Review: Sweet-pea's Thief by J. Cassidy

Sweet-pea's Thief

by 

J. Cassidy

“If you can pay, I can get you your body back.”

Her body stolen, her soul pushed into a world of magic and monsters, Sweet-pea's best chance of survival is to stick with Alan and his promise of protection.
Hounded by the threat of bounty hunters, wanted by the mysterious Tin Master and chased by monsters attracted to her, getting home soon takes second place to staying alive.

My Take:

Gambling for dollars is one thing. But gambling for days is something else. Charlie is dying of cancer. He only has months to live. But he hears of a raven-haired girl that will play poker with you, gambling for your remaining time. If you win, you leave with more time. If you lose, you... lose time. With little to lose, he plays poker with Sweet-pea, who relates during the game the incredible tale of why she is gambling Years of Life with the dying.

With her body stolen by a monster, and her soul pushed into another parallel realm with monsters and magic, Sweet-pea's survival depends on the protection of others stuck in this horrific realm with her. Hunted by bounty hunters, monsters and the mysterious Tin Master,  Sweet-pea finds that while attempting to regain her life, she may lose her soul.

Content:

Drug Content:

PG - Sweet-pea is given a bottle of pills to help her cope with the shock of losing her body, pills she quickly becomes addicted to.

Violence:

R - There's a good deal of violence and death, blood and gore. A torture chamber provides a horrific gory backdrop for one of the scenes. A hand is cut off, a throat is slit.

Language:

PG - There are a few cuss words, nothing serious.

Adult Content:

G - there's really no sexual content, though some obviously happened once off-screen.

Christian content:

Nada. There are some concerning concepts in this work, mainly that souls aren't eternal and can be used for food, that Time can be gambled away, or gained through a game of chance. There are some references to an afterlife. Heaven and Hell are referred to as real places, in other dimensions, but monsters can capture your soul during the 'tunnel experience' while heading to the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Loyalty, self-sacrifice, destiny and friendship play large parts in this tale. There is a definite struggle between good and evil here, but the lines are grayed.

Final analysis:

This book has an incredible concept - that between life and death there is a dimension the soul must travel through, and those souls can be stolen. That the body can be stolen, and the soul released to wander rather than move on to heaven or hell. The plot behind this story is gripping, the world-building phenomenal, and the action fast and furious. New life, Old life, are gathered like glowing marbles. Strange creatures like Griwald and Deadly Mimics threaten constantly, along with Tin Men and other horrific creatures. Magic amulets and spells are formulated and used to gain access to further dimensions, while time passes at alarming rates. Characters are often larger than life. However, the pacing dragged for me. It seemed to take an eternity for me to plow through some sections, while other sections moved so quickly I had to reread to catch important details. So, a great read, but some pacing issues. Four Stars!

About the Author:
J. Cassidy's website reads,

I’m J. Cassidy and I used to be an oak tree growing in a park in England. I still like to be decorated once a year.

Pink, sparkly fluffles and rainbows make everything better.

Her website is https://6twistedbiscuits.wordpress.com/j-cassidy/

She can be followed on Twitter: https://twitter.com/6twistedbiscuit

Review: Imprint Legacy by Dorian Keys

Imprint Legacy

by 

Dorian Keys

Detective Robert Miers is in trouble. His partner is missing, he’s suspended from work, and he’s got a gap in his memory that he can’t explain. Uncovering the truth means plunging into a bizarre new reality far beyond his comfort zone, an inescapable reality where memories can transfer from body to body, secret factions fight for control, and human life extends far beyond Earth. Is taking sides worth the risk-to his job, to his family, and to himself?
And does he even get to choose anymore?

My Take:

When Detective Robert Miers and his partner follow the clues left by the stiff they found in the old apartment, it quickly leads them to their own deaths. But Robert wakes up to find he's not dead, just confused, with a gap in his memory and a missing partner. After being suspended pending an internal investigation, Robert follows clues on his own regarding the mysterious men in black, clues that cause him to question whether his entire life has been a lie. 

Content:

Drug Content:

G - None.

Violence:

PG - There's violence and death, a gun battle and ray guns. There is no real gore. Some people die in a fire off-screen.

Language:

PG - The D-word is used once, and g-d is used a couple times.

Adult Content:

G - there's really no sexual content of any sort in this work.

