REVIEW: "The Venom of Vipers" by K. C. May

BRAND NEW RELEASE! 

Imagine a world where humans have created a new species, a species designed to be the saviors of mankind. In 2023, people are dying of the Moliomyositis at an alarming rate and the entire population will be killed off in short order, unless a cure can be found. Henry Marsh has engineered an entire species, the Homo sapiens heredis, or "saphers," in an effort to find a cure for Molio.  His research is on the cutting edge and he may be closer than he thinks, but time is quickly running out...

The saphers live in a compound that offers them everything they could possibly want or need...except their freedom. Henry's daughter, Katie, grew up amongst these saphers and has developed a special relationship with one in particular, Ryder Stone. After several years away, Katie is back to take on the role of reproductive scientist. None of the sapher women can maintain a pregnancy longer than 7 weeks, and this inability to reproduce threatens their continued existence. As they are being groomed to take over if- or when- humans become extinct, this is quite unacceptable. To complicate matters, there are activists on the outside clamoring for the destruction of the entire sapher species.

Together, Katie and Ryder work together to discover secrets and betrayals, as well as hope and possibility, as they battle for the continued existence of the sapher people. Can they find a way to guarantee freedom and the continued existence of the species? Is there any hope left for the human species?

K. C. May has spun another captivating tale. With this second novel, she once again proves that she knows how to string a story to maintain reader interest. The story flows along cleanly, and the transitions are smooth and do much to carry the reader along. The storyline itself is quite engaging. The idea that a virus could be slowly killing off the entire human population is not too out of the realm of possibility, and some of the ideas the author introduces in this tale are quite amazing, yet believable. It was a compelling read that was able to sweep me away.

The author crafts believable and intriguing characters, and I found myself rooting for some while feeling pity for others. As in her previous title, "The Kinshield Legacy," the characters are complex, without "good or bad," only shades of individuality. Although the character development was good, the conversations between characters didn't ring quite as true to me as the dialogue in the previous novel. This novel takes place in a time period more similar to modern-day time, so the language used by the characters is also quite different. Regardless, to me, the phrasing in the dialogue wasn't as rich and vibrant as I had come to expect based on the previous novel.

The ending itself was satisfying in terms of giving closure to the story (without giving anything away here!), but was a bit too "tied together" for me. I would have enjoyed a little more ambiguity, leaving room open for more varied predictive interpretation of the immediate and distant future of both species. That is just a personal preference; the actual ending works as it is written.

**I received a digital ARC of this title, and it's possible that some changes have been made in the book since my copy. Small details I noticed: it seemed "ASP" and "ASAP" were used interchangeably to name the guards, and I never quite caught onto whether they could be called either. Another thing was that whenever Nelson is thinking of Katie, the narrative calls her "Marsh," which was a little confusing, as I immediately thought of her father, Henry. As the narration is third person and omniscient, being consistent in the names used in the narration to refer to characters would offer consistency for the reader, while still allowing the characters to call the other characters whatever they like in dialogue.

Altogether, a compelling and fascinating read. Just as with K. C. May's first novel, I found it really hard to put this book down. Recommended!

4.5 /5 stars

Now available on Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble!

**Edited to add that the things I noted (ASP/ASAP and Katie/Marsh) were intentional, as the story is told from various POV throughout the storyline.

REVIEW: "The Eye of the Storm" by William L. K.

"Danger lurks in the shadows for the royal siblings Dmitri and  Becki.  
The loyalty of family is tested as the eye of the storm approaches."

Dmitri and Becki live on the planet of Stritonoly where all children not born into nobility learn only art and religion. The main exports of Stritonoly are sculptures made of the mesmerizing purple purock that is unique to this planet. The acidel, small and numerous, work as slaves on Stritonoly, tirelessly cutting away the purock for the artisans to sculpt. Life has continued in just this way for ages, but it's about to change. The eye of the storm is coming, and will leave a different world in its wake.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this novel to review and it's difficult to talk more about the storyline without giving something away. Suffice it to say, there is heavy symbolism and some interesting metaphors that are further explained in the epilogue of the story. Taken as a whole, this book was engaging, with a quirky style. The beginning of the story immediately drew me in, but confused me. It wasn't until I read to the end and then reread the beginning that it all made sense. The beginning is a foreshadowing of things to come, and the first chapter is another foreshadowing; it isn't until the second chapter of the book that we start learning what has led the characters on their journeys. The overall result is somewhat of a circle with a small tail; we end up right where we started towards the end of the book, and then we move on to the ending.

