The Bookwyrm's Review of Paladin Unbound by Jeffrey Speight

 Author: Jeffrey Speight

Length: 334 Pages

Publisher: Literary Wanderlust

Release Date: July 1, 2021

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Amazon Link

Rating: 10/10 Stars

PLOT SYNOPSIS

The last of a dying breed, a holy warrior must rise up against a growing darkness in Evelium.

The most unlikely of heroes, a lowly itinerant mercenary, Umhra the Peacebreaker is shunned by society for his mongrel half-Orc blood. Desperate to find work for himself and his band of fighters, Umhra agrees to help solve a rash of mysterious disappearances, but uncovers a larger, more insidious plot to overthrow the natural order of Evelium in the process.

As Umhra journeys into the depths of Telsidor's Keep to search for the missing people, he confronts an ancient evil and, after suffering a great loss, turns to the god he disavowed for help.

Compelled to save the kingdom he loves, can he defeat the enemy while protecting his true identity, or must he risk everything.

REVIEW

When I first heard of this book from another blogger, I thought it had a solid premise and would make a fun, light fantasy read. Now that I'm finished, it is definitely a fun read, but I'll say this up front: Paladin Unbound is now tied with M.L. Spencer's Dragon Mage as my fantasy book of the year. I was just enthralled throughout the story, and spent a few sleepless nights just transported into this incredible world.

The world building in this story is top rate. We are introduced to the world of Elevium on the first page at the end of a war between its creator gods. The Fire God Naur has been defeated in his efforts to take over the world, and is banished by his sister goddess Vaila to Pragarus, a hell cut off from the world where he should be locked for all eternity. What Vaila didn't know was Naur left an insurance policy behind that had the potential to free him in the future if some truly evil people enact an insane plan.

This foundation leads us to the modern world of Elevium, where Naur is an all but forgotten myth, and the truly great magics are long in the past. It's a world divided into many countries, with their own agendas and peoples. There are humans, and some new fantasy races that are reminiscent of some of the more traditional fantasy races such as dwarves, elves, etc., but with their own twists that make them perfect for this world. There are also some tensions between the races, especially with the Orcs, who are seen as vicious barbarians. This makes life difficult for the orcs that choose to leave their homeland, since no one believes they can act any different. This creates a lot of tension throughout the book, adding another layer of struggle. 

There is a variety of magic in the book. There is divine magic, given to priests and paladins from their gods to help protect the people of Elevium. There are also shape changing druids and other mages, as well as magical creatures such as vampires. A lot of the magic is tied into bonding an element through infusion, such as gold and platinum, which is about as high as modern mages get. The ancient mystics supposedly could bond Rhodium, basically giving them the power of minor gods, but no on has done that in many centuries. Its a very interesting system that isn't dwelled on too much, but just enough to intrigue the reader. It just lays a solid foundation that allows the story to flow without a lot of overcomplicated magical mumbo jumbo. Sometimes a magic fireball is just a magic fireball.

The characters in this book truly shine in a way that just grabs the reader. Umhra the Peacbreaker, the main character, is such a great character. A half orc/human, he is the leader of an Orc mercenary band that takes commissions to clear out monsters and bandits, all while generally being distrusted or even hated by the people around them. Umhra is such an optimist, even though he has led such a life of struggle. Raised by a monk after his village was wiped out by barbarian raiders, he is a brave, honorable man, trying to take care of his men, and when a mission they undertake goes horribly wrong, Umhra takes matters into his own hands to try and stop the world threatening conspiracy they have uncovered. Umhra's own secret could be the only thing that can save the world, although he faces possible death if his secret is revealed. It is his determination in the face of personal danger that really makes him shine.

Umhra's companions are also as good a group of fantasy companions as you could ask for. Laudin the ranger, Gromley the warrior priest, Naivara the druid, Shadow the rogue and Nicholas the mage, as well as Balris the healer priest and Talus the warrior are just a fantastic group, complementing each others abilities and working as a cohesive group. Their backgrounds and abilities are shown throughout the book, without any info dumps that are such a bane to immersing yourself in the story. Their character's grow and struggle throughout, and they have well plotted character arcs that really keep you wanting to read more about them. These are very much traditional heroes, even Shadow, who you can imagine being sketchy at a game of cards or dice, but would follow you through the gates of hell for a good cause. There is no grey morality here, but a wonderful throwback to traditional fantasy, where heroes are heroes, and proudly so.

The villains are an interesting bunch. They are separated throughout the story, and each encounter with one individual or group leads to another page unfolding in the greater conspiracy. There are no easy battles, no flawless victories. These are hardened, evil, and most importantly, powerful villains, who are not just going to be overpowered, and are a threat at all times to the heroes. They are truly evil, for different reasons with each villain, whether it be lust for power, selfishness, or fulfilling a prophesy, they are irredeemable because of their actions, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Again, a throwback to a more traditional fantasy style, and this really keeps the reader engaged all the way through to the final epic confrontation with the final force of evil, Naur himself.

All in all, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the past decade, and tying for my favorite fantasy book of this year with Dragon Mage is no small feat. I just kept getting drawn deeper into the story, finding myself constantly referring to the map as I went along (it's a beautiful map, so it added to the immersion), realizing just how epic this journey was. This is a book that will have appeal to so many fans of fantasy, and is even ok for younger readers, not having any sex or super graphic violence that could scare younger readers. Its just an intensely entertaining story, that I was sorry to see end. I do hope to read more adventures with Umhra and his companions soon, though, and congratulate the author on writing such an amazing adventure.

A Q&A with Tripp Ainsworth, Author of The Spokepit Fairytale Series.

Tripp, thanks so much for being willing to share something of yourself. I think people will enjoy getting to know you a little better.

 

What made you decide to sit down and start writing the Smokepit Fairytales? What made you say to yourself "this is what I want to do"?

For years I had ideas in my head about stories, and aspirations to write. AT some point I started carrying around a little black moleskin book and started taking notes of humorous stories or situations I came across or heard. In 2015 I was on the USS Bonhomme Richard with the 31^stMEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) out of Okinawa and having all but filled up that little black book, I started transferring the notes to a word document on my laptop. I hadn’t really anything to do on ship, and the idea sparked to flesh out the notes into a series of short stories, which is where I got the name Smokepit Fairytales. I didn’t get around to making all them what they were before I decided that it would be more entertaining to make it pure fiction and have all those scenarios happen to a small group of characters instead of unconnected individuals. In the end I ended up writing the first two books back to back on that deployment.

Is there a genre you don't write in that you are a fan of, that you might consider writing in one day? If so, which one?

I’m not a huge fan of romance novels. It’s not that I don’t like romantic things, or soft core porn (That most love novels are), but their tone irks me, and the authors more often than not, don’t make the story enjoyable. That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of romance, and graphic sexual encounters in my work, but to dedicate a whole novel to it seems a bit much. My fourth novel kind of takes a jab at that. Chainsmoke Your Problems Away could almost be defined as an anti-romance novel. Half of the story is focused on a failing relationship, but the other half id space-naval-warfare, and barracks life on Mars.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Either inspirational or just for entertainment?

Ernst Junger and Robert Heinlein are the two that immediately come to mind. Junger started with memoirs about his time on the western front in the first world war and then transitioned to writing science fiction later in life. Heinlein is almost exclusively science fiction.

I've always heard the expression write what you know. How much of you is in Smokepit?

All of everything anyone writes is 100% the author. While they might be based on someone in real life, every character ever written is in some way shape or form a reflection of who wrote them. There’s no way of getting around that, only hiding it. That being said, almost all of the situations my characters have gone through are things that either my friends and I have done, or are handled in a way that I think me or my friends would handle it. Like, I’ve never been tied up and assaulted while my friends were ritually sacrificed to dark spirits, but my characters reacted how I think the people I know in real life would.

There are some really crazy scenes throughout the books. How much of your real life experience is in them? Not just the combat, but stuff like the barracks “accident”. Is that something that really happened, not necessarily to you, but on post? Or did you just think up something just over the top and run with it?

A good chunk has happened directly to either me or someone I know, however a lot of it’s fiction. One of the ways I get ideas is by hearing a story, watching a movie, or reading a book and thinking a situation is dull and could be improved by a certain thing happening. I’ll take that situation form whatever it was then add my spin of the interesting thing happening.

I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the books. Were these things you started while you were still on active duty, or something you drew specifically for these books?

The illustrations in the books were made specifically for the books. I also use them as almost a writing guide sometimes. If I’m not sure what I want to happen in a scene, or how things should “look” to the reader, I’ll often draw out the scenario then base the writing on what ended up being drawn.

I know this questions might be controversial, but are there any trends in current Sci-fi and Fantasy you aren't a big fan of? And conversely, trends you are really into.

Not with the trend themselves, but the band wagoning. Someone might come out with a good sci-fi idea that really hits home, but it can be completely ruined by Hollywood making 50 carbon copies of the plot and saturating the market. 

Finally, so where do you see the series going? Any finite plans for series completion?

Smokepit Fairytales is half over. I plan to have 12 books in the series and cap it off. Then from there I do have other series and stand alone books I plan to write. Though so far they’re all in the same universe. I want to write a book about Elcair after Russia, “In the Mood’s” Pilot from St Petersburg, Jorge McKenzie after Six Pistols and a Dagger, and I have a whole series planned for the Virescents who left earth.

Again, thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with the rest of us. Hopefully, we'll have more entries in the series for years to come.

For anyone interested in learning more about Tripp, or checking out his books, which I highly recommend, here is the link to Tripp's Amazon author page, as well as his social media links.

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Instagram

The Bookwyrm's Review of Nocturna: Reveille by Heath Stallcup

Author: Heath Stallcup

Length: 294 Pages/ 6 Hours, 20 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Devil Dog Press

Release Date: October 27, 2020/ March 18, 2021 (Audio)

Narrator: Eric A. Shelman

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Amazon Link

SYNOPSIS

At a time when mankind should have been reaching for the future, life devolved into a nearly apocalyptic present, pitting neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation as three different viruses ravaged the population. Civil wars reduced the world population even more.

Then came the asteroid Wormwood, and everything changed. Man did what nobody expected...they pulled together and worked to save the planet and themselves. Years after the space rock did its damage, people began to change. Old tensions were brought back as those afflicted were targeted by the fearful.

Then the real monsters appeared, and nobody was ready for what happened next.

REVIEW

This second book in the Nocturna series picks right up where book one left off. Still set in the post multiple pandemic, post civil war America in 2035, it's an America, and a world in general, that's holding on to civilization by a thread. Cities are abandoned, left to the "insurgent" scavengers who rose up against the government in a hopeless fight against America's military might brought against them. When the asteroid called Wormwood hit the planet in Northern Africa, the world's counties put aside their petty squabbles to help. Of course, they had no idea Wormwood brought a bigger threat to mankind than just dust in the air and shortages. This may spell the end for mankind once and for all.

The characters in this story are such a joy to read about. They are a varied bunch of scientists, soldiers, former insurgents and just regular people, trying to do their best in a truly unique situation. The military characters are extremely well thought out and realistic, not surprising given the author's military background. They come across as real people with real motivations, not just tin soldiers so often portrayed in books. The scientists are also well thought out, with differing backgrounds and specialties informing their decisions, not always in the best ways. They just read like real people, with strengths and flaws on display throughout. The "insurgents" are really well done. They could have been caricatures of rebels like Fidel and Che, but instead, they are realistic people caught up in horrific events, doing the best they can to take care of their people. These disparate groups all find their way together to fight an enemy they could have never expected, that is growing in complexity. There is also a conspiracy from people higher up in the government that is slowly revealing itself, and I'm interested to see where that angle goes. There is also a revelation of a secret order of warriors within the military that I didn't expect, but actually fits when the history of the country is taken into account. All in all, these characters are a real strength to the story.

The narration for the audiobook is handled by Eric Shelman. He has excellent narrative pacing, never letting the story bog down with a monotone, and emphasizing just right when the action picks up. He does a great job of creating differing voices for the characters, and you are never in doubt which character is speaking at any time. I am definitely interested in checking out his out audiobook work.

Second books can often be a letdown, but not in this case. This book takes everything that made the first book so good and amped it up just a bit. More action, better villains, and a conspiracy that's looming in the background that will have ramifications for everyone in the story. This is a must read for fans of military and sci-fi thrillers, and even horror fans can find something to love here. Can't wait to see what book three holds in store for us.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Dark Seas End by Richard Nell

Author: Richard Nell

Length: 275 Pages

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: June 1, 2021

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Amazon

This review is part of the Dark Seas End Blog Tour, which will conclude tomorrow, June 4, on Out of This World Blogspot. Be sure to check it out as well.

SYNOPSIS

Feared pirate and scoundrel ‘Lucky’ Chang has a dirty secret: he loves his crew, and would die to protect them. As he’s dragged from prison to face the dark sea and a dangerous new world, he just might have to.

Zaya, warrior and skald from the land of ash, knows she has a destiny. Having left her homeland with only a knife and a dream of adventure, she finds herself captured by pirates. To discover her fate, and become a hero from the book of legends, she must first survive the sea.

With a monstrous pilot as guide, and an ex-assassin as captain, Chang, Zaya, and the crew of the mighty Prince sail into uncharted waters. There they may find new lands and wealth, as well as glory beyond their dreams, or nothing but their doom.

Set in the same epic world as the award winning Kings of Paradise...this new series from author Richard Nell can be read on its own, or as a continuation of the Ash and Sand trilogy.

REVIEW

When I was offered the chance to read this, I didn't really know what to expect. Not having read the Ash and Sand Trilogy, I was unfamiliar with the author's writing style, other than hearing it was "grimdark". What does that mean? Does it mean it has unredeemable villains as characters that you really don't care about? Anti-heroes? Or maybe scoundrels forced into situations though desperate circumstances and having to get a job done by any means necessary, a la the Black Company. For my tastes, It turns out more like The Black Company.

