Robin Goodfellow's Blog, page 21

Book Review for The Consort, by Idun Asther

The Consort, by Idun Asther, is a paranormal short story that illustrates with how far you’re willing to go for a loved one.

Professor Hogarth and his student, Francis Ash, have recently published The Deities of Ancient Egypt, which details their occult research of Egypt. As a thank you gift, Hogarth gives Ash the Eye of Horus, an amulet that supposedly protects the wearer from evil. One day, two men disappear at the Highgate Cemetery. Out of curiosity, Hogarth and Ash decide to investigate these disappearances, but they soon realize that there is more to the disappearances than what they thought.

Personally, I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Hogarth and Ash. I could tell there was a real affection between the two. They genuinely trust each other, and are willing to go through whatever lengths to make sure the other is safe. (I cannot think of any other reason why Ash would agree to go to a graveyard at night, despite knowing these disappearances are taking place.) It can also be said that Hogarth does love Ash, so much so he would try to give the gift of immortality to him. Still, I kind of wished he’d talk to Ash first; usually, if someone is giving their loved ones eternal life, that never ends well. I also thought the kiss at the end was a bit rushed, but it was sweet nonetheless.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. The plot does lend itself to classic Gothic horror elements, but the characters still manage to create an intriguing atmosphere filled with elegance and suspense. The romance was a bit premature, but satisfying. Thus, I would give this story a rating of a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of intriguing romances.

Book Review for Winter’s Warmth by Ginny Clyde

Winter’s Warmth, by Ginny Clyde, gently reminds us when it’s time to say goodbye, and that no matter how hard it may be, all fairytales must end.

Olivia is grounded. But with Thanksgiving around the corner, she decides to celebrate this time with her family, all the while understanding just how to be grateful, despite the situation she was forced into. She’s also in a relationship with Ryan, the young man who’d saved her time and time again, and was there for her despite everything that’s happened. With the year dwindling down into just a few months, Olivia learns a secret that could shatter her relationship with Ryan. Unlike the first two books, Clyde paints an almost nostalgic picture of what it means to let go of someone you care about.

I’m proud of Olivia. While she did seem mature at the beginning of the series, it’s clear that she still had to grow. From her fall from grace, to the fact that she had to go to a public school, Olivia had to deal with aspects of a life she didn’t ask for. Even so, it was because of her resilience and her faith in her family that she managed to pull through. Not once did she come across as a spoiled rich brat; she was poised, confident, and even in the face of hardship, she still stood strong. The same could be said of her brother, as well as her friends. Her relationships were all relevant to her character, which made the trilogy all the more satisfying.

The one thing I couldn’t coincide myself with was, once again, her relationship with Ryan. I still found myself berating Olivia for her naiveté towards Ryan, more so than anyone else. The ending didn’t really make sense to me either; Ryan tells her he’s the illegitimate son of a king, and she just believes him? I can’t help but laugh at that part. However, I admit that there was some charming moments between the two. From saving each other from others, to providing each other with emotional support, I was happy to support this relationship, even if there were some shaky moments at times.

The title itself was incredibly interesting. Winter, after all, is supposed to represent the end of something, whether it be the end of a relationship, the end of an old life, as to make way for the new beginnings that spring will bring. Even so, Olivia still chose to spend time with her family and friends. To her, life continues on, as if she’d never been a stranger to Knightswood. It was poetic in a sense, because while the year was ending, she continued to cling to her reality, undeterred by the obstacles she may face. I absolutely adored this concept, and was ecstatic to see this over and over again throughout the stories.

I enjoyed this book, more so than the other two. It wasn’t as cliched as the others, and there was an element of maturity within the words. What’s more, Clyde had woven a sort of bittersweet nostalgia into the pages.. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 3.9 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to fans of The Royal Teashop series, as well as young adult novels in general.

Book Review for Fall’s Whisper: The Royal Teashop by Ginny Clyde

Fall’s Whisper, by Ginny Clyde, is a romantic fairytale about knowing where you belong, and knowing who to trust in times of need.

