Sunday Cover Scramble [95]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until I'm posting the next one to let you know if you are right, allowing others to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. Let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more if no one guesses it correctly.


I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Harry Potter Moment of the Week [42]

This is a meme hosted by Uncorked Thoughts.The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object or quote from the books/ films/ J. K. Rowling herself or anything Potter related! She is picking a topic within HP for us to focus on each week and then if anyone wants to take part feel free! All she asks is to link back to her blog :). There is now a full list of the topics to come here.

First, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

   How do you feel about the HP film cast?
Any that don't fit with the image you had?

So to lay this out, I felt like the majority of the cast was spot on.

We have an excellent Harry, Ron, and Hermione. My gripe with Hermione would be that she's supposed to have bushier hair. While she definitely does in the first couple of movies, that drops down drastically in later years, but it's a small gripe.

I thought Snape couldn't have been any better, nor could have Hagrid. The Weasleys and Dursleys are all good to me.

The Dumbledores do bother me. We had Richard Harris as Dumbledore in the first two, but after he passed we got Michael Gambon. While I have nothing against Michael Gambon at all, his character in the films changed. This could be in part to do with the directors that changed as well, but Dumbledore lost his quiet nature and actually became quite yelly and a bit aggressive which didn't fit with the soft-spoken man from the books.

The villains are absolutely fantastic to me. Lucius Malfoy was perfect. Voldemort was amazing. Draco as well. I LOVED Bellatrix...she was better than I even could've hoped with Helena Bonham Carter.

I was a little flummoxed at Robert Pattinson playing Cedric Diggory since he was supposed to be the most handsome boy in school, and I didn't feel he was all that attractive.

McGonagall, Lupin, and Luna were all amazingly cast. Ginny was off for me since she was so much taller than Harry by the fourth film and the way they brought her to life just aggravated me.

Umbridge too got me a little. I thought Imelda Stauton did an excellent job with the character, but according to the books, she was supposed to look like a frog with a little black bow on her head. She doesn't really have the frog look in my opinion.

Overall though I would say that the casting was done very well. I have very small complaints given that the majority of that very huge ensemble was put together better than I had hoped.

What are your thoughts?

Review: Gears of Brass Anthology

Gears of Brass Anthology

by Jordan Elizabeth, Eliza Tilton, Heather Talty, Susan Kaye Quinn, Clare Weze, Christine Baker, Lorna MacDonald Czarnota, Natalia Darcy , Grant Eagar, S.A. Larsen, J. Million, W. K. Pomeroy

Published: November 10th 2014 by Curiosity Quills Press
Genre: Steam punk
Format: ebook
Source: provided for honest review

Goodreads Summary

A world like ours, but filled with gears of brass, where the beating heart is fueled by steam and the simplest creation is a complex clockwork device.

Within this tome, you’ll find steampunk fairy tale re-tellings, as well as original stories that will send your gears turning.

Welcome to the steampunk realm, with eleven authors guiding your path.

GEARS OF BRASS is a steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills. It will be available for purchase on November 10, 2014. Within the pages, you’ll come across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings. Eleven authors will guide you through worlds filled with airships, top hats, and corsets.

Buy Gears of Brass Anthology Today at Amazon

Height six and half feet. That has to be a mistake. Silly Scribers, unless... are they asking me to kill a baby? I've killed a lot of giants, but even I have morals, and this is one line I'll never cross. Looking away from the words resting in my hands, I ask, "Is this a child?"

The Good

Well I love the retelling of fairy tales. So I liked a little more than others. I loved how they added in the steam punk feel to each one. Red and her mechanical wolves were a fun read for sure.

The Bad

I'm not the biggest fan of short stories as I feel like you don't have enough time to get to know the characters. But that's a personal gripe and I went in knowing short stories were what I would get. The only reason I bring this up is so you know why I only gave it a 3 1/2. The old it's not them it's me bit except this time it's true.

