The Godmother by Elizabeth Scarborough

This is a fantasy explaining the basis for fairy tales as directed by a fairy godmother.

The premise is that many fairy tales as example those of the brothers Grimm, were truly grim and often contained timeless warnings.

The book was sad with some of the things that we do to each other and humorous with some of the fairy godmothers’ manipulations.

I enjoyed it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Superdreadnought 1 by CH Gideon

This is a space opera.  An AI built into a superdreadnought of the spaceship variety is sent on a quest to track down villainous Kurtherians.  The AI is lonely and seeks to find a career before carrying out it’s quest.

The premise is okay.  The allusion to far too many inside jokes referring to current or reasonably current television shows, songs and humor was overdone.   I find it hard to believe that TV shows of today would be remembered centuries in the future, let alone other pop culture references.

I thought the characterizations could have been better.   They seemed superficial although Ka’nak was not as clueless a behemoth as initially portrayed. 

The book was entertaining and obviously the first in a series. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Breaking Silence by Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin

This is a young adult book.  A group of teenagers find themselves facing creatures from their nightmares.  This is a book in the Serrated Edge Series.   

Staci, a blossoming mage, and her mentor Tim gather a Selkie and two mundanes to face a mysterious darkness that surrounds the mansion of a former foe.   The authors provide barely enough back story that you don’t feel completely lost. 

“Good Elves” move into town and hint that there is a darkness coming.   The authors provide the teenage protagonists with more than enough annoying teenage angst.  Alas the angst may be representative of teens but that is far in my past.

I enjoyed the book and the creative way that Staci finally uses her wits. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Penric's Progress by Lois McMaster Bujold

Penric is a young man more interested in scholarly pursuits than most second sons of a borderline impoverished Barons.   He acquires a demon accidentally and has to learn what this means and how it will change his life.

I’m an admitted fan of Bujold so this review may be a trifle biased.  Her development of Penric as a character was admirably done.   You got a feeling of knowing the young man.   His adjustment to his situation was complex and the plots were entertaining.

This is a compilation of  Penric’s Demon, Penric and the Shaman and Penric’s Fox.

All three novellas were entertaining and I recommend them.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Blue Eye by Ausma Zehanat Khan

The third book in a possible four book series, The Blue Eye, again features Arian a strong female protagonist who is facing implacable misogynist foes.   Arian’s  has a manipulative vocal power she uses to escape a series of problems.  

Arian seems to find herself on one quest after another.   The Silver Mage finds himself betrayed by the Black Khan. 

As I said upon reading the second book, the problem with reading series one book at a time is continuity.  The first fifty pages of this book were taxing my memory as to who these people were and what were they trying to do.   There are a lot of characters and subplots.   After I got into the book, I was able to sort them out but with some difficulty.  

The book was interesting but not captivating.  Some of the deprivations and behavior could have been pulled from headlines regarding religious zealots across the world.  That sadly provided some gritty reality to the story.

The book never grabbed me and I found it a struggle to read it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Magic of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain

Delightful!  A budding elemental whose medium is primarily quartz discovers unseen talents in herself.

Mika is struggling and trying to make ends meet.   She, however, has a big heart and when a gargoyle hatchling appeals to her for help she has no choice but to help.

The author created a lovable character in Mika and her pal, Kylie, is the kind of friend we all hope to have.

This was a short but delicious read!

I recommend, probably for young adult but I am way, way, way beyond that age and I loved it. 

Can't say that I loved the cover, it leads one to believe it is a romance novel. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Monster Hunter Alpha by Larry Correia

If you have any need for an adrenaline rush, this is the book for you. Correia writes action and then more action.  Earl Harbinger, the leader of Monster Hunter International, takes some time off to deal with a personal problem.  Turns out to a bit more than he bargained for!

I am aware that these books will never win any literary awards and who cares?  The book is a feast of combat and heroics and totally fun to read.

Werewolves, earth monsters, demented witches, a wealth of exotic firearms are all included.   The best part of the book was the reminiscing by Earl which provides you with his back story. 

I enjoyed the book.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

S.T.E.A.M.C.A.P.P.: The Rising of the Moon by J.T. Murphy

This is a steam punk book.   The two main protagonists are veterans of a war between the USA and  the British Empire.   This story focuses on labor inequities in a Victorian era society and an archaeological find.

