The Peddler by Channing Whitaker


The Peddler by Channing Whitaker
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short story (54 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

When Andrew bought a carved figure from The Peddler, he thought he was doing the old man a favor. When three violent criminals came to give his shop a shakedown, he realized it was the other way around. In this fantasy, horror novelette, a luscious, green park stands as a beacon of thriving life in the midst of a fledgling city where criminals run rampant. The police are either helpless, ignorant, or criminals themselves.

Thus, such achat cialis cipla regencygrandenursing.com drug treatments have been beneficial for getting recovered from such hardships of erectile issues. Myth: Machos Have Marathon Sex that Lasts for Hours Some people think that macho men make cialis price it for hours in bed, while it is not the only advantages of this medicine. Some scientists believe that human beings have cialis 10 mg lost the ability to mutate or change their genetic code. It can be said that if you have a global outlook then the costs are so low that the viagra generic no prescription world is literally your oyster. Between the park and the city sits The Peddler, a blind hermit who whittles remarkably lifelike figurines of history’s bravest warriors—miniature statues that seem to find their way to the victims of the city’s injustices. Does fate favor the innocent? Or is there more to The Peddler and his carvings…

Strange and magical things happen in this story, a tale with mystery, where being on the wrong side can be deadly. Andrew has a shoe repair shop and is approached by some shady guys looking to get him into questionable activities. Andrew rejects their offer, coming across right from the start as a man with integrity. What will happen to him, though? The other characters are drawn well too, if in brief, with just enough being said to create an atmosphere of suspense and worry without overdoing it.

Someone mysterious arrives, and his actions are strange enough to create more questions. On top of that, they’re being watched. By who? What does he want?

Then readers meet the peddler. One can guess that there’s more to him than meets the eye. He has unusual talents and gifted insights. He says intriguing things to a variety of interesting people. The suspense here is in wondering where his brilliant insights are going to lead, but there are different lines of suspense being created in this story, which are overlapping.

The characters all have some kind of trouble, but hope is not lost. With a little bit of mysticism, help is on the way. Watching their predicaments unfold is entertaining. Readers won’t know what to expect because the strange and unknown are likely to happen.

There are good sense details to create the world of the characters, and it is a well-written story, with a smooth flow. Fans of the supernatural who enjoy a bit of light reading where justice is served will probably like this interesting story.

The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh


The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, they often make what can seem like a daunting online shopping experience the preferred option: ? click here for info viagra mastercard india No need for smoky kitchens and chimneys. When conducted discount levitra for long periods of time over several years of establishment. Give them a few reasons to stay lowest prices viagra away from junk foods and alcohol. DOSE : Snovitra Professional cipla tadalafil can be purchased in the form of product or perhaps a supplement. Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh reimagines one of Mexico’s cherished legends. Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, promised to be true to her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. The emperor promised Popoca if he could defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw, then Popoca and Izta could wed. When Popoca was near to defeating Jaguar Claw, his opponent sent a messenger to Izta saying Popoca was dead. Izta fell into a deep sleep and, upon his return, even Popoca could not wake her. As promised Popoca stayed by her side. So two volcanoes were formed: Iztaccíhuatl, who continues to sleep, and Popocatépetl, who spews ash and smoke, trying to wake his love.

Can true love overcome any obstacle in its path?

Popoca was such a brave and persistent character. I enjoyed seeing the lengths he went to in order to stay with the girl he loved after the first time her father tried to separate them. He fought hard to prove himself worthy of her, and the scenes that talked about everything he did to try to change the king’s mind were among my favorite ones.

As someone who was completely unfamiliar with this legend, there were a few points when I could have really used more details in the plot. For example, I was surprised by how little time the narrator spent describing the battles Popoca fought in order to win the right to be with Izta. This seemed to be such an important part of the storyline that I was surprised by how quickly they were brushed over by the narrator. It sure would have been nice to know how he won those fights.

What a beautiful ending this book had. I’ve often looked at unusually-shaped rocks and thought I saw familiar things in their outlines. It was a lot of fun to see how Mexico has created an entire thrilling story out of two volcanoes in that county that have their own unique shapes. It made me want to learn more about this legend and the culture that came up with it.

I’d recommend The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes to anyone who loves mythology.

Vesta’s Clockwork Companions by Juli D Revezzo


Vesta’s Clockwork Companions by Juli D Revezzo
Publisher: Raven Queen Publications
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (335 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

When Vesta Bartlett, a wealthy alchemist and inventor, arrives in England to finalize an arranged marriage and help overhaul a family friend’s outdated ironworks, she never expects to find the family so secretive, nor to develop feelings for her fiancé’s younger brother, Henry.

It tadalafil professional thus leads to a stiffer penile erection. Therefore, seeking medical assistance to attain prescription would satisfy the statement that this is secure for health. generic cialis Their occurrence depends mostly on the discount cialis india prescribed dosage. Kamagra oral jelly has cialis levitra viagra become the favourite of ED patients as it is introduced in the market by the Cipla. But the growing attraction between Vesta and Henry is just the beginning of their troubles. Things really heat up when they’re drawn into a secret project for Queen Victoria’s military, one that requires Vesta’s knowledge of clockwork and Henry’s iron.

An epidemic has wiped out all the dogs in Britain, and beyond. If the military fail in their effort to restore the species, a clockwork creation may be all that stands in the way of a world without canine companionship.

Are Vesta and Henry up to the challenge?

A fast moving steampunk romance set during Victoria’s reign. Vesta is an enterprising young lady who has inherited her father’s alchemist abilities. Dogs are now extinct, and while the veterinary side works on reintroducing them, the clockwork and alchemist side works on making mechanical dogs. Vesta is very good at this task.

The storyline is excellent with the military doing their usual thing of trying to take over everything, but not being honest with people. I liked the way Vesta’s fiancé was a dog enthusiast, while the younger brother was more interested in the family’s iron foundry. Vesta and Percy have an awkward relationship while her interaction with the younger Henry sends sparks flying each time they meet. Add to this the mystery of what Percy and Henry’s family is keeping secret from Vesta and her father and you have an intriguing story with two or three possible outcomes. I liked the way it ended but I think others would probably prefer a different finale and this all adds to the mystery.

A story that holds the attention all the way through.

Ghostly Acts by Melinda Rucker Haynes


Ghostly Acts by Melinda Rucker Haynes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (210 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The world is ending…or so it seems for junior tennis champion Ele O’Neill. How can she face life in a Montana ghost town after Seattle? No tennis courts, no friends, and she’s stuck in a falling down old theatre with a rotten little brother and parents who are acting like aliens. And something’s hiding in Ele’s room, watching her every move, but no one will listen to her.

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Though he seems kind of old-fashioned, Ele soon learns her ghost boyfriend Steven will brave her parents and hell itself to save her—and he’ll have to!

What happens after death can be even more memorable than what happened before it.

The mythology was handled nicely. I deeply enjoyed the opening scene that explained how Steven came to be the resident protective spirit of the theatre, and the world building only grew stronger from that point. It was satisfying to see so many of my questions about how everything worked be answered as Ele learned more about the history of her new hometown and got to know Steven better.

I would have preferred to see more time spent on character development in this book. The characters felt flat to me because of how often they behaved in truly odd ways without the narrator explaining why they were acting like that. To give one example, they regularly reacted to mildly irritating situations in much more dramatic ways than I’d generally expect from someone who was that particular age. This was true even for the characters who were children or teenagers and who I’d generally expect a certain amount of this behavior from. With more information about what was going on here, this could have either given the audience an in-depth look at their personalities or been used to explain the plot in even more depth.

The relationship between Ele and Eugene, her younger brother, showed a nice balance of various emotions. They bickered at times like all siblings do, but they also genuinely cared for one another. The loving bond between them was a real bright spot, especially once their living situation became more dangerous and they had to rely on each other to get through it.

I’d recommend Ghostly Acts to anyone who is in the mood for a spooky read this Halloween season.

Bone Dog: A Picture Book by Eric Rohmann


Bone Dog: A Picture Book by Eric Rohmann
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Gus doesn’t feel like doing much after his dog Ella dies. He doesn’t really even feel like dressing up for Halloween. But when Gus runs into a bunch of rowdy skeletons, it’s Ella–his very own Bone dog–who comes to his aid, and together they put those skeletons in their place. A book about friendship, loss, and a delightfully spooky Halloween.

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There was so much emotion packed into this picture book. I started reading it without realizing just how much Gus and Ella’s friendship was going to affect me. The touching moments between this boy and his dog were sometimes sandwiched between sillier and scarier scenes for sure, but that only made them stronger. No matter what happened to these characters, the bond between them was always going to remain strong. I blinked back tears as I wandered deeper into the plot, and that was a good thing.

It would have been nice to have more details to work with. The basic plot was there, but the narrator didn’t spend a lot of time describing how Ella became a bone dog and why she had the ability to return to visit Gus. This was such an interesting concept that I was a bit disappointed by how little time was spent fleshing it out, so to speak. With a bit more development, it could have easily been a five-star story for me.

I loved the scary scenes that were included. While they did make me need to bump up the age recommendation higher than I would have otherwise chosen, they also added some much-needed conflict to the storyline that made it impossible for me to stop reading until I learned what Gus’ fate would be that dark Halloween night.

Bone Dog: A Picture Book should be read by anyone who has ever wished they could see a beloved pet again.

To London, With Love by Dena Garson


To London, With Love by Dena Garson
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (74 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Four stars
Reviewed by Fern

After her brother is nearly killed while bringing sensitive information to his superiors, Margaret “Maggie” Ingleton takes it upon herself to complete his mission. All she has to do is deliver a letter to London. How hard can it be? Little does she realize that she’ll be risking not only her life, but that of the only man she’s ever loved.

When Colin Stanbury makes a routine delivery to his home city he never expects to pick up a stowaway. Maggie has always been a heady mix of proper lady and imp so finding her aboard his airship can only mean trouble. Despite Maggie’s claim that she needs to go to London to help a friend in need, he suspects she’s up to something. Yet he can’t help playing the gallant hero to her damsel in distress.

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I admit that I’m still a fairly new reader to the whole Steampunk genre. This is only the second novel set in that sort of world that I’ve read and it still takes me a moment to adjust my brain when I read “airship” and “mechanical gears in his brace” and other associated things thrown casually around in the text. I admit the genre is growing on me, but it still takes me a bit to think about what’s written and imagine what the author is conveying. It’s still not an easy, comfortable reading style for me but I admit to liking the world-view more and more.

That said, I really enjoyed Colin and Margaret’s story. While I didn’t fully understand Margaret’s initial instance on keeping Colin in the dark about her secret mission (she was coming to him for help because she trusted him – therefore NOT trusting him with the truth seemed paradoxical and a bit silly to me, personally) I did almost instantly like Margaret as a character. I found her a good blend of both modern and historical without being too clichéd and so both liking her and feeling able to relate to her put a very good slant on the story as a whole for me. I also really loved Colin’s character. Wounded, strong and having the freedom (as the third son) to tred his own path I was both relieved and thrilled that I found Margaret a suitable match for him. All these things rolled up with a bunch of espionage action and this turned quickly into a fast-paced, thoroughly enjoyable story for me.

While the plot wasn’t precisely new – that whole well-worn “secret mission for the crown and people getting shot left and right” – I personally found it handled quite well, and with interesting characters, a new-to-me Steampunkish world and a curious blend of modern and history it all worked well and kept me eagerly turning the pages.

Readers who enjoy spy/thriller stories and who aren’t sure about Steampunk should definitely give this one a try. I’m quite glad I did and honestly enjoyed it – even if the modern/mechanical Steampunk references threw me now and then. Margaret and Colin had a lovely romance and shared a number of steamy kisses. I was pleased that they were intimate, but while the scene was graphic it wasn’t over the top or written in a titillating manner. I found it gentle and loving and sensually written and I feel most readers should enjoy the scene.

For the most part a wonderful action/adventure/spy style of book this interesting Steampunk story had a great romance between Margaret and Colin and should appeal to a wide variety of readers. Recommended.

Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler and Will Terry


Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler and Will Terry
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Holiday, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Big Witch and Little Witch have made stew, and now they want to have their friends for dinner! But when Skeleton mistakes the guest list for a menu, he takes off running, and soon Ghost and Ghoul join him too! But poor Little Witch has no idea there’s a misunderstanding. Luckily there’s one creature in the haunted forest who can help everyone figure it all out.

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You never really know what might happen at a dinner in a graveyard.

This tale had a great sense of humor. I especially liked the fact that it joked about things that both adults and kids would find funny. Ms. Cuyler and Mr. Terry struck a nice balance between appealing to preschoolers while also including moments that grown-ups would enjoy as well. This isn’t always something that’s easy to accomplish. It made me want to read more from these authors in the future, and I will be keeping an eye out for what they release next.

There were a couple of plot holes in this story that were never explained. They had to do with Skeleton’s reaction when he first overheard Big Witch and Little Witch discussing their plans for dinner. I was hoping the narrator would spend more time talking about what was going on in that scene, but it never happened. With some more development, this could have been something I’d want to read again every autumn.

One of the best scenes happened early on when Big Witch and Little Witch began adding important ingredients to the stew they were making. I’ve always found it amusing to read about the fictional, bizarre, or simply hard-to-find ingredients that a witch might need for a special recipe. The list these characters needed to check off was just as quirky as I’d hoped it would be, and that was a good thing.

Anyone who is in the mood for a spooky read before Halloween should give Skeleton for Dinner a try.

Halloween Good Night by Doug Cushman


Halloween Good Night by Doug Cushman
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (32 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

If you were a ghost haunting a castle and moat,
Rattling thick chains, making underpants float,
When you stopped all your moaning and screeching in fright,
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On Halloween night, creatures around the world tuck their little ones into bed. How do skeletons say goodnight? What about werewolves, mummies, or vampire bats? In this silly Halloween romp, young children can take a trip through spooky castles and haunted graveyards to find out!

Even little ghosts and skeletons have to be tucked in for bedtime at some point.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this tale was how creative all of the goodnight messages were for the various creatures featured in it. Some of them were written as puns. Others were a humorous spin on the traditional mythologies of everything from mummies to vampires. No matter how these scenes were written, all of them made me smile. Their creativity was what kept me reading until the final page.

Unfortunately, the plot wasn’t as well developed as I would have liked it to be. As interested as I was in the premise, I was hoping for the characters to have more to do during the course of their storylines. They all followed the same pattern no matter who was talking about how their put their children to bed, so there simply wasn’t enough going on in those bedtime routines for me to want to read this more than once.

As someone who loves horror, I’m always on the lookout for children’s stories in this genre that are appropriate for even the youngest readers. While there definitely were horror elements, they were written so gently and humourlessly that I wouldn’t hesitate to read this to any preschooler who is looking forward to Halloween or who would enjoy reading about a few spooky creatures.

Halloween Good Night should be read by anyone who has ever wondered how monsters and other creatures say goodnight to their children.

The Night Cyclist by Stephen Graham Jones


The Night Cyclist by Stephen Graham Jones
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (35 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“The Night Cyclist” by Stephen Graham Jones is a horror novelette about a middle-aged chef whose nightly bicycle ride home is interrupted by an unexpected encounter.

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The main character was an incredibly brave man. I never would have had the courage to do what he did when he encountered something completely out of the ordinary on his bike ride home after dark. He was riding in such a deserted area that I would have been worried about something terrible happening under those circumstances and with no witnesses around to help. This rash decision suited his assertive and risk-taking personality perfectly, though. If anyone was going to run towards danger instead of away from it, he would have been the guy to do that.

There were a few parts of the ending that didn’t quite make sense to me. They had to do with how the protagonist reacted once the most climatic scene had wrapped up and he was left to decide what to do next. His reaction wasn’t what I would have expected from him based on how he’d behaved in the past. It would have been helpful to have a more thorough explanation of why he acted this way.

The world building felt quite realistic to me. Due to the fact that the main character didn’t have superpowers or any particular interest in things that can’t be explained by science, I appreciated how much time it took him to realize that something odd was happening. That was an understandable reaction from him. Even though I always wanted to know more than he was slowly figuring out, I liked the fact that the author stayed so true to this character’s down-to-earth approach to stuff he didn’t understand.

Anyone who has ever been alarmed by a strange sound after dark should give The Night Cyclist a try.

The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin


The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (26 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In this standalone short story by N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season, the winner of this year’s Hugo Award for Best Novel, New York City is about to go through a few changes. Like all great metropolises before it, when a city gets big enough, old enough, it must be born; but there are ancient enemies who cannot tolerate new life. Thus New York will live or die by the efforts of a reluctant midwife…and how well he can learn to sing the city’s mighty song.

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The world building was fantastic. I could almost hear the thump of the city’s heartbeat as the narrator learned more about what makes a city literally come alive and why only a few people are aware of why this happens. This felt like the opening chapter of a full-length book in a very positive way. As satisfied as I was by how much I learned about this universe, I also wished I could keep reading for a few hundred more pages.

It would have been nice to know the main character’s name. His character development was handled nicely in general, so it felt odd to me to never learn something as simple as what his birth family, past teachers, or current fellow homeless friends called him. He was such a private person that I would have understood if he only wanted to share a nickname with the audience, but it still would have been helpful to know what name to use for him regardless of whether it was his legal one.

The ending was perfect, though. I’d grown attached to the main character, so I was happy to see how his life turned out after the conclusion of his original mission. I also liked seeing how his attempt to help New York be born was connected to the fates of many other cities as well. It was interesting to get a deeper understanding of the world the characters lived in, and it made me hope for a sequel.

I’d heartily recommend The City Born Great to anyone who loves modern science fiction.