Elizabeth Suggs's Blog, page 3
October 15, 2021
Book Review: The Friar's Lantern
The Friar’s Lantern by Greg Hickey is a choose your tale adventure novel where you have a chance to win $1,000,000 and judge a man on trial for murder.
If you are not familiar with the choose-your-own-adventure concept, throughout the book, the reader is given options that alter the direction and outcome of the story. As someone on the jury, you must use logic with the information given to you. And in the lab, you are given different tests or tasks. For instance, you play the game Three Card Monte.
I particularly enjoyed this choose-your-own-adventure because it made me nostalgic for my childhood. However, sometimes I felt like the story was a little dry, especially when in the courtroom.
For me, the story really comes to life when you’re in the lab with Dr. Pavlov, with the possibility of winning $1,000,000. In fact, I think the story would have held up better if the book chose to just focus on winning the $1,000,000 and not bouncing between the courtroom and the lab. It felt a little disconnected and confusing at times.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
September 28, 2021
Book Review: All Kaal None
By Elizabeth Suggs
ALL KAAL NONE: Sac of Surpäs by PB Flower is a sci-fi romance novel, the first in a trilogy. The book goes through four different timelines, and the author PB Flower does a great job with imagery.
Flower does well in her exploration of human emotions, characterized in the current, dystopian, and advanced eon. I especially loved her exploration in darkness and the hidden passion of desire.
And for those readers who love notes in their books, they’re gonna love this. PB Flower includes references and graphics for the reader, and while I think this can work for some, it may go over the heads of others. I also wasn’t in love with the length of the book. 600 pages is a daunting task for any reader, but the heaviness of the text makes it even more difficult.
This book may not be for everyone, but if you like romance sci-fi with lots of notes and great imagery, you may enjoy this!
Elizabeth Suggs is co-owner of the indie publisher Collective Tales Publishing, owner of Editing Mee, and is the author of a growing number of published stories, two of which were in a podcast and poetry journal. She is the president of two writing groups, one being part of the LUW. She’s a book reviewer (EditingMee.com) and popular bookstagramer and cosplayer (@ElizabethSuggsAuthor). When she’s not writing or reading, she’s playing video/board games or making cookies.
August 24, 2021
Guest Book Review: Dark, Witch and Creamy
By Regina Grimm
In hindsight, had I read the whole of the blurb, I may have skipped right past Dark, Witch and Creamy, by H. Y. Hanna
Blurb
Soon Caitlyn finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy... not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins!
When she's dragged into the murder investigation and realises that dark magic is involved, Caitlyn is forced to choose. Can she embrace her witchy powers in time to solve the mystery and save those she loves?
My Review:
Heat: Well... I don't have no peppers so 1 pepper it is
I was looking forward to magic, a little heat and a mystery unravelling. Instead I ended up reading an okay-but-not-great story about a woman seeking answers, and stumbling into a murder investigation. Unfortunately, I didn't really care about the murdered man, and wasn't all that invested in the murder being solved.
The leading man could have been interesting, but he was almost too wholesome.
The MC and supporting characters were independent women, with goals and histories, jobs and powers that made them interesting and I did end the book hoping to know what happened to them.
But then another character dropped in out of nowhere and - oh that's right - he's a vampire that turns into a bat. The leap from 'maybe magic is real' to 'transfiguration and vampires are pretty normal' was too much for me. I may have actually rolled my eyes when the Uncle showed up.
Now you know I like steam (better yet, molten lava) in my books, so this sticky sweet, no violence (except for the murder, and maybe an attempted poisoning) read left me a little bored. If you like heat that ends with hand holding, and an utterly appropriate Sunday afternoon read, this might be the book for you.
It was well written and had a few moments of intrigue that almost looped me in, but not enough to read the rest of the series, where I hope the BIG questions get answered. H. Y. Hanna writes books that aren't my style, but I would point anyone looking for a PG read in her direction.
With Love,
After traveling and living abroad, Regina Grimm fell in love with fairytales and folklore, and how nostalgia can blend with eroticism as we grow into healthy adults. She was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, and currently lives on Vancouver Island.
Regina is the author of Erotic Fairytales. Her first book, Snow White and the Wicked Queen: Chapter 1 is currently available on Amazon Kindle.
Look for Snow White and the Seven Thieves: Chapter 3 coming August 2021
Guest Book Review: Dark, Witch and Creamy by H. Y. Hanna
By Regina Grimm
In hindsight, had I read the whole of the blurb, I may have skipped right past Dark, Witch and Creamy, by H. Y. Hanna
Blurb
Soon Caitlyn finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy... not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins!