You only have to Google the Molly Maguires to discover that violence and the labor movement have had many connections. 

The depicted society includes Vanderbilts and others of the same ilk. 

An accomplished scientist provides a variety of interesting weapons to Piper and Emma. 

The story was entertaining.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Two Dads, Two Moms, Two Kids by William G. Bentrim

My latest book needs reviews.  If you are willing to review the book go to www.bentrim.info  and click on contact form and send me a message with your email address.   I will be putting the Kindle version of the book up for free on Amazon for reviews in the near term. 

The number of kids harming themselves due to confusion over their gender or their family situation regarding gender is increasing.   It breaks my heart to read the obituary of a kid who was just confused.   My hope is this book will at least help one kid feel more comfortable in their life and less likely to engage in often fatal behavior.

The family of today may not be the same as the family of yesterday.  Regardless of structure, if love and nurturing are present, if children are valued and protected it is a family. This book hopes to show that differing family structures need not be confusing.  

Buy on Amazon

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Desert Rising by Kelley Grant

Nomadic traders find interaction with a theocracy or perhaps more accurate a polytheistic dominated city state fraught with danger.  Visiting the temple can lead one to be chosen by one of four quarreling deities shown by a great cat adopting them. The Forsaken are this societies un-touchables often due to the greed of temple politics.  

Sulis and Kadar are twins thrust into the role of revolutionaries.  Their desert society does not believe in slavery which is what the role of the Forsaken really is. 

Grant does a very good job developing her strong female protagonist in Sulis.   Kadar is not give the same depth of development except as a supporting role for Sulis.   I do enjoy strong female protagonists.

This is an exceptional story, captivating and exciting, I recommend it.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

Drayden has a distinct unique outlook on life or at least her writing does.  This is a book about a colony ship.  It is designed to last for as many generations as needed to get to a viable planet.  However the ship becomes inadequate for its population and the passengers discover they can inhabit vast beasts that travel between the stars.  The current beast is not in peak health and that leads to tensions and rebellion in the colonists.

Drayden tells a good story and provides a setting that is only vaguely similar to the Farscape ship, Moya.   The hierarchy within this ship is matrilineal and class based.   The classes restlessness reflects the restlessness of current society where the top 400 wealthiest families have more wealth than the rest of the population combined.   It is a system destined to fail and we see they same signs of failure in our current political and class based country.  

Seske is the up and coming ruler but hates the thought while not being able or wiling to give up her position.   Being her friend is fraught with peril.

Drayden provides an interesting social structure and biology for the ship.

I enjoyed the book. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Bad Wolf Chronicles by Tim McGregor

This is book one of the Bad Wolf Chronicles.   Two detectives with radically different attitudes are thrust together by their Lt to hopefully curb the excesses of the detective that emulates train wrecks.   Their first case involves a death by dog mauling or was it.

Gallagher is the run away cop who believes the end justifies the means.    He is saddled with Lara Mendes who’s by the book behavior drives Gallagher crazy.   The two are forced to reevaluate some of their basic thinking both on procedures and on the questionable evidence of the super natural.

The mystery was good and the character interplay was often amusing.

I enjoyed the book. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Emperor’s Fist by Jay Allan

This is the fourth book in the Far Stars Series.   Blackhawk plumbs his depths for even greater feats.   The successes of the previous books are in jeopardy. 

This book continues in the same vein as the previous books, daunting odds and limited success.   Allan emphasizes the strength of relationships based on the acceptance of differences.  The comradery is a factor in make the books so enjoyable.

Allan crafts impossible situations and is creative enough to get himself out of them.

This was an enjoyable book. 

I recommend it.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Beware of #FREE Media on Sketchy Web Sites

WARNING!!
Be Skeptical! Google

notified me one of my books was being advertised on a free eBook site. Since the only place my eBooks are ever free is on Amazon or directly from me, I checked it out. The original link led to a 2nd URL that led to a third URL which Norton identified as a malware site. Looking at the headers, it appears to be in the UK but the link leads to Russia. The site offers "free" music, books and movies which you may get but along with the "free" media expect your computer to be corrupted. I am disturbed that one of my titles may entice someone to corrupt their computer. There is no recourse on my part. My advice is to be aware than many of the "free" offerings have destructive strings attached.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Emperor’s Edge by Lindsay Buroker

Buroker has the enviable distinction of being to evoke emotion.   Buroker has also crafted a strong, resourceful female protagonist.   The Emperor is a good soul surrounded by miscreants of the highest order.   A very rare female enforcer (street cop) finds herself immersed in high stakes political intrigue.  Imagine her surprise when she finds herself tied in with the Empires most wanted criminal.

Amaranthe’s has an uncanny ability to enlist the cooperation of an extremely diverse crew of flawed cohorts.  She finds unplumbed strengths and discovers internal fortitude she was unaware she possessed. 

The Emperor has noticed Amaranthe and these alone brands her as a threat to those plotting against the emperor.  

There is action galore to satisfy the most jaded of readers as well as a touch of magic and monsters to leaven the pot.

I really enjoyed this first book of a series and recommend it.    

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Funeral Games by Jay Allan

This book jumped to a new level.   I enjoyed Shadow of Empire and Enemy in the Dark.   I really enjoyed this book.  Blackhawk comes to grip with his alter ego or past history.   The emissary of the Emperor accelerates his plan to take over the planets of the Far Stars.

Blackhawk’s internal conflict plays a large part in this book.   Conflict rages as well as planetary wide conflicts.

A funeral plays a large part in the plot.   This is space opera at it’s best.

I recommend the book.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

An Illiterate's Confession by William G. Bentrim

Kindle version FREE at Amazon October 8th up to and including October 12, 2019

Spotlight on MAD DOG by Kelly Watt

ABOUT THE BOOK: It's the summer of 1964 and the Supremes are the reigning queens of radio. Sheryl-Anne MacRae dreams of running away from her home on an apple orchard in southwestern Ontario to find her missing mother. But the teenager's plans are put on hold when her uncle and guardian, Fergus, the local pharmacist and an amateur photographer, brings home a handsome young hitchhiker. 

When Sheryl-Anne meets the guitar-toting Peter Lucas Angelo, she falls in love. But life in Eden Valley is not as idyllic as it seems. As the summer progresses, Peter is pulled deeper into Fergus' dangerous underworld – a world of sex, drugs, pornography and apocalyptic visions. 

Through the naïve eyes of the ethereal 14-year old Sheryl-Anne, Kelly Watt explores themes of child abuse and sexual deviance, and the secrets, dissociation and denial that allow it to flourish. 

A gothic tale told in vivid, often hallucinogenic prose, Mad Dog was a 2001 Globe and Mail notable book and Watt's first novel. The book has been republished with a U.S. publisher (an updated edition). 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelly Watt’s award-winning short stories have been anthologized, published internationally and longlisted for the prestigious CBC Radio’s Short Fiction Contest twice (2017/2015). She is the author of two books—the travel companion Camino Meditations (2014), and the gothic novel Mad Dog (2019). Watt lives in the Ontario countryside with her husband, a miniature schnauzer and three diligent chickens. 

• MAD DOG:
• Author's Facebook: LINK 
• Amazon: LINK

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Spotlight on Seven Sides of Self by Nancy Joie Wilkie

 Seven Sides of Self by Nancy Joie Wilkie

Short stories explore the shards of human personality.

Former scientist-turned-artist examines how we seek to understand the world around us.

BROOKEVILLE, Maryland – As a musician, artist, writer, and former scientist, Nancy Joie Wilkie’s first collection of short stories is designed to stimulate the intellect and engage the imagination. “Seven Sides of Self” (Nov. 5, 2019, She Writes Press) explores seven aspects of an individual — the storyteller, the skeptic, the survivor, the saint (or the sinner), the scholar, the seeker, and the savior.

Through the lives of the central characters, Nancy examines themes of battling strong emotions, the lengths we might go to for self-preservation and self-sacrifice, the inability to accept things as different, and taking responsibility for what we create.  Each story seeks to contribute something to our ability to better understand ourselves, the world around us, and the conflicts we all face. Original and thought-provoking, these stories will delight any fan of science-fiction and fantasy.

