Red Phone Box, edited by Salome Jones

A red phone box.  It seems innocuous enough, a little outdated but nothing all that unusual.  But this red phone box in particular can take you places, physically and emotionally, that you never imagined you could go.  London is far more dangerous than anyone realizes, and the phone box plays a key, sinister role in this cycle of stories.

I wanted to love this book.  I thought it was such a cool concept.  58 installments, by 28 different authors, all weaving in and out of each other, all focusing on the mystical powers of the red phone booth.  Sounds amazing, right?  In many ways it was.  Despite having so many authors collaborating, the writing style is cohesive, the voices similar, and the tone consistent.  The actual story content, however, I found to be a bit scattered.  There were just a few too many things going on here for me.  I found it difficult to follow who was involved with whom, particularly when certain characters themselves could not keep it straight.

And speaking of characters, there were just too many. When you need to include a downloadable dramatis personae for your readers, you may want to consider scaling back on the number of characters It was hard to feel any real connection to any of the characters or even care what was happening to them because I just could not keep them straight.  This coming from a reader who often juggles up to 6 books at one time.  

I guess I went into this expecting something different (more Doctor Who-ish).  I still think the concept, and the writing, was good, just a little overly ambitious.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

A Clockwork Heart, by Liesel Schwarz

Elle Chance, female airship pilot, is back with another steampunk adventure.  Recently married to Hugh Marsh, Elle finds it difficult to balance her life as a working woman, a wife, and of course as the Oracle.  A horde of clockwork zombies is taking over the city, and Elle finds herself, and her husband, right in the middle of the trouble.  A colorful cast of supporting characters tries to help Elle solve her problems and discover how to balance her identity.

This is the second novel in this steampunk fantasy series, and I have to admit I was a tiny bit disappointed.  The first book in the series sets the bar high, and something about this follow up fails to deliver a little for me.  I disliked the fact that Hugh, while a main topic of this book, as a character is hardly explored.  It is like we are told about him much more than we are shown him, and to me that kind of writing lacks impact.  I do, however, like the steampunk take on zombies; I found it really refreshing and innovative.  In general, this book takes steampunk and develops it into something different, which I love.

As with the first book in the series, the paranormal aspects of the book are frequent, and well developed.    The writing is vivid, and creates the perfect atmosphere.  I felt like I, too, was skulking the misty streets of Victorian London alongside Elle.  While the fairy is still present in this book, her presence is greatly reduced, and honestly we probably could do without it, but it does seem the precedence was set in the first book, so some follow up was necessary.

All in all, the book is good, just not as good as the initial book in the series.  Still good enough to keep me waiting for the next installment though.

I received a review copy courtesy of Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.

When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears, by Kersten Hamilton

In this final book of the Goblin Wars trilogy, we find Teagan and Finn fighting to save the their loved ones, and keep evil dark forces from escaping Mag Mell and entering the world.  Despite her tumultuous and conflicted heritage, Teagan has chosen to fight on the side of what is right and good, and seeks goodness in the creatures and people around her.  As Samhain draws near, it appears that all hell is going to break lose, literally.

I have had really mixed feelings about this trilogy.  They are wildly popular, incredibly creative, and totally original.  They pull heavily from Celtic mythology, but also incorporate aspects of romance, action, and the paranormal, so it is easy to see why they appeal to a wide variety of readers.  It is just, for me personally, the entire series is just a little too much.  Too many fantasy creatures from Celtic mythology with which I am wholly unfamiliar.  Too much darkness for the targeted age group.  Too many odd people and things to try to keep straight.  When I read, I like to picture people, places, and things in my mind.  I struggled with that during all three books in this series, because the concepts were just too foreign for me.

I think the writing and the story is very solid.  More than the first two books, the action and plot progress very rapidly in this story, which helped me quickly become engaged as a reader.  I found the characters to be very consistent with their earlier development, yet they do continue to develop throughout this story.  I was surprised by some of the turns the story takes in the end, some made me happy, and some made me sad.  Because I had already read the first two books in the series, there was no way I was no going to seek closure in the third book; I felt like that closure was received, and that it was well executed.  Off the entire series, this book was my favorite.  

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest review.

