BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Recommend this book:
Holy Remedy
The Invisible Conflict Chronicles Book 1
J. G. Martins
2017 Gold Medal
150 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Holy Remedy by J.G. Martins is Book One in The Invisible Conflict Chronicles, an epic tale with a stunning historical setting around the 13th century. It is a period when the quest for power and superstitious beliefs are very strong. The Magyars have barely recovering from the invasion by the Mongols, working hard to rebuild their kingdom. It is at this time that a deadly disease hits the Baron Levente, the regent of Eger. For Bishop Konrád, it’s a curse. Unless a cure is found quickly, the Baron will die. A cure has been found, but it is located in the treacherous deeps of the Bükk Mountains and only one man can beat the odds to reach there, the Baron’s own pupil and knight, Rodger Clement. Can he make it to the heart of the mountain and be back in time to save his master?
There is a lot to enjoy in Holy Remedy, a tale set against the backdrop of one of Europe’s great cultural crossroads and melting pots, Hungary, with lush vegetation and strange beliefs. I couldn’t help thinking about the witch-hunting that took place in this land hundreds of years ago. The story features great and compelling characters and a lot of action and fighting. The plot is well conceived and readers are treated to many twists and surprises as they turn the pages. J.G. Martins writes beautiful dialogues and they play a powerful role in enhancing plot and character development. The dialogue flows naturally and merges with the wonderful descriptions to create great beauty in the work. This is a novel with great historical elements, a gripping plot and a huge conflict. Martins definitely takes readers to an historic age and across dangerous lands.
Holy Remedy by J.G. Martins is Book One in The Invisible Conflict Chronicles, an epic tale with a stunning historical setting around the 13th century. It is a period when the quest for power and superstitious beliefs are very strong. The Magyars have barely recovering from the invasion by the Mongols, working hard to rebuild their kingdom. It is at this time that a deadly disease hits the Baron Levente, the regent of Eger. For Bishop Konrád, it’s a curse. Unless a cure is found quickly, the Baron will die. A cure has been found, but it is located in the treacherous deeps of the Bükk Mountains and only one man can beat the odds to reach there, the Baron’s own pupil and knight, Rodger Clement. Can he make it to the heart of the mountain and be back in time to save his master?
There is a lot to enjoy in Holy Remedy, a tale set against the backdrop of one of Europe’s great cultural crossroads and melting pots, Hungary, with lush vegetation and strange beliefs. I couldn’t help thinking about the witch-hunting that took place in this land hundreds of years ago. The story features great and compelling characters and a lot of action and fighting. The plot is well conceived and readers are treated to many twists and surprises as they turn the pages. J.G. Martins writes beautiful dialogues and they play a powerful role in enhancing plot and character development. The dialogue flows naturally and merges with the wonderful descriptions to create great beauty in the work. This is a novel with great historical elements, a gripping plot and a huge conflict. Martins definitely takes readers to an historic age and across dangerous lands.
Recommend this book:
The Grey Eyed Storm
The Occuli, Book One
Christie M. Stenzel
2017 Bronze Medal
560 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
The Grey Eyed Storm by Christie Stenzel is the first book in the Occuli series. Remy Verbetta had been just twelve years old when her mother, Emmery, had taken her own life. Her nine-year-old sister, Makayla, had vanished without a trace soon after. On her eighteenth birthday, Remy is not only given a necklace which her mother had always worn, but also discovers (after sleepwalking to her mother’s grave) that she is one of the seven varieties of Occuli, easily identifiable by eye color, each with a variety of powers which can affect others as well as the elements around them. As an additional birthday gift, Remy receives a bodyguard from her cousin, Ruby, in the form of a boy, Zias, whom Remy had been having dreams about for quite some time. At school, Remy finally meets the new boy in town, Drake Cook, and cannot help but be startled by his eyes; it is never good to know that a Reaper has arrived. Unable to determine whether Drake is good or evil, and trying to decipher her mother’s and her grandmother’s memories, Remy finds herself in a race against time to figure out who she can trust in order to save her kind from obliteration.
