Patricia Hamill's Blog: I read too much!, page 7

NaNoWriMo 2014: Avalee and the Dragon

An idea has hatched.

My NaNoWriMo story this year will be called Avalee and the Dragon. Here's a short description.

Avalee's village is peaceful and safe, a great place to live, but the long shadow of Dragon's Mount is a constant reminder of the price the villagers must pay every ten years.

I have a ton of ideas floating around for this one, but I think I can get 50k words out of it and have fun doing so.

Wish me luck!

Announcement and Fantasy Review: The Slayer and the Sphinx by Adam Bolander

I'm excited to announce that I've landed a spot on an awesome blog called Pure Textuality, which features book news and reviews, among other things.

So, what does that mean for my blog here?

First off, not all that much. I'll still post book reviews, news, and, of course, stuff about my writing and publishing efforts. What will change is that some of my reviews will be featured on Pure Textuality, instead of here.  I'll post links as they are available.

Today's is the first one of these. So, check out my review of The Slayer and the Sphinx by Adam Bolander on Pure Textuality and hang out a while longer and check out the rest of the blog.

Visit my review on Pure Textuality

New Release and Review: Fade to Black by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus

Fade to Black by Tim McBain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Today I'm announcing a new release and sharing my ARC review of Fade to Black by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus. The second author may sound familiar to you if you've been following this blog, because I loved her previous book, Casting Shadows Everywhere. While I can't say that I loved this book as much as I did the other, I can say that I really liked it.
Now available on Amazon!
Continue reading for my review.

Book Trailer: a bit of fun for Halloween

Here's a little something different. Today I'm sharing a book trailer one of my favorite children's book authors has released for Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventure by A.J. York. This animated short is cute and funny, and perfectly matched to the book.

Click HERE to watch the trailer.

Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventure by A.J. York

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Delightful, lighthearted and funny.

Delilah the dust eradicator is back, and she's received a mysterious invitation from none other than Count W. Dracula. He's getting ready for a big party and neads her team to prepare the castle for his guests. But, when she and her assistants arrive, they're in for a surprise.

Book 2 in this series is fantastic. Where book 1 focuses on Delilah's broken heart and how she gets over it, book 2 picks up after she's figured out who she is and is happy with it. Unlike book 1, which focuses on feelings kids may not be familiar with, this story is definitely something kids would get and enjoy.

The characters and creatures in this book are entertaining and humorous. I love the quirky Grumpy Sponge (which I suspect is represented in the author's profile picture), especially when someone makes him angry. The Count is surprising and his efforts to prepare for the party and fit in to what people expect represent one of the main themes of this book. And, of course, Delilah's special abilities pull everything together.

Unlike the first book where the struggle was mainly internal to Delilah, this one introduces a villain or two and adds an element of danger. These things add to the excitement and make book 2 a page turner. I wish I could say more, but I don't want to spoil any of the book's surprises.

Finally, there are illustrations. I must say that almost every one I came across made me chuckle (or outright laugh) and they all fit perfectly into the part of the story they portray. I still want to know what the ? setting on the elevator does. The illustrator does a fine job of enhancing the story without distracting from it. Also, the pictures show up well on my tablet.

Overall, I absolutely loved this story. It's fantastic and magical, humorous and whimsical. The characters, major and minor, are entertaining. And the underlying themes of learning to be yourself and love what you have instead of what others have are admirably wrought. I would highly recommend this story to anyone, young or old, who likes a lot of humor, a little mystery, and a bit of magic.

I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.



View all my reviews

Historical Fiction Review: Ann of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A classic, but Anne talks the Cuthberts and the reader in circles.

Anne of Green Gables is the story of a young girl who matures from spunky day dreamer to mature young woman. When the Cuthberts decide to adopt, they intended to get a boy who could help on the farm, but what they get is Anne. They very nearly decide not to keep her, but the ever-optimistic and imaginative Anne manages to sway them in her favor just in time.

I think what I like most about this story is Anne's temper and impetuous nature and how she slowly becomes less of a hellion. I also like how those she meets can't help but be changed by the experience. And, then there is the historical aspect. Imagine sending someone down to the orphanage to pick you up a boy, or handing an orphan off from one household to another without anything more than a "here you go" to mark the occasion.

On the other hand, this story is quite a whirlwind of chatter (mostly Anne's nonsensical ramblings) and Anne seems to blast through all phases of adolescence. Several times it seemed that the story was wrapping up (or should be) and I found that I was nowhere near there. It's not a short story by any measure. I think it might have helped if I hadn't been reading this on a Kindle as part of a "boxed set."

Overall, I really liked the story, particularly the colorful character of Anne. I recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction or coming of age stories, though it can drag on and be hard to follow in places. There was a TV series about Anne that's also worth checking out.

I found the complete Anne of Green Gables boxed set for free on Amazon Kindle and this was the first story in it.



View all my reviews

YA Dystopian Review: Perception by Lee Strauss

Perception by Lee Strauss

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A near future dystopian.
Perception is about a girl who discovers that there is much more to the world than her limited, yet privileged existence has revealed. Zoe might have lived an incredibly long and happy existence, but one day her brother Liam disappears. Instead of accepting his disappearance, she decides to investigate it. In the process, she teams up with her maid's son and his group of naturals from beyond the gates. What she learns challenges everything she has known about her way of living and herself.

I thought this was well-written, overall, though it started off as more of a cozy mystery, not a YA dystopian, which I think it was meant to be. Zoe clunks her way through the discovery process, hiring Brody and his people to do what she can't. As things become more dangerous, she and Brody become close and a romance ensues. This creates a lopsided love triangle between her, Brody and her current boyfriend Jackson.

