#NetGalley Book Review: #The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

I found this to be delightfully different and very engaging.
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water
by Zen Cho

File Size: 5364 KB
Print Length: 160 pages
Publisher: Tor.com (June 23, 2020)
ASIN: B07WPNGGGB
Genre: Action and Adventure, Asian Myth, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Zen Cho returns with The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, a found family wuxia fantasy that combines the vibrancy of old school martial arts movies with characters drawn from the margins of history.
A bandit walks into a coffeehouse, and it all goes downhill from there. Guet Imm, a young votary of the Order of the Pure Moon, joins up with an eclectic group of thieves (whether they like it or not) in order to protect a sacred object, and finds herself in a far more complicated situation than she could have ever imagined.

Review:
Guet Imm is a young votary (like a nun) who has taken work at a tavern after her temple home was raided and burned. A group of thieves, who consider themselves more than bandits, stops in the tavern and one of their group, Tet Sang, can’t help but interfere when Guet is abused by a customer. After the ensuing brawl, Guet attaches herself to the band of misfits insisting that she has nowhere else to go. Tet tries to discourage Guet as the band is on a mission to deliver certain booty to a buyer in another town. They will have to dodge gangs of bandits as well as military troops along the way.

Guet manages to put off any sexual advances by an explicit threat of retribution. Even though she is a bit of a nuisance, and not particularly skilled, Guet begins to endear herself to the rough band. Eventually, she discovers secrets and interferes with the plans of thieves. Dangers are narrowly escaped and, while Guet is trying to make amends, more secrets are revealed.

I was not familiar with “wuxia fantasy” which apparently means ‘martial-arts chivalry or martial arts heroes’. I totally enjoyed the story, even with its few risqué elements. The characters, especially Guet and Tet, are well developed and the relationships and dialog are entertaining and humorous. There is an unexpected delightful mix of adventure, wit, charm, and magic. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a fun, Asian adventure.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Fledgling by Nicole Conway

I enjoyed this coming of age fantasy adventure with warrior dragons.
Fledgling
The Dragonrider Chronicles, Book 1
By: Nicole Conway
Narrated by: Jesse Einstein

Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
Series: Dragonrider Universe, Book 1, Dragonrider Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 02-01-16
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dragons, Fantasy Adventure
Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Can one boy stand between two kingdoms at war?
Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless - until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy, a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal.
But Jaevid's case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid's future. While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king's private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders is willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor. Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.
©2013 Nicole Conway (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Jaevid was raised by his mother in a war-torn ghetto as a refugee where the guards scorned the gray elves but other refugees scorned Jaevid as a half breed. He never met his human father until his mother died when he was 12. His father reluctantly allows him to sleep in the barn where he is mistreated by his hulking father, hated by his step mother and tormented by his younger half-siblings.

His father makes fine saddles for the dragon riders. A few years after living with his father, he is taken along to work with him as he goes to the Blybrig Academy to deliver the load of saddles to the dragon riders there.

Jaevid is a brave young man especially considering he is often bullied for being small and thin. He is fascinated by the dragons and sneaks in to see them. He encounters a wild dragon and is able to convince the dragon that they need each other. His being chosen by the dragon gets him accepted into the academy although the rich students don’t think he belongs and are ready to pummel him. He is lucky to make a friend in a mentoring knight, Lieutenant Sile Derrick, and another young student. Sile works the two boys hard in training suspecting that there is something special about Jaevid.

As Jaevid’s training continues it becomes apparent that someone is plotting against Sile. Jaevid and his dragon, Mavrik, are able to step up to save Sile from sabatoge. Months later Jaevid sees Sile kidnapped. Jaevid is unable to convince the other instructors to help so he sets out, with only his dragon, his young friend and a young girl, to attempt a rescue against the king’s guards.

Through the dangerous adventure Jaevid and Mavrik build a stronger bond and more secret talents are revealed. I really enjoyed the development of the friendships for Jaevid who had always been alone. I also liked the fast paced action and intrigue. There are clearly political upheavals surrounding the dragon rider knights though the details are not fully revealed in this first book of the series. I enjoyed this and will want to continue the series at some point. I recommend this to middle graders and adults who enjoy dragon adventures.

Audio Notes: Jesse Einstein does a really fine job with the narration. He portrays Jaevid at the right age and temperament and is able to give the other characters their unique voices too. The audio made the story more engaging for me.

Source: Audible 2017 Kid's Sale. Qualifies for TBR, March Take Control, Audo and Alphabet Challenges.

Audio Book Review: Tarah Woodblade: The Bowl of Souls Book 6

Good action, strong characters, an interesting plot and good narration work together to make this an engaging listen.
Tarah Woodblade: The Bowl of Souls Book 6
Written by: Trevor H. Cooley
Narrated by: Andrew Tell


Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
Series: The Bowl of Souls, Book 6
Series: Jharro Grove, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:01-29-16
Publisher: Trevor H. Cooley
Genre: Fantasy, Epic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The war is over, but there is a void of power that must be filled and no shortage of souls eager to fill it.
Tarah Woodblade was the best guide and tracker in the land, but she ran away from the war. She returns to Dremaldria expecting to be labeled a coward, but finds herself lauded as a hero. It seems a hero is needed too, because someone is hunting rogue horses....
©2013, 2015 Trevor H. Cooley (P)2016 Trevor H. Cooley

Review:
Tarah Woodblade drags herself back to her home town expecting to be scorned because she ran when war broke out. She is surprised when she is hailed as a hero. After all she did lead many people to safety that fateful night before she disappeared. Now she just has to reconcile with her own guilt.

Before she can even make it to her off the path home, she is pulled in for a new assignment. The local guild hires her to work for them to track rogue horses. Tarah is one of the best trackers around even though she carefully hides the secret of her success.

