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Recommend this book:
Darkness Of Light
Darkness Series Book 1
Stacey Marie Brown
2016 Silver Medal
310 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
Wow! That's the first thought I had when I finished reading Darkness of Light, the first book in the Darkness series by author Stacey Marie Brown. Follow the story of Ember Brycin, the unique and strong protagonist of our story, as she learns about her own powers, discovers a world she had no idea existed, and falls for a guy she hardly could have imagined. When Ember meets the enigmatic Eli Dragen, both sparks and secrets fly. He leads her on a path of discovery, about herself, about a world she didn't know existed, and through a journey she has to take to save herself and both worlds that she's come to care about.
This is a fantastic book. I'm not sure how else to say it. Darkness of Light was a book that I read from start to finish all in one session; I just could not put it down. Fun, funny, and an absolute thrill ride of a read, this book will have you turning the pages from start to finish. I love a paranormal read led by a kick butt female, and we definitely have that in Ember Bryce. Author Stacey Marie Brown has done a fantastic job in creating realistic and relatable characters and exciting and fantastic worlds, just what readers of paranormal fiction are looking for. Any reader who loves paranormal fiction, romance, action or suspense would enjoy Darkness of Light. I recommend author Stacey Marie Brown's work, and am certainly looking forward to reading the next installment in this series as soon as I possibly can.
Wow! That's the first thought I had when I finished reading Darkness of Light, the first book in the Darkness series by author Stacey Marie Brown. Follow the story of Ember Brycin, the unique and strong protagonist of our story, as she learns about her own powers, discovers a world she had no idea existed, and falls for a guy she hardly could have imagined. When Ember meets the enigmatic Eli Dragen, both sparks and secrets fly. He leads her on a path of discovery, about herself, about a world she didn't know existed, and through a journey she has to take to save herself and both worlds that she's come to care about.
This is a fantastic book. I'm not sure how else to say it. Darkness of Light was a book that I read from start to finish all in one session; I just could not put it down. Fun, funny, and an absolute thrill ride of a read, this book will have you turning the pages from start to finish. I love a paranormal read led by a kick butt female, and we definitely have that in Ember Bryce. Author Stacey Marie Brown has done a fantastic job in creating realistic and relatable characters and exciting and fantastic worlds, just what readers of paranormal fiction are looking for. Any reader who loves paranormal fiction, romance, action or suspense would enjoy Darkness of Light. I recommend author Stacey Marie Brown's work, and am certainly looking forward to reading the next installment in this series as soon as I possibly can.
Recommend this book:
Violca's Dragon
The Dragon Ruby Series Book 1
Leilani Love
2016 Gold Medal
272 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite
Violca Grey suspects something unusual is going on, but her busy life raising her four sisters doesn’t leave much time to think about it. In Violca’s Dragon by Leilani Love, the title character is surprised to find that she and her sisters are in grave danger due to abilities she doesn’t even know she possesses. Fortunately for Violca, a new friend, Chase, is just the character to help keep her safe. As the danger posed by evil forces becomes more obvious, Violca learns some amazing facts about her life and her family that her parents’ untimely death kept hidden. Trying to keep her sisters safe, Violca turns to Chase and his friends for their protection. Will the group survive the desperate attempts of the rogue dragon to kidnap Violca, and what effects will the secrets of the past have as the sisters learn their true identities?
A great new addition to the paranormal genre with romance thrown in, Violca’s Dragon, Book 1 of the 2-volume Dragon Ruby Series keeps you turning pages, anxious to see how things work out. Leilani Love writes with passion, creating a fantasy world that is quite believable, with characters that are real in spite of their special gifts and abilities. Some coarse language and explicit sex scenes may be too intense for some readers, but the excellent plot, well developed characters, and exciting action keep you engaged and entertained. This is a great story and the promise of more to come in volume two makes it even better.
