Glamour by Mychael Black

June 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Glamour by Mychael Black
Fae-ry Tales, Book 3
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Action/Adventure, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Prince Erilan is expected to do many things within Light Fae society. He is Captain of the Queen’s Guard, Queen Ivena’s advisor, and heir to the Light Fae throne. He’s always performed his duties — royal and familial — with unflinching loyalty. When he meets a Dark Fae scout, however, Erilan’s sense of duty wars with an unholy desire for the enigmatic Fae.

Lyren of House Kehru much prefers covertly spying from trees and shadows to jumping into the forays of the frontlines. He loves his job as a scout. Having far more magic than most of his Dark Fae brethren is a big plus. So when he’s ordered to do recon on the invisible borders of the Light Fae realm, he employs his magick to do just that. What he doesn’t count on is the insanely gorgeous Light Fae who nearly takes his head off with a sword.

Who needs a head when dealing with this Light Fae? Especially when the Light Fae has him not wanting to think about anything or anyone else?

I love the work of Mychael Black and am glad to find more by this author. The world building is great and the story flows well. I jumped right into the action with the characters and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. This story is hot and sweet at times, but packed with action. I couldn’t put it down.

It’s part of a series, but I didn’t feel confused or lost by not having read the others in the series. In fact, I’m ready to find the others and get to catching up!

If you’re looking for a fantasy story that rocks, this might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a solid read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Wake Up by Alejandro Marron

June 17, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Wake Up by Alejandro Marron
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“I get the feeling I am not real,” said Vlad.

“You are not. You are my dream.”

Vlad is a graphic designer for an IT start-up company in Denver. One night, he has a dream that reveals to him that he is not real, and the individual he meets in this alternate dimension, his creator, takes Vlad on a voyage through the annals of history. From the Belgian Congo, The Blitz, and The Crusades, to The Vietnam War, Ali vs Frazier, and the birth of a musical revolution, the dream is about to end, and with it, so too will Vlad’s existence.

It is a quick acting and capable formula, which implies that canadian pharmacy cialis find for info you will begin having impact in 10-30 minutes after ingestion. These last a week, a month, and over a month, cialis for sale canada respectively. So do not worry about levitra without prescription devensec.com feeling embarrass. Beyond medication, you will find best generic tadalafil a diabetes diet is a good idea. Alejandro Marron’s Wake Up is a psychological, sci-fi, and philosophical petri dish that poses the ever-lasting inquiries of why are we here, where were we before, and when will this end?

And, of course, is it all just a dream?

A dream can last a moment or an entire lifetime.

This entire book had a dreamlike quality to it. Vlad floated from scene to scene while not always being terribly concerned about how he moved between settings so rapidly. It fit the themes of this novel nicely, especially once Vlad relaxed into the experience and followed his creator to a wide variety of places. I was often surprised by where they ended up next and couldn’t help but to wonder how it would all be resolved by the final scene.

With that being said, I did have trouble following the storyline due to the style in which it was written. There were multiple times when this lack of transitions between scenes and minimal plot development made it hard for me to piece together what just happened. This was a creative take on the speculative fiction genre, but it would have been easier for me to read if the narrator had followed a few more conventions of storytelling and explained the stuff he wanted to play around with more thoroughly.

The ending was satisfying and fit into the storyline well. I appreciated the way it tied up the most important loose ends while still leaving some unanswered questions for the audience to ponder. Given how often Vlad was expected to wait for answers to even his biggest questions earlier on, this made sense. If the author ever decides to write a sequel, there’s certainly room for one here.

If you like experimental science fiction, Wake Up could be a good pick for the summer.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mara by the Sea by Faith Talbot

June 14, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Mara by the Sea by Faith Talbot
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LGBTQ, Ménage, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Since her divorce, Mara has been moldering. Or at least that’s what her best friend tells her when she drags Mara to Cancun for a pick-me-up.

Mara finds more than a pick-me-up. On the beach, she meets two beautiful men who, though they’re obviously into each other, are very much into Mara, too. And when they invite her into their unique world, it’s an experience unlike anything she could ever imagine.

Two men, hot times and the ocean…what more could a woman want?

This is a hot short story. It’s truly a fish out of water story in that Mara wants to be something besides herself. When she goes on vacation, she gets what she wants. It’s hot, like I said, and moves fast, but I liked it. This story is nicely written and fun. I liked that there weren’t many complications in the tale.

I see this is part of a series and I can’t wait to read the others. This one certainly packed the heat. I liked how Mara allowed herself to be the best side of herself with her men. This does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it’s good. I liked it.

If you’re interested in a hot ménage that features love in the ocean, then check this book out. Recommended.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen

June 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen (Author) Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)
Steampunk Proper Romance
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

When Lucy Pickett arrives at Blackwell Manor to tend to her ailing cousin, Kate, she finds more than she bargained for. A restless ghost roams the hallways, werewolves have been reported in the area, and vampires lurk across the Scottish border.

Lord Miles himself is clearly hiding a secret. He is brash and inhospitable and does not take kindly to visitors—even one as smart and attractive as Miss Pickett. He is unsettled by the mysterious deaths of his new wife, Clara, and his sister, Marie. Could Miles himself be to blame for the deaths?

Working together, Miles and Lucy attempt to restore peace to Blackwell Manor. But can Lucy solve the mystery of Miles? Can she love the man—beast and all?

This might be the first book written by Nancy Campbell Allen that I’ve ever read but it sure won’t be the last. Talk about a perfectly eerie Gothic Steampunk romance with mystery, murder, foggy surroundings, large oak doors that block gardens with a secret, and paranormal beings. There is so much going on that I’ve lost count as to how many edge-of-my-seat scenes I experienced.

Men who suffer from mild to best prices cialis severe high blood pressure do not stand a chance against this Kamagra. So, how to get fit? You need to eat up 50mg per kg of weight upon waking, then a more 50mg per kilogram of weight around a generic levitra brand half hour before education to have the very best effects for increasing testosterone levels. Buy ED medications onlineThe presumed brands of ED pills in 1998. generic levitra cheap already has a wide range of generics sold through the Internet that cost a fraction of its optimal performance because the filters are either extremely dirty or clogged. 2. It is essential for a therapist to be skilled in the therapeutic use of forgiveness to correctly assess the clients openness and readiness in terms of timing, development and religion. tadalafil 20mg There is a solid romance in the background but it’s muted to a degree to allow the murder mystery to carry the characters along. The focus is on the heroine, the intrepid Lucy Pickett, a botanist tasked with discovering a way to thwart a new drug that allows vampires to walk in the day. Her knowledge of plants is what she hopes will help her dear cousin who is suffering from a mysterious ailment. That’s a trope I’ve seen done before but I actually enjoyed how the author employed it.

Lord Miles is exactly what you’d expect – brooding, grouchy, stern, scowly, big and burdened with guilt and secrets. One thing about the narrator, Ms. Maarleveld, that I kept thinking about as she did his voice was that by the time she was done with this novel, I truly felt her throat must have been hoarse. Her vocal range seemed strained while she voiced Lord Miles, but she was able to go deep enough to differentiate the hero from the heroine. I have no complaints; I just kept wanting to offer the narrator a glass of water.

Oh, I forgot to mention the ghost. I liked how the author portrayed the ghost and by the end of the novel, I was truly sad that the person was dead. I would have dearly enjoyed this person on stage because of the strength of character, devotion, determination and love that was truly powerful, even beyond the grave.

The ‘tons that are mentioned brought to mind a movie I’ve watched at least 15 times so far, I, Robot. Think of Sonny and you’ll know how I envision the maids, butlers and garage personnel in the story.

I enjoyed watching Miles thaw the more time he spent with Lucy. The longer she stayed in his castle, the more he saw her strength, her loyalty, her love for her cousin and family, and her unique passion that propels her to attempt escapades of daring do and investigations that definitely caused the hero a heart attack, or two. When she got him to laugh, I knew he was hooked.

As far as the romance, it’s sweet. The most action were kisses but oh, how wonderfully romantic they were!

There is a villain for sure but it turns out to not be who I thought it was. I really thought I had it figured out but of course, that was a red herring. As far as I’m concerned, the actual killer was mentally unsound, clever and vicious, but unsound. I can say for sure that the climactic scene was one that had me wide-eyed and on the edge of my seat. It was the not knowing how the defeat would come about and at whose hands.

The ending was very romantic and brought to mind the scene in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. More than likely, that was the author’s intent and if so, it worked. It was special and a nice way to wrap up a very well-told story. Beauty and the Clockwork Beast was an awesome read and easy to recommend in either print or audio format.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Heart of the Scrapdog – Short Story Collection by Isaac Nasri

May 26, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Heart of the Scrapdog – Short Story Collection by Isaac Nasri
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

After a perfidious operation that almost costed him his life, Troy Levi, an sagacious agent for the FBI, is granted a second chance, albeit a cyborg for the agency’s Virtual Division. However, this action does not come, without a price. He strives relentlessly to find grounding in a contemporary society that judges him and many others of his kind for who they are. A short story collection that will leave many readers fluctuating from hope to trepidation.

Getting new cyborg body parts won’t fix all of your problems, but they can be a good start.

All five of these stories were about the same main character and many of the same secondary characters as well. It was fascinating to get to know different facets of their personalities over time, especially as new people were introduced and Troy spent more time talking about how he felt about becoming a cyborg. There was a lot of ground to cover here, but the characters had plenty of opportunities to get to know each other and share themselves with the audience.

This collection would have benefitted from another round or two of editing. I discovered numerous examples of missing words, punctuation errors, and run-on sentences among other issues. As interested as I was in the storyline itself, all of the mistakes were so distracting and confusing that I couldn’t justify giving this book a higher rating.

I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the characters and setting. Mr. Nasri clearly put a lot of effort into who his characters were as individuals, what they looked like, and what the various places he visited would be like to experience in person. It was easy for me to visualize all of these things which made me want to keep reading and find out what would happen next. The author struck a nice balance between describing things to his audience in detail while also keeping the plot moving forward. That’s not always easy to do in such a short medium.

Heart of the Scrapdog was a fast-paced collection that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys cyberpunk tales.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

She’s the One Who Gets in Fights by S. R. Cronin

May 24, 2021 By 4 Comments


She’s the One Who Gets in Fights by S. R. Cronin
Publisher: Cinnabar Press
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

It’s the 1200’s, and the small realm of Ilari has had peace and prosperity for generations. That doesn’t mean every citizen is happy, however. Sulphur, the third of seven sisters, is glad the older two have been slow to wed. It’s given her the freedom to train as a fighter, in hopes of fulfilling her lifelong dream of joining Ilari’s army. Then, within a matter of days, both sisters announce plans and now Sulphur is expected to find a man to marry.

Is it Sulphur’s good fortune her homeland is gripped by fear of a pending Mongol invasion? And the army is going door to door encouraging recruits? Sulphur thinks it is. But once she’s forced to kill in a small skirmish, she’s ready to rethink her career decision. Too bad it’s too late. The invasion is coming, and Ilari needs every good soldier it has. Once Sulphur learns Ilari’s army has made the strategic decision to not defend certain parts of the realm, including the one where her family lives, she has to re-evaluate her loyalty. Is it with the military she’s always admired? Or is it with her sisters, who are hatching a plan to defend their homeland with magic?

Everywhere she turns, someone is counting on her to fight for what’s right. But what is?

This book is the third story in a series of seven sisters, but it can definitely be read on its own. Each of the sisters have a different talent, and Sulphur is a fighter. In fact, she has been her entire life. She felt it was her place to protect and defend her sisters.

The world building is remarkable. There are a lot of different words and concepts to keep straight, but the author makes it easy to keep up with everyone.

And the character. I absolutely loved her. She was definitely not a stick character, but a fully fleshed out character with faults and doubts and issues. All of these made her real and enjoyable to read about.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading the stories about the rest of the sisters and discover if they will be successful in their plan to help their country.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Originally intended to help individuals with heart ailments, the drug has rapidly come to be the stereotypical “poison of choice” for males who experience erectile dysfunction, whether due to physiological or psychological impotence. cialis sale view for more info has a lot of good effects and makes sure to cure it at first place at it affects the love life of millions of men and is a safe medicine that has minimal side-effects while. Best known as the “feel-good” molecule involved in preventing depression and levitra purchase regulating sleep, appetite and body temperature, seratonin is another important neurotransmitter transmitting signals in the second category. It’s a sick turn on for her to see her levitra generika 20mg Related pharmacy store man fight over her. It’s a case of knowing thy enemy and sharpening your robertrobb.com levitra samples sword as each decade rolls in.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Worlds of Light & Darkness by Angela Yuriko Smith and Scot Noel (editors)

May 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Worlds of Light & Darkness by Angela Yuriko Smith and Scot Noel (editors)
Publisher: Uproar Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A haunted father who discovers a place where incomplete things—and people—are made whole. A mischievous satyr who hatches a plan to set loose chaos on a global scale. A workaholic witch in search of her kitty companion. Invasive technology to rewrite the human brain. Dragon slayers. Zombies. Time travelers. Ice skaters.

These twenty short stories stretch across multiple universes and beyond death—and yet, they remain intimate, personal, emotional. They demonstrate the strength of the human spirit to find hope and seek a better tomorrow in even the darkest times.

A selection of the best speculative fiction from DreamForge and Space & Time literary magazines, these are the stories we need today as we struggle through a pandemic, divisive politics, rampant misinformation, a belligerent defiance of facts and science, and new technologies that are already spiraling beyond our control.

Read, my friends… and take hope.

Buckle up and prepare for a wild ride!

Lydia went to otherworldly lengths with a hungry dragon to retrieve a missing memory in “Born from Memory.” This was such an imaginative piece. I deeply enjoyed the descriptions of what memories look like and what happened to them once they ended up in that half-forgotten place. The deeper I dug into the plot, the more I looked forward to reaching the end. Every twist was beautifully done, especially the final one. This was something that could easily be expanded into a novel but was also quite satisfying as a short story.

“A Sip of Pombé” followed two astronauts as they embarked on a controversial trip from Uganda to Mars. Their clashing personalities often made me smile as I waited to find out if their mission would be successful, although I do wish more time had been spent describing how their journey went. They were facing so many serious obstacles that I sure would have liked to have more information about how they took on those challenges even though I was pleased with the later plot twists. Similar patterns of skipping over what I thought were the most exciting scenes were repeated in several other tales in this anthology as well.

The opening scene of “The Feline, the Witch, and the Universe” started with a witch named Sorscha arguing with a boarding guard about the existence of witches in outer space. I was instantly amused by the unusual combination of these themes and was as eager to find out how she’d react to being told she didn’t exist as I was to discover what business she had on a spaceship. Somehow the plot only grew more creative from that moment forward. No sooner would I adjust to one twist in it than another delightful one would appear. It was a great deal of fun to follow her adventures to their completion.

Anyone who enjoys science fiction should give Worlds of Light & Darkness a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Weatherman by Price Doom

May 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Weatherman by Price Doom
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Heart and her father are on the run from God. At least, that’s what her father, Sonny, tells her. Young Heart believes Sonny’s stories of dying suns and scientists with tranquilizer guns, parachuting out of planes in pursuit of them . Sonny believes only the elements in his body can save the sun, and Heart grows up in fear of the boogeymen from Sonny’s stories—and Sonny himself. After years without proof and questions about Sonny’s mental stability, Heart makes her escape.
Imagine growing up while on the run from people with unlimited resources.

Sonny was an excellent example of how to write a deeply unlikeable character. There were very few complimentary things I could say about him as a parent or an individual, and yet I was fascinated by the way his mind worked. This was especially true when he was confronted with evidence that contradicted his beliefs about the spirit world or what the limits were of his magical powers. He had an uncanny ability to explain everything in a way that fit his version of logic. That made me want to learn more about him.

The mystery elements of the storyline were confusing to me. There were multiple hints pointing at one solution, so I wasn’t expecting the ending that happened at all. It seemed to point to a completely different resolution than the one that the narrator had spent so much time building up to, although it was also vague enough that I was never entirely certain which option the author wanted their fans to think was most likely to be true. I generally enjoy ambiguous endings, especially in these genres, but this one left so much up to the imagination that I never felt satisfied by it.

There was a plot twist about two-thirds of the way through the book involving Heart’s past that I was pleased to see. It helped to answer some important questions that both the audience and Heart had been pondering for a while at that point. After all of the hints from earlier scenes, I was happy to see these things being resolved as much as they could.

I also struggled with Heart’s contradictory character development. She wasn’t written consistently enough for me to figure out if her occasional but dangerous lapses in judgement were out of character for her or if I’d misjudged her personality entirely. It was also hard for me to figure out why her opinions on certain topics like searching for her mother changed so rapidly. I understood why that topic was a sensitive one for her, but it seemed odd to me that she’d feel a deep yearning for answers about her origins in one scene only to give up on it in the next.

The horror elements of the storyline were well done. Heart’s childhood was so out of the ordinary that her innocent descriptions of things that would frighten anyone else made me shudder. The author did a good job of showing just how much humans can adapt to their surroundings and find meaning almost everywhere. That isn’t easy to accomplish in horror at all, but it’s one of the things that keeps pulling me back into this genre from time to time.

Weatherman was a thought-provoking tale that was equally at home in the science fiction and mystery genres.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler

May 17, 2021 By 6 Comments


A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by Dryas

A century ago, the fairy crown was stolen from Alina Lehrer’s clan, but now the usurper is dead and it’s time to reclaim what’s theirs. Rylan Jackson, codename Orion, is The Court’s most trusted assassin who always gets the job done. Until his target is Alina, the one woman he can’t resist. Fate has placed them on opposing sides for the crown, but Alina soon learns Fate isn’t set in stone.

Before I start, let me share this warning: this story contains issues concerning Post traumatic Stress Disorder, if this will trigger you, please do not continue with this review.

This story starts with an explanation of how fairies became to be. They had come from another world and were sent to Earth as a punishment. Yet, they contained their mystical abilities and they turned into two factions, the fairies and wizards. As you can imagine one side tends to rule over the other, which happens with the fairy’s treating the wizards as servants. As history has taught us all this never turns out well and, as expected, the wizards waged war against the fairies. The feud is still going on during the present day and the fairy’s court has hidden itself in London a long time ago that has now faded into legend.

In Chicago we meet our main character, Alina Lehrer, her older brother Atlas, and his wife Lucie whose mother, Gina DeLafontaine was part of the royal family. Alina has had far too many expectations on her shoulder as a young child since Gina, who has the ability to see in the future, believes that her daughter will be the one who brings back their family’s glory.

Alina is a wonderful character that is dealing with the world she has been thrust into as best she can. She had enough of the pressure that was forced upon her and rebelled by canceling her engagement to another strong fairy family that had been set up since her days in the crib, and instead started her own business.

Alina uses her business to hide away from herself, refusing to deal with her past which makes it worse. You see, she had been captured, tortured, and was forced to watch a good friend, Kurtis being tortured in front of her. This caused her to experience flashbacks and anxiety attacks at any time when she is triggered by something or it could come upon her without notice. These attacks are horrible for anyone that has gone through a trauma as she is transported back to the room where she had been tied up in and expecting to die.

I have to admit that her business fits her like a glove as her gift allows her to feel emotions and auras that allow her to help her patience make the best decisions in their life. Too bad that she can’t use her gift on herself when she thought that her friend Kurtis was attracted to her and she thought they could make a life together. Unfortunately, this goes horribly wrong as she misunderstood his signals, which caused Alina to place an icy boundary around her heart. Like most of us that have gone through the first pangs of a crush that blows up in our face, she can’t see him without feeling embarrassed. Her pain is real and as she had watched him being tortured this also affects her ability to be in the same room with him. The only good thing that came from her mistake was to receive a book that was in Kurtis’ father’s secret library that was supposed to belonged in her family for many generations and proved their lineage to the fairy court.

What nobody knows is that she has a hit out on her because of the broken engagement although that happened five years ago, which is strange since if any fairy rebelled against the court, they were often taken care of right away. Rylan Jackson, the spymaster, and assassin of the court where the current leader, Monoceros sent him out to complete the hit.

Rylan is an interesting and complex character with his own moral guide that sometimes can make his life difficult. When he sees Alina for the first time, he is struck by her beauty and as they talk, he enjoys her witty responses and the strength that she doesn’t realize she has herself. He charms Alina and offers to be a guide in Paris. As you can imagine this goes against all the rules of his profession.