Rogue horses are not really horses. Well, parts of them might be. But other parts are gorilla or lion or unicorn or many other creatures. They are rogue because they have been constructed by the magic of a fierce magician who is no longer around to create more. The few rogue horses still hiding possess great power and are extremely valuable for more reasons than suspected. Tarah is more than willing to track these wondrous creatures to try to get them away from the bandit dwarves who are selling them knowing they will be slaughtered.

Tarah is teamed with Djeri (Jerry with a D) and neither is thrilled with the teaming at first. But as they move forward they begin to recognize and appreciate each other’s skills. I enjoyed how their reluctant pairing grew to a caring team. Djeri stands by Tarah and supports her as she faces current danger and trauma and deals with the dark emotions of her past. Most important, he believes in her and helps her change her attitude.

Tarah is an annoying character at first. It is clear she has spent a lot of time alone as she is constantly speaking to herself within her head. She especially repeats dialogue from her steady and logical father which is offset by the crafty strengths of her grandfather. I enjoyed how Mr. Cooley ‘grew’ Tarah’s character through the book. I really liked her tracking skills and the fighting skills of both Tarah and Djeri which were displayed through plenty of action.

Tarah Woodblade is the 6th book in the Bowl of Souls series but the first in The Jharro Grove Saga. I was worried about coming in at the 6th in a series but the book stands well on its own. There was enough backstory that I felt I got a sense of some of the adventures that must be covered in the earlier books. There are moonrats whose queen was apparently killed by Tarah. But the spirit or essence of the queen lives on in a bizarre location. There are nasty wizards and dwarves who are a threat to the horses and a threat to Tarah and Djeri.

This is good fantasy with magic, dwarves, gnomes, and an assortment of creatures. I would definitely be interested in reading or listening to more in the series as this was fun and engaging.

Audio Notes: Andrew Tell did an excellent job with this narration. He provided different voice accents and emotional levels that fit the characters, even the female protagonist. His narration was clear and flowed well. It added to my enjoyment of the story.

I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom for an honest review. It qualifies toward my 2016 Audio Challenge.

Book Review: Cast Adrift by Mannah Pierce

There is really good world building in this gripping story.
Cast Adrift
by Mannah Pierce

File Size: 804 KB
Print Length: 451 pages
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing (May 8, 2015)
ASIN: B00X2ZZ8NY
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Adventure
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Cast Adrift is the first part of a science fiction saga set in an interstellar world of the far future where Earth is merely a myth. Ean is queen of the Willow, a small ship with a Traditional crew who live in space and trade between the stars. Suddenly Tre, the laid back crew enforcer, is demanding that they dash to one system to pick up cabin boys and then divert to another to recruit an adolescent who is utterly unsuited to spacer life. Who is Jax? What is Rae? Why is the most powerful individual in Known Space interested in Kip? Most importantly, what is Tre up to?

Review:
Jax is a young boy of twelve who has arrived at an age, as well as a circumstance, that requires him to sign on as crew for a spaceship and train to become a 'spacer' who can defend himself. His wealthy family made arrangements so there should be a Traditional crew that will bid for him or accept him. The difference between a “Traditional” crew and one that is not, is important. Traditional crews consist of all males but they have strict rules of integrity that protect the young unlike other ships. Plus, the right ship for Jax has an agent on board who knows Jax’s true identity. Jax gets the signal from “Tres” the enforcer on the Willow. Jax brings along another young street rat, Rae, who is a hybrid 'cat' with an unknown defect.

Now Jax and Rae are cabin boys on the crew of the Willow. The queen on the ship is Ean who has the perfect, caring personality and organizational skills to manage a successful crew. Jax is a quick learner with an educated background and incentive to train. Rae is a fast, street smart scamp who is surprised and thrilled to have the first friend of his life. The crew adds a medico friend of Tres and also collects a fourteen-year-old boy, Kip. The other members of the crew do not understand why Tres, who clearly has his own secrets, has encouraged them to pick up Kip. But Tres has information that this boy is special too.

Danger waits as there are those who are seeking Jax and many who will sell him out. And that may include betrayers within the crew once they learn who he is. As the crew tries to dodge danger, it stalks them...and finally catches up.

Ms. Pierce has a gift for world building and I found this writing wonderfully creative and remarkable. The plot is well laid out and consistent in the details and growth. There are also some subtle double meanings and twists that added to the overall package. Granted, I was not thrilled about the homosexual nature of the crews but I understand how it is an important element of the dynamics among the characters. The issue was handled with dignity and not in a prurient way.

I couldn’t help being rather enthralled with the story. I feel vested with the characters and I don’t think I can resist reading the next book and finding out what happens. I certainly recommend this to readers who love unique and well written science fiction.

I received this title through Publishing Push and the author. Don't miss the author's interesting guest post that will give you some background on her writing and her story development!

Biography of Mannah Pierce
Mannah Pierce has been building her imaginary interstellar world of the far future, story by story, for four decades. At the age of fifty she decided to try sharing it with readers online and then, five years later, spurred by the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, she wrote and had published Cast Adrift, her first fiction book.

In the everyday world, Mannah Pierce was a scientist and teacher but now works for a charity. She has been married for over thirty years and, predictably, likes cats.

Read more about her journey as an author: http://www.mannahpierce.com/blog.html.

Audible Book Review: The Jewel of Dantenos: The FREE Lee Starfinder Adventure by Brian D. Anderson

This short introduction to the series has good action and intrigue.
The Jewel of Dantenos: The FREE Lee Starfinder Adventure: from the World of the Godling Chronicles, Book 0.5
Written by: Brian D. Anderson
Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
Series: The Godling Chronicles, Book 0.5
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:09-05-14
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 and 5.0

Publisher's Summary
From the world of The Godling Chronicles.
Filled with confidence and no small measure of arrogance, young Lee Starfinder, along with Millet Gristall, set off on their very first adventure. Lee quickly discovers that life beyond Hazrah can be far deadlier than he could have ever imagined. And soon he must learn that muscle and steel cannot replace loyalty, bravery, and friendship.
©2014 Brian D. Anderson (P)2014 Podium Publishing

Review:
Lee Starfinder is an arrogant young man who knows his strength and fighting skills exceed others. He has a special background, as a Godling, that makes him view himself as superior. Lee suffers through the companionship of his servant/assistant, Mill Gristall. They are traveling on Lee’s first adventure when they are distracted on the path by a young woman who appears to be in distress. They move beyond their normal cautious routines to help her only to be led into a trap.

Lee and Mill are captured by a pirate gang who are set on uncovering the rumored Jewel of Dantenos. The leader is convinced he has a reliable map to the treasure. However, they have found a dark, deadly presence in the caves which is killing his men. Lee makes a deal that if he can kill the dark “demon” he and Mill will go free.

Lee has no idea what he is facing when the darkness first attacks. Then it begins to communicate with him. Still, Lee may have taken on more than he can handle. He may find that there are times even Godlings need help from others to succeed.

This was a fast and interesting story. I liked the mysterious tone, the action and the puzzle that leads to survival. Lee isn't the most likeable character at first but he grows on you. Mill on the other hand is a wonderfully warm and strong character. This gives just a little taste of the series, but enough to draw me in so I am interested in the first full book.

Audio Notes: Derek Perkins does a good job of narrating this. He gives each character a distinct voice and he conveys good intensity. I did have to get used to the fact that the voice made Lee seem older than he is. Still, the narration enhanced my enjoyment.

I slipped this free story from my own TBR Audible Library; downloaded in 2014. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge, Mount TBR Challenge and J for Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: Rarity from the Hollow by Robert Eggleton

This is a decidedly weird read full of engaging characters and humor.
Rarity from the Hollow
by Robert Eggleton

File Size: 845 KB
Print Length: 284 pages
Publisher: Dog Horn Publishing (November 8, 2015)
ASIN: B017REIA44
Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Lacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother's teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn't great. But Lacy has one advantage -- she's been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It's up to her to save the Universe.
To prepare Lacy for her coming task, she is being schooled daily via direct downloads into her brain. Some of these courses tell her how to apply magic to resolve everyday problems much more pressing to her than a universe in big trouble, like those at home and at school. She doesn't mind saving the universe, but her own family and friends come first.
Will Lacy Dawn's predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?
Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire. It is a children's story for adults, not for the prudish, faint of heart, or easily offended.
Robert Eggleton's humorous science fantasy follows in the steps of Douglas Adams, Tom Holt and Terry Pratchett.

Review:
Ahem (clearing throat)– Whew-Oookay. I have read a few very strange books. This one may be the strangest yet. Strange but engaging in a…. weird way. I think a good word is “bizarre” (definition: very strange or unusual, especially so as to cause interest or amusement).

Lacy Dawn is really a wonderful character! She is a young person with an old soul. Lacy Dawn is a 13-year-old fifth grader, residing in an impoverished community known as The Hollow, in West Virginia. Lacy Dawn lives in a falling down home with her dysfunctional family. Her father, Dwayne, is a Gulf War veteran suffering from PTSD and medicating with pot. Her mother, Jenny, sacrificed her dreams of wealth and comfort to stay with her husband, even when he is broken. Oh, and I almost forgot the family dog, Brownie, who learns to communicate later in the story. And, almost part of the family, is Lacy Dawn’s best friend, Faith, who lives – and dies – in an abusive family situation, but continues as a spirit in Lacy Dawn’s beloved trees. And finally, there is Tom, an entrepreneur neighbor who hires Dwayne after Dwayne gets some healing help from Lacy Dawn’s other friend, Dot.com.

Lacy Dawn thinks it is her job to fix her family. But how can she do that? Well --- with the help of Dot.com of course. Dot.com is an android, computer intelligence, that (whom) she discovered ‘round the bend’, in a space-ship hidden in a cave. Dot.com is an integral part of Lacy Dawn’s life. He has been educating her beyond the levels of her grade and she is convinced he will be her future mate. As time goes by, Dot.com, aka Bucky, begins to grow more human. The mental assimilations are understandable; the physical growth – ahh – interesting! According to Dot.com, Lacy Dawn was planted/seeded by his superiors millennia ago to save the universe. That is her destiny if she will accept it.

Dot.com has to introduce Lacy Dawn to his world and Shptiludrp. There she will learn about the task she must accept if she chooses to save the Universe. Before she will accept her monumental destiny, Lacy Dawn engages the help of her family and friends as it will take everyone working together to pull this off. About this point the story takes off on another strange tack which I’m not sure I should disclose. It is totally bizarre but I was compelled to read to the end to find out what happened.

There is a lot of prurient comment coming from the view of a mostly innocent 13-year-old who doesn’t plan on having sex until she marries, and that only after college. I would caution that the story is not for the squeamish. I’d say ‘prudish’ but I have always had a tendency towards being prudish and I got through this. There is quite a bit of point of view hopping but that worked with the bizarreness of the story. I do think the author shares a certain picture of the difficult life of those in poverty. Some people might try to find a deeper meaning or philosophy in this but I am not digging that deeply. I accepted it as a zany adventure.

Would I read more of Lacy Dawn’s adventures? I just might when in a mood for an off-the-wall portrayal of life. If you are a reader who likes humor and is willing to take a chance on a bizarre read, this would be a good choice.

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B017REIA44

I received this from the author for an honest review. It qualifies for “R”, Tour read on my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Audible Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This is a delightfully entertaining adventure with steampunk elements and fabricated creatures too.
Leviathan
Written by: Scott Westerfeld
Narrated by: Alan Cumming

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
Series: Leviathan, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-06-09
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy Adventure
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a living airship, the most formidable airbeast in the skies of Europe.
Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.
With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way - taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.
©2009 Scott Westerfeld; (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Review:
Aleksander is a teen prince who is not fully accepted by his family because his mother was not of the right royal heritage. An assassination has sent him on the run with his formal fencing master, his mechanical tutor and three other dedicated, loyal servants. They left in the dark of night in a giant steam-driven machine (Clanker) known as the Stormwalker. They have to struggle to make it across the border while dodging attacks by the Germans.

Deryn is a young girl from London who knows about flying because her father was a pilot. She disguised herself as a boy to enlist in the British Air Service where she quickly proves her worth, even though she must maintain her secret. She is selected to join the crew of the Leviathan, a living airship fabricated from animals. The Leviathan is a marvelous creature with glow worms for light, hounds to sniff hydrogen leaks, bats to serve as defense and offensive weapons and talking lizards as messengers!

When circumstances bring Alek and Deryn together their mechanical and Darwinist leanings clash. Yet they soon discover that they must work together and pull resources from both specialties if they want to save their respective crews.

This is a wonderful mixture of steampunk technology and fabricated beasties. I can’t say that I liked the Darwinian theories so much, but it created the basis for interesting features – aaa -- make that creatures. I am still curious about the eggs that are being watched over. The alternate history draws from real events that led to WW1 and I found the young prince’s dilemma of inheritance and politics quite interesting.

This is a quick paced story that engaged me in the lives of the characters as well as the action. The writing is clean and straightforward. This would be good story telling for middle graders but it was engaging for me as an adult too. I recommend this to readers who enjoy steampunk and fantasy elements in a strong story with likable characters.

Audio Notes: Alan Cumming does a great job with the narration. He provides appropriately different accents, emphasis and emotion for the characters. I highly recommend this in audio format.

This has been in my Audible Library since August 2012. It is part of my Audio Challenge.

Book Review: Shadow Study (Soulfinders) by Maria V. Snyder

This is a wonderful revisit with great characters and a worthy addition to the series!
Shadow Study (Soulfinders)
by Maria V. Snyder

• File Size: 1120 KB
• Print Length: 413 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0778317404
• Publisher: MIRA (March 1, 2015)
• Sold by: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp.
• ASIN: B00OYBW5FY

Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 1, 2015
New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.
Once, only her own life hung in the balance…
Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.
Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job and his life are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret—or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is—while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.
Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous…

Review:
Yelena is a Sitian with magic abilities - in fact, she is a Soulfinder which is rare and dangerous. She delivers souls to their rightful destination - peace or hell. Yelena didn’t know about her own talents until she began working as the poison taster as a prisoner under Valek’s authority. Yelena has faced many dangers and survived through the help of magic, her own wits and sometimes Valek and friends.

Valek is an Ixian assassin. He has the unusual trait of being immune to magic which helped make him extremely successful and dangerous. Initially Valek and Yelena were worlds apart. Presumably his position in Ixia, where his Commander forbids magic, kept them apart. Then Yelena was assigned as a liaison between the communities and a personal relationship developed.

They both have made many enemies but for the most part, those who are not afraid of Yelena’s powers are afraid of her ‘mate’ Valek’s abilities. Yet there are those who want to hinder her even at the risk of angering him.

While visiting with Valek for a brief private rendezvous Yelena is shot with an unknown poison. She is able to remove the toxin with her healing skills and Valek thinks she is all right as he returns to Ixiaa at the call of his commander. But Yelena suffers an extreme fever and chills. When she awakens she discovers her magic is completely gone. One of the immediate loses she feels is the inability to communicate telepathically with her Sandseed horse, Kiki. Fortunately Kiki is a brilliant animal and understands Yelena’s needs.

Yelena and Kiki return to Sitia where she can seek aid from the master magicians and her brother. They try to protect her secret as they research the nature of the poison and how to cure her. They proceed on to seek the help of Opal and Devlin, two other friends who experienced the loss of the their magic in the past (Glass Series).

Meanwhile Valek finds a young assassin sneaking into his commander’s quarters and challenging for his position. Rather than imprison her they end up placing her on Valek's team for training and assignment. Valek and his new recruit are assigned to work with Janco and Ari to uncover and stop a smuggler’s ring.

The wonderful thing about Ms. Snyder’s writing is she manages to create a vested interest in her characters. The author portrays events from alternating characters to help the forward motion of the plot that ultimately brings them together to face their enemies. I enjoyed how the author also follows Valek’s memories filling in his childhood background that led him to become an assassin. There was a very short time of slower pacing in the middle of the book but it picked up quickly.

It has been a number of years since I read and loved the Study trilogy - now dubbed the Soulfinders series as it continues. Yelena and Valek appeared as secondary characters in the Glass series but it is great to have them back with their own issues again. In a world of conflicting interests and power hungry leaders there are plenty of issues regarding betrayal and who can be trusted. The ending of this book may come as a surprise to readers (I guessed it early on) but issues are left open thereby promising more stories to come!

This can be read alone but I highly recommend reading the books in order. Not only will you get to know the characters but you will get to enjoy their dangerous adventures.

I selected this at NetGalley for an honest review. It qualifies for NetGalley Challenge.

Audio Book Review: The Keeper's Calling: The Keeper's Saga, Book 1 by Kelly Nelson

This is an engaging time travel/YA romance.

