Dreamland: A Ghost Story by Nick Clausen

June 25, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Dreamland: A Ghost Story by Nick Clausen
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Middle Grade, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (162 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Some nightmares never end
In his sleep, Louie starts visiting a magical world where he meets his father, who died when Louie was still a baby. But nothing turns out to be what it seems, and great horrors loom very close by …

Welcome to Dreamland
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A magical ghost story about fear, loss and losing yourself in dreams, Dreamland was originally published in Danish to great reviews, and is now available in English.

For fans of Coraline, Un Lun Dun and Alice in Wonderland, this book will appeal to young and grown-up readers alike, as it takes you on a journey both magical, mysterious and emotional.

Not every dream is necessarily going to be a cheerful one.

The world building was well done. Dreamland, the magical place Louie visited while he slept, was particularly nicely written. There were layers to it that weren’t revealed until quite late in the timeline. I enjoyed exploring what this place was like and seeing how the main character responded to it when he realized that his first impression of it wasn’t necessarily right.

I would have liked to see some more attention paid to the ending. The narrator described everything so quickly that I wasn’t entirely sure I understood how everything worked and why things turned out the way they did. This was especially true when it came to the main conflict that Louie was trying to solve. While I was satisfied with how it was all wrapped up, a more detailed explanation would have lead to this book getting a five star review from me.

A few different genres were mixed together in this story. I liked seeing how the author gently combined everything, especially when it came to the scenes that lead me to mark this as horror. With only about a hundred and sixty pages to work with, Mr. Clausen had to be creative with how he wove everything together. This is something that would work best for fans who like getting a little bit of everything in a plot instead of concentrating on one specific type of storytelling.

I’d recommend Dreamland: A Ghost Story to anyone who enjoys paranormal tales.

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

Junior Paranormal Investigators: The Haunting of Room 909 by Michael James

June 24, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Junior Paranormal Investigators: The Haunting of Room 909 by Michael James
Publisher: Hollow Hills
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (85 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Summer is usually a time of fun and games for most children, but Hanna and Ben Littleton are not your average eleven and twelve-year-old. Their father is Percy Littleton, a famous paranormal investigator, and this summer they are traveling to different locations to investigate unexplained phenomena. Things are rather boring until they stop at Castleridge Hotel.

It’s really essential to appreciate that your body needs buy viagra where is genuine Karlovy Vary thermal spring salt. In fact, viagra samples in canada educating their children will prevent those miserable incidents. These medications give erection effect in half an hour unfortunate men unica-web.com buy generic viagra can obtain affluent erections and lead glad sexual copulation once more. The particular traction unit is a device that fits just about any size of male member. levitra pharmacy Though warned by their father not to meddle in his investigation, the brother and sister are convinced they can prove their worth as true investigators. Their eagerness soon turns to terror when Hanna begins having visions about a certain former employee of the hotel, the elevator takes them to the ninth floor on its own, and ghosts interact with them. The building seems to have a mind of its own as Hanna and Ben are forced to figure out what really happened one hundred years ago at Castleridge Hotel, before the spirits trapped inside decide to make them permanent residents.

Some ghosts simply aren’t ready to live this realm yet.

The explanation of why Room 909 had become haunted was thorough and wonderfully scary for its middle grade audience. I appreciated all of the time the author spent in building up the audience’s expectations of what might have happened there while also giving us small pieces of the puzzle in various scenes. It was nice to have so many details about the origins of this haunting.

It would have been nice to know what Ben, Hanna, and their dad looked like. The ghosts were described with a lot of detail, but the same thing wasn’t true for the living characters. Based on the book cover, I assumed they were Caucasian, but even something as simple as their race wasn’t mentioned in the plot itself. I sure would have liked to know if they were tall or short, wore glasses, were covered in freckles, had curly hair, or had any number of other physical characteristics that could help me picture what they looked like, too.

Hanna and Ben were such brave kids. Some of their paranormal experiences would have frightened people who were decades older than them, so I was impressed by how persistent they were during this case. They did a great job piecing the clues together and continuing to try to figure out what happened no matter how unpredictable their ghostly opponents were. The final scene made it sound like this is part of a series, so I’ll be curious to find out what might happen next to Ben and Hanna when they meet their next ghost.

I’d recommend Junior Paranormal Investigators: The Haunting of Room 909 to anyone who enjoys a good haunting.