Conclusion

Overall, I did like Gears of Brass and I would love to see longer more in-depth versions of the stories. I really don't feel like I get the chance to know these versions of the characters from the fairy tales. Though the fact that some were darker then you would expect did spice them up. If you enjoy steam punk and short stories you'll probably enjoy Gears of Brass even more then I did.

Excerpts

The thief lord grimaced. "Fools, it's the alarm. That's what happens when you violate a tomb that's been sealed for a millennium. Did any of you think we could steal the greatest treasure in the world without any danger? Be patient, we'll wait and see what befalls the boy."

Redyn stretched out on the boulder. "Come eat me, wolfy. Rip me to shreds." A bubble of laughter exploded from her mouth. Her mother would probably make a toy out of those rags, too.
"And this used to be my daughter," she would say. "Doesn't she make a charming doll?"


He knew his brother had goaded their sister into it. Sweet, innocent, childlike Dora would never think to go into someone else's things without asking. Edward had managed to corrupt the incorruptible. What was Zeus going to say about that?

"It's too delicate a subject for a lady. However, I know that sewer rat fiancé of yours, as well as mine, are Flushers. They integrate themselves into upper society to lure those of us with mechanical works to the Burkers' shop."

Buy Gears of Brass Anthology Today at Amazon

Sunday Cover Scramble [94]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until I'm posting the next one to let you know if you are right, allowing others to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. Let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more if no one guesses it correctly.


I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Harry Potter Moment of the Week [41]

This is a meme hosted by Uncorked Thoughts.The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object or quote from the books/ films/ J. K. Rowling herself or anything Potter related! She is picking a topic within HP for us to focus on each week and then if anyone wants to take part feel free! All she asks is to link back to her blog :). There is now a full list of the topics to come here.

    This is a free week

Since I don't really have much to talk about this week, I decided to link to a post I read about themes, motifs, and symbols found in the Potterverse.

Let me know your thoughts below. I'd love to discuss.

Review: The City Center (The New Agenda #1) by Simone Pond

Published:  October 9th 2013 by Ktown Waters Publishing
Genre: dystopia
Format: ebook
Source: provided for honest review

Goodreads Summary

During the man-made apocalypse in the 21st century, a group of elites killed off a majority of the population. Only two groups of survivors remained––those selected to reside inside the Los Angeles City Center and the rebels, relegated to live on the Outside.

Centuries later, Ava Rhodes is one of five potential successors competing to become the next Queen of the City Center. A week prior to the final competitions she encounters Joseph, a rebel from the Outside, and discovers her utopian home is actually a prison and breeding facility aimed at designing the perfect human. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside world, sending the City Center’s leader, Chief Morray, into an obsessive pursuit for his property. 

Along the journey, Ava falls in love with Joseph and discovers an even darker secret about the fate of her people. She must decide whether to stay with Joseph, or save her people from destruction.

Buy The City Center (The New Agenda #1) by Simone Pond Today at Amazon

"Unlike you, I want to succeed the throne. I was designed to be king. Not a pointless Duke or some pithy Count. And since they stuck me with you, you better get into the game. If I don't win, I promise you will live a long and miserable life." 

The Good

Well the good starts with Ava. Despite being programmed to be a shallow unfeeling elitist, she's caring and friendly. She likes to question what’s told to the masses and it makes her a heroine you can get behind. I also liked the city center and the technologies used inside it. The story itself is believable and easy to get hooked into. Chief Morray makes for a great villain and Dickson does really well as a number one henchman.

The Romance

The romance can be described as love at first sight. Its interesting watching Ava try to figure things out having grown up sheltered like she was.

Conclusion

This is a pretty good dystopian book. It has a strong concept, interesting characters and doesn't leave you with a cliff hanger that drives you nuts. If you enjoy a strong dystopian concept with a very dis-likable villain, I recommend giving it a read.

Excerpts

"I would assume she maintains contact with the mid-rank so she can obtain files from the dark market. We know how women are about their movies," Dickson said.
"No matter how much coding manipulation and reprogramming we do, we can't seem to remove the more menial human desires. That dark-market is an interesting beast."

"I'm not giving her to Morray," Joeseph said.
"You don't have a choice."
"What's that mean?"
"That means your loyalty is to your village. And you will obey my orders."

"Listen to me,  I'm here to help you."
"I'd rather not be helped by a toxic-ridden terrorist." Ava stood in a warrior stance, preparing for battle.
"Look, I only have a few minutes. I really need you forget everything you've been told about the Outsiders. We aren't terrorists."

Buy The City Center (The New Agenda #1) by Simone Pond Today at Amazon

Sunday Cover Scramble [93]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until I'm posting the next one to let you know if you are right, allowing others to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. Let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more if no one guesses it correctly.


I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Harry Potter Moment of the Week [40]

This is a meme hosted by Uncorked Thoughts.The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object or quote from the books/ films/ J. K. Rowling herself or anything Potter related! She is picking a topic within HP for us to focus on each week and then if anyone wants to take part feel free! All she asks is to link back to her blog :). There is now a full list of the topics to come here.

     First, I would like to say Happy Birthday to my favorite Potterhead, Zane!

He is turning 12 today :D

Which Weasley Character Would You Be?

While I love all of the Weasleys for different reasons, who I would be is a little bit of a different story. I feel like I would love being Ginny Weasley. She's got all those big brothers that look out for her, but had to make a name for herself among them. She's tough, brave, intelligent, funny. Also, though she's not in the 'three' like Ron, she is on the outskirts enough to make life interesting for her. I would want to be her grown up with kids though. She's playing Quidditch and reporting on it while travelling around the world, married and happy with a family. She's got so many amazing stories in her past to think on, but is fully content at the moment.

Which Weasley would you be?

Book Blitz: Gears of Brass - A Steampunk Anthology

 

 A world like ours, but filled with gears of brass, where the beating heart is fueled by steam and the simplest creation is a complex clockwork device. 

Within this tome, you’ll find steampunk fairy tale re-tellings, as well as original stories that will send your gears turning. 

Welcome to the steampunk realm, with eleven authors guiding your path. 

Gears of Brass is a steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills. Within the pages, you’ll come across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings. Eleven authors will guide you through worlds filled with airships, top hats, and corsets.

TEASERS (each teaser is from a different tale in the anthology)

“Stealing a few steps backward, I reached for him and brushed my fingertips along his cheek. Static energy crept across my palm. It glowed blue and pulled like taffy, sticking to my fingertips, then snapping back to his skin. My hand jerked back so hard I hit myself in the chest. My eyes traipsed down his neck, his shoulders, finally stopping at his midsection. It was almost as though I could see inside him. “  

“The guards struggled forward, but failed to move even an inch. Everyone was frozen in place, except the uninvited guest. The man floated toward Lord and Lady Miller. “You see, my lord, your wife made a deal with me that cannot be broken. Your daughter is mine.”  

“I swiped my hand across my nose, wishing I could smell the green of the trees. Eyes burning, I swallowed hard, feeling the incision in my throat where they’d cut out my sinus enhancer. I would never be able to smell my exotic perfumes again.”  

“Anthie watched the lissom liquid slip inside the carrying tube. I could see her inhaling the smell of the lubricating oil. So could Dr. Holmgren. From time to time he looked across at us through his reinforced goggles. They gave him the appearance of a baby owl, which was at odds with his general nastiness. I knew he was taking everything in. And I knew he had a special eye on Anthie.”  

“In a hidden room deep inside the base of the great clock there was a click, a whir of gears, a valve opened, and the key chamber was flooded with air. Several minutes later, Bella awoke. The girl coughed, choked then screamed as blood began to once again flow through her veins: the first time in a millennium.”  

“Something growled near to her right. The hairs along Redyn’s arms stood up and she held her breath. The sound came again, deep, guttural. Redyn turned her head, her lips parted, her gaze scanning the forest. They’d told her not to wander far from the cottage, but they couldn’t have expected her to play with that hideous excuse for a doll near everyone else. A wolf crept out of the shadows, his gray fur standing on end like hers.”  

“Three years ago, your father ruined my life. He terminated my family’s reputation.”
 “Um…” Amethyst wished she could back up further. Wind pushed at her top hat, so she shoved it up higher to straighten it. “I don’t understand.”
 “Now, I’ll ruin his life.”  

 BUY Links: Amazon / B&N and Kobo soon

Add to Goodreads 

 Learn more about the authors behind Gears of Brass
over at Curiosity Quills Press   

Don’t forget to enter the mega giveaway below! 

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Review: The Hangman by Dee Rose

Published: September 29th 2014 Outskirts Press
Genre: Paranormal, Angel, Demon, Vampire
Format: paper back
Source: provided for honest review
ISBN: 9781478739692
Pages: 327
S.R.P.: $21.95

Goodreads Summary

Kente Cromwell Sr. is murdered by his neighbors for committing adultery with one of his neighbor's wives. He escapes purgatory by making a deal with a demon, which includes him avenging his death and sending the souls of his killers to the underworld. He returns to earth with new demonic powers and a new name - the Hangman. However, things don't go as he plans and he reluctantly gets involved in war for the fate of mankind between demons, angels, vampires and vampire hunters. His newfound powers are the key to the war and he must decide to join the demon whose powers he possesses or join the angel who has sworn to destroy him and return him to purgatory.

Buy The Hangman by Dee Rose Today at Amazon

"Be warned, Kente." Frank took a deep breath and exhaled. "Once you use a spell from this journal, it does something to you."

"Like what?"

"It's in the beginning of the journal. My father said he started feeling weird. He started wanting to use more and more black magic like it was an addictive drug."Frank shook his head. "The ideal of attaining more power consumed him. I'm counting on your good nature to resist that."

The Good

I liked how he brought four different types together to make the hero team. A vampire slayer that's chosen by a magical blade gifted to the first Vampire Hunter. A demon hunter following in his father’s footsteps. And then The hangman and the Angel sent to bring him back to purgatory. I loved all the different enemies they get to face from vampires to Demon possessed psychopaths. Something else I really enjoyed is the snarky moments sprinkled throughout the book. It's not all serious doom and gloom.

The Bad

It did start off a bit slow for me. Rose takes the time to lay background for The Hangman and then bounced suddenly to other characters in the story. At first I wasn't a fan, but as you see why the time is taken to lay out background for the 4 heroes, it makes sense.

The Romance

No real romance to speak though it does have a bit of lust in the beginning.

Conclusion

Overall, I really liked The Hangman. While it left me with a few questions, it delivered as far as the fighting and character building went. I felt like I knew each of the heroes, and at the same time I felt I knew who the villains were. More than just evil actions and deeds, you get the chance to know the vampires in particular. If you enjoy vampires or angel and demon books then you should give this one a read.

Excerpts

"Well, Bobby, looks like we came along just in time. Do you have a condom?" BA asked.
"No sir," Bobby responded.
"Just as I thought. Take this young lady home, Bobby. And shame on you."


BA's grip tightened. "Who or what are you running from?"
"My name is Larry Whitmore. And Cromwell has somehow come back from the grave. Now who are you?"
"People call me the Bad Angel."
"You're an angel?" Whitmore stopped struggling. "As hard as it is to believe, I think I'm going to have to believe it after seeing Cromwell. This means I'm dead then?"
"Not quite, Larry. I'm sorry about this, but I need some bait."


"I am Hangoctuforre, and one of the vampires you vanquished was one of my sworn enemies. I'd finally tracked him to this place."
"So you are one of the good guys?"
"Ha, ha, ha. I wouldn't say that. I just have enemies."

Buy The Hangman by Dee Rose Today at Amazon

Sunday Cover Scramble [92]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until I'm posting the next one to let you know if you are right, allowing others to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. Let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more if no one guesses it correctly.


I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Sidekick Showcase [91] - Bearded

Sidekick Showcase is a monthly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on the first Saturday of the month, then whichever day during the month that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, click the 'Sidekicks' link in my header and enter the link for your post. Here, you can also see anyone else that posted during the month to visit their Sidekick Showcase's as well.

