Book Review of Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller

 

 

Book Review of Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller

In the years following the destructive Long Winter, when half the world’s population perished, the State remains locked in battle against the Sensitives: humans born with extra abilities.

As one of the last descendants of the State’s Founders, seventeen-year-old Lark Greene knows her place: study hard and be a model citizen so she can follow in her fa...mily’s footsteps. Her life’s been set since birth, and she’s looking forward to graduating and settling down with Beck, the boy she’s loved longer than she can remember.

However, after Beck is accused of being Sensitive and organizing an attack against Lark, he disappears. Heartbroken and convinced the State made a mistake, Lark sets out to find him and clear his name.

But what she discovers is more dangerous and frightening than Sensitives:

She must kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first.

Review 5 out of 5

Lark Greene is a 17-year-old girl being brought up in a dystopian society. There had been a severe and destructive Long Winter, which has caused untold misery and death. This Long Winter was said to be caused by the Sensitives (humans with extra abilities). The Sensitives have been separated out of the general population and are kept at bay by fences. When Beck, the boy she loves, is accused of being a Sensitive and disappears, Lark is sure a mistake has been made and sets out to prove his innocence. What she finds out makes her world completely turn on it's head.

Larkstorm is a real page turner; I couldn't put it down! There was so much mystery, I just had to keep reading! Dawn Rae Miller has created a dystopian novel that is fresh and unique. She liken's this world she has created as "Romeo and Juliet with magic". I don't think I could cope with winter all year round, but human's are adaptable, so one never knows! I loved getting to know Lark and the other characters in this world (even the creepy ones!). I look forward to reading Lark's and Beck's continuing story. - Lynn Worton

Samantha Combs to do a guest blog on Friday

Samantha Combs ladies and Gentlemen.
She will do a guest blog for us on Friday when her short story anthology Teeth and Talons will be free.  Woo hoo.  For more information on this anthology please follow the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fteeth-and-talons-sinks-its-teeth-in.html&h=IAQGCoY_mAQGFXsF3qJayLNzJi4FolsPwkwDSg3VYgr8Hfg

Creatura by Nelly Cab reviewed by Lynn Worton

Review of Creatura by Nely Cab

When seventeen year-old Isis Martin is having trouble sleeping due to perturbing dreams of a horrific growling beast, she decides to confront her fear. But what