Reader Views

Behold a Dark Mirror

Article first published as Book Review: Behold a Dark Mirror by Theophilus Axxe on Blogcritics.
 
“Behold a Dark Mirror” by Theophilus Axxe introduces us to scientist Jenus Dorato. When he is blackmailed into secretly testing an alien soil sample, he has no clue how difficult his life is about to become.  After testing the samples, he soon discovers that two groups are after this information. They will do anything to get it and to get him out of the way. After a devastating loss at the hands of one of the groups, he goes on the run. Going on the run during this time means using frameposts to teleport himself to other worlds. 
         
At the same time, Nero, who is working alone on the planet Doka, receives a mysterious message indicating that a book has been found that needs to be hidden. Thinking that Doka is the best place to hide it, he agrees. When his friend Kebe shows up with the journal, and events start taking place, they agree that they have to take bigger steps to protect the information being presented.  The journal is dangerous because it will reveal intelligence that will expose illegal actions being taken by Consolidated Shipping Enterprises (ConSEnt) that could potentially start a civil war. 

While on Doka, Nero linked himself to a mysterious alien life form referred to as “Cheshires.” These creatures can disappear and reappear at will. When all three individuals end up on another planet, they discover that this place has similar creatures that might be responsible for a large number of deaths on this planet. As Jenus, Nero and Kebe fight to stay alive, they soon find their lives and mission linked. They also have to figure out whether these creatures which are referred to as “Ghosts,” will be their salvation or their destruction. Working together to try to expose ConSEnt and to stay alive, Nero discovers that his contact with the Cheshires have changed him forever.
 
“Behold a Dark Mirror” by Theophilus Axxe tells an intriguing story that totally held my fascination throughout the whole book. I found this story to be very unique and enjoyed being able to truly escape from my mundane world into this place of intrigue. The main characters each have something special to offer, and it was interesting to watch them evolve as they work together to expose an evil organization and to try to save the people of the planet, if not the universe.  I highly recommend reading “Behold a Dark Mirror” for fans of science fiction and fantasy.


Behold a Dark Mirror
Theophilus Axxe
Zum Ze Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9780988720503
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/13)

Abalus: In the Beginning

Article first published as Book Review: Abalus: In the Beginning by Stephen L. Padley on Blogcritics.
 
Books with a Dystopian feel are always interesting to readers because it’s fascinating to see how our world could fall into ruin, and see what people might do to try and put that world back on the right path. “Abalus: In the Beginning” by Stephen L. Padley offers a brand-new destructive force that’s capable of wiping out the world as we know it, and that, all by itself, makes for an interesting read.
 
The main character, Abalus, is a likable enough kid but he’s not your typical heroic main character. That’s not a bad thing; it actually offers a character that readers can instantly relate to because he’s so normal instead of being larger-than-life perfect. He has an insatiable desire to discover the mysteries of the past, and an unrelenting drive to do what he can to fix the problem, but it’s apparent, almost immediately, that he’s going to need help to put his plan into action.
 
Luckily, Abalus finds an ally and friend in Shaun, a rebellious boy that also dislikes living under the Cardinal’s rule. At first, I thought the author made a glaring mistake because Shaun seems to know a lot about how the world works, putting even the limited education of some adults to shame. However, a few plot twists down the road reveal where Shaun’s knowledge comes from.
 
During their quest for knowledge, Abalus and Shaun discover a few other allies but it would ruin the experience for you to mention them here, because half the fun of the story is trying to figure out who are enemies and who are allies. When it comes to loyalty, not everything is as it appears.
 
A portion of the story involves flashbacks to the present day, letting us see exactly how the disaster unfolded, adding an extra element of suspense to the adventure. I actually found myself hoping the protagonist of the flashback segments would find a way to succeed, although the existence of Abalus’ world clearly indicates that failure is the only option.
 
In my opinion, the main strike against this book is the summary on the back cover. It doesn’t really grab a reader’s attention, and cheesy lines like, “Will Abalus survive and why does the villain in the story, the Cardinal, want only his own Holy Writings to be the basis for re-education,” were almost enough to make me pass this by because it seems so cliché and melodramatic.
 
Fortunately, my curiosity, combined with my love for Dystopian fiction, made me give “Abalus: In the Beginning” by Stephen L. Padley a try, and I’m glad I did. I’m looking forward to the next part of Abalus’ adventure.


Abalus: In the Beginning
Stephen L. Padley
Strategic Book Publishing (2012)
ISBN 9781612043166
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (12/12)

Perfection Unleashed: A Double Helix Novel

Article first published as Book Review: Perfection Unleashed: A Double Helix Novel by Jade Kerrion on Blogcritics.
 
