Kiku the Paladin Princess Trailer Premier

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The Shelterings by Sarah Beth Durst

An admitted fan, I was not surprised to like this book.   Durst reveals her love of talking animals.  I, too, am fond of anthropomorphism.  It can be found in my own books.   This book provides some serious lessons on self-acceptance and acceptance of others.  

Holly is a squirrel whose self-image was severely damaged when she supped from the magic pool and found her resultant magic skill was not well regarded by a wizard’s council.  Relegated to a home for rejects, Holly tries to make all who arrive feel better about themselves. 

The story is written at a very young adult or mid to late elementary school age.  However, it provides lessons that would well serve any age. 

The magic skills of the wayward home rejects are amusing.  The story has very mild conflict and should be suitable for any age child. 

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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson

This is one of those books whose title is far more appropriate than immediately realized.  Lydia is a translator for the Logi.   The Logi are aliens who have come to earth.  The story takes place in a stylized NYC.  Stylized in that after global warming flooded a lot of NYC the mayor froze the city in a Disney-like state of unreality, in essence making it a glorified theme park.  The Logi are telepathic but only very few humans have the attributes necessary for training as translators.   Lydia is assigned to Fitz, the Logi Cultural Attache.  

A murder occurs, Lydia becomes involved and discovers a conspiracy.   She ends up collaborating with Madison, a Logi that she feels is condescending.  

The drunk part comes from the impact translating for the Logi.   The mental effort leads to a mental impact that is surprisingly like alcohol drunkenness.

A thought-provoking and entertaining 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

EMERGENCY LOCATING DEVICE, The Locator911 Bulb

This is not a paid post and I have no financial interest in the product.  I am aware it had nothing to do with books but I feel it is a very important product which may save lives.

I live in a great community but the homes are nearly identical in appearance.  I’ve had service technicians drive by my home in the daylight and then drive by again.   If we ever need a first responder to find our home, I do NOT want to depend on faulty GPS data.  One of my neighbors found this product and I am delighted to have it.   In a very insecure world, I feel a little more secure.  

This product is simply a lightbulb.  It will strobe red, white, and blue when you call 911.  This makes it easy for first responders to find your home.   At $39.00 it is the least expensive peace of mind I’ve found. 

This link takes you to the company’s website to purchase.   I reiterate I have no financial incentive to recommend this product.

Here are a few tips on the bulb installation.
If you have an Android phone you may have issues connecting.
My phone would not connect but my wife's phone did. After connecting the software on my phone saw the bulb. Their website has a menu bar at the top with support, contacts, etc. On three out of four of my computers, there was no menu bar. If you need help and don't see the menu bar, try another computer.

Finally, if it sounds too complex for your taste, the company president told me in three weeks to a month they will be releasing a new bulb called the Freedom Bulb which will not use phones or wifi. It will come with a remote and installation will have no software.

I've got the bulb installed and I hope to never need it.

Deuces Are Wild by O.E. Tearmann

 This appears to be a dystopian type novel.  Sometime in the future, the United States has become a corporation or multiple corporations running things.   Without a back story, it is hard to say for sure.   This is book six in a series which is, no doubt, worth reading but this really doesn’t cut it as a stand-alone.

I like Tweak, the coder, and Liza the obsessive, insecure organizer or something.

I highly recommend reading the preceding books before reading this book.  I think I would have enjoyed the 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

IN THE SHADOW OF LIGHTNING by Brian McClellan

I want the sequel and I WANT it now.   Pretty obvious I enjoyed the book.   I don’t usually start my review with my conclusions.   A family dominated empire finds itself under military assault while simultaneously dealing with the potential loss of it’s magical under pinning and a mysterious and sinister subversive movement.

The protagonist is a broken, brilliant glass dancer whose brilliance led to his emotional destruction.   Demir Grappo struggles with his self-image and self-confidence after failing to stop his extraordinary victory from becoming a decayed albatross on his legacy. Simplistically the plot is his redemption in both his own mind and in the minds of his populace and peers.   Of course it is far more complex than that and just the interpersonal relations are filled with drama.

I found myself speedreading because I couldn’t wait to see what was next and then going back because I didn’t want to miss any details.

I really loved the book and highly 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Albion Initiative by George Mann

Sir Maurice, Inspector Bainbridge and Veronica are back.  Amelia is given a larger role in this book.   Queen Victoria decides that the Secret Service is a threat and uses her personal agents to clean house.  Our characters are caught in her paranoia.

Mann does a good job with his plot and characters.  Amelia, as an example, is allowed to grow from a minor, physically frail character into a main protagonist.

The amount of carnage would seem to preclude these books getting a young adult categorization.

This was a good story and it is a series 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned