Book Review: Source Mage by William Stacey The Awakening World: Book 1

Stacey keeps delivering the goods!

In a future earth that has seen the invisible wall that separates the Fay and magic from humans, the world has changed into a wasteland with scattered walled cities. Creatures of all kinds must work together with mankind or end up slaughtering each other. Some humans have the ability to gather mana from the air and use it as mages.

Angie is one such mage who has been adopted by the Grandmaster Mage, Char. As the story opens, Angie is suffering from PTSD after an attack on a Mexican assault team. When a hit team tries to capture her, she retaliates with powers she shouldn’t have. She must team up with a werewolf to figure what plot is working in the shadows.

Magic and firefights abound to give Fantasy and Military readers all the thrills they can wish for. The pages fly as the story mounts to the final battle.  Biting at the bit for Book 2.

Book Review: Soulkeeper by G.P. Ching

Jacob awakens in an operating room after an accident. He’s hurt but alive, but no one can find his mother who had been with him in the car. With no other relative, his Uncle arrives in Hawaii to bring to live with his family in Paris, Illinois until his mother can be found.

As Jacob tries to come to grips with his missing mother, he tries to fit in with the local school but finds himself the outcast. To make matters worse, he thinks his next-door neighbor is a witch. But there’s more to meet the eye and Jacob learns that he is part of an ancient fight of good and evil and he has tremendous powers.

With those powers, he must protect his friends and find his mother but an evil, so dark has him in her sights.

This is the first book in the Soulkeepers series. It is filled with a ton of suspense, terrors, and action. I’ll be looking for the next installment. 

Avocado Bliss by Candace Robinson & Gerardo Delgadillo

Dacre is a diabetic who hides his disease from the world because he doesn’t want to be pitied. Moving back and forth between parents, he and his siblings arrive in Mexico to find that their mother is living with a very young man. Trying to avoid the situation Dacre takes a position on an Avocado farm that is being run by Sal, a hard-working farm girl who has no time for the regular teen life as her avocado trees are her obsession.

The two must take a long road trip to deliver a shipment of avocados. One thing leads to another as the two must become friends and trust each other, if they have a hope of getting home.

This is a light-hearted teen romance with enough danger and laughter to keep the story moving along at a fast pace. There are a lot of life messages that can apply to most of us growing up. The real-life issues of living with diabetes or any other life-threatening disease was well told. But dealing with broken families, loss of family and many other issues makes this read memorable.

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Stephen King brings the character, Dan Torrance from THE SHINING, back 30 yrs into the future. Danny was the little boy who could see the ghosts in the Overlook Hotel. Now, he uses alcohol to silence the voices of the dead. He is as low as he can go until he arrives in Frazer, New Hampshire, and finds work. His boss challenges him to join AA and helps him kick the habit. This, of course, allows the Shining to gain strength, and he eventually finds another child with the Shining, but she is incredibly powerful.

There is a mobile group that feed off the power of the Shining and they too have sensed young Abra. Dan, Abra and their friends must the group or end up dead.

The story took a long time to set up, but once it ready, this story raced ahead like a run-away freight train. The suspense and action is King, at his best.  This story will stay with me for some time.

The Primus Labyrinth by Scott Overton

Mind-bending!

Submersible pilot, Curran Hunter, who suffers PTSD from a near fatal accident, is called upon to pilot a microscopic craft that can travel through the human body through virtual reality. The victim does not know it, but Nano-sized bombs have been placed throughout her body to force the President of the United States to bend to the terrorist’s demands.

Although this sounds like the famous 1966 Fantastic Voyage starring Stephen Boyd and Raquel Welch, that’s where the similarities end. The story uses tomorrow’s technology to tell a fast-paced, suspenseful tale of hope and betrayal.  There are mysteries within mysteries which keeps the pace and the pages flying.

Fans of Michael Crichton will rejoice, because Mr. Overton has filled the void.

Book Review: Torn Asunder by Renny deGroot

Torn Asunder is in-depth look at the Irish Fight for freedom starting from the Easter Rising in 1916 until 1943 as seen through the lens of one patriotic family. It begins with Emmet Ryan, who at 16 yrs takes part in the Easter Rising with his father and brothers. He witnesses the horror of men being killed as they attempt to cut the bonds of British rule.

As some enter the dark and vicious fight, Young Emmet fights for the cause through his words as a journalist. He keeps an accurate account of the struggle and uses his words to raise funds for the cause.

The story shows the epic struggle of regular people wanting nothing more than to rule themselves as free people. The sacrifice, pain and terror are front and center in this moving account that follows the real historical events. The author’s knowledge of the events, the people and the language makes this story stand out. It will be part of me for some time to come. 

The Shrike & The Shadows by Chantal Gadoury and A.M. Wright

Ultimate Horror Atmosphere!

This is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel.  Living alone after the death of their father, Greta and Hans are forced from the village after Greta refuses the advances of the town’s priest. The town has been plague by the death of their young men by the Shrike who leaves their hearts as a token. Now the siblings must make their way through the forest the Shrike calls her home.

The atmosphere in this story is classic horror; dark and sinister. I was able to warm up to Greta easily, but her brother could use a real thumping. The guy was a jerk. I found I flew through this book. It was fast-paced with a ton of suspense.

Well Done!