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The Scars of Hiraeth #1
The Return of Abaddon: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Series
THE RETURN OF ABADDON won FIRST PLACE in three different categories (Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Metaphysical Fantasy) in the 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio International FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS!
Wilder’s epic journey began at what almost was the end.
Sprawled out on the ground in disbelief and staring at the burning wreckage of the helicopter, he sees his mother’s lifeless eyes staring back at him. As he lies there grief-stricken, something strange happens. Wilder suddenly finds himself somewhere else, lying in a dirt circle surrounded by large stone pillars.
No longer on Earth, he’s told of a prophecy that changes everything. Abaddon, an ancient being who came to conquer this world 2,000 years earlier, was defeated and driven back to his home by the mighty phoenixes. But he’s back once again, and Wilder is Hiraeth’s only hope.
A pair with unique magic will befriend him. A royal guard captain will protect him. Assassins will try to kill him. Wilder departs on a desperate quest to search for allies before Abaddon realizes he’s still alive--and sets out to destroy him and his new world.
Wilder’s epic journey began at what almost was the end.
Sprawled out on the ground in disbelief and staring at the burning wreckage of the helicopter, he sees his mother’s lifeless eyes staring back at him. As he lies there grief-stricken, something strange happens. Wilder suddenly finds himself somewhere else, lying in a dirt circle surrounded by large stone pillars.
No longer on Earth, he’s told of a prophecy that changes everything. Abaddon, an ancient being who came to conquer this world 2,000 years earlier, was defeated and driven back to his home by the mighty phoenixes. But he’s back once again, and Wilder is Hiraeth’s only hope.
A pair with unique magic will befriend him. A royal guard captain will protect him. Assassins will try to kill him. Wilder departs on a desperate quest to search for allies before Abaddon realizes he’s still alive--and sets out to destroy him and his new world.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2022
2 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Peter Mooren
4 books4 followersPeter Mooren is the award-winning author of the series The Scars of Hiraeth.
Pete’s passion and wit are nearly always on display. Another way to put that is he can be a bit intense and fiery, but it’s offset by a smashingly remarkable sense of humor (some might make the dastardly claim that dad jokes aren’t funny, but those people would be wrong). Whether resulting from his hearty laugh that “the entire neighborhood can hear” or an allegedly frequent colorful expression, Pete’s wife has been known to turn red from embarrassment on occasion.
Born and raised just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Pete speaks Packers and Upper-Midwesterner fluently. Thanks in part to his decade spent in the Army after high school, he’s lived in many places around the country and world since then. But his favorite, by far, was in Costa Rica during his post-Army days. In a tiny Pacific coastal town with no vehicle, Pete and his family embraced the Pura Vida life. The beach, the ocean, the sunsets, and the Ticos were unforgettable, and it was the perfect place for him to begin pursuing his dream of writing.
Pete currently resides in northeast Florida with his wife, two sons, and daughter.
Book 1, The Return of Abaddon won First Place in three categories (Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Metaphysical Fantasy) in the Speak Up Talk Radio 2022 International Firebird Book Awards! Book 2, A Surprising Ally, was released in November of 2022. Look for Book 3 in early spring, 2024.
Pete’s passion and wit are nearly always on display. Another way to put that is he can be a bit intense and fiery, but it’s offset by a smashingly remarkable sense of humor (some might make the dastardly claim that dad jokes aren’t funny, but those people would be wrong). Whether resulting from his hearty laugh that “the entire neighborhood can hear” or an allegedly frequent colorful expression, Pete’s wife has been known to turn red from embarrassment on occasion.
Born and raised just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Pete speaks Packers and Upper-Midwesterner fluently. Thanks in part to his decade spent in the Army after high school, he’s lived in many places around the country and world since then. But his favorite, by far, was in Costa Rica during his post-Army days. In a tiny Pacific coastal town with no vehicle, Pete and his family embraced the Pura Vida life. The beach, the ocean, the sunsets, and the Ticos were unforgettable, and it was the perfect place for him to begin pursuing his dream of writing.
Pete currently resides in northeast Florida with his wife, two sons, and daughter.
