Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 23
July 15, 2014
Book Review: Phantom’s Dance by Lesa Howard
Synopsis:
Christine Dadey’s family uprooted their lives and moved to Houston for her to attend the prestigious Rousseau Academy of Dance. Now, two years later, Christine struggles to compete among the Academy’s finest dancers, her parents are on the brink of divorce, and she’s told no one about her debilitating performance anxiety and what she’s willing to do to cope with it. Erik was a ballet prodigy, a savant, destined to be a star on the world’s stage, but a suspicious fire left Erik’s face horribly disfigured. Now, a lonely phantom forced to keep his scars hidden, he spends his nights haunting the theater halls, mourning all he’s lost. Then, from behind the curtain he sees the lovely Christine. The moldable, malleable Christine. Drawn in by Erik’s unwavering confidence, Christine allows herself to believe Erik’s declarations that he can transform her into the dancer she longs to be. But Christine’s hope of achieving her dreams may be her undoing when she learns Erik is not everything he claims. And before long, Erik’s shadowy past jeopardizes Christine’s unstable present as his obsession with her becomes hopelessly entangled with his plans for revenge.
My Review:
So, Phantom’s Dance is a YA updated version of the Phantom of the Opera – I love Phantom of the Opera, more the original book than the cheesy musical, so although I don’t really do ‘normal’ YA books without a supernatural theme, I still really wanted to read this one.
From a writer’s perspective, it’s an easy read that takes you from A to B without any road blocks. The pace is good and there’s a few lovely turns of phrase in there. In my opinion though, this is really meant for the lower YA reader and so, as an adult who enjoys the genre, I was kind of left wanting and waiting for deeper characters, more intense scenes and sharper dialogue.
The front cover is okay, looks more like a normal contemporary YA, which in truth is what it is – so probably represents it well
Overall, I’d split the review into YA and adult readers (to be fair to the author) For YA it’s 4 out of 5 stars, for adults more like a 3 out of 5. If you’re expecting a cape wearing gothic read that oozes horror and venerability, you’ll be disappointed, so take it for what it is, a modern, well written YA read.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: phantom of the opera, Phantom’s Dance by Lesa Howard, ya read
July 11, 2014
Book Review: Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch
Synopsis:
Perfection comes at a price. As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury. Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows…and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating. But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she’s faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn’s family is leaving…and if she’s unsuccessful, she’ll face a fate far worse than death. For fans of Keira Cass’s Selection series and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous—and dangerous—bow.
About the Author: 
Kate Jarvik Birch is a visual artist, author, playwright, daydreamer, and professional procrastinator. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be either a unicorn or mermaid. Luckily, being a writer turned out to be just as magical. Her essays and short stories have been published in literary journals including Indiana Review and Saint Ann’s Review. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and three kids. To learn more visit www.katejarvikbirch.com
My Review:
I do enjoy a healthy dollop of Dystopia! Perfected certainly filled the brief there. It was an interesting idea along the same lines as the Chemical Garden series, only in my opinion written much better.
The plot wasn’t so intricate that you needed a notepad and pen to keep up, but enough to keep you reading – it did strike the perfect balance there.
From a writer’s perspective, it was incredibly well written, and had obviously enjoyed the touch of a good editor (that can make all the difference, its not just up to us authors you know!) and it really did make me think – could this actually happen? The answer I came up with was, not right now, but maybe in the future when we’ve forgotten our morales and the rich have ultimate power (OK, they kind of do now, but at least they hide it most of the time) To have what was effectively a ‘living doll’ to play with and dress up, isn’t as far fetched as you might think (especially if you’ve seen some of those cringe worthy Channel 4 shows in the UK)
The twists were a little easy for me to work out, however I had to remind myself that this is a YA book – so wouldn’t have been as shocking or as visceral with its plot turns as an adult or even a NA book would have been.
The main question that I’d like to pose here is that – if I had the money, would I have a ‘pet’? The answer is…no. But not for the morale reasons you’d think, I can barely look after myself, let alone someone else I had feed a special diet to, dress and house! It all seems a bit like hard work to me. Plus, I want those gowns myself!
The front cover is very pretty and attractive – its actually what made me pick it in the first place – yes I am that shallow!
Overall I’d give Perfected 5 out 5 stars – a solid read for both teen and adult readers alike – now once you’ve read it, let me know…would you have a pet? Or would you be one?
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch
July 8, 2014
Interview with Lance Manion
Lance Manion
Interview with fellow horror author Lance Manion:
When did you realize you wanted to be a horror writer?
