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Recommend this book:
Crane
Stacey Rourke
2015 Silver Medal
304 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Crane by Stacey Rourke is the rendition of the Sleepy Hollow classic with a modern twist. Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had to conceal the truth behind Ichabod Crane's disappearance. Centuries later, his descendant, Ireland Crane, returns to Sleepy Hollow. Away from New York City, Ireland can’t wait to get settled into her house and her new job. But soon headless bodies start to appear and Ireland unwillingly gets herself involved in the mystery. It seems the legendary Headless Horseman is back in town.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been one of my favorite classics and this is one of the compelling appeals of the book. Even though Ireland Crane is an important catalyst of the story, I gravitated more towards Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle and, of course, Ichabod Crane himself. Rourke definitely knows how to put a fresh spin on this old classic. There are some twists that I really love and this makes the modern Sleepy Hollow version a bit more fun to read than the original.
The transition between the timelines, the past (post-Revolutionary) and the present, is flawless and excellently done. I commend Rourke for this as changing timeline can be quite confusing to readers if not handled well. That said, I slightly favor the past than the present, perhaps because it shares the same atmosphere and creepiness with the original version. Overall, this is a solid retelling of a classic. Any fans of the original Sleepy Hollow would definitely want to give Rourke’s version a go.
Crane by Stacey Rourke is the rendition of the Sleepy Hollow classic with a modern twist. Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had to conceal the truth behind Ichabod Crane's disappearance. Centuries later, his descendant, Ireland Crane, returns to Sleepy Hollow. Away from New York City, Ireland can’t wait to get settled into her house and her new job. But soon headless bodies start to appear and Ireland unwillingly gets herself involved in the mystery. It seems the legendary Headless Horseman is back in town.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been one of my favorite classics and this is one of the compelling appeals of the book. Even though Ireland Crane is an important catalyst of the story, I gravitated more towards Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle and, of course, Ichabod Crane himself. Rourke definitely knows how to put a fresh spin on this old classic. There are some twists that I really love and this makes the modern Sleepy Hollow version a bit more fun to read than the original.
The transition between the timelines, the past (post-Revolutionary) and the present, is flawless and excellently done. I commend Rourke for this as changing timeline can be quite confusing to readers if not handled well. That said, I slightly favor the past than the present, perhaps because it shares the same atmosphere and creepiness with the original version. Overall, this is a solid retelling of a classic. Any fans of the original Sleepy Hollow would definitely want to give Rourke’s version a go.
Recommend this book:
Dysfunctional
A Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist Trilogy
Cynthia St. Aubin
2015 Gold Medal
282 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite
Dysfunctional: A Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist Trilogy is a combination of three of Cynthia St. Aubin’s books. This trilogy includes the stories Unlovable, Unlucky, and Unhappy. From dealing with an irritating diaper-wearing Cupid in Unlovable to trying to wrap her mind around a seemingly delusional leprechaun in Unlucky to attempting to save a suicidal Easter Bunny in Unhappy, Matilda is suddenly thrown into the paranormal life. Not only does she have to somehow survive these odd creatures who she is supposed to help, but she is also wanted first by a Las Vegas mob boss, then an Irish street gang, and finally by two jealous goddesses throughout the books, not to mention the fact that she somehow finds herself in the middle of a love triangle between a demigod and a hit man. This is definitely not what Matilda had in mind for her life.
My instant reaction to this trilogy was “Wow.” It definitely takes one very talented author to write these books about a psychologist, a demigod, a hit man, Cupid, a leprechaun, the Easter Bunny, and all of the other quirky characters, and still manage to make these stories equally hilarious, sexy, and entertaining. I absolutely loved it and I didn’t want it to end. I, being the hopeless romantic that I am, was instantly drawn to the unconventional love triangle that Matilda finds herself in. I will not name names, but I am a huge fan of one of the guys, and I can’t wait to see how that turns out (hopefully the way I want it to!). Ultimately, I was pleasantly surprised that this unique plot with such interesting characters worked so well. It is most definitely a one-of-a-kind book written by a one-of-a-kind author. I am really looking forward to reading more in this series and more by Cynthia St. Aubin. If you haven’t done so already, which you should have after reading the synopsis, get Dysfunctional: A Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist Trilogy and read it immediately. You won’t be disappointed.
