Medieval Love and War by Terry Mott-Bellin

King Matthew is kind and generous. However, not everyone loves him: Calibor is King Matthew's enemy and wants to win the Great Sea Kingdom and rule it himself. The Springtide Festival is held annually, and people from miles around come to enjoy a day out. Fifteen-year-old Princess Eden persuades her father to let her participate in The Spring Moon Dance. King Matthew feels his only daughter will be safe with her lady-in-waiting, her tutor, and guards with her. However, when the dance finishes, Eden accepts gifts from the spectators and overlooks Calibor. Calibor is angry that he has been snubbed and commands his sorcerer to put a spell of pox on all the young men! What plans does Calibor have for Princess Eden? What is different about Tomas? Moreover, who do the servants help to seduce Princess Eden? Read Medieval love and War by Terry Mott-Bellin to find the answers.

This book only has one hundred and ninety-seven pages, but by the end of chapter four, more than sixteen main characters have been introduced. I found trying to remember whom everyone was confusing, spoiling the book's flow. There are also many grammar errors. This book needs to be proofread as mistakes like 'beforeheading' would have been picked up if it had.

Despite the errors, I did enjoy this book. It has all the ingredients of an adult fairy tale. King Matthew, adored by his people, has a beautiful daughter who falls in love with a handsome man. And his adversary, the evil Calibor, rules his people with fear and punishments and has a sorcerer to cast horrific spells on anyone in his way. Furthermore, there is a supposed faithful servant working for the other side, a village of little people, and a good witch. I also enjoyed all the pagan references, particularly the handfasting of Maia and Tomas.

I recommend Medieval Love and War by Terry Mott-Bellin to anyone who enjoys romance, good versus evil, or an adult fairy tale. Many medieval words are used, which a historian would also enjoy. Sex is mainly hinted at, but I would not recommend this book to people under sixteen.

I want to give Medieval Love and War 3 out of 5 stars because, although I enjoyed the story, introducing so many characters in the first few chapters confused me. I re-read the first four chapters and made a list of the people, their characteristics, and which of the other characters they knew. Terry Mott-Bellin should add this information at the beginning of the book for readers to refer back to. A map of all the places mentioned in the book would also be helpful. I have reduced the stars because this book has yet to be edited or proofread, and there are errors on most pages. So many mistakes are annoying and spoil the book's flow!

I want to thank Terry Mott-Bellin for a copy of Medieval Love and War in exchange for my honest and impartial review. 

You can see more of my reviews here http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Children's book review - Unicorns Know Magic by Charles Adkins

 

Two children see a family of unicorns moving in next door and make friends with them. The unicorns all have unique tricks which they show the children. One day the friends head off on a fantastic adventure, and the children ride on the unicorns and visit famous places. What do they eat in Paris? What do they do in London? Moreover, what happens when the unicorns go to school? Read Unicorns Know Magic by Charles Adkins to discover the answers to these questions.

Unicorns Know Magic is written entirely in rhyme, but this does not always work. For example, on page ten, "We were hungry and stopped at a French restaurant, we've never had something as good as a croissant." Also, I did not enjoy the fact that on one page Charles Adkins writes that the unicorns had apples and carrots for lunch, and on the next page, he says unicorns only eat vegetables! 

The colorful illustrations are beautiful and very appealing. The landmarks are recognizable and add another level of learning for small children. Unicorns Know Magic by Charles Adkins will be a lovely way to introduce young children to poetry; once the grammatical errors are corrected. This book needs to be proofread and edited.

I recommend this book to children aged up to eight years of age. Younger children will love having the poem read to them while they enjoy the illustrations. Older children will enjoy reading it to themselves. Children will find Unicorns Know Magic a fun and interesting adventure and enjoy the rhyme.

I want to give Unicorns Know Magic by Charles Adkins 3 out of 5 stars. I have reduced the score by one star as there are a lot of proofreading errors, and the poem does not always flow or rhyme very well. I have taken off another star because of the mixed information, which would confuse small children. When you are writing for children, the book has to be perfect!

I want to thank Charles Adkins for a copy of Unicorns Know Magic in exchange for my honest and impartial review. 

