Sage Nestler's Blog, page 10

Blog Tour: Triumph’s Ashes by Adam Gaffen

Viva la revolucion!

The Primus, Vasilia Newling, is facing her worst nightmares:

A revolution on Luna.Titan and the Asteroids abandoning the Solarian Union.Defections from within her own government.

All because of those damned Cassidys!

But she’s still as ruthless as ever.

And if Aiyana and Kendra thought she was playing dirty before? They’re going to see how filthy she really can get.

There isn’t room for both the Terran Federation and the Union.

This time, one is going down.

For good.

Excerpt

Habitat Njord

“Commander? Aren’t you on your honeymoon?”

Commander Daniela Garcia-Kay stopped filling her coffee cup and to stare at the questioner.

“Ma’am,” she belatedly appended.

“Better, Rat,” Garcia-Kay said, finishing the pour. “And for your information, yes, I am, but I need to stay sharp.”

She added, in a much more conversational tone, “Boomer’s been after me as well. He says that he’s still trying to integrate with his new body and I should be flying him, so…”

Rat, Ensign (JG) Judith Bastin, grinned. The Epsilon-class AI’s installed in the Direwolf fighters could be nearly human in their personalities, if encouraged by their human counterparts. A good number of the pilots of Nymeria Squadron did so, reaping the benefits of the enhanced partnership, taking after the lead of their commander.

Daniela, as the first Direwolf pilot, had led the way. She’d investigated the interests the Admiral had in 20th/21st century ‘television’ and ‘movies’, eventually arriving at ‘Boomer’ as a good name for her AI. As a result, his personality tended to be cool, calculating, and confident, with a special knack for engineering his way around problems. His level-headedness complemented Daniela’s more aggressive flying style.

“I heard they salvaged your chair,” Rat said.

“They did,” agreed Daniela. “That was about all, though.”

Her face clouded briefly at the memory. Her prior Direwolf had been ruined by a mid-space collision with another fighter during an exercise in which the other pilot had lost her life. It was the first non-action casualty the squadron had faced and it still stung.

Rat picked up on her discomfort and tried to change the subject. “How’s Boomer doing? Does he like the new ship?”

“He appreciates the new capabilities, but keeps sending me messages about how things just aren’t quite ‘right’ with it. Which is why I’m here at oh six hundred instead of in bed with my husband,” she finished, raising her mug.

“Aye, ma’am,” said Rat, raising her half-empty mug in mock salute. “Do you need a wing? I’m scheduled for the mid-watch CAP, but I have a couple hours.”

“Thanks, Rat, I’m covered. Locksmith is going out with me.”

Rat nodded. Locksmith was the XO of the second Direwolf squadron under Lt. Commander Ashlyn Bontrager. Red Squadron was officially assigned to the TFS Endeavour, but only half the fighters could fit aboard at any one time for away missions if there would be a couple of the older Wolves attached for the duration. The other half remained at Njord and did drills until the Endeavour returned.

“Catch you later, Double Dip,” Rat said and strolled out.

She had to smile. For all that Starfleet was a military organization, the formality and rigidity which plagued longer-established militaries simply didn’t exist. Given the preferences of the Admiral, it probably never would.

Daniela spent the next few minutes with her thoughts before Locksmith arrived.

Lieutenant Lexie Marsh, recently promoted, was nearly a mirror image of Double Dip. She was just as tall and built in a similar, athletic manner. Her hair, which she wore in a single long braid, was dyed a pale green which set off her emerald eyes and dark skin. Her most prominent feature, though, was her smile. It was said in her division that as long as Locksmith was smiling you were doing well. If it flickered, though, you were in trouble. Nobody knew what would happen if it disappeared. Yet.

Today, it was in full force.

“Morning, Danni,” Locksmith said, already carrying her own mug.

“Morning Lexie,” Daniela answered around another sip. “Ready for today?”

“As soon as I finish my cacao.”

“You and Commander Cassidy,” Daniela chuckled. “What is it about that stuff?”

“I could ask you the same,” countered Locksmith. “Coffee, yuck.”

“Just for that I’m going to dust you,” Daniela said.

“Hello? We’re both flying the same bird?”

“Nope. I have the first of the Mark II’s.”

Instantly Locksmith was all business.

“I didn’t think they were going to be in production until next year! That’s why my girlfriend told me, and she should know; she works at HLC, testing.”

“She’s not wrong. But someone has to break them in before they start rolling them out, and since I have the most hours in Direwolves of any pilot in Starfleet, well, the decision was simple. Mine’s one of the two-seaters, too, a training model.”

“Is the scuttlebutt true?”

Daniela laughed. “I hope so! We’ll find out today anyways.”

Locksmith put down her mug, sloshing the contents onto the table, and stood. “What are we waiting for?”

Daniela took a final swallow and led the way to the bay. After they’d done the mandatory walkarounds and pre-flight checks they each climbed into their cockpits.

“About time,” grumped her AI as she settled in.

“It’s my honeymoon,” she grumped right back. “I’m permitted.”

“It’s all well and good for you, you can get out of the ship just by standing up. Me, it takes major mechanical surgery.”

“Sorry, Boomer. Admiral’s orders. I tried to delay the wedding but she wouldn’t allow it.”

“Hmmph.”

She could tell he was somewhat mollified, though, as they ran through the power-up checklists. They’d developed enough of a rapport over the previous months that they could do the tasks almost on automatic while holding a conversation.

“How does she feel?” Daniela asked now.

“It’s different,” Boomer said. “The basic systems are all the same, except where they aren’t. It’s tough to explain.”

“Anything I need to be concerned about? Anything radically different?”

“No. Most of the changes they made are incremental, evolutionary. Like the aiming mechanism on the lasers.”

“We can aim?”

“A little. About two degrees, but it’s enough so we can do some pinpoint shooting at longer ranges.”

“Awesome!”

“If you ask me, though, I’m most impressed with the new reactor, if it works.”

“What do you mean, ‘if it works’?”

“It’s a new design. The old reactor was a laser-pumped design, while the new one is a z-pinch. If it works the way it should, we ought to achieve increased thrust as well as higher power for the other systems.”

“How much increased thrust?”

“Up to 650 g.”

Daniela allowed herself a low whistle. The Mark 1 already had the highest acceleration of any sublight craft in any fleet, 500 g, and a skilled pilot/AI combination could squeeze an extra 10 g or 20 g performance. 650 g, though, was unheard-of.

“What will I feel?” she asked. She knew she could tap her implant to get the information, but one of the reasons she and Boomer were such an effective team was she treated him as a partner. Currently, at max accel, she felt 6 g, which was eight times more than the Federation standard aboard vessels and habitats. Her nanobots prevented the lower gravity from weakening her bones and muscles, but she’d been in Starfleet since the beginning. Three-quarter g felt normal now, hence her concern.

“You’ll love this. Five g.”

Buy Links

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098VGJMK8

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0979KNY28

Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0979KNY28

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/triumphs-ashes-adam-gaffen/1139905685?ean=9798201543372

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/triumph-s-ashes-the-cassidy-chronicles-volume-5

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1098260

Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com) Link: https://www.limfic.com/book/triumphs-ashes/

Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47213/?

Author Bio

I was born in Maine, didn’t live there for long before my parents figured out that it was too bloody cold and moved south, all the way to Massachusetts. Grew up there and in Connecticut, lived in Maryland and Indiana for a while before moving back to Maine. Lived there for twenty years before I, too, decided the winters were too long. Of course, where do you to get away from long winters? COLORADO! Naturally. Married to a wonderful, inspirational, supportive woman; between us we have five kids, five dogs, and five cats.

As for my writing, well, I’ve thrown a bunch out onto Amazon. There’s a couple Sherlock Holmes stories, a few horror-ish shorts, and then you get to my longer books: Refuge, a time-traveling take on vampire stories, and The Cassidy Chronicles. Triumph’s Ashes is the fifth book in the series and completes the Artemis War story arc.

Like I said, thanks for dropping in! You can find me on Allauthor.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on my website www.cassidychronicles.com.This month, I’ll be appearing on the Meet the Author Podcast/Vidcast on November 24th, so tune in and check it out! It’s an hour of Cassidyverse talk and it’s at https://indiebooksource.com/podcast/ I love interacting with fans, but be warned: I often add my fans into my books!

Author Website: https://cassidychronicles.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/adam.gaffen

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/AdamGaffenAuthor

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamgaffen/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6587896.Adam_Gaffen

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/adam-gaffen/

Author Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Adam-Gaffen/e/B009QMIW3K

OWI Blog Tour: A Death in Bloomsbury

Book Blurb

Everyone has secrets… but some are fatal.

