E.S. Barrison's Blog, page 16

The Curse of the Amaranth – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 stars)

It sounds like a joke: a princess, a prince, and a wizard embark on a quest to save on a prince…only to unleash vampires upon the entire world. But this story is not a joke; this is the story of Zelina, Kerr, Daniel, Walker, and a malicious sorcerer named Bo. Can the crew stop the sorcerer? Or will this bring about the end of the world?

Probably.

In a fast-paced story that takes us to Polaris, we are whisked away in an adventure that seems simple: find the Amaranth, free Daniel, defeat Bo, and live happily ever after. But as the layers of the story unfold, leading to one misfortune after the next, we discover that defeating this sorcerer will be much more difficult than we can imagine.

Some parts of the voyage are adorably tongue-in-cheek, with characters exclaiming lines such as “we’ll see!” or “maybe!” to straight forward questions. Bo is malicious, but amusing; Zelina is kind, but fierce; and the rest of the cast each has their flaws while showing a comparable positive trait. This is the charm of the story.

The only downside to the novel is the length. While Violet Schofield does a good job at keeping the pacing on point throughout the novel (better than some other authors I have read), I do wish we had a chance to experience more of the voyage. We are passed from one point to another, meeting characters along the way (each unique in their own right too), but never get a chance to just sit and experience the world.

That being said, Schofield still paints a wonderful picture of Polaris and the characters, despite the length. That in itself deserves a kudos, since not every author is able to do that.

With a cliffhanger finale that leaves us with the statement “we’ll see!”, I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series! Will Bo succeed in his quest for domination? What about the curse placed on Zelina? Who is going to be successful?

I guess we’ll see!

What’s it about?

A perfect Princess, a fun-loving Prince and an anxious wizard must go on a quest to save a knight in shining armour. Will they succeed? Probably Not!

The curse of the Amaranth on Goodreads

Where the Crawdads Sing- Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 stars)

It starts with a murder: local hot-shot, Chase, is found dead by the fire tower. Everyone turns their blame to one person: the Marsh Girl – Kya Clark. But, Kya is not who they think she is, but a smart and intelligent woman with a deep path. Does her past hold the secrets behind Chase’s murder? Or is it not quite what anyone expects?

Where the Crawdad’s Sing has been on shelves everywhere. I initially picked it up in March as an audio book, but the heartbreaking nature of Kya’s childhood made it impossible to continue as an audio book. So I ultimately put it down and did not pick it up again until December. The narrative is beautifully written, pulling you into Kya’s marsh, and feeling her suffering as she tries to navigate her adolescence into adulthood. Yet, more than anything, the courtroom scenes pulled me into the place of the juror. Who was innocent? How as the murder committed? And in the end, planting those seeds of doubt.

Yet with the beauty of the story, the length of time it took me to finish this book prevented me from clinging to the narrative with interest. I was able to put it down for months without a twinge of desire to go back until recently. In addition, while I can suspend disbelief for the narrative, it is hard to imagine a girl of Kya’s age surviving entirely on her own in the marsh for most of her life. Surely adults would be more compassionate – at least I would hope. But, the beauty of fiction is being able to ignore these possible disbeliefs and immerse yourself in the story.

I can see why this book has enchanted millions. Delia Owen whisks you away in your narrative, and before you know it, you’ll want to venture out into your nearby swamp to see if you can find any Marsh Girls living out there.

What’s it about?

For years, rumors of the ‘Marsh Girl’ have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life – until the unthinkable happens

Where the crawdads sings on Goodreads

Beatrice Bloom and the Star Crystal – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5 stars)

The Blooms are heading back through the fairy door! After receiving an invitation to Evony and Soren’s wedding during Christmas, the Blooms are quick to accept the offer to see their friends! But, Beatrice is somewhat apprehensive: last time she went through the fairy door, she was held captive by the malicious Nesirn! What could happen now?

In the newest edition of Through the Fairy Door, Beatrice takes the center stage (in contrast to her cousin, Octavia, in Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key). In a story filled with multiple moments of deceit and fear, Beatrice is forced to take a central role: not only due to her role as a Bloom, but also as someone with powerful magic. But Beatrice doesn’t have the confidence that her cousin, Octavia, has; in fact, she is scared. Yet, when the fate of her friends depends on her, Octavia knows she has to act…and fast!