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

Dark Lands: War of the Sentinels by Lyn I. Kelly

June 20, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Dark Lands: War of the Sentinels by Lyn I. Kelly
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Heat Level: Sweet
Length; Full length (307 pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

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Having read the first two books in the series, this third is my favorite so far, even better than the others. The author has continued an exciting story of a brother and sister in the afterlife dealing with a great evil. We learn more about Sundown and her brother Webb, but this installment is Sundown’s chance to shine. She is a great character and really grows during her time in this story.

Sundown was pulled from a battle in the last book, trying to save her brother, but something went terribly wrong. Sundown woke up…in the past. What happens there is fascinating. She discovers an awesome new talent and more hidden inner strength. She meets with the ruling council but cannot tell them what she knows about the future. Here, she meets younger versions of some of the people she knew in her present (in this afterworld). Readers are treated to the inside scoop of some of those interesting characters. They add a lot to the story, and there are some very touching moments, especially with a new, young character. Different types of relationships are explored in this story, adding depth. There are moments of exquisite happiness and others that are heartbreaking. The good and the bad alike have well-written backstories.

The tension escalates throughout the novel to an explosive end (cliff-hanger). Important people are lost in this book, but underneath this sadness, readers will wonder what actually became of them. Hopefully the next book will answer that important question, as it gives a sense of hope that maybe all is not lost for them.

There are some intriguing turns of fate and paradoxes, and the world-building, like in the previous books, is done by the hand of an artist. The author does a great job revealing things little-by-little while at the same time increasing the suspense of the story. It is clearly written, even with the complications time travel can bring. Symbolism is done well and really paints a picture, adding to the somber mood. Dialogue is realistic. This is a great third part to the series, and I look forward to the conclusion. I recommend this book.

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

Matthias: The Ghost of Salvation Point by Jodi Auborn

May 20, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Matthias: The Ghost of Salvation Point by Jodi Auborn
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (197 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Ten-year-old Dylan is excited when his father inherits an old lighthouse and cottage in Maine. Dylan and his family get to live there all summer! He goes sailing on the bay, explores the small town down the road, and searches for a legendary pirate treasure that was said to be buried nearby. After mysterious things start happening at the cottage, Dylan meets Matthias, a gruff lighthouse keeper who had died in a storm one hundred years before. A ghost! Dylan is startled to find Matthias living in his bedroom, but he is glad when they become friends. It’s the best summer ever! Things change when they learn that the lighthouse is threatened by a greedy treasure hunter who also knows about the pirate legend. He will do whatever it takes to find the treasure…even kidnapping! As Dylan and Matthias team up to protect their home, they begin an adventure that changes Dylan’s life forever.

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One of the things I enjoyed the most about this story was how much attention it paid to Matthias’ personality. Just like the living, he didn’t react the same way to everyone he met. Some people got along with him well, while others saw a scarier side to his personality. There were reasons for these shifts that were explained in the plot, but I appreciated the fact that the resident ghost developed individual relationships with every person who crossed his path. It made me even more curious to see why he’d stuck around after death and what would happen to him in the end.

There was a small plot hole involving how much Dylan’s dad knew about the famous ghost in his hometown that I wish had been explained better. Some scenes made it seem as though the dad knew almost nothing about this piece of folklore despite spending his whole childhood in the tiny town of Salvation Point. Other scenes appeared to hint that he knew far more than Dylan realized. While this wasn’t something that I spent too much time worrying about, it would have been nice to know for sure what the dad knew, when he knew it, and why he stayed so quiet at first about the paranormal rumors about the cottage they were staying at.

Dylan was such a likable kid. He assumed the best in just about everyone he met, and he did a wonderful job of entertaining him in what was a pretty isolated, quiet place to stay for a family who had two active kids. While he definitely had his share of flaws, I appreciated the fact that they were balanced out with so many positive character traits. He’s definitely someone I’d want to explore a haunted house with.

Matthias: The Ghost of Salvation Point was a friendly paranormal tale that I’d recommend to kids and adults alike.

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

Death by the River by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

May 17, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Death by the River by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
Publisher: Vesuvian Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (367 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Ginger

SOME TRUTHS ARE BETTER KEPT SECRET.
SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER OFF DEAD.

Along the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, sits the abandoned St. Francis Seminary. Beneath a canopy of oaks, blocked from prying eyes, the teens of St. Benedict High gather here on Fridays. The rest of the week belongs to school and family—but weekends belong to the river.

And the river belongs to Beau Devereaux.

The only child of a powerful family, Beau can do no wrong. Handsome. Charming. Intelligent. The star quarterback of the football team. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch.
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He is also a psychopath.

A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the ruined St. Francis Abbey, he commits unspeakable acts on his victims and ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s headstrong twin sister, Leslie, who hates him. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize.

As the victim toll mounts, it becomes crystal clear that someone has to stop Beau Devereaux.

And that someone will pay with their life.

Beau Devereaux, a senior at St. Benedict High, has it all. The only child in a lineage of a wealthy and powerful pedigree. Beau is handsome, charming and also the star quarterback of the football team. But will his dark and disturbing past of abuse ruin the star perfect personality that everyone knows him for?

This story is dark and disturbing but also intriguing. The writers developed an attention grabbing plot accompanied with very well developed characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading the book. The location started out at a high school campus so my first thought was not another lack luster teen romance. I was definitely wrong! The writing was very much on point and I can’t think of anything that I would have done differently. The way the authors gave such in-depth reality to Beau’s character, his thoughts, and his actions took great skill and research. Beau is a character to be feared and the way he controlled his actions to reach is ultimate goal was sick and manipulative. Beau is a ticking time bomb. His parents know and have seen the monstrous side and yet they let him go on as if he didn’t have a problem. His father is a workaholic, his mother is a drunk and while they think Beau has himself under control, Beau’s evil is slowly being revealed.

Beau has his sights on his girlfriend’s headstrong twin sister, Leslie. Beau commits unspeakable acts to several women victims and he ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. There is sexual violence and torture that may not be suitable for some readers. I don’t take violence against anyone lightly but I understand that some details had to be mentioned to give the full depth of Beau’s madness. Without the scene it would have been left to the readers imagination of what level of madness Beau could go to. Beau’s sick obsession is written and plotted out so well. Dawn, Beau’s girlfriend, is in love with the idea of being with someone of Beau’s caliber and unfortunately for her she does not see him for who he truly is. Leslie sees the type of guy Beau is and tries to warn her sister. This difference causes a divide between the sisters.

Will the Moore daughters ever get past their differences? Will the perfect image Beau has been portraying ever crumble?

I enjoyed the writer’s writing style so well that I will look to see what other books they’ve written. I highly recommend this read for readers that are able to tolerate violence in their young adult mysteries.

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

Yearning Young by Deidre Huesman

May 10, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Yearning Young by Deidre Huesman
Burning Britely #2
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (160 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Braeden’s never had to question anything before. He’s always been popular, always had everything handed to him, and always been straight.

Then he met Jeffrey Young. Quiet, studious, analytical … a guy.

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As his connection to Jeff deepens quicker than expected, Braeden has to face the question he’s been avoiding for weeks: what is he supposed to do with a guy?

Sometimes love is complicated.

Seeing how Braeden’s understanding of his sexual orientation evolved over time was one of my favorite parts of this tale. Bisexuality was something new to him, and he had many questions about what being bisexual meant to him and how he should respond to people who were prejudiced against him because of it. I appreciated the fact that the author tackled this subject so openly and honestly. She did an excellent job of showing what it feels like to come out of the closet in this way, and I’m saying that as someone who has personal experience with the subject. Ms. Huesman’s empathy for all of her characters, and especially this one, made it impossible for me to stop reading.

This is a minor criticism of something I really enjoyed overall, but I would have liked to see a bit more time spent on the dysfunctional family dynamics. There was a lot going on with the homophobic dad in particular that I wish would have been explored more. The conflicts those relationships brought to the plot were quite interesting.

One of the sections of my review of the first book of this series talked about how I wished there had been more time taken to develop Braeden and Jeff’s relationship. I was quite happy to see that this was exactly what happened in the second instalment! Both characters had plenty of time to figure out what they wanted from their relationship and how closely the things they wanted actually matched up with each other. This was exactly what they and the plot needed in order to move forward, so it was nice to see it occur.

As I just mentioned, this is a sequel. I would recommend reading Burning Britely first in order to best understand what’s going on with these characters’ lives now.

I’d recommend Yearning Young to anyone who has ever felt out of place.

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

Dark Lands: The Not-Where by Lyn I. Kelly

May 1, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Dark Lands: The Not-Where by Lyn I. Kelly
Part Two of the Dark Lands Series
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: YA Fantasy
Length: Full Length (200 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

The betrayal at the Requiem has passed, but the foreboding presence of the Dark Man still exists. While whispers of a new threat roll across the Dark Lands, Webb Thompson is plagued by a recurring nightmare that warns of a looming evil powerful enough to transform not just his life, but also that of his sister, Sundown, and her counselor, Raven. After the Dark Man initiates a move that destabilizes the shaky balance of good and evil in the Dark Lands, Webb realizes the only resolution may lie within a shadowy region known to few and traversed by even less. But does the cryptic Not-Where hide the source of tribulation or is it a place to release more insidious forces? As the paths of Webb, Sundown, and Raven surreptitiously intertwine, they realize too late that despite their caution and steadfastness, destiny cannot be tempered as new evils are unleashed, secrets are revealed, and a vast army rises. Now only time will tell if they can stop the Dark Man from escaping his otherworldly prison.

This is a worthy second book in the series, one that continues the adventure of a young pair of siblings who died and crossed over. The land the 17-year-old Webb and his 14-year-old sister Sundown have found themselves in is filled with wonder and untold dangers.
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Webb and Sundown have a bit of mystery about them, but in this second book, readers finally get to see what took them from the life of the living. They are likeable characters with strengths and weakness. The characters surrounding them are fun to read about and are essential in drawing out sides of Webb and Sundown that help readers to understand them better. Webb even gets a girlfriend in this mystical world, and she helps him to discover more about himself.

Even the animal characters and the villainous creatures add dimension and depth to the main characters, by the reactions they draw from them.

The nature of relationships is an important factor in this story. Around this are other themes, such as strength against adversity, good versus evil, and descent into madness. Webb is young but fights against his unseen enemies—who are trying to destroy him from afar. Will they weaken him enough to use him against those he loves? While reading about his struggles, readers will be worried for him. The psychological fight is intriguing, the suspense created well done. The unfolding of the plot is just right in drawing out other dimensions of the main characters.

Complications lead to a cliff-hanger, which is to be continued in the next book.

The book is written with clarity and is descriptive, creating a world that one could envision. Readers will feel something emotionally for the young hero and those he cares about. It’s a serious story but yet fun to read. Creatures and places are imaginative and also symbolize negative forces.

This is an enjoyable story, like the first in the series, and gives fans more information while leaving them wanting for more. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy YA or otherwise, who just enjoy good stories with unconventional settings and the paranormal. The magic not only rests in the wonderful gifts the characters have, but also in their potential. I look forward to the next in the series.

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

Spooky Twisties III, 13 Tales of Terror by Terri Bertha

April 17, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Spooky Twisties III, 13 Tales of Terror by Terri Bertha
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Genre: Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (130 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

House of Puzzles:Will Chris and Nick be able to solve the puzzles to save their lives?

The Best Book Ever: Can a school book report prove to uncover a little too much for one student?

Pretty Voodoo Doll: What will one of the girls resort to in order to make the cheerleading squad?

A Needed Friend: Why does the mysterious boy seem to be drawn to the girl who visits the graveyard?

Ghost Catcher: Lindsay meets a woman with some amazing abilities at the old-age home. Can you catch a ghost?

Saving Cardinals: Does Amy’s love of birds and animals prove to be a life-saver?

Two Bloke Boys:Will Nick and Chris find gold at the end of the rainbow?

Candle Sense: A thoughtful gift provides a haunting experience.
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Would You Believe?: The science fair and a revolution. Seriously, that’s why I didn’t turn in my homework.

Dronepocalypse: Buuuzzzz…did you hear that?

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Dire-Rama: WOW! That model looks so real!

Hello Me, It’s Me Again: Will an unexpected family reunion finally put things to rest?

The hidden references in these short ‘horror’ stories foreshadow future encounters and/or connect back to events of previous stories,and the twists in the story endings make reading the tales even more fun for ages 9 and above.

There’s not just one haunted house in this community. Many spots in this area have odd things happening in them.

This is the first time I can remember reviewing a collection of short stories that were about the same group of characters. It was quite interesting to me to read about the different adventures these kids went on with their various combinations of friends. Some of their experiences involved needing to do things like solve riddles or mysteries, so I liked seeing how well they were able to do this stuff depending on who they were spending time with at that particular moment.

It would have been helpful to have more details about the characters since the narrator didn’t describe what any of them looked like. While I did get a good sense of some of their personalities, it sure would have been helpful to be able to close my eyes and come up with full mental image of what each of the main characters looked, sounded, and acted like. They all sort of blended together in my imagination because of how few details there were about them in general.

The town where this book was set was quite the unusual place. Sometimes there were buildings that appeared and then disappeared again. Humorously enough, this was one of the least bizarre occurrences there . My favorite scenes were the ones that showed how the characters reacted to their familiar world being turned upside down at a moment’s notice. Without giving away spoilers, they reacted exactly how I’d expect them to. That alone made me want to keep reading.

This collection is the third in a series, but it can be read as a standalone work.

Spooky Twisties III should be read by anyone who is in the mood for something scary.

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

Fight Like a Woman by J.S. Frankel

April 10, 2019 By 2 Comments


Fight Like a Woman by J.S. Frankel
Publisher: Regal Crest
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (167 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Meet Kyle Sorton, teen, orphan, living a life of no purpose on a space station. Occupation: janitor. Future prospects: none. His only dream is to be someone.

Anyone will do.
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Wish granted–sort of. An accident aboard his space station forces his flight, and his ship crash lands on an unknown world. Mortally wounded, he uses an experimental healing device called a Clavator to transfer his consciousness to the body of an alien woman. When he awakens, he discovers that this woman not only has special abilities, but that parts of her consciousness still exist. Even more surprising to him is the fact that his new host, named Rinarra, is married to Merat, another woman. She is understandably upset over losing her wife, and initially rejects the new Rinnara.

Confusion reigns, and compounding his problem of understanding his new form is the existence of a hostile alien force known as the Droogs. Large, purple, and utterly evil, Droogs care not about any lives other than their own. Kyle, who slowly begins to not only identify as Rinnara but also to fall in love with Merat, decides to fight the invaders. Windeeri has become a home, and she’ll defend it, even at the cost of her own life.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Kyle’s character development was quite well done. He’d already been through far more than his fair share of tragedy by the time the first scene of this story began, and he clearly hadn’t been able to process all of it either. It doesn’t quite feel right to say that I liked this about him because of how sad this part of his history was, but I sure did appreciate the fact that he was still a work in progress. His unresolved grief over the deaths of his parents made him feel like a real person to me. More than anything, I wanted him to find closure there and at least have the possibility of living happily ever after by the final scene.

The world building was phenomenal. There are many parts of it I can’t go into detail about without giving away spoilers, but I loved the way Mr. Frankel showed the audience what life was like for Kyle and other average humans in the distant future. Their utilitarian lives were a nice contrast to the less technologically advanced but friendlier society that Rinnara was from.

Gender identity is a complicated topic. One of the things I found most intriguing about this book was how it explored what it means to identify as a specific gender, especially since Kyle grew up in a society that had the same exact expectations for men as it did for women. This lack of gender stereotypes had a very interesting effect on how Kyle adjusted to living in a female body after his accident, and I appreciated all of the thought the author put into how this character would react to this sort of change.

I’ve read just about every book Mr. Frankel has written, and Fight Like a Woman is by far my favorite one so far. It’s something I’d heartily recommend to fans of the science fiction and young adult genres alike.

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

The Auctioneer by J.S. Frankel

April 8, 2019 By 2 Comments


The Auctioneer by J.S. Frankel
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (247 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Matthew Carter, eighteen and orphaned recently due to the death of his father, continues on the family tradition of auctioneering. It is not his chosen profession, but one that is thrust upon him by circumstance.

Offered a chance to make some money by a man named Baltarus, Matthew reluctantly agrees, and to his surprise, ends up on an alien star-port where he auctions off rare items from all over the galaxy.

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Life is good, but all that changes when he becomes a target of unknown assassins. Additionally, he is forced to sell a planet named Volarus, something that goes against his conscience.

Matthew finds out there’s more to life than making money, and races against time to find a loophole in order to stop Volarus from being next on the bidding block, as well as finding out the faceless killers who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

How would you react to a job that forced you to do unethical things?

The romance subplot was handled beautifully. I was pleased with how naturally the relationship between Matthew and Anarra unfolded. They spent time genuinely getting to know each other as individuals first, and that’s always something I appreciate in this sort of storyline. It makes the thought of two characters possibly ending up together for good even sweeter in my opinion than it might otherwise be.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the character development in this tale. Matthew was a fascinating guy who’d been through a lot in his short life. As interesting as it was to get to know him, I didn’t see the kinds of personal development in him I was expecting to find. He had plenty of opportunities to grow as a person. I simply needed to see more examples of him doing that during the course of his adventures.

Speaking of characters having adventures, though, this book was full of twists and turns. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down again until I knew how everything would turn out for the protagonist and all of the folks he met along the way. One of the things I enjoy the most about Mr. Frankel’s stories is how much action he packs into his plots, and this one was just as exciting as everything else he’s written so far.

The Auctioneer should be read by anyone who likes adventurous science fiction.

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