Category Part of a Series

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash @KimTheBookworm @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #fiction #romance #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I have been waiting an age to share my review for this book and today I finally can 🙂 here is my review of Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash. This is the 3rd book in the Cornish Cove series and her latest book is another wonderful addition.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Boldwood Books.

It’s never too late…

After five husbands and five broken hearts, Lydia feels like she’s always been chasing something. But now she’s found her purpose, and having moved to Driftwood Bay to spend more time with her daughter Meredith, she’s happier than ever.

But there’s still life in these old bones yet! With her newfound sense of identity, she’s keen to re-explore the things that made her happy as a younger person. Lydia’s passion was dancing – she used to compete in her younger years, and there’s no place she’s more at home than on the dancefloor.

So when widower and antiques restorer Martin tells her about a big dance competition, she’s ready and raring to bring more joy into her life. But while making memories with Martin, the more she realises that both of their hearts need restoring too…

MY REVIEW

What another fabulous book in the Cornish Cove series this one is. Returning to some of the characters to catch up with things going on in their lives as well as learning more about them and newer characters is great.

This one focuses on Lydia, she is Meredith’s mum and they have reconnected after many years. There is a past that gradually emerges and it is a chance for pasts to be dealt with. Lydia is enjoying being in her 70s and she is a very capable lady who does not feel old and has plenty of things to look forward to. She is given the chance for some new opportunities and a chance to do something she thought she never would. She has been married before and she is deciding if she needs a relationship or if she is happy in her own company. Living in this community of Driftwood is a way of finding herself if you like.

Along with Lydia and Meredith, we have Clem and his Dad Martin, a new neighbour and the vocal and wonderful Vi. Everyone needs a Vi in their lives, and they probably know someone similar… I am saying nothing about who she occasionally reminds me of! I think this is wonderful about this author’s characters, they feel familiar and that is not just through reading the books in order, but that they do remind you of people you already know in everyday life. I think this is what makes this series so good and for me, it means the balance is right.

With new starts and fresh opportunities, things are going well, but there are some more serious aspects that the author brings in. This does leave a cloud over things and these are dealt with as any of us do in reality. We dwell and overthink and wonder about the what-ifs. Don’t think this means the book is down and moody because it never is, the author knows her characters too well to let them suffer in silence. They do live in a close-knit community after all.

There are some wonderful heartwarming moments in this book and I will admit to a tear or two at some scenes. This is a fabulous book and would work as a stand-alone, but reading in order helps with the continuing stories of what are becoming regulars. One for fans of heartwarming contemporary fiction and romance, with some very humorous moments and great characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan @JoCallaghanKat @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan. This is the 2nd book in the Kat & Locke series and it is a fabulous series that mixes technology with police procedural and the mix is just brilliant.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from the publisher Simon & Schuster UK.

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.

But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.

MY REVIEW

After reading the author’s previous book, In the Blink of an Eye, I was eager to read the next book to see if it would be as thrilling as the first one, I have to say it was and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first.

Kat & Lock are two very different entities. DCS Kat Frank is in charge of the team, one of which is AIDE Lock, an artificial intelligence detective. While he is not able to perform some of the things that a human would, he can also do things a lot quicker when it comes to processing and searching databases and tech that is involved with running a case.

The author did a great job with the first book and gave some different perspectives and opinions, this book also follows those and also, more importantly, adds more to this. The idea of Lock working alongside a team of detectives as they investigate a crime is for the system to learn and adapt. Lock can be seen via a holographic projection.

The discovery of a body on the top of a mount that has been crucified is bad enough, but there are more details to add. These make the case unique and when another body is discovered some think there may be a link, but not everyone shares this view.

Being introduced to the team in the first book was good and the author has fleshed her characters out more, which sounds a little odd when one of them has no flesh as they are a hologram! However, she has added more details and given the reader a chance to get to know them and this is building a great sense of camaraderie between them.

There is a sense of time being important because Lock is being brought into an active case. He is also being seen by the general public properly so not only do the police force have to make sure things are done quickly, the politicians want a quick wrap-up to show that this way of investigating can be beneficial. There is no pushing Kat or the team into making a quick decision though, all things have to line up.

So with a mix of instincts and logic, this book provides two approaches to a crime and the investigation. Mixing crime fiction with a slight sci-fi feel but not one that is full of techno-speak so it makes for seamless reading.

I am loving this series and if you are looking for something with a twist as well as being an excellent crime thriller then this is a series you may well be interested in. It is a cracking read and one that 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 🙂 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

A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home by Sarah Hope #NetGalley @boldwoodbooks #romance #romcom #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of A Fresh Start at Waggin Tails Dogs’ Home by Sarah Hope. This is a wonderful story and the 3rd in the series but it reads well as a stand-alone.

My huge thanks to Boldwood Books for accepting my request to review this title via NetGalley.

