Lin Ryals's Blog, page 21
May 9, 2019
Book Review: Excalibur Rising
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Publish Date: Jan 29, 2016
Synopsis (Goodreads):
900 years ago, as Britain descended into the Dark Ages, a legend was born. Camelot, the Sword in the Stone, and Arthur, the High King who did not die. But where is the truth of this legend? Where are the ruins of fabled Camelot? Where is the record of Arthur in the unbroken lineage of England’s kings?
In a villa in Florida, a woman with violet eyes dreams of an ancient document. In a hotel room in Las Vegas, a renowned historian claims to have found the sword Excalibur, and dies a violent death at the hands of a one-eyed man. In London, a treasure hunter sets out to find the sword that cannot be, and the resting place of the king who could not exist. Powerful forces are at work, breathing life into the legend. At long last, Excalibur is rising.
Plot: The plot was not what I imagined at all. I thought it was great though. I saw Arthur and knew I had to review this book, so I didn’t pay much attention to the synopsis. It’s a treasure hunting book. They’re looking for the infamous sword, Excalibur. There are some fantastical powers and portals and such that give the characters glimpses into the past. Present and past blended together beautifully into this book. I will admit, I was stuck at the beginning for a long time. Once I got in it a bit it picked up.
Characters: The characters have such strong personalities!!! They’re so different from one another. I think it’s great! It causes contention and entertainment for the reader. They’re well executed by the writer as well.
Writing: I have no complaints about the writing. It was well done.
Overall: I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read.
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*I received this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.*
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Eileen Enwright Hodgetts is a much traveled writer. Brought up in England and Wales, she has also lived and worked in South Africa and Uganda. Eileen and her husband, Graham, now make their home in Baden, PA. Eileen’s life experiences allow her to use exotic backgrounds for her novels and to understand how an adventure can begin with just one small incident. For ten years she directed a humanitarian mission in East Africa as an employee of Christ Church at Grove Farm in Sewickley, PA. and her whole family continues to be involved in Uganda through the Ugandan Gold Coffee project bringing coffee to the United States and returning the profits to Uganda to be used for drilling water wells.
To learn more about her, check out her website here.
May 8, 2019
2019CyCon: Top 5
CyCon is a book convention online. Yeah, I thought that was cool, too. It’s free and fun and soooo many awesome authors and bookish people. I will be participating in a couple of blog hops here on my blog. I’ll also be involved in a takeover over on Facebook in the Fantasy and SciFi Reader’s Lounge. I even have a virtual booth set up. Today’s post is all about sci-fi though and my top 5.
First, here’s a look at the OWS CyCon official Sci-Fi Trailer.
Top 5 Sci-Fi Books
5. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
“I’ve had a most amazing time….”
So begins the Time Traveller’s astonishing firsthand account of his journey 800,000 years beyond his own era—and the story that launched H.G. Wells’s successful career and earned him his reputation as the father of science fiction. With a speculative leap that still fires the imagination, Wells sends his brave explorer to face a future burdened with our greatest hopes…and our darkest fears. A pull of the Time Machine’s lever propels him to the age of a slowly dying Earth. There he discovers two bizarre races—the ethereal Eloi and the subterranean Morlocks—who not only symbolize the duality of human nature, but offer a terrifying portrait of the men of tomorrow as well. Published in 1895, this masterpiece of invention captivated readers on the threshold of a new century. Thanks to Wells’s expert storytelling and provocative insight, The Time Machinewill continue to enthrall readers for generations to come.
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time, Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world’s great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim’s odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most.
3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A forbidden romance.
A deadly plague.
Earth’s fate hinges on one girl . . .
CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.
Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.
This is not the fairytale you remember. But it’s one you won’t forget
2. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Andrew “Ender” Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender’s two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military’s purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine’s abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails.
1.Foundation by Isaac Asimov
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I chose Foundation as my favorite because it was the book that lead me to love sci-fi. My fifth grade teacher read it as a read aloud and I was immediately hooked. I thought it was the greatest book ever! My mom bought me the series and they are still sitting my bookshelf. The poor things look like if you blow on them they make fall to pieces. They’re well loved.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future — to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire — both scientists and scholars — and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.
But soon the fledgling Foundation finds itself at the mercy of corrupt warlords rising in the wake of the receding Empire. Mankind’s last best hope is faced with an agonizing choice: submit to the barbarians and be overrun — or fight them and be destroyed.
OWS CyCon officially runs May 17-19 with the CyCon website and Facebook events acting as the hub for all of our events. Sign up for our newsletter or RSVP to the event to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the bookish goodness we have to offer. Plus, you can read more about our participating Sci Fi authors and their Top 5 favorites in Sci-Fi before CyCon starts. Visit the blog hop page any time leading up to CyCon for the latest posts and your chance to enter our MEGA giveaway (open May 10).
Just for squeals and giggles, how about the number one sci-fi tv show of all time?
Doctor Who!!!
May 2, 2019
Book Review: Everything I Do
Genre: Historical Retellings
Publish Date: April 17, 2019
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Robin Hood is about to steal your heart.
A robber and a princess.
A girl disguised as a boy.
A medieval reimagining of the legend of Robin Hood packed with adventure, sacrifice and romance.
Robin Hood, hidden deep in the Sherwood Forest, is fighting to restore the crown to its rightful king, surrounded by faithful friends, green leaves and clear skies. Burdened with secrets, betrayal and an incredible responsibility, he struggles to stay alive and keep the starving people fed. One day, a boy saves him from the Sheriff’s poisoned arrows. Robin, impressed by the slender youth’s courage and skill, takes the boy with him to the forest.
Only, the boy is not a boy.
In the castle of Nottingham, a maid who used to be a princess is forced to obey the wishes of a tyrannical Sheriff. She dons on male clothes and trains to become a fierce assassin, vowing to catch the greatest criminal in the kingdom. But when she saves Robin Hood’s life nearly losing her own, she is rescued by the outlaws.
When Robin and the “boy” meet, two worlds collide, resulting in unimaginable danger and intense romance. Who will survive when they learn each other’s secrets? What happens when the assassin falls in love with her victim?
Filled with danger, intrigue and slow-burn passion, this is a Robin Hood story unlike any you have ever read before!
Plot: I am a huge Robin Hood fan. My favorite book of all time is The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. I love the BBC Robin Hood, Robin Hood Men in Tights, the OLD TV movies from when my mom was a little girl, I even had a crush on the Disney’s fox Robin. I watch these stories and read them. They are great! I’m sure you can imagine my excitement at a Robin Hood retelling. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed.
I normally read 2 books a week, but I had so much trouble getting into this one. I wanted to. The first part of the story dragged on so much. I read one thing from Robin’s POV and the same thing from Ru’s POV. The dialogue was even the same. I got bored. Robin’s men were at the camp through most of the book dealing with each other’s drama.
I read the ebook and when I was about 75% through, I finally got into it. Imagine my disappointment when it was beginning to entertain me and the author just stopped it – abruptly. Very abruptly.
I suddenly had flashbacks of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I know a lot of people LOVE this movie – my husband included. However, the ending is so abrupt that I refuse to watch it again. It was to get the reader to buy the next book which isn’t out yet. I don’t think I’ve ever ended on a cliff hanger that badly before — not even Catching Fire was this abrupt and that one had me stressed.
In all plots there’s a problem that is solved at the end of the book. Well, apparently I haven’t figured out what the problem was in this book because the problem I thought was there was not solved. In a series there’s often an overarching problem that stretches throughout the books, but this one…. I just don’t know.
Characters: Ru – the boy who saved Robin, but wasn’t really a boy. Well, I liked her, for the most part. She was a fun character. She could fight and the reader is able to see her character growth just from the flashbacks she has throughout the book.
Robin – I don’t even know where to begin. He is full of self-pity and self-hatred. He’s not a fun character to have around. This is very different from how I envision Robin. He’s always a jovial character and to have him be self condemning of himself is hard to read.
Writing: This was an ARC copy and the author requested this not to be reviewed yet. Hopefully all the errors have been corrected in the final copy.