After reading Night Shift by Stephen King. The idea that you could come up with an idea that creeped you out and then share it with others was a fun thought.
What’s your thoughts on authors and social media?
It’s a great way to build or enhance your readership. I’m a big fan of any way to reach your target audience that isn’t controlled by the big publishing houses or run through a politically correct filter. It is vital for the success of the coming eBook revolution.
Which sites do you prefer?
Facebook seems to be fading a bit, I’ve never gotten the hang of Twitter, Tumblr just got gobbled up by Google and Instagram seems geared entirely towards high school kids that want to exchange pictures of their genitalia. Assuming they don’t want to see my genitals I guess I’m waiting for the next good site.
What’s your favorite horror monster and why?
The zombie. The basic premise can work in almost any genre and tell any story it wants but at the same time you have this villain that is mindless so you can feel good about shooting it in the face. There is no moral ambiguity.
What is the worst mistake a new writer can make?
Other than taking advice from an unknown? I would say being too descriptive. It’s like in the movies where the monster is always scary until you actually get a look at it. Don’t give them too good a look.
And what advice would you give them?
Let the idea carry the story, not the details. Let the reader do some of the heavy lifting, they know best what interests/scares them.
website/blog www.lancemanion.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lance-Manion/298156290246139?fref=ts
Twitter www.twitter.com/lancemanionblog
Amazon page http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_12?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=lance manion&sprefix=lance manion,aps,189
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Horrified press, horror, interview with author, Interviews with other authors, lance manion
July 5, 2014
Book Review: The Miller’s Daughter by Jessica Jordan
Synopsis:
Kind and beautiful Elena, the miller’s daughter, lies to the king to save her father’s life. She has ‘til morning to prove to him that she can indeed spin straw into gold. In the cold dark dungeons, she begs anyone who can hear her prayers to save her. Someone does hear her: a djinn. Though his appearance at first terrifies her, she grows to love him, despite his continual refusal to acknowledge his own feelings for her. He saves her life three times, each bargain they strike bringing them closer together. But, when the time comes for him to collect his final payment, her firstborn child, Elena cannot go through with it. Relenting against the onslaught of her tears, he gives her three nights to guess his true name saying that if she can he will nullify their contract. If she guess correctly, her baby will stay with her, but the djinn, the being that she’s fallen in love with, will be her slave. Over the course of those three nights, Elena finds out that the djinn is more than she had previously thought. Has she been a pawn the entire time in his twisted games of lust and greed, or did he sacrifice everything for her?
About the Author:
Jessica Jordan lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and is currently studying to become a post-secondary English teacher. She loves reading comic books, eating sushi, and binge-watching her favorite shows on Netflix.
Links
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.jordan.58958
Website URL: http://marvelgirls.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @Jessica_J21
My Review:
I do love a good twisted fairy story, so I was really looking forward to this one. If I’m being honest, it did live up to it’s erotic genre, but I must admit that personally I prefer a bit more romance with the spicy stuff. I loved the idea of a hot Rumple, and that this story was just begging to be heated up.
From a writer’s perspective the protagonist, Elena was really wet (sometimes in the way we expect in these books, but most of the time in the way that can be quite annoying.) She seemed to drift from one bad situation to the next allowing anyone to do pretty much anything to her. My problem with this is that with erotic books, this can feel less than romantic and to have a main character without a back bone, kind of wrong. I ended up really feeling sorry for her as a character, and found it hard to root for the male/female leads. This is just my personal opinion, and I guess it simply boils down to what you expect from erotic fiction, and me, I really want some romance in there to be the nice red bow adorning the erotic scenes. If you don’t have that the female lead can look like she’s being taken advantage of, which is definitely not sexy.
Also, and I hate to say it, but in some places the prose was a little clumsy. There were over-used words in there that should have been caught by the editor, and a few sentences that had a crumbling structure – however, that said there were also some nice turns of phrase in there too.
The front cover is amazing – gets in everything it needs to. It both describes the story and attracts the reader – so well done to the cover artist!
Overall, I’d give The Miller’s Daughter 3 out of 5 stars, didn’t do it for me, but if you liked Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy, you should pick it up.
Filed under: Book Review
July 4, 2014
Book Review: Verity Hart Vs. The Vampyres by Jennifer Harlow
Synopsis:
KEEP CALM AND STEAMPUNK ON
The whole of Victorian London knows there is something not quite right about the Lady Verity Hart. She may be the daughter of an MP and the sister of famed inventor Lord David Hart, but she is a spinster whose own father threatens to send her to the madhouse every fortnight. Because Society is correct-Verity Hart is no lady. If they suspected how quick with a quip she is, let alone the majority of her brother’s ingenious machines were her design, the sale of fainting couches would double.
Verity requires one herself when her beloved brother is kidnapped by vampyres in the dead of night. With the aid of an aggravating, rude American bounty hunter with a secret of his own, Verity takes to land, sea, and even air to rescue the only person who could ever love and truly accept her. Or is he?
About the Author:
Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virginia home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time, she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.
She is the author of the Amazon best-selling F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad, Midnight Magic Mystery series and The Galilee Falls Trilogy. For the soundtrack to her books and other goodies visit her at
http://jenniferharlowbooks.blogspot.com Tales From the Darkside blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jenharlowbooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.harlow.52
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4708453.Jennifer_Harlow
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jenharlowbooks/
My Review:
I do love a good bit of steampunk! Especially when there’s vampires involved. This book gives fantastically well thought out story which harkens back the old style adventure novels.
Verity as a character was strong headed and ingenious, a great mix – and one hard to find in novels nowadays.
From a writer’s perspective, the action took a while to really get going. There was a lot of character development, which although needed doing, I feel could have been done whilst the action grabbed hold of the reader. The party at the start seemed to introduce too many characters at once, some of which were really not needed to keep the story going. So it could have done with tightening up a bit. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed book, even the English nuances were not as patronizing as they could have been! I believe me, I’ve seen that happen many times before and to alienate an English reader when your main character is English, is not a good idea! Fortunately Jennifer doesn’t do this (she’s also a lovely lady and I’ve interviewed her in the past here)
The front cover is brilliant, gets it all out there and gives a real sense of adventure.
Overall I’d give Verity Vs the Vampyres 4 out of 5 stars – a fun summer read, perfect for a bit of escapism.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: A Hart/McQueen Steampunk, Adventure 1, Lady Verity Hart, Omnibus, Verity Hart Vs. The Vampyres
July 3, 2014
Book Review: Division Zero by Matthew S. Cox
Synopsis:
Most cops get to deal with living criminals, but Agent Kirsten Wren is not most cops.
A gifted psionic with a troubled past, Kirsten possesses a rare combination of abilities that give her a powerful weapon against spirits. In 2418, rampant violence and corporate warfare have left no shortage of angry wraiths in West City. Most exist as little more than fleeting shadows and eerie whispers in the darkness.
Kirsten is shunned by a society that does not understand psionics, feared by those who know what she can do, and alone in a city of millions. Every so often, when a wraith gathers enough strength to become a threat to the living, these same people rely on her to stop it.
Unexplained killings by human-like androids known as dolls leave the Division One police baffled, causing them to punt the case to Division Zero. Kirsten, along with her partner Dorian, wind up in the crosshairs of corporate assassins as they attempt to find out who – or what – is behind the random murders before more people die.
She tries to hold on to the belief that no one is beyond redemption as she pursues a killer desperate to claim at least one more innocent soul – that might just be hers.
About the Author: 
Born in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (
He is also fond of cats.
Awards: Prophet of the Badlands (excerpt) – Honorable Mention – Writers of the Future
Website Goodreads Facebook Twitter
My Review:
It’s lovely to come across a book that can boast a really good genre mash-up, and sci-fi really lends itself to this. This book had lots to think about in, and really pushed the boundaries of imagination. My only complaint as a reader was that the story was somewhat jerky and I couldn’t relate to Kirsten.
From a writer’s perspective, there was a lot going on, I mean a lot, and trying to keep everything straight was difficult which took from the enjoyment of the story. It was written 3rd person and perhaps this confusion could have be lessened by writing 1st person. It would have given more depth to the protagonist and eased the story through from one of point of view, limiting the amount of information that the author could have forced at the reader. Kirsten comes across a little young in her actions and character, which makes it hard to really relate to her, or believe in her.
The front cover is very cartoon-like and so looks more like a lower YA read than anything else. I doubt it’ll help it on the virtual book shelf, brown doesn’t stand out as a colour compared to the more eye catching reds and blues.
I’d give two big thumbs up for the idea of the book. 3 out of 5 stars for the book overall.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Curiosity Quills Press, cyberpunk, Division Zero, Division Zero by Matthew S. Cox, Kirsten Wren, New Adult, paranormal 
June 28, 2014
Interview with Sebastian Gregory
Tell us about your publishing journey…
I have written stories for the last 25 years however this was just a hobby. With my children growing and I decided to really try and get published. I wrote a book of scary poems and sent it to various publishers who rejected them all!
