Book Review: DRAGON HUNTERS, by Marc Turner

Marc Turner
DRAGON HUNTERS
Tor Books, 2016
493 pages
Dark Fantasy

DRAGON HUNTERS is Book 2 in The Chronicle of the Exile, by Marc Turner. This is easily a stand-alone novel. You do not have to read the first book, WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL. Each is a complete story, with its own host of characters. All that is consistent between the two is the world in which the stories take place. I think this is great.

DRAGON HUNTERS was jam-packed with action. Almost too much, if that makes any sense. I was drained, emotionally exhausted by the time I finished the book.There are missing gods, titans, dragons, pirates, governmental conspiracies, assassins, and magic --enormous amounts of magic.

Dragon Day is almost at hand. It's a long standing tradition within the Dianese Citadel. These dragons live in the water. Sea monsters. When the gates are raised, a dragon passes underneath. The sport of hunting and killing a dragon commences. Good fun. Everyone enjoys the event. Except this year.

An odd summons is sent out to the Storm Lords. These water-mages attend the Dragon Day hunt every year. It is a great competition. However, the bizarre request has everyone on edge. It isn't long before they realize the summons is some sort of set up, a ruse. The meaning behind the summons is far more sinister than a day of fun events, and an exciting hunt. There is a traitor in the mix intent on knocking off the Storm Lords. It could be anyone. The key is, figuring out who is responsible before there aren't any Storm Lords left to rule!

The leader of the Storm Lords is nearing the end of her career. The time to pass the torch is close at hand. Unfortunately for the next-in-line Storm Lord, Imerle has no intention of simply surrendering her power. She has had more than a taste of all it offers, and handing it over won't do. Instead, she hires a covert group known as Chameleons --they've the ability to blend into their surroundings-- to sabotage the dragon gate.

The world is trembling. Quakes threaten to swallow the lands. Something is causing the building tremors. The answer must be below the citadel. Something more damning than a Dragon Hunt is underfoot. And more than one group intends on sabotaging the ritualistic hunt. In the mix of it all are the dragons. You see, they don't realize this is a game, sport, just for fun. They are agitated, angry, hungry, and ... in short, pissed off!

While nothing planned by anyone involved was meant as easy, things can only go from worse to detrimental. And it happens in a heartbeat!

Split into four parts, DRAGON HUNTERS is nothing shy of epic. The political aspect is tight, and unnerving. Thankfully there are three pages at the beginning of the book (Dramatis Personae) where Turner outlines the host of characters and the proper "affiliate." I flipped back often at the start of the book, until I got a handle on who was who, and then ... easy sailing. Pun intended.

Marc Turner has a way with words. He sprinkles just enough humor (and well-done funnies, at that) across the prose, and into the dialogue to keep some of the edge off. Speaking of dialogue, Turner nails it. There is an authenticity to the way the characters speak. Smooth. Easy. The narrative is fast, informative. It is detailed, but doesn't bog down, or slow the pace of the story. As I mentioned above, this book is fast-paced. Action-packed. And I find it to be a magnificent second installment in the series!

Phillip Tomasso,
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: SKIN DEEP/ORDINARY MONSTERS, by Frank Martin

Frank Martin
SKIN DEEP: A Vampire Story of Love
ORDINARY MONSTERS: High School and the Final Solution
Burning Willow Press, 2016
85 / 88 pages
Horror

I truly enjoyed the taut tales by Frank Martin. The publisher was quite creative. They combined two novellas, and separated them with a handful of pages of dark comic strips. The cool thing about the book design is when you finish reading one story, you flip the book over, end over end, and there is the second one. Ready to go. Clever, fun design. Two thumbs up to BWP.

SKIN DEEP is a fast paced vampire tale. It is about two sisters, parents, and expectations. Laura, the "favorite" is a track star, destined to do great things. Her artistic sister, Jessica has dreams that leave her parents worried about her future. However, when Laura meets a dangerous stranger it is up to Jessica to attempt saving the day. But does she have it in her to rescue her sister from a hideous vampire?

