Review of Witch Hunt

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  ~John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902)

Leave your preconceived notions of witches at Samantha Steven’s doorstep and run away.  Quickly.  You won’t find any nose-wiggling, superfluous witches within the pages of Devin O’Branagan’s Witch Hunt.  What you will find is a beautifully woven tale of a family unable to avoid the pitfalls of power, and a glimpse at what happens when people of influence misuse their position.

Interspersed with tales giving us the history of the Hawthorne family, the main story of a modern day witch hunt is eerie in its realism.  There’s no escaping the cold knowledge that such a thing could actually happen in our own time, making the Salem Witch Hunts look like a schoolyard brawl by comparison.  As though caught in a spell of the Hawthorne’s making, you’ll be hard pressed to put the book down until the final page.  The characters, flawed as they may be, are captivating in their three-dimensionality, and Ms. O’Branagan does a superb job of weaving the family’s history into their current fall, as well as clearing up many misconceptions surrounding the word ‘witch’.

Witch Hunt will keep you on the edge of your seat, dreading to turn the page.  But turn you must.  Right up to the surprise ending that left me with one word.  “Wow.”

Write on!

Review of Day of Demons

Anthologies are a bit like a smorgasbord.  Lots of yummy things to sample and you can keep going back for more, and if you don’t like something, there are other options.  The problem with both when they’re good, is that eventually you come to the end.  <sigh>

By the time I hit story number nine in Day of Demons I wasn’t ready to be done.  I wanted more.  Definitely not for the faint of heart, or late night reading when you already have an overactive imagination, if you like demons, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this anthology.

Nine different stories, by nine different authors, all with their own unique take on the human-demon relationship.  Like every smorgasbord, however, there are some stand-out favorites.

The Deal by Karen Davies, The Serpent’s Kiss by Krista Walsh, and A Mother’s Love by James M. Mazzaro, were definitely three of the best.  Apart from the demon theme, all three were well written, kept me engaged to the end, and added a nice little twist I hadn’t seen coming.  Let’s not forget the spine chills either.

If your tastes run to the dark side, go now and buy your copy of Day of Demons.  But if you decide to read it before bed, don’t say I didn’t warn you. . .

Write on!

Review of Captives

Okay, okay!  Settle down everyone.  <pounds hand on podium, and peers at the assembled . . . chairs>  Hmm.  Look, I know you’ve all been patiently waiting for me to finish reading Captives, and I know it took a while, a really long while.  Which is absolutely no reflection on the book!  I’ve been busy.  But I’m finally done.  <the sound of crickets reach her ears>

<clears throat>  I said, I’M FINALLY DONE!

<momentary pause, the doors burst open and the unruly crowd crashes through, all fighting for the front row seats>

That’s better.  Now that I have your attention, I can do a proper review.  As soon as you — <points at man in cape> — get off that woman’s lap.  And go talk to someone about your wardrobe.  A cape is only cool if you’re a super hero, or a super villain, and plaid is not an appropriate choice.

Yes, if you’re wondering, I wrote this early in the a.m. when I hadn’t had nearly enough coffee to really get the grey matter less grey.

So, seriously now.  Review time.

 One reason I steer clear of historically based fiction, is the tendency of some authors to get far too hung up on the history part of it.  Hey, if I wanted that much of a lesson, I’d take a class.  Ultimately, I’m reading for the story and the characters.  The Druids Saga delivers marvelously on all scores.  The authors (Barbara Galler-Smith and Josh Langston) have masterfully intertwined history with story telling.  They give us just enough of a taste of the culture, and the people who lived in this ancient time, to put us firmly in there.  I’m still amazed at the depth of research that must have gone into these books.  It comes out in the subtle details, and the nuances of the character’s day to day lives, in a way that easily sucks the reader in.

In Druids the authors set the stage, moved all the players into their places, and left us craving the answers.  In Captives we get some of those answers, not all of which you’re going to like.  Tension builds on every page.  No one is safe.  It’s the reality of life — and the harsh realism brought to the story by the authors.  A happy ending with sunshine and butterflies is not a guarantee, but a hope, because we’ve come to know and care about the main players in the tale.  There are surprises — some good, some bad — and twists that make you cringe, and almost dread turning the page.  But you have to, because you need to know.  Does Mallec finally find Rhonwhen?  What becomes of Orlan?  Will Deirdre’s scheming bring her the results she desires?

