BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Search Results for: the
Recommend this book:
The Ambassador's Wife
A Novel
Jennifer Steil
2016 Bronze Medal
400 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Cultural
Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite
Wow...just, wow! That's what I thought when I finished reading The Ambassador's Wife: A Novel by debut novelist Jennifer Steil. Follow the story of artist Miranda, an independent and unique woman, who falls in love with Finn, a British ambassador. The couple and their small daughter are assigned to Mazrooq, a fictional country, but one that embodies much that is familiar about many of those in the Middle East. Miranda is overwhelmed by her loss of freedom, even though the family lives in a beautiful mansion and is surrounded by servants prepared to satisfy their every whim and desire. And when a terrorist act leaves her as a hostage, the entire family's very existence is suddenly at risk. Even though she lives in terror, Miranda develops a close relationship with a child also living in captivity, and through memory and introspection about her life, realizes that her relationship with Finn and the secrets they have kept may have led those they love into danger.
I so loved The Ambassador's Wife. Author Jennifer Steil has done an amazing job in developing characters that her readers will truly connect with, root for, and will continue to think about long after the book is finished. If that isn't the hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. Her ability to set a scene is absolutely second to none. Her readers will feel as if they are in the Middle East with Miranda, living through captivity with her. Any reader who loves fiction, stories with a strong female protagonist, or simply a great read would love The Ambassador's Wife. I highly recommend this book, and I will certainly keep my eye out for more books by Jennifer Steil. This up and coming author is one to watch!
Wow...just, wow! That's what I thought when I finished reading The Ambassador's Wife: A Novel by debut novelist Jennifer Steil. Follow the story of artist Miranda, an independent and unique woman, who falls in love with Finn, a British ambassador. The couple and their small daughter are assigned to Mazrooq, a fictional country, but one that embodies much that is familiar about many of those in the Middle East. Miranda is overwhelmed by her loss of freedom, even though the family lives in a beautiful mansion and is surrounded by servants prepared to satisfy their every whim and desire. And when a terrorist act leaves her as a hostage, the entire family's very existence is suddenly at risk. Even though she lives in terror, Miranda develops a close relationship with a child also living in captivity, and through memory and introspection about her life, realizes that her relationship with Finn and the secrets they have kept may have led those they love into danger.
I so loved The Ambassador's Wife. Author Jennifer Steil has done an amazing job in developing characters that her readers will truly connect with, root for, and will continue to think about long after the book is finished. If that isn't the hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. Her ability to set a scene is absolutely second to none. Her readers will feel as if they are in the Middle East with Miranda, living through captivity with her. Any reader who loves fiction, stories with a strong female protagonist, or simply a great read would love The Ambassador's Wife. I highly recommend this book, and I will certainly keep my eye out for more books by Jennifer Steil. This up and coming author is one to watch!
Recommend this book:
The Sixth Domicile
Book 1 of The Domicile Series
Courtney Ruggles
2016 Finalist
198 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Carol Coetzee for Readers' Favorite
The Sixth Domicile by Courtney Ruggles is an amazing read! After a revolution in the outside world, people banded together and formed Domiciles to protect themselves. Ten were built in all, and this is the story of the Sixth Domicile. People in the Domiciles all wear black clothing and white masks, their bodies and faces are never revealed. The Elders exert strict control over the inhabitants of the Domicile. To take off your mask is an immediate death sentence in the Meurtre. As people are known only by numbers, this story revolves around Q437B and the love of her life, B116A. The two are best friends and become lovers shortly before a marriage ceremony. The ceremony is know as The Ripening, and all inhabitants are expected to marry the person chosen for them by the Elders. Once married, the couples are given a Life Path, which they are expected to follow without question. Here begins an extremely interesting story of love, hatred, loss and betrayal. Will Q and B be able to overcome their loss with being married to other people? How will they follow their Life Path and fit into society when they have known true love? Well, you need to read the book to find out!
The Sixth Domicile by Courtney Ruggles is the first book in what promises to be an extremely entertaining series. A real little gem of a book. It is an interesting look at how our lives can change. A war and subsequent rebellion force people to seek protection. Here we get an idea of what we are capable of doing to our society. Racial, religious and political strife could all lead us to this point. In the Domicile, there is no distinction between race or religion. All are covered from head to toe. This is certainly one way to combat some of the ills of society. But what happens when someone pushes those boundaries of life and death, absolute order and no free will? It's not that difficult to imagine such a situation. The story is well crafted, and draws you into this strange world. The characters are well defined and extremely interesting, and the tale is one you cannot put down. All of this makes an excellent book. I look forward to future adventures of life in the Sixth Domicile.
The Sixth Domicile by Courtney Ruggles is an amazing read! After a revolution in the outside world, people banded together and formed Domiciles to protect themselves. Ten were built in all, and this is the story of the Sixth Domicile. People in the Domiciles all wear black clothing and white masks, their bodies and faces are never revealed. The Elders exert strict control over the inhabitants of the Domicile. To take off your mask is an immediate death sentence in the Meurtre. As people are known only by numbers, this story revolves around Q437B and the love of her life, B116A. The two are best friends and become lovers shortly before a marriage ceremony. The ceremony is know as The Ripening, and all inhabitants are expected to marry the person chosen for them by the Elders. Once married, the couples are given a Life Path, which they are expected to follow without question. Here begins an extremely interesting story of love, hatred, loss and betrayal. Will Q and B be able to overcome their loss with being married to other people? How will they follow their Life Path and fit into society when they have known true love? Well, you need to read the book to find out!
The Sixth Domicile by Courtney Ruggles is the first book in what promises to be an extremely entertaining series. A real little gem of a book. It is an interesting look at how our lives can change. A war and subsequent rebellion force people to seek protection. Here we get an idea of what we are capable of doing to our society. Racial, religious and political strife could all lead us to this point. In the Domicile, there is no distinction between race or religion. All are covered from head to toe. This is certainly one way to combat some of the ills of society. But what happens when someone pushes those boundaries of life and death, absolute order and no free will? It's not that difficult to imagine such a situation. The story is well crafted, and draws you into this strange world. The characters are well defined and extremely interesting, and the tale is one you cannot put down. All of this makes an excellent book. I look forward to future adventures of life in the Sixth Domicile.
Recommend this book:
 by E.P. Clark is a fantasy novel reminiscent of the classic Russian fairy tales. Slava is the younger sister of the Empress of all of Zem’ and a clairvoyant. This combination makes Slava both the most and least powerful woman in a world where women are the dominant gender. Slava...){kind=link}
The Midnight Land
Part One: The Flight (The Zemnian Trilogy Book 1)
E.P. Clark
2016 Honorable Mention
534 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite
The Midnight Land: Part One, The Flight (The Zemnian Trilogy Book 1) by E.P. Clark is a fantasy novel reminiscent of the classic Russian fairy tales. Slava is the younger sister of the Empress of all of Zem’ and a clairvoyant. This combination makes Slava both the most and least powerful woman in a world where women are the dominant gender. Slava’s personality leads her to seek out more through escaping the Empress of all of Zem’s Kremlin in order to journey north to the Midnight Land. Slava is forced to evade ambushes and bandits as she wrestles with her clairvoyance. Is it a gift or a curse?
The Midnight Land by E.P. Clark may be a fantasy novel, but to me it seemed more like a novel of self-discovery. E.P. Clark crafted a new world between the pages, yet the book seemed to focus more on Slava’s emotional growth as she grows into a woman during her journey and begins to understand her clairvoyance. My favorite part was when Slava communicated with animals or spirits. By the end of the Midnight Land, I was left feeling glad that I had decided to read E.P. Clark’s novel.
The Midnight Land: Part One, The Flight (The Zemnian Trilogy Book 1) by E.P. Clark is a fantasy novel reminiscent of the classic Russian fairy tales. Slava is the younger sister of the Empress of all of Zem’ and a clairvoyant. This combination makes Slava both the most and least powerful woman in a world where women are the dominant gender. Slava’s personality leads her to seek out more through escaping the Empress of all of Zem’s Kremlin in order to journey north to the Midnight Land. Slava is forced to evade ambushes and bandits as she wrestles with her clairvoyance. Is it a gift or a curse?
The Midnight Land by E.P. Clark may be a fantasy novel, but to me it seemed more like a novel of self-discovery. E.P. Clark crafted a new world between the pages, yet the book seemed to focus more on Slava’s emotional growth as she grows into a woman during her journey and begins to understand her clairvoyance. My favorite part was when Slava communicated with animals or spirits. By the end of the Midnight Land, I was left feeling glad that I had decided to read E.P. Clark’s novel.
