Blog Archives
IN THE WRATH OF LEGENDS
David Buzan’s In the Wrath of Legends is a sweeping historical thriller that fuses mythology, frontier violence, and spiritual depth into a relentless narrative. The story picks up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, following Chenoa Winterhawk, a fierce, complex Nez Perce woman, caught between two worlds. As she navigates the tensions between Native traditions and the encroaching modern age, she becomes entangled in a web of military secrets, supernatural terrors, and personal reckonings. From the haunted mines of Oregon to the skies above the Blue Mountains, Buzan crafts a story where the past refuses to stay buried, and every legend hides a truth too monstrous to ignore.
The writing is vivid and poetic, often leaning into raw, sensory detail that grips your imagination and refuses to let go. Buzan doesn’t just write scenes; he paints them. The dialogue snaps with tension, and the pacing, alternating between explosive action and quiet, meditative passages, keeps the heart engaged and the mind uneasy. I was struck by how seamlessly he weaves indigenous spirituality and historical realism together. It’s not a romanticized view of history, but a hard look at betrayal, survival, and the thin line between faith and fury. At times, the prose feels almost cinematic, but what gives it weight are the moral undercurrents. This isn’t just a story about monsters; it’s a story about what people become when they’re forced to face them.
Emotionally, the book hit me harder than I expected. Chenoa’s journey is one of constant loss and rediscovery, and I found myself rooting for her even when the darkness seemed too heavy to fight. The monsters in the story, both human and otherwise, serve as mirrors, showing what happens when hope falters. I felt anger, awe, and even sorrow while turning the pages. Buzan writes with a kind of unfiltered honesty that sometimes cuts close to the bone. He doesn’t shield the reader from violence or grief, yet every brutal moment seems to serve a deeper truth about resilience and spirit.
In the Wrath of Legends is for anyone who wants to understand how myth and history can intertwine to reveal the soul of a people. It’s perfect for readers who love stories with grit, mystery, and heart, people who crave character-driven tales set against a backdrop of real pain and impossible beauty. If you want a book that challenges your emotions while thrilling your imagination, this one deserves your time and then some.
Pages: 298 | ASIN: B0FWS1BD91
Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny (Sci-Fi Galaxy series)
Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny is a bold and relatable story that stretches across the void of the cosmos yet keeps its heart firmly tied to Earth. The book imagines a future where humanity’s survival depends on children born beyond our home planet. It explores what happens when the boundaries of science, morality, and love are tested among the stars. At its center is an experiment gone both right and wrong, seven infants conceived in space, raised in isolation, and destined to define the next stage of our evolution. The result is a gripping blend of science fiction and emotional depth, filled with danger, beauty, and philosophical wonder.
Reading this book felt like floating between awe and unease. Author Jeremy Clift’s writing is vivid and cinematic, painting vast orbital colonies and lunar cities that feel eerily plausible. I could almost hear the hum of artificial gravity and the echo of distant comms through vacuum corridors. But what struck me most wasn’t the technology; it was the tenderness hidden in the machinery. The human element never gets lost in the spectacle. The dialogue feels raw and alive, and the moral conflicts cut deep. The pacing sometimes rushes, especially in the middle chapters, but it never loses tension. I found myself caring less about the next twist and more about the fragile connections holding these characters together in a cold, infinite world.
There’s something haunting about how the author treats destiny. He doesn’t glorify space colonization; he questions it. The book forces you to think about what kind of future we’re really building. The story doesn’t preach, it just stares straight at the cost of ambition and asks if the trade is worth it. I caught myself pausing to reread certain passages because they hit close to home. The mix of science and spirituality felt strange at first but soon made perfect sense. It reminded me that progress isn’t just about rockets and algorithms, it’s about heart, memory, and the things we choose to keep sacred, even in the void.
Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny is a gripping and thought-provoking read. It’s not just another sci-fi adventure. It’s a meditation on who we are and where we might be going if we dare to leave everything behind. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves stories that balance thought and thrill, especially readers of authors like Andy Weir or Kim Stanley Robinson.
Pages: 443 | ASIN : B0D1PWPRBJ
Warrior Pose (Audiobook)
Authors and Audiobook Producers Susan Rogers and John Roosen have given fans yet another riveting installment in audiobook 4 of the Yoga Mat Mysteries. Ric thrives on living his life being pulled in every direction at once, with all the action, intense emotion, and dogged determination to which fans of the series have grown accustomed. Elaina, the yoga teacher who captured Ric’s heart, remains undaunted in facing the danger that goes hand in hand with being Ric’s one true love. Warrior Pose takes the pair on a journey to New Zealand, where Ric continues to face the challenges of a dark past, and their relationship is put to the test yet again.
The audiobook version of Warrior Pose is a must-listen for mystery and thriller fans. As a fan, I can’t recommend this installment without recommending the entire series, but I can say that any listener who chooses to devour this as a standalone will not be disappointed.
Rupert Degas’ narration is nothing short of brilliant as he takes on a multitude of characters and accents and nails each and every one.
I am always blown away by Rogers and Roosen’s work, and this audiobook installment was no exception. As this series has grown, so has the overall writing. One of the most striking aspects of the narrative is the sheer perfection in the action sequences. With each book in this series, I have been increasingly impressed with the way the authors integrate the thrill factor.
The art of using short sentences that pack a punch and draw listeners directly into the drama is not lost on this writing team. Nowhere is this more impactful than in the scenes when Ric is fighting for his life and battling both the obstacles that await in the wilderness and lurk in the dark.
Narrator Rupert Degas, always mesmerizing in his delivery, utilizes the most wonderful pauses in narration to allow thoughts to settle in. Listeners cannot help but feel as though they are peeking over Ric’s shoulder or standing tall alongside Elaina as she shows all the strength needed to support the man she loves–the one who comes with as much baggage as he does charisma.
Dynamics, again, are a focal point in Rogers and Roosen’s writing. As a listener who not only appreciates but craves character development in a series, I was beyond delighted to see the ebb and flow of Ric’s relationship with his father. In addition, Elaina’s vulnerability as she faces meeting Ric’s parents in this installment is touching and all too relatable. The mystery surrounding the toxic waste site and Ric’s multiple responsibilities often step aside to allow Elena’s growth to shine through, and that is a development I can definitely get behind.
Warrior Pose keeps listeners guessing to the end and into the story’s epilogue while pulling them deep inside the charm and comfort of Ric and Elaina’s relationship; it is the perfect listen!
Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins | ASIN: B0FJTD9C4B
When Mountains Crumble
When Mountains Crumble tells the story of Faith Ansley, a private investigator haunted by the deaths and loves of her past. After losing her husband Jeremy in a tragic accident, she receives a mysterious letter that reopens old wounds and pulls her into memories of first love, betrayal, and grief that refuses to stay buried. The novel moves fluidly between Faith’s present and her youth, exploring trauma, obsession, and the ways love can both heal and destroy. It’s a blend of psychological mystery and emotional drama, unfolding slowly, like fog lifting from a valley.
Author Claudine DiScala knows how to paint a scene. Every coffee cup, every trembling hand, every heartbeat feels real. There’s a rawness to her style, and at times it’s intimate, like overhearing someone’s private confession. Some passages lingered with me long after I closed the book. The pacing occasionally slows. The flashbacks are intense and vivid, yet sometimes the shifts left me disoriented. But maybe that’s the point. Grief and memory are messy, and the novel captures that confusion better than anything I’ve read in a while.
This is an emotionally stirring book. I ached for Faith. I wanted to shake her and hold her in equal measure. DiScala writes about loss with an honesty that’s brutal but never cruel. The love stories within the story, Faith and Jeremy, Faith and Cole, feel like reflections of the same wound, revisited over decades. The author dives deep into trauma, obsession, and the danger of confusing passion with destiny. It’s not just a story about mourning someone else, but about mourning the person you used to be. By the end, I felt wrung out and oddly comforted, like I’d gone through therapy I didn’t ask for.
