Sword of Damocles by Brian Bern

November 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DAMOCLES
Sword of Damocles by Brian Bern
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (252 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Cade Knight was born into a family of spies. Espionage is in his blood.

Cade helped his father design the J-Phone, the most significant invention in the history of spy craft-complete with Eavesdropper, Impersonator, and Hacker apps. Together, he and his father customized a J-Phone for the president of the United States, enabling him to launch nuclear weapons from the Nuclear Football app.

The clinical symptoms disappeared and prostate fluid became normal for some chronic prostatitis patients often company with deeprootsmag.org canadian cialis online obvious mental symptoms, such as anxiety, mental stress, insomnia, dreaminess, fatigue and hypochondria. However, some young people may fall prey to male impotence The causes, which can lead to male impotence can include smoking cigarettes. tadalafil canada It safeguards canadian pharmacy viagra your eyesight from macular degeneration. All one needs to levitra 10 mg http://deeprootsmag.org/category/departments/page/2/ do is visit a medical expert and discuss the situation with him. Too bad the J-Phone falls into the wrong hands, and enemy agents hunt for those who know how to use it. When family members begin to fall off the grid, Cade and his twin sister call on years of training to identify and infiltrate the opposition. They must rescue their mother, retrieve the J-Phone, and reunite the family.

Failure could cost one life or a hundred million.

Cade and Brooke Knight find themselves caught in a web of intrigue when they thought they would just be celebrating their fifteenth birthday. Suddenly, instead of thinking about gifts and parties, they have to stay out of the clutches of spies and at the same time rescue their mother who has been caught, all without letting the powerful J-Phone get into the wrong hands.

Brian Bern has written a fast-paced action novel which I couldn’t put down. The twins manage to stay just barely ahead of the villains, but the way that they manage that is spell-binding. Both Cade and Brooke are fully developed characters and the settings are described in enough detail so as to put the reader right in the middle of the action. Cade and Brooke have been well-trained by their parents who are government spies, and they need every bit of ingenuity and training to succeed in saving their family.

The story is totally dependent on Cade, Brooke, and later on, their British friend, Evan, and the three never let the reader down. The technology which Cade uses is described with enough detail that it is totally believable. Each of the three teenagers knows something different so that each is able to make significant contributions in the solving of the mystery. I liked the way the three interact and their friendships reveal their inner strengths and loyalties.

It might seem a bit unbelievable that three teenagers could be responsible for saving the world, but honestly, I had no doubts about them and their abilities from the moment I started the story. Bern has hooked the reader from the beginning when Cade and Brooke put their knowledge to work in their efforts to find their birthday presents. This is something that many children do, but the depth the twins go to demonstrates that they have received unusual training. So when they come home the next day, I had no problem believing that they would notice things such as the scratches on the front door lock. I had already been drawn into their lives and was a willing participant in all their adventures.

Sword of Damocles is a wonderful story which readers of all ages who love spy stories are sure to enjoy. I look forward to more from this author and I hope that Cade and Brooke have many more adventures.

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

Pyromancer: Mancer Series Book One by Don Callander

November 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

PYROMANCER
Pyromancer: Mancer Series Book One by Don Callander
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (259 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

A firemaster wizard’s young apprentice must quickly learn the ways of pyromancy before the dreaded Ice King turns the world into a wasteland as cold as his wicked soul…

The sign nailed to the twisted, rickety gate in the broken-down wall read:

APPRENTICE WANTED

to learn the MYSTERIES and SECRETS of WIZARDRY in the Discipline of FIRE from a MASTER MAGICIAN, SUPREME SPELLCASTER, WONDERFUL WIZARD AND PRESTIGIOUS PYROMANCER!

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Also should be able to read, to write a fair manuscript, and not snore except when asleep on his back. Signed… The Wizard Flarman Flowerstalk

INQUIRE WITHIN

Douglas Brightglade needs work. His father was lost at sea five years before the start of this story and his mother has entered a nunnery. Douglas must now make his own way. He decides to answer the sign nailed to the gate of a rickety fence. He enters through the gate and applies for the position of apprentice to the Wizard Flarman Flowerstalk. Once Flarman decides to accept him, Douglas is introduced to a very strange and wonderful household, run by a big, blue teakettle.