Without a doubt, The Grey Eyed Storm is one of the most in-depth and entertaining paranormal books I have ever read. Christie Stenzel’s introduction to the Occuli series leaves me desperately wanting more and I look forward to reading the rest of the series when it is released. Living in a spiraling world of heartache after her mother and sister are both gone, the main character discovers on her eighteenth birthday that nothing in life is what she thought it to be. As her powers come into effect and she finds out who and what she truly is, Remy spins through a pinwheel of emotions that strike without warning, making her wonder whether or not she is going crazy. Each of the characters is well-written and brings an important element to the story as a whole, whether good or evil. I fully enjoyed The Grey-Eyed Storm and recommend it to all die-hard lovers of the paranormal who enjoy mystery, humor, romance, adventure and excitement in a mind-bending tale of magic which eclipses all others.
The Grey Eyed Storm by Christie Stenzel is the first book in the Occuli series. Remy Verbetta had been just twelve years old when her mother, Emmery, had taken her own life. Her nine-year-old sister, Makayla, had vanished without a trace soon after. On her eighteenth birthday, Remy is not only given a necklace which her mother had always worn, but also discovers (after sleepwalking to her mother’s grave) that she is one of the seven varieties of Occuli, easily identifiable by eye color, each with a variety of powers which can affect others as well as the elements around them. As an additional birthday gift, Remy receives a bodyguard from her cousin, Ruby, in the form of a boy, Zias, whom Remy had been having dreams about for quite some time. At school, Remy finally meets the new boy in town, Drake Cook, and cannot help but be startled by his eyes; it is never good to know that a Reaper has arrived. Unable to determine whether Drake is good or evil, and trying to decipher her mother’s and her grandmother’s memories, Remy finds herself in a race against time to figure out who she can trust in order to save her kind from obliteration.
Without a doubt, The Grey Eyed Storm is one of the most in-depth and entertaining paranormal books I have ever read. Christie Stenzel’s introduction to the Occuli series leaves me desperately wanting more and I look forward to reading the rest of the series when it is released. Living in a spiraling world of heartache after her mother and sister are both gone, the main character discovers on her eighteenth birthday that nothing in life is what she thought it to be. As her powers come into effect and she finds out who and what she truly is, Remy spins through a pinwheel of emotions that strike without warning, making her wonder whether or not she is going crazy. Each of the characters is well-written and brings an important element to the story as a whole, whether good or evil. I fully enjoyed The Grey-Eyed Storm and recommend it to all die-hard lovers of the paranormal who enjoy mystery, humor, romance, adventure and excitement in a mind-bending tale of magic which eclipses all others.
Recommend this book:
Champions of the Dragon
Epic Fallacy Book 1
Michael James Ploof
2017 Bronze Medal
322 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Champions of the Dragon by Michael James Ploof is the first book in the Epic Fallacy trilogy. In every generation, five are chosen by the Most High Wizard Kazimir to be the Champions of the Dragon. The five chosen are unlikely companions: Murland is an apprentice that always dreamed of being a great Wizard, but has failed to successfully cast a spell. Gibrig is a Dwarf suffering from Humanism, and doesn't have the heart to harm anyone. Brannon is a Prince refusing to bend to his father's will, and give up his love for the warrior Valikimir. Willow is an ogre with an unsustainable appetite, strength, and a past victory of defeating a crocodile. Sir Eldrick is an alcoholic knight, formerly banished from the kingdom after being caught with the queen. Little do they know that this quest is a fool's mission, not to defeat a dragon and claim heroism, but to be fed to it.
Michael James Ploof brings to life a vast array of characters, making each one different with flaws, strengths, and quirks. Ploof breaks several fantasy stereotypes with charm and cleverness, allowing each character to be sympathized with, and spending every scene growing the characters. The villains are very ominous and mysterious, a perfect fit for the world of eccentricities. Not a lot is learned about their motivations, but it's clear that this is only the beginning of everyone's stories. Each of the “champions” is an outcast trying to find his way, and their differences tend to clash with each other, but as the story unfolds, the more they become a team. Champions of the Dragon is a delightful satirical treat, with humor, emotion, outrageous moments, and eccentric characters that come to life off the page.
Champions of the Dragon by Michael James Ploof is the first book in the Epic Fallacy trilogy. In every generation, five are chosen by the Most High Wizard Kazimir to be the Champions of the Dragon. The five chosen are unlikely companions: Murland is an apprentice that always dreamed of being a great Wizard, but has failed to successfully cast a spell. Gibrig is a Dwarf suffering from Humanism, and doesn't have the heart to harm anyone. Brannon is a Prince refusing to bend to his father's will, and give up his love for the warrior Valikimir. Willow is an ogre with an unsustainable appetite, strength, and a past victory of defeating a crocodile. Sir Eldrick is an alcoholic knight, formerly banished from the kingdom after being caught with the queen. Little do they know that this quest is a fool's mission, not to defeat a dragon and claim heroism, but to be fed to it.