You can see more of my reviews here http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Children's Book Review - The White Harlequin by Daphne Tzamali-Yakinthou

 

At midnight every night, a small door in the grandfather's clock opens, and magical creatures reveal themselves. They put on a show for one another. Tonight the noise awakens Sugarcandy, the white harlequin. Sugarcandy's house is filled with amazing things; he has a rainbow pudding cooking, his seats are made of Turkish delight, and the dining table is a giant red mushroom. Usually, the clock would strike midnight, and the magic would begin and continue until dawn.

Tonight Sugarcandy's best friend, Spot the donkeytaur, calls to tell Sugarcandy that the storm maidens and wind midwives have arrived. They are here to weave deep magic, which has never happened in the land of charms and reflections. The friends are excited to witness a spectacle they have never seen before. Suddenly everyone is horrified to see that a cyclone is draining all the light from the stars, and the world becomes the darkest it has ever been. What are the peculiar snowmen guarding? Who or what is the night sybil, and why do the two friends go to see it? What is the lullaby of strange things? Read The White Harlequin by Daphne Tzamali-Yakin to get the answers to these questions.

I found it confusing how Sugarcandy, the white harlequin, was referred to by several different names, either Sugarcandy, harlequin, or white harlequin. I feel Daphne Tzamali-Yakin should have used a name consistently throughout the book, but this was my only criticism of The White Harlequin.

I loved page four which had a barrage of introductions to all the fantastic magical creatures entering the room and descriptions of their unique attributes. Just as all the madness and mayhem began to confuse my brain Daphne Tzamali-Yakin writes, 'But let's not get ahead of ourselves! Everything will be revealed in its own good time.' This phrase was perfectly crafted and calmed everything down, ready for the next chapter. I also really enjoyed the unique colorful pictures in The White Harlequin, which reminded me of stained glass windows.

I want to rate The White Harlequin by Daphne Tzamali-Yakin 5 out of 5 stars. It conjures up a kaleidoscope of magic, color, and excitement. Adults and children would equally enjoy this beautiful fantasy story. Older children would enjoy reading it to themselves, and parents would enjoy reading it to younger children. All would love the wonderfully colorful illustrations. The story is beautifully written and kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. There were a few spelling and grammar errors, but they did not spoil the flow of the story enough to reduce the score.

I want to thank Daphne Tzamali-Yakinthou for a free copy of The White Harlequin in exchange for my honest and impartial review. You can also see my reviews here http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill

 

Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill begins by introducing us to Kim, the book's main character. Kim lives in a world where only the gender-neutral colors beige, pale blue, and pale green are allowed. Kim's is a world where robots called house bots are the norm and help people's lives run smoothly. Kim has been working for the Artificial Intelligence Company training automatons. When she joined the company five years before, she wanted to prove herself and get promoted. 

Outside of work, Kim lives in a nondescript house in this world where there is no freedom or private life. She is expected to abide by many rules, covering all aspects of life, from food choices to childbirth, conversational topics to entertainment choices. Everything is monitored and evaluated; not sticking to these rules results in quick and savage punishments. Kim has begun to find that her work has turned repetitive and boring, and she has realized that her so-called perfect world is deeply flawed. How can Kim break away from the controlling world she lives in? Who or what is Kimberley, and why does she increase Kim's frustration with the life she has? Furthermore, how does an incident with a friend change Kim's life forever?

I thoroughly enjoyed Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill. He handles the subject of a world where nothing is questioned and every day is the same as the day before brilliantly. The story has been well thought out and planned. There could have been some confusion between the robots and the humans, but Stanfill describes the personalities of every character and robot so well that I could easily picture each one. Stanfill's writing expertise makes understanding all areas of this dystopian world easy. In some ways, the living conditions are similar to the world now; there is still a divide between the rich and the poor, but machines rule Stanfill's world. My thoughts about my own world's future were challenged, which I also enjoyed.

There is absolutely nothing I disliked about Terms of Service, the debut novel by Craig W. Stanfill. I recommend it to adults who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. There is no swearing in this book, but there are a lot of erotic and descriptive passages about intimacy and sex. Moreover, much of the sex is fuelled by excessive alcohol and drug taking, which makes this book inappropriate for a younger audience.

I want to give Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars. I did not find any spelling or grammar errors; the book has been edited and proofread perfectly. 

