What the Gods Allow by J.S. Frankel

September 2, 2019 By 2 Comments


What the Gods Allow by J.S. Frankel
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (230 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Medusa, the Gorgon, is free—temporarily. Penned up in Tartarus, the gods—Zeus and Hera—show her mercy. Medusa is given two weeks in which to track down their wayward daughter, Eris. Transformed into a beautiful young woman, Medusa is given only one warning: not to use her powers of transforming those to stone. She agrees and adopts the name Meddy Gorgonne. In a stroke of chance, she finds lodgings with the Goldstein’s, Sam and Trudy, and tries to figure out how modern Portland works. Cars, showers, television—all are mysteries to her at first, although she adapts.Meddy is somewhat naïve about life and especially about love, as she slowly falls for Sam, a teen who is suffering from Usher’s Syndrome, a disease that will blind and deafen him in time. What is more troubling to Meddy is that her powers of turning people to stone have returned, and she is at a loss as to why. With the police slowly closing in and time running out on how to get Eris to return to Olympus, Meddy discovers that sometimes old is new, and that time-worn traditions can surmount modernity.But will they be enough for her to stay with Sam, or will she be forced to return to Tartarus for eternity?

It’s never too late to try to fix old mistakes.

Some of my favorite parts of this book involved Meddy’s reaction to modern life. So much had changed in the world over the last few thousand years since her glory days. She was surprised by everything from the food to the fashion of the modern day, and I was fascinated by her adjustment to our era. There were certain things she noticed that I never would have assumed would be an issue, and other changes I assumed she would struggle with turned out to be no big deal at all. This was all thought out very nicely, and I appreciated how much effort Mr. Frankel put into it.

The pacing was perfect. I’d originally assumed it would be a little slow in the beginning as Meddy explained what she’d done to anger the gods, but the plot quickly jumped into showing what happened when she was given a temporary pardon from her sentence instead. While these details were given all of the attention they needed later on, I loved the fact that the audience got to move on to main storyline so quickly in this tale. That really kept my interest levels high beginning with the first page and going on through to the final one.

Meddy’s character development was handled wonderfully. She was always someone I sympathized with, but I only grew to like her even more as I got to know the parts of her personality that weren’t immediately noticeable. Yes, she had her fair share of flaws, but she also had a genuinely kind heart and a willingness to learn from her past. Those are always lovely things to discover about a character, especially when they’re followed by genuine personal growth.

What the Gods Allow was a stellar addition to J.S. Frankel’s long list of works. Whether you’re a new or longterm fan of his stories, I highly recommend checking this one out!

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

September Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Death of Darkness by Dianne Duvall

August 31, 2019 By 5 Comments


Death of Darkness by Dianne Duvall
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full length (497 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Seth has led the Immortal Guardians for thousands of years. With them fighting by his side, he has protected humans from psychotic vampires, defeated corrupt mercenary armies, defended military bases under attack, and more. But the latest enemy to rise against the Immortal Guardians has proven to be a formidable one, wielding almost as much power as Seth. His goal is simple. He wants to watch the world burn. And he will use every means at his disposal to accomplish it. Seth and his Immortal Guardians have succeeded thus far in staving off Armageddon despite heartbreaking losses. But they have never before faced such danger. Seth has only one wish: to protect his Immortal Guardians family and ensure the continuation of humanity by defeating his foe. But then Leah walks into his life and sparks a new desire.

Leah Somerson has suffered losses of her own. It has taken her a long time to rebuild her life and find some semblance of peace. Then one night a tall, dark, powerful immortal with what appears to be the weight of the world on his shoulders stumbles into her shop, and everything changes. Peace and contentment are no longer enough. Now she wants more. She wants to find happiness. She wants to erase the darkness in Seth’s eyes and replace it with love and laughter. She knows he’s different in ways that make most fear him. Even some of his immortal brethren keep a careful distance. But Leah will not. Nor will she shy away when danger strikes.

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Horror, Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: ,

Escape from the Past: The Duke’s Wrath by Annette Oppenlander

August 21, 2019 By 20 Comments


Escape from the Past: The Duke’s Wrath by Annette Oppenlander
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Science Fiction/Fantasy (time travel), Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (292 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

When nerd and gamer, Max Anderson, is lured into trying an experimental computer game, he doesn’t realize he’s playing the ultimate history game, time-traveling into the past…anywhere…anytime. Survival is optional. To return home he must decipher the game’s rules and complete its missions–if he lives long enough. Tofail means staying in the past–forever.

