John Hennessy's Blog, page 7
July 4, 2014
Book Review - Saint Monolith by Tom Reinhart
Hello friends and sorry I have been away for what seems like an age. I've been editing a book (so what's new) but nursing a bad eye infection. With an eye patch and a funny walk, I'm all ready to take over from Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
I hope you accept my apology in advance - this review is about Tom Reinhart's novel Saint Monolith but it will include things about my three books to date. You'll see the relevance when you read it, I hope.
I was very fortunate and utterly delighted to win a giveaway of this and another Tom Reinhart novel, Hegemonian, which I reviewed here and I really like that Tom personally signed both copies. Cheers Tom!
To the story then.
Mason Stone is our hero - I think! He's a NYPD officer as part of the SWAT Team, and he takes down criminals with brutal efficiency. He has the usual 'man' thoughts.....always looking at bits of skirt, likes to pump iron at the gym (making him even more fearsome than he seems already) and seems to take an almost perverse pleasure in dealing out justice.
If you read it like that, you'd be forgiven for thinking Mason to be rather one-dimensional. Not a bit of it. He is a multi-layered character who you root for when he is dealing out his very personal killing statements, because those at the end of his gun generally are unpleasant characters. In another way, you think 'okay Mason, that's enough now pal!'
Herein lies the very interesting angle for me. Mason generally feels no remorse for the men he deals with, and perhaps we'd be the same, as they are the very gutter of society. However, it seems that no matter how many get 'Mason'ed', he never feels at peace. He is fighting his own inner demons and it is this regard I felt I could relate to the character.
Read more:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
I hope you accept my apology in advance - this review is about Tom Reinhart's novel Saint Monolith but it will include things about my three books to date. You'll see the relevance when you read it, I hope.
I was very fortunate and utterly delighted to win a giveaway of this and another Tom Reinhart novel, Hegemonian, which I reviewed here and I really like that Tom personally signed both copies. Cheers Tom!
To the story then.
Mason Stone is our hero - I think! He's a NYPD officer as part of the SWAT Team, and he takes down criminals with brutal efficiency. He has the usual 'man' thoughts.....always looking at bits of skirt, likes to pump iron at the gym (making him even more fearsome than he seems already) and seems to take an almost perverse pleasure in dealing out justice.
If you read it like that, you'd be forgiven for thinking Mason to be rather one-dimensional. Not a bit of it. He is a multi-layered character who you root for when he is dealing out his very personal killing statements, because those at the end of his gun generally are unpleasant characters. In another way, you think 'okay Mason, that's enough now pal!'
Herein lies the very interesting angle for me. Mason generally feels no remorse for the men he deals with, and perhaps we'd be the same, as they are the very gutter of society. However, it seems that no matter how many get 'Mason'ed', he never feels at peace. He is fighting his own inner demons and it is this regard I felt I could relate to the character.
Read more:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
May 31, 2014
'Stormling' Excerpt: 'Corianna's Bane'
Hello all. Just wanted to share another excerpt with you. Have a magical (and problem free) day! As if life isn't scary enough, as writers we have to go and make scary stuff up!
----
“That’s quite a story, Kayla,” said Corianna. “I wonder why you ended up here in Rowse Briar, when you are supposed to be on Crith Talún.”
“Maybe it’s all nonsense about the Gap. I ended up short, at the tale end of Avonwych.”
“I take it you ran into some Hobblers then,” said Corianna, her furtive smile acknowledging that Kayla was clearly able to take the diseased Andurii in her stride.
“I didn’t kill them, if that’s what you’re thinking. No Hobbler ever tried to kill me.”
Corianna had already observed Kayla’s backpack. A number of arrows were missing.
Corianna knew the passage between Belalzel’s Gap and Crith Talún was real. The barrier had been opened the last time Anadyr had been there.
A Stormling just had to be involved in this.
“Have you seen Anadyr recently, Kayla?”
“No, but now you mention it, I did bump into his supposed understudy, skulking around like a lost puppy.”
“Aha!”
“Come, now ‘Anna, when you say a little you mean a lot.”
Corianna was quite fond of Jaden, but this was interfering with Aynara’s plan. Why he had done this, she would have to find out later. It might upset his chances of becoming the head Stormling when Anadyr retired.
Corianna also knew that Jaden wanted Kayla for himself, that could explain his actions But using magic that Corianna had taught him was not helping things. It would only serve to aid Rey’s forces.
Unless Aynara was up to something, it made no sense to Corianna that Aynara would send Kayla to Crith Talún instead of Anadyr. Corianna could not put her finger on it. They shared so many things in common…they were both half-breeds, they were both skilled in sorcery, and both of them had to stay put.