Usually I'll break down the characters first in a review, but this time, I'm going to mention world building first, because that world building sets the stage in such a way that its integral to the characters. Realizing there is a whole trilogy setting the stage for it, I was surprised just how deep the author chose to make this books world building. Starting from the empire of the islands, we get an idea just how large this world is, as we realize they had been in a war not too long ago with a group of Northerners that they had never expected to be able to reach them. We get introduced to some of the main characters in jail, awaiting the King's justice for piracy in a world where piracy is more and more of the noble's privateer variety, and sea wolves are almost gone. Freed from that prison, they take a journey across an ocean to the edge of the map and beyond, finally reaching a land of unfamiliar people. 

You can tell the author took a lot of the inspiration for this land from Mexico and Central America, and the Spanish invasions. We see a land of great pyramids and city states, but also a land of subjugated tribes, looking at those cities with loathing, having to do with the religious practice of human sacrifice for their devourer god. That does, like it did in the Americas, tend to unite people against the oppressive rule of those city states, as it does here. With multiple POV's, we get to see life inside the great city-state as well as the tribal lands under their thumb. We also get a peak at the magic they have, allowing them things like the gift of languages, and ability to tame even the biggest predators. Not exactly fireballs and magic missiles, but useful all the same. You really get immersed into this world throughout the story. We even get a fairly deep look into the culture and norms, and the clash between the newcomers and natives, something sadly lacking in so many books.

The characters are such an interesting group. A group of pirates, who, except for the captain and first mate go by job titles, not by names, so as not to attract the goddess of the seas attention. Pirates who look to their captain, Lucky Chang, for leadership, and for that, he treats them like he would family, because in a real sense, they are. Then there is Zaya, a woman from the land of Ash far to the North, a trained Skaal (bard), who ends up running into the last person she ever expected, the great shaman of her people, called Ruka, on the ship with the pirates he and his companion Eka sprung from jail, and are now sailing across the ocean. Her father was Ruka's Skaal during his conquering days, so she thinks fate has led her to this point. Ruka is such an enigma, but in the best way, as his struggle with his own personal demon is slowly revealed throughout the story, in some pretty intense ways, and his arc has such a big impact on the story as it's revealed what he's dealing with.

The skills Zaya has learned in life, languages and fighting, are put to the test, as the violent land they end up in changes drastically for her, as she is captured and enslaved with Ruka. We see an interesting character arc for her here, as what I took to be a bit of Stockholm Syndrome is just revealed to be practicality and biding her time. 

We also get to meet Yakat, a prince and general of the main city state, and see his struggles as his past comes back to haunt him as a priest of the devourer god maneuvers for revenge on him in the most personal way possible, and Yakat struggle with the demands of duty to his king and duty to his children as a father. How this arc progresses is so intense, you really get drawn into his decision making and anguish, because no matter what, he will hurt someone, either his father the king or himself.

This is definitely a book I can recommend. While it has grimdark elements, its much more a story of redemption for a large portion of the characters. There is a lot of action and some great storytelling, with revelations about characters really keeping you into the story. 

About Richard Nell

Richard Nell concerned family and friends by quitting his real job in 2014 to 'write full-time'. He is a Canadian author of fantasy, living in one of the flattest, coldest places on earth with his begrudging wife, who makes sure he eats.

His books mix his love of history and ideas with the epic glory of fantasy, because reality could use some sprucing up. He's the author of dark, epic fantasy Kings of Paradise and Kings of Ash, and a new gritty flintlock series starting with The God King's Legacy. He hopes you like them.

If you are interested in any or Richard's other books, they can be found at this link:

Richard Nell Amazon Author Page

The Bookwyrm's Review of Pain Killer: A Memoir of Big League Addiction by Brantt Myhres

Author: Brant Myhres

Length: 316 Pages/ 10 Hours, 49 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Viking

Release Date: February 16, 2021

Genre: Autobiography

Amazon Link  Barnes and Noble Link

 

"This book is at times startling, yet very real and down to earth . . . I saw [Brantt] in all phases of his life and his career. I consider him a friend and an ally. Pain Killer sends a strong message." --Darryl Sutter, former NHL player, coach, and GM

SYNOPSIS

From the only player to be banned for life from the NHL, a harrowing tale of addiction, and an astonishing path to recovery.

Brantt Myhres wasn't around for the birth of his daughter. Myhres had played for seven different NHL teams, and had made millions. But he'd been suspended four times, all for drug use, and he had partied his way out of the league. By the time his daughter was born, he was penniless, sleeping on a friend's couch. He'd just been released from police custody. He had a choice between sticking around for the birth, or showing up for league-mandated rehab. He went to rehab. For the fifth time.

This is his story, in his own words, of how he fought his way out of minor hockey into the big league, but never left behind the ghosts of a bleak and troubled childhood. He tells the story of discovering booze as a way of handling the anxiety of fighting, and of the thrill of cocaine. In the raw language of the locker room, he tells of how substance abuse poisoned the love he had in his life and sabotaged a great career. Full of stories of week-long benders, stripper-filled hot tubs, motorcycle crashes, and barroom brawls, Pain Killer is at its most powerful when Myhres acknowledges how he let himself down, and betrayed those who trusted him. Again and again, he fools the executives and doctors who gave him a second chance, then a third, then a fourth, and with each betrayal, he spirals further downward.

