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
Praesidium
By the end of her college years, Kathryn Bek had led a relatively normal and uneventful life. She had certainly never spent much time considering things like notorious crime families, supernatural abilities, or the existence of angel-like beings on Earth- at least not until her recruitment into the HGS. Presented as a global agency that exists essentially “for the greater good of humanity,” Kathryn decides to throw caution to the wind and join the team. In doing so, she learns that not only are there many things in this world she was ignorant of, but many of those things were much closer to her and her personal life than she could ever have imagined.
From the first, fast-paced opening lines of Praesidium by McKinley Aspen, it’s clear that this gripping book will take readers on an adventure. Hints of the supernatural are revealed early, then carefully fleshed out at a pace that keeps the reader hooked without showing all the cards too early. Kathryn’s character is written well, showing depth, and bolstered by a supporting group that perfectly balances her personality traits. The HGS- Hope and Global Support- shines as an enigma that almost functions as a character in itself, driving the plot with its mysteries. Aspen builds an exciting tale that checks every box when it comes to keeping things moving and fun. Tonally, the book’s first half differs drastically from the second, but the transition happens in an organic way that absolutely makes sense within the story’s context.
As Kathryn learns more about herself, her family ties, and the new abilities she needs to accept, the story escalates from stopping crime on a small scale, local level, to the reveal of a global threat that she and her teammates are tasked with derailing, despite only the vaguest of directions. Of course, no unique supernatural story exists without a compelling villain; again, this one delivers. Jacquelyn is rarely the main focus of a scene, but she steals it when she is. Kathryn’s background and her relationship with Jacquelyn could be their own book. I would have loved it if more attention had been given to Jacquelyn, either in her backstory or her time in the spotlight, because what was shown was interesting, and I wanted more.
Praesidium is an action-packed science fiction and fantasy novel that stirs readers’ imagination and paranoia. I had difficulty putting this captivating book down, especially once I reached the second half and the action showed no signs of slowing. However, I look forward to learning more about this story, as the ending certainly left things open in a way that a sequel seems expected.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B0B5W5HNKN
GOD OF NOTHING
Author Shane Scott’s God of Nothing is a thrilling fantasy book about Titans, Demons, Angels, Vampires, and Bool. It has an interesting take on God, creation, and all associated with it. If you understand traditional Abrahamic faiths, this book will particularly challenge your perspective. Generally, it follows the story of Satan and God’s daughter, Aja Ashe, and her descendants – Sel and Jaxx. Because of the time difference that exists between its protagonists’ adult years, the story hops from the present to the past, sometimes even going back to the beginning of creation. Ultimately, this book covers the birth of Aja Ashe, her discovery of her immortality, her love life, her son’s life, and the love life of her grandson.
As we read from page to page, we understand who Aje Ashe is, her capabilities, and her values. We also get to see how her life choices have affected those close to her. If there’s one thing that the author does well, though, it highlights the duality of the book’s different characters. Only a handful of characters are just pure good or pure evil. Most are layered, complex, and nuanced, like real-life people. This makes the book realistic even though it’s a fantasy one.
While the story is narrated by Miranda, God of Knowledge, to Jaxx (Aje’s grandson) and his fiancé Olivia, it is mainly in the third person, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the different life stories of the characters. What’s more? The author uses short sentences and paragraphs, keeping everything light and easy to read.
Beyond that, the author uses a lot of descriptive languages that helps readers understand even the most complex of concepts. This is particularly important because the book goes deep into the intricacies of how the various creatures of the world were made. It’s also great that the book includes snippets of wisdom at the beginning of each chapter, allegedly from the God of Wisdom. Each snippet furnishes us with new information that is integral to our understanding of the chapter. Moreover, the book is well-edited and formatted – there are no grammatical errors.
God of Nothing is a riveting epic fantasy that is hard to put down. This coming-of-age novel will appeal to readers looking for something different with a dark edge and LGBTQ themes. Filled with conflict and well-developed plot fantasy readers will not be disappointed.
Pages: 426 | ASIN : B08W3KCRRP
Deadlock
On the run from Cosmin, Ellinor Rask teams up with an old friend and some acquaintances on a treacherous journey to unlock her magical powers sealed away by the collar stuck on her neck by her former employer. As the ragtag team attempts to flee to Amardeep where they hope to get help in taking the collar off of Ellinor, they soon realize that a pursuing mob boss is the least of their worries. Apparently, if not dealt with, the collar could kill Ellinor and corrupt Fiss, a pure magical being she is connected with. Desperate to save Ellinor and Fiss, the group’s search for help leads them into even more dangerous territories.
C.E Clayton’s Deadlock is the second book following the main character, Ellinor Rask. Set in an expertly developed fictional world, Deadlock is fantasy heaven as it blends magic and technology. Clayton’s writing, for me, is high-end. She locks down the basics like clarity and aptness pretty easily but really flexes her descriptive writing muscles as she evokes mental images wherever she can. I also love how it seems like the stakes are set at first, but they suddenly go up a notch, and everything becomes a frantic race against time.
Clayton also doesn’t disappoint with her character development. Each character has a memorable and distinctive voice and personality. Plus, Clayton’s protagonist goes through a resonating evolution depicting how outward circumstances can cause inward change in people and vice versa. Deadlock is a sequel so readers who have not read the first novel may have questions that go unanswered, however the novel’s main plot will still make sense.
Deadlock by C.E. Clayton is a unique fantasy novel combining science fiction technology with magic. Readers will experience gripping suspense, extraordinary scenery and page-turning action.
Pages: 383 | ASIN : B09HC3NXYL
The Seasons of a Giant
The Seasons of a Giant by Pamela Hartley is a fun read! We follow Isabel LaDuke, known as Izzy, as she tries to discover who or rather “what” is stealing her family’s cows. A young girl with no real talents or skills unless you count her courageous heart. She eventually finds her quarry, but then soon is transported to the home of Behemorphs, giant shape-shifters, and their world Skyworld, which rests above the clouds. For Izzy to find her way home, she will have to team up with the monster she hunted. Her disappearance intensifies a conflict between her people, the Groundlings, and the Behemorphs, which will mean she may have to make a fateful choice…
With 250 pages, one would think this would be your average children’s novel, but I was pleasantly surprised. A fun twist on Jack and the Beanstalk, Izzy is a fun take on the heroine trope, although I may have enjoyed it more if she was more self-actualizing then what occurred in the story itself. I think the courage that Izzy embodies is brilliant and an excellent message to children. I think the “journey of self-discovery” is a classic tale to come up again and again and is given fresh legs by Hartley’s narrative.
The classic turn of “foe turned friend” is great because it allows Izzy to then reflect upon herself and evaluate her own strengths and weaknesses. The character, Boone, is great because he is everything she is not. She is small and weak with too few real skills. A Behemorph, he is larger than life and has his own magical abilities of shape-shifting. The juxtaposition is almost too pointed, but Hartley saves this with humor and keeping the story pace brisk and fast for even the most anxious reader.
Hartley’s prose reads well and both her voice as the author and the voice of her characters come through. Izzy is a great heroine to follow and I hope there’s another story on the way with her being the lead character again. There is something very relatable with a character who is not talented and instead has to rely on what she has on the “inside”. Again I believe that sort of theme and message is perfect for children and adults.
Overall, the pacing was spot on. The ending was unexpected, but well developed. I believe that Hartley has a gift for story, especially when telling children’s stories. The world she has built was fun and enjoyable and overall it will make a great read for anyone looking for an entertaining weekend read.
Pages: 250 | ASIN: B06XSN4JG3
LITERARY TITAN 