Category First Book In A Series

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

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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

Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley @OrendaBooks #thriller #crime #debut #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley. When I saw this book a while ago I knew it was one I wanted to read so I pre-ordered the paperback. What a good decision that was as this is a wonderful, chilling and dark tale.

I also want to mention what an amazing cover this is ❤

A Martha Strangeways Mystery

Set in the fictional village of Strathbran (Glen of Ravens) in Stirlingshire, Scotland, an area steeped in folklore and impenetrable mists, Crow Moon features ex-journalist Martha Strangeways, who discarded her career when her young twins died in a fire. Stricken by guilt that she was not there to save them, Martha carries their remains in a matchbox and struggles to find purpose in her life … until she stumbles across the body of a teenager, strung up on a tree, with a poem about crows inked on his back. Martha is soon drawn into the investigation into his death, teaming up with DI Derek Summers when another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape. With a plot that becomes darker, ever-more paranoid and increasingly enthralling with each page, Crow Moon is also a moving tale of grief and an exploration of psychological damage.

MY REVIEW

This is a wonderfully atmospheric and eerie book. It has a fictional setting, but the author does a great job of describing it and the area, that she had me convinced it could be real!

The setting works so well for this story as the Crow Moon is on the 21st of March, it is the time of year when we are still in the cold of winter but seeing the dawn of spring. The days tend to be damp and overcast with foggy or misty layers. This time of year fits so well with the eerieness of the story and the folklore that has been woven in.

The main character is Martha, she had been a reporter but after her twins died she stepped away. Only when one of her son’s friends disappears does she become interested enough to start looking for her own clues. She thinks there is more to the disappearance, and her fear is palpable.

This is such a tense story that mixes the feel of a gothic thriller with a modern setting. The folklore is brought into play and a supernatural feel that sends shivers, the author uses this to great effect and it makes you wonder just how much truth there is behind the fiction!

The cast of characters is enough, for it was anyway. They had a role to play and there is an unknown character that appears in italics. I do love a mystery italicised cast member! The character of Martha has a fragility to her, but she is tough and when she believes in an idea she will follow it through. She does have the support of a DI Derek Summers, who is investigating the case and this makes for a great bit of teamwork, well when they share information that is.

While this is a story about death and grief it is also about moving on and taking a breath to make another step forward. Being stuck in a rut or routine, hiding away is all well and good, but sometimes you need something to steer you out. The author does this for Martha and as I got to know her I could see there is much more to learn.

This is the first book and one that lays down the basics of Martha, her family and those in her life. As the story progresses, the author takes darker and more mysterious turns adding a brilliant sense of nervous tension, with a sense of anxiety and stress as the story gains more intrigue.

If you are a fan of eerie thrillers then this is one for you, I adored the creepy feel and the psychological edge to this book. Brilliant debut novel and one I would definitely recommend.

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

Stop at Nothing by Lucy Martin @lucymartinbooks #psychological #thriller #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Stop at Nothing by Lucy Martin. I was very fortunate to win this and a further two books in this series after entering a competition on Karen’s fabulous Blog – My Reading Corner.

The chilling break out thriller, perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, Fiona Barton and Gillian Flynn.

How far would you go to get what you want?

Amie Slade’s sexual assault feels too close to home for DS Ronnie Delmar. Forced to face the demons of her past, she vows to protect the family at all costs.

But everyone’s got a secret in this leafy suburb and when a child goes missing and a woman’s body is found, it becomes clear that this perfect family hides a sinister reality.

Someone here will stop at nothing to win, but can Ronnie beat them to it?

MY REVIEW

This is the first book in the DS Ronnie DElmas series and what an amazing introduction this book is to Ronnie. The book focuses on the Slade family and in particular Amie Slade. She lives with her older brother Andrew, her mum and dad Maeve and Stuart. The family is broken with Maeve being obsessive about having an orderly and tidy house, Andrew is always in his room and getting ready to go to university and Stuart is about to drop a bombshell.

Amie is a young teen who has had trouble in past. She was the victim of sexual abuse and this is something that hangs over her constantly as you would expect. She moves schools and has only one friend.

Ronnie (Veronica) is a hard-working single mum and also a Detective Sergeant, she has split from her husband and has two children. She has a secret from her past. Her second in command so to speak is Baz, he is someone whom she is not totally sure about and when an accusation is made about Ronnie she is not sure who made it. Ronnie has some very close friends and she will rely on these as this complex case gradually unfolds.

What is the case? Well, that is not really revealed as such until much later when the body of a woman is discovered. The author cleverly lays out the story and gives a lot of information leading up to the discovery of the body which occurs when a child goes missing.

This story will have you second-guessing yourself, well it did me for sure. I like it when an author can twist me around like this. One moment feeling sorry then suspicious and then guilty for feeling suspicious. This is something that I love in a psychological thriller and this definitely has a psychological theme to it.

The story starts out well and there was something about it that just kept me hooked and I found myself just reading one more chapter, and another until I got to the end. There were many twists and revelations to be had.

Seeing this is the start of the series I am looking forward to getting to know Ronnie a bit more. She is definitely a female lead that I like. If you are a fan of very devious and twisted psychological crime thrillers then this is one that will keep you on your toes. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next book.

About the Author…

One-time reluctant lawyer, turned entrepreneur and novelist with a life-long passion for supporting women…

My first book was Make It Your Business, a business start-up guide for women co-authored with Bella Mehta in 2002, followed by The Childcare Bible in 2010 and then when I became a teacher, a series of modern language handbooks for my students. I am now working on a crime thriller series to be published by Welbeck in October 2021.

I grew up in Brussels and London, and have a first class degree in French and Russian from Wadham College, Oxford. I am a qualified solicitor, contributor to BBC Bitesize French and the founder of networking group Wimbledon Women in Business.

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

The Beggar and The Ghost by Vincent Holland-Keen @fiskerton @Tr4cyF3nt0n @SpellBoundBks #thriller #pschological #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Beggar and The Ghost by Vincent Holland-Keen. This is a high-concept thriller and one that had me intrigued and eager for next summer when I can read the next book.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of this fabulous book from the publisher – Spell Bound Books.

At the very moment when Daniel Littlewood decides to end his worthless life, he’s not himself any more. He’s the suave and deadly hero of a Hollywood dream filled with fast cars, beautiful women and jetsetting intrigue. As fantasy and reality begin to collide and a global conspiracy threatens the fate of the world, the only question is,𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙡 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚…The Beggar and The Ghost is Part One in the stunning high-concept thriller Eidolan Trilogy. Part Two coming Summer 2024

MY REVIEW

What a wonderful and quirky story this was. A mix of crime, thriller and murder along with a person trying to cope with what life has thrown at him.

What Daniel was expecting did not happen when he decided he had enough. Instead of looking at the gloom, he is whisked, or maybe teleported or I am not quite sure how, but he is somewhere else in the blink of an eye. And not just somewhere else, but he is also someone else! Not only that, but he has skills, deadly ones that make him someone people want on their side.

This is the story that has two sides, one of Daniel in this reality, homeless, hungry and wanting to find somewhere to hide. Then there is the other side which is something out of a Bond story that has some technological conspiracy working its way through the story. Each side is brilliant and I cannot say which one I preferred.

One is edgy, glamorous and glitzy, the other, well, it is far from that. The way the author transfers between times is interesting and while there are times when I wanted to happen sooner or later, most of the times it did feel right. There is a futuristic edge to one side while the other is very much down to earth and real.

The character of Daniel is interesting, he is down on his luck, with no money, friends, home or future when suddenly this twist starts something that even he doesn’t understand. This fantasy angle works well and I enjoyed it a lot.

A mix of crime and thriller with a mystery twist, that has murder and is very addictive. As I started to feel that things were going to be revealed the book ended and left me desperate to understand more. I will be reading that next book when I see it that’s for sure.

A wonderful mix of genres and one I would definitely recommend.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

The Guernsey Girls by Mary Wood @AuthorMary @PanMacmillan #historicalfiction #romance #bookreview

yvonnembee 14 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Guernsey Girls by Mary Wood. This is the first book in the series and it is a fabulous story of family and friendship.

My huge thanks to Chloe at Pan Macmillan for arranging a copy and for my spot on the Blog Tour.

January 1936. After the hard work of being a maid at Wallington Manor in the lead-up to Christmas, Annie is very excited at the prospect of going home to Bethnal Green. She has missed her family, but the money she earns keeps them all afloat.

Harriet, is from the island of Guernsey and is visiting her aunt at Wallington Manor. When she has to leave for London Annie is asked to look after her. On the train journey a friendship blossoms.

And when an accident happens their friendship is made even stronger. A friendship that would see both girls through pain, happiness, marriage and death. A friendship that would see them both united in Guernsey. But this is just the beginning of their incredible journey . . .

MY REVIEW

This is a fabulous book about family and friendship. Beginning in 1936, Annie is a maid and is due to travel from Guernsey back to her family in London. Olivia is also due to travel so plans are made for them to travel together. Annie is to be the maid and companion to Olivia during the journey. The train crashes and Annie manages to get out and take Olivia with her. Due to her heroic actions, Annie is given the chance to change her life and not just be the maid but become a friend to Olivia. They both rely on each other and have shared an experience that has brought them close. This friendship provides not only Annie but also her family a chance to improve their way of life.

This is another fabulous story from this author and I have read many of her books. This one shows the differences between two social classes and how one accident can change their relationship in the future. Olivia has a fiance and he is nervous about what is going on in Europe as he is a German by birth. Annie has an admirer who knows her from when she was younger. Relationships blossom and plans are in the making for their futures.

If you have read any of this author’s books then you will know that her romances never run straight, there are always kinks and obstacles in the way that need to be overcome. This book is no exception, the train brought the girls together but they will need each other many more times in the following years during this story.

The author brings the way of life at the time to life, exploring the past and giving voices to her characters. There are several characters and you just can’t help but adore some of them. You soon become concerned about what is happening to them and what they have to go through.

This is a fabulous story and one that fans of historical fiction, family drama and romance books. It is one I would happily recommend.

About the author

Born the thirteenth child of fifteen to a middle-class mother and an East End barrow boy, Mary Wood’s childhood was a mixture of love and poverty. Throughout her life, Mary has held various posts in office roles, working in the probation services and bringing up her four children and numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. An avid reader, she first put pen to paper in 1989 while nursing her mother through her final months, but didn’t become successful until she began self-publishing her writing in 2011.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

Warrior Prince by J.C. Duncan @BoldwoodBooks #viking #historicalfiction #Netgalley #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Warrior Prince by J.C. Duncan. This is the first book in the series that is based on Harald Sigurdsson and it is brilliant.

My huge thanks to Boldwood Books who accepted my request to read this via NetGalley, my opinion is my own.

1030 AD Some men are gifted a crown. Others have to fight to claim it. Exiled from Norway, Harald Sigurdsson, brother to murdered King Olaf, must battle mercilessly for survival in the lands of the Kievan Rus. His brother’s legacy gifts him a warband of hardened warriors and entry to the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. By his wits, sword and skill in battle, Harald must learn not just to survive but to triumph. He fights for glory, for fame, and to regain his family’s battle-stolen throne. But his greatest challenge may not come from battlefield foes but from those who stand by his side. The first instalment in a remarkable story of an exiled boy’s incredible journey to become Harald Hardrada; The Hard Ruler and The Last Viking.

MY REVIEW

This is the first book I have read by this author and is a brilliant book based on Harald Sigurdsson. The book is set in 1030AD and is the story of Harald after being exiled. It is told by Eric, an older character as he looks back and recounts his life with Harald the battles they fought, and the people they met it is full of facts, and information and it is a brilliant historical fiction book to sit down and read.

Eric is an adviser to Harald and the author uses him to great effect as he can get the reader into the thick of things, being a witness to events and hearing of Eric’s views. Harald was exiled after his brother King Olaf was killed, he takes a war band with him as he journeys to Kyiv and fights for Prince Yaroslav.

The author brings the story of Harald’s early years into life with his writing and while this is very factual in its content the research that has gone into this is great. It is not dull for a moment and this is what makes this such a good book, it is also the first in the series and I cannot wait to continue Harald’s saga.

Some things have been changed to make it fit within the context of the author’s timeline and this is nothing major but keeps the action and the adventuring of the war band at a great pace.

If you are a fan of Vikings, European history and historical fiction then this is a book you want to be looking at. It is a fabulous historical fiction that I would definitely recommend.

About the author

James C Duncan is a debut author fascinated with history and fantasy. He writes historical fantasy/fiction based on our world, but in an alternate timeline, past, present or future, where each book or series asks and tries to answer a question of ‘What if?’ His first series ‘The Light of the North saga’, asks the question ‘What if the Norse didn’t convert to Christianity, and instead the Viking raids continued.’ And posits the answer, which you will have to read the book to find out! James does not create new worlds, he messes with the history and future of ours, grounded in our own history and the laws of our universe, but tweaked in events and often adding a soft sprinkling of the divine or fantastical, resulting in relatable historical and future fantasy.

Upcoming books include the questions:

‘What if the black death was actually a coverup of something much, much worse.’ An alternate history of the time of the black death, based in southern Europe and the Middle East.

‘What if the human race develops a race of gene engineered worker drones, but they are turned against us.’ A post apocalyptic fiction set in the 22nd century in Poland and Hungary

James is a professional engineer, and splits his spare time writing, reading, and being an amateur bladesmith.

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

Atoned by Steve J. McHugh @SteveJMchugh @ZooloosBT #scifi #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Atoned by Steve J. McHugh. I have read some of this author’s books before and loved them, they were urban fantasy novels, but Atoned is a sci-fi and it is fabulous. The first book in The Wardens series and one I am definitely looking forward to.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for arranging my copy of the book and for my spot on the Blog Tour.

Civil War tore across the Union Empire, leaving countless dead in its wake. It was a war started by one man, once beloved by the Empire. His betrayal still lingers in the memory of those who lived through it.

Decades later, his son, Felix Drake, is a Warden tasked with both protecting the ruling members of the Union Empire and its Council, and bringing those powerful and influential people to justice should they break the law.

Drake protects the very Empire his father sought to destroy.

When two members of a Council family are murdered, Drake and his team investigate, only to uncover corruption, resentment, and yet more death.

As the case deepens, Drake is forced back into a life he’d left long ago, bringing with it the same disdain and anger from the very people he’s sworn to protect.

However, he’s no longer a helpless child, and the people who try to intimidate him now are about to discover that Drake is so very much his father’s son.

Purchase Links – HERE

MY REVIEW

I do like this author and have enjoyed his urban fantasy books but this is the first time I have read one of his science fiction ones and I loved it. If I was to break it down, it is a crime thriller that follows a procedural route but it is a science fiction story. The Wardens are essentially the police, but there is so much more to them than that, especially Drake!

When two members of the Council are murdered it is up to Drake and his team to try to discover what has happened. This takes him into an underworld environment with gangs and those wanting to alter or change things for more power. Who the actual leaders are is a mystery, and one step forward seems to lead to more questions and answers are not easy to come by.

An attack against the Royal household is an indicator that there is something more going on that people realise. Drake is joined by another team and with some influential backing they are tasked with using what they can to discover what is going on with any means necessary.

There are several characters in this book and these are listed at the front. I did a quick scan over these but I was too eager to get to the story itself. Drake is the main character, but only just as several others have an equally important role to play. I have to say I really liked the character of Bokk, they are brilliant and while they come across as a little naive there is something more to them than you first realise.

While there is an investigation going on, this is also a science fiction story. The author has not used too many technical terms and what he does use is introduced and explained enough so the reader can keep up. Some of the armaments and augmentations make the mind boggle but they also fit well with the characters. His world-building is great and the author gives descriptions where needed to explain the scenery and also the political and power structure. In any world, there is going to be a level of hierarchy and this one is no different.

The characters in the story have pasts and the author has given us a glimpse of some of those and I do think there is more to reveal as this series continues. While the author has given some indication as to Drake’s past there is something that Drake himself is made aware of towards the end of this first book.

A fabulous start to a series and it was a brilliant story. Full of action and it is one I would definitely recommend. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve is a bestselling author of Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction books. His novel, Scorched Shadows, was shortlisted for a Gemmell Award for best novel. He was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton.

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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