ORDINARY MONSTERS once again revolves around family, and secrets. It starts out like any High School story. Reckless boys with crushes on girls, and parties. When learning about Nazi Germany and the holocaust, Liam and Eric (who I very much imagined as Christian Slater the entire time I was reading the novella) find themselves in the midst of a legend from the past. Eric's family has secrets. And whether he wants to learn them or not, Liam will find himself face to face with . . .

Frank Martin has put out two chilling novellas. They are gripping, and dark. I imagined them each like a half hour horror show on the SyFy channel. Totally unique, and compelling, I truly enjoyed the books. I have no idea what the eBook version is like -- but I have the paperback, and am proud to shelf if with the rest of my collection!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of The Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL, by Marc Turner

Marc Turner
WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL
Tor Books, 2015
541 pages
Dark Fantasy

As much as I love reading giant fantasy novels, writing reviews on them is never simple. How do you summarize a tome into a few paragraphs? Below is my best attempt at conveying the pure enjoyment I received from reading WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL.

See if you can stay with me on this, I am going to recap in what I call "a nutshell." Basically there is this Book of Lost Souls. It is filled with power, and magic. Locked power. Locked magic. The one who possess the book, must also know how to unlock the secrets if the power and magic is to be wielded, and wielded correctly.

The existence of such a book poses a threat to the rest of the world for far too many obvious reasons. And so the quest for four separate groups begins. Their race for the book is not unobserved. The one with the book knows the opposition is en route, and will stop at nothing to stop them!

Mayot Mencada is a mage. He has the Book. And with it he unlocked a secret. He found a way to call the souls of the dead back through Shroud's gate. He, in all of his limited wisdom, has recruited an army of undead to protect his person . . . while he works at unlocking more of the book's potential and increasing his power!

Luker, a former Guardian agrees to lead a team. He somewhat strong armed into the mission. The fact his former master, Kanon, disappeared prior to Luker's enlistment is about the only reason he truly agrees. He doesn't care about the book. He wants only to rescue his old friend. Teamed with assassin, Jenna, and some others from the Emperor's personally hand-picked team, they set out to find (Konan) the book!

Luker and Jenna are by far my favorite two characters. They have history together. And although we get snippets into what that history was, snippets mind you, there is clearly another book in their older adventures that I am certain Turner will not leave unturned (unwritten).

Ebon, the Prince of Galitia, has also amassed a small team to join him on the trek across the lands with the intention of recovering the book first! His kingdom is under attack. Raised dead pound at the city walls, and threaten to destroy his realm. Unstoppable, there is little chance of defeating an army that is not alive. Time is of the essence. He needs the book so he can put a stop to the siege!

Romany Elivar is the high priestess to the goddess, Spider. The two are sneaky and conniving. Too late to snatch the book up for themselves, they are left with feeding the book's owner bits and pieces of information on how to handle the magic found inside the pages.

Shroud is the Lord of the Dead. He wants the book as well. It may be the only talisman in existence that can rival his power, his strength his magic -- despite his being a god! Unfortunately, with so many facets in play, snatching the book from Mayot is not as easy as one might hope!

There are so many components, and angels, so many variables, and plots . . . WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL is non-stop. I feel the urgency after turning every page, after reading every paragraph. The characters  are superbly crafted. Turner makes you care about each of them: the heroes, the heroines, the nasty, the dark, and the deranged!

I have the second book in the Chronicles of Exile ready to go! I cannot wait to get started!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: OFF THE GRID, by C.J. Box

C.J. Box
OFF THE GRID: A Joe Pickett Novel
G.P. Putnam Sons, 2016
384 pages
Thriller / Suspense

So, it turns out C.J. Box has an entire Joe Pickett series. Some fourteen or fifteen Joe Pickett novels. And I, fortunately, just discovered him--or them--or him, the author--Pickett the character. I will admit, I am super excited. Thing is, OFF THE GRID is the latest. Now I must go back and read the other books in the series. (This I shall do gladly!)