Overall: I started off not liking it, but I thought it was finally going to pull it together at the end and then the writer just stopped. I don’t know how to explain how abruptly this was. Okay, we all know Robin and his men storm the castle at some point in all his books/tv shows/movies? Well, let’s just say they were FINALLY storming the castle and – THE END. If the main conflict of the story had been solved, I think this book would have 3 stars from me. I liked it. But, the lack of conflict solution brings it down. I have to give it two stars.
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Author:
Welcome to the engrossing world of M.C. FRANK’s books, where characters aren’t going to have an easy time of it: They will find themselves in icy-cold dystopian worlds where kissing is forbidden (among other things), or in green forests ruled by evil Sheriffs. If they’re in Jane Austen’s England, they have to be running away from a traumatic childhood, or if they are in our contemporary world, they’re scared they’ll die before they have finished high school. That sort of thing.
Don’t worry, though, she knows we all need a little hope and joy in our lives, so there’s a good dose of those as well in everything she writes.
M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that’s before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren’t exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.
She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she’s like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief. She lives with her ‘dude’ in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed.
Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn’t pick the easiest subjects for her novels.
Learn more about her and her New Adult, Young Adult, scifi, Greek mythology and historical novels at mcfrankauthor.com
May 1, 2019
Spotlight and Sneak Peek: Angel Land
Welcome to the world of angels.
Gabriel Perez has a dream.
Thirteen-year-old Gabriel wants to become the Ruling Archangel of Celestia. The catch? He doesn’t have wings. And, that means he can’t get into one of the eight prestigious guilds. He spends his days polishing wings, dreaming of going to a guild.
An unexpected opportunity.
After failing the entrance, Gabriel stumbles on a wanted criminal, and by a stroke of fate, and becomes embroiled in a high-profile abductions case. He is sent to the best guild- The Holy Guild- for protection where he gets a shot at his dream of becoming a Ruling Archangel.
The adventure of a lifetime.
At the Holy Guild, Gabriel makes friends with the super-smart Raziel, the school reporter Swati, and a shy heiress, Ariel. He also earns the ire of Cael, a senior trainee who dislikes Gabriel and even comes face-to-face with the current Ruling Archangel and his hero, Michael. His dreams are all beginning to come true but…
Someone is hiding in the shadows.
The criminal Gabriel escaped from is looking for him. As secrets come to light, Gabriel must decide who he really is and fight the evil taking over the city. Filled with excitement and adventure, Angel Land is a story about the power of dreams.
Chapter 1 Sneak Peek
Being an angel without wings is a tough business.
For one, you can’t fly anywhere and have to depend on the Seraphim City Mass Transit (SCMT), which is always late.
“The next train will arrive at 1:30 PM,” the pre-recorded announcement says, which doesn’t fill me with much hope because the last time it arrived at 1:30 PM was well…never.
I twiddle my thumbs, looking up at the sky shielding Station No. 6 of the central line. When I’m the ruling archangel of Celestia, I’ll never have to take the SCMT.
“My name is Gabriel Perez, I’m thirteen years old, and my dream is to become the ruling archangel of Celestia,” I shout to nobody in particular, watching my reflection in the glass panels between civilians and the landing spots.
The silver-haired woman standing next to me stares at me, adjusting her spectacles, then turning left and right. Her wings are old and bruised, probably the reason she’s taking the mass transit instead of flying to her destination. Only the old, the sick, and those without wings, ever end up having to contend with flying trains. Sometimes regular folks take it to travel long distances.
“He doesn’t have wings,” she remarks to herself with a giggle.
“I don’t,” I confirm.
I fall into the third category of 0.001% of angels, who are born without wings.
“Must be hard,” she remarks, sizing me up with squinting eyes. “Don’t people like you usually live at the Healing Guild?”
I shake my head. “Not me. I’m going to get into the Holy Guild and become a ruling archangel.”
She squints at me like I have a few screws missing in my brain and turns the other way.
To continue reading this chapter, click here. You’ll be taken to the document in Google Docs.
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P.S. Scott knew she wanted to be a writer ever since she was six years old. An avid fan of anime, manga and all things Japanese, she tries to incorporate storytelling elements from anime and manga into her works. P.S. has a degree in Law and a Masters in Entrepreneurship and currently resides in Los Angeles.