Book 1, The Return of Abaddon won First Place in three categories (Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Metaphysical Fantasy) in the Speak Up Talk Radio 2022 International Firebird Book Awards! Book 2, A Surprising Ally, was released in November of 2022. Look for Book 3 in early spring, 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 14, 2022
A surprisingly good first entry fantasy book for a brand new author
I get reached out to rather frequently by authors who want me to review their books, and I nearly always say no. But after speaking with this author and reading up about the book, even though there were very few reviews it did pique my interest so I decided to give it a go - but my expectations were quite low due to similar experiences being negative ones.
Fortunately, this book was surprisingly good and I am glad I went through with it. The beginning of the book is a bit shaky and I almost decided to quit on it due to how massive the info dump was within the first few chapters (I prefer a slower burn personally), but once the book got its legs it was quite entertaining and kept me hooked.
The action scenes in particular are well done, and it's a very fun adventure accompanied by a significant level of magic. While I think the author could (and likely will) improve their writing quality over time, the story is engrossing and well worth the read.
One small note before I finish - but this book came without the first several pages due to a publishing error. If you get this book and the same happens to you, just shoot the author a message on goodreads and he will send you the missing pages in a text file.
I get reached out to rather frequently by authors who want me to review their books, and I nearly always say no. But after speaking with this author and reading up about the book, even though there were very few reviews it did pique my interest so I decided to give it a go - but my expectations were quite low due to similar experiences being negative ones.
Fortunately, this book was surprisingly good and I am glad I went through with it. The beginning of the book is a bit shaky and I almost decided to quit on it due to how massive the info dump was within the first few chapters (I prefer a slower burn personally), but once the book got its legs it was quite entertaining and kept me hooked.
The action scenes in particular are well done, and it's a very fun adventure accompanied by a significant level of magic. While I think the author could (and likely will) improve their writing quality over time, the story is engrossing and well worth the read.
One small note before I finish - but this book came without the first several pages due to a publishing error. If you get this book and the same happens to you, just shoot the author a message on goodreads and he will send you the missing pages in a text file.
July 25, 2023
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
**
Wilder Williams is pulled into the world of Hiraeth, where he discovers he is part of a prophecy that will save the land from Abaddon- whose return is imminent.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good old-fashioned portal fantasy. This one had some neat elements because there wasn’t just “our world” where Wilder grew up, but also other worlds- including Abaddon’s (whose world is much more advanced than Hiraeth).
The Return of Abaddon did start a little rough for me. There’s quite a lot to set in place - people, places, and events- including a history of Abaddon’s previous foiled attempt to conquer Hiraeth, along with the events that trigger the prophecy and Wilder’s arrival.
These events moving very quickly. I think this was mostly to get everything set-up so we could get to the meat of the story but it did result in a lot of information to absorb in the beginning. It probably felt like more too because of getting Abaddon’s pov. the filling in the blank’s kind of stuff that you’d usually get, is more in-depth through his eyes. I did like getting to see him setting things into motion but I think it needed more balance.
The story strengthens once we get that groundwork out of the way, and as we meet new characters and learn about the world and its magic- things become a lot more interesting. Especially once they start experimenting with their magic and the varying ways that it can be used apart and jointly. There were some creative and cool uses of their gifts not only for defeating the bad guys but also for problem solving their way out of trouble... I really enjoyed those parts.
While I liked all the characters, I found the most interesting character to be Prince Xane. His family swore fealty to Abaddon some generations back. Xane is caught between having to honor that oath, while trying to find a way to foil his plans and kill Abaddon once and for all.
I like a character that keeps me curious and a lot of that attraction to his character for me, was because he declares his intentions to rid the world of Abaddon at such a young age (11 when we meet him) leaving me wondering will he follow through, or would the death of his father and his early rise to the crown change his intentions? There are a lot of years between that young boy and the adulthood to find he enjoys the rewards of having power over people, more than the rewards of justice for them.
Also, Abaddon is not an easy guy to fool and wondering how will Xane keep this desire out of his head and heart, in his presence was always at the top of my mind. I could have easily read a lot more about this whole storyline.