The Keeper's Calling: The Keeper's Saga, Book 1
Written by: Kelly Nelson
Narrated by: James Simenc

• Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins 
• • Series: The Keeper's Saga, Book 1


Release Date:09-23-14
Publisher: Kelly Nelson

Genre: Fantasy, Time Travel, YA Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
They come from two different worlds. One fateful discovery will bring them together. Neither of their lives will ever be the same.
Chase Harper's to-do list for senior year never included fall in love and fight for your life, but things rarely go as planned. Tarnished gold and resembling a pocket watch, the counter he finds in a cave during the summer of 2011 will forever change the course of his life, leading him to the beautiful Ellie Williams and unlocking a power beyond his wildest imagination.
In 1863, Ellie Williams completes school in Boston and returns to the Utah Territory only to discover that her grandfather and his counter, a treasured family heirloom, are missing. When Ellie is abducted and told she must produce the counter or die, an unexpected rescuer comes to her aid.
©2012 Walnut Springs Press (P)2014 Kelly Nelson

Review:
Chase Harper is in his senior year trying to figure out how best to prepare for college. He is on a camping adventure with family when he discovers a box containing an old, odd item that resembles a pocket watch. He touches the dials and a soft light glows. He stumbles and awakens in a landscape that is strange although similar. He tries to find his way back to the campsite but nothing is quite right. Then he sees two Mexican cowboys riding off with a woman. He follows and rescues Ellie in 1863.

Ellie is charmed by the young man who rescues her but she is more concerned with finding her grandfather and his secret treasure. She is distressed to discover that Chase has the time tracker but she explains that it is his now since it responded to him. She chooses to travel with him to 2011 so she can explain more of what is happening.

A strong attraction develops between Chase and Ellie although they try to pretend they are just friends to ward off any difficulties with Chase’s family. Chase has to learn the use and meaning of the gadget and decide if he wants to accept the responsibilities of using it. He and Ellie will face danger as they try to find a way to protect each other.

I felt the story started a bit slowly but after a short while I was pulled in by the mystery, travel and suspense. I enjoyed the main characters and really liked the gentle, sweet level of the teenage romance. There are some underlying faith comments that also warmed my heart. The travel plot has interesting twists that build background for the series and make this more than a YA romance. I recommend this as an entertaining listen for those who enjoy YA romance and time travel adventure.

Audio Notes: James Simenc does a fine job with the narration. His voice suits Chase as the primary character and he does a good job with distinguishable voices for the female characters as well as other male voices. I enjoyed this as an audio listen.

I received this title through Audiobook Jukebox. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge

Audible Book Review: The Beast Master by Andre Norton

I enjoyed this engaging, ‘vintage’ sci fi story.
The Beast Master
Written by: Andre Norton
Narrated by: Richard J. Brewer

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
Series: Beast Master, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:09-15-09
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Left homeless by the war that reduced Terra to a radioactive cinder, Hosteen Storm - Navaho commando and master of beasts - is drawn to the planet Arzor, to kill a man he has never met.
On that dangerous frontier world, aliens and human colonists share the land in an uneasy truce. But something is upsetting the balance, and Storm is caught in the middle. He had thought the war was over - but was it?
©2005 Andre Norton; (P)2009 Brilliance Audio

Review:
Hosteen Storm was raised on Terra where he learned Navaho discipline and gentle but firm handling of animals. When war decimated his home world of Terra he became a commando for the Planetary Confederacy forces with a designation as beast master. His superior was reluctant to let him go due to the volubility of the Terran survivors. But Storm has survived a year without incident and there is no apparent reason for his superiors to withhold permission for him to travel to Arzor, a frontier world. Storm travels with his special team with whom he has special telepathic abilities: two meercats, a dune cat and an eagle.

Storm has not let anyone know his history and the reason he seeks access to Arzor. Storm makes his way on the frontier planet by proving his value to a man hired to drive cattle and horses. Storm shows his skills by managing a horse who is added to his team.

One of the other drivers is immediately hostile to Storm who has learned to observe carefully and watch over his shoulders. Storm makes a friend with a young Norbie who is a native people whose anatomy precludes them from vocal talk so they have developed sign language that Storm picks up fairly quickly. It seems their culture is very similar to that of Storm's early life. But there are other native tribes and natural land hazards, including floods and huge beasts, that threaten the men on their trek.

The crew reaches a way-station after surviving the wild hazards. There Storm runs into the man he is seeking but he is surprised and unprepared for the character of the man. Storm takes on another job with an archaeological research group. They run into problems too and Storm uncovers evidence of a danger that no one has expected on this planet. He must survive the wilds and enemy attacks to get word of the danger to those who can take action. He is met with surprising revelations before it is over.

Hosteen Storm is a wonderful hero. I really enjoyed the whole package of characters, animals and plot with secrets and dangers. I was impressed by the engaging writing and the extent of the plot especially considering this was written in 1959. I was surprised that I had never read this series (which apparently is not really followed in the movie of same name). I look forward to reading more books by Andre Norton.

Audio Notes: Richard Brewer does a good job with the narration. He gives enough distinction to the characters to make it interesting. I became engrossed in the story and the narration made this an easy read for me which I finished in one day.

This is another title in my Audible Library from 9/2011. It qualifies for Audiobook challenge and TBR Double Dare.

Book Review: Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

This is a engaging, fast paced fantasy with good twists.
Half a King
by Joe Abercrombie

• File Size: 1770 KB
• Print Length: 354 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0804178321
• Publisher: Del Rey (July 15, 2014)
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B00HBQWGYO

Genre: Fantasy Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 15, 2014
“A fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page 1 and refused to let go.”—George R. R. Martin
“I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.”

Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

The deceived will become the deceiver.
Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.

The betrayed will become the betrayer.
Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.

Will the usurped become the usurper?
But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds that his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy.

Review:
Prince Yarvi is a younger son and not expected to become the King. He was born with a deformity and has always been a disappointment to his father, brother and those who value the warrior brawn over brain. Only his mother, his uncle and his tutor, Mother Gundring have shown love and encouragement. Yarvi has trained to become a minister but right before he is to test as a noble scholar his father and brother are ambushed. Yarvi is troubled to become King (or half a King as many consider him) but, with the encouragement of his Uncle, he accepts. As one of his first acts he vows vengeance on those who murdered his father.

Yarvi and a small army go to face the alleged enemy. Although they didn’t find the leader of the clan, his men slaughtered many innocent villagers. As they were returning to their ship to go home Prince Yarvi meets betrayal and is left for dead in the carnage. Unexpectedly he lives and falls into the hands of his enemy. He can’t tell them who he truly is so he claims to be a ship’s cook and he is sold to a slaver.

Yarvi ends up as an oarsman with other slaves. His companions help him to learn to do one stroke at a time. Yarvi struggles to row, managing to grow muscles and strength as he plots escape and reclaiming his throne.

Yarvi’s learning comes in handy and he gains a promotion to supply officer. He manages better than his predecessor and provides better food and conditions for the other slaves who appreciate his efforts. Eventually Yarvi and some of his friends escape. Of course they face more hardships as they try to stay ahead of the ship’s Captain who pursues. Yarvi finally reveals his identity and a group of his friends agree to help him sneak into the castle to capture the false king. Clues picked up along the way reveal how extended the betrayal was and, before the band faces the impostor king, there are more secrets and twists to surprise everyone and to challenge Yarvi once again.

Yarvi is not the usual handsome, strong hero. Instead he is a deformed, weak, scholarly nerd who is scorned in his society of warriors. But Yarvi is shrewd and remembers the wisdom shared by his teacher. His friends are a wonderful mix of characters who have suffered through hardships and share different talents for the obstacles they face. I enjoyed the characters, the fast paced adventure and was pleased with the twists at the end. I recommend this to those who enjoy engaging fantasy.

I received this from Del Rey through NetGalley.

Book Review: The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II, by Paul S. Kemp

This is an engaging fantasy where a sliver of hope struggles for good to overcome the forces of dark and shadow.
The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II
by Paul S. Kemp

• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (October 1, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• ASIN: B00C8RZHLU

Genre: Fantasy Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
In the 2nd book of the multi-author Sundering series launched by New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, the shadow legacy of Erevis Cale lives on even as his old foe Mephistopheles seeks to stamp it out at any cost. Cale’s son Vasen—unmoored in time by the god Mask—has thus far been shielded from the archdevil’s dark schemes, alone among the servants of the Lord of Light who have raised him since birth

Living in a remote abbey nestled among the Thunder Peaks of Sembia, Vasen is haunted by dreams of his father, trapped in the frozen hell of Cania. He knows the day will come when he must assume his role in the divine drama unfolding across Faerûn. But Vasen knows not what that role should be . . . or whether he is ready to take it on. He only knows what his father tells him in dreams—that he must not fail.

Enter Drasek Riven, a former compatriot of Erevis Cale, now near divine and haunted by dreams of his own—he too knows the time to act is near. Shar, the great goddess of darkness, looks to cast her shadow on the world forever. Riven has glimpsed the cycle of night she hopes to complete, and he knows she must be stopped.

At the crossroads of divine intrigue and mortal destiny, unlikely heroes unite to thwart the powers of shadow and hell, and the sundering of worlds is set on its course.

Review:
This is another extremely engaging epic fantasy but does not pick up the characters and story from Book 1. The story may deal with the same world and time but on a completely different level. This story focuses on the battles of archdevils and minor gods. There is a battle between the Dawnlord, followers of light and goodness, and the Shadovar, those bringing destruction and darkness.

Several mortals received small parts of the powers of the godling, Mask, when he was defeated by the archdevil, Mephistopheles. Rivalen has been entranced by Shar, a goddess of darkness who destroys worlds.  Rivalen has come to believe that immortality is meaningless and he plots to use the god powers he received to help Shar complete her mission.

Drasek Riven also received god powers but he finds great loneliness and boredom with his immortality. He stills steps into influence human affairs - looking like a dark, shadowy pirate.   Erevis Cale also received a small sliver of power but he has been imprisoned in ice. His wife and unborn son, Vasen, were whisked forward in time to protect them from the enemy. When Vasen was born, Riven made sure he found safety to be raised in a the Dawnlord Abbey and to have his father’s dark blade held ready for him to use when he became a man. It seems Vasen is the key to find Erevis and bring the forces together to defeat Shar and save the world.

The story proceeds with a certain dark twistedness, but always there is a slim light of hope for a brighter future. I really liked Vasen’s character and the blend of inherited darkness and trained faith in light and hope. Vasen always shied from his dark side and disciplined himself to follow the light paths. I appreciated how the author shows his ultimate understanding that his being consists of both elements and he can use both to accomplish what he wants. Vasen makes a friend before his adventure away from his Abbey home begins and Orsin is a wonderful character too. He is a man with his life written all over his body although he holds his secrets tightly.

There are many additional characters, good and horribly evil. I enjoyed the diverse characters like the obsessed and bitter Brennus with his pet homunculi. I was repulsed by the gruesome, evil, soul eating Zeeahd. There are several lines of action moving the characters along to the ending  and it took some attention to track the rather convoluted interactions. But I was compelled to keep moving with the good action, hoping that the “light” would triumph over the seemingly overwhelming forces of dark.