Don Callander has written a magical fantasy novel filled with a large variety of interesting and well-developed characters. As Douglas’s education progresses, he learns that there is a war developing. The wizard Frigeon is trying to take over the world and turn it into a wasteland. Those on the side of good must fight and must win, according to Flarman. “We can never entirely destroy evil. The best we can do is expect it, face it squarely, and fight it. To do otherwise is to let the Dark and Frigeon win, don’t you see? Well, we will win!”

There are so many wonderful characters in this story that it is hard to pick favorites, but the bronze owl is not only magical, but very smart and witty as well. There are also fairies and dwarves and various other species and each is described in rich detail as are their homes so that I really felt as if I were in the middle of this world.

The action is fast and well-paced. I found that the pages just flew by and I had a very hard time putting the book down. The suspense grows as Douglas and Flarman have to complete their traps for Frigeon, and time is running out. I enjoyed my trip through the various locations in this world, whether it was the dwarves’ caves or the undersea world of the Sea Fire. And all through the various events there was the underlying mystery of whether or not a way could be found to defeat Frigeon, and once the plan was conceived, was there enough time to carry it out.

Lovers of fantasy set in magical worlds are sure to enjoy Pyromancer, and I for one have already picked up the two other books in this series because Douglas’s adventures are definitely not to be missed.

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

Behind Palace Doors by Jules Bennett

November 12, 2013 By 1 Comment

PALACE
Behind Palace Doors by Jules Bennett
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (192 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

“I have a proposition for you.”

Their marriage has all the makings of a great romantic movie: a beautiful Mediterranean setting, a handsome prince and fantastic sex. Too bad it’s not real. When Prince Stefan Alexander weds Victoria Dane, the agreement between friends is supposed to be in name only to secure his crown. But it doesn’t take long for buried passion to erupt….

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The swift and sassy opening introduces Victoria Dane and the charming Prince Stefan Alexander – friends, we are told, although the sexual tension is obvious from the first phrase. She’s there on his home turf (Greece) to do a job, but somehow, she ends up agreeing to do a favor. Perhaps ‘favor’ is too mild a word – as she marries him! Yet, it’s all business – or is it?

The mutual attraction practically ripples through the pages. We readers know what we want to happen- but there it is: the Prince is a wealthy playboy and their marriage is in name only. Their friendship is important to both of them, and that, perhaps, is what makes ‘Tori’ stand out from his other female interests. Certainly, Bennett more than establishes their mutual attraction. What is perhaps more impressive is that Bennett manages to make both of them such likable people, even with faults. Their conversations, interests and decisions are believable, and they are easy to identify with – even with the Greek Isles as backdrop. Simply said – they are ‘real’ people, wealth and home aside.

The courtship seems so terribly genuine, although both have reservations for the long term. Fortunately they have few physical reservations – the sexual side of things give neither much pause. However, their very real feelings also tumble into a clutter of worry about what the other expects, about the future, and about what the world expects.

Wonderful parallels occur within the story: “Dance with me” he tells her. “We should practice before the official royal wedding dance…” So he gets her to dance with him, but without telling her, just that he honestly wanted to dance with her. He gives her a plausible reason … and so much that happens between has a ‘good reason’ even though its something they also both want!

Well written and lively, this suffers a tad from predictability: still, an engaging read and very much a product that delivers what it promises.

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

Visions of Fire and Ice by Teresa D’Amario

November 11, 2013 By 4 Comments

Cover_Visions
Visions of Fire and Ice by Teresa D’Amario
Publisher: Freya’s Bower
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full (356 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 3.5 Stars
Review by Poppy

Trapped on a planet not their own, the Petiri spend their lives hiding the natural gifts that set them apart from the world. They live long and unfulfilled lives, unable to find their soul mates on this backward planet known as Earth. That is until the night Ramose comes face to face with Tamara, a woman whose gifts rival his own. Determined to find why this human is in possession of an ancient magical Petiri relic, he arranges a meeting.