Violca Grey suspects something unusual is going on, but her busy life raising her four sisters doesn’t leave much time to think about it. In Violca’s Dragon by Leilani Love, the title character is surprised to find that she and her sisters are in grave danger due to abilities she doesn’t even know she possesses. Fortunately for Violca, a new friend, Chase, is just the character to help keep her safe. As the danger posed by evil forces becomes more obvious, Violca learns some amazing facts about her life and her family that her parents’ untimely death kept hidden. Trying to keep her sisters safe, Violca turns to Chase and his friends for their protection. Will the group survive the desperate attempts of the rogue dragon to kidnap Violca, and what effects will the secrets of the past have as the sisters learn their true identities?
A great new addition to the paranormal genre with romance thrown in, Violca’s Dragon, Book 1 of the 2-volume Dragon Ruby Series keeps you turning pages, anxious to see how things work out. Leilani Love writes with passion, creating a fantasy world that is quite believable, with characters that are real in spite of their special gifts and abilities. Some coarse language and explicit sex scenes may be too intense for some readers, but the excellent plot, well developed characters, and exciting action keep you engaged and entertained. This is a great story and the promise of more to come in volume two makes it even better.
Recommend this book:
Eye of The Storm
Eilida's Tragedy: Ruthless Storm Trilogy, Volume 1
Elle Klass
2015 Finalist
298 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite
Eilida is planning to meet up with friends at the local bar, but instead something draws her to the neighbors' house. As she slow sneaks over and looks in, what she sees is so horrific and terrifying that she takes off running. It has started storming hard, but she just keeps running until she slides down a hillside, landing in a heap against a rock. Sunshine is a receptionist at the Lyden Times Newspaper and she loves her neat and orderly world, only this day nothing is neat and orderly. A young woman was found in the woods with no identification and no memory, and the strange thing is that she looks just like Sunshine only with a different color hair. Eye of The Storm: Eilida's Tragedy (Ruthless Storm Trilogy) (Volume 1) follows Sunshine as she turns reporter and tries to discover what sent this woman running and ending up in her town.
Eye of The Storm centers around Eilida's fear of storms. She hates them, and as the story progresses we slowly learn the reasoning. Sunshine, on the other hand, can never remember a day of rain, but as she investigates this case, she is suddenly plagued by storms. Author Elle Klass creates a compelling story using tragedy, survival, guilt, repressed memories, visual triggers and storms to create a tale that encompasses so much more than you expect. The tragedy of three families is told in this one story. It is a well written and compelling tale with an amazing concept that is worth the read. Great for young adults and adults as well.
Eilida is planning to meet up with friends at the local bar, but instead something draws her to the neighbors' house. As she slow sneaks over and looks in, what she sees is so horrific and terrifying that she takes off running. It has started storming hard, but she just keeps running until she slides down a hillside, landing in a heap against a rock. Sunshine is a receptionist at the Lyden Times Newspaper and she loves her neat and orderly world, only this day nothing is neat and orderly. A young woman was found in the woods with no identification and no memory, and the strange thing is that she looks just like Sunshine only with a different color hair. Eye of The Storm: Eilida's Tragedy (Ruthless Storm Trilogy) (Volume 1) follows Sunshine as she turns reporter and tries to discover what sent this woman running and ending up in her town.
Eye of The Storm centers around Eilida's fear of storms. She hates them, and as the story progresses we slowly learn the reasoning. Sunshine, on the other hand, can never remember a day of rain, but as she investigates this case, she is suddenly plagued by storms. Author Elle Klass creates a compelling story using tragedy, survival, guilt, repressed memories, visual triggers and storms to create a tale that encompasses so much more than you expect. The tragedy of three families is told in this one story. It is a well written and compelling tale with an amazing concept that is worth the read. Great for young adults and adults as well.
Recommend this book:
 by Mary D. Brooks continues to follow the relationship between Eva Haralambos and Zoe Lambros, and how they have to deal with the memories of trials and tribulations that ultimately brought them together. In Germany, secrets about Eva's heritage are waiting to be discovered which will alter their lives i...){kind=link}
Awakenings
Intertwined Souls Series Book 4
Mary D. Brooks
2015 Honorable Mention
381 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Awakenings (Intertwined Souls Series Book 4) by Mary D. Brooks continues to follow the relationship between Eva Haralambos and Zoe Lambros, and how they have to deal with the memories of trials and tribulations that ultimately brought them together. In Germany, secrets about Eva's heritage are waiting to be discovered which will alter their lives in an unexpected ways. I did enjoy this book, despite my initial uncertainty since it’s already Book 4 from the series. Not reading the previous books from a series can lead to lack of understanding from my experience, but Awakenings is substantially a standalone.
