To Cast The First Spell (The Maestro Chronicles)

My next review is To Cast The First Spell (The Maestro Chronicles) by John Buttrick.

Cover

Book Description

Daniel Benhannon has finished building his cabin near the peak of Mount Tannakonna and is ready to leave home and invite Val Terrance to be his wife. But the simple life he hopes for is changed forever when he inadvertently casts a spell so powerful it draws the attention of the Grand Maestro of Aakadon and the dark Maestro Tarin Conn. The two powerful foes sense a change in the balance of power and both of them intend for it to be in their favor. Daniel wants nothing to do with either faction but must learn to master his newly discovered potential before the forces sent looking for him destroy his family and friends and every person living in the remote village of Bashierwood. But to master his potential he must learn from an Accomplished. To save the village he must accept help from Talenteds sent by Efferin Tames, or surrender to Tarin Conn. To seize control of his life he must set his priorities and arrange his chores accordingly.

My Opinion

The book follows Daniel as he realises his potential as a spell caster. The problem is that as he unearths his gift, it draws untoward attention.

As far magic books go I really enjoyed this book. The magic system was different and unusual from the others I've read.
 The spells in this story are formed by music, and the level of intricacy of the tune represents how powerful the spell is. So, basically to be a proficient spell caster you have to be a good musician - which of course our hero Daniel is. He also has a rare, unique talent in that he can create his own spells. And this is what sets him apart from other magic users.

I also liked the idea that spell casters strength were determined by how many bolts they had tattooed on their shoulders. Simply put, the more bolts they have, the more powerful they are. 

The story was told in quick pace and I finished the book in one sitting. The action scenes were written well and kept me hooked.

Some of the cons:

• At times it felt like Daniel was just too powerful. Whenever he was in danger, all he had to do was think of some tune and he would create a spell that would get him out of it. As a result, it lacked any kind of suspense or tension.

• There was quite a few names that were compressed into long paragraphs. It just felt little clunky to read smoothly and I had to slow down my reading just to keep on track of who was who. However, it says a lot about this book if this is one of the worst faults I can find.

• One last point - I paid about £3.00 for this book which was just about 200 pages long. Personally, I felt a little short changed and I would have liked it to be, say, a hundred pages longer. 

Conclusion

If you're looking for a magic book with a unique twist to it then give this book a go. I've already bought the next two in the series. 

Out of 10 Stars:

7 Stars

***

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

***

Silver (The Silver Series)

Next book up on Fantasy Muse is Silver (book 1) by Cheree Alsop.

Front Cover

Blurb

Silver, book one of The Silver Series, is a coming of age story about a teenage werewolf whose father is murdered. He has to come to terms with his new life, new school, and new friends while trying to stop a killer. Attempting to make peace with the territory’s pack and falling in love make his new situation even more perilous. 

A fresh new werewolf series, Silver is fast paced and exciting, and shows that with love, there truly are no limits.

My Opinion

From the blurb and the numerous glittering reviews bestowed upon the book I decided to read it and it also helped that it was going for free.

The book isn't long and I finished it within the dat.Truthfully, I didn't enjoy the book. I'm still scratching my head at all the 5 star reviews on Amazon and wondering if I've read the wrong book. From start to finish I just couldn't get into the book.

This is a story about werewolves and our main character is Jaze, a teenager that has just transferred to a new city and consequently into a new school. As you can probably guess the usual cliches were all there - nerdy friend, school bully, and the pretty girl. 

I actually like cliches when they are done right, but this wasn't one of those times. The storyline was pretty dull and all the characters felt hollow. The writing felt simple. Too simple for my taste.

I also couldn't understand the plot between Jaze and his love interest Nikki. At the start of the book she had a boyfriend, who of course was the school bully, but the author seemed to gloss over that part as they pursued a relationship. It only took a couple of chapters for them to be madly in love. I did keep reading, waiting for the part where Nikki would actually mention the fact that she had a boyfriend but nope didn't happen.

All-in-all I was eager to finish the book. But for all the wrong reasons.

Conclusion

I'm happy I didn't have to pay anything for the book. The author does have a series of books with werewolves in them but with different cast of characters. I don't think I'll be buying anymore of her books, however, saying that I have just browsed through her other books and their story-lines seem much more interesting. So maybe it's a case of picking the wrong apple from the barrel.

Out of 10:

4 Stars 

Buy it here:

Amazon Uk

Amazon US

Wanderer's Escape (Wanderer's Odyssey)

Next book up on Fantasy Muse is a YA sci-fi book written by Simon Goodson titled Wanderer's Escape.

Front Cover

Synopsis

Jess was born a prisoner, grew up a prisoner and at sixteen knew he would die a prisoner. When his turn comes to try to break through the traps protecting a spaceship it seems his day to die has come. The ship, and others like it, have already claimed hundreds of prisoner's lives. 

Instead he manages to avoid the traps and gain access to the ship with two other prisoners, beginning a frantic flight to freedom. Soon Jess finds himself loose in a brutal universe ruled by the Empire and riddled with pirates, slave traders and worse. Can Jess manage to learn the rules of the universe and the capabilities of the ship he has stolen in time to stay alive?

My Opinion

Normally I shy away from books that have the central character so young, as I usually get frustrated by their immature actions but I wanted to give this book a try.

I'm glad to say it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, not that I didn't get annoyed at times with the main character, but he grew on me.

