Blog Archives
The Search For Synergy
![The Search For Synergy (The Talisman Series Book 1) by [Brett Salter]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dSq0TZbfL.jpg)
The protagonist of Brett Salter’s teen fantasy, The Search for Synergy, is 13-year-old Rome, who is struggling with the world and his place in it. Then he meets Julian and discovers there’s a reason he feels he doesn’t belong – he’s more than just a boy, he’s actually a dragon living amongst humans, and Julian is secretly his knight. Julian introduces him to Mr. Jones who works with both boys to develop their powers. Together they strive to achieve synergy in order to fight the dark forces that threaten the world.
The first part of the book is dedicated to developing Rome as a character and setting up the difference in upbringing between him and Julian’s rich family. The friendship between the boys feels authentic, and the pair are very likeable. By the time the action moves into the battles with the terrifying creatures from the Void, you are really rooting for them.
The story is like a cross between The Lord of the Rings and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The fantasy element is satisfyingly fantastical, and the action is nail-biting. But for me, the real star of the story is the friendship that develops between Rome and Julian. Individually they are just typical flawed boys, but – as with all great friendships – their talents compensate for each other’s weaknesses. Rome encourages Julian to be brave and test his limits, and Julian brings an honest, light-hearted joy. Together they are invincible.
The battles between good and evil are well-written and thrilling, and there is just enough secrecy and hiding from the adults to make it a great read for young teens. It also manages to be a little educational with the connections to Arthurian legend.
While I enjoyed the story, I felt that some of the language used between Julian and his father was a bit odd at times. It does show how Julian is a completely different person than his father thinks him to be, but I would have liked it to have been done in a more subtle way.
As the first book in the Talisman Series, The Search for Synergy should also work as a standalone book, but there are loose ends left hanging and questions left unanswered that really make you crave that follow up novel. The Search For Synergy is a fantastically imaginative and thrilling young adult coming-of-age novel.
Pages: 220 | ASIN: B071W9HZVC
Beyond Sunlight
![Beyond Sunlight: A story of the vampire Melanie Brace by [David Crane ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412ykQdhJwS.jpg)
Beyond Sunlight tells the riveting tale of Melanie and her normal human life that gets flipped upside down when she meets a mysterious stranger in a jazz club. Although impressed by his musical talents and chivalric nature, she could have never guessed what he would tell her that night. Suddenly, her peaceful life is shattered as she learns about her imminent death from cancer. Matters get even more complicated when Martin, the handsome stranger, confesses he belongs to an ancient species called Urtama and is a vampire.
The story is presented to us in the form of journal entries, and the the narrative flows casually from the first person point of view. This invites readers in and helps them relate with the protagonist and sympathize with her situation. Melanie is faced with many hard decisions while navigating her new life as a nightwalker. She displays grit and efficient survival skills which gives her an edge that kept me rooting for her.
Unlike other vampire novels, Melanie is not a damsel in distress waiting for her knight in shining armor to save her from the perils of the big bad world. She is independent and adept at not only defending herself, but also protecting those she cares about. She doesn’t tolerate any kind of disrespect aimed towards her or her loved ones. In fact, she values family bonds and it is this faith in kinship that dictates her behavior. The best thing about Melanie is that she questions everything, choosing to work out her options and evaluating them before finalizing. This also helps readers follow the story and understand everything that’s happening.
It is also important to note that there is no unnecessarily long and dramatic love triangle in the story which is often featured in most supernatural romance stories. Instead the story focuses on building the lore and details of the legend behind the Urtama race and the justifications for the need to dispose of human food consumed by night walkers. This keeps the story grounded and engaging.
Beyond Sunlight is a thrilling supernatural thriller that deftly building an intriguing backstory. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in dark fantasy stories with a formidable female lead.
Pages: 478 | ASIN: B095BL2GSJ
The Breedline Series
The Immortal follows an artists who’s attacked by a creature that infects her with a virus that threatens to turn her if she succumbs to the bloodlust. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
In all my Breedline novels, there are situations where my characters are faced with good vs. evil, similar to the world we live today. Unfortunately, in the real world, between good and evil, “the bad guys” are sometimes the conquerors. But in my Breedline fantasy world, good always proves more powerful than their opposing evil forces. Although my characters face their share of trials and tribulations along the way, it’s important to give my readers that fairytale ending where the “good guys” always prevails in the end.
Jena is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?
It was important for me to create a strong female character who isn’t waiting for her “knight and shining armor” to be rescued. Although she does have a supporting character to help her along the way, Jena finds her own way to overcome the dangers—which are very terrifying and unimaginable—that are fast closing in.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The Immortal introduces new characters to my Breedline series who are “undead” and also stem from the eighteenth-century. So, with that in mind, I definitely had to put on my A-game. I love that time period, so creating characters from that era gave me that extra inspiration to do my best.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next Novel of the Breedline series, The Curse, will be available in early 2022. Next in line for the Novels of the Breedline series include: Living Nightmares, and The Vampires in Manhattan.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Mysteries and Magic
The Mysterious Pool follows a group of friends who uncover secrets in an hold house that send them on a wild adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
As a child I’ve always loved reading stories on mysteries and magic as most children do, and as did my late son, Leigh. So he is foremost in this adventure with his friends.
I enjoyed how authentic the children felt in your story. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Of course, Leigh relates to my late son and the other characters, Tara and Cosmo are losely based around his real life friends. The persona of the characters are carried over from my picture book series, Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures. Aimed for the younger reader, these little stories carry an important message on how life in a wheelchair can have its challenges.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Apart from keeping “The Mysterious Pool” fun, adventureous and enlighting, it carries an important message thoroughout the story – to instil confidence in children, particularly for those with limited mobility. I hope this is achieved after reading the story and they come away with a positive outlook and an appetite to learn more.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Book 2 in “Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures” will be out this year (2021). Again it will carry an important message.
There will be three books in this series, each covering different aspects wheelchair users have overcoming a particular problem.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Join Leigh and his fifth-grade school friends, Tara and Cosmo as they visit a mysterious house in the woods.
What treasures are revealed that will shock and astound them, and inadvertently uncover a hidden family secret?
Leigh doesn’t let his wheelchair hold him back from exploring with his friends, and as the events unfold, he experiences an amazing encounter that will leave him wondering and open his mind to new ideas.
If you love animals, exploring caves and magic, then you’ll love The Mysterious Pool.
A Leigh and Friends Adventure story.
I Really Love Tragic Stories
Playlist follows two people with a tragic past that help each other heal and find a way forward. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Romeo and Juliet were the biggest inspiration for this novel. I really love tragic stories, and I wanted there to be some beauty in it. I wanted this novel to matter.
Your characters are wonderfully emotive and relatable. Were you able to use anything from your own life to inform their character development?
I always will add an Easter egg or two of my own life into a novel. But honestly, I create this characters from so where in my brain, and I follow them around. I find out things they do as the reader does too.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Love, lost, self-worth, and how to work on overcoming tragedy. I think we all can easily get consumed into the darkness. I wanted to make sure people could
Come out of it.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a book coming out called Camp Afterlife. It’s another coming of age LGBT novel. It will be out October.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
Superheroes Possess a Dark Side
The Walrus: Monster in the Mist follows a young man that’s about to take a dark path in life, but a new neighbor changes things in ways never expected. What inspired the idea behind this riveting novel?
The story is very loosely based upon a relationship that I had as a young teen with a man and his wife who moved into our neighborhood. As in the book, this man became a mentor to me and helped me through some difficult times. There was a vacant lot which bordered our properties and it was quite an eyesore, though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t haunted.
I enjoyed the unique infusion of superheroes in this story. Why was this an important aspect for you to include in the story?
I was a big comic book fan as a child, especially Superman and Batman, from the DC Comics stable. Paul takes comfort within the good-triumphs-over-evil world of superheroes, and immediately perceives the charismatic George Albert as his own personal superhero. Many superheroes possess a dark side, though, and Paul eventually discovers that this might be true of the superhero who lives next door.
The mystery at the heart of this story was deeply intriguing. Did you plan it or did it develop organically while writing?
It really evolved organically, as I needed some narrative thread that would link Paul’s recurring nightmare, which takes place in a Southern cemetery, with his mysterious neighbor and the equally perplexing vacant lot nearby. I eventually hit upon George’s semi-famous relative, who was a Civil War colonel with a mean temper and a gripping connection to the institution of slavery and the Underground Railroad.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently doing research for a book that will have as a backdrop the bluestone quarry industry that flourished in New York’s mid-Hudson Valley during the middle-to-late 19th Century. It’s a ghost story. At least, at this early stage, I think it’s a ghost story but one never knows for sure. Hopefully it will be available sometime next year.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Death Mask
Vengeance is a tempting route to catharsis and inner peace, but it can also take the form of a curse. Its lasting effects are powerful enough to damage other people across different generations as well. Such is the case in Nora Delzelle’s first novel Death Mask: A Tale of Vengeance.
Here, we follow Alex Kincaid, a young and talented chemist and history buff who inadvertently wins an ancient Egyptian death mask through an eBay auction. When it arrives at her doorstep, it seems nothing more than a morbid artifact. Little does she know that it contains power and secrets she couldn’t even begin to understand.
As a novel rooted in history and mythology, Death Mask surprisingly feels like a breeze – even for those who aren’t knowledgeable of its subject matter. Novels like these can sometimes feel like homework, but Delzelle delivers the history lessons through a Trojan horse of action and suspense.
Across brief forty-nine chapters, we are introduced to fascinating characters like the murderous and mysterious Chase and Alex’s loveable gang of friends. It is through dialogue, mostly, that the historical context is told, so instead of having to pause for footnotes, the story is constantly pushing forward.
While the novel is entertaining and fast-paced, I would have appreciated more depth. We know plenty about what happened to Set and Osiris, and I would have loved to have learned more about our heroine Alex as I feel some more backstory would have helped readers to connect with her emotionally.
Throughout the novel, we get to see a romance that slowly forms between her and Gabriel. While these tender moments serve as a reprieve from the novel’s non-stop march, I was left want to know more about their past.
Death Mask: A Tale of Vengeance is a thrilling urban fantasy novel that is consistently entertaining. Any reader who enjoys suspenseful supernatural fiction will have plenty to enjoy in this contemporary thriller.
Pages: 126 | ASIN: B0964249Z5
THE IMMORTAL: A Novel of the Breedline series
![THE IMMORTAL: A Novel of the Breedline series by [Shana Congrove]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41rUBcqvFdL.jpg)
The Immortal is a part of the Breedline series which follows protagonist Jena McCain as she discovers a hidden world full of magic and monsters that puts her in a situation where she must resist dark urges and accept the strange hidden world that becomes uncovered to survive.
Artist Jena McCain is attacked by an ancient creature that has been dormant underground for years. After the attack, she is afflicted by a disease that makes her crave human blood, and she has to resist the urges brought on by the disease for one hundred and one days. If not, she will transform into the monster that attacked her. In desperate need of help, her best friend, Angie, then introduces her to a world that is beyond anything that Jena expected. It is revealed that Angie can transform into a wolf and there are an entire species of supernatural creatures called Breedline.
Author Shana Congrove has created a standout novel in the saturated paranormal romance genre. The Immortal unique possess a unique and compelling lore that serves the plot well and ensures that drama is around ever corner. I enjoyed the alluring relationships between the characters, as it seems that everyone has secrets. Particularly, I loved the idea that friends, even our closest friends, keep these big secrets from us, and the friendship felt very genuine. Additionally, I like the resistance to just buy into all of these crazy circumstances that Jena is witnessing. In too many books, I’ve seen the main character accept the world for what it was and dived right into the journey. Jena’s reaction to it all gives the book feel more authentic and relatable.
The Immortal follows Jena on a race against time that keeps the story relentlessly moving forward ensuring the suspense is high and the desperation is palpable. This is a thrilling shifter romance novel that surprised me with its deep lore and methodical character development. This book will appeal to any fan of paranormal romance that wants to read an urban fantasy story that is grounded but still dramatic.
Pages: 359 | ASIN: B0863G5Z1V
LITERARY TITAN 