E.S. Barrison's Blog, page 4
January 3, 2022
The Last Rose of Shanghai – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★✰✰ (3.5 / 5 stars)
When Aiyi Shao meets Ernest Reismann in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, she sees a business opportunity. He can play jazz, and is a perfect addition to her night club. What she didn’t expect was to fall in love him. Drawn together in a story of forbidden love, war, and different cultures, Aiyi and Ernest must choose their path…whether together or seperate.
In a heartbreaking story that takes a different approach to World War II, we see the Jewish Refugees of Shanghai as well as the Japanese Occupation there, two things often not approached in literature. Wrapped in a beautiful story, it will captivate audiences (and I believe, would make a great book-to-movie adaptation).
As beautiful as this story was, and as much as I should have loved it, I was left a bit underwhelmed. While I loved learning about Aiyi and Ernest’s plight, and I should have been drawn into the story (I went in convinced, actually, that this would be a 5-star read)…something was missing. I didn’t care about their romance, and the ending…it felt off somehow. The emotion wasn’t there. I think, in all honesty, it came down to the writing style for me. It didn’t resonate with me, and that is a personal opinion. While I did cry after what happened to Ernest’s sister, Miriam, and I was happy to see what occurred in the end of the story (which actually took me off guard), a lot of the time I was left pushing through to the next chapter. I do give this book 3.5/5 stars though because of the beauty in this story though, as well as telling a different part of WWII history that not everyone is familiar. Perhaps if it was written differently, I might have fallen in love the same way Ernest and Aiyi did.
Again, that is just personal taste.
I do think overall it is a lovely story though. As I mentioned above, it would be perfect for a book-to-screen adaptation, as I think screen could convey some of the emotion that I was missing in the writing style.
I still do recommend this book though for lovers of historical fiction and romance. I don’t regret reading it, even if wasn’t quite what I expected.
What’s it about?
In Japanese-occupied Shanghai, two people from different cultures are drawn together by fate and the freedom of music…
1940. Aiyi Shao is a young heiress and the owner of a formerly popular and glamorous Shanghai nightclub. Ernest Reismann is a penniless Jewish refugee driven out of Germany, an outsider searching for shelter in a city wary of strangers. He loses nearly all hope until he crosses paths with Aiyi. When she hires Ernest to play piano at her club, her defiance of custom causes a sensation. His instant fame makes Aiyi’s club once again the hottest spot in Shanghai. Soon they realize they share more than a passion for jazz—but their differences seem insurmountable, and Aiyi is engaged to another man.
As the war escalates, Aiyi and Ernest find themselves torn apart, and their choices between love and survival grow more desperate. In the face of overwhelming odds, a chain of events is set in motion that will change both their lives forever.
From the electrifying jazz clubs to the impoverished streets of a city under siege, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a timeless, sweeping story of love and redemption. ading to the risk of exposing a secret he’s been desperately trying to bury? Meet Patrick, a man who seems to have it all, yet faces the frightening possibility of throwing it away because of his own hubris and ignorance. How far will he go to protect his identity and keep his secret hidden?
Terminal – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★★ (4.75 / 5 stars)
Patrick Heliher is ready to board his flight. But just as he scans his boarding pass, he denied access and is left stranded on the terminal with his plans unraveling. Yet, as he walks the terminal, waiting for a resolution, paranoia seeps in, leaving him convinced that someone is out to get him. But the person out to get him might just himself.
In a chilling short story, Terminal by TK Watkins examines the human condition – particularly how hubris, arrogance, and narcissism can lead to paranoia and self-entitlement. This is not a story about a man coming to terms with his past; this is a story about a man terminally ill with his own misperception. Sometimes, this illness cannot be cured, and it will forever be like walking along in an airplane terminal, waiting for a flight that will never arrive.
TK Watkins does a fantastic job painting the picture of this paranoia. It left me chilled to the core at the end. The only reason why I’m not giving this the full five-star treatment is because it took me a bit to get into the story. It was the ending that left me with my mouth wide open.
If you want to read a jaw-dropping story about the human condition, one that makes you examine your own mentality, definitely check out Terminal by TK Watkins. But note…it doesn’t end with a smile.
What’s it about?
Things aren’t what they seem. What happens when a successful businessman’s identity is tampered with, leading to the risk of exposing a secret he’s been desperately trying to bury? Meet Patrick, a man who seems to have it all, yet faces the frightening possibility of throwing it away because of his own hubris and ignorance. How far will he go to protect his identity and keep his secret hidden?
He’s minutes away from boarding his flight and saying goodbye to his previous life as an overworked, privileged financial executive, but when Patrick Heliher is stopped at the gate and denied from boarding, his plans to start over come unraveled, setting up a series of bizarre and disturbing events that cut him off from the outside world and threaten to reveal a secret he’s been desperate to leave behind. Though mild-mannered and sophisticated on the surface, his ordeal exposes cracks in his personality, bringing out the worst in him as he sees his whole world collapsing before his eyes.
See how far Patrick goes to protect his identity while he cunningly schemes to get to his destination and shakes off his murky past. While things may not appear as they seem, Patrick fights to keep others from discovering the truth, only to be vanquished and humiliated in the end.
Terminal is a story of arrogance, paranoia, and malignant narcissism — in the face of a deeper reality few can bear to fathom.
Grim Tales, Sordid Werks, & Other Compendiaries is a series of short stories exposing the unsavory side of the human condition while crossing paths with the manifestation of darkness in all its various guises. Featuring true-to-life characters who are caught in bizarre and dire situations, and must face their most formidable horrors — including themselves. Packed with terror, shock, dread, and, most of all, cruel irony.
Terminal on GoodreadsJanuary 2, 2022
The Apprentice Storyteller – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★✰ (4 / 5 stars)
“We’re always granted what we wish for as long as we prove, through our behaviour, that we want to make it a reality. Our thoughts guide our actions, and those direct our outcomes. You left home with the fear of pursuit. Your fear became a reality, and your thoughts have fed your actions bringing you to this point—constantly foreseeing capture. When I left home, I feared I might die of starvation, or worse, all alone in the world, but I held that fear at bay by feeding my dream of becoming a storyteller and making that a possibility I could achieve. I recognised my fear for what it is—one option. I chose not to pursue it because it wasn’t a result I wanted. I focused wholeheartedly on what I did want to experience.”
Viola Alerion has been on the run for years. A renowned storyteller, her life has always taken her from one place to another. Alone. Until one day, a boy comes and demands to be her apprentice. He refused to take no for an answer. Reluctantly, she takes him on as her apprentice, but soon learns the boy is wise beyond his years, and perhaps he might just teach her some lessons as well.
In a story that is equal parts fantasy and sci-fi, we delve into Viola and the boy, Jo’s, story to tell stories and uncover pieces of the past. A beautifully written tale, The Apprentice Storyteller is not just an adventure, but a story that holds a deep message about being true to yourself and manifesting your own destiny.
Honestly, the book description is correct: very much so, Jo is reminiscent of the boy in Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. It’s not a traditional story about a master and an apprentice, but rather about how an apprentice can teach a master…and vice versa. Really, while Jo is learning the art of storytelling, Viola is learning about herself.
The biggest thing I wished for while reading this book though is “more.” I yearned to learn more about the world, which was so beautifully painted, and to dive more in Jo and Viola’s past and relationship. It was written more as a legend or fable, which makes sense, but I always do yearn for a tiny bit more when I read a book.
Overall though, this was a wonderful gem that I picked up for free many months ago. I’m glad I did…because it’s a beautiful tale about manifesting the future you want, and not the one you fear.
What’s it about?
The Alchemist meets fantasy with a splash of space opera.Viola Alerion, a renowned storyteller in the Haldrian Empire, wants to be left in peace. For years, she’s been hounded by her past, never to find a moment’s rest. Then she meets a boy who wants to become her apprentice. He refuses to take no for an answer, and she reluctantly yields, even though she knows taking him with her could endanger his life. As their journey progresses, Viola begins to understand she’s not the only teacher in the equation. The nameless boy also has something to teach, but Viola makes for a reluctant student.
Can she give way to possibility and embrace a future in alignment with what she’s always wanted? Can she find the courage to embrace the principles that will transform her life? Can she overcome her circumstances and face her past? Or will she keep on running with nowhere to hide?