Topic ideas for November are Soldier (November 10 is the birthday of the United States Marine Corps), Children (National Homeless Youth Awareness Month) or bearded folk (No Shave November).That being said and since I rock a beard myself I chose my favorite bearded sidekick.

My choice is Balin
from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

You may be wondering what makes him standout from the other dwarves in the fellowship. Well despite being the second oldest in the group he is the first to accept Bilbo and start showing him respect.  Balin has a good heart and is loyal as he is the only one willing to accompany Bilbo down the secret passage to Smaug. Of all the dwarves he is the only one that is mentioned to visit him at Bag End. He also has a great sense of humor and shows it when Bilbo explains how he used the ring to turn invisible and so sneak up on the group after escaping the goblins.

Quotes:

“Gollum! Well I’m blest! So that’s how he sneaked past me, is it? Now I know! Just crept quietly along did you, Mr. Baggins? Buttons all over the doorstep! Good old Bilbo—Bilbo—Bilbo—bo-bo-bo—“ And then he fell asleep, and there was complete silence for a long while.

---

"Well it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and quietly under my very nose and not been spottted," said Ballin," and I take off my hood to you." Which he did.

---

Balin: Wouldn't bother, lad. Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war.
Bilbo Baggins: What are you saying? That my sword hasn't seen battle?
Balin: Not actually sure it is a sword. More of a letter opener, really.

---

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Author Interview: Dane Richter

What inspired Hunt for the Star (The Eldon Archives #1)?

Simply a desire to do something with my life and to leave something behind that people can experience (and hopefully enjoy) long after I'm gone. Fantasy is my favourite genre so that was the logical choice. That's pretty much all there is to it. That's what gave me the drive and that's how it got done. There was no "burning" story itching to get out and the writing part of it, to be frank, sucked. But chipping away one line at a time, one page at a time gave me that sense of accomplishment which was very rewarding in itself. I gave up many Friday and Saturday nights (mostly because of a lack of money and a professional commitment to my chosen sport track and field) so I think my life choices gave me time and writing a novel was how I chose to spend it.

There are scenes that are inspired by life - for instance when the Shenaar (snakemen) are running days on end, and also I love the History Channel although references there are often miniscule. At one point our heroes follow an aqueduct which was of course taken from the Romans who used aqueducts to fuel their water-lavish lifestyle. These aqueducts constructed around the time of Christ would extend for miles. The reference in Hunt for the Star is small but its meaning is explained in book 2. I've got lots of little things like that in my writing.


What was your favorite fantasy novel growing up?

I wasn't your typical book worm that grew up to become a writer, I was much more into sports. Having said that, as a youngster I enjoyed Enid Blyton's work - The Wishing Chair and The Faraway Tree and her adventure books; The Famous Five series. After that there was a bit of a gap where I concentrated more on sports and studies. When I finished school I picked up books like Lord of the Rings, Magician, Shanara series, Forgotten Realms, Star Wars Thrawn trilogy, Belgariad etc the list goes on. But by this point I was near enough to 20 - does that count as being grown up? So I guess to answer your question I'd say I didn't have a favourite book (I've never read a book twice) but Blyton's work fascinated me when I was young.


Which character was your favorite to write about?

Ko-jah. Why is your sword sheathed? If your sword is drawn, why is it not bloodied? There is directness and in that there is trustworthiness. He is loyal and always a chance to work in a bit of humour. There is a lot to like about Ko-jah. Having said that, Hunt for the Star is a book about heroes and heroes tend to have plain objectives and are governed by rules. Fast forward into book 2 and beyond and I spend time on the sorcerer, the black knight and a leprous prophet. These guys are villains. Villains often have hidden agendas and aren't governed by rules which makes them more entertaining and complex to write about.

At the moment I am writing about a character in book 3 that is an assassin with a superiority complex and a fascination with killing, yet he must adhere to a code which allows him one mark at a time. I suppose he's kind of like a medieval Dexter and this character is really running things with my pen. You know it's a good character when they write themselves. I'm very excited about it!


If Hunt for the Star was made into a movie, who would you like to see play Ko-jah?

