Category Fantasy

The Family Experiment by Johns Marrs @panmacmillan #NetGalley #dysotpian #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of The Family Experiment by John Marrs. I do like this author’s books and this one is a fabulous speculative fiction that I adored.

My huge thanks to Pan Macmillan for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

The world’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality tv show. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child or risk it all for the chance of a real baby . . .

Set in the same universe as John Marrs’s bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate ‘tamagotchi’ – a virtual baby.

MY REVIEW

Having read, some but not all of this author’s previous books, I was eager to read this one. He does do speculative and dystopian fiction well, making you stop and think. This one is no exception.

What if you wanted to become a parent but cannot afford to? How about a virtual child who lives in the metaverse, it will grow and learn, and it can be designed to have certain characteristics or features. Think about those games we had a few years ago where you had to keep a virtual pet alive, similar to this scenario, but this virtual child becomes more like real life than real life does.

The author has taken the concept of living in a virtual world to the next stage, not just popping in a headset and spending a few hours touring but feeling, and experiencing being a parent. The author uses a competition that selects various people who want to be parents to participate in a game show. They are allowed to experience parenthood over nine months. At the end of this, the child will be 18 years old. The winner will have a few options to choose as their prize.

This speculation as to how people could and maybe would behave is insightful and gives some unexpected challenges and ideas as to how the virtual child is seen. Are they real? Well, they learn, or the program allows them to learn and take on their mannerisms, emotions and reactions so it gives the idea that they are real. In the virtual universe, they feel real as well. It is only when the parent steps away back into the real world that the realisation that the real world does not have the same appeal as the virtual.

Before you think that this could not happen, how many of you disappear for a couple of hours into your phone and do not realise how much time has elapsed? What about the gamers who will go several hours without taking a break from their game? Not as far-fetched as you first thought, is it? Even simpler is how many of us have been absorbed by reading a book, same thing when you think about it!!!

The author takes this concept of virtual children to a very good place, one that shows the good and the bad and the possible. There is more to this, if you have read any books by the author then you will know there is another plot in play and this one was amazing! Nope, not saying anything about it.

What I will say though is that the author creates a scenario that plays to the vulnerabilities of people, especially those who want a child in a world where it is too expensive, where the NHS does not fund and gives the real world a bleak outlook for his characters. He does this well and it is not so much about the areas that the characters live in, but more about how they feel about themselves.

This is a brilliant book and the story spans several genres, speculative fiction, fiction, contemporary, thriller and there is a psychological feel throughout as the story focuses on people and their actions and reactions. Brilliant story and one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Silverwood Promise by James Logan @QuercusBooks #NetGalley #fantasy #fiction #bookreview

yvonnembee Leave a comment

Before I share my review today, I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all of you who shared my Blog Posts over the last couple of weeks while I was on Annual Leave. It has been nice to have a break but I am back and hoping to catch up with you all again. 🙂 xx

I am delighted to share my review of The Silverwood Promise by James Logan. This is the first book in The Last Legacy series and this book is a brilliant start to it.

My huge thanks to Quercus Books who granted my request to read this book via Netgalley.

Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and―thanks to a duel that ended badly―the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away.

When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death.

His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.

For in Saphrona, everything has a price―and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.

MY REVIEW

Lukan is a disgrace to his family name, but when you realise his grandfather was similar as far as gambling goes is it any wonder Lukan is following in his footsteps? Well, there is more to Lukan than that, his mother died when he was 11 and he and his father have gradually grown apart. Lukan is sent to train but a duel that ends badly means Luan is further alienated from his family than ever.

When his father dies, Lukan discovers more than he realised and it leads him on an amazing adventure. His father left a note with three words. He travels to Saphrona to see if he can discover the answers that are held in the note. There he meets some interesting people, who come from different backgrounds and he finds himself mixing with the elite and the waifs.

This is a fab story that is a great start to this series, introducing Lukan and his background as well as the people he meets is great. he learns more about his father and I think he also learns more about himself.