Doctor Who: Fear of the Dark, by Trevor Baxendale

The fifth incarnation of the Doctor, along with his companions Nyssa and Tegan, finds himself on a moon to the planet Akoshemon, which has a notoriously bad history.  While helping what they first think is a crew of archeologists (but who are really pirates), it becomes clear to the Doctor that something evil is lurking, trying to break free.  The situation escalates to a point beyond darkness.

I have been reading scary books since childhood.  Upon reaching the age of 9 or so, my favorite genre became horror, both in movies and in literature.  Rarely do I ever have nightmares from reading scary stories.  But this book gave me nightmares.  The darkness and evil in this book is so terrifying, and I believe symbolic of the evil that is possible in all people.  I think the writing in the book is terrific.  I was torn between wanting to put the book down because it frightened me, and staying up all night to read because it fascinated me.

I really liked the way the Doctor was written, I felt it stayed very true to the feeling of the series.  However, this story does seem so much more violent that what is typical of Doctor Who, and it made me a little sad.  Sure, there are times when there is a high body count, but the nature of the deaths in this book is particularly insidious, and it make me uncomfortable.  The supporting cast of characters is a little weak as well, though in the end I was glad I did not get too attached to most of them.  For me, the standouts are Stoker and Bunny Cheung, which are sort of like warring factions of the nature of man.  There is strong emphasis on the them-us, dark-light motif in this story, but you will be surprised who all ends up on which sides of the equation.

All in all, a solid story that will appeal to most Doctor Who Fans.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour of the entire Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Series here.

  

Doctor Who: Last of the Gaderene, by Mark Gatiss

We join the third incarnation of The Doctor, who is working in conjunction with Jo and the Bridadeer from UNIT.  A small town is home to an aerodrome, which has been decommissioned by the Ministry of Defense, and is now being overtaken by an organization called Legion International.  The activities of the group are top secret, but people in town start to disappear, and act very strangely.  It quickly becomes apparent that something sinister is afoot, and the only one who may be able to stop it is The Doctor.

Being such a new fan to the Whoniverse, I have to admit that going into this book, I was completely unfamiliar with the Third Doctor.  I am only familiar with incarnations 9 and beyond.  So, I was worried that I might not be able to enjoy this book completely.  Turns out that fear was completely unfounded, because this book is brilliant.  The writing really conveyed what is at the heart of the series, and I actually saw the story unfold in my mind as if it were an actual episode.  It is writing like this that reminds me that it is immaterial which actor is playing The Doctor.  Because no matter what, it is still The Doctor.

I liked that the story was set on Earth, in a small town setting that was really relatable.  The setting enabled me to jump right in to the story, and start caring about some of the secondary characters from the get go.  The people in town were like people in my own town, so engagement in the story was, for me, immediate.  I also likes the turn of events regarding who Legion International really was, and who was pulling all the strings.  All in all the writing was just so completely solid, I have absolutely nothing but praise for the book.

Die hard fans of Doctor Who will most likely enjoy the book.  But even newer fans, like me, or people not really familiar with the series but still appreciative of science fiction/fantasy will be able to read the book and relate to it.  

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour of the entire Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Series here.

 

The Spiral Arm, by Peter Boland

To say Earth is over crowded is putting it mildly; there is no more space on the planet.  A new planet has been located where humans can live, but a battle is being waged there between humans and an alien race.  Each year new Marine cadets are sent to the new planet, Kepler, to continue the battle.  Wren Harper is about the least likely candidate, yet she finds herself being sent to Kepler, totally unprepared.

I never thought I would be a fan of dystopian fiction, but when it is as well done as this, I really do love it.  The problem with many dystopian writers is that the setting can get a little too bleak.  In this book, the dystopian society is brought about because of abundance; we solve our energy crises, and population skyrockets.  The world is running out of room.  This is a scenario I can actually imagine happening, and therefore I am immediately drawn into the story.  I can imagine what the story world would be like.  I can relate to the characters.

I love that the story focuses on someone most people would consider a loser.  Wren is an underdog, which makes me what to see her succeed.  I think she is a lot stronger than she realizes, and the readers have insight to Wren's power.  I am excited to see where this series will go, and to watch Wren develop as a character.

I liked she short novella format to the book.  It is set up in sort of an episode form.  I think it really translates well.  Young adults will be hooked by the short serial nature, as it mimics many teen dramas on television.  I am a fan of  serial novellas, and am happy to see more of them being written.  I am pretty excited to see where this series will go.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author, in exchange for my honest review.