I would like to thank Craig W. Stanfill for giving me a copy of Terms of Service in exchange for my impartial and honest opinion.

You can find more of my reviews here : http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - Angel Falling by A.D. Landor

 

A group of angels led by Archangel Prince Anael is known as the Seventh Flight. It has been their job to clean every planet of false idols and to leave them peaceful and calm. However, they had not counted on the Succae, a race of immortal vampires who live on the planet Cerule. Years before, the Seventh Flight had fought many bitter battles with the Succae, which lasted over one hundred years. The Seventh Flight was systematically reduced in number, but the Succae were able to replenish their ranks with freshly possessed bodies. Eventually, this led to an uneasy truce between the angels and the vampires. Azshael is a fallen angel. The rest of his race shuns him because he fell in love with Ischae, a Succae diplomat. Angel Falling by A. D. Landor tells the story of Azshael, who is asked to investigate the murder of a Succae elite on Angel's soil. He soon realizes that the murder is like that of his dead lover. To get answers, he teams up with the Succae's Serrate Lytta, and together, they discover a conspiracy that could destroy the uneasy truce and once again ignite a war, fighting good versus evil. Azshael has enemies on both sides. Will he survive to find out who the murderer is?

I loved so much about Angel Falling. The art used for the cover of an angel in battle armor, ready to fight, is precisely how I pictured Azshael. I particularly liked Landor's writing style; some of the sentences are beautiful and poetic; for example, on page eighteen, "He was the Succae Warlord incarnate, and all around him light diminished as inevitably as the dusk devours the day." A.D. Landor uses unusual names for the characters, which are relatively easy to pronounce. I liked this as it allowed the story to flow well. Landor describes a fantastic fantasy world of angels and vampires that is the perfect environment for Azshael and Serrate Lytta's murder investigation. The diverse mix of characters is well-defined and gives the story great depth. Many plot twists kept me turning the pages to find out whether this unlikely angel and vampire duo found out the truth behind the murders!

There was absolutely nothing that I did not like about Angel Falling by A. D. Landor, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to adults who enjoy fantasy and science fiction stories with the added element of a murder mystery.

I want to give Angel Falling 5 out of 5 stars. Apart from one grammar error, the book was well-edited, well-written, and absorbing. I look forward to reading more books by A. D. Landor.

I would like to thank A. D Landor for a free copy of Angel Falling in exchange for my unbiased review.  You can see more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Review of WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Michael L Junior

 

WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Mike L Junior is a science fiction story. It tells us about Drake Nathan's cybernetic chip, which alters a human's DNA, healing various ailments, including cancer and blindness. Over time babies are born with the altered DNA without the need for a chip. This is the start of the demise of Earth as we know it. Technology comes to be so developed and sophisticated that ordinary people need to learn how to use it. This is the Technology Era which soon dies, and then the Apocalypse Era begins, and civilization as we know it dies. Ordinary couples start giving birth to babies with strange skills. These newborns are known as Abnormals. The Abnormals are segregated and hunted like animals. Kaarina and Monty are two orphaned Abnormals making their way to Xenora to enroll in the Berserkers Guild. Here they hope to find understanding and a feeling of family. Kaarina and Monty are being hunted. Will they ever get to Xenora? What are Kaarina's and Monty's special powers? What is the Berserkers Guild?

Mike L Junior has used great descriptions to give the reader a feel of the different scenarios. Much thought and careful planning have gone into the storyline, and Junior skillfully builds the layers of each character until we know them like a friend. The chemistry and interaction between the different characters are captivating. 

Despite the good points, there were a lot more things that I did not like about WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings. Every chapter finishes with xyz in lowercase, but there needs to be an explanation as to why this is. For example page one hundred and fifteen, "The group happy to finally get a chance to eat decent food began to kick it into high gear, leaving the Snowy Mountains behind. xyz". The missions are named after the alphabet, for example, A-class, C-class, and S-Class. I got confused about what they all were and what their point was. I think there needs to be more information given so that readers can understand how they differ from one another. I was disappointed that despite all the thought which has gone into this book, there are areas where there has been no thought at all, which let the book down. One sentence is beautifully descriptive but is spoilt by adding the words "bag full of stuff" for example, on page seven, "The night sky filled with flakes of snow off the hills of a brown snow boot worn by a youthful Middle-Eastern scarlet-haired female running through a forest carrying a bag full of stuff." Furthermore, the lack of editing spoilt my enjoyment of the book, there are grammar and spelling errors on most pages, and this spoils the flow of the story! 

I would be delighted to recommend WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Mike L Junior once it has been revised, but in its current state, I would not be happy to recommend it. However, if you enjoy post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, action, and adventure stories and you are not a person who is irritated by grammar and spelling errors, then you would enjoy this book. There are a lot of strong swear words and some sexual passages that are very descriptive and leave nothing to the imagination, so I recommend that only open-minded adults read it. Also, if you are religious, you may not appreciate parts of the book which question whether there is a God. 

WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Mike L Junior could have been an outstanding read. The idea and planning that have gone into it are fantastic, but the execution and lack of editing badly let the book down. Unfortunately, as the book is at the moment, I can only give 2 out of 5 stars. This book needs editing and proofreading by a professional to deserve more stars! 

Book Review - Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book One) by Janet McNulty

 

Solaris Seethes by Janet McNulty begins by introducing us to Rynah. Rynah works as a Security Officer at the Geothermic Center based in an underground laboratory on the planet Lanyr.  Once a year, all systems are shut down for fifteen minutes to be cleared of unnecessary data. Today just as everything is shut down, Rynah is appalled to see people from the Lunyra Movement break in, led by Klanor, her fiance! Klanor steals a crystal that controls Lanyr's magnetic fields. Without the crystal, the magnetism becomes misaligned. It causes, amongst other things, volcanoes to erupt, earthquakes, and disruptions to the weather. Rynah escapes through a secret tunnel to find that her planet is dying. All around her is carnage. She remembers a hangar where her grandfather had hidden an antiquated ship. This ship is the mysterious Solaris. It is over fifty years old but in fantastic condition. Escaping the destruction of Lanyr, Rynah must put her trust in Solaris while following an archaic story that has come down through the generations of her people. Together with four humans, each from a different time in Earth's history, Rynah tries to track down Klanor before he can find the other five crystals. Why are the crystals so important? How are humans able to help Rynah? Will the antiquated Solaris be up to the job? Furthermore, what was the argument that cut her off from her grandfather? 

I liked that hidden moral lessons show the reader how to become a better person and understand their friends, seeing them for who they really are, not just the side they show the world. It was clever to make Solaris intelligent and sassy. I read about the growing friendship between Solaris and Rynah with interest. I particularly enjoyed their arguments. I love all the colorful descriptions in Solaris Seethes. For example, on page eighteen, "Rynah sat up, allowing her emerald hair to flow over her lavender-colored (a very light shade at that) skin; specks of gold accentuated her waves of dark emerald tresses, forming highlights that even the dim lighting failed to hide." Janet McNulty's descriptions, especially of Rynah, are beautiful.

Solaris Seethes is science fiction. However, I would have found it more enjoyable and interesting if it had been believable. The story is based on another planet, meaning they have different words for things, yet when Rynah is in pain, she takes aspirin. As aspirin is a word used on Earth, I think it would be unlikely that another planet would also have aspirin in its vocabulary! Also, Rynah teleports four people from Earth who have no concept of her world even existing. Solon from 751 BC, Alfric from 1163, Brie from 2014, and Tom from 2099. They are supposedly intelligent, grounded people but ask a few questions after being teleported, then go with the flow. If I had been suddenly zapped up to another ( and very different) planet, I would want to know: Why have I been chosen? What can I expect? and when will I go home?

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars due to the dislikes mentioned. The idea for the storyline is brilliant. However, the author executes her ideas poorly, from the long-winded sentences, which make the book boring, to the unbelievable and two-dimensional characters. As this is the first in a four-part series, I hope the books get more interesting as the author progresses!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced science fiction, particularly younger adults or older teenagers; there is some swearing but nothing sexual.

Thank you to Janet McNulty for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

 

Book Review - Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G Baker

 

Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is written in three parts. The first part introduces Grant Taylor, a 32-year-old single man who works part-time at the University of Chicago and conducts paleogeography research. It is 2015, and Grant has just arrived in Russia. His scientist Uncle, an explorer, whom Grant was close to, disappeared a year ago while on an expedition to an area usually off-limits and has been pronounced dead.

Grant has inherited his Uncle Randall's house, wealth, and belongings.      While sorting these out, Grant finds secret hiding places containing an envelope full of money, several unique keys, a loaded gun, and ammunition. Furthermore, a letter in a bank safe deposit box is only marked for Grant's eyes, highlighting Randall's enormous concerns about the trip. Why did Randall have a loaded gun? Moreover, what do the keys open? The book's second part describes Grant taking part in a further expedition to Zona, and the third part takes us to the heart of the Camp at Zona itself. Along the way, Grant meets many intriguing characters. Grant puts himself in danger to discover what happened to his beloved Uncle Randall. Is Randall dead, or is he very much alive?

There is so much that I love about this book. Fred G. Baker is a very talented author who thinks of
everything to give readers the best possible experience from his book. I found it very useful that at the front of the book are maps of traveling to Zona and a map of Zona itself together with a diagram of the campsite. These are handy additions and helped me to follow the story better. I enjoyed Baker's similes in this book. For example, on page fifty-four, "I felt like a peanut in a vise, and the squeezing was just going to get worse." I enjoyed learning about all the characters who come to life on the page, in particular Boris Ustinov, Randall's Lawyer, who had much more than a passing interest in Randall's expedition to Zona. Trina Ustinov, a niece of Boris, is a beautiful legal aid trained in science and law. Grant starts a relationship with her but still does not feel she is to be trusted, and Captain Oleg Godunov, a fellow scientist, warns Grant that there is more to his Uncle's disappearance than is being told!

I did not find a single part of the book which I did not enjoy. Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is a fantastic story that is well edited, I did not find a single mistake in spelling or grammar.

I want to rate Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker 5 out of 5 stars. It is a fantastic and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books involving science fiction, mystery, romance, adventure, and intrigue, as Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker has all of these in spades. There is a reasonable amount of strong swear words, so I would suggest it is aimed at an adult audience.

Thank you to Fred G Baker for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Unlight by Chandra Shekhar

 

A massive cloud of dust has blanketed the Earth, causing the temperatures to drop to minus 127 degrees centigrade. Unlight by Chandra Shekhar is the story of Larry Brandon's forward-thinking vision to build a shelter he calls the Shell, which will keep his family safe while the Earth repairs itself. The story is told, in part, through diaries kept by the family, and we see different ways the situation is affecting them. From Elizabeth, the gentle, calm grandmother in her 70's. Her daughter Nicole  a top surgeon in her 40s. Teenage daughters Anna and Jessica; Anna who is thoughtful and kind, and Jessica, who is prone to criticising just for the sake of being critical. To Larry, Nicole's fiancee, a self-made billionaire and well-known engineer who has masterminded the Shell. We not only hear of their life now but get background stories telling us about their life before. While most of the world had ignored the threat until it was too late, with humans unable to survive such inclement weather conditions, the world's inhabitants froze to death. Believing they are the last people left on Earth, the family must work together to keep their shelter working for them because their lives depend on them working as a team.

It was refreshing to read a book with no swearing, and although sex is touched upon, it is all left to the reader's imagination. I liked how Chandra Shekhar works the characters so that they all influence their new life. There is not one person in charge dictating to the others. I liked that Unlight is a gentle but thought-provoking book; it is science fiction but has no strange life forms or made-up words. The people in it could be you or me, just in a new life in a changing world.

I feel that Unlight would have been more realistic if there was some confrontation between the characters, in particular Jessica, who begins by being a stroppy, very opinionated teenager, but within a few chapters, her character completely changes, and she is considerate, helpful and wants to please. People do not change that quickly in real life. I also did not think it was believable that Larry had a large team of people helping him to build the shelter and they were all happy to walk away once the shelter is finished knowing they would die? I feel there would have been at least some of the people who would have been able to create their own Shell or would have fought to access Larry's. 

 This book is very readable but needs some conflict to balance the harmony, there is no excitement, and this makes the book bland at times. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

As this book has very mild sexual content and no swearing, I would recommend this book to adults and teenagers. I think it would be enjoyed by readers who like science fiction stories which make you think -  this could happen!

Thank you to Chandra Shekhar for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.