C.J. Perry's Blog, page 9
May 13, 2017
A #HookReview of Legacy: Book #3, the Fire Chronicles, by Susi Wright
The author submitted this one. The first thing that caught my eye about the cover was the unique style of the art, the dragon in the background, (I like Dragons – who doesnt?) then the interesting fish-bone [image error]looking sword in the character’s hand. I checked the blurb:
It needs work. In order to find out what the plot is, and not just background, I had to scroll down half-way through it.
“Driven by destiny, courage and love, Luminor’s intrepid daughter, Espira, must reconcile with her rebellious brother, Ardientor, summoning nascent powers to join the quest.”
I dug the concept, even if the blurb was structured oddly with one sentence paragraphs and teetering on infodump. I opened the preview. After maps, a preface, and a disclaimer, I arrived at a prologue.
The open is scenery and then a sword fight in the background. Slowly, the author zooms into the fight, and one page into it, we get a character’s name that was in the blurb “Ardientor.” The fight is written well. From the preface, maps and even a page on fantasy philosophy – you get the feeling this world has a rich history, and has been shown a lot of love by the author.
The writing is passable, and I plan to read a little more to get a better feel for the author’s voice. But so far… it’s a maybe for me. If you would like to see a review of this one, please vote for it in the poll of the week.
May 9, 2017
A #HookReview of Unfinished, by Isana.
[image error]This one came in as a request from the author. It’s not fantasy, but I’m going to do it and I will tell you why. When I looked up the genre I saw:
Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Abuse > Child Abuse
Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Dysfunctional Relationships
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Biographies & Memoirs > Memoirs
Okay. A memoir about a dysfunctional family and child abuse. Cheery. But, I have a personal stake in stories like these. In a book like this, the writing isn’t that important. Books like this need to deliver only one thing – honesty. The reader’s empathy will follow. Stories of triumph over abuse are nothing new, but every story is different, and each new one has a chance to reach people in a way that the last one didn’t. Stories of abuse need to be told, to help others. As long as I feel like it’s honest – Ill keep reading.
Let’s see:
#HookReview
The cover didn’t grab me, but I’m used to flashy fantasy covers. Considering the genre though, it was alright. It conveyed a metaphor, and one appropriate for the story; the endurance trial of escaping abuse and self doubt, but she made it. (Of course, her run isn’t over – I dont see a couch anywhere in the pic. So, hence the name of the book, I suppose.)
I opened the preview. The prologue was cute, but ended without anything happening. The story starts with a beautiful backdrop for a childhood, and then the author calls forth memories of some hardcore fundamentalist Baptist church, with old-school fire and brimstone sermons. I was just hoping that it wouldnt turn into a vendetta. To stay honest, you cant attack anyone.
There was a point or two throughout the preview that I thought it might happen, but it didn’t. The author stays true to the story, and holds nothing back. She is blunt as a spoon, painfully specific, and doesnt look for pity. It’s dark, but so far, this is a story about child abuse; it doesnt get darker than that. Chapters are short, and kept me turning pages to the end of the haunting preview. It helps that it is well written.
To vote for Unfinished go to our Book Review of the Week Poll HERE.
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May 8, 2017
A #HookReview of: The Du Lac Devil, by Mary Anne Yarde
The author asked me to take a look at this one in a Facebook Review group. The cover is great so I looked at the blurb. It is set in Saxon Briton, and war is coming. I dug it so I popped open the preview.
The writing is top notch, but the author throws a lot of names at you fast. Maybe because it is a book 2, but the description claims it is a stand-alone work as well as part of a series. I managed to keep up, so it wasn’t that bad. The descriptions were short but eloquent and the plot started building fast; building a wall to defend, winter is coming, a baby on the way. This one is going to be rife with conflict – you can feel it from the first page.
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To vote for Du Lac Devil go to our Book Review of the Week Poll HERE.
A #HookReview of The Mansion’s Twins, by Rose M. Channing
The Readers Favorite, 5 star medallion caught my attention. I wondered if it was real. I read the blurb and was pretty convinced I would not like the writing. It had grammar problems, with commas in particular. (A weakness of mine at times – too many commas.) I popped open the book to more of the same. The imagery was hard to visualize and the action was bogged down by passive voice.
Book Review of the Week Poll
CJ’s News & Reviews Newsletter.
Authors: To have your book included in the vote, click on the Newsletter or HookReview FAQ link at the top of the page. I will email you once a week with a review, an update about my projects and upcoming reviews, and occasionally a raffle for an Amazon Gift Card.
Visitors/Readers: Click on the Newsletter link at the top of the page and enter your email. I will email you once a week with a review, an update about my projects and upcoming reviews, and occasionally a raffle for an Amazon Gift Card.
The results are in. I will be reviewing, The Du Lac Devil, by Mary Anne Yarde. Look for it in your email, or here. Review will be posted to Amazon on 5/26.
NEXT POLL OPENS 5/21
#HookReview of Fate Abandoned, by L. Danvers
[image error]The title plus the crown on the cover promised me a displaced royalty story. But the blurb proved it wasn’t. A princess goes off to save her twin brother who is heir to the throne. I dug the blurb and downloaded the book. (It’s FREE)
The prose is smooth and the imagery is pro-level. The story is familiar; a princess unhappy with her role in gowns, preferring the “man’s role” of warrior. It opens with a servant “wrestling her into” a dress to cover bruises from sparring. Not something I haven’t seen before, (Coldwood Saga by K. Bryant) but the smooth prose makes me feel like it’s going to be a good read.