The book follows Jess, a slave that had been imprisoned all his life and the opening chapter get's straight into the story of him escaping by flying away on an abandoned ship.  

The story then follows Jess's mission to help other slaves. As plots go, I kinda liked this one. It was cliche at times, but there were twists that I didn't see coming that kept me on my toes.

Jess was surprisingly a character I liked. He was emotional and I did get tired of him crying all the time, but I had to keep reminding myself he was only sixteen. Credit has to go to the author in keeping in line with Jess's age. I've read books before where young characters were too immature/mature but Simon Goodson got the balance right with Jess.

The other characters didn't have the same depth as Jess, but that was partially down to the story being told from Jess's point of view as a first person narrative and the short length of the book.

Also due to the book being so short, the story flew by and connections between characters were made instantly. For example within one chapter of Jess meeting a girl, they were already in love with each other before the next one.

I liked the action scenes in the book and I did manage to follow them quite easily without stimulating too much brain cells. Which was nice as I usually get lost in sci-fi books that descend more into quantum physics than storytelling.

Conclusion

I did rather enjoy the Wandere's Escape, which is the first in a series. I think I will buy the sequel, but more out of curiosity than any burning desire to continue the story.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend the book to those who enjoy YA sci-fi books.

Out of 10 Stars:

6 Stars

Buy it here: 

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Peace Warrior

I'm going to do a quick review of a book that I've come across on Amazon recommendation list a few times but have been put off by the title. Well, after seeing the price go down to £0.00 and having no other book to read, I really had no reason why I shouldn't take the gamble. Besides the worst that could happen would be a waste of time.

The book is called Peace Warrior and is written by Steven L.Hawk.

Front Cover

Blurb

It’s the mid-21st century when Sergeant First Class Grant Justice is killed during an ambush on an enemy tank column. 

Six hundred years later, his body is retrieved from the frozen, arctic lake where he perished. Re-animated by a team of scientists, Grant awakens to a civilization that has abolished war. A civilization that has outlawed violence and cherishes Peace above all else. A civilization that has been enslaved by an alien race called the Minith.  

Grant is humankind’s final hope against the alien menace. He must be the... Peace Warrior.

My Opinion

This is a military sci-fi book. The main character is called Grant Justice (yes, that really is his name), a soldier who is killed in action. Now 600 years later, Earth is a peaceful planet with violence of any form prohibited, and those who don't abide by the rules are sent to prison for life. The only problem with this utopian world is the enslavement by an alien race called Miniths. Now the leaders of Earth are in a conundrum. They have no army, and their people have no experience of war. So, what do they do to combat this injustice, well, they decide the best course of action is to resurrect a warrior from the past to take the Miniths down- enter Grant Justice.

The plot is fairly simple. There is no overly complex storyline and is basically a 'what you see is what you get'. The characters are also straightforward. Grant Justice is your typical hero and I liked the fact that he wasn't whiny or melodramatic He knew why he was brought back to life and got on with it. 

The book is quite short and doesn't really leave a lot of room for characterisation and world building. It did feel a little rushed, but I did get a feel for the characters and it was easy to root for the good guys and jeer the bad guys.

I did like reading about how Earth had changed in 600 years and learning that people had developed second eye lids. 

One qualm I did have was the instant connection between Grant and his love interest Avery.  It was a case of turn the next chapter and they were madly in love.

Other than that I don't really have a lot to criticise. The book was well edited and I didn't pick up any errors. I knew what I was getting into and I've come away pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed reading the book. I finished the book within two days and I've just downloaded the second.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a simple book to keep you company while you're in a reading rut then give this a try. The characters are easy to cheer on and the story keeps you entertained.

Out of 10 Stars:

7 Stars

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Red Moon Demon (Demon Lord series)

Continuing on my craving for urban fantasy, I want to write about another one that caught my interest, Red Moon Demon by Morgan Blayde. Actually I've already finished the second instalment  of the series, Green Flame Assassin,  so I'll be talking about both books. 

Front Cover

Blurb

Because sometimes you have to fight fire with hellfire, there’s Caine Deathwalker: raised as a demon, armed like a gun merchant, and fuelled by booze. Nice is a dirty word and killing is what he does best. Make a contract with hell, and he could be on your side, God help you. 

Caine signs onto guarding the beautiful daughter of a leading Japanese industrialist. Protecting is harder than indiscriminate murder and mayhem, but gold is gold, and the prize of a mystic demon sword is dangled over his head as added incentive. Haruka will make an interesting bonus if he can get her out of her kimono—and the damn living zombies will leave them alone long enough for him to bang her. 

A powerful succubus is playing cat to Caine’s mouse, but he has a cat of his own; a black leopard spirit beast from the Amazon jungle that’s taken a liking to him—and his booze. And then there’s his “father”, an ancient Atlantean demon with a code of honor. Formidable back-up, but Caine senses a greater threat lurking in the shadows, something primal, hungry, and possibly more evil than himself.
He shakes his head. Nah, couldn’t be.

My Opinion

The main character of the Demon lord series is Caine Deathwalker (yeah I know what a name). He had a rather unusual upbringing in that he was raised by his adopted father. Which isn't that unusual you're probably thinking. Until I mention the fact that his adopted father is an ancient demon lord, feared by many and was responsible for drowning Atlantis. Just to give you a taste of Caine upbringing, he was pushed of a cliff by his demon dad so that it would toughen him up. 