But Tamara, embittered from past events, is wary despite lifelong dreams of Ramose and a sure knowledge he is her soul mate. Before long the couple find themselves ensnared in a battle that has raged for millennia in Egypt’s desert. Set, Egyptian God of Chaos, is determined to take his just due: the throne of Osiris.
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The only way to stop him is for Ramose to put his trust in Tamara, but first must gain the same from her. The ensuing sensual relationship is filled with romance, lust and love. Their relationship is tested by an unnatural evil. Will her powers over fire, combined with his ice be enough to win the day? Or will the ancient gods and goddesses of Egypt destroy more than just their love?

With a clever plot and loads of tension, Visions of Fire and Ice hits the right notes for a worthwhile paranormal romance.

I was intrigued by the premise of ancient aliens crashing here, mixed with Egyptian mythology and gods. It was a unique story and kept me turning the pages. The heat between our main characters, Ramose and Tamara, was palpable. The strongest part of this story was the sexual tension between those two. There was a nearly unbearable pull, but various things kept interrupting their attempts to consummate their relationship, so that pull just grew stronger until I thought I’d about explode (and they did, too). It never felt contrived or put on, and well-written sexual tension is one of the things I love most about romantic fiction.

As noted, the plot was both unique and interesting, but I struggled in places when things slowed down. There were times when it almost had a “day in the life” feel. I think the prose could have been tightened a bit, and some scenes omitted, and this would have been a nail-biter.

Still, I was very much invested in the story and in the characters (I do wish I’d seen “the Js” meet and fall for each other … I didn’t see that there was a book prior to this one, but it had that kind of feel, like I’d missed their story). The author does a great job with the villain who seems to be irredeemable, but … is he? There’s plenty of mystery and action as well, enough that I can easily recommend this book to those who enjoy a good mash up of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and romance. Just make sure you’re patient through the slow parts, because it’s worth it to read to the end.

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

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan

November 11, 2013 By 2 Comments

SnOW
Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (375 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Once upon a time, Christmas was Kayla Green’s favorite time of year. Now all the workaholic wants for Christmas is for it to be over—as fast as possible! So when duty calls her to snowy Vermont to close a deal with a new client, Kayla is grateful for an excuse to avoid the holidays for another year.

Jackson O’Neil left a thriving business behind to return home and salvage his family’s resort—it’s in his blood, and he can’t let it fail. Now that he’s got marketing whiz Kayla Green working with him to put Snow Crystal on the map, success is on the horizon. The fact they strike enough sparks off each other to power all the Christmas lights in Vermont is just an added bonus.

Kayla might be an expert at her job, but she’s out of her depth with Jackson—he makes her crave the happy-ever-after she once dreamed of, and it’s terrifying. As the snowflakes continue to swirl, will the woman who doesn’t believe in the magic of Christmas finally fall under its spell?

Sleigh Bells in the Snow is a heartwarming, feel good, totally romantic story filled to the brim with wonder and holiday magic. I’d just finished reading a less than stellar book and picked up this one by Ms. Morgan in the hopes it would be better. I’m sure other readers know what I’m talking about. The amazing thing is, Sleigh Bells in the Snow was better. In fact it erased completely the screech marks left in my brain from the last book and replaced it with joy, relief, intense interest, complete engagement with the characters and a warm, gooey happy feeling by the end. I was so overcome with happiness and satisfaction, I wanted to hug the book. Since I’d look pretty goofy doing that, I had a celebratory chocolate instead.
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The basic premise is about a woman scarred by events in her past which has the undesired effect of making Christmas and anything to do with it such an anathema, she has panic attacks. Enter in a man from a family who embodies what the holiday’s meaning is all about and chaos ensues. The scenario has been done before but Ms. Morgan introduces her own special touch that makes this plot her own. The one thing that I can count of from this author is a tale filled with people who a reader can relate to, feel connection with and can care for. She outdid herself with this novel.

The story is told from both Kayla’s point of view, and Jackson’s. It was effective because when she has her first major breakdown, I could understand why it was so harrowing and traumatic for her. When the POV switched to Jackson, I got to see a man totally flummoxed by the heroine’s reaction and his internal dialogue revealed why he would not allow her to run. It was a set up that guaranteed my attention and curiosity was roused. I had to know how in the world Jackson was going to break through Kayla’s trust issues in order to reach her heart. It’s a journey worth reading.

Don’t assume that Kayla’s panic attacks turn her into a jabbering mass of female. Far from it. She’s an ice maiden and her choice of coping skills has worked in her favor – to a point. If a reader has been fortunate enough to see the movie Baby Boom with Diane Keaton, and love it like I do, then they’ll see some resemblance to Ms. Keaton’s character. The difference is that this high powered, tiger in business doesn’t get sidelined by a baby, but a cute, chocolate-eyed little puppy. The ‘awww’ factor is quite solid.

The romance isn’t built on physical loving but on words, actions and wondrous scenery. Jackson has tremendous patience with the heroine. The story explains why that is possible. Readers are in for some scenes of romance that will knock their socks off. The waterfall scene was my favorite. The way he proposed truly tugged the heartstrings. If Hallmark were looking to make a Christmas holiday movie, I really wish they’d choose Sleigh Bells in the Snow. The story explores all the emotions and made me laugh, sniffle, smile, melt, and when Kayla and Jackson do succumb to their powerful feelings, I felt hot and flustered, in a good way, too.

Another reason for my believing this would make a good movie is Jackson’s family and the community in which the story takes place. This is the first book of a three part trilogy based on following Jackson and his brothers finding their happy ever afters. The author had the daunting task of not only world building but creating interest in his other two brothers, Tyler and Sean, without diluting the focus from Kayla and Jackson’s romance. The author succeeded. Ms. Morgan wrote a very solid standalone story.

This book is rich in dialogue and quirky people. I got a kick out of the French cook and the family friend who teaches skiing. Sniffles were generated at the powerful scene between Tyler and his teenaged daughter. Concern and grudging respect was felt for Jackson’s grandfather – he’s a crotchety old man with a heart of gold. And Kayla’s boss is a man totally clueless about what really matters in life. His character, although limited on screen time, helped illustrate very clearly the woman Kayla initially was and how different she came to be – effective and powerful writing.

I was extremely satisfied with the manner, pace and direction the author took with Jackson and Kayla’s romance. The emotions that battered the two of them, their reactions and subsequent results made for quality reading.

Sleigh Bells in the Snow is a powerful read. It’s a simple statement for not such a simple book.  Ms. Morgan has created the ‘must read’ romance book for the holidays. She captured the essence of what makes the season so incredible while entertaining readers with her characters. This tale has the capacity of garnering Ms. Morgan some new fans for her books while making her current readers very happy and satisfied. I know I am. I also heartily and loudly encourage fans of holiday romances to not miss out on this book. It’s a treasure.

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

The Vanished Knight by M. Gerrick

November 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

KNIGHT
The Vanished Knight by M. Gerrick
The War of Six Crowns Book One
Publisher: Etopia Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (310 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Since the death of her parents, Callan Blair has been shunted from one foster family to another, her dangerous secret forcing the move each time. Her latest foster family quickly ships her off to an exclusive boarding school in the Cumbrian countryside. While her foster-brother James makes it his mission to get Callan expelled, a nearby ancient castle holds the secret doorway to another land…

When Callan is forced through the doorway, she finds herself in the magical continent of Tardith, where she’s shocked to learn her schoolmates Gawain and Darrion are respected soldiers in service to the king of Nordaine, one of Tardith’s realms. More than that, the two are potential heirs to the Black Knight—Nordaine’s crown prince.
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But when the Black Knight fails to return from a mysterious trip, the realm teeters on the brink of war. Darrion and Gawain set out to find him, while Callan discovers there is more to her family history than she thought. The elves are claiming she is their princess.

Now with Darrion growing ever more antagonistic and her friendship with Gawain blossoming, Callan must decide whether to stay in Nordaine—where her secret grows ever more threatening—or go to the elves and uncover the truth about her family before war sets the realms afire.

Callan Blair’s parents died when she was eleven and since then, she has been shunted from one foster home to another, because of her dangerous secret. Her latest foster family ships her off to a boarding school in Cumbria, where her foster-brother, James, does his best to get her expelled. Before she knows it, she is forced through a doorway which lands her in another world, the magical continent of Tardith, where she finds her fellow classmates, Gawain and Darrion. They are soldiers in service to the aging king of Nordaine, one of the kingdoms in Tardith.

M. Gerrick has written a fast-paced action story with plenty of intrigue and suspense. Callan discovers a bit about her heritage and she wants to know more. Darrion doesn’t trust her, but Gawain has fallen for her. And meanwhile, there is her dangerous secret which forces Callan to keep her distance from anyone she might care about.

The characters in this novel are fully developed and I really liked Callan. She is in a strange world with a lot of unanswered questions, but she still holds her own and even helps the very people who distrust her. Most of the novel takes place in Tardith, and I couldn’t help wondering whether or not she would ever get back to school, but I was definitely pulled into all the intrigue surrounding the aging king and his possible heirs. This novel is very hard to put down and the pages turn themselves.

Whenever an author creates another world, the author must be sure to describe it in enough detail so that the reader is drawn into it, and Gerrick truly succeeds with this. The world of Tardith and the realm of Nordaine seem just as real as the Cumbrian countryside and the boarding school.

This is the first novel in a series, and I cannot wait for the next as this one ends with a lot to be discovered. Readers of fantasy are sure to enjoy following Callan on her quest to learn about her parents and to discover how to handle her secret.

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

Treasure of a Thousand Worlds by Shannon Rouchelle

November 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WORLDS
Treasure of a Thousand Worlds by Shannon Rouchelle
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (158 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The key to adventure begins.

After the tragic death of their mother, Daniel and Ben Dalton are left orphaned and forced to move in with a neighbor.

Soon after, questions about their past begin to surface. The boys discover an eagle key and map that takes them from their home in New York to a pirate world. This startling discovery opens the doors to a whirlwind adventure filled with mystery and danger.
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With fierce pirates in search of the lost treasure, Daniel and Ben must cross the high seas, battle evil villains and trek through dangerous jungles, to unlock the mystery of a thousand worlds.

Adventures are supposed to include a little danger. What Daniel and Ben don’t know is that some of them are far more dangerous than others.

The boys’ reactions to all of the strange things they encounter during the course of this story were what kept me so interested in their fate. Ben and Daniel have experienced a lot of grief during their short lives, but neither one of them has any interest in feeling sorry for himself. It was rewarding to see how their positive outlooks influence their behaviour during the scariest scenes in the book. It was even better to tease out the personality differences between the two brothers. Being twins certainly doesn’t mean they have the same opinions about everything.

There were a few instances in which I wished more time was spent explaining the rules of the pirate world. The fast pace works really well for the majority of this novel, but it did make it difficult for the author to fully explain what was going on in certain scenes. Due to how it was plotted it wouldn’t have been easy to go back and describe these scenes in more detail later on.

I also had trouble determining if this tale is set in the past or present. Due to the social mores and types of technology present in Daniel and Ben’s life I believe it is set in roughly the mid-20th century, but it was never quite clear to me if this assumption is correct. From what I understand this is the beginning of a new series, so I hope that future books will cover this topic in greater detail.

With that being said, the high energy of the plot is contagious. The places Ben and Daniel visit and the people and creatures they meet are as colorful as they are unpredictable. This is a good choice for reluctant readers due to the wide variety of genres represented in it as well as the instant likability of the main characters.