Now he’strapped in medieval Germany, unprepared and clueless. It is the year 1471 and he quickly learns that being an outcast may cost him his head. Especially after rescuing a beautiful peasant girl from a deadly infection and thus provoking sinister wannabe Duke Ott. Overnight he is dragged into a hornets’ nest of feuding lords who will stop at nothing to bring down the conjuring stranger in their midst.

Filled with realistic historical references and a lot of adventure to keep even the pickiest of readers happy, Escape from the Past: The Duke’s Wrath was nearly un-put-downable. I read it in just two days.

I adored our hero, Max (“Max Nerds”). He actually took to going back in time with a pretty level head, which is good since if he’d panicked at any time, he’d likely have been killed or worse (and, yes, in that time there is definitely “worse” than death). The author is honest about the time: the food, the stench, the lack of understanding about germs or medicine and more. It’s clear the folks not born into priviledge (or earning it, like the squires/knights) had a horrendously hard life. Max gets to see both sides of the coin as he moves through the era with his new friend Bero and the family that takes him in. He sees poverty and hunger, pain and abuse. He saves Bero’s sister with some good ideas on how to treat a wound, even without modern medicine, and teaches his new family how to forage for edibles in the woods.

I enjoyed learning more about the time period–typically when I read historical fiction, it’s not from this time so it was interesting to go somewhere new! I don’t understand the cover, despite how eye-catching it is, since it seems to imply there’s a time machine involved, and there isn’t. Also, Max talks, thinks and acts like someone much older. In fact, at the beginning, I thought it was an adult looking back on an adventure he’d had. Max’s friend, Jimmy, acted more like that age group but Max was exceptionally mature.

Despite that very small blip, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wish it had been around when my own, history mad, daughter was younger. I would have given it to her with no reservations, and she would have loved it, too.

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The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter by Caroline Flarity

August 21, 2019 By 8 Comments


The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter by Caroline Flarity
Publisher: East Side Press
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (262 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Sixteen-year-old Anna sees things from another world, the spiritual world, a skill that isn’t exactly useful in high school. It’s bad enough that her mother, possessed by a demon, took her own life when Anna was a child, a loss she remains tortured by. Now her father makes his living “clearing” haunted objects, and Anna’s job as his assistant makes her a social misfit. Most kids in her suburban New Jersey town refer to her just as “Goblin Girl.”

Only Freddy and Dor remain loyal friends. But Anna’s so focused on her own problems, she’s missed that her connection with Freddy is moving beyond the friend zone.

As junior year approaches, a rare solar storm lights up the night skies and the citizens of Bloomtown begin to act strangely: Anna’s teachers lash out, her best friends withdraw, and the school bullies go from mean to murderous. When Anna realizes she can harness this evil power, she sets out to save Bloomtown and the only family she has left.

But to do so, she must keep her own increasingly dark urges at bay.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dark supernatural YA and was surprised to discover that it was the author’s debut.

There were times I wanted to strangle Anna, but then… she is a teenager with all the teenage angst that comes along with the age. Plus, she saw her mother (controlled by a demon) die, so I figured I should cut her some slack. But things kept getting weirder and weirder for Anna, her dad, her friends, and the whole town.

The story is told generally from Anna’s POV with some limited looks into a few other character’s thoughts, so you really get a chance to know Anna well. And, for the most part, I loved her. She was strong and dealing with a lot of things in a more mature manner than one might expect. After her mom’s death, her dad pretty well seems to have lost his way – hoarding and barely keeping his business alive. On top of it all, at school she gets a raw deal with many of the kids calling her “Spook Girl” because of her dad’s business.

It’s not all butterflies and rainbows in this book – expect some gritty moments, some dark moments, and some inappropriate behavior on the part of some of the adults in the town. In a way, it reminded me of a cross between Buffy the Vampire Killer and Warehouse 13 (two of my favorites, btw). I would so love to see these characters again!

I’m having trouble not giving away too many spoilers, because there’s a lot of action, a lot of twists, and some surprises along the way (and I have to admit some tears were shed as well). I’ve put this author on my list to check out her future works. Well done!