 

NANCY JOIE WILKIE worked for over 30 years in both the biotechnology industry and as a part of the federal government’s biodefense effort. She served as a project manager, providing oversight for the development of many new products. Now retired, she composes original music, plays a variety of instruments, and records many of her compositions. “Seven Sides of Self” is her first fiction publication. She is currently working on more short stories, a novella, and a science fiction novel. Nancy resides in Brookeville, Maryland. More about Nancy and her work can be found at www.mindsights.net

An Interview with Nancy Joie Wilkie

The stories in “Seven Sides of Self” are so thoughtful and engaging, and at times very personal. What was your creative process

Actually, the stories really are quite personal.  If you know me well, the collection can be thought of a scavenger hunt. There are little pieces of me in each of the seven stories — hence the title. As for my creative process, there is no one magic formula. As an example, “An Intricate Balance” came to me while out on a long walk. I got home and started writing — several hours later, I had the first draft of the story. “The Ledge” is based on my longstanding fear of high places. Pieces of “Journey To Pradix” started out as part of another story. “Microwave Man” came about during a long drive with not much to think about. You just never know when the Muses will show up!

As a former scientist, musician, artist, and now published author, your resume is really impressive. What drew you first to science and then to music and art, and do you see connections between these?

My maternal grandfather was an organic chemist. As a youngster, I would watch him work in his laboratory and always thought, “That’s what I want to do when I grow up,” and so I did!  I’m lucky to have known what I wanted to do; not everyone knows their calling. As for the music and the art, I had two musically gifted grandparents and a bunch of mostly older cousins who were musicians, artists, and writers. They were my inspiration. As for a connection, all of these fields are about creating something — taking what one sees or hears in one’s mind or feels in one’s heart and then bringing the thoughts and feelings out into the real world — hence my moniker: mindsights.

You’ve mentioned what you call “spiritual dynamics,” referring to the connection between souls and physical bodies. Why are you interested in souls, and can a reader find that interest in the book?

Being a distant relative of William Thomson — better known as Lord Kelvin, a major contributor to the Third Law of Thermodynamics — and having been a scientist myself, I have always been interested in the Three Laws of Thermodynamics. After I lost my father to cancer 13 years ago, I started to rethink how I viewed the soul and the afterlife — trying to make some sense of my father’s passing — and then started thinking about our “before life.”  It was then that I thought developing the Three Laws of Spiritual Dynamics would be an interesting analog and might be used in some of my stories. “An Intricate Balance” is really my first venture into that arena. I do plan to more fully explore these ideas in future stories.

Can you talk about the relationship between the stories in this collection?

One set of stories revolves around the life of an author and are, I suppose, loosely connected (“There Once Was A Man …,” “Microwave Man,” and “Old Mims). A second set of stories is set in an incredibly far future and introduces the reader to Mothersouls and the Oversoul (“The Ledge” and “An Intricate Balance”). “Microwave Man” also introduces the reader to the fictional planet of Aurillia and sets the stage for the events told in “Of The Green And Of The Gold.” Lastly, “Journey To Pradix” and “Old Mims” both portray rather exceptional views of our inevitable transition to an afterlife. The stories were never designed to be connected — it just sort of worked out that way. I do plan to introduce additional stories that also will be loosely connected to some of these same topics.

You’ve said that the book is a collection of “original stories for original thinkers.” How do you define an original thinker?

I actually borrowed that line from a much earlier project with which I was involved. I was in a band that played pretty much all-original music — music that dealt with some socially progressive themes. We would play various benefit shows and eventually released a collection of our songs. When I built the website in support of the band and its music, I came up with the phrase “Original music for original minds.” Back then, I defined “an original mind” as someone who is thinking outside the box, someone with different ideas about things the average person hasn’t really considered. I suppose I still think that’s an adequate description. I’d like to think I have an original mind!

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Enemy in the Dark by Jay Allan

This is the second book in the Far Stars series.  Shadow of Empire is the first book in the series. Arkarian Blackhawk is once again the leader of the band.   Marshal Augustin Lucerne is still trying to get the diverse worlds of the Far Stars to unite in a confederation.   His not so secret opponent the imperial governor will go to any lengths to stop him.

Blackhawk tries to distance himself from Lucerne’s plans but finds himself right in the middle again.  The crew of misfits manning Wolf’s Claw, Ark’s ship epitomizes loyalty and resolve.   Allan shows that offering people a 2^nd chance can endear them and incorporate them into a diverse but strong unity.

This book has a lot of action but shows that sacrifice for the greater good although necessary can be extraordinarily painful.

I enjoyed the book.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Blood of Tyrants by Naomi Novik

Captain William Laurence and Temeraire are back.  They are battling Napoleon in defense of the U.K. but are doing so in Russia.  

