Exile by James Cormier

Review
“Exile” is a fresh take on the dystopian YA genre. The book is set in a wild, chaotic world, centuries after the “Fall” turned society upside down. The protagonist in the story is Ever Oaks, a healer (called a Saint) with a remarkable talent who gets drawn into a political struggle that will shape the future. The author, James Cormier, does an excellent job of writing a character who reacts to her struggles in a realistic way that the reader can empathize with. Ever is a determined character with a strong-will who has a difficult path that is rivaled only by her resilience.

The world in "Exile" is hostile and unforgiving, and the author paints it with descriptive, affecting writing. For me, the book's standout feature is the plot. It is paced well, with lots of twists and turns (loved the rival factions) and solid character development. Highly recommended for any YA fans wanting a fresh dystopian read.

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Celtic Storms by Delaney Rhodes

Review

“Celtic Storms” is a fantasy book set in the fifteenth century that is sure to delight any reader who enjoys mystical stories with dynamic characters and a fast-paced plot and romance.

The plot follows Irish Celtic families that must struggle to survive in a land filled with magic. The two main families are the O’Malleys and the MacCahans. One of the things I love about the book is that Rhodes writes well-developed, strong female characters.

One of my favorite characters is Odetta Burke, the villain of the story. Although I don’t agree with her goals, I can’t help but admire her drive and desire to reach her goals.

Love and family politics play a large role in this book, adding another layer to the magic-laden story. The book had me engaged from the first page, and the twists and turns of the plot kept me reading eagerly to the end. Recommended for anyone who loves fantasy and romance!

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Not Where I Wanna Be by Sarantos

Review
“Not Where I Wanna Be” by Sarantos is a creative fantasy debut novel about a 30-year-old musician named Sarantos who has dreams of singing and songwriting.

The author of “Not Where I Wanna Be” is himself a singer-songwriter who, in 2014, decided to create and release a song, music video, and book chapter each month until the day he will die, something that no other musician has done before!

Each chapter of this novel mirrors a song the author created in his first album as a solo artist, of which 33% of all music-related profits are donated to charitable organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association.

In Chapter 1, for example, Sarantos says that he is “not where I wanna be.” Sarantos is at sea on a small boat and dreams of being a singer and having a voice in the world, but he feels downhearted. He meets the octopus, Charity, and the griffon, Hope, who help him realize that he can achieve his dreams by taking actions to achieve them. Charity and Hope also protect Sarantos from the one-eyed pirate cyclops named Captain Fear who won’t let anyone have hopes and dreams.

The author, Sarantos, has created a fantastic fantasy experience with great characters who are just like us. We want to be authentic and live out our passion, we want to find love, and we want to live with a sense of humor and see the magic of life. “Not Where I Want To Be” also includes wonderful illustrations throughout the book that provide a magical environment for readers.

“Not Where I Wanna Be” by Sarantos is a must-read for lovers of the fantasy genre who want to see how a real-world musician has translated his songs into stories.


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Man of Clay by Victoria Osborne

Review
"Man of Clay” is a literary fiction novel that explores life, loss, and transformation. The protagonist, Connie, is a sculptor who had a long relationship and a child, Peter, with a herpetologist named Jude who cycles through romantic partners.

Connie reflects on her past, reminiscing on the first time she met Jude, the first time she met his mother, etc, to gain meaning. She also contemplates sculpting and herpetology as analogies for aspects of life, driving the reader to make unexpected connections. Written in first-person, Osborne uses poignant, descriptive writing to relay raw emotion to the reader.

The narrative’s tendency to introduce historical and scientific information in an emotional context continually provides the reader with fresh perspectives.

A great read if like contemplative novels about life.

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Artist (Remote Series: Book Three) by Eric Drouant

Review
Eric Drouant's "Artist," book 3 in the Remote Series, is about a down-on-her-luck psychic who trains to become a government assassin to reinvent herself. This action/adventure novel features protagonist Cassie Reynold, someone who fans of the series are very familiar with. But readers just getting into the series, will have no problem getting caught up to Cassie's character. When she is sent to solve a set of murders in New Orleans, she meets a cocky homicide investigator, Kurt Dupond, and together they try to take down a depraved serial killer.

The plot moves forward with lots action, adventure, and mystery. In addition to those elements, there is an emotional undertone in which Cassie must confront new feelings, reconciling them with her past. Drouant makes excellent usage of changing the narrator's perspective, giving you a view of the story through the eyes of different characters. As someone who used to live in New Orleans, I feel Drouant did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the region, from the culture to the food. If you like multi-layered action/adventure novels with suspense and romance elements, you'll love this book.

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Lola the Buhund (Book 1) The Empty Sky by Elbot Carman

Review
Elbot Carman's "Lola the Buhund - The Empty Sky" is the first book in a fantasy series about an intelligent, inquisitive Buhund and her exploits through a magical yet hostile land.

Prithvi had its sky lose its stars a decade and a half ago, leaving the land all-but barren. The people who have survived are resilient, yet hoping the land returns to its former state. Venice , and his Buhund, Lola, lead a quiet life ... until they find themselves on an adventure that takes them through the magical land, meeting a variety of friends and foes. The casts of characters is eclectic, from the quirky, funny Grandmother to the evil Witch-Monarch, and the fantasy  world is interesting. The writing is accessible for young readers (maybe nine and up, depending on reading level), yet isn't "dumbed down" so adult readers can enjoy it, too.

The story has plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested, and the book ends with some closure yet makes you want to read book 2.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a fun fantasy book set in a whimsical world.

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The Sons of Perdition by Alex Lindsey

Review
Alex Lindsey's "The Sons of Perdition" is a novel that uses elements from scifi, suspense, and Biblical stories to tell a story of the supernatural interacting with humanity.

One of the strengths of the novel is its usage of varying perspectives. The reader is taken to multiple locations (from Antarctica to France) and different points in time to give you a complete backstory on the situation. The author, Alex Lindsey, does a great job writing characters that are dynamic and developed. My favorite is the tenacious Kia.

The plot is written so that there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your feet. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants an imaginative, adventurous story with a Biblical theme and scifi elements.

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Rosie Learns About the Weather by Diane Kirkpatrick

Review
Diane Kirkpatrick's "Rose Learns About the Water" is a book that teaches children about meteorology topics with a storybook format. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the water cycle to fog to contrails. Diane Kirkpatrick, the author, does an excellent job of incorporating this information into approachable stories involving our protagonist, Rosie. Each topic is concise without leaving out info, so the child is sure to stay engaged yet also learn. There are also colorful images to accompany each topic. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to read an educational yet fun book with their child.

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Paranoia by G.R. Wilson

Review
"Paranoia," by G.R. Wilson, is a collection of horror stories that will put any horror fan on the edge of his/her seat until they finish reading!

One of the things I love about this collection is that it is so eclectic. The stories vary in location, characters, even perspective (some in first person, some in third). The writing is suited for the genre, keeping you at the edge of your seat, waiting for what's next.

For me, the standout story is "Final Rest Stop." A young couple makes a stop on the desert highway at night and things get ugly. What more could you want from a horror story? Really, though, all the stories are well-written and scary. This would be a great book to bring along to a campfire and read aloud!

This is a must-read for any horror fan who likes short stories!

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Skin in the Game by Tomas Byrne

Review
Tomas Byrne's Skin in the Game is a political thriller that follows two protangoists as they investigate the link between a finance firm and a terrorist organization. The plot is set into motion when the brother of the protagonist, Professor Joe Hawkins, disappears. The deeper Hawkins looks into the situation, the more convoluted it seems, and eventually Hawkins finds himself in a sticky web of money laundering, terrorism, and conspiracy. The other protagonist is Dr. Kate Farrow, a psychiatrist tasked with getting information from an amnestic terrorism suspect. To complicate matters, she must obey her superiors, although she often disagrees with their methods.

The various subplots of Skin in the Game ultimately weave together to form a riveting story that'll delight anyone who likes an intellectual thriller. One of the things I like about Byrne's writing is that he adeptly uses perspective changes to progress the plot. I've read a number of thrillers where the author seems so bent on giving the reader a ton of different perspectives that he/she ends up getting the pace of the plot off-step -- not the case with Skin in the Game. The plot does get fairly complex as the novel continues, but the amount of details were manageable.

Byrne spends a fair amount of time developing the characters, my favorite being Kate. She's in an interesting situation because, although she is clearly more intelligent than her superiors, she's bound by the nature of the hierarchy.

Overall, I'd recommend Skin in the Game to anyone who wants to read a political thriller with a complex plot and a financial theme.

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