I’d recommend When Mountains Crumble to readers who like their fiction dark but relatable. If you’ve ever loved someone you shouldn’t have, or held onto a memory longer than you should, this book will speak to you. Emotionally, it can be heavy, but it’s beautiful in its honesty. For fans of psychological fiction that stirs up old ghosts and asks hard questions about love, guilt, and forgiveness, this one’s worth the read.
Pages: 358 | ISBN : 1509263268
Where’s Jackson Pollock?
Jim Davidson’s Where’s Jackson Pollock? is a vivid blend of art, crime, and human frailty that moves from the smoky streets of 1960s Brussels to the humid shores of modern-day Florida and Virginia. It begins with an art thief named Henri who steals two priceless paintings, a Pollock and a Rothko, and then follows their strange afterlife through decades of greed, betrayal, and reinvention. By the time the paintings resurface, they’ve become more than works of art, they’re ghosts of guilt and ambition that haunt every character who touches them. The book stitches together these timelines with sharp pacing and a film-like rhythm that makes the mystery feel alive and personal.
I found the writing punchy and cinematic. Davidson has a knack for giving even the quiet moments a pulse, a sense that something is about to go wrong. His characters feel flawed; greedy, desperate, and self-justifying, but never cartoonish. The dialogue sounds natural, almost overheard, and the detail in the settings makes every scene easy to picture. There’s an undercurrent of sadness beneath all the clever plotting, a recognition that beauty and corruption often share the same frame. That mix of tension and melancholy made me care more about the people than the paintings.
The story can linger inside a moment or a minor side story, but I forgave that because the author writes with conviction. The characters talk and act like real people, selfish, hopeful, scared, and funny. The theme that money distorts art and love both feels timeless and painfully true. I caught myself grinning at his dry humor one minute and shaking my head in frustration the next. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just tell a story; it makes you sit with what greed and loss do to a person’s soul.
I’d recommend Where’s Jackson Pollock? to anyone who loves a good art-world mystery or character-driven crime story. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy novels where the moral lines blur and everyone has something to hide. If you liked The Goldfinch or The Thomas Crown Affair, this one will hit the same nerve. It’s smart, layered, and surprisingly emotional.
Pages: 324 | ASIN : B0FVBL15J3
The Admiral’s Gamble
The Admiral’s Gamble unfolds like a cinematic naval epic mixed with the intrigue of a sci-fi thriller. It follows Admiral James Harrington, a decorated officer at the end of his long career, who stumbles upon a mysterious device capable of altering time. The story begins at his retirement party and spirals into a tense, emotional journey through duty, destiny, and moral conflict. What starts as a quiet reflection on legacy turns into a race against fate, as Harrington must decide whether to sacrifice everything he knows to prevent a future catastrophe.
Reading this book felt like stepping into an old-school war movie that suddenly turns futuristic. The writing is vivid and grounded in military realism, yet it slides seamlessly into moments of eerie wonder. Author Nick Malara writes with a strong sense of rhythm; his scenes move with a cinematic flow that keeps the tension alive even in the quiet moments. A few pages linger long on scenery when the story’s emotional punch could have carried itself. But the heart of the book, the internal struggle of a man torn between heroism and self-preservation, shines bright and feels honest.
I found myself really drawn to Harrington as a character. He’s gruff, tired, and haunted by the weight of command. The dialogue feels old-school and clipped, full of restraint, like the man himself. Yet beneath that hardened shell is a depth of conscience that makes him compelling. The time-travel element, though wild, serves more as a mirror for his soul than a trick of plot. It forces him, and the reader, to ask: what’s the cost of doing the right thing when it erases the life you’ve built? There were moments that hit hard, moments that made me pause and think about sacrifice, legacy, and the strange way duty can both define and destroy a person.
I’d recommend The Admiral’s Gamble to readers who like military fiction with a twist of science fiction, or stories about aging heroes facing their past. It’s ideal for people who enjoy introspection mixed with high-stakes action. The story’s emotional weight and moral questions make it worth the ride. If you like tales that mix grit, heart, and a touch of the unknown, this one’s a good bet.
Pages: 178 | ASIN : B0FH77C97Z
Secrets That Remain: The Emil Fricker Story
Secrets That Remain tells the haunting and personal story of a family bound by silence and shadow. It unearths the dark legacy of Emil Fricker, a respected Illinois farmer whose life spiraled into scandal and tragedy during the 1920s. Told through the eyes of his descendants, the book blends history, memoir, and fiction to explore the ripple effects of buried secrets across generations. At its core, though, it’s about the women who survived him, Rose, his steadfast wife, and her descendants, who spent decades piecing together what really happened when love, jealousy, and pride collided on the Fricker dairy farm.
The writing is vivid and tender, with a rhythm that feels both old-fashioned and relatable. The authors don’t just tell a crime story, they tell a story about endurance. Their style has an honesty that made me forget I was reading about people long gone. I found myself caught between empathy and disbelief, shaking my head at the choices Emil made and aching for Rose, who bore the cost of them. The mix of real newspaper clippings and narrative gave the book a gritty authenticity that made me want to keep turning pages late into the night.
Some chapters sank into so much detail that I wished for a pause to breathe between the grief and revelations. But that weight also mirrors the emotional load the family carried. It’s a book that doesn’t look away, and I respect that. The storytelling feels like a conversation between the living and the dead, with the authors trying to make peace with ghosts. I admired their courage in confronting painful truths that their family once hid.
When I finished, I sat for a long time just thinking. I’d recommend Secrets That Remain to anyone who loves historical family sagas, true crime with a human heart, or generational stories about forgiveness and resilience. It’s especially for readers who understand that the past never really stays buried.
Pages: 388 | ASIN : B0FGT35QGM
The Living Bridge
Mike Cleveland’s The Living Bridge continues the sweeping saga begun in The Broken Bridge, drawing us back to the world split apart by the shattering of the ancient stone span across the Vitae River. This second volume narrows its focus to five broken lives in the months before Geshriel, the carpenter, gave himself as the keystone of a new living bridge. We meet Mary, tormented by demons of grief and despair; Lydia, stranded far from her family and branded an outsider; Matthias, the cursed builder crushed by guilt over his son’s death; Cleopus, a revolutionary consumed by anger; and Tamar, condemned by her own betrayal. Their stories unfold in three movements that build toward the moment when Geshriel’s love begins to transform both individuals and communities. The book blends allegory, spiritual reflection, and raw storytelling in a way that feels both ancient and startlingly present.
I found myself drawn in by the way Cleveland writes pain. He doesn’t dress it up or keep it at a safe distance. Instead, he lays it bare. Mary’s torment felt claustrophobic and heavy, yet it rang with truth about how grief can twist into lies we start to believe. Lydia’s yearning for her family carried me straight into her loneliness, and I felt her ache as if it were my own. The sorrow runs thick, and I caught myself needing to set the book down just to breathe. But that intensity is also its strength. It’s not a story of quick fixes or shallow hope. The book forces you to sit with loss before it shows you healing, and that honesty made the moments of light feel earned rather than cheap.
I appreciated the style of the writing. At times, it leans into bold, sermon-like declarations that give the story a sense of weight and authority. The message often comes through with such clarity that I found myself stopping to take it in, underlining sentences I didn’t expect to linger on. Phrases about love that refuses to let go or hope that survives silence stayed with me. The blend of allegory and character-driven narrative gives the book a unique rhythm, and when the two meet, the effect is powerful, striking straight at the heart.
The Living Bridge presses on wounds most of us carry in some form. But for readers who are willing to wrestle with grief, forgiveness, and the idea that love is stronger than death, it offers something rare. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian fantasy with a strong allegorical bent, and to anyone who needs a story that admits the depth of human pain yet still dares to point toward healing.
Pages: 227 | ASIN: B0FX5WS62Y
LITERARY TITAN 