The journey he makes is full of peril and danger and he navigates from one event to another. He seems to have the knack of falling into trouble as well as still seeming to get through things. But, then he does bring a lot on himself with his quick mouth, and constant backchat. It doesn’t endear him to others, but thank goodness the author decided that this was a trait for Lukan as it gets him into some serious trouble at times.

I really enjoyed the word building with this, the names and places are manageable and pronounceable, always helpful when you have to remember them! The imagery of the setting is also great, from opulent towers and palaces to basic rooms and inns. There is more to this book than is the beginning and I think there are some things that have a lot more to reveal, especially The Faceless, there are some indications as to who they are but nothing solid yet. this leaves me looking forward to the next books and following Lukan on the next part of his story.

If you are a fan of fantasy that has a mix of sorcery, corruption, deviousness and double-crossing then this is one you should have a look out for. It was a fabulous book to read and it didn’t take me long before I was hooked and read it over a couple of days. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Empire of The Damned Jay Kristoff #NetGalley #horror #fantasy #supernatural #vampires #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Empire of The Damned by Jay Kristoff. This is the second book in the series and it is another fabulous book. I would recommend reading the first book in this series. My full review of that book, Empire of The Vampire, can be read HERE

My thanks to Harper Voyager for my e-copy of this book via NetGalley.

Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost.

After turning his back on his Silversaint brothers once and for all, Gabriel and the Grail set out to learn the truth of how Daysdeath might finally be undone.

But the last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by children of the Forever King, drawn into wars and webs centuries in the weaving, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the truth of the Grail revealed.

A truth that may be too awful for any to imagine.

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Empire of The Vampire series and I would recommend reading these in order as the first book gives a lot of background information.

In this second book, the story continues, well, Gabe’s recounting of his story continues. He is protecting The Grail and trying to find who can help unlock the secrets of how The Grail can end the darkness that hangs over the world the author has created. Gabe is a silversaint and is sworn to protect and kill vampires and their spawn. He is on the edge; if you have read the previous book, you will know how this makes him dangerous. He is still in control but there are other forces that are testing his resolve.

This is another brilliant installment in the series and once again the author has created a tense and atmospheric thrill to the book. While he continues the journey there are more things that are brought into the equation. There is The Grail and what people think is the right thing to do, will The Grail end the darkness and the vampires? It is still unclear, and there are only a couple of people alive who can potentially solve the mystery.

This is a fast-paced story and it never lets up, the chase is continuous and there is little respite for the characters. The danger lurks everywhere and the battles they have are ferocious. I adore how this is all brought together and the author has a brilliant way of creating some very vivid imagery.

This is a series that is a mix of horror and fantasy, mystery, suspense, action, danger and supernatural thriller. I adored this second book as much as the first and I cannot wait for the next one. I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff #fantasy #horror #thriller #vampires #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today of Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. This is the first book in the series and one that I bought last year but just got to. I do have the second book to read from NetGalley so I wanted to read these in order.

From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hands sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order couldn’t stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.

MY REVIEW

This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I can definitely say it will not be the last. This is the first book in the Empire of the Vampire series, the second book is due at the end of this month(Feb 2024).

The story is about Gabriel de León, Gabe is a half-breed and is taken from his home to train as a Silversaint. His mother was human and his father was a vampire. He is not the only half-breed in this book but he is slightly different to the others. Most have a special gift, yet, Gabe doesn’t seem to have one. He is looked down upon, and he must make an extra effort every stage of his training. He is deemed to be worthless and from peasant stock.

The story of Gabe, his time before going to the Silver Order Brotherhood, and his battles against monsters and other enemies. It is not told in the usual way, instead he is relating history to another. The scribe he is dictating to is a vampire, they are enemies but Gabe has no choice but to divulge his story.

This was a fabulous read and I am so glad I eventually came to reading this one. The story is of family, friendship and serving a higher order. This is a story of how Gabe found and then lost his faith but also of how he has become the feared man he is known as.

The author gives a huge amount of detail to Gabe and those he gradually befriends. A mix of mystery and murder with horror and paranormal aspects to it. It is not a straightforward fantasy novel but one that mixes a lot of things into it. This in some ways gives it a historical fiction feel but it is obviously fantasy as there are the vampires! Mentions of knights, grail, secret orders, and inquisition, give it knights templar-style, but a darker and definitely a lot more dangerous.

The vampires do have some things that are an accepted version of how they can be killed but the author takes it a lot further. The world in which he sets this story is one where the darkness is taking over, the sun is not as bright as it used to be and the tie of dark days and darker nights give vampires an extra edge. This does not mean that the silver order is without power, they have their own powers, and they can fight and kill.

Gabe is a character who comes across as a loner, secretive and also an angry character. There is not much about him that you like as such, but that does not mean he is completely unlikeable. The further I read about him the more I was able to get to understand him. His story is one of fights, flights, battles, and secrets and every step of his journey is full of action, adventure, revenge, determination and there is a lot more as well.

After reading this first book I cannot wait to get to the next one. I will also be looking at other books by this author and I am so happy to add another fantasy author to my list. A brilliant start to a series and if you are a fan of high fantasy then this is one you should have a look at. I adored this and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over two million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Grieving Gold by Daniel McDaniel @makk_daniel #fantasy #action #adventure #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today of Grieving Gold by Daniel McDaniel. This is the first book in the series and it is a brilliant start. Loved this a lot and cannot wait to get the next one. My thanks to Daniel for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Find your strength in the light, or lose your chains in the darkness.

Three sun gods bathe the city of legends, Luminocity, in their blessed light. The city stands on the decaying ruins of an ancient civilization. Skeletal skyscrapers guard their solemn secrets of forgotten technology and past tragedies.

But under the surface the light dies and shadows began. It is a dark god’s domain, even caged. And he holds his grudges through the eons.

Five fates intertwine, thrown onto the currents of destiny, played like puppets. Will they be able to tear free from their strings?

Laxerion Tama, disowned noble son and heist group mastermind, finds his leisurely life turned upside down. Both his estranged family and an enemy from the past test his strange ability to find lies in the light.

His brother, Val-Gustus Tama, general and golden son, is forced to take responsibility for threats to the city, as war brews on the horizon. Intrigue and betrayal test his resolve and character.

New and outlandish technologies emerge that push the boundaries of morality and the conscience of a young scientist, Ilumi. She arrived in Luminocity from the far north, carrying a dark secret.

A huntress of the depths, Aiana, struggles with her inner demons and the chains of her past.

Dawb, a young urchin struck by grief, searches for monsters prowling the short nights.

And deep down, below all, eldritch things stir in the dark.

MY REVIEW

This is the first book in The Luminocity Seed series and what a brilliant start to the series this book is. The story is set in an ancient civilisation and it is run on the power of light. There are five main characters and how they are connected is gradually emerging.

I like all five main characters and at this point, I can’t say if I will have a favourite as they are all unique and have different characteristics. There is a set of brothers, Lax and Val but they have different agendas and have only been brought back together due to their father’s ailing health.

Ilumi is a young woman from one of the outer tribes who has been invited to the city to work with a professor of light creating new inventions. While in the city she meets Dawb, an urchin who lives by his wits and works with a gang (similar to an Oliver Twist-style person). Then there is Aiana, she is another one from outside the city and she is training to be a huntress, she is probably the most different to the others due to where she lives.

All five have different abilities and not all can channel the power of the light. Light is something that some have used to not just illuminate and power the city but can it to give them an extra edge. With the light, there is also the opposite – darkness. This is something that is starting to creep in and it gives a creepy, tense and edgy nervousness to the story. It also adds suspicion and a thriller feel to the story as this darkness is something dangerous and fatal.

Each of the main five has their own agenda as such, or task if you will. One will be trying to get a position in a political circle, another looking for a lost family fortune, trying to become a huntress, looking for answers to how light can be used and looking for the shadows and the monsters. There is a lot more than this, but I am not going to go into much detail about what happens.

The author has created the start of a series with a fabulous intro to the characters, some of the ways of his world and the city that this is focused around. There are politics and some history and things that are reminiscent of the ancient world. But also there is a lot of action and adventure which adds to the fast-paced feel of the overall story. Knowing that this is the first in a planned series is great, but it also means that I knew this first book would leave me waiting and desperate for more.

This is a book that gives the basis of what I think is going to be a very good series. The author has laid out a good base to build from and I am excited to see where he will go with this.

If you are a fan of fantasy genres then this one may well appeal. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am eager to read the next book. Brilliant start and one that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hungarian author Daniel Makk (writing as Daniel McDaniel) achieved his dream of becoming a writer after years of working in finance. Daniel always had a love for fantasy and sci-fi but was often unable to obtain the works of his favourite authors in his mother tongue. Twelve years ago, Daniel began to improve his English on his own in order to consume more works from his favourite authors, first of all Brandon Sanderson. The language opened new doors, and Daniel saw an opportunity to follow his true passion: writing. With the growth of self-published authors, Daniel realized that there were new ways of achieving success. Despite the steep climb he faced as a self-taught English learner, Daniel is now a published author with his debut Luminocity – Grieving Gold, the first in his Luminocity series. Daniel lives with his fantastic wife-and dedicated beta reader-who shares his passion for fantasy. Their young son also shows a great love for books and stories, and Daniel proudly hopes that one day he can share his own work with him.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Relight My Fire by C.K McDonnell @Caimh @TransworldBooks #fantasy #supernatural #fiction #mystery #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Relight My Fire by C.K McDonnell. This is the 4th book in the Stranger Times series and it is absolutely brilliant.

My huge thanks to Transworld Books for granting my request to read this book via NetGalley.

Some comebacks can be murder . . .

Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn’t just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?

Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper’s editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .

All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity ‘Who’s Who’ that’d put a royal wedding to shame, and you’re looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .

MY REVIEW

This is another fabulous and brilliant book in this series. The Stranger Times is a newspaper, you know the old printed sort and no way online at all, that is responsible for reporting the bizarre, unusual, weird, odd, batty, peculiar, outlandish, curious and downright unfathomable stories that come across the desks of the reporters. It is owned by Vincent Bancroft, whose favoured weapon of choice is a blunderbuss. Also Manny, a Rastafarian with an additional side to him, Stella, who also has an additional side to her, Grace who keeps everyone supplied with tea and prayers, and Reg, a ghoul, and a Detective inspector who is deemed to be ok to deal with the “weirdy bollocks” that the newspaper seems to deal with.

Vincent has had a curious past, it seems that it has now caught up with him as a mysterious man takes great delight in informing him. Vincent will soon be residing elsewhere for his part in the “Simon episode” from the last book. The story starts with Stella, leaving her college course for the evening and going home only to have a man fall from the sky in front of her. This is the start of some strange events that even those on the Stranger Times newspaper will find unsettling.

This is another brilliantly funny book in the series and yes it could be read as a stand-alone but I do urge you to read all the books in the series as not only do they give you the bigger picture on this crew at the paper, but they are all fabulous, funny and brilliant books to read.

The story will delve into the dark magic scene in this urban fantasy world the author has created. It runs alongside our everyday boring world with a few extras such as ghosts, ghouls, things that go bump in the night and lurk in dark corners and damp cellars. The author creates a story that is totally within keeping of the characters and as you read the story it feels like the author is having as much fun as I was reading it.

This is a fabulous book in a fabulous series. It is a mix of urban fantasy, mild horror, humour, mystery and crime. A mix of all sorts and then some! Yes, I adored this one and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Irishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on writing books. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, he has taken the hop across the water and calls Manchester his home.