“Perfection Unleashed: A Double Helix Novel” by Jade Kerrion takes us into a world that is similar to, but different from, our own world. The difference lies in a plot-point that will have comic book fans think immediately of the X-Men because in the world created by Kerrion, mutants are real.
 
Just like in the Marvel comic, there are people that fear mutants, along with anyone or anything else that is created by artificial means, which means clones have a rough time too. It’s a mindset that creates a dangerous dilemma for main character Danyael, who happens to be an alpha empathy that looks like Galahad, a clone known throughout the world as ‘the perfect human being.’ It sounds like an impressive distinction but it’s a title that has many wanting to kill him because he’s perceived as an abomination against nature.
 
The physical similarities between Galahad and Danyael aren’t coincidental, and the author does an excellent job of explaining their shared genes, while offering plenty of drama and action along the way.
 
While talk of clones and mutants might make you think of comic books or superhero movies, the rest of the story is grounded in what could be considered the real world, making the fantastical elements very believable simply because of the normalcy that surrounds everything else.
 
Danyael is an interesting character with a huge load of guilt on his shoulders. His emotions affect those around him. It’s not a bad thing now that he has control of his powers, but it made life hard for those around him in his early years, and he carries around the guilt of exposing those people to his unshielded abilities. I’ll be honest and admit that his doom-and-gloom attitude doesn’t make him the easiest person to like but he’s also noble, selfless, and brave, often risking his own life while attempting to help others. He’s not a bad guy, but it sure would be nice to see him find a little happiness in life.
 
The supporting characters include Galahad (the perfect human being), an assassin, a telepath, a clone of a Chinese general that lived thousands of years ago, and a multi-billionaire that just happens to be Danyael’s best friend. While the group sounds totally unbelievable, the author handles each of them in a very realistic way, making each of them seem so real that you wouldn’t be surprised to encounter them during your daily routine.
 
If you’re a fan of comic books or science fiction, “Perfection Unleashed: A Double Helix Novel” by Jade Kerrion will be an enjoyable read for you.


Perfection Unleashed: A Double Helix Novel
Jade Kerrion
CreateSpace (2012)
ISBN 9781469980355
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (10/12)

Redwine Hill: The Secrets at Primevil Asylum

Article first published as Book Review: Redwine Hill: The Secrets at Primevil Asylum by L.L. Stolmeier on Blogcritics.

In “Redwine Hill: The Secrets at Primevel Asylum” by L.L. Stomeier, something strange is happening to teens all over the world.  As soon as they turn sixteen, they go mad. For some the madness isn’t as bad as for others.  Charlotte Carrion is one of the ones like this.  No matter what level of madness a teen experiences, Collectors hunt them down and put them in asylums.  Charlotte, an orphan with no one to look out for her, ends up being placed in Primeval, which happens to be one of the worst asylums on Redwine Hill.  While she makes a few friends, she finds that there aren’t too many people that she can trust.  When Serenity, who is one of her friends, disappears and Charlotte finds her arm washed up on the beach, she starts to suspect foul play is involved with causing the teens to go insane.

 Relying on her crush, Jared, and a couple of new friends, Charlotte begins an investigation seeking to find out whom or what is causing the insanity, and the answer to why teens are disappearing from the asylum.  Noting that the meat in the asylum food is disgusting and the source of it is questionable, Charlotte starts discovering the horrifying truth.  She also knows that her own life is in danger, and the further involved she gets, the more attention she draws upon herself.  Wanda, a gruesome ghost who once resembled Charlotte, also gets involved. Seeking revenge against the person who killed her, she is able to provide Charlotte with clues to help guide her and her friends in the right direction.  The right direction might also be the wrong one for this group if they want to survive.

“Redwine Hill: The Secrets at Primevel Asylum” by L.L. Stomeier was so gruesome, reading it made me feel like I was trapped in a nightmare.  Being one of the few people in an insane world would be very traumatizing and surreal.  For me, this is the fun part of reading a good horror novel.  I don’t have to live it! For others, there might be a few nightmares to contend with.  L.L. Stolmeier did an excellent job of creating a unique plot that I think will be enjoyed by both young adults and older adults like me.  I also think a lot of readers will avoid eating meat for awhile!


Redwine Hill: The Secrets at Primevil Asylum
L.L. Stolmeier
CreateSpace (2012)
ISBN 9781477679883
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/12)

Phantom

The “Phantom” by Gabriel Common is the first science fiction/fantasy novel in his Phantom Universe series. The series seems to center on humans helping angels and demons battle the ‘good versus evil’ in a place other than here on Earth. While some may see this as a Christian novel, it is more of a mythological story using the Christian equivalent of angels and demons as its basis. Otherwise, it has no religious influence whatsoever.
 
