Tag: Book Reviews

Monthly Features – April

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The Woman Who Belonged to Stone by A.M. Burke

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

Synopsis: In the lands of Iridium magic teeters on the edge of extinction, each crumbling rune marking a tragic loss. With chaos looming, the king takes one last drastic step: outlawing magic.

Rowan used it as a golden opportunity to secure her family’s prosperity. Claiming the power, her father denied her. But, like a flickering flame, her carefully constructed plans crumble when news of her husband’s oncoming return begins to spread. Suddenly, she finds herself facing a treacherous web of diminished loyalties and a deadly threat that sets sights on her life.

Meanwhile, Noctis Telum, shattered by the prohibition, has spent years painstakingly rebuilding his shattered existence. His magic, once his lifeblood, has been cruelly denied, scattering his loved ones across the realm. Yet, with the unexpected death of his oldest friend and the enigmatic return of Delilah, Noctis must accept it’s time to reclaim his purpose and confront the ghosts of his past.

In a realm teetering on the edge of darkness, where fates intertwine amidst a world deprived of enchantment, the stage is set for redemption, treachery, and unyielding determination. Explore the depths of mysticism and discover the key to unlocking the secrets that could save a fractured world.

Summary: Overall, I am excited to see where this series goes next! If you’re a fan of fantasy, adventure, action, mystery, and magic then this book could be for you.

See the full review here: The Woman Who Belonged to Stone
Purchase here

 

Dissonance: Volume II: Reckoning by Aaron Ryan

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

Synopsis: Sergeant Cameron “Jet” Shipley lost everyone to the gorgons and has lost faith in the integrity of his own Command. But Cameron’s loss didn’t stop there. In a world rife with apocalyptic danger, it has become painfully apparent that humanity is still, even in the very throes of annihilation, at war with itself.

Finding himself a prisoner and eventual outlaw at the hands of those whom he once trusted most, Cameron must put his fate in the hands of his trusted confidants Lieutenant Allison Trudy, Private Liam “Fox” Mayfield, and Sergeant Joseph Bassett once more, endangering their very lives and freedom, as they and others come to his aid to join in the inevitable revolt against those in power who fail to see the truth: power corrupts, even on the very brink of extinction.

Shipley and his team must race against time to find compatriots who share their views, amassing support against the true foe. All the while, they must evade a merciless alien species that will not stop until the earth’s resources are drained dry, reducing it to a barren wasteland. In their quest for truth, they must remember one simple tenet as it pertains to the gorgons:

“One look, and it’s all over.”

Summary: Overall, if you like science fiction, aliens, the battle of good vs. evil, dystopian worlds, action, and adventure, then this book could be for you! 

See the full review here: Dissonance: Volume II: Reckoning
Purchase 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

 

Monthly Features – February

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Early Adopter by Drew Harrison

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

Synopsis: The Price of Tomorrow, Paid Today

“Early Adopter” is a collection of short stories from the edge of human progress. Eight stories hold dark mirrors to our own world… experience thought-provoking sci-fi, technologic tragedy, and pulse-pounding thrillers.

To Run Again: Dr. Laura Brandie is ready to change the world.
She’s the lead researcher behind the KSE, a revolutionary cure for paralysis and neurodegenerative conditions. And now, by good fortune, she’s found the perfect candidate for her first human trial: a man who suffers from locked-in syndrome.
Brett Harmon’s paralysis is total: he can’t move his arms, legs, torso, neck, or face. To the outside world, he’s little more than a statue that breathes… but Dr. Brandie’s KSE might be the miracle that allows Brett to run again.

Homonoia: The world faces an unprecedented alignment of catastrophes and failing systems, far too intricate and interconnected for any human to solve. Frank Burman joins with seven other volunteers for Project Homonoia–a radical, last-ditch effort to postpone the apocalypse. Separate minds link to form one multidisciplinary consciousness, the world’s first human superorganism… a hive mind. But with the world’s health rapidly failing, can Project Homonoia work out its kinks in time to make a difference?

Early Adopter: A loner enters into a relationship with a new type of partner: an AI agent, programmed to be the “perfect companion.” Sure, it’s all self-deception and a game of pretend, as she’s not actually real… but where simulated consciousness is concerned, maybe the lines between real and real enough can get blurry.

And many more!

Summary: Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology. Harrison did a fantastic job at shining light on too-close-for-comfort alternate realities that left me thoroughly disturbed in the best way possible. If you’re a fan of fiction, thrillers, suspense, sci-fi, and mirrored realities similar to Black Mirror, then this book could be for you. 

See the full review here: Early Adopter
Purchase here

Facts Are Stubborn Things by Richard A. Danzig

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

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.

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!

See the full review here: Facts are Stubborn Things
Purchase here

The Collector by Eli Stephens

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

Synopsis: “A once believed distant past returns for Collector Karson. With possessing the only license accepted galaxy wide, Karson’s employer, the Solicitor General, forces him back to his memories. Hoping a defined life could be muddled into the grey, he encounters something that shows him just how black and white his world is. Standard routine becomes a complex adventure, men become evil beasts, women become a divine treasure, a simple contract becomes his purpose. Karson must find his Brother of the Forge, before the Fool takes him.”

Dive into the rich world Collector Karson must navigate to fulfill his simple contract. Technology, Empires, Kingdoms, Lovers, Veterans, Warlords, and the Divine, all can be found inside The Collector , a sci-fi action thriller and the debut novel of author Eli Stephens.

Summary: Overall, with the compelling characters, intricate world-building, and interesting plot, this would be a great read for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. If you like sci-fi, thrillers, action, adventure, and a touch of romance, then this book could be for you

See the full review here: The Collector
Purchase here

Goyhood by Reuven Fenton

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

Synopsis: Funny, poignant, and revelatory while plumbing the emotional depths of the relationship between estranged brothers, Goyhood examines what happens when one becomes unmoored from a comfortable, spiritual existence and must decide whether coincidence is in fact destiny.

When Mayer (née Marty) Belkin fled small town Georgia for Brooklyn nearly thirty years ago, he thought he’d left his wasted youth behind. Now he’s a Talmud scholar married into one of the greatest rabbinical families in the world – a dirt poor country boy reinvented in the image of God.

But his mother’s untimely death brings a shocking revelation: Mayer and his ne’er-do-well twin brother David aren’t, in fact, Jewish. Traumatized and spiritually bereft, Mayer’s only recourse is to convert to Judaism. But the earliest date he can get is a week from now. What are two estranged brothers to do in the interim?

So begins the Belkins’ Rumspringa through America’s Deep South with Mom’s ashes in tow, plus two tagalongs: an insightful Instagram influencer named Charlayne Valentine and Popeye, a one-eyed dog. As the crew gets tangled up in a series of increasingly surreal adventures, Mayer grapples with a God who betrayed him and an emotionally withdrawn wife in Brooklyn who has yet to learn her husband is a counterfeit Jew.

Summary: Overall, if you like slice-of-life stories full of humor, heart, family, faith, and so much more, then this book could be for you. 

See the full review here: Goyhood
Purchase here

The Exorcism of Adolf Hitler by Connor Gunnin

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

Synopsis: It is March 1938 and Nazi Germany has plans for war. But it doesn’t have to happen. Can one exorcism change history?

When Werner Stengel entered the Nazi fold, he was a young Catholic priest. World War I had ended in defeat. He was desperate and loyalty to his country pushed his faith aside. It seemed Adolf Hitler had the answers Germany needed. But as Stengel watched Hitler’s rise, his skepticism grew. Was something more than evil at play? Something demonic?

Now, as Minister of the Interior, and with Germany’s plans for an even greater war in motion, he’s reached a critical point. Stengel’s small, loyal team of conspirators has just kidnapped the Nazi leader. They suspect Hitler is demonically possessed, but what they find is darker and more horrifying than they could have imagined.

The Rite of Exorcism may reveal the truth…if they survive. Can their plan actually prevent a second world war? You’ll love this chilling supernatural thriller because the clever melding of horror, historical events, and unholy possibility by Connor Gunnin will keep you hooked until the end. Get it now.

Summary: If you are a fan of horror, historical fiction, and thrillers especially of the supernatural variety then this book could be for you. 

See the full review here: The Exorcism of Adolf Hitler
Purchase here

The Caiman of Iquitos by Bayard and Holmes

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

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.

Summary:  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!

See the full review here: The Caiman of Iquitos
Purchase here

The Stones of Riverton by Clif Travers

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

Synopsis:  The Stones of Riverton is a collection of linked short stories and novelettes inspired by the gravestones in a small Maine town. The stories are bound together by place and ancestry spanning over 200 hundred years. They un-bury an often shameful history of unexplained deaths and deeply held secrets in a town that is divided both economically and culturally. While fictional, the stories are grounded in the lore, rumors, and fables that were told to the author by parents, grandparents, and local storytellers.

  • We meet a mother who is forced to give up her eldest daughter to a tradition that is not hers.
  • A young and talented woman is promised to a farmer who physically and mentally abuses her until the death of one of them becomes inevitable. Her efforts to poison her abuser backfire, ending in her own death, although the community is certain he was the murderer.
  • Three children find the body of a young boy in their favorite swimming hole, and the discovery puts a town on alert, deepening a long-existing cultural divide. The children learn the truth, but they can never speak of it. That truth would put an impoverished part of town in even more peril than they have already endured for a hundred years.
  • A debutante from the city marries a local woodsman against the wishes of her family, only to learn that love is not enough to quell the ferocity of a harsh Maine winter. The real story of how the family perished that winter in 1924 is discovered after sixty years, and it is not at all what townsfolk had assumed.
  • In a story that spans four decades, we meet two closeted gay men who fall in love in the ‘60’s amidst the social unrest of the time. As their political careers grow and diverge, one decides to come out while the other is horrified by what it might do to his future. An argument grows into a physical fight, resulting in the death of one and thirty years of guilt for the other.

There are fourteen stories and a prologue. Some of the voices speak from the grave in search of resolve. Others struggle with the conflicts and the sweet-and-sour of life in a town where everyone knows you and your mistakes. But most importantly, these stories are about the secrets of both the living and the dead that reveal the prejudices and the shameful pasts that often exist in rural communities.

Summary: If you like creative short stories – especially ones with somewhat creepy origins – and all of which that span a variety of themes, then this book could be for you!

See the full review here: The Stones of Riverton
Purchase here