Friday, April 29, 2011

The Righteous / Michael Wallace

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Thriller

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Michael Wallace’s biography on Amazon is rife with teasers that leave you full of questions. He has had some strange experiences and jobs. I want to ask him, “Why did you eat fried guinea pig?” What kind of job requires milking cobras for their venom? How did you end up smuggling refugees out of a war zone and where did that happen? The biography does say he welcomes email from readers. Maybe I should ask him. He has eight books currently available, one a sequel to The Righteous, with another sequel nearing completion. He also has a blog you can view here.


Description:

A murder in a Utah polygamist enclave has leaders of the fundamentalist sect concerned. They call on medical student Jacob Christianson, a sect member from Canada, to investigate. Assisted by his sister Eliza, Jacob discovers a plot that goes well beyond murder.

Appraisal:

Layton Green’s thriller, The Summoner
was among the earliest books I reviewed for BigAl’s Books and Pals. One of the things that set it apart was the setting in Zimbabwe. The differences in culture as reflected in the book enhanced what I got from reading it. It was more entertaining, because predicting the storyline was more difficult, and at least slightly educational, as I learned about Zimbabwe. Of course this assumes the author’s depiction of those parts of the story were accurate. (I’ve assumed they were based on information in an author’s note about spending significant time in the country while writing the book.)

Many of our readers from the U.S. and, I suspect, many of those who are not, are familiar with U.S. culture and norms. However, most of you will find the setting for The Righteous as foreign as I did Zimbabwe. Those who have seen the HBO show Big Love are a possible exception. The Righteous takes place in a fictional town in Utah, not unlike the fictional town where Big Love takes place. (I have not seen this HBO series, but have discussed it extensively with my daughter who has seen every episode.) The residents of the town in the novel are practitioners of a fictional religion that is a fundamentalist offshoot of the Mormon Church; also, the same as on the HBO show.

The part of the story that makes it a thriller is unique. Although the concept behind the thriller portion of the plot could work anywhere where a group of people feel they are God’s chosen or better in some way than everyone else, this setting works especially well. Some of the beliefs of the fictional religion (based on actual Mormon beliefs and practices from the past) are integral to the story. I’m hesitant to say anything more specific about the plot lest I let a spoiler slip. I’ll say that as a fan of thrillers I found that portion of the story more than satisfying.

However, what sets The Righteous apart is the accuracy of the depiction of both the Mormon Fundamentalist culture and beliefs. Since religion, along with politics and sex, are the touchiest subjects there are, I should give a few more disclaimers before proceeding.

Mormon fundamentalist sects are not Mormons anymore than Lutherans are Catholics. The relationship between the two and the formation of the fundamentalist churches are much the same as in Protestant religions. The fictional religion depicted here has beliefs that are very much like the mainstream Mormon Church, with a few noteworthy exceptions. The most significant difference is the acceptance of polygamy and the beliefs of the fictional church that are in place to support and reinforce this practice (arranged marriages and pushing single males of a certain age out of the community). It has been more than a hundred years since the mainstream church abandoned the practice of polygamy. I believe a few other beliefs and practices depicted in the novel are no longer the official policy of the mainstream church. The mainstream church has changed over time, albeit extremely slowly — the fundamentalist sects, not so much. That is what makes them “fundamentalist.”

Last, I should confess that I spent my life until my late teens attending the mainstream Mormon Church, much of that time in Utah, so I’ve also had exposure to and experience with the fundamentalist sects, their members, and beliefs. I’m knowledgeable enough to evaluate the accuracy of what is depicted, while hopefully far enough removed to not be overly sensitive to areas where the religious practices might come off as strange or backward.

Finally, I’ve covered my rear and can return to discussion of the book, The Righteous, by Michael Wallace for those who have forgotten. Often Mormons and Mormon fundamentalists as they appear in fiction or non-fiction books, movies, or TV shows are caricatures, accurate as far as it goes, but mainly making an appearance to get a laugh. Where a character is more complex writers often get something significantly wrong, whether on purpose (taking literary license for a better story), or ignorance. Although the cliché about truth being stranger than fiction might not apply in this case, the truth is strange enough.

Wallace gets everything right. His characters are realistic. They talk the way a devout Mormon or Mormon fundamentalist would talk. They think how they should think. With the exception of those actions directly related to the plot discussed in the description, they act the way they would act. I could even imagine someone from this environment straying from the actual beliefs of their religion in the way those involved in this storyline do. When Jacob Christianson is questioning some of the practices of his religion, it is very much like what others raised in this environment commonly go through. Although he is tight lipped about it, I’m convinced that Wallace has a background similar to mine. That’s the only explanation I have for his getting even the little things so authentic.

FYI:

There are some terms used that I believe are specific to Mormons and offshoot religions that might not be familiar to most people. “Free Agency” and “still small voice” are two I noticed. I think the meaning of these terms and any others will be easy to understand from the context. If they aren’t, there is an easy solution. Find a Mormon or flag down a Mormon missionary and ask them. They’ll be more than happy to explain, but consider yourself forewarned — you may never get them to leave.

Devout Mormons may take exception to the depiction of parts of what they consider sacred and secret temple ceremonies. Although I can’t unequivocally vouch for their accuracy, from what I have pieced together over the years they appear to be authentic.

Format/Typo Issues:

No Significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Kafka’s House / Gabriela Popa

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Historical Fiction

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

A native of Romania, when not writing Gabriela Popa is a scientist who specializes in cancer research. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Popa has a blog where, among other things, she interviews fellow writers.

Description:

A coming-of-age story set in 1960s Romania.

Appraisal:

Near the beginning, when eight-year old Silvia Marcu, the protagonist and narrator of Kafka’s House, is introducing herself to the reader she mentions that people who live in small houses make her uneasy. She then relates this to how she felt years later when she visited the house in Prague where Franz Kafka once lived. This house, while extremely small, is also where Kafka wrote much of his work. Silvia says, “I was stunned to see how someone with such vast inner spaces can live in such a ridiculously small house.”

If there is an overriding theme to Kafka’s House, it is while someone might be restricted in many ways it is still possible to have an enjoyable and full life by focusing on those areas that are unrestricted. Romania in the 1960s was very restrictive. The country was communist, with the constraints that implies. The Soviets were invading neighboring Czechoslovakia, which created more stress and less freedom as they prepared for the possibility of war. Silvia’s house, while larger than Kafka’s, was still small and crowded with Silvia, her parents, and sister living in a two-room apartment. Yet, Silvia had a zest for life and all it had to offer.