Recommend this book:
The Labyrinth Wall
Obsidian Series
Emilyann Girdner
2016 Finalist
268 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
In The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner, Araina had just received her meal for the week - three potatoes, a dead rat, and two canisters of water - from the Creators. Back at her hideaway, she ventured beyond her usual space and discovered another part of her world that she had not seen before, with real water, unlike the acid type around the labyrinth, and even some edible fruit. As if the wonders of the day could not end, she saw a man magically appear through the labyrinth wall. Curious to know about the world beyond their current confines, Araina and a new ally decide to find and talk to the man with magical healing powers that came through the wall. They have to break him out of the Creators' heavily guarded castle; a place where none of their kind can ever be allowed to enter. Araina hates the helpless feeling of always living on the Creators' terms and she is determined to do something about it. But first she and her companions must survive through a maze of endless dark tunnels filled with all kinds of deadly creatures, sharp blades, poisonous gases, and endless traps.
The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner is a captivating tale of bravery and the power of determination in a land haunted by hunger, death and misery, and survival of the fittest. The contrast between the life lived by the Mahk and the Creators is simply astonishing and Emilyann Girdner brought it out perfectly. Emilyann Girdner’s incredible writing skills take you from this world and dump you in the labyrinth with Araina and company as they navigate the endless deadly tunnels. The characters are so real and I was able to connect with them so deeply that I was even able to feel the chills every time Araina came face to face with death, and was forced to hold my breath as she fought to survive. But more importantly, the relief I felt every time she beat the odds was so magnificent. The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner is an amazingly captivating page-turner and I loved reading every single page.
In The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner, Araina had just received her meal for the week - three potatoes, a dead rat, and two canisters of water - from the Creators. Back at her hideaway, she ventured beyond her usual space and discovered another part of her world that she had not seen before, with real water, unlike the acid type around the labyrinth, and even some edible fruit. As if the wonders of the day could not end, she saw a man magically appear through the labyrinth wall. Curious to know about the world beyond their current confines, Araina and a new ally decide to find and talk to the man with magical healing powers that came through the wall. They have to break him out of the Creators' heavily guarded castle; a place where none of their kind can ever be allowed to enter. Araina hates the helpless feeling of always living on the Creators' terms and she is determined to do something about it. But first she and her companions must survive through a maze of endless dark tunnels filled with all kinds of deadly creatures, sharp blades, poisonous gases, and endless traps.
The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner is a captivating tale of bravery and the power of determination in a land haunted by hunger, death and misery, and survival of the fittest. The contrast between the life lived by the Mahk and the Creators is simply astonishing and Emilyann Girdner brought it out perfectly. Emilyann Girdner’s incredible writing skills take you from this world and dump you in the labyrinth with Araina and company as they navigate the endless deadly tunnels. The characters are so real and I was able to connect with them so deeply that I was even able to feel the chills every time Araina came face to face with death, and was forced to hold my breath as she fought to survive. But more importantly, the relief I felt every time she beat the odds was so magnificent. The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner is an amazingly captivating page-turner and I loved reading every single page.
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:
Blade of the Destroyer
The Last Bucelarii: Book 1
Andy Peloquin
2016 Finalist
298 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
A bloodthirsty knife that controls a man. A killer with an unknown past, a need for death and destruction, and an underlying desire to protect the most vulnerable. An immortal available for hire, but only at the right price. All of these elements add up to an unbelievably fantastic read. In Blade of the Destroyer: The Last Bucelarii, Book One by author Andy Peloquin, you will find all of these and so much more. Follow the Hunter of Voramis, the above mentioned immortal assassin, as he sets off on a contract to avenge a crime committed against a young girl. It's during this commission that the Hunter realizes it is he who might have become the hunted. But if he gives up his quest, he might also give up the chance to find out who he really is, and that's not something he's willing to leave behind so easily.
This book is fantastic. Drawing the reader in from page one, this page-turning thrill ride of a story is full of excitement, adventure, and suspense. Written from a unique point of view, that of the killer, Blade of the Destroyer has an extremely intriguing premise and storyline. Author Andy Peloquin does a fantastic job of creating a mysterious and enigmatic character in the Hunter, and has also created a world that is at the same time creepy and believable. Blade of the Destroyer would be enjoyed by any reader who likes action, adventure, a dark leading character, or just a plain excellent piece of fiction. I am extremely excited for the next installment in The Last Bucelarii series, and hope that the very promising author, Andy Peloquin, is hard at work on it at this very moment.
A bloodthirsty knife that controls a man. A killer with an unknown past, a need for death and destruction, and an underlying desire to protect the most vulnerable. An immortal available for hire, but only at the right price. All of these elements add up to an unbelievably fantastic read. In Blade of the Destroyer: The Last Bucelarii, Book One by author Andy Peloquin, you will find all of these and so much more. Follow the Hunter of Voramis, the above mentioned immortal assassin, as he sets off on a contract to avenge a crime committed against a young girl. It's during this commission that the Hunter realizes it is he who might have become the hunted. But if he gives up his quest, he might also give up the chance to find out who he really is, and that's not something he's willing to leave behind so easily.
This book is fantastic. Drawing the reader in from page one, this page-turning thrill ride of a story is full of excitement, adventure, and suspense. Written from a unique point of view, that of the killer, Blade of the Destroyer has an extremely intriguing premise and storyline. Author Andy Peloquin does a fantastic job of creating a mysterious and enigmatic character in the Hunter, and has also created a world that is at the same time creepy and believable. Blade of the Destroyer would be enjoyed by any reader who likes action, adventure, a dark leading character, or just a plain excellent piece of fiction. I am extremely excited for the next installment in The Last Bucelarii series, and hope that the very promising author, Andy Peloquin, is hard at work on it at this very moment.
Recommend this book:
The Light Who Shines
Bluebell Kildare Series Book 1
Lilo Abernathy
2016 Gold Medal
366 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
Reviewed by Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite
I just finished The Light Who Shines: Bluebell Kildare Series Book One by author Lilo Abernathy. I am always thrilled to find a new series that promises to be fantastic, and this book has all the elements needed to make that the case! The story starts with a witch-burning 2000 years ago, one with serious consequences for the people in our story. Bluebell Kildare, more commonly called Blue, an agent with a paranormal investigative team in the year 2022, has many gifts. With the abilities of a Sensitive, she is able to sense magic, see souls, and feel emotions, and is able to assist in solving crimes in a very unique way. When we’re first introduced to Blue, she’s at the scene of a supposed hit and run car crash that has killed a teenaged boy. It quickly becomes apparent that his death is more than a simple hit and run and, before she knows it, Blue is wrapped up in a complex and dangerous situation that could lead to her solving the mystery or coming to harm. Combine that with her growing attraction to her boss, a daytime vampire, Jack Tanner, and you’ve got an extremely intriguing story on your hands.
I loved this book! I really enjoy paranormal reads, and this book has everything the genre needs; vampires, wolves, witches and Sensitives, but so much more as well. Mystery, intrigue, action, adventure and romance also abound in The Light Who Shines, and I so appreciate author Lilo Abernathy’s ability to pull all that together in one book. This novel would appeal to any reader of paranormal fiction, mysteries, romances or action/adventure novels, or just those ready to try a creative read that is very well done. Ms. Abernathy does a great job of world-building in this novel, and sets the reader up for the next in the series. I, for one, can’t wait to read the next installment!
I just finished The Light Who Shines: Bluebell Kildare Series Book One by author Lilo Abernathy. I am always thrilled to find a new series that promises to be fantastic, and this book has all the elements needed to make that the case! The story starts with a witch-burning 2000 years ago, one with serious consequences for the people in our story. Bluebell Kildare, more commonly called Blue, an agent with a paranormal investigative team in the year 2022, has many gifts. With the abilities of a Sensitive, she is able to sense magic, see souls, and feel emotions, and is able to assist in solving crimes in a very unique way. When we’re first introduced to Blue, she’s at the scene of a supposed hit and run car crash that has killed a teenaged boy. It quickly becomes apparent that his death is more than a simple hit and run and, before she knows it, Blue is wrapped up in a complex and dangerous situation that could lead to her solving the mystery or coming to harm. Combine that with her growing attraction to her boss, a daytime vampire, Jack Tanner, and you’ve got an extremely intriguing story on your hands.
I loved this book! I really enjoy paranormal reads, and this book has everything the genre needs; vampires, wolves, witches and Sensitives, but so much more as well. Mystery, intrigue, action, adventure and romance also abound in The Light Who Shines, and I so appreciate author Lilo Abernathy’s ability to pull all that together in one book. This novel would appeal to any reader of paranormal fiction, mysteries, romances or action/adventure novels, or just those ready to try a creative read that is very well done. Ms. Abernathy does a great job of world-building in this novel, and sets the reader up for the next in the series. I, for one, can’t wait to read the next installment!
Recommend this book:
The Secret of Excalibur
Sahara Foley
2016 Honorable Mention
313 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
The Secret of Excalibur is a fantasy novel by Sahara Foley. Arthur Merlin is a typical, normal human being. But after a freak accident happens to him, things change quite abnormally. He develops certain abilities: telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis and even teleportation; and that’s not even all that he can do. It’s not often that one develops multiple abilities – most of the time, only one manifests. The US government wants him for their own gains, but with teleportation he is hard to keep under control. So he teleports to an institution he thinks he can work with better - to the Institute of Psychic Research in London. He shows his abilities to doctors at the Institute and they are stunned, eager to include him in their research. Eventually a kind of force from Lake George calls out to him. With Dr. Burns and Commander Dobie from the Institute, he learns some disturbing truths about the lake, and it may be up to him to save the world from it.
If you come to think of it, Sahara Foley, author of The Secret of Excalibur, is a literary magician. It’s a wonderful page turner right from the beginning: when a cocky yet endearing Arthur Merlin exhibits his superpowers, it makes us want to read more. She writes a very compelling narrative, tickling the fancy of adult readers – it almost feels like she brings back the magical air of childhood stories in The Secret of Excalibur. It’s an adventure readers will not want to miss out on. The characters in this book are well defined and the main protagonist is easy to empathize with, that is, many of us would like to be transformed from an average human being into one with special abilities who can save the world. Extremely consistent with a clear theme, this book is certainly an enjoyable read!
The Secret of Excalibur is a fantasy novel by Sahara Foley. Arthur Merlin is a typical, normal human being. But after a freak accident happens to him, things change quite abnormally. He develops certain abilities: telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis and even teleportation; and that’s not even all that he can do. It’s not often that one develops multiple abilities – most of the time, only one manifests. The US government wants him for their own gains, but with teleportation he is hard to keep under control. So he teleports to an institution he thinks he can work with better - to the Institute of Psychic Research in London. He shows his abilities to doctors at the Institute and they are stunned, eager to include him in their research. Eventually a kind of force from Lake George calls out to him. With Dr. Burns and Commander Dobie from the Institute, he learns some disturbing truths about the lake, and it may be up to him to save the world from it.
If you come to think of it, Sahara Foley, author of The Secret of Excalibur, is a literary magician. It’s a wonderful page turner right from the beginning: when a cocky yet endearing Arthur Merlin exhibits his superpowers, it makes us want to read more. She writes a very compelling narrative, tickling the fancy of adult readers – it almost feels like she brings back the magical air of childhood stories in The Secret of Excalibur. It’s an adventure readers will not want to miss out on. The characters in this book are well defined and the main protagonist is easy to empathize with, that is, many of us would like to be transformed from an average human being into one with special abilities who can save the world. Extremely consistent with a clear theme, this book is certainly an enjoyable read!
Recommend this book:
. I'm beginning to have the same disenchantment with books using fae, though there's still so much leeway with the fae yet. ...){kind=link}
The Light Who Binds
Bluebell Kildare Series Book 2
Lilo Abernathy
2016 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
Reviewed by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson for Readers' Favorite
The Light who Binds by Lilo Abernathy is the second in a series. The writing style drew me in right away, and I found myself enjoying the story despite a growing disenchantment with books that involve vampires (and werewolves). I'm beginning to have the same disenchantment with books using fae, though there's still so much leeway with the fae yet. It's just that there are depths to mythology and cryptozoology that have yet to be plumbed in the sci-fi/fantasy world! I read this one first, and Abernathy adds a bit of recap for necessary details. I was rather charmed by the world, and plan to snag the first book and give it a read.
Bluebell is a psychic investigator, and this book involves a search for a serial magickal arsonist (as if mundane arsonists weren't terrifying enough...), as well as Blue dealing with a prophecy involving her. I enjoyed the switching between viewpoints, and the character development was great. Looking forward to seeing where each go from here. Description is what really pulled me in. I love when the author paints pictures easy to envision in the mind's eye. That's magick all its own, it is. If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake and Merry Gentry books, but would prefer a lack of gratuitous sex to the stories, be sure to check out Lilo Abernathy's Bluebell Kincaid series. It's sure to please.
The Light who Binds by Lilo Abernathy is the second in a series. The writing style drew me in right away, and I found myself enjoying the story despite a growing disenchantment with books that involve vampires (and werewolves). I'm beginning to have the same disenchantment with books using fae, though there's still so much leeway with the fae yet. It's just that there are depths to mythology and cryptozoology that have yet to be plumbed in the sci-fi/fantasy world! I read this one first, and Abernathy adds a bit of recap for necessary details. I was rather charmed by the world, and plan to snag the first book and give it a read.
Bluebell is a psychic investigator, and this book involves a search for a serial magickal arsonist (as if mundane arsonists weren't terrifying enough...), as well as Blue dealing with a prophecy involving her. I enjoyed the switching between viewpoints, and the character development was great. Looking forward to seeing where each go from here. Description is what really pulled me in. I love when the author paints pictures easy to envision in the mind's eye. That's magick all its own, it is. If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake and Merry Gentry books, but would prefer a lack of gratuitous sex to the stories, be sure to check out Lilo Abernathy's Bluebell Kincaid series. It's sure to please.
Recommend this book:
It Lives in the Basement
Sahara Foley
2016 Finalist
137 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
It Lives in the Basement is a collection of interconnected dark horror stories written by Sahara Foley. Lieutenant Mike Flynn is investigating the mysterious disappearance of a couple that seems to have vanished into thin air. Pat Forbes hasn't been to her office for several days, and John Sempak, a writer, hasn't been seen in any of the bars he always frequents. Their landlord wonders if perhaps they quarreled and John murdered Pat. His wife finally had him call the police and report the situation. The couple's three cats have also gone missing, making the situation seem even stranger, especially when the police discover Pat's wallet, clothes, books and car still at the premises. After Mike dismisses the police officers investigating the scene, he decides to take a look at the spiral-bound notebook one of the officers had found. In it was a story that began in a most ominous fashion.
Sahara Foley's horror collection, It Lives in the Basement, is guaranteed to bring a smile of delight to the face of any horror fan lucky enough to pick this book up and read it. I love horror, but having grown up enjoying the works of Poe, Lovecraft and Derleth, rarely come across horror tales that reach the sublimely scary heights those classic authors mastered. This series of interconnected tales does just that. Foley's work is also an inspired police procedural at the same time, as the Omaha police follow a most unusual suspect in a series of disappearances and a particularly brutal murder. Foley's story is marvelous! The plot sizzles with tension, and the characters are compelling and real people you quickly come to care about. It Lives in the Basement is as good -- and as terrifying -- as it gets, and it's most highly recommended.
It Lives in the Basement is a collection of interconnected dark horror stories written by Sahara Foley. Lieutenant Mike Flynn is investigating the mysterious disappearance of a couple that seems to have vanished into thin air. Pat Forbes hasn't been to her office for several days, and John Sempak, a writer, hasn't been seen in any of the bars he always frequents. Their landlord wonders if perhaps they quarreled and John murdered Pat. His wife finally had him call the police and report the situation. The couple's three cats have also gone missing, making the situation seem even stranger, especially when the police discover Pat's wallet, clothes, books and car still at the premises. After Mike dismisses the police officers investigating the scene, he decides to take a look at the spiral-bound notebook one of the officers had found. In it was a story that began in a most ominous fashion.
Sahara Foley's horror collection, It Lives in the Basement, is guaranteed to bring a smile of delight to the face of any horror fan lucky enough to pick this book up and read it. I love horror, but having grown up enjoying the works of Poe, Lovecraft and Derleth, rarely come across horror tales that reach the sublimely scary heights those classic authors mastered. This series of interconnected tales does just that. Foley's work is also an inspired police procedural at the same time, as the Omaha police follow a most unusual suspect in a series of disappearances and a particularly brutal murder. Foley's story is marvelous! The plot sizzles with tension, and the characters are compelling and real people you quickly come to care about. It Lives in the Basement is as good -- and as terrifying -- as it gets, and it's most highly recommended.
Contact Author -
