Blog Archives
The Hound (The Phoenix Chronicles Book 1)
Joseph G Topp’s The Hound (The Phoenix Chronicles Book 1) immerses readers into Maltoer, a vibrant new world brimming with unique creatures and a distinct hierarchy. From the very first page, the land’s complexity and richness are palpable, setting the stage for an epic fantasy adventure unlike any other. At the heart of the story is Tynarr, an eighteen-year-old who has known only the chains of slavery. Haunted by the loss of close friends, he embarks on a perilous journey to uncover his true powers and delve into his family’s mysterious past in a magic-filled realm. Trust does not come easily to him, yet he must learn to rely on others. Along his path, we meet characters like Verja, Tynarr’s former lesser master, who becomes an unexpected ally in the fight against the Speaker, an evil immortal determined to engulf Maltoer in darkness and chaos.
Topp excels in world-building, meticulously crafting Maltoer’s complex history and societal structures. Detailed descriptions of characters, cities, and creatures enrich the narrative, ensuring readers are never lost in this expansive universe. This level of detail demonstrates the author’s dedication to creating a believable and immersive world, a feat not always achieved in fantasy literature. While Tynarr’s journey is the primary focus, the narrative occasionally shifts to other characters, providing a broader perspective of the world and its inhabitants. This technique adds depth to the story; however, a deeper exploration of these characters would enhance the reader’s connection to them. The rapid pacing, brimming with action and significant events, sometimes leads to a disconnect between the intense fighting scenes and their emotional repercussions on the characters. Yet, for those who relish thrilling combat sequences, the book offers plenty of adrenaline-pumping moments.
The Hound (The Phoenix Chronicles Book 1) holds immense potential to become a formidable presence in the fantasy genre. Topp’s ability to weave a complex world with engaging narratives is promising. I eagerly await the next installment to discover where Tynarr’s journey leads, as this is merely the beginning of an epic saga.
Pages: 413 | ASIN : B0D8YQ73KD
A Maiden’s Wish
In A Maiden’s Wish: A Novella, Alyssa Charpentier crafts a compelling narrative centered around sisters Bayelle and Evora, who are offered a glimpse of a better life through the intervention of a powerful shaman. The sisters quickly learn that wishes and reality diverge as their dreams begin to crumble, leading them to a poignant exploration of the true value of desires and the inevitable repercussions of their choices.
Charpentier’s storytelling shines as she delves deep into character development, ensuring that both sisters emerge from the narrative fully realized, each with a distinct presence and growth arc. The relationship between Bayelle and Evora is particularly well-drawn, capturing the complex dynamics and unconditional support inherent in sisterly bonds. While the novella offers just a glimpse of its magical setting, the enchantment within its pages captivates, suggesting vast, untapped depths that hint at further mysteries to explore. This element adds an intriguing layer to the sisters’ adventures, inviting readers to imagine the endless possibilities within this world. The magic present is intriguing and enriches the backdrop of the sisters’ journey.
A Maiden’s Wish is an engaging exploration of maturity and the lessons learned from the choices we make. It thoughtfully reflects on the inherent magic of shaping one’s destiny and the profound bonds of sisterhood. This novella is a heartwarming read that resonates with those who appreciate personal growth and familial love stories.
Pages: 146 | ASIN : B0D29VX78Y
Tribal Logic: Book Four of The Tribal Wars
In Tribal Logic, set in Dolvia, readers are reintroduced to the persevering Brianna Miller, who remains in captivity. Her friends, determined and unwavering, strive tirelessly for her release. Brianna’s courage and resilience have made her a symbol of strength among the other women. This time, the narrative spotlights Jesse Hartley, who emerges as a central figure skillfully navigating the tumultuous political landscape of their world. The stakes are higher than ever, with Jesse appearing as a potential savior in this intricate situation.
The book also delicately explores the evolving relationship between Jesse and Hershel Henry. Despite their shared goal of liberating the captives from the clutches of an oppressive company, their personal paths have significantly diverged, casting doubt on the future of their romance. As a reader who thoroughly enjoyed the third book in the series last year, I approached this with high expectations, which were fortunately met. For those familiar with the series Tribal Wars, this is the first book in a new trilogy that is part of the series. It does not disappoint readers with its exciting adventure and political intrigue. Newcomers to the series are encouraged to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the depth and evolution of the narrative. One of the book’s strengths lies in its character development, particularly in showcasing a female protagonist in a leading role. The story unfolds at a suspenseful pace, keeping readers eager to discover the characters’ fates. The novel’s rich tapestry of characters and its intricate plot add depth to the narrative, making it more engaging. While navigating through the large ensemble of characters may require some initial effort, the payoff is in the form of compelling dialogues and well-crafted individual character arcs that enrich the reading experience.
Tribal Logic: Book Four of The Tribal Wars is a captivating science fiction novel that takes readers on a thrilling adventure filled with complex character dynamics and political intrigue. This book is an excellent choice for anyone who loves well-crafted stories that blend action, suspense, and thought-provoking themes. With its engaging plot, relatable characters, and well-paced narrative, Tribal Logic is a must-read for any science fiction fan looking for an exciting and intelligent read.
Pages: 419 | ASIN : B0CW3VGXPM
How A Dictatorship Can Fall
Home Rule is an intriguing Science Fiction novel that has a lot of real-world themes blended into this fictional world. Why was it important for you to write this book?
HOME RULE pulls together the threads for the trilogy. The story has two male narrators, Hershel Henry and Jessup Chandliss who reviewers seem to really like. We see characters grow into adult roles, especially at the wedding of Rufus and Kelly. And we see how a dictatorship can fall on the strength or failure of one personality.
I wanted the final sequence to be operatic and show outcomes for several characters. They experience a moment in their history together and are forever changed.
It seemed like you took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
Pacing was a puzzle with a pantheon of characters. I added a character list at the end for the reader’s convenience, but I feel that the story is easy to follow since we tend to choose favorites and wait for their action scenes.
For the writing part, I had a chart for character location. Each needed to be on the right planet for her big scene. LOL
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The story is science fiction for entertainment, of course. If we learn something about our lives along the way, then that’s a plus. I just wanted to show multi-dimensional women rather than the stiff archetypes of formula sci-fi stories. I hope that part is satisfying to the reader.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
In book 4 titled CYLAY GAZETTE (slated for a January 2024 release), Jesse Hartley jumps back to Dolvia from Paris France, just like Brianna Miller had but with different consequences. Hershel Henry carries the middle part of the story, and then we hear from Bybiis the beastmaster who is traveling with Jesse.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Ninety-Five
![Ninety-Five by [Lisa Towles]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/414rCALd41S.jpg)
Ninety-Five follows an average college student who uncovers a malicious criminal network that is scamming students and luring them into more and more crimes. He soon learns that this is only the tip of a dark and nefarious criminal network at work on the dark web.
The story starts with a new college student, Zak Skinner, who is stressed out by the usual things a student faces in their life; failed subjects, struggles with studying, and a search for opportunities to blow off steam. In Zak’s case, he went for an innocent drug trip, taking ayahuasca and getting high. What he did not anticipate was that he would be trapped in not only one but two illegal crime rings, unique and devious in their own way.
Author Lisa Towles’s writing style is perfectly suited for this crime thriller, and very detailed as well as graphic. I loved how she builds Zak up in a way that he deduces things on his own, because he is very smart and perceptive, but he also knows his own limits. This unique balance sets Zak up as a character that is intriguing and fun to follow. This is an engrossing technothriller with some cryptography in the story which reminded me of Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress. I love the science fiction aspects of the plot. We get to explore the dark web in some refreshing ways and are dragged through this dark underworld that has a persistent air of intrigue. A special mention of all the Harry Potter references; I laughed at each moment.
Ninety-Five is a riveting crime thriller that has a unique enough setup to stand out in the college fantasy genre. When I started the book I got the sense that the narrative was leaning more fantasy, but by the end it was a captivating mix of crime fiction and technothriller.
Pages: 244 | ASIN: B099SYTJWQ
Primeval Origins: Light of Honor
![Primeval Origins: Light of Honor (Book #2 in the Primeval Origins Epic Saga) by [B.A. Vonsik]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Tk-q1IdiL.jpg)
Light of Honor begins when paleontology-archaeology grad student Nikki and her professor are aboard the Wind Runner, escaping from international organizations intent on hunting them down before they uncover more secrets from the past and future. It’s an action-packed beginning and does not waste any time dredging up the details of the past book. In the previous book, Nikki had explored the distant past by inhabiting the body of Rogaan, a teenager who was found in stasis in her archaeology dig. This time, she learns about a humanoid race called Evendiir and its connection with Rogaan. It’s a rush to disentangle the puzzles both these artefacts have created before Nikki gets hunted down.
This is a sweeping and dramatic story that just swoops you out of wherever your mind currently is and takes you to magical faraway lands. It is definitely an intense read that digs into the details, even going as far as giving us the make and style of the secondary character’s shirt. However, I think this is to be expected from an epic fantasy read that is building a fully realized world. It really allowed me to see, hear, feel, and experience new worlds, whether past or present.
I would say it is similar to the first book, Paths of Anguish, in terms of pace and suspense but the tone is darker. It has a deeper and more gritty atmosphere. There is an element of psychological thriller to it which really just made it all the more better. Watching Aren and Nikki struggle with their memories and piece together an increasingly complicated puzzle was an extremely satisfying process. Nikki and Rogaan definitely grew on me more in this book as they had to tackle some complex moral dilemmas that really allowed me to understand the way they ticked. It was incredibly easy to root for them after watching them struggle and be vulnerable.
I don’t think it’s necessary to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one but it would be a good idea to get familiarized with the vocabulary and dialect of the ancient world. There’s also some Easter egg-ish storylines that were continued or wrapped up from the first book. Light of Honor is a thrilling fantasy adventure read that knows where it’s going and takes the most entertaining path to get there.
Pages: 294 | ASIN: B0186PBOIC
Petrified
![Petrified (The Keeper Chronicles Book 1) by [Ben Meeks]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BV7bhSGOL.jpg)
Petrified by Ben Meeks is a consistently entertaining paranormal fiction novel. While it’s set on earth, it revolves around the existence of not supernaturals but ultranaturals as they prefer to be called. Obie, the alluring protagonist of the book is an ultranatural that is a were-being, like were werewolves but not exactly that. The book starts with Obie on a mission to get information regarding non-earthly beings that quickly turns into more than he bargained for, both in his personal and professional life. Obie then embarks on a quest to fight the force that is behind the recent turn of events in his life, and a secret world. This is the moment where the plot truly blossoms and the novel takes off at a quick pace.
At the start of the story there is a certain mystery to Obie. He was obviously not human, but I could not tell what or who he was. I was intrigued and desperate to know more about his intentions. Author Ben Meeks has mastered the skill of character development. Seeing the character’s in the story evolve slowly over time I was able to empathize with them and understand the complexity of their emotions and motivations. I enjoyed the subtle humor thrown into the dialogue, and laughed unexpectedly. Meek’s innovative descriptions of scenes in the story keep you engaged even when learning about minor details of the scenery and location. The supernatural world being built was bold and just unique enough to make this paranormal adventure stand out in a genre filled with fodder. I used to read a science fiction series when I was younger called Animorphs by Katherine Applegate, Petrified reminds me of that series, but as a more adult evolution of that idea.
Petrified is a stimulating fantasy novel that brings otherworldly creatures into this world and does so with an almost effortless drive towards entertaining the reader at all times.
Pages: 232 | ASIN: B08CKDQ58K
LITERARY TITAN 