It’s fall in Knightswood. Olivia continues to go to school, as the annoying, albeit mysteriously charming, Ryan continues to watch over her. However, things come to a head when Michael Hawthorne, the student president of St. Paul’s, sets his eyes on her. When he tries to lure her away from her own school with promises of a scholarship and prestige, Olivia refuses. Things escalate further until one night at a Halloween party, when she finally stands up for herself. Clyde continues Olivia’s delightful tale full of the warmth of friendships and first loves.

I was happy to see that Ryan did have some redeeming qualities, but it was really Olivia’s story that I enjoyed. The way she stood up to Michael was something to be said about her sense of belonging. I was also grateful when she had both her brother and her mother to steer her on the right track, just to make sure that she stayed out of trouble. Typically speaking, fall is a season where the end begins. Despite that, it seems that both Olivia’s friendships, as well as her relationship with Ryan, is thriving. It’s heartwarming to see, to say the least. There were parallels between both Ryan and Michael, in that they simply just swept into Olivia’s life, as well as held a somewhat creepy fascination with her. But while Ryan used this fascination in order to develop a relationship with her, Michael seems to be fading from her memory, disappearing in the ever changing pages of Clyde’s work.

I did have a few problems with this book. Again, I would’ve preferred to read about her mother’s relationship with her Uncle, and understand just why he hated their mother; after all, hate is a rather complex emotion, and there should be more to it than that. What’s more, I wanted there to be a bit more development between Olivia and Ryan’s relationship; despite his heroism, I still get an uneasy vibe from Ryan.

Again, like in the first book, there were some parts where I could only describe as cheesy, and the book read like some cliche romance book. There were also a few plot points I wanted the author to go into. Even so, it was a good read, and I’m happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Book Review for The Killing Cure by C.S. Kendall

The Killing Cure, by C.S. Kendall, is a dark romance about doing whatever it takes to save the person you love, even if it means losing yourself in the end.

Ginny is a well-respected nurse who works at a retirement home. She is known for her kindness and compassion, and looks out for the patients under her care, as well as their families. One day, she notices a book near an elderly woman, and decides to read it. She reads about a young woman named Julia, an aspirating doctor who decides to marry her childhood friend, Charlie. In an unfortunate twist of events, Julia is stricken down with tuberculosis. As she’s wasting away, Charlie urges her to drink a special water that is said to cure any ailment, no matter how serious. Innocence decays in this gripping romance, and Kendall shows beautifully that love and insanity are truly one in the same.

I loved Julia and Charlie. Julia’s fall from sanity, as she slowly succumbs to her murderous impulses, was torturous and beautifully eerie. But despite that, Charlie refused to leave her, though even Julia herself told him she was no good for him. It shows how devoted he is to her, that he really will follow her to the ends of the earth if need be. Kendall also leaves something to be said about their love with the cure he gave Julia. He was so desperate to save her he was willing to accept anything at that point. What’s more, Julia returns the favor, murdering those just like her if it means seeing Charlie again.

Thus, Kendall deals with true love in a way we’re all familiar with. After all, though some might say otherwise, people would risk anything to see their loved ones safe. It’s that sort of thinking that made Juliet kill herself to join Romeo, or Tristan to rush after Isolde, or even Titus to kill his beloved son to relieve him of his suffering. It’s this sorrowful cycle that forces us to see the thorns growing in an enchanting garden, or the shadows lurking within a beautiful wedding.

Because of this, I would give this a rating of a 4.7 out of 5 stars. The tragedy surrounding Julia and Charlie was reminiscent of the wonderful, evanescent love stories we know so well. Beginning with the same desperation, the two lovers begin their descent unto madness, until finally, they’re trapped in a cycle of chasing each other but never catching one another. I’d recommend this book to fans of The Last Valentine and Lara’s Journal.

Book Review for A Royal Affair series by Christina George

A Royal Affair series, by Christina George, is a paranormal romance trilogy following Emma, a woman who can see into past lives, and Peter, a crowned prince of Belgium, as they struggle to stay together after centuries of being apart.