Caine is your typical anti-hero. He makes questionable moral decisions, he's crude, he treats woman as objects and he likes to kill. But under that tough, carbyne exterior, hints of a softer inner nucleus are present. There is a rather thin line between writing an anti-hero that readers can relate to and like and one that they abhor. I've read books in the past - Prince of Thorns and The Left Hand of God - that have stepped over that line, and Morgan Blayde has done a terrific job in staying in line. There is also the cliche enigma surrounding Caine past as he is only half-human. The other half is shrouded in mystery and acts as a hook to maintain readers interest. 

The first book, Red Demon Blood, follows Caine as he is assigned to protect a Japanese businessman daughter from a Succubi. The book premise is based in L.A as Caine is the master of the city, and I enjoyed the trials and tribulations he experienced from other supernatural beings. There's vampires, werewolves, fairies, zombies, a leopard which can vanish at will and much more. At times the book was like an encyclopedia of the supernatural.

The pace of the book was frantic and the gas pedal never left the car floor. From beginning to the end, there was never a lull in action. There was always something happening or someone to kill. 

The book is self published and the The Red Demon does fall into the same indie trap that many other self published books fall into - bad editing. The book suffers from typos and grammatical mistakes, but not as badly as feared. They are noticeable, but easily ignorable. I'm pleased to say that the second book Green Flame Assassin was much more polished and refined. I hardly noticed any mistakes in the sequel and the sentences were far more crisper and purposeful. 

The second book continues the series and I enjoyed it more than the first. The storyline was more compelling and it read easier. I could clearly see that Morgan Blayde writing became more astute and confident in the sequel, which isn't surprising really as a authors writing develops with experience. The Green Flame Assassin follows the same story structure as the first, in that Caine is sent on another mission, but this time he has to recover a powerful stone and return it to the fey Oracle, all whilst avoiding the careful attention of a green flamed assassin.

Ok, some of the bad:

• As much as I enjoyed the storyline, I didn't like the part about the mystery of who Caine is. As he's only half human, the author dropped subtle clues about what his other half is in the form of dreams, but then after Caine wakes up he forgets everything, which only brings it back to square one.

  The ending of the second book also had me frustrated. What Caine is is finally revealed (not that it was hard to work out) but then guess what? He wakes up from passing out and forgets everything that happened to him. Hopefully in the next book the author stops with these silly bouts of convenient amnesia and gets on with the story.

Conclusion

The Red Demon and the sequel Green Flamed Assassin are two hugely enjoyable, fun action packed books. 

Caine Deathwalker is a rather unique character, and one that was definitely entertaining to read. If you're looking for a rather profound storyline that delves deep into emotions and characterisation then look elsewhere. But if you want fun, lively, boisterous books to read then give the Demon Lord series a try. 

Out of 10 Stars:

8 Stars

Buy the first book here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Forest Bull

Next up on Fantasy Muse is The Forest Bull by Terry Maggert.

Front Cover

Blurb

Three lovers who stalk and kill the immortals that drift through South Florida (tourists are a moveable feast, after all) are living a simple life of leisure- until one of them is nearly killed by woman who is a new kind of lethal. When Ring Hardigan isn't making sandwiches for, and with, his two partners, Waleska and Risa (they're cool like that), he's got a busy schedule doing the dirty work of sending immortals to the ever after. Wally and Risa provide linguistics, logistics, and finding the right place for him and his knife-- together, they're a well-oiled machine, and they've settled into a rhythm that bodes ill for the Undying. Warlocks, vampires, succubae and the odd ghoul have all fallen to their teamwork. Life is tough, but they soldier on killing the undead, liberating their worldly goods for charity, and generally achieving very little. 

-Until Ring wakes up after nearly dying at the hands of a woman who may or may not be the daughter of Satan. Ring's a tough character, for a boat bum (killing immortals sort of rubs off on you that way), but twelve days of comatose healing are enough to bring out the ugly side of his temper. When a letter arrives asking for their help finding a large collection of stolen heirloom jewelry, they form an uneasy friendship with the last Baron of a family hiding in a primal European forest. Cazimir, the Baron, has two skills: Jeweler and preserver of the last herd of forest bulls. It's an odd occupation, but then, Ring, Risa and Wally aren't your everyday career folks, and Cazimir's lodge might be sitting on something that looks a lot like hell, which, according to a 2400 year old succubus hooker named Delphine, is currently on the market to the strongest immortal. The Baron's impassioned plea to find the jewelry comes with some conditions-- he doesn't want the collection back as much as he does the thief, Elizabeth, who happens to be his daughter-- and the woman who nearly sent Ring to his grave. In a tapestry of lies, it's up to Ring, Wally and Risa to find out what is evil, who is human, and who really wants to reign over hell.

My Opinion

The Forest Bull is a contemporary/urban fantasy, and is based on three hunters - Ring, Wally and Risa - who prey on the supernatural or Immortals as they are labelled in the story.

As opening chapters go, I’m scratching my head trying to recall a more interesting one. It got straight to the point and set the scene of what the book was all about - killing monsters.

The book involves succubi, vampires and ghouls, but not in the conventional sense. Nowadays, supernatural beings are portrayed as almost human, with feelings and emotion, but Maggert erodes all that and paints a stark contrast. There is no grey here. They’re evil and need to be put down. It’s as simple as that. And so it was refreshing to read a paranormal book like that.

The blurb describes a relationship between Ring and his two lovers Risa and Wally. One of the main reasons why I was eager to read the book was to see how Terry Maggert portrayed such an incongruous union (I don't know if it's every mans dream or worst nightmare). I’m glad to say it wasn’t tasteless and their relationship was mature.