And what of the boy who guards untold secrets and exhibits mysterious powers that defy belief?
The Apprentice Storyteller on GoodreadsDecember 13, 2021
Updated Website
Hi there!
It’s been a bit since I made a post that wasn’t a book review. Woops!
Well, I’m just popping in to say that I’ve updated my website with new links to all my books. In addition, I’ll be starting to feature more Indie Authors again in 2022…so stay tuned for all of that.
In the mean time, don’t forget to check out my updated pages for my books:
The Life & Death CycleTales from the EffluviumThe Unsought Fairy Tale CollectionStay tuned for more book reviews, more features, and more articles!
Thanks again.
E.S. Barrison
November 25, 2021
The Lurking Collection- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★✰ (4 / 5 stars)
In this collection of short stories by Jaidis Shaw, we investigate some dark and chilling questions: is a sacrifice worth it? Is that boy in your class as kind as he seems? What secrets are we holding? Each story will chill you to the bones, and make you question your own life – for better or worse.
These stories are beautifully written, and each one will leave you at the edge of your seat…all for a different reason. My favorite one was definitely The Reluctant Seamstress. This one was jaw dropping, and I could have read an entire book about this character and her people. I sat up straight in bed as I devoured this tale, my heart racing…with a smile on my face at the end.
The other two stories, The House on Juniper Lane and Blind Justice, also had that same chilling atmosphere but they didn’t enchant me in the same way. These were much more closer to the real world (especially the last one), and reminded me more of traditional horror stories, similar to Stephen King or other similar authors.
That being said, all these stories are worth the read – they’ll leave you thinking about humanity, life, and all the secrets in the shadows. Definitely check it out.
What’s it about?
A collection of stories by Jaidis Shaw:
Is the sacrifice worth the reward?
The Reluctant Seamstress is an outcast among her people. Cursed to never set foot on land, she swims in the dark depths below the ocean’s surface. Now her life depends on making the perfect suit for her master. The only problem is that everyone knows human flesh is a fickle material.
Some family traditions must come to an end.
The House on Juniper Lane had always been a mystery. After a family was violently slain within its walls, it quickly became an attraction for teens looking for a thrill. It was just an empty house to Grace. So when the hottest guy in school wanted to take her there, she accepted. It was all fun and games until she woke up tied to a chair.
One night will change her life forever.
Blind Justice is what she provides. Molly wasn’t going to let blindness stop her from holding psychological criminals accountable for their actions. Now the bodies are piling up and Molly must identify the killer before her own secrets are brought to light and she becomes the next victim.
November 24, 2021
The Elite Wizard Games- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★✰✰ (3 / 5 stars)
Melanie has been training for the Elite Wizard games for years. She yearns to be one of the five wizards that will win the battle royale and secure herself a place within the Elite Wizard Guilds. Yet, as a pernicious plot unfolds to destroy the Dragon Wizards, Melanie and her friends must join forces to stop the chaos. But will it cause her to lose her place in the guild?
Fast paced and action packed, The Elite Wizard Games is a fun afternoon read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Filled with magic and battles, fairies and dragons, and friendships and enemies, there is something for everyone in this story. You’ll be on the edge of your seat routing for Melanie to both stop the plot to destroy the Dragon Wizard, as well as secure her place in the guild.
Yet, its fast speed comes at a detriment. So much happens in this book in such a short amount of time (I believe it took me 1.5 hours to read this book total). Personally, I didn’t have enough time to meet the characters or get a full understanding of the guilds. It felt like I jumped in halfway through the story, and really wish I had a chance to understand Melanie’s motivations and talents, as well as that of her friends. If this book had been 100-200 pages longer, I think we would have started to delve deeper into all of this, and create a much more well rounded story.
In addition, while I did not count this in my rating of the book, the cover confused me. The story read like a high fantasy, yet the cover made me think it was more urban fantasy or low fantasy. I couldn’t quite figure out if or where technology fit into this world, and while this didn’t impact my rating, it may impact how others feel.
Ultimately though, this was a fun book, and I think if you enjoy fast paced adventures, you’ll enjoy The Elite Wizard Games. It will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to finish, that I’m sure.
What’s it about?