There’s no place like home… Although dog trainer Sally is relatively new to Wagging Tails, the team she works with have quickly become her family and the dogs her friends.

But when Andy, the one that got away, turns up for a brief respite from the city, she is at a crossroads. As tempting as a life with him is, she loves her home of West Par, and anyway, she has responsibilities here.

Number one on that list is ensuring the dogs’ home stays in business. A developer has been sniffing around wanting to buy the land, and the team is worried.

Sally will do anything to save her home and her friends’ livelihoods but the lure of reuniting with her lost love is strong. Is there a way for her to have both?

MY REVIEW

This is the 3rd book in the series and, as is often the case, the first one I have read. This is one of those books that has a wonderful feel and I have read other series that give that same sense of community.

The story is set around Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home, a rescue centre for pouches who are lost, found or needing some care. I will say the author obviously loves her doggy cast and she has definitely done her research into how this type of establishment is run. As a dog owner and dog lover this is impressive and also adds to the overall importance of the message behind the story.

The fields alongside the Dogs’ Home have been bought and Flora, the owner of the Dogs’ Home, is being pressured into selling up. Flora has run this home for many years and remembers all the dogs that have passed through her gates and gone on to be re-homed. Selling up is not an option for her.

Sally is one of those who work with Flora and she left her very different career to do what she loves and works with the dogs to train them and their owners. Let’s be honest here, it is often the owners that need training, our dog Billy has spent years training us so that we know when he is asking for a treat, to be let out or wants you to chase him around the garden because he has just pinched a sock! But on a serious note, the author does have some points to make about training.

Sally, sorry I got a little sidetracked… she has been working at the home and loves her life. A blast from her past suddenly comes back into the picture and she is in turmoil about it. She also has some news from home that rocks her.

The story ambles along at a wonderful pace, bringing in characters and other threads. All the time the author shows a sense of family and friendship. It is a story and a series that many fans of romance, rom-com and contemporary fiction will enjoy. It is light-hearted but with some serious things as well. Gorgeous story and 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

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

Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith @thewilbursmith @Tr4cyF3nt0n @ZaffreBooks #teamwilbur #TheCourtneys #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review of Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith. This is the 9th published book and the 1st in the Birds of Prey Trilogy.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for arranging my copy of this and the previous book was part of the ongoing promotional campaign with Zaffre Books.

“Africa!” The sound of that mysterious name on his own lips raised goose pimples along his arms and made the thick dark hair prickle on the back of his neck.

A simple mission. A battle for their lives.

It is 1667 and the war between the Dutch and the English continues apace. Sir Francis Courtney, his son Hal, and their crew are carried around the southern tip of the African colonies by the good ship Lady Edwina, licensed to attack and seize the treasure-laden ships of the Dutch East India Company. When they capture a Dutch trader and hold the passengers to ransom, Sir Francis hopes only for a good price and a small sense of satisfaction.

But this is unlawful territory they sail in. An unexpected betrayal will mean the men on board will face greater peril than they have ever faced before – and many good men may never see home again…

MY REVIEW

If you have read any of The Courtney series books, then you will be aware that they often come in trilogies and flit across each one. Birds of Prey is the 9th published Courtney title and the 1st in the Birds of Prey Trilogie. This one starts in 1667, during the Ottoman Empire, Moguls, slave trade, Dutch East India Company and the Dutch had raided the dockyards at Medway, it is during this period the story starts and a peace agreement is just being signed.

This is the story of Hal, or to give him his full name, Henry Courtney, son of Sir Francis Courtney and they are aboard the Lady Edwina. They follow the order of knights known as Nautonniers, and Hal is learning from his father what this will mean.

During a skirmish, the crew and ship are taken, not before father and son have removed the treasure and coin they have amassed and hidden it. This is where Hal will learn what it takes to grow up into a man and what he needs to do to prove his father’s innocence and look at revenge for what he has been through.

With these books, the Courtney men are strong and easy on the eye as they always appear to have no shortage of women. Hal is no different, he like most of the others though, is not a womaniser. He is growing into a man and he has beside him some friends who have helped bring him up aboard the ship. These men are loyal and help imbue morals, loyalty, respect and empathy.

This is what I would call a “proper swash-buckler”, it is full of pirates, battles, warfare, travel, missions escapes and so much more. It is a book full of action and adventure, romance, life and death from the first pages through to the last.

As Hal moves through into being a young man he has dealt with a lot, but his upbringing has prepared him. Even though he is young he has experience and this will prove essential as he asks seasoned seamen to follow him.

The story takes Hal from life on the sea to being imprisoned, taking revenge and following an idea and religious mission. The author brings so many things to this book and I do think this is one of my favourites. The battles are amazing to read as are the trials and tribulations that are part of the journey.

This is one for those who like historical fiction and one I would definitely recommend.

About the Author…

Wilbur Smith was the bestselling author of many novels, each researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird.

His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.

Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.

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