There are a ton of cool magical gadgets and abilities that just made everything- especially the battles, a lot of fun. The story has plenty of friendships and the characters have a bit of that noblebright slant, either that, or I read too much grimdark because everyone just felt so nice and civilised- even the bad guys.
The story answers a few questions before the end, but this is definitely a stepping off place for a series.
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
**
Wilder Williams is pulled into the world of Hiraeth, where he discovers he is part of a prophecy that will save the land from Abaddon- whose return is imminent.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good old-fashioned portal fantasy. This one had some neat elements because there wasn’t just “our world” where Wilder grew up, but also other worlds- including Abaddon’s (whose world is much more advanced than Hiraeth).
The Return of Abaddon did start a little rough for me. There’s quite a lot to set in place - people, places, and events- including a history of Abaddon’s previous foiled attempt to conquer Hiraeth, along with the events that trigger the prophecy and Wilder’s arrival.
These events moving very quickly. I think this was mostly to get everything set-up so we could get to the meat of the story but it did result in a lot of information to absorb in the beginning. It probably felt like more too because of getting Abaddon’s pov. the filling in the blank’s kind of stuff that you’d usually get, is more in-depth through his eyes. I did like getting to see him setting things into motion but I think it needed more balance.
The story strengthens once we get that groundwork out of the way, and as we meet new characters and learn about the world and its magic- things become a lot more interesting. Especially once they start experimenting with their magic and the varying ways that it can be used apart and jointly. There were some creative and cool uses of their gifts not only for defeating the bad guys but also for problem solving their way out of trouble... I really enjoyed those parts.
While I liked all the characters, I found the most interesting character to be Prince Xane. His family swore fealty to Abaddon some generations back. Xane is caught between having to honor that oath, while trying to find a way to foil his plans and kill Abaddon once and for all.
I like a character that keeps me curious and a lot of that attraction to his character for me, was because he declares his intentions to rid the world of Abaddon at such a young age (11 when we meet him) leaving me wondering will he follow through, or would the death of his father and his early rise to the crown change his intentions? There are a lot of years between that young boy and the adulthood to find he enjoys the rewards of having power over people, more than the rewards of justice for them.
Also, Abaddon is not an easy guy to fool and wondering how will Xane keep this desire out of his head and heart, in his presence was always at the top of my mind. I could have easily read a lot more about this whole storyline.
There are a ton of cool magical gadgets and abilities that just made everything- especially the battles, a lot of fun. The story has plenty of friendships and the characters have a bit of that noblebright slant, either that, or I read too much grimdark because everyone just felt so nice and civilised- even the bad guys.
The story answers a few questions before the end, but this is definitely a stepping off place for a series.
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
June 10, 2022
It is an excellent fantasy fiction. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series. It is a well-presented narrative of Wilder Williams and his epic journey to preserve the realm of Hiraeth from the giant monster Abaddon.
King Xane was my favorite character, and I appreciated how his unexpected acts moved the plot along. The reader sees the depths of his dark side and the extensive sacrifices he has made in his 2000-year absence, and it soon convinces me that Wilder faces a significant challenge before Hiraeth can be at peace.
Mooren successfully sets the tone for the book by establishing a proper connection between Wilder and his band of mystical users and soldiers, defining the kingdoms' motivations and illustrating Abaddon's immense power. Wilder and Ethan maintained the plot humorous with their shenanigans, while Iris maintained the squad engaged. Myra and Tahlen gave the group an aura of wisdom and knowledge, and I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional maturity of each character.
Whether it was castle touring around Hiraeth's kingdoms with Wilder, Iris, and Ethan or vortex jumping with Abaddon and his terrifying henchmen, this narrative made me feel like I was a part of the adventure. The excitement never stops during the trip, and there are plenty of spectacular and magical fight scenes.
The dramatic ending of this book makes me optimistic that the second book in the series will be much more entertaining, with just as many drama and magical adventures. This book is for readers who appreciate journey narratives filled with sorcery, experience, and fun.
King Xane was my favorite character, and I appreciated how his unexpected acts moved the plot along. The reader sees the depths of his dark side and the extensive sacrifices he has made in his 2000-year absence, and it soon convinces me that Wilder faces a significant challenge before Hiraeth can be at peace.