When she's dragged into the murder investigation and realises that dark magic is involved, Caitlyn is forced to choose. Can she embrace her witchy powers in time to solve the mystery and save those she loves?
My Review:
Heat: Well... I don't have no peppers so 1 pepper it is
I was looking forward to magic, a little heat and a mystery unravelling. Instead I ended up reading an okay-but-not-great story about a woman seeking answers, and stumbling into a murder investigation. Unfortunately, I didn't really care about the murdered man, and wasn't all that invested in the murder being solved.
The leading man could have been interesting, but he was almost too wholesome.
The MC and supporting characters were independent women, with goals and histories, jobs and powers that made them interesting and I did end the book hoping to know what happened to them.
But then another character dropped in out of nowhere and - oh that's right - he's a vampire that turns into a bat. The leap from 'maybe magic is real' to 'transfiguration and vampires are pretty normal' was too much for me. I may have actually rolled my eyes when the Uncle showed up.
Now you know I like steam (better yet, molten lava) in my books, so this sticky sweet, no violence (except for the murder, and maybe an attempted poisoning) read left me a little bored. If you like heat that ends with hand holding, and an utterly appropriate Sunday afternoon read, this might be the book for you.
It was well written and had a few moments of intrigue that almost looped me in, but not enough to read the rest of the series, where I hope the BIG questions get answered. H. Y. Hanna writes books that aren't my style, but I would point anyone looking for a PG read in her direction.
With Love,
After traveling and living abroad, Regina Grimm fell in love with fairytales and folklore, and how nostalgia can blend with eroticism as we grow into healthy adults. She was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, and currently lives on Vancouver Island.
Regina is the author of Erotic Fairytales. Her first book, Snow White and the Wicked Queen: Chapter 1 is currently available on Amazon Kindle.
Look for Snow White and the Seven Thieves: Chapter 3 coming August 2021
August 12, 2021
Book Review: A Walk in a Darker Wood
By Elizabeth Suggs
A Walk in a Darker Wood is a collection of folk horror stories, poetry, and art from new and emerging authors.
Each story has a picture associated with it, showing a deeper aspect of that tale. My favorite illustration was the double cat picture below. It opens me up for the intensity of the story “Therein Lies a Tail” by Duan Pesice. This cat story is very unlike the rest of the book. It didn’t really feel like horror to me, but I’m sure if I was a cat, I would have been more scared.
The stories were hit-or-miss with me. Some of the pacing was a little too slow and pulled me out, but I really enjoyed “Putting Down Roots.” It’s about mushrooms that are much too delicious. It’s like a critique on how humans get together and how easily they can succumb to their desires.
I also liked “There Came the Sun.” However, there was a lot of unnecessary dialogue, which was difficult to get through. Other than that, the story was great and well-written.
All the poems are good, but some didn’t have a consistent rhythm scale, which was jarring. Despite this, I enjoyed them. My all-time favorite poem is “Jenny Green-Teeth.” This lightens the terrifying aspect of a particular monster.
Here are my favorite quotes:
There is no certain horizon; the sky blood into the sea, indistinguishable; goals clustered on the for sure, a chatter of gray backs, cold yellow eyes.
You would think by now they’d figure out it’s not just village which is they should be afraid of.
A bride of Satan I’d be soon.
I wasn’t in love with this entire collection, but I think some of stories are well-worth checking out!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
Book Review: Accounts of Ephemeral Oddities
By Elizabeth Suggs
Accounts of Ephemeral Oddities: A Collection of Short Stories by K.P. Hallow is a 21-page collection of tales on the ethereal, the impermanence, and one character experiencing borderline ludicrous urban paranormal phenomena.
Hallow has a unique way of writing, more akin to something poetic and ancient. Certain sections are abstract, possibly a little too abstract for clarity. While the book is very short, and I was able to get through it in less than an hour, I did have to reread a few of the stories to fully grasp what was written, so it may have taken me a little longer to read than something normal would of this length.
I believe with a little more work, Hallow’s writing could have been very strong. I like the style. It’s almost like a diary into the author’s mind. It’s different, there’s a lot of attention to detail, and it has a distinct voice. Plus, it makes you sit back and think.
Some of my favorite quotes are from the story “Crevices”:
Truly a commendation was an order for my imagination.
Late one tranquil night while staring at the ceiling as I often did, my wandering attention happened upon a precarious divot at the intersection of the wall and my subject of interest.
And I really enjoyed two of Hallow’s stories: “Hostage” and “Out of Support.”