For the main character, the book reveals a new world scenario as normal life on Earth is changed by travelling to another solar system and discovering the future existence of the human race is dependent on the success or failure of one group.

Like all travelers, our Earth human is different from those from other planets; different background, ideas and understanding. This creates the opportunity to listen, learn and teach before making any decisions. The character evolves with each decision impacting how the story itself unfolds.
 
If the story is compared to older Greek mythology, instead of the gods using man for their own gains (and in some cases man fighting the gods), this story follows the characters freedom of choice and the actions that takes place as a result of their own decisions. The reader can easily imagine themself as part of the action as the story unfolds. ‘Would I really have made that choice?’
 
Common’s writing style is a bit unique and I was surprised as the characters and plot flowed with the story. Usually, novels setting up sequels tend to be a bit more about detailed descriptions of characters and ‘other’ worlds with the future books in mind.

For those that like science fiction and fantasy novels, this book will entertain and sometimes make you go – hmm.
 
This is a first self-published novel, so there are spelling and grammatical mistakes, but nothing that takes away from the story itself. There are sections you have to follow in a bit more detail to understand the actions taken by which characters, but overall “Phantom” by Gabriel Common is an easy read and is one that will make the reader think of how the they would act in similar situations.


Phantom
Gabriel Common
Outskirts Press (2012)
ISBN 9781432793548
Reviewed by Brent McLean for Reader Views (9/12)

The Job

An unemployed Joe Jamison has all but given up looking for work, when an envelope addressed to him arrives in the mail requesting an interview. The letter does not give him an address of where the interview is or what type of company they are.  He is simply given instructions to check his email.  As he scans his emails, he finds the unmistakable email from them, as the subject line reads, “THE JOB.”  When he opens the email, there is a detailed map showing how to get to the location site where his interview is to be.  Along with the map, there were specific instructions that he was not to tell anyone about the email or the map. 

At the secluded interview location, before Joe is given any information about the job, he is asked if he wants to accept the position.  Also, if he accepts the position, he will no longer exist and he will have to assume a new identity.  Although he was caught a bit off guard, he accepts the position and is told from this moment on he will be known as Zann Tanner.  Zann is introduced to General Morgan who sends him off for training, testing and briefing sessions.  Once he has been immersed in his work, he learns that the Roswell, New Mexico incident was real and why it was being covered up.  The exciting news for Zann is that the spacecraft that landed at Rosewll was going to be flown and that he will be the pilot.  Alongside Zann will be a woman named Layone.  Zann and Layone are immediately attracted to each other and begin to have a relationship.  As the project moves along successfully, there are others who are interested in the project and will stop at nothing to obtain the potential knowledge and power that can be gained.   Now Zann and Layone will need to make choices that will impact their lives and the lives of others.
 
Please note that “The Job” by Cramer Louis Jackson is only forty-five pages long and has very limited dialog.  So, depending on what type of book you are looking for, this will be important.  The premise of the story is nice.  I believe most people can relate to unemployment and despair and if you enjoy stories about Roswell, then this book has some great touch points also.   After those two topics are addressed, the book falls short.  The writer limits the development of the characters, so I didn’t get to relate to the underlying love story between Zann and Layone, for example.  Also, while reading the book, I almost felt rushed.  I wanted more information about the people, places and the surroundings in the book but that information just wasn’t there.  This is a good storyline.  I just wish there was more to it.


The Job
Cramer Louis Jackson
Outskirts Press (2012)
ISBN 9781432784584
Reviewed by Tracey Rock for Reader Views (3/12)

The Storyteller

Having lived her life as a slave, Maryan has hopes that things will change for the better when her world is invaded by beings from another planet.  She dreams of being freed.   Unfortunately, the invading aliens have a taste for human flesh.  Captured by Vendan, a high ranking officer from the starship Xarlot, Maryan has to learn how to adapt to his physical demands so that she can survive.

Vendan comes from a race of strongly built, hairy, unattractive beast-like creatures.  They travel through the universe harvesting humanoid forms from other planets for the purpose of ravishment and food.  When Vendan sees that Maryan survives his initial assaults, he begins to feel drawn to her.  Considering herself to be one of the Zai race with whom she was captured, Maryan does not realize how much she stands out as being special.  Zai females are bred solely for the purpose of being docile slaves. Unlike Maryan, they have fair complexions, blonde hair and are not very bright.  Vendan recognizes that Maryan must come from another place than these people.