The competition for a prestigious spot on an Elite Wizards Guild is at hand.
For years, nineteen-year-old Melanie has trained and worked for nothing else. More than anything, she strives to be one of the five wizards that will win the epic battle royale. Yet her plans shift in the midst of the games when she learns of a sinister plot to rob the Dragon Wizards of their ancient magic.
As the competition rages on, the stakes are upped to life or death. Teaming up with one of her competitors may be Melanie’s only chance to save the world. But will it cost her a place in a guild?
Game on. Are you strong enough to survive?
The Sleep Tight Motel- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★✰ (4 / 5 stars)
Eve is on the run, and her only safe haven seems to be a quiet motel on the edge of the woods. In need of a place to sleep, she takes up the kindly manager’s offer to spend the night. But why does she keep hearing noises outside her wall? And will her violent lover come knocking on her door before the morning?
The Sleep Tight Motel is the exact type of horror story I love. Without giving too much away, this is a story about a crossroads and about coming to terms with one’s poor choices. If I delve further than that, it might give up the twist.
Although, speaking of the twist, I did figure it out pretty early in the story. Sometimes that’s the problem with these short stories – things come too quickly, or the story needs something more to give it that extra pull. While this story was just the right length, I did wish that there was more of a “shock” factor in the discovery. But that’s just a personal taste.
Overall, The Sleep Tight Motel is one of the stronger stories in the Dark Corner collection. It caters to horror and suspense without being gratuitous…which is exactly what I enjoy. So if you check out any stories in this collection, definitely check this one out.
What’s it about?
A woman on the run finds refuge in a motel at the edge of the woods, with plenty of vacancies. Check in for the night with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.
Eve has a fake ID, a .38, and a violent lover receding in the rearview mirror. He’ll never find her at the isolated motel, and its kindly manager is happy to ease her fears. But if Eve is the only guest, whom does she keep hearing on the other side of the wall? Eve won’t get a good night’s rest until she finds out.
Lisa Unger’s The Sleep Tight Motel is part of Dark Corners, a collection of seven heart-stopping short stories by bestselling authors who give you so many new reasons to be afraid. Each story can be read in a single sitting. Or, if you have the nerve, you can listen all by yourself in the dark.
The Sleep Tight Motel on GoodreadsMiao Dao- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★✰✰ (3.5 / 5 stars)
As Mia matures, her life changes. Her dad leaves. Boys grope her. And her stepfather pursues her. Her only friend is a ghostly white cat – who may as well be her protector. Can this cat protect her? Or will it come at a cost?
A creepy story with a dark twist, this tale left me shaken to my core – in both good and bad ways. First the good: the twist at the end of this short story left me both surprised and satisfied. It was exactly what I expected…but more. Mia finds her protection, and that in turn was the goal of the story.
Yet, this story needs a lot of content warnings. Murder, sexual assault, and other topics fill the pages. While I don’t consider myself a sensitive reader, this material could be very triggering. The way these topics were delivered served the right purpose: I felt uncomfortable, which very well might have been the authors goal.
Ultimately, I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style. I think the message could have been delivered better (or perhaps in more pages).
Yet, for a Dark Corners story, this definitely does it job of chilling the reader to the bones. If you do decide to pick it up, go in with this warning: it is not a story about a fluffy cat, but some much darker topics that may not be suitable for everyone.
What’s it about?
A girl comes of age with a vengeance—and help from a friend—in a tale of unnerving suspense from National Book Award winner and literary master Joyce Carol Oates.
Bad things have been happening since Mia began to mature. Her dad left. Boys at school can’t keep their hands to themselves. A lecherous stepfather has moved in. Her only refuge is an abandoned lot on her suburban cul-de-sac, crawling with feral felines—one of which follows Mia home. Ghostly white and affectionate, she is Mia’s new companion and—as Mia’s tormenters will soon discover—her fierce protector.
Joyce Carol Oates’s Miao Dao is part of Dark Corners, a collection of seven heart-stopping short stories by bestselling authors who give you so many new reasons to be afraid. Each story can be read in a single sitting. Or, if you have the nerve, you can listen all by yourself in the dark.