This is a new, endearing tale that takes us back through the fairy door. I was so excited to go back with Beatrice! Her character really interested me in the first book: her potential for magic is strong, and it is only made more impressive throughout the story. Not only can she perform feats equal to one of an evil king, but she also thrives on the friendship with her sister, cousins, and the unicorns. The lesson ultimately is a simple one: believe in yourself, have confidence, and you can defeat even those much more powerful than you!

While I am positive that children will continue to love the adventures of the Bloom Family, the second book is slightly less magical. Not that it lacks magic – it has even more than the first book! But as with many second books, the struggle is keeping the magic going. There is so much happening in the fairy world, that in some parts I had to pay far closer attention. Between the diplomatic relations with the fairies, the hierarchy of the unicorns, and the large cast, to some extent it felt like multiple plots were wrapped up in a single book.

But, that’s not to say the story is without it’s merits…because it is still a wonderful tale! Beatrice, although not quite as spunky as her cousin Octavia, has the heart of all the other Blooms. She wants to do what is right, protect her friends, and learn. As she gains her confidence, her magic flourishes…and she can even save the day!

Without a doubt, I’ll be venturing back Through the Fairy Door again. I cannot wait to see what the family will encounter next!

What’s it about?

Beatrice Bloom is excited but a bit apprehensive to be heading through the fairy door once again with her sister and cousins.

The adventure quickly turns ominous with the arrival of old foes and new enemies who are conspiring to overthrow the throne.

Is Beatrice brave enough to embrace magic once more to help her friends? And can she restore the star crystal to its rightful place before time runs out?

Beatrice will need all her courage in this new ‘Through the Fairy Door’ adventure.

Courage, friendship and deceit collide in this spellbinding adventure.

Continue the magic in this follow up to Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key!

Beatrice Bloom and the Star Crystal on Goodreads

A Mermaid in Middle Grade – Book Review

Book Series: ★★★★☆ (4.10 / 5 stars)
Book One: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 stars)
Book Two: ★★★★☆ (4.5 / 5 stars)
Book Three: ★★★★☆(3.75 / 5 stars)

Brynn Finley is excited to learn magic, especially now that she is in middle school! But middle school is overwhelming: there are so many people, so many classes, and to top it all off…she can’t do mer-magic! But she can’t let her friends know, otherwise she’ll be the laughing stock of the whole school!

In a story about magic, friendship, growing up, and consequences, we venture to Brynn’s home beneath the sea. Any child, or adult, who have experienced the fear of middle school can relate to Brynn’s experience. The need to impress everyone, the challenges of friendship, and the embarrassment over mistakes are emotions we have all gone through.

I read all three books back-to-back after waking up early this morning, which is why I’m writing one review for all three. Each one explores similar a different part of the middle school experience: lying to others, consequences of your actions, and making new friends, just to name a few. In a way, each of these stories was like an episode of a children’s cartoon: each one teaches a lesson, even if it’s not front and center. I even visualized it as an animation while reading it!

In addition, the books also give an important message about sea life: we need to protect the oceans at all costs. That’s the duty of a mer-person, after all. But even if they’re not out there protecting our oceans, we can do our part.

These cute books will connect with everyone: you’ll see your past and current self in Brynn’s actions. And who can resist ocean puns?

What’s it about?

A Magical Mermaid Fantasy Adventure for children ages 8-12

A young mermaid. A sea witch out for revenge. Can Brynn Finley become a sea guardian and help humans in danger when she just barely started the sixth grade?

Brynn Finley is the only mermaid in class who hasn’t been able to learn mer-magic. Without it, she can’t be a guardian of the sea with her parents and friends. On her quest for answers, Brynn encounters a loveable sea turtle, a pair of selkie sisters, and Phaedra, the great and terrible sea witch. Soon Brynn is over her head in trouble, and she must learn to ask for help if she’s going to follow the merfolk oath to be a protector of the ocean and a guardian of the sea.

The Mermaid in Middle Grade series is a middle-grade fantasy adventure series and coming of age books appropriate for ages 8-12 and all who enjoy middle grade books!

A Mermaid in Middle Grade on Goodreads

Dancing on the Edge of Moonlight – Book Review

Book Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ (DNF @ 20%)

After Cara is abruptly fired, she is sequestered by a man in a limo: none other than Julian Aristo Starr, a world-renowned singer, with a dual personality. Without much of a choice, she is forced into a date night with him, and after a few glasses of wine, she wakes up with flitting memories of a one-night stand. Worries explode in her head: did they use protection? Will he be back? And why can’t she stop thinking about him?

In a story that starts off with undertones of manipulation, I thought I was entering tale about a woman escaping a power-crazed melomaniac. Cara is both entranced and repulsed by Julian, but she keeps going back to him. At the same time, Julian – who is capturing Cara’s heart – is obsessive and manipulative, leaving a bitter taste in the reader’s mouth.

Rather than being played up as the villain, Julian is built up as a love interest for Cara. By 20% of the way through, the constant back-and-forth of their relationship, marked by Cara’s pregnancy, left me feeling odd. I knew by that point that the book wouldn’t be for me and decided to mark it as a DNF with no rating out of fairness to myself and the author.

I ultimately skipped to the last chapter to see if it would end as I expected. Unfortunately, it did not throw any surprises at me there. Granted, perhaps the weaving of the story makes the ending work: perhaps Julian reforms, or he’s not as bad as we are led to believe. But by the time Julian was stalking Cara with a private investigator, I had to close the book.

Romance, as a genre, is hit-or-miss for me. It’s not my favorite, so I’m already pickier over what I read. The stories about a manipulative-man-turned-good often do not impress me. Sometimes they can be done right, and some people might love these types of stories, but they’re not for me.

Yet, don’t let my inability to finish this book sway you. Leandra Simones is a good writer, and if she made me hate Julian in 20% of the book, I am sure she can instigate many emotions within you. Perhaps you’ll fall in love with Julian; maybe you’ll connect with Cara.

All-in-all, it wasn’t for me though.

What’s it about?

Cara, while feeling stuck in her job, is abruptly and unfairly fired. She is seething in her office and in the midst of destroying company property when she hears a wolf whistle. She discovers it’s the company’s owner, the highly affluent and infamous musician, Julian Aristo Starr. Cara is aware of his alleged dual personalities as Aristo, the consummate perfectionist, performer and manipulator and Julian, the reclusive creative genius behind the man. Unfortunately, it’s Aristo. She is unimpressed.

Running out of time to clear the premises, Cara bolts out the building, only to encounter Julian, a totally different person than Aristo. Now, she’s intrigued. Julian convinces her to have dinner with him.

The following morning she wakes from an outrageous nightmare, that just might be true, given the men’s purple underwear on her mantel………

Dancing on the edge of the Moonlight on Goodreads

Diagnosis: Solving the Most Baffling Medical Mysteries – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★☆   (4.5/ 5 stars)
Audio Book Performance: ★★★★☆  (4 / 5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★☆  (4.5 / 5 stars)

We like to believe that answers will be simple: we’re sick, so we go to our doctor, expecting to receive a dosage of medication to cure us. Most of the time, that is the case. But there are still many times where the toolbox the doctor’s use to solve our disease doesn’t work. Dr. Lisa Sanders has been exploring these pathways to diagnosis for years, and Diagnosis only scratches the surface of the weird diseases we, as humans, can acquire.

Diagnosis immediately draws in the reader with a story about a woman visiting Kenya. After suspecting to have contracted malaria, but coming up negative in all the relevant tests, doctors rush to figure out what else she could have. Test-after-test for every virus possible comes up negative, and she is left with no answers, while also getting weaker. This, like many cases discussed, is the result of doctor’s being led down the wrong pathway. She didn’t have a virus at all! Her primary care doctor discovers she has an enlarged thyroid. The point though that Sanders is making here is how one small thing can send the doctor’s in the wrong location, or sometimes how tests don’t return the desired results. This story, like many others throughout the novel, stuck with me. There was a woman who contracted “LIME” disease from drinking lime water on the beach, another about a man who suffered from a tick-related disease during flu season, and those are just two at the top of my mind!

What Diagnosis proves is how many diseases, conditions, reactions, and other medical mysteries manifest in the same way: is it a migraine or a brain tumor? An allergy or something worse? Has the patient received too many medications, or too many surgeries?

Some of the medical jargon, of course, was lost to me, but Sanders makes the stories easy enough to understand so whether you have a medical background or not, you understand the condition.

Granted, be careful while you read or listen to this novel…because you might also start thinking you have every disease imaginable!

What’s it about?

As a Yale School of Medicine physician, the New York Times bestselling author of Every Patient Tells a Story, and an inspiration and adviser for the hit Fox TV drama House, M.D., Lisa Sanders has seen it all. And yet she is often confounded by the cases she describes in her column: unexpected collections of symptoms that she and other physicians struggle to diagnose. 

