K.J. Simmill's Blog, page 53
October 31, 2017
Book review: The Baby Auction by Peter Taylor-Gooby (@PeterT_G )
You don’t make friends in Market World, there are no heroes, no acts of kindness, and [image error]especially no gifting. This was the way of life, ‘don’t pay, don’t get’. It didn’t matter if someone’s life was on the line, if you acted freely you answered to the law, and the Enforcers ensure all adhered to the One Law. ‘Property, Equity, Dignity, Trade’ were the words inscribed upon they city’s crest. But in a city where the law is to never owe more than you can pay, sometimes dignity is unaffordable. Matt watched as a child as his father was taken away by Black Shadows, his mother later leaving for the city in hope to find him. When Matt came of age he was seized for re-education, but never once was his alleged crime revealed, only the hint that it was his parents’ fault. When he was finally released he was determined to discover what happened to them, and Ed, the girl he had bonded with in re-education, was only too glad to help. The balance is askew in Market World, but the poor are just too blind to see it, believing they are protected from persecution by the One Law. The truth, however, is always a little darker, and corruption is often unseen when carefully woven into a way of life none would question. Lose yourself in the gripping pages of Peter Taylor-Gooby’s The Baby Auction, and witness dystopian world which is just a single law away from our current world.
The Baby Auction is a gripping read, written in third person with an excellent atmospheric style. Our world could easy become the one portrayed, especially given the ‘workers or shirkers’ mentality being enforced by the government. The Baby Auction just takes our world that one step further. You can feel the characters’ desires pushing the plot forward, and their nature and instincts challenging the very core of this society. Peter Taylor-Gooby creates a complex city, with only one law, one that is enforced without favouritism. But sometimes corruption works its way in without anyone even realising it’s there. The book is written from two perspectives, Matt and Ed’s, who believe this law destroys all that is good, and Dian and Anna who think the One Law creates an equal and fair environment. The characters show great development and growth as events cause their paths to cross and re-examination of their beliefs. Highly charged, emotional, gripping, and disturbingly close to what could be, The Baby Auction is certain to leave you thinking, and perhaps even cause you to reflect on your own actions.
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October 30, 2017
Book review: A Killer’s Reflection by Cheryl Denise Bannerman
This was an surprisingly enjoyable read. Meeting Doug at a young age you gain insights into snippets of his life as he matures, shaping him into what he will ultimately become. There are hints at a darker origin of his development, a hateful influence. Cheryl Denise Bannerman, when writing Doug’s perspective forges a clear image of his character and personality, and when later she approaches Tara’s perspective, creates an amazing account of how her behaviour would alter and her mannerisms change to ensure she didn’t do anything to anger him. The alteration in characters is clearly and real, and A Killer’s reflection touches on serious issues, and makes for a page turning read.
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Book link:
A Killer’s Reflection
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Book review: Possessed by a Shadow by Ron Williams
Danielle doesn’t know much about her father, only that he must have been a bad man. [image error]Her mother rarely spoke of him, only that he had hurt her. At the time she was too young to understand her conception had been the result of rape. On a visit to her uncle, her mother’s brother, Danielle’s life is changed forever. One minute she is telling her uncle how the other children tease her because of her unique eyes, the next he teaches her the real way to wish and something bizarre happens. She finds herself somewhere else, and something shares the space with her. Time moves, and Death’s hand is cruel to Daniel as she grows into a young woman. But as the Death card in a tarot reading revealed, it could also signify a new beginning. Danielle is on the verge of losing everything, until she find something she had never expected, an ancient fetish, hidden away beyond sight, and if the book with is reads true, it could fulfil her every desire, however, everything comes at as price.
Wow, what a gripping and fantastic read. I loved the portrayal of Danielle’s character, and watching her pass from child to woman was great. Ron Williams writes with masterful poise and style, bewitching the reader with a thoroughly enjoyable tale. Heartbreak, love, magic, mystery, and horror collide to form a story that is nothing short of masterful. Without a doubt I’ll be keeping an eye out for more work from this author. Prepare to be whisked away in a tale that once it catches you in its thrall will refuse to let you go. I rarely openly recommend a book, but Possessed by a Shadow gets my full recommendation, it is a must read and a credit to the genre.
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October 29, 2017
Book review: The Bridge in the Fog by Marc Remus (@MarcRemusArt )
The Bridge in the Fog (Book 3, Magora series) by Marc Remus but works excellently as [image error]stand alone. An amazing gate painting made by Holly’s late grandfather, Nikolas, was in fact a portal to the magical world of Magora. When staring into Ms Findley’s crystal ball Holly bears witness to her death, but that is not all it has to reveal, for it shows a haunting image of her grandfather, imprisoned, something that should be impossible if he were indeed dead. There is a chance this apparition could be her grandfather’s double, but one way or another she needs to know. If that alone wasn’t enough, rumours have been circulating about Cuspidor having a daughter, and she has a sinking feeling she knows just who that daughter could be. Little did she know this quest would unleash something beyond even her imagination.
The chapters are a perfect length for the target audience, each written with a style and flare that kept me turning the page. At first I was concerned about picking up the third book in a series, but Marc Remus does a brilliant job of filling in any necessary information to create a self contained story. This is a really well written book with a good balance of characters, development, and plot. It contains the correct mix of descriptive setting and dialogue to engage the reader and ensure they are quickly drawn and invested in the plot. It is filled with imagination and creativity, the creatures within the book are charming and imaginative, I’d be hard pushed to find anyone who wouldn’t be swept up in the magic and fantasy of this book, and the world created. I’m certainly considering heading back to book one to see how all this adventure began.
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October 25, 2017
Book review: Dystopia: The Long Road by D.J Cooper (@DJCooper2015)
John loved Amy, she was beautiful, [image error]pristine, and her excellent culinary skills seemed to always ensure he carried an extra few pounds. The two of them couldn’t have been much different, Matt was outdoorsy, a prepper, and with Sept 11th just around the corner it was time to make sure things were in order. Just in case. Then came the newest of the Ebola scare, but something about it didn’t sit right. This broadcast marked the beginning of a hidden threat, and a journey where life itself was the only reward. That, and working out who can be trusted.
Having read the first book it was really interesting to find myself in the same time frame, following the adventure of John and Amy as they attempt to make their way to safety. This was a good read, adding a sense of depth to the characters and also serving to enhance the first book as it is things unseen by the reader in the first. It works well as stand alone, and is a good and realistic read.
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October 23, 2017
Book review: The Vacant Ones by Stephanie Berezowski
The Vacant Ones is an occult horror written by Stephanie Berezowski. Emily was having [image error]a difficult time coping with the loss of her sister, and she wasn’t the only one. Her mother, Sue, having already suffered the loss of her first born, now retreated to alcohol and starvation at the loss of her youngest. John, Emily’s father and Sue’s ex-husband, had returned too the old family house, hoping to ease Emily’s burden, and it didn’t hurt that he had made a business from making people safe. Something people would pay heavily for these days. With each full moon came terror, brutal murders, and horror. It was said these things, these werewolves, had always been in the area. But something had changed, now, instead of picking off those straying after dark, they were bringing the hunt to the town. An ancient tale holds a few answers but even ancient wisdom is flawed when the force itself has evolved. The closest assessment of our time was it was a virus, but those more connected to the world knew it as something else, Lunaticus, a spirit that eats away at the spirit and humanity to expose the evil within for the three days of a full moon and become, what they refer to as, The Vacant Ones, and the most dangerous are those known as Black Coats, for they retain their intellect. It is said everything finds a balance, but sometimes first the balance must first tip askew.
Witten in the first person from Emily’s perspective gives the reader a real feel for the suffering, distress, and even happiness that she feels. When I first saw the word werewolves I’ll admit I was a little deterred, imagining the more modern portrayal which has driven monster to misunderstood ally and the genre into stagnation. How refreshing it was to once more see dark creatures and evil intentions prowl the land, in the form of Black Coats, hunting and bringing terror to all, their actions reflecting their predatory nature. Dark and gritty, with stomach turning action and a sense of the fear this certainly makes for a page turning read. Stephanie Berezowski succeeds in once again restoring the terror, as well as finding a balance, to a stagnating species. Well written and atmospheric, a must for fans of horror, and supernatural.
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October 22, 2017
Book review: The Paladin’s Message by Richard Crofton (@WriterCrofton )
The Dark Year is in full momentum, Megan, having vanished without a trace, is being held awaiting the appropriate time in May when she will be forced to fulfil the role expected [image error]of her. She had been a good girl, a church goer, and even helped with the outreach to assist those down on their luck. Megan’s father, journeys to the town his daughter was last seen, hoping to see something, uncover a clue, anything that could help him find his daughter. They had been growing apart since his wife’s death, he had missed the development of the wonderful young woman she had become. Using his skills from his time as Military Police he thought about how he could find her, the police were doing everything they could, but it seemed there is something he can do that no one else could. The dark have their minions, so too does the light have its devotees, but their numbers aren’t what they used to be and those who survived dare not act. Only one will set aside everything, risk everything, to ensure The Agents of Shadow do not win, he is a Keeper of White, but he cannot do it alone.
Having read Agents of Shadow I really couldn’t wait to get my hands The Paladin’s Message, and it did not disappoint. We see the return of familiar characters from the first book, new ones, and the mystery surrounding others slowly dissolve. Dark and haunting with a undertone of hope. Richard Croton once again displays his talent for atmospheric and descriptive writing with brilliant scene setting. I couldn’t help but be drawn into the pages. This is certainly a gritty read with dark twists and action that will leave you with a strange disquiet and a desire for more. A brilliant occult horror with the constant clash between good vs evil at its core. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Book link:
The Paladin’s Message (The Keepers of White Book 2)
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Book review: Ansgar: The Struggle of a people by Aleksandra Layland’s (@kbenart1 )
Ansgar: The Struggle of a people The Triumph of the Heart is part one of Aleksandra [image error]Layland’s the Windflower Saga. When Ansgar survives an unseasonable and terrifying storm he finds himself anew, learning the true meaning of faith. At his journey’s start he was committed to finding the Kimbrii people, but when they are the ones who find him and pull him from the clutches of death he is more certain than ever fate has something in mind for him. He learns from these people, learns of the unjust laws they are forced to adhere to, and of their rich and threatened heritage. He knows in his heart his initial perception of this shrinking race was correct and wishes to protect them, but this struggle would be more difficult than he anticipated, he is not only forced to face the outdated views of his world, but of their world too, fortunately there are those who see logic and offer wise council.
I see a lot of native American inspiration in Ansgar: The Struggle of a people The Triumph of the Heart, specifically in how things came to pass and how the Kimbrii were driven from their land, oppressed, and denied the same rights as the invaders who forced them from their homes to claim the territory as their own. There are many religious and social undertones and the author easily incorporate issues at the heart of today’s society into their work giving the reader things to reflect on that are out of balance in our own society and views. There’s a message in Aleksandra Layland’s book, one of acceptance for people regardless of race, and it is well presented. This is a tale of love and understanding and, as such a tale should be, is heavily driven by both the characters and plots.
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October 18, 2017
Book review: Jimmy Prophet’s Library by John W. Milor
When your favourite secret playground has been vandalised with a sign that reads [image error]“Archeological Site #238, do not disturb, official archeological research” what’s a boy to do? He goes in, of course. After all Jim had already survived a strange encounter with a being not in his own reality (i.e a stunningly attractive girl, after all such heavenly things can’t really exist). Following this rare encounter he returned home with plans to play on the vines. But this latest development piqued his interest. Evidence suggested his familiar haunt had, in fact, been an Indian burial ground, but his desire not to anger anything otherworldly saw him adventure further afield and inadvertently make his own historical and monumental discovery. But what he found was more than a few arrow tips and old bones. What he found opened his mind to a whole new world of possibilities.
Edged with a humour all too familiar for a teenager facing many of the sometimes uncomfortable situations, Jimmy Prophet’s Library contains the correct mixture of dramatic flair, devastation, and elation. There is certainly a lot of information in this story. As Jim expands his mind and understanding, so too does author John W. Milor invite and encourage the reader to do the same. From math to biology, sport to nature, the possibilities seem endless as Jim astounds peers and professionals alike. Jim’s abilities put me a lot in mind of JJ from No Ordinary Family, his brain becomes like a super computer able to link, calculate, and correlate data he has encountered. In the hands of a hormone charged teenager it could be a terrifying gift indeed. The book itself is certainly packed with knowledge, and if there is one thing a reader will take away from it, it will be the importance of challenging and developing ideas. I really liked the combination of story meets encouragement to learn and expand horizons.
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October 17, 2017
Book review: Adrenaline Secrets: A Deadly DNA Novel by Carolyn Reilly (@CReillyBooks )
Carolyn Reilly presents an amazing read in her Adrenaline Secrets: A Deadly DNA Novel [image error]There are naturals and there are Genetic InVitros or GVs. But lately, in Reardon, there are other concerns, people are turning into rabid killers, and whilst there were many theories, disease, drugs, etc, the truth remained there was no evidence of either, simply because these rogues somehow seemed to evade capture. The attacks were getting worse and tension across the city is at an all time high. Meanwhile, a plane on its way to Reardon fell off the radar, the only image located was that of a crashed vessel, no survivors. Rumoured to have been on board was a German scientist, someone who wanted to aid the committee in taking down GovCorp, and he was bringing them some vital information. A rapid mission was assembled in order to reach the wreckage before GovCorp did. Kendra a skilled linguistic was partnered with Jake, a VG who makes her blood boil in more ways than one. A misunderstanding caused great friction, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. Their attraction is dangerous, but will it be their salvation, it their undoing?
A brilliant book, without a question. Carolyn Reilly Combines romance with suspense and intrigue to create a plot that is not only enticing, but brilliant. The attraction between the characters, the conflicts, and the attitudes and prejudices are expertly portrayed to create a real feel to all that transpires. This book is none stop action, from trying to survive rogues, and uncover the truth, all the way to the passion between Jake and Kendra. The erotic scenes are expertly crafted like the book itself they are well-written, descriptive, and by no means crude as some can be, better yet, the plot doesn’t rely on sex to work. It is an amazing story, and one where all the facts don’t become clear to the end, and even then you’ve still a few surprises in store. Needless to say there’s more than one twist on the way. My only complaint is I couldn’t put it down and didn’t end up sleeping until half three this morning. Oops. Highest praises to Carolyn Reilly for writing such an amazing plot that there really was no choice between turning the next page and sleep. Hands down one of the best books of this genre I’ve read this year, and definitely in my all genre top ten of 2018. Adrenaline Secrets: A Deadly DNA Novel gets the honour of a phrase I rarely utter, I highly recommend this book. It really is the whole package.
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Book link:
Adrenaline Secrets: A Deadly DNA Novel (The Deadly DNA Series)
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