Mooren successfully sets the tone for the book by establishing a proper connection between Wilder and his band of mystical users and soldiers, defining the kingdoms' motivations and illustrating Abaddon's immense power. Wilder and Ethan maintained the plot humorous with their shenanigans, while Iris maintained the squad engaged. Myra and Tahlen gave the group an aura of wisdom and knowledge, and I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional maturity of each character.
Whether it was castle touring around Hiraeth's kingdoms with Wilder, Iris, and Ethan or vortex jumping with Abaddon and his terrifying henchmen, this narrative made me feel like I was a part of the adventure. The excitement never stops during the trip, and there are plenty of spectacular and magical fight scenes.
The dramatic ending of this book makes me optimistic that the second book in the series will be much more entertaining, with just as many drama and magical adventures. This book is for readers who appreciate journey narratives filled with sorcery, experience, and fun.
May 26, 2022
Review :
The Return of Abaddon is the first book in The scars of Hiraeth series that encompasses Wilder's life turning upside down as fate takes to a world filled with magic and duel along side with mayhem and evil.
This follows Wilder who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He was taking a trip to Hawaii with his mother, courtesy of his friends. Wilder shares a bit about his childhood and memories.
What starts out as a normal trip quickly spiral out of control as during their sightseeing, their helicopter crashes and his mother dies in that. But that's not all, all of a sudden he finds himself in a place called Hiraeth, a realm that's quite similar to Earth but not completely.
As the revelations begins to pour in, Wilder's reality alters and becomes somewhat complicated. When the 2000 year ago, Abaddon wrecked havoc and decimated everything, the phoenixes told the reigns of putting it back to where it belonged. However, Abaddon was by then went surprisingly disappeared.
A grand prophecy and destiny awaits him and this time it won't stay under the wraps.
A fabulously well-written Metaphysical fantasy fiction that you won't be available to put down. With unbeatable action scenes and power- punched perilous undertakings, follow the magic venture as it brings out the different aspects of plot such as different kingdoms and agendas comes to light. The world building is richly enticing while the magical elements were thoroughly explored without overpowering the narration and character arcs. The book ended on a major cliffhanger and it makes me really exciting to read the next installment in the series.
A total must read for all the fantasy readers. It's unique premise will sure engage you in an addictive reading experience.
The Return of Abaddon is the first book in The scars of Hiraeth series that encompasses Wilder's life turning upside down as fate takes to a world filled with magic and duel along side with mayhem and evil.
This follows Wilder who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He was taking a trip to Hawaii with his mother, courtesy of his friends. Wilder shares a bit about his childhood and memories.
What starts out as a normal trip quickly spiral out of control as during their sightseeing, their helicopter crashes and his mother dies in that. But that's not all, all of a sudden he finds himself in a place called Hiraeth, a realm that's quite similar to Earth but not completely.
As the revelations begins to pour in, Wilder's reality alters and becomes somewhat complicated. When the 2000 year ago, Abaddon wrecked havoc and decimated everything, the phoenixes told the reigns of putting it back to where it belonged. However, Abaddon was by then went surprisingly disappeared.
A grand prophecy and destiny awaits him and this time it won't stay under the wraps.
A fabulously well-written Metaphysical fantasy fiction that you won't be available to put down. With unbeatable action scenes and power- punched perilous undertakings, follow the magic venture as it brings out the different aspects of plot such as different kingdoms and agendas comes to light. The world building is richly enticing while the magical elements were thoroughly explored without overpowering the narration and character arcs. The book ended on a major cliffhanger and it makes me really exciting to read the next installment in the series.
A total must read for all the fantasy readers. It's unique premise will sure engage you in an addictive reading experience.
August 10, 2022
This book is seriously SO GOOD. I haven't been able to really immerse myself in a book lately or have the energy to read, but that was not the case at all with this book. It's so well written and such an exciting read that I felt pulled out of my current reading slump. To say this story was a page-turner is inadequate. The story hooks you in from the beginning and doesn't let go. I have to say I haven't read a genuinely unique book in such a long time. The beginning was a bit slow, but I liked that about it. It gave so much detail, but never too much that it got boring and dragged on.
