J.B. Garner's Blog, page 2
May 12, 2017
Starving Review: Scion of Conquered Earth (SCION Book 1) by Michael J. Allen
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Scion of Conquered Earth (SCION Book 1) by Michael J. Allen (Amazon, Goodreads)
Good morning, my literary foodies! Today, I have another fresh review served up piping hot from the pantry, this time a dystopian YA space opera, Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen. Such a mix of ingredients should lead to a tasty genre fusions as long as everything is baked properly, but it could just as easily turn sour. Does Mr. Allen succeed in the kitchen?
Before we find out, let’s renew our pledge to the Starving Review principles:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
Well, to figure this mystery out, let’s start with the genre fusion elements themselves. Scion combines a post-alien invasion dystopian Earth that eventually launches (no SPOILERS) into a space opera adventure in the second half of the narrative. The chef whips up each of these two elements with deft skill but I feel there’s a little bit of flavor whiplash when the story transitions between the two. The dystopian front end is unrelentingly hard, nasty, and gritty … which works fantastically for that section … but it makes the shift to high-flying space combat and intergalactic trading feel wrenching. It’s not a deal-breaker but I almost feel as if it would have felt better to have each story be their own books in a series to soften the disconnect.
But let’s focus on positives! The main ingredient of any good literary meal are the characters and the chef does a great job with his small, focused cast. He takes the time to really get into the head of the main protagonists and does a solid job making the alien invaders seem sufficiently alien and several of the other antagonists seem to have believable motivations. Especially in this kind of sci-fi environment, having touchstone characters with understandable motivations helps the reader swallow the more fantastic elements.
The plot and pacing are solid. The story moves continually forward and especially performs a fantastic job weaving exposition naturally into the narrative, something that isn’t always easy to do in genre cooking. The action is sprightly and fast-paced with space battles feeling properly three-dimensional. That last bit especially is appreciated; far too many science-fiction tales involving space combat forget that critical fact. All in all, well done here!
If I have any foible to point out, it’s that the conclusion feels a little unsatisfying. I can’t quite say that there isn’t a fulfilled story arc but at the same time, there are quite a few convenient coincidences for the protagonists that are hinted to be linked somehow and an amazing slew of mysteries behind our amnesiac hero and his history, none of which feel like they’ve had any light shed on them. Scion feels like an introductory chapter, which is likely intentional, but the reader in me wants some small reveal or some bone to be thrown my way at the end and that really isn’t done.
Still, despite the minor flaws, Scion of Conquered Earth is a tasty, multifaceted start of a dystopian space opera that suffers only a little from fusion shock! If you enjoy space opera, alien invasion tales, and series that look to have a long life to them, you should definitely pick this one up! If you’re put off by dark subject matter (slavery, cannibalism, and worldwide disaster are not shied away from at all!) or might be put off by the shock of the genre switch, you might want to give this one a pass.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A tasty, multifaceted start of a dystopian space opera that is a little off on the genre mix!)
May 8, 2017
Convention News: Looking Back at PCKC and Looking Forward to Mobicon!
Time for a quick update! Strap in, folks, it’s time to talk conventions!
As you may likely know, the weekend before last I was honored to be at Planet Comic Con in Kansas City, alongside the incredible Bard’s Tower crew. It was a fun, exciting, and at times crazy stressful week! Greyhound both delayed my trip and then got me to Kansas City days early, forcing all sorts of financial juggling as I hunted down a place to stay that didn’t make me broke, then the first two days of the convention itself were intense. In the end, though, everything worked out for the best: we did solid on sales, I got to enjoy time with my colleagues, and I continue to learn and develop as an author and, to be frank, a salesman.
Important tip to all my fellow writers and authors: You’re not just selling your writing, you’re selling yourself.
As for my next convention, I’ll be flying solo at Mobicon in Mobile, Alabama. It runs the length of Memorial Day weekend so I hope to see you there! Expect more convention news to come in the coming weeks!
Until next time, good reading, good writing, and good luck!
May 5, 2017
Starving Review: Out of Ordure (The Fairies Book 1) by Ramon Terrell
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Out of Ordure (The Fairies Book 1) by Ramon Terrell (Amazon, Goodreads)
Today’s selection from the literary pantry is a light, fluffy pastry of a novella, but the size of the meal is never a measure of culinary quality. To be more specific, Out of Ordure promises a mix of humor and fantasy with a tale of a most unusual fairy. Will Mr. Terrell dish out the perfect mix to fill that pastry or will it just be too little to be filling?
Before we take a bite, let’s recite the Starving Reviewer’s pledge:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
Well, I am happy to report that this is indeed a tasty, bite-sized treat. Centering around a company of fairies in the modern world tasked with the maintenance of the natural world, Ordure focuses on Fecana, a particular fairy whose job is, well, let us call a spade a spade: a poop fairy. Tasked with the proper distribution of excrement in the natural world and cleaning up horrible messes humanity leaves behind, it’s a job no one asks for and no one desires.
While it would be easy to play this concept purely for cheap laughs, the chef instead focuses more on the comedy of the situations presented and the interplay of Fecana and the rest of her team of fairies. That being said, you can’t approach the subject of an excrement engineer without the occasional poop joke but they are properly spaced out to avoid cheapening the jokes. I definitely got some good laughs and more than a few smiles.
The strength of the meal is naturally in that humor and the characters. The cast is kept appropriately tight, fitting the length of the piece and allowing them to be developed enough to fit their purpose in the story. If I have any criticism, it is in that some of the plot is a bit formulaic, with several turns and twists that most diners will see ahead of time. Still, as a character-centric tale, this doesn’t ruin the meal at all.
To sum it up, Out of Ordure is a fluffy, comedy-filled pastry of a tale, a bit by-the-numbers but the fun prevails over it! If you are looking for a fun, comedic fantasy or a quick, enjoyable read, definitely check this one out. If you’re in the mood for a deep, serious piece, you might want to save this one for when you’re in a lighter mood.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A fluffy, comedy-filled pastry of a tale, a bit by-the-numbers but the fun prevails over it!)
April 30, 2017
The Twelfth Labour, J.B. Garner
Another wonderful, insightful review for The Twelfth Labor, the last book of Three Seconds to Legend! Thanks to RedHeadedBookLover and enjoy!
Hardened by a gauntlet of challenges, wrestler Leilana Ito is a rookie no longer as she nears her ultimate goal: completing her labors and winning freedom from the Von Richter sisters, mistresses of the wrestling world. Free from their vicious trap in Las Vegas with the help of her newfound love, veteran Dana Harding, Leilana must gather old friends and new allies alike to prepare for the final confrontation with the Von Richters.
But the momentary calm only means the final storm will be that much fiercer! Forced apart once more, Leilana and Dana each face a fresh gauntlet of trials both at home and abroad. Surprising new enemies, hidden agents, devious traps, and the return of an old nemesis in the ring threaten to put a stop to this wrestling rebellion before it can even begin.
Can Dana win out over her aging body to stay strong for her…
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April 26, 2017
Convention News: On the Ground in Kansas City! a.k.a. Planet Comic Con 2017!
Good news, everyone!
You can see me at Bard’s Tower alongside all my Push Chronicle books this weekend at Planet Comic Con in Kansas City! Buy some books from me or any of the other amazing authors on hand, get autographs and pictures, and enjoy a chat while you’re at it!
In addition, I’ll be flying a solo table at Mobicon 2017 on Memorial Day weekend in Mobile, Alabama. Hope to see y’all at either or (dare I say?!) both conventions! More news to come about new books, releases, and conventions in the weeks ahead!
April 23, 2017
The Tale of the Tape, J.B. Garner
RedHeadedBooklover tackles the second book of Three Seconds to Legend, The Tale of the Tape! Again, I’m thankful for the thoughts, insights, and kind words!
On the eve of their victory over the most powerful family in wrestling history, everything like it would be perfect to Leilana Ito and Dana Harding. Nothing is ever constant in the tumultuous world of pro wrestling however! That perfect ending was snatched away when Leilana disappeared, forced into another one of the Von Richter family’s sick games. Desperate to find her, Dana starts on a country-wide search, spurred on not only by friendship, but something stronger: love.
Not knowing the depths of feeling her friend has for her, Leilana finds herself facing the gauntlet of rigged matches, hidden spies, and psychological torture as a ‘guest’ of the Von Richters in Las Vegas. Forced to compete in their personal league in a city where anything goes and no one asks any questions, Leilana puts it all on the line in a ring with few rules and every chance of not…
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April 21, 2017
Starving Review: Witchy Eye by D. J. Butler
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Witchy Eye by D. J. Butler (Amazon, Goodreads)
They say that every literary recipe has been made, that every menu theme has been explored, and that’s true. But as they say, the devil really is in the details. While the recipes and themes have been told, there are always new ingredients and new elements that can inject a fresh, delicious filling to an old theme. Often, in modern fiction, we do this by fusing genres and recipes, taking elements from a variety of meals and turning it into a fresh one. So, after that long preamble, we get to today’s meal, Witchy Eye, an alternate-history epic fantasy 19th-century historical fiction tale by D.J. Butler. Does Mr. Butler find new life with this fusion dish or does it fall like a bad souffle?
Before we prime our pistols, let’s recite the oath of the Starving Reviewer:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
To figure that out, let’s focus our culinary dissection on some of the key elements of the recipe, as on all minor (but important) points of wordsmithing, the chef performs an exemplary job. So instead of worrying about editing, proofing, and general wordcraft, our attention is going to center on three critical aspects: world-building (a key ingredient to any fantastical world), pacing (a common stumbling block for the ‘epic’ writer), and characters (the core ingredient of any tale).
In terms of world-building, well, I confess that I must lower my chef’s hat to Mr. Butler. Witchy is based, as noted above, in an altered 19th century America. Naturally, this has been done before, but not in so drastic a fashion. As opposed to the usual ‘one moment in time’ change, this world is one that has seen a cascade of changes, incredibly well-thought out ones. Every fantasy element is intricately woven into this changed history, with time take to look at not only surface changes, but deep alterations of culture, racial dynamics, and religion. The amount of research had to have been staggering and the end result is a world that is both familiar yet new and fantastic at the same time. Extra bonus points for a delightfully tasty magic system that both aligns with the idea of natural law while leaving layers of creamy mystery for the future.
Now all those fluffy layers of world-building cake would be wasted if the plot wasn’t well-told or, more importantly for our analysis, well-paced. When serving up such an immense cake, it’s easy to wind up adding too many layers, mixing too many ingredients, until what should be a delectable dessert transforms into a throat-clogging lump of undigestable sweetness. To make it simple. more is not always better and the need to transfer so much information can turn a well-paced plot into a sluggish plodding trip filled with info-dump after info-dump. Again, Mr. Butler dodges this pitfall. There is always forward momentum in Witchy, even in its slow moments of rest and retrospection, and every bit of the narrative works towards pushing the story forward or adding necessary time to let the characters breathe and develop.
Which segues us nicely into our last point: the characters. I just recently posted on Facebook that the measure of a good book is coming to relate to the characters to such a degree that you find yourself with tears at their misfortunes and smiles at their triumphs. So many literary sins can be forgiven if a chef can deliver that critical ingredient, to make me as a reader care for his/her characters. In this sense, Mr. Butler delivers on every possible front. The trials and tribulations of Witchy’s characters brought me to tears multiple times and delivered as many triumphant smiles. Really, what more needs to be said?
To sum it all up, Witchy Eye is an epic flintlock fantasy that delivers rich, flavorful characters and adventure with every bite! If you have any love of fantasy, alternate history tales, or any kind of epic adventure, you must read this one. I’d also recommend this one to anyone interested in American history and folk tales, as Mr. Butler does some fascinating things with his alternate takes on many famous and obscure figures. Enjoy, my literary foodies, as this is a good one! Until next time, good reading, good writing, and good luck!
FINAL VERDICT: ***** (An epic flintlock fantasy that delivers rich, flavorful characters and adventure with every bite!)
April 16, 2017
The Opening Bell, J.B. Garner
It’s always great to get a glowing review like this one for The Opening Bell! Thank you, RedHeadedBookLover!
Leilana Ito always knew her family had a long history in the wrestling world but she never knew how much had been kept secret from her. When Leilana wanted to continue her family’s legacy in the ring, she was shocked when her father adamantly refused to let her proceed. Unable to deny the fighting spirit in her heart, Leilana did the unthinkable and defied her father’s wishes, having no idea what terrible series of events she had begun.
Dana Harding was in the twilight of her wrestling career, just biding for a last chance at glory in the regional circuit. Despite juggling two children as a single mother and the hard life of the road, Dana had one last chance to win championship gold and thought she would do anything to attain that. Every dirty trick in the book was on the table, as long as it took place in…
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April 12, 2017
General News: Shaking off the Dust a.k.a. A Hopeful Return to Your Regularly Scheduled Programming
It’s been a bit, hasn’t it?
Well, let’s just say that things have turned into an insane asylum post-Pensacon. A good kind of insanity to be fair … a manic rush to finish a deadline, dealing with a set-up for something huge around the corner, and prepping for what looks to be a busy convention season ahead. There are new projects brewing, bits of which I hope to share with you all soon. Sometime in this mess, I also need to actually, you know, read a book or two for those of you waiting for more reviews.
To make the announcements, though, I have just recently put out a new book, another co-authored project with J. A. Cipriano, and my first toedip into the LitRPG genre. Also, once again, I am honored to be appearing at the end of this month at the Bard’s Tower mobile bookstore, this time at Planet Comic Con in Kansas City.
More news and specifics to come!
Until next time (hopefully far sooner than last), good reading, good writing, and good luck!
February 23, 2017
Indefatigable by J.B. Garner (@JBGarner_Writes) – Review
Another greatly appreciated review for Indefatigable! Thanks, David, for your insights and thoughts!
Title – Indefatigable (The Push Chronicles #2)
Author – J.B. Garner
Genre – Superhero/Fantasy
Length – 167 Pages
Publication – Sept 2014
My Rating –4/5 Stars
Synopsis
Three months ago, the Whiteout changed the very nature of reality across the globe, spawning in its wake superhuman beings, both good and evil. For every day since then, Irene Roman, armed only with a strange immunity from the powers of the ‘Pushed’, has donned the guise of Indomitable to try to reverse that change and protect the normal people from the worst excesses of the Pushed. She may never have wanted to be a hero, but she had no choice in the mater.
Unfortunately, Irene is still only mortal. Her never-ending duties have pushed her to a breaking point. Now, what began as a simple kidnapping investigation catalyzes overnight into the worst threat the city of Atlanta has had to face. An unholy plague, old enemies…
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