Getting a book published was a pipe dream so I guess having it made into a movie is a pipe dream of a pipe dream and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't entertained that thought at least once. However, I've never really thought beyond that. Ko-jah is not a complex character. He's big, brutal and when there is something to be said he tells it like it is. Without thinking about it too much I reckon The Undertaker has the right vibe to pull it off. Tyler Mane is also an imposing figure and we already know he can play what I believe to be a similar character (portrayed Sabretooth in X-men)


Also would you prefer a live action movie of your book or a animated movie?

Always had thought live action, but I recently watched a remake of an anime called Berserk which was extremely well-done (graphically) although I prefer the original anime since the movie cut quite a few scenes. The animated Beowulf was also a great example of an animated movie so if that was on offer I think Hunt for the Star would look awesome.


Do you need anything to write? (particular snack, drink, music) Do you prefer it to be quiet or do you like a bit of background noise?

Peace and quiet is ideal. I like my cups of tea and this year I have experimented with classical music whilst writing. At the moment it's 17th century classical music - seems to get me in the mood to write town or village scenes.


If you had to write in a different genre other than fantasy which one would you pick?

Horror I think is just a short leap away from what I am/have done, as is scifi. Honestly, I think I could have a crack at anything even erotica, however a "50 Shades of Ko-jah" might read somewhat abrasive.


You're stuck at the airport about to take a long flight. You can have one book to take with you and it can't be your own, which one do you choose?

I have recently acquired the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks in one big book and I have read #1 on its own and loved it. He's definitely one of the better fantasy authors going around IMO. Then there is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I haven't read this one yet but it's VERY high on my to read list. So I guess it's a toss up between the hype of TNotW vs NA trilogy - which I know will deliver. Maybe it's a bit unfair but I am leaning towards Brent Weeks because I can enjoy three books in one.

See Matt's Review

Goodreads Summary

Edoria is at war. Artos Hestrom retreats back to his home town of Corsin where he is given the task of retrieving a powerful crystal called the Eldon Star. The ageing Artos uses lies and deceit to procure people to help him on the journey and the plight of a half-man, half-elf called Chet, provides the perfect cover. Artos' nephew, Ethan, freely volunteers to accompany him without knowing his true motives, but Ethan's death has been foreseen in a vision. Knowing that Ethan would certainly die if he continues on the journey, Artos must choose between the fate of his family and the fate of the world.

Standing in his way is the evil Sorcerer, Ruehl, who has waged war in Edoria with his blood-thirsty hordes of Kròkos. Ruehl uses his minions to relentlessly scour the land for the crystal. Betrayals, challenges and loss set up a final confrontation with the evil Sorcerer where there can be only one victor.

About Dane Richter:

Born in 1981, Dane Richter spent his early life growing up on a farm located about an hour east of Perth, Western Australia. A love of Enid Blyton’s works first introduced him to the world of fantasy and adventure and with time, shifted to works by Tolkien, Feist and Tad Williams which opened a wider spectrum of the fantasy genre.

Although a deep-seeded passion for adventure and storytelling existed, during his high school years he had an aptitude for sport, excelling at track and field. Quickly rising up the ranks of Australia’s elite, he represented Australia in high jump at the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2000. He continued athletics for over a decade with personal bests of 2.19m in the high jump and 50.46s in the 400m hurdles and although he won numerous Australian national medals, a career dogged by injury saw him missing out on the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. 

Writing was a passion for Dane throughout his track and field career, beginning in 1999 and finishing the first draft of Hunt for the Star in 2003. With education and sport a primary focus, time afforded to writing was limited. Dane honed his skill over the next few years with affiliations to Tom Collins Writers House and the Speculative fiction group KSP Writers centre, whilst penning a sequel, Rise of the Deceiver.

Dane completed a Bachelor degree in Commerce majoring in Accounting and Marketing in 2003 and worked in coaching and education over the next ten years with a brief stint as a freelance writer in 2006, publishing 23 articles as a sports writer for the Perth metro and country based paper, Community News Group.

