Review for 'Halfway'

"Halfway" is the first book in the 'Wizards and Faeries' series by author Stephanie Void.

It is night and the moon is shining down on a craggy ocean shoreline. A woman sits on the gray rocks her back to you. The hem of her black dress raggedly sprawls across the stones. She hugs herself, a headful of blue white hair tipped slightly downwards.

Twins, Cemagna and Temet, live in seclusion with their fairy mother, Nessy. Everything they know of the world comes from the books in their mother's library. They spend countless hours combing the beach for treasure from the outside world, innocent and playful. That all changes when Temet accidentally calls on his unique form of magic. Soon the happy family will be ripped apart by an awe-inspiring and intimidating Wizard's Order.

 

What I liked:

• The dual development tracks of the two twins
• The use of atmosphere to dampen magical talents
• Interesting water villians

What I disliked:

• First, why do the children call their mother by her first name? Why?
• The pacing is off and the writing often feel disjointed and hurried.
• The dialogue also falls flat.
• Why does Nessy go crazy?
• I get the feeling that the author was attempting to use foreshadowing several times but it wasn't well executed and so failed.
• The whole story feels rushed.



'Halfway' feels like it would be a good introductory story for young kids and teens interested in dipping a toe into the fantasy world. I breezed through it in less than an hour and a half. It is currently available for free for the Kindle. The second book in the series, Wanderer's Shadow, is available for $4.99. You can find out more about the author and her books at www.stephanievoid.com





3 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for young readers only, adults will definitely find it lacking.






Synopsis: "The world of Halfway is the anti-Harry-Potter: the wizard school is part of a shadowy organization that takes the students by force from their families. And the outside world isn't much better: if you are a wizard, you are looked upon with fear because of what you represent.
In the midst of this, in secret, twins are born: a boy and a girl. They are Halfway, the rare offspring of humans and a now-extinct race of faeries.

• But the twins don't remain a secret for long. Temet, the boy, is taken as a child by the wizards. Cemagna

Review for "Island of Fog"

"Island of Fog" is the first book in Keith Robinson's sprawling series by the same name.

A menacing creature stands at attention in the foreboding blue gloom of a twilight forest. It looks at first to be a strange looking lion til you notice the curved scorpion's tail wrapped around its feet. Those familiar with mythology will recognize it immediately as a manticore, a deadly dangerous beast of lore.
Eight families are all that remains of a world ravaged by a strange virus. Secreted away on a fog laden island the eight children have never seen the sun, electricity, or the stars. They long for knowledge of Out There, of the world their parents left behind. But when strange and frightening changes begin to happen among them they long for something else even more...the truth.

What I liked

• 'Island of Fog' has a unique post-apocalyptic take. The horror and violence that destroyed most of civilization is still there but subdued and hazy like its hanging out in your peripheral vision.
• It also sports a unique collection of very familiar mythological creatures; faerie, ogre, dragon, naga, harpy, dryad, centaur, manticore, goblins, mermaids and more.
• The purpose of the fog, the island, and the children themselves all pulls together nicely

What I disliked

• The kids are all around twelve years old but most of the time they don't talk like twelve year olds
•  If Simone notices the change in the atmosphere as Hal seemed to think she had why didn't she take action sooner?

'Island of Fog' is an excellent children's/teen fantasy novel and I can only suspect that the series will eventually swirl to even higher heights. 'Island of Fog' is currently available for free for the Kindle. I encourage all young fantasy readers to pick it up. It's entertaining and aside from a slightly disturbing virus scene near the end is perfectly suitable for younger readers. The other books in the series, of which there is currently six, are either $3.99 or $3.03. You can find out more about the series and the author at www.islandoffog.com and www.unearthlytales.com .

4 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for fantasy readers of all ages. The author suggests ages 9 and up.






Synopsis:"A lonely, foggy island is home to eight families. Twelve-year-old Hal and his friends have always wondered what happened all those years ago on the mainland, that unseen place Out There beyond the fog, and after an astonishing discovery in the woods the children are more determined than ever to find out what their parents are hiding. But their lives are turned upside down when Abigail reveals her closely guarded secret. According to her, the children are slowly changing into monsters! Are they freaks of nature, or subjects of a sinister experiment?