In addition to this, Zoe isn't exactly endearing. She's self-absorbed and has grown up in an environment that has left her feeling vastly superior to those who reside outside the gates, the naturals. She tries to become a better person, and as the title implies, her perceptions begin to change. I still liked her, but I could see how she could get old. Brody starts off kind of dangerous and rebellious but as the story progresses he becomes kind of lackluster, revealing that he really wasn't all that invested in his cause.

Overall, this is a good book and well edited. I enjoyed it. It's kind of a mix between a cozy mystery and a dystopian YA. I thought it was interesting having such a fledgling dystopian society. The main character is the granddaughter of the man who invents the tech that has created the dysfunction.

Recommended for folks who enjoy dystopian YA. Not recommended if you don't tend to relate well with a snobby main character. She tries not to be, but she is.




View all my reviews

New Release, Brew by David Estes, plus Giveaway!

Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. Continue reading.

Epic Fantasy Review: Aranya by Marc Secchia

Aranya by Marc Secchia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Magic, technology and lots of humor.

Aranya is the story of a young princess who must face a terrible fate. In the Island-World, one country has been systematically taking over island countries, and now it is Aranya of Immadia's turn. Her father wisely decides to surrender rather than face the sure slaughter of his entire kingdom, but Aranya must pay the price. She becomes yet another hostage of the Sylakian Empire. Her entire life to be locked away in a tower with other royal hostages, like herself. Then again, there is the magic and dreams of a black dragon.

There are so many things I love about this story. It was easy to fall into this world, to be engrossed and absorbed by it. I loved the dirigibles, the cloudscape that separates the islands, the technology (and lack thereof), and, of course, the magic. Everything comes together so well and so naturally, even in such a large body of work.

I am a big fan of the epic fantasy genre, and I definitely feel this one counts, but unlike some in that category, this one doesn't plod on or focus too much on details. Yes, there are details and there are elements of history and political intrigue, like in any good epic fantasy, but they are sprinkled in only when needed and in efficient packages that don't detract from the action. And, yes, there is quite a lot of action. I found it incredibly difficult to put this book down, though it's size made that necessary.

I also loved the witty banter between the characters and the way relationships developed. Then again, some of the banter lost me. There were at times too many comebacks, and I didn't always realize immediately why the characters thought them funny. Most of this abated by the end of the book. I think upon another reading, I'd probably get more of the jokes. Still, what I got, I loved. I also liked the nicknames. I won't go into those for fear of spoilers.

Overall, this is epic fantasy at its finest. I think that even folks who are intimidated by long stories might find this one manageable because of its quick pace, action focus, and compelling plot line. As the first book in the series, it ends with more story left to tell, but not in a cliffhanger. I do want to read the next, but I feel like I can wait for it. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy fantasy, particularly of the epic variety. This is definitely one of my favorites this year.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest non-reciprocal review.




View all my reviews

Zompoc 101-Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse

Now that we've explored some of the theories on how the zombie outbreak could occur and some ways to prepare, it's time to talk about survival after the zombies have taken over. Specifically, fitness and social interactions. If you're going to survive, you might as well have fun doing it. Continue reading...

Cozy Mystery Review: Innocent in Las Vegas by A.R. Winters

Innocent in Las Vegas by A.R. Winters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Entertaining, fun and a little dangerous.

Innocent in Las Vegas is a book I came across while scanning for freebees on Amazon a while back. The version I have features a cupcake on the cover, just the sort of quirky thing to catch my eye, and having now read the story, a pretty good match to it.

Alright, I'll start off with the basics. Although I haven't read many in this genre, I would have to classify this as a cozy mystery. Tiffany Black is a novice Private Investigator who hopes to one day ditch her job at the casino for a permanent job as PI. The only problem is, she doesn't have her license, she's inexperienced, and she has no clue what to do when her first high profile case (one that no one else would take) gets dangerous.

Just like the cover on my edition, this story is quirky, which is a good thing in my opinion. The main character loves pastries, and that works its way into the plot a few times. She's also single, and her parents and grandma are constantly trying to fix her up. This leads to some amusing misunderstandings and drama, but I won't go into details for fear of spoilers. I think these things make Tiffany interesting and somewhat believable.

As for the mystery, I was surprised by the ending, which is a good thing. If I'm able to figure something out before the sleuth, it's not as fun. Now, that's not to say it couldn't be figured out. The clues are there, the suspects are well-portrayed, and Tiffany works the case pretty well for a novice, pastry distractions and all. Still many of her interviews and follow ups read a little dry and down to business, and she has a tendency to drop an interview as soon as the target realizes she's a PI and says they're done, perhaps a side effect of her inexperience.

I like stories featuring tenacious investigators like Colombo or even Psych (yeah TV shows), who dig in and drive their suspects to confession by popping up in annoying and amusing ways. There is a little of that in this story, but just a little. She's mostly winging it and gets lucky here or there with a new lead or surprising bit of gossip that relates to the case.

The general approach and character archetypes are similar to those few other cozy mysteries that I have read. Inexperienced female sleuth, strong-willed and kooky grandmother, parents trying to set her up with a boyfriend, random love interest, and x-factor (in this case cupcake addiction).

Overall, I liked this story, mostly because it made me laugh. Also, the resolution was a surprise, but not out of nowhere. Fans of cozy mysteries may like this story, but it's similar in some ways to other offerings in the genre.



View all my reviews