Heck if I’m going to spoil it by telling you!  Get your own copy of Captives and find out for yourselves.   The only dull spot is having to wait for Warriors to come out.  <cue Jeopardy music>

Write on!

Getting A Round It

A Round of Words starts up again today.  I’ve decided to pass on this session mainly because I’m not actually writing anything.  Although, check-ins at least got me to blog regularily.  I’m still transcribing the results of my editing on BD&L back into a word document.  I’ll still breeze by the other ROWers and show my support for the efforts toward hitting their goals.  If you’d like to check them out, here’s the day one link.

And I should clarify my “not writing” statement.  I do write, constantly, but at this point it’s more about keeping the muscles in shape as I’m not working on any specific thing beyond BD&L.  Rather like using a treadmill instead of actually getting out and walking to a certain location.  Although I do have another Greyland’s bit I’m working on for Krista’s endeavor — and a shout out to check out the new Raven’s Quill site.  It’s fun being in someone else’s world, a little scary as well since I don’t want to veer too much from the original vision and only add to it, but the darn character that took me over has his own ideas.

Then there are the two books I need to read and review.  I’m half way through Captives, Book 2 in The Druids Saga by Barb Galler-Smith and Josh Langston.  The second book waiting in the wings is Show Dog by Josh Dean.  I’m a bit behind.

Oh, and this past weekend I tackled my office/studio.  I have three projects languishing and others I’m itching to start, but the organized chaos I adore has become disorganized clutter.  I’m only half done but I have to reclaim my space because it’s awesome, and when I’m in it people understand I’m working (by ‘people’ I mean the hubby).  I understand I’m working.  Sitting at the kitchen counter or plopped on the couch with the laptop leaves me open to distractions, and obviously means I’m available to jump into a conversation at any time.  The filing cabinet alone took most of a day andbroke my paper shredder.  I made it half way through the closet, which I’ll finish this week.  Those two areas were the worse and once I’m through those it’s clear sailing.

Write on!

 

 

 

 

Review of DRUIDS and ROW80 Update

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  Not many people know that, but it’s true.  You have to take a lot of different art courses to be awarded a BFA.  One of them was weaving.  I actually enjoyed the class, especially when we were taught how to use a floor loom.  The putsy, pain in the butt part of it all was threading the loom, getting it set up to actually create your weaving.

Druids, the first in the historical fantasy Druid Saga Trilogy by authors Barb Galler-Smith and Josh Langston reminds me of weaving.  There are quite a few characters to keep track of, some with difficult names, in lands pulled out of ancient history — that part is like threading the loom, but much more enjoyable.  Once the characters are established, and the rhythm of the story takes over, it becomes like watching a master weaver.  The steady flow of the hand moving the shuttle, the various threads twining seamlessly in and out, each one no less important than the next, colors and patterns blending together to create an intricate tapestry.

The authors have done an amazing amount of research, and it shows in the careful crafting of the details and flavors that made up the ancient world of Celts and Romans.  The characters moving within the confines of that world are ones you will grow to love and hate.  Druids doesn’t pull any punches, showing the sometimes brutal truth of life in the midst of upheaval.  You will cry, laugh, cheer, and yell as the story unfolds, leading you to an unexpected conclusion.  If I were you, I’d make sure you have the second book — Captives — handy so you’re not forced to wait for it (like me).

As for my ROW80 update:  Still plugging away on the red-lining.  I’m nearing the end and will then transfer all my notes back into the e-file, have a couple folks read for consistency and any glaring errors (given that I’ve made those changes), and start the querying process.

Write on!

You Won’t Be Singing the Blues

My review of Resurrection Blues by Josh Langston.  If you like fun, fast paced, entertaining reads you really need to pick up some of his work.  Go now.  Buy.  Read.  Enjoy.

RESURRECTION BLUES opens with this line, “Trey opened his door to the first line of a joke: An Indian, a dwarf, and a biker walk into a bar…” It just keeps getting better after that. And if you think the Indian, the dwarf, and the biker are going to be the most engaging characters, think again. The cast of Resurrection Blues is an interesting and varied one, weaving in and out of several storylines culminating in the surprising conclusion. Once again, Josh Langston blends humor and wit with an entertaining writing style, and well fleshed out characters you are going to love to hate, and cheer. Fast paced and light, your time spent in Resurrection, the town that doesn’t exist, will be a well spent escape.

Available at Amazon & Smashwords.

And, because I owe one from yesterday, my ROW80 check-in.  Editing still going strong with some excellent input and suggestions from my beta.  Other writing in fits and spurts between editing and life.  Blog posts…. so far behind it’s failed to be humorous.  Just when I think I’ve got some breath to catch up (and I have two blog awards to catch up on as well) something comes around and slaps me.

Well, as they say, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger . . . or ends up in one of our plots!

Final Drafts & Short Review of Cast in Ruin

Crud.  Here it is, Friday, and although I have several blog ideas floating around in my head, none of them have seen fit to make it to paper.  Or screen, as the case may be.  Which makes it seem as though there’s not much going on.

Au contraire, my friend!  Too much going on, would be the problem.

First, I’ve been working like a crazy person on the final, final, final draft of BD&L.  Helps to have readers who know their stuff and aren’t at all afraid to throw a punch.  It also helps that I have a thick skin and believe in the story, or I might have just thrown in the towel.  It’s hard work revising, editing, editing some more, and then just for kicks, revising, re-writing, and – oh, did I mention editing?  It’s almost harder than writing the book in the first place.

But I’m *very* happy with it.  Where I was just happy with it before.  There’s a major difference.  And I do think I’m going to come out of the entire process a better writer.

At least, I damn well better.

Secondly, although it started out a bit slower than usual, I got totally sucked into Michelle Sagara’s latest installment in the Chronicle of Elantra series:  Cast in Ruin.  To be honest, it took me a few chapters to really start grooving on it – I’m not sure why.  Once I did, however, I had a hard time putting it down.

All the characters we’ve come to know and love (or, not so much) over the course of the series, are back.  And Private Kaylin Neya finds herself once more embroiled in the middle of a situation she doesn’t understand but can’t avoid.  Much to the irritation of the Dragons.

My only disappointments were that we didn’t learn anything new about Kaylin, and there was far too little of Severn.  He is always there, has been there since the very beginning, like a constant shadow.  I’d like to see him become something bigger.  I hope he has more of a destiny than just having Kaylin’s back.  As important as that may be.

Exquisite characterization and incredible, logical world building, seem to be Sagara’s strong suit.  The seventh book in the series does not dissapoint in that regard.  And, although I feel it wasn’t the strongest plot line in the series, you get the feeling Sagara is setting the stage for what’s to come.

If you’ve never read any of the Elantra series, I suggest you start.  Right now.  But start with the first as they build on each other.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book . . . which I realize is going to be a while.

Third — well, Thanksgiving, the day job, the dogs, the sheep, the husband, friends, family — life.  Which I wouldn’t trade for the world so have, by necessity, become a juggler.

I’ll try to resume a more regular posting schedule but I make no guarantees.

In the meantime, watch for Monday’s Special Guest Blog.

 

 

Review Six From Greeley

Available at Amazon.com

Six From Greeley by Josh Langston is a collection of six short stories that take the reader on a delightful romp through the lives of some of the most memorable characters the town of Greeley, TX has to offer.  Starting in the mid 1800′s in Etta’s Gold and wrapping up somewhere around 1975 in Greeley’s Finest, each of the Greeley tales comes to life with lively characters, distinctive wit, and unseen twists.   Not to mention a solid writing style that pulls the reader in and keeps them there as this excerpt from Oberon Pratt and the Paradise Posse shows:

I fully expected him to blow.  I just knew there’d be Pratt shrapnel carvin’ up church-goers from one end of Greeley to the other.  Instead, he got real quiet, and his breathing leveled out like he’d received good news instead of bad.  It was the scariest damned thing I’d ever seen. . .

For a light read that makes you wish there was more, download your copy from Amazon.com  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.