I found the book enjoyable, not only for the story, but for the glimpse it gave of growing up in a different country and culture. The differences are revealing, yet I found the similarities show almost as much. Kids interact with each other in the same way, regardless of country. They worry about schoolwork. They love to play and are sharp observers of the world around them as they seek to understand that world and their place in it. Some experiences truly are universal.

FYI:

Although Popa wrote Kafka’s House in English, she then translated it to Romanian. A Romanian publisher released that version, Casa lui Kafka, in 2007. If you’d prefer reading the book in Romanian it is available in both Kindle and paper versions.

Format/Typo Issues:

There were a small number of typos. There were also a fair number of grammar issues, the vast majority using a singular word where a plural would have been correct and vice versa.

In my version (downloaded directly from Amazon in early February), many lines had a leading hyphen. It appeared these might have been intended to designate dialogue. In addition, dialogue was not enclosed in quotation marks. If the story appeals to you, I would advise sampling first before making the purchase commitment. Although I did not find this terribly distracting or confusing I’m sure some people would.

Rating: **** Four stars

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Giveaway – Upcountry by R.M. Doyon

R.M. Doyon, whose book Upcountry was reviewed two weeks ago, is sponsoring a giveaway of his book. Up to ten of you can have a copy of the book for your Kindle, Nook, Sony eReader, or your choice of several other formats. Entry directions and rules follow:

How to enter:

An entry can be made in any of the following ways. You can enter multiple times, one time for each entry method unless otherwise noted. Entries close as of 12 Noon Eastern on Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Read and comment on the review of Upcountry. Click here to go to review. This comment can be as little as “enter me in the contest.”


Become a new follower of @BooksAndPals on Twitter. (Follow button on right side of page.)

On Friday, April 29 make a “Follow Friday” suggestion that includes BooksAndPals. (A tweet of “#FF @BooksAndPals”.)

Retweet a BooksAndPals tweet announcing this contest. Multiple entries can be made in this category, but is limited to one entry daily with a day defined as midnight to midnight Eastern time.

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Rules (the fine print):

All entries must be made between the time of this post and 12 noon Eastern on Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Ten winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Only one prize per entrant.

Reviewers for Books and Pals and their immediate family are not eligible.

Winners will be announced in a post at Books and Pals sometime between close of entries and Midnight Eastern on Sunday, May 1, 2011.

To claim their prize each winner must send an email to BooksAndPals (at) Yahoo (dot) com by 12 noon Eastern on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.

Each winner claiming their prize will be sent a link with a “coupon code” redeemable for an eBook copy of Upcountry at Smashwords.com prior to Midnight Eastern, May 3, 2011.

The coupon code returned in the step above must be redeemed by May 5, 2011. (Note, although we believe this means until 12 midnight Pacific, May 5, 2011, winners are advised not to wait until the last minute. We are not responsible for failure of the winner to redeem the coupon code in time.)

Rose of Par Kluhnd: A Fairy Tale / Linda Ash

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: YA Fantasy/Middle Grade

Approximate word count: 110-115,000

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

With her two children away to college, Linda Ash now has more spare time to let her imagination run wild, release her inner child, and write it down for our reading pleasure. At least she does as long as the husband, dog, and innumerable cats don’t insist on her attention too often. For more information, visit the author’s blog.


Description:

Twelve-year-old Rose is weeks away from the milestone birthday that will kick off her teen years. Her soccer coach wants to draft her as team captain, but Rose isn’t sure she wants to take on that responsibility. While on an end-of-summer vacation at her Grandmother’s, Rose finds herself transported to another world where she discovers long-hidden family secrets and things about herself beyond her wildest dreams.

Appraisal:

As the subtitle implies, this novel is very much like a fairy tale. The Land of Shey, where much of it takes place, is beautiful and populated by a variety of interesting people and magical creatures. As with the best stories of any stripe, Rose of Par Kluhnd is a grand adventure. Rose experiences many things, from the sorrows of death to the thrill of first love. She deals with allies, enemies, and turncoats. However, the story goes much deeper than the adventure.

As with many fairy tales, there are life lessons for the reader to learn. For me the main lesson to take away from Rose of Par Kluhnd is the nature of responsibility. Rose was leery of accepting her coach’s request to be captain of her soccer team; mainly because she wasn’t sure she wanted the responsibility and was mature enough to recognize the commitment this role implied. However, once she reached the Land of Shey, Rose learned that responsibility is sometimes foisted on you whether you feel prepared or not. If you’re the only who can do the job, you may not have a choice. This lesson is one anyone could benefit from and is especially apropos for the primary target audience.

FYI:

Although longer than the typical novel aimed at younger readers, this story should appeal to the stronger readers in the older portion of the middle grade demographic in addition to the young adult age range and beyond.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four stars

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Secret of the Emerald Sea / Heather Matthews

Reviewed by: Leigh

Genre: YA Fantasy

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: NO    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Heather Matthews is a freelance writer and novelist based in Vancouver Canada. She has written three books: Carolina, The Scullery Maid, and The Secret of the Emerald Sea.

Description:

Fourteen-year-old Jane lives in a little seaside village and is attracted to the water, even though her grandmother never taught her to swim. One rainy night she steals away and finds out that she is half human and half mermaid.


Appraisal:

Generally to judge a book, I look at three things: story, plot, and writing. Of these, only the story is really compelling. Because of this, I'm really torn on this book because the story is really interesting and holds my attention. However the writing is bad and most of the plot is predictable.

Writing about the story itself is hard because the plot is what pushes the story along, but what I will say is that very few stories about Roman mythology are as well researched and constructed as Emerald Sea. Without giving anything away, Ms. Matthews really took the time to develop a compelling story. In that regard I give the story itself 4 stars.

When one dives (heheh) into the mechanics of the story, that is where the issue start to arise. After reading the first page, I looked at my cat and said, “She is a mermaid princess and her father is Poseidon.” Sure enough, Jane is a mermaid and her father, whom she was told died before her birth, is Neptune (same god, different country). Then when Jane, who was never taught how to swim but somehow knows how to move on a tail like nobody's business meets Neptune with his booming voice, I looked at the dog—since he scared the cat away—and said “Neptune is going to scare Jane and she's going to run home to dry land.” Sure enough, away she went. In this respect, Emerald Sea is a good book for practicing precognition.

