Tag Archives: Fantasy

Guest Post: Gemma from Charade

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Today I have the wonderful Gemma from Cambria Hebert’s newest novel, Charade! Feel free to check out my review and then dig into some tough questions with the newest cast member in this great series!

First: The book!

Blurb:

Dying at the hands of a psycho was a shock. Having my life returned to me by an angel was
incredible. Being named a Supernatural Treasure and being given Sam as my guard was
pretty darn awesome. Acquiring a debt for it all—well, I should have seen it coming.

Now here we are, fighting demons from Hell, caring for a boy that I just don’t trust, and
traveling to faraway places to return a treasure to its rightful place. Nothing is as it seems.
Everyone wears a mask; everyone puts on a charade. It’s up to us to separate the truth from
the lies and reality from fiction. A hard task when my new reality involves fallen angels,
witches and dragons… and did I mention Hell?

Anchoring me down through it all is Sam. Sam, who must face tragedies of his own and is
put to the test again and again.

If we fail in our task, life as we know it—life as you know it—will end. Forever.

Continue reading Guest Post: Gemma from Charade →

Review: Charade

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

If you cannot breathe, I will breathe for you. If your heart will not beat, mine will beat harder. If you do not live, neither will I.

Heven and Sam have been through so much in their struggles against evil, but they aren’t done yet. Being tasked to return a treasure to its rightful spot in Italy, Heven and Sam struggle with family, friends, secrets, and deceptions on top of everything else. Change is coming everywhere they look and everyone’s mask is cracking. Can Heven and Sam hold it together – themselves as well as their family and friends – and save the world in the process?

Charade continues to follow Heven and Sam, yet expands the cast of characters a bit and reworks a few of the old ones. While Heven grows into her powers, she also learns that she is stronger than she thinks – something she shows Sam time and again, as she is willing to literally go to hell to protect him. The characters continue to grow before the reader’s eyes, sometimes with shining moments and sometimes with bitter ones, making them very believable. Cole plays a bigger part in this book, as does Kimber, and the new additions fall into place logically as well.

While some points slow and predictable, Charades is full of twists and turns that keep Heven’s (and the reader’s) head spinning. Fast-paced and engaging, Charade picks up right where Masquerade left off and runs full-tilt until the end, leaving Heven, Sam, and the reader asking – “What will happen next?”

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Review: On Dark Shores 2: The Other Nereia

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On Dark Shores 2: The Other Nereia
On Dark Shores 2: The Other Nereia by J.A. Clement
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“We of Scarlock, we stick together. That is how we survive.”

Nereia is faced with a difficult choice – accept the Other Nereia and stay to protect Mary, or drift away from the beating Copeland gave her. The Other Nereia talks of making the dark waters sweet again, instead of the bitter waters they have become, and Nereia is tasked with completing this. Confused but determined, Nereia must accept that she still has some part yet to play…

Copeland has a plan for Blakey, and Blakey doesn’t think he likes where it’s leading. Down below in the caves, Blakey learns of Copeland’s secrets, including that of the Archangel. But what can he do to stop it?

Picking up where the first book left off, book two is also richly written and full of vividness. The characters continue to grow and evolve, changing from meek-seeming and battered to firmer of will and full of purpose. There is a bit of history added into this book, explaining a bit about Nereia’s past and giving insights into how her and Mary came to be under Copeland’s thumb.

As if Copeland and his decent into madness wasn’t enough, soldiers have come to town, threatening to find Vansel, Mickel and others of their company before their plans can be completed. And, while not seen much in this book either, the Mother is still playing a crucial role in the events of Scarlock. Some new players come on the scene as well, adding to the realness of the town setting and to the drama surrounding it.

What a twisted tale is being woven here. Dark, mysterious, suspenseful, and engaging, On Dark Shores: Other Nereia continues to follow Nereia and the others as change comes to Scarlock – and change isn’t always good.

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Review: On Dark Shores: The Lady

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On Dark Shores: The Lady
On Dark Shores: The Lady by J.A. Clement
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Copeland had already taken eleven years of her life, and there was no getting that back; but Nereia was damned if she’d let him have her sister.”

Change is stirring in Scarlock…

For the last eleven years, Nereia has been Copeland’s thief, stealing trinkets for him instead of going to work in the whorehouse, to protect her younger sister, Mary, from his clutches. But Copeland’s reach in Scarlock is far and his ambitions are vast. Bent on getting Nereia to take on a new thieving scheme, Copeland leans on the chink in Nereia’s armor – Mary. Now they must run or go along with his plan. And no one has ever escaped before…

Blakey’s career as a boxer is over. He finds himself fighting a new type of opponent – whores and shopkeepers and anyone else who owes Copeland. But something changes the night he goes after Nereia and Mary. And he’s not the only one interested in the girls’ escape.