1932, London. Late one December night Simon Sampson stumbles across the body of a woman in an alleyway. Her death is linked to a plot by right-wing extremists to assassinate the King on Christmas Day. Simon resolves to do his patriotic duty and unmask the traitors.

But Simon Sampson lives a double life. Not only is he a highly respected BBC radio announcer, but he’s also a man who loves men, and as such must live a secret life. His investigation risks revealing his other life and with that imprisonment under Britain’s draconian homophobic laws of the time. He faces a stark choice: his loyalty to the King or his freedom.

This is the first in a new series from award-winning author David C. Dawson. A richly atmospheric novel set in the shadowy world of 1930s London, where secrets are commonplace, and no one is quite who they seem.

Series Blurb

The Simon Sampson Mysteries start in London 1932 and continue through the 1930s across Europe. Set against the rise of fascism in the continent, the series features a man who does his patriotic duty to fight the enemy, even though as a gay man he’s an outlaw.

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HPV4ZMW

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59149088-a-death-in-bloomsbury?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=uzkD1Ex95c&rank=2

Author Bio

David C. Dawson is an award-winning author, journalist and documentary maker. He writes gay romance and contemporary thrillers featuring gay heroes in love.

His latest book The Foreign Affair was published in 2020. It’s the third in the Delingpole Mysteries series.

The first in the series: The Necessary Deaths, won an FAPA award in the best suspense/thriller category.

David’s also written two gay romances: For the Love of Luke and Heroes in Love.

He lives near Oxford, with his boyfriend and two cats. In his spare time, he tours Europe and sings with the London Gay Men’s Chorus.

You can find out more at: http://www.davidcdawson.co.uk

Author Website: https://www.davidcdawson.co.uk

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/david.c.dawson.5

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/pg/davidcdawsonAUTHOR/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/david_c_dawson

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidcdawsonwriter/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7244384.David_C_Dawson

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/david-c-dawson/

Author Amazon: https://geni.us/DCDawsonAmazonAuthor

Giveaway

David is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47212/?

Excerpt

Simon arrived at Piccadilly Circus at ten minutes to eight that evening and waited to cross the road to the statue of Eros on its traffic island. This part of London always gave Simon a thrill of excitement. It buzzed with activity, like a giant beehive. There were swarms of people hurrying from work, or strolling towards a restaurant, theatre or bar. The metaphor was apt, because within fifty yards of where Simon stood there were so many queens.

Across the road was The Trocadero. Its Long Bar was always guaranteed to provide a gay evening for gentlemen in search of pleasure. A little farther on was the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square. Its Upper Gallery was popular with painted boys and men dressed in smart suits who spent an evening either exchanging acid-tongued witticisms or seeking a friend for the night.

Even at that time of the evening the traffic on Piccadilly Circus was almost stationary. Simon stepped off the pavement and wove his way between taxis and omnibuses queuing to drive up Shaftesbury Avenue or down the Haymarket. Cameron was waiting for him, and Simon was pleased to see he was once again soberly dressed in his immaculate black coat. This time with a grey scarf and black leather gloves. Young men of a similar age to Cameron were also standing on the steps of Eros, and they wore far more flamboyant clothing. Simon preferred to be inconspicuous when out with a gentleman friend. There was less chance that they might draw the attention of the police, or busys as his friends in the Fitzroy Tavern would call them.

“I do hope you’ve not been waiting long.” Simon took Cameron’s outstretched hand and squeezed it firmly. “It’s getting awfully cold. I think it might snow this Christmas.”

Cameron reached out his other hand and rested it on Simon’s hip. Simon pushed it away. “Best not here, old chap,” he whispered. “Awfully public you know.”

He released Cameron’s hand and pointed across the road. “We need to head towards Leicester Square. The Lily Pond is two roads up. And we can walk past the Trocadero on the way and see who’s out gadding tonight.”

“I’m glad I’m wi’ ye,” Cameron replied. “I’m still finding ma bearin’s in London. I’ve nae come down to this part of town since I moved to York House.”

“Oh, you should.” Simon led the way through the still stationary traffic to Coventry Street. “It’s frightfully exciting. And you can always be sure of meeting someone interesting.” He pointed to the corner of Glasshouse Street. “That’s the Regent Palace Hotel. Awfully good bar. Perfect place to meet gentlemen from overseas, and they can hire a room for you by the hour if that interests you.” He grabbed Cameron’s arm and pulled him to safety as a motor car attempted to circumvent the traffic jam and drove up onto the pavement.

“Try not to get yourself killed, my dear.”

Guest Post by Author Larry A. Freeland

Things I Didn’t Know About Vietnam

By Larry A Freeland

Before leaving for Vietnam and during my stateside military training I heard many stories about Vietnam. People who had been their or claimed to be knowledgeable of Vietnam and the war would tell me what I could expect, what I should do or not to do when I got in-country, what the Vietnamese people were like, how to fight and deal with the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) communist and Vietcong insurgents in the south. Some expressed the believe that our enemies were invincible and unbeatable, and so on. I guess, like most other veterans who were sent to Vietnam and survived, I have recollections of what I thought I would experience and then the reality of what I lived through.

I was sent to Vietnam on January 3, 1971 and served one year in I Corp. with the 101st Airborne Division as a CH-47 helicopter pilot and Infantry Officer.  In this capacity I flew all over the northern portion of South Vietnam from Da Nang to the DMZ, from the coastal lowlands to the mountains of the A Sau Valley and even into Laos for a few months.  When not flying I was performing other duties where I was interacting with local Vietnamese military personnel and local civilians in the Phu Bai and Hue.  These opportunities provided me with many impressions and observations leading me to form some of my own opinions of the Vietnamese people and their country.

Not surprising, there were many things I wasn’t aware of about Vietnam as a country and its people before I got there.  Here is a list of what I encountered and learned while serving in country:

The diversity of its people, which varies from well-educated to many living an agrarian lifestyle with little or no formal education. The country’s geography includes tropical lowlands, rolling green hills, densely forested mountains, and coastal lowlands. There were mountains in the northern area, A Sau Valley, that toped 5,000 feet. Much of it was beautiful and some day would make great travel resorts and vacation related places to visit.  That has become the case, with some very fine locations, particularly along their coastlines and in and around what was called Saigon and now is Ho Chi Minh City. Weather extremes ranged from hot and humid to cold and damp, but I never saw any snow. I had been in Vietnam for what seemed an eternity and experienced very poor weather and flying conditions many times.  However, I wasn’t aware that Vietnam was susceptible to typhoons.  About eight months into my tour, we were hit by a typhoon in the 101st Divisions area of operations.  It wasn’t a devasting typhoon, but it did considerable damage to our facilities and knocked out power and water supplies for several days.  On any given day, power and water supplies could be interrupted, but not for the length of time we experienced with the typhoon. Their religious beliefs can include Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. Many Vietnamese placed high importance on family and respect for their elders. I found them to be a caring and supportive people when it came to their families and elders, those living and those who were deceased.  Their political views were not as simple as we we’re led to believe.  Most Vietnamese I met impressed me as people who just wanted to be left alone.  They wanted to be free of foreign interference, have their own country, and many just wanted to live as their ancestors had for centuries. Before we got involved with Vietnam, it had been a French colony since 1887.  When the French were forced out of Vietnam, we eventually moved in.  Over the centuries, Vietnam had endured border conflicts with their northern neighbor China.  During our war with them, the Chinese and the Russians allied with the north and hoped to gain favor with the North Vietnamese.Author Biography

Larry Freeland was born in Canton, Ohio.  Since his father was an officer with the United States Air Force he grew up on many Air Force bases across this country.   After graduating from High School at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, he attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.  He graduated in 1968 with a degree in mathematics and a concentration in finance. He joined the U.S. Army and served one tour in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry Officer and a CH-47 helicopter pilot.  He is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, and various other military service medals.

Upon release from active duty in 1973, Larry returned to civilian life and pursued a career in the Financial Industry.  During his professional career, he continued his education, earning graduate degrees in Management and Banking.  He worked for 29 years in the banking business with Trust Company of Georgia, Citizen and Southern Corporation, now Bank of America, and Wachovia, now Wells Fargo.  After retiring from banking he worked as an independent financial consultant for 3 years in the Atlanta area and then worked as an instructor for 6 years with Lanier Technical College in their Management and Leadership Development Program.

Larry is now retired and lives in North Georgia with his wife Linda, a retired school teacher.  They stay involved in various activities, most notably those associated with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Veterans-related organizations.  They also enjoy traveling together and spending as much time as possible with their two daughters, three grandsons, and two granddaughters.