His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV, such as the The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. His work as a children’s TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series ‘Pet Squad’ which he created.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky @HoZ_Books @#NetGalley #fantasy #bookreview @AdAstraFiction #NetGalley #fantasy #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This is a fantasy book and the 2nd in the series. It works well as a stand-alone and it was very enjoyable reading.

My thanks to Head of Zeus and Ad Astra Fiction publishers for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world. As their legions scour the world of superstition with the bright flame of reason, so they deliver a mountain of ragged, holed and scorched flesh to the field hospital tents just behind the frontline.

Which is where Yasnic, one-time priest, healer and rebel, finds himself. Reprieved from the gallows and sent to war clutching a box of orphan Gods, he has been sequestered to a particularity unorthodox medical unit.

Led by ‘the Butcher’, an ogre of a man who’s a dab hand with a bone-saw and an alchemical tincture, the unit’s motley crew of conscripts, healers and orderlies are no strangers to the horrors of war. Their’s is an unspeakable elbow-deep in gore they have a first-hand view of the suffering caused by flesh-rending monsters, arcane magical weaponry and embittered enemy soldiers.

Entrusted – for now – with saving lives deemed otherwise un-saveable, the field hospital’s crew face a precarious existence. Their work with unapproved magic, necromancy, demonology and Yansic’s thoroughly illicit Gods could lead to the unit being disbanded, arrested or worse.

Beset by enemies within and without, the last thing anyone needs is a miracle…

MY REVIEW

This is a wonderful book and is one that is set behind the scenes of an army. Set in the hospital division of the Pel army, this army is responsible for bringing order to chaos and battling kingdoms and realms as they go. They believe in one religion and are banishing all others, from local gods and deities, priests, believers and worshippers are all targets for them. So when Maric Jack is arrested and then forced to work in the hospital it is a little odd, not only is he a priest but he has in his possession a box of gods!

This is a book that is a fantasy but is also full of action and adventure. Think of the TV show MASH, this is a fantasy version of that… well sort of! The Butcher runs the unit, he is helped by a motley bunch that have a great sense of camaraderie and look out for each other. So, as the newcomer, Jack is looked on with interest especially as he tries to explain that he was a priest, but is no longer one.

This fabulous story shows how Jack gradually earns his place in the unit, the troubles he has and the troubles his box of gods makes for him. At times this is entertaining and at others it is action-packed. The author brings in politics, religion and the general area and society of his world. There are rules that have to be followed and protocols that are in place and this helps to build up the world of the author that his characters inhabit. As they are a medical unit, they are not exactly in the thick of the fighting, but that does not mean they are only on the edge of the action. They have plenty of reasons for the authorities to keep a check on them and their antics.

This is a fantasy story that is a fair old length, at times it does slow, but plenty is going on to keep the reader occupied. There are some good twists and overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Some great and entertaining characters with a good storyline and one that I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Blood of Wolves by G.N. Gudgion @GeoffreyGudgion @SecondSkyBooks @Bookouture #fantasy #trilogy #finale #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Blood of Wolves by G.N. Gudgion. This is the finale in the trilogy and I am gutted that it has come to an end. It has been an amazing journey throughout.

My huge thanks to Second Sky Books and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book that I read via NetGalley. My review is my own.

In a war between gods, Adelais stands alone.

After bringing down deadly vengeance on church and crown in Galmandie, Adelais escaped to her home in Vriesland. But even here she is surrounded by enemies.

While the common folk worship her, ruthless nobles plot to harness her fame and advance their own ambitions. In the shadows, assassins wait for a chance to strike.

Adelais makes a dangerous journey to the north, seeking to understand the prophecies that swirl around her. At the source of all rune magic, a place as ancient as time, she glimpses the chaos of a coming war.

The armies of Vriesland are on the march—thousands of spearmen and berserkers, inspired by the girl they call the Fate Weaver. But the Galman lords have gathered a vast army of their own, uniting behind a holy relic in the hands of Agnès de Fontenay.