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Taking Wing by Clemency Crow

August 19, 2019 By 10 Comments

Taking Wing by Clemency Crow
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Length: Full Length (200 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rated: 3.5
Review by Rose

Twelve-year-old Freya enjoys karate and is the only one in her class who’s trusted with a part-time job. But everything changes when she meets a boy with yellow eyes. She learns about the guardians, and how an age-old fight has prevented them from fulfilling their purpose.

Freya finds new friends in the Crow tribe, but not everything in the castle is blissful. A destructive shadow lies within her and all she needs to do to release it is close her eyes.

But as the guardians’ war rages on, Freya realises that, although the shadow’s power can be useful, it can’t create peace. To do that, Freya and her friends must solve the mysterious crime that began the war. Can they bring the guardians together before they destroy each other?

Ms. Crow did a good job setting up the world in this first book of her Feather Down series. The world, in a different realm than humanity, is “peopled” by various bird clans who serve as Guardians over human beings. Unfortunately, they have found themselves involved in a generations-long war that takes up all their time and energy and keeps them from fulfilling their mission.

This is an ensemble piece that puts together Freya and her friends so they can work with the clans and help get them back together so they can fulfill their purpose. This group of young creatures also serve to show their elders the importance of judging everyone on their own merits, not just assuming you know what they will do or think based on the group they belong to.

There were a few cases of continuity issues and some word choices I found distracting, but this could very well be because I am an editor at my IRL job and things like that jump out at me. The average reader (especially ones on the middle-grade level which this book is aimed at) probably would not have an issue.

The action and the characters were well-done enough that these few issues did not take me out of the book much. The action–especially the further into the book I got–was non-stop and well-written with some amazing twists. I could see the action in my mind’s eye and think this would make a wonderful movie with the special effects available today.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Memory Seeker by Carly Marino

August 9, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Memory Seeker by Carly Marino
Inflexaen #2
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full length (276 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

Possessing the ability to memory walk used to freak out seventeen-year-old Thea Scott. Until she fell in love with out-of-this-world gorgeous Cole Conway. He uncovered clues to the intergalactic childhood she’s forgotten, where smiles calm, touches kill, and they were soulmates. Now, Cole’s power-hungry father has erased her from his mind as punishment, and her past holds the key to restore his memories. But revealing the truth will change her into someone she fears. Without Cole’s knowledge of their history, Thea has a chance for him to love her as the girl she is now. Omission, however, can tear them apart and destroy the human race. Thea’s fear morphs to terror when they encounter his father, and she must choose between Cole’s past and her future. In her heart, she knows the answer. Even if her decision may cost her true love, her life, or the world’s fate.

After the dramatic ending in the first book, Thea has the odds stacked against her, but she isn’t done yet!

I loved reading this, if the first was fast-paced and full of action, this one is explosive and impossible to put down! I loved seeing the character development in this one as they strive to win, no matter what that means. Both side are determined to win, and for Cole’s father…he’s confident that in erasing Cole’s memories of Thea, he
already has. I loved seeing Thea as she fights for her soulmate, and must decide on a plan to get him back, once and for all.

This novel isn’t a standalone read. Memory Walker is the first in the Inflexaen series, and Memory Seeker is the second book. Readers really need to read them in order.

I loved the deeper look at the Inflexaens and their abilities in this one, plus we get to know more about their people and history as well. This series is easy to read, but hard to forget, and I’m excited to see what happens in the next book!

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Memory Walker by Carly Marino

August 9, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Memory Walker by Carly Marino
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult
Length: Full length (341 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

Imagine having the power to view someone’s past at the briefest touch of their skin.

During freshman year, seventeen-year-old Thea Scott developed the suckiest burden ever. At the slightest brush of a person’s skin, she’s forced to walk in their memories. She’d give anything to get rid of this uncontrollable ability. When breathtakingly gorgeous Cole Conway strolls through the auditorium doors and she faints, literally, he acts like he knows her secret. The last thing she wants is to end up in a lab with her brain in a jar, so she decides to use her ability to enter his memories.

Cole unveils out-of-this-world dangers she never imagined existed. Even worse, her own past is her greatest fear. The deeper she falls, the more turmoil and heartbreak she crashes into. Dreams of fitting in dissolve when she must protect herself from things far more terrifying than high school rumors.

