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Book Review: Mage’s Blood by David Hair

Mage’s Blood (The Moontide Quartet) by David Hair

Jo Fletcher Books, 2012

ISBN-13:  978-1-62365-014-8

Available:  Hardback, Paperback, eBook(Kindle)

 

Every twelve years, the land bridge known as Leviathan Bridge is exposed by the extreme low tides of the ocean; the Moontides.  Originally built to facilitate trade between the two continents, the bridge has been turned into a tool of war; the Rondian Emperor of the continent Yuros has used it to invade the continent of Antiopia twice in the past.  The next Moontide is approaching, and the Emperor plans to conquer Antiopia once and for all.  This time will be different, though: the people of Antiopia are ready.  Vast armies are amassing on both sides of the bridge. Mage’s Blood focuses on a few key individuals who could change everything: Alaron Mercer, a failed mage forced to make his way in a world that is set against him; Ramita Ankesharan, a simple market girl who only wants to marry her life-long friend and fiance, Kazim Makani; and Elena Anborn, a jaded mage and mercenary caught up in the complexities of politics.  The Moontide has crested. The Third Crusade is set to begin.

Mage’s Blood is a high fantasy adventure that goes beyond the traditional medieval European trappings of the genre, integrating Middle Eastern influences that change tone of the story to something out of the ordinary. The plot was complex and well-paced, although I had some trouble following all of the twists and turns.  The descriptions were well done and set the stage for the action to emerge.  The action and fighting sequences were very detailed and painted a great picture of what was happening.  The characters were fun to read, as their voices were distinct, and it was easy to keep track of who was speaking.   All in all, a good read, and I will be reading the next installment in the series, Scarlet Tides.  I have not read this author’s work before. Recommended.

Contains:   Sexual Situations, Swearing

Reviewed By:  Aaron Fletcher

Posted on April 19, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: Things Slip Through by Kevin Lucia

Things Slip Through by Kevin Lucia

2013, Crystal Lake Publishing

ISBN 978-0992170707

Availability: paperback

 

In the small Adirondack town of Clifton Heights, four friends have gathered for their weekly poker night. Chris, the town sheriff, has decided he’d rather have answers than play cards. There have been strange disappearances since Chris came to Clifton Heights a year ago, disappearances that he has been unable to solve. Gavin, a teacher and former writer, is the one who will give Chris the answers he seeks. Gavin hands over a journal with short stories he has written about the strange happenings, from the original shooting that brought the four friends together, to Gavin’s story of alcoholism and redemption, as well as what happened to those who seemingly disappeared into thin air. As Chris reads through the stories, he ends up with even more questions.

Things Slip Through is a short story collection brilliantly disguised as a novel. Kevin Lucia spins an entertaining tale that allows the individual stories to seamlessly coalesce into one story of a very weird and creepy little town and some of its odd residents. The characters are well-developed, and I really empathized with Chris and his unique situation. Lucia’s prose is dark, sharp, and inventive and kept me hooked– I read the book in two sittings. I, for one, hope to see some of these characters again, especially the villainous Dr. Jeffers and his disturbing hospital. I highly recommend Things Slip Through. Highly recommended.

Contains: some blood and gore, adult language

Reviewed by Colleen Wanglund

Posted on April 16, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: Those Poor, Poor, Bastards (Dead West, Book 1) by Tim Marquitz, J.M. Martin, and Kenny Soward

Those Poor, Poor Bastards (Dead West, Book 1) by Tim Marquitz, J.M. Martin, and Kenny Soward

Ragnarok Publications, 2014

ISBN: 978-0991360529

Availability: paperback

 

In Those Poor, Poor Bastards, all Hell breaks loose when Nina and her father go to a small frontier town for supplies, and discover the town is overrun with zombies. Escaping along with a small group of survivors, Nina and her father escape. While they search for a safe refuge, they rescue a family in the woods, and come upon the long-abandoned Ft. Bluff, where they can fortify their defenses. There, Nina and the others meet a Jesuit priest, Father Mathias, who possesses strange powers that can kill the zombies.

Father Mathias tells our survivors about the mysterious Liao Xu, a man who sold his soul to the devil. The priest reveals that he has taken an artifact of great power from Liao Xu. Liao Xu attacks the fort to retrieve the artifact, and those who survive the attack end up as reluctant participants in an effort to stop the mysterious man from destroying the rest of humanity.

The first in a series, Those Poor, Poor Bastards is a fantastic book in the Western horror sub-genre. Marquitz, Martin, and Soward, combine their storytelling talents into a seamless narrative that takes a different look at the sometimes overused zombie trope. It is a fast-paced tale, but the character development doesn’t suffer because of it. There is more than one villain here, making Those Poor, Poor Bastards quite entertaining. I especially enjoyed the heroine, Nina, who is a well-rounded, complex character.

If you like zombies, or Western horror in general, then I recommend picking this one up, and I look forward to reading subsequent installments in the Dead West series. Recommended.

Contains: blood, gore, adult language and situations

Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund

Posted on April 11, 2015 by , Reply
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