duwyn was fun. Simlett describes people, religions, and the land itself in detail, and I fully grasped at Duwyn being in a different realm from Earth.
The dialogue, however, felt a little stilted, and sometimes unnecessary. I like dialogue heavy novels, but if I ‘notice’ the dialogue, it feels wrong to me. Also, the relationship between Leonie and her Dad was a little strange to say the least. Backstory is offered, but the sarcastic, sometimes rude girl from the beginning of the story contradicted the caring girl with words beyond her years throughout the rest.
Korren’s character developed well, and stayed true to self, only changing when something of significance spurred the said change. I find his character is what makes me want to read book two, and I’m so glad the POV switched between Leoni and Korren, so we knew what both were thinking.
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.
May 13, 2016
Bulk Review: The Dare. Doctrine of Indecency. A Baby at the Beach Cafe.
This is a slightly different review to my usual- today, you get three in one! Two of the books are quick reads, and the third is a collection of short stories by erotic romance, indie authors. As the stories are short, I thought my reviews would have been short, so I’m doing a combo to save time.
The Dare by John Boyne 3.5/5
The narrative is told from Danny’s perspective, a boy whose mother accidentally knocks over a child, and whose family starts to unravel over the course of the summer from the events of that day. Boyne captures the emotions of the situation through the eyes of a young boy and makes it believable. He weaves a tale of consequence, and how one action can affect the lives of so many. A 102 page quick read.
Doctrine of Indecency by various authors 3/5
This book was quite a mix of erotic romance stories with varying sub-genres. I have to admit that my favourites veered toward the paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy genres. There was also quite a mix of talent. Some stories were well written and absorbing, whilst others were not. I definitely wouldn’t have picked the first story to lead the book as it was far from the strongest.
My favourite stories were:
Pleasure Bite by Brianna West
Suicide Mission by Lila Vale
This ebook is FREE from Amazon! Check it out for some captivating, saucy tales.
A Baby at the Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond 4/5
Told from the perspective of two women- Evie: pregnant and resistant to hand over her role as manager in her beach cafe while she has a baby, and Helen: who moved to Cornwall with her husband for the good life, but is now in need of purpose.
A lovely quick read, set in my home- Cornwall. Lucy Diamond is a fantastic story teller, making the art effortless. I am now a Lucy Diamond fan and shall be soaking up all of her work from now on.
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.