In 2011 Dane was introduced to Hal Colebatch - a contributing author to Larry Niven’s military sci-fi series, The Man-Kzin Wars. With Hal’s mentoring, Dane got his start with a small independent press who published the paperback version of Hunt for the Star in 2012. In 2013 Dane released the ebook, which is available on Amazon.

Harry Potter Moment of the Week [39]

This is a meme hosted by Uncorked Thoughts.The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object or quote from the books/ films/ J. K. Rowling herself or anything Potter related! She is picking a topic within HP for us to focus on each week and then if anyone wants to take part feel free! All she asks is to link back to her blog :). There is now a full list of the topics to come here.

     Best Luna Moment

My favorite Luna moment wasn't even in the movies. Oddly enough, she wasn't even there. 

Luna's Best Moment for me:

When the trio visited Luna's house in Deathly Hallows. They walked up to her bedroom, and Harry saw hand painted drawings of himself, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Ginny with the word 'friends' in a gold chain linking all the pictures.

We learn so much when we see a person's private space. She cherished their friendship and it was brought to life with this picture she had hanging on her ceiling where she would see it when drifting off to sleep or lying there day dreaming.

Luna is my absolute favorite character in the story. She's not afraid to be herself, so quirky, and so positive about everything. She's quick to make me laugh with one little line of dialogue ("Is that why you dyed your eyebrow, for the party? Should I do mine, too?") She's the absolute stand-out in the story with her odd nature, brilliant mind, deeply caring attitude, and brave demeanor. 

What do you think?

Review: Seams in Reality (Seams in Reality #1) by Alex Siegel

Published: September 27th 2014 by Amazon Digital Services
Genre: Sci-Fi, Magic
Format: ebook
Source: provided for honest review

Goodreads Summary

SEAMS IN REALITY is the first book in the Seams in Reality Series. As a freshman in a suburban college near Chicago, Andrew leads an ordinary life until he meets Tonya, a strange woman with an even stranger secret. She is a master sorcerer, and he becomes one of her apprentices. Tonya's other apprentice is a resourceful young woman named Charley, and they aren't the only sorcerers in the world. The United States government has an entire bureau responsible for controlling them and the special seams which enable magic. Andrew's new life takes a dangerous turn when he meets Blake, a sorcerer who knew his grandfather. Blake's thirst for power leaves a trail of casualties, and in the end, only Andrew can stop him.

Buy Seams in Reality (Seams in Reality #1) by Alex Siegel Today at Amazon

"You've been suppressing your power your whole life," Tonya said. You instinctively knew it would set you apart and frighten others. It even frightened you. At some level, you weren't ready to deal with it. You're ready now, and in this place, you have no choice. Stop fighting. Open your inner eye."

The Good

First, I loved the way magic worked in the book...that seams were needed to cast most spells and that being around them too long could cause to you to lose your grip on reality. I love that the government knew about sorcerers and even tried the kill them all before deciding it was smarter to have some of them work for you and then have those sorcerers guard the known seams. I also like the two main characters, Andrew and Charley. Blake made for an interesting villain without having an overpowered feel to him.

The Bad

I don't really have any complaints. At least nothing comes to mind.

The Romance

The Romance is between Andrew and his fellow apprentice Charley. He wants to date her but Charley is hesitant since they work together. Plus, she's had a few bad relationships that make her a bit hesitant to focus on anything other than her magic. On the other hand, he knows how he feels about her and thinks that being with her outweighs any risk.

Conclusion

Overall, I really liked this book. If you enjoy a great concept with a magic theme then this is the book for you. The characters were able to pull me in and make me care about how things turned out for them. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. I need to know what happens next!!!!

Excerpts

"Enjoying yourself?" The old woman said calmly.
"I am Sir Marcus! State your buisness, wench, or I shall run you through with my sword of reckoning!"
She shook her head sadly. "This is exactly what I was afraid of. You had a tiny taste of power, and you immediately lost your grip on reality. Now you're trapped in a delusion."
"You speak, but your words make no sense, foul maid!"
"You're Andrew Kenworthy."
"No!" he yelled. "I'm Sir Marcus, Lord of the Realm."
"You're a young man standing in the basement of the Fine Arts Building of Theosophical University. I might add you have a rather silly expression on your face. It's embarrassing."


"Like I got hit in the head," Andrew said."All of a sudden, I'm a sorcerer and part of a goverment conspiracy at the same time. Being near the seam woke up something inside me I didn't know was asleep."


"The point is sprites can kill. They suck up our thoughts and memories like little vacuum cleaners. They feed on our imagination. They aren't real until we make them so with the power of belief. Until now, I've been protecting you from them while you train."

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When life's kicking your butt...how about a theme song? [11]

My friend Robyn from robgirlbooks tasked us with coming up with a theme song each month, and I love it! Music is a VERY big part of my life. This month is Foreign Songs. It was incredibly hard for me to find one this month.

I chose this one because I used to jam to it as a teenager with my best friend as young girls often will. I know, I know...it doesn't have a lot of another language in it, but it's the best I could do:

What is your choice this month??

Sunday Cover Scramble [91]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until I'm posting the next one to let you know if you are right, allowing others to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. Let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more if no one guesses it correctly.


I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.

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ARC Review: Organ Reapers by Shay West

Published:October 31st 2014 by Booktrope
Genre: Sci-Fi
Format: ebook
Source: provided for honest review

Goodreads Summary

Detective Elliott “Eli” Robinson and his new partner, Ava Aguilar, are baffled by a series of brutal murders happening in their fair city. 

No evidence, no eyewitnesses...only mutilated corpses with missing internal organs.

When Eli and Ava stumble upon evidence of similar gruesome crimes around the globe, they realize there is more to the murders, but the answers continue to elude them. In a race against time, Eli and Ava must figure out who is behind the killings and stop them before more people die.

But the answers will take them out of their comfort zone and into the realm of the fantastic: another world with a different set of rules, and a leader who has no qualms about killing.

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"I'm not saying that this is a fantasy come to life." She leaned forward. "Have you ever heard of those guys that play Dungeons and Dragons?"

"Yeah."

"What if we're dealing with a group that is playing their own made up version of a Dungeons and Dragons? Maybe they even have a King and Queen or something they take orders from."

The Good

I enjoyed the setting quite a bit with this story. The concept was fun and fresh for me as well. Eli and Ava were very believable as detectives for me and I loved Tani and Keena as Harvesters. Master Kelhar was a total douche which works since he was the villain in the book. I liked that the two worlds were at different levels technology wise and that the one with the harvesters was at a lower level...hence their need to harvest organs in such a desperate way.

The Bad

My only complaint is that they never explain where the machine came from that allowed them to travel between worlds. Though I guess that leaves the door open for a second novel.

The Romance

Let’s see, there's tension between Eli and Ava and Tani and Keena. So if you like romantic tension there is plenty of it here. Some is innocent and light and then some you could cut with a knife.

Conclusion

I really liked this book. I was able to get into it right away and it held my interest. The story was fresh and the characters were fun and believable. Some you couldn't help but root for while the villain was able to earn your disdain with little effort. I totally recommend it.

Excerpts

"Just to warn you, this plan of mine is crazy and dangerous but it's the only thing I could come up with. If anyone has their own ideals or stuff to add to the plan, I'd love to hear it."


His partner nodded. "I don't get it. The only thing all of our cases have in common is the damned bright light. What does it mean?"
"I'm still going with aliens."
Ava raised her eyebrow.
"No, Really. They've been abducting us humans for all these years, studying us. Now they're here for our organs to make a nice soup."

About Shay West

Shay West was born in Longmont, CO and earned a doctorate degree in Human Medical Genetics from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical. Dr. West currently lives in Grand Junction, CO with her two cats. When not writing novels, she plays with plushie microbes and teaches biology classes at Colorado Mesa University. She is the author of the Portals of Destiny series and the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series. She has also been published in several anthologies: Battlespace (military scifi), Orange Karen: Tribute to a Warrior (fundraiser), and Ancient New (steampunk/fantasy).

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Buy Organ Reapers by Shay West Today at Amazon