Having the ability to see (and experience) the memories of anyone who touches you really sucks…At least that’s what Thea Scott thinks at first. This story starts out interesting, and as we get to know the mysterious boy that Thea meets, it gets even better!

I loved the characters in this story, and learn about their abilities as we unravel the mystery surrounding Thea. This story is unique and well written, plus easy to read, and hard to put down! I got a little bit of ‘I Am Number Four’ vibes, plus some ‘Whisper’ by Lynette Noni while reading this, but since I enjoyed both series, it makes me all the more excited to read more of this series too!

If I had one complaint, and the reason this isn’t 5 easy stars, it that there’s one point where things become slightly rushed, making it hard to follow the action and who was friend and who was foe for a short time. It clears up, but that one part does disturb the easy flow the read of the book had. It does lead to an interesting ending though, and after reading this, I was excited to read the next book, always a good sign!

Overall this story was full of steam and mystery, with action and supernatural abilities that served to add even more to the story. If, like me, you enjoy YA romance with a dash of Sci-fi and characters with super-powers, you won’t want to miss this one!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

One Week of You by Lisa Williams Kline

August 6, 2019 By Leave a Comment


One Week of You by Lisa Williams Kline
Publisher: Blue Crow Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (207 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

For Lizzy Winston, one week will change everything.

Fifteen-year-old Lizzy Winston has always been a good kid—and she sees the good in most everyone else, too. When she meets the charismatic Andy Masters, she starts crushing hard. She’s not used to attention from boys like Andy, and soon he distracts her from other parts of her life that she’s trying to hold together. Her grades start slipping, she makes a mistake that costs her mother her job, and her friends’ actions are making her question what’s right.

Andy seems like a great guy. He’s funny and charming, the Clown Prince of Lakeside High. He loves digging up news stories for the high school TV station, but he’s got some secrets of his own. As he and Lizzy get closer, she grows skeptical of his motives. When she does her own digging on Andy, she learns that everyone has secrets—no matter how good they seem on the outside.

Someone’s pulling pranks at Lakeside, and Lizzy thinks she knows who it is. When the pranks escalate and put students in danger, she must decide where her loyalty lies. She doesn’t want to get a friend in trouble, but if she keeps quiet, someone will get hurt. In one week, she learns that adulthood brings new, complicated responsibilities—and the line between right and wrong isn’t always so easy to see. Is she ready to do the right thing if it means losing her friends?

This book not only tells the story of a high school student as she tries to figure out where her life it headed, but actually allows us to experience some of these emotions again as we read! It’s common that I care for the characters I read about, but less common that they can bring back memories of how it felt to go through some of their struggles. One Week of You beautifully portrays what it’s like to be a teenager again.

I also liked that this one wasn’t as straightforward as some YA Contemporaries. It has more of a mystery element which added to the story since neither Lizzy or the reader knows for sure how things will turn out. I loved seeing her struggle to untangle her emotions and she looked for clues as to what was really going on at Lakeside High.

This was a great YA story that didn’t just talk about romance and high-school, but also gave a beautiful portrayal of the jumble of emotions involved and that things are rarely as they first appear.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Good Night Wind by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Maëlle Doliveux

July 25, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Good Night Wind by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Maëlle Doliveux (Illustrator)
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Childrens
Length: Short Story (32 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 4+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

When the exhausted winter wind throws a snowy tantrum, it finds comfort in the friendship of two young children in this lyrical retelling of a Yiddish folktale illustrated with stunning collage.

In this retelling of a Yiddish folktale, “Winter Wind worked hard all season long / blowing away leaves, / preparing trees for coats of snow and ice.” Now, Wind is tired and needs a place to rest. But no one wants to shelter so cold and blustery a Wind–not the townspeople, not the country innkeeper, not even the gnarled tree who is worried about frozen roots. Finally, Wind does what any of us do when we are overtired: Wind has a tantrum. And it is only with the help of two small children brave enough to weather the storm that Wind finally finds the perfect place to sleep. Gentle language coupled with intricate photo-illustrations of collage dioramas tell this sweet tale about empathy and friendship. The visuals in this book are striking for their vibrancy, palette, and movement.

Do you want to know where Winter Wind goes in the Spring?