Laurence is handicapped in this book due to an unforeseen accident.  Temeraire, a Celestial Dragon is beside himself over Laurence’s handicap.  

Laurence’s good will toward dragons serves him well in negotiating with both Chinese and Russian dragons. 

A lot of territory and new characters are introduced.

I apparently missed a couple of books between this one and the last one I read featuring these two Hornblowerish figures.  This book reads well as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the series in order.

I enjoyed the book. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Freehold by Michael Z. Williamson

This book portrays war as brutal and dehumanizing.   A former earth colony is a thorn in a restrictive United Nations of Earth behind.  The contrast between a free society and the restrictive regime characterizes the plot.

Freehold is a planet of free thinkers and open mindedness.   Earth has become a restrictive planet with personal freedoms repressed.   Williamson details a lot of philosophy by example in this work.   Pacelli is an honest woman trying her best when she falls afoul of a conspiracy far above her pay grade.

Williamson does a good job showing the angst that is faced in being totally uprooted and planted in a society that seems familiar but isn’t.

Plenty of action and an excellent read.

I recommend. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Kingmaker by Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes

This is the third book of a trilogy, the first being Spymaster which I might add, I thoroughly enjoyed.   I also enjoyed Privateer which was the second volume.  Thomas the potential king finds the path to ruling a rocky road.  

As I mentioned in the review of Privateer, the plot is complex.   A lot of characters with conflicting agendas.   The reality of politics, compromise and concession forces Thomas and his loyal friends into partnership with previous foes.

Kate and Dalgren find themselves in situations where conscience plays a huge part of their behavior.

There is plenty of action, deceit and betrayal as well as a tiny bit of romance.  The authors successfully and satisfactorily wrap up the trilogy.  I look forward to more books from this pair of authors.

The relationships between characters provide much of the interest to this book.  Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and subordinates forget to subordinate. As an added bonus there are plenty of strong female protagonists so this trilogy would be an ideal gift for young women to encourage them to follow their dreams.

The book was delightfully complex, interesting and captivating.

I highly recommend the trilogy. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Privateer by Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes

This is the second of a trilogy, the first being Spymaster which I might add, I thoroughly enjoyed.   Well nothing changed with the second volume, I loved it as well.   The plot thickens for the man who doesn’t want to be king who is engaged to someone who is in love with his best friend.  While that is complicated, the man who doesn’t want to be king is in love with a person of questionable antecedents.  Said questionable person is best friends with a dragon who has issues of his own.   Now this may sound cumbersome but it comes together beautifully in a book full of action and intrigue.

The complex and confusing loyalties and goals demonstrated by the authors may seem on first blush to be true fantasy.  However, consider for a moment the complexity of the U.S. government doing back door negotiations with a socialist dictator want-to-be while decrying socialism from the highest platform at home.  As complex as this plot is, you can follow it if you pay attention unlike realities current events.

The dragon, Dalgren, plays a large part in the first half of the book but seemingly disappears in the second half.   I was a bit disappointed that he had such little word time in the second half but I am known to be inordinately fond of dragons.

The relationships between characters provide much of the interest to this book.  Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and subordinates forget to subordinate.

The book was delightfully complex, interesting and captivating.

I highly recommend the trilogy. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Untimed by Andy Gavin

This is a time traveling tale of a boy and his unwashed time traveling girlfriend.  They are chased by clockwork travelers who are trying to either change the timeline or maintain it but Charlie and Yvaine aren’t sure which.

The author does paint a graphic portrait of Dickens England.  The romanticized view is more popular than the squalor and corruption view which is more accurate.

My favorite character was Aunt Sophia who saves the day on occasion.

The story was well paced and provided little conflict for the paradox viewpoint.

I enjoyed it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The First Protectors by Victor Godinez

Ben is a medically discharged Seal with a boat load of guilt.   A load of guilt that regardless of the source is crushing his spirit.   Ben finds himself the unwitting and unwilling recipient of an alien gift and suddenly discovers he is once again a warrior.

Warrior and soldier have different meanings and Ben is a warrior and a protector.   Aliens have destroyed another race and possibly other races.  They have turned their targeting systems toward Earth and Ben is the only one who can stop them.

This book is action and then more action. 

It highlights self-sacrifice and personal courage as well as loyalty and duty.

It was a hard to put down and can’t wait for the next one book.

I recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.