Michael James Ploof brings to life a vast array of characters, making each one different with flaws, strengths, and quirks. Ploof breaks several fantasy stereotypes with charm and cleverness, allowing each character to be sympathized with, and spending every scene growing the characters. The villains are very ominous and mysterious, a perfect fit for the world of eccentricities. Not a lot is learned about their motivations, but it's clear that this is only the beginning of everyone's stories. Each of the “champions” is an outcast trying to find his way, and their differences tend to clash with each other, but as the story unfolds, the more they become a team. Champions of the Dragon is a delightful satirical treat, with humor, emotion, outrageous moments, and eccentric characters that come to life off the page.
Recommend this book:
A Wizard's Forge
The Woern Saga Book 1
A.M. Justice
2017 Honorable Mention
324 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
A Wizard's Forge by A.M. Justice is the first book in The Woern Saga, a fantasy that has elements of a thriller and sci-fi beautifully knit into its fabric, a compelling tale of war, kidnapping, revenge and redemption. Many years ago, a crew of explorers got stranded on a faraway planet and formed a civilization of their own. Over the years, there have been wars, marauders, slavers and warriors. The young Logkeeper, Victoria, falls prey to kidnappers who sell her into slavery. As a slave, she experienced all forms of torture, including sexual abuses and other forms of psychological trauma. She was named Kara by her ruthless Master, Lornk Korng. When she successfully escaped, she did so with a vow to avenge herself. Would she get her chance for revenge?
A Wizard's Forge is a masterpiece and readers will love the way A.M. Justice explores her characters. Victoria is very compelling. Her experience of slavery completely transforms her and she develops a powerful zeal for revenge. But there is something else that happens to her — she loses the courage to love because she is continually haunted by the gruesome experience of being held prisoner and violated. Her decision to save the prince when he gets captured is an act of bravery that marks a turning point in her journey towards self-giving and inner freedom.
This is a wonderful tale with a mesmerizing setting and a fantastic plot. The author has a powerful imagination that brings to life actors that readers can easily relate to. There is a lot of action throughout the story and it reels with great intensity. The complex, intricate plot will have the reader turning the pages. This is one of those books that keeps readers awake into the late hours of the night. It is spellbinding.
A Wizard's Forge by A.M. Justice is the first book in The Woern Saga, a fantasy that has elements of a thriller and sci-fi beautifully knit into its fabric, a compelling tale of war, kidnapping, revenge and redemption. Many years ago, a crew of explorers got stranded on a faraway planet and formed a civilization of their own. Over the years, there have been wars, marauders, slavers and warriors. The young Logkeeper, Victoria, falls prey to kidnappers who sell her into slavery. As a slave, she experienced all forms of torture, including sexual abuses and other forms of psychological trauma. She was named Kara by her ruthless Master, Lornk Korng. When she successfully escaped, she did so with a vow to avenge herself. Would she get her chance for revenge?
A Wizard's Forge is a masterpiece and readers will love the way A.M. Justice explores her characters. Victoria is very compelling. Her experience of slavery completely transforms her and she develops a powerful zeal for revenge. But there is something else that happens to her — she loses the courage to love because she is continually haunted by the gruesome experience of being held prisoner and violated. Her decision to save the prince when he gets captured is an act of bravery that marks a turning point in her journey towards self-giving and inner freedom.
This is a wonderful tale with a mesmerizing setting and a fantastic plot. The author has a powerful imagination that brings to life actors that readers can easily relate to. There is a lot of action throughout the story and it reels with great intensity. The complex, intricate plot will have the reader turning the pages. This is one of those books that keeps readers awake into the late hours of the night. It is spellbinding.