The Abandoned Edge of Avalon, by Eden Tyler

Alexis has spent her entire lift feeling different from everyone else.  She has odd dreams and can read her best friend's mind, only making her seem that much stranger.  So when it is revealed that Alexis is not human, but is instead a fairy, things actually start to make sense.  She learns that she has a very important destiny to accomplish in the land of Avalon; for all intents and purposes, her life is just now beginning.

I have had this book on my kindle for two years now; it was originally offered as a free download.  Imagine my surprise to learn that by the time I got around to reading it,  it is now completely out of print, and being re-imagined as a young adult book.  I can say quite confidently that this was a good idea.  This book, as it stood in its original printing, seemed a but juvenile.  Despite the fact that the characters were meant to be in their mid 20s, they all acted and talked like teenagers, which left the book hollow.  There really was not enough character development, and it seemed like once she learned she was a fairy, Alexis' character underwent rapid, unexplained changes anyway.  In fact, I found her rapidly developed revulsion for humans the most unbelievable thing about the book.  When the book involves real life fairies, and the character development is the LEAST believable part, that is kind of a problem.

In terms of the story, I do not think it is a bad story, just nothing special.  A young person finds they are special or have special abilities, and must perform some act of bravery to save their kind.  Along the way said young person meets their soul-mate and swaps some blood.  It is like Twilight, True Blood, and Harry Potter are having a literary threesome.  Again, that is not necessarily a bad thing, but as it was originally intended, for adult readers, I do not think there is enough that is unique to the story to engage readers at a deep level.  I do think, however, that this story could work very well in a form altered for young adult readers.

This book is from my personal library.  All opinions are honest and original.

The House on the Corner, by Michael Rains

All Chester intended to do was avoid cleaning the hall bathroom.  So when his mom asked him to run an errand, he jumped at the change.  However, the errand, a simple trip to his uncle's house, turns into a wild adventure.  Absolutely nothing is as it seems, humanity is at risk, and somehow, saltines, cookies, and soda may be the salvation of us all.

This book is, um, well, nonsense.  And not in a good way.  It makes so little sense, I am not even sure where to start.  There are a ton of characters, most of the spouting odd or silly thoughts.  It made it extremely difficult to really get to know anything about any of the characters.  In fact, it was hard for me to even keep the characters straight.

As best I could tell, there was some plot for evil to overtake mankind, and some great force promised protection.  Seems like a very very heavily veiled allegory for Christianity.  With the nonsensical manner of the story makes it seem as if the story is geared toward middle grades readers.  And maybe the story will appeal to young readers.  For me personally, despite the fact it was a short read, I found it to be a waste of time.

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of BookSneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

  

Hafren, by Craig Dressler

When Hafren is invaded, two youths, Shuh and Ufh, set off to warn the different people in different areas of the land.  Along the way, the encounter various forms of evil, and learn how to overcome these evils.  It is a journey, not only through their own land, but into themselves as well.  Faith and friendship help get them succeed in their mission.

From the moment I started reading this short tale, I could not help but be reminded of the Lord of the Rings. The story, to me, has a very similar feel to it.  It is clearly a fantasy tale, involving friends, focusing around an important journey.  Not a lot of time is spent on exposition, instead starting the story literally in the middle of an action scene.  For adult readers, this might seem abrupt, and in a longer novel I think this would be an important aspect of the story to develop.  However, for younger readers, this might not seem as important.  We never really learn a lot about Shuh and Ufh as characters, with the story instead focusing on the journey. Again, in a longer novel, I think further character development would be necessary, but for the purposes of this story, it seems to be a non issue.

The book is marketed as Christian Fantasy Fiction, so it was not surprising to me that there was heavy emphasis on God and Jesus.  What I did find unusual is that in a book where everything else was fantasy, the Christian aspect was quite literal, spelling out the literal gospel message.  I personally think this would have worked better as an allegory, as we traditionally see in fantasy books, like the aforementioned Lord of the Rings, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  It just seemed a little odd that a fictional world, totally unrelated to reality, would worship the literal Christian God.  

All in all, the story is a good example of the battle between good and evil.  It would be most appropriate for middle grades readers, due to its short length.  Also, the lack of detailed exposition and character development would leave many adult readers frustrated and unable to fully engage in what is, at its heart, a very good story.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.