The book starts out slowly, unfolding with Eva trying to manage her back pain, an old wound from the past, without medicine and treatment but by pure stubbornness alone. Over the course of the story, Brooks delivers a compelling tale and enough background details for me to identify with the lead characters. The prose can be more polished, but the flaws are well compensated for by Brooks' evocative style of writing which made for very interesting, vivid scenes in my head. As any reader can probably imagine, this made the story much more engaging to read.
There are parts in the book that are very emotive, and that allowed me several insights into the lead characters’ minds that made me understand them and relate to them better. The supernatural element – gift of visions of the future – is well thought out and does not overwhelm the rest of the story. On the whole, Awakenings is a well-written, entertaining and uplifting read about women in love.
Awakenings (Intertwined Souls Series Book 4) by Mary D. Brooks continues to follow the relationship between Eva Haralambos and Zoe Lambros, and how they have to deal with the memories of trials and tribulations that ultimately brought them together. In Germany, secrets about Eva's heritage are waiting to be discovered which will alter their lives in an unexpected ways. I did enjoy this book, despite my initial uncertainty since it’s already Book 4 from the series. Not reading the previous books from a series can lead to lack of understanding from my experience, but Awakenings is substantially a standalone.
The book starts out slowly, unfolding with Eva trying to manage her back pain, an old wound from the past, without medicine and treatment but by pure stubbornness alone. Over the course of the story, Brooks delivers a compelling tale and enough background details for me to identify with the lead characters. The prose can be more polished, but the flaws are well compensated for by Brooks' evocative style of writing which made for very interesting, vivid scenes in my head. As any reader can probably imagine, this made the story much more engaging to read.
There are parts in the book that are very emotive, and that allowed me several insights into the lead characters’ minds that made me understand them and relate to them better. The supernatural element – gift of visions of the future – is well thought out and does not overwhelm the rest of the story. On the whole, Awakenings is a well-written, entertaining and uplifting read about women in love.
Recommend this book:
South Face
C. F. Waller
2015 Bronze Medal
364 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Charity Tober for Readers' Favorite
South Face by C.F. Waller is a thrilling paranormal fiction read. The story recounts how in 1989, Karl and Fiona Blaine, along with their friend Zachary, went on a Mt. Everest climbing expedition, but only Zachary came back alive. Twenty years later, an unrelated climbing group on the same mountain discovered Karl Blaine’s remains and only one person from that group came back alive, proclaiming an unbelievable ghost story. What exactly happened on the first climbing expedition? How did Karl and Fiona Blaine really die? What happened to the second climbing group? Is the far-fetched ghost story really true? And what will Zachary do with the new unfolding information (does he know more than he’s letting on)?
First off, I found the cover of South Face to be really intriguing and eye-catching. Readers will be able to tell that they are getting into something mysterious, deadly and paranormal just by looking at it. I really enjoyed how the author switched character views from chapter to chapter – it really interwove the mystery of the story together by coming at it from multiple angles. There was a never a dull moment (so much suspense!) and it was definitely a page-turner as I could not wait to find out what really happened on that mountain. The premise of three (or more) people going up the mountain and only one returning was such an eerie and mysterious storyline. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I would highly recommend South Face by C.F. Waller to all paranormal, thriller and mystery genre fans.
South Face by C.F. Waller is a thrilling paranormal fiction read. The story recounts how in 1989, Karl and Fiona Blaine, along with their friend Zachary, went on a Mt. Everest climbing expedition, but only Zachary came back alive. Twenty years later, an unrelated climbing group on the same mountain discovered Karl Blaine’s remains and only one person from that group came back alive, proclaiming an unbelievable ghost story. What exactly happened on the first climbing expedition? How did Karl and Fiona Blaine really die? What happened to the second climbing group? Is the far-fetched ghost story really true? And what will Zachary do with the new unfolding information (does he know more than he’s letting on)?
First off, I found the cover of South Face to be really intriguing and eye-catching. Readers will be able to tell that they are getting into something mysterious, deadly and paranormal just by looking at it. I really enjoyed how the author switched character views from chapter to chapter – it really interwove the mystery of the story together by coming at it from multiple angles. There was a never a dull moment (so much suspense!) and it was definitely a page-turner as I could not wait to find out what really happened on that mountain. The premise of three (or more) people going up the mountain and only one returning was such an eerie and mysterious storyline. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I would highly recommend South Face by C.F. Waller to all paranormal, thriller and mystery genre fans.
Recommend this book:
Siren's Call
The Siren Series Volume 1
Jessica Cage
2015 Silver Medal
257 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Siren’s Call is a mythological fantasy written by Jessica Cage. Syrinada is just an ordinary young woman, as far as she’s concerned. She’s an orphan and was raised by her Aunt Noreen. Everything changes when she’s attacked on her way home by a van load of thugs. The leader injects her with a drug, and, when she awakens, she’s in a grubby room with her captor. When he begins to assault her, Syrinada watches in horror as he explodes. She’s become obsessed with her attackers, and begins to hunt them down with a weird and inexplicable sexual tension and hunger. Her friend, Malachi, tells her that he knows what’s going on with her. He and his brother, Demetrius, have been watching over her as her guardians. Syrinada, Malachi explains, is a siren whose mother fell in love with one of the sirens’ mortal enemies, a warlock. Syrinada’s mother died, but her father is still very much alive and is but one of many enemies intent on harming her.
Jessica Cage’s mythological fantasy, Siren’s Call, is an entertaining and fast-paced novel that grabbed my attention from the minute I started reading it and held it throughout the story. Syrinada is feisty, stubborn and a lot of fun to read about. The mythological story behind Siren’s Call is compelling and well-plotted. Malachi and Demetrius are solid supporting characters, and their rivalry over Syrinada is tense and dynamic. I enjoyed watching Malachi coach the newly awoken siren in Syrinada, who’s quite unable at first to resist seducing and destroying just about any man she encounters. Their trip to Louisiana is beautifully described, especially the boat trip the three of them take to visit the seer, Cecile, in her cabin in the swamp. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Siren’s Call is highly recommended.
Siren’s Call is a mythological fantasy written by Jessica Cage. Syrinada is just an ordinary young woman, as far as she’s concerned. She’s an orphan and was raised by her Aunt Noreen. Everything changes when she’s attacked on her way home by a van load of thugs. The leader injects her with a drug, and, when she awakens, she’s in a grubby room with her captor. When he begins to assault her, Syrinada watches in horror as he explodes. She’s become obsessed with her attackers, and begins to hunt them down with a weird and inexplicable sexual tension and hunger. Her friend, Malachi, tells her that he knows what’s going on with her. He and his brother, Demetrius, have been watching over her as her guardians. Syrinada, Malachi explains, is a siren whose mother fell in love with one of the sirens’ mortal enemies, a warlock. Syrinada’s mother died, but her father is still very much alive and is but one of many enemies intent on harming her.
Jessica Cage’s mythological fantasy, Siren’s Call, is an entertaining and fast-paced novel that grabbed my attention from the minute I started reading it and held it throughout the story. Syrinada is feisty, stubborn and a lot of fun to read about. The mythological story behind Siren’s Call is compelling and well-plotted. Malachi and Demetrius are solid supporting characters, and their rivalry over Syrinada is tense and dynamic. I enjoyed watching Malachi coach the newly awoken siren in Syrinada, who’s quite unable at first to resist seducing and destroying just about any man she encounters. Their trip to Louisiana is beautifully described, especially the boat trip the three of them take to visit the seer, Cecile, in her cabin in the swamp. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Siren’s Call is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
 is a paranormal, contemporary fantasy written by M.L. Ryan. Hailey is a shape-shifter whose boyfriend, Alex, is a prince from the Coursodon Dimension and whose trainer, Sebastian Kess, had first inhabited her Kindle and then transferred into her body where they forged a unique and no...){kind=link}
Special Attraction
The Coursodon Dimension
M.L. Ryan
2015 Gold Medal
314 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Special Attraction (Book Three of The Coursodon Dimension Series) is a paranormal, contemporary fantasy written by M.L. Ryan. Hailey is a shape-shifter whose boyfriend, Alex, is a prince from the Coursodon Dimension and whose trainer, Sebastian Kess, had first inhabited her Kindle and then transferred into her body where they forged a unique and not very comfortable bond. When Sebastian left Hailey's body, some of his powers stayed with her, enabling her to shift into a Harris hawk for brief periods of time. Alex and Sebastian are Coursodon enforcers who track down inter-dimensional bad guys. The three of them are trying to locate a demented killer who killed and dismembered three hikers on the Appalachian Mountain Trail. While they were able to locate all of the body parts, the killer disappeared without a trace.
Special Attraction is entertaining and original, and while it's book 3 in The Coursodon Dimension Series, author M.L. Ryan smoothly and subtly clues new readers in well enough for the book to stand on its own. She also doesn't give away very much of the previous books either. That's a good thing as I've enjoyed this book too much to be able to resist going back and reading the first two books in the series. Hailey is tough, funny and undaunted, except when her dreaded mother comes around. Her interactions with Alex and Sebastian are a lot of fun to watch, and her issue with her shape-shifting appetites for small, furry creatures is just one of the things that make this book special. If Books One and Two are anywhere as entertaining and enjoyable as Special Attraction, I'll be a happy reader indeed. Special Attraction (Book Three of The Coursodon Dimension Series) is an absorbing and exciting contemporary fantasy, and it is highly recommended.
Special Attraction (Book Three of The Coursodon Dimension Series) is a paranormal, contemporary fantasy written by M.L. Ryan. Hailey is a shape-shifter whose boyfriend, Alex, is a prince from the Coursodon Dimension and whose trainer, Sebastian Kess, had first inhabited her Kindle and then transferred into her body where they forged a unique and not very comfortable bond. When Sebastian left Hailey's body, some of his powers stayed with her, enabling her to shift into a Harris hawk for brief periods of time. Alex and Sebastian are Coursodon enforcers who track down inter-dimensional bad guys. The three of them are trying to locate a demented killer who killed and dismembered three hikers on the Appalachian Mountain Trail. While they were able to locate all of the body parts, the killer disappeared without a trace.
Special Attraction is entertaining and original, and while it's book 3 in The Coursodon Dimension Series, author M.L. Ryan smoothly and subtly clues new readers in well enough for the book to stand on its own. She also doesn't give away very much of the previous books either. That's a good thing as I've enjoyed this book too much to be able to resist going back and reading the first two books in the series. Hailey is tough, funny and undaunted, except when her dreaded mother comes around. Her interactions with Alex and Sebastian are a lot of fun to watch, and her issue with her shape-shifting appetites for small, furry creatures is just one of the things that make this book special. If Books One and Two are anywhere as entertaining and enjoyable as Special Attraction, I'll be a happy reader indeed. Special Attraction (Book Three of The Coursodon Dimension Series) is an absorbing and exciting contemporary fantasy, and it is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Stan
Richard Wold
2014 Finalist
288 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite
When Stan Foster washed up on the banks of the Hudson River, he had no recollection of jumping from the George Washington Bridge, only of falling and then of being alive. Stan by Richard Wold is the story of his search to rediscover who he is and why he had jumped from the bridge. He washed into Abigail’s office at the psychiatric ward at the Catholic hospital where she began to try to help him put the pieces of the puzzle together. Having feelings for him, however, caused her to send him to a different psychologist. This person leads Stan to believe that he is actually Satan inhabiting the body of a dark artist. As Stan struggles with the visions that he sees whenever he touches people, and his overwhelming desire to bring out goodness and light, he is conflicted and veers to both extremes. Abigail simply can’t allow Stan to slip through the cracks; there is too much good in him. Along with the two therapists which seem to be coming from completely opposite sides of good and evil, Stan’s agent Lilith is pushing him to the darker side of his art and trying to wield her influence over him as well. Which force will win out? Will Stan discover who he is on his own or will he attempt to repeat trying to take his own life again?
The depth of exploration into the good and evil of the soul are expertly undertaken in Richard Wold’s novel Stan. As you turn the pages and explore deeper into the mysteries, the emotions of pain, joy, fear, and confusion grip your own soul and you find yourself fighting right alongside Stan. The intriguing sideline to this is the effect that it has on Abigail as she, too, is struggling at first on behalf of Stan, but it is her own struggle as well. Deep, intriguing and full of soul-searching, Stan will hold you captive up until the very last word and beyond.
When Stan Foster washed up on the banks of the Hudson River, he had no recollection of jumping from the George Washington Bridge, only of falling and then of being alive. Stan by Richard Wold is the story of his search to rediscover who he is and why he had jumped from the bridge. He washed into Abigail’s office at the psychiatric ward at the Catholic hospital where she began to try to help him put the pieces of the puzzle together. Having feelings for him, however, caused her to send him to a different psychologist. This person leads Stan to believe that he is actually Satan inhabiting the body of a dark artist. As Stan struggles with the visions that he sees whenever he touches people, and his overwhelming desire to bring out goodness and light, he is conflicted and veers to both extremes. Abigail simply can’t allow Stan to slip through the cracks; there is too much good in him. Along with the two therapists which seem to be coming from completely opposite sides of good and evil, Stan’s agent Lilith is pushing him to the darker side of his art and trying to wield her influence over him as well. Which force will win out? Will Stan discover who he is on his own or will he attempt to repeat trying to take his own life again?
The depth of exploration into the good and evil of the soul are expertly undertaken in Richard Wold’s novel Stan. As you turn the pages and explore deeper into the mysteries, the emotions of pain, joy, fear, and confusion grip your own soul and you find yourself fighting right alongside Stan. The intriguing sideline to this is the effect that it has on Abigail as she, too, is struggling at first on behalf of Stan, but it is her own struggle as well. Deep, intriguing and full of soul-searching, Stan will hold you captive up until the very last word and beyond.
Recommend this book:
Trial By Fire
A Covencraft Novel
Margarita Gakis
2014 Finalist
324 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Trial by Fire is the story of Jade, a young woman who seems to lead a rather mundane life. But something strange has been happening lately; she can spontaneously set things on fire with her mind and this ability is slowly causing her minor problems. She wonders if it is just a string of incredibly unlikely coincidences and questions her sanity, until a stranger appears at her home and reveals that Jade is a witch. Book I of the Covencraft series is a paranormal fiction by Margarita Gakis.
As a protagonist, Jade may not be easily likable in the beginning, but after some time her flaws are as amiable as her strengths. Personally, I think her imperfection makes her more believable and relatable rather than scripted. The pace of the story is fairly fast from start to finish and the events are absolute page-turners. However, for me the real fun starts when Jade arrives at Covenstead. Some characters are well-crafted for readers to give a darn about them, while some still seem distant to me. On the other hand, this is the first volume, therefore I am confident that the characters will have more room to grow in the next installment.
All in all, Trial by Fire definitely has more than enough excitement to keep fans of the genre on the edge of their seats. It is a good template for a complete paranormal fiction, with all the ingredients weighed out in the right proportions; witches, demons and magic layered with elements of suspense, intrigue and deceit.
Trial by Fire is the story of Jade, a young woman who seems to lead a rather mundane life. But something strange has been happening lately; she can spontaneously set things on fire with her mind and this ability is slowly causing her minor problems. She wonders if it is just a string of incredibly unlikely coincidences and questions her sanity, until a stranger appears at her home and reveals that Jade is a witch. Book I of the Covencraft series is a paranormal fiction by Margarita Gakis.
As a protagonist, Jade may not be easily likable in the beginning, but after some time her flaws are as amiable as her strengths. Personally, I think her imperfection makes her more believable and relatable rather than scripted. The pace of the story is fairly fast from start to finish and the events are absolute page-turners. However, for me the real fun starts when Jade arrives at Covenstead. Some characters are well-crafted for readers to give a darn about them, while some still seem distant to me. On the other hand, this is the first volume, therefore I am confident that the characters will have more room to grow in the next installment.
All in all, Trial by Fire definitely has more than enough excitement to keep fans of the genre on the edge of their seats. It is a good template for a complete paranormal fiction, with all the ingredients weighed out in the right proportions; witches, demons and magic layered with elements of suspense, intrigue and deceit.
Recommend this book:
Echoes of Paradise
Deanna Kahler
2014 Finalist
228 Pages
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Fiction - Paranormal
Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite
Echoes Of Paradise is the story of Celeste and Connor, a couple who had dated for a while and really had a soul connection. Unfortunately, Connor took a job out of the country so Celeste moved on, marrying Dave, even though Celeste's heart really belonged to Connor. Dave and Celeste's marriage was never really smooth sailing, and they even separated. The one good thing to come out of the marriage was Chip, their five-year-old son, and they hoped to make the marriage work for his sake. Celeste gets a message that Connor is coming home and wants to see her, but tragedy strikes and Connor never makes it home. Celeste can't get past her grief but soon notices things that really can't be explained. When Chip starts saying that he sees an angel and describes Connor, there is no doubt that he is trying to contact her. As Celeste starts to explore what happens after death, she soon learns that death, time, or space can't separate two hearts that belong together.
A touching love story with a paranormal twist is what I found within the pages of this book. The characters were very well written. Dave was an okay character - I didn't like or dislike him, instead I really felt sorry for him. He loved Celeste but they were totally different; he was materialistic and she wasn't. Five-year-old Chip is a wonderful character and the author captures his essence perfectly. Deanna Kahler really takes Celeste on an eye-opening journey, and the reader goes along as well. The explanations of the spirit world really made it clear that the author did her research. Her vivid descriptions really allowed me to visualize what she was describing. While this is a fictional tale, the information that the author shares about the afterlife and what happens when we die really does enlighten and had me wanting to study this topic further. While there are several spiritual messages woven into the story, there are also more than a few twists to make for a page turning plot with an ending that was totally unexpected but fitted perfectly. Echoes Of Paradise is a satisfying read that left me feeling uplifted and encouraged.
Echoes Of Paradise is the story of Celeste and Connor, a couple who had dated for a while and really had a soul connection. Unfortunately, Connor took a job out of the country so Celeste moved on, marrying Dave, even though Celeste's heart really belonged to Connor. Dave and Celeste's marriage was never really smooth sailing, and they even separated. The one good thing to come out of the marriage was Chip, their five-year-old son, and they hoped to make the marriage work for his sake. Celeste gets a message that Connor is coming home and wants to see her, but tragedy strikes and Connor never makes it home. Celeste can't get past her grief but soon notices things that really can't be explained. When Chip starts saying that he sees an angel and describes Connor, there is no doubt that he is trying to contact her. As Celeste starts to explore what happens after death, she soon learns that death, time, or space can't separate two hearts that belong together.
A touching love story with a paranormal twist is what I found within the pages of this book. The characters were very well written. Dave was an okay character - I didn't like or dislike him, instead I really felt sorry for him. He loved Celeste but they were totally different; he was materialistic and she wasn't. Five-year-old Chip is a wonderful character and the author captures his essence perfectly. Deanna Kahler really takes Celeste on an eye-opening journey, and the reader goes along as well. The explanations of the spirit world really made it clear that the author did her research. Her vivid descriptions really allowed me to visualize what she was describing. While this is a fictional tale, the information that the author shares about the afterlife and what happens when we die really does enlighten and had me wanting to study this topic further. While there are several spiritual messages woven into the story, there are also more than a few twists to make for a page turning plot with an ending that was totally unexpected but fitted perfectly. Echoes Of Paradise is a satisfying read that left me feeling uplifted and encouraged.
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