To learn more about Scott, visit her website.
Want to buy the book now? It’s available on AMAZON!
April 30, 2019
Teen Tuesday: Turtle in Paradise
Genre: Children’s Historical Fiction
Publish Date: May 11, 2010
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Life isn’t like the movies. But then again, 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple.
She’s smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it’s 1935 and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle’s mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn’t like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Florida, to live with relatives she’s never met. Florida’s like nothing Turtle’s ever seen before though. It’s hot and strange, full of ragtag boy cousins, family secrets, scams, and even buried pirate treasure! Before she knows what’s happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she’s spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. Filled with adventure, humor and heart, Turtle in Paradise is an instant classic both boys and girls will love.
Review by Brandi:
My family began reading this book as a read-aloud. We finished it in less than two weeks, and enjoyed every bit.
At first, I was a bit skeptical. It didn’t grab my attention or excite me like I was hoping for. However, as we kept reading, that all changed.
This book took a city girl and stuck her in a small southern town, where everything seemed strange and new. She no longer had her beloved mother, and the author made all of this emotion real.
The characters soon began to blossom into people I felt like I knew and could relate with. The story took me through all of the ups and downs of Turtle’s adventure of uncovering her mother’s past.
Being from the south, it was very funny seeing the southern view of things through Turtle’s eyes. I had to laugh out loud when she compared grits to porridge.
I loved the small town feel, strong relationships, and unique variety of characters the book contained. I really liked this story and rate it four stars.
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April 25, 2019
Book Review: Grimoricon
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publish Date: Nov 11, 2018
Blurb (Goodreads):
A mysterious book leads to an adventure of a lifetime…
Twelve-year-old Ethan knows it all, and if it doesn’t involve fantasy or video games, he isn’t interested. On a trip to an antique store with his father, Ethan comes across the mysterious book, Grimoricon. Unaware of the secrets this book holds, Ethan soon finds himself in the unfamiliar world of Terah, a world that brings to life all the wondrous and terrifying things from Ethan’s fantasy books.
Aided by a teenage huntress named Nera and her bear companion, Ethan must travel through this unfamiliar world of magic, danger, and intrigue all in an attempt to find his way back home.
However, dark forces have learned of Ethan’s arrival and are seeking to capture him before he can find the doorway between worlds. It will take all of Ethan’s courage and the help of his friends to overcome this enemy and open the doorway.
Plot (3 stars): Totally fun plot, but not very original. It was an exciting adventure though.
Characters (2 stars): I had a hard time loving the characters. I continually forgot who was who. The main character, Ethan, drove me crazy. Even when he was trying to be polite, I was annoyed with him.
Writing (3 stars): This wasn’t terrible either. So much potential, but it needed to be cleaned up. When I read, a movie plays out in my head. The movie in my head, had people who couldn’t act. I think it was mainly because I couldn’t see them saying the words as written. There were too many unnecessary words and not enough contractions. I understand some of the dialogue had to be written that way because of who was speaking. The rest of it still felt that way. I just had a hard time with it.
Overall: I don’t think this book was for me. I had a hard time getting through it. I give it 2.5 stars.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
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B.D. Suever lives in a world where magic and monsters exist around every corner. At least that’s what his mind tells him.
So, who is he really? Well if you ask his kids he’s dad, if you ask his wife he’s the spider killer, if you ask his mom he’s her favorite child (don’t tell his sister). As for himself he’d tell you he’s a world class genius on the brink of making magic a reality.
At a young age he was always drawn to fantasy whether it be in books, games, or toys. They all allowed him to expand his mind and imagine a world of his own. As he got older B.D. Suever began to write and create the worlds in his head for others to experience. Now he is ready to present those ideas he has to the world.
As a freelance writer he has had featured articles showcased on cultureofgaming.com. He is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
When he’s not writing, you can usually find him spending time with his two wonderful kids, watching the latest movie or playing the latest video game (he must keep that imagination fueled somehow).
To learn more about Suever and his writing, check out his website here.
