K.J. Simmill's Blog, page 57
September 4, 2017
Book review: Take a Walk on the Dead Side by Jada Ryker
Even after the suicide of Macey Malloy was exposed, Amanda Sawyer continued to use [image error]her identity. It was the only thing Macey had given her, and part of her wanted to hold onto it. Her father, leader of a fanatical cult, knew her whereabouts and she knew, even when she was proven innocent, the label of a murderer would always follow her. What she didn’t expect was for people in her own work place, colleagues and ‘friends’, to resort to manipulation and needless twisting of truth to get their own minutes of fame. Fortunately, Macey finds herself with a distraction, someone is stalking her intern, and she is determined to find out who.
Well written, enjoyable, light-hearted yet intensely gripping Take a Walk on the Dead Side will easily appeal to a wide audience. The characters and interactions are well scripted, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Wonderfully quirky.
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September 3, 2017
Book review: Distant Family by T.L. McDonald
It started with a buoy, there one minute, gone the next. A similar fate that awaited [image error]anyone breaking the laws of the Nihili, their minds would be scrubbed, no matter how brilliant they were. If they broke the law they were remade, and from them on they would be allowed to only perform minimal labour. When the buoy had vanished a small spaceship appeared in its place, a craft that by all rights could not have possibly made it this far, and it was on a collision course with Nemori. It poses a threat to all living there, especially given its archaic design. It fell to Commander Mharc to intercept and retrieve it. Within the craft were humans, from the Gaia strain, and they marked the beginning of all her problems. Curiosity killed the cat they say, and it could quite possible kill Mharc, and all those loyal to her.
Distant Family is the second book in The Chronicles of Mharc series but easily readable as stand alone. Any essential information from the first book has been skillfully woven into the story to flush out the characters and explain how they came to be where they are now, and the circumstances surrounding their current situations. I found T.L. McDonald’s writing engaging and enjoyable. His ability to create futuristic technology whilst keeping the premises easily understandable is well executed, as is the introduction of new races. I found myself drawn to the characters, engrossed in their stories, and enjoying their growth and challenges. If you’re looking for a gripping sci-fi set in a place gripped with war, challenges, and conflict the Distant Family won’t disappoint.
Book link:
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September 2, 2017
Book Review: The Taking of Peggy Martin by Karen Glista
Peggy Martin wanted to make a difference, she wanted to care for people, give what she [image error]could. To those ends she became a nurse, and began to work at Rusk, a place that cared for the mentally unstable. But she had her own baggage. Her husband Danny was dead, murdered by his half-brother, or so she thought. But recent events caused her to question things she thought of as fact. Strange happenings and even stranger revelations cause her to question her own sanity as sleepless nights and disturbing images haunt her every moment. She throws herself into work, but the things she discovers, even there, only raise more questions.
I really enjoyed reading this book. From the first page it is atmospheric. Amazingly written to show the suffering, doubts and questions. I’m not the biggest fan of first person perspective, but this is one of those books that change my mind. Through the author’s style I was expertly given deep insight into Peggy’s fragile psyche and was given a deep and personal understanding into all she faced. This is what first person perspective should be like. Even if this isn’t a genre you’d normally read I highly recommend picking it up. A brilliantly dark tale.
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September 1, 2017
Book review: The Elixir by J B Michaels
The Elixir by J B Michaels is a paranormal urban paranormal fantasy tale. Bud worked as [image error]a private investigator, but more recently his payments were going to other ventures. Maeve had been a gifted member of the Order of Saint Michael, she had been killed, her throat torn from her body by a werewolf. It was only thanks to her own skill she survived. If being a zombie, forced to live in a freezer, with an artificial throat and voice box could be called surviving. For some time now Bud’s wages have been going towards finding a means to reanimate her. However, there was a complication she got out. An escaped zombie-werewolf seemed the height of their troubles, until Al Capone rose from the grave as a poltergeist, or at least it appeared to be him. But there was something more afoot, a puppeteer, a larger scheme which grows more complex the further he probes into his latest investigation.
This is a really fun, action packed read. It touches on traditional, classical, and familiar paranormal lore in a way perhaps only seen in things like Scooby Doo and the first season of the tv series Penny Dreadful. I would class it as a hybrid of the two, making it fun, but appealing to a more mature audience. In The Elixir paranormal is a fact, not fiction, and the means employed by such creatures, and researchers can be utilised. From the diary of Victor von Frankenstein to the hidden traits of ancient artifacts. This book has some serious charm.
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Book review: The Edge by George Benda
The Edge by George Benda is a uniquely original historical fiction. It all started with a [image error]plot, someone was planning to overthrow the government and Jack was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, antagonising the wrong people. His past antics meant he was already on the FBI’s radar. Soon it became apparent that his mail has been tampered with, and his car was being observed. Jack swears his past mistakes are not something he’s repeating, and yet, the more the FBI dig, the more suspicious things they can tie him into, and some of his contacts are causing alarm bells to ring. Connections area unearthed in the strangest of places, and events just didn’t seem to add up. Jack must find a way to discover the truth, before twisted lies built on random links and speculation causes his downfall and destroy the lives of everyone he holds dear.
Written in scenes that alternate between different timelines I initially thought The Edge by George Benda would be difficult to follow, but I was soon whisked away enjoying each part for what it was, be it highly intellectual debate and theories, past recollections, or even romance. It simply worked. Each part adding to the plot and weaving an intricate tale. This is not the kind of book you can just read for a few minutes and pout down, it requires your full attention and it is not difficult to give. It took me until chapter two to adjust to the author’s unique style, but I was intrigued long before. Definitely a moreish read. A combination of science, philosophy, and romance that is bound to charm. This is the second book in a series, but the author provides enough insight for this to stand alone.
Book link:
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August 30, 2017
Book review: Angel’s Nightmare Adventure by Angel Ramon
Angel was nervous about the operation to correct his overbite. He wanted to impress [image error]Tiffany, a girl in his school, but the pain from the operation is not his concern. It was a fear stemmed from the video game he has been playing into the early hours of the morning. Zombies had invaded a hospital, and in the game he stalked the corridors killing them. Perhaps it wasn’t the best thing to do before going for surgery, then again, if he hadn’t perhaps he wouldn’t have been as prepared for the situation he faced. He awakes on the bed, the operation had not even been started, and everyone was dead. But they weren’t just dead, they were undead, and it’s not just people who have turned.
There’s also the added bonus of Luis’ story, but I didn’t want to risk disclosing all.
A quick read written in the present tense, it reminds me a lot of levels from the old House of the Dead arcade games that I lost many hours and pounds to growing up with, as well as including a touch of Resident Evil. It was a fun, mindless read that appealed to the gamer in me, things like finding ammo in lockers and solving puzzles to gain access to rooms etc never failed to make me smile. I’ll be honest, if you’re looking for an atmospheric, disturbing, real to life zombie survival story then this isn’t what you’re after, but if you’re after a gaming fan fiction version that doesn’t take itself seriously you’ll really enjoy this.
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Filed under: author, book review, Gaming, reading, writing
August 28, 2017
The Killing of John, John, and John by Elizabeth O’Neill
Lily is a troubled twelve year old girl, her mother is a well-known ‘dominatrix’, and such [image error]things reflect poorly on a child. She takes solace where she can, but in all the wrong places. Drinking, smoking, and sex. She feels her own life’s chapters have no happy endings, something only made worse by her mother, and her insistence she starts to help with her own work. She lives solely for the fleeting escapes, but she can never flee far enough.
A dark story. Reading about lily’s life is like watching a training wreck, it is horrific, you see and understand what is happening, and yet you can’t tear your eyes away. The author has a great talent to writing phonetic dialogue, and it certainly is worthy of praise. However, for me as a reader it detracted from the legibility and flow off the story. I understand it gives a native feel, but feel the odd appropriate word would have been better. There are other readers who will love the authenticity. This aside it is a good read, horrific, and true to the attitudes of the era being reflected upon.
Book link:
The Killing of John, John and John
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August 27, 2017
Book review: The House on Hayden Pond by Jessica Monks
Moving can be stressful at the best of times. New houses make new noises, the groaning [image error]of pipes, the settling of wood, the sound of footsteps… down on their luck Sam and her family accept their cousin’s generous offer to move into a long abandoned building owned by his late father. The agreement was simple, they would stay but in return they had to renovate the place. It was run down, after all, there hadn’t been a soul there for years, at least not a living one.
I’d place this firmly in the point horror genre, it reminded me so much of the books I read as a teenager/YA. It’s well-written and the plot is continually driven forward by events. The author sets a good atmosphere and manages to create a good air of tension.
Book link
The House on Hayden Pond
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August 26, 2017
Book review: Cloak of The Two Winds by Jack Massa
It started with a dream. A promise of treasure and riches. While others were hunting [image error]Lonn and his klarn broke away from their group to follow this whimsical promise. A ship was coming, ripe for the raiding. Unusual at the time of year but Lonn had seen it. And there were those he said he could have been a dreamseer. It came as promised, but its cargo was not all he had been fortold, and yet unknown to him It possessed something of such great value that it would see them leave the comforts of their home to embark on a long and perilous journey. They had stolen from a witch, and in turn had brought a new wrath upon them. Their friend Glyssa was taken, but her absence would be the least of their concerns if only they understood what their actions could wrought. They had not just taken any old treasure, they had taken something capable of plunging the world itself into chaos. And now, thanks to their actions, it was in the wrong hands.
This was a great tale with an intricately woven plot. The characters were fun and developed which always makes for a good read. Great world building, some beautifully described imagery and no shortage of imagination. All in all, a strong first book to what looks to be a promising series.
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August 25, 2017
Book review: The Black Fox by Gordon Bickerstaff
Gavin Shawlins is on the run, only he doesn’t know it. Following their last mission for the [image error]Lambeth Group someone realised he knew something important, something that could put the US itself at risk. Zoe Tampsin, on the order of her superior, takes him and goes dark. In exchange for Gavin the US have offered The UK billions in upgrades, a manhunt of epic proportions is about to begin, no quarter will be shown, no stone unturned. Zoe swears to protect him at all costs, attempting to tease a secret, that even he doesn’t realise he knows, from him. Time is running out.
I really enjoy reading Gordon Bickerstaff ‘s books. He weaves excellent tales of secrets and conspiracies, all enhanced by vivid characters. It is rare for me to say that something would work well on the big screen, as either a series or movies, but these books would. They are dark, interesting, believable, and could easy be transferred into a gripping film. I certainly had a hard time putting this book down. If you want to lose yourself in a thrilling, action packed, conspiracy, espionage, then this is certainly a read you’ll enjoy.
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