Dysfunctional: A Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist Trilogy is a combination of three of Cynthia St. Aubin’s books. This trilogy includes the stories Unlovable, Unlucky, and Unhappy. From dealing with an irritating diaper-wearing Cupid in Unlovable to trying to wrap her mind around a seemingly delusional leprechaun in Unlucky to attempting to save a suicidal Easter Bunny in Unhappy, Matilda is suddenly thrown into the paranormal life. Not only does she have to somehow survive these odd creatures who she is supposed to help, but she is also wanted first by a Las Vegas mob boss, then an Irish street gang, and finally by two jealous goddesses throughout the books, not to mention the fact that she somehow finds herself in the middle of a love triangle between a demigod and a hit man. This is definitely not what Matilda had in mind for her life.
My instant reaction to this trilogy was “Wow.” It definitely takes one very talented author to write these books about a psychologist, a demigod, a hit man, Cupid, a leprechaun, the Easter Bunny, and all of the other quirky characters, and still manage to make these stories equally hilarious, sexy, and entertaining. I absolutely loved it and I didn’t want it to end. I, being the hopeless romantic that I am, was instantly drawn to the unconventional love triangle that Matilda finds herself in. I will not name names, but I am a huge fan of one of the guys, and I can’t wait to see how that turns out (hopefully the way I want it to!). Ultimately, I was pleasantly surprised that this unique plot with such interesting characters worked so well. It is most definitely a one-of-a-kind book written by a one-of-a-kind author. I am really looking forward to reading more in this series and more by Cynthia St. Aubin. If you haven’t done so already, which you should have after reading the synopsis, get Dysfunctional: A Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist Trilogy and read it immediately. You won’t be disappointed.
Recommend this book:
The Butterfly Crest
Eva Vanrell
2014 Finalist
436 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite
The Butterfly Crest by Eva Vanrell takes us between the shadows of the human world where a war that is as old as time is raging. A long-told prophecy says one human woman will change the course of the divine war and one day Elena - a seemingly regular woman living a normal life - gets a letter about a deposit box in her mother’s name. This letter and the contents of the box are a cursed inheritance and send Elena on a journey that could only be considered mythical and unbelievable. She must make choices to see where destiny takes her.
This is a great story that merges two different realms almost seamlessly into one another and makes a complex story entertaining and compelling. The action was fast and the pace of the book was perfect. Elena is a fantastic character whom I found to be intelligent and strong, but who has to find her way in an impossible situation, giving her even more depth as well. Eva Vanrell has created a strong story with a beautifully strong female main character, in a world and with a story line that is imaginative and unique. I have read many fantasy style stories that offer a similar version of wars that have been going on for all time, but this has been by far one of the most well thought out and well put together plots. If you are looking for a read for the summer that will have you hooked within the first pages and hold your interest until the very end, leaving you wanting more … then this is your book.
The Butterfly Crest by Eva Vanrell takes us between the shadows of the human world where a war that is as old as time is raging. A long-told prophecy says one human woman will change the course of the divine war and one day Elena - a seemingly regular woman living a normal life - gets a letter about a deposit box in her mother’s name. This letter and the contents of the box are a cursed inheritance and send Elena on a journey that could only be considered mythical and unbelievable. She must make choices to see where destiny takes her.
This is a great story that merges two different realms almost seamlessly into one another and makes a complex story entertaining and compelling. The action was fast and the pace of the book was perfect. Elena is a fantastic character whom I found to be intelligent and strong, but who has to find her way in an impossible situation, giving her even more depth as well. Eva Vanrell has created a strong story with a beautifully strong female main character, in a world and with a story line that is imaginative and unique. I have read many fantasy style stories that offer a similar version of wars that have been going on for all time, but this has been by far one of the most well thought out and well put together plots. If you are looking for a read for the summer that will have you hooked within the first pages and hold your interest until the very end, leaving you wanting more … then this is your book.
Recommend this book:
Fade to Black
Jeffrey Wilson
2014 Honorable Mention
256 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Denise Stern for Readers' Favorite
Fade to Black is an intense, fast-paced novel written by author Jeffrey Wilson. It starts off with a bang and maintains the intensity of emotion, confusion, and turmoil throughout. The story opens with Marine Sergeant Casey Stillman as he’s hunkered down in a precarious shelter while American troops battle insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq. He and his men are pinned down, their situation dire, when Casey, attempting to save the life of one of his men, is shot.
Jack, a high school teacher, wakes up from a terrifying nightmare, so real he can’t believe it didn’t happen. He dreamed he was Sergeant Stillman, and wakes in his bedroom, confused and off kilter. The dream seemed so real. That’s only the beginning of a seemingly endless nightmare as Jack not only continues to dream of dying in the Iraqi desert, but also begins to see and speak to the apparent ghosts of several of the men in his unit, imploring him to re-join them.
Is Jack losing his mind, or is there something more sinister about his virtual dreams that propel him into another location with such intensity that he can feel, taste, and smell the sand of Iraq? The reader is swept into a maelstrom along with Jack as he strives to discover the truth.
Author Jeffrey Wilson has created a three-dimensional character in Jack/Casey, effectively transporting the reader into the life of a teacher with a family and toddler one minute, and into the gritty, tough Marine fighting for his life in Fallujah the next. Excellent narrative, effective dialogue and an intensely paced novel make for a can’t-put-down book with Fade to Black.
Fade to Black is an intense, fast-paced novel written by author Jeffrey Wilson. It starts off with a bang and maintains the intensity of emotion, confusion, and turmoil throughout. The story opens with Marine Sergeant Casey Stillman as he’s hunkered down in a precarious shelter while American troops battle insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq. He and his men are pinned down, their situation dire, when Casey, attempting to save the life of one of his men, is shot.
Jack, a high school teacher, wakes up from a terrifying nightmare, so real he can’t believe it didn’t happen. He dreamed he was Sergeant Stillman, and wakes in his bedroom, confused and off kilter. The dream seemed so real. That’s only the beginning of a seemingly endless nightmare as Jack not only continues to dream of dying in the Iraqi desert, but also begins to see and speak to the apparent ghosts of several of the men in his unit, imploring him to re-join them.
Is Jack losing his mind, or is there something more sinister about his virtual dreams that propel him into another location with such intensity that he can feel, taste, and smell the sand of Iraq? The reader is swept into a maelstrom along with Jack as he strives to discover the truth.
Author Jeffrey Wilson has created a three-dimensional character in Jack/Casey, effectively transporting the reader into the life of a teacher with a family and toddler one minute, and into the gritty, tough Marine fighting for his life in Fallujah the next. Excellent narrative, effective dialogue and an intensely paced novel make for a can’t-put-down book with Fade to Black.
Recommend this book:
The Dazzling Darkness
Paula Cappa
2014 Bronze Medal
307 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
In The Dazzling Darkness by Paula Cappa, the Old Willow Cemetery is under the watch of its mysterious keeper, Elias Hatch. On March 20, when 5-year-old Henry Brooke fails to come home with his older sister, Detective Mike Balducci turns his attention to Hatch, and he’s about to discover the secret of the old cemetery.
After reading The Dazzling Darkness I am pleasantly amazed with Paula Cappa’s beautiful and high standard writing style from start to finish. The pacing of the story is excellent, allowing me to really savor the plot. Cappa includes science, the afterlife, faith, mystery and even magic –- it is a comprehensive supernatural fiction which will delight the readers. I am not thoroughly familiar with transcendental philosophy, but I did gain more understanding of it through this novel. I could not help but think that Cappa might have some experience that motivated her to –- if I may say –- interpret Emerson’s “Nature” in her own way.
The Old Willow Cemetery is a perfect place to ponder on transcendence. The inclusion of poetry adds a nostalgic and classic quality to the story. The characters are very well-developed and it is evident that Paula Cappa gives enough attention to each of them. The settings have a tight descriptive element to easily let readers imagine each scene. The ending is perfect, where everything is tied up together flawlessly. All in all, a superb and classy supernatural novel from Paula Cappa. Readers will be both entertained and enlightened as well.
In The Dazzling Darkness by Paula Cappa, the Old Willow Cemetery is under the watch of its mysterious keeper, Elias Hatch. On March 20, when 5-year-old Henry Brooke fails to come home with his older sister, Detective Mike Balducci turns his attention to Hatch, and he’s about to discover the secret of the old cemetery.