But that was peacetime. In Westwych, hadn’t Crowlass proclaimed that ‘war was coming?’ How could the old Andurii be so sure?
“Kayla, I think Jaden cares about you. All the Stormlings care about the Andurii, but he shouldn’t have interfered.”
“What? What did he interfere with?”
“Jaden is the reason you are here. He must have followed you to Firetop. Tell me, Kayla, did you waste any arrows on the way to Aynara?”
Kayla paused pensively, and then answered. “No. Come to think of it, it was awfully quiet along the way. I didn’t meet a single soul.”
“It would seem that Jaden cleared the path for you. His magic seems to be performed under the sight of Rey himself. I think I need to chat with the young Stormling myself. If I knew what he seems to know, I could leave this place. Come and go as I want to.”
“No, ‘Anna, you’re wrong. He’s an immature boy, yet you claim his magic powers are better than yours? He is not the one to lead the Stormlings, trust me, and you should be careful what you teach him.”
“I did not say better…his skills would appear to be different to my own. As for succession, you have to trust Anadyr on that decision alone. We all do.”
“Okay,” said Kayla simply. “So what now?”
“You will have to go to Crith Talún, just as Aynara bade you.”
Kayla’s eyes bulged as if to say 'But I just got here'.
“It doesn’t matter, Kayla. If you stay on Mordana, Rey will find you. Peacetime is at an end. I don’t think they care anymore if Stormlings or Anduriis are killed. We should beware of the ones who care nothing for rules.”
Before Kayla could respond, Jaden materialised before them.
“No Corianna! I beg you, don’t send Kayla back!”
“A Stormling does not beg,” said Corianna. “Perhaps Kayla is right. You are too immature to lead the Stormlings. You should not have used your powers.”
“I’m not going to lead them! I’m running out of time. You know that Corianna!”
“Send her back now, or I will. Then, when The Three get here, you can fight them yourself.”
Jaden knew Anadyr barely came out from the last battle alive.
“I’ll prove my worth to you Kayla. I will.”
With a wave of his hand, Jaden sent Kayla back to the moment she jumped through the Gap. He feared he would never see her alive again.
***
Another knock on the door of the Faeries Wings.
“We’re CLOSED!” screamed Corianna.
“Do I not get a ‘Heyloleeluleelu’?" came a familiar voice from beyond the door. "Where is the famed Rowsen welcome? Lost these days, I fear.”
“Much like yourself,” said Corianna, pulling open the door. “Though it is good to see you, Anadyr.”
“Jaden.” Anadyr nodded towards the young Stormling.
“How did you find me?”
“I’m the head Stormling.”
Jaden snorted, thinking 'He’s as cryptic as ever'. He pointed an accusatory finger at Corianna.
“She made me send Kayla away.”
“Hah!” said Corianna, stamping her feet lightly. “You don’t like elves, do you?”
“It’s not elves I dislike, it’s you, Corianna. Especially when you send someone I care about away.”
“Maybe it was my Dwarf side that sent your girlfriend away.”
“So maybe it’s that I find distasteful. You make good beer though.”
“Oh well, that’s alright then.” Corianna was trying to avoid sounding sarcastic. She found herself agreeing with Kayla. Jaden, though likeable enough, was far too immature.
“I suppose you won’t teach me any more magic now, will you?”
Anadyr interjected. “Jaden, Corianna is just upset that you used your powers for rather selfish reasons.”
“What is the point of having power if we cannot use them?”
“That we only use them when we absolutely have to. You interfered. There’s a price to pay for that.”
“Let me go after Kayla, my Lord. I need to know that she is okay.”
“Anadyr, you cannot let him be amongst the Erelings!”
“You’re right, Corianna. But someone does need to watch over Kayla. I will go. I’ve been there before.”
“No, Anadyr! You can’t go. This is Aynara’s business. You can’t be within a yard of the other Twin.”
“I’m not concerned with that. It’s the Invincibility Stone that has to be returned.”
Corianna sat down. This was an impossible situation. She found herself agreeing with Jaden. What good were her powers if she did not use them?
“Not just a stone," and she knew of its dual purpose. "It contains the Fourth, yes?”
“Right now, it imprisons him. But were he to get free, on Earth, the Erelings would be destroyed, and the whole of Mordana will choke with the red and black ash of AnnanGhorst.”
---
Let me have your comments, always good to hear from you :)
----
“That’s quite a story, Kayla,” said Corianna. “I wonder why you ended up here in Rowse Briar, when you are supposed to be on Crith Talún.”