Desperate to help the Zai survive the assaults of Vendan’s men, Maryan shows that she can be useful with teaching them what they need to do to live.  Showing skills as a storyteller, she helps entertain them and train them to be of use to their alien captures.  She also discovers she has other gifts, such as quickly picking up alien languages, telepathy, and soothsaying.  Maryan continues to use her abilities to show that she is worth more alive than dead.  She and Vendan also discover that they have fallen in love with each other.

When other forces intervene and cause an uprising, tragedy strikes the ship. Maryan finds herself traveling through the universe still seeking to help the Vai, and hoping to find a way to bring peace to Vendan’s people and others.  Since most life forms do not appreciate being harvested for food, her task will not be easy.  However, along the way, Maryan learns more about whom she is and where she comes from.  Unfortunately, in spite of her freedom, she still has to deal with others who want to use her gifts and her knowledge in their war against Vendan’s people.  So her story continues.

“The Storyteller” is a wonderfully written science fiction type fantasy novel.  I loved how Maryan managed to see the best in others, and she also helped to bring out the best in them.  Of all her gifts, that is probably the greatest one of all. I also appreciated that wherever she found herself, she did the best to accept her circumstances and make the most of them. I think there is a huge lesson in that for most readers, including myself.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.


The Storyteller
Kathryn Hilliard Klos
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781461090663
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/11)

The Smile of the Cat

Article first published as Book Review: The Smile of the Cat by Kathryn Hilliard Klos on Blogcritics.

“The Smile of the Cat” takes us back to planet Kansas.  As the people continue to move on with their lives in this new world, the Zaiuni people still have to deal with the trauma that they suffered through while they were enslaved.   Being peaceful people, they are very forgiving and able to live in peace among their formers captors, however, some events occur that force some of them to have to rehash former abuses from the Banlite people.   In this book, which is the fourth one in the series, healing and forgiveness play a huge role in helping the whole community.

When Juliet is attacked and violated by a man from her past, she and Spencer suffer through a huge loss that has a serious effect on their relationship.  As a result of this, Juliet chooses to take the high road and rather than having her attacker killed, she allows him to be punished in a way that will make him know the pain that he brought upon her and her family. This punishment will also offer him a chance to redeem himself.  Little does she know how much healing will come about for her whole family because of her rational decision.

As the story progresses, Maryan also has a man from her past visiting her from his place in the stars. This would be her Banlite lover Vendan.  Convinced that he is mostly a comforting figment of her imagination, Vendan begins to prove that he is not. Wanting happiness for his love, he works on ways to make her happy.  When Kansas is selected as a safe haven for people from other worlds, like earth, interesting relationships develop and many people of the planet are able to find true healing and happiness.

I loved reading “The Smile of the Cat.” As with other books in this series, I always feel like I am visiting with old friends.  While most of the story takes place on the planet of Kansas, after painful events, we get to see great changes happening for people who have been through so much.  As I journeyed through the story, and saw wonderful things begin to happen, it felt very reassuring to know that the people of Kansas are in a wonderful place.  Yet still I hope there will be more books forthcoming from this wonderful author!


The Smile of the Cat
Kathryn Hilliard Klos
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781466361812
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/12)

Tourist Trap: A Novel of the Jarnian Confederation

At the end of my review for Bowling’s first novel of the Jarnian Confederation, “Homecoming,” I said that Roi’s story had a conclusion that nicely wrapped up everything that had happened up to that point in his life, but that I hoped to see more of him as an adult. The author has granted my wish because “Tourist Trap” brings us back into the life of former slave Roi shortly after he turns eighteen. While the author does a good job of providing some backstory, this is a sequel and the personal conflicts and interactions will make more sense if you’ve read the first book in the series.

At this point in his life, Roi has accepted his new heritage and seems to have finally put his past as a slave behind him, allowing him to finally enjoy his place with his newfound family that consists of Lai, Marna, and Derik. The one person Roi still can’t get along with his half-brother, Zhaim, who still views Roi as a slave and an intruder that stole his rightful place in the social hierarchy.

Roi and his friends have travelled to the planet of Falaron for a challenge journey, which is basically like an extreme vacation that includes camping, white-water rafting, dog sledding, and other tests of endurance. Unfortunately for Roi, his vacation is about to become more extreme than planned because Zhaim, who knows he can’t just outright kill his half-brother, decides an outdoor adventure would be the perfect place for Roi to suffer a fatal ‘accident.’

I really enjoyed seeing Roi as a confident young adult, with the shackles of his past no longer affecting him as strongly as before. He’s still polite and thoughtful of others, but the slave mentality that kept him from taking charge before has diminished so he’s able to take on the role of leader when he needs to, but he still must occasionally be forced into the role, usually only accepting the responsibility when lives are in danger. I also liked the fact that we get to see more of Roi’s fear of becoming like Zhaim. He continually studies himself to see if he’s reaching a point where he actually enjoys the power he has over other people, and his resolve will be tested in surprising ways.

Tour guide Penny is a new character that allows the reader to really connect with and see the unique relationship Roi has with his friends. Amber, Flame, and Timi were slaves with Roi in the early years. Now, the three are Roi’s slaves, but Roi has them as slaves only to keep his friends from falling into the hands of abusive owners. Penny is against slavery and initially allows her views to color her opinion of Roi, but she eventually learns to respect the young man who frequently makes sacrifices for the safety of others.

One character from “Homecoming” becomes more of an integral character in “Tourist Trap,” and I was glad to find out more about him. Xazhar is Zhaim’s son, and he is his father’s son in more ways than one because he also shares an animosity with Roi. In the past, Xazhar has been allowed to do whatever he wants because of his heritage but events transpire that make him realize there are hard choices to be made and he must decide if he wants to be his father’s son or his grandfather’s grandson because it’s impossible to be both. I know how weird that statement sounds but it will make sense when you learn more about Xazhar and his family.

“Tourist Trap” is a great read for anyone that wants motivation and feeling to accompany the action in their sci-fi adventure. Alien beings and super powers are an integral part of Roi’s story but what makes this novel really shine is the heart. Nobody is good or evil just because that’s their assigned role. Just like in real life, everyone has their own motivations and desires, and Bowling does a great job of letting the reader see what it would be like to walk in the shoes of Roi, Xazhar, and even madman Zhaim.

I said it before and I’ll say it again because once again Roi’s adventure has a solid ending but I hope to see him again in the future because the end of “Tourist Trap” reveals that more changes are in store and I would love to see how Roi faces these new challenges.

Tourist Trap: A Novel of the Jarnian Confederation
Sue Ann Bowling
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462029587
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (11/11)

On the Strangest Sea

Following closely behind “The Storyteller” and “In the Chillest Land,”  “On the Strangest Sea” tells about Derres, Spencer and Mardan’s adventures as young adults.  Each has reached the age where they desire to find love.  Knowing that his soul brother Mardan would be well matched with Derres, Spencer tries to take a back seat so that their relationship can evolve.  This is very hard for him because he is in love with her.  While Derres is genetically human, being raised among the Banli has given him many of their traits. When he starts feeling himself synchronizing with Derres, he knows that it is time to leave the planet. Deciding to go undercover and work in WorldGuard, Spencer quickly leaves the planet of Kansas and those who are dear to him.

To the employees of WorldGuard, Spencer’s father died a hero in “The Storyteller.”  While he was a hero at heart, they did not know the whole story.  Spencer would prefer to keep his true identity a secret as long as possible.  Since his father’s death, many of the Banli have come a long way from being seen as cannibalizing rapists.  Throughout the series of books, non-military Banli people who have lived in secret have been discovered to be able to live amongst each other without having to hurt their loved ones or others.  The main reason that they can continue this way and control their impulses is because they kept their connections to the universe, which allows them to live according to their true nature. The Banli who began annihilating others developed their aggressions based upon separating themselves from who they really were meant to be.
          
Spencer realizes this, and when he is sent on an assignment by WorldGuard that might involve harming innocent Banli, his goal is to help obtain a peaceful resolution.  Initially he has great difficulties because he feels his body and soul being called back to Derres.  While she is resolving these issues on her planet, Spencer struggles to overcome deceptions being planned against innocent people and himself.

While all of this is happening another woman’s story is being told. This woman is able to use her words to help connect all Banli back to “the All.” She is so talented, that she is even able to help some of the remaining Banli who still control the harvester ships. Underneath all of this, including the reconnection is the theme of love. This includes romantic love, and familial love.  By helping the Banli men realize that they can be with their bond mates, true happiness and love can be experienced by those involved.
          
As with the first two books, Kathryn Klos has written another wonderful story that can just be enjoyed as a great fantasy novel or if the readers choose to look deeper into the story, they will find themselves being able to relate much of the lessons within, into their own lives.  I personally found myself reflecting a great deal on how much I could learn from the lessons that were being taught in this story. There are also some beautiful invocations included at the end of the story.  Once again I highly recommend “On the Strangest Sea,” and I also suggest that you begin reading the first two in order so that you will have a greater understanding about how special these characters truly are.

On the Strangest Sea
Kathryn Hilliard Klos
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781463647049
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/11)