Recommend this book:
99 Days
Keith Ward
2017 Honorable Mention
341 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
In Keith Ward's 99 Days, proxying is a barbaric act practiced in Slypht where one person is sacrificed so another gets to live longer. The best proxies are considered to be kids below one year as they still have a longer and better life left. Those who wish to live longer pay huge sums for such babies, or obtain them in any other way possible. When Kertram rushes back home to find his entire village slain and all the kids below one year - including his month-old triplets - abducted, he knows the cruel fate that awaits them. In agreement with his wife's dying wish, and with just one ally by his side, Kertram sets off on the impossible task to rescue his kids from the soldiers and from guaranteed death. With deep sorrow in his heart and immense determination, he is ready to do the impossible, but first he will have to travel across villages, forests, mountains and towns, and survive the endless dangers that lurk around every corner. Kertram has exactly 61 days to get his babies back or it will be too late.
Keith Ward's 99 Days is a most captivating fantasy tale and an incredible portrayal of a parent's determination to do whatever it takes to save his children. In Slypht, Keith Ward created an amazing and memorable world, and a perfect setting for this incredible fantasy tale. His writing effortlessly captures moments and emotions to make the story an exciting and flawless read. The characters, the way of life, and the setting all blend together perfectly to bring this thrilling tale to life. Fans of fiction fantasy will definitely enjoy this gripping race against time across Slypht; Kertram's pain will touch your soul and his determination will inspire you. Thank you, Keith Ward, for one of the most outstanding fantasy novels I have ever read.
In Keith Ward's 99 Days, proxying is a barbaric act practiced in Slypht where one person is sacrificed so another gets to live longer. The best proxies are considered to be kids below one year as they still have a longer and better life left. Those who wish to live longer pay huge sums for such babies, or obtain them in any other way possible. When Kertram rushes back home to find his entire village slain and all the kids below one year - including his month-old triplets - abducted, he knows the cruel fate that awaits them. In agreement with his wife's dying wish, and with just one ally by his side, Kertram sets off on the impossible task to rescue his kids from the soldiers and from guaranteed death. With deep sorrow in his heart and immense determination, he is ready to do the impossible, but first he will have to travel across villages, forests, mountains and towns, and survive the endless dangers that lurk around every corner. Kertram has exactly 61 days to get his babies back or it will be too late.
Keith Ward's 99 Days is a most captivating fantasy tale and an incredible portrayal of a parent's determination to do whatever it takes to save his children. In Slypht, Keith Ward created an amazing and memorable world, and a perfect setting for this incredible fantasy tale. His writing effortlessly captures moments and emotions to make the story an exciting and flawless read. The characters, the way of life, and the setting all blend together perfectly to bring this thrilling tale to life. Fans of fiction fantasy will definitely enjoy this gripping race against time across Slypht; Kertram's pain will touch your soul and his determination will inspire you. Thank you, Keith Ward, for one of the most outstanding fantasy novels I have ever read.
Recommend this book:
The Last Bucelarii
Book 2: Lament of the Fallen
Andy Peloquin
2017 Finalist
338 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Samantha Dewitt (Rivera) for Readers' Favorite
The Hunter seeks only to live as normal a life as possible, but with demons haunting him everywhere he goes such a life is beyond him. With Soulhunger and the demon to lead him, there is little that he can do but kill again and again, bringing himself to a chaos and a hatred that has led him to nearly take his own life. But when he meets Sir Danna and Visibos, he’s certain he can hide the part of himself that wants to kill, at least, until they discover who he is. Now he’s on a hunt to find that which is his and to protect himself and maybe the rest of humanity from the demons that seek to destroy them all, but is it even possible? Between Bardin and the others, he’ll have to find a way to overcome the power that has controlled him for as long as he can remember - but will he succeed in The Last Bucelarii: Lament of the Fallen (Book 2) by Andy Peloquin?
This book is filled with a whole lot of action and adventure. You feel like you know where things are going and what’s going to happen and then it turns things around. Even though The Hunter isn’t a ‘good guy,’ you still feel like you’re rooting for him to succeed the whole way and you’re hoping that he’ll overcome what’s holding him back and find the woman that he’s seeking from his dreams. It’s an intriguing book and there are plenty of interesting characters, from Aspos and Bardin to Sir Danna and Visibos and, of course, The Hunter himself. Lament of the Fallen is definitely a book for anyone who likes plenty of action and violence in what they read.