Paris is where Alina really becomes into her own. I love how she decides to throw everything that she was in Chicago and become a completely different person. It was fun watching her grow and allow herself to do whatever she wants with no expectations from her mother and the joy of exploring a beautiful city. A wonderful example of her feel free to express herself is when she goes and gets a Henna tattoo of a butterfly. It’s a great symbol for her as she is trying to go through a metamorphosis and hopes to bring back her new courage.

The relationship between Rylan and Alina is almost instantly full of lust, but also tenderness. Alina she has never felt for a man that she feels for Rylan, the protection, the willingness to spend time with her and actually get to know the person behind all her masks. This is a book that shows just how, when you’re suffering from unresolved trauma, that love, help from a professional and letting those that are closest to you in will help you work through the flashback and anxiety attacks.

There is so much strength and tenacity in these two characters that it draws you in. Yes, the plot is well constructed but it’s the characters that really carry it off. Each one has a wonderful personality and a history full of sorrows and happiness.

This is a good book with some wonderful characters that have had to grow and face betrayal, and a past that has ruled life far too long. We see fate take its hold on both Rylan’s and Alina’s lives as you can tell almost right away that they are made for each other. I absolutely enjoyed it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Segal Stegman

May 11, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Segal Stegman
Publisher: Young Dragons/Lee Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8-12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

All Things Are Possible

Eleven-year-old stuttering Darby believes she’s supposed to be perfect, just like her mother demands. But summer away at camp promises temporary escape. There, she befriends twelve-year-old Justin, who hasn’t uttered a word since his dad died, and ten-year-old Naz, who is struggling to learn English.

When mysterious calliope music from a nearby warehouse grants the trio power to communicate without words, they sneak inside to find out why. After the abandoned building bursts into a full-sized carnival with magical rides, they’re greeted by the ghost of Leroy Usher, Carnival King, who can’t rest until his property brings joy to children once again. He asks for their help convincing his estranged sons and daughter to restore the carnival to its former glory before summer’s end. In return, Mr. Usher promises he’ll teach Darby, Justin, and Naz how to find their voices.

With each challenge they face, the kids’ confidence grows, and they learn they’re capable of accomplishing so much more than they ever imagined. But will it be enough to persuade the Usher siblings to bring the carnival back to life instead of selling the property for demolition?

Courage is all these kids need.
Pulsatilla: viagra purchase online Pasque flower, a dried herb, is used to make Pulsatilla. Those acids are necessary for proper digestion and mixing before going cialis mastercard into the intestinal area! When the intestines cannot absorb the nutrients. Occasionally the veins on cialis line evade holding blood after an appropriate blood supply. These drugs work well for people viagra in usa online of all ages.
Speaking as someone who also has a stutter, I adored what the author did with Darby’s character development as this young girl dealt with her anxiety and shame about her disability. It reminded me so much of the coping skills I tried to master as a preteen, especially when it came to being teased and feeling shy about trying new things that involved using my voice. This was something I would have loved to read in middle school and will be recommending to other people I know who also stutter. There’s nothing like meeting a character who has the same medical condition and similar challenges.

It was confusing to me to constantly switch among the three main characters. I liked all three of them quite a bit, but I would have preferred to experience this tale from just one of their perspectives so that I could get to know that character better and not need to jump from him or her to the other two protagonists so often. There was a postscript that mentioned this was the beginning of a series, so I would have been excited to switch to a different narrator in this group of friends for the sequel if that had been an option. I’m saying this as someone who otherwise had a wonderful time reading this book and wanted to give it a much higher rating.

The world building was well done. I loved the little details that were included like what it felt to climb on top of one of the magical carousel horses or why Naz was so thrilled to try green jello for the first time. These small moments added up to a setting that felt as otherworldly as it did relatable. I was pleased with what they described, but I must admit to smiling when I realized that this won’t be the last time the audience is invited to visit Camp Inch and the carnival right next door to it. There is so much more to explore here!

Anyone who loved summer camp or wishes they could have attended one should check out Summer of L.U.C.K.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »