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Crimson Scimitar
The tragic events of September 11, 2001, have left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of Americans and people worldwide, forever shaking the world to its core. This devastating bombing of the World Trade Centers, commonly known as the 9/11 attack, ruthlessly claimed the lives of approximately 3,000 individuals in a heinous act of terrorism. Initially, suspicions swirled around the Taliban, but meticulous investigations later implicated the notorious Islamic extremist group Al Qaeda, led by the infamous Osama Bin Laden.
Within the pages of this gripping novel lies a deep exploration of the harrowing experiences endured by witnesses and survivors of the 9/11 bombing, offering intricate details of the events leading up to the attack and its haunting aftermath. The relentless pursuit of Osama bin Laden, the enigmatic mastermind behind the attack, becomes the focal point, as readers are compelled to ponder over the motivations that drove him and ultimately led to his downfall. The author’s meticulous research delves into Osama’s background, life experiences, and objectives while also shedding light on the subsequent legal proceedings surrounding his indictment.
The emotional toll of losing a loved one is immeasurable, and this book offers a poignant portrayal of the profound trauma experienced by those directly affected by the 9/11 tragedy. Although primarily a work of fiction, it serves as a thought-provoking reflection on the far-reaching consequences of religious extremism. Moreover, it astutely highlights the imperfections inherent in our political and judicial systems.
Through its powerful narrative, Crimson Scimitar becomes a compelling reminder of the urgent need for unity and the futility of war. Within the expansive tapestry of court proceedings and the enthralling stories that encircle Osama bin Laden, the novel weaves together suspense, intrigue, and action elements that befit a thrilling tale. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the book’s length and intricacies may present challenges for readers. The multitude of characters and their interwoven storylines can be overwhelming, necessitating careful effort to keep track of their names and narratives.
I recommend Crimson Scimitar: Attack on America—2001-2027 to enthusiasts of thrillers, as it offers a captivating and insightful glimpse into the events surrounding the 9/11 attack. Those seeking a deeper understanding of this pivotal moment in history will undoubtedly find this book compelling and engaging.
Pages: 600 | ASIN : B0BMNVMHX9
Never Give Up On Yourself
Soul Scepter: Time Marauders follows two friends from Idaho who are transported through time to medieval England and have to stop history from being changed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in Idaho near the area where the book begins and toured the Idaho National Laboratory when studying physics in college. I’ve always loved all things medieval and have been to all of the historical locations in England referenced in the book. The book is the product of a series of daydreams and the desire to provide young adults with inspirational fiction to help foster confidence and emotional resilience.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The tone evolved since the first draft. Some of the combat scenes started out as too mature for a younger audience and some of the teen interactions were probably too juvenile for an adult audience. I was fortunate to have many adult and teen beta readers which helped in striking a maturity balance that satisfied me and readers across an age spectrum.
The middle of the book changed from draft to draft, while the beginning and ending stayed consistent. An aspect that didn’t change was the importance of never giving up on yourself or the people you care about.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I sought to incorporate elements of characters digging deep to pull through desperate circumstances and sprinkle in nuggets of ways to find hope and resist self-harm. Some reasons this is important to me is that I’m an Air Force veteran, and a veteran commits suicide in the US every 65 minutes. Someone commits suicide in the US every 11 minutes, and a study estimated that there is a suicide attempt every 31 seconds. I wanted to be a part of the solution as much as I could. Most individuals taking their lives probably weren’t reading dry textbooks on techniques for overcoming suicidal ideations—but many people do turn to fictional entertainment when they want to escape.
Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
In the next book, the characters need to time travel to the future to find the solution to the havoc that the Dreizack has unleashed on the world. When they arrive in the future, they discover a Dreizack-ruled dystopian world where they struggle to survive as they search for answers.
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A militant organization attacks Will’s friends, sending him, a girl named Celeste, and their assailants time-traveling to medieval England. As a cunning modern-military commander plots a global conquest to rewrite history, Will and Celeste struggle to navigate the perils of 1345 while being hunted by the modern men.
With every heartbeat, the stakes grow higher as Will races against time to avert disaster—a challenge made more complicated by his growing feelings for Celeste and his uncanny link to the Soul Scepter.
Soul Scepter
Eric Westergard’s Soul Scepter: Time Marauders transports readers on a thrilling adventure that seamlessly blends history and fantasy. The story follows Will Donovan and his friend, who find themselves in the midst of a battle for a powerful scepter while playing paintball in Idaho. After being chased by a militant organization, they suddenly find themselves transported to medieval England. In this new world, they must navigate through history without altering the course of events.
The book is a captivating page-turner, with action-packed scenes around every corner. The author’s ability to set the scene and develop the characters will leave readers in awe from the opening chapters. From the first page, readers will be drawn into the non-stop action, adventure, and plot twists that keep going throughout the entire novel.
Westergard’s writing style and attention to historical accuracy are admirable, making it feel as though the reader is transported back in time. I could vividly imagine the battle scenes, smell the stench of England, and picture the grandeur of The Tower of London. The more I read, the more invested I became in the characters’ emotions and experiences. The author’s inclusion of themes surrounding depression and mental health is commendable and adds another layer of depth to the story. This is a story of self-discovery as much as a quest to stop evil from altering history. Will’s journey is one that teens will be able to relate to while rooting for him.
Overall, Soul Scepter: Time Marauders is a gripping action and adventure novel through time and medieval England. This excellent book is a must-read for teens and young adults with a passion for fantasy and history. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series and continuing the adventure with Will and his friends.
Pages: 390 | ASIN : B0C2GBTLRH
Woke
J.O. Quantaman’s Woke: Cool Assassins 1 is a compelling book that offers a thrilling dystopian tale set in the pacific rim in the year 2070. This engaging story follows the journey of Nyssa Persson and Jen Marov as they join a group called DB that provides them with a chance at freedom from the tyrannical corporations that rule the world. Despite their many risks, Nyssa and Jen find solace in their new life with DB, an informal security outfit that trains acolytes for the Olympics. Unfortunately, despite their exemplary martial arts training, DB is still outnumbered by thousands of corporations, so what gives them an edge? Their prized possession, Empathy.
J.O. Quantaman has created a well-crafted story in a discursive style that captivates the reader from the beginning to the end. The martial arts elements in the story are fascinating to read about, and the conflict between the DB and the corporations provides an exciting plot that keeps the reader engaged. In addition, Quantaman’s character development is remarkable; he creates strong personalities who rise above their pasts. Jen and Nyssa’s supportive relationship is particularly noteworthy, as are the other side characters.
Quantaman has established a compelling plot and complemented it with his inviting writing style. Every page of the book radiates with the tenacity and strength that the author infuses into the story. Additionally, he handles subjects such as bullying, PTSD, and violence with utmost care and respect. Finally, the story presents strong female characters who are driven by the motivation to overcome challenges, making it enthralling to watch them reach their full potential.
Woke: Cool Assassins 1 is an action-packed book with a much bigger message. It is a riveting read that I would rate 5 stars for its fascinating storyline and unique blend of action and themes.
Pages: 489 | ASIN : B0BMW7DQC8
Freeze Frame
Will Horner, a sixteen-year-old boy who loves filmmaking, is beginning a new year at a new school. His parents are anxious for him to settle in and make friends at Pinehurst Academy, an art school. The warm-hearted ‘coreless’ take him under their wing, and Will feels happier at Pinehurst than he has in a while. Working on an end-of-year movie with his friends, he feels more himself when he’s able to film with his camera. However, he hides parts of his life from his understanding friends and takes on the responsibility of working on his mental health by himself.
Freeze Frame by Tyler Beauchamp is a story of teenagers struggling with trauma, mental health, and with the stigma of it all. Beauchamp has perfectly captured the overwhelmingness that is attached to social life as a teenager and how situations can magnify in our heads, as it does in Will when he fears his past at Redboro School coming to light. It’s also a story of lighthearted moments, friendships, belief, and creative passion, and of navigating these along with parental love and concern that manifests as anger.
Beauchamp skillfully weaves in relevant arguments about creativity, social media, mental health, and reality in a world filled with media and camera lenses. Will loves to make films and loves the power they have to make people feel, but also believes in experiencing the moment. Will is in therapy for PTSD and is making progress with his dissociations between reality and film-like scenes.
Freeze Frame by Tyler Beauchamp is a coming-of-age fictional novel that also explores the psychological mindset of teenage life. It is excellent for talking to teenagers about issues they face and about understanding their points of view. I especially liked the list of mental health resources given at the end of the book. Having understanding people and a good support system along with therapy can truly go a long way in helping mental health, and this book shows that in a very relatable way.
Pages: 258 | ASIN : B0BG6DC9D9
Utopia?
Utopia is a city in which everything is based on a system-created hierarchy, where the higher your level, the more luxury and opportunity you would have. George Mason is hell-bent on rising through the ranks while being disgusted by those below him and intensely envious of those above him. Utopia is now ripe for the taking, with the city’s leader on the verge of retiring. Whoever has the most power gains control.
Using their hidden and enormous network of control, the smoking man and the pixelated man are contending for the rule over the city. But unfortunately, George Mason becomes caught in the crossfire and is forced to go undercover to infiltrate the Commune, a settlement outside of Utopia’s boundaries. As he is exposed to ludicrous and foreign ideals, he is drawn deeper into the chasm caused by people seeking control of Utopia.
R.A. Rowlingson’s book Utopia? transports readers to a gloomy universe that is all too familiar. In this terrifying piece of fantasy fiction, horrible forces are developing within the city of Utopia. Many themes of this story resonate with our current reality, particularly the recent global political issues. The author subtly injects bits and pieces of truth into his craft that readers will surely indulge in.
The plot moves along at a steady pace, never dragging and never going too fast. My favorite aspect of Rowlingson’s writing has to be his meticulous attention to detail in character development and world-building. Readers will get to know the characters’ minds, learning their motives and inner struggles. The descriptions of the city and the Commune will have readers feeling like they are in the middle of everything and experiencing the conditions of the dwellers as they follow George.
Utopia? is a sinister and dark reflection of our reality as a whole. This dystopian novel will give readers a look into what could be their own post-apocalyptic world. Science fiction and fantasy readers will find this novel to be engaging, with plenty of unique characters and situations to explore.
Pages: 263 | ASIN : B09HQ43QV9
Á Deux
At one time or another, we have all questioned our purpose. The story of Job is one of the first recorded instances of humans posing these same questions. In addition, it is likely the most well-known account of an exchange between friends that goes far beyond the standard existential crisis. Job and his friends tried their best to understand the ways of God as they questioned why humans are allowed to suffer. The story of Job contains everything from sarcasm and rhetorical questions to innuendo and what amounts to a battle between God and Satan.
A Deux, by author Alexey L. Kovalev, is a new and fresh take on the biblical story of Job. The dialogue between Job and his friends and God takes on a whole different look in Kovalev’s work. Prefaced by a thorough prologue, this book exists as an exchange between Job and God as it would happen today–quite a modern spin on the age-old tale.
I was blown away by the beauty of Kovalev’s style of writing. What looks on paper like a straightforward narrative is actually a dialogue that reads like the most intricate of poetry. The flow of the text is phenomenally stunning, peppered with modern references and deep, philosophical discussions that read more like an exchange between two strangers seated on a bench waiting on a long-departed bus.
There is almost a comical banter at times between the two main characters. Expecting a more serious tone, I was pleasantly surprised at their familiarity. What could easily have been made into a very difficult read has been shaped into a much easier and more pleasurable read.
I was expecting a much different read when I picked up this book and ventured into the text. Instead, I was truly overwhelmed and surprised at the unique take on Job’s story. This book, written primarily as a dialogue, will capture readers’ attention and keep them enthralled from cover to cover. In addition to creating a conversational tone, Kovalev has also given readers a trip through history. It’s a truly fantastic read from beginning to end.
A Deux will entertain anyone who enjoys reimaginings of Bible stories. In addition, this modern telling will make the traditional story more accessible to younger readers and more relatable to a modern audience.
Pages: 110 | ASIN : B09MPKZDFK
Bad Love Medicine
Bad Love Medicine, written by Kevin Schewe, is a pluralistic artwork, within the context of the plot, there are several strands of knowledge, such as: Scientism, Fantasy and historical events. Allied to this, the author has maintained a soundtrack of period music throughout the story. Bad Love Medicine is the fourth book in a series, Bad Love Gang.
The book takes us from the environment of Planet Azur – which is inhabited by several characters, all of whom play important roles in the plot – to one of the most nefarious scenarios in the history of the world, the Holocaust. Within the analysis of the Second World War, the author gives space to facts such as espionage and intrigues involving Germany. The heroes of the Bad Love Gang travel back in time and meet the precursor of the Holocaust himself, Adolf Hitler. With a less attentive look, the genre of the book in question can be understood solely as science fiction, however, with a more attentive look we can insert several genres in the same work.
The aesthetics brought by the author, through the descriptions of the environment, is intense and very palpable, to the point that the reader can feel each environment mentioned, from the terms used and the soundtrack of the book. Time and place is an extremely important and crucial marker for understanding what the author wants to show us, so it is equally important to pay attention to all the markers that are placed throughout the plot.
The story leads us to reflect this context of Europe during the second World War, which was remarkable for humanity and even today leaves us impacted and gives us the feeling of impunity in the face of so much cruelty. Analogously, the Bad Love Gang and its members act not only to avoid chaos, but also to save their friend from terminal cancer, traveling in search of answers for her. The romance is also another outstanding area in this work, which makes it absolutely plural and magical.
Bad Love Medicine is a unique novel that integrates it’s own soundtrack to go with the storyline. Readers of science fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy are going to thoroughly enjoy this riveting auditory experience novel.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B098TN6GKC