Treasure of a Thousand Worlds is an intriguing introduction to the adventures of Ben and Daniel. I definitely recommend checking it out to anyone who loves exploring action-packed new worlds.

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

Spirit Shapes by Marilyn Meredith

November 8, 2013 By 2 Comments

SHAPES
Spirit Shapes by Marilyn Meredith
A Tempe Crabtree Mystery
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (150 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Ghost hunters stumble upon a murdered teen in a haunted house.

Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s investigation pulls her into a whirlwind of restless spirits, good and evil, intertwined with the past and the present, and demons and angels at war.

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I like Tempe and she is a well-defined character whom I believe in. There are also a number of other interesting characters, such as Nora Jennings, the town’s oldest resident, Nick Two John, the chef and owner of Bear Creek Inn, and Doretha, a Native American shaman. I wasn’t as fond of Tempe’s husband, Hutch, as he seemed a bit flat, but otherwise, I thought the characters were natural and believable. The atmosphere in the haunted house was very well portrayed and I was really on edge whenever Tempe was there. Obviously the house contains more mysteries than just the one Tempe is supposed to solve.

Overall, Marilyn Meredith gives appropriate clues and plays fair with her readers, allowing the suspense to build, but I did think it was strange that guidance counselor claims she’s never heard of one of the high school students, a student who keeps making contact with Tempe. Also, the mystery is much more about figuring out how to set the spirits free than it is about solving the murder.

This is a lovely cozy mystery which fans of that genre will certainly enjoy. It is the twelfth in a series, but I never would have known that if I hadn’t seen it in the title. It works just fine as a stand alone, and I had no difficulties following the plot. If you are looking for a mystery involving spirits, this might just fit the bill.

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

Spirit Eyes by Lynn Hones

November 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

EYES
Spirit Eyes by Lynn Hones
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (153 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

A young child with psychic ability, ghosts who want the truth known, ghosts who want the truth buried-it all adds up to the Perfect Spiritual Storm.

Pearl, a happy, vivacious youngster adopted from China, is endowed with a gift for seeing other worldly spirits. Not happy with this power, she tries to understand the ghosts following her, instructing her, and even threatening her. Things go from bad to worse when she sees a spirit with a funny spider on its arm. Alarmed, her mother, Ruth, has her draw the spider, which is actually a Swastika.

How will Pearl and her mother fight the forces of good and evil? Will the frightening truths about their city, their home, their friends, and even their own family unite them, or create chasms that can never be repaired?

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Adoption papers rarely tell you everything about a child’s past. As the Caucasian parents of two transracial adoptees, Ruth and Paul can’t exactly hide their daughters’ origins. What I found really interesting was how Pearl’s history and racial identity were woven into her current circumstances. The author makes several connections between the two that I never saw coming, and it was rewarding to follow her logic as she snaps the pieces of her narrative together.

There were a few instances in which I wished more time would have been spent connecting certain plot points. The inclusion of such a large cast of characters for what is a fairly short full length novel occasionally results in backstories that are hastily sketched out. In most cases I was able to infer the rest of their stories based on how particular characters acted later on, but it would have been nice to have my hunches officially confirmed or denied in a few cases.

Pearl is eight when this story takes place, but due to the violent manners in which some of the spirits she meets have died I am recommending it for high school students on up. While nothing is described in particularly gruesome terms there are extremely emotionally intense scenes involving the lives and deaths of these spirits. These scenes are quite well written, but due to the dark themes they introduce as well as the inclusion of certain tropes from the horror genre I’m not comfortable recommending this book to younger audiences.

What I appreciate most about this tale is how vividly the author describes the world in which Pearl and her family live. The tranquility of the rural and suburban settings provides a thin veneer of respectability for a family slowly coming apart at the seams. Ghost stories work best when the reader honestly believes that the characters he or she have grown to care about are in terrible danger, and Ms. Hones did a great job at keeping me on my toes from beginning to end.

Spirit Eyes is a heart-pounding ghost story that I highly recommend to adult and teen readers alike.

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