Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Fourth World - Moroney, Laurence

The Fourth World is the first book in the Legend of the Locust series. It's free. This book is definitely for young adults. Unfortunately it's almost preachy in a PC way. I almost gave up on it a couple of times when I got disgusted with the political direction it was going. This story had so much potential too.

Fintan Reilly is an Iris boy who's school days are spent trying to avoid bullies. Then he's recruited to a special school. The school is top secret and located beneath the Area 51 secret American military installation in Nevada. Fintan is joined at school by an American boy Zach Adams, a Japanese girl Ayako Katsuragi, and a Navajo girl Nizhoni Benally. The four make a team that works to solve the mysteries of their school. The story is interesting but overshadowed at times by the political leanings of the author. The writing is also clearly targeted at kids rather than adults. At least I hope so. I won't be reading any more in this series, even though there is a major cliff hanger at the end. Not recommended.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Cloud Roads - Wells, Martha

The Cloud Roads is the first novel in the Books of the Raksura series. It's a stand-alone tale with no frustrating cliff hangers. I gladly paid $1.99 for this book. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Moon is an orphan. He doesn't know what he is, except that he's a shape shifter. Moon looks normal for a groundling in one phase, or as normal as anyone in the Three Worlds, but Moon can fly in his other phase, and he has to hide that shape in order to fit in. He'll be killed if he's mistaken for a Fell.

Moon is rescued by another shape shifter and discovers he's a Raksura. Can Moon fit in with his true people, and can he save his new colony from destruction by the Fell? An amazing story with a myriad of characters on a world full of surprises. Absolutely recommended.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Heller - JD Nixon

Heller is free. It's the first in the Heller series, but it's a great stand-alone novel. This author is going on my must read list.

Tilly Chalmers (please don't call her Matilda) is a down and out actor. She got canned from her last gig as a slice of watermelon. Now she's got a new job with a security firm and it's all she hoped and a lot more. It's more complicated, more dangerous, and more fun.

Heller (first name unknown) is Tilly's new boss. He's tall, blonde, gorgeous, and scary. Heller and his family of misfits do their best to make Tilly fit in, but she's the first woman Heller has ever hired and there's some serious adjusting to do.

This isn't a murder mystery, although there's a murder, or two. This isn't a romance, although the sexual tension is palpable. This isn't a mystery, unless you count Heller himself. It's a fun romp through tricky and sometimes dangerous assignments with a cast of characters that's a pleasure to know. Very highly recommended.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

80AD Books 3-5 - Aiki Flinthart

80AD - The Tekhen of Anuket is book three in the 80AD series. I'm also including book four, 80AD - The Sudarshana, and book five, 80AD - The Yu Dragon, in this review. All the books in this series are free. They're a real bargain. I didn't want to stop reading to write a review until I was done with them all.

In book three Phoenix, Jade, Marcus, and Brynn fight their way through Egypt on a quest to free the goddess Anuket and restore balance to the region. Without Anuket the Nile River can't flood and Egypt is in the grip of a devastating famine. Warriors who die and come back to life are just one of the challenges they face.

In book four the four heroes are in India trying to restore balance. In order to do so they must return the Sudarshana given to Jade to the statue of Vishnu. The four find themselves in a full scale war with a snake goddess on the other side. Another gamer is introduced into the mix. The question is whether he's an ally or an enemy.

In book five Jade, Phoenix, Marcus, and Brynn find themselves in China to directly confront the evil Feng Zhudai. He must be defeated to bring balance to the world of the game and the real world from which Jade and Phoenix were pulled in. Feng Zhudai's power is their biggest obstacle. Will they defeat him and make it back to their world, or be stuck in the game forever? A great fantasy series. Very highly recommended.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Secrets - Schulte, Liz

Secrets is the first book in the Guardian Trilogy. It's free. I'll warn you though, it's got a major cliff hanger. You'll be itching to read the next book in the trilogy.

Olivia Martin is a photographer. She's something of a loner, except for her best friend Juliet. Juliet is the outgoing vivacious one. Olivia is the reserved quiet one of the pair. Olivia starts to notice, and be noticed by, mysterious men. At least they seem like men. When one man in particular, Holden, begins to invade her dreams, she realizes her whole life is changing. Not necessarily for the better. The cliff hanger is like hitting a wall. Excellent book though. Highly recommended.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Heartless - Stengl, Anne Elisabeth

Heartless is book one in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. It's a completely stand-alone book though. There are no cliff hangers to leave you wanting. And the book is free. It's a great fantasy read.

Princess Una of Parumvir just turned 18. Una wonders where all the suitors are who should be asking for her hand in marriage. She wants romance and flowers and moonlight serenades. She finds that giving her heart is more than she bargained for. Her life and her father's kingdom may be part of the bargain. What would a dragon want with her heart? A marvelous story. Very highly recommended.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Draykon - English, Charlotte E.

Draykon is the first book in the Draykon series and it's free. Fantasy at it's best.

Llandry Sanfaer is a shy Glinnish girl. The Glinnish have wings and their realm is in perpetual daylight. Llandry makes jewelry, and when she discovers a cave with some beautiful gems, she uses them in her work. But what are those gems really, and what is their power?

Lady Evastany Glostrum is from Glour. The realm of Glour is perpetually dark and the inhabitants are not winged. Eva is the High Summoner. When her best friend is murdered for the jewelry she purchased from Llandry, Eva is compelled to help the investigation using her powers.

This is one series I will pursue, even if I have to pay for the rest of the books. Very highly recommended.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

80AD - The Hammer of Thor - Flinthart, Aiki

80AD - The Hammer of Thor is book two in the 80AD series. It's free.

Phoenix and Jade continue their adventures in the 80AD computer game. The object of this level in the game is to obtain the hammer of Thor. How many times they die and what monsters they have to defeat is the question. Again, a good fantasy adventure. Highly recommended.

Monday, November 5, 2012

80AD - The Jewel of Asgard - Flinthart, Aiki

80AD - The Jewel of Asgard is the first of five books in the 80AD series. All five books are free. This series is based on the five levels of a fictional computer game called 80AD.

Phoenix is 13. He's trying to adjust to a new step-father and having a hard time. One way he escapes is through computer games. His Mom just got him the new game 80AD and he can't wait to play it.

Jade is 13. She's the seventh of seven sisters and feels like an outcast. When she gets stranded at home alone, she's excited that her Dad gave her permission to play a new computer game called 80AD.

Phoenix and Jade are linked in ways they don't even understand, but when they encounter each other in the game 80AD they find themselves transported to the real first century Britain. In this real life adventure they're fighting for their lives against monsters, magic, and the Roman empire. If they don't win the game, their lives and the world they grew up in will be lost forever. This book is a good fantasy adventure with some interesting characters. The best part is the whole series is free. Highly recommended.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

First Contact - Hicks, Michael R.

First Contact is hard core alien battle fleet science fiction. This book is the first in The Last War series. It's book five in the larger In Her Name series, but the author recommends reading 4-6 first and then 1-3. Star Wars it reminds me of, and in more ways than one. This book is free for the kindle and an astounding bargain.

Midshipman Ichiro Sato is the youngest member of the crew, and is only on the survey ship Aurora as part of his Terran Naval Academy advanced training. Little does he know he's about to become one of the most famous humans in history. When the Aurora comes out of hyperspace she's jumped into a system with not one, but two planets that are in the habitable zone. The problem is they're both already inhabited, and the inhabitants are nothing the human race has ever imagined. I haven't enjoyed a hard science fiction this much in years. Very highly recommended.