Christian content:

Not really any. I wouldn't have any issue handing this to my kids to read, as they are all into their teens or beyond. There are questions raised in this book that make for some good talking points - ideas about loyalty, life and death, and our purpose in life. 

Final analysis:

This short novella is a whirlwind of twists and turns, a high-stakes action-packed scifi mystery. Fast-paced and immersive, the focus is more on action and plot than deep descriptive passages, which makes for a quick read with an interesting end. Five stars!

About the Author:
One day, a while back, Dorian handed his father a handwritten story. Five sentences telling of an unknown object landing on the backyard. He was seven.

At the time, he was praised for it, he thought nothing of it: everyone can do what i do. And everyone can.

Years later, Dorian self published his debut novel Imprint Legacy on Amazon. It was well received. Earning a four star rating from Literary Titan. Next year he self published a short story collection, and has a world of stories to tell.

Presently, Dorian lives in busy New York City together with his family. He writes every chance he gets carrying his laptop everywhere. Occasionally he shows up on Twitter, but the best way of contacting is on this website.

P.S: Unbeknownst to Dorian, his father laminated that original story and kept it with him. He yet has to see it again.

Review: Frapps The Barbarian by J.L. Blenkinsop

Frapps The Barbarian

by 

J.L. Blenkinsop

Frapps, a lowly wen-picker from the Equatorial Girdle, is overwhelmed when he picks up a paperback novel in Catenary Jones' Trading Post. Its cover depicts the gormless Frapps himself, bestride the Globe; and the title is Frapps the Barbarian...
Flicking through he sees that most of the book is empty - but pages are being written as he reads.
How could any red-blooded wen-picker resist? He sets out to defeat the foul Dictator Unther Margate and save the fair Princess Amplex. Making his farewells the intrepid idiot sets off for the distant city of Campingas.
This short novella, the first in a brief series called The Knights of the Golden Drain, was written many years ago. It depicts a journey through great odds undertaken with the help of the All-Powerful. A journey we may all, idiot or not, embark upon. 

My Take:

When Frapps, the Barbarian, a lowly wen-picker from the Equatorial Girdle, visits Catenary Jones' Trading Post, he is surprised to see a paperback novel there with his own likeness on the cover, and his own name there, too. Recovering from the shock, he opens it to find that most of the pages are blank. But what is in there are the activities of his last few minutes. The pages are being written as he reads.

Inside the book he also discovers that a hapless land far to the north called Legoland is being taken over by a despot named Unther Margate, who is making plans to overthrow the kingdom by marrying the fair Princess Amplex. The rebel forces have called for the assistance of a Hero, by putting an ad in the paper. How could any half-wit resist?

Content:

Drug Content:

G - None, unless wens are cigarettes. I have no idea.

Violence:

PG - The bad guy in this story is not above chopping off heads, and his sword gets stuck in a dead guy. There's a knife in the back, but for the most part it's about on a Disney level.

Language:

G - squeaky clean. In fact, the book refuses to record one word the bad guy lets fly. :-)

Adult Content:

PG - This is a kids' book. Sort of. Not even kissing occurs here. There's a bit of potty humor with the choices of names in this hilarious romp, about on a level with Spongebob I suppose. There are several scenes, however, where the main character is rendered naked, a relatively obvious allegory to how we are all naked before God, unable to hide our sin.

Christian content:

Quite a bit. There is a significant amount of Christian allegory in it, with the Immortal Unicorn being the embodiment it seems of Christ. There are other parallels but some of that would be spoiling. There are no bible verses quoted, no preaching, per se. Self sacrifice and determination are bold and up front. The concept of the king being God's man found in Rom 13:4 is clearly displayed. 

Final analysis:

Frapps the Barbarian is a novella, which I rarely review. But this was an entertaining and quick read, with a nice moral outcome where good triumphs in the end. I found some of the thick English cockney accents a bit hard to interpret, but there were only a few areas where they were problematic. The characters are all whimsical and you can't take them too seriously, but even so there is definite character development and the world building is ingenious. I found it fascinating, entertaining, fast-paced and enthralling. Five stars!

About the Author:

After many years during which I've written plays, pantomimes and short stories for friends, I am now the proud possessor of a step-daughter, attached to a beautiful and intelligent wife.
I've never had a child to look after before, and it's a challenge. She'll be a teenager this month. Watching her trying to work out what life means to her, how to cope with friends and foes, made me write (for the very first time) a novel, just for her.

