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![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/destroyers-blood&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51RK-YYeyML._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Destroyer's Blood: The Adventures of Devcalion is the first entry in The Blood Series by Michael Lynes, a gripping fantasy with strong hints of Greek mythology. Meet Devcalion, “Dev,” a demigod, son of Prometheus and nephew of Zeus. He has a telepathic sword and a very close friend called Betrayer, "Tray". When we encounter Dev, he and his frie...){kind=link}
Destroyer's Blood
The Blood Series Book 1
Michael D Lynes
2019 Silver Medal
282 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Destroyer's Blood: The Adventures of Devcalion is the first entry in The Blood Series by Michael Lynes, a gripping fantasy with strong hints of Greek mythology. Meet Devcalion, “Dev,” a demigod, son of Prometheus and nephew of Zeus. He has a telepathic sword and a very close friend called Betrayer, "Tray". When we encounter Dev, he and his friend are climbing up Half Dome. An encounter with Hermes changes everything, driving Dev to the last place he wants to be — Mt. Olympus. Dev and Tray are pulled into a war they never bargained for, a war against the greatest enemy of Zeus. With the darkest power in the universe bent on wreaking havoc, do they have any chance of surviving?
Michael Lynes’ novel will have a strong appeal for fans of Rick Riordan. The author creates characters that readers will love and enriches them with powerful links to the mythical world most readers have grown to adore. It begins with a stream of consciousness, a kind of soliloquy that exposes the complexities in Dev's personality, who happens to be the narrator. The first person narrative voice is irresistible, and it draws the reader into the worldview of the main character, making them feel the heat of the action that punctuates the narrative.
Destroyer's Blood: The Adventures of Devcalion is filled with vivid descriptions and the story is infused with a rare sense of realism. Although the setting is an imaginary mythological world, it is filled with elements and details that reflect human reality. The conflict is phenomenal and defines the excitement the reader experiences as they follow the compelling characters. I enjoyed the humor, the beauty of the prose, and the focused, skillfully crafted scenes.
Destroyer's Blood: The Adventures of Devcalion is the first entry in The Blood Series by Michael Lynes, a gripping fantasy with strong hints of Greek mythology. Meet Devcalion, “Dev,” a demigod, son of Prometheus and nephew of Zeus. He has a telepathic sword and a very close friend called Betrayer, "Tray". When we encounter Dev, he and his friend are climbing up Half Dome. An encounter with Hermes changes everything, driving Dev to the last place he wants to be — Mt. Olympus. Dev and Tray are pulled into a war they never bargained for, a war against the greatest enemy of Zeus. With the darkest power in the universe bent on wreaking havoc, do they have any chance of surviving?
Michael Lynes’ novel will have a strong appeal for fans of Rick Riordan. The author creates characters that readers will love and enriches them with powerful links to the mythical world most readers have grown to adore. It begins with a stream of consciousness, a kind of soliloquy that exposes the complexities in Dev's personality, who happens to be the narrator. The first person narrative voice is irresistible, and it draws the reader into the worldview of the main character, making them feel the heat of the action that punctuates the narrative.
Destroyer's Blood: The Adventures of Devcalion is filled with vivid descriptions and the story is infused with a rare sense of realism. Although the setting is an imaginary mythological world, it is filled with elements and details that reflect human reality. The conflict is phenomenal and defines the excitement the reader experiences as they follow the compelling characters. I enjoyed the humor, the beauty of the prose, and the focused, skillfully crafted scenes.
Recommend this book:
Rooms of Ruin
Blood of the Isir Book 2
Erik Henry Vick
2019 Gold Medal
507 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Rooms of Ruin is the second entry in the Blood of the Isir series by Erik Henry Vick, an epic fantasy packed with action, fast-paced, and set against the backdrop of an exciting imaginary world. A wicked queen, a curse from a cunning god, a traitor, and a trap that could end it all. A courageous man, Hank Jensen has proven that he still has what it takes to save his family. After battling powerful creatures and eluding the evil queen, he and his family are trapped in Osgarthr, and there is only one way out — journey to the rooms of ruin to reopen portals that connect the two worlds. But it’s what the evil queen has anticipated and she’s laid a trap for them. With a traitor among his friends, can Hank escape a grim fate?