Anywho. OFF THE GRID is a brisk thriller. This can be called a Nate Romanowski Novel as much, or as equally, as it can be called a Joe Pickett novel. Seems I missed a lot not having read the earlier books in the series, but I did not feel lost as a reader jumping in at the end. (Good thing!).

By court order, and law, and signed agreements and such, Joe and Nate are not allowed contact with each other. In fact, Nate is wanted by the law. Crimes committed, laws broken. Living off the grid, Nate and his girlfriend, Olivia Brannan are in hiding in Wyoming. They're making a living at not getting found. That is, until they are found.

When the Wolverines come calling, this super secret team of government employees across all branches of the government, Nate has no choice but to hear them out. They need his help. Because of his unique talents as a falconer he may be the only one who can infiltrate a terrorist cell somewhere in the Red Desert. In return, Nate is promised his record will be wiped clean. Erased.

However, if he fails, if he is caught, if anything goes wrong--the Wolverines will deny any involvement, and Nate will go to prison for previous criminal activity, and pay for whatever new charges tacked on.

Joe Pickett, a game warden, is called upon by the governor (once again, apparently) to help on a special assignment. He knows he can use the tracking of a rogue bear as a cover. The task will lead the game warden down a road similar to Nate's. The threat of terrorism is all around.

As if never separated, Joe and Nate work together, without knowing the other is even involved, gathering up evidence, and information with the hopes of shutting down, preventing, an act of terror before the terrorist act can be committed!

Box writes terse, taut scenes. His characters are well drafted, and authentic. He pulled me right into the story (which I didn't think would be easy because I knew I was on the latest book in the series, and not the first -- which is the kind of thing that bothers me as a reader). It didn't matter. OFF THE GRID worked as an independent tale, a stand alone novel. It isn't. But it worked as one. Loved the dialogue, and the action. And as I stated up top -- I will be reading the other books in the series!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of The Severed Empire Saga,
and the Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: FENCES, August Wilson

August Wilson
FENCES
Plume, 1986
Play

"Can't visit the sins of the father upon the child."

A few summers back, August Wilson's play, FENCES, was performed at a local theater. I missed every performance. That was upsetting. I love seeing plays. Recently, I saw that FENCES was being made into a major motion picture with Denzel Washington. With renewed interest, I ordered the play, and read it in one sitting.

FENCES is set in the 1950s. The Acts mostly take place on Fridays. Payday. On the porch of a small house, with a dirt yard, we meet Troy Maxson, his wife Rose, their son Cory, Troy's other son, Lyons, and Troy's disabled brother, Gabe, and, additionally, Bono, Troy's lifelong friend.

Unfortunately, Troy is not a likeable man. Although he'd lived a hard life, his life is spent in the past. Despite having left home at fourteen, and spending fifteen years in prison for murder, he married, landed a good job as a garbage man, and started a family. His once dreamed of playing professional baseball. Too many things were stacked against him. The fact he was black became the tallest obstacle, and an impossible hurdle.

Hard working, Troy has little time for his boys. Lyons is in his thirties, and doesn't work. He is a musician, and despite having no money, and begging for cash from his father, it is clear Lyons wants to, in some way, salvage his relationship with his father. His constant pleas for Troy to come down to the club where his band plays scream for attention that time, and again, Troy ignores.

Rose's and Troy's son, Cory, is athletic. His football playing might land him a scholarship into college. A recruiter is anxious to discuss terms with Troy. Determined his son is living in a fantasy, Troy continually gives Cory a hard time, setting unrealistic goals with little care of the consequences.

Gabe, Troy's younger brother, fought in World War II. A plate in his head has him believing he is the Arch Angel Gabriel. The government checks helped Troy make ends meet, but when Gabe moves out, hard feelings set in.

Troy likes to make everyone believe he is smarter than he is. He wants people to know he is strong, and in charge. He is the King of his Castle. Ruler over Rose, and Cory, and even Lyons. What he says, goes. He is harsh, and brash, and obnoxious. Calloused, and careless.

His mistakes continually pile up. He makes one bad call after another. And then, when his reality is there facing him, ready to wrestle -- he has no one to blame for the outcome, except himself.

"You went back on yourself Troy. You gonna have to answer for that."

The thing is, I don't think Troy ever truly gets it. I don't think he ever understands that he was the problem. And that, for me, was the tragedy. That was what made this story so sad, and depressing. Troy never got it. He just never got it.

FENCES is a fantastic, taut play. I am going to have to read more August Wilson. No doubt about it. The messages were there. Clear, and not so subtle, and I loved the story.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series, and
The Vaccination Trilogy

Poetry Review: DOROTHY WORDSWORTH'S CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY, by Carol Anne Duffy

Carol Anne Duffy (Illustrator: Tom Duxbury)
DOROTHY WORDSWORTH'S CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY
Picador
Poetry

How awful it would be to have your birthday on Christmas day of all days.

I have my birthday right in the middle of the year, which is quite lucky because I have two big days to look forward to every six months. It is not all doom and gloom though for Dorothy. Her birthday maybe on Christmas day, but her brother is the wonderful William Wordsworth.

So that means along with his own poetic genius, he also brings that of his best friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The three of them can spend Christmas, and Dorothy’s birthday, relaxing and reciting poetry in the beautiful winter Lake District of northwest England. Not a half bad idea if you ask me. In fact, I am rather jealous.

I love this poem probably because I love the work of both poets. The idea of a fictional poem about a possible Christmas they could have had together is really quite enchanting. It is evocative of the Romantic era and the poetry of it. Not in terms of stylistic qualities, but in terms of the imagery and the allusions Duffy uses. It is really quite admirable. The art work that goes alongside the text, with its swirls of orange and blue, is stunning and captures the dream like essence of the work. It is easily my favourite Christmas poem. I read it every year at this time, and imagine the image:

All in each other, Miss Wordsworth and the poets, bawling the chorus; their voices drifting, In 1799, To nowhen, nowhere…..

These lines make me visualise it in stunning clarity; it is a cold 25th December that is on the cusp of a new century; the three walk hand in hand together completely at one with their surroundings, with nature itself, united by their mutual friendship and affection. It is an image that has been captured, like a still-life painting, before the eventual disagreement between the two poets shattered the image. This was a time when they were happy, when they had hope for the future, and this is a poem that captures the meaning of Christmas: the simple act of being with those you love most in the world. It is perfect.

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Bookworm Sean is a book obsessed English student who can usually be found over on Goodreads raving about his latest read. Recently, poetry has become one of his favorite literary forms of expression; thus he has started to read more and more of it. Look for Sean on Facebook, as well!

Book Review: WAIT FOR IT, by Mariana Zapata

Mariana Zapata

WAIT FOR IT

Self Published / Indie
Contemporary Romance

No one can craft a flawless slow burn like she can and WAIT FOR IT is no exception. when Diana Casillas brother passes away unexpectedly she takes her nephews in as her own. After struggling in a small apartment for 2 years she is able to buy a house on a quiet suburban street. After an unusual introduction to some of her neighbors we are start to see into the dynamics of not only her new neighborhood but also her daily life raising 2 boys on her own.

With no NFL quarterbacks or International Soccer stars I found this book to be one I could easily relate to. Being a Mom of 4 kids myself I could appreciate the daily struggles Diana faced, kids who seem to slow down when you need them to hurry up, not having enough hours in day and so on.  Dallas is a regular working class guy who has been burned in the past and wanted to do right for himself and those he loves. While parts of the book seemed to drag on and the slow burn was really slow it worked with the book. Diana and Dallas's beliefs and morals are at the center of everything they do and were shaped by their past. The boys are funny, lovable and at steal the book at times. Even better there are cameos from some of Zapata's other novels!! I repeat THERE ARE CAMEOS!

While the book wasn't as explosive as The Wall of Winnipeg or Kulti it touched something much deeper inside me because WAIT FOR IT is everyday life. The struggle is real and that is what made this book so special. Mariana Zapata nailed it again and I am already waiting for her next slam dunk!

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ELIZA WISE is a Travel Planner, and mother of 4 school age kids who started reading as an escape from reality and is now an active member of the Indie Romance Community.