This book wasn't like much of the science fiction I have experienced in the past; it took a different approach. Parts of this story read more like an ethnography of the Stritonoly people, taking care to explain various aspects of their society and what it meant for the people who live there. Parts of the story read a bit like a philosophy of religion, with profound ideas and a discussion of faith. The writing style was generally simple, with poetic phrasing interspersed with the simple sentences, adding to the quirkiness of the story. The plot elements were a mish-mash of various elements, all centering around one of the main characters. It's the type of book that may require a second or third look to catch all the little references you may have missed the first time around.

The characters in this story have clear personalities, but they are somewhat unrealistic; at times some appear to gain wisdom and unexpectedly gush erudite philosophy. As a result, this was not a book I was able to fully immerse myself into, yet I read it with interest, much as I would watch a documentary. The world created was engrossing and the plot was stimulating. There is a lot to infer in this relatively short book rife with symbolism and metaphor.

I would have liked to see the connections in the story made tighter, a more seamless weave between the main elements of the story. I think perhaps less may then need to be explained in the epilogue and readers could glean some of that information from the story itself. I think the same could be said for some of the philosophical and ethnographical aspects of the story; tempering those aspects may let more of the reader's imagination through. Once I started catching on to a major subplot, I was compelled to read the story through to the end, but a more clearly structured plot would have increased my enjoyment even more. In general, engaging and interesting, with a lot of potential.

3 /5 stars

The official release date for this story is Dec 11th, check out William L. K.'s blog for more information!

The author has also informed me that he has made several changes to the book since my review copy was sent out, and will likely be making more before the final release date, so be sure to check out his final copy due out on Dec 11th!

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY! "Roses of Doom" by S.P. Wish

"When horror strikes..............black roses are left behind.

A school camping trip leads quirky middle schooler Mizu, her twin brother Kaji, her friend Akumu and school newspaper reporter Seiya to a mysterious mansion in Greenfire Forest. In the mansion, Mizu's friend is swallowed up by a hole that opens up and closes instantly! Many other unexplained happenings follow until Mizu discovers an old newspaper with information about a centuries old intrigue which has remained hidden till now..........and no person who knows of its existence is allowed to live......."

Written by the writing duo of S. P. Wish, this is a YA horror novel. I'll be reviewing this book in the upcoming weeks, but you don't need to wait for my review. Why not pick up your own copy right now, as it's FREE on Smashwords for a limited time only! No games to play, no contest to win, no need to follow or leave a comment (but please feel free to follow or leave a comment!)- anyone can download this book today, in a variety of formats. Be sure to take a few minutes to write your own review on Smashwords or Goodreads (or any other location you choose) to help other readers decide if this is the right book for them. 

Still deciding? Watch the book trailer on YouTube!

"The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan

Just for fun, I just read Rick Riordan's "The Lost Hero." My son brought it home from his school library and finished it in one night, so I took it and did the same the next night. I really enjoyed his Olympians series with Percy Jackson, but my favorite book by Rick Riordan (so far) has been "The Red Pyramid" from his Kane Chronicles. The second book doesn't come out until next spring, unfortunately. There is just something about ancient Egypt that has the Greek (and Roman) gods beat, in my book!

Have any of you ever read his books for adults? I haven't, but may check one out at some point when I have some free time ;)

REVIEW: "Meet Me in Nuthatch" by Jacqueline T. Lynch

Nuthatch, a tiny town in Massachusetts, is slowly fading away. Day by day, the population dwindles as people move away to find new opportunities and a better life. When the population is down to a scant 63, Everett, a lifetime resident, decides on a quirky plan to draw tourism. Soon, the town residents are dressing like it's 1904, and their mannerisms and choices begin to reflect that era. Tourism does increase, and the town begins to draw the attention of the media. The next thing Everett knows, a huge amusement park company has plans to purchase the entire town and create jobs and opportunity for its residents in the Nuthatch 1904 theme. Now Everett, who has never known- or wanted- any other life, must decide if his future lies in Nuthatch or somewhere else.