The pace of the book flowed nicely, moving from one scene to the other without lingering like a bad smell. The chapters were short and crisp, which resulted in the story progressing nicely. There were also some clever twists in the storyline that I enjoyed reading. 

I was really impressed by Maggert writing. He has an almost elegant way of painting words together and some passages of text felt like I was reading poetry, however, sometimes a sentence here or there were just a bit too flowery for me and made it feel a bit disjointed whilst reading it. Also, at the risk of sounding like an idiot, I felt that some words were just a bit too frilly, and more simpler words would have done. I admit that I hit that auto dictionary quite a few times on my kindle.

This is a self published book and does suffer from the occasional typo, like a missing comma, full stop in between sentences, etc. But all-in-all those errors were scarce and most of the book was edited well.

Ok, some of the other bad:

The first part of the book focused too much on description. Every character or setting was, at times, painstakingly described. I understand that the author was trying to set the foundation for the book, but I think he over stepped that fine line into disinterest. I didn’t really need to know about the extensive history of a restaurant.

Another discord I had was that there wasn't enough dialogue. I would have liked, in particular, to have seen more interaction between Ring, Wally and Risa. I wanted to understand their relationship and get a feel of their personality and I only got that halfway in.

Conclusion

This isn't a casual read that you can just pick up and read, and it demanded my concentration more so than most other books I've read recently. Which is a good thing. I think.

Despite my gripes, I did enjoy reading the book and the storyline was compelling. I’d definitely recommend the book to fans of TV shows Supernatural and Haven. 

Out of 10 Stars: 

7 Stars

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Poor Man's Flight

Front Cover

Synopsis

"This test completes your compulsory education. Congratulations! You have graduated high school. Your financial obligation is 67,879 credits. Please visit our loan officer as you exit." 

Tanner Malone never bought into military myths of honor and glory. He never wanted to wear a uniform or medals. Yet when family upheaval brings his otherwise stellar performance in school to a disastrous end, Tanner's plans for university lie in ruins. Facing homelessness and a mountain of debt, Tanner enlists in his home planet's tiny navy.  

It’s a hell of a time to sign up. Vicious pirates stalk the space lanes, claiming to fight an oppressive economic system even as they shed innocent blood. Civil war looms beyond the borders of Tanner’s home star system of Archangel. Corporate security fleets are nowhere to be found when trouble arises.  

In response, Archangel begins ambitious military expansion. Basic training becomes six months of daily bareknuckle brawls, demanding cross-training and constant stress. Brutal as it is, Tanner will need the preparation. The pirates grow more audacious with every attack. As if that’s not enough, Tanner is assigned to a small ship whose disgruntled crew has no patience for cerebral new recruits, and they’re on the front lines of all of Archangel’s woes.  

Tanner soon learns there is only one way to deal with his bullying comrades, their ruthless foes and the unforgiving void of space, and that’s to get up close and personal.

My Opinion

This is a military sci-fi book called 'Poor Man’s Flight' written by Elliot Kay

The story follows Tanner, a young academic who had done poorly in his exams. Now instead of following the footsteps of his classmates -who enter university-  he decides to enlist in the navy.

A good portion of the book follows his training from raw recruit to soldier. Thus, as a result there isn’t much of a progressive storyline until the last third of the book, but I enjoyed the characterisation and world building. The main hero Tanner is likeable if a little naive. The villains were a little less defined than I would have liked, and apart from Tanner, the other characters felt a bit threadbare. 

The book was slow going, but when it reached about the 70% stage it shifted quite dramatically in terms of pace and plot. I don't want to give too much away, but Tanner was initially, a naive, slightly gullible, innocent young man, suddenly changed into a combination of Rambo and Terminator. That’s the only way I could describe it as he single-handedly took out all of his enemies. It was unbelievable seeing such a transformation, and I've read reviews from Amazon that have criticised the dramatic change, but personally I found it enjoyable to read. I have to applaud Elliot Kay in writing a tense, action packed ending that had me so absorbed. 

Conclusion

Before I reached the last third of the book, I was of the mind that this was an ok novel, but not one that I would ever revisit again. But then I hit 70%. As much as I enjoy sensible, realistic story-lines, I can’t help but love to read some John McClane action scenes, where the baddies are taken out one-by-one. The ending really did change my perspective on the book, and while I’m not brimming with impatience awaiting the sequel, I will be keeping an eye out for it.

And so, if you’re looking for a somewhat sensible, consistent story then look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a military sci-fi novel with great action scenes that border on the slightly ridiculous, then give this book a go. 

Out of 10 Stars:

6 Stars

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Awakening (HASEA CHRONICLES)

I realise that I haven't posted anything these last few weeks as I've been pretty busy, but I want to write a short review about a book that I stumbled upon a while ago that I've been meaning to write about but keep forgeting. The first book is called 'The Awakening,' and just recently the second book in the series was released called The Veil: Corruption. The books are written by an indie author called Stuart Meczes.

The synopsis for the first book is as follows:

Alexander Eden is one unhappy teenager. A geeky, social pariah, he's the victim of constant bullying at school. His home life isn't much better with a stepfather who resents him and a half brother who is better than him at everything.

But that all changes the day the mysterious and beautiful Gabriella De Luca walks into his life. Everyone wants to know her, to be with her. But she is interested in Alex.

Because Alex is different.