A twenty-eight-year-old man, vacationing in the Bahamas for his birthday, tries some barracuda for dinner. Hours later, he collapses on the dance floor with crippling stomach pains. A middle-aged woman returns to her doctor, after visiting two days earlier with a mild rash on the back of her hands. Now the rash has turned purple and has spread across her entire body in whiplike streaks. A young elephant trainer in a traveling circus, once head-butted by a rogue zebra, is suddenly beset with splitting headaches, as if someone were “slamming a door inside his head.”

In each of these cases, the path to diagnosis—and treatment—is winding, sometimes frustratingly unclear. Dr. Sanders shows how making the right diagnosis requires expertise, painstaking procedure, and sometimes a little luck. Intricate, gripping, and full of twists and turns, Diagnosis puts readers in the doctor’s place. It lets them see what doctors see, feel the uncertainty they feel—and experience the thrill when the puzzle is finally solved.

Diagnosis on Goodreads

White Blossom – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.75 / 5 stars)

There’s a space in Kanna’s memory, and it’s been that way for seven months. She doesn’t remember her mentor and friend, Kenneth, and her friends seem to be hiding things from her. But upon learning about eight dense shadows roaming the countryside, she and a handful of other apprentices are assigned a task to find these shadows and stop their disarray. But with the constant presence of her irregular, Liridian, impacting her emotions and attitude, can Kanna stop the dense shadows…or are there worst foes afoot?

Once again, we are taken back into the world of the irregulars with Kanna, this time seeing a shift in the kind-hearted main character we had come to know and love. She is jaded, more and more like Kenneth every day (at least as her fellow apprentices say behind her back), worn down by the presence of Liridian. This change is important: it shows that the impacts of the events in Dark Irregular remain.

White Blossom is a much stronger book than Dark Irregular overall. Having already ventured into this world with Kanna, we are familiar with the aspects of the shadows and the irregulars. Despite the fact that Kenneth is lost in the void, his presence might be the strongest though: you can feel him dictating the plot, even when Kanna is not aware. For a good portion of the book, the suspense of when Kanna and Kenneth would come together again left me saying “one more page”. With the arrival of the lone irregular though, it made the suspense all too great…and I couldn’t put it down until I finished the story.

Legaspi’s craft has certainly improved since I read Dark Irregular. The narration is stronger, while answering some questions about Kanna’s past and the world as a whole. Yet, it could be stronger – being less passive, with more showing rather than telling. The cast of named, and relevant, characters is large as well, and without much exposition into who they are, I was left confusing a number of them.

I think the thing that really made me knock this down to 3.75 stars though was the relationship between Kenneth and Kanna though. In Dark Irregular, I perceived them more as a brother and sister, especially due to their age differences (18 v. 15). In White Blossom, their deeper (inherently romantic) feelings for each other are skimmed upon. While with adult characters, a four year age difference is nothing, the ages of 18 and 15 are a little uncomfortable. Perhaps this will be clarified in the final book in the trilogy, Gray Heart, as being no more than a deep friendship that transcends traditional bonds. Or maybe they won’t admit feelings until Kanna turns eighteen.

To answer all these questions brewing in my head, I guess I’ll just have to pick up Gray Heart in the near future. If White Blossom was any indication, this series is just going to keep getting better and better.

What’s it about?

It has been seven months since the transfer of the Dark Irregular into Kanna as well as the loss of her memories of her dear friend, Kenneth. Life has been normal for the young apprentice of Division Thirteen, but throughout the endless days of tedious and disciplined training, studying, and spending the occasional day with her friends, Kanna has been feeling empty despite being filled with the presence of her new irregular.

After seven months of the same daily routine, a family from the minor kingdom of Rohnay arrives to have a meeting with the queen and inform her of the eight Dense Shadows that have been raiding towns and cities on the border between the east and west sides of Sylenia. These same, alarmingly human-like, Dense Shadows suddenly strike the Palace of the Crimson rose during the new knighting ceremony. Kanna finds one of them oddly familiar.

As one of the apprentices chosen to seek and eliminate the eight Dense Shadows, Kanna is eager to figure out the reason behind their raids as well as why that one shadow seemed familiar. To her horror, the raids and shadow are the least of her worries, for there is a high possibility that one of the dark queens is trying to breach the wall that keeps the two parallel worlds apart.

And she is not afraid to use any means necessary to do so.

White Blossom on Goodreads

Frost – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5 stars)

Nathan Masterson knows little about his past, but as Jack Frost’s protege it doesn’t seem to matter. But after being framed with a crime he didn’t commit, Nate and Jack are forced on the run from the magical law enforcement, the Organization. But as he runs for his life, he and Jack uncover darker forces at work. Can he stop it before innocent lives are lost?

