Robin Goodfellow's Blog, page 34

Book Review for Tales of His Words by Keishi Ando

Tales of His Words, by Keishi Ando, is a short story about a young woman trapped in the ghostly throes of love.

The narrator was never a conventional person, was always the “romantic monster” in her Aunt’s eyes. She has an odd obsession with an old castle, one whose prince has long since died, and whose kingdom had fallen. Soon, the narrator falls for that enchanting place, before realizing that there is more to the castle than what she first thought to be, especially when a mysterious man appears before her.

It was as if I were reading a dark fairytale, hidden away in the confines of sorrow. I kept hearing an elegant, macabre voice that took over the book’s atmosphere, as it described the forebodance of the castle, the tender air of the Prince. The castle’s history added depth to the story. While it did come off as cliche at times, the story was entertaining nonetheless.

Overall, I would give this book a rating of a 3.7 out of 5 stars. There were grammatical problems in this story, alongside other awkward phrases and diction. However, the enchanting plot made up for it. Readers will enjoy individuals who love tragic romances, and the supernatural in general.

Book Review for The Muse by Arjay Lewis

The Muse, by Arjay Lewis, is a demented thriller about following your passions to the depths of depravity, as innocence and corruptness slowly waltz beyond the cracks within reality.

Sheriff Neil Trajan had recently lost his wife, Sandy, to a monstrous serial killer, whom he believes to be the famous horror author, Jack Court. Driven by vengeance, he will stop at nothing until he finally puts Court down. Harry Godwine is a professor of English and History and failing writer, whose son is incredibly ill. One day, Harry suddenly finds the inspiration to write a terrifying horror novel, one that mirrors Court’s writing style with an almost eerie perfection. And finally, there is the author himself, who possesses a dark creature that allows him to write and indulge in his violent passions. All three men are in a race against time as they continue to track a dark creature, one that could drag out demons from a person’s mind, and turn any artist into a deranged monster enslaved to their own, malevolent muse.

I loved these characters. I could feel Neil’s intensity when he tried to find his wife’s killer, how obsessive he felt when he realized that he was right. He was driven, and although he gets reckless at times, he knows full well that he has to rely on others. His devotion to his wife is similar to that of Harry’s to his family. Harry wanted to be a writer for a long time, but even so, he’d rather give up the dream than allow them to suffer. It was so refreshing to see people who have such a strong sense of morality. Throughout the many books I’ve read, many protagonists simply fall victim to their demise, simply because they refuse to give up their pride, or greed, or any other anchor that happily drags them to their death. My admiration for them contrasted sharply to Jack Court, who fell in love with the dark, macabre world of crimson. Jack lusted for it, to the point where he would kill others to feed his obsession. It was like I was watching a parasite feed off the living, like a demonic entity who enjoyed tormenting its victims.

This leads me to the muse itself. More so than Jack, the creature truly was a thing of the dark, drawing from the blackest depths of humanity. It was a monster that was truly beyond our understanding, a twisted nightmare that can fashion a demented fairytale from even the most innocence of stories. It’s only through Tim that the muse is restrained. It’s ironic in that sense, that one child could take control of such a horrific darkness, one not even adults could conquer. It was an aspect of the book that was extremely well done.

One of the overarching concepts in the story was being haunted by the past. Neil was haunted by his wife’s death, and would do anything to bring the killer to justice. Whenever the sheriff went into Jack’s basement, it was as if I could feel his victims watching him, watching me. I was honestly scared to turn the page, simply because I didn’t know if they would surprise me with their damnable fate. I can’t help but think about the victims’ photos as well, how their ghosts felt when they realized they might as well have been forgotten, another name in a list of missing people. The fact that Lewis keeps these victims close by, all the while showing me just what Harry could become, was stunning.

Because of this, I would give this book a rating of a 4.7 out of 5 stars. I loved the characters, and how they added to the gothic feel of this story. The Muse was extraordinarily well done, alongside the victims. As such, I would recommend this to fans of Frozen Statues, Perdition Games by L.E. Fraser, and The Skin Room by Morgan Fleetwood.

Book Review for Only If by Ariana R. Cherry

Only If, by Ariana R. Cherry, is a collection of poetry about a dark love triangle that revealed love’s dreams and nightmares.

The collection begins with a demented fairytale about a young man who had fallen in love. However, when his lover was taken, the man was forced into madness. He was driven by vengeance against the one who took it all away from him, and is only able to recall the former shadows of himself. In this twisted collection, Cherry delves into the age old tragedy of what happens when you allow hatred to guide you, when love pushes you further down a chasm of horrific lunacy.

While I do enjoy happy endings, I feel that dark love stories bring a beautiful edge to the story. It can be the difference between childlike innocence and cruel reality, and I’m very happy that this is the case here. Cherry told the story in a way that wasn’t overly dramatic or cliche. The details manifested into a sinister presence that seemingly stalked Bill, goading him into killing the one who had taken everything away from him.

What’s even more haunting was the fact that Cherry chose to name each poem “cantos”. The detail reminded me of Dante’s Inferno, another work where the creator went to the nine circles of Hell and saw every denizen residing there. I feel like, however tragic this has been, Bill still has a place there. Pride and anger, after all, has a strong potential to morph into hatred, one that has the power to erase everything in front of him. It doesn’t matter what he did before; his life was marred by this one instance of damnation.

Overall, I liked this work. My teacher once told me that love and insanity are on two sides of the same coin. Hatred does something to people, wipes out whatever humanity they have in them, with only the past to anchor them to life. Cherry illustrates this iridescent horror through the guise of this poetry collection. As such, I would give this a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy Feast by Thomas S. Flowers and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. 

Book Review for A Sound in the Dark by Kyle Alexander Romines

A Sound in the Dark, by Kyle Alexander Romines, is a dark thriller about prey endeavoring to survive in the depths of tragedy.

Zack is struggling to move on from the loss of his ex-girlfriend, Lily. In order to cheer him up, Dave, Will, Cole, and Steve decide to go camping with him at Drifter’s Folly, a beautiful national park with a very frightening history. After a series of strange experiences, the friends soon find themselves at the mercy of a ruthless serial killer called “The Hunter”. It’s a nightmarish fight for survival, as they themselves begin to unravel with each hour past.

I enjoyed the sorrowful romance between Lily and Zack. Everything she did influenced Zack’s willingness to fight, whether it be for his life or the life of someone else’s. I personally believe Lily helped Zack to absolve him of his guilt; she was, after all, a kind girl, no matter what anyone else may say. Will, on the other hand, didn’t have that kind of nature. He sacrificed everyone just to survive, even though he came across as a nice person at first. The fact that he was the one whom Lily cheated with was also another shocker. It was because of these relationships that made the ending as immaculately bittersweet as it was. With only the ghost of memories lingering behind, I couldn’t help but ask myself if Zack really was okay with moving on. Then again, it’s not my past to dwell on.

This brings me to the theme of letting go. Zack held himself responsible for Lily’s death for the longest time. It’s the driving factor of his self-hate and, ironically, his survival. He vowed not to abandon Beth the same way he had Lily, and though he was fighting for his life, he didn’t lose himself in the end. He will have to carry on the emory of his friends for the rest of his life, but even so, I believe he’ll be fine. Hunter did try to draw out humanity’s primitivity, but in doing so, I got to see something else, something vital that contributes to people’s strength. It’s why genres such as horror and thriller are so popular; it lets us see exactly what lingers in humanity, and how far a person would go to protect their loved ones. Morality has nothing to do with it.

As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.7 out of 5 stars. The characters demonstrated that despite their faults, they still helped each other, even if it meant them dying. They also showed that humanity isn’t as predictable as we’d like for it to be, and that’s what makes the book such a wonderful read. Because of this, I would recommend this book to those who love post-apocalyptic worlds and thrillers in general.

Book Review for Bright by Mary Paddock

Bright, by Mary Paddock, is a religious thriller about doing whatever it takes to protect your loved ones, even in death.

Hannah Whitfield has recently broken off an affair with the charming Clint. In order to save her marriage, she and her husband, Jeff, decide to go on a camping trip. But despite their hopes, Clint isn’t the kind of man to take no for an answer. Soon, Hannah learns that she must protect her family from this madman, and realizes that family is family, even after death. Paddock will put readers on edge in this gripping thriller, all the while showing that even in the darkest of places, faith and love can overcome any obstacle.

Paddock clearly depicts Hannah as a mature woman. Even after striking up an affair, Hannah had the courage to tell her husband about it. She didn’t run away from her problems, and cared more about her family than herself. This was a character trait that stuck out the most, because it reflects the truest depths of love. Then there’s Riana, who struggled with her faith in an all powerful, all loving deity. Though her situation was immensely difficult, from finding out that her mother had died, to caring for her brothers, she still found comfort in many places. It gave her the strength to move on,  to become a survivor, rather than a victim.

There was one particular moment that beautifully painted the overall theme of the book. Riana and her brothers were standing by Jeff’s hospital bed, not knowing if he was going to wake. Riana struggle to pray to God (or whoever was out there), but when they finished, Jeff whispered quietly, “Amen”, alongside his children. Though the doctor said it was just a reflex, this scene showed that there was more to this book than just religion, or murder, or mystery. This book depicts the foundations of humanity, that faith, love, and strength are intertwined. Whereas the detective and Hannah were doing everything they could to protect their loved ones, Riana and the others were doing whatever it took to stave off the grief, and to simply remember.

As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Paddock weaves a hope-filled tale about caring for your loved ones, even after death. From finding comfort in the loss of a mother, to the gentle certainty that everything will be alright, readers will love this tender thriller, one that shows the beauty and perseverance of humanity.

Book Review for The Executioner by Ana Calin

The Executioner, by Ana Calin, is a romantic suspense about the disturbing details of underworld dealings, as well the twisted romance that blossomed from this world.

Alice Preda had just broken up with her douche of a boyfriend. After going to a party, she meets a mysterious boy who manages to ingrain himself into her life. However, after she and a group of students become stranded at the edge of a mountain, she unwittingly becomes a target of an organ trafficking ring. Soon, she that she can only rely on the same, monstrous boy for protection.

Daman is a genetically engineered assassin who manages to carry out orders without fail. He is assigned to protect Alice Preda from the very people who to use her as a pawn. But little does he know, he becomes captivated by her beauty, and falls for her. Still, enemies lurk near, and it’s up to Daman to protect Alice, no matter what the cost.

I liked the dynamic between Alice and Daman. To me, Daman reminded me of a black knight that’s used to carrying out the sins of his princess. He was to hide Alice away from the corrupted realities of the world, though in the end he can only do so much to cover up his own past. Meanwhile, Alice is able to keep a level head about things, though she has a temper that can stretch on for miles. It was entertaining, seeing how these characters interacted with one another, and was one of the reasons why I enjoyed the story so much.

Calin builds up a sort of lonely suspense in the solitary setting Alice and Daman live in. It constantly kept me looking at other characters, wondering who was going to betray Alice, or, heaven forbid, who would kill Daman. Not only that, but Alice’s determination to continue living her life without any fear was admirable. It shows that while she does appreciate Daman looking out for her, she is her own being, and she won’t tolerate anyone trying to interfere.

I did wish that Daman’s upbringing was a bit more fleshed out. And while I did enjoy reading about Alice and Daman’s relationship, I felt like it could’ve used more development. It would’ve been interesting for Alice to show Daman the more extraordinary aspects of being a normal person. Though I did find Svetlana unlikeable, I felt like she could’ve added more to the story, rather than just play the role of the woman scorned.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the story. Alice and Daman’s relationship was interesting, as was the world Calin created. Although I did want more details in other characters, the book captured my attention and mind. Thus, I would give this book  a rating of a 3.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of Stephanie Meyer and Ellen Schreiber.

Book Review for The Chaos of Change by Jim Riggen

The Chaos of Change, by Jim Riggen, is a political thriller about fighting for an illusory idea called freedom, however bloody the path may be.

The book is organized into four parts. In the first part, America is in turmoil; territories between the North and South threaten to engage in yet another civil war, with the West cautiously watching the two sides. Meanwhile, Thaddeus Jackson, the dishonored son of former President Richard Jackson, lives a carefree life in Alaska, alienated by his father’s politics. In the second part, in an attempt to unite the country, FBI Director Shane Wallace has decided to instigate Broken Protocol, a plan that could save the country but also destroy the federal government. In the meantime, each of the territory’s leaders are dealing with conflicts, from mistaken leadership, to internal strife. In the third part, current President Gordon makes one last desperate attempt to bring order, before he is abruptly assassinated. In the fourth and final part, war has descended upon the territories, as negotiations break down, with seeds of doubt planted behind the lines.

Personally, I loved the characters, not because of their attitudes, or their morals, or even their skills, but because I saw them as individual pieces on a chessboard. It’s a matter of what is up for grasp, who is in power, and how well each of them play the game. From Commander Bloom and Governor Olivia O’Brien’s struggles to retain their positions of leadership, to Richard Jackson and his trying family issues, to even the disruption the Independent Nation of Milam had caused, there is growing turmoil that may very well influence the outcome of this game. Their willingness to create, destroy, and betray one another all depends on their strength of wills. And then there’s the Broken Protocol, an independent variable that may either succeed in uniting this Nation, or end up destroying it completely. This game beautifully illustrates the depths of how far people will go to obtain freedom, no matter how wrong it may be. Even if it means trampling on others, and sacrificing morals to become the depraved savages they swore America never was, they’ll still do it.

This leads me to the quotes Riggen used to separate these parts. The quotes shape the story in a way that shows just how horrific things have become. There was one particular quote that haunted me, one from John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States. To be honest, I had to agree with him. Democracy has had its morbid roots entangled in human history for centuries, from the protests in Tiananmen Square, to the American Revolutionary War, to even the obscure impulses of religion that begat the European Witch Trials. Adams reminds us that democracy is unstable, can be nightmarish, even ephemeral. It’s a miracle America has lasted this long. After all, democracy has destroyed itself over and over again. So what of America? What of the North, and the South, and the West, and even Milam? What would they do to overcome this obstacle? Only time will tell it seems.

There were a few mistakes in the book, though none were major detractors; the dark, haunting themes more than made up for them, as well as the intricate game that’s about to take place. Riggen meticulously takes these characters and wraps them in both their pride and arrogance, before sending them off to dance to Death’s tune. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.4 out of 5, and would recommend this book to readers who enjoy of Invinciman: A Superhero to save us allby R.T. Leone and Gastric Bypass by Paul Lesko.

Book Review for Frozen Statues, Perdition Games, by L.E. Fraser

Frozen Statutes, Perdition Games, by L.E. Fraser, is a psychological thriller about being stalked by remorse, with the sins of a terrifying past slowly but surely devouring you until there’s nothing left to feast on.

Sam McNamara is a private investigator who is haunted by former memories of her older sister’s death. When a body is found with black stones for eyes, she receives letters from a serial killer named Incubus, who observes how similar his style of killings were to this new killer’s. Age old grudges resurface, and with her fears slowly closing in on her, Sam is locked in a war between her sanity and paranoia. With time running out and the body count growing higher, Sam must use her wits to try and outsmart the killer, before she herself is killed.

I loved Sam. She was written in a way that balanced out her guilt with her hope for the future. Although there were times she allowed her arrogance to take over, in the end she does care about her loved ones, so much so she torments herself with Joyce’s death just to keep remembering her. But because of that, she is also isolated, trapped in her thoughts and emotions while endeavoring to move on with her life. Reece, on the other hand, was a bit of an enigma. While it’s clear that Reece is devoted to Sam, when he realized that he had a connection to this new serial killer, it was as if he shut down. It was like all his dirty little secrets were exposed for Sam to see, so he tried to ignore it, as though they’d go away if he paid no attention to it. It’s partly the reason why their relationship struggled as it did. Still, even though they had their many insecurities, they’ve pulled themselves together to make sure the other was okay. The couple was well developed and realistic. They paralleled with several other relationships in the book, such as Eli and Danny, and even Bart and Angel.

These relationships, however, contrasts with the serial killer and her father themselves. She was willing to carry out horrific murders and conduct psychological warfare, all in her father’s name. I felt she died because she loved her father too much; that tainted, twisted love that allowed her to take the lives of so many, was what made her throw her life away. Her father, of course, was hollow; instead, he was fixated on Sam, who wanted nothing to do with him. Still, I can’t try to understand them. Unlike other characters in the book, they danced with Death himself, and led him down a bloody path of mayhem.

One last thing that haunted me was the lily on the Incubus’s victims. Throughout the book, there were people who lied to themselves, trying to pretend that everything was well. It was like they were dreaming of sweet nothingness. It was ironic, because the serial killer’s name, Incubus, was also the name of a demon who would come to disturb sleeping women. This killer disturbs his victims the same way, leaving them a small lily, as if to wish them a blissful, eternal slumber after the nightmarish ordeal he put them through. An interesting tidbit of the lily is that it represents the soul leaving after death, and thus has restored its innocence. It was troubling to me, considering that Sam’s older sister was one of the victims.

Thus, I would give this book a rating of a 4.8 out of 5 stars. The characters and relationship parallels were extraordinary, as was Fraser’s creative way of intertwining dreams with nightmares. The lily was used in a way that added to the book’s macabre charm. Because of this, I would recommend this book to fans of Lara’s Journal by A. Gavazzoni.

Book Review for The Boss’s Daughter by Jennifer Bates

The Boss’s Daughter, by Jennifer Bates, is a romantic thriller about fighting to protect your friends and family, even if it means putting yourself in danger.

Renee Parnell grew up in a mob family, where loyalty is everything, and one misstep could end with her dead. When she meets a young man named Christopher Reynolds, he begins to show her that there is more to life than what she knew now, and the two subsequently fall in love. However, on the day of her wedding, Christopher tragically dies, leaving Renee to pick up the pieces. Years later, a woman named Chloe Riggs is reunited with a friend, who shared the same, tragedy as she. When she meets a man named Hunter however, memories from that past pour themselves in front of her. She soon realizes that she can no longer hide, and with nowhere else to run, she has to fight back for what was once hers. In this distorted fairytale, Bates shows just how far arrogance will go for the sake of power, and that even so, you still have to fight for what is truly yours.

I loved Renee. She’s a strong, no-nonsense woman that can get whatever she wants just from her glare. Even when she was little, she was tough, doing whatever it took to survive the world she was forced into. It took a lot for her to leave that world behind, but even so, she wasn’t helpless. She wasn’t going to wait around for someone to save her. That’s the aspect I enjoyed most about her, simply because she had the choice either to wait for help and die, or run away and survive. What’s more, she even made sure her friends were able to get away safely. I really did wish she took over the mob, but I’ll have to admit that a normal life does suit her. Alice and Sasha, on the other hand, weren’t as lucky. My heart broke after Alice and her son had died, as well as the horrifying details of what’d happened to Sasha. Then there was Matthew, who did everything he could to cling to his position. It didn’t matter who he had to trample on, whether it be loved ones, family members, even his own allies; he will do whatever it takes to make sure he stayed on top. He was ruthless, merciless, and arrogant, and it gave me some satisfaction to know how pitiful his end was. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Both he and his daughter, after all, danced the “Danse Macabre”, all the way to the bitter edge. It’s only natural that he succumb to its melody.

Parnell delves into the theme of fighting for yourself, for the right to exist. Just because someone else says it’s wrong for you to live doesn’t mean a damn thing. Renee showed that she wasn’t bound to anyone’s rules. She wasn’t bound to societal norms, nor was she willing to play the part of a damsel in distress. She knew she couldn’t depend on anyone else, and because of the world she lived in, she had to get by on her intellect and charisma. I loved this, because though Mathew thought he had the entire world at his fingertips, that delusion came to an abrupt end. Like the many demons before him, his pride led to his downfall.

I did feel the romance in the book was a bit rushed. I was okay with Christopher and Renee, but Chloe and Hunter felt out of place. I was still lulling over the fact that Christopher had died, so a bit more development on their relationship would’ve been great. The investigation procedures were also hazy. To be honest, I didn’t like the way Hunter immediately recognize that the black rose tattoo on Renee was actually connected to the murders. Again, more development would’ve been nice.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book. From Renee’s character development, to the themes of determination and perseverance, Parnell paints a dark, yet heroic picture of a woman who will stop at nothing to get her happy end. There were some points in the plot could use more development, but the finer aspects of the book more than made up for it. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 3.7 out of 5 stars, and would recommend the book to fans of Betting on the Devil by Emma Mohr, and The Executioner, by Ana Calin.

Book Review for Stolen Prophet: The Prophet’s Mother by Julian M. Coleman

Stolen Prophet: The Prophet’s Mother, by Julian M. Coleman, is a supernatural thriller about doing whatever it takes to protect your loved ones.

Evelyn was chosen to become the next orisha, a sort of priestess that can only claim her title after she kills her own mother. Unable to stomach this, she runs away from her home and makes a new life elsewhere. Years later, she becomes the proud mother to little Victor Adamson, a boy who already possesses the abilities to become the next orisha. When he suddenly disappears one day, Evelyn takes it upon herself to return to her duties and find her son, especially when she finds out that he alone can save her from her cruel fate. Harry is a detective who is haunted by the deaths of both his mother and a young boy that he was unable to save. He decides to take on a case of a disappearance of a boy named Victor Adamson, and resolves to do everything in his power to find him. In this book, both Evelyn and Harry’s fates are intertwined, as they race to find Victor, all the while running from the ghosts of their pasts.

I liked Evelyn’s character. She was clearly adamant against killing her own mother, despite the fact that Grace will kill Evelyn if she doesn’t go through with it. This devotion was later extended to her son. Evelyn was willing to return to the world she long forsook, just for the comfort of knowing her son was alright. In this way, her character paralleled with Harry, who had to go through the same, traumatic experience of losing his own mother. Unlike her though, Harry failed to save a child, a boy who was abused and killed without any mercy. These two characters were affected by their tragedies, but even so, they still continue to live on with their lives., and I admire them for it.

This leads me to a recurring theme in the book, that whatever mistakes the parent made, the child will pay for. Over and over again I saw that divine punishment manifest in orishas, that the mother must kill the daughter, despite the love they may have for each other. This curse has tainted Evelyn’s bloodline for so long, and perhaps the only thing that can save them from this is Victor. In the same, non familial way is Harry and his young victim. He came too late, and because of that the poor child died at the hands of a monster. Their situations reminded me of a saying I read from somewhere, that “the sins of the mothers are the taproots of the future.” While it might not directly apply to Harry, it nonetheless conveys the same, horrific theme that Coleman so skillfully executed.

While there were a few mistakes here and there, I was entertained. The character parallels, as well as the sins of the parents, was well done. The fact that their fates depended on a small boy added to the suspense, and will further propel the series. As such, I would give this book a rainy of a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy The Killing Cure by C.S. Kendall and Clemenceau’s Daughters by Rocky Porch Moore.