Erik Henry Vick is a wonderful storyteller. He begins the story in the midst of scheming on the part of the evil ones. Readers get an idea of the severity of the crisis and understand that the protagonist could be walking into the jaws of death with his family. Hank is a compelling character and readers will enjoy following him as he struggles with a rare illness, a curse from a god, which continually weakens him. There are themes of friendship, family, and magic that are well developed, giving the story a sense of reality that enriches it. The chapters are designed to offer readers an engaging reading experience, each ending with an intelligent invitation to move on to the next one. The author is a master at creating suspense, developing subplots in the story that leave readers suspended, wondering what could happen next. This is a work of great imagination and I couldn’t help but be pulled in by the world building. The setting is a magical world with unique elements, the conflict is phenomenal, and the plot is well imagined and executed with brilliance. This novel is a great escape for fans of fantasy — hugely entertaining and infused with realism.
Rooms of Ruin is the second entry in the Blood of the Isir series by Erik Henry Vick, an epic fantasy packed with action, fast-paced, and set against the backdrop of an exciting imaginary world. A wicked queen, a curse from a cunning god, a traitor, and a trap that could end it all. A courageous man, Hank Jensen has proven that he still has what it takes to save his family. After battling powerful creatures and eluding the evil queen, he and his family are trapped in Osgarthr, and there is only one way out — journey to the rooms of ruin to reopen portals that connect the two worlds. But it’s what the evil queen has anticipated and she’s laid a trap for them. With a traitor among his friends, can Hank escape a grim fate?
Erik Henry Vick is a wonderful storyteller. He begins the story in the midst of scheming on the part of the evil ones. Readers get an idea of the severity of the crisis and understand that the protagonist could be walking into the jaws of death with his family. Hank is a compelling character and readers will enjoy following him as he struggles with a rare illness, a curse from a god, which continually weakens him. There are themes of friendship, family, and magic that are well developed, giving the story a sense of reality that enriches it. The chapters are designed to offer readers an engaging reading experience, each ending with an intelligent invitation to move on to the next one. The author is a master at creating suspense, developing subplots in the story that leave readers suspended, wondering what could happen next. This is a work of great imagination and I couldn’t help but be pulled in by the world building. The setting is a magical world with unique elements, the conflict is phenomenal, and the plot is well imagined and executed with brilliance. This novel is a great escape for fans of fantasy — hugely entertaining and infused with realism.
Recommend this book:
Curses of Scale
S.D. Reeves
2018 Finalist
297 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Curses of Scale by S.D. Reeves is a journey of magic and self-discovery. Teenager Niena has one dream: to attend an elite college to become a bard. Just as a dragon awakens and terrorizes the land, Niena takes advantage of an opportunity and runs away, but this decision takes her on a course of action she isn't expecting. She finds herself on a journey through a fey realm, where she discovers magic and a startling secret about her destiny. She's to slay the dragon and save those she loves, but when she kills the dragon she's cursed to become it. As she flees through the land, she's trailed by her grandfather, Oberon of the fairies, and the future husband she won't meet for years. Unsure who she can trust, Niena relies on her strength and her dreams to save her future.
Niena's grandfather refuses to let her go to college or to become a bard, so the second she sees an opportunity she takes off and embarks on a personal quest. She ends up in a magical world that's beyond what she's imagined but she also discovers a darkness in her destiny. She's not like the usual heroine and doesn't set out to make a big change; instead she just wants to follow her dreams and becoming a hero just falls into place. Oberon is a big personality with motives that are left as a mystery until the end. He's got a playful quality in the way he talks with taunts and riddles, a certain amount of madness about him, and is a little bit mischievous and dangerous. But he helps connect the threads together, playing a key role in how events unfold. He also provides a lot of humor, especially seen when he tries to bargain with Calem and suggests the payment option of pickles. S.D. Reeves twists several threads together, but slowly all the threads of the story come together. Curses of Scale is a coming of age tale with a lot to say about life and taking charge of one's destiny in the search for independence.
Curses of Scale by S.D. Reeves is a journey of magic and self-discovery. Teenager Niena has one dream: to attend an elite college to become a bard. Just as a dragon awakens and terrorizes the land, Niena takes advantage of an opportunity and runs away, but this decision takes her on a course of action she isn't expecting. She finds herself on a journey through a fey realm, where she discovers magic and a startling secret about her destiny. She's to slay the dragon and save those she loves, but when she kills the dragon she's cursed to become it. As she flees through the land, she's trailed by her grandfather, Oberon of the fairies, and the future husband she won't meet for years. Unsure who she can trust, Niena relies on her strength and her dreams to save her future.