Winter is over. The villagers are ready for Spring, and they want Winter Wind to move on. Wind is tired and ready to rest, but doesn’t know where to go. I was immediately drawn into the story, and I sympathized with Wind as he desperately searched for a place to rest. I could feel Wind’s exhaustion and frustration as he grew wearier by the minute. No one seems to be willing to help until Wind meets two children. Will they find a way to calm Winter Wind or will their village be blanketed by snow and ice indefinitely?

Ms. Marshall certainly created an intense character in Winter Wind! I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as I read. He’s lonely, misunderstood, and feeling unwelcome. I think most children and adults alike can relate to Wind’s predicament at some point in their lives. Understandably, Wind lashes out, like a child throwing a temper tantrum, and causes problems for the village until two children care enough to talk to Wind rather than push him away. Sure enough, their compassion, and willingness to listen are exactly what Wind needed.

Ms. Marshall really made this story come alive through excellent use of descriptive language. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes that capture Wind’s increasingly volatile mood. “With long, cold fingers, Wind tapped windows of cozy homes.” Then later as things escalate, “Angry, Winter Wind blasted out across the fields, crying like a child, howling like a dog, wailing like a cat.” I must also add that Ms. Doliveux’s paper collage illustrations are exceptional! The illustrations perfectly complement the text, and are so beautiful and striking that I almost expected them to move as I read!

I’m so glad I took the time to read Good Night Wind. It is a sweet tale of kindness, empathy, and friendship. I highly recommend this folktale to readers young and old!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Dark Lands: The Forgotten by Lyn I. Kelly

July 25, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Dark Lands: The Forgotten by Lyn I. Kelly
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat rating: Sweet
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

The Glorian Council has been decimated. The Willkeeper is missing. And the Dark army has grown virtually unconquerable. In the final volume of Lyn I. Kelly’s Dark Lands series, a confluence of tragedies has unsteadied the Dark Lands, tilting it mercilessly in the Dark Man’s favor. As he begins his march to destroy Glorian and claim the living world for his own, a desperate plan is unleashed to try and still the Dark Man’s reign. Webb Thompson and a select few Glorians ride out for the haunting Passage of Oradour, intent in bringing this plan to fruition, while Kane, Raven, Caleb, and the remaining Glorians engage in a harrowing battle with the Dark Man’s forces. Time, the most enigmatic of all elements in the Dark Lands, is waning, and the ultimate battle for the living world is in play. Through the most traumatic of moments, one will rise, one will fall, and the Dark Lands will never again be the same.

Dark Lands: The Forgotten is an imaginative, unique adventure peopled with memorable characters in an exciting mystical world. Young adults are the heroes, but they are guided by experienced teachers who bring out the best in them. The emotions and challenges are realistic, and there is authentic character growth, making this a three-dimensional story.

The characters, primary and secondary, are drawn mostly from the middle classes but from different eras in history. When they meet in the afterlife, they have things to teach each other, and an evil of the centuries brings them together for their greatest challenge yet. The author treats the characters with sensitivity and respect, as in the last book, showing that it is better not to judge, for there are things hidden deep under the surface that are often misunderstood.

In the last book, an epic battle was waged against the villain, and heart-breaking losses were suffered. Questions were answered as well, but other questions arose, and many of them were answered in this last book of the series. The ones that weren’t had implied answers.

The odds in favor of the good guys are nearly impossible, but yet, working as a team on many fronts brings hope, because these characters are smart enough to believe in each other.

After they struggle through an even more epic battle than the last, there is a feeling, despite losses suffered, that it was all worth it. There is a sense of satisfaction, leaving a reader happy.

A theme of impending doom permeates the book and adds an undercurrent of sadness. Readers are continually offered doses of hope though, and when individual characters are pushed to the limit, they act in amazing ways. The suspense is great. How is this going to end? Will they all die heroes for the greater cause?

Subplots involve relationships, and people must act unselfishly at times. Also, they must be creative problem solvers. This is escapist literature, but it has underlying messages as well and causes one to think about certain things. Their dialogue is revealing. The writing, as in the other books of the series, is descriptive and straightforward. The world-building is exceptional. An atmosphere of falling darkness, of threat, paints a vivid picture and brings out the bold in the characters.

I have read the other three books in this series and was greatly looking forward to this last book. It was not a disappointment.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,
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