Each child reacts differently to his or her unique monstrous transformation; after all, one may feel proud to be a dragon, faerie, or centaur, but who in their right mind wants to be a sadistic manticore or cowardly harpy?"

Review for "The Blackgloom Bounty"

"The Blackgloom Bounty" is the first book in Jon F. Baxley's 'The Scythian Stone Saga.'

The cover art reminds one of an old medieval tapestry or watercolor, a wash of ruddy browns with the barest sparkling of god. A large armored man stands towering over a man and woman. The man is fair haired and holding a sword. The woman is dark haired and dressed in a simple gown. Upon even closer inspection you can see a white bearded magician reading runes from an open leather tome. The four stand in a stone room treasure littered around their feet.
Daynin is a simple plowboy, breaking his back to help his grandfather tend their sparse fields. When the two exiled highlanders stumble upon a magnificent carved stone in their fields, Daynin signs on with a self proclaimed magician in hopes that the sale of the stone will restore he and his grandfather back to their former highland glory. But there's more to the stone and the story than meets the eye and soon Daynin is swept up in a fantastic battle for a treasure, honor, and family, not to mention his own neck.
What I liked:

• The first ten chapters. I couldn't help but feel like this book was written first as a short story that encompassed those first ten chapters. It reminded me of one of the stories I might have found in an omnibus sword and sorcery collections book. Nice pacing, action, villainy, good ending. Things seemed to go downhill from there.
• I'm torn while I liked Sabritha's spirit and fire at first it began to wear thin towards the end....very thin.

What I disliked:

• The first thing that pops into my head here is Daynin's sudden change in language. He steps foot in the highlands and suddenly speaks like an old scottish salt completely different from the vernacular he used just a chapter or two ago. And speaking of language, I honestly don't need that many creative spellings of a word to imagine a scottish accent, and all those extra r's!
• As I mentioned before everything after the first ten chapters seems like it was tacked on as an afterthought. The author had a solid short story which honestly by itself would have merited at least a whole nother crown over what the entire novel presents.
• Several story devices seemed to be skipped over and not given their proper dues. The journey into the wellkeep and the magical guardians therein. The sea serpent that attacks the ships. Brude and Olghar themselves. Nothing is ever really explained.
• It ended rather abruptly with way too many unanswered questions and a lot of alluding to things that may or may not happen.

All in all I think of 'The Blackgloom Bounty' as a viable short story that was stretched way too far. At the moment of this review it is available for $2.99 for the Kindle. The second book in the series  is 'The Regents of Rhum' also available for $2.99. A third book in the series 'The Scions of Scotia' was slated for release in early 2013 but I couldn't find it on Amazon.

3.5 out of 5 crowns

Suitable for mature teen to adult sword and sorcery readers and those with a particular tilt towards Scottish lore.






Synopsis: "Kruzurk first encountered the villain, Seed of Cerberus, when he studied with him under the master magician, Merlin. While trying to stop the Seed from stealing Merlin's tools of making, he is cursed for life by the vindictive sorcerer. Kruzurk is determined to destroy the Seed, and enacts a clever ruse involving a young highlander, Daynin, who is unaware of his role in the great deception. Daynin is led on a hair-raising adventure where he meets and falls in love with the beautiful and cunning Sabritha. Daynin must overcome a host of almost insurmountable enemies, objects and circumstances to return the bounty and Sabritha to his clan's ancestral home. He must use every ounce of wit and guile to outthink, outfight or outrun a litany of adversaries and indeed, even change the future of the highlands forever"

Review for "The Cracked Slipper"

"The Cracked Slipper" is the first book in Stephanie Alexander's quartet by the same name.

A blonde woman in a white shift walks down a dirtpath, golden blades of grass growing tall to either side. A crystal slipper dangles carelessly from one finger, either forgotten or meant to entice. A large winged red bird swoops in from the sky, angling towards the young woman.
Eleanor Brice is swept into a world of whimsy, fantasy, and political intrigue when she wins the heart of the crown prince while dancing in glass slippers. After eight years of menial labor under the yoke of her stepmother and stepsisters, Eleanor is ready for her happy ending. But the prince isn't always charming and happy endings aren't so easy to come by.

What I liked

• If you haven't figured it out by now it's a Cinderella story. I love retelling of practically any traditional fairy tale
• Eleanor is a well-educated, opinionated, and strong female character...most of the time
• If anything was missing from the original it was unicorns and dragons, well they aren't missing now
• Take away the fairy godmother and replace her with an intricate system of witches and magicians

What I disliked

• Call me naive but I like happy endings and believe in the sanctity of marriage. I know that sadly that's most often not the reality but in my fiction and especially in my fairytales, it should be.
• The real reason however for the half crown subtraction were the many spelling, proof-reading, and usage errors scattered throughout, some of which were down right distracting.
• Eleanor should have called off the wedding the first night she found out about the prince's true nature. A strong heroine would have.

'The Cracked Slipper' is an intriguing spin on an classic yarn. The author manages to simultaneously bring the tale of Cinderella closer and yet further from reality with her unique world and character building. Her style of writing put me in mind of the Robin McKinley's 'Chalice'. At the time of this review 'The Cracked Slipper' is available for the Kindle for .99. Aside from the grammatical errors it's well worth your time and money. I was actually rather surprised to find out that 'The Cracked Slipper' will be a quartet, but a quick internet search found the second book, 'The Red Choker' available for $2.99. I'm intrigued enough to add it to my wish list. You can find out more about the series and the author at www.thecrackedslipper.com


4.5 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for mature readers of fantasy and women's romance. The subject matter includes sexual themes, loss, adultery, and the occasional strong language. Those with a particular bent for the retelling of fairy tales will also enjoy this book.






Synopsis: "When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.
Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor's eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matter worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.
Eleanor can't resist Dorian's honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people's love can't protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love."

Almost there

The year is almost over. Mother Nature finally seems to be remembering that it's supposed to be autumn. Nights are beginning to get colder. The sky is often cloudless and a beautiful cerulean blue. I think maybe the change in color has to do with the angle of refraction since we're tilting away from the sun. Whatever the cause, its gorgeous. We're officially in that weird in between time when it's too cold for one cover and too hot for two. Which inevitably means I wake up a dozen times a night to either throw off the covers or pull them closer.
With the colder weather I've decided to try my hand at a few freezer meals. So far I've made and frozen meatballs, a meatloaf, turkey, and chicken is currently boiling as a I type. We had one of the two baggies of meatballs last night. They turned out great. I love not having to dirty up every pan every few nights. I like doing it all at once in one fell swoop.
Time to move on to my resolution updates.
1. Weight loss/getting healthy. Another month has passed with absolutely no change in my weight. Good that it means I'm keeping it off and that the weight loss I have managed may be more permanent, bad that I can't seem to manage more. I'm still going to the gym usually 2 days of the week with a third day here and there. I'm still noticing a few changes in the composition of my body, the distribution of the fat that's there. My thighs are slimmer than I can remember them being in a long time. My husband had another doctor's appointment at the beginning of this month. He got more good news. He was able to take his A1C down another 0.3 points. Which is great! I mean in 6 months he's managed to drop that A1C down from a 9.6 to a solid 6.0. They also tested his cholesterol levels this time as well. He dropped it from 120 to 70. Doc said he is no longer at any risk for a heart attack or stroke. Which is more awesome news! Then she said that she didn't want to see him for 6 more months instead of 3 and that if everything was holding good, that they'd discuss lowering his medications. Getting off the metaformin has been my husband's dream goal ever since we started this process. I'm so proud of his progress.
2.  50 books in a year - I slacked a little in September and only read and reviewed 3 books. I'm already doing better than that this month, so I'm not worried. My new total is 38. I have 12 books left. The goal is so close.
3. Photography: My fairy shoot was a rousing success. I got some amazing pictures. I also had a wedding this month. Tomorrow I'm going to a fundraising event for our local animal shelter to do pet portraits. I got invited to this shin dig last year and I had soooo much fun. I loved seeing all the beautiful furbabies. My favorites were the Irish Wolfhounds. They didn't come by my booth for pictures, but that didn't stop me from going over to love on them...with permission of course.
Nothing new on the other fronts of my resolution.
How is everyone's Christmas shopping going? I'm proud to say that I've managed to get everything but stocking stuffers for my husband, a few things for my mother, my brother, my dad, and even my Sister-in-law. I know we're starting early this year, earlier than I've ever done before, but when things are spiraling out of control, you take the reins in any area of life that you can manage. I can control Christmas shopping.
That's it for this month. See you again in November!

Review for 'The Snow Song'

'The Snow Song' is the last entry in Heath Pfaff's trilogy 'The Hungering Saga'.

A young woman with pointed ears stands looking out over a ship's railing into the ebbing glow of an ocean sunset.
Lowin Fenly has been cast into the unwillingly role of King in his efforts to save his only child. But the world of political intrigue and betrayal is all too unfamilar even if the battle to stay alive and stay the course is.

What I liked:

• The inner struggle between Lowin's faltering humanity and the murderous beast within figures even more prominently.
• The evolving nature of the Blackcloak Brigade. 

What I disliked:

•  I found the plot twist with a reverted Malice to be useless and detracting from the story. 
• Again Lowin is surrounded by surprises and traps that are hardly surprising at all.
• The story progresses at a snail's pace with a few more exciting moments sprinkled sparsely throughout. Then towards the end it rushes to the finish and leaves the ending feeling unfinished. 
• More proofreading errors.
• Lowin's daughter spent two years with him, over four with Lucidil, and at the very least another four in Hungering lands.Why would she ever accept him at face value as her father?
• The final subverison of the inner struggle into mere pop psychology, bah.

'The Snow Song' is the most disappointing entry in 'The Hungering Saga'. It barely squeaks by with a three crown rating and I mean barely. As a finishing book in the series it leaves a hundred and one questions unanswered and therefore in my opinion fails at its most general appointed task. Why exactly is Lowin so extra-ordinary? It can't simply be because of the love affair with Kyea, since everyone seemed to know he would rise to greatness even before he fell in love with her. Is it the sexual relationship between Lowin and the others that changes their eyes or is it love? If its the latter surely more knights would have stumbled upon it over time. I'm assuming the Hungering traveled to Lowin's lands in search of the missing piece of their king but it's implied that they came for Lowin which again makes no sense.And why do the Blackcloaks evolve? Etc, Etc. 'The Snow Song' is available for $3.99 for the Kindle. You can find out more about the series and the author at offoxsmind.com

3 out of 5 crowns

 
Recommended for mature fantasy readers only due to graphic violence and sexual themes.






Synopsis: "Lowin has driven himself tirelessly towards his goals, seeking an end to the torments that have riddled his soul with guilt for years. The threat of the Hungering seems abated, but still greater challenges lay ahead. His companions are divided, and his own mind is split by dark thoughts, and darker urgings. Lowin must master himself, and find friends amidst the enemies that surround him, or all he has worked so hard to gain will be lost. Far across the ocean, an enemy beyond his understanding waits. Hero, tyrant, man, beast; which is Lowin Fenly?"

Collectively I give 'The Hungering Saga'  3 out of 5 crowns. A solid beginning, an even better middle, and a disappointing end crippled with the unsurprising plot twists, bland writing style, and pacing issues throughout.

   I leave you with a Youtube video from Three Day's Grace.
'Animal I have Become' which I believe would make an apt theme song for the best parts of this series.

Review for 'The Vengeful Malice'

 "The Vengeful Malice" is the second book in Heath Pfaff's trilogy 'The Hungering Saga'

A long haired creature with the face of a human and the arms and legs of a beast sits on a carved throne, its arms crossed and a bloody sword in one hand.
Lowin Fenly has tried to escape from the violent world that turned him into a Knight of Ethan, a monstrous creature built for war and death. With his adopted family he has managed to carve out a suitable existence in the undeveloped wilds. But he'll soon find out the world isn't finished with him yet.
What I liked:

• Lowin's inner struggle becomes more of a focus in this book. 
• The poignant reasons for Lowin's return to the world make him a believable character.
• The pacing is much better in this installment of the series, rarely lapsing into long boring stints that plagued the first book.
• The ever evolving relationship between Lowin and Malice.
• We finally see why the series is called 'The Hungering Saga'

What I disliked:

• While the pacing is much better in 'The Venegeful Malice' the writing style has improved very little still consisting of bland and methodic statements, we are also still subjected to frequent proofreading mistakes.
• Again the surprises and traps laid out before Lowin are not in fact surprising at all.
• Lowin spends far too much time moping about the things he didn't say or do and yet still doesn't try to change that behavior with the others in his life. 

'The Vengeful Malice' is by far the strongest entry in the series. It is exciting and poignant at times with a truly terrifying villian. 'The Vengeful Malice' is available for the Kindle for $3.99. You can find out more about the series and the author at www.offoxsmind.com

3.5 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for mature fantasy readers only due to graphic and copious violence and sexual themes.







Synopsis:"All men who would change the world, must first be willing to destroy it. The continuation of the epic saga began in The Noble Fool, The Vengeful Malice returns to the memories of Lowin Fenly as he is stirred from his respite of self loathing and forced on a quest to bring peace to his people, his land, and himself.
A new menace comes from the sea, and it has come to devour mankind whole. The kingdom is at war with itself, and with a new enemy, and powerful men have decided that Lowin will play an important role in the upcoming conflict whether he wishes it or not."

Review for "Noble Fool"

"Noble Fool" is the first book in Heath Pfaff's trilogy 'The Hungering Saga.'

A tall creature with wolfish legs and ears stands in the snow a tattered cloak billowing out behind him in the chill wind. A sword sticks out from his side, his stance betraying his eager readiness.
Lowin Fenly is naught but a simple scribe when a Black-eyed Devil, a monster of myth, walks into his library and asks for him by name. Snatched from the safe and comfortable environs of his youth Lowin is thrust into a magical bloodthirsty world he didn't even know existed. He is given the opportunity to become a powerful knight, a force for good, but is he willing to pay the terrible price that goes along with the title?

What I liked:

• Lowin Fenly is an admirable character if a little slow and too easy to trust. His loyalty to the people in his life and the characteristics he values makes him a good hero.
• The premise of the how the Knights of Ethan are made is unique and interesting.
• The inner struggle between Lowin's humanity and the percieved monster he is becoming is poignant.

What I disliked:

• They were countless spelling and proofreading errors scattered throughout the book. The mistakes were easily found and would have been easily correctable by anyone paying attention.
• The writing style consists of methodic and bland statements.
• The pacing is at times entirely too slow and the action lacks excitement.
• While I found the premise of the construction of the Knights of Ethan original there were no surprises in the plot. As such it was hard to get behind Lowin as he blindly stumbled through his world even as I sat at the sidelines going 'Why can't you see, its so easy!'
• There is very little mention of the enemies/creatures for which the entire saga is named after.

I read 'Noble Fool' as part of an omnibus version of 'The Hungering Saga'. I debated for a few days on whether or not to do the review as a singular entry for the entire series or as individuals. As the books are on sale individually, I decided to go the latter route. 'Noble Fool' is available for the Kindle for $3.99. The second and third books in the series are also available for $3.99 each. If you are going to take a chance on this series I would recommend the omnibus version of all three for $6.49. It'll save you some money in the long run which you'll be grateful for. I personally wouldn't have continued the series if it hadn't all been lumped in together and free at the time. You can find out more about the author and his books at www.offoxsmind.com

3 of 5 crowns

Recommended for mature fantasy readers only due to sexual themes and graphic violence.







Synopsis: "A man is not great because he is a good man. A great man can be good, evil, or any shade of gray in between. A great man is a man who sees the world around him, and changes it to suit him, instead of letting it change him to suit itself. Lowin Fenly didn't want to be a hero, and he never thought of being a villain, but sometimes the path that must be walked by great men leads to dark places. Body twisted by dark magic, the scribe-turned-Knight must learn to control the beast he is becoming, or risk losing the few remnants of humanity he clings to."