Soon afterwards he is thrown into a world he never thought possible. A world where he and others like him are the last line of defence. A world where an ancient unspeakable evil lurks. 

Evil which seeks to consume him.

DILECTI SURGEMUS - SOCII POLLEMUS

(Chosen we rise - Allied we prevail)

My Opinion

This is a urban fantasy book based in the 'real' world. The main character is Alex, a recluse who is seventeen and lives in London. As the story progresses, Alex looses that timidity and becomes someone special. To be more specific, he becomes a Guardian. Think of them as the Men in Black, an organisation that protects humans from dangerous supernatural beings. There is a love interest called Gabrielle, who is also a Guardian and helps guide him to this new life.

The book does start of slow and if you can get past the initial gloominess of Alex's life - as well as the frustration of seeing a character so pitiful - and wait until he awakens into a Guardian, then you're in for a good read. 

The book is told in first person from Alex's POV and the author has done a brilliant job in building his characters into defined people. I could easily close my eyes and picture each and every character. 

The story was also hugely enjoyable and the pace of the book was more akin to a Ferrari than a tractor. I was flying through the pages in eager anticipation to find out what happened next. By the time I knew it, I had already reached the ending. 

Stuart Meczes is a british author and it was nice to read an urban fantasy novel set somewhere else other than American. Not that I don't like America, but it was nice reading a change now and again. 

I also have to give huge appreciation towards the author in presenting an indie book that was so professionally done up. From the cover to formatting to editing, the whole book was as crisp and refined as any published book out there.

Conclusion

All in all this is a great book to read that rivals any other YA books out there such as the Hunger Games and Percy Jackson.

I'd definitely recommend this book to fans of those books.

***

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Welcome to the Darkness

The next book that I’m going to write about is Welcome to the Darkness by L. M. Justus.

Front Cover

Synopsis

A typical teenager, seventeen-year-old Reed Hennessy doesn’t realize how lucky he is to lead a normal life until he loses everything, including his humanity. The attacker who slaughters his family and destroys their home turns out to be a vampire, a creature Reed had considered a myth. 

Now a vampire himself, but with the unique ability to walk in sunlight, Reed struggles in the dark underworld he didn’t even know existed. His only two allies in his fight to stay alive are his reluctant mentor, Nathaniel, a vampire with over two hundred years’ worth of emotional baggage, and Sarah, a rookie cop with a secret ability of her own. 

Together, Reed and his companions face a harrowing, cross-country journey before stumbling into a plot which could mean the end of everything for humans and vampires alike.

My Opinion

This is a vampire book, but after reading the blurb, I was hopeful that it wouldn’t be like the typical supernatural books that you find nowadays, usually the ones involving a brooding vampire and a young damsel that is trapped between two love interests.

And after reading the book I’m happy to say that it wasn't. The book follows three main characters and their POVs change with each chapter. The main character out the three is Reed. He's a 17yr old who finds his family slaughtered by a vampire and subsequently he gets turned into one. His part of the book is told through the 1st person while the other two are in 3rd person. Surprisingly it didn’t feel disjointed while switching between the two styles. The structure flowed quite nicely in fact.

The other two characters are; Sarah, a young cop, in her twenties, who is drawn into Reed’s life due to her special power of being able to read minds. And the last of the trio is Nathaniel, who is a veteran vampire who reluctantly acts as Reed mentor. He’s your typical vampire; cool, detached and aloof. But as the story moves along, you do see that icy interior melt.

Reed does have a unique talent in that he can walk in daylight and is immune to silver, but apart from those two qualities, he's a newbie in the vampire world. I kind of liked the fact that he isn’t invulnerable and does have his ass handed to him more than once. He needs guidance and that is where Nathaniel came into it.

I liked the interaction between the 3 characters and each had their own personality. Although I did find myself slightly less drawn to Nathaniel's character. Personally I would have liked to have seen more development on him.

My one major concern with the book was the romance between Reed and Sarah. Reed is 17 years old, and that is shown clearly. He acts immature and is brash. All traits you would expect in a teenager, and due to the age difference it did feel a little bit awkward reading the romantic scenes between them, but the issue was highlighted in the book, and as the story progressed you kind of get used to it. 

Another minor point was that the book trailed off during the middle, but it did pick up towards the end, and I like where the story is heading in the next instalment  I don’t want to give too much away but I will say one word; Zombies!

Conclusion

I would say the book is perfect for people who want something quick to read. It’s not heavy, as in emotionally investing, and is quite a short book. Perfect to read when on holiday or over a bored weekend.

I really did find the book enjoyable. It was a light read; something to pass the time, and I'm definitely interested in reading the next book, which unfortunately, will not be out until 2014. 

Out of 10 Stars:

A solid 7 stars - Before I finish I'd just like to say that I picked the book up for £0.65 (I think it's about $1 on Amazon.com), and I'm not sure if the cost will rise in the future, but for that price it's an absolute steal.

•••

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Crystal Chalice

I've been quite busy for the last couple of weeks, so I haven't had a chance to read many books, but one book that I've just finished recently is 'The Crystal Chalice' by R.J. Grieve.