As friends face off across the battlefield, as armored knights smash into shield-walls, as the gods themselves wrestle for power, Adelais must weave the fate of nations before all that she loves is destroyed.

The Rune Song Trilogy reaches its thrilling finale. An unputdownable epic of intrigue, action and Viking magic, Blood of Wolves is perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence, Andrzej Sapkowski, Robin Hobb and Guy Gavriel Kay.

MY REVIEW

I am absolutely gutted to have read the final book in this trilogy. I have adored these books a huge amount. From her humble beginnings, she has been on the run, evading those who believe in a new religion, Adelais is one who believes in the power of Runes, in the old Gods, in tradition, magic and superstition.

This final book continues on from the first two books as Adelais is trying to make her way to her homeland, she is caught up in politics, rivalries, religion, battles, war, skirmishes, ambushes, and so much more on her journey. As with each of the previous books, the runes are a central point and the links with ancient folklore are great. Mention of Odin, Thor, Feja, Valhalla and other Nordic and Icelandic Viking histories.

With this final book, there did seem to be more emphasis on the runes and I adored this a lot, it meant there was magic to this fantasy book that made it all the more special. Pitting this against the newer religion with hints and rumours of Christianity and the knight’s templar just added to the action and adventure. Throughout the book there are those who believe that Adelais is a chosen one, someone special, she does have gifts but has not had training to use them.

This is a woman who wants a simple life, to settle down have a family and live her days loving and being loved. Instead, she has people surrounding her to protect her from death and she is also responsible for death as these two sides vie for the upper hand.

There are characters that are mentioned from the first book that are still around, although there will be some that will not make it to the end. The way the author deals with his characters is great and I was not able to guess which ones would get what they deserved. Keeping the reader on edge throughout made the story and characters just flows at a great pace. Another thing that I really liked was the flitting between characters’ points of view, this meant that you could keep up with different sides of battles, negotiations and treasonous activities.

This has been a fabulous trilogy and one that I have adored. The way the author has brought together old traditions and folklore and weaved his characters and their lives has been a full-on adventure. I have loved each book and it has been a wonderful journey through this author’s world and with his characters. Ideal for fans who are looking for a fast-paced, action-packed story that is sat well and truly in a medieval age. It is one I would definitely recommend.

See the full trilogy…

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs @orbitbooks #scifi #fantasy #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs. This is the first book in a planned trilogy and it is a fabulous science fiction story.

My huge thanks to Orbit Books for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

A dangerous cat-and-mouse quest for revenge. An empire that spans star systems, built on the bones of a genocide. A carefully hidden secret that could collapse worlds, hunted by three women with secrets of their own. All collide in this twisty, explosive space opera debut, perfect for readers of Arkady Martine and Kameron Hurley.

Jun Ironway—hacker, con artist, and occasional thief—has gotten her hands on a piece of contraband that could set her up for proof that implicates the powerful Nightfoot family in a planet-wide genocide seventy-five years ago. The Nightfoots control the precious sevite that fuels interplanetary travel through three star systems. And someone is sure to pay handsomely for anything that could break their hold.

Of course, anything valuable is also dangerous. The Kindom, the ruling power of the star systems, is inextricably tied up in the Nightfoots’ monopoly—and they can’t afford to let Jun expose the truth. They task two of their most brutal clerics with hunting her preternaturally stoic Chono, and brilliant hothead Esek, who also happens to be the heir to the Nightfoot empire.

But Chono and Esek are haunted in turn by a figure from their shared past, known only as Six. What Six truly wants is anyone’s guess. And the closer they get to finding Jun, the surer Chono is that Six is manipulating them all.

​It’s a game that could destroy their lives and devastate the stars. And they have no choice but to see it through to the end.

MY REVIEW

This was a fabulous action and adventure story that had me hooked. It is a science fiction set in a different star system to our own. There are different families, nations and ethnicities, I found that I thought of these more as tribes or large clans as this was how they struck me.