After reading The Dazzling Darkness I am pleasantly amazed with Paula Cappa’s beautiful and high standard writing style from start to finish. The pacing of the story is excellent, allowing me to really savor the plot. Cappa includes science, the afterlife, faith, mystery and even magic –- it is a comprehensive supernatural fiction which will delight the readers. I am not thoroughly familiar with transcendental philosophy, but I did gain more understanding of it through this novel. I could not help but think that Cappa might have some experience that motivated her to –- if I may say –- interpret Emerson’s “Nature” in her own way.
The Old Willow Cemetery is a perfect place to ponder on transcendence. The inclusion of poetry adds a nostalgic and classic quality to the story. The characters are very well-developed and it is evident that Paula Cappa gives enough attention to each of them. The settings have a tight descriptive element to easily let readers imagine each scene. The ending is perfect, where everything is tied up together flawlessly. All in all, a superb and classy supernatural novel from Paula Cappa. Readers will be both entertained and enlightened as well.
Recommend this book:
Ancient Guardians
The Legacy of the Key, Ancient Guardian Series, Book 1, Volume 1
S.L. Morgan
2014 Silver Medal
371 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite
In The Legacy of the Key, the first book in the Ancient Guardians series, by S.L. Morgan, Reece Bryant and Levi Oxley are from two different worlds…literally. Reece may seem like your average human from Earth until she meets Levi, who introduces her to the beautiful land he is from and makes her realize that she is more special than she ever realized, in more ways than one. Not only does she learn about the different worlds and dimensions she never knew existed, but she also soon falls in love with Levi, a Pemdas Guardian and the son of the emperor. Levi has duties to protect not only his world but Earth as well. However, his growing love for Reece complicates things as their enemies, whose complete focus is on capturing Reece, begin to make their move.
There are two words to describe this book: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. It is very difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed it. The concept of the different worlds and dimensions among us was unique and very intriguing; it immediately had me hooked. Also, the pacing was perfect; the plot wasn’t rushed at all and it wasn’t slow either. Reece and Levi’s relationship gradually grew, which made it completely realistic, and this brings me to my next point. Only a brilliant writer can have a reader utterly engaged in and captivated by a book to the point where the real world is shut out and all that exists are the fictional characters and their world, which is exactly what happened to me. I felt as if I was right there alongside Reece and experiencing everything she felt and went through. I hopelessly fell in love with Levi as Reece did, which doesn’t happen very often. Their relationship was so heart-warming and touching that I was disappointed to see the book end, but also ecstatic to continue reading the series. A combination of romance, suspense, fantasy, and sci-fi, The Legacy of the Key is exciting, adventurous, romantic, and is certainly a must-read. It is definitely the best book I have read in a long time. S.L. Morgan is an extremely talented storyteller and she has become my new favorite author. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sequel to read.
In The Legacy of the Key, the first book in the Ancient Guardians series, by S.L. Morgan, Reece Bryant and Levi Oxley are from two different worlds…literally. Reece may seem like your average human from Earth until she meets Levi, who introduces her to the beautiful land he is from and makes her realize that she is more special than she ever realized, in more ways than one. Not only does she learn about the different worlds and dimensions she never knew existed, but she also soon falls in love with Levi, a Pemdas Guardian and the son of the emperor. Levi has duties to protect not only his world but Earth as well. However, his growing love for Reece complicates things as their enemies, whose complete focus is on capturing Reece, begin to make their move.
There are two words to describe this book: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. It is very difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed it. The concept of the different worlds and dimensions among us was unique and very intriguing; it immediately had me hooked. Also, the pacing was perfect; the plot wasn’t rushed at all and it wasn’t slow either. Reece and Levi’s relationship gradually grew, which made it completely realistic, and this brings me to my next point. Only a brilliant writer can have a reader utterly engaged in and captivated by a book to the point where the real world is shut out and all that exists are the fictional characters and their world, which is exactly what happened to me. I felt as if I was right there alongside Reece and experiencing everything she felt and went through. I hopelessly fell in love with Levi as Reece did, which doesn’t happen very often. Their relationship was so heart-warming and touching that I was disappointed to see the book end, but also ecstatic to continue reading the series. A combination of romance, suspense, fantasy, and sci-fi, The Legacy of the Key is exciting, adventurous, romantic, and is certainly a must-read. It is definitely the best book I have read in a long time. S.L. Morgan is an extremely talented storyteller and she has become my new favorite author. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sequel to read.
Recommend this book:
Mateguas Island
A Novel of Terror and Suspense
Linda Watkins
2014 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Mateguas Island is a horror/dark fantasy novel written by Linda Watkins. Karen and Bill Anderson are a California couple with eight-year-old twin daughters. Things were pretty bright for Bill, a rising Silicon Valley star, until a minor discretion with the boss's wife and the economic downturn made him the one to be laid off when his company downsized. When Bill hears that his Aunt Janie has left him her big, old house on Mateguas Island, Maine, along with a small cash inheritance, it seems like a gift from the gods. Karen is not at all that thrilled, however, as the island seems primitive and the amenities are nowhere near those she'd been accustomed to. Then there was the girls' teacher, Maggie, who seemed to have established an instant and intense connection with Bill. Also troubling are the old tales that the house is haunted, especially the woods behind it.
Linda Watkins' supernatural thriller, Mateguas Island, is an exciting and suspenseful story rich in Native American mythology and folklore. There's a secret box that the girls find hidden underneath a floorboard in their room that holds strange papers, a bone knife, and other arcane objects. They decide to keep it as their own little secret to hold onto and decipher. Karen has her own adventures as she tries to adjust to life on the little island and discovers that her garden has some unusual properties and inhabitants, especially the rabbit that smiles at her. Bill's island fling is spooky, scary, and he seems more enmeshed in her snares than really involved with her. Add all these undercurrents of intrigue together and you get a fast-paced and unpredictable story that is both spooky and entertaining. Mateguas Island is an absorbing horror tale and is highly recommended.
Mateguas Island is a horror/dark fantasy novel written by Linda Watkins. Karen and Bill Anderson are a California couple with eight-year-old twin daughters. Things were pretty bright for Bill, a rising Silicon Valley star, until a minor discretion with the boss's wife and the economic downturn made him the one to be laid off when his company downsized. When Bill hears that his Aunt Janie has left him her big, old house on Mateguas Island, Maine, along with a small cash inheritance, it seems like a gift from the gods. Karen is not at all that thrilled, however, as the island seems primitive and the amenities are nowhere near those she'd been accustomed to. Then there was the girls' teacher, Maggie, who seemed to have established an instant and intense connection with Bill. Also troubling are the old tales that the house is haunted, especially the woods behind it.
Linda Watkins' supernatural thriller, Mateguas Island, is an exciting and suspenseful story rich in Native American mythology and folklore. There's a secret box that the girls find hidden underneath a floorboard in their room that holds strange papers, a bone knife, and other arcane objects. They decide to keep it as their own little secret to hold onto and decipher. Karen has her own adventures as she tries to adjust to life on the little island and discovers that her garden has some unusual properties and inhabitants, especially the rabbit that smiles at her. Bill's island fling is spooky, scary, and he seems more enmeshed in her snares than really involved with her. Add all these undercurrents of intrigue together and you get a fast-paced and unpredictable story that is both spooky and entertaining. Mateguas Island is an absorbing horror tale and is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Jessie's Song
Eleni Papanou
2013 Bronze Medal
406 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
Markos Adams, a well-known Jazz musician, has just committed yet another suicide attempt and it is all over the news. A year later, he is back on stage while struggling to shape up, trying to straighten out his life. Through his ordeals to keep his sanity, he spends time with his daughter Jessie, and still loves his ex-wife Stella, although they are no longer together. A day after his return to the spotlight, his daughter is abducted and things go out of hand. He must determine the identity of his daughter’s kidnapper; otherwise he feels he must kill himself and he must do so within the next twenty-four hours. Will this finally be Markos’s last day on earth, and will he face death without seeing his daughter?
“Jessie’s Song” is a wonderfully crafted mystery novel that explores themes of life, love, art, sanity and death, in rather unusual ways. When reading the book, we feel as if various items are neatly packed in a box for us to enjoy unraveling and perusing piece by piece. Many portions of the book give us insights into art, what with the author also being a songwriter, among other talents. Fast-paced and action-packed, it is a most uncommon, yet exciting case of abduction to read about, written with thrilling passages and sequences. Moreover, the love that Markos shares with his daughter, and the strong emotions he still holds for his wife are absolutely heart-wrenching, especially as Markos struggles with his possibly impending death to save his daughter. “Jessie’s Song” is definitely worth keeping in one’s collection. I really enjoyed reading this book!
Markos Adams, a well-known Jazz musician, has just committed yet another suicide attempt and it is all over the news. A year later, he is back on stage while struggling to shape up, trying to straighten out his life. Through his ordeals to keep his sanity, he spends time with his daughter Jessie, and still loves his ex-wife Stella, although they are no longer together. A day after his return to the spotlight, his daughter is abducted and things go out of hand. He must determine the identity of his daughter’s kidnapper; otherwise he feels he must kill himself and he must do so within the next twenty-four hours. Will this finally be Markos’s last day on earth, and will he face death without seeing his daughter?
“Jessie’s Song” is a wonderfully crafted mystery novel that explores themes of life, love, art, sanity and death, in rather unusual ways. When reading the book, we feel as if various items are neatly packed in a box for us to enjoy unraveling and perusing piece by piece. Many portions of the book give us insights into art, what with the author also being a songwriter, among other talents. Fast-paced and action-packed, it is a most uncommon, yet exciting case of abduction to read about, written with thrilling passages and sequences. Moreover, the love that Markos shares with his daughter, and the strong emotions he still holds for his wife are absolutely heart-wrenching, especially as Markos struggles with his possibly impending death to save his daughter. “Jessie’s Song” is definitely worth keeping in one’s collection. I really enjoyed reading this book!
Recommend this book:
Vampire Elite
Vampire Elite Series, Vol 1
Irina Argo
2013 Gold Medal
522 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Dianna Skowera for Readers' Favorite
“The Vampire Elite” by Irina Argo is a suspenseful, dramatic, and biographical tale of two classes of elite beings that have been engaged in a millennia-long conflict. Arianna is the queen of the Amiti race, nurturing and wise beings that can evoke the hidden compassionate qualities Sekhmi, or vampires, instinctively hide. The Amiti were cursed in their genetic fabric from their creation for two specific abilities: the power to kill Sekhmi they have bonded with and the need for Sekhmi to drink their blood for survival. Living in constant fear of domination by the Amiti, long ago the Sekhmi decided it best to hunt down and imprison the Amiti race in order to harvest their blood without retribution. As the new Amiti queen, Arianna, comes into her powers she is threatened from every end of the globe by people who wish to manipulate her role for their own benefit. How will two races that are essentially perfect for fulfilling each other’s needs, yet ingrained to fear each other, survive the tumult that their history has led them to? Passion, trust, deceit, injustice, compassion - this book torments your emotions with every chapter.
“The Vampire Elite” serves as a clear example of how our modern cultural conflicts have become so irresolute. Irina Argo builds a steady momentum in unfolding the complex, but compelling history and the world of her immortal races. Starting on page one may make five hundred pages seem like an uphill battle to get through, but at the end you scream, ‘Where’s the second book?!’ The erotic weaknesses of Argo’s immortals raise suspense to a new level, giving hormonal unpredictability to their actions. Irina Argo’s characters are fascinating and the conflict engages you to see them through to the end. Don’t waste a month’s salary on popcorn and theater tickets when a book like “The Vampire Elite” can whisk you away like a magical passport. Be warned, if you read this, you’ll be longing for the next installments!
“The Vampire Elite” by Irina Argo is a suspenseful, dramatic, and biographical tale of two classes of elite beings that have been engaged in a millennia-long conflict. Arianna is the queen of the Amiti race, nurturing and wise beings that can evoke the hidden compassionate qualities Sekhmi, or vampires, instinctively hide. The Amiti were cursed in their genetic fabric from their creation for two specific abilities: the power to kill Sekhmi they have bonded with and the need for Sekhmi to drink their blood for survival. Living in constant fear of domination by the Amiti, long ago the Sekhmi decided it best to hunt down and imprison the Amiti race in order to harvest their blood without retribution. As the new Amiti queen, Arianna, comes into her powers she is threatened from every end of the globe by people who wish to manipulate her role for their own benefit. How will two races that are essentially perfect for fulfilling each other’s needs, yet ingrained to fear each other, survive the tumult that their history has led them to? Passion, trust, deceit, injustice, compassion - this book torments your emotions with every chapter.
“The Vampire Elite” serves as a clear example of how our modern cultural conflicts have become so irresolute. Irina Argo builds a steady momentum in unfolding the complex, but compelling history and the world of her immortal races. Starting on page one may make five hundred pages seem like an uphill battle to get through, but at the end you scream, ‘Where’s the second book?!’ The erotic weaknesses of Argo’s immortals raise suspense to a new level, giving hormonal unpredictability to their actions. Irina Argo’s characters are fascinating and the conflict engages you to see them through to the end. Don’t waste a month’s salary on popcorn and theater tickets when a book like “The Vampire Elite” can whisk you away like a magical passport. Be warned, if you read this, you’ll be longing for the next installments!
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/the-peacock-angel&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51i2MGaiwsL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Biblical lore is rife with apocryphal characters and situations that can serve as fuel for a writer's imagination. Glenn Dale Bridges taps this wonderful source and weaves a magnificent story in "The Peacock Angel: Rise of the Decarch". The Grigori are rising once again, intent on irrevocably changing the world of man. Only one man, Thane Connolly,...){kind=link}
The Peacock Angel
Rise of the Decarchs
Glenn Dale Bridges
2013 Finalist
312 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Eduardo Aduna for Readers' Favorite
Biblical lore is rife with apocryphal characters and situations that can serve as fuel for a writer's imagination. Glenn Dale Bridges taps this wonderful source and weaves a magnificent story in "The Peacock Angel: Rise of the Decarch". The Grigori are rising once again, intent on irrevocably changing the world of man. Only one man, Thane Connolly, stands between the destruction promised by the fallen angel Azazel. With the help of powerful allies, Thane must face the demons and ghouls Azazel has sent and fulfill his destiny as the child of truth.
Laying the foundation for an epic saga is a difficult task. A writer must craft a back story that draws readers in while providing enough material to provide the novel with a solid framework to work with. Glenn Dale Bridges accomplishes this with ease. The plot is one that left me in an imaginative stupor, thinking about fallen angels and celestial beings even hours after I finished reading the book. Bridges weaves a compelling tale of angels and sin and of lust and envy, that gives readers a world that they can get lost in. The characters in the novel are complex and interesting. There is nary a dull moment as each of them tries to set their own plans into motion. One of my favorite parts was Og and Hidimba's budding romance. The novel is multifaceted, so much so that I was pleasantly pleased by the surprises, both minute and significant, that pop up at the unlikeliest of situations. The pace is flexible, at times fast and gritty as in the several vivid fight scenes but at times slow and introspective like when Armaros has started his narrative. It is hard to pigeonhole such a great book into just one genre since it contains elements of fantasy, suspense, the supernatural and little nuggets of humor. Readers looking for a novel that is easy to read yet which provides an excellent launchpad that allows their imagination to soar hours after reading the book would do well to check out "The Peacock Angel: Rise of the Decarchs".
Biblical lore is rife with apocryphal characters and situations that can serve as fuel for a writer's imagination. Glenn Dale Bridges taps this wonderful source and weaves a magnificent story in "The Peacock Angel: Rise of the Decarch". The Grigori are rising once again, intent on irrevocably changing the world of man. Only one man, Thane Connolly, stands between the destruction promised by the fallen angel Azazel. With the help of powerful allies, Thane must face the demons and ghouls Azazel has sent and fulfill his destiny as the child of truth.
Laying the foundation for an epic saga is a difficult task. A writer must craft a back story that draws readers in while providing enough material to provide the novel with a solid framework to work with. Glenn Dale Bridges accomplishes this with ease. The plot is one that left me in an imaginative stupor, thinking about fallen angels and celestial beings even hours after I finished reading the book. Bridges weaves a compelling tale of angels and sin and of lust and envy, that gives readers a world that they can get lost in. The characters in the novel are complex and interesting. There is nary a dull moment as each of them tries to set their own plans into motion. One of my favorite parts was Og and Hidimba's budding romance. The novel is multifaceted, so much so that I was pleasantly pleased by the surprises, both minute and significant, that pop up at the unlikeliest of situations. The pace is flexible, at times fast and gritty as in the several vivid fight scenes but at times slow and introspective like when Armaros has started his narrative. It is hard to pigeonhole such a great book into just one genre since it contains elements of fantasy, suspense, the supernatural and little nuggets of humor. Readers looking for a novel that is easy to read yet which provides an excellent launchpad that allows their imagination to soar hours after reading the book would do well to check out "The Peacock Angel: Rise of the Decarchs".
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