Owlet, by Emma Roberts

Iris has lived her whole life thinking she was responsible for the death of her mother, and knowing without a doubt she was different.  Homeschooled due to severe asthma, Iris is haunted by strange dreams of a mysterious island where her life is completely different.  When her father reveals that not only is the island a real place, but that he is sending Iris there, she realizes her life is nothing like she thought.  Iris learns that she is part of the Stryx, a strange race of people whose souls are part human, part avian.  What could this all possibly mean?

This book was quite unusual, and unlike anything I have ever read before.  The concept of humans with animal souls are not entirely new, but it is unusual in young adult literature, so I really like this fresh new concept.  Not all young adults want to read about vampires, so kudos to the author for creating fresh new mythology for teen readers.

I did find a large portion of the story confusing, but I think that is sort of the point.  Iris is in the dark regarding the truth of her heritage, so we are finding out the truth along with her.  This serves to really bond the reader to Iris as a character.  I found Iris to be endearing, and my heart really went out to her throughout the story.  I am curious to see where this series goes.

I received a review copy courtesy of Tribute Books Tours in exchange for my honest review. 

Unclaimed Legacy, by Deborah Heal

Abby and Merri discovered an odd computer program that allows them to view history in real time.  But it only works at certain times and places.  The program begins working again while they are house sitting for a friend, and allows them, along with their friend John, to solve a family mystery for the elderly twins that live next door.  In the process, they all get a little more than they bargained for.

This is the second book in a series, and I must say that I enjoyed this even more than the first.  We see the return of two major characters in Abby and Merri.  We also see further development of the character of John, and get to watch his relationship with Abby unfold.  Furthermore we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters who are quite endearing.  I love the characters of Eulah and Beulah.  I find them adorable, and can truly see them in my mind's eye.

I found the writing on this follow up book a bit tighter, and I think the story flowed nicely.  I find the parts of the story where the reader is thrust into history to be incredibly compelling and educational.  This is so much more than your standard time travel story, and the book spans so many genres that I think it will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

I see a lot of growth in this talented author from her first book to her second.  I am excited to see where her writing takes us all in the future.

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

Shadow Show, edited by Sam Weller and Mort Castle

Every now and then, an author comes along whose impact is tremendous, whose mark on the face of modern literature is indelible.  Such is the case with Ray Bradbury.  The name alone conjures up iconic images of post Apocalyptic book burnings and rocket ships.  Bradbury's genius touched many, including some writers who are brilliant in their own rights.  This book is a collection of short stories inspired by and celebrating the works of a truly incredible man.

Having not really spent much time with Bradbury's works (a pitiful situation I hope to change soon), I was a bit nervous to read this book.  Would it be all Martians and robots?  Would I fully appreciate the impact of the stories?  In short would I "get it"?  Imagine my surprise when I not only "got it" but felt the desire to immediately read everything Bradbury had ever written.  This book is brilliant, and I desperately want to learn more about the man who inspired such brilliance.

As with any short story collection, some stories were more my style than others.  In a book full of stories by well know writers, the two that stuck out to me were the book's opener, "The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury" by the incredible Neil Gaiman, and the beautifully melancholic "Children of the Bedtime Machine" by Robert McCammon.  Something about these two stories, in particular, struck at the very heart of my humanity, at the depths to which I love literature.  

There was not a single bad story in this book.  Bradbury recently passed away, but he knew this collection was being done, and even wrote a short introduction for it.  I cannot imagine the pride with which he is now looking down, seeing the lasting impact he will forever have on American Literature.  I am so thankful to have said yes to this book, and to have a newly sparked appreciation for a truly gifted writer.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours.  See the rest of the tour here. 

 

Sapphire Magic: Breaking Glass, by John Booth

While Glass has loved being a Dees and helping protect the Blood and the Source, there is a part of her that longs to know more of life outside the Granger family home.  So, when she gets an opportunity to venture into the world she takes it, and in the process becomes more in touch with her own humanity.  She winds up entangled in a dangerous situation with evil men who will harm the Grangers, and finds that she must chose between her old life as a Dees and her new life as a teenage human girl.

