K.J. Simmill's Blog, page 43

Book review: Kildare’s Dreamwander

The diagnosis had been both expected and a shock. Dementia. Cillian had suspected for some time his mind has been [image error]betraying him, hadn’t he? With this label under his belt though he found slipping into the strange reality much easier. Gone were the wrinkles, the aches, the pains. In their stead was a quest, a mission to slay Red Ruin, a dragon. He was welcomed a hero, said to have served this land before, but he couldn’t remember ever doing so. A world of angered gods, dragons, swords, and the tapestry of myths doesn’t seem like too bad a place to wither away into obscurity, at least his final day’s would be full of excitement. But what if this was real, what if he really was some place he could be young again and really had inadvertently freed a god hell bent on destroying all? Is Cillian truly an ancient hero reawakened, or is this his sanity’s last hoorah? Unravel the tale, join the adventure in Kildare’s Dreamwander

Dreamwander is the first book in Kildare’s In the Ruins of Eden series. Any book dealing with a step between worlds or realities has to be tightly crafted and clear in order not to confuse the reader, and the seamless transition is well executed. There is a surreal element to the settings, and the play on the diagnosis of dementia, the shifting perspective, faded memories or those which may even not have existed is expertly woven within to keep the reader wondering whether Cillian has just embraced a delusion, or is in fact living a new, younger life in an eerie, surreal, and magical setting in which he seems destined to be the hero, or at least central to the tale. These scenes are vividly crafted, and from the first page you are struck by a fast moving plot designed to keep the reader slightly off balance throughout. Be prepared for some interesting twists, unexpected developments, and great characters. 

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Book review: Brian Simons’ Travail Online: Soulkeeper (@thebriansimons )

Coral was desperate. It had finally happened, she was now redundant in the only job she had known, [image error]replaced by a bot, leaving her to fear where her next meal was coming from. With bot automation jobs were scarce, even her own parents had sought work elsewhere. With nowhere else to turn, she did what so many people were, she turned to Travail Online. People made real money in game selling gear to pay to win players. The exchange rate was $1 per 10 gold, not great, but if she worked hard she could at least eat. There was a catch, however, if you died you started over, level one, no assets, or at least that was how it should have worked. She had never been a gamer, and she hadn’t expected to be so drawn into this world. Her aim had been to make money, instead she finds herself allied with an unlikely group who were trying to survive and make ends meet. She had been the extra number to allow access to a limited dungeon, excess baggage they had expected to die. Little did they know an in game glitch has set disaster on the world, permadeath at the hands of a psychotic NPC and, somehow, Level 1 Coral receives the only quest to confront this disaster. If she fails, it’s not only herself who will worry about the next meal, but the millions of people who rely on this game to survive. Failure is not an option, but with an overpowered NPC, learning, growing, evolving and slowly preventing the rebirth of player and NPC alike, what hope does she have?

There is something very addictive about Brian Simons’ Travail Online: Soulkeeper. I have only this year really dedicated any real time to reading books of the LitRPG genre, and thanks to books like this it is rapidly becoming my preferred genre. It’s no secret I am a gamer, but I had never expected to have so much fun reading this genre. Soulkeeper is an exciting intriguing road with the depth and world building you would expect from playing an MMORPG. Races are pitted against each other, driven to separation and conflict, and the promise of epic and tense future quests are constantly being implied during the pressure-filled adventure. There are some great characters, and they show some great person growth as they begin this seemingly impossible task. I will certainly be adding book two into my ‘to read’ list.

If you’re a KU subscriber like myself, you also have the added bonus of this book being free on Kindle unlimited.

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Book review: Edie James’ The Steel Road

The elves didn’t believe in an afterlife, you were either dead, or alive. So when Dreyah, [image error]the prophesied human/elf crossbreed whose death would spark war, was found murdered by some magical ritual, the thought of her returning had not been imagined. But death did not want her, yet. It was not her time, and thus, it rejected her, sending her back to the living. Thoughts of the two bloods within her giving her two lives surfaced to explain away the strange phenomenon, but she had not been convinced. Dreyah knows she must avenge her murder, and seeks to find her place. She is both elf and human, and also the spark of war. She must choose a side, choose which blood her loyalties lie with.

The Steel Road by Edie James is the first book in The Ardent Halo series. It is a complex coming of age tale ripe with politics, agendas, deception, and magic, both made by machine and nature. Houses and factions are driven by their own beliefs, and the guidance of The Four and their chosen. But even those thought touched by the divine are not beyond manipulation. The Steel Road is immensely descriptive with impressive world building, along with myths, legend, history and lore. Magnificent scenery will leave vivid impressions, while alliances and agendas drive the complex thread of a very involved plot. This world is divided, elf, humans, and the space between where war once raged, each side is different, each side has its own levels of development, and the contrast makes for a fascinating transition in what I would have to call a steampunk high fantasy cross. Engaging, immersive, and very much alive, this is a tale you wont soon forget. For readers who find it difficult to follow houses and alliances, there is a short comprehensive appendix at the rear, ideal if you plan to read it over a few sittings and become hazy on some of the details. A strong first book in what promises to be a fascinating series.

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Book review: Kaylin McFarren’s Twisted Threads (@4kaylin )

Akira Hamada has a debt. It is one she fears will never be paid, and one she dare not run [image error]away from. So when she is offered the chance at one final assassination to balance the books, and earn her freedom, she is both optimistic and suspicious. More so because, for this job, she will not be travelling alone. Her targets are suspects in murder, and her task is simple, if she can’t identify the killer, she is to erase the whole family. The job didn’t sit right with her. She wanted to be sure of their guilt, and to isolate the guilty she needed to get close to them. The easiest way in was Devon, the handsome young nephew, or at least she had thought it would be. Akira was used to being in control, but there is nothing more unpredictable than love.

Kaylin McFarren spins a complex tale at a suitable pace to keep the reader engrossed from beginning to end. Whilst on a cruise give access to a some great settings along with a wide cast of characters, the plot focuses mainly on those integral, and by doing so gives them great depth and personality, while filler characters are used to flush out events, but are written in a way that does not seem two dimensional. An extra string of suspicious deaths and missing people bring more to the already tense scene that causes Akira’s mission. Then enters the mysterious watcher, you’ll enjoy trying to figure out this person’s identity. If you’re looking for an engrossing read that has action, thrills, romance and intrigue then Twisted Threads may very well be the book for you.

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Book review: James Patton’s Dragonrider’s Fury (@jamesgpatton )

Boh loved her father, he did so much for her, but if there was one thing he stirred in her [image error]more than anything else it was a love for dragons. So when she got an unusual invitation to become a dragonrider,  it was something she could not refuse. But dragons seldom took women, and thought those with low strength stats were weak. Boh was about to give their world a wakeup call and show them that real strength was a hell of a lot more than a figure assigned to an attribute point. She would play on her terms, and let no man, or dragon, stand in her way. It was just as well, because the path before her is anything but easy, danger is coming, and she is the one standing in its path.

Seventh Talon 1: Dragon Rider’s Fury by James G Patton is a beautifully narrative LitRPG fiction that follows Boh. A young woman suffering from MS who uses VR as a means to live. she is the depiction of a stubborn, hot head, with the not so well hidden heart of gold. She is a great character, she knows what she wants, and how she wants to do it, and no one can tell her otherwise. She is a wildcard, yet fiercely loyal to both herself and those who surround her. Great characters and a plot filled with suspense, mystery, friendships and danger as Boh does all she can to live. this may be a game, but in this land a Champion only gets one life. I look forward to seeing book two.

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Book review: Robert E Kreig’s The Shadow Of Woodmyst (@robertekreig )

Alice Gyfford, Kayl’sro of the Agrodien, and a daughter of Woodmyst, was young, [image error]someone a person would hardly believe was capable of the feats she had already accomplished. She had more blood on her hands than even the most seasoned warriors. She had protected her homeland, regardless of the cost. Now she turns her focus to rectifying the wrongs of those who were in the position of power before her. It started as a simple gesture to open conversation, the return of property previously stolen, but where it would lead she could not imagine, and the new loyal ally that had chosen her as its keeper was beyond belief, but she will need all the help she can get, there is a prophecy that speaks if the rise of a magi, a warlock, and the time has come for all to learn their place. Join the adventure in Robert E Kreig’s The Shadow Of Woodmyst, The Woodmyst Chronicles Book VI

Robert E Kreig has woven yet another captivating tale in the Woodmyst Chronicles. There is danger, strife, challenges, rising threat, new allies, and ancient enemies, not to mention a fantastic cast of well developed characters who enhance the plot alongside the protagonist, Alice. Alice is a remarkable character, whilst young she is both strong and experienced with a will and passion to do what is right, while also looking after those she protects. I first met her in the previous book, and she continues to grow and surprise me in this one. From the last book to this one, the characters aren’t the only thing to develop and progress Robert E Kreig as an author continues to hone their already impressive craft in The Shadow Of Woodmyst. Vivid descriptions conjure magnificent scenes that come to life before your eyes and weave their own spell of magic over you as a reader  and won’t fail to keep you entertained for hours.

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Book review: The Desert Botanist by Jennifer Stone (@JenStone4485 )

Erica had agreed to leave behind her luscious homeland as part of a cultural exchange [image error]and learning experience with the desert dwellers. She was excited at the thought of learning what new plants and remedies could be revealed in their harsh climate. She had not expected everything she had witnessed, even Amira’s own attitude, to have been nothing but a deception. What she finds is not the city of cultural wealth and learning she hoped, but a land of debauchery and corruption, where people paraded like peacocks displaying their wealth and only those with riches were worthy of attention. Erica must quickly learn who she can trust, one wrong turn could destroy her, and there are those who would seek to do just that. She must have faith, for a storm is coming, one that will change the very future, and Erica has her own role to play in what will come to pass.

Having read the Earthen Priestess I was really looking forward to The Desert Botanist, and the author did not disappoint. I really enjoy the easy, flowing style of Jennifer Stone, it draws the reader in with its enjoyable characters, whilst finding the perfect balance of description to allow the reader’s imagination some creative license. A wonderful book and an enjoyable read.

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Book review: Jessica V Fisette’s Fire and Ice

Allie didn’t believe them, the things that had been whispered about Phoenix after her [image error]accident. She alone still looked for him, she had faith that he was neither responsible for the fire, nor dead. Of course, having driven off a bridge, and lost her memories of that night didn’t help her case any. But a gnawing fear told her there was more to the situation than she thought, more than she remembered. How right she had been, and how lucky she was to trust her instincts when a sudden visit by official looking figures at her school didn’t sit right with her. She had run, run as if her life depended on it, and it had. She and Phoenix had touched upon a world of magic, a skill they thought was unique to them, but there were more out there like her, yet at the same time, in the eyes of some, there was no one like her. She was just what was needed. A long lost piece of a play for power, and she didn’t even know how to defend herself.

Fire and Ice follows Allie’s story. It is easy to initially believe that you have started this book at number two, a clever ploy by the author, Jessica V Fisette, to allow in plot discovery by the protagonist, and as this book is written solely in the first person perspective, we only know and learn what they themselves do, so a gap in memory leading a reader to think they have missed something, is in fact exactly how Allie’s feels, and in time, throughout the journey, more is discovered until most things fall into place. This is an ideal young adult / new adult read, reminding me in some places of an L. J Smith novel, whilst not being in any way derivative. You’ll cringe at Allie’s decisions, but realise that at her age rash and impulsive thinking came more natural in dangerous scenarios than trust and ask questions. A journey of discovery, uncovering the truth about her past, and fighting to reclaim her present before anything more is stripped from her.

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Book review: Anne Francis Scott’s Lost Souls (@AnnefScott )

Toni had been digging in places she shouldn’t have, first into the building development, then [image error]around the scene of a double murder. But she never imagined the trouble it would ensure. An attempt on her life brings into sharper focus the terror that followed her back from the murder site. Since she had seen that thing in the woods a dark presence has been stalking her, hijacking her mind, and playing sick games. Reality seems distorted, and sinister voices whisper within her mind. Toni does the only thing she can, she turns to Allison, a newly awakened Medium with more than a little experience with the paranormal, can they discover the true danger and unravel the truth before it is too late?

Be prepared to lose yourself in an amazingly descriptive paranormal fiction. Anne Francis Scott possesses a beautiful descriptive voice, her proverbial quill painting the images before you with such clarity it is easy to imagine yourself there. From scenery to mannerisms, there is no stone left unturned and you are left with an amazing impression of the characters and the places they see. While Lost Souls is book two of The Lost Trilogy, it does work as stand alone. Whilst I felt I had missed an amazing and tense adventure when Allison first uncovers her abilities in book one, and Toni begins digging into things she, perhaps, shouldn’t, I felt they were adequately addressed to provide a full enough picture to allow the reader to understand all they needed to, in fact, if anything, it made me want to read the first book. I love a good character driven plot, and I have always been a fan of writing that absorbs you. There is danger, threat, looming darkness, mystery, and the test of bonds and friendships as people are forced to accept and view things they never could have imagined.

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Book review: Matthew Siege’s Headshot: Two in the Head

Ryan had beat the game. He had sealed himself within a guild vault, and now just needed [image error]to wait until he respawned on Monday, or so he thought. But things do not always go to plan. It turns out Sundays weren’t the down time the developers had insinuated. It was a time for Survivors to gather supplies and prepare themselves for the week ahead. There was just one problem, he was logged in but he wasn’t a Survivor. The system didn’t quite know what to do with him. Instead of a form, an impossible zombie body, they tethered him invisibly to Sasha. He soon realised that there was more at stake for her in this game than he could have imagined, and suddenly, beating the game had a whole new meaning.

I loved book one, book two is brilliant. We find ourselves delving into the Survivor side of the game, learning how their side works, the skills, the detail, everything normally unknown to the free-play zombies. But as Ryan he discovers this new system, he also uncovers something new, Sasha, they young lady he had taken the brick from, the reason he had entered the guild vault in the first place, had an agenda, this was not a game for her, not any more. Through their strange connection we learn about her, her motivations, and a darker twist to the gaming world. Headshot: Two in the Head is masterfully written, riddled with suspense, and leaves you hungry for more. I can’t wait for book three. These books get my  unhesitating recommendation, and those who follow me know how few books I attribute those words to.

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