Niena's grandfather refuses to let her go to college or to become a bard, so the second she sees an opportunity she takes off and embarks on a personal quest. She ends up in a magical world that's beyond what she's imagined but she also discovers a darkness in her destiny. She's not like the usual heroine and doesn't set out to make a big change; instead she just wants to follow her dreams and becoming a hero just falls into place. Oberon is a big personality with motives that are left as a mystery until the end. He's got a playful quality in the way he talks with taunts and riddles, a certain amount of madness about him, and is a little bit mischievous and dangerous. But he helps connect the threads together, playing a key role in how events unfold. He also provides a lot of humor, especially seen when he tries to bargain with Calem and suggests the payment option of pickles. S.D. Reeves twists several threads together, but slowly all the threads of the story come together. Curses of Scale is a coming of age tale with a lot to say about life and taking charge of one's destiny in the search for independence.
Recommend this book:
The Gypsy Thorn
An Evening Bower Prequel
Sherry Rentschler
2018 Honorable Mention
201 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite
Long ago the city of Atlantis thrived, but jealousy between factions caused its demise and destruction. Three people thought they were going to survive and they carried out the Great Book. This book contained the legends of their land and all lands, but the survivors were not meant to be, and the Phoenix, who had left Atlantis years before after the death of her mate, found and destroyed them. As the angel of death watched, for he could not intervene, he realized that the great prophecy was beginning. Drahomira would become a key to the prophecy, and the angel of death watched over her until the time for the prophecy. The Gypsy Thorn is the story of the life and trials of Drahomira from her birth and transformation into an upire, or vampire, until modern day. The story spans centuries and accounts for so much time and history. Author Sherry Rentschler weaves a story that gives the background to the coming Evening Bower series that is full of history and events, yet stands alone as the story of Drahomira's coming of age.
The Gypsy Thorn is the prequel to the Evening Bower Series, and as such it fills in the time from the beginning of the story until the present day, when the prophecy is occurring. Author Sherry Rentschler is able to give a lot of history and events that readers will probably need to know for the Evening Bower series. At the same time, she has made this book the coming of age story of Drahomira, her life and growth into the vampire Queen that she is destined to become. Since this is a prequel, to say that it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger is moot; readers already know that the story is to continue and the best parts are yet to come. Drahomira is an intriguing character. She has so many layers, and is complex yet simple. This is definitely a book that fans of vampires and angels will enjoy. Betrayal, backstabbing, and deceit all play large roles in this novel, and in the coming of age of Drahomira, who can she trust and is there really anyone on her side at all?
Long ago the city of Atlantis thrived, but jealousy between factions caused its demise and destruction. Three people thought they were going to survive and they carried out the Great Book. This book contained the legends of their land and all lands, but the survivors were not meant to be, and the Phoenix, who had left Atlantis years before after the death of her mate, found and destroyed them. As the angel of death watched, for he could not intervene, he realized that the great prophecy was beginning. Drahomira would become a key to the prophecy, and the angel of death watched over her until the time for the prophecy. The Gypsy Thorn is the story of the life and trials of Drahomira from her birth and transformation into an upire, or vampire, until modern day. The story spans centuries and accounts for so much time and history. Author Sherry Rentschler weaves a story that gives the background to the coming Evening Bower series that is full of history and events, yet stands alone as the story of Drahomira's coming of age.
The Gypsy Thorn is the prequel to the Evening Bower Series, and as such it fills in the time from the beginning of the story until the present day, when the prophecy is occurring. Author Sherry Rentschler is able to give a lot of history and events that readers will probably need to know for the Evening Bower series. At the same time, she has made this book the coming of age story of Drahomira, her life and growth into the vampire Queen that she is destined to become. Since this is a prequel, to say that it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger is moot; readers already know that the story is to continue and the best parts are yet to come. Drahomira is an intriguing character. She has so many layers, and is complex yet simple. This is definitely a book that fans of vampires and angels will enjoy. Betrayal, backstabbing, and deceit all play large roles in this novel, and in the coming of age of Drahomira, who can she trust and is there really anyone on her side at all?