April 24, 2019
Author Interview: Lennox McCaskill
A native of Atlanta, GA, Lennox McCaskill grew up drawing a number of characters and making up worlds for them to “live” in.
After completing a number of short stories, poetry, and articles published for an online magazine called The Hudsucker, McCaskill turned his primary attention to writing fiction.
In 2015, “Colossal: Issue #1” became his first published piece of fiction. The novel is as much a culmination of his many interests, including his love of mysteries and comic books, as it is an ode to his obsession for complex characters.
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Book 1:
Meridian isn’t a typical town, and this is no typical murder. When Detective Wreings pulls up to a fiery crime scene he’s left wondering whether he’s chasing a man or something more. With a thin list of suspects, the detective’s search leads him to the hospital bed of a man with no name who can’t say for certain whether he is or isn’t the killer everyone is looking for.
While trying to prove his innocence, he discovers the key to remembering his past puts him in the path of a girl trying desperately to forget hers. Each passing chapter reveals another piece of the puzzle that will change all their lives and the city of Meridian forever.
Author Interview
1.What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends and being active outside with sports or watching detective shows with my wife.
2. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
So far I’ve written 3 books, all for “The Colossal Series”. I think if I had to choose one that I liked more than the others, it’d have to be “Fallen”, the third book in the series. It was one of the most fun to write and featured a number of characters I’d been waiting to introduce in the series for years.
3. Does writing energize or exhaust you?
There are moments that writing completely takes all of my energy, but at the same time I’d say that when I get in a good flow, I lose track of time and can write until I’m told to stop.
4. What is your favorite childhood book?
The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques.
5. How do you select the names of your characters?
Sometimes I based them off of names I mishear someone else say, sometimes I make them up. I don’t really have a set way.
6. What was your hardest scene to write?
Without giving away too many spoilers, in my second book, “Afflictions” I wrote an extended scene that shifted focus between all of the main characters of the story. It was difficult because it was the climax of the story and each character had their own perspective on the events happening. I must have reworked it over two dozen times. But it was worth it!
7. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I sometimes write stories backwards (end to beginning).
8. Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
For me, writing is something that not only calms me but the completion also gives me a feeling of zen.
9. What do you think makes a good story?
I think a good story comes in many forms but one of the big things I think a story needs to do is inspire thought. Whether it brings on new thoughts or resurfaces old ones, a good story is one a thought provoking one, in my opinion.
10. What does your family think of your writing?
They are very supportive and believe I can do anything. They’ve always had my back and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
You’re probably really interested in this series now and want to buy your copy of Colossal (book 1). If so, check it out on Amazon HERE.
April 23, 2019
First Ten Books I Reviewed
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I started reviewing books on my very first blog back in March of 2011. They’re pretty sad. The reviews are so short. LOL! Here are the first 10 I ever reviewed.
Leviathon by Scott WesterfieldThe Other Life by Ellen Meister The Foretelling by Alice HoffmanPractical Magic by Alice HoffmanThe Trylle Trilogy by Amanda HockingRoom by Emma DonoghueCinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein Vampire Academy Series by Richelle MeadFade by Lisa McMannGone by Lisa McMann
This was before authors started sending me books, too. I just reviewed what I was reading as I tried to figure out the book reviewing world. LOL! It was a fun adventure. I can’t believe it’s been 8 years!
Teen Tuesday: The Prisoner of Cell 25
Genre: Young Adult Sci Fi
Publish Date: August 9, 2011
Synopsis (Goodreads):
My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story.
To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.
Michael thinks he’s unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.
Review by Collin: I was hooked on this book from the beginning. The story and the characters were fun. The plot kept me wanting more. I couldn’t wait to read book 2 in the series.
I give this book 4 stars.
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April 22, 2019
Micro Brew Monday: 4/22
This was created by Melanie / The Library of Mars and Hexen Librarian.
They post a prompt to be answered the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.
Today’s Prompt: What’s a genre you’ve recently discovered you enjoy? Is it way out of your comfort zone?
I think my newest love is high fantasy, but it’s not that new. I enjoyed watching high fantasy, but most of the books in that genre are so very long. Recently I read
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