“Maybe it’s all nonsense about the Gap. I ended up short, at the tale end of Avonwych.”
“I take it you ran into some Hobblers then,” said Corianna, her furtive smile acknowledging that Kayla was clearly able to take the diseased Andurii in her stride.
“I didn’t kill them, if that’s what you’re thinking. No Hobbler ever tried to kill me.”
Corianna had already observed Kayla’s backpack. A number of arrows were missing.
Corianna knew the passage between Belalzel’s Gap and Crith Talún was real. The barrier had been opened the last time Anadyr had been there.
A Stormling just had to be involved in this.
“Have you seen Anadyr recently, Kayla?”
“No, but now you mention it, I did bump into his supposed understudy, skulking around like a lost puppy.”
“Aha!”
“Come, now ‘Anna, when you say a little you mean a lot.”
Corianna was quite fond of Jaden, but this was interfering with Aynara’s plan. Why he had done this, she would have to find out later. It might upset his chances of becoming the head Stormling when Anadyr retired.
Corianna also knew that Jaden wanted Kayla for himself, that could explain his actions But using magic that Corianna had taught him was not helping things. It would only serve to aid Rey’s forces.
Unless Aynara was up to something, it made no sense to Corianna that Aynara would send Kayla to Crith Talún instead of Anadyr. Corianna could not put her finger on it. They shared so many things in common…they were both half-breeds, they were both skilled in sorcery, and both of them had to stay put.
But that was peacetime. In Westwych, hadn’t Crowlass proclaimed that ‘war was coming?’ How could the old Andurii be so sure?
“Kayla, I think Jaden cares about you. All the Stormlings care about the Andurii, but he shouldn’t have interfered.”
“What? What did he interfere with?”
“Jaden is the reason you are here. He must have followed you to Firetop. Tell me, Kayla, did you waste any arrows on the way to Aynara?”
Kayla paused pensively, and then answered. “No. Come to think of it, it was awfully quiet along the way. I didn’t meet a single soul.”
“It would seem that Jaden cleared the path for you. His magic seems to be performed under the sight of Rey himself. I think I need to chat with the young Stormling myself. If I knew what he seems to know, I could leave this place. Come and go as I want to.”
“No, ‘Anna, you’re wrong. He’s an immature boy, yet you claim his magic powers are better than yours? He is not the one to lead the Stormlings, trust me, and you should be careful what you teach him.”
“I did not say better…his skills would appear to be different to my own. As for succession, you have to trust Anadyr on that decision alone. We all do.”
“Okay,” said Kayla simply. “So what now?”
“You will have to go to Crith Talún, just as Aynara bade you.”
Kayla’s eyes bulged as if to say 'But I just got here'.
“It doesn’t matter, Kayla. If you stay on Mordana, Rey will find you. Peacetime is at an end. I don’t think they care anymore if Stormlings or Anduriis are killed. We should beware of the ones who care nothing for rules.”
Before Kayla could respond, Jaden materialised before them.
“No Corianna! I beg you, don’t send Kayla back!”
“A Stormling does not beg,” said Corianna. “Perhaps Kayla is right. You are too immature to lead the Stormlings. You should not have used your powers.”
“I’m not going to lead them! I’m running out of time. You know that Corianna!”
“Send her back now, or I will. Then, when The Three get here, you can fight them yourself.”
Jaden knew Anadyr barely came out from the last battle alive.
“I’ll prove my worth to you Kayla. I will.”
With a wave of his hand, Jaden sent Kayla back to the moment she jumped through the Gap. He feared he would never see her alive again.
***
Another knock on the door of the Faeries Wings.
“We’re CLOSED!” screamed Corianna.
“Do I not get a ‘Heyloleeluleelu’?" came a familiar voice from beyond the door. "Where is the famed Rowsen welcome? Lost these days, I fear.”
“Much like yourself,” said Corianna, pulling open the door. “Though it is good to see you, Anadyr.”
“Jaden.” Anadyr nodded towards the young Stormling.
“How did you find me?”
“I’m the head Stormling.”
Jaden snorted, thinking 'He’s as cryptic as ever'. He pointed an accusatory finger at Corianna.
“She made me send Kayla away.”
“Hah!” said Corianna, stamping her feet lightly. “You don’t like elves, do you?”
“It’s not elves I dislike, it’s you, Corianna. Especially when you send someone I care about away.”
“Maybe it was my Dwarf side that sent your girlfriend away.”
“So maybe it’s that I find distasteful. You make good beer though.”
“Oh well, that’s alright then.” Corianna was trying to avoid sounding sarcastic. She found herself agreeing with Kayla. Jaden, though likeable enough, was far too immature.
“I suppose you won’t teach me any more magic now, will you?”
Anadyr interjected. “Jaden, Corianna is just upset that you used your powers for rather selfish reasons.”
“What is the point of having power if we cannot use them?”
“That we only use them when we absolutely have to. You interfered. There’s a price to pay for that.”
“Let me go after Kayla, my Lord. I need to know that she is okay.”
“Anadyr, you cannot let him be amongst the Erelings!”
“You’re right, Corianna. But someone does need to watch over Kayla. I will go. I’ve been there before.”
“No, Anadyr! You can’t go. This is Aynara’s business. You can’t be within a yard of the other Twin.”
“I’m not concerned with that. It’s the Invincibility Stone that has to be returned.”
Corianna sat down. This was an impossible situation. She found herself agreeing with Jaden. What good were her powers if she did not use them?
“Not just a stone," and she knew of its dual purpose. "It contains the Fourth, yes?”
“Right now, it imprisons him. But were he to get free, on Earth, the Erelings would be destroyed, and the whole of Mordana will choke with the red and black ash of AnnanGhorst.”
---
Let me have your comments, always good to hear from you :)
May 29, 2014
'Stormling' Excerpt: The Fate of Karina
Hello all.
Just thought I would give you a taster from the forthcoming release of 'Stormling' Stormling on June 1st.....
There will be a few more teasers to come!
-----
Corianna Ismay was just eight years old when her mother Karina died. Corianna had just one more conversation with her mother before running hard in the direction of Rowse Briar, far from her home of Sirennestria.
“Don’t you cry now, Corianna,” she said sternly, but softened her tone in a way that only a mother could. “Do not let them see you cry. The great powers we possess contain a flaw; our tears let the enemy know where we are. I’m going to be brave, so you have to be too. Just promise me that you will hide your skills, lest the fate that has befallen me befalls you too.”
The young sorceress nodded that she understood completely. “You look beautiful, Mother,” asserted Corianna with a confidence beyond someone of her years.
A simple white tunic hung over Karina’s shoulders, but her hands shook uncontrollably. Her young daughter grabbed her mother’s hands, and steadied them from shaking. “So don’t you be afraid, Mother, then I won’t be, when my time comes.”
Karina picked a maroon coloured cardigan from her dresser, and wrapped herself up in it.
“Your lucky colour, Mother,” beamed Corianna. “I shall not ever wear it, in respect of your memory.”
“That is the very reason you should wear it, my child.”
Bringing her thoughts back to the present moment, there was no presence of a loving daughter, just the cold, uncompromising walls of a prison. Karina pressed her cheeks against the bars of her cell.
“Guard! Let’s not delay this charade any longer. I am ready. Take me to Firetop.”
Just thought I would give you a taster from the forthcoming release of 'Stormling' Stormling on June 1st.....
There will be a few more teasers to come!
-----
Corianna Ismay was just eight years old when her mother Karina died. Corianna had just one more conversation with her mother before running hard in the direction of Rowse Briar, far from her home of Sirennestria.
“Don’t you cry now, Corianna,” she said sternly, but softened her tone in a way that only a mother could. “Do not let them see you cry. The great powers we possess contain a flaw; our tears let the enemy know where we are. I’m going to be brave, so you have to be too. Just promise me that you will hide your skills, lest the fate that has befallen me befalls you too.”
The young sorceress nodded that she understood completely. “You look beautiful, Mother,” asserted Corianna with a confidence beyond someone of her years.
A simple white tunic hung over Karina’s shoulders, but her hands shook uncontrollably. Her young daughter grabbed her mother’s hands, and steadied them from shaking. “So don’t you be afraid, Mother, then I won’t be, when my time comes.”
Karina picked a maroon coloured cardigan from her dresser, and wrapped herself up in it.
“Your lucky colour, Mother,” beamed Corianna. “I shall not ever wear it, in respect of your memory.”
“That is the very reason you should wear it, my child.”
Bringing her thoughts back to the present moment, there was no presence of a loving daughter, just the cold, uncompromising walls of a prison. Karina pressed her cheeks against the bars of her cell.
“Guard! Let’s not delay this charade any longer. I am ready. Take me to Firetop.”
May 21, 2014
FREE BOOK PROMOTION!!!!
Got your attention? Yes? Good...okay then....to celebrate the release of 'Stormling'
on June 1st, I'm running a free book promotion for my first fiction title 'Dark Winter'
but also 'The Essence of Martial Arts: Special Edition'
which is a non-fiction title.
So go for it, go to Amazon from MAY 22nd and grab a free one!
Dark Winter link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Winter-Cir...
http://www.amazon.com/Essence-Martial...
on June 1st, I'm running a free book promotion for my first fiction title 'Dark Winter'
but also 'The Essence of Martial Arts: Special Edition'
which is a non-fiction title.So go for it, go to Amazon from MAY 22nd and grab a free one!
Dark Winter link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Winter-Cir...
http://www.amazon.com/Essence-Martial...
Book Review - Hegemonian by Tom Reinhart
Yarrh! If it isn't another of them sword and slash and cut and run epic fantasies.....
Now this really is up my street. I love epically laden stories....Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Iron Fey series.....too many to mention really.
Hegemonian, by Tom Reinhart, was one of two books I won in a giveaway. Now, in approaching my own take on the genre with Stormling, I had the same fears as Tom, and still do, in that 'would I do the genre justice'.
It's a big worry. If you are writing a book that could be shelved alongside JRR Tolkien's works, dang....you better be good.
So where does Tom's book stack up?
Read more:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
April 28, 2014
Book Review - Ice Angel by Elizabeth Hanbury
It's so great to get back to blogging!
Read my review here:-
Ice Angel
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Read my review here:-
Ice Angel
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
April 17, 2014
April 13, 2014
Stormling - Teaser Synopsis
Hello all :)
Today's teaser is from the cover and synopsis of the new book, Stormling Stormling.
I hope you all visited Chanzie@MeanWhoYouAre for the cover reveal on Thursday, and my eternal thanks (and cookies) are sent to you for hosting it there :)
Well. Not long to go now. I've got April 25th 2014 as *the day* and it will be awesome to know what you all think of it.
Read more at The Write Thought...
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
Today's teaser is from the cover and synopsis of the new book, Stormling Stormling.
I hope you all visited Chanzie@MeanWhoYouAre for the cover reveal on Thursday, and my eternal thanks (and cookies) are sent to you for hosting it there :)
Well. Not long to go now. I've got April 25th 2014 as *the day* and it will be awesome to know what you all think of it.
Read more at The Write Thought...
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
March 30, 2014
How Can We Protect Our Precious Books?
Before the dawn of the Kindle and other e-book readers, there were paper books. Thankfully, there still are paper books, and whilst my old Kindle packed up a while ago, I am getting myself a replacement.
I'm terribly proctective of my books. Often they will come back in a very different state to the one in which they were lent. Which begs the question - why would I lend my books out?
More:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
I'm terribly proctective of my books. Often they will come back in a very different state to the one in which they were lent. Which begs the question - why would I lend my books out?
More:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....
March 24, 2014
Stormling - One Month to Go!!!
Stormling
---
Kayla Andaris, from Stormling (Book One)
"So what exactly are you?"
"I am a woman."
"That. You. Are. So what do you do for fun?"
"I hunt, and I kill on sight."
"Do you kill everything on sight?"
"Only the idiots that ask stupid questions."
---
Hello friends. I've been a bit erratic with my blog posts this year, but you'll forgive me I hope, as I have been writing heavily for Dark Winter 2 and editing the book that titles this post - Stormling.
Stormling is a good old fashioned epic fantasy adventure that I originally drafted in 2012, which seems a long time ago now. I started writing the book in 2011 following the publication of my martial arts book. Nothing like continuity of genres, is there?
Still, Stormling went through several title changes, successive re-drafts, before arriving at the one that is likely to be viewed by the populace from end of April 2014.
More:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....Stormling
---
Kayla Andaris, from Stormling (Book One)
"So what exactly are you?"
"I am a woman."
"That. You. Are. So what do you do for fun?"
"I hunt, and I kill on sight."
"Do you kill everything on sight?"
"Only the idiots that ask stupid questions."
---
Hello friends. I've been a bit erratic with my blog posts this year, but you'll forgive me I hope, as I have been writing heavily for Dark Winter 2 and editing the book that titles this post - Stormling.
Stormling is a good old fashioned epic fantasy adventure that I originally drafted in 2012, which seems a long time ago now. I started writing the book in 2011 following the publication of my martial arts book. Nothing like continuity of genres, is there?
Still, Stormling went through several title changes, successive re-drafts, before arriving at the one that is likely to be viewed by the populace from end of April 2014.
More:-
http://johnhennessybooks.blogspot.co....Stormling