The story flits back and forth between characters and timelines. Esek Nightfoot is dangerous, she is one of the main families who tried to wipe out another race. Chono is someone who should also be feared, but she has a serenity to her and is devout in her prayers, unlike her tutor Esek. These two are chalk and cheese, yet, they do have respect for each other.

Jun is a tech whizz, she is able to see into systems, write programs, overwrite programs and a whole lot more. She is a con artist and she is very good and is soon on Esek’s radar when it is discovered she has a piece of tech that could bring the whole governing system down.

I should mention that this has a political slant to it from the aspect of the ruling families and with any governing body there is going to be mistrust and someone trying to get one over another. These rulers are known as the Kindom.

With Jun in possession of a piece of tech, there is a definite cat-and-mouse game across the worlds and various other people are dragged into it. Some will help and others will kill to their hands on it, then we have those that are around for a reason but you don’t quite know where they stand.

This is a book that is action-packed from start to finish, there are different names, technologies, races of people, and abilities and it all slots together so well and makes for seamless reading. Even when the author changes characters or timelines it still maintains a fast pace.

There is a hierarchy in the families and nations in this book, with those in power being the more wealthy, while the others gradually get poorer and poorer. This gives another reason for tension with the expectation of an uprising. Rumours do their work but you are never quite sure who is involved or what their aim is, that is until later in the book.

There is some wonderful technology that has been introduced and I really enjoyed this, it wasn’t too techy and I was able to keep a handle on what the author was describing. It meant that the flow was great and I wasn’t stumbling around trying to understand things.

Overall this is a fabulous start to a trilogy, it has introduced the main topics, characters, and history. There are things that are waiting to be answered and fought over. You will get to discover who the mysterious Six is in this book and it is a fabulous journey to discover who this is and why they are such an enigma.

This is one for fans of science fiction and science fantasy, it is full of action and adventure, flows along at a brisk pace and it is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

A Strange Belief: Weird Stories by N.S. Ford @nsfordwriter #shortstory #scifi #mystery #fantasy #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for A Strange Belief by N.S. Ford. I do like this author’s writing and her Blog – NS Ford Writer also features some interesting books. As this is a collection of weird and wonderful stories, what better day to share my review than on Friday the 13th! 😨🥴😱

A Strange Belief by N.S. Ford

Eight strange tales, some dark, some delightful. Unique and curious, these stories will frighten and amaze you.

Shudder at the ancient horror waiting in an old well. Marvel at a man with a very unusual and delicious disorder. Confuse dreams with reality at your peril. Admire the seeker of gold pursued by flames. Fear the slippery creatures which slither through the night. Muse upon the unknowable inner life of inanimate objects. Descend into paranoia as you listen to the wearer of the tinfoil hat. Join a cult which began from mysterious footprints in the sand…

Are you ready to encounter some strange beliefs? Then dive into this story collection and immerse yourself in the weird world of N S Ford, author of After the Burning, They Lie Here and We Watch You.

MY REVIEW

What a fabulous and fun collection of short stories this is. from the bizarre to the weird it has a bit of everything. The stories have a sense of humour at times, or at least made me chuckle at times with a quick twist at the end of them. They are a mix of futuristic or fantasy styles with a bit of a science fiction edge to them. I think Weird Stories really sums up what you will find in this short collection.

For me this collection is something that I find similar to flash fiction, they are quick and precise and they are all short. Ideal for dipping into, but if you are like me, as soon as you have read one you will straight onto the next one.

I do like this author’s books and also her previous short story collection. Imaginative writing and at times she does make you stop and think about things. Fun, intriguing and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

N S Ford is a book fanatic, blogger and cat lover who lives in the UK. She is the author of two cross-genre psychological thrillers, ‘We Watch You’ and ‘They Lie Here,’ plus a new collection of dystopian short stories, ‘After the Burning’.

Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx