Review of Down River by John Hart

After reading The Last Child, I decided to follow up with a few other Hart titles and picked up his second novel, Down River. Right from the get go, I was hooked into this story of family secrets and murder. It was immediately obvious that his last novel was not a splash in the bucket but rather another masterpiece by a talented author.

The plot had me guessing right up until the last minute and even my suspected characters were not as guilty as the real culprit. No one is who they appear to be and everyone is suspect. The story is a classic mystery that uses fast paced story telling as well as pent-up suspense that draws the reader in all the way.

Highly recommended for those who like their stories realistic and fast paced.

Review of The Red Line by Walt Gragg

The Red Line is a huge undertaking that asks what would happen if Russia decided to flex its military muscles in Europe and attacked Germany. To complicate the issue, it also takes into account the depleted military forces of the United States which has been depleted since the Cold War.

Right from the first page it is obvious that the author, Walt Gragg knows his way around both the Russian and the U.S. military. Weapons and strategy flow very confidently and there is no arguing the authenticity of the contents. As with any war story, the human element is the most important and there is fear, uncertainty, terror, and horror by the bucket load. The true horror which I found underscored in the story is the casual use of nuclear weapons by both sides. Although the battle plans may speak to their uses, I found that it was done without the gut wrenching pre and post decision or argument for their use. There would be nothing left of Germany or its people.

This story is huge and leaves the reader with a lot to contemplate during and after the last page is turned. It shows the horror of war and the final price that many soldiers make on behalf of their country. Regardless of the reasons for going to war, soldiers on both sides fight for the same reasons; their country and countrymen. This story is one hell of a ride.

Review of Fate of the Drowned, the third installment of The Broken Lands series by Carrie Summers

The epic series concludes in Fate of the Drowned and it does not disappoint. The horror of the Hunger continued to grow and threaten every living soul of this doomed world. As the tide of monsters is guided towards the last standing army of mankind by a mad mage, Emperor Kostan and Savra must find some way of uniting the people to face the ultimate foe. The action and suspense lead to fearsome battles that have the reader holding their breath in anticipation and cheering on their heroes’ right up to the final climatic battle.

Carrie Summers has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with in the Epic Fantasy genre. Other authors beware. This series makes her shine.

I was given an Advanced Reading Copy of Heat of the Empire in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend it for anyone who loves adventure, magic, danger, tragedy, overwhelming odds, cheer for the underdog, overcoming self doubt, rising to the             occasion, and monster armies.