Front Cover

Synopsis

The Kingdom of Eskendria is facing the greatest threat to its existence since the fall of the legendary Old Kingdom. The cruel servants of the Destroyer, the ancient enemy of the kingdom, are creeping into the forests of the Forsaken lands ever closer to the mighty river that forms the boundary of Eskendria. Their goal: to annihilate it completely.
Eskendria's allies have deserted it and its mountain passes are terrorised by a nest of brigands led by their enigmatic leader, Celedorn - the greatest swordsman in the kingdom and a man with such a savage reputation that even the minions of the enemy are afraid of him.
As a final resort, Relisar, the last of the Sages, attempts to summon the champion predicted in an ancient prophesy to save the Kingdom in its darkest hour. But alas, age has diminished Relisar's powers and all he manages to summon is one ragged girl who can remember nothing about herself, not even her name.
The king, desperate to avoid a battle on two fronts, sends his eldest son, Andarion, to deal with the threat from the mountains, but he is facing no ordinary adversary in Celedorn and his plans go badly awry. The confrontation in the mountains sets in train a series of unexpected events that lead to Relisar, Andarion, Celedorn and the girl with no name finding themselves on a perilous journey across the Forsaken Lands in a race against time both to save themselves and Eskendria.
Yet no human being has crossed these lands in a thousand years and all that is known about them is merely legend. Are the rumours true that fragments of the Old Kingdom live on, hidden from the Destroyer? Are the stories about ancient and evil spirits haunting the forests only myth?
As for the companions, who is the girl with no name? And most of all, what is the dreadful secret that Celedorn is hiding that could affect the fate of the Kingdom?

My Opinion

I was little bit confused about the blurb when I first read it, so I'll give you a brief summary. The story follows two principle characters. Elorin, a mysterious woman who appears after a wizard performs a spell to summon a champion; she has no memory of who she is or why she was summoned. The other is Celedorn, a rouge bandit that lives in the mountain; he is your typical anti-hero. The book follows their adventures amongst the backdrop of an invasion from Turogs (think Orcs).

I really enjoyed the book and I finished it in one sitting. The story, whilst not original, was well written. The author has talent in characterisation and world building. It was so easy to close my eyes and picture the characters and their environment.

The book is fast paced and moves along nicely. I never once felt like I was reading through syrup.

One minor point of disconcert I found was the heavy reference to LOTR. I know most fantasy books nowadays are in some part influenced by the holy grail, but there were two scenes in The Crystal Chalice that were a touch too similar. I'm not going to describe them but if you do read the book then it'll be easy to spot.

Conclusion

Fans of fantasy who like a dose of romance will enjoy this book. I had a great time reading the book, and I'm hopeful there will be a sequel coming soon. I'll definitely be keeping a close eye on the author.

Out of 10 Stars:

7 Stars

***

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Boy Nobody

The next book that is going to grace Fantasy Muse is not an indie book but a published one. It's called Boy Nobody and is written by Allen Zadoff.

Front Cover

Synopsis

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, and moves on to the next target. When his own parents died of not-so-natural causes at the age of eleven, Boy Nobody found himself under the control of The Program, a shadowy government organization that uses brainwashed kids as counter-espionage operatives. But somewhere, deep inside Boy Nobody, is somebody: the boy he once was, the boy who wants normal things (like a real home, his parents back), a boy who wants out. And he just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's next mission.

My Thoughts

I stumbled upon this book from the excellent ‘Fantasy Book Critics’, who had reviewed it on their site. A story about child soldiers/assassins instantly drew my attention and got me thinking about how the author would handle such a delicate subject. Nowadays, you don’t have to delve too far in the news to read about such tragic stories, and so I was intrigued.

The book follows the main character, named ‘Boy’, and from the first chapter I was gripped. The story jumped straight in at full throttle and within the second page I knew I was reading something 'potentially' special. The key word here is potentially, I've read so many books that start off brilliantly and then fall by the wayside.

The book flowed at a strong pace and was really easy to read, but perhaps flowed a little too quickly for my liking, I'll mention that later. The sentences were short, crisp and each had a purpose to it, no waffling or irrelevant chatter, but like an arrow, straight and to the point. In some ways the writing style reminded me a little of the excellent Lee Child, and his Jack Reacher novels (if you haven’t checked those books out then you’re really missing out!) In terms of the storyline, there were two major twists; one I saw coming from a mile away, but the other did come as a surprise.

My one major discord with the book was the pacing of the book. The pace didn't flow like a gentle stream, but more like a tsunami on speed.Which is often a good thing. As readers, you don’t want to be reading a story that takes forever to go somewhere other than a few metres down the road. However, occasionally, the pace of a book can be too quick, and that can be a detriment to the characterisation. By moving the storyline so swiftly, readers can fail to connect with characters and not really grasp what's happening in terms of plot line, which is what occurred with me. I didn’t really empathise with Boy, or any of the other characters. So, while I enjoyed reading the book, I didn’t have that much of an invested interest in whether or not any of the characters perished.

The book is told through Boy, in first person narrative. Which was well chosen by the author as it helped get into Boy’s head and understand his thoughts. But, again due to the pace of the book, I couldn’t comprehend the full weight of what it was like for Boy growing up as an assassin. Personally, I would have liked to have seen more of an emotional edge to Boy, basically see the mental damage of being an assassin. I mean the thought of having to kill people at such a young age would really mess up your head and unhinge you, but I didn't get that feeling from Boy. Whilst reading the book, he seemed calm, mentally fine and apart from a few flashbacks which went through his past and how it all began, I didn't see much mental scars.

Conclusion

I realise this post might be expressed as if I didn’t enjoy the book, and that couldn't be further from the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I read it in four hours because I was so eager to finish it (in a good way). If there is a sequel - which looks likely from the ending - then I'd certainly buy it.