But finally, on the eve of his daughter's birth, when all the money was gone, every bridge burnt, and every opportunity squandered, he was given a last chance. And this time, it worked.

It worked so well, that not only has he been around for his daughter for the past eleven years, in 2015 he was signed by the LA Kings as a "sober coach": a guy who'd been there, a guy who could recognize and help solve problems before they ruined lives and made headlines (as the Kings had seen happen three times that season). Not only did Myhres save himself, he saved others.

Unpolished, unpretentious, and unflinching, Myhres tells it like it is, acknowledging every mistake, and painting a portrait of an angry, violent, dangerous man caught in the vice of something he couldn't control, and didn't understand. If Brantt Myhres can pull himself together, anyone can. And he does, convincingly, and inspiringly.

REVIEW

I don't review a lot of autobiographies on here, especially ones that don't have to do with Sci-Fi or Fantasy. However, I saw actor Joe Manganiello mention this book on Instagram, since he is friends with Brantt. After discovering what the book entailed, I found myself intrigued just how deep he would go into his past, considering just how bad the publicly known information was. After reading it, I can say I was shocked just how honest and open he was about demons that destroyed not only his career but a good chunk of his life as well. 

Brantt details his early life in poverty in an abusive house in rural Canada, dealing with abuse and neglect in his house until he was finally able to escape to his grandparents, and finally living with his father, who helped him develop his hockey skills, and find success in Jr. hockey. This is where we see the seeds of both his successes and failures laid down, since he had the skills to play at the highest level, and had discovered his ability to drop the gloves and fight made him a wanted commodity in a sport like hockey. We also see that this early time is where the partying starts that would lead to ruination and multiple stints in rehab.

We get an intimate view into his career, including his drafting into the NHL, and his career as an enforcer, ensuring his team's star players weren't messed with, or if they were, dishing out retribution. It's this combination of money, pro sports life, partying and pain that led to addiction that would destroy his career in a lifetime ban after he violated the league's substance abuse policy one too many times. 

We also get to see his redemption as well, as his new child and a stay in rehab that lasted months longer than he expected finally give him the incentive and tools to deal with his issues. He took those experiences in his life and used them for good, forming a hockey camp for First Nation's kids in Canada, to help give them options in life they normally wouldn't have. He then ends up as a substance abuse liaison for the LA Kings, helping players on the Kings and their farm teams deal with addiction and lifestyle issues. It seemed like a really good use of his experiences, and is quite inspirational. 

As the child of two parents with addiction issues, both of whom died from those addictions, this story hit me hard. I've seen how easy it can be to let your demons destroy you completely. I have to say, seeing just how low Brantt got, just how close to death he came, was truly saddening. His redemption was fought for just as fiercely as any fight he ever had on the ice, more so, in fact, and is truly inspiring, especially after he admitted just how close he came to falling off the wagon once again, and heading back down the path to ruin. It takes a lot of self awareness to admit this, and is all the more inspiring because of it. 

 I think this is a story that way too many people can relate to. I also think its a book that people should read and take inspiration from, seeing how even falling from such highs to such lows, that its still possible to come back from it. I think this will appeal to not only sports fans, but to people looking for a story with an uplifting journey though travails to redemption.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Little White Hands by Mark Cushen

Author: Mark Cushen

Length: 268 Pages

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: May 1, 2021

Genre: Fantasy

Buy on Amazon

SYNOPSIS

Almost five hundred years have passed since the Seasons were at war.
Half a millennium since Winter defied Spring, and lost.
Generations have come and gone, not knowing the bitter freeze and howling snows of Winter ever existed.
But now, after centuries of silence, the participants in this ancient struggle have resurfaced and reignited their feud on the doorstep of an unassuming little kitchen boy.
Garlan’s dreams of being just like the knights he idolizes may not be as impossible as he has always been led to believe, when he is chased from his home and thrust headlong into the kind of adventure he had only ever read about in books.
Setting out on a journey that spans the entire kingdom of Faeland, Garlan will traverse impossible mountains and stormy seas and battle terrible monsters, all to keep the world he knows safe from an enemy who will stop at nothing to bring about a never-ending winter.
With a cast of fantastical characters to aid him in his quest, can Garlan overcome his self-doubt and find the courage he needs to rise above his humble station and become the hero he always dreamed of being?
The fate of the world rests in his hands.

REVIEW

I got the chance to review this when the author offered me a review copy for an honest review. I couldn't say no, since it is definitely off the beaten path of books i normally review. It's unusual in that it has a broad age appeal without reading like something just a kid would enjoy. It actually appeals to the adult reader as well, with some really creative worldbuilding and characters to bring the story.

The characters, especially the main character Garlan, really shine. Starting as just a kitchen boy, Garlan gets inadvertently drug into the kind of desperate adventure he has been wishing for his entire life. Garlan dreams of adventure, and trains as best he can to be a knight, his highest ambition, although as a kitchen boy, he realizes its a futile dream. HIs journey to discovering his destiny is so well laid out, its hard to believe he's just 11, but having a son about that age myself, its not so implausible. His companion, a wizard familiar called Oldface, is a fun character as well, mentoring Garlan throughout his journey, and actively acting to try and protect him. Throughout his journey, he runs across such an interesting cast of characters, from godlike avatars of the seasons, forest guardians, fairies and even pirates, that all add layers to the story. The antagonists are an interesting bunch, with some more humorously evil than others. The main villain is definitely not humorous, and creates a sense of tension and menace throughout the book, even off page. This is such a satisfying group of characters.

The world building is also strong throughout. Faeland is such an interesting setting, with a wide variety of environments and locations, ranging from the the capital city of the kingdom to fairy forests and haunted swamps, each with their own mysteries and wonder, with the final confrontation on the volcanic island of the fire mages, Calderia. There is magic throughout the world, although it's fairly subtle for the most part, then all of a sudden there's a talking scarecrow, or magical fairies, or a magically created blizzard. it's just well done and adds layers of surprise and wonder.

I think this book will have a broad appeal to a large group of fantasy fans. Its a book an adult can enjoy, while not having to worry if their kids want to read it as well, since there is nothing inappropriate for younger readers. I saw that this book is also a current contestant in SPFBO7, and I hope it gets the appreciation it deserves. I give this a hearty recommendation.

RATING: 8.5/10

The Bookwyrm's Review of Magical After By David Gunter

Author: David Gunter

Length: 314 Pages/ 7 Hours, 47 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: November 14, 2020/ February 4, 2021

Narrator: Aaron Smith

Genre: LitRPG

Buy on Amazon

"David, let yourself be touched by the celestial bodies. Then yours will be one of imagination and invention. Take this path to find the greatest joy in your new world. When you look up to the great expanse, you will see what others do not. For you, the stars will be a marker and a sign. All that you imagine and create will be touched by the might of the stars..."

PLOT SYNOPSIS

A man whose world has been shattered embarks on a daring and dangerous adventure. In a last and desperate hope, he enters a virtual world only to find that it is so much more. Join him as he faces werewolves, dragons, and fairies. How will he escape assassins, deal with the rise of the zombie demons and uncoil the control the gods have on the two worlds of Atsia Major and Atsia Minor.

REVIEW

I have to say up front this book caught me by surprise several times. The first surprise was, even with a pretty short amount of the books time set in the real world, it was surprising well written and in-depth. The struggles the main character has after the death of his wife are just so well plotted out. The cause of his wife's death is also is also written in such a way as to create a great conspiracy story, with a lot of unknown factors being revealed both in game and in the real world. The second surprise was how little the story resembles the usual crunchy stats LitRPG. While there is a bit of character progression and the like, it mostly plays out like an epic fantasy, although the use of a narrator describing scenes and the NPC's clueless about who this voice from the sky describing everything is quite humorous. 

The characters are a a lot deeper than you would expect in what is considered a light and fluffy genre. The main character, David, is a widower mourning the death of his wife while struggling to raise small children. His diagnosis with a life threatening illness opens a new possibility for him, as he's offered the chance to go into a game world while his body heals, and his children can visit with him there. His character arc really takes off from there, as in game, he discovers all is not as he was promised, and the game world is certainly not what he was told it would be. 

The secondary characters are a fun bunch, and run the gamut of fantasy game characters. I especially enjoyed the undead sisters Syl and Slow, who added a lot of levity, and the pirate Sinbad, who is just a hilarious stereotype of a pirate. The villains are well done, with realistic motivations and actions, not just mustache twirling and cackling. Whether it be the supplanted company CEO, or the former Spec-Ops soldier who's consciousness was copied into the machine, they are both dealing with situations beyond their control, and trying to complete their tasks, no matter who they have to hurt to accomplish them. 

The world building in the story is top notch. Atsia Major and Atsia Minor are so well conceived and executed, and provide a wide range of fantasy settings for the story to take place in. Whether is a fairy forest or a city where the dead walk and "live" fairly normal lives, and every kind of setting in between, there's something here for any player. and over it all, there seems to be a ghost in the machine pulling hidden strings, a ghost with a connection to David that could change things forever for him. And just who is that pesky narrator, who keeps interrupting all those villain monologues? You'll have to read to find out.

The narration for the audio book was handled by Aaron Smith. I was unfamiliar with him coming into this one, but I enjoyed his work. He has a nice British accent, and did a nice job using a variety of British accents, tones and pacing to create unique voices for each of the characters. His pacing on the narration is excellent, never slipping into a monotone, keeping the listener engaged. I look forward to hearing more of his work in the future.

All told, this was a positive experience for me reading this one. Its a creative world with interesting characters I think a lot of readers can sympathize with. There's a lot for fans of LitRPG and fantasy to enjoy in this story. I would definitely recommend it.

Rating: 8.5/10 Stars

Cover Reveal - Susana Imaginario's Nephilim’s Hex

 

Book Information

Title | Nephilim’s Hex

Author | Susana Imagianrio

Series | Timelessness #3

Exp. Pub Date | 1st July 2021

Cover Art by | Dave Kidd

Design by | Design for Writers

About the Book

The Nephilim loom over Niflheim.

Gods, Dharkan and mortals fight amongst themselves in their shadow.

And Time is on no one's side.

The gods are outmatched.

Their talents are useless against the Nephlim's technology.

Desperate, they turn on each other. New alliances form and fall apart, for there can be no peace when survival is at stake. Psyche, thorn between a goddess' duty and a mortal's hate, sets off on her own to learn the truth behind her fate, unaware of the danger following her. Meanwhile Chronos' own agenda involves a power so dangerous and unpredictable it's been long forsaken by the both the gods and the Nephilim. Will it be worth the risk?

About the Author

Susana Imaginário is a misfit from Portugal. She moved to England to pursue a career as an aerialist and now runs a Board Gaming retreat in Ireland with her husband and their extremely spoiled dog.

Her hobbies include reading, playing board games, hanging upside down, poking around ancient ruins, talking to trees and being tired.

Her debut novel, Wyrd Gods, combines mythological fantasy with science fiction and satire in a strange way.

Other Books in the Timelessness Series

Book 1: Wyrd Gods

Book 2: The Dharkan

Both books available now!

Author info

Goodreads| https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19484357.Susana_Imagin_rio

Twitter | https://twitter.com/Chronodendron

Instagram | https://instagram.com/chronodendron?igsid=1enmppb67xvfyw

Website | Susana Imaginário - Home (susanaimaginario.com)

The Bookwyrm's Review of Dawn of War by Time Marquitz

Author: Tim Marquitz

Length: 263 Pages/ 10 Hours, 9 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Self-published

Release Date: July 1, 2011/ January 8, 2015

Narrator: John Pruden

Series: The Blood War, Book 1

Buy on Amazon

PLOT SYNOPSIS

For hundreds of years, the bestial Grol have clawed at the walls of Lathah without success. Now armed with O'hra, mystical weapons of great power, they have returned, to conquer.

Witness to the Grol advance, Arrin can abide his exile no longer. He returns to Lathah, in defiance of death, with hopes to save his beloved princess and the child born of their illicit affair. He finds her unwilling to abandon her people. At her behest, Arrin searches for a sanctuary for them only to be confronted by the Sha'ree, a powerful race long thought gone from the world. Through them, he learns it is not just the Grol that threaten the land.

Empowered by a magic never before seen, the savage nations spread chaos and ruin across the realm. With Lathah under siege, and the world on the brink of cataclysmic war, Arrin must strike a deal with the Sha'ree to take the fight to the Grol, or forever lose his one true love: his family.

REVIEW

I was a big fan of the authors Demon Squad books, as well as his other work, so when I had a chance to listen to this one, I jumped at it. I can't say enough good things about it's sprawling world, with multiple different original races, magic that is rare enough that when it's used, it is a shock to the characters, and fully fleshed out characters with motivations that make sense. The main character, Arrin, is a disgraced guardsman, exiled after an illicit affair with his charge, The Princess of Lathah, which resulted in a child. He has no plans to return, until he witnesses the bestial Grol (think beast form werewolves), destroy a city a few days away from Lathah. He knows he must warn the city, even if it means his death, to ensure that his love and their child can escape. The story only takes off from there. 

There are other story lines, leading a diverse group of characters to meet with members of the worlds elder race, long thought dead, who themselves are declining due to magic that has become poisonous to them. If this sounds intriguing, believe me, it is, and only got better as the story progressed. The characters are rich, fully fleshed out people, with realistic motivations, who are trying to survive in a world gone mad, or are the ones trying to make it go mad, in the case of the villains. The magic of the world is mostly invested in items, except for the elder race, who can personally wield magic, which is slowly killing them.  

This book should appeal to any fan of Mark Barnes Echoes of Empire books, or any fan of sprawling epic fantasy. I highly recommend it,

RATING: 9/10 Stars 

The Bookwyrm's Review of A Nightmare on Elk Street by C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus

Author: C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus

Length: 247 Pages

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Series: Bright Falls Mysteries, Book 3

Amazon Order Link

"Enjoy the final installment of the Bright Falls Mysteries! It's deerlightful!"

PLOT SYNOPSIS

Jane Doe has settled into her new role as the Shaman of Bright Falls but that doesn't pay the bills. With her boyfriend off chasing his evil father, Jane has decided to take up a job as security on the set of horror movies being filmed in her hometown. Unfortunately, the crew have been threatened by an ominous force that quickly sets its sights on Jane herself.

Complicating matters is that Jane's past sins are coming back to haunt her with her vengeful cousins still blaming her for the death of their sister. Her complicated relationships with Alex and Lucien are also about to come to a head. 

MY THOUGHTS

It always amazes me that authors with such a large shared universe across multiple series can come up with new material that doesn't just retread other stories. Once again, this duo has created a fresh new story that adds to the lore in this universe and series, adding new characters and bringing in some old favorites from across the various series. The characters, as has been the case in this series, are the real selling point. Yes, the plot and world building are top notch, as is usually the case with these authors, but they really pulled out all the stops with the characters in this final chapter in the Bright Falls Mysteries.

The series main character, weredeer Jane Doe, has come a long way from her introduction as a teen caught up in magical events. Now both a wizard apprentice and the shaman of Bright Falls, she is still a snark factory, but is now more than ever willing to take on baddies way outside her weight class. She is the anti-damsel, and the story she's involved in now tests her to the limit and beyond. Her companions, especially Emma and Lucian, get nice little growth arcs of their own, and the new additions to the cast of characters are fun, with Jane's cousins being a real delight. The one flat note was the  anti-supernatural Christian politician's daughter, who of course did everything her religion forbade, basically just being a parody hypocrite. It just felt flat, since its just such an easy shot to take. Not a deal breaker by any stretch, just kind of a flat spot.

The villains fit well in with the worldbuilding, since they are integrally tied to Bright Falls. If there's some bad juju that could possibly happen, it's bound to end up in Bright Falls. This is the case again, and the town's sordid past once again helps create a villain that threatens the entire town's safety. The final fight with the villain ends up determining the course of the rest of Jane and her friends lives, in some intriguing and unexpected ways.

While this is the end of the Bright Falls mysteries, I suspect this is not the last time we will see these characters, whether in the other series in the universe, or in their own new arc of stories. I'll be glad to read them either way, and I will of course update this review when the audiobook releases. This is a recommended read.

Rating: 9/10 Stars

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Mage's Maze by Jared Millican.

Author: Jared Millican

Length: 264 Pages

Publisher: Southern Fried Publishing

Release Date: September 25, 2019

Amazon Link

 "Not your mother's magic fantasy!"

PLOT SUMMARY

When Karen Paladino, a mild-mannered accountant, started her work week with a simple carpool who would have know her life would have taken an unexpected turn toward the absurd and the sometimes just plain weird. Thrust blindly into a world of magic she can’t believe or comprehend. Karen is rocketed on a whirlwind journey that will test her sanity her patience and most importantly her ability to handle bad puns and pop culture references by a less than amusing mage and his sidekick dragon. In the center of this magical world sits a magical death maze with a locked door that no one can open, and no one knows what treasures it hides. When the evil white hand of Salazar learns of John Harden’s new friend and what she could do, she will stop at nothing to capture her and the door. This story has something for everyone magic, Gods, Dragons, vampires, Arthurian legends, and the odd occasional Centaur sex joke. Littered with action, sarcasm, bad jokes and a few heartwarming moments. Throw in a tiny dash of romance, and you have a story made for late-night T.V. or at least a straight to home video release. 

MY THOUGHTS

I've been a fan of urban fantasy for years. I have to say that my favorite trope is the hidden world aspect most of them have. That there is another layer of reality under the surface, which is where the magical races dwell, interacting with our reality in secret. Mage's Maze definitely falls into this category. The world building is rather refreshing, though, as the story centers around the mage's maze in the title, as well as quite a few pocket dimensions. This is in addition to various locations around the world. This combination of locations mixed with some really fun creature creation creates a nice background for the characters to operate in.

The characters really shine in this one. It's such an eclectic mix of personalities, from Karen, who starts as an innocent vanilla human that discovers and grows into power, to characters like John Harden, the snarky guardian of the entrance to the maze, wizard in his own right, who is just such a fun character. They both go though such a nice arc, as we discover how Karen is tied to the maze, and they grow into such interesting characters throughout the book. The secondary characters are well thought out and mesh well with the story, whether it be a dragon in disguise, a centaur with an ingenious business model, or a death spell slinging sorceress, they all have interesting arcs as well, adding flavor to the story. The villains were a bit underdeveloped as far as back story to flesh them out, but they were still woven well into the story, and it's nowhere near a deal breaker as far as finishing the story.

I have to say I hope this is the first in a series, because I can definitely see these characters in more adventures. This has a lot of potential for future adventures, and I can see it appealing to fans of urban fantasy in general. I recommend checking it out.

Rating: 8/10 Stars