Then there is the writing itself. The sentence structure most of the time in clunky and over-complicated. I think Ms. Matthews was trying for an older way of speaking (ala Pride and Prejudice), but it comes off as pretentious. Several times I found myself asking, “What fourteen-year-old speaks like that?” or analyzing the writing. And that is a no-no in the fiction world. The point that the reader starts wondering about the writing rather than what will happen with the story is that point that the author misstepped.

There is a lot of telling in this book too. I wonder if Ms. Matthews is worried that her readers cannot make an inference. Don't just tell us she was pleased, frightened or determined – show us.

When it comes down to it, this is a very “pretty” book. Much of the prose is flowery or overly wordy. Most of these phrases could be cut to make the book itself tighter, which would make for a better novel.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues. I received an advanced copy.

Rating: *** Three stars

Monday, April 25, 2011

Northwoods Deep / Joel Arnold

Reviewed by: JA Gill

Genre: Horror

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: Yes    Paper: No
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

A widely published author, including stories in Cemetery Dance and Weird Tales, Joel Arnold is the recent recipient of the 2010 MN Artist Initiative Grant. Other stories available on Kindle include Leave no Wake, Three Collections, Snow Burn, Taking Care of Katrina, Bait and Other Stories, Bedtime Stories for the Apocalypse, and Death Rhythm. The author currently lives in Minnesota with his wife and two children. For more information visit the author’s blog.

Description:

In Joel Arnold’s latest novel, two sisters, the oldest, escaping an abusive ex-husband turned stalker, set-out on a canoe trip in Minnesota backcountry. Downstream, an indescribable evil as ancient as the ground it sleeps under grows restless with hunger.

Appraisal:

A negative split is a term employed by marathoners to describe their race pace: start slow, finish fast. This is also the trajectory of most novels—the initial careful character sketches and diligent back-stories make way for faster and leaner plot lines as the story progresses.

Joel Arnold’s Northwoods Deep runs, then walks, then slows to a stroll, as if suddenly enjoying the view. In a work of horror, the effect is somewhat unsettling. When protagonists descend into a nightmare world, reminiscent of something out of an early Clive Barker fantasy, the pace lingers, as if the author is unwilling to move past their suffering until it becomes gratuitous. One questions whether the price exacted for moral redemption, the thematic bread and butter of the genre, is, in this case, commensurate to the depravity. Fortunately, when dealing with the extremes of mental and physical durability, Arnold has a wonderful way with description, if only a series of succinct observations, that make his characters immediately familiar despite the situation.

References to mythology, both esoteric and pop-culture, sprinkled like breadcrumbs throughout the novel, offer explanation where none is required and do little to add intended gravitas to what is already a captivating and plausible storyline. However, there is a certain pleasure seeing the Arnold whip quaint and kitschy folklore until it’s covered in blood and no longer recognizable. One moth-worn convention left undisturbed is the hapless Out-of-Towners—two all-American girls in this instance—stumbling into the backyard of a backwoods psychopathic old coot. To Arnold’s credit the ensuing orgy of violence comes to pass while matters are fittingly complicated as he seamlessly shifts between at least four main character third-person accounts. Northwoods Deep comes as close as anything in recent memory to detailing the behavioral traits of unadulterated malevolence.

 
FYI:

Strong Sexual Content

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four stars

Friday, April 22, 2011

Eye of the Storm / William L.K.

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: NO    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

William L.K. lives in the suburbs of New York City. He earns his living as a professional musician (imagine Billy Joel’s Piano Man). In addition to the Stritonoly Chronicles, a series in which this book is the first installment, he has published a novelette, The Voice, available for your Kindle, which we reviewed previously here.


Description:

Dmitri, son of the Czar of the planet Stritonoly, has an addiction that, unknown to the rest of the royal family, has driven him insane. The repercussions of Dmitri’s actions threaten the entire planet. This is the first book in the Stritonoly Chronicles, a series that continues with Barok’s Exodus with at least one more book on its way.

Appraisal:

Assigning Eye of the Storm a genre was problematic for me. It might be science fiction. It mostly takes place on Stritonoly, a technologically advanced planet, at least in most ways. Among other things, they have a space ship capable of shuttling large numbers of people between planets.

However, a small portion of the story takes place on Earth in a contemporary setting. In addition, some of the technology on the planet Stritonoly is not advanced at all; for example, the sword is their weapon of choice. The sword as a weapon and much of the world the author has created seem more fitting for a fantasy setting, including a strong mystical or magical element. The catchall genre for science fiction and fantasy is speculative fiction. This is the logical genre assignment; however, those who prefer one of these sub-genres, especially fantasy, should still find Eye of the Storm a good fit.

The basic story is an archetype; overcome by a lust for power a character cuts corners and makes immoral or unethical decisions to gain that power. The author does a good job integrating the story archetype into the world he has created with appropriate variations to make the story his own.

His characters are well formed and drive the story. He finds a way to make acidels, a race of slave creatures that are unattractive, sweaty, and smelly, still likeable – the reader caring about the acidels is, if not a requirement, definitely helpful for drawing the reader into the story.

In the final analysis, what genre a book fits in isn’t important. That the characters and story engage the reader is all that matters. The Eye of the Storm does this and does it well.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Game 7: Dead Ball / Allen Schatz

Reviewed by: Jess

Genre: Mystery

Approximate word count: 105-110,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author: Allen Schatz

Allen Schatz is a native of Philadelphia with two grown children, a wife, and a background in finance. He has enjoyed his secondary role as an amateur umpire for over 30 years. This is his first published novel with 7th Inning Death due out in May of 2011 and 3 Outs: Suicide Squeeze in the final edit/rewrite stage now. For more information visit the author’s website.


Description:

With the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays in the race for the 2008 World Series win, Marshal Connors finds himself surprised and honored to be chosen as crew chief for the games’ umpires. By accepting the position, he finds himself, his livelihood, and those he loves under constant threat with deceit and betrayal at every turn.

Appraisal:

My love of mysteries started as a child when I’d tag along on a ride in the Mystery Machine with Scooby and The Gang each day after school. Remaining my favorite genre to watch or read to this day, mysteries give my mind something to satisfy its continuous curiosity; mulling over plots and characters long after I’ve put the book down. Allen Schatz served me well with Game 7: Dead Ball.

I would classify this book as a light read. The emotions of the characters were kept casual while the plot and writing style kept me engaged. There was very little gore. Mr. Schatz forgoes the usual foreshadowing in favor of scene and location changes to keep the reader guessing while slowly building the connections and relationships between the characters. Initially, I found the frequent switching from third person to first person distracting, but once all the characters were introduced it became an interesting aspect of his particular writing style. It seemed unique to me that the main character was not the one to be involved in actually putting the pieces into place. Thomas Hillsborough, Marshall’s best friend, is an enjoyable and necessary secondary character that keeps the events and flow of logic workable from one scene to the next. The subplots added flavor to the story and piqued my interest at the appropriate time.

The focus on friendships and the obligations we feel to one another even when these bonds are tested was a nice compliment to the mounting tension. Experiencing baseball from an umpire’s vantage point was a treat! I look forward to a second helping when the sequel 7th Inning Death comes out this May with Marshall and Thomas teaming up again.

The author has one writing crutch that is a personal annoyance of mine, the overuse of the word “got.” Although a perfectly legitimate word a more precise word or action verb is often the better choice. For example “worsened” might be a better word choice than “got worse” or “returned” instead of “got back.”

FYI:

There is some profanity, but it’s not excessive.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Year We Finally Solved Everything / Rudolf Kerkhoven

Reviewed by: Ceallaigh

Genre: Speculative Fiction/Literary Fiction

Approximate word count: 55-60,00 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Rudolph Kerkhoven describes himself as a man ‘forged by the brutal elements’ in his Yukon birthplace, where he lived for six months before moving, first to the Canadian prairies` and later to the Vancouver area of British Columbia. He is co-author of The Adventures of Whatley Tupper, and the soon to be released The Redemption of Mr. Sturlubok, both choose-your-own-adventure books for adults. You can find Mr. Kerkoven’s blog with links to his other works and nifty free reads on his website.

Description:


Shan Won: It’s a country. It’s an internet rumor. It’s a hoax. It’s paradise.

The economy is crashing, the government is unstable, rebellions and wars are erupting everywhere. If there were, maybe, a place you could go, a place where They Have Solved Everything - would you try to get there? What would you offer? What would you risk? What would you leave behind you?

Appraisal:

I mentioned to Al the other day that I was having a hard time writing this review. “This book is so good!”, I said, “I’m not sure what to write except, Everyone go read it. I’ll wait”. He suggested I might want to say something about the book, so here goes.

There’s a joke told in Canadian Literature classes: Americans tell stories about people going out and conquering the west. Canadians tell stories about people who go out to conquer the west and get stuck in Manitoba.

The Year We Finally Solved Everything is a very Canadian book. It’s ironic that I, the Canadian reviewer of this team of ‘Pals’ unknowingly selected it. And that’s perfect, because the irony doesn’t stop there. Take Richard, the narrator and protagonist of the story. Richard is a graphics designer who likes music better than pictures. He’s a pessimist who hopes to find an island paradise. He speaks when he knows he should be silent, and stays quiet when there are things he desperately wants to say. He’s complex, for all these reasons, yet in the end he’s simple: You (and he) know that given the choice, Richard will choose not to act, not to take responsibility even for himself.

Kerkovian’s writing is flawless, his dialogue exact. The book’s pace is wavelike: Richard drifts tidally between each breaking moment. All characters and events are described through his distancing eyes. He notes everything, participates in nothing. You know the characters in the book as Richard knows them, precisely, accurately, but not intimately. The tension between the action - and a lot of stuff happens - and Richard’s dissociated description of it makes for a fraught atmosphere. By the latter part of the book I was feeling physically tense as I turned pages, waiting anxiously for “the next thing” - I knew it was coming, and I had no idea at all what it might turn out to be. And readers, you’ll have no choice but to go through that tension. Trying to ‘cheat’ and turn to the last page won’t help you a bit. You’ll go through it just as I did - as Richard does - step by indeterminate step. And, when you get to the end - well, just go read the book. I’ll wait.

FYI:

You needn't be Canadian to enjoy this book by any means, but you will likely enjoy it best if you can approach it with an open-minded appreciation of the pervasiveness of irony in the world.

Format/Typo Issues:

No Significant Issues

Rating: ***** Five stars

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Evil Puppies / Aaron Daniels


Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Horror/flash fiction

Approximate word count: 3,000-3,500 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: NO    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Aaron Daniels is the pen name of a fantasy author. Under his other name, he’s written numerous short stories for magazines and anthologies. He’s also written four full-length novels and a short book of tips for authors. Now if you can only figure out his other name. Maybe he’ll out himself.

Michael Crane is a short story writer whose short story collection In Decline we reviewed here
. He also has a novelette, A Gnome Problem, reviewed here.

Description:

For years they’ve been “man’s best friend.” They’re cute and cuddly. Who doesn’t love a puppy? But what if these adorable creatures grew tired of sucking up to us for our attention and table scraps? You’d have Evil Puppies, seven short stories from Aaron Daniels plus a bonus story from Michael Crane.

Appraisal:

Depending on your definition, at an average story length of fewer than 400 words, Evil Puppies probably falls within the classification of “flash fiction.”  In
 previous reviews I’ve discussed my attitude about short stories and how that attitude has changed. Flash fiction condenses the short story form even more.

I think to appreciate flash fiction you have to approach it differently than you would a full novel. If a novel is a complete meal, and a typical three or four thousand word short story is a substantial snack, then I’d extend the analogy to say flash fiction is a treat, maybe a single piece of candy. It might not fill you up, but string a few together and it will get you to your next meal. (Don’t eat too many or you’ll ruin dinner.)

Taken on those terms, flash fiction in general, and Evil Puppies specifically, is a lot of fun. If there is such a thing as comedic horror, I found it here. The premise is both ridiculous (those adorable little things wouldn’t really turn on us … would they?) and horrifying (imagine if they did). Daniels’ wide-ranging stories on this theme run from the horrific, full of blood and guts, to laugh-out-loud-funny. The characters run from Elvis and Hitler to a normal guy and gal making out at the beach. Before the premise becomes shopworn, Evil Puppies ends with a boom.

FYI:

Michael Crane also has two flash fiction collections available. These are “drabbles,” a special form of flash fiction where each story is exactly 100 words. I won’t repeat here the reviews I’ve already posted to Amazon, but you can check them out if you’re curious. The first is Lessons (and other morbid drabbles), which has twenty of these flash fiction pieces. The sequel, Lessons II: Another Morbid Drabble Collection, has twenty-five more. Lessons III: A Bunch More Drabbles, is rumored to be in the works.

An additional draw of flash fiction for me is the craftsmanship. If you work with words in any context, you can’t help marveling at how the best of the genre packs so much information in such little space, not unlike the best song lyrics.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Monday, April 18, 2011

Where Dreams Are Born / Joyce DeBacco

Reviewed by: Corina

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: NO    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Joyce DeBacco is the mother of four adult daughters, a quilter, and the author of three novels: Serendipity House (2009), Rubies and Other Gems (2010), and Where Dreams Are Born (2011). Both of the earlier books have good reviews on Amazon.com. More information and sample chapters are available at the author’s website.


Description:

This book is a romance with some aspects of a thriller. Two emotionally wounded people meet by fortuitous accident, changing each other’s lives by becoming employee and employer. The grieving widower gains a housekeeper and nanny; the widow gains employment in the nicest part of town. Unexpected events bring the hero and heroine closer and closer together, and bring their children and themselves into danger. A marriage between them becomes the most rational course of action, but can a marriage of necessity become a marriage in truth?

Appraisal:

Where Dreams Are Born is a well-written romantic novel with elements of suspense. I found DeBacco’s writing fresh and evocative, highly readable and interesting. Characterization is good, the dialogue flows well, and the story was compelling enough to keep my attention and pique my curiosity about what would happen next. I found myself picking up the story in my spare moments during the day, wondering how the author was going to resolve certain issues.

I would recommend this book to friends, family, or anyone who might enjoy this genre. I found it a pleasurable read.

FYI:

There are some sexual scenes. They are not explicit, nor are they the innocuous scenes you would find in “sweet romances.” If you prefer sweet romances, this might be a little too racy for your tastes. If you prefer detailed erotica, this story might be too tame.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Merry-Go-Round / Donna Fasano

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Chick lit

Approximate word count: 60-65,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

It feels like I’ve done this before. Besides having written a library of books, Donna Fasano has won many awards and, most impressive, wrote our first guest post, which was published yesterday. She has a website
and a blog that will fill in the gaps.

Description:

Lauren is divorcing her husband with one thought, get off the merry-go-round. Others — her ex-husband-to-be, her hypochondriac, meddling father, and her office assistant — are not cooperating.

Appraisal:

Imagine a generic storyline about a marriage gone astray. Then flip the male and female roles. What you'll have is a high-level outline of The Merry-Go-Round. Lauren, the protagonist, is a career-oriented lawyer in the midst of a divorce from husband Greg. While Lauren is trying to save her finances, Greg, the romantic, is trying to save their marriage. While Lauren is pulling out all the stops and looking out only for herself, Greg is trying to do what he thinks is right. A supporting cast that includes Lauren's cantankerous father and her old-but-not-dead assistant keep things stirred up and Lauren on edge. The results are a romantic comedy that works so well because it turns the clichés upside down.

Format/Typo Issues:

Read prior to starting the blog, however, I do not remember any significant issues in this area.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Chick Lit and Romance Fiction / A Defining Moment

Guest Post by Donna Fasano

A note from BigAl:

A few weeks ago, I reviewed "Taking Love in Stride," a romance novel by Donna Fasano.  In that review I talked about my history of reading chick lit and thinking it was romance.  A few comments indicated I wasn't the only one who got these genres confused.  I even got an email from the proprietor of a book related website who said she was uncertain.  So, I decided to go to an expert for a definition.

Donna Fasano, whose book prompted this discussion, has had more than thirty different novels published and sold more than 3.5 million books thus far in her career.  Writing for Harlequin, most of these are in the Romance genre, however there are two exceptions.  "Where's Stanley," which is currently out-of-print, was published by Harlequin Next, a short-lived chick lit label.  In 2009 she self-published a second chick lit novel, "The Merry-Go-Round."

Donna hasn't survived as a writer this long without being a sharp cookie and proposed a deal.  I'd already reviewed two of her books here, "Taking Love in Stride," which started this conversation, and another romance novel, "Mountain Laurel."  If I'd agree to repost here the review of "The Merry-Go-Round" I'd posted previously on Amazon (something I've done with a few of my older Amazon reviews) then she'd do this guest post.  Can you guess what book will be reviewed tomorrow?  Here is what Donna has to say:

In a recent book review, Al expressed a bit of confusion when it came to romance fiction and chick lit. My first thought was to write a witty, sharp-tongued essay meant to set him straight. However, I quickly realized that my normal inclination toward the flip and funny might come off as disrespectful to the very genres I have spent many (many!) years reading and writing. Then I decided this could be my chance to laud an entire category of literature that is so often trampled to death by people who, by design or mere ignorance, deem these books anything from inconsequential to downright harmful. But after a couple of hours spent reading what the so-called experts have to say, I lifted my gaze from one particular article written by a 'feminist theorist' and decided I cannot influence every naysayer in the world (not in a 500-word blog post, anyway); besides, that's not what was asked of me.

So in the clearest, most succinct language I can muster, here is my take on what sets apart chick lit and romance fiction:

Romance novels are books that feature a relationship arc which results in a positive ending, often described as 'happily ever after' (HEA). This relationship is the main focus of the story—one woman, one man, and their hurdle-ridden journey toward finding true and lasting love. In addition to this relationship arc, a romance will also contain one or more subplots (a.k.a. plot devices, the themes of which are various and sundry) that help to bring about the female protagonist's individual character growth.

Chick lit books focus on a female protagonist and her personal (and usually foible-filled) journey toward self-understanding and self-acceptance. In these books, the plot devices are the story. Whether the protagonist ends up with a man is not as relevant as the learning process she experiences through various situations that culminate in her resolving her issues, be they emotional, professional, etc. Chick lit is as famous for its upbeat, emotionally satisfying ending as romance fiction is for its HEA.

In my opinion, the focus is the defining element. The other components available to fiction writers (plot, conflict, characterization, etc.) can be molded to fit both of these 'sister' genres in similar if not identical ways.