A Royal Affair is the first book of the series, introducing Emma as a celebrity publicist who had just gotten out of a bad relationship. After moving to take over her grandfather’s store, she meets the mysterious Peter, whom she strikes up a wonderful romance with. However, when she realizes who he is, she decides to break off their relationship, albeit bitterly. In A Royal Scandal, Emma has to deal with the fact that Peter is a prince of Belgium, and that he has been betrothed to a Romanian woman named Alexandra. Alexandra tries to hire Emma as a publicist, if only to spite her, but Peter manages to intervene, and once again, Emma and Peter become entangled in their former passions. The final book, A Royal Romance, details the murderous aftermath of that passion, as Emma realizes who exactly Alexandra is, and how much danger Peter is in. The series is a modern-day fairytale that follows an enchanting love story throughout the ages, and that true love never really dies.

I enjoyed the relationship between Emma and Peter. Initially, they were little more than strangers, despite the almost magical pull they felt towards one another. However, as the series goes on, I saw how in love they were with each other. As such, they’d risk their reputations, and at times, even their lives, just to make sure the other was okay. As I’ve said in my first review, I loved Emma’s practicality, and the fact that she manages to keep a level head about things. It helps her to see both her and Peter’s past lives, picking out details other people might’ve missed. Personally, while I’d rather not see past lives of murderers and other horrific events, in the end it was that gift that ended up saving her and Peter. It brought them together, and showed them that love does transcend time.

I also loved the contrasts between Alexandra and Emma. While Emma is kind and cares about others, Alexandra is conniving and selfish, only looking out for herself only. To be honest, I didn’t like her as an antagonist; she was spoiled and was used to getting everything she wanted, so she didn’t know how to do things herself. She tries to pass herself off as manipulative, but it just doesn’t work in her favor, especially since she’s so bad at charming others. While I did love Emma’s character, Alexandra was a bit of a letdown.

In this series, George beautifully introduces the simple fact that, again, true love is timeless. Despite Alexandra’s efforts to keep Peter at her side, Emma and Peter had loved each other long before her arrival. They recognized each other the first instance they saw each other at the bookstore, and it showed just how strong their love was. But even though their romance was just like out of the fairytales, they still had to struggle a bit to achieve their happy ending.

Personally, the final book reminded me a bit of Snow White, one in which Alexandra tried to take Emma’s life out of jealousy, just as the Evil Queen tried killing Snow White because of her beauty. Still, Emma didn’t need a kiss to wake up; she just needed Peter to be there in the end. Though it was a bit cheesy, the series was enjoyable nonetheless.

Overall, George does create a wonderful world in which true love does exist, and that good does triumph over evil. It does remind me of a fanciful tale filled with innocence, one that reminded me of the stories I’ve read when I was a child. The ending was a bit cliché, but it was satisfying. Thus, I would give this series a rating of a 4 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who love Alex Flinn and Aprilynne Pike.

Book Review for Betting on the Devil by Emma Mohr

Betting on the Devil, by Emma Mohr, is a paranormal romance about standing up for your family, even if that means gambling away your humanity.

Sophia has the unique ability to see demons, alongside an uncanny gift for gambling. She was sold to Shan Chu Chao Li by her father, who is more interested in keeping her as a slave. In order to keep her sister safe, she must keep winning her gambles and paying Chao Li, all the while trying to live her own life. However, she soon catches the attention of yet another demonic lord, one that can change her life forever. And it begins with whether or not she decides to bet on the Devil himself.

Sophia was interesting, to say the least. She has a no-nonsense attitude and a vicious temper, especially if her siblings are in danger. She cares about them, so much so she’s willing to put herself at risk for their safety. Still, despite these wonderful qualities she does have issues with her past; the abuse her father dealt her and her siblings, as well as him selling her to Chao Li, would be enough to make her wary of anyone. She also realizes that her position as Lucifer’s “favorite”, and that she has to be careful. She was looking for safety, and she got it, despite knowing what it might entail. I felt she brought more to the table than other paranormal romance heroines. She was prepared to kill her former owner for humiliating her, as well as take the Throne of Hell for her own. But in the end, she couldn’t let go of her humanity. She couldn’t, because that wasn’t who she was. Her siblings were wonderfully written as well; they each carry their own lives, but would still do anything for each other.

Mohr also ties the theme of standing up for your family. Both Olivia and Brendon did reckless things in the book, but they did it for their sister. Lucifer was willing to kill off his subordinates if he had the slightest suspicion that they were going to attack Sophia. It shows just how much they care for her, despite everything that’s happened in their lives, and it was touching.

Nevertheless, the book did have one major detraction. The devil was disappointing. This could be just from my experience with horror novels in general, or the fact that I’m still freaked out from watching Annabelle: The Creation, but the Devil isn’t the sexy, submissive guy I saw in this book. I wished both Sophia’s and Lucifer’s relationship was more fleshed out; after all, nothing comes for free, and with their deal I would’ve run. Lucifer’s history was also something I would’ve wished to see.

Still, Mohr creates a good story where the Devil saves the woman he loves from falling, as he did before. While I wanted to explore his character more in the book, the humans surrounding him make up for it. I have to admit that Hell and its demons were a bit anti-climactic, but the plot was good nonetheless. Thus, I would give this book a rating of a 3.4 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who love Death Cab for Cutie’s I’ll follow you to Dark. 

Book Review for Immortal Kiss by Laura Daleo

Beth has recently broken up with her boyfriend after choosing the mysterious, yet charming, Philipe. After exposing Beth to the dark, enchanting world of vampires, initially, Beth and Philipe were content. However, after a brutal encounter with Philipe’s creator, along with unveiling the macabre secrets Philipe had been hiding, Beth begins to understand just what lurks beneath the elegance she was enticed by. With each scandal uncovered, Beth realizes that not everything is as it seems, and that if she wants to be happy, she has to fight for it herself, regardless of what other people may think.

Honestly, I can understand where Beth is coming from. I used to have the same fantasies when I was little. She was swept away by the dark fairytales awaiting her. The servants, the castle, the tall, dark, handsome prince; it was a dream come true, so much so that it was almost suspicious. I feel that Beth trusts Philipe too much, to the point where she unwittingly allowed herself to be hurt by him. I commend the fact that Beth managed to catch onto his ruse, although I can’t comprehend why she still loves him, despite everything he’s done to her. She has a fiery temper I would’ve loved Daleo to explore, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much of it in the book. Still, the conflicts Beth faces added to the plot. I also loved Caleb, and found Amon more likable than Philipe. Why Philipe decided to interfere with the blood pact between Amon and Beth still alludes me.

This leads me to the theme of deception. I loved how Caleb and Anna attempted to serve as a wakeup call for Beth. They know that there’s something very wrong with the relationship between Beth and Philipe. Even the Council finds the entire marriage suspect, though they did, admittedly, restrain Amon. The love and lies entertained in the entire situation is so enticing, I’m surprised no one was killed (you know, aside from Anna…). Amon and Philipe’s obsession with Beth, the lying, and even Anna’s challenging to Caleb; it all stems from the pride and selfishness both Beth and Philipe exhibited. They knew the dangers of the world, yet they still chose to endanger people, if only for their fading, evanescent love. This love can blossom into some of the most beautiful romances I’ve seen, but it can also lead to the most terrible of tragedies. Through these emotions blossom the desire to lie, to deceive, if only to keep the person you love by his side.

There were a few detractions. For instance, there were some spacing errors, with a few stray letters here and there. But despite that, I enjoyed the book. Beth reminded me of an abandoned princess that realized she was going to have to fight for her happy ending. The way Daleo incorporates selfishness and deception was also good. Thus, I would give this a rating of a 3.7 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy The Last Valentine by Felix Alexander, and the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer.

Book Review for Black Inked Pearl: A Girl’s Quest by Ruth Finnegan

The epic fantasy, Black Inked Pearl by Ruth Finnegan, tells the tale of a woman named Kate, who travels to Heaven, Hell, Eden, and the Kingdom of Beasts in the hopes of reuniting with her mysterious lover, whom she had rejected many years ago. The book deals with Kate’s love and self-worth, and uses a kaleidoscope of whimsical phrases and beautifully haunting analogies to do so.

The book begins with Kate’s childhood as a young girl, who has an incredibly gifted imagination. Fascinated with the simplicity of life around her, she is able to conjure up some of the most fantastical imagery. As the story continues, what with her meeting of rigid nuns and detesting mathematics, she meets her wonderful lover, who she then rejects in a hurry because she is both confused and panicked. However, after she visits an African river, and realizes just how passionate her love is for him, she begins to spend the rest of her life looking for him, whether it be on earth, in heaven, hell, and everything in between.

Throughout her journey, themes such as love and self-worth are explored through Kate’s relationship with her lover. By comparing herself and her lover through the beautiful usage of religious imagery, such as Adami and Yifia, as well as Lucifer, she is able to show just how deep her love resonates with him. The depth of her regret goes as far as to lament whenever he is not there with her, and though tragic, Kate makes her sorrow known, and does not attempt to hide it.

However, while doing this, she also shows her self-worth. This is shown through a particularly humorous example of when she was attempting to remember the creature God favors most, and when He reveals it to be the beetle, she curses herself for forgetting. And yet, despite that, that tiny beetle perhaps becomes her most treasured companion throughout the book. By the end, when both she and her lover finally reach heaven, God tells her that she is a pearl, a gifted treasure that’d been there from the very beginning. Her long journey finally ends with a sweet lullaby, as she reclaims herself.

The book in and of itself felt like a dreamlike lullaby. Still, it can be quite confusing at times. The book would be better in stanzas, rather than paragraphs, though its breaks for the use of formal verse does help most times.

I would give this book a rating of a 4 out of 5 stars. Again, it provided a broad range of verse for Kate and her lover, thus showing the full scope of their love for one another. Although the formatting could use a bit of work, I thoroughly enjoyed this epic, and would recommend it for anyone with a passion for poetry, fantasy, and romance.

Book Review for Penny White and The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

Penny White and The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri is a fantasy novel that deals with humorous, yet difficult character development, as well as predicaments that all too accurately reflects reality.

The book begins when a young priest, Penny, oversees the death of a dragon named Dominic. Initially, she is shocked by the mere existence of the creature, but manages look after him until he dies. However, just as quickly, she is thrust into Lloegyr, a world filled with vampires, gryphons, and other magical beasts. She endeavors to be apart of both Earth and Lloegyr, as she continues her duties as both Bishop and priest. But when she discovers that Dominic had been poisoned the night he died, Penny struggles to accept that not everything is as wonderful as she thought.

The relationships between the characters already make Cymri’s novel an enjoyable read. The difficulties that Penny has with her younger brother James, as well as her associate Morey, brings a strong relatable element to her character. Penny shows that like everyone else, she does get exasperated with her day to day responsibilities, especially since being in Lloegyr is more exciting. Through these relationships, she also learns that just because another world may be exciting doesn’t necessarily mean she is free from the burdens from her own humanity. People die in both worlds, and it’s a reality that quickly sinks in once the truth of Dominic’s death surfaces. What’s more, as Penny explores the relations between characters such as Dominic and Miranda, and even Morey and Serena, Penny expresses the insecurities she’s built inside her. Still, what makes Penny so admirable is that she tries to deal with her issues in a mature manner, and endeavors to help others in whatever way she can.

Through Penny’s eyes, Cymri also manages to illustrate the similarities of the crimes in the novel to that in the real world. The extremist group in the book was used to illustrate negative attitudes towards mixed race marriages, something that even Penny highlights to similar attitudes towards mixed racial marriages. Perhaps even more eerie is the scene involving Dominic’s family struggling to accept Christianity reminded me of the wars in the name of religion, of a time where people could die if you thought differently. Even now, there are people who still refuse to accept that there are others who think differently from them.