I found the story gripping in its own right even if I never quite made the connection between book 1 and book 2.  Since I had never read either (any) of the authors in this Sunderling series, it appears that I do not know some of the background that does tie the books together. However, from reading these two it seems that they are bound by the time of struggle from Spellplague to a new world with less and changed magic forces.  Even without knowing the history and characters I can recommend these first two stories as gripping entertainment to those who enjoy fantasy adventure.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review.

Audible Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This is a really fun listen! If you have this one in your TBR pile I recommend you get to reading, or listening to, it -- then enjoy!

Ready Player One

     by Ernest Cline

     Narrated by Wil Wheaton 

    LENGTH      15 hrs and 46 mins
    RELEASE DATE      08-16-11
    PUBLISHER      Random House Audio
Genre: Futuristic Fantasy
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.
It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of 10,000 planets.
And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.
For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday’s riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late 20th century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.
And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.
Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt—among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life—and love—in the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

Review:
Wade is a teenager in 2044 where lives are lived primarily in a free virtual computer world known as The OASIS. Wade actually resides in the crowded ‘real’ world – on and off – with his Aunt and her boyfriend in a mobile home in the stacks, where mobile home units have been staked twenty-two high in a precarious community. But Wade actually spends more time in his personal hideout in an abandoned van. Since schools became too crowded, students even attend through the virtual world, being given the minimal gear and choice of an avatar for their id in the OASIS. Friends are made in the virtual world without ever knowing the real person behind the avatar.

Wade explains how James Halliday, the creator of the OASIS, set up a game in the system as a means to distribute his vast billions on his death.  The first player to collect the three keys, play through three gates and find the hidden Easter egg will inherit the entire fortune. Initially there is a system wide frenzy as the treasure game hunters, called Gunters, study Halliday’s favorite games and past-times trying to find the solution. Some people have formed ‘clans’ and there is a massive, villainous corporation, IOI, whose players are called the Sixers, who want to win and control the system. It is feared if IOI gets possession that they will charge everyone for use of the OASIS and change the world situation for the worse. Wade and his best friend, Aech, agree that they are independent players even though Wade struggles with minimal assets and experience.

It has been five years since Halliday died and the scoreboard has shown no progress. Then one day Wade, or his avatar, Parzival, stumbles upon the path to the first key! A new fervor ensues and others quickly begin to show up on the board. Second is a slick female character, Art3mis, on whom Wade has a crush, then Aech, then two Japanese who are believed to be brothers.  After them come the institutional IOI Sixers who basically block anyone behind them.

Now the race is on and the leaders of IOI are not beyond bribery or even murder to get the secrets and prevail in the hunt. As Wade/Parzival plays and searches he shares memories of the early games like D&D, PACman, and early game systems like Atari. The serious players also have to know classic movies that were Halliday’s favorites including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, War Games, Monty Python’s Holy Grail and more. There is a huge battle to the end between the mega corporation and the young players who finally team together and get a little help just to hide and survive.

This was wonderful fun to listen to, recognizing that the players are computer geeks and this is the only life and hope they have. There are clues and puzzles that Wade must solve and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane hearing about computers, games and movies from the 1980s. I liked the positive messages that were shared with the good v evil set up and with the characters becoming friends through their personalities without meeting. I recommend this book for entertainment and special fun for those who lived through the ‘80s.

Audio Notes:  Wil Wheaton does a wonderful job portraying Wade, his pals and even the evil CEO. I got caught up in the story but it was certainly enhanced by the excellent narration.

I'm really glad I selected this was from my own Audible Library. I picked it for my July "Just For Fun" read.

Book Review: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr

This is an exciting story filled with action, political and church struggles and even some young love.

The Hero's Lot
by Patrick W. Carr

• File Size: 928 KB
• Print Length: 449 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0764210440
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2013)

Genre: Fantasy Adventure, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 1, 2013
Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice
When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne.

In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.

Review:
Errol has gone from being a drunken, obscure peasant to a famous hero and elevated to an earldom in the kingdom of Illustra. He is a rare omne and reader who can cast lots to determine important decisions. He is unaware of his importance to the kingdom, is caught up in a web of events that he doesn’t comprehend and has become a target for many enemies. On top of the political and church manipulations controlling Errol, he and the Princess Adora have developed a mutual affection that would seem impossible to hold any future.

Errol is accused by one man in the conclave of the Judicia, the Church authority, of having consorted with herbwoman, whom many view as witches or whores. Errol was healed with the help of such women so there is no way that he can deny the charges. The head of the church, the Archbenefice, knows this but plans to control the sentencing to protect Errol as a second, more serious charge of treason will be delayed until the first sentence is served. Errol is not guilty of treason but he has knowledge that would reveal actions of other friends and leaders who must be protected. Thus Errol has become a pawn between faithful, if misguided, church leaders and kingdom guard who seek to protect the balance of the people from the power hungry Weir family and their allies who would abuse through control of the throne and the church.

Unfortunately the Duke of Weir, the second accuser, manages to get Errol sentenced to a mission to seek out and kill the feared, fallen church leader, Sarin Valon, who has joined with the enemies in the kingdom of Merakh. It is clearly intended as a death sentence and a compulsion is placed on Errol to enforce his obedience.

Errol at least gets to pick his own team but his best friends, Benefice Martin, his aide, Luis, and Errol’s fighting trainer, Cruk, have left on an undisclosed trip of their own. He then picks an unexpected group: his mentor, Rale, who is a warrior retired to farming; Naaman Ru, a caravan guide who once kidnapped and threatened to kill Errol, and an elderly, defrocked priest. Their journey will be fraught with assassin attempts as the enemy has created a ring of readers who can determine where Errol is and communicate the information through the circle. The danger increases when Princess Adora sneaks away from the kingdom to join Errol on the deadly quest.

