The Dragon’s Heart by Eden Ashe

December 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

DRAGON
The Dragon’s Heart by Eden Ashe
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (229 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

The dragon-shifter king will do anything to keep his mate alive…even if it means war.

“We’re dragons. We don’t do the mushy friend thing.” – Daniel

Dragon Lore, #1

After millennia as king of the dragon-shifters, Daniel Ashborne wants a little peace and quiet, especially from the beautiful Hollywood starlet who haunts his memories. His escape tactics end abruptly when he is called to the ER to save the one woman he wants to forget, but who now bears his mark.

Shelby Kincade’s life and movie career were nearly destroyed when Daniel vanished a year ago. Now he’s back, claiming they have been accidentally mated. Getting over him once was hard enough, but she must choose either the life of her dreams or the man she can’t live without.

With peace finally on the horizon between the dragon-shifters and the Hunters, an assassination attempt on the dragon king and his mate shatters everything. Tensions rebuild as Daniel and his loyal team of shifters try to discover who put out the hit. Enemy and ally lines are crossed, but in the end–after the battle ash has settled–no one could have foreseen who has plotted for their own gain.

They say you fight fire with fire, but sometimes it takes a gentle hand to tame a raging inferno. Shelby Kincaide might just be the tender heart Daniel Ashborne needs to cool the fury consuming his soul. That is, if Shelby can survive the consuming anger sheltering the true core of the man buried deep inside.

On television and behind the scenes, Shelby is ever bit the famous actress and spoiled performer everyone assumes her to be, but it’s all an act. Underneath all the glamor and pampering, Shelby yearns to be heard and treated as a real person. Unfortunately, fame has surrounded her with people looking to use her for her status and make a name for themselves. Even her own family has jumped on her coattails, expecting to get ahead in the movie world. No one really cares about the real Shelby. Despite her envied glory, she’s had a hard life. A modern day Cinderella, she’s lived through evil step-mothers and jealous step-sisters. Her own father even turned his back on her, leaving her yearning for the love and support she’s never had. Daniel is the only person that seems genuinely interested in her for who she really is. Unfortunately, someone is hell bent on squashing any chance she has at happiness. After a Hunter breaks into her home and attacks Daniel, he’s convinced she’s no different than the woman who imprisoned him long ago. The last time Shelby sees Daniel is when medical personnel take him away. She’s got a dead Hunter in her home and a MIA boyfriend. The media, ever present and intent on bringing all the sordid details of her life into the spotlight, do what they do best: pick out the juicy details they want and willfully attempt to ruin her reputation.

Daniel’s life hasn’t exactly been a picnic. A dragon shifter, he’s had to hide his true identity and watch his back for a long time. Gone are the days of the glorious dragons who protected mankind. Now he and his dwindling dragon folk are forced to live in hiding and secrecy, their inner dragons bound and contained against their true nature. Once their allies, Hunters have turned against them and have hunted the dragons to near extinction. If that isn’t enough to make someone thoroughly pissed off, Daniel was imprisoned for months by an evil woman hoping to force him into mating with her in order to make her immortal. Tortured both mentally and physically until he nearly broke with insanity, Daniel now carries more than just physical scars. He’s a mess, to say the least. Too bad he can’t just slink away and dwell in his own misery. Unfortunately, he’s also the dragon king and has a responsibility to lead his remaining kinfolk. He doesn’t have time for a mate, especially one who threatens to tear down the cold exterior he’s so carefully crafted around his heart and make him feel things he’s determined not to acknowledge.

I’ve always loved dragons. Not many creatures can possess rage, power, magic, and beauty all at the same time. And besides, who wouldn’t want a gorgeous dragon shifter in their bed? Eden Ashe’s dragons seem to have mastered the art of truly being mystical and marvelous creatures. The Dragon’s Heart grabbed my full attention at page one. The main characters, Shelby and Daniel, are so multi-faceted and complex, they both won my heart. Daniel’s tangible pain and misery made me want to break through his stony exterior and love him myself. I cheered Shelby on as she persistently refused to back down from his fury and outbursts. She skillfully used her heart and her love to work through his old wounds and bring him back to himself. Ms. Ashe has a lovely talent with words and manages to keep me turning each page, eager to see what happens next. When Daniel and Shelby finally come together (sexually) in an explosive and intense bout of emotion and need, I couldn’t help but get all warm and fuzzy inside. I wanted these two together and Ms. Ashe does not disappoint. There were a few slow parts midway through the book, and a couple of times I wondered about some of Shelby’s actions, but I realized that most of this was necessary for her to make some changes not only in Daniel, but in his fellow dragons as well. It’s pretty comical to watch these proud, solitary, and fierce dragon men be put in their place by a five-foot-nothing woman less than half their size but with a temper to match their own.