If all of the sentences in my very general summary sound like gibberish, there is a very good reason.  This book is the second in the Magic Series by John Booth, and it is absolutely imperative that one read book 1 in order to understand any of what is going on in book 2.  So if you are new to this series, stop reading this review and go read book 1.  You will thank me for it.

Oh, you are back (or you never left)? Brilliant.  Then I can fully discuss how much I loved the second book in this series.  In the first book, we get a feel for the situation, the major players, and try to imagine this magical world.  This book builds upon all the expectations set up in the first book, and really gives us a new perspective on the Grangers and the Dees.  Obviously, this book centers around Glass, and her special role in the protection of the Source.  We see Glass really grow as a character.  She becomes more than just a mystical, magical being, and we see her take human form, with human emotions and desires.  I found it a bit sad watching her struggle with the two distinct sides of her nature.  Duality of mankind is always a little heartbreaking.  And the choice Glass makes in the end, while I think it the right choice, makes me ache for her a little.  I wonder how this will affect her role in the future books.  

The Granger children, for the majority of the book, play a minor role in the action this time.  We see more of the Dees coming together to protect the house and its inhabitants, and I kind of loved how much the Dees kicked bad guy butt in this book.  The plot is fact paced and I found it hard to put the book down, even when I was in desperate need of sleep.

Yet another fine showing by John Booth.  I look forward to the next book in the series, and I think many fans of fantasy fiction will feel the same way.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

Ignite, by Kaitlyn Davis

Kira has spent most of her high school career in boarding school in New York, but for her senior year, she will be attending a public school in Charleston.  When she starts school, she is befriended by a group of kids, including Luke, her new best friend.  Yet she finds herself drawn to Tristan, a bad boy is who is apparently Luke's biggest nemesis.  It quickly becomes apparent that there are more than high school cliques factoring into this mutual disdain between Luke and Tristan, but what exactly is going on, and how does Kira figure in to it all?

This book is a pretty standard young adult paranormal romance book.  Parts of it are quite original, particularly the concept of conduits harnessing the power of the sun to destroy vampires.  However, early in the book, I found it to be a bit too reminiscent of Twilight, in fact the cafeteria scene was like deja vu, with only the apple missing.  As someone who was not a huge Twilight fan, that made me skeptical of book at first.  Luckily, as the story unravels a bit more, the similarity to Twilight lessened, and I found myself quite interested in the story.

The author does a good job of establishing the romance between Kira and Tristan, as well as the conflict with Luke.  I really liked that Kira is an independent female character.  She does not depend on one of the men in her life to rescue her, she rescues herself instead.  I thought some of Kira's family issues were down played a bit, she was delivered some pretty harsh news that never really seems to get dealt with.  But perhaps that will come later in the series.

In general, I thought the book was better than average, in terms of plot, storyline, and character development.  My biggest complaint with this book was the lack of editing.  It is rife with grammar and spelling errors, confusing to/too, than/then, your/you're, die/dye.  It made me want to stop reading.  And before anyone points out that many of my reviews also have grammar and spelling errors, let me stop to remind you that book authors and editors get paid to produce error free work.  I review for free, and do not pay an editor to edit my work for errors.  When you expect people to pay money for the work you produce, you should strive to make it as close to perfection as possible.  I would highly suggest this book be re-edited, and then it could become a truly remarkable young adult paranormal romance.

Thicker Than Blood, by Shalini Boland

Madison and Alex are in love, despite the fact that she is a young girl who just inherited a fortune, and he is a centuries old vampire.  But when Madison is kidnapped by ancient enemies of Alex and his vampiric kin, their safe and comfortable world is turned upside down.  Alex and crew must return to a place they hate, the place where they were made, and confront their past.  In the midst of this, the mysterious and ancient tale of Aelia unfolds, until we learn how she factors into Madison and Alex's lives.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I absolutely loved this second installment of the Marchwood Vampires.  Shalini Boland does a phenomenal job of weaving ancient backstory with contemporary plotlines.  As with the first book, my favorite parts of this book were the tales of old, the backstory set in the first millennium.  I found that ancient storyworld to be rich and vividly created by the author.  I could smell the dust of the Byzantine empire as I read.  I loved getting a little more insight into the lineage of these vampires.

With the contemporary storyline, there are some shades of Twilight now and then, and I do not think that is a bad thing.  In terms of vampire romantic fiction, there certainly is a formula that works, and putting the human damsel in distress works.  But Madison is, in my opinion, a much stronger character than Bella Swan (who I find to be a bit of a simpering, emo bore).  She does not sit around waiting to be rescued, she takes matters into her own hands.  Sure, she loves Alex, but he is not her whole world, her whole identity.  She is her own woman, and I just love that.

I liked that the book ends on a bit of a question, it really hooks readers in and makes them anticipate book 3.  I also liked some of the character twists and red herrings throughout the book.  They certainly threw me for a loop, and give a lot of dimension to the story.

All in all, a great sequel book in a promising series.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

Jake's War, by John Booth

When we last saw Jake, he was suspected in the disappearance of a young girl named Bronwyn.  Now imprisoned for her abduction.  As the saga unfolds, he determines that Bronwyn wants to use her powers to take over the kingdom of Salice, and she does not care who she hurts in the process.  While dealing with battling Bronwyn, Jake must also balance two pregnant fiances, Jenny and Esmeralda, and prepare for a royal wedding ceremony for the three of them.  The wedding will prove the perfect setting for Bronwyn's attack; will they be ready for her?

Oh Mr. Booth, you have done it again.  This book left me snickering and enthralled.  Because of books as well written as this, my appreciation for the fantasy genre has grown by leaps and bounds.  Booth once again maneuvers us through rich storyworlds, in which we encounter memorable characters.  The story just pulls you along for a fanciful ride, and I loved every minute of it.

I personally like the balance of the "world" as we know it and the different multiverses through which Jake and Bronwyn traverse.  It has enough of the familiar to make fantasy newbies like me feel comfortable, while providing imaginative frolics for long time fantasy fans.  All of the multiverses are easy to conceptualize, something not always true in fantasy writing.  

As with the first book in the Wizards series, Jake proves to be an engaging character.  He is a bumbling wreck of a young man, and he leaves us both cheering for his success and secretly chuckling over his failures.  I quite enjoyed watching him juggle two women.  Bronwyn, on the other hand, is a character that we want to despise, and who has certainly earned our disdain, but in the end I merely pitied.

While the themes are a bit mature, the book is appropriate for older young adult readers, as well as an adult audience.

When a book transports you to a time and place other than the one in which you live, you know it is successful.  Such is the legacy of the writing of John Booth.  

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

Illusion, by Frank Peretti

Dane and Mandy were a world renown magic act, performing for 40 years, but beyond that they were deeply in love.  When the couple gets into a tragic car accident, it appears to everyone, including Dane, that Mandy dies.  Actually, Mandy, or at least her 19 year old self circa 1970, had awakened in a strange new world.  Gone is the life and the people she knew, and it would seem as if she has gone crazy.  She discovers she has mysterious abilities, and she uses them to build a magic act that eventually catches Dane's attention.  He cannot help but wonder who is this girl who looks exactly like his dead wife, and why has she entered his life?

This book is so incredibly complex, it was hard for me to boil it down to a one paragraph synopsis.  That paragraph in no way does justice to the richness of the storytelling at work in this novel.  I have read other books by Frank Peretti, and I must admit, this one feels so much different.  At first, I was confused by the forces at play in this story.  Time travel? Astrophysics?  While confusing, hardly the dark and sinister Frank I was familiar with.  But as I delved deeper into the story, I saw that the symbolism at play was the darkness and pride of which people can be capable, and how one selfish act by any one person can touch, ruin even, the lives of so many.  This book is also an incredible love story.  The romantic angle of this story had me in tears by the end of the book.  

While Mandy's character is difficult to understand at times, that confusion is an important aspect of her character; we are confused because she is confused.  We do really get an intimate experience of connecting with Mandy's character, but it does feel at times as though it is from arms' length, until the full plot is revealed.  My heart just broke for both Mandy and Dane, and again the romance of the story really rocked me.  

For those unaware, Peretti writes Christian fiction.  And while this book is Christian fiction, it is one that plays with great subtleties and symbolism.  It is not explicit regarding the role of Father, Son, or Spirit, but it is hard to miss the symbolism of thousands of doves carrying someone to their final destiny.  I appreciated this soft, gentle form of symbolism, and I think it will make the book appealing to a broader audience than just those of us who traditionally read Christian fiction.  

All in all, I was really blown away by the book, particularly when the story really got moving and things started to make sense to me.  I would recommend it to anyone, do not let the Christian fiction label keep you away from reading what is a remarkable story.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher.

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The Spellbinder, by John Booth

It's 1860 England, and magical ability is a matter of national defense.  A special military force is comprised of people with various levels of magical ability, but Britain's most prized possessions are the Class A Spellbinders, the most skilled soldier.  Which is why a teenage Laura is shocked to learn that she, in fact, is a Class A Spellbinder, and will be sent to a school in a top secret location, both for her own protection and to receive training.  She is accompanied by her new friend, Tom, a skillful Healer.  It becomes apparent upon their arrival at the school that all is not as it seems, and they are in grave danger.

Magic.  Steampunk.  British military.  Espionage.  Teenage hormones.  What a combination.  I loved every minute of it.  John Booth once again creates a vivid storyworld with his revision of the Victorian British Empire as it might have been with the help of magic.  I am beyond impressed with the rich, detailed backstory Booth weaves in order to set the story up, particularly because he does so in a way that does not detract from the plot.  This is the first book in a new series, and I am so excited to see where the author goes with this series.

I found the characters to be just as vivid, and felt, quite quickly, as if I actually knew them.  It was thrilling to me to see such strong female characters written by a male author.  I liked seeing the surprising twists that occurred with some of the characters throughout the book, and it made me excited for the possibilities in the later installments in the series.

There are obvious similarities between this book and the Harry Potter series (especially the later Potter books), but there is a lot of unique content to the book as well.  I think fans of steampunk and fantasy fiction will appreciate the series.  While some themes are mature and adult, it seems no cheekier than many other young adult books I have read, and would be appropriate for most teen readers.


I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

The Trouble with Thieves, by Maurice X. Alvarez and Ande Li

If you think life on Earth is wild, try living in Averia, where the natives are bird like humanoids.  But how would one get there? Cecil finds himself there after he falls into a portal, owned by a thief named Kormer.  Anndrew, Cecil's school mate, travels into the portal with Kormer and his traveling companion from the future, Jeransy, to try to get Cecil back to his own world.  However, life in Averia agrees with Cecil, and he becomes incredibly powerful; why should he return to his mundane life?

I think the reason I struggle so much with reading fantasy novels is because I lack imagination.  Clearly, the authors of this book do not have the same problem.  Multiple planets, languages, and storyworlds have been artfully created for this book.  As I read, I had trouble picturing it in my mind, not because it was not well developed (it certainly was) but because I lacked the imagination.  It made me sad that I was not able to enjoy the story as fully as it deserved to be enjoyed.

I found the character of Kormer to be fascinating.  He flits through time and space via his portal, creating relationships with individuals he knows he will never see again.  He is an adventurer.  I would have liked to seen the story focus more on him individually, instead of adding Jeransy to the mix.  I found her presence a bit on the distracting side.  Similarly, I liked Cecil's character, and enjoyed watching him grow in his powers.

Overall, I think this book is well written, and highly imaginative.  It would appeal best to fans of fantasy writing, particularly that involving other planets or galaxies, such as the writings of Douglas Adams.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

The House of Silver Magic, by John Booth

Life for the Grange family is forever altered.  Not only are the suffering from the lost of their father, the children and their mother also face the loss of their house, since their father secretly sold it before his death.  But, through a seeming twist of fate, the family finds the means and opportunity to buy a grand house, a house full of magic and secrets.  It is the magic of the house that will save the Grange family from their enemies.

John Booth writes a type of fantasy fiction that is nothing short of beautiful.  This book is full of wonder, and enchantment like few I have encountered before.  From the first sentence, the reader is endeared to the Grange family, and wants to see them succeed in their new lives.  I found the characters to be incredibly well developed, and especially loved that the house has a character, nee, characters, of its own.  It is exciting to watch the children learn of their heritage and discover their powers.

Often, adult fans of young adult books are criticized for relishing in childish stories.  I can assure you, while this book will clearly appeal to young adult readers, there is nothing childish about it, and any adult reader can be proud to be a fan.  The story is unique, the writing is sublime, and the magic is, well, magical.  I am so pleased to learn that this is the first in a new series, and cannot wait to see what lies ahead for the Grange family.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.