The world of Hiraeth is so enthralling and beautifully written. The mystery and adventure in this story were such a breath of fresh air, I genuinely fell in love from the very beginning. Unexpected Magic was an unexpected gem! This book was borderline perfect. The writing style is phenomenal. There are so many characters and each character has their own personality and voice that comes through so well in the dialogue. The only little thing that bugged me was I would love a little more flesh when introducing new people in book.
The pacing of the story is excellent; there wasn't a dull moment. I kept trying to guess where things were heading but quickly realized this was not a story that I should try to guess the ending. I just wanted to read and find out what would happen next! I finished this in one sitting and I'm already anticipating the sequel.
I'm not here to give away any of the details, but I highly recommend this book about an intriguing world written by a talented author. You will enjoy your time with these amazing characters and their adventures. This book is perfect for any reader who enjoys fantasy! I cannot recommend this book enough.
The world of Hiraeth is so enthralling and beautifully written. The mystery and adventure in this story were such a breath of fresh air, I genuinely fell in love from the very beginning. Unexpected Magic was an unexpected gem! This book was borderline perfect. The writing style is phenomenal. There are so many characters and each character has their own personality and voice that comes through so well in the dialogue. The only little thing that bugged me was I would love a little more flesh when introducing new people in book.
The pacing of the story is excellent; there wasn't a dull moment. I kept trying to guess where things were heading but quickly realized this was not a story that I should try to guess the ending. I just wanted to read and find out what would happen next! I finished this in one sitting and I'm already anticipating the sequel.
I'm not here to give away any of the details, but I highly recommend this book about an intriguing world written by a talented author. You will enjoy your time with these amazing characters and their adventures. This book is perfect for any reader who enjoys fantasy! I cannot recommend this book enough.
May 24, 2022
Book: The Return of Abaddon (The Scars of Hiraeth Book 1)
Author: Peter Mooren
Review: When unfortunate circumstances lead to Wilder ending up in an unknown place, he was surprised at first but took all that was coming his way head on. He learns that he was no longer at earth, and also finds out about a prophecy that talks about the situations changing, and apparently, he has some role to play in it too. In this strange new place, he is to come face to face with Abaddon, an ancient being who was previously defeated by the phoenixes 2,000 years ago. His return is not good news and Wilder is the last ray of hope for Hiraeth. Will he be able to protect hiraeth or Abaddon will come out victorious?
The book is a wonderful fantasy adventure, set in a totally different space than earth. The plot is very unique, and the storytelling, so engaging that it will be impossible for the readers to put the book down.
The book is intriguing, and very interesting. The cover of the book is also very fascinating and eye catching. The author has done a very well job writing the characters and weaving their stories together. It is only the first book, and I can’t wait to find out what happens further in the series.
Author: Peter Mooren
Review: When unfortunate circumstances lead to Wilder ending up in an unknown place, he was surprised at first but took all that was coming his way head on. He learns that he was no longer at earth, and also finds out about a prophecy that talks about the situations changing, and apparently, he has some role to play in it too. In this strange new place, he is to come face to face with Abaddon, an ancient being who was previously defeated by the phoenixes 2,000 years ago. His return is not good news and Wilder is the last ray of hope for Hiraeth. Will he be able to protect hiraeth or Abaddon will come out victorious?
The book is a wonderful fantasy adventure, set in a totally different space than earth. The plot is very unique, and the storytelling, so engaging that it will be impossible for the readers to put the book down.
The book is intriguing, and very interesting. The cover of the book is also very fascinating and eye catching. The author has done a very well job writing the characters and weaving their stories together. It is only the first book, and I can’t wait to find out what happens further in the series.
July 8, 2022
Action & Magic
What a creative idea for a story. From the title I was intrigued to find out what that actually meant. From the beginning, this fantastic novel captured my interest. I was immediately drawn to this wonderfully presented epic journey of Wilder Williams. Wilder was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis which was really the bad news for him but I was so curious to know his story. The story started with his detailed backstory. I really liked the start where Wilder's mom shared everything about his Dad which was mysterious and exciting to know. The main story started when Wilder's helicopter crash dropped him in Hiraeth, which was all planned but Wilder was unaware about all this.
Action, Adventure and Magic, all three together made it an interesting read. The richness of the characters and the world in which they live are brought to life beautifully by the author, who has a keen eye for descriptive details.
I gave this novel 5-stars because the story was thoroughly engrossing; I could not put it down because I needed to know if Wilder was going to accomplish his mission. I feel that it would definitely make an intriguing series. Grab a copy and enjoy!
What a creative idea for a story. From the title I was intrigued to find out what that actually meant. From the beginning, this fantastic novel captured my interest. I was immediately drawn to this wonderfully presented epic journey of Wilder Williams. Wilder was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis which was really the bad news for him but I was so curious to know his story. The story started with his detailed backstory. I really liked the start where Wilder's mom shared everything about his Dad which was mysterious and exciting to know. The main story started when Wilder's helicopter crash dropped him in Hiraeth, which was all planned but Wilder was unaware about all this.
Action, Adventure and Magic, all three together made it an interesting read. The richness of the characters and the world in which they live are brought to life beautifully by the author, who has a keen eye for descriptive details.
I gave this novel 5-stars because the story was thoroughly engrossing; I could not put it down because I needed to know if Wilder was going to accomplish his mission. I feel that it would definitely make an intriguing series. Grab a copy and enjoy!
May 30, 2022
Book: The Return of Abaddon (The Scars of Hiraeth Book 1)
Author: Peter Mooren
Review: A grieving man Wilder, after the unfortunate death of his mother in a helicopter wreck, suddenly finds himself in a strange place. No longer at earth, he’s in a place where he’s surrounded by large stone pillars and dirt. In this new place he learns of the existence of Abaddon, a mysterious an ancient being, who had previously come to conquer this land 2,000 years ago, but now has returned to do that once more. Wilder, is the only person who can stop him, but how, and what is this prophecy that has made Hiraeth place their trust on Wilder? Find out in the return of Abaddon, The Scars of Hiraeth book 1.
This is an amazing adventure of a book. The protagonist after finding himself estranged in an unknown place, sparks up a few friendships with the folks in this land. He will survive the attempts on his life, and try his best to succeed in his quest that will set this place that has now become his reality.
The book is very intriguing and the plot is very unique. The cover of the book is very fascinating and it is also depicting of the fact that Abaddon was previously defeated by Phoenixes and it will take someone with the same kind of valor to drive him out again. Will wilder rise above from hos ashes, that will be for readers to see for themselves. A truly engaging story. I can’t wait for the next part.
Author: Peter Mooren
Review: A grieving man Wilder, after the unfortunate death of his mother in a helicopter wreck, suddenly finds himself in a strange place. No longer at earth, he’s in a place where he’s surrounded by large stone pillars and dirt. In this new place he learns of the existence of Abaddon, a mysterious an ancient being, who had previously come to conquer this land 2,000 years ago, but now has returned to do that once more. Wilder, is the only person who can stop him, but how, and what is this prophecy that has made Hiraeth place their trust on Wilder? Find out in the return of Abaddon, The Scars of Hiraeth book 1.
This is an amazing adventure of a book. The protagonist after finding himself estranged in an unknown place, sparks up a few friendships with the folks in this land. He will survive the attempts on his life, and try his best to succeed in his quest that will set this place that has now become his reality.
The book is very intriguing and the plot is very unique. The cover of the book is very fascinating and it is also depicting of the fact that Abaddon was previously defeated by Phoenixes and it will take someone with the same kind of valor to drive him out again. Will wilder rise above from hos ashes, that will be for readers to see for themselves. A truly engaging story. I can’t wait for the next part.
May 17, 2023
Intriguing storyline and world. Love the characters, especially the dynamics of Iris and Ethan. King Xane is also fascinating. Well-written with flowing dialogue, and the big action sequence was very well done and not overly violent or gory. Love this story, and excited to see where the next book leads. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews