Murder in Persimmon Bluff by Jody Chaffin

November 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder in Persimmon Bluff by Jody Chaffin
A Table Rock Lake Word Search Mystery, Book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

They stopped speaking in 1980. Forty-eight word searches to the truth.

Earl Halstead and Joe Sowder came home from Vietnam like brothers and built most of this end of Table Rock Lake with one truck between them. In December of 1980 they divided the company down the middle and stopped speaking. Neither man ever said why. Their families have bid against each other ever since.

Now Marla Sowder, the engineer who runs the Sowder half, has been found dead in a Halstead driveway on a Friday night, and the county has already closed the case. Retired biology teacher Eleanor “Nell” Ashworth has been in Persimmon Bluff six weeks. Nobody here tells her anything.

But this time, the detective is you.

Read the chapters. Solve the puzzles. Track the clues. Each chapter hands you a scene and a word search, and the leftover letters spell out what the scene would not — a suspect cleared, a motive ruled out, a place crossed off. Across forty-eight puzzles you will gather everything you need to name the killer, the motive, the means, and the place, and you will get there the same way Nell does.

Six suspects. Two families with nothing to say. A verdict only you can reach.

Autumn is the perfect time of year to solve a murder.

I continue to be impressed with the author’s understanding of both the positive and negative aspects of living in a small town. The scenes that explored how characters maintained relationships with each other over the decades, especially with people they didn’t like but needed to see regularly for a variety of reasons, were among my favorite ones.

There were some pacing issues in the beginning that prevented me from diving as deeply into this book as I was hoping to do so. It took me a while to cozy up to the characters and become emotionally invested in solving the murder. This is something I’m saying as a reader who enjoyed the author’s previous Larkspur Hollow Garden Mystery books and was quite excited to see what he’d written next. My fingers are crossed that the future instalments in this new series will have smoother pacing as the word search aspect of each instalment is unique and quite a bit of fun to participate in.

The murder itself was creative and interesting. I liked the way it was folded into the patterns of everyday life in Persimmon Bluff and thought the characters’ reactions to that moment were as reasonable as they were illuminative of their personalities. Based on this introduced to these characters and their community, I am definitely interested in visiting them again through the power of the written word in the near future.

Murder in Persimmon Bluff piqued my interest in these new adventures.

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

The Second Secret by Alan Lee

November 4, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Second Secret by Alan Lee
Publisher: Sparkle Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Private detective Mackenzie August is trying run to an honest business.
Until the woman of his dreams walks in,
With a mystery on her hands.

Meet Veronica Summers.
She’s a client in Jimmy Choo heels–a local attorney needing the services of a private investigator.
She’s come to the right place.

Mackenzie August is hired to sniff out a traitorous informant hiding in an underworld operation. It’s an assignment he should turn down–if only someone other than Ronnie Summers had asked, maybe he could have…

Mackenzie is tossed into the deep end and finds himself mingling with the mafioso. Is his professional career worth risking for the sake of a cute girl with sordid secrets?

PI Mackenzie August has complicated feelings about Veronica Summers. She’s a femme fatale local attorney but everything between them is complicated. Ronnie hires Mackenzie to uncover an informant, but when Mackenzie knows the informant will likely find a messy ending because snitching on a criminal kingpin can never be let slide – so how can Mackenzie balance his duty to their mutual client – Ronnie’s father – but still do the right thing?

I enjoyed this mystery, very much written in the sense of a classic hard boiled detective novel. Even though it’s quite current the feel and overall tone of the book is old school and brilliantly balanced. I feel this should appeal to a wide range of readers, but both modern and more traditional.

I thought the plot was well balanced but not too complicated. This is an easy book to pick up and put back down again. I also appreciated that the author did a good job in highlighting some of the moral grey area Mackenzie found himself in. While the plot is quite straightforward really, there was quite an undertow of right vs wrong and the grey area of real life in the middle.

With interesting characters, a lot of shades of grey, and a solid detective mystery in the middle this was an enjoyable and good read. This author is fairly new to me and I am absolutely keen to read more. Recommended.

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

Amazing Answers for Curious Kids – Space Edition by Ross Austin

November 3, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Amazing Answers for Curious Kids – Space Edition by Ross Austin
Publisher: Beyond Why Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Amazing Answers for Curious Kids: Space Edition

Why do planets orbit the Sun? What would happen if you dropped a hammer and a feather on the Moon? How do astronauts go to the bathroom in space? And what does it actually feel like when a rocket launches?

Amazing Answers for Curious Kids: Space Edition turns the questions children genuinely wonder about into 84 fascinating space discoveries they can understand, remember, and want to explore further.

Designed for curious kids ages 6–12, this full-color book explores the Solar System, planets, stars, black holes, rockets, astronauts, and the universe through clear explanations, vivid visuals, surprising facts, and questions that encourage kids to think before discovering the answer.

Older readers can explore independently, while younger readers can enjoy the questions, pictures, and discoveries with a grown-up.

Science is filled with endless possibilities.

The conversational writing style made this easy to read even when complex topics were being broken down into something that elementary-aged kids can better understand. It honestly felt like sitting down with a scientist and talking to them about subjects so many people may quietly wonder about but not actually bring up in some cases. This was an excellent stylistic choice and was one of the many reasons why I chose a full five-star rating.

I love how detailed so many of the answers were. For example, one section described what astronauts’ spacesuits smell like after they’ve returned to the space station from a mission. It never would have occurred to me that the molecules out in space might have a particular scent to them, although the explanation of why and how that happened made a great deal of sense. This was one of many examples of things I wouldn’t think to ask but am glad I learned about while reading this book.

Some of my favorite sections were the ones that discussed how scientists are preparing now for future longterm missions to Mars and similar places. For example, figuring out how to have enough food and water for people living that far away would be a constant challenge. There are experiments currently being done on how best to grow food on spaceships or other enclosed areas so that there could be a continuous supply of it for everyone who lived there. These topics are complicated and it will probably be a long time before we’re able to grow enough food for an entire community in such a closed system, but the exploration of some of the techniques they’re trying was absolutely fascinating.

I’d recommend Amazing Answers for Curious Kids – Space Edition to people of all ages who love this topic and want to learn more about outer space.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Curious Mind and Dancing Feet by Melinda González

November 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Curious Mind and Dancing Feet by Melinda González
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Children’s (0-6 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

A young girl with ADHD celebrates what makes her who she is

In Curious Mind and Dancing Feet, a young girl explains what it’s like to live with ADHD. Sometimes her mind wants to wander, and she often gets the wiggles. But when it comes to bugs, she’s laser focused. People don’t understand why she fills her pockets with bug-friendly snacks, and they don’t have to. The important thing is, her Mami, Abuelita, and friends understand, and they help her embrace her ADHD when she starts to feel jumbled up. With ADHD, life is complicated—and full of joy and wonder.

Offers an honest portrayal of life with ADHD, including challenges and strengths
Celebrates disability joy and offers an empowering self-representation for disabled kids
Helps children develop empathy and understanding with first-person storytelling from a child’s perspective
Centers disabled voices by drawing on the author’s experience with ADHD
Features a Puerto Rican and Muslim girl as the main character

The Disability Books for Kids series explores visible and invisible disability in the first person, as seen through the eyes of children and written from firsthand experience. The series builds allyship, challenges ableism, and celebrates difference, empowering and educating all readers. Each book includes an author’s note to the reader.

Curious Mind and Dancing Feet is a joyful, beautifully illustrated celebration of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the unique strengths it brings. The artwork is vibrant and engaging, perfectly matching the energy and curiosity of the young girl at the center of the story. I love how clearly the book explains ADHD, its characteristics, its challenges, and the myths that often surround it. In a way that’s accessible for children and eye‑opening for adults. The story highlights that it’s not only okay to be different, but that those differences bring creativity, expression, joy, and a wonderful sense of curiosity about the world.

The main character’s love for bugs, her wandering mind, and her “dancing feet” are portrayed with warmth and authenticity. Her family’s support shows the power of understanding and acceptance. It’s a beautiful reminder that children thrive when the people around them embrace who they are. This book is an excellent resource for schools, classrooms, and personal libraries. It encourages empathy, celebrates disability joy, and offers empowering representation for kids with ADHD. A meaningful, uplifting read that shines with heart.

A definite five-star addition to any child’s bookshelf.

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

Witches Save the World – Covens, Cauldrons, and Curses Gone Right by Rebecca Buchanan (Editor)

October 30, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Witches Save the World – Covens, Cauldrons, and Curses Gone Right by Rebecca Buchanan (Editor)
Publisher: Gorgon’s Gaze Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Holiday, Poetry, Contemporary, Historical, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Covens. Cauldrons. And Curses.

The witch is a complex figure. Hero? Villain? Victim? Practitioner of a nearly-forgotten faith or just misunderstood? An elder who should be respected but is instead reviled? Or the member of an oppressed ethnic or sexual minority?

Witches of every sort appear in this anthology, and its companion volume, Witches Save the World: Hags, Harridans, and Hexes Gone Right. In some tales and poems, the witch embodies the primal forces of balance and karmic retribution, or they act in support of social justice, defending those who cannot protect themselves. Or they act in defense of Nature, calling to heel the corrupt governments and corporations that would strip the world in the name of power and profit. Or they are caretakers of their communities, mending minds and bodies, sometimes at the cost of their own freedom or even their own lives.

These are witches who do what must be done, because someone has to save the world.

Justice has many faces.

“The Blackened Grin of Justice” followed Agatha, the only healer in a town stricken with a terrible disease that was rapidly killing people. I enjoyed her character development in this piece, especially when it came to her devotion to her community and what she was willing to do to end the epidemic. Had this one been a full-length novel, I would have relished getting to know her even better than I already did.

I relish the challenge of reviewing anthologies given how many different authors and writing styles are typically included in them, although it can be tricky at times to choose a rating when I loved many of the stories but didn’t connect so well to other ones. That is something that happened to me again when I read this book, and “The Momentonomicon,” in which Sylvie took photos of roadkill and other deceased wild animals to commemorate their lives, was one such example. I struggled to understand why she thought this was a good way to remember them and would have found it helpful to explore her feelings on this topic on a much deeper level.

Sorrow was forced to become betrothed to a man she found repulsive in “The Witch’s Bridle” because her parents needed his money to keep the family farm running. This was one of my favorite stories due to how determined she was to find a way to evade this fate and how slim her odds were of getting out of this arrangement. She was an intelligent and resourceful young woman, and I never stopped hoping for a happy ending for her.

This is part of a duology that can be read in either order.

Witches Save the World – Covens, Cauldrons, and Curses Gone Right was an empowering and deliciously scary read.

Filed Under: Horror, Poetry, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Witches Save the World – Hags, Harridans, and Hexes Gone Right by Rebecca Buchanan (Editor)

October 30, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Witches Save the World – Hags, Harridans, and Hexes Gone Right by Rebecca Buchanan (Editor)
Publisher: Gorgon’s Gaze Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Poetry, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Hags. Harridans. And Hexes.

The witch is a complex figure. Hero? Villain? Victim? Practitioner of a nearly-forgotten faith or just misunderstood? An elder who should be respected but is instead reviled? Or the member of an oppressed ethnic or sexual minority?

Witches of every sort appear in this anthology, and its companion volume, Witches Save the World: Covens, Cauldrons, and Curses Gone Right. In some tales and poems, the witch embodies the primal forces of balance and karmic retribution, or they act in support of social justice, defending those who cannot protect themselves. Or they act in defense of Nature, calling to heel the corrupt governments and corporations that would strip the world in the name of power and profit. Or they are caretakers of their communities, mending minds and bodies, sometimes at the cost of their own freedom or even their own lives.

These are witches who do what must be done, because someone has to save the world.

Not everything can be described in black and white terms.

Madison had recently moved from Minneapolis to a rural community in that state for her first job as a new teacher and was struggling to make friends in

“Minnesota Comfort.” The plot twist in this tale was delightfully scary and made the beginning even better once I went back to reread it. There’s definitely something to be said for being surprised like this, so I will be keeping an eye out for what Ms. Thynes comes up with next.

Honestly, I wish I had enough space to mention a dozen stories here instead of only a few of them. I adored almost everything in this anthology, and it was incredibly difficult to narrow down my list while writing this review. With that being said, there were a few pieces that I thought would have been even stronger with a little more development, and “Weather Witch on the Main Portal” was one of them. As much as I liked Ebbie and Fletcher, I was a little puzzled by why they were the only witches who were trying to figure out why the magical storms had become so strong and why certain supernatural things in their universe that had been dormant for so long were now active again. These seemed like topics that should have interested every witch affected by them instead of just two of them. Had the explanation for this been longer, their adventure might have been my favorite one in this entire book as I thought both of these characters were well written and memorable.

“The Weaver’s Song” showed how a witch taught her students to repair cracks in the earth through music. So much attention was paid to the world building here that I nearly felt as though I were visiting another world while I got to know Nora and Opal as they made their dangerous walk home. This was an excellent example of how quickly a setting can feel three dimensional and how important it is to create characters that are equally well rounded.

This is the second instalment in a duology that does not need to be read in order.

Witches Save the World – Hags, Harridans, and Hexes Gone Right made me yearn for Halloween. Reading it was a treat!

Filed Under: Horror, Poetry, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Coffin Island by Kate Ellis

October 29, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Coffin Island by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Despite many years living in South Devon, DI Wesley Peterson has never visited the tiny island of St Rumon’s. That is until erosion from a storm reveals three bodies buried outside the local churchyard.

Two are ancient skeletons, but one is far more recent, and Wesley realises he has uncovered a case of murder. But whose remains are they? And who killed them?

The island has only a small number of inhabitants. Yet one resident keeps cropping up in Wesley’s investigation: the author and self-styled academic, Quentin Search.

Meanwhile Wesley’s friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, becomes fascinated by the remains of the island’s old priory. His discovery of a journal, written by a sixteenth century cleric, reveals an eerie tale of strange rituals and disturbing deaths.

As Wesley begins to wonder whether the past might be repeating itself, another murder occurs . . . There is a calculated killer on the island – one whose grip is as deadly as the rising tide.

DI Wesley Peterson and his team are called out to Coffin Island when heavy rains and local cliff erosion uncovers some bones from the church’s cemetery – and a rather recent corpse that shouldn’t be present in that area. While Wesley and his team try and identify the unknown woman, Neil Watson and his archaeology team are called to investigate the skeletal remains and assist in a dig at the local priory. Can they each find answers for their questions?

I have enjoyed this long running series for quite some time. I have always found these books to be a good blend of a British style police procedural mystery and an archaeological based mystery – usually one that winds the two storylines together in some way. This book was exactly that. While I do feel readers might have a stronger emotional attachment to both Wesley’s and Neil’s characters having read some of the previous books, this story really does stand very well by itself and I feel the book can easily be picked up and thoroughly enjoyed just be itself to new readers.

The murder mystery was quite well paced and a fair bit of the book was spent trying to identify the woman found. I thought this was well explored and while I could understand if some readers might find this not a fast paced or more action orientated style of mystery I enjoyed the police procedural aspect to it. I also thought this was well balanced with the more historical and the archaeology plot that was woven into the story in the same small island setting. I thought this was a good balance and readers who are new to this series can get a good understanding of what they can expect from most of the other books in this long running series.

While I admit readers looking for a fast paced or action style of mystery might not find this book really suits their needs, I enjoyed the slower pace to this murder mystery. I also greatly enjoyed the historical aspects and archaeology base to the secondary plot for this book. Readers who enjoy a slightly different police mystery should find this an interesting and refreshing read and good exposure to this series and all it has to offer. An enjoyable read and one I can definitely recommend.

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

Ants Work Together by Mélina Mangal

October 29, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Ants Work Together by Mélina Mangal
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Children’s (0-6 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Awaken young children to the different roles we play in our communities

In Ants Work Together, two young children prepare for a summertime community picnic in their city neighborhood. They notice that ants are all around us, taking on specialized roles to make sure the whole colony has what it needs.

As cousins Kamali and Josiah help the adults pick vegetables, prepare food, tend the community garden, and take care of little ones, they reflect on how our own diverse strengths parallel those of ants. We all work together to get the job done.

Ants Work Together:

Connects Children to Nature: From picking vegetables and preparing food to watching over little ones, readers reflect on the similarities between our own roles and responsibilities and those of ants: we all work together to get the job done!
Features relatable Language for Little Learners: Simple text and vivid illustrations are used throughout the toddler book to help little ones connect to nature in a fun and easy-to-understand way.
Includes Helpful Tips for Parents & Caregivers: This children’s book features additional guidance and engaging toddler activities to help children learn more about ants in their own neighborhoods.

This book is part of the Outside Our Window Board Books series, which encourages children―especially those in urban neighborhoods―to explore, protect, and delight in nature. Each book in the series focuses on one feature of the natural world (like ants), one season (summer), and one social or emotional learning skill (working together). The books emphasize community and encourage children and families to explore the natural world around them.

Ants Work Together is a beautifully crafted book that immediately drew me in with its vibrant, inviting illustrations. The colors are rich and realistic, making every page feel alive and engaging for young readers.

I love the premise of the story, being outside in nature, observing the world around us, and recognizing how each of us plays a part in caring for our community. The book highlights family, unity, sharing, and awareness in such a gentle, accessible way. It creates a meaningful connection between children, their loved ones, and the natural world, showing how even small actions help keep the earth’s cycle in balance.

This story offers wonderful exposure for children to learn about nature, teamwork, and responsibility. It’s thoughtful, relatable, and full of heart. A truly delightful read that celebrates both community and the wonders right outside our window.

A perfect addition to any child’s library.

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

Izzy’s Dilemma by Robert Pais

October 28, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Izzy’s Dilemma by Robert Pais
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What If The Easiest Way To Belong Meant Changing Who You Are?

On the planet Mirron, your eye color determines your place in society.

Topaz are at the top. Emeralds and Sapphires occupy the middle. And Pearls are at the bottom.

Twelve-year-old Izzy Ashford is a Pearl.

Growing up in the wealthy Topaz community of Covington with her loving adoptive parents, Izzy has never thought her eye color should matter. But when bullying and prejudice begin to make her feel like an outsider, she starts to see Mirron’s color system in a very different way.

Then, during a family vacation, a mysterious stranger named Sam makes Izzy an extraordinary offer.

He can change her Pearl eyes to Topaz.

Permanently!

Suddenly, Izzy has a chance to become the person of interest Mirron’s society would accept without question. BUT there is a price.

And Izzy has only one summer to decide whether that’s a price worth paying.

At River Valley Camp, Izzy meets new friends, encounters people from every level of Mirron’s society, and begins to discover that the world she thought she understood may be far more complicated than it seems.

As secrets from the past begin to surface and her choices become harder, Izzy is forced to confront a question that goes far beyond the color of her eyes:

How much of yourself should you change just to be accepted?

Izzy must make a choice.

Change her eyes and finally fit in – or stay true to herself and discover what it really means to belong.

Differences should be celebrated.

One of the reasons why I like reading middle grade fiction so much is that the preteen years are often when kids begin to develop separate identities from their families. Some of the best examples of this genre in my opinion are the ones that explore what this separation means for their characters and give glimpses of the adults they will become in the future, both of which this story did incredibly well. Due to Izzy’s eye color, her adoption could never have been a secret to begin with, but now that she was a preteen the meaning of that difference began to impact her in ways that she had not previously thought about in as much detail. While she still had a lot of maturing to do, I thought the protagonist was already developing into a kind and compassionate young woman who was going to make her world a much better place. Bravo for that!

Judy and Tom’s parenting decisions about how and where they raised Izzy puzzled me. Obviously, this book was intended to be a metaphor for the racism in our own world, but I couldn’t understand why a couple would adopt a child they knew was going to face a lifetime of prejudice and then raise her in such a close-minded community when there were more diverse and welcoming neighbourhoods easily available to them. This was something that could have included some powerful messages about what it truly means to be an ally had more time been spent exploring the difference between what these characters said and how they actually chose to live their lives. As an adult reader, I can make those inferences easily, but I think the intended middle grade audience would have benefited from much deeper discussions on this topic due to how important it is both on Izzy’s world and in our own.

I appreciated how much time was spent exploring how it feels to be part of a minority group. While some negative interactions can definitely be overt and blatantly fueled by prejudice, what can be just as difficult to cope with over the longterm are the little moments where someone says something that could be interpreted in multiple ways or where a group gives the subtle impression that someone is not fully welcomed there. This can be a difficult topic to discuss with kids this age who may or may not have personal experience with it, so I’m glad the author gave so many examples of what these subtle slights can look like. Had the entire book been written this way, I would have happily given it a much higher rating.

Izzy’s Dilemma was thought provoking.

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

Solomon Dark – Blood and Bourbon by Erick S. Gray

October 28, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Solomon Dark – Blood and Bourbon by Erick S. Gray
Publisher: Black Odyssey Media
Genre: Paranormal, Historical, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Blood and Bourbon is a gritty supernatural noir set during the Harlem Renaissance—a tale of vengeance, forbidden love, and the fight to protect a city caught between jazz and justice, bullets and blood.

Harlem, 1927. The jazz is hot, the liquor is illegal, and the shadows are deeper than they seem. Solomon Graves is a Black vampire and former slave turned underground king, running a speakeasy empire in the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. After decades of drifting through a world that treated his kind—both vampire and Black—as expendable, Solomon has carved out his own piece of the night.

But peace never lasts.

When Nyah, an ancient African vampire queen, arrives in Harlem seeking revenge for the husband Solomon killed back in 1850, the city becomes a battleground. Nyah doesn’t want justice—she wants to destroy everything Solomon has built, and the woman he’s come to love, a jazz singer named Eve Moreau.

As Nyah’s war escalates, Solomon must confront the sins of his past, the weight of centuries of trauma, and the darkness within himself. Torn between the man he wants to be and the monster he was made to become, Solomon has one choice: fight for Harlem—or let it all burn.

Caught between a brutal turf war with the mob and a supernatural vendetta centuries in the making, Solomon must confront the monster within and reckon with the sins of his past.

Erick S. Gray’s Solomon Dark presents a unique historical-supernatural premise, but while it had moments I enjoyed, the execution left me with mixed feelings. The novel introduces Solomon, a warrior who refuses to be emotionally and mentally bound by the chains of slavery, and Kaiser Adelberg, a German vampire hunter and member of a brotherhood pledged to protect humanity.

The part of the story I enjoyed the most was the exploration of what freedom means and the various paths people took to achieve it. This clash between the characters was a compelling theme that kept me reading. The book felt inconsistent due to a lack of detailed character development. For example, the character Akasha seemed driven by anger and vengeance, which was understandable; however, his actions came across as reckless and unplanned. This made it hard to connect with him. Although he had the means and ability, he lacked the skills to plan more successful attacks, resulting in animalistic behavior. I liked that Solomon wasn’t afraid to stand up to Akasha, and his character was strong in both mind and body, showing true leadership.

Overall, the narrative favored fast-paced action and focused heavily on scenes of slavery, while neglecting to provide enough depth for the characters. As a result, the story felt somewhat flat. I would have liked to read more about the enslaved individuals and their thoughts on being vampires versus being slaves. Additionally, I was interested in learning more about how Kaiser began his role in fighting evil.

While the book concludes in a way that suggests a continuation, I was hoping for a more memorable experience. As a fan of history and suspense, I felt the book had great potential, but it was just an “okay” read for me.

Note: The book contains explicit language and descriptions of violent sexual acts that may be triggering for some readers.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
Next Page »