Meanwhile Martin, Luis and Cruk have come across another strange man of Deas, Karele, who has shown that Aurae, the spirit of Deas (God) will speak directly to men.  Karele, with the help of Aurae, can counteract the reader and their art of drawing lots. This team too faces perils as they change their course to find Errol and help in his task.

This book is epic and engaging. It alternates between the two groups as they forge through their dangers until they are brought together and face the enemy. I was uncertain at first at the church practice of deciding lots so I was glad when Karele made it clear that the practice was not needed in seeking the will of Deas.

The story is full of danger, action, betrayal, demon possession, friendship, love and faith. There is insanity, wisdom and good suspense. The plot is deep and well developed with some surprising twists. I was pulled into becoming invested in the well being of the characters. I have not read the first book and, although I was fully engaged jumping into the middle of the series, I recommend starting with book one so you have the complete character history, especially for Errol and his friends. I will certainly want to read the next book to see what happens.

A statement I loved said to Errol: “Do not confuse those who vie for power with those who work for good.” (Location 5409.)

I received this for an honest review as part of BookBlast tour.
Don't miss out on the two Giveaways: 

BookBlast Giveaway: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr $50.00 GC/PP. Ends 8/11/13.
BookBlast Blog Tour Giveaway: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr $25.00 GC/PP.  Ends 8/11/13.

Blog Tour Featuring The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr; Giveaway $25.00 GC/PP

My review was to post today and I apologize to the author and tour host that I am not ready to post the review. I am 60% complete and very much enjoying the danger and intrigue that Errol and his "team" are facing. I feel it wouldn't be fair to write the review until I finish. So I will post the review in the next day or so.
Thanks for understanding. Meanwhile, enjoy this excerpt and enter the blog tour Giveaway below!

Excerpt:

Sweat, hot and salty, flowed into Errol’s eyes in the sticky heat of the early fall afternoon. He forced a quick blink to shed the distraction, not daring to risk the split-second it would take to wipe his brow. A welt as long as his hand burned his left ribcage. Its twin worked to numb his right shoulder. The staff in his hands blurred and buzzed like an angry insect, nearly invisible, but as yet he had managed only a single strike against his opponent.

And he was tiring.

The man opposite him, stronger and fresher, darted like a snake, the blade of his sword disappeared as his arms corded and he struck. Errol parried at the last moment and flowed into a counterattack. The clack of staff against sword filled his ears like the sound of a drummer’s rim beats.

For a moment he dared hope that he would penetrate his opponent’s defense, but the attack exhausted itself and he retreated to defend against those cursed whip-like strokes of the swordsman’s counter.

Pain blossomed in his side as the sword found its mark. It was no use. Four weeks of food and rest had almost restored him to complete health after Sarin’s attack against the kingdom. But ‘almost’ was insufficient against such an opponent.

The Hero's Lot
Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice.

When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne.

In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Hero's Lot is the Sequel to A Cast of Stones

A Cast of Stones

An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love.

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.
Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Tour Schedule

Author Patrick W. Carr

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Website * Facebook

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 8/14/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audio Book Review: The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel by Gregory S. Slomba

This is a fun adventure - perfect for middle schoolers and more.

The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel
    by Gregory S. Slomba
    Narrated by Jimm Singer


 LENGTH    5 hrs and 17 mins
    RELEASE DATE    01-16-13
    PUBLISHER    Gregory S. Slomba
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Twelve-year-old Eric Scott is called by Stig, a talking owl, to journey to another world to save a fishing village from a band of bloodthirsty pirates. Once there, Eric discovers that delivering the town is but one of the problems he'll have to solve.

Can a 12-year-old boy, a talking owl, a headstrong girl and an outcast dwarf save a village, much less an entire world? Find out as they set out on the journey of a lifetime to defeat an immortal pirate, face their fears, and fulfill an ancient prophecy.

Review:
Eric is a sweet twelve-year old boy who holds himself responsible for the death of his father even though a young boy wouldn’t be able to hold a man falling off a mountain. One afternoon Eric is approached by an owl who speaks to him and tells him that he is being called on a mission. Stig, the talking owl, explains that the mission isn’t in the world as Eric knows but through a secret door to another world. Eric isn’t sure how a young boy like him can help but he agrees to go.

A guardian of the gates delivers them to the world where they are to help a fishing village fight oppressive pirates.  They are welcomed by Kate, the mayor’s daughter who immediately declares them to be the deliverers promised in an long ago legend!

An outcast dwarf joins the three friends as they help the townspeople plan a way and find the courage to face the villainous Pirate Sharky and his band of cutthroats. Each offers different skills including  wisdom, strategy and fighting expertise. The small team journeys through the dwarf lands in the mountain, to seek aid, even though big folk aren't welcome. Then they proceed (through choice of execution or going forward) out the locked doors to the forbidden wasteland beyond where no one has returned. Eric realizes that only together can they make the mission a success.

The story is wonderfully plotted with messages of friendship, bravery, sacrifice, forgiveness, second chances and more. It is a fun listen with lots of ‘magical’ characters and full of action.  I think this would be a fun story for families to listen to together so they could discuss the characters, the action and the lessons shared.

Audio Notes: Jimm Singer does a really fine job of making the characters come alive. His voices for the children are good and his accents for other characters, the stuffy British owl, Stig, the despondent, rough dwarf, and others, add wonderful depth and make the listening fun.

I received this from the author through Audiobook Jukebox.

BookBlast Giveaway: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr

The Hero's Lot

Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice.

When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne.

In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Hero's Lot is the Sequel to A Cast of Stones

A Cast of Stones

An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love.

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

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Author Patrick W. Carr

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

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