Review: The Flawed Ones - A Story of Mental Illness, Addiction and Love by Jay Chirino

The Flawed Ones - A Story of Mental Illness, Addiction and Love

by 

Jay Chirino

After leaving behind a trail of drug-addled destruction, Jay finds himself confined to the walls of a psychiatric hospital. He is now compelled to confront his actions, his issues, and the past that led him to such downhill spiral. But what surprisingly affects him most are the people that he becomes surrounded by; people with considerable deficiencies that will shed some light on the things that truly matter in life.

“The Flawed Ones” is a thorough examination of the struggles of mental illness, depression, addiction, and the effects they have on the human condition. Most importantly, it proves that physical and mental shortcomings do not necessarily define who we truly are inside- that the heart is, in fact, untouched by our “flaws”, and that love will always prevail above all.

My Take:

Jay has admitted himself into a psychiatric hospital to recover from a long trail of addiction and destruction. He must face the monsters of his past and the destruction he caused in order to move forward into a new life of sobriety. For the many people confined with him in the psych ward, including him, the future holds an opportunity for improvement or return to the destruction that brought them to this place.

The Flawed Ones is an in-depth examination of the life inside a psychiatric ward, and the internal struggles that accompany it. 

Content:

Drug Content:

R - The majority of this book covers a lot of ground, from alcoholism to prescription and street drug addictions, and the destruction that accompany them. Cocaine, Vicodin, Xanax, Marijuana, and many other drugs are discussed at some length, as the author, or at least the main character, had struggles with most of these. Significant space is given to discussion of the effects of these drugs and their less-potent treatment drugs, and how an addict can be safely brought into sobriety without the death that often accompanies withdrawal from these potent drugs. Clear descriptions, honest and raw, of the destruction caused by an addict to the ones he or she loves, is laid bare and bleeding for the reader to see. A deranged addict pours a bottle of pills down the throat of a child and forces her to swallow.

Violence:

PG - There is a scene where one patient is screaming the word 'Rebellion!' repeatedly at the top of his lungs, and another patient punches him out.

Language:

PG-13 - The F-bomb is dropped once, and swear words are scattered lightly throughout. 

Adult Content:

R - One of the female patients tries to make out with the main character, and he has a dream during this that is rather intensely erotic. (She does this while he is asleep). There are three passages in the book that are in the bedroom, and get a bit graphic in their depiction.   Rape is openly discussed. An addict uses prostitution for a fix.

Christian content:

Jay's roommate for much of the book is a Christian man named Bob. He reads several passages of the bible out loud to Jay. The main character's parents pray fervently for him to be delivered from his addictions. His girlfriend is a Christian girl too, but they move in together at his prompting, rather than marrying. There are hints that the main character is considering his eternal destination, but other hints that he cannot accept the existence of God.

Final analysis:

The Flawed Ones is poignant, raw, eloquent, emotional, and relevant. It covers a lot of ground and exposes the tendencies in the medical profession to simply treat mental health issues with medication as the easy and quick way out. Many of the characters in the book are reduced to zombies each night, and only reach a modicum of lucidity during the day. I can't determine if this is a work of fiction, an autobiography, or, more likely, a hybrid of both, with names changed to protect the innocent. The characters were raw and believable, and the issues relevant. The passages concerning backstory and interaction between the characters were incredibly eloquent and beautiful.

That having been said, the pacing was extremely slow for me. The book dragged in parts, and was a bit disjointed in other parts. At the end it was revealed he had only been in the ward a week, but it seemed much longer to me, partially because of the flashbacks, dreams, and backstories of the other characters.

This book is recommended reading for anyone wanting a clear understanding of mental health issues; depression, anxiety, addiction, codependency, sexual addictions, abuse, and the list goes on. However, the content is adult enough to recommend for late teens and adults only. I found it to be engaging and immersive, but the pacing was too slow for me to give it more than Four Stars.

About the Author:
Mental health advocate and author of The Flawed Ones, a story of mental illness, addiction and love. You can download free at theflawedones.com

Review: Summer Camp Trouble by Max Elliot Anderson

Summer Camp Trouble

by 

Max Elliot Anderson 

Kurt Benson and his friends Riley and Jordan used to look forward to summer camp each year up in Wisconsin. But that was before the camp opened up to kids who came from some pretty rough homes a couple of years ago. Then, this summer, things got a little more interesting when a rich kid showed up. He didn’t come by bus, minivan, or car like most campers. This guy arrived in a helicopter. Plus, his suitcases were filled with candy bars and other things he used to get kids to do things for him. This summer, some of the roughest boys Kurt had ever seen came to camp. Right from the start, they caused all kinds of trouble. Then, one night, there was a huge explosion as fireworks went off. They were supposed to hit Kurt’s cabin, but something went terribly wrong. Why did Kurt risk his own safety to save the life of one of the worst guys at camp? His actions would change Rudy’s life from that point on.

My Take:

When Kurt Benson and his friends Riley and Jordan head out to the Christian Summer Camp they've been going to for years, they expect it will just be another spiritually uplifting week away in the mountains. Little do they know that Camp Decorah is about to have the most challenging week of its existence. When rich kid Rudy shows up in a helicopter loaded down with a pile of suitcases loaded with candy and fireworks, things get out of hand quickly. Rudy is an arrogant troublemaker with a penchant for hiring others to do his fighting for him, and he's itching for a fight with the church kids he's being forced to spend a week with.

Kurt is trying his best to be a good example for his friends, and a good witness to Rudy, but how can you show a kid like that his need for Jesus when he has everything a boy could ever want? And how can you show love and friendship to someone who's decided to show only hate and be your enemy?

Content:

Drug Content:

G - None.

Violence:

G - Kids are hurt in the camp hijinks that ensue. A kid is beaten up. Bullying is a major theme. A fire nearly leaves someone dead.

Language:

G - squeaky clean.

Adult Content:

G - This is a kids' book. Not even kissing occurs here. Some minor preteen kidding about dating occurs.

Christian content:

This is a Christian camp. As one might expect there is a major Christian theme present, and the gospel message is clearly presented but without pushing it on the reader, or breaking the fourth wall. Christian character, loving your enemies, selflessness and courage are major themes. The counselors have a solid faith and so do the main characters.

Final analysis:

Summer Camp Trouble was an excellent and quick read, a good adventure story safe for boys of all ages, with good life lessons on character development and being a witness to the lost. With an exciting plot, a fast pace, good character development, and a fun setting, what's not to love? Five Stars!

About the Author:

Max Elliot Anderson grew up as a struggling reader. After surveying the market, he sensed the need for action-adventures and mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys. 

Using his extensive experience in the production of dramatic motion pictures, videos, and television commercials, Mr. Anderson brings that same visual excitement and heart-pounding action to his stories. Each book has different characters, setting, and plot. 

Ten middle grade books are published, ten more are under contract, with several additional manuscripts completed. Young readers have reported that reading one of his books is like actually being in an exciting movie. He is also a short story staff writer for Knowonder.com Magazine.

Books for Boys Blog: http://booksandboys.blogspot.com 
Author Web Site: http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/index_1.html
My Youtube Videos http://www.youtube.com/user/Maxbooks1...

Review: A Poem for Britain (Bards of Fantasia #1) by S.W. Wilcox

A Poem for Britain

(Bards of Fantasia #1)

by 

S.W. Wilcox

First the world was nuked, then mythic monsters invaded. What a life, and I, Dormira, am only 16--but going on 30. Good thing my boyfriend Skall is a genius. I'm a co-minstrel, linguist--and his bodyguard too, as we face Magic schools...Stolen youth...and Love-obsessed gods. Now the ancient Fire & Ice giants want the world to end. But they're opposed by elements of water, air, and earth, the shock-troops of friendlier gods and wizards. And bards from our techie future are a new piece on the chessboard. It figures the gods, ghosts & ghouls we're pitted against don't like our meddling. That's their shapeshifting sport. Skall urges we race mythic British landmarks within 48 hours of Halloween, performing key songs as hero-minstrels, solving ancient riddles and tragedies. Things move fast when deaths need avenging and you're time-skipping and running for your own life as well! Can our music save the world from chaos?

My Take:

Dor and Skall are witnesses to a great destruction at the end of time, driven by an ancient red-hooded sorceress intent on the destruction of man. With their electric guitars, songwriting and ninja skills they jump through a portal back in time to attempt to change the past which will change the future which will make the trip to the past unnecessary, er, and I rub my templs and quip with Captain Janeway, that time travel makes the head hurt.

The Norse and British demi-gods vie for mastery and love while Dor and Skall try to stay alive long enough to make friends and influence the movers and shakers of the skies. But will their time-changing machinations and their songwriting skills save them from the master of the underworld and a fate worse than, but including, death?

Content:

Drug Content:

PG-13 - There are several drunken parties while cavorting through the past, but overall not a lot..

Violence:

PG - There are several scenes involving war and a few brawls that take place.

Language:

G - Relatively clean.

Adult Content:

PG - There's a scene where Skall is enthralled by a goddess and heads off to her bedchamber. There's a scene where the Norns discuss mating.

Christian content:

Nada. There's a scene where Christian warriors are battling the pagan forces. For the most part the only gods depicted in this novella are the Norse ones of Fire, Ice, Death, and the Sea. Frost-Hel, Etain, Gyn, Deirdru, Angus, Mannanan, Dovnu, the Norns, and the World-Tree people the past and fight each other for mastery of the all-important World-Tree and its many dimensions.

Final analysis:

Each chapter in this book began with sketches of the action inside, and it reads like a screenplay, which it devolved from. The action is quick and gripping, and the many worlds visited are panoramic in view. The World-building is immersive, and the humor and interplay outstanding. But the characters in the story were a bit wooden to me and could have used better dimension, the gods and supporting cast were almost one-dimensional. The stakes were high, of course, the fate of all the dimensions, but the action was a bit jerky for my taste. Focus went from one gripping scene to a quick flight or rescue, to another crisis without any real transition.

I found the world-building stellar, the plot outstanding, but the character development and pacing unfortunately in need of fleshing out. This could have found a home as a trilogy, with the amount of action it contained, but in its brief form it was a bit like a sped up movie, panoramic and epic and all-too-soon over. Four Stars.

Review: The Essence of Life by Rain Arlender

The Essence of Life

by 

Rain Arlender

“Seeking outdoors-loving colleague. Solitude-requiring, big-footed preferably.”  Usually with an ad like this, one would look the other way. But Aurora is in a pinch – she has to take the job. Her employer is a Scottish family who run a distillery. Her workplace is the open field: no animals, no crops and nothing to do. Her work tool – and only companion – a giant pair of Wellington boots. Aurora's task is to walk in the field, and she has no idea why she is getting paid for it...

My Take:

Aurora is a very large girl with incredibly large feet. Her prospects for employment are dwindling when she comes across the ad for a job working in the fields of a small distillery. The Scottish family that runs the distillery is slightly odd but friendly enough, and they affably take her in without much in the way of an interview, other than a good look at her feet.

She is required to walk in the fields during the day, and her only work tool is a pair of Wellington boots. Why they have hired her is unclear, because her task is only to walk the fields, and surrender her shoes and socks each night. Why is she getting paid for this, again?

Content:

Drug Content:

PG-13 - There is a significant amount of drinking in the book, which is not unexpected, as it centers around a distillery, and the quality libations produced there. There are a few characters in this epic tale that drink like a fish, but their activities are usually off-screen.

Violence:

PG - There is some discussion concerning a wife-beater, but there is no violence that occurs onscreen.

Language:

R - The F bomb is dropped 3 times. Sh-t occurs several times, other expletives are absent.

Adult Content:

PG-13 - There is a scene where a young male exposes himself for his kindergarten friends, and wanders off with a young girl he likes. There's discussion about his gender identity. Sex is an offhand expectation of casual dating. There is a scene where sex occurs onscreen, not graphically described, with the girlfriend wearing only the boss's necktie.

Christian content:

Hmmm. So, there's a discussion of who God is, but it's extremely tongue in cheek and slightly irreverent. The Dog is God, Patrick is God. God's house is visited but then there's a discussion of how God isn't coming, and he let them in but left. It's funny, but I'd enter this book with the expectation that God's a good tool for a good joke.

Final analysis:

While The Essence of Life was worth many chuckles, it seemed to drag for me, and I couldn't get invested in the characters, and there were a confusing lot of them. In places the descriptions were panoramic, but the action was confusing and the backstories of the characters seemed a bit unnecessary, if titillating.

I didn't find the irreverence off-putting, but couldn't get invested in the plot or characters, and the pace just moved ponderously on, though the main undercurrent plot of the story is a tremendous joke worth telling. If you like drinking, big feet, or elaborate hilarious pranks, this would be a good book to pick up and delve into, for me, eh, not as much. Three Stars.