Thursday, April 26, 2018

Review: The Explorers of Serdame (The Alfred Arnold Saga Book 2) by Phoenix Williams

The Explorers of Serdame (The Alfred Arnold Saga Book 2)


33015521Alfred Arnold’s Great Adventure of No Direction Whatsoever has begun! With the company of Sir Procrastination and the curious Lavandra, Serdame’s first explorer sets out from Villedge to find the capital of the land. 

Explore some of the most fascinating landmarks in the world, such as rolling sand dunes, vibrant oases, and a mountain made entirely of wood. Face dangerous waterfalls, poisonous insects, and a total loss of direction. Follow the three adventures as they cross countless strange inhabitants in their journey north, from suicidal fish to the most peaceful man in Serdame. 

Join our hero and his companions in the second installment of Phoenix Williams’ Alfred Arnold Saga!

My Take:
Alfred Arnold seems to have overcome much of his debilitating OCD and panic attacks in this sequel, as his journey continues, now with the companions of Sir Procrastination and the resourceful Lavandra from the village of Villedge. They are off to find the Capitol, confident in their combined abilities. A ship awaits them on the coast to carry them across the ocean.

The Explorers of Serdame travel through amazing regions of Serdame: massive waterfalls, raging rivers, an endless ocean, an expansive moving desert, and a mountain constructed entirely of wood. Along the way they meet some of the oddest fauna of the land, like suicidal fish, a deadly beetle, and a fish that plays fetch with a stick.

After many delays and the death of someone close, their journey seems destined to leap off the tracks, and it seems there is no way they can reach the coast before their ship to the Capitol departs.



Content:
Drug Content:
PG - There is a scene where brigands ransack an important man's home and raid his stash of wine. An innkeeper witholds beer from barbarians, driving them to a frenzy.


Violence:
PG-13 - The brigands try to murder Alfred Arnold. There's a dark threat of serious violence to one of the villains.

Language:
G - squeaky clean.

Adult Content:
G - Squeaky clean.   

Christian content:
Nada. The main character seems to have a moral code but it is driven by pacifism and benevolence, not from any faith he exudes. Camaraderie, self sacrifice, and teamwork play an important role in this work, and the characters care deeply for one another, defending each other no matter the cost.

Final analysis:
Reading a book where the main character suffers from debilitating panic attacks makes for an interesting twist. The idea of him being in a world of his own creation has been done, and well, but it's not a tired theme, and makes for interesting stakes. I constantly wonder, as he is embedded in a map in a house that is on fire, whether the world will start to burn, or if he has truly been transported to another dimension, or just suffering a fainting spell while his home burns down around him (If you don't know what I'm talking about, this is covered in the first few chapters of the first book).

Unfortunately, none of these threads are touched in this sequel, and although Alfred's amnesia is showing some signs of abating, he remembers nothing of critical import.

Alfred Arnold's character has shown significant growth and he has become more real, more likable, but the best character development in this book seems to be granted to Lavandra. As a possible later love interest, she has dimension and promise. Sir Procrastination seems, if anything, more one dimensional than he was in the first novel, as he falls almost to the level of wooden comic relief. Still, he shows a bit of resourcefulness and nerve, especially when fighting the Brigands.

As before, the world building here is excellent, though obviously fantastical and unrealistic, and the character development is relatively engrossing. The plot didn't really hook me; while the characters seem bent on a visit to the Capitol, I did not get a good reason why. With that and some pacing issues, I found it difficult to stay invested in the story. Four Stars.

About the Author:
Phoenix  WardPhoenix Ward is the author of thought-provoking science fiction and dark thrillers. The inventive mind behind A Guardian Angel, Oneironaut, the Alfred Arnold Saga, and the Installed Intelligence series, Phoenix captures the bizarre eccentricities that make reading unique.

When he’s not writing foreboding tales of futures-to-be, Phoenix is an avid gamer. In fact, he is the owner and primary contributor for a video game blog called Ham Goblin Gaming.

Phoenix wears pajama pants under his jeans in the winter and has a ham tattooed on his chest. He draws inspiration from such science fiction legends as Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov. He currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Review: I'll Rescue You (I'll Rescue You, #1) by M.T. Thomas

I'll Rescue You (I'll Rescue You, #1)


33788900Even after 40 years, earth is ready; ready for another attempted invasion. Join our characters as they travel the world in order to save it. Experience growth and self-realization with Apollo as events open his eyes to see beyond what he had always thought was true. Does his home planet and species truly have the right to invade and acquire other worlds?

Half-sisters Belle and Teneille must find a way back to each other while facing alien forces and overwhelming obstacles. Enemies become friends and friends become enemies while star-crossed lovers rescue each other in this science-fiction fantasy.


My Take:
Earth suffered a ruthless and brutal invasion by a race of technologically advanced aliens, impervious to bullets, flames, and bombs. The aliens apparently communicated by telepathy, and considered earth to just be another easily harvested planet. After the leader of the incoming invasion was captured, however, the aliens broke off and retreated, uncertain of victory.