In "Meet Me In Nuthatch," Jacqueline T. Lynch has created small-town characters who ring true. The various connections between these characters help to show the years of history they have together. There is Roy, the town drug dealer, who has terrorized this tiny town and several of its residents personally. Everett, who isn't quite happy in his life, and is haunted by poor choices he made that put his best friend, Bud, a member of the only Black family in town, at risk. Miss Finchley, the unofficial town historian, has a lot invested in her town her choices may surprise people. The author has woven these complex relationships into a story that leads right back to Everett. At times, these relationships threaten to take over the book. I really enjoyed following the thread of the biggest themes, but I think they compete too heavily at times with the main theme of the story. This story is about Everett and his relationship with his town, but sometimes it seemed that his relationships with Roy or Miss Finchley overpowered what I saw as the true theme. His relationships with Norm and Bud seemed more secondary and blended well with the overall story.

This story kept my interest. It was a pleasant read, with interesting characters and a unique premise. Although the writing is simplistic, there are some delightful phrasings intermixed with the prose. For example: "The capital letters stood escorting their lower case versions, ghosts of
primary school" was used to describe the faded alphabet letters on the former primary classroom wall. There were some jumps in time without much in the way of explanation that left me a little confused, turning back to see where I had missed a week or more. I think it was somewhat fitting in the style of the story, but still confusing.

Altogether, this book is not an exciting read, but it's a comforting, pleasant read that stays with you even after the last page is turned. After finishing the book, I found myself still musing about the relationships and how they'd changed and progressed. This book was a nice, hot chocolate sort of read.

4 /5 stars

Available at Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

REVIEW: "Heirs of Mars" by Joseph Robert Lewis

It's the middle of the 22nd century, and humans have been occupying space on Mars for well over a century. For as long as anyone can remember, the war between man and machine has been a integral thread to life on Mars and there is no end in sight. Human birth rates have fallen on Mars, and cloning becomes the most logical option to allow the collective intellect of humans live on. Meanwhile, the Cartesians, or "mechs," are programmed to follow "Mother's" orders to wipe out the human race, and cloners are at the top of the list. Asher is one of those cloners who is part of an underground rebellion. Haunted by his past, he's trying to strive for a future that will allow him some peace and give all humans hope. With the help of Claudia, a local Martian celebrity, Asher comes up with the idea to create the perfect weapon against the machines. No one will be the same when the Martian dust settles on this battle of clones, humans and machines. One way or another, this war will end, but who will be around to see the results?  

Joseph Robert Lewis has written a compelling book that follows the lives of 6 sentient beings during the days leading up to the end of the war. Each chapter tells a piece of the adventure from one of those beings' reference points. The chapters are clearly marked, and I found this to be a very effective way to give us a more complete picture of what was going on in the minds of the humans, clones and machines involved in this war. The premise of the story was really intriguing, and brought up some interesting concepts; cloning people minutes before they die to save their knowledge, machines that seem almost human and yet they're not, Mars being a viable habitat for people when Earth is not enough. With the changing viewpoints and the engaging concept, this was an easy book to get into. 

In addition to the main theme of hope and redemption, there were several underlying themes. For example, what qualifies one to be a person? Seeing the individual thoughts and feelings of three different types of beings, the question is raised- what makes someone (or something) a person? With their synthetic bodies and brains saturated with the memories and experiences of another, are clones closer to humans or machines? Are machines who make choices independent of their programming more like humans than machines? Is it possible for all three types of beings to coexist, and are their goals really all that different?

I found this to be an interesting read. Although the story moves along at a fairly good pace, I found the ending to be somewhat abrupt. When I saw the epilogue, I wondered if I'd missed something in the story. When I turned the last page of the epilogue, I was expecting more. I had taken the journey through the last part of the war, and I wanted a little something else at the end to give me more closure. I'm honestly not exactly sure what form that would have taken, but I felt a bit letdown by the ending. Some of the transitions and relationships between characters were a little difficult for me to follow at times as well. I'm not sure if that's because we were following so many characters (each of the six characters had at least one or more partners associated with them), or because of a lack of development in the writing of the characters. It wasn't a major flaw of the story, and just a minor complaint on my part. 

Overall, a good read for anyone who likes speculative science fiction, and for anyone who thinks about the future of machines and clones, and what it will mean for the human race. 

