Tag: action

Review: The Festival of Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Frame

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

He was a big bad wolf, and he left Fairyland in 1929 to go work as a private detective in Los Angeles. He’s got a new case he doesn’t want; finding the kidnapped son of a local crime lord. He’s got a new partner he doesn’t trust; a chaotic female gangster who likes dames, booze, and bullets. Those are just the start of his problems. There are monsters in his way. And not all of them are human.

Favorite Lines:

“The love of my family sustains me.”

“She enjoys life too much to be worrying about heaven.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I received the request for this book, I thought it sounded really intriguing. A spin off of a classic fairy tale featuring the big bad wolf as a private detective; what’s not to love? This story follows the big bad wolf – or BB – as a private detective in LA and he isn’t as big or bad as the fairy tales make him seem; at least not to those on his good side. From the first paragraph, I knew this was going to be a good read. I felt pulled in by the conversational flow of the writing and was hooked before I knew it.

I thought the premise of this story was really interesting, I enjoyed the plot as well as the creative characters that were brought to life on the page. Frame did a great job at combining culture, fairytales, and a variety of themes in an entertaining tale that had me chuckling throughout.

Summary:

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Don’t be thrown off or misled by the cover, if you like a twist on classic fairy tales, action, adventure, and/or cop dramas (or in this case private detective dramas), then this book could be for you! Happy reading!

The Festival of Hungry Ghosts

 

Review: Freaks by Tam H. Athot

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

“Syranda and magic are an interconnected tree with the same root, with many branches, and beautiful fruits in many shapes and colours.”

 Syranda is a hidden country whose peaceful, democratic system drifting almost unnoticed into dictatorship. An integral part of the people of Syranda are individuals with special skills who have been a great asset to the country’s prosperous development throughout history. But in the last decade something has changed, and democracy has slowly eroded, slipping into dictatorship, led by Angelus, the Minister of Defence. The main pillar of the dictatorship’s construction was the production of an enemy image. Anyone with ability began to be excluded and eventually persecuted.

 Angelus’ daughter Vitu was also born with a special gift, which her father tried to hide from the world. When Vitu became a teenager, she had to face the fact that her father was more concerned with serving the regime and his own ambition than her life, and she too was forced to flee. In her search for a way out, she learned a lot about her abilities, her fellow human beings and herself.

 “Many people think that dictatorship will come suddenly, spectacularly, with a great blare of trumpets and horns, and that everyone will notice it, that one sacred moment when the trumpets blare and the drums beat, and a loudspeaker shouts, “Attention, attention, the dictatorship has arrived, the dictatorship is here, everyone should lock themselves in their houses, because the oppression has arrived, from now on it’s what I, the dictator with the big hat and the red nose, dictate.”

 “The prey within us dies tonight and at dawn the predator will awake along with the sun!”

Favorite Lines:

“The world you live in is more complex and complicated than you think…”

“At that moment, two old, kind-hearted people fell in love again, more than they had many decades before when they first met.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

First, I want to give kudos to Athot. Athot is Hungarian so this book has been translated to English and that in itself is impressive. There were some choppy parts due to the translation but I don’t think it distracted from the overall story. The story follows a teenage girl who has superpowers in a world where those with abilities are persecuted. I thought this was a very unique world and a breath of fresh air from some of the other books that I have read. 

There are some political metaphors throughout this series as Athot uses this book as an outlet and to make a statement on the status of our planet and the direction we seem to be navigating towards so be on the look out for some hidden messages/parallels throughout the series. In addition to those undercurrents, there are also several questions raised including whether evil can be hereditary, how dictatorships come to power, and how people get caught up on the wrong side of things.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was an interesting idea and Athot brought a vision to life in a creative way. If you like supernatural/fantasy themed books with touches of politics and psychology, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Freaks

 

Review: Six Moons, Seven Gods by Robert A. Walker

~ likelystory18 ~ 3 Comments

Synopsis:

“One must be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be one’s self.”

The skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon, but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding daughter, they must turn to the League of Assassins for assistance. Meanwhile, retired royal guard Rolft Aerns returns to the palace of King Axil with an old score to settle. When they all cross paths–and swords–in the dark shadows of Fostead’s south end, nothing is as it seems and the murder count rises quickly.
The long fingers of the Guild reach everywhere, and one overly ambitious thief is all it takes to spark a chain of events that will haunt the world of Baelon for many years to come.

Six Moons, Seven Gods is book one in The Legends of Baelon.

Favorite Lines:

“One most be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be oneself.”

“Death waits for us all, but it is far less patient with some.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

It has been awhile since I have read a fantasy as intricate as something like this (other than Sarah J. Maas’ universes). I’ve watched Game of Thrones and such but I never read the books so this would have to be my first fantasy novel of this nature.

The first book in The Legends of Baelon series, this book is full of action, adventure, betrayal, friendship, vengeance, and loyalty. This story isn’t really tied to one set protagonist as there are many but is about Baelon as a whole. We are introduced to many characters and plots as we jump to different perspectives in this creative world that Walker has imagined. Think Game of Thrones meets Wheel of Time meets Lord of the Rings.

I thought this was a really creative book and Walker did a wonderful job at creating an immersive world full of descriptive characters and settings not to mention the unique mythology throughout. I found this to be a story that had me invested from start to finish and I could most definitely see this being a TV show someday.

Summary:

Overall, if you like fantasy, action, adventure, and political intrigue then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Six Moons, Seven Gods here

 

Review: Dissonance: Volume I: Reality by Aaron Ryan

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

There are some rules you never forget. Above all else, whatever you do, you never look directly at a gorgon.
Now, plug your ears… because the war for humanity has begun.

Sergeant Cameron “Jet” Shipley was there when they first arrived in 2026. For 16 long years, he learned to hide. To never make a sound. Learning the most important rule of all about the gorgons: You just… don’t… look. The year is now 2042, and humanity is eking out an existence in the shadows. Shipley and his team are sent out on a recon mission with developments that may alter the trajectory of Earth’s fate… and his own. Joined by newcomers Bassett and Trudy, Cameron and his brother Rut will have to contend with a terrifying alien species that has annihilated eighty-five percent of mankind. Will his mission lead him on a slippery slope of discovery that demands accountability? Or will it plunge humanity, and everything in it, into further dissonance?

Favorite Lines:

“The only thing worse than being angry with someone is having nowhere to go to get away from the person that you’re angry with.”

“Reality can be pretty damn painful.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I grew up watching pretty much anything science fiction with my dad so when I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to give it a read and I was not disappointed. I think Ryan hits the nail on the head comparing this to “Alien meets the Quiet Place”. This story takes place 16 years ahead in a dystopian future. Aliens occupied Earth 16 years ago forcing any human survivors into hiding. The story centers around two brothers who grew up in this new reality and join the military. They partner with a task force of other soldiers to rescue survivors. 

I thought this was a really creative and well written story. Ryan had a very unique voice and does a great job at telling a story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I think what freaked me out the most was how realistic a future like this could be if we ever find out aliens exist. This book had my heart racing at some parts and my eyes watering at others – Ryan did a great job at keeping me invested and evoking a variety of emotions from me. There was also a huge surprise towards the end that I give kudos  to Ryan for (I won’t spoil it for future readers).

Summary:

Overall, if you like science fiction that features dystopian worlds, aliens, action, adventure, thrills, and some romance then this book could be for you! Happy reading!

Dissonance: Volume I: Reality

 

Review: The Caiman of Iquitos by Bayard and Holmes

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

In a chilling continuation of their Apex Predator novels, Bayard & Holmes compel us into the darkest corners of the Shadow World. A world where billionaires are not subject to governments and assassins, rogue nations, and terrorists are their tools to obtain global dominance. In an explosion of unrelenting action, one man and his team risk everything to protect the Western world.

Former CIA Operations Officer John Viera is doing his best to lead a “normal” life and start a family. Fate has other ideas.

When a Russian ship is mysteriously torpedoed off the coast of Peru, untracked enriched uranium is revealed within its cargo. Protecting his family’s multi-billion dollar business interests, the US president blocks agency investigations into the incident. Top intelligence officials covertly call in John Viera and his unofficial network of former operatives to uncover the new player on the nuclear chessboard. What they discover threatens the annihilation of the West.

From the jungles of the Amazon to the Sea of Japan, John and his network are the only ones who stand between international security and the Caiman of Iquitos.

Favorite Lines:

“How could he continue to fight for a better world for his child without sacrificing the very home and family he was fighting for?”

“She now knows that it is to kill. What it is to watch a comrade die. That the true sacrifices aren’t just hearth and home, but that a piece of each of us is traded with every friend we lose, and with every victim we cannot save. She now knows that we live our lives as a tribute to them so that they will not have died in vain.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author(s) in exchange for my honest opinion. 

When I received this request, I was trying to remember the last time I read a true spy story and was coming up short. I have read romance books where a character happens to be a spy but the main focus was on the relationship not the operation so I was quite excited to jump into this one and was not disappointed.

The story follows John Viera, a retired CIA officer as he tracks down enemies of the nation to prevent a billionaire cartel from having access to nuclear capability technology. I thought this was a really well written and addictive read. The plot had me turning page after page to find out what happens next. I also really enjoyed the character writing especially Angelina; the authors did a wonderful job at writing a strong woman in a realistic way.

This is just one of the books in the Apex Predator series. I haven’t read the others but I was able to dive right into this one without confusion so I think it can be a stand alone or be read with the whole series. I know that I will be returning to finish the rest of the series soon!

Summary:

Overall, if you like spy fiction full of realistic intelligence terminology with great world building, fast paced plots, and strong character writing, then this book could be for you!

The Caiman of Iquitos

 

Review: Facts are Stubborn Things by Richard A. Danzig

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Facts are Stubborn Things is the story of Chance Cormac, a litigator, boxer and lapsed Catholic who confronts some hard facts about the law and himself when he reluctantly agrees to represent a client in a divorce action as a favor to another attorney. It is a story of corporate intrigue, international money laundering and corruption. Chance is forced to face a professional and personal crisis and learns that pride often goes before a fall.

Favorite Lines:

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. Be true to yourself and your beliefs.”

“Facing facts is not an easy thing to do. Some facts are not only stubborn, but they are cold and hard to swallow.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I must admit that I think this is my first legal drama/fiction book. You would think as a law school graduate myself, I would have read more but somehow that is not the case. Facts are Stubborn Things follows Chance Cormac, an attorney accepts a case to represent a client during their divorce but somehow finds his way into something much darker than a marriage that fell apart. 

This was a great legal drama that had me on the edge of my seat. This could be called a suspenseful thriller that just happens to take place in the legal world. This book has it all: New York vibes, the Russian mob, cyber crime, and navy seals. Danzig definitely does a great job at keeping readers from getting bored. I could definitely see this being a movie someday!

I was actually a huge fan of the character writing in this book. Danzig did an amazing job at writing both likeable and unlikeable characters. They had realistic qualities that really brought them to life – which I think is very important – and even when I didn’t like a character, I understood their motives. 

Summary:

Overall, I found this to be a really clever and witty novel. I really enjoyed Danzig’s writing style and tone of voice throughout. If you like legal dramas, fiction, thrillers, and suspense, then this book could be for you!

Facts are Stubborn Things

 

Review: Nameless Vs. The Army of the Dead by Brett Comeau

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

One, Two they’re coming for you.
Three Four, Lock your door.
Five Six, Darkling Tricks
Seven Eight will seal your fate,
Nine Ten they will kill again

The 1800’s city of Geneva is plagued by Darklings, cloaked figures who kidnap and murder its impoverished residents during the night.
While the rich hide safely behind their high stone walls the poor are forced to patrol their own borders to ward off the evil foes.

When a nameless, deformed indentured servant comes of age he is forced into the night to protect the city,
he becomes an unlikely hero that saves the mayor’s daughter from a Darkling attack.
But the nameless boy realizes there is more to the Darklings than the city’s residents have been told.
Joined by the mayor’s daughter and his only friend another local boy, he investigates the cause of the attacks.
What they uncover is far blacker than the cloaks of the Darklings…

Favorite Lines:

“It was the first time she smiled at him, and Lo felt an unexplainable sense of euphoria. There was nothing extraordinary about the girl, but he felt like everything would be okay at that moment.

“It’s nothing. Nervous laughter. I always laugh when I’m about to be hung.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book follows a nameless boy who starts his story working away on a farm for his master and mistress before he realizes his purpose and is bestowed a name of his own by the friends he makes along the way. The strongest theme throughout this book is that of friendship and I think Comeau did an excellent job strengthening those bonds throughout the story. I would classify this as a coming of age story with notes of friendship, horror, fantasy, action, adventure, romance, and mystery all wrapped up in a young adult novel.

I did notice that all the women seemed to have red hair which may have just been a coincidence. Paragraphs also had a lot of the same starters such as “The boy” and “The madman” which I think caused a bit of repetitiveness when read that could have flowed more smoothly had the paragraphs been started differently at points.

I loved the cliffhanger that the ending left us on and will be interested to see where the author takes us next. It also made me wonder if there were Easter eggs that I missed that hinted at the cliffhanger had I known to look for them sooner. My question is: is the doctor the same one mentioned in the prelude 50 years prior? If so, how?

Summary:

Overall, this was a cute, coming of age story that I would compare to Harry Potter but with undead monsters and alchemy madmen instead of wands and magic (at least for now). If you like fantasy, horror, action, adventure, mystery, and young adult books then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Nameless vs. the Army of the Dead

 

Review: The Huntress and the Trickster by Tristan Zelden

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

Abigail and her husband Jacob live in San Francisco, everything might appear normal at first glance but under closer inspection their world is similar to ours but not identical – in their world assassins have become legalised, and this is Abigail’s profession. Just like any working couple they struggle with finding their work-life balance and are striving to give each other what they need without holding the other back. All seems to be aligning when one day in her office at Hazardous, one of the leading assassination firms in San Francisco, she receives a job from a woman named Sigrid Pleie, a job that will pay more than she has ever seen in all her career. What she soon learns is that this mammoth sum is there for a reason, and what starts off as a simple job, quickly turns into something far more terrifying.

Favorite Lines:

“I would rather die than serve snobby assholes drinks all day. I have seen how people get at Starbucks. Fuck that shit.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

A modern day twist on Norse mythology, this story follows Abigail in a world where her profession as an assassin is pretty normal. She is employed as a hit (wo)man for legally sanctioned killings and, in her free time, likes to hang out with her husband and try out the best restaurants in town like any other regular girl.

From page one, Zelden does an amazing job at describing scenes and characters. Everything is painted in such vivid detail that I felt like I was actually there. I can’t remember the last time I read a book with such close attention to detail in how a character is dressed or their mannerisms and gestures during conversations; it made it extremely easy to picture the scenes unfolding.

If I had one thing to complain about, and it is a bit nitpicky, it would have to be that the main plot didn’t seem to pick up until about half way into the book. I felt like the first half was one big introduction into the world and almost a “day in the life”. Zelden does a great job at painting the details but I wish that the major plot came in a bit sooner. 

Without any spoilers, this book left off with the potential for more in the series and I would be interested to see where Zelden takes it next!

Summary:

Overall, if you enjoy fiction, action, Norse mythology, and a bit of romance then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

The Huntress and the Trickster

 

Review: The Mutates: The Creation by Peyton N. Leonard

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

What would you do if your humanity was brutally stolen from you? How far would you go to reclaim that humanity? Tyler, Samy, Andy, and Lola are just a bunch of teenagers living in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania in 2009 when they are kidnapped and experimented on, becoming genetically modified feline humanoids with wings, called Mutates. They struggle to make sense of their mutations and fight for their freedom and humanity all the while growing their bonds with one another and the people they come across. Their journey is fraught with adversity, heartache, and pain, but they learn to overcome their challenges and become even stronger individuals in the process. Come and join Tyler, Samy, Andy, and Lola as they embark on the ride of their lives.

Favorite Lines:

“No matter what I said to her, she was always smiling and taking everything in stride. She’d been like that ever since she was born. Legend has it that she’s smiling at this exact moment.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows a group of teenagers who, at the start of the story, think their biggest issue is surviving high school. They’re quickly proven wrong when they are kidnapped and turned into Mutates; genetically modified humanoids with feline features and wings. Readers are along for the ride as they come to terms with their situation and fight for their freedom.

It has been quite some time since I have read a true young adult  book. I forgot how different the author’s voice can be through a YA story versus something like NA. This story is told from the PoV of the kids/teenagers and really immerses you in the story because of the tone. I will admit that the PoV changes were a bit confusing to me but also added dimension to the story.

I do think that the transformation process to Mutates happened really fast. One minute they are just human and the next they are more. I wish there had been more detail as it was a bit of a whirlwind. I did like the epilogue. Without giving anything away, it wraps everything up with the beginning of the story and I thought it was very creative.

Summary:

Overall, this was an enjoyable and creative book. It reminded me of Percy Jackson meets Maximum Ride. If you like young adult, romance, action, adventure, friendship, and hints of religion/spirituality in your books than this one might be for you. Happy reading!

The Mutates: The Creation

 

Monthly Features – December

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

The Noise by Allison A.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Angela Blau has a degenerative bone disease, but she was never warned her mind could deteriorate as well. There’s no other explanation for the footsteps coming from the second floor—footsteps her husband, Jack, never hears. And then there are the ghosts who attack her at night, and the townspeople who dig through the dirt like rabid animals and peer through her windows.

Maybe the ghosts and the townspeople are in her head—it wouldn’t be the first time she’s let her mind wander—but the noise has to be real, and she’d go up there and prove it if the stairs weren’t so rotted that she’d fall right through, Jack says.

Things get worse when Arlo, a lonely old man who lives “somewhere down the street,” reveals a violent crime that occurred on the second floor. Against Jack’s warnings, Arlo indulges Angela’s growing obsession and pushes her to discover the true source of the noise, who exactly the townspeople are, and whether a traumatic incident that occurred four months ago, an incident Angela refuses to talk about, is to blame for all of it.

Summary: Overall, I loved this book. It was very well written and I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a book that has elements of the paranormal, a psychological thriller, suspense, mystery, and romance.

See the full review here: The Noise
Purchase here

Hamartia by Raquel Rich

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Grace’s nine-year-old son, Jordan, is dying. First, the Metagenesis disease will tear his soul from his body, and then it will kill him. Desperate for a cure, Grace agrees to take part in an illegal clinical trial cloning souls. Supported by her best friend Kay, the two embark on the ultimate “Vegas Vacation” to the past in search of the right soul to clone, racing against time to save Jordan’s life. But someone is trying to stop them and when they discover why, Grace must make a choice: let her son die or kill her husband. If she kills her husband she triggers widespread Metagenesis, sealing the fate of the human race with a new plague.

Humanity is counting on Grace choosing to let her son die.

Summary: Overall, I loved the ideas in this book and really enjoyed it. It was so creatively done and well written; the ending especially. I can’t wait to read the next one and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

See the full review here: Hamartia
Purchase here

 

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Synopsis: Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy

Summary: Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was out of my usual interest zone but definitely refreshing and worth the read. If you aren’t sure what to read next, be sure to check it out!

See the full review here: To Kill A Kingdom
Purchase here