Recommend this book:
, a high fantasy by Vashti Quiroz-Vega, starts with Book I: Heaven, where Lilith and her fellow angels reside in the bright realm of Floraison. Their life is peaceful but not entirely carefree, as God has set many rules for them. Lilith is not fond of the rules. She likes to manipulate others, and the gift ...){kind=link}
The Fall of Lilith
Fantasy Angels Series Volume 1
Vashti Quiroz-Vega
2018 Honorable Mention
502 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
The Fall of Lilith (Fantasy Angels Series), a high fantasy by Vashti Quiroz-Vega, starts with Book I: Heaven, where Lilith and her fellow angels reside in the bright realm of Floraison. Their life is peaceful but not entirely carefree, as God has set many rules for them. Lilith is not fond of the rules. She likes to manipulate others, and the gift of sight that she received from God fuels her desire for divine power. She’s the catalyst for the rebellion against Him. In Book II: Earth, Lilith and her defeated angels are banished to Earth and their angelic forms are changed. Personally, I prefer book two’s development and intensity. I was more intrigued about what the fallen angels would do next and how they would cope with their new surroundings.
The overall effect of The Fall of Lilith is that it spins an engaging and fresh perspective on the biblical tale of creation, making it a story you can get swept into. Despite its theme, I don’t find it preachy. Instead, as a fan of the fantasy genre, it appeals to me, particularly with the incorporated concept of vampirism and the undoing of Adam and Eve. Characterization is impeccable and character development is distinct, complex, and makes readers invest in them emotionally. You might find yourself lamenting that it’s over too soon, but the great thing is that more can be expected from the Fantasy Angels Series. On the whole, this is a commendable and imaginative work from Vashti Quiroz-Vega.
The Fall of Lilith (Fantasy Angels Series), a high fantasy by Vashti Quiroz-Vega, starts with Book I: Heaven, where Lilith and her fellow angels reside in the bright realm of Floraison. Their life is peaceful but not entirely carefree, as God has set many rules for them. Lilith is not fond of the rules. She likes to manipulate others, and the gift of sight that she received from God fuels her desire for divine power. She’s the catalyst for the rebellion against Him. In Book II: Earth, Lilith and her defeated angels are banished to Earth and their angelic forms are changed. Personally, I prefer book two’s development and intensity. I was more intrigued about what the fallen angels would do next and how they would cope with their new surroundings.
The overall effect of The Fall of Lilith is that it spins an engaging and fresh perspective on the biblical tale of creation, making it a story you can get swept into. Despite its theme, I don’t find it preachy. Instead, as a fan of the fantasy genre, it appeals to me, particularly with the incorporated concept of vampirism and the undoing of Adam and Eve. Characterization is impeccable and character development is distinct, complex, and makes readers invest in them emotionally. You might find yourself lamenting that it’s over too soon, but the great thing is that more can be expected from the Fantasy Angels Series. On the whole, this is a commendable and imaginative work from Vashti Quiroz-Vega.
Recommend this book:
Darkened Demigod
Weapon of War
Dr Shawn H Phillips
2018 Honorable Mention
326 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite
Imprisoned, observed, goaded. This was the life the demigod had endured for over a decade. The people who held him sent a new observer; the others had met their end, more often by his hand, or more precisely, his thumb. This one he named Bookworm, and to him the demigod finally begins to divulge his secrets. He whispers of how a demigod is created, of sacrifice and of worship. This demigod had failed his people, failed to uphold the values they had expected of him, and he brought about the end. It had started so innocently, a desire to better the country, create a sustainable life, but allies became enemies, robbing him of his family, his motivations. But this had been his beginning, the time his power awoke. They need to understand him, to understand their kind. This demigod was the cause of the apocalypse, and now it seems he is the sole hope of the survivors.
There is a hint of American Gods within the pages of Dr Shawn Phillips’ Darkened Demigod: Weapon of War, specifically how worship creates power, although the mechanics take on a slightly different twist, making their own miracle interventions via a petition for prayer. The characters are well developed and their little mysteries and histories are slowly revealed as the characters gain depth and grow throughout the complex plot. Despite a steady paced start, you'll soon see a rise of momentum to create a super powered, dystopian science fiction tale. There are some fascinating ideas, and many of the scientific aspects are well explained, especially for those who know their stuff; clearly a lot of time, thought, and research was spent perfecting this aspect. This book has a bit of everything, from comedy to involved science and philosophy, not forgetting the occasional twist or surprise to keep the reader on their toes. If you enjoy a science fiction space drama, then this will certainly appeal, and as a bonus it also gives the reader a little something to think about themselves.
Imprisoned, observed, goaded. This was the life the demigod had endured for over a decade. The people who held him sent a new observer; the others had met their end, more often by his hand, or more precisely, his thumb. This one he named Bookworm, and to him the demigod finally begins to divulge his secrets. He whispers of how a demigod is created, of sacrifice and of worship. This demigod had failed his people, failed to uphold the values they had expected of him, and he brought about the end. It had started so innocently, a desire to better the country, create a sustainable life, but allies became enemies, robbing him of his family, his motivations. But this had been his beginning, the time his power awoke. They need to understand him, to understand their kind. This demigod was the cause of the apocalypse, and now it seems he is the sole hope of the survivors.
There is a hint of American Gods within the pages of Dr Shawn Phillips’ Darkened Demigod: Weapon of War, specifically how worship creates power, although the mechanics take on a slightly different twist, making their own miracle interventions via a petition for prayer. The characters are well developed and their little mysteries and histories are slowly revealed as the characters gain depth and grow throughout the complex plot. Despite a steady paced start, you'll soon see a rise of momentum to create a super powered, dystopian science fiction tale. There are some fascinating ideas, and many of the scientific aspects are well explained, especially for those who know their stuff; clearly a lot of time, thought, and research was spent perfecting this aspect. This book has a bit of everything, from comedy to involved science and philosophy, not forgetting the occasional twist or surprise to keep the reader on their toes. If you enjoy a science fiction space drama, then this will certainly appeal, and as a bonus it also gives the reader a little something to think about themselves.
Recommend this book:
Song
The Manhunters Volume 1
Jesse Teller
2018 Bronze Medal
321 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Caitlin Lyle Farley for Readers' Favorite
Rayph Ivoryfist has been away from Lorinth for too long. A dark wizard has all but destroyed the magical, high security prison of Mending Keep, releasing the prisoners only to recruit them into his army. Their first objective is to assassinate the King of Lorinth, a man who’s declared Rayph an enemy of the kingdom. Rayph is already two weeks behind his enemy and has no chance of facing this foe alone. He gathers old friends to his side and sets out to recapture the prisoners of Mending Keep. Konnon is a reluctant bounty hunter and blade for hire. His need for money to purchase medicine for his daughter has driven him to desperation. When the king places a bounty on Rayph’s head, Konnon sees his chance to cure his daughter.
Jesse Teller has created a convincing world and populated it with characters that are endearing and relatable. Rayph is a hero you can’t help rooting for, while Konnon’s battle for money to help his child is heartbreaking. There were times when the rich backstory around the characters made Song: The Manhunters Volume 1 feel more like the second book in a series. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it happens often enough to be worth mentioning. I adored the almost flamboyant amount of magic use in Song, but found the rules governing the magical system a little unclear. That’s not to say that there are no limiting factors, or that the magic use is overpowering, just that the technicalities are unexplained. The final few chapters of Song reveal cunning plot twists. Song: The Manhunters Volume 1 is a witty and clever dark fantasy.
Rayph Ivoryfist has been away from Lorinth for too long. A dark wizard has all but destroyed the magical, high security prison of Mending Keep, releasing the prisoners only to recruit them into his army. Their first objective is to assassinate the King of Lorinth, a man who’s declared Rayph an enemy of the kingdom. Rayph is already two weeks behind his enemy and has no chance of facing this foe alone. He gathers old friends to his side and sets out to recapture the prisoners of Mending Keep. Konnon is a reluctant bounty hunter and blade for hire. His need for money to purchase medicine for his daughter has driven him to desperation. When the king places a bounty on Rayph’s head, Konnon sees his chance to cure his daughter.
Jesse Teller has created a convincing world and populated it with characters that are endearing and relatable. Rayph is a hero you can’t help rooting for, while Konnon’s battle for money to help his child is heartbreaking. There were times when the rich backstory around the characters made Song: The Manhunters Volume 1 feel more like the second book in a series. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it happens often enough to be worth mentioning. I adored the almost flamboyant amount of magic use in Song, but found the rules governing the magical system a little unclear. That’s not to say that there are no limiting factors, or that the magic use is overpowering, just that the technicalities are unexplained. The final few chapters of Song reveal cunning plot twists. Song: The Manhunters Volume 1 is a witty and clever dark fantasy.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/dream-waters&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zde4TLTcL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Wow! I loved Dream Waters: Book One of The Dream Waters Series by Erin A. Jensen. Patients Charlie, Bob, Nellie, and Frank's everyday life changes when a new patient, Emma, arrives. Charlie sees people "differently", while Bob just wants to see the TV. Nellie wants to rock her invisible child, and Frank yells that demons are coming. Emma seems nor...){kind=link}
Dream Waters
Book One of The Dream Waters Series (Volume 1)
Erin A. Jensen
2018 Bronze Medal
440 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Gail Kamer for Readers' Favorite
Wow! I loved Dream Waters: Book One of The Dream Waters Series by Erin A. Jensen. Patients Charlie, Bob, Nellie, and Frank's everyday life changes when a new patient, Emma, arrives. Charlie sees people "differently", while Bob just wants to see the TV. Nellie wants to rock her invisible child, and Frank yells that demons are coming. Emma seems normal, however. Even the psychiatrist believes Emma is different from the other patients. Emma's husband, David, is a key to Charlie's issues and this isn't shared until the end of the book. I kept trying to figure out the mystery behind each patient's presence in Charlie's dream world, and how the dream world and the real world connected. Charlie blends characters in both worlds to help them in the real world.
Dream Waters by Erin A. Jensen is set in a mental institution and provides a hook that keeps the reader coming back for more. I honestly could not put the book down. I felt like I actually knew the characters on a personal level because their lives were so well shared throughout the book. Erin A. Jensen is brilliant in mixing a dream world of one character to include connections to their real world of most of the other characters. I fully expect to see Dream Waters listed on a best seller list. It is that good. It's also the first in a series and I expect to read the others. I highly recommend Dream Waters to anyone who is fascinated by magic in a contemporary setting. Grab it now!
Wow! I loved Dream Waters: Book One of The Dream Waters Series by Erin A. Jensen. Patients Charlie, Bob, Nellie, and Frank's everyday life changes when a new patient, Emma, arrives. Charlie sees people "differently", while Bob just wants to see the TV. Nellie wants to rock her invisible child, and Frank yells that demons are coming. Emma seems normal, however. Even the psychiatrist believes Emma is different from the other patients. Emma's husband, David, is a key to Charlie's issues and this isn't shared until the end of the book. I kept trying to figure out the mystery behind each patient's presence in Charlie's dream world, and how the dream world and the real world connected. Charlie blends characters in both worlds to help them in the real world.
Dream Waters by Erin A. Jensen is set in a mental institution and provides a hook that keeps the reader coming back for more. I honestly could not put the book down. I felt like I actually knew the characters on a personal level because their lives were so well shared throughout the book. Erin A. Jensen is brilliant in mixing a dream world of one character to include connections to their real world of most of the other characters. I fully expect to see Dream Waters listed on a best seller list. It is that good. It's also the first in a series and I expect to read the others. I highly recommend Dream Waters to anyone who is fascinated by magic in a contemporary setting. Grab it now!
Recommend this book:
Errant Gods
Erik Henry Vick
2018 Silver Medal
557 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
Wow! I don’t know where to start. I had hoped that Errant Gods: Blood of the Isir Book One by Erik Henry Vick was a good read. I doubted that it was as good as Stephen King’s The Dark Tower because that series is one of the best I have ever read. Period. I’m not going to say Errant Gods is better than The Dark Tower. Loyalty is a very strong facet of my personality, and I am a longtime Stephen King fan. What I will say is this. If you liked The Dark Tower, if you like the writing of Stephen King, then read Errant Gods. It is good, no, it is great! It is powerful, and it is writing of the highest level. I never thought I would be able to read a writer that wrote in that style of moving in and out of dimensions and describes pure evil as well as Stephen King does. I was wrong. Erik Henry Vick is the real thing, and I look forward to reading him for just as long a time as I have been reading Stephen King.
Two pages into Errant Gods I was blown away by the sheer power of the writing. The beauty and style used to describe a conversation between two obviously evil people, driven only by their primal desires, is beautiful in its straightforward simplicity. I usually review a book by stating which literary element I feel is its strongest point, but I am at a loss now. What do you say when all the elements are above and beyond anything you have read in a very long time? The writing is excellent. The characters are brilliant. I can go on and on about every part of this book, but the best thing I can do is to tell you to read it. You won’t regret it.
Wow! I don’t know where to start. I had hoped that Errant Gods: Blood of the Isir Book One by Erik Henry Vick was a good read. I doubted that it was as good as Stephen King’s The Dark Tower because that series is one of the best I have ever read. Period. I’m not going to say Errant Gods is better than The Dark Tower. Loyalty is a very strong facet of my personality, and I am a longtime Stephen King fan. What I will say is this. If you liked The Dark Tower, if you like the writing of Stephen King, then read Errant Gods. It is good, no, it is great! It is powerful, and it is writing of the highest level. I never thought I would be able to read a writer that wrote in that style of moving in and out of dimensions and describes pure evil as well as Stephen King does. I was wrong. Erik Henry Vick is the real thing, and I look forward to reading him for just as long a time as I have been reading Stephen King.
Two pages into Errant Gods I was blown away by the sheer power of the writing. The beauty and style used to describe a conversation between two obviously evil people, driven only by their primal desires, is beautiful in its straightforward simplicity. I usually review a book by stating which literary element I feel is its strongest point, but I am at a loss now. What do you say when all the elements are above and beyond anything you have read in a very long time? The writing is excellent. The characters are brilliant. I can go on and on about every part of this book, but the best thing I can do is to tell you to read it. You won’t regret it.
Recommend this book:
Whatever for Hire
A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count)
RJ Blain
2018 Gold Medal
426 Pages
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Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite
Bad things happen when the devil is bored; fortunately, Kanika seems to have captured his attention. His unwanted help in rescuing a cat from a tree had been the catalyst, leaving her with a debt and giving him a personal invitation to come and manipulate her. He had great plans for her. But she was no fool; she knew better than to play with the devil... She had known better. Yet now he was one of her clients, and he had made an offer too tempting to refuse. All she had to do was sign something, without reading it, and accept the first job he sent her way as repayment for a debt. What she didn't expect was for things to be so complicated. A kidnapping gone wrong sees her victim turn the tide, but had he not, then they would never have uncovered the undead plague that afflicted the world, a problem that if not reined in could spell the end of days.
The narrative in Whatever for Hire is so brilliant that you will struggle to tear yourself away for even a minute. The story has a great humour to it, and the first person narrative holds true to Kanika's character perfectly. I enjoyed every minute of this book, from the flippancy of Kanika when dealing with the devil, seeing how far she could push her luck, to her awesome, if somewhat unreliable, shifting abilities. There is a lot to this plot, and it certainly went beyond what I expected. R.J. Blain has written an amazing paranormal romance/urban fantasy where you can't help but hope for the characters to get together. This is helped by the fact that they are so believable. There are questions about Malcolm that will plague you until the moment of truth, and the added bonus of the mystery surrounding Kanika herself, but all that pales when placed beside a plot which just keeps getting better. Brilliantly written, full of action, mystery, suspense, romance, revenge, and more than a little interference from Heaven and Hell.
Bad things happen when the devil is bored; fortunately, Kanika seems to have captured his attention. His unwanted help in rescuing a cat from a tree had been the catalyst, leaving her with a debt and giving him a personal invitation to come and manipulate her. He had great plans for her. But she was no fool; she knew better than to play with the devil... She had known better. Yet now he was one of her clients, and he had made an offer too tempting to refuse. All she had to do was sign something, without reading it, and accept the first job he sent her way as repayment for a debt. What she didn't expect was for things to be so complicated. A kidnapping gone wrong sees her victim turn the tide, but had he not, then they would never have uncovered the undead plague that afflicted the world, a problem that if not reined in could spell the end of days.
The narrative in Whatever for Hire is so brilliant that you will struggle to tear yourself away for even a minute. The story has a great humour to it, and the first person narrative holds true to Kanika's character perfectly. I enjoyed every minute of this book, from the flippancy of Kanika when dealing with the devil, seeing how far she could push her luck, to her awesome, if somewhat unreliable, shifting abilities. There is a lot to this plot, and it certainly went beyond what I expected. R.J. Blain has written an amazing paranormal romance/urban fantasy where you can't help but hope for the characters to get together. This is helped by the fact that they are so believable. There are questions about Malcolm that will plague you until the moment of truth, and the added bonus of the mystery surrounding Kanika herself, but all that pales when placed beside a plot which just keeps getting better. Brilliantly written, full of action, mystery, suspense, romance, revenge, and more than a little interference from Heaven and Hell.
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