All posts by tricia kristufek

Review: The Beast Call

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The Beast Call
The Beast Call by Anne Tibbets
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dray Rena is a typical girl in the town of Genua…mostly. Her secret, kept hidden from all but her brother, is that she can do magic. Feared among the others of the continent of Madis, those with magical abilities learn quickly to hide them or risk being burned at the stake.

Rebelling against an arranged marriage, Dray runs off with her brother Lurin to join the army, intent on bringing down the evil King Nuro. Dray, in addition to her gift with animals, also finds herself skilled with a sword, much to the chagrin of Lurin. The two once inseparable siblings drift further apart as Dray’s talents are called into service more and more.

The Beast Call has so much potential, and could be fleshed out either into a full-length novel or a series. As is stands, the novella is fast-paced and a good mix of action and descriptions. While I also would have liked Dray to have more interactions with the animals she called and further development of her relationship with Milikan, The Beast Call is a great read for young fantasy lovers.

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Review: Before

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Before
Before by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heven’s life was perfect. She is beautiful, popular, and just got voted cheerleading captain – all things that any teenage girl would dream about.

Then her world falls apart.

Sam’s life is dark. His only shining light is Heven, and the monster has forbid him to see her again. Even though he is anxious to escape the clutches of the monster, Sam can not forget about Heven. In his desire to see her ‘one last time,’ Sam inadvertently leads the monster right to her.

Before is the prequel to Masquerade and sets up the characters beautifully. The mystery surrounding Sam, and thereby Heven’s fate, captures the reader and draws them into the world, leaving them desperate for more.

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Guest Interview – Cambria Hebert

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Today I have a special treat for everyone! I’m hosting my first interview with first-time published writer Cambria Hebert!  Cambria has agreed to drop by and give us some details about her short story Before, which is the teaser for her first novel Masquerade!  I had the pleasure of reading Before, well, before I’d read any of Cambria’s other works, and boy, was I hooked!  I can’t wait to see where her Heaven and Hell series is going to end up!  But, I digress.  First, Before! Continue reading Guest Interview – Cambria Hebert →

Epitaph

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I knew you when you were young.

I saw you shortly after you joined our family, all dark hair and dark eyes and big feet.  I watched as you learned to walk, when you wobbled all over the kitchen floor, your legs too long for your body yet.  I fed you, I slept by you, I hugged you.

I named you.

Instead me writing a story and using your name, you took one that I had.  It fit – dark, kind, though a little on the short side.  Like your namesake, you were strong, stubborn and loyal until the end. Continue reading Epitaph →

Shock, 2.0

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Ok, so left you all with a big cliffhanger last time I posted (see here).

What kind of ground-breaking, earth-shattering, mind-blowing announcement could I possibly have that would require you to wait for DAYS on the edge of your seats for what I have to say?

Wait for it…

I’m officially an EDITOR on a book series!

That’s right! I have partnered with C.S. Splitter to work on his Crayder Chronicles series! You can find more details at Splitter’s blog, but here’s the basics:

Splitter: I need Beta readers for my book, anyone Willing?

Trish: Sure! It’s not like I have a full-time job and other reviews to write, I’d love to!

Splitter: . . . Hey, are you done with that yet? You’re the slowest reader ever!

Trish: But, I wanted to make it pretty colors for you! Yellow and red, see all the commas I fixed!

Splitter: Wow, I suck at commas, and you’re awesome at them! Be my editor!

Trish: Yay! Cookies for all!

Or something like that.

Splitter is wonderful to work with.  He takes my suggestions, listens to reasons why I changed things, and is genuinely Willing to work to become a better writer.  He also gives me cute nick-names, like “The Comma Queen” and “Compulsive.”

In the upcoming weeks before Splitter’s 2nd book comes out (Nov. 21st, mark it down), we will be working hard.  In addition to the book, I told Splitter I was Willing to do a book review, and we’re also going to do a two-way conversation between us (as author and editor), which should be enlightening.

Also, if anyone is Willing to promo his book, by doing a review, interview or giveaway, please contact either of us so we can schedule it.

Oh, and if you hadn’t caught it, the book is called The Willing, and the first round of editing is complete.  Let the revisions begin!

Shock, 1.0

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I’m sitting here with my jaw on the floor.  Figuratively, of course.

Details, I know, you want details.  Well, I shall give a teaser of details of things that have transgressed since the last time I’ve rambled at you insistently.

I recently, as you know, volunteered to write a story for an anthology that comes out on Black Friday.  I also volunteered to proofread said anthology.  This week, several of these stories entered my inbox.  Hurray!

This week (dubbed “Hell Week” by my day boss) also had my inbox full of book reviews that need read first, a manuscript that I agreed to ‘look over’ and another I kind of starting out just reading but really ended up covering it in little yellow highlighter and comment boxes, also an ARC of friend’s prequel and got invited to a book blog-hop-thon thingy.

It’s been a busy 3 days!

So, luckily for me, Hubby took the baby out for the day today, so I could finish at least something on my list.  I set out to work on the manuscripts.  After a lot of virtual highlighter (sorry for that), I finished that one, then went on to read all of the stories for the anthology that I had in my inbox, and started on the other manuscript.

Then, I got THE EMAIL.

Stay tuned for actual information once I talk to the sender of the email.  How’s that for a cliffhanger!

Splintered Wood

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This is a story I wrote in college.  I’m sure it could be expanded into a novel-sized story, one of these days.

“How could you do this to your mother?” my father said.  His face had turned the color of a rotten tomato as he listened to my news.

I can’t say I blame him.

My mother sat in the fine oak chair she had as her designated perch.  Instead of resting her arms on the carved armrests, her fingers were trying to dam the floods.

“Now what are you going to do?” Father said.  “You got yourself into this.  You expect us to help get you out?  I don’t think so.  You’re ‘independent’ now.”

 I cringed at the term used against me in such a way.  Being independent and having a supporting, loving family may be two different things, but they can co-exist.

“I want you out of here.  My house, my rules; you broke the rules, you’re out!” Continue reading Splintered Wood →

How It Could Be

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“Do you ever wonder if you made the right choice?” Sarah asked.  Her grey eyes were downcast, intent on another scoop out of the ice cream carton.  Her dark curls fell in her face and tumbled down her back.  Her hand trembled slightly, though I couldn’t tell if it was from the question or the hard ice cream.

“What do you mean?” I asked, evading the question.  I looked passed her to the wedding photos on the wall.  She looked beautiful, as I always knew she would, dressed in her gown with her hair pinned up and veil failing to cover the bright smile she wore.  A smile that, once upon a time, was a shadow of the one she would give to me.

“Nothing.  Forget it.”  She gave a soft smirk and scooped another bite.

I shifted closer on the couch, close enough that my leg touched hers.  I hesitated, then reached my hand around her shoulders and pulled her in close to my side.  Her tiny frame started to shake and the ice cream container slipped from her fingers.  I caught it, moved it to the other side me, and wrapped my other arm around her.

“Hey.  Hey, sugar, it’s ok.  Let it out.  Cry if you need to.  I’m here.”  Even as I said them, I knew the words were inadequate.  I felt ashamed.  I had seen the signs, had voiced quiet concerns, yet never had I pressed the issue and now I was kicking myself for not.  “Is it…is it worse?”

Sarah sniffed again, hiding her face in my side, arms flung around my waist, grabbing at my shirt.  I felt her nod, the slight movement almost unrecognizable from her quiet shudders.  “I just…I’m not myself anymore.  I can’t be what he…I’m not…I just wonder…,” she took a deep breath, “I wonder if we would have been so bad.  What could have been.  Should it have been?”

I had no answer, so I pulled her close, my eyes falling upon my own wedding ring.

Review: Rain Plays Barefoot

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Rain Plays Barefoot Rain Plays Barefoot by Jennifer Steen My rating: 3 of 5 stars Rain isn’t interested in the things that all of her other girl friends are suddenly doing: wearing make-up, shaving their legs and talking about boys nonstop. Much more interested in playing basketball than playing girly-girl, Rain upsets the status quo by joining the drum line. Being surrounded by boys gives Rain insight into the ‘boy-girl thing’ and brings her own feelings to the forefront when she meets Noah. As she struggles with her changing feelings, Rain finds an easy friendship on the basketball court with James, who helps show her she’s fine just the way she is. A delightful tale of coming into your own, dealing with new emotions and staying true to yourself, Rain Plays Barefoot is a great short story choice for young readers, who can quickly and easily relate to the main character. View all my reviews

Pumpkin Pickin’

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“Look over there!” Ella said.  Not waiting for the others, she took off towards the mounds of pumpkins piled high, already climbing towards the top as Sue joined her.  Laughing, the two girls crawled over and up, Dad snapping photos as they went.  Ella smiled, reached for the next pumpkin handhold, Sue close on her heels now.  As Sue stepped on the pumpkin next to Ella, the precarious pile shifted.

The laughter died away as Ella’s scream pierced the air. Ella took a breath and looked down.  Under several pumpkins, her ankle throbbed, twisted at an odd angle.  Time slowed.  She saw her Dad drop his camera and close the gap between them in three bounds.  She saw Sue’s face turn from laughing to crying.  She felt the other kids look over at her and back away, causing more of the pumpkins to shift.

She sensed something in her snap, a wave of light shiver through her body.  Her arms stretched out, her body seemed to float up, pulled from the pile and the pressure on her ankle.  The warm feeling spread, pushing down towards the pain in her ankle and causing her to scream again.

Then warm hands grabbed her and pulled her close.  Dad.  Tentatively, she moved her damaged ankle.  Surprised, she looked down.  Even though blood seeped out of her sock, her ankle moved without any pain.

She closed her eyes, blacking out.