The Hunter seeks only to live as normal a life as possible, but with demons haunting him everywhere he goes such a life is beyond him. With Soulhunger and the demon to lead him, there is little that he can do but kill again and again, bringing himself to a chaos and a hatred that has led him to nearly take his own life. But when he meets Sir Danna and Visibos, he’s certain he can hide the part of himself that wants to kill, at least, until they discover who he is. Now he’s on a hunt to find that which is his and to protect himself and maybe the rest of humanity from the demons that seek to destroy them all, but is it even possible? Between Bardin and the others, he’ll have to find a way to overcome the power that has controlled him for as long as he can remember - but will he succeed in The Last Bucelarii: Lament of the Fallen (Book 2) by Andy Peloquin?
This book is filled with a whole lot of action and adventure. You feel like you know where things are going and what’s going to happen and then it turns things around. Even though The Hunter isn’t a ‘good guy,’ you still feel like you’re rooting for him to succeed the whole way and you’re hoping that he’ll overcome what’s holding him back and find the woman that he’s seeking from his dreams. It’s an intriguing book and there are plenty of interesting characters, from Aspos and Bardin to Sir Danna and Visibos and, of course, The Hunter himself. Lament of the Fallen is definitely a book for anyone who likes plenty of action and violence in what they read.
Recommend this book:
The Ill-kept Oath
CC Aune
2017 Finalist
416 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
The Ill-Kept Oath by C.C. Aune is the story of two young women in 1819 England; Lady Josephine Weston and Prudence Fairfeather. Josephine fears she'll always be known as an immature child, and be forever confined to her country home, but her summer begins to look up with the arrival of soldiers with the unusual request to camp out in the yard. When she discovers a trunk of her mother's that contains a female soldier uniform and pistols, she discovers more than heirlooms, but a mystery. Does it have anything to do with the supposed beasts the soldiers are hunting? Meanwhile, Prudence is spending her summer in London with Aunt Amelia, dreaming that one day she'll marry for love. She finds herself with two baffling mysteries: a dashing heroic gentleman, and objects of her mother's called Talismans. Through letter correspondences, they work to unravel the secrets of their pasts.
C.C. Aune captured the tone of the time period perfectly from the prose to the dialogue. It helped bring me into the time of the story, which allowed for a better understanding of Josephine and Prudence. It's not a crazy idea now to marry for love, but wanting to do that in 1819 showed how headstrong Prudence is, which made me like her from the start. Josephine is also an independent woman who doesn't let her cousin Edward push her around, and even goes about trying to reclaim the house from him, and learning to fence. There's several fantasy elements to it, but it's subdued, and instead the story is driven by the characters. The Ill-Kept Oath is charming, delightful, with some romance, humor, and adventure. I didn't want it to end!
The Ill-Kept Oath by C.C. Aune is the story of two young women in 1819 England; Lady Josephine Weston and Prudence Fairfeather. Josephine fears she'll always be known as an immature child, and be forever confined to her country home, but her summer begins to look up with the arrival of soldiers with the unusual request to camp out in the yard. When she discovers a trunk of her mother's that contains a female soldier uniform and pistols, she discovers more than heirlooms, but a mystery. Does it have anything to do with the supposed beasts the soldiers are hunting? Meanwhile, Prudence is spending her summer in London with Aunt Amelia, dreaming that one day she'll marry for love. She finds herself with two baffling mysteries: a dashing heroic gentleman, and objects of her mother's called Talismans. Through letter correspondences, they work to unravel the secrets of their pasts.
C.C. Aune captured the tone of the time period perfectly from the prose to the dialogue. It helped bring me into the time of the story, which allowed for a better understanding of Josephine and Prudence. It's not a crazy idea now to marry for love, but wanting to do that in 1819 showed how headstrong Prudence is, which made me like her from the start. Josephine is also an independent woman who doesn't let her cousin Edward push her around, and even goes about trying to reclaim the house from him, and learning to fence. There's several fantasy elements to it, but it's subdued, and instead the story is driven by the characters. The Ill-Kept Oath is charming, delightful, with some romance, humor, and adventure. I didn't want it to end!
Recommend this book:
A Fine Line
The Beginning
JC Brennan
2016 Bronze Medal
500 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
“William’s life would change forever on the 27th of May — an unusually hot day in Georgia. The monumental events that were about to begin would last through generations. William and his family would never forget the powers that be and the powers of the unknown throughout time. It was a powerful force at work, one William did not fully understand at the time and would come to love and hate. This day in 1864 in the battle known as 'The Crime at Pickett’s Mill' it all began…”
A Fine Line: The Beginning by JC Brennan is a fantasy story laced with paranormal elements. The Crew – Union soldier William, Fillmore, Brimmount, Buckner, husband and wife Tyrone and Cecil – is a group bonded by fate. Each of them has a special ability; Tyrone has a gift of healing touch and Cecil is a clairvoyant, and the others also develop their own ‘power’ as the story progresses.
The setting is well described; I can easily imagine and hear in my mind the brutal and frenzied war, the hospital filled with wounded soldiers, the travelling wagon, the gunshots and more. The narrative is straightforward and easy to read. The characters are sufficiently complex, well-written, and their relationships have enough depth. For my part, I find the pace is moderate as each of the character's back story is explained. All the same, Brennan gives readers a unique premise by combining fantasy and paranormal factors. Simply put, this is a solid work and a good start for the series.
“William’s life would change forever on the 27th of May — an unusually hot day in Georgia. The monumental events that were about to begin would last through generations. William and his family would never forget the powers that be and the powers of the unknown throughout time. It was a powerful force at work, one William did not fully understand at the time and would come to love and hate. This day in 1864 in the battle known as 'The Crime at Pickett’s Mill' it all began…”
A Fine Line: The Beginning by JC Brennan is a fantasy story laced with paranormal elements. The Crew – Union soldier William, Fillmore, Brimmount, Buckner, husband and wife Tyrone and Cecil – is a group bonded by fate. Each of them has a special ability; Tyrone has a gift of healing touch and Cecil is a clairvoyant, and the others also develop their own ‘power’ as the story progresses.
The setting is well described; I can easily imagine and hear in my mind the brutal and frenzied war, the hospital filled with wounded soldiers, the travelling wagon, the gunshots and more. The narrative is straightforward and easy to read. The characters are sufficiently complex, well-written, and their relationships have enough depth. For my part, I find the pace is moderate as each of the character's back story is explained. All the same, Brennan gives readers a unique premise by combining fantasy and paranormal factors. Simply put, this is a solid work and a good start for the series.
Recommend this book:
The Grey Eyed Storm
The Occuli, Book One
Christie M. Stenzel
2016 Bronze Medal
560 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
The Grey Eyed Storm by Christie Stenzel is the first book in the Occuli series. Remy Verbetta had been just twelve years old when her mother, Emmery, had taken her own life. Her nine-year-old sister, Makayla, had vanished without a trace soon after. On her eighteenth birthday, Remy is not only given a necklace which her mother had always worn, but also discovers (after sleepwalking to her mother’s grave) that she is one of the seven varieties of Occuli, easily identifiable by eye color, each with a variety of powers which can affect others as well as the elements around them. As an additional birthday gift, Remy receives a bodyguard from her cousin, Ruby, in the form of a boy, Zias, whom Remy had been having dreams about for quite some time. At school, Remy finally meets the new boy in town, Drake Cook, and cannot help but be startled by his eyes; it is never good to know that a Reaper has arrived. Unable to determine whether Drake is good or evil, and trying to decipher her mother’s and her grandmother’s memories, Remy finds herself in a race against time to figure out who she can trust in order to save her kind from obliteration.
Without a doubt, The Grey Eyed Storm is one of the most in-depth and entertaining paranormal books I have ever read. Christie Stenzel’s introduction to the Occuli series leaves me desperately wanting more and I look forward to reading the rest of the series when it is released. Living in a spiraling world of heartache after her mother and sister are both gone, the main character discovers on her eighteenth birthday that nothing in life is what she thought it to be. As her powers come into effect and she finds out who and what she truly is, Remy spins through a pinwheel of emotions that strike without warning, making her wonder whether or not she is going crazy. Each of the characters is well-written and brings an important element to the story as a whole, whether good or evil. I fully enjoyed The Grey-Eyed Storm and recommend it to all die-hard lovers of the paranormal who enjoy mystery, humor, romance, adventure and excitement in a mind-bending tale of magic which eclipses all others.