May 6, 2017
The #HookReview of The Dark Season by Yehya H. Sawat
I’ve noticed The Dark Season everywhere I have looked to promote Dark Communion. The cover is noticeable in a crowd, but doesn’t promise me anything. The blurb didn’t really tell me anything either. An immortal race in the shadows, a world in crisis, and one of this race coming out to do what? save the world?
The air of mystery made me open the preview. The first thing that struck me, was the perspective tense combination – 3rd Person, present tense. Brave? or editing mistake? I kept reading, just to find out. I decided that the creativity was there, the effort was there, but it was indeed an editing mistake.
Not recommended.
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What is a #HookReview?
It’s me looking for a book to read each week. I’ve decided to document the filtering process as it happens for me and allow people to help me choose.
I choose my favorites and ask visitors to vote on which one I read. The poll will be in a pinned post, and runs Monday morning to Sunday morning (EST). The review for the winners of those polls will be reviewed on Fridays.
May 5, 2017
A #HookReview of The Dragon Thief, by Justin Depaoli
The Dragon Thief caught my eye because of the name. Someone stealing dragons? Or is a dragon stealing? The cover looked great, even though I don’t usually go for the drab colored ones. I almost didn’t make it through the blurb, but then the last sentence hit me.
“Sorcery has returned, and dragons are coming.”[image error]
Ooooh. Dragons. I opened the preview to a map of the continent. Looks like it was done with Campaign Cartographer – I dug it. I use CC3 myself. First paragraph was a little confusing, and the first sentence a bit long-winded. But, that could be because the author has an outstanding vocabulary and I skim these. The creepy vibe of a mausoleum was a great opener, and reiterates the promise of the cover and blurb – secrets from the past revealed. Now I understand the gray cover.
It’s a “probably not” for me, but mainly because I don’t dig very young protagonists. (He’s 11) Check it out for yourself, and let me know what you think.
What is a #HookReview?
It’s me looking for a book to read each week. I’ve decided to document the filtering process as it happens for me and allow people to help me choose.
I choose my favorites and ask visitors to vote on which one I read. The poll will be in a pinned post, and runs Monday morning to Sunday morning (EST). The review for the winners of those polls will be reviewed on Fridays.
A #HookReview of DAWN OF THE PHOENIX by A.J. Strickler
DAWN OF THE PHOENIX caught my eye, partly because it was in the number three slot of paid #DarkFantasy. The cover looked professional and the flames on the front really caught my eye. It also only had 2 reviews, so I figured I’d take a look. The blurb was a bit long and I didn’t care for it. But, I popped open the sample anyway and what hit me first was the book’s formatting – pro level for sure. Looks great. The first chapter starts with action and it drew me in fast.
Didnt get very far though, as I could not really see the characters or setting in my head fast enough. Based on my personal preference of writing style, it’s a maybe for me. Check it out for yourself.
If anyone else has an opinion, I would love to hear it. Just comment below.
What is a #HookReview?
It’s me looking for a book to read each week. I’ve decided to document the filtering process as it happens for me and allow people to help me choose.
I choose my favorites and ask visitors to vote on which one I read. The poll will be in a pinned post, and runs Monday morning to Sunday morning (EST). The review for the winners of those polls will be reviewed on Fridays.
August 24, 2016
Review of Dragons of Autumn Twilight – a personal favorite…
In 1991 Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman changed my life. I was in the midst of a deep depression that began in 1989 when my mother died of AIDS in a hospice hundreds of miles away.
I lived in a fantasy of pain, daydreaming about my mother and reliving every moment I could remember with her. I walked around in a trance, living in the days when she used to sing “Little Bunny Foo Foo” to me before bed, before alcohol, drugs, and disease took her away from me.
I had always loved fantasy movies, but I didnt even know books could be written by anyone other than Stephen King. When a friend loaned me Dragons of Autumn Twilight, I almost laughed. “Of Autumn Twilight? Kind of a lame name… and written by two girls?” (Forgive me, I was only 13. I would later learn that “Tracy” was a man – blew my little 13 year old misogynistic mind.)
I read it when I got home. I skipped dinner to keep reading – citing illness. I skipped sleeping most of the night with a flashlight under the covers and making constant trips to the bathroom to splash water on my face. Since I wasnt really sick, I went to school and read DoAT during my classes. I went to detention, (I always went to detention) finished the book there, and then walked straight out of detention with the teacher yelling behind me. I went downstairs to the library, and found the fantasy section. The glorious, glorious fantasy section – my escape from a reality of misery.
For the first time in 2 years, I felt something other than pain and loss. Tasslehoff made me laugh, Raistlin made me wonder, Caramon fought away my demons with his heroism, and the list goes on…
I found new people (characters) to love, and a drug that no test could detect but would stay in my veins for life. Without THAT book, my life could have gone in a very different direction. Even when I ran from home repeatedly, I stayed in shelters and read more fantasy. I lived in the woods – and still I had this book. It went everywhere with me and I must have read it 20 times… It kept me out of real danger, and kept me sane. (Well, maybe not ENTIRELY sane.)
Looking back now and rereading the Dragonlance Chronicles (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Winter Night, and Spring Dawning), this one is definitely the roughest read. It starts off a little slow and shaky, but getting 5 main characters at the same table and the story started was no small task for a Book 1.
Its a 4 star book that will always have a 5 star place on my shelf. I love the story, the characters, and the fact that it may have saved my life.