Please note that the above descriptions are, at best, bare-boned. However individual writers choose to take these narrative skeletons and use them to flesh out their stories, fans of both chick lit and romance can (and do!) expect strong characters with whom they can relate and connect, and story lines that are thought-provoking as well as highly entertaining. I also feel urged to add that romance and chick lit are only two genres under the umbrella called women's fiction, a category of mass-market publishing that is diverse to the extreme. Other genres include but are not limited to, hen lit (a.k.a. matron or 'mum' lit), historical romance, paranormal romance, bonkbuster, inspirational romance, romantic comedy, erotica, western romance, and romantic suspense, and there is much 'line crossing' that takes place among these various genres.

Now that I've offered my opinion regarding the difference between romance fiction and chick lit, I'm eager to see a dialogue about how other authors and readers define these genres.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Butcher's Boy / Michael Robb

Reviewed by: Ceallaigh

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Michael Robb is the not-very-secret identity of M.R. Mathias, a fantasy writer who changed his penname to distance his foray into horror from his YA audience. More about Michael Robb, The Butcher's Boy, and his fantasy Dragoneers series can be found on his website.

Description:

Recovering from a divorce, a mother and her young son inadvertently try to make their 'new start' in a haunted house, triggering a chain of grisly, frightening events.

Appraisal:

The Butcher's Boy is a fast-paced, plot-driven novel. Robb has included most of the formulaic elements of the genre: Innocent Young Boy (with Loyal Dog), Gutsy Mom, Good-Hearted Stranger With a Dark Past, and Man With Axe to name but a few. Nothing really surprising happens, as the reader is encouraged to solve the twists before the characters do, but the rapid-fire events distract from unraveling the mystery too quickly, and the author holds back one shocker for the wrap-up - an extra helping of 'creep' that impressed me with its sheer twisted nastiness.

The interesting thing about this book was that the ghosts provided the least of the horror element. In Robb's dark-shaded world nearly all the characters are to some degree driven by their 'sinful' urges - and their sins are unremittingly banal. The sheer bludgeoning dullness of even the most evil of characters was more horrifying in its way than a carefully crafted, subtle monster. This book is a page-turner, which is good, because if you stop turning pages for too long, you might feel a little dirty.

If you're looking for a stay-up-all-night, giving yourself nasty shivers and maybe shouting at characters too stupid to see the danger they're in, definitely pick up The Butcher's Boy. Just don't stop reading.

FYI:

Unlike a lot of horror I've read, the dialogue in this book is strong. As a trade-off the author sometimes uses loaded slang in his descriptive prose, and for some reason does not hyphenate compound words. This did occasionally bounce me out of the story, but I found it not a big problem as it let me 'come up for air' occasionally.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ****Four stars

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Upcountry / R.M. Doyon

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Literary Fiction/Suspense

Approximate word count: 100-105,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

A former journalist and speechwriter (for Canadian government officials including two Prime Ministers) R.M. Doyon now owns a Public Relations agency. With his wife, Shelley Anthony, Doyon has written two screenplays. He’s also written a stage-play on the life and times of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Upcountry is Doyon’s first novel and he is currently at work on a sequel. For more information, visit his web site.

Description:

A senior aide of the Governor of New York, Jan Schumacher is on the political fast track, laying the groundwork for her bosses run at the White House. Then a visit to her doctor sends her into an emotional tailspin and, after years of absence, she makes a surprise visit to her childhood home. Hoping to come to terms with her past, she discovers the present has issues too.

Appraisal:

Deciding where to focus my praise of Upcountry is difficult because there are so many possibilities. It could be characterization. Doyon’s characters come alive in ways many authors don’t manage. From the main character, Jane Schumacher, to a minor character such as Jane’s old boss who appears briefly in a flashback, I felt like I knew the characters perfectly; At least as perfectly as needed for their place in the story. Doyon’s portrayal of people from all backgrounds is both sympathetic and shows a true understanding of what makes them tick. I could focus on his handling of the subject of spousal abuse, a crucial topic at the heart of the story, which he gets right.

However, for me, the meat of the story and my favorite part is Doyon’s unveiling of Jane. When first introduced she’s an enigma. Very successful and driven in her career, yet she doesn’t have much of a personal life and this is obviously by choice. In the beginning, I liked her, but wanted to know more. Doyon hints of things from Jane’s past that might account for her aversion to personal attachment, and then slowly reveals the reasons throughout the story. As past events come to light, we understand Jane a bit better. As she considers past decisions and their consequences, we understand her even more. By the conclusion, we not only understand what made Jane who she is, but maybe Jane comes to terms with that herself.

Upcountry is suspenseful with several conflicts that will keep you engaged as you wonder how they’ll turn out. It touches on politics and social ills, which if you’re inclined might trigger some insight into these subjects. But for me, the character study of Jane and how life decisions change who we become was the biggest draw.

FYI:

Jane sometimes has a foul-mouth. Those easily offended by strong language might find her to be too much.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Monday, April 11, 2011

Fallen Star / Ian Barker



Editor's note:  As mentioned in a recent post, we are adding additional reviewers.  This is the first review by one of these new people and there will be more in the coming weeks.  Some of our reviewers are from outside the US.  This means you'll sometimes see non-US spelling and other conventions in keeping with appropriate usage in the reviewer's home country.  Ceallaigh is from Canada.

Reviewed by: Ceallaigh

Genre: YA

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: NO    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Ian Barker has written comic verse "for more years than [he] cares to remember." In addition to a career in Information Technology, he is the editor of PC Utilities magazine, and a contributor to its sister publications. Originally, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Baker now lives near Bolton, in Greater Manchester. Fallen Star is Barker's debut novel, published by Rebel ePublishers. For more information and samples of his verse as well as prose, visit his website.


Description:

When Karl Weston left school at 16 to join the boy-band Fallen Boys, he was swept into a fantasy world of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Now the fast ride is over, and Karl finds himself alone in London with no real career, no real talent, and no real friends. When he meets Lizzie, a mature, sensible girl (and Karl's opposite in nearly every way), Karl has the chance to build his first meaningful relationship, but he discovers that honesty and maturity form no part of the life he knows. An attempt to revive his floundering career as a media idol may mean the end of his hopes of a future with Lizzie. Karl is forced to choose between easy but empty fame, and what, for him, is a new idea - the promise of hard-won but lasting happiness.


Appraisal:

Fallen Star is, as the genre terminology would have it, an edgy coming-of-age novel. When I say 'edgy', I want to be right up front with what I mean: I spent the first few pages of this book squeamishly thinking "Young Adult? Really, for sure?"

Having said that, let me also say that I would hate to have that reaction on my part scare anyone away from this book. In the first place, the content itself (casual sex, drugs, rather a lot of masturbation and penis-centric conversation/action) is not graphic. In the second place, the frequent instances of these behaviors/attitudes is only in the first few pages - it serves to 'set the stage' (quite literally) of band life - the stage that is about to suddenly go dark for the protagonist. But, most important of all, as Karl grows in the book, the events of the first chapter appear in a worse and worse light. In the end, the message is that the shallow and self-centerd fantasies of a sixteen-year-old boy may be fun, but the man who acts on them will probably never get a real girlfriend.

The plot of the book is a modern take on an old, old story, (bad boy meets good girl, strives to become the man she wants) but it is the interior action of Karl and Lizzie rather than the external plot that really drives the novel. Through Karl's slow and incomplete emotional development and Lizzie's only half-willing participation in his spot lit world, the reader is led to consider not only the hollow nature of fame, but the fact that these hollow people cause real hurts. Their fifteen minutes of fame can do a lifetime's worth of damage to the innocents they trample along the path.

The characterization in this novel is exactly strong enough for what the author seems to be doing here, which is forcing the reader to think about the issues Barker is (sometimes subversively) raising. I often found myself questioning the actions that both major and minor characters took, but each time I realized that I was being led to consider a larger message. The culminating point for me was the moment when some time after finishing the book I found myself thinking "My gosh, I think that was an anti-war novel!" Attitudes to war and racism, represented in the plot by Karl and Lizzie's fathers, who were on opposite sides of 'the Troubles' in Ireland, are a source of minor conflict through the novel. Barker's quiet, almost unnoticed juxtaposition of 'what it means to be famous' with 'what it means to be a hero' may lead the reader to some surprising conclusions.

I think it's fair to say, then, that there are two ways in which this book is 'edgy', and I believe the importance of the second far outweighs any minor offense that might be given by the first. The story is quite good enough to keep the reader turning pages, but of even more value, I think a number of readers will find themselves turning over ideas long after the last page.

FYI:

This book contains multiple sexual encounters, none graphic but some very objectifying of women. In the opening scene with the band, there is drug use, and one character overdoses. The sexual content is in keeping with the immature character of the protagonist, but the negative effects of his selfish attitude are not made apparent until later in the book.

The novel is British English and contains many slang terms and location references not familiar to an American audience.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four stars

Friday, April 8, 2011

Swallow / Tonya Plank

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Chick lit/Literary Fiction

Approximate word count: 95-100,000

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Like the protagonist of Swallow, Tonya Plank worked as a criminal appeals attorney in New York City for many years. She’s considered an expert in ballroom dancing, having danced competitively for many years. For more information, visit the author’s web site.

Description:

Sophie is just starting out in her career as a criminal appeals attorney. Life seemed almost perfect for the upwardly mobile Sophie until she started getting a sensation like she had a ball stuck in her throat. She couldn’t breathe, talk, and could barely eat. Try facing a panel of appeals judges thinking you’re going to choke to death on the spot.

Swallow has been the recipient of several awards. These include best regional fiction in the 2010 Independent Publisher Awards (IPPYs).

Appraisal:

I’ve put Swallow in the, “it’s not you, it’s me” file. I think that says more about me, or at least the kind of book I enjoy most, than it says about Swallow. Plank’s writing style (her “writer’s voice” as people like saying) works well. The major characters were well defined and, in the case of Sophie, I liked her immediately. The premise of the story and plot is good. On a purely objective level – at least as close as I can get - this book has it all.

However, at a certain point I wanted to stop reading. What I found is Sophie was starting to irritate me. It seemed as though she was spending more time trying to hide her problem than finding out what was causing it and how to get it fixed. In fairness, she did try somewhat, but with no success. Eventually Sophie reaches the same place I hadd, and reacted the way I was hoping she would, it just took her a lot longer to get there. As I’ve been thinking about it I realized I once did the same thing as Sophie, in my case putting off getting additional medical attention when the initial treatments weren’t working. Maybe the problem was I saw something of myself in Sophie, and didn’t like what I was seeing.

FYI:

Globus Hystericus was Sophie’s eventual diagnosis if you’re interested in seeing what Google will uncover about it. It appears the causes can vary, some physical, some not.

Format/Typo Issues:

There were a small number of typos, wrong word usage, or grammar issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Demon Queen and the Locksmith / Spencer Baum

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Approximate word count: 60-65,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Spencer Baum lives with his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has an additional book available, One Fall. For more information, visit his web site.

Description:

Turquoise, a mythical town in New Mexico, is a bit like a few other towns in the Southwestern US, reputed by a group of “hippies” to have something special about the area. In this instance, it is “The Turquoise Hum,” a strange sound coming from a nearby mountain that can only be heard by a small number of the population, known as the Hearers. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Brown’s father is among this group. Kevin has never believed in the hum until a chance event causes him not only to hear, but also to gain other powers, setting him off on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams.

Appraisal:

The fantasy genre has been severely neglected in my reading materials over the years, although I have read some. One way The Demon Queen and the Locksmith differs from what I’ve previously read is the “story world” is at least nominally the world in which all of us live. Whether genre purists would still consider this fantasy or not, I have no idea. At least for me, that doesn’t matter, the story does, and in this case it is a good one.

The first day of high school is trying for everyone. For Kevin it starts out worse than most. His reaction, fleeing school for the day, sets off a chain of events leading to a magical adventure. It allows him a temporary escape from his less-than-perfect life and in the end to change it for the better.

Throughout the book, it felt more like a fairy tale than a typical fantasy. I often found myself thinking the story was allegorical although, if so, I was never able to pinpoint why I felt that or deduce the symbolism. In the end it doesn’t matter whether this was my overactive imagination or not, because the story works so well. If escapism is one of the reasons for reading fiction then The Demon Queen and the Locksmith should allow a teen (or an adult for that matter) an escape from the problems of their real world life as they follow Kevin on his adventure.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** 5 stars

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A Land of Ash / David Dalglish

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Short Story

Approximate word count: 30-35,000

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store

Author:

Growing up on a Missouri farm, David Dalglish normally writes fantasy. This includes two series, the Shadowdance Triology and the five volume Half-Orc series. For more on Dalglish, visit his web site.

Description:

"The Yellowstone Caldera has erupted once every 600,000 years. We're 40,000 years overdue.”

Although David Dalglish wrote the majority of the stories in this collection, it also includes contributions from David McAfee, Daniel Arenson, John Fitch V, Michael Crane, and Robert Duperre.

Appraisal:

Start with the assumption that the Yellowstone Caldera has erupted. Assume people know what's coming - a large dust cloud traveling west to east that will kill many and throw much of the world into the equivalent of a nuclear winter. Then write a series of short stories about how people will react with contributions from a variety of writers. What a great concept.

Given the assumptions, how would you react? Would you hunker down and wait for the inevitable? Would you flee, hoping to outrun the cloud or at least prolong life as long as possible? Would you maximize the enjoyment of what little time you had left? The widely different characters in these stories cover a broad spectrum of possible reactions, yet with the overriding assumption as the glue A Land of Ash reads more like a novel than a short story anthology. An added bonus is the chance to be introduced to several new authors.

Format/Typo Issues:

I read this prior to starting the blog, however I believe there were very few, if any, issues at that time.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Treasure Lost / R. G. Cordiner

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Middle Grade

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store
Author:

A primary school teacher in Australia, R.G. Cordiner uses his students as guinea pigs, reading his books aloud in class and gauging their reactions. I view it as a hands-on kind of market research. He has two other books available for the Kindle, Bug Island (a horror story) and Candy Wars: The Tooth Fairies vs The Candy King. The main demographic for both are middle grade readers. He is currently at work writing Candy Wars II. For more information, see his blog.


Description:

The world of literature has a long history of pirate stories including the classic Treasure Island. R.G. Cordiner’s contribution to the tradition focuses on two brothers, Peter and Farren. The brothers sneak into the local pub for a little adventure and set in motion a sequence of events beyond what they imagined. Maybe there is such as thing as too much adventure.

Appraisal:

Although the obvious audience for Treasure Lost is probably 8-12 year old boys, this rollicking journey has something for everyone. What boy isn't up for a little swashbuckling adventure? When I read this, I was looking for something entertaining and a lighter read than a typical adult novel, which it was. Yet the story was still engaging for an adult. As with the authors other books there are valuable lessons and morals hidden in the story - things that even adults can stand to be reminded about.

Another talent the author has is the ability to communicate action with sound rather than description. This technique has to be seen (or read) to be understood. Young readers have a great time reading these sounds aloud while they unknowingly practice their teacher's admonitions to "sound it out.” Just when you're convinced Treasure Lost couldn't possibly come to a satisfying ending, a few loose threads come together for the perfect conclusion.

FYI:

It shouldn't be enough to be a hang-up for most readers, but there are a few Australian words and spellings.

Format/Typo Issues:

I read this prior to starting the blog, however I believe there were very few, if any, issues at that time.

Rating: **** Four stars

Monday, April 4, 2011

The Ryel Saga / Carolyn Kephart

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Fantasy

Approximate word count: 225-230,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon or B&N store


Author:

Growing up as a “military-brat” started Carolyn Kephart on a nomadic life that continued after marriage when she and her husband moved from school to school. Kephart eventually received a Doctorate degree. For more information, visit her web site.


Description:

Ryel Mirai is a wysard, living and learning his craft from his mentor. When his mentor becomes trapped in “the void,” a kind of limbo between Ryel world and the next one, he must leave the safety of his city on a quest to find the spell to save his mentor.

This book is actually two books (both available separately). They are Wysard and the sequel, Lord Brother. The author has also added “deleted scenes” and other bonus material in this omnibus edition.

The Ryel Saga was selected one of the Top Indie Fantasy books of 2010 by Red Adept Reviews.

Appraisal:

Since getting a Kindle, I've made a conscious effort to branch out from my normal genres, reading books I wouldn't have given a second glance in the past. This was one such instance. The last book in the fantasy genre I remember reading was at least twenty years ago. Given that I'm not sure how to evaluate, the story or the fantasy world created within the book against others in the genre. All I can say is I enjoyed the story and find it impressive that anyone has the imagination to create a world so different from ours, yet vivid and internally consistent.

However, there are two things about The Ryel Saga that any avid reader would be able to judge and appreciate. The first is the vivid descriptions. In a world unlike our own, I need all the visualization help I can get. Kephart's ability to paint her fantasy world in words is amazing.

The other item I both appreciated and found intriguing was the use of language. Subtle changes in syntax from the norm and the use of obscure words act as continual reminders that the world you're observing is foreign. Some of those words may not be in your vocabulary (they weren't in mine) but typically, the meaning was apparent from context. If you're reading on a Kindle, you'll find almost all are in the built in dictionary. Grab the opportunity for a little vocabulary building as you read as I did.


Format/Typo Issues:

I read this prior to starting the blog; however, I believe there were not any serious issues in this area.

Rating: **** Four stars

The Times, They Are A-Changin'

You'll notice a few subtle changes to the format of the review today. 

In the Availability section we are now using the term "Paper" rather than the ambiguous "DTB" which stands for Dead Tree Book.  Although commonly used and understood by those immersed in the world of eBooks and eReaders, that leaves out many eReader owners as well as the people who really need to understand what it means, someone who might be interested in the book, but prefers a paper version.  If the book is available in a paper version it will indicate this with a "YES" which will also link to the paper version in the Amazon store.

The Availabilty section also has a small note added as a reminder that clicking a "YES" above will take you to the appropriate page in the appropriate store.  (Clicking the book image at the top of the page will also deliver you to the page for the Kindle version in the Amazon store.)  This is in response to some who indicated that they didn't realize there were links to these pages.

Last, the most signifiant change is in the addition of the "Reviewed By" line near the top.  You'll note that up to now, despite the blog being called "BigAl's Books And Pals," that there was no sign of the "Pals."  With the recent influx of new readers and books submitted for review consideration the long anticipated Pals are critical.  Over the next weeks you'll see subtle changes, the most significant being additional voices on these pages.  But you can expect these new voices to continue our fair and balanced reviews to assist you in making your book purchasing decisions.