Blog Archives
The Red Eyes & The Curse
The Red Eyes by Lee Ching Kai follows Will and his siblings as they encounter paranormal experiences that begin to threaten the lives of their family. Will receives a new dog named Chester and he starts to notice odd occurrences around his home that lead him to explore an abandoned house he believes to be the cause of the paranormal activity. After meeting the ghost of a woman in the haunted house, Will and his sibling’s lives are forever changed, not by the hauntings, but by the secrets that are revealed. Will must find a way to save his family before the consequences of those secrets cost them all their lives.
At the very core of this paranormal mystery is an enjoyable horror story. The story is straightforward, so it will be easy to follow. Readers looking for a clear-cut supernatural story will enjoy the clear narration. The characters were all likable. Will was a character that felt very realistic in both his actions and his thoughts. This is a short but entertaining read that will leave you with some questions in the end that readers will surely be thinking about for a while.
In The Curse, Amelia and her family move to a new home in hopes of finding a better environment for her, but Amelia and her brothers notice that something is off about some of the townspeople. While exploring what she believes to be a haunted house, Amelia meets a group of individuals who are not as they seem and is forever changed as she becomes involved in their story. Amelia must decide whom to trust as the fate of her family and the world depends on her decision.
This is an intriguing story that follows a teenager, Amelia, and her family as they relocate to a new home. This was meant to be a positive change, but Amelia finds violence and death. After becoming involved with a group of individuals she meets at a haunted house, Amelia must make impossible decisions to keep her family and the world safe.
The Curse is an easy and quick read. There are some similarities between this story and The Red Eyes, but there is an element to this story that is creative and unique, and some of the plot points are pretty wild. The author does a great job creating decent characters as Amelia the protagonist is likable. The author breaks the fourth wall several times, which readers may find interesting.
This is a fascinating collection of short stories that middle-grade readers looking for intriguing supernatural mysteries will surely enjoy.
Pages: 236 | ISBN: 9670730511
Hidden in the Shadows
When Evie returns to her idyllic hometown for her grandfather’s funeral, the last thing she expects is to be dragged into a decades-old mystery. Instead, she finds various sinister clues aInstead, among her grandfather’s possessions, such as a haunting photograph and a bloody knitting needle. Teaming up with figures from her past, such as an old flame, Luke, and a friend from school, Azlinn, she uncovers a deep and twisted conspiracy. The closer they get to the truth, the more sinister and expansive it becomes – and the nearer the threats come to the home.
Hidden in the Shadows by A. D. Vancise is a tale of conspiracy and power. Told through interweaving storylines that slowly connect, the novel explores themes such as greed, lust, and belief in the supernatural. In this book, Vancise skilfully intertwines the magic of cozy small-town charm with the horrific acts those in power can do.
A. D. Vancise makes a sharp delineation between good and evil in her portrayals. Many of the characters, Evie included, are relatable, and the reader can empathize strongly with their journey. The story is filled with heartwarming portrayals of people with nothing but good intentions. On the other hand, the book also depicts people committing heinous acts with no remorse. The author does a beautiful job of depicting both sides of the spectrum and presenting the extremes of human intention.
Hidden in the Shadows by A. D. Vancise is a thrilling mystery that keeps readers in suspense from the first clue until the end. Vancise manages to tell a compelling and imaginative story with a tense and coherent plot within a very atmospheric setting, keeping the reader hooked until the end. The prose is well-written and a joy to read. However, the book contains some very distressing and graphic scenes that are unsuitable for children or the weak of heart. Overall, I would strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery and horror novels.
Pages: 353 | ASIN : B0BNCHMFBP
Requiem for a Queen
Kaylin McFarren, indeed, has one of the most vivid imaginations of any author I have ever read. Requiem For A Queen is filled with dark imagery, layered plot twists, and many multi-faceted characters that keep the reader’s mind engaged and turn pages as fast as you can. In addition, this colorful story of the war between Heaven and Hell is laced with themes of friendship, love, birthright, and the devotion between mother and son.
We are introduced to the main character, Samara, as she has escaped from Hell and gives birth to her son, the secret son of Lucifer – ruler of Hell. She is all alone in a cave in the woods as demon soldiers search for her while giving birth. With the help of a shapeshifter, sprite, and soldier, she is on a quest to keep her son, Papillon, out of harm’s way from Lucinda. His sister, the heir to the throne of Hell, wishes to remain the heir and is threatened by the birth of her brother. Samara’s only wish is to protect Papillon, who has unique powers, and give him a happy life. However, after Lucinda steals Papillon and hides him away, Samara is forced to confront Lucifer and confess that he is the father, her only chance to save her son from the sister who wants him dead.
I found Requiem for a Queen to be an enjoyable yet challenging read. The abundance of characters and intricate plot keep the reader engaged but also challenge them to remember the picture and retain all that has occurred in the story. From demons, witches, Cambion soldiers, shapeshifters, archangels, and the devil, there are many types of characters to try to comprehend the complex relationships between them all. Readers who enjoy mind-bending fantasy with the flair of good versus evil will devour this book and beg for more!
Pages: 341 | ASIN: B0BBJTR8BD
Then Came His Desire For Revenge
Magenta Skies follows Reo and others as they fight to gain control against the first inhabitants of Titan. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The set up of this story has been years in the making, a solid idea that has grown over the past decade or so. I start with a concept or theme, then build around that. I tackle every book differently, but for this I separated it into essential parts. The first being to develop a plot that has its own looming presence within the narrative. The next, to develop characters and carry some over from the prequel novel. Then lastly, find a way to inject the story with an intense sense of realism. To execute this, my inspiration came from my personal love of anime, sci-fi, and psychology, utilising all forms of media for my research; from tv shows to movies, books, fiction and nonfiction alike, soaking everything up to form a cohesive plot that fits with the overall lore.
Reo is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Thank you for saying so.
To develop Reo there were a multitude of factors I had to consider. One was his internal struggles as a disabled teenager with special abilities – navigating his way through a futuristic world. The other was showing his overwhelming grief, and how that presents itself externally. A further contribution to Reo’s development was his identity, highlighting the source of his powers. All characters should deal with some form of conflict. For Reo this comes from his own blood, his heritage, his ancient ties to the supernatural, which in turn affects his actions and decisions throughout the novel. Then came his desire for revenge. This propels him forward, giving him a sense of purpose, even in the midst of his suffering.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
For me theme starts with the challenging questions. What impact does trauma have on a person’s life? What happens to a person that feels rejected by family or society? If the world were at an end, and we needed those same people to save us, how would that come to be?
Honestly, this was the hardest book I’ve written, because to find those answers I could not plot the development of the characters, but rather, let them take the wheel. I remember watching a tv show called Mind Hunters, where the FBI agents create a psychological profile of the serial killers they interview. This fascinated me, as I’m sure it did many others, but I couldn’t understand why. Yes the tv show is well made, well written, well directed, etc, but there is something quite interesting, yet equally menacing, when facing evil and asking why it would cause such harm to innocent people. If you’ve ever watched an Ed Kemper or Jeffrey Dahmer interview you know exactly what I mean. What they did was horrific, but when they were asked why they committed such acts, their answers were even more haunting and tragic, because in another life would things have been different? Some believe people are inherently evil, and the very nature of evil is to harm others, but I realised there are many variations of the word, some universal, some personal. I wanted to explore this further in a Dark Fantasy/Sci-Fi setting. As you can imagine, this led me down the rabbit hole of what we as a society depict as immoral, what level of it do we tolerate, what acts are redeemable and what are not. Instead of the serial killer being incarcerated and that being the end of their journey, I sought a deeper understanding. Consequently, I had the mammoth task of trying to present these philosophical questions to the reader, connecting these damaged characters to gigantic, manmade creatures known as Kyojins, and seeing how that would play out if the human race needed such unstable people.
What can readers expect in book four of the Universe Of The Trinity Arc series?
I will be re-releasing a standalone novel that is tied to this universe, set on Earth in 2006. As for book four, all I can say is, expect the unexpected!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Society is on the brink of chaos, a new threat is leaving its malicious mark on the city, and because of historic events, a great and malevolent force has set its gaze upon humanity. All that stands between such perilous evil and our surviving fate is a blind young man who only lives for vengeance, and a group of mentally unstable criminals that have no reason to help us. We must entrust them with a divine power no mortal should ever possess, and we must hope they use it to safeguard us from oblivion. For we have created beings of equal dread, and such abominations should never have been made.
Book 1 of the Berserker Saga
Magenta Skies
Magenta Skies: Rise of the Berserkers, by J. R. Manga, is the first book in the Berserker Saga. This story follows Reo and others as they fight to gain control against the first inhabitants of Titan. Reo is a gifted boy, who is destined to fight Gagoten, which is fueled by his need to seek vengeance for his father’s death.
Reo has power that is seems outwardly divine, but he also has darkness that dwells within. While he is the key to winning this battle, his team provide much needed support in the form of an alliance. As he builds his team of pilots and commanders, he aims to remain on Earth, and save the people he cares about the most.
I found the author’s writing style impressive, with multiple points of view, which gives depth to the story. Each character has their own unique storyline and developing circumstances. This novel has multiple short stories with varying scenarios, that are woven together to provide a strong foundation for Reo’s journey. The book presents varying elements that are complex, but exciting, and I found each storyline engaging and intriguing.
Magenta Skies: Rise of the Berserkers is imbued with a sense of adventure, and is an exciting start to a series that I would highly recommend for the interesting characters alone. The story is a riveting amalgamation of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy sewn together with a creative writing style that elevates this story and makes it highly entertaining.
Pages: 567 | ASIN : B0BCHC3SC4
House of Pain
House of Pain by Karoline Wilde is a gripping story that follows the lives of witches who attend the Venefica Academy. More specifically, the witches dwell in the House of Snakes as one of the five houses in this story. This tale centers around the Games and how everyone involved, including the House of Snakes, includes Val, Blaze, Alessandro, Jolene, and Alecto, who are the inner circle of the house.
This imaginative story is rich in the intensity of human interaction, with lots of love, conflict, and familiar connections. Morals and loyalty all come into question, and the notion of things being black or white is muddled to gray. During the Games, the inner circle accidentally summons a demon to help do their bidding in an attempt to take down the House of Tigers. Their aim becomes complex, impacting their house and creating a darkness that the characters must ultimately face. Actions have consequences.
This action-filled book offers an excellent but dark and complex story that I found interesting. The author creates a unique storyline with lively characters and an exciting plot that’s not too overpowering or complicated. There is just enough complexity within the characters and their dilemmas to give the reader enough action to keep them engaged from the beginning.
House of Pain is an exhilarating dark fantasy romance novel. Readers are taken on a wild ride that kept me turning one page after the next, and I highly recommend this book for its creative, exciting plot and rich character development. Karolina Wilde does a great job setting each scene and adding multiple twists throughout the book. As this is the start of a trilogy, I can not wait to see where things head in book two.
Pages: 476 | ASIN : B0B85KDWKB
Literary Titan Gold Book Award December 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Gold Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award December 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Silver Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
LITERARY TITAN 