Beautifully written, with flowing prose and vivid descriptions, On Dark Shores: The Lady sets up the dynamic of the town of Scarlock and its inhabitants. While the Mother of Shantari doesn’t really appear in this book, the reader is left with the expectation of finding out her role in later books in the series. The complexity of the characters is slowly revealed, as shown best by Blakey.

While there is no real closure, the plot and character lines are masterfully woven, setting up what is sure to be an excellent series. Dark and mysterious, with a touch of fantasy added to the mix, On Dark Shores leaves the reader wanting more, and not simply because it is short.

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New Release: Serenya’s Song

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Today’s new release is Serenya’s Song by Mysti Parker! If you haven’t heard of this wonderful lady, she writes an award-winning blog called Unwritten, and even let me come play post on it this month!

In addition to this announcement, Mysti also hooked me up with an excerpt! Here she is to introduce us to her newest work!

Continue reading New Release: Serenya’s Song →

Guest Post: John Zunski

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Today I have with me John Zunski, author of Cemetery Street, and he’s got a missing person alert for us. Maybe you can help him out?

Missing Person Alert!

Can you help? I’m looking for someone and I’m offering a reward! It’s a person whose name I don’t know – I don’t even have their physical description; if their likeness was on a milk carton, I wouldn’t know ‘em. I know it’s not much to go on, but, you may know this person, or someone similar. They have to be out there – somewhere. I’m looking for someone who hasn’t loved and lost. If you find such a person, would you do me a favor? Would you ask them if they could relate to my novel Cemetery Street.

If you have loved and lost, Cemetery Street is dedicated to you for persevering through bittersweet memories and endless speculation of what could have been. If you’re up for an adventure, you could laugh, cry, and blush with protagonist James Morrison as he learns that the bonds established early in our lives echo into our futures, shaping who we are and how we relate to the world. If I may be so bold: Continue reading Guest Post: John Zunski →

Guest Post: “Uncle Bill”

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There it is Kiddies, the Kristufek House! Yeah, yeah, I know what the doctor said but surely, it’ll be fine if we just stop by and take a peek. You know, for old time’s sake. Oh my, Kiddies, it just like we left it, except for the house coat and slippers that is. The police are still holding those for evidence. And look, the window is still unlocked. Restraining order? I’m sure Ms. Kristufek didn’t mean it when she filed that against us. Come now, Kiddies, this was just meant to be.

Just let me get comfortable now and… Oh my, I see someone has been doing a little writing. Hmmm, The Finder. He he he, let’s hope no one finds us here or your Dear Old Uncle Bill will be fitted for one of those special jackets again.

Okay now, let’s get down to business. I have a little treat for all you Kiddies tonight, a little tale of death and despair. What other kind is there? It’s a little something from your Dear Old Uncle Bill’s Remnants of the Past series. Now sit back, Kiddies, while I read.

Continue reading Guest Post: “Uncle Bill” →

Review: The Mission

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The Mission
The Mission by Bill Talcott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I look at the stars every night and think about home…

The leader of the Undead – a group of mercenaries – agrees to take Darkblood with them, against his better judgement when they are tasked with taking a dying scientist to the planet Valdorion in search of a cure. Once they’ve arrived, Darkblood is given the task of protecting the scientist, which also gives him a small amount of protection. Soon, the mission falls apart, and Darkblood slowly learns what the real mission was – and how he can stop it.

Set in a beautiful world similar to ours, the language making it easy to envision the surroundings and the people. The interactions of the different characters clearly defines each of them – and they are all clearly different. Mostly through dialogue, the characters come to life, encouraging the reader to feel right along with them. The tough decisions made and the depth of emotion shown add to the complexity of Darkblood et al, making them very “real” and relatable.

Undertones of friendship, loyalty, love and loss, as well as conspiracy and treachery, abound as the cast of characters grow before the reader’s eyes. Masterfully interwoven between the characters, The Mission is a quick read with a vivid world that can easily entertain more stories, as well as the reader.

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Guest Post: Logan Kavanagh (Between)

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Today I have Logan from Cambria Hebert’s new novella, “Between” to tell us a little about himself. But first, if you haven’t read this series, where have you been! Go check out my reviews for these great books! You have some reading to do to catch up, and her next novel, “Charade,” is  out soon as well! You can find my reviews here:

Before (Heven and Hell #0.5)

Masquerade (Heven and Hell #1)

Between (Heven and Hell #1.5)

Before we get to meet Logan, check out the blurb, and don’t forget to let me know what you think of him afterwards! Continue reading Guest Post: Logan Kavanagh (Between) →