Collin Earl's Blog, page 3
July 11, 2012
Collin Earl’s YA Twitter List Feature – The Rookie by Scott Sigler
Today’s featured Author from the Ya Twitter List
Enjoy
Description Set in a lethal pro football league 700 years in the future, THE ROOKIE is a story that combines the intense gridiron action of “Any Given Sunday” with the space opera style of “Star Wars” and the criminal underworld of “The Godfather.” Aliens and humans alike play positions based on physiology, creating receivers that jump 25 feet into the air, linemen that bench-press 1,200 pounds, and linebackers that literally want to eat you. Organized crime runs every franchise, games are fixed and rival players are assassinated. Follow the story of Quentin Barnes, a 19-year-old quarterback prodigy that has been raised all his life to hate, and kill, those aliens. Quentin must deal with his racism and learn to lead, or he’ll wind up just another stat in the column marked “killed on the field.”In the Galactic Football League, wars are no longer fought in space, but on the gridiron. If you like aliens and football then I suspect you’re unlikely to find a better combination than than THE ROOKIE. –Phil Plait, Discover Magazine
Average Rating on Amazon 4 1/2
Most Helpful Review by Collin Earl 19 year old Quentin Barnes just hit pay dirt. He’s going to get his shot to play with the Krackens, a tier two football team that is trying to make its way to the top of the football world or in this case the football universe. What more could a back water racist from an all human planet ask for? Scott Sigler’s THE ROOKIE is set amongst a lethal pro football league 700 years in the future. Aliens play positions based on physiology, creating receivers that jump 25 feet into the air, linemen that bench-press 1,200 pounds, and linebackers that will eat you if given the chance. Organized crime runs every franchise, games are fixed and rival players are assassinated. Sound interesting? You have no idea.
Pros: I’ve heard this book described as the Godfather meets Any Given Sunday. I would have to agree. I think that this book has everything that you might want from an adult science fiction novel. There is violence, and lots of it, there’s interesting science and technology; there is even an interesting and well thought out “mythology” surrounding the political landscape. While many of Mr. Sigler’s characters are based on tropes he always makes them his own somehow and this story is no different. Quentin Barnes is a character that offends your gag reflex at times, but then again you can’t help cheering for him. Probably because his development is so in your face. He changes in a pushy and dramatic turnaround of his character. The rest of the cast of characters are just as fun in a shameful sort of way. What else can I say, the major parts of the story, plot, characters, arc and conflict are solid and interesting.
Cons: Depending on the version, Mr. Sigler can have quite the potty mouth, this doesn’t bother many people but its important to know that the original version of this story is not for the kiddies. (The hard back has a clean version) Also, as an avid football fan, I loved the football sequences, which there are many. I think Mr. Silger does a fine job of making the football action compelling. That being said, if you don’t like football, you may not like this story for that sole reason. I’ve had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the story with people who are not football fans, and they seem to like it, but that may be an inherit weakness of the story. I think one who doesn’t watch football may be confused as a result.
Overall – this is a good book and in my opinion, one of Mr. Sigler’s finer works. Even with its weaknesses, and really what book doesn’t have weaknesses, this is a can’t miss for avid ADULT science fiction readers. Usually Mr. Silger is a horror fiction writer, but I make no bones about it he does some of his best work in this series.
My Thoughts (Even though I gave the review): One of the best authors period – and a heck of a guy. Just read it. You will love it.
@scottsigler ** I personally recommend this author “Star Wars meets the Godfather meets Everyday Sunday – aliens, the mob and football” The Rookie Link
July 8, 2012
Collin Earl’s YA Twitter List Feature – Pocket and the Pendant by Mark Jeffery
Today’s featured Author from the Ya Twitter List
Enjoy
Description: Max Quick is a pickpocket, a vagabond, an orphan, and a thief. Even so, nothing about him seems particularly special . . . until one day when time mysteriously stops. Suddenly, nearly everyone in the world is frozen in time—except for Max.
Now Max must journey across America to find the source of the Time-stop. Along the way, he meets others who aren’t suspended in time, like Casey, a girl who’s never been on her own until now. Together, as they search for the cause of this disaster, Max and his companions encounter ancient mysteries, magic books, and clues to the riddle of stopped time. But relentless and mysterious villains are hot on Max’s heels and will do everything in their power to prevent Max from ending the Time-stop. And the closer Max gets to the answers, the more it seems that his own true identity is not what he once believed.
Racing against a clock that no longer ticks, Max must embrace his past to save his future—and the world—from being altered forever.
Average Amazon Rating – 4 1/2
Most Helpful Review by Dorine White The Story- Max Quick is an orphan with amnesia. He lives in a home for wayward boys, due to his pick pocketing ways. During an eclipse he is surprised to find the world frozen in time. Only a few other children besides himself are able to move around. One of these kids, Casey, teams up with Max to help solve the frozen time problem. Together they face strange beings in flying pyramids who seem to know the truth about Max’s mysterious unaging past. Our hero will only be able to save the world when he discovers a lost pendant with special powers.
My Thoughts- I enjoyed reading this book. Right from the get go I was intrigued by Max, a boy with scars and re healed broken bones, a boy with no memory, a boy who doesn’t seem to age. Finding out who or what he was pulled me through the book.
The story itself follows a good arc and the characters are interesting. I especially like the idea of being pulled through space by words in a book. (You’ll have to read to see.) It is appropriate for its age group, with little violence, mostly kids fighting kids, and no bad language. Kids will love to follow along with the mystery and enjoy reading about kids with superpowers living alone in a world where adults are frozen.
SPOILER** The only thing that bugged me was that the mystery of Max is not solved. A few clues are given, but we never find out why this boy, who has done something so hideous in his past, that he allows himself to have amnesia, is barely aging. I really wanted the mystery fully solved. However, I tweeted the author and it turns out there is a book 2 and perhaps a third. Hopefully, my curiosity will be filled.
My Thoughts – Mark Jeffery is one of the most original story tellers I have ever had the pleasure of reading. His plot, his characters and world building skills are among the best out there. Period. Buy, Read and Love. You’ll thank me.
@markjeffrey ** – “A boy who doesn’t age and time that has totally stopped” Pocket and the Pendant – Link
July 6, 2012
Collin Earl’s Twitter List Feature – Empyreal Fate (A Llathalan Annal) by Rachel Hunter
Today’s featured Author from the Ya Twitter List
Enjoy
Description Filled to the brim with forbidden love, an ancient evil, and a nation in disrepair, Empyreal Fate is a tale of riveting bravery and mortal corruption.
The land of Llathala lingers on the brink of war between men and elves, a dark history surrounding each race. Stirred by tensions of the land, a shadow of the past reemerges, taking precedence in reality and consuming the very soul of mans’ mortal weakness. Darrion, the son of a poor laborer, is ensnared in a hostile world, forced to choose between loyalty to his king or the counsel of the elves. Yet Fate has other plans in store, tying his course to Amarya, an elven royalblood of mysterious quality and unsurpassable beauty. But this forbidden connection incites betrayal from members of their own kin, marking them as traitors to the crown. In a land torn asunder, only Fate’s decree can allow such love to coexist with an ancient enmity.
Average rating 4 1/2 Stars on Amazon
Most Helpful Review by Beth H – Empyreal Fate is a story of the land of Llathala. Llathala is a land occupied by elf and human and they have a tenuous peace treaty which is slowly unraveling. War seem eminent, corruption from within both sides wish to rend this land apart for personal gain. Darrion, human son to a farmer’s family runs across Amarya, elf princess, in the woods while hunting for food. Can Darrion and Amarya overcome the forbidden friendship, feeling of love, an evil possession and ultimately fight to save their people from the corruption that lies within.
Empyreal Fate truly is a wonderful story telling of a land created by Rachel Hunter’s fantastic imagination. She utterly enwraps you into a totally new world that elves, fairies and humans live and fight for survival. I love the way she uses language to make you feel that you are in another time, era, or in this case world. Empyreal Fate had me from the Prologue till the end. Looking forward to reading more about this exciting new land Rachel Hunter has created.
My Thoughts – I am jonesing to finish this book by Rachel Hunter – I started the sample and have been instantly drawn in. She seemed like a good place to start with our list.
You can find Ms. Hunger on the Twitter list: @young_author “Elves, Romance, Betrayal, Fate… Introducing fantasy novel” EMPYREAL FATE Link
May 22, 2012
May 5, 2012
The House of Grey Volume 3
The House of Grey Volume 3 is finally up and running here are the links the various sites:
Remember to help us out. Leave a review, share it on Facebook and Twitter and tell a friend.
Collin
P.S. Harmonics: Jadian Sun is right around the corner.
May 1, 2012
Harmonics: The Jadian Sun is out — We are Rushing on May 31, 2012
So the Book is out! Looking at the Rush around 10:00 AM Mountain! Don’t miss it.
For Samantha Montgomery, it seems there is no end to the reach of the Jadian Empire, as she once again finds herself at its mercy. Although life in an underground military facility was no picnic, the dangers within the elusive Empire may prove even more perilous.
With Richard’s sacrifice all for naught and Adam a part of those responsible for the attack on her school, Sam must find a way back to her home, back to her family…back to the life she once knew on her own.
Sam isn’t sure who she can trust as everyone around her seems tangled in the Empire’s vast web of deceit and duplicity. As she descends deeper into the heart of the Seven Cities, she realizes that nothing is certain- not even her beliefs about herself. Now she must choose between the life she has always known, or the truths she has discovered.
Join Sam as she uncovers the legacies, legends, and lies in Harmonics: The Jadian Sun
Harmonics: The Jadian Sun
So that is the third book in the Harmonics series – the next three volumes of the House of Grey should be out, hopefully, by the end of the summer. Then its original material. Look forward to it.
Collin
April 30, 2012
Harmonics: The Jadian Sun – House of Grey Volumized Series Update
Just giving a quick update for those of you who might be looking. Harmonics: The Jadian Sun is going to edits TODAY and should be ready by the end of the month. Our editor is awesome so it shouldn’t be any problem getting that out here pretty quick. I think this is the best book yet so look forward to it. (I may be bias…)
House of Grey Volume Three comes out this week! Cover art is finished and our editor should be getting it back to me TODAY. Once I do my final run through, we’ll have it loaded up. Thanks so much for supporting this project even though its a bit out of the ordinary. Its nice to get back into the House of Grey and actually start working on the future of the series. I’ve got some major stuff to look forward to so enjoy it.
I want to thank everyone who has been buying the second book in the Harmonics series. Please remember if you like the book, tell a friend and leave a review. Its the best way you can help Chris and I achieve our dream of living off of our words.
We all that we do to you all. Thanks
Collin