In “Out of Support,” our protagonist is haunted by a sound in his inner ear while he showers. Hallow’s writing really came to life in this tale. For instance, here’s a cool quote: A shiver ran down my naked frame, an unseen threat felt along with a sense of dread hung on my person like a legend cloak.
“Hostage” focuses around a prisoner who’s deadened by daily torture. Daily I am forced upon my legs to bear the weight of these self-proclaimed gods.
This collection is fun and short and works well for busy schedules. I like the bite-sizeable quality of this anthology, and this may work for some, especially those who don’t have time for much reading, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
August 10, 2021
Guest Book Review: Interview with the Vampire
By Jonathan Reddoch
I recently read Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. This book is kind of old now, but the series is still coming out with new books. I enjoyed it but there were a few qualms I had.
I remember the film very vaguely from when I was a child, and how it was a line that made up for the movie, “I’m going to give you the choice I never had.” I was frustrated that the line never appeared in the book as I waited and waited for it to pop up so I could be like there you are, you little devil. Other than that I can’t say how well the two media compare.
First the high points: Rice is a good writer and I like the way she describes the world through the elegant voice of the vampire; he speaks eloquently and seems to have a perfect recollection even before turning into a vampire. The characters and story are compelling. I don’t usually like to read beyond the first book in a series (Dune, Ender’s Game, etc.); this is just a weird quirk I have as a reader, but I am curious what happens in the other books. I bet they’re at least intriguing.
I like that Dracula is not mentioned even once. I get bored of vampire tales that lazily just plop Dracula in their story. Or make an entirely new kind of vampire and call them Dracula. Also, this book is super gay, which is awesome.
The weird, not necessarily bad, things: It’s odd that most of the story is told in a monologue from the vampire. The story begins as a conversation, but she gives up on the interview format midway in. Makes me wonder why to bother with the unusual rhetorical device. But then I suppose she would have to rename the book. I think it works well enough for this single book but would lose its novelty quickly. She also does not give us answers to many questions raised about the origin of the species and its evolution (maybe these are explored in later books). Reminds me of Frankenstein, which isn’t a bad thing.
The problematic: so the vampires eating and turning each other is described as if sexual. Sounds hot right? Well, only if you think rape is hot. This act is rarely consensual. The vampires come across as very rapey (they are literal predators after all). Rice somehow makes murdering rapists (pedophiles?) sympathetic, and I found myself questioning this. Especially, since they turned a little girl into an immortal vampire and the line between father and lover is uncomfortably blurred. Ew.
Also, I keep going back and forth on whether it should be titled interview with the vampire or a vampire.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys horror and sexually suggestive dark fantasy that somehow depicts zero sex, which features morally questionable Southerners and sensual European creeps.
Jonathan is the co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing, the publishing company for Collective Darkness. He is a father, an editor, an academic, and a lifelong learner. He enjoys writing several genres, especially horror and sci-fi.
August 5, 2021
Guest Book Review: Fun With Lavender
By Whitney Willis
Lavender holds a special place in my heart, and the book Fun With Lavender written by Maggie Reddoch rekindled my romance with this beautiful herb. This short book provides cute and simple recipes utilizing lavender flowers and oil. It has inspired me to try some of them.
Firstly, I must call out the illustrations in this book—they are so cute and whimsical and made by the author herself! They make me want to draw cute French landscapes with soft blue skies and peaceful flower fields.
The book has several recipes using lavender, from lavender cookies to a lavender-infused latte. I tried the lavender latte. I used food-grade lavender oil, found in most health food stores or on Amazon. It was an interesting concoction for sure, but be careful of how much lavender oil you use! I used a couple of drops in mine, and even that was too much. Use just one drop, and it will be plenty! With just a drop, you’ll have a great subtle flavor of lavender with amazing aromatics each time you take a sip.
One of my favorite ways of using lavender is in tea. Typically, I purchase a blend of chamomile and lavender tea already in the sachets, but I recently made some peppermint tea (my favorite) with a small number of lavender buds. It was so yummy! You only need a little bit (about a teaspoon) to get the flavor from it. Not only is it beautifully fragrant, but it tastes nice as well. I’ve also learned that lavender can help with an upset tummy, so having it in your tea is a perfect way to alleviate any discomfort.
I also love using lavender in a lavender-infused Epsom soak in a nice hot bath. The smell is absolutely intoxicating and really brings me to a peaceful state of mind. They say that lavender brings a sense of calm to your mind and body. I’m not sure if it’s just psychological, but I can say that it helps me quite a lot.