Then Carina UK contacted me and said they liked the poems but did i have any stories? No I didn’t! so I quickly pitched an idea for Alice in wonderland with zombies and nightmares. They liked it, published it and then Clio (my editor) asked for more horribleness. So far I would have three books released this year. I’m busy but loving it.
What do you love about being an author?
What I love about being an author is being able to see the world slightly differently. I love the fact that people may be interested in a story I wrote and share in the world I see.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
That is a tough question. I would have to cheat and say Edgar Allan Poe. He put a lot of himself in his writing and so I suppose he is the author and character. To eat? I would introduce him to the joys of mushroom pizza with extra cheese and mushrooms.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads? 
I think my work is best suited to animation, so as a voice actress, I would have to say Eva Green, shes very diverse and has a wonderful voice.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
I would go back to the 1980′s. My father died when I was a boy so it would be nice to see him and speak to him adult to adult. However I wouldn’t change anything as my mothers second marriage gave me a beautiful younger sister.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Stay in school.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Easy! Vampire! Why? Because Vampires are cool.
Where do you write best?
According to my bio, a cabin in a haunted wood.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
The Great and Secret Show By Clive Baker. The book is such a horrible and absorbing story, I read it about once a year and have done for the last ten years.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
I would probably write sci fiction, why? because I am a life long Star wars fan.
Where can fans find you online?
Twitter.com/wordsbyseb
Facebook.com/writtenbyseb
Or for a good chat email me at writtenbyseb@hotmail.co.uk
My other works http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Gruesome-Adventures-Alice-Undeadland-ebook/dp/B00I5R06CM
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: alice in zombie land, carina uk, dark fairy stories, fairy tales, Sebastian Gregory
June 27, 2014
Book Review: The Silver Sickle by Ellie Ann
Synopsis:
The end of humanity will come through the Silver Sickle . . .
Farissa lives every moment with reckless abandon, for it may be her last. Any day now, the alien goddesses will harvest her and take her to the mysterious Silver Sickle, never to return. She’s accepted that. What she can’t accept is this new idea of freedom Zel has planted in her head. She’d give almost anything to be with Zel, but how can she run from her destiny if it means putting the whole kingdom in danger?
Everyone in the desert kingdom believes the goddesses are immortal, but Zel has invented a way to kill them. Now all he has to do is convince Farissa to run away with him and plant a seed of hope in her heart that she’s not destined to die. Little does he know that one seed of hope could change the course of the future.
About the Author:
Ellie Ann is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of science fiction, comics, and thrillers.
I was born in the jungles of Thailand, was raised in a small farming village in Iowa, lived in the middle of a Texan desert, and now abide in the Ozarks.
I like writing fairy tales, tall tales, thrillers, science fiction, and am seriously interested in transmedia storytelling.
I’m a creative editor for Stonehouse Ink. I’m a producer of interactive books at Noble Beast.
Come say hi! I don’t bite. Unless I’ve been turned into a zombie.
Website Goodreads Facebook Twitter
My Review:
This is one of those books that reminds you how precious it is when someone comes up with a new idea, rather than re-spinning an idea already out there. The Silver Sickle reads like an epic high fantasy mixed with dystopia, but has those all important elements of steampunk.
I really enjoyed it, my only criticism (and this is just something quite random!) is that there is a killing machine in the book called the Wagon Wheel and every time I read this I couldn’t help but snigger as in the UK this is a well-known chocolate mallow cookie treat (sometimes with jam) This of course is something that the author would never have known about, being from another country – but it did kind of take the edge of scare factor for me.
From a writer’s perspective, it was third person and head hopped a lot and I’d have personally had preferred it to say with Farissa – I think as a character she was in the most danger and I’d have liked that excitement as a constant. I always struggle with this way of story telling – and, like I said before, I find it hard to get lost in a story when the perspective changes from chapter to chapter – although really, that’s just me.
The front cover is very clinical and doesn’t really capture the essence of the book – I’d have preferred to see something more epic – as it really has to compete in a varied and over-crowded market.
Overall, I’d give the Silver Sickle 4 out of 5 stars – A great read that should be on your summer list.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: epic fantasy, head hopping, science fiction, Silver Sickle, Steampunk, The Silver Sickle by Ellie Ann, wagon wheels, Zel
June 25, 2014
Book Review: Reborn by C C Hunter
Synopsis:
Return to the beloved world of Shadow Falls, a camp that teaches supernatural teens to harness their powers—and where a vampire named Della will discover who she’s meant to be.