Give this book a read if you're a fan of Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne.

Out of 10 Stars:

7 Stars - Initially it was verging on an 8 but in the end I decided 7 was a more fairer reflection.

***

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Rabbit In a Bottle

Next up on Fantasy Muse, is a book called Rabbit in a Bottle by Jim Patrick Guyer.

Front cover

Synopsis

Who am I? Is there a God? Do you love me?

Gerald Camden is a student of mediocre ability until he makes an unexpected recovery from a debilitating water skiing accident. Stripped of his memory, Gerald was suddenly the smart guy on campus. Everyone marveled at his new-found abilities.

Gerald is rejected by his mother who maintains that he is not her son. Gerald becomes enamored with Lori, the honor student, and builds a relationship with her, but feels out of place among her intellectual friends..
Eddy is a local delinquent, who has failed his senior year three times. He innately despises Gerald for his intellect but was intrigued by the change that had come about in him. He discovers that Gerald had been revived from brain death by Dr. Gauge, a noted genetic scientist.

This is the story of an amnesia victim who struggles to survive, falls in love, and rebuilds his life in small town America.

My Opinion

I was asked upon request by the author to consider his book for review. After reading all the glowing reviews posted on Amazon, I decided to take the plunge and agree read it.

The book can be labelled as sci-fi, but I use that term liberally. It’s more akin to fiction with science woven into it (OK, I know I just called it sci-fi in reverse!).

The blurb does a good job in describing what the book is about. Gerald, the main character, suffered an accident. He was brain dead and the plug was about to be pulled on him before he miraculously came back to life, but he’s forgotten everything about his past life, and to make his life even more complicated, he learns that he was subject to an experiment, which has now given him some unique talents.

As storyline goes, it was different to the books I normally read. The start of the book was written well and kept me intrigued. I was eager to find what special talents Gerald would unearth.

The format of the book was quirky. Each chapter had a series of mini/sub chapters contained within them. And, before each mini chapter began, there contained a short paragraph written in first person, basically, foreshadowing what was to come. After the first few chapters in, it soon lost its charm with me. It was difficult, when after a few pages you hit another sub-section, to create a flow in the book whilst reading it. If I had to describe it, it would be the equivalent of driving a fast car down the road, all you want to do is slam on the gas and feel that onrushing gust of wind against your face, but after every 10 yards you hit a traffic light.

My one major gripe about the book is that I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I tried to, and the closest I came, was Gerald’s teacher, but then that flew out of the window, when her principals shifted so abruptly.
And, talking about characters, I have to mention the main one, Gerald. A great book in my eyes, is when you form a deep bond with the protagonist. You urge and cheer them on during the good times and you feel their pain and sadness during the bad. Well, I didn’t particularly like Gerald, so it was hard to cheer him on. I didn’t agree with most of the choices he made in the book. He seemed almost cocky and arrogant, which perhaps, is what the author intended, or it could just be my own perception.

Some other thoughts:

I enjoyed the dialogue in the book. It was natural and didn’t sound awkward to my mind whilst reading it.

The book contained some poignant life lessons that I think teenagers would easily identify with. Not knowing what direction in life to take, and how easy it is to feel isolated and alone, are just some of the troubles we faced (& still do).

Conclusion

It started out fine and Jim Patrick Guyer is certainly a talented author - who is clever with his choice of words - but I just couldn’t relate to the characters and as the story progressed, my tentative hook slowly unhinged.

The book, however, is certainly doing something right, with amount of positive reviews it has gathered; so like I always say, this is just my opinion, and shouldn't form the basis of whether or not you should but the book. These are my thoughts to help you form yours.

Out of 10:

6 Stars 

***

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Sanctuary: Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse

Next up on Fantasy Muse is Sanctuary: Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse by Joshua Jared Scott.

Front Cover

 

Synopsis

The change strikes without warning. All across the world men, women, and children cry out in agony. There is no pattern, nothing to explain why some are afflicted and others spared, but in the end a quarter of the population falls. A mere seven minutes later the corpses rise and begin to attack the living. The speed in which it happens, coupled with the survivors’ disbelief and horror, is simply too great. Chaos takes hold. Civilization crumbles. Hidden away inside his home, Jacob Thornton prepares to flee. The streets belong to the shambling dead. Power vanishes. The airways are silent. To remain is to die. Sticking to back roads in an effort to pass unseen, he travels north. Others are encountered on the way, and together they gather supplies, seek a place of safety, and discover how to defend against the zombies, creatures which have begun to leave the population centers and spread across the land.

My Opinion

I love a good'ol' zombie book to tear into (no pun intended) and with one of my favourite  TV shows ‘The walking dead’ on its hiatus, I needed something to fix my zombie cravings.

I’ve always found zombie/post apocalyptic books fascinating and exciting to read, if done well that is. I guess one of the main reasons why I read these type of books is that without fail, they always leave me asking that single primary question that I'm sure other readers pose to themselves when reading such books - 

What would I do if that was me? 

I’d like to think, that if zombies should ever walk the earth, that I’d have some semblance of what to do.

Ok, moving onto the book. The story follows Jacob, who one day finds himself as one of the the few living survivors of a zombie apocalypse. It then follows his journey as he tries to find sanctuary. Along the way he meets other survivors, some good, some bad. The book is written as a journal in which Jacob is recounting his story, and so it’s told through his voice. It’s done well, and the author was clever in the way he dropped hints at will happen in the future.