I love Fun With Lavender for inspiring me to try new things using lavender. I highly recommend it for beginners and current lavender users alike, as it’s a great way to start thinking about using lavender but can also inspire “la-veteran’s” (I just made that up.)
Whitney Willis is a lover of fiction and nonfiction alike. When she’s not reading, she’s dancing the night away with her friends. You can find Whitney on Instagram, where she posts current books she’s reading and more: @summer_f0rever.
Book Review: Fun With Lavender
By Whitney Smith
Lavender holds a special place in my heart, and the book Fun With Lavender written by Maggie Reddoch rekindled my romance with this beautiful herb. This short book provides cute and simple recipes utilizing lavender flowers and oil. It has inspired me to try some of them.
Firstly, I must call out the illustrations in this book—they are so cute and whimsical and made by the author herself! They make me want to draw cute French landscapes with soft blue skies and peaceful flower fields.
The book has several recipes using lavender, from lavender cookies to a lavender-infused latte. I tried the lavender latte. I used food-grade lavender oil, found in most health food stores or on Amazon. It was an interesting concoction for sure, but be careful of how much lavender oil you use! I used a couple of drops in mine, and even that was too much. Use just one drop, and it will be plenty! With just a drop, you’ll have a great subtle flavor of lavender with amazing aromatics each time you take a sip.
One of my favorite ways of using lavender is in tea. Typically, I purchase a blend of chamomile and lavender tea already in the sachets, but I recently made some peppermint tea (my favorite) with a small number of lavender buds. It was so yummy! You only need a little bit (about a teaspoon) to get the flavor from it. Not only is it beautifully fragrant, but it tastes nice as well. I’ve also learned that lavender can help with an upset tummy, so having it in your tea is a perfect way to alleviate any discomfort.
I also love using lavender in a lavender-infused Epsom soak in a nice hot bath. The smell is absolutely intoxicating and really brings me to a peaceful state of mind. They say that lavender brings a sense of calm to your mind and body. I’m not sure if it’s just psychological, but I can say that it helps me quite a lot.
I love Fun With Lavender for inspiring me to try new things using lavender. I highly recommend it for beginners and current lavender users alike, as it’s a great way to start thinking about using lavender but can also inspire “la-veteran’s” (I just made that up.)
Whitney Willis is a lover of fiction and nonfiction alike. When she’s not reading, she’s dancing the night away with her friends. You can find Whitney on Instagram, where she posts current books she’s reading and more: @summer_f0rever.
July 29, 2021
Book Review: Hope Screams Eternal
By Elizabeth Suggs
Hope Screams Eternal is a collection featuring over two dozen horror, sci-fi, and fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poems. This anthology was edited and published by the hosts of the Unsettling Reads Podcast: H Dair Brown and Robin Knabel. Be sure to check out Robin’s guest post: Hope Screams Eternal: An Unsettling Reads Anthology on the Collective Tales Publishing blog.
There are tons of tales that you’re sure to find something you really enjoy. I didn’t love every story, but those that I did love, I went back and reread—they were that good. I also love the art in the book. These, sometimes haunting, pictures showcase various stories and poems, and the book as a whole. While made up of three different genres, they all seem to merge and fold nicely with each other.
We start with “Hope Comes to Exhilaration” by Ellen Hall, a horror story and a unique take on the transgender experience, written by a trans author.
My favorite story was hands-down “When the Rabbit Screams” by A.C. Grant. This was hilarious and engaging about a resurrection gone wrong. Definitely worth checking out, and I enjoyed the writing.
Another of my favorites I’ll mention is Jonathan Reddoch’s three poems. “Hope Screams Internal,” “Hope Screams Nocturnal,” and “Hoppy Screams Eternal.” I enjoyed the clever rhyming scheme on these and the great imagery. My favorite was “Hope Screams Internal,” about eternal suffering amidst ceaseless hope.
The final story I’ll mention is “The Cure Eternal,” which begs the age-old question: What would you do if you have your wishes granted? This was very captivating.
Check out my favorite quotes:
Their skin fused together with a loud guttural crunch like a beast gnawing on human bones. - “The Eternal Mr. Trembly”
He worried a ghoul had crept in, for ghouls were always women. - “Hope Comes to Exhilaration”
There are some things worse than being hungry. - “The Flames of Hope” by Zenni Abdon
Angels answer not prayers from hell. - “Hope Screams Internal” by Jonathan Reddoch
My weakened frame will succumb perforce to its ghastly touch, its sanguine adjuncts, it’s gruesome expressions. - “The Cure Eternal” by A. Bratton
Check out this collection; you’ll definitely find something to love.
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com