Miao Dao on GoodreadsCity Spies- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★✰ (4 / 5 stars)
Sarah Martinez finds herself sitting for trial after hacking into the New York City foster care system. With the possibility of juvenile hall imminent, she is ready to resign to her fate, until a mysterious lawyer – dubbed “Mother” – shows up to save the day. He proposes a new opportunity for her: come to Scotland with him and join an elite group of adolescent spies. It seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up! But can Sarah fit in with her new brigade…while also stopping a villain from committing crimes on a global scale?
The moment I picked up City Spies, I knew I had to suspend disbelief. This is a book written for children, so some of the cartoonish aspects of the characters (and their unbelievable talent) have to be looked at through a less critical lens. Once I abandoned that, this book was a ton of fun. With nods towards the traditional heist stories, with a bit of James Bond and Harry Potter thrown in for good measure, City Spies takes us on a journey of not only espionage, but friendship and teamwork.
Not only are the characters in City Spies diverse – with different races, and even a character who is neurodivergent – but many children will see themselves in Sarah (or Brooklyn), Sydney, Paris, Kat, and Rio. They each have their own distinct personalities, and equally contribute to the team. I am sure in further books we’ll examine more than just Sarah/Brooklyn, but the others as well as they help Mother and team protect the world.
As much fun as this book is, the problems lie again in some of its silliness. While children will overlook this, as an adult reader it was something I had to note. These are extremely talented kids, but the real possibility of a twelve year old hacking into the New York State Foster Care System? Unlikely. But, children will be able to suspend disbelief over this and enjoy the story…as I did as well.
I may consider reading the next books in this saga in the future. It’s definitely a fun, quick read that I think adults and children alike will enjoy.
What’s it about?
Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.
Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.
Before she knows what she’s doing, Sarah is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.
City Spies on GoodreadsBacchanal- Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5 / 5 stars)
After being abandoned by her family in Louisiana, Eliza Meeks is trying to find a way out of the swamps of Baton Rouge. With a magical ability to communicate with animals, she draws the attention of a talent prospector for the Bacchanal Carnival. While Bacchanal offers her a ticket to freedom, there in lies a deeper mystery: a demon feeds off of the weak, terrorizing the country, and hunting for its final foe. Is Eliza the key to ending this demon’s terror? Or unlocking further horrors across the US?
I knew right away that I would like this book. Drawn in by the picturesque descriptions, enchanted by Eliza’s magic and the unique characters, once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. It takes the best aspects of the Night Circus (which I admit I wasn’t a fan of), and couples it with the Depression-era South, Yoruba mythology, and magical realism. So much of this hits aspects that I love.
What it lacks in some of the character aspects (which is often something I enjoy in stories), it makes up for in its storytelling. Each character plays a vital role; one seemingly insignificant character, such as the baker, suddenly becomes a key player. I cried at certain deaths (which I won’t elaborate on here due to spoilers), and smiled when Eliza reunited with the one she’d been searching for.
There is so much to say about this book, but honestly I’ll just leave it at this: Bacchanal gives a new look at a depression-era tale. It is a story not only of magic, but of history and persecution. It was so easy to picture the events unfolding before me, to the point where I felt like I was there.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
What’s it about?
Evil lives in a traveling carnival roaming the Depression-era South. But the carnival’s newest act, a peculiar young woman with latent magical powers, may hold the key to defeating it. Her time has come.
Abandoned by her family, alone on the wrong side of the color line with little to call her own, Eliza Meeks is coming to terms with what she does have. It’s a gift for communicating with animals. To some, she’s a magical tender. To others, a she-devil. To a talent prospector, she’s a crowd-drawing oddity. And the Bacchanal Carnival is Eliza’s ticket out of the swamp trap of Baton Rouge.
Among fortune-tellers, carnies, barkers, and folks even stranger than herself, Eliza finds a new home. But the Bacchanal is no ordinary carnival. An ancient demon has a home there too. She hides behind an iridescent disguise. She feeds on innocent souls. And she’s met her match in Eliza, who’s only beginning to understand the purpose of her own burgeoning powers.
Only then can Eliza save her friends, find her family, and fight the sway of a primordial demon preying upon the human world. Rolling across a consuming dust bowl landscape, Eliza may have found her destiny.
Bacchanal on Goodreads