For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn’t just a camp: it’s home. As a vampire who’s never fit in with her human family, it’s the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling. But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn’t careful, he just might succeed. When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them . . . even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever. With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact
About the Author:
C.C. Hunter grew up in Alabama, where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and regularly rescued potential princes, in the form of Alabama bullfrogs, from her brothers. Today, she’s still fascinated with lightning bugs, mostly wears shoes, but has turned her focus to rescuing mammals. She now lives in Texas with her four rescued cats, one dog, and a prince of a husband, who for the record, is so not a frog. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, spending time with her family, or is shooting things-with a camera, not a gun.
C.C. Hunter is a pseudonym. Her real name is Christie Craig and she also writes humorous romantic suspense romance novels for Grand Central. http://www.christie-craig.com
C.C. would love to hear from you. Because of deadlines, it may take her a day or so to get back with you, but she will reply. cc@cchunterbooks.com
My Review:
I must admit I got a little confused with this one (not hard to do with me!) This book looks like its part of a series, but I was told that it was a first in a series. Reading the start of the book, it did feel that I’d missed something. It throws you right into a situation, and I kind of felt a little lost. Della is already a vampire, and I think perhaps I’d have felt more for her if I’d gone on the journey of how that happened before where the book starts. I’m guessing Della was a secondary character from the main series??
From a writer’s perspective, I found it hard to relate to Della, she was a bit snarky and not the kind of character I felt much for – in defence of the author this is a teen read and teens can be a little moody (I know I was when I was that age) however there needs to be a balance in the book. Nobody wants to read about a protagonist who gets on their nerves. There was the A-typical love triangle in there, which always seems to appear in YA reads, however it added a bit of depth to it and kind of needed to be there.
The front is nice, however I was under the impression that Della was Asian? So who is it on the front cover?
Overall I’d give Reborn 3 out of 5 stars, nice concept and written well – just could have done with a slightly more consistent main character to root for.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: C C Hunter, Della Tsang, Reborn, Shadow Falls, Vampire
June 23, 2014
Book Review: Hive and Heist by Janine A. Southard
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Synopsis:
Queen Rhiannon and her Hive have found safety on John Wayne Station, but with no way to pay their docking fees or Victor’s medical bills, their debts are racking up quickly. Thankfully, Gavin gets a job with American Space Ranger M3L-15-A, who’s hot on the trail of dangerous criminals.
The teens move in with their Ranger benefactor, but when they revisit their ship to pick up personal belongings, they realize their Alcubierre tensor jet has been stolen!
If Rhiannon and her Hivemates ever hope to leave, they must find and steal back what’s theirs. But far from home and among strangers, who can they trust? Will they be stuck on John Wayne for the rest of their lives?
About the Author: 
Janine A. Southard writes and edits speculative fiction in between working on videogame projects. She’s attended more than the average number of universities, which she claims is a FEATURE. (“Oxford educated, but Californian at heart.”) She’s also lived and traveled in Europe, the United States, and Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle with a husband (and a cat) and sings with a Celtic band.
My Review:
When I did my initial research into these books I found that it was a Kickstarter project, so right from the offset I was intrigued as to how it would all be put together. It appeared to be somewhere between an Indie book and a traditional publisher.
The story in both books was interesting and reminiscent of one of my fav series, Firefly – although I fear now anything in space with a band of happy-go-lucky mercenary misfits will kind of fall into that camp for me now. The pace of the books could have done with some finer tuning, but overall it was a nice solid YA Space Opera.
From a writer’s perspective, the POV jumped around a lot, which I found a little confusing and my allegiance to the characters felt strained with so many story arcs going on. I had to concentrate to really appreciate the story lines, which isn’t a bad thing, my epic lack of concentration skills shouldn’t affect a book review! I do worry a little about the genre here, YA is a fickle audience that tend to go in trends, although there are plenty of space YA books out there, there are really no break-outs that have influenced readers – there is something to be said about being a pioneer, however as the saying goes ‘it’s the pioneers that take the arrows’ but hey, they also get to plant the flags!
The front covers are purple and have a nice consistent brand going on, definitely will stand out against the other YA online offerings.
Overall I’d give both books a solid 3 out of 5 stars, could have been better, but is still an interesting read worth taking some time out for.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Firefly, Hive and Heist by Janine A. Southard, POV, Space Opera, YA books
