A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 66

The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey (book1) by Melka Stansah

     Ah the days of carrying the title, debut author or debut novel.  I remember it well.  It was a total catastrophe, but I had the love and support of all my friends.  It was the greatest inspiration and journey, but one I had to learn from.    I am happy to be participating with Melka Stansah on her first journey with her debut series, book one The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey.  I hope she enjoys her experience as much as I did, but with enormous success.

     I was gifted with a copy The First Journey during a busy time, but managed to read, take notes and offer up an pretty cool review on her book.  This tale is similar to many in that a young human is set on a mission, long before he's truly ready.  His fate was out of his control and his only clues came in the form of two very different colored irises and something called ...
(original banner from http://theraventrilogy.com)      It begins on a cold, winter night, when a warrior keeps his word and takes a baby boy as his own.  It ends with that baby boy, now a young man,  running away to unselfishly save others from an approaching war. Raven has had a rough life.  He was isolated, didn't eat or drink and barely knew how to fight, but he was unexpectedly given a mission: Revenge.  Barely a man or a fighter, he goes out into a world that hated him to kill the man who's manipulated so much of Raven's fate.  

     He's ostracized, by man and beast, because of his bloodline and his eyes; he is callous and arrogant and he's in need of a friend.  What he doesn't realize is, when he manages to find a friend, Isabel, the arrogance and the intimidation doesn't matter anymore.  There is a cost.

     The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey is a YA series  about friendship, finding ones self and how to deal with the bad things in life.  It's also about revenge, killing an emissary from another race and dimension, set in fantasy on Earth (I think).  But it's mostly about Raven learning about himself.  What he is and what he needs.  Stansah gave the background for Raven's need  to strike back at the leader of the marauders and then set him free on an unknown land.  Without much skill, he left home and began killing off the inter-dimensional pillagers, not caring who was in his way.  He went from youthful recluse to young Terminator! 

     Good story, but it was missing some B's & P's (Bits & Pieces).  The bits that weren't there, to me, made it more of a middle grade reader; simple to read and follow.  Because these B's & P's weren't included, I felt small gaps wishing the story.  There are many times when something was simply stated instead of described, (i.e. Although he was quick to avoid it, his left eye was badly injured... and Raven was tortured...)  Tell me what happened - the action is in the awesome details!  I want them; I hunger for those neglected bits and pieces!  Since this is Stansah's first book, I understand how it can happen and it happens to the best of us.  She's got some skills as a storyteller, but once those B's & P's are included- she'll become a Raconteur Elite!  I'll be looking for her too.  Great job!

     Check out Stansah's adventure while I check out another book!

The Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverly Lee

     If you've read this book already, then you will recognize I have the wrong colored feathers falling, but this just worked so perfectly!  If you have not read The Making of Gabriel Davenport and you're in to paranormal, supernatural  thrillers, then you should get it when you take your next book budget for a ride.  I can happily say, this book put me in mind of Alfred Hitchcock!  There was something going on and it was of demonic nature, but the way it held me... classic!      So the story is about more than a young man.  It's about a process and revenge.  And maybe even a bit of young adult attitude and the stealing of a soul- a lot went on and came together perfectly.  You see, Gabriel lives in The Manor, a place that studies the paranormal and supernatural.  Each resident, other than the curator (Carver), has a talent that assists in discovering and possibly resolving unnatural occurrences.  While there, he's continuously observed by things unseen.  He's also under protection - been under protection since infancy and never told why.

     While he's dealing with such secrets and insecurities, his mother is tucked away in a room in the same home, completely disconnected from reality.  Or is she?  Things talk to her and convince her to do things, where the ones who care for her can't even carry on a conversation!  Gabriel's father, dead fifteen years, decided to pay everyone a visit too.  HOW DOES THIS ALL COME TOGETHER?!!  Sounds crazy, I know and you don't exactly get all of the answers, thanks to the ending, but I have a feeling I'll be finding out as soon as the follow-up hits shelves and Kindle!

​     Be sure you grab yourself a copy of The Making of Gabriel Davenport as soon as you can.  Find out what all the hubbub is about!  On to a new read.

The "Heartless" Giveaway!

     As many of you know, I get to meet both Marissa Meyer and Leigh Bardugo next month.  I'm very excited, because it's my first autograph session for authors alone.  I've always met tv or movie peeps, so this is new.  

     I've been registered and prepared for this event since August.  What I wasn't set for was the amazing swag I received- Woohoo!  For my reserving Heartless, I got a cool tumbler with the heart logo (in the pic), 20 magnetic, limited edition bookmarks, a poster, straw tags and other items inspired by the book.  The box looks so cool, I'm going to reuse it for the giveaway I'm hosting.
     So what's the giveaway?  I'm glad you asked!  Since I am meeting both amazing authors next month, I am giving away the bulk of the items in the box I received, along with a free copy of Heartless.  ALSO, if they allow me, I'll get the winner's copy signed, alongside mine!  Isn't that cool?!   So here's the gist:

On Instagram, are several pics on the "Heartless" giveaway.  All you have to do is either tag yourself or share the pics and you're in.  On Facebook, just DM or leave your name in the comments.  On Twitter, you can reply or go to either FB or IG and do what's required.  Those are the only places you can get in.
     On the 22nd of September, I will announce 19 winners of the magnetic bookmarks.  Those 19 will be entered into a drawing for the book, the poster and the other book inspired items.  

     And that is that!  Be watching my IG, Thursday, the 22nd.  The winner could be you!
​Cheers!

Max at Night by Ed Vere

     Max the cat was my first children's book to review.  Back on July 23, 2015 I reviewed Max the Brave.  It was totally adorable and it came with a cape, a decal for my window and a bookmark, if I recall correctly.  I read it to my Ewoks and they couldn't stop laughing.  When I saw Ed Vere was coming out with Max at Night, I couldn't let it get away from me.  These books are wonderful for me-... er, for the kids. Yeah, wonderful for the kids, is what I meant!  Also, get in on this amazing book giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway
​    In this adventure, Max is performing a ritual for bed time.  As with any child, he has a way that takes him out of the way of bed.  He has to say good night to everything, but one is elusive.  So he goes out, looking high and low for something/someone, just to say "Good night."

     Just like the first book, I enjoyed reading Max at Night. The illustrations are so bold and appealing to the eye.  I'm like a kid in that sense when it comes to children's books.  The brighter the better- depending on the story. I think I'm a true Vere fan, and will always seek out his Max the cat books.  Read it to your little one(s)- you'll see!  On to the next read!Cheers!?
Rating:  ????? out of 5 specs
*The Storybook Knight is next! 
**Book provided by SourceBooks Jabberwocky, for an honest review. ​
MAX AT NIGHT (#maxatnight)
Max at Night landing page: http://books.sourcebooks.com/maxatnight/
Download the activity kit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx4ZhGcf82dneVdyYlBJUzdNMUk/view?pref=2&pli=1
Author Links:
Website: http://www.edvere.com/
Twitter: @ed_vere
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ed_vere/

The Storybook Knight by Helen & Thomas Docherty

     I was extremely excited to get this book, The Storybook Knight by Helen & Thomas Doherty, for a couple of reasons.  One is because it came with another book- book two to one that I've read and reviewed previously.  (Hint Hint:  the review will be posted tomorrow! and the second reason is because the dragon you see in my banner, came with the book!  It's one of those spongy dragon's that is attached to a wire handle so he can bob about.  He's actually hanging from my office ceiling!  Yes- I didn't give it to my Ewoks lol  Oh, I gave them book- Don't Judge Me!  Lastly, there's a sweet giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway      This book is tots-adorb!  It's about a small, knightly mouse who doesn't like to fight.  Instead, he winds over his opponents by reading to them.  It's so cute- before he even reaches the dragon, he has to come up against a few other fairytale creatures.  I promise your little ones will love this book!

     The illustrations in this book are amazing and remind me of books by Richard Scarry- you remember him?  They're gorgeous and fun to stare into after reading the rhythmic wording that keeps the little ones interested!  

     I think that anyone who loves to read will love this book- especially since the main topic of this book is how everyone should love to read- no matter what!  In the end, the little mouse is a hero!  What's better than that??
Rating:  ????? out of 5 specs
*The Making of Gabriel Davenport is next! 
**Book provided by Source Jabberwocky, for an honest review. ​

THE STORYBOOK KNIGHT (#storybookknight)
Storybook Knight landing page: http://books.sourcebooks.com/the-storybook-knight-join/  
Allows you and your readers to join Leo’s Storybook Knights, pledge your allegiance and receive a certificate of membership, and download and share Twitter, Facebook and blog images.
Download an educator or activity kit: http://books.sourcebooks.com/the-storybook-knight/
Author Links:
Thomas Docherty: www.thomasdocherty.co.uk
Twitter: @TDIllustration
Helen Docherty: www.helendocherty.com
Twitter: @docherty_helen

The Newirth Mythology by Michael B. Koep

     A spiral into madness, The Newirth Mythology by Michael B. Koep is a ride into madness, a war between Big Brother and the Other Brothers!  What do you do when you have to go up against your mentor- a fellow colleague, in a battle of wits?  How do you also stay ahead of the police detectives and others who could dome than harm- even in death!  These two books take you on a journey far beyond the reaches of mere mortal minds...
​       Book One: Invasion of Heaven
     In book one, Loche Newirth is a man on the run.  From what he feels is his mistake and failure, from his so-called friend and everything else in his past.  But he's also running... from something else.  There are voices, and things keep happening that he feels compelled to write about.  Soon a journal is filled and he vanishes, on a journey that takes him around the world.  He shares stories of paintings that can ever been seen- that can kill and that it's his brother who paints them.  He is hunted and winds up so distraught, it's hard to tell if any of the happenings even took place!

​     This story is mysterious and I feel there were almost two stories being told.  The action is full of twists, but if you are careful, you may find yourself caught up!  I felt confused a bit but I still enjoyed the read.
Book Two: Leaves of Fire
     This book completes the triangle.  In book one we were introduced to the Painter and the Poet.  This book is about the Healer.  This book brought warring Gods, confusing children and Led Zeppelin.  The story is about unhappy Gods (the Oration Wis) who envy humans.  Following Albion Ravistelle, they illegally break through a portal into our world, looking to create their own version of heaven on earth.
 
     This book was MUCH more exciting than the first.  This one didn't carry you into insanity before hitting the good stuff.  I loved this book and found it full of the action that I'd hoped to find in book one.  There's to be one more book- be looking for it.  This author has a gift!

The White Rabbit by Brittney Stewart

     I remember when I first met Brittney Stewart.  It was on Facebook, and I'd begun documenting many of my horrid experiences and triumphs as an independent author.  I was very impressed with her page, her site and her online demeanor.  I thought her very professional, yet personal.  I liked her from the start.  So when she asked me to read The White Rabbit, I was honored.

     So what is The White Rabbit?  It's a costume.  One worm by a serial killer.  She's not cunning or enigmatic, she just kills.  Every now and then, whenever she can to whomever she feels she wants.  It's all about opportunity, but when someone a little strange, she attempts to find what their problem is.  Sadly, she discovers, she's their problem!  Then the story shifts to another... a man just like her, but he is the epitome of a serial killer.  He has a 'thing' and need to set Angels free.  But when they find each other in a world apart from the real, the norm, they have to work together to get away... but can they?      I have to admit, after the first couple of chapters, I was very confused.  I was just getting to know one character, but then it was on to another person.  One who was nowhere near my first character.  I pushed through and then found I was placed into the life of another character!  I was like, "Okay, what's going on here!?"  But then it all came together.  It came to together like peanut butter and jelly and I liked where it saw it going.

​     Lastly, I didn't even figure out what was going to happen at the very end!  I saw the double cross, because it was given to us [THIS IS NOT A SPOILER!]  But what happened at the end-end, was pure justice!  I loved it and I definitely think anyone who picks up this book will enjoy it!  Had it not cleared up as quickly as it had, I'd have probably given this a 3-star rating, but nah!  I feel I went just right with it!

     Check out The White Rabbit by Brittney Stewart!

The Next by Stephanie Gangi

     When you've stewed in words like vengeful, vexed, resentful, reclusive, and melancholy, death seems like it should be nice, right?  Not for Joanna DeAngelis.  For her, a new life, born of misery, hatred and jealousy awaits.  Some people just can't let go.  

      In today's book review, The Next , by Stephanie Gangi, a story that should have unwound coils only tightened into a ball of energy so dark and rigid, I wasn't sure what category to place it.  It's a psychological, thrilling piece of paranormal, women's literature...      When I saw this book cover, I knew it had to be mine.  When it arrived on my doorstep- I knew it was going to be a good read.  Now that I'm writing the review- I'm elated and I have to say- it blew my mind in several ways.  It was witty and technologically haunting (which really helped me enjoy it the most). The Next was so emotionally entangling,  I found myself going through the 'feels', for all characters involved- I almost felt knee-deep in the storyline!

     I have to say, for the first about seventy pages, I lolled along, wondering how much of Joanne's babble I was going to have to deal with.  I don't throw Pity Parties, and this woman was on a bender!  I understood, quickly, how upset and enraged she felt.  The depth of betrayal and loss of love- it was easy to be in her shoes, but I felt it dragged on too much.  I almost stopped feeling sorry for her because she came off petty after a while.  But once she got that text to Ned- I cracked up and that bogged down feeling vanished.

     The story is about Joanna, a woman lost in rejection while dying of cancer, so she soon becomes, well... dead.  So from then on, she's a scorned ghost.  A wraith almost- just angry and bent on getting back at the one who used her and left her behind.  It's an exciting story about love, life, forgiveness and revenge.  Though I stuttered a few times with Joanna's ramblings, I still found her deviously likable.  The story is a fun read and I think I'll follow this Stephanie Gangi- see what's up her sleeves in the future.  The Next releases next month, October.  Be looking out!
​On to the next read!

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

     Isn't this photo something to gawk at?  I totally love it - and it's just one version of this book's cover.  The photo belongs to a book called, The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardinge.  I can't get over the sketching; it's mysterious, curious and almost evil, but does it match the actual story.., 
(This photos was found via Google.com.  I only added the title.)      The story tells of Faith, the eldest daughter, who discovered her father's work has been scrutinized and found scandalous.  He'd been accused of an intellectual fabrication so great, the family fled into the night from Kent, to an island called Vane,  But that desperate run served no assistance, because later her father is discovered dead, assumed to have committed the ultimate sin: suidide.  Faith refuses to believe so and she set herself on a mission to clear her father's name and uncover a killer.

      What I've come to decide is, this book shouldn't have been titled The Lie Tree, but Faith Determined!  It was all about how she could put things to right.  Dead right!  It didn't matter who fell upon her plan either.  The Lie Tree allowed her to assumably feed the mysterious three a lie, in order to receive a truth.  But was it magical or just something fed to her father- of which he could have died for?  There was so much going on, the mystery so thick, that I couldn't figure it out.

​    I can definitely say that I'm grateful to have been born in the early year of...  when I was born.  The speech given to Faith by her father, when she confessed to doing something wrong made me feel like crying!  To think a girl was considered to never be worth more than her honesty had to be an awful way to live back then.  Hardinge wrote and she wrote well.  I enjoyed everything about this story- the idea of tenacious Faith especially.  She made the young girl more than clever, enough to trick an entire village for the truth.  The story was immaculate and held my interest from the beginning to end.

      Grab yourself a copy of The Lie Tree.  This book will not gather dust, I promise you!  On to my next read!

Shattered Girls by Tyrolin Puxty

     If you remember my review of Broken Dolls (March 14, 2016), then you know how much I am a fan of Tyrolin Puxty!  First off, her books are like birthday presents to me; they always come out near my birthday.  June 2017, the next one will arrive.  Also, she's freaking talented!  The first book was amazing and I couldn't get over the cover!  (You know me and book covers).  So I didn't hesitate when Shattered Girls released; I purchased both the ebook and physical.  So let's tell it, yeah?      The original story told Ella's story and how she came to be a doll.  It also gave a solid relationship between Ella and Gabby and explained the Professor's mercurial ways.  In Shattered Girls, the story picked up with a bit of time gone by.  But sinister happenings are going on:  People are disappearing!

    Also, while people are disappearing, dolls are turning up...  dolls like Ella!  But how can that be?  When Gabby and Ella decide to do some snooping around, Professor goes off the grid, Sianne is up to something in her lab and Gabby's parents have been kidnapped!  What is happening and why are there so many dolls... that are replicas of those who've disappeared?

     In Shattered Girls, there's a huge conspiracy taking place.  One that is using Ella's town as ground zero.  I loved how Puxty kept to the mystery of the whole doll story.   After the excitement of the first book, I was wondering how book two would play out and I was not disappointed.  The story was exciting and kept me interested.  It's nothing like you'd imagine- there's no way you can figure what's going or why, other than a plan that mimics "Pinky & the Brain".  (hint hint)

     Lastly, I want to talk about the book cover again. Like I said, I purchased both the ebook and physical book.  The artwork is so beautiful.  The covers of both Broken Dolls and Shattered Girls could easily hang on my office walls; I love them so much.  I can't wait to see what the third book will look like and bring.  

     So there it is, in a nutshell- Shattered Girls is a really cool read and I loved it from start to finish.  I loved it so much, I gave more of the story than I have any book!  Though I had to deal with Gabby's temperamental, teenaged antics, this creative story only got better.  Kinda crazy, but definitely better!  Check out Tyrolin Puxty's second tale, Shattered Girls!