Archives for September 2014

The Retail by Joshua Danker-Dake

September 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

RETAIL
The Retail by Joshua Danker-Dake
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Humor
Length: Full Length (310 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Aspiring writer Penn Reynard has just joined the ranks of America’s fifteen million retail workers: fresh out of college with an English degree, he can’t find a job anywhere except at the local big-box hardware store. Working returns, Penn experiences firsthand the often comical absurdity, chaos, and shenanigans of the retail world. At least he has a new romance with a coworker going for him—if he doesn’t screw it up. The constant pressures of dealing with hostile customers, oblivious coworkers, and overbearing management begin to take their toll on him, though, and as his desired career path threatens to fall out of reach, Penn struggles to break free of retail’s clutches.

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The amount of time that was put into developing Penn’s personality made him one of the most memorable characters I’ve met so far this year. Penn’s flaws happen to be things that deeply irritate me, so I can’t honestly say that I always liked him. I can say that he made me think, though, and that he was written in such a way that I paused about a third of the way through his tale to see if it was actually a memoir. Penn comes across as a three-dimensional person, metaphorical warts and all. That isn’t something that’s at all easy to accomplish, and it’s whetted my appetite for more from Mr. Danker-Dake .

This book includes well over two dozen different characters, many of whom have nicknames that weren’t always easy to connect to their actual names. At times I mixed up the identities of certain employees and customers that made less frequent appearances because there was such a large number of them drifting in and out of the plot. It would have been really helpful to have a brief list of their names as well an indication of whether each character was an employee of the store or one of their regular customers.

Worldbuilding is definitely one of Mr. Danker-Dake’s strengths. Not only does he create incredibly complex settings for his characters, he allows Penn to slowly change in response to the things that happen to him. In some ways the setting almost functioned as its own character due to how much influence it had on Penn’s personal development. Watching this unfold was a treat, and it made me curious about what this author will come up with in the future.

I’d especially recommend The Retail to anyone who has ever worked in the service industry or who wonders what it’s like to be on the opposite side of the booth, till, or help desk.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Out of Towner by Lilith Duvalier

September 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TWONER
The Out of Towner by Lilith Duvalier
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (48 pgs)
Other: M/M/M, M/M, Ménage, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Carlos and Thomas need one night when they don’t talk about planning their wedding.

Carlos’ family keeps butting in, big chunks of Thomas’ family refuse to be involved, and the stress of planning this huge celebration for this many people—many of whom don’t speak the same language—is too much.
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Carlos declares that they are going to spend one night together without wedding planning. To sweeten the pot, they play a little game by pretending to meet for the first time at an expensive restaurant downtown.

But at the restaurant, Thomas runs into Jimmy Colton, an old college crush who is in town for business. By the time Carlos arrives the game has changed, and the three of them are heading back to Jimmy’s hotel room to fulfill a long held fantasy.

Planning a wedding isn’t easy, just ask Carlos and Thomas. Between finding the right venue, getting the tuxes, and making both families happy, the stress is taking its toll on them both. When Carlos suggests they take a night off from wedding planning, Thomas eagerly agrees. After all, what can possibly happen when you’ve been together as long as they have?

Carlos and Thomas have been together for a long time and they are both obviously in love and completely devoted to one another. Their relationship is believable and realistic, even in today’s world. I loved that Carlos was so done with everything that he suggested a bit of role play for the two of them. It shows that he’s not just dedicated to his husband-to-be, but invested in the relationship and willing to try something new to keep it fresh and alive.

When the appearance of an old schoolmate throws a wrench into the works, they adapt. Although Carlos is more on board with inviting Jimmy into their evening, Thomas isn’t completely against it, either. That Carlos takes the time to find out exactly what Thomas wants, even if it means putting this fantasy off until another time, really made me like him even more than I already did.

The best thing about this short story is that it doesn’t focus on the sexual aspect as much as it does the relationship between the three men. Jimmy really opens up and tells the other two something very personal and hurtful, bringing them all closer emotionally than they could ever be physically. This is the kind of thing that I need in my stories, no matter what the genre. Sweet, sexy, and satisfying on so many levels, The Out of Towner is an enjoyable read that left me smiling. The very last scene in the book made me hopeful that there might someday be more to this story. If not? Well, then the reader can at least be happy with what could be.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret at Haney Field: A Baseball Mystery by R.M. Clark

September 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FIELD
The Secret at Haney Field: A Baseball Mystery by R.M. Clark
Publisher: MB Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (130 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Twelve-year-old April O’Day’s summer has gotten off to a flying start. As the new bat retriever for the Harpoons, her hometown’s minor league team, she’s fetching bats and doling out great advice to players and coaches alike. In a word, she’s becoming indispensable. But mysterious things are happening at Haney Field, which April and her best friend – and fellow baseball enthusiast – Darren Plummer are determined to uncover. As they quickly learn, this is no ordinary season. In fact, it’s a whole new ball game.

Sometimes the past refuses to stay buried.
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I liked April immediately. It was nice to meet a young adult character who doesn’t have any special powers or access to magical devices. April is quite well-read for her age, but other than that she’s a completely ordinary girl who has to rely on her own intelligence and resourcefulness to figure out what’s happening on Haney field.

It seemed odd to me that April had such a hard time finding out more information about the Negro Leagues at first. It would have made more sense a generation or two ago, but the Internet is full of people who are avid fans of all kinds of things. I’ve discovered blogs and websites about much more obscure historical events than this one. This is a minor criticism of an otherwise compelling story though.

The baseball glossary was a nice touch. I know almost nothing about that sport and would have had some trouble figuring out what certain characters were talking about without it. The concepts it discusses seem to be fairly basic, but it’s a good tool for those of us who need that kind of refresher.

The age recommendation for this tale needs an explanation. April is twelve, but she comes across as someone younger than that because of what she is and is not interested in. Eight is the youngest age I’d recommend this book to, though, due to some paranormal themes that might be a little too frightening for younger readers.

The Secret at Haney Field: A Baseball Mystery is a great choice for anyone who loves baseball or a spooky ghost story. I had a good time reading it and will be recommending it family members and young friends in this age range!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Hanging Tree by Michael Phillip Cash

September 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TREE
The Hanging Tree by Michael Phillip Cash
Publisher: Red Feather Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (75 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

Enter a world where spirits roam the earth in Michael Phillip Cash’s haunting new novella, The Hanging Tree. Set amid the eerie backdrop of Long Island, an area famously steeped in old legend, two young would-be lovers contemplate their future while visits from those who have come before them reveal the lure of fate…and the power of free will. At seventeen years old, Arielle’s relationship with her parents is slowly deteriorating. Angry and defiant, she is at a loss on how to cope with the tumultuous situation in which she finds herself. Arielle’s only comfort is Chad, an eighteen-year-old young man who seems to truly understand her struggles. Arielle and Chad meet beneath the low-hanging branches of what the local community has nick-named the “Hanging Tree”. An ancient and majestic landmark, it has long been rumored that the tree is haunted by ghosts. These ghosts span various centuries and vary wildly in age, but each one of them has one thing in common: their deaths are all somehow connected to the tree itself. As Arielle and Chad commiserate over their current situation and their precarious nature of their future, the spectral inhabitants of the Hanging Tree witness their conversation. One by one,the ghosts begin reminiscing about their own lives-and deaths- as they examine the inner demons with which their human forms long struggled. An eerie meditation on the oft-overlooked power of choice, Cash’s The Hanging Tree will stay with readers long after they turn out the light.

What happens when you test your boundaries under the infamous Hanging Tree?

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Five spirits are tied to the tree. All of which have a historical connection to the spot because of their deaths. The characters are a witch and her granddaughter, a cat, two young male lovers and a woman called the Gibson girl who died after being brutally raped. Each story is brought to life by the author and we as readers get a glimpse into the past of Goody the witch and her granddaughter Claire and the horrors that led to their demise as Goody was put to death for witchery after her granddaughter commits suicide. As she died, Goody cursed her murderer and his family.

The two young lovers’ tale is equally tragic and we glimpse a time when it was nearly a death sentence to admit that you were gay and in love. The only ghost that really is never talked much about is the Gibson girl and the horrible rape that led to her death.

Arielle sits against the tree fending off the amorous boy whose attention she craved. Should she give in and allow him access to the body he wants or keep herself pure for someone worth having? Each of the ghosts in the tree interacts with her and the boyfriend, driving him away with spooky sounds and moving tree limbs.  When the ghost cat finds itself in a perilous situation, will Arielle make the right choice for her and for the cat? Some decisions we make linger long after the grave. Can Arielle save herself before she becomes another victim of the tree?

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. Page after page I had to know what happened to Goody and her granddaughter Claire. The two young lovers were also tragic and I loved their story just as much. Arielle is a girl like so many teenagers. Angry and trying to find her way, she considers giving away her body, one of the only things she has control of. As the night develops she learns to listen to the wind and hear the whispers between the branches.

Great story and I look forward to more spooky tales from Michael Phillip Cash.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Bloodstone by Helen C. Johannes

September 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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Bloodstone by Helen C. Johannes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (426 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Edelweiss

What if looking at the face of the man you loved meant death?

Years ago, warrior Durren Drakkonwehr was cursed by a mage. Now feared and reviled as the Shadow Man, he keeps to himself, only going to town to trade rare bloodstones–petrified dragon’s blood–for supplies. Though he hides his face, he can’t hide his heart from the woman who haunts his dreams…

Needing bloodstones for a jewelry commission, Mirianna and her father journey across the dreaded Wehrland where the beast-men roam. When their party is attacked, only the Shadow Man can save them. Strangely drawn to him, Mirianna offers herself in return for her father’s rescue.

Living in the ruined fortress with the Shadow Man, Mirianna slowly realizes that a flesh-and-blood man–not a fiend–hides there in hoods and darkness. But are love and courage enough to lift the curse and restore the man?

A man whose face can kill, a woman bound to him by a promise, and both haunted by mysterious, intimate dreams of each other. Bloodstone’s story is rich and layered, nuanced and engrossing.
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The main characters are both engaging. Mirianna is instantly likable as you see the way she looks after and cares for her widowed father. She is resourceful and capable, but most of all passionate. Her choices are intuitive and her feelings strong. I respected and admired her and appreciated how smart and quick-witted she was written.

The Shadow Man is deeply layered and deeply flawed. When he is presented with ethical choices, he often genuinely considers taking the wrong path. He can be brusque and harsh, when he should be kind and gentle. He is deeply conflicted, torn between the man he used to be and what he is now. He is constantly at battle with himself, and you can feel this leaking through his scenes and encompassing his thoughts.

I loved reading these two characters respond to one another. The dreams that have haunted them for years attract them to each other as much as it scares them. Both are powerful characters with strong personalities and the results are scenes which swept me up and gripped me, and kept me eagerly waiting to see what they would do next.

However both characters are not only haunted by their dreams, they both find themselves followed by a mysterious lioness. Other things are afoot, as it’s soon made clear that not everyone is who they claim to be. The story was very well done, with some truly surprising plot twists and revelations I did not see coming, and there was more than one point in the story where my jaw was left hanging open.

The romance in the book was for the most part excellent. Though it did feel a little rushed once or twice, with the motivations and reasons behind their feelings and changing attitudes towards each other, not always being clear to me.

The opening of the book moves a little slowly, taking a significant amount of time to reach the plot described on the back of the book. However the author has a beautiful writing style and a keen eye for detail, and I was never bored or disinterested in what was happening.

Helen C. Johannes has built up a rich fantasy world, with an intriguing and unique history. I loved reading about the world, the things that inhabited it, and the way it worked. She knew exactly how much to dole out and when, in order to keep me informed but eager for more.

The ending is very satisfying, but I suspect there may be a sequel planned, and if there is I will certainly be reading it. The book works well as a breathtaking romance and as a fantasy story of heroes, magic and mystery. If you’re in the mood for either, read it!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

My Lord Rogue by Katherine Bone

September 11, 2014 By 1 Comment

ROGUE
My Lord Rogue by Katherine Bone
 Publisher: EsKape Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (109 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Gillian Chauncey, Baroness Chauncey, is a master of disguise, trained by her expatriated husband, a former French royalist, in the arts of espionage. When a dangerous life or death secret lands in her lap, she’s thrust into a perilous world of ticking clocks and desperation, arrowing her directly into the arms of the man who arranged her marriage.

Lord Simon Danbury is no ordinary nobleman. He’s been tasked by Admiral Nelson to organize an elite group of clandestine first sons willing to sacrifice all to protect England’s shores. When an assassination attempt is made on Nelson, Simon isn’t sure what poses more danger, the enemy or the masterfully seductive Gillian.

Katherine Bone’s My Lord Rogue is sure to please the historical romance fan.

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Yet this is in some ways far from the typical such romance! For our heroine is not a young girl first being presented… oh no, Ms. Bone’s characters are individual and orignal enough to keep us from guessing too well. She avoids predictability – always a good thing.

Gillian, our heroine, is perfectly sure of her own heart, but is a victim of her times, both of the impending politicial crisis, as well as expectation of a lady in her position. Simon is part of her past, her heart well buttressed against her one time feelings for him. She seems to long most for her home in the country, even while being motivated by a political cause.

Gillian is a unique main character. She seems anxious, yet dedicated to the cause at opening, yet we also see her from other points of view. “Baroness Gillian Chauncey had become resourceful, cunning, and ruthless.” Interesting though these other glimpses, are, some abrupt leaps between points-of-view and shifts in time are distracting and annoying.

The plot twines well with the history of the times. The political matter, Their cause, is motivating, important but not presented in an overly complex manner.

Simon is wonderful.  He takes charge so quickly, obviously admires Gillian — but more, he admires her courage; and he is the one who recognizes her danger. With so much going on, survival alone might seem an achievement, but we readers find ourselves hoping for the romance in spite of all the challenges.

Although Katherine Bone’s historic romance My Lord Rogue offers all the right elements, it is also quite different from most romances set in the time. More than just romance readers will enjoy this one.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Passionate Companions by Cat Blaine

September 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PASSIONATE
Passionate Companions by Cat Blaine
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (34 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

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Imagine a world where vampires and humans have the oddest sort of agreement: the humans provide women for breeding and the vampires provide purebloods for pleasure. Enter Sully Handover, a pureblood vampire who has spent his time being trained as a courtesan. Angry and unwilling to become a slave to a lesser race, he isn’t exactly thrilled when he’s sent to auction earlier than planned. Will he be able to make peace with his new master or will it all end in disaster?

Sully put me off a bit at first. Understandably, he was arrogant and unhappy about having to serve humans when he’d much rather become the lover of fellow vampire, Luke. His outrageous behavior at the auction house and during the actual auction made me laugh out loud. Daring and mouthy, he’s more than a handful for any master. However, when he comes to realize that his new owner – Adrian – isn’t anything like he had expected, he mellows out a bit and becomes more likable.

Adrian I liked from the very beginning. Taking a risk on the mouthy, aggressive vampire took a lot of trust and maybe even touch of stupidity, but it certainly paid off for him. He comes off as honest and trustworthy from the start, exactly the kind of man Sully needs to guide him through this new world he’s in. He’s probably my favorite character in this short story, making me want to know more about him in the end.

Passionate Companions was a good read with an intriguing plot and engaging characters. I was impressed by the fact the author didn’t jump directly into the sexual intimacy and instead gave Sully and Adrian a chance to get to know each other a bit first. However, I do wish that we’d been given more backstory in regards to how the society they live in came to be the way it was. The situation they’re in is fascinating and I’d love to know more about how they’d gotten to where they were. Even though the ending seemed somewhat rushed, the overall story was interesting and kept me reading until the very end.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Share the Moon by Sharon Struth

September 10, 2014 By 27 Comments

MOON
Share the Moon by Sharon Struth
Blue Moon Lake Novels, Book one
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (188 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Sometimes trust is the toughest lesson to learn.
​​​
Sophie Shaw is days away from signing a contract that will fulfill her dream of owning a vineyard. For her, it’s a chance to restart her life and put past tragedies to rest. But Duncan Jamieson’s counter offer blows hers out ot sea.
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Duncan still finds Sophie as appealing as he had during boyhood vacations to the lake. Older and wiser now, he has his own reasons for wanting the land. His offer, however, hinges on a zoning change approval.

Bribery rumors threaten the deal and make Sophie wary of Duncan, yet she cannot deny his appeal. When her journalistic research uncovers a Jamieson family secret, trust becomes the hardest lesson for them both.

Share The Moon shows that people can find true love when they least expect it. In Duncan Jamieson’s and Sophie Shaw’s case, loving and trusting each other seems dangerous because they started out as competitors for the same plot of land. Neither can be sure the other’s feelings are genuine and not a ploy to get them to lower their defenses and let go of their plans with the land. But the current situation is not the only thing that’s making them cautious and distrustful.

Both Duncan and Sophie have a painful past filled with loss and mistakes. Sophie’s struggle with the loss of her teenage son was written beautifully. Her pain, regret and guilt were visible in her every act, but the author didn’t let the character get lost in the overwhelming grief, instead she’d given her coping mechanisms that helped her come back to life, step by little step. Similarly, Duncan’s less than model family life still haunts him years after his wife’s death. He is doing his best to become a better person, and as a reader I appreciated that the transformation didn’t go smoothly and that he was struggling with the changes instead. It made him feel a real person, and that in turn made it easy for me to feel with him as he progressed from a workaholic into a devoted father and partner.

Although the plot stalled a bit towards the middle, the hurdles in Sophie’s and Duncan’s way made the story interesting, keeping me guessing about what was next for them. Jamieson’s family secret tied in nicely to the development of their relationship and didn’t feel like a separate subplot at all but like something that affected them both deeply.

I liked the portrayal of Trent and would love to read more about him. He seemed a conflicted man, his attitude a direct result of all the hurt from his childhood. But he also seemed like someone who would be fun to get to know better. I loved his layered characterization. Same goes for Sophie’s friends, Jay and Sophie’s father – all compelling characters that added a lot to the story and shed new light on the main characters and their deepest feelings.

Although a bit predictable, the story unfolded to a satisfying finish for Duncan and Sophie. After going over many an obstacle, they learn to trust each other, which enables them to truly embrace the feelings they have for each other. Trust doesn’t come easy, but once earned, it can be a firm basis for true love. Share the Moon is a romance in which the characters must first learn to love themselves in order to be able to love each other. It’s more than just about falling in love; it’s about overcoming grief and disappointment and growing into people worth loving.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Weirdo by Cathi Unsworth

September 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WERIDO
Weirdo by Cathi Unsworth
Publisher: Spiderline
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (407 pgs)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Corinne Woodrow was fifteen when she was convicted of the ritualistic murder of her classmate in a quaint seaside town. It was 1984, a year when teenagers ran wild, dressed in black, stayed out all night, and listened to music that terrified their parents. Rumours of Satanism surrounded Corinne and she was locked up indefinitely, a chilling reminder to the parents of Ernemouth to keep a watchful eye on their children.

Twenty years later, private investigator Sean Ward — whose promising career as a detective with the Metropolitan Police was cut short by a teenager with a gun — reopens the case after new forensic evidence suggests that Corinne didn’t act alone. His investigation uncovers a town full of secrets, and a community that has always looked after its own.

Weirdo’s premise has all the makings of a top-notch suspense novel, cold case, ritualistic murder, young girl now locked up in a mental hospital, and new DNA evidence. I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint me in any way.
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It’s told in two time periods, that of present day and also the time leading up to the murder. It’s skillfully handled and reads smoothly as it goes from one era to another.

The cast of characters was great. You might not like all of them, but you can’t help getting pulled into their story and lives. They’re an odd bunch but that’s what makes it such a compelling read. The setting of a small coastal town in Norfolk, England was the icing on the cake, and I think it really added another entertain layer to this dark mystery.

The one thing I loved best about this book was it kept me guessing. Ms. Unsworth didn’t cheat the reader on any details as it what happened and who was involved. Like good writing should be, each chapter you read was like peeling an orange and pulling apart its sections. It had me thinking one way but in the next chapter I discovered I was wrong which for someone who reads lots of mysteries was very refreshing.

Despite its length this book is fast paced. I found myself reading on just a few more chapters each time I sat down. The last third really kicks into high gear and you find yourself not wanting to stop until you’ve read the end. I won’t give it away but the author doesn’t disappoint and the payoff is well worth your extra time reading non-stop.

I haven’t read any of Ms. Unsworth’s other books but now I think I’m hooked and will be looking for other titles.

If you’re a fan of dark mysteries I highly recommend Weirdo for your upcoming fall reading list.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Scarlet Winters by J. Kwong

September 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WINTERS
Scarlet Winters by J. Kwong
The Berona Chronicles, Book 1
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (114 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Welcome to the city of Berona – a city governed by four Superheroes with great superpowers. Thanks to the Superheroes, Berona is mostly crime-free, and is touted as one of the best cities in the world. However, there are some people who aren’t so sure about Berona’s greatness…

Meet Terry Landers – a genius inventor who can create anything out of nothing. But Terry knows that she’s unpleasant and rude. which is why she’s surprised when she’s asked to become a Superhero’s sidekick. Terry is one of the few people who questions the wisdom of having the Superheroes govern Berona, and as she dives into her new role as a Superhero sidekick, she begins to realize just how right she might be.
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Throw in a child kidnapping and evidence that links the crime to the Superheroes, it’s now up to Terry to save her beloved city. But will she be able to fulfill her duties as a sidekick? Or will danger find her first?

Not every superhero needs a sidekick. When they need one, though, they need one pretty desperately.

Terry kept me on my toes. At first I wasn’t quite sure what I thought of her due to her snide tendencies, but I soon grew to appreciate her reluctance to take anything at face value. She ended up being a breath of fresh air in a cast of characters that otherwise seemed to rely on other people’s opinions when making important decisions.

The dialogue in this story was awkward. Characters shift between one-word answers that rely heavily on slang and longer, more formal replies. In a few cases it made sense for them to shift between different speaking styles, but I was never able to predict when their speech patterns could be expected to change next. There was also a heavy use of verbs like snap, spits, growl, muttered, grumbles, and scream to describe how characters spoke. They were used so often that they distracted me from what was going on in the plot.

Heavily plot-based tales like this one often need to move quickly, so the pacing worked well for me. Some scenes also included action that took place on the periphery of the reader’s vision. The pacing reminded me of how many graphic novels are written as a lot of the backstory is revealed through conversations that take place alongside current crises.

I chose a lower age recommendation than the one the author suggested because of the types of humor the characters find funny. There is a lot of physical comedy as well as jokes that rely on puns and sly references. It reminded me of the kind of wordplay I enjoyed when I was in my early teens. I think this story will be most appealing to readers who are a few years younger than the original age range, although I’d also recommend it to older teens and adults who love comic books.

Scarlet Winters was a wild ride from beginning to end. Give it a try if you like fast-paced adventures!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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