This Gorgeous Poetry Collection Will Broaden Your Perspective

Buy Now: https://blacklawrencepress.com/books/black-under/Synopsis

The poem from which Black Under derives its title opens with a resounding declaration: “I am black and black underneath.” These words are an anthem that reverberates throughout Ashanti Anderson’s debut short collection. We feel them as we navigate her poems’ linguistic risks and shifts and trumpets, as we straddle scales that tip us toward trauma’s still-bloody knife in one turn then into cutting wit and shrewd humor in the next. We hear them amplified through Anderson’s dynamic voice, which sings of anguish and atrocities and also of discovery and beauty.

Black Under layers outward perception with internal truth to offer an almost-telescopic examination of the redundancies—and incongruences—of marginalization and hypervisibility. Anderson torques the contradictions of oppression, giving her speakers the breathing room to discover their own agency. In these pages, declarations are reclamations, and joy is not an aspiration but a birthright.

Rating

5/5

Quick Take

Ashanti Anderson’s Black Under is an eclectic collection of writings that celebrates the black, queer, disabled experience.

Tell Me More

                I am fond of poetry, but don’t always have the opportunity to read such vital and unique pieces as those that are part of Ashanti Anderson’s Black Under.  Even though this collection of poetry and writings is short, each piece provides the reader with an awakening to new experiences and history that is often glossed over or cast into the shadows.  Anderson forces the reader to open their eyes and face everything about the black, queer, disabled experience that is rarely exposed.  Black Under opened my eyes and expanded my empathy through the most unique collection of writings I have read to date, and I am sure it is a collection that I will be revisiting again and again.

                Anderson writes from her heart and presents the reader with all of her innermost thoughts and realizations about her existence, and those around her.  At times Black Under is uncomfortable, and that is the absolute beauty of it.  It forces the reader to face things that we might otherwise turn from, and I feel changed after reading Anderson’s collection of writings. 

                If you are interested in poetry or short writings that reveal the marginalized parts of our society and history while also revealing the beauty of our differences, Black Under is sure to be a gem you will adore.  I am not surprised that this work of art won the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition, and it deserves all of the praise.  Pick up Black Under for a quick read that will stick with you for a long time.  You are sure to be changed.  

About the Author
Ashanti Anderson

Ashanti Anderson (she/her) is a Black Queer Disabled poet, screenwriter, and playwright. Her debut short poetry collection, Black Under, is the winner of the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition at Black Lawrence Press. Her poems have appeared in World Literature Today, POETRY magazine, and elsewhere in print and on the web. Learn more about Ashanti’s previous & latest shenanigans at ashanticreates.com.

Snag This Swoon-Worthy Read for One Hell of an Erotic Ride

Rating: 4/5Synopsis

Dorian Benson is a young artist whose life changes when he discovers something epic about the paternity of his daughter. He goes through self-growth as a father, a friend, a brother, a son, and a lover when he discovers that life takes more than just being present. His protected heart must break for him to fully recognize that fearing love may be preventing him from feeling and experiencing it.

Quick Take

July in September is a delectable treat that will have readers swooning for days to come.

Tell Me More

                I am not a regular reader of romance or erotica, but I do like to dabble in the genre from time to time.  July in September caught my eye because it looked like it had an intriguing storyline with well-developed characters and plot.  Upon finishing the novel, I was not let down.  I am proud to say that I found that while the novel has extreme erotic content, it is not the central focus of the story, and it complimented the plot and characters well. 

                Felicia Nixon’s novel follows Dorian Benson, a man who sets out on a journey and finds himself as a father, a friend, a son, a brother, and a lover, which challenges his view on love and romance.  Having found that keeping himself away from love has done more harm to him than good, Dorian allows himself to be vulnerable and put his guard down.  Doing so aids in the evolution of his character and made me fall in love with him.

                One of my favorite aspects of Nixon’s writing is that she presented the reader with vivid descriptions which brought her characters to life.  I found myself soon becoming attached to Dorian and his depth, while also swooning at the erotic content.  Nixon has a way of presenting erotic content that becomes more poetic and slips into the story effortlessly.  While I do not recommend this novel to readers who are not invested in erotic romance, I do think that those who don’t mind erotic content and love romances will be pleased with July in September.  Nixon writes like a modern Jane Austen, and her characters are sure to ring well with lovers of the classics.

                If you are looking for a steamy romance with an excellent plot and well-developed characters, you will find what you are looking for in July in September.  Be prepared for a swoon-worthy erotic ride peppered with life lessons and intriguing reflections.  I highly recommend this novel to those in the erotic romance community.  You are sure to find a treasure in author Felicia Nixon. 

These Books Will Change the Way We Discuss Mental Health with Our Children

Child mental health is so incredibly important, but it is now more vital than ever. Studies have shown that the mental health of our children has declined throughout the pandemic, and depression and anxiety are still on the rise. When I was a child, we never learned about mental health, and my various mental illnesses went undiagnosed until I entered adulthood. It was only when I suffered a nervous breakdown as an adult and was admitted to a behavioral health hospital that I received my diagnoses. At this time, I also began to work on and think about my mental health for the first time. Fortunately, mental health is more widely discussed now that it is more of a central topic regarding the impacts of the pandemic on our health.

I had the pleasure of coming across a new line of books for children that highlight heavy topics, or topics that may be difficult for guardians to discuss with their children, and I was excited to see that emotions, depression, and anxiety were three of the main topics emphasized. The company is calledA Kids Book Aboutand they offer various interactive books that cover heavy topics including racism, LGBTQA+, and nonbinary individuals. These books are excellent for parents or educators to discuss these topics with children when they may not be sure how to approach the subject. As a mental health specialist, I was excited to read A Kids Book About Emotions, A Kids Book About Depression, and A Kids Book About Anxiety. Upon reading these books, I was incredibly impressed with how they approached the subject without dumbing it down and respecting children as individuals with diverse experiences.

A Kids Book About Emotions

A Kids Book About Emotions was a particularly fun book to review because it doubles as a coloring book and includes activities for guardians and children to complete together regarding emotions. I was surprised by how there aren’t really any illustrations. Instead, there are various forms of artful lettering that allow the reader to color them in. But what I was most impressed with about this book is that it wasn’t dumbed down for children. Emotions were written about in an easy-to-understand way, and almost every page included a space for children to describe their own emotions and learn how to verbalize how they are feeling. I think that this book is groundbreaking in that it teaches children how to describe and manage their emotions, which is something that I never learned growing up. And not only does it teach children how to express their emotions, but it validates every emotion and tells children that it is absolutely okay to feel what they are feeling. I am amazed by this book, and I will be sharing it with every parent and educator that I know.

A Kids Book About Anxiety

A Kids Book About Anxiety is a beautiful book that explains anxiety to young readers, while also explaining the author’s experience with anxiety. The illustrations throughout the book were very simple, which put more focus on the wording and allowed for discussion between child and adult readers. I was happy to see how this book explained anxiety well but also allowed for adults to share their experiences with anxiety and further explain this mental illness to their children. The book also did well to differentiate between anxiety and nervousness, while explaining how the child may be able to determine what they are feeling. Included in the book were also two stories, one story where the author feels out of control with their anxiety, and the second where the author was able to identify their anxiety and practice self-care, with their parent’s understanding. In this way, the book teaches parents and guardians how to support their children who may have anxiety, while allowing them to experience what they are experiencing. Overall, this book was educations for both children and adults and allowed for further discussion, which I appreciated.

A Kids Book About Depression

The last book I was able to review was A Kids Book About Depression. I have dealt with depression and anxiety for many years, and I was excited to find that there are books that introduce these topics to children from an early age. The book is essentially author Kileah McIlvain’s story of having depression, and she does an excellent job of describing what depression feels like, and she reiterates how impactful it was for her to receive help. By normalizing receiving help for mental illnesses, children will learn from a young age that there is nothing wrong with seeking help for mental concerns and that mental health is just as important as physical health — and it absolutely should be talked about.

Like A Kids Book About Anxiety, there weren’t really any illustrations throughout the book, but the lettering was artistic. I think that the simple layout of the book allows for adults and children to discuss what is being written without distraction, while also allowing children to imagine for themselves what depression may feel like, or even connecting their own experiences with depression to what is being written.

A Kids Book About, Inc. is an incredible publisher that offers books for children and adults to read together about heavy topics, and their collection of books cover a diverse range of subjects. I am very excited to see these books about mental illness and emotions become available, and I will be utilizing them in my work concerning child mental health. I cannot recommend these books enough, as well as the plethora of other books available on diverse subjects. I honestly believe that they will change the way we talk to our children about difficult-to-understand subjects, both as parents and as professionals.

To order, visit: https://akidsco.com/collections/all-hardback-books

I Cannot Praise This Groundbreaking Horror Novel Enough

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

The Oath Keeper’s Servant is a brutal, hell of a ride ideal for fans of horror who prefer a young adult flair.  The originality in Zach Kuhl’s novel is astounding, and he has left me haunted.

Tell Me More

                The Oath Keeper’s Servant is a horror novel, but it also passes as a young adult novel due to the age of its main character, Cassie, who is fourteen years old. But don’t let the young adult label fool you, this novel is not for the faint of heart. Cassie’s story is one of terrifying intrigue, and despite the urge to turn away from her story, you will be unable to do so. Zach Kuhl keeps you in his unrelenting grasp with each line, and you will be changed upon finishing his novel – whether you determine that to be for the better or the worse. His words are that bewitching.

               Aside from the classic struggles of growing up, Cassie is faced with a unique situation in which an entity called the Oath Keeper abducts her to save his dying soul. Soon Cassie discovers that she is faced with fear, paranoia, and loneliness as she tries to fight for the right to her own body. Throughout the novel, Cassie fears that the Oath Keeper will take over her body and she will end up being a simple passenger in her own vessel. Doing so will cause her to lose her friends and family, and her life will seemingly cease to exist.

               Possession horror is often oversaturated with stories that follow the basic exorcism storyline. I have to admit that I am not often a fan of the subgenre because it is hard for me to find stories that surprise me and reignite the fear that I first experienced when reading the original novel, The Exorcist. However, The Oath Keeper’s Servant turned the possession subgenre of horror on its head by combining the horrors of puberty and growing up with possession. The novel also challenges how we see our bodies and how we take for granted our sovereignty. Kuhl’s story is complex and thought-provoking, which makes it a novel I plan to read over and over again. You are sure to catch new things with each read, and my understanding of the story will remain unfinished due to its complexity.

               The Oath Keeper’s Servant is a unique, horrifying novel that has challenged my view of the horror genre as a whole. Horror fans will be surprised and pleased with this excellent addition to the possession subgenre, and I thoroughly recommend reading it multiple times in order to understand it the best. I want to thank the author for presenting me with such a challenging – and rewarding – horror novel. I am completely enthralled, and I will be recommending The Oath Keeper’s Servant as one of my top horror picks from here on out. 

Get Prepped for Spooky Season with This Chilling Read

I am always on the hunt for my next horror read, and upon reading the synopsis for Ambush Dawn, I knew I was in for a treat.  My favorite horror reads are those in which extraordinary events occur in ordinary circumstances to ordinary people.  Upon reading the first page of Ambush Dawn, I became connected to the first character to be introduced, and my heart was broken only a few short paragraphs later.  It has been a long time since an author has been able to affect me in such a way, and I knew that I was dedicated to Ambush Dawn for the long haul. 

Ambush Dawn follows a team of firefighters who enter a mine and are confronted with an army of the dead.  They were only going in for a routine exercise but find themselves in the middle of a horrific battle deep within the mine.  Soon they find that their only hope is in that of a local police officer, and their lives have been changed forever. 

RK Hazelett’s writing is immediately compelling, and each word is essential to the story.  Sometimes I find that substantial portions of novels feel like filler, but this was not the case with Ambush Dawn.  I found myself gobbling up word after word, as though I could not read the story fast enough.  Each character is so well presented and developed that they just about become ingrained within your mind.  The horror aspects of the story were also so subtle that they interwove together to instill a deep sense of fear and dread within me.  I felt a building sense of dread as I continued reading, and this feeling has stayed with me long after I finished the novel. 

Unfortunately, there were some grammar and editing errors that detracted from the story in various areas.  I gave Ambush Dawn a 4/5 rather than a 5/5 due to these errors, but I did rather enjoy the novel despite the errors.  It is just something to note if this is an issue for other readers. 

Hazelett is a clear and talented author who deeply understands the horror genre.  Ambush Dawn will stick with me for quite a long time, and I will surely recommend it to other horror lovers.  If you are seeking a scare, then look no further.  Horror lovers across the literary world are surely in for a spook.

Discover A Revolutionary New Voice in the Dystopian Genre

            

Rating: 4/5Quick Take

Tessera: The 47 Shadows is a revolutionary addition to the dystopian genre – this novel is not one to miss!

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Tessera: The 47 Shadows by Stephen Gresko is a dystopian treasure that provides the reader with classic dystopian elements as well as a unique cast of characters who share a bond and friendship that leaps off the page.  I am a longtime reader of dystopian novels, and while I have found that many dystopian novels on the market today tend to run together with similar storylines and undercover themes, I was happy to find that Tessera: The 47 Shadows holds its own in the genre.  Gresko writing is easy and quick to read, which helped me to become invested in the story.  Dystopian fans rejoice, we have a new treasure to add to the genre in Tessera: The 47 Shadows.  You are sure to enjoy Gresko’s bright, new voice.

                Like many dystopian novels, Tessera: The 47 Shadows addresses a world ruled by a higher power, such as the massive corporate entities who have power over those who were lucky enough to survive the demise of civilization.  The story follows Leo, Lily, and Locke, three individuals who were born and raised in a megafacility built deep within the earth by the corporate entities.  Through their eyes we experience the bond that the three of them share, as well as what it is like to discover that the entities who have raised them may not be as positive of an influence as they were raised to believe.  I enjoyed seeing how much influence a higher corporate power has over individuals and how it can often become brainwashing.  The evolution of Leo, Lily, and Locke was exciting to see, and I felt myself rooting for them throughout the story.  I was so devoted to the story that I became depressed when it was over.

                The only critique I have about Gresko’s writing is that he used a plethora of adjectives which often became frustrating to read and unnecessary in many areas of the story.  However, Gresko knows how to make his characters come alive while creating a world that is easy for the reader to understand, which allowed me to look past the subpar writing in terms of the overuse of adjectives.  If this novel were edited and reworked to remove or replace the adjectives, I think that it would appear more professional.  The story itself is strong enough that it doesn’t need so many adjectives to paint a picture in the reader’s mind.  Removing such adjectives would give the reader a better chance to imagine the story to their own imagination and doing so would make such a strong story that much stronger.

                Tessera: The 47 Shadows by Stephen Gresko is a well-developed and vibrant dystopian gem that adds a significant new story to the dystopian genre.  The character development and world building were so strong that I was able to overlook the overuse of adjectives, and I found myself becoming protective of the characters in such a vile world.  While the dystopian market tends to be saturated with stories that are all too similar to one another, Tessera: The 47 Shadows stands out by offering up a complicated story with a diverse cast of characters that help the reader to visualize a world not too different from our own.  Gresko’s work is excellent for dystopian aficionados as well as those new to the genre, and I would classify it as an excellent literary escape.  Try out Tessera: The 47 Shadows by Stephen Gresko,you will not be disappointed.    

This Epic Fantasy by an LGBTQA+ Author Will Be Your New Favorite Book

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

Fantasy lovers seeking strong heroines and excellent world-building – rejoice! Your new favorite novel has arrived.

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                As an avid fantasy reader and author, I find that I am more critical of the selections I read due to my storied experience with the genre.  I am a seeker of strong female heroines and excellent world building, and oftentimes I am left disappointed by the stories I choose due to my critical nature; but Trials of Throk’tar by Jamie Samland had the opposite effect.  I was blown away by the vividity and arc of the characters and their development throughout the book – particularly that of Princess Alishia – and Samland’s world building transported me into his world without giving me a choice. 

As the second book in The Chronicler’s Awakening, Samland did well to appeal to me as a reader by catching me up with the storyline and linking back to the first book in several ways.  I did not feel lost at any point when reading Trials of Throk’tar, and I found myself becoming so engrossed in the story that it took quite the effort for me to return to reality once I finished reading.  I haven’t read a novel in so long that captivates like this novel has, and I plan on becoming an avid reader of Samland’s. 

The most enthralling aspect of Trials of Throk’tar was Samland’s use of descriptive language, which brought the world and story to life.  While the story was complex and covered a plethora of characters facing different journeys and circumstances, Samland connected them all as threads being woven into the same fabric.  Reading Trials of Throk’tar felt like putting a puzzle together, and each piece felt so satisfying once it was put together. 

Trials of Throk’tar is an epic fantasy perfect for fantasy lovers who enjoy strong characters, storylines, and world building while also being okay with some explicit content.  Even though this is the second book in The Chronicler’s Awakening series, I found it easy to catch up with the story and characters, because Samland did such a respectable job of referring back to the first novel.  I haven’t read a fantasy novel that I have enjoyed this much in so long, and coming out of this gorgeous story, I fear that I may enter a reading block.  However, I am grateful to Samland for sharing his story with me, and I look forward to his future works.