By the end of the story, Shelby could certainly change careers from actress to author. What would her first book likely be? How to Train Your Dragon(s), I would imagine. She certainly has her work cut out for her, but I for one most definitely envy her. This is book one of Ms. Ashe’s Dragon Lore series. I know I’ll be chomping at the bit to get my hands on book two.

Hot, sexy dragon men to melt your heart (and maybe your clothes off as well), a strong-willed woman whose stature might be tiny but her determination is anything but, lots of great sex, and graphic violence…what else do you need for an awesome, story? Heck, it’d make a great movie! Don’t miss out on Eden Ashe’s The Dragon’s Heart; it’s a smokin’ hot read that left me yearning for a dragon of my own.

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

November YA/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Suspense-Mystery Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Carrier by Stewart Felkel

November 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

CARRIER'
Carrier by Stewart Felkel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (33 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

When the zombie invasion finally came Tim was caught unprepared. Bitten and left for dead he refuses to give in to defeat. Despite all odds he recovers from the disease that is ravaging the world. But what does a man alone, even a man apparently immune, do with a second chance at life in a post apocalyptic world?

Read the full review here!

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

Rebirth: Scrolls of Eternity Book One by J. Morgan

November 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

BIRTH
Rebirth: Scrolls of Eternity Book One by J. Morgan
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Short Story (80 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Patrick Hughes’ idea of field trips didn’t include armed robbers and Egyptian gods, but that’s just what he got. Accidently assuming the mantle of Horus, the Egyptian God of War, he is about to take Superhero 101 for extra credit. With the help of his substitute history teacher, who just so happens to be Anubis God of the Dead, Patrick takes a crash course in what it takes to be a hero. Too bad time is running out. Sutekh the God of Chaos has his eye on taking over the world. Unless he gets the hang of being a superhero and quick, getting an F will be the least of Patrick’s worries. Will Patrick’s first test at being a superhero be his last, or will he become the hero he was born to be?

Anubis and Horus are sure that Patrick can be a hero. Unfortunately, Patrick doesn’t share their confidence.

I immediately sympathized with Patrick. He’s a typical kid trying to survive adolescence and all its awkward glory. Before being endowed with superpowers, his biggest concerns were keeping his best friend, Galen, out of trouble, and trying to get Rose to notice him. As I watched Patrick stumble through his life, it was easy for me to remember that time in my life. While not everyone will share Patrick’s obsession for all things science fiction, I imagine other readers, young and old, will be able to relate to Patrick’s struggle feel comfortable in his own skin.

Unfortunately, Patrick’s life becomes much more complicated when he’s chosen to be a superhero. His childhood is brought to an abrupt end as he finds himself facing Sutekh, who has had years to formulate his plan to take over the world. Patrick only has days to learn how to use his new powers. The physical and mental exhaustion from training with Anubis as well as the strain of keeping secrets from his family give a realistic feel to the fantastic events of the tale. Consequently, I was able to fully immerse myself in this thoroughly enjoyable story.

I do wish some of the other characters had been a bit more developed. Patrick’s life is full of eccentric friends and family that have a lot of potential, especially his best friend Galen. I have a feeling Mr. Morgan has only scratched the surface where that particular character is concerned. I hope to learn more about Galen and the other secondary characters in the future.

Rebirth has a very satisfying conclusion, but Mr. Morgan leaves the door open for other adventures. I enjoyed reading about Patrick and his first exploit so much that I’m already wondering what Patrick will face next. Will his next challenge be other Egyptian gods, creatures from other mythologies, or something else entirely?

Reading Rebirth was a pleasure. It is a fun, fast paced tale sure to delight readers who enjoy superheroes and the classic struggle of good versus evil. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in this exciting series.

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

Mated Forever by Michaela Rhua

November 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

MATED
Mated Forever by Michaela Rhua
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (33 pages)
Other: F/F
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The full moon is always a time for danger and mating. This month it brings the scent of Louisa’s mate. Jorie is on the run and in grave danger. Being rescued by Louisa brings safety and a new temptation. As the girls act on their feelings, and passion overtakes them, they are unaware of the danger surrounding them both.