 

I really liked Jacob as a character. He was thoughtful, smart and logical - all the attributes you need to survive an apocalypse. The other characters were all done well and each had their own distinct personality.

I finished the book (400 odd pages) in a day which gives you an indication at how enjoyable I found the book.

Some other thoughts on the book:

* The book devotes chapters or interludes, as the author likes to call it, to individual characters, explaining how they got to that point in time. Personally I wasn't that much interested in those chapters/interludes and after the first few I kind of started to speed through them.

* I thought the ending was superb, and I was flying through the pages gripped by the action.

Conclusion

A fantastic book, that is easily one of my favourite books so far this year. As soon as I finished the book I desperately hoped that there was a sequel, but to my immense disappointment there wasn’t. I’ll certainly be checking in the future for any further books published by the author. 

Lastly, if you’re a fan of zombies then this book is a definite read. And even if you aren’t, then still check it as it might surprise. In a good way.

Out of 10:

8 Stars - Not much else to say really. 8* says it all.

Buy it here:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Soul Meaning

The next book in my blog is Soul Meaning (Seventeen) by A.D. Starrling.

Front Cover

Synopsis

‘My name is Lucas Soul.

Today, I died again.

This is my fifteenth death in the last four hundred and fifty years.’

The Crovirs and the Bastians. Two races of immortals who have lived side by side with humans for millennia and been engaged in a bloody war since the very dawn of their existence. With the capacity to survive up to sixteen deaths, it was not until the late fourteenth century that they reached an uneasy truce, following a deadly plague that wiped out more than half of their numbers and made the majority of survivors infertile. 

Soul is an outcast of both immortal societies. Born of a Bastian mother and a Crovir father, a half breed whose very existence is abhorred by the two races, he spends the first three hundred and fifty years of his life being chased and killed by the Hunters.

One fall night in Boston, the Hunt starts again, resulting in Soul’s fifteenth death and triggering a chain of events that sends him on the run with Reid Hasley, a former US Marine and his human business partner of ten years. When a lead takes them to Washington DC and a biotechnology company with affiliations to the Crovirs, they cross the Atlantic to Europe, on the trail of a French scientist whose research seems intrinsically linked to the reason why the Hunters are after Soul again.

From Paris to Prague, their search for answers will lead them deep into the immortal societies and bring them face to face with someone from Soul’s past. Shocking secrets are uncovered and fresh allies come to the fore as they attempt to put a stop to a new and terrifying threat to both immortals and humans. 

Time is running out for Soul. Can he get to the truth before his seventeenth death, protect the ones he loves and prevent another immortal war?

My Opinion

From reading the first couple of sentences in the blurb I was immediately hooked. The author was very clever in how she wrote the synopsis and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if most people who’ve just read the blurb come away with clicking the ‘Buy-Now’ button.

The start of the book was fantastic, with plenty of action to keep me flying through the pages, and Lucas Soul is a character that I wanted to read more about after the first paragraph. The book is about these special type of humans that have sixteen lives - like a cat with 9 - and once they hit their seventeenth death they die permanently. So, in theory as long as they don't hit that magic number they can live as long as they want. Now, these immortals can be divided into two groups, the Crovirs and the Bastians (think Romeo and Juliet) and of course any mixing between the two is completely shunned. 

The whole concept of immortals and sixteen lives was fascinating and new. Doing a quick scan through my memories, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a book with a similar storyline.

The start of the book was high octane stuff and I was hoping it stayed that way throughout but like a sparkler it eventually fizzled out. After a promising start the story became muddy and unclear. I wasn't sure what was happening in terms of the storyline and the new characters that were being introduced. 

I was also becoming increasingly frustrated with the cat and mouse chase that seemed to go on forever. I don’t want to spoil the book but I will say this - the main guy Lucas travels halfway around the world looking for two people, and every time he get's near them they would escape. This pattern is repeated quite a few times. About 20% of the book (I may be exaggerating) is devoted to one big cat and mouse chase. Maybe the author intended for the reader to be in suspense but all I felt was frustration and annoyance. Perhaps it’s just me and one of my pet peeves. 

There is an element of romance in the book, and if you look past one major or minor issue depending on your outlook it was done well (I’m not going to say what it is in case you do decide to read the book).

The book did pick up towards the end. So much so that I’m tempted to give the sequel a go - which is great when you compare that to earlier when I was about to delete the book off my kindle. 

Some other thoughts on the book:

*Car chases got a bit repetitive. The first was fun to read but after the third one it got a bit tedious.

*The sidekick to Lucas was Reid, a former marine and cop. Personally I felt the character was a bit blunt and wooden....unless that is what the author wanted (I seem to be saying that quite a few times now, maybe I've read the book all wrong).

*The author has a wonderful talent when it comes to describing characters and setting the scenes. 

Conclusion

A book of three parts: The beginning = brilliant, middle = frustrating, end = done well. As I said before, I’m tempted to give the next book a shot but not until I get that stage where I’m desperate for a book.

From looking at the other reviews on Amazon, I can see a lot of favourable opinions on the book. I’m certain that while I wasn’t totally enthralled by the book, most will be (so I guess you should probably ignore everything I just wrote *Sigh* onto the next book).

Out of 10 stars:

6 stars - At the start of the book it was an 8, then it plummeted to a 5 but then it rose like a phoenix - ok maybe not like a phoenix - to a solid 6.

***

Buy it here

Amazon UK

Amazon US