These thoughts reminded me of a wishing well. You peer inside the well, drop a coin in, then make a wish. Beneath the waters, you see all these coins looking back up at you, reminding you of the many wishes made before. You can almost even see your dreams there too. However, as you look at the waters you also see your reflection, and know that you’re human. No matter what wish you make, you bring all your flaws with you in the end. I can practically see Penny standing at the edge of the well, just looking down. Even with all the fantastical beasts she’s seen, she’s backing away from that well, all the while taking the magic with her as she continues to grow as a person. She’s representative of people in general, and it’s the thing I loved most about reading this book.

But despite this, the novel does have its detractors. The settings in the book were a bit too brief for me. I would’ve liked the scenery to be described more as well, so we can truly see the differences between Earth and Lloegyr. The different reactions the characters have to the supernatural are also a bit too robotic for me. For example, if I found a dragon in the middle of the road, I really wouldn’t care if it was dying; most likely, I’d either run, or find a shotgun. There were a few grammatical errors throughout the beginning of the book, but as the story continues, these errors disappear.

Overall, I liked this book. The character dynamics showed how relatable the characters were, and through those relationships, I found myself falling in love with each one. The conflicts within the book also gave real world parallels, as well as how people can overcome them. However, due to the lack of detail, I would have to give this book a rating of a 3.6 out of 5 stars. Still, this is a wonderful story, and I’d recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy, and for people who don’t mind falling head first into the darkness of a well.

Book Review for Parasite Life by Victoria Dalpe

Parasite Life, by Vitoria Dalpe, is a dark, gothic novel about the destruction love can bring.

The book is separated into four parts. The first part, Ars Moriendi, introduces a girl named Jane, who has to care for her sickly mother. She meets a girl named Sabrina, and while she begins to slowly build up a shadow of happiness, she discovers that she is something not wholly human. In Imago, both Jane and Sabrina must find her father in order to determine how she could coexist with normal society. In Momento Mori, Jane realizes just how deep a mother’s love can really be, as well as what it means to finally let go. Finally, in the Epilogue, Jane finally understands who she is, and accepts herself, despite the death that will come with it.

More often than not, I was perplexed by Jane’s mother. She was ruined by Hugh, was considered little more than a plaything to him, and yet, through it all she still decided to have his child. She knew Jane was a half-vampire, and although killing the child would be a kinder fate, in the end, she still chose to care for her. The things she did for Jane was confounding, as if saying she was indifferent to her daughter was just empty words. Sabrina, on the other hand, was a bit purer than that, almost naive. She was childlike in a sense, in that when she discovered what Jane was, she wasn’t harsher with Jane. She kept Jane human. She prevented her from drifting off into what was essentially damning her. Finally, there’s Jane herself, who, at first, appeared to be an endearing wallflower. But the more I found out about her, the more I realized that this story could very well be her fall from grace. I enjoyed reading about her struggle to retain her humanity, as well as her shifting paradigm of the world around her.

This story presented a clear divide between two different sides in the world. One side, the vampiric side, which represented power, corruption, and death. On the other side was humanity, which symbolized love, kindness, and life. When the two sides conflict with each other, there’s aways a horrific amount of blood, lust, and death involved. It’s why Sabrina and Jane’s relationship is a bit of an oddity. Because despite everything, they still somehow manage to come together to make it work out of true, genuine love. However, even that was susceptible, considering when Jane told Sabrina to leave, she did. It was brief, and in the midst of forever, a tiny fraction of a second, but even so, their relationship was beautiful nonetheless.

I loved this story. I loved the dark themes, the conflicted characters, as well as the intoxicating relationships that stem from two creatures. From a mother’s love, to the manipulation of lust and affection, Dalpe wields that darkness like a brush, as she dyes the otherwise tragic beauty of romance into black. I would rate this book a 4.8 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to fantasy and paranormal romance lovers in general.