4 /5 stars

Available at Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

REVIEW: "Lovers and Beloveds" by MeiLin Miranda

Temmin has grown up sheltered from the world, living a blissful life in the idyllic countryside at Whithorse Estates with his mother and his faithful servant. But all good things must come to an end; Tremmin is heir to the Tremontine throne, and must move to the Keep to learn his father's ways and prepare himself for his inevitable future. It is at the Keep where Temmin begins to question who he is and who he will become. Is he a ruthless ruler, like his father, who will stop at nothing to get what -and who- he wants? Or is he a caring man who will make thoughtful choices and begin to harness some of the long-forgotten magic of the kingdom? Helping him on his journey of self- discovery is Teacher, a mentor to the royal family who has hundreds of years of experience under his belt, and has long since given up on any heir displaying magical ability. Slowly, Temmin finds himself pulled in two directions. He must decide whether to follow his father's footsteps and become the man his father expects, or if he should let himself be drawn into the seductive ways of the temple of enlightenment. He's discovering that his future truly isn't preordained, and that he alone is responsible for his choices. 

Beautifully written and edited, MeiLin Miranda has created a rich fantasy world where magic still exists for the rare few, and sex is a cherished and godly endeavor. Although I do enjoy many types of fantasy, I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of fantasy with heavy erotic content, as a rule. That being said, the details and the flow of this story were superb. With fluid writing and nicely-developed characters, the story shines through. Sex becomes an integral part of the conflict of the story; the struggle of power- longing and restraint, duty and desire.  

The author cleverly uses a legend from the Tremont family history to mirror Temmin's own sexual awakening. Teacher uses this story in pieces as part of the teaching process, and the author uses this story to mirror Tremmin's own emotions, and help move his journey along. Vividly drawn details show this fantasy world to be a land on the verge of exciting, and unalterable, change. The relationships between the characters are complex and intricately woven, and they pull you right along with Temmin.

If you are a fan of well-written fantasy stories with a strong sexual element, then this book comes strongly recommended. Some may find the erotic details a little too much, but the fluid and intriguing story makes it worth the read.

4.5 /5 stars

Available at Smashwords and Amazon!

PHOTOS: Reflections for the Soul

TEASER-- "The Venom of Vipers" by K.C. May

K.C. May is releasing her new book, "The Venom of Vipers," on December 1st. I have had the privilege of receiving an advance copy, and you can look forward to reading my review right here on the book's release date. It's not too late to get in on the contest on her blog to receive an Amazon gift certificate you can put towards the purchase of this book!

Without spilling any secrets, I'll just tell you that this is a ride you won't want to miss! Set your calendar for the release of "The Venom of Vipers!"  

(I previously reviewed K.C. May's first novel, "The Kinshield Legacy" in September.) 

REVIEW: "Six Clicks Away" by Bonnie Rozanski

It all started with a sociology lecture on the six degrees of separation, an assignment to recreate the process, and Rachel's desire to connect with the Dalai Lama. The next thing she knew, Rachel had somehow hooked up with Jeremy, the geekiest guy in class, for an experiment that would change the look of "MyFace," and connect people in the most serendipitous ways. Old friendships are rekindled and new contacts are formed. The internet is truly the world-wide web, bringing people together from all reaches of the earth. 

The premise of this story is really appealing; take the good old "six degrees of separation" and apply it to our modern, technological world. Using "MyFace" (an online social network that sounds very familiar to all of us with computer access), the author shows just how tiny our world really is. One small plan put into action can have a ripple effect, and the characters in this story prove this with their developing relationships. Each character introduced ties in with one or more other characters in an engaging way. Like the internet worm Jeremy creates, the story twists and winds through the lives of six very distinct people.

The story started with several pages filled with texting between friends, which really supported the feel of a modern, technological story. This technique wasn't carried through the storyline, however, which made it feel like a loose end. Although I thought the original connections between people were well done to good effect, I felt it began to drag a little towards the middle. It seemed we spent a lot of time with a character or two here and there, and didn't get back to other characters for a while. As a result, I felt it needed just a touch more tightening up. For this type of story, I would have liked to see the characters and their storylines more closely intertwined; relationships inextricably pulled closer together until it was difficult to remember they were ever strangers. At the very least, a culminating event that somehow involved everyone (such as the ending of the movie "Love Actually") would have offered a satisfying closure. Without that final connection, the ending felt a little unfinished. Although the author clearly tried to tie up the various storylines, the lack of synchronicity made it seem like some of the stories were left hanging, just waiting to be addressed again. I was surprised when there wasn't another page after the last page. 

All in all, a really fun and appealing story that kept my interest and made me want to read until the end. An clever concept, and a quick read. 

3.5 /5 stars 

Available at Amazon.