S.D. Reeves's Blog, page 6

Rev Request: Parabellum, by Greg Hickey

I love a good crime drama, especially when it is wrapped up in the trappings of literary fiction. I also enjoy complex novels. But it takes a clever writer, and a compelling “voice” to tie together a narrative such as we find in Parabellum. And Greg Hickey for the most part, succeeds.

The ending is the beginning, as we open on the scene of a mass shooting on a Chicago beach. What we are treated to afterwards is a window into the lives of four characters – four possible suspects for the incident. Occasionally interspersed through the different portions of the story are spiels – in a sort of manifesto format – from the actual killer, as it counts down to the date of the massacre.

It’s obvious from the get-go that each of the four are important and will have a part to play. And Hickey puts forth an earnest effort with the characters. It is a slow burn though; the author was not in a hurry. Because of these sub-stories are detailed, and well plotted. The characters’ struggles, motivations, and reactions are believable, non-cliché, and well-written. There is also a lot of real development, which is both logical and poignant where it occurs.

However, I do have my qualms. First, while I enjoy the individual character stories, they do tend to drag on a little beyond what is necessary. There are also places where the story could do with a stronger narrative cohesion. And despite all the time put into the characters, the buildup to the reveal at the end felt out of place and, strangely enough, rushed

Solid dialogue and descriptive sub-plots define this crime/character drama; Hickey really understands what makes people tick. There is a lot of meat here, and much to chew on – and it always isn’t easy to piece together. Still, there is enough of a plot-line to tie it all together in the end, even if it was a bit rushed. Thus Parabellum is in summary a slow burn of an enjoyable, but flawed, novel. I would definitely recommend this read to others who like their crime novels a bit more on the literary side.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

The post Rev Request: Parabellum, by Greg Hickey first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Rev Req: The Name Of Red, by Beena Khan

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.

A flawed heroine makes for a good character study. Tragic backstories, ill decisions, they can all work in tandem to make a protagonist believable. Except when they don’t. Since I am in Switzerland now, I think I will quote Paracelsus: “All things are poison…only the dose makes a thing not a poison.” That’s the problem with Red, the protagonist, and this book “The Name of Red,” by Beena Khan . Too much of everything, has made the story a poison pill.

Our titular character has experienced quite a bit of tragedy. So has her simpatico (and most of the supporting cast). Through their love of books, and shared pain they slowly come together in friendship. And, maybe more.

That’s pretty much it. Normally I expand this section out to dig a bit deeper into the plot, but this one is a shake-n-bake, one and done

The book is rather simplistic, but it isn’t all bad. Khan has some wonderful, if inconsistent prose, scattered throughout. The opening chapters can really set the mood. Lord knows I love rain – when used correctly – to frame the background. Her use of descriptions is immersive, and there is some real potential here.

Unfortunately, the prose is often ruined by stilted dialogue. And the angst, initially appearing only to flavor the story, never ends. Tragedy after tragedy. Bad decision after bad decision. Theme repetition. Plot that ambles along like a starving zombie – never ending. In the end I wasn’t rooting for the characters to succeed, because they were unlikable, but rather for someone to come along and do what’s right: put the whole thing down like Old Yeller.

Beena Khan’s book is a nice effort, but still misses the mark. The first couple of chapters could have been saved and pulled off for what would have made a lovely short story. However, the rest of it? To put it bluntly, I think this book will make many readers see red.

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The post first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Reviews: From the writer’s drawer

Reviews. Authors need them, companies want to sell writers more of them. And readers? Well they just don’t normally want to bother. A lot hinges on that review count (and usually positive aggregate). If you are a gamer you might compare them to achievements – get the right ones, and you might unlock something special. Well that ‘something’ includes access to quality promotion websites, consideration from bloggers and the media, and in many cases direct sales. We will talk a little bit about it all today.

For some reason I have a keen desire to ask you to smash that like button or subscribe after that opening. That sort of brings to mind one of the key things about reviews: the exposure they offer.

We’re not talking about your garden variety; I will pay you with exposure bucks. Reviews almost directly correlate to more sales. Whether the aggregate is good or bad, readers will give a book with 300 some odd ratings a chance before one with only 30.  Why is this? It has to do with a little bit of psychology, but more so to meddling from sellers, specifically we are talking about Amazon. It’s been reported that higher reviewed books pop on their algorithms more often. I.E. if you don’t have a certain amount by a window upon release, you can be relegated to the doldrums. More on the insanity that is Amazon in another post.

Add to this that many promotion services won’t even consider you if have under a certain amount, or do not meet their rating aggregate threshold.

Robin Reads featured, Book Barbarian, are among those that state it plainly.  Ereader News Daily, Bookbub, and many others may not always expressly mention among their requirements, but people have found there is a floor to getting in (especially if you are an indie). Good luck finding a book on Bookbub US list that doesn’t have at least 50 reviews.

Organic readers usually only review a book they either really liked or hated. So, how do we writers get more reviews? Some of us beg. You’ve probably seen it in an author newsletter, that little line about how important reviews are. Some come up with creative ways to encourage it. This may take the form of giveaways, select advanced reader groups, and newsletter swaps, an Author takeover, etc. Others pay a service to find you readers, guaranteeing a review per download.  This ties in with the very last topic.

There are more companies preying on the hopes of starry-eyed novelists than there are legitimate services. Dreams are a big business, and there are an incalculable number of companies out there hoping to cash in. They often charge outrageous amounts of money for little in return.  Some don’t even make an effort. This is such an extensive topic I plan to write a post about this. Just based on the nonsense I find in my email box; this sort of thing could be a complete series. And you know what? I think I might make it so.

I hope this post has been informative. As always with these writer’s drawer posts, I tried to create something more explanatory, as opposed to a “how to do it the right way.” Heaven knows I am not the one for that post.

The post Reviews: From the writer's drawer first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Rev Req: Wild Hare, by Laura Koerber

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.

I have never been a huge fan of political flavored fiction. I am also probably the wrong person for the message this book espouses – I am a Southern boy from OL’ Alabama, as it were. Still, Koerber writes with a keen wit, and deft ability at storytelling that is enthralling. And she didn’t even have to hand me some cake.

The year is 2032, and everything is pretty crappy. Except for Bobby Fallon, for him things are pretty OK. Bobby is half-fairy, half-human, and all attitude. Things start to go worse for this member of the Wild Hare Clan when his buddy Arne gets locked up. What follows is a meandering mix of a romance, revenge, and self-discovery plot.

Koerber has talent, and a storyteller who understands the nuance of human emotions, timing, and the general rhythm of a plot. The characters in Wild Hare are all believable, unique, and strong. Bobby Fallon’s development, in particular, is well handled and enjoyable. As for the writing itself, there are times when the prose really sings, and the flow of the writing comes close to being masterful. In those moments it is a very hard book to put down.

In others, it was as problematic to keep reading. The characters are indeed strong, but not always likeable; Bobby Fallon’s unrelenting pessimism and ornery attitude can be a put-off. There are also times when the plot meanders too far, and a stronger narrative hand might have served to keep things on track. This is also a book with very strong opinions.

Deft storytelling. Strong characters, good prose, and a easy to pick up plot set themselves off a difficult-to-relate-to protagonist, meandering plot, and a book with a message. The latter, depending on the reader, may actually be a strong selling point. However, for some readers it may make this story a bit of a Wild Hare.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

The post Rev Req: Wild Hare, by Laura Koerber first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Rev Req: The Irish Fiasco, by Geoff Quaife

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.

As I think I have illuminated before, historical fiction is a difficult genre to tackle. You are either going to irritate a history nerd, or a fiction nerd; almost always a no-win situation. This isn’t non-fiction, and it takes more than pure research to make these characters live again. In this matter, how does The Irish Fiasco fair, by Geoffe Quaife fair? It does OK.

It is a time of great strife. Religious wars, rebellions in Ireland and the civil wars in England set the stage. Cromwell’s special agent, Luke Tremayne is in the thick of it. He has been tasked to both uncover the murder of Angus McGregor and recover an Abbot’s stolen treasure.

What proceeds is a flawed, mixed bag of a detective story. There is info dumping. A lot of telling, over showing. Tedious dialogue, and a general lack of understanding on how to build tension. There are also cringe worthy scenes that seem forced, what serve little purpose to advance the plot or develop the character:

“Luke removed her bodice and lifted her skirt above her head. This was a problem, as Luke could not simultaneously nibble her nipples…mutual stimulation occurred.”

But all is not lost. After chapter twelve the author hits his stride. The dialogue becomes tighter, the action stops being broken up by annoying monologues. It is a different book which, while still dry, is at least interesting. There is also quite a bit of detail and information, lending weight and authenticity to Quaife’s expertise on the subject matter. Unfortunately, all this combined with effective editing is not enough to pull the rest of the book up by its bootstraps.

The Irish Fiasco is a flawed, plodding work. And while there will be those who will enjoy the narrative, this reader at least felt under stimulated.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

The post Rev Req: The Irish Fiasco, by Geoff Quaife first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Rev Request: Imagining Violet, by Mary E. Hughes

Imagining Violet by Mary E. Hughes tracks Violet Courtenaye, an aspiring musician in the late 19th century, via a series of correspondents. These letters, natural, use a journal format – one that is notoriously difficult to execute. Sadly, I found that the attempt was out of tune.

The obvious negative to this stylistic choice is its difficulty in creating and holding tension. Everything is most definitely in the past, and one sided. Therefore it takes a deft hand to keep a reader’s attention without succumbing to cliff-hanger after cliff-hanger. Here I think Hughes stumbles, and unlike other formats where dialogue, characterization, setting and theme can pull a muck-up of tone out of the doldrums, the stereotypical journal does not have this luxury. In the end I found it difficult to maintain my attention, and not well-researched enough to switch me over and peak my inner history nerd, instead.

It takes more than good-editing and clean writing to pull most historical novels along – add in this sort of format, and you are in trouble. And while I believe that Imagining Violet will definitely have it’s audience, sadly for me, it did not strike a chord.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

The post Rev Request: Imagining Violet, by Mary E. Hughes first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Rev Request: Carnival of Heaven, by Ryan Olson

I have reviewed a lot of books over the years. Folk tales, mysteries. Space Operas. Heaps of fantasy novels. There have been several good stories among them. And nearly thrice as many bad. It is however the rare work that can squeeze any emotion out of my dark, dream crushing heart. Carnival of Heaven, a unique mix of memoir and fantasy by Ryan Olson, is one of these.

Ryan has been sick for weeks under what was assumed to be just the flu. But his mother is skeptical, and further tests reveal the worst:  a rare form of Leukemia. What follows is a dramatic jaunt between fantasy and reality, as Ryan struggles to understand the destruction of his dreamworld, while dealing with his deteriorating physical and mental health. In his corner are his steadfast family, and Webber, a representation of hope wrapped up in the form of a platypus. Between dream and reality, they will help him face up to Lyman, the carnival ringmaster and host to the destruction of Ryan’s subconscious, and all the degradation of despair.

Olson masterfully shapes the narrative with a solid understanding of timing, human emotion, and whimsy. The text itself is smart, with great prose sprinkled in at just the right times – further illuminating the author’s skill. In addition, the dialogue is top tier, helping establish the characters as believable- even when based on real people, this is not always given – and distinguishable. While Ryan is at first hard to identify with, his anger and outburst serve a purpose, which become more apparent as the plot flows on. Furthermore, the fantasy elements are thrilling, and the interplay between them and the “real-world” aspect of the book is deep, and dark.

Carnival of Heaven is a raw, moving piece that deserves a lot of time for reflection. There were several scenes that were very touching, filled with gravitas, whimsy, or both as called for, but always handled with care. This is a rare five-star review for me, and I thank the author for sharing. In summary, Ryan Olson’s Carnival of Heaven is an outstanding piece of literary fiction that moved this reader, and surely will many others for years to come.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

The post Rev Request: Carnival of Heaven, by Ryan Olson first appeared on S.D. Reeves Books.

Fellow author giveway

Hello and Happy Monday!

Fellow novelist Abby Arthur, writer of TWINS OF SHADOW told me that that she’s running a huge giveaway this month.

She’s giving away a total of 17 YA Fantasy novels and a new eReader from Amazon – the Kindle Fire 7, over the course of the next 4 weeks.

YOU GET 4 CHANCES TO WIN A PRIZE!

Every entrant will also receive a FREE eCopy of TWINS OF SHADOW.

(Click image to download)

Go to the link below
Enter your email address
Follow Abby on her social platforms (Gives you 50X more chances to win!)
Share your lucky URL (extra 20X chances to win per friend to enter)

Click this link to enter: https://abbyarthur.com/giveaways/august2020

Here’s the details:

On August 7th

Abby’s drawing a winner for the current books in Sabaa Tahir’s AN EMBER IN THE ASHES series, which includes:

AN EMBER IN THE ASHES
A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT
A REAPER AT THE GATES

These will be HARDCOVER COPIES! With a total value of $60 US Dollars

(Click image to download)

Here’s the link to enter: https://abbyarthur.com/giveaways/august2020

On August 14th

Abby’s drawing a winner for 3 books from New York Times Best Selling Authors.

CHAINS OF GOLD by Cassandra Clare
A BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins
HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J Maas

These will be HARDCOVER COPIES! With a total value of $80 US Dollars

(Click image to download)

On August 21st

Abby’s drawing a winner for Holly Black’s series: FOLK OF THE AIR.

THE CRUEL PRINCE
THE WICKED KING
THE QUEEN OF NOTHING

These will be HARDCOVER COPIES! With a total value of $80 US Dollars

(Click image to download)

On August 28th

Abby’s giving away the grand prize, which includes the eReader and 8 eBooks at a $150 value:

Kindle Fire 7
1 A SONG OF WRATHS AND RUIN by Roseanne A Brown
2 THE KINGDOM OF BACK by Marie Lu
3 WICKED SAINTS by Emily A. Duncan
4 THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION by Kiersten White
5 CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi
6 THE CURSED CHILD by J.K Rowling
7 SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo
8 SORCERY OF THORNS by Margaret Rogerson

(Click image to download)

Enter NOW for your chance to WIN!

Click here => https://abbyarthur.com/giveaways/august2020

Here’s how to enter:

Go to the link below
Enter your email address
Follow Abby on her social platforms (Gives you 50X more chances to win!)
Share your lucky URL (extra 20X chances to win per friend to enter)

Good Luck!

A nice, easy summer dinner. Feta Melon Salad, Alessandra Reeves

A bit random to have a recipe here, eh? Well, those who know me…As it were, here by popular request is the Feta Melon Salad I mentioned, by my lovely wife:

 

 

 

By : Alessandra Reeves

A nice, easy summer dinner.

For this salad, you will need:
-1 ripe* melon (Cantaloupe, Cavaillon, Galia, Honeymelon or Netmelon. Not necessarily watermelon)
– 1 block Feta cheese (ca 200gr)
– Salt
– Pepper
– Parsley (if you have it and if you like it)
– Wine or apple cider vinegar
– olive oil EVO**

Chop Melon (without pips and peel) into bite sized bits.
Crumble or cut feta in a bit smaller chunks
Add a pinch of salt, pepper and parsley (careful with the salt, the cheese is salty)
1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 tablespoons of oil EVO (if too dry for your taste, you can add more, but don’t overdo it, the melon juices quite a bit)

Enjoy.

* How to make sure a melon is ripe? Easy. Smell it. It should have a faint tinge of melon. If it’s quite fragrant: eat the same day. If faint, might also another day. If no scent at all, give it a day or two in your kitchen.

** EVO: Extra Virgin Olive

 

Rev Req: The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot, by Tony Morgan

I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, sarcastic or otherwise, are my own.

Oh, historical fiction, how we love thee. It’s always been one of those deceptively difficult genres to write in. Fantasy authors like myself tend to poo-poo it because it, on the surface, doesn’t require direct world building. But think about it a little deeper, and you realize that narrative is a misleading. Good historical fiction is both blessed and cursed by facts. On one hand you are buoyed by a real setting to ground your story in. On the other, the information we have on your chosen era may be incomplete, or just plain wrong. History is a living medium, and our knowledge of it is ever changing. Plus, licenses must be made to make it readable. In the end you are either going to tick off your average reader or be put into the crosshairs of a history nerd. Hard to win.

That out of the way, Tony Morgan’s A Pearl of York, Treason and Plot, is a respectable undertaking. 

Guy Fawkes is looking back, reminiscing about his youth and one of the pivotal instances that put him on the path towards becoming a revolutionary. In this flashback he lives with his mother and sisters in York after the death of his father, where he attends St Peter’s law school. But late one night he discovers a secret that will turn his world upside down. Guy’s mother has been attending Catholic Mass – an illegal activity in that day  – and one where in certain circumstances, is punishable by death.

Enter Margaret Clitherow, the butcher’s wife, and host of these clandestine meetings. Religious beliefs will be challenged. Plots will be hatched. And many more secrets will be uncovered, as Guy Fawkes tries to save the life of Margaret, or as she has come to be known: The Pearl of York.

Morgan does most things right in his historical fiction. At the core, he understands characterization and how to use human emotion well, and this ties his book together. The prose is simple and understandable (though I personally prefer more complex styles), and the plot easy to follow. There Is little barrier to entry in this piece, and the setting seems authentic enough; sacrifices in the dialogue were made for readability. There are slow portions of the novel in the places where you’d expect. Personally, some of these chapters happen to be my favorite as they allow time for Morgan to chew the scene.

The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot is a solid historical fiction. It is skillfully written, and a narrative where you as the reader get to watch the writer really grow into his chops. I will be watching for new works from this author in the future, and you should as well.

Purchase Links:

| Amazon UK |Amazon US |