When Jorie is kidnapped, it’s a race against time. Will Louisa be able to save her mate, or will the past and all its secrets destroy them before they even have a chance at forever?

How do you know when you’ve met your soulmate?

Even though their relationship moves quickly, Jorie and Lou have great chemistry. Each step they take closer to one another felt like a natural progression to me. More than once I wished that I could continue following their lives as both women are fascinating individuals.

While their sex scene was quite well written and erotic, as I was reading it I thought it should have happened later on in the plot due to some things the reader learns about one of the character’s pasts. After finishing the whole thing I came to understand why the author made this decision, though, and I now agree that it was ultimately the best choice for character and plot development.

Unfortunately, there are multiple run-on sentences and grammatical errors in this tale. In most cases I was easily able to decipher what the author intended to say, but once or twice the absence of a word or punctuation mark muddled or completely changed the meaning of certain sentences. If not for these issues, this story would have earned a much higher rating.

The world building is fairly complex for something this length. I finished it wishing I could know more about the social and political structures in their packs as what I learned about the way their society is set up was sometimes unexpected. A subplot involving something from one of the character’s pasts also added depth to the current conflicts, and while I figured out what was happening with it early on I really enjoyed seeing how everything unfolds.

I’d recommend Mated Forever to anyone who loves shape-shifting stories. It’s a great example of this sub genre, and I will be mentioning this book to everyone I know who is a fan of it.

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

The War Inside by M. Kircher

November 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

WAR
The War Inside by M. Kircher
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (362 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The end of the world is only just the beginning. So eighteen-year-old Thea discovers when her solitary life on a dying Earth is shattered by a mysterious dream, a devastating choice, and a strange gift that propels her on a journey towards the restoration of all mankind.

Thea is bitter and alone; a perfect embodiment of the sunless, cloud-covered Earth she inhabits. A terrifying dream convinces her to save the life of an injured girl, and despite her misgivings, Thea decides to rescue sixteen-year old Viviana. She soon learns that gentle Viv has a life-threatening infection, as well as a freakish patch of glowing skin over her heart. When this light spreads to Thea, she is forced to trust Caden, an arrogant, lazy, and annoyingly handsome boy she despises. Caden has a map to the last city on Earth, and the only place that might have a cure for both Viv’s infection and the strange light on Thea’s hands. As the trio embark on a journey through the barren wilderness, Thea and Caden try to fight their mounting attraction and discover that the light is not a curse, but a powerful gift meant to heal the polluted Earth and reconnect the remnants of humanity. What they don’t know is that deadly shadows watch them, waiting for the chance to make sure that humans stay in the darkness forever.

It’s foolish to risk your life to save someone who can never repay you. Or is it?

In some ways the scenery in this book is a non-sentient character. Thea and the people she meets on her journey are strongly affected by dark, stormy weather patterns that shift from one misery to the next. I was particularly intrigued by the author’s use of fog and rain as antagonists in certain scenes, especially once the contrast between Thea’s daily life and the patch of glowing light on the girl she rescues is fully explored.

The world building breaks down once the extent of the damage to the ecosystem becomes apparent. Only a small percentage of the plants and wildlife have survived the horrific damage to the environment, and nearly all of the water supply is deadly unless special precautions are taken to nullify it. While humans could survive a short time on what little food still exists I can’t see how anyone could live on that sort of diet longterm. There are a few hints about this aspect of the plot that I would have preferred to see fleshed out in more detail. Certain scenes lead me to make assumptions about Thea’s world that were never confirmed nor denied, although hopefully the sequels will delve into this topic in greater detail.

Thea’s personal growth was a highlight of this tale. She is a richly detailed character whose strengths and faults are interwoven from the very first scene. The dysfunctional society that produced her has clearly had an impact on the sort of person she’s become, but the author balances Thea’s past with the knowledge that each one of us chooses how we treat other people.

I would have liked to see more character development from the rest of the individuals who accompany Thea on her journey. Viv in particular comes across as someone who always makes the right decisions, and as much as I wanted to like her I had trouble relating to her persistent cheerfulness no matter what is happening around her. She also acts much younger than her chronological age. Once again I suspect that the author had a good reason for writing Viv this way, but giving all of the supporting characters more time to develop faults and strengths would have earned this book a higher rating.

The budding romance also feels out of place due to how quickly it occurs. The personality clashes between the two characters involved in this subplot provide quite a bit of plot fodder early on, so it was a little odd to see that dynamic shift so rapidly as the story progresses. While I understand why they found one another attractive, it would have been more realistic to push this aspect of their relationship to a later installment of this series given what readers learn about their backgrounds.

With that being said, I am looking forward to seeing how the chemistry plays out between the characters who develop crushes on one another. Once their friendship deepens and both of them have finished growing up I expect them to make a good couple.

It was difficult to determine the best age recommendation for this piece. Most of the characters are between the ages of 16 and 18, but they interact with one another as if they’re several years younger than that. I ultimately selected the 14+ age group due to brief violence and the romantic subplot I mentioned earlier.

The War Inside has piqued my interest. I’d recommend it to anyone in the mood for a fresh approach to the dystopian genre.

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

Blood Ties by Marcus Twyman

November 22, 2013 by 2 Comments

BloodTies11_22 blood ties
Blood Ties by Marcus Twyman
Khet Chronicles 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (402 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Rose

Kalin Moshire and his stepbrother, Shane, struggle to survive the race of people that they belong to known as the Nebu Khet. They are hunted because of Shane’s heredity. He’s half Homo Sapiens (sape) and Half Nebu Khet (khet). Kalin swore to protect him on the night his mother sacrificed herself to save their lives, but will he keep that promise or will unseen threats destroy them first.

From the cozy suburbs of Montgomery County, Maryland, to the busy streets of New York City, across the desert sands of Egypt, to the rocky cliffs of Ireland – Kalin must unravel the truths that have been hidden to him since childhood and fight for the right for both he and Shane to live.

This book starts out with a bang–and a bloodbath– as Shane and Kalin witness an attack on their home where they saw their mothers killed in an attempt to get to Shane–half sape (human) and half khet (a supernatural race hidden for years from humans).

They manage to get away from the attackers and survive to adulthood, where we pick back up with them. It would be fascinating to see how they managed to survive as kids–but perhaps that’s a story for another time.

Mr. Twyman keeps the action moving–reading this was a lot like watching a movie. You could see the scenes being played out as you read. It made it a quick, enjoyable read (even at 400+ pages), but it also took a way a bit from the character development. I would have enjoyed getting to know the characters a bit better–on a deeper level.

The book is told in Kalin’s first person POV, so he’s the one we get to know the most. I enjoyed him–even if at times I thought he was too hard on Shane. The banter back and forth between them was amusing–and I really liked getting to know the other characters in the book, especially Samu. I could just see him rolling his eyes at Kalin and Shane’s antics.

I’ve heard there are more books in the series to come– will be interesting to see what new developments there are for this group.

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

Immortal Revenge by Mary Abshire

November 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

REVENGE
Immortal Revenge by Mary Abshire
The Legacy, #1
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (244 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

Grief stricken Katie Dillinger is on a mission to claim revenge for the death of her lover. In a race against time to find the murderer, Katie reaches out to Riker, a man listed as her boyfriend’s emergency contact. The cold-hearted man comes to Katie’s aid, but she doesn’t completely trust him. To keep her friends safe, she insists they leave town immediately. But her efforts come too late. A friend disappears and a clear message is left in the wake: surrender or more people will die.

Katie’s world is turned upside down when she discovers Riker has vowed to protect her. She’s involved in a prophecy, one which her lover had been preparing her for before his murder. All the combat training he gave her suddenly makes sense, and as Katie fights to keep her friends alive, she’s forced to prioritize. Revenge now, saving mankind next.

For Katie Dillinger, there’s nothing sweeter or more anticipated than revenge. She’d spent years learning how to defeat a vampire. Now it was time to put all that training to good use. But at what cost?

When her desire to avenge her fallen lover endangers the lives of those she holds most dear, Katie realizes it’s not just about her anymore. Killing Kyle’s murderers might give her some self-satisfaction, but where there’s one blood thirsty vampire looking to exploit humans, there’s bound to be more. Before long, she finds herself in the middle of a forgotten prophecy and thrust into a role she never wanted. Question is, can she be the leader the human race needs?

Katie has suffered one loss after another. You’d think that finding her boyfriend beheaded, on fire, and nailed to a cross in the front yard would be enough to break her down into a wailing pile of mush, but not this tough girl. She mourns as best as she can, but quickly re-gathers herself and begins formulating a plot of revenge. With the aid of some unusual and unexpected allies, she collects her weapons, devises a plan, and sets about avenging her vampire lover. And if friends and daggers aren’t enough, she has a secret weapon stashed in her purse that will help tip the scales in her favor. Even though Kyle gave her many gifts, this last part of him might just be what she needs to succeed. It’s certainly something her enemies don’t expect.

A friend of Kyle’s from many years past, Riker pledged to protect Katie should anything happen to his comrade. When he gets the call that his friend has been destroyed, he wastes no time fulfilling his promise. Problem is, Katie is willful, headstrong, and just plain won’t listen to reason or rationality. She’s a real pain in the ass. And yet, Riker believes in her purpose, even if she doesn’t, and is determined to guide, coax, and protect her along the way. We really don’t get to know Riker very well. He’s big, broody, and bossy. It’s pretty comical to envision this hulking immortal ranting and raving to a much smaller human female who completely ignores and undermines his orders throughout the entire story. Still, I can’t help but think there’s more to this guy than just stringy hair, big muscles, and a bad attitude. I wish the story had allowed for a more thorough character development with him.

In Immortal Revenge, Ms. Mary Abshire has penned an urban fantasy that is both interesting and entertaining. It wasn’t quite the page-turner I’d hoped, but it did keep my interest well enough and I was curious to see what the ending had in store. The killer for this story for me was the multiple editing errors. The first few I pretty much ignored, but as the story went on, I found them riddled throughout. The point-of-view violations were minimal and not really a distraction. The main errors I found were with incorrect word usage, missing words, and some that just didn’t make any sense. I don’t feel these were things that made the story unworthy of reading or a waste of time because I enjoyed it nevertheless. However, these are certainly things that some better editing could easily correct to take this story from okay to good. A bit of a romantic at heart, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t any romance in this tale, but this was not a romance story so the fault lies in my own personal tastes, not the author’s writing.

Overall, I felt the story was certainly worth my time and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, even if only on a surface level.

If you like kick-butt, don’t mess with me, slice ‘em and dice ‘em heroines and broody, fang-toting, muscle-laden heroes, then you’ll likely find Immortal Revenge worth your time. Be sure to find a comfortable spot before you get started, though. This is a lengthy tale that takes a while to read.

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

Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past by Paul Cude

November 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

DRAGON
Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past by Paul Cude
Publisher: Authors Online
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (376 Pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Part is an adventure story children and adults alike will love, about the present day world in which dragons disguised as humans have infiltrated the human race at almost every level, to guide and protect them.Three young dragons in their human guises become caught up in an evil plot to steal a precious commodity, vital to the dragon community. How will the reluctant hero and his friends fare against an enemy of his race from far in the past?Fascinating insights into the dragon world are interspersed throughout the book. Ever wondered how dragons travel below ground at almost the speed of sound? Or how they use magical mantras to transform their giant bodies into convincing human shapes?In an action packed adventure that features both human and dragon sports, you’ll get a dragon-like perspective on human social issues and insight into what to do if you meet a giant spider grinning at you when you’re wearing nothing but your smile You’d be flamin’ mad to miss it.

Peter Bentwhistle is a dragon who works as the head of security in a human company called Cropptech, a world renowned supplier of precious metals and valuable stones. All dragons are able to take on two forms, their dragon form and their human form. As dragons, they live below the surface of the earth in a world of their own, complete with a very fast monorail system which can transport them anywhere in the world.

Paul Cude has written a very imaginative story with excellent descriptions of both the dragon and the human worlds. Peter lives in Salisbridge in a human home left to him by his grandfather. He has no memory of his grandfather or his parents and is very much alone except for his two friends, Tank and Richie, who grew up with him in the dragon nursery.

I liked Peter and his friends and I found the descriptions of the dragon world to be fascinating. I also enjoyed reading about dragon habits, and one of my favorite supporting characters is Tank’s boss, Gee Tee, one of the oldest dragons in existence. There is a great deal of humor in this book, which makes it an enjoyable read.

Sports, both human and dragon, are described in complete and exacting detail. I did find it tedious to have Peter’s field hockey matches (Peter is an avid player), and even the dragon game of Laminium Ball explained play by play. I felt these descriptions slowed the overall pace of the book. Without them, this is a fast-action highly suspenseful book with never a dull moment. The games are important to Peter and his friends, so I’m sure they’d work for sports fans. And it was fun to see how Tank managed to rig Peter’s television with a crystal so that they could watch the professional Laminium Ball game even though they’d been unable to get tickets by intercepting the newspaper’s live feed.

This is an exciting fantasy novel with a rich detailed description of dragon life portrayed in a unique and imaginative way. Readers of fantasy are sure to enjoy adding this to their reading list.

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

A Deal with the Enemy by Jessica Ennis

November 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

ENEMY
A Deal with the Enemy by Jessica Ennis
Publisher: Prizm Books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (17 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

All-American Brenden has a crush on the weird boy at school. Brenden’s best friend Alex is also gay, so that’s not the problem. The problem is that Alex hates Brenden’s crush with a fiery passion. Can he prove to Brenden that he’s a good enough friend to support Brenden no matter what? The price may be more than he or Brenden are willing to pay, though, when Brenden’s crush stumbles upon their deadly secret and nearly dies in the process.

Best friends don’t always agree on everything. Sometimes being a good friend means figuring how to respond to choices you may not necessarily agree with.

What initially piqued my interest about the personalities of Brenden, Alex, and Alan in particular is how each one of them responds to changes in their environments. No one is ever too old to be curious about his or her environment, but how each reacts to new experiences says a lot about the kind of person they are as individuals.

This story includes a fairly large cast of characters for something this length. I had trouble remembering who was who as I read, especially since some individuals are interchangeably referred to by their first and last names. Once or twice I mixed up the backgrounds of key characters which made things even more confusing. I ended up making a list of characters and reading through the story more than once. Both of these tactics helped me figure out what was really going on, but it would have been a more enjoyable read had the author focused on a smaller group of students.

There were some pacing issues at the beginning that were almost entirely caused by the inclusion of more characters than could easily be accommodated by a tale of this size. More time than usual was spent introducing everyone, and while I would have preferred the discovery to happen sooner once the plot does reach that point it is well worth the extra wait.

It’s difficult to discuss the second half of the plot without inadvertently giving away spoilers, but sufficed to say what happens to Brenden and his friends quickly reinvigorated my interest in their fates after a slow beginning. If I could rate this section on its own it would earn a much higher rating than the one given to the entire book. The pacing picks up nicely and much of the time spent on explaining the relationships among and between certain characters earlier on makes much more sense.

A Deal with the Enemy is a good choice for anyone who likes to see how classic sci-fi/fantasy and romance tropes are expressed when the two genres are mixed together.

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

Carrier by Stewart Felkel

November 14, 2013 by 4 Comments

CARRIER'
Carrier by Stewart Felkel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (33 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

When the zombie invasion finally came Tim was caught unprepared. Bitten and left for dead he refuses to give in to defeat. Despite all odds he recovers from the disease that is ravaging the world. But what does a man alone, even a man apparently immune, do with a second chance at life in a post apocalyptic world?

How long could you survive injured and on your own in a post-apocalyptic world?

The characterization of Tim is subtle but incredibly rewarding. I never would have guessed that watching him kill zombies is a good way to get to know him, yet I learned the most about his personality, habits, and values by seeing how he reacts in life-threatening situations. It was fascinating to peel back the emotional layers of a quiet, lonely, grieving man who hasn’t so much as caught a glimpse of another human being in a very long time.

The myriad of ways in which living in constant fear and total isolation grind down one’s spirit bleeds through the author’s crisp, economical prose. In a story of this length space is at a premium. The author packs atmosphere and character development into every sentence, and he accomplishes this so unobtrusively that I unwittingly absorbed an incredibly complex understanding of Tim’s backstory as well as a solid mental map of the physical places he visits within a dozen pages.

What surprised me even more was how much I looked forward to further flashbacks. They pop up at precisely the right times and answer the questions I had about how Tim came to survive his initial attack. The idea of anyone being bitten by a zombie and living to tell about it was what initially drew me to this tale. Even though the blurb reassured me that he would survive that injury I was still perched on the edge of my seat for all of the flashbacks that involve that slice of Tim’s life. The tension in them was deliciously unbearable,and the author’s execution of Tim’s initial reaction to the bite was completely appropriate for the character traits the protagonist demonstrates again later on in the plot.

Mr. Felkel left me yearning for more. While all of the loose threads are wrapped up more than satisfactorily, I went to bed last night wondering what happens to Tim after the final scene. I felt like I had said goodbye to a new friend, and I wished there was a way for me to keep in touch with him.

Carrier is a must-read for anyone who loves horror or zombie tales. This is a book I couldn’t put down, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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