To Dream the Blackbane by Richard J. O'Brien

To Dream the Blackbane by Richard J. O'Brien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Richard J. O'Brien kindly includes a prologue in his book, To Dream the Blackbane: A Novel of the Anomaly. This prologue gives an extensive overview of the Anomaly itself, how it happened, how the world was partially cut off, and the resulting bizarre hybrid creatures that came to be. This sets the stage for a unique story, one that features a hard boiled private detective who is a former cop. Wolfgang Rex is a second generation hybrid, a mix of dog and man, and if you can get past that permutation, you can delve into this book. The strange creatures, from gargoyles to fairies become downright believable and still retain human qualities. What transpires though is a great story full of mystery, vampires, stolen scrolls and much more. To say this book is unique is an understatement, but the author pulls off the impossible, imbuing the plot with nuance and subtlety in a crazy package. If you are looking for something a little different when it comes to characters, this is the book for you. Great urban fantasy, this tale is highly recommended.

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The Shadow Girl by Misty Mount

The Shadow Girl by Misty Mount
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As most teenagers experience some level of discontent and angst, so does Zylia in The Shadow Girl by Misty Mount. Except Zylia does it to the extreme, leaving this world for another one, seemingly disappearing at times. The story opens with a young Zylia, just 6 years old, going to the park with her Grandmother, and her two a little bit older siblings. The kids play "house", and when the playtime is over, they leave the park. But Zylia seems to have been left behind, or that is what she thinks. This scene opens up the book nicely, and sets the tone for the rest of the book, as Zylia, now 13, must come to terms with the fact that she is indeed a little different. The author does a great job of setting scenes, you feel you are there experiencing them with the characters, and the characters themselves are well drawn and highly relatable. There is an intriguing mystery contained within these pages as well that moves along the plot, as the other world that Zylia is part of is slowly revealed. The author has created a believable fantasy world, one that serves as a potent reminder that many of us need to escape the real world from time to time. Highly recommend read from this excellent writer.

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The 19th Bladesman by S. J. Hartland

The 19th Bladesman by S.J. Hartland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The 19th Bladesman (Shadow Sword series Book 1) by S. J. Hartland is the author's first book, but don't let that deter you from reading this gem. This is a fantastic fantasy book with sorcery, magic, and a certain darkness. The characters are deep and sometimes hard to relate to, but perhaps that is part of the story building process here. It's hard to know who is a bad guy vs. who is a good character. They are all intriguing however. The names are great as well, Vraymorg, Rozzen, Kaell, among others. Nonetheless the author has built a compelling fantasy world, and pulls you in right from the start. There are a lot of elements here from battles and spies, to mysticism and various secrets. Battles galore, castles, and everything else you can imagine inhabit this complex book. Perhaps a list of characters in the front of the book would be helpful so that the reader could keep track of things would be helpful. Otherwise, a solid entry into the fantasy genre. Highly recommend.

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Brewer's Odyssey by Michael Corrigan

Brewer's Odyssey by Michael Corrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brewer's Odyssey by Michael Corrigan showcases the author's uncanny ability to transport the reader to a different place in a magical way. Mystical happenings, dead writers, and even ghosts populate this well written metaphysical thriller as we go along with Thomas Brewer on his various escapades. The settings, as well the descriptions all create a wonderful sense of place, a little spooky and mysterious all at once. Thomas Brewer is just 40, but finds himself in the middle of what seems to be a plot much like the novels he writes, his life has certainly gotten interesting of late. When his dreams foretell of a tragedy, he simply must pay attention. This in turn leads to a tangled tale, one of terrorists plots, ex-lovers, and even revenge. There is much to absorb in this book, but it is all nicely put together in a captivating package that renders its characters with realism, and moves along with a rapid pace and solid plot. Highly recommend for a great read.

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The Day Before You Came by Martin Freiner

The Day Before You Came by Martin Freiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Day Before You Came: Bad Choices Make Good Stories by Martin Freiner is not for the fainthearted. This is not a whimsical retelling of a young man's youth. This is a grab you by the throat, force you to read the underbelly of society, with all of its flaws, evils, and torments kind of book. As a dark anthology of stories, the reader is exposed to the inner workings of the author's brain, and this book is the resulting memoir, albeit written in a seemingly messy fiction kind of way. There is simply nothing redeeming or positive in this rendering, however, that is part of the appeal. Dark and disturbing, Feiner creates worlds that on the surface seem implausible, but yet apparently these worlds and situations happened. They do exist, even if only on the periphery of society. Not for the meek or timid, with a ton of graphic sex and brutality, this book is recommended for something a whole lot of different, if you are up for it.

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From Frights to Flaws, 2nd Edition (Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions Book 1) by Sunayna Prasad

From Frights to Flaws, 2nd Edition by Sunayna Prasad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From Frights to Flaws, 2nd Edition (Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions Book 1) by Sunayna Prasad is a great book geared toward young girls who are coming of age. Alyssa McCarthy is just that age, and after having recently lost both of her parents, now must live with her uncle. Her sister Hailey lives there as well. Mrs. Hutchinson is the annoying babysitter for the girls and is a tyrant who examines their every move. Life for Alyssa is one chore after another, until she sees a magical message written in the rain. Soon she is receiving more anonymous messages, telling her of mysterious things. Before long, Alyssa is kidnapped and taken away to a magical island by a sorcerer. Talk about something exciting happening for Alyssa, finally! This is a fine example of a fantasy style book written in such a way that it will appeal to young girls in search of adventure and some fun. Great story filled with magic and suspense. Highly recommend for the youngish teen crowd.

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