The Grey Eyed Storm by Christie Stenzel is the first book in the Occuli series. Remy Verbetta had been just twelve years old when her mother, Emmery, had taken her own life. Her nine-year-old sister, Makayla, had vanished without a trace soon after. On her eighteenth birthday, Remy is not only given a necklace which her mother had always worn, but also discovers (after sleepwalking to her mother’s grave) that she is one of the seven varieties of Occuli, easily identifiable by eye color, each with a variety of powers which can affect others as well as the elements around them. As an additional birthday gift, Remy receives a bodyguard from her cousin, Ruby, in the form of a boy, Zias, whom Remy had been having dreams about for quite some time. At school, Remy finally meets the new boy in town, Drake Cook, and cannot help but be startled by his eyes; it is never good to know that a Reaper has arrived. Unable to determine whether Drake is good or evil, and trying to decipher her mother’s and her grandmother’s memories, Remy finds herself in a race against time to figure out who she can trust in order to save her kind from obliteration.
Without a doubt, The Grey Eyed Storm is one of the most in-depth and entertaining paranormal books I have ever read. Christie Stenzel’s introduction to the Occuli series leaves me desperately wanting more and I look forward to reading the rest of the series when it is released. Living in a spiraling world of heartache after her mother and sister are both gone, the main character discovers on her eighteenth birthday that nothing in life is what she thought it to be. As her powers come into effect and she finds out who and what she truly is, Remy spins through a pinwheel of emotions that strike without warning, making her wonder whether or not she is going crazy. Each of the characters is well-written and brings an important element to the story as a whole, whether good or evil. I fully enjoyed The Grey-Eyed Storm and recommend it to all die-hard lovers of the paranormal who enjoy mystery, humor, romance, adventure and excitement in a mind-bending tale of magic which eclipses all others.
Recommend this book:
 by John Patrick Kennedy uses facts taken from the New Testament of the Christian Holy Bible. However, it is a fantasy so time is measured in eons not a mere two thousand years. Nyx, a fallen angel, was banished to Hell, where she fought for supremacy to become its queen. Later, trapped on Earth, she falls in ...){kind=link}
Plague of Angels
The Descended Book 1
John Patrick Kennedy
2016 Honorable Mention
358 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
Plague of Angels (The Descended Book 1) by John Patrick Kennedy uses facts taken from the New Testament of the Christian Holy Bible. However, it is a fantasy so time is measured in eons not a mere two thousand years. Nyx, a fallen angel, was banished to Hell, where she fought for supremacy to become its queen. Later, trapped on Earth, she falls in love with the disillusioned Son of God; “Father, why have You forsaken me” expresses his feelings. For Him, Nyx initiates a thousand-year reign of terror; she uses sex, violence and betrayal to force mankind to worship her. He has promised her a paradise on Earth if she succeeds, but her lover has plans even she, with all her magical powers, fails to foresee.
Irreverent and blasphemous are the words that came to mind while reading the prologue of Plague of Angels (The Descended Book 1) by John Patrick Kennedy, followed by dramatic, powerful, and, when I caught my breath at the end of chapter one enough to think, it would make a marvelous movie. God’s son resisting temptation in the desert is incredible; the crucifixion scene surpasses it, and anything recorded in the Bible. This is what the human eye is incapable of seeing; the ascent of His spirit to heaven, set against darkness and storm as the elemental forces of nature are controlled by the Almighty. Prepare to be shocked to the core, Christian or not. Plague of Angels is the most gripping paranormal fantasy I have ever read.
Plague of Angels (The Descended Book 1) by John Patrick Kennedy uses facts taken from the New Testament of the Christian Holy Bible. However, it is a fantasy so time is measured in eons not a mere two thousand years. Nyx, a fallen angel, was banished to Hell, where she fought for supremacy to become its queen. Later, trapped on Earth, she falls in love with the disillusioned Son of God; “Father, why have You forsaken me” expresses his feelings. For Him, Nyx initiates a thousand-year reign of terror; she uses sex, violence and betrayal to force mankind to worship her. He has promised her a paradise on Earth if she succeeds, but her lover has plans even she, with all her magical powers, fails to foresee.
Irreverent and blasphemous are the words that came to mind while reading the prologue of Plague of Angels (The Descended Book 1) by John Patrick Kennedy, followed by dramatic, powerful, and, when I caught my breath at the end of chapter one enough to think, it would make a marvelous movie. God’s son resisting temptation in the desert is incredible; the crucifixion scene surpasses it, and anything recorded in the Bible. This is what the human eye is incapable of seeing; the ascent of His spirit to heaven, set against darkness and storm as the elemental forces of nature are controlled by the Almighty. Prepare to be shocked to the core, Christian or not. Plague of Angels is the most gripping paranormal fantasy I have ever read.
Contact Author -