Patrick D. Kaiser is back with his wonderful poetic verse novels in a new series: the Death-Bringer Chronicles. In a world occupied by fae, trolls, goblins, seers, and other creatures, we are instantly whisked away into Nate’s life as Jack Frost’s protege. We see him falling right from the start, and he has to take stock in his magic before he hits the ground. This immediate beginning draws the reader into the dangers of magic in this world, but also the amazing things it can do.

The story is filled with a bunch of interesting characters that keep each chapter fresh and unique. For me, the one who stuck out the most was Don Vito – the leader of the troll mafia in Italy. While he represents a standard mob boss, I love the idea of a troll mafia. The visuals of this hunkering mob boss, and his family, drew me in, leaving me with questions about the metrics of the world at large.

Kaiser’s writing has certainly improved since his Crimson Minds trilogy. His poetry is less dependent on rhyming, focusing on ways to make each verse unique: rhythm, beat, syllables, etcetera. Everything flowed nicely, and I am eager to see how his writing improves over the next books.

Yet, as I’ve mentioned before, verse can be difficult. While the story itself is entertaining, it took a bit for me to gather a full understanding of all the different pieces in this magical society. Verse doesn’t allow for the exposition necessary to explain everything, and with the narrative throwing us right into the action, I found myself wondering more about different aspects of the world that did not get explored. Most notably was Nathan’s relationship with Jack Frost. It’s said that Frost is a notable criminal, and Nathan is her protege. But already Nathan’s talents are notable, and Frost appears and disappears like snow on the ground. If we had spent a couple chapters exploring this relationship, it might have woven in deeper the relationship between Nathan and Jack, so the ending is all more heartbreaking.

But once the story got going, it was a lot of fun. Meeting the fae, the trolls, the O.D. and all the rest wove together nicely in a thrilling story with a heartbreaking conclusion. By the end, you’ll know why it’s called the Death-Bringer Chronicles.

I eagerly anticipate the next installment in this series. Now that I know who Nathan Masterson is, I’m ready for his next adventure.

What’s it about?

Everyday people living everyday lives, not knowing the legends, myths, and fairy tales they tell their children are real.

Goblins, trolls, magic – Not to mention Jack frost: The world’s most notorious criminal, the master escape artist, & one cool lady. Jack currently finds herself training Nathan Masterson, a protege with a magic thought to be extinct who now finds himself drawing attention from the Organization: The magical governments law enforcement group. On the run for a murder he didn’t commit & struggling with the secrets of his past. Is he seeing double or is someone out to frame him? Even with help from Jack the world seems colder than usual.

As Death approaches. It’s gonna be a cold summer.

Frost on Goodreads

Call My Name the Wind – Book Discussion

Book Rating: Not Rated (See Below)

Matt Steel Donovan is scared of his own blood. Half-Native American, he has tossed aside his heritage, joining a group of Neo-Nazis in order to hash out the fear inside of him from a childhood of abuse. Meanwhile, Gloria Palmer has been trying to escape her father’s influence since she was a young girl, only to be put on a trajectory to repeat his mistakes. As Matt and Gloria’s destinies intertwine, can they come to terms with the right path for their lives? Or will they be stuck in the same patterns as ever before?

In a passionate and personal tale, David Oser has woven a story about real people facing the needlework of their past. Call My Name the Wind focuses on the key point: how much does your familial destiny define you, and how far can you run from it?

I guess this plot about family is why I choose not to rate this book, and it has nothing to do with the quality of it. In fact, I think the story was quite good and I do recommend people read it. But, the reason why I chose not to rate this book is that I know I cannot do so without bias, as the author, David Oser, is my dearly-departed maternal grandfather.

It took me many years to read this book. Initially published in 2005, I was no older than 10-years-of-age when he wrote it. At the time, obviously, the topics were not for me. Even as I tried to read it in high school, it was too cumbersome. Part of it might have been the writing style, while on the other hand, it could have been the topic. But I wanted to make time to read his books, and having this copy on my shelf already, I chose to read his sophomore novel first. I’ve always said that he is the author who inspired me; and he still is. He was a talented writer, but it was how I saw him writing while growing up that inspired me to pursue my own path as a writer. He also published independently, so I suppose just like Matt and Gloria, my path is woven into my genetics as well.

The story is told in a circle, similar to many folk tales. We start at the present, and then go back in time, to see what brought Matt and Gloria together, and how their decisions ultimately played out. Like the wind, the story wisps through time, capturing these pivotal moments in heart beats. Knowing how my grandfather constructed this novel, I am certain that he pulled from the lives of people he had met. My grandfather (and grandmother, for that matter) always had this way of meeting different people with unimaginable stories. So, I would not be surprised if the story of Matt and Gloria is very similar to those he knew. That’s the beauty behind the book though: it’s real.

Yes, there are a few formatting and grammatical issues I noticed, and there were parts where I wished to explore the characters and their decisions more. While I would never alter the contents of the story, one day I would love to republish my grandfather’s novels on Kindle, editing for some of these minor grammar and formatting issues, while keeping everything else the same. This would let the windy voice of his novels take hold on a group of new readers, but all will happen in time.

Needless to say, Call My Name the Wind is an emotional, important book about family, our genetics, and how our heritage entwines with who we are as a whole. And remember to always follow the wind, because it will bring you home.

What’s it about?

Call My Name the Wind is introduced by a Native American Myth that knits its way through the story and focuses on Matt Steele, who driven by blood inflicted events, conceals his Native background. he descends into the quagmire of white supremacist violence and despair until the epiphany that brings him together with Gloria Palmer who helps him return to the destiny tattooed across his genetic pool. 

Alien People – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5 stars)

How many of us have looked to the sky, wondering if someone else is looking back? Do they wonder the same things? Do they care? Calandra Menankar of Lathos has wondered this as well, and as one of the planet’s top astronomers she is delighted when she discovers a probe from a place called Earth in her solar system. Determined to make contact after reviewing the peaceful message inscribed on the probe, she ventures off to Earth with her boyfriend and pilot, Xttra, as well as Lance, Doni, and a few others. But when they arrive, this blue-and-green planet isn’t as welcoming as it appears.

In a sci-fi thriller filled with action, we are once again faced with our own morality: is Earth prepared to face the stars? The answers presented by Alien People is this: no. We’re too embroiled in war, too overwhelmed by fear, and too locked into our own beliefs. Earth is placed as a foe, seen through the eyes of the peaceful aliens who arrived, enamored with warfare and hatred, not peace. But Calandra is determined to see the good in humanity; and perhaps, having someone like that on the crew is key to their survival.

The story is paced like a classic sci-fi thriller movie. So much happens over the novel, but enough where we get a feeling for Calandra, Xttra, and Lance. Some of the characters do fall to the side, but this is reminiscent of any good action-packed movie or novel. The whole time I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if the aliens would survive, or if they would make peace with the “Earthians”.

And let me say, I was glad that the ending was not stereotypical.

Yet, while I know this is the first book of a series, I felt like there were a lot of loose remained in the air. What was the significance of their colleague who was injured and put into stasis? Why mention Calandra’s weak bones when they didn’t come up often? Shouldn’t her broken arm been more detrimental? Why did Calandra and Xttra jump head first into a stadium and ask about probe builders? Surely they would have researched more from afar or have a stronger protocol? (Which was actually a question the military operation on Earth asked as well.) And finally, what was Doni’s actual motivation? Sure, these are all questions building up to something greater, but I ended the book wondering about all of these…and more.

But perhaps that is just a ploy to get me to read the next one…which I intend to do.

Still, if you want a book that transports you to a theater, where you can pretend you’re watching a high-stakes, action packed sci-fi thriller, Alien People is definitely worth the read.

Note: I received a copy of this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.

What’s it about?

A message from across the galaxy. A journey to a distant world. Will first contact bring new understanding… or death?

Calandra Menankar dreams of becoming her planet’s top astronomer. So when a probe from a place called Earth rockets into her solar system, she’s determined to uncover its secrets. And when the foreign craft transmits a message of peace, Calandra secures permission to voyage to the unknown orb despite brittle bones that could make space travel fatal.

Teaming up with her boyfriend pilot, Xttra Oogan, the two cross the stars towards the mysterious blue-green globe unaware one of their crew hides a sinister agenda. And when they translate the Earthian communications, Calandra and Xttra fear the probe may have led them into a deathtrap far from home…

Will traversing the Milky Way to a dangerous, new planet make both explorers wish they never left home?

Alien People is a thrilling and captivating science-fiction novel from bestselling author John Coon. If you like nail-biting action, high adventure, and ambitious characters, then you’ll love this immersive tale set in the same fictional universe as Under a Fallen Sun.

Alien People on Goodreads