The aliens were considered completely devoid of compassion, mercy, even emotions at all. Concerned about a subsequent invasion, earth scientists managed to create a hybrid half human, half Olympian who had the impervious skin, night sight, long lifespan, and telepathic abilities of the invaders. When they came back, Belle would be able to detect their communications and alert the earth of their plans.

What she didn't expect, what none of them expected, was that she would be the next target. And that she would fall for the alien sent to destroy her.



Content:
Drug Content:
G - squeaky clean.

Violence:
PG - There is a decapitation, some indication of torture. One of the aliens' useful items is made from the skin of a conquered intelligent race. The aliens take some level of delight in torturing or lording it over subjugated civilizations. There are multiple bloody battles, an unarmed man is shot. A person is frozen to death. A man commits suicide by blowing his brains out. The violence is not excessively graphic.

Language:
PG - the D word is dropped a few times.

Adult Content:
PG - There is some angst but not much else. A buff soldier takes off his shirt and is admired by some of the women present.   

Christian content:
Belle's mother is a solid Christian with a strong faith. Providence plays an obvious part in this story. The alien sent to kill Belle, Apollo, is given a series of memories from Belle that causes him to question the cold and vicious methods of his race. To experience hope, love, joy. Self sacrifice, redemption, and hope are strong strokes in this hopeful post-apocalyptic painting. Racism is an undercurrent here.

Final analysis:
I'll Rescue You is an enjoyable read, with memorable characters and solid world-building. The action and pace are gripping, and the message of hope shared here is tangible. The common condemnation of the aliens out of hand is a bit cookie cutter in its depiction, but the tension and judgmentalism that comes with it is realistically sculpted. Five Stars!


About the Author:
M.T. ThomasHello! My name is Michelle Thomas, also known as “M.T. Thomas” and I am the author of the book “I’ll Rescue You” that you can find on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble as a paperback or on Kindle and Nook as an ebook.

I enjoy sunsets and long walks on the beach…just kidding! My true passions range from all forms of art, to church and family, and to science. I am a Medial Laboratory Scientist by day and an author by night. I have two daughters and a wonderful husband whom I’ve been with for 12 years.

I’ve always wanted to write. I had a couple poems published back in the day and planned out my novel years ago but never had a chance to write it down. 
I always thought, “I’ll write my book right after I graduate University! I just have to make it till then.” However, right after graduation, I started my new job and we began building our dream house. Again, there was no time. After our house was built and I became comfortably settled in my job, I became pregnant with our second daughter. It would be another 2 years before I felt I had another moment to breathe and actually think about my book. Now, here I am, 5 years post-graduation and I have finally written the story I came up with 10 years ago.

I hope everyone enjoys reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Upcoming Reviews for April

The next few months may be quite busy months for me, with an implementation during my paying job. But I will still have some time to read here and there. Here's what is up and coming for April:

33788900I'll Rescue You (I'll Rescue You, #1)

Even after 40 years, earth is ready; ready for another attempted invasion. Join our characters as they travel the world in order to save it. Experience growth and self-realization with Apollo as events open his eyes to see beyond what he had always thought was true. Does his home planet and species truly have the right to invade and acquire other worlds?

Half-sisters Belle and Teneille must find a way back to each other while facing alien forces and overwhelming obstacles. Enemies become friends and friends become enemies while star-crossed lovers rescue each other in this science-fiction fantasy.

The Explorers of Serdame (The Alfred Arnold Saga Book 2)

33015521Alfred Arnold’s Great Adventure of No Direction Whatsoever has begun! With the company of Sir Procrastination and the curious Lavandra, Serdame’s first explorer sets out from Villedge to find the capital of the land.

Explore some of the most fascinating landmarks in the world, such as rolling sand dunes, vibrant oases, and a mountain made entirely of wood. Face dangerous waterfalls, poisonous insects, and a total loss of direction. Follow the three adventures as they cross countless strange inhabitants in their journey north, from suicidal fish to the most peaceful man in Serdame.

Join our hero and his companions in the second installment of Phoenix Williams’ Alfred Arnold Saga!
 


Capering on Glass Bridges (Hawk of Stone #1)

26209793The Utdrendans have spoken, and everything has changed as a consequence. People normally avoid the fog surrounding the cursed Kingdom of Mar, but now they are asking sixteen-year-old Kaia Stone to venture into it. The Utdrendans implied that there is something special about Kaia. They claimed that she could help free the land; she need only carry out their instructions and deliver a message to the Marian king.

Mar, however, is a land in which dark secrets abound, and many will stop at nothing to ensure that it remains forever cursed. Determined to work against Kaia, unfriendly forces have already begun to gather.

Will Kaia choose to abandon the only life she’s ever known—perhaps indefinitely—in pursuit of the greater good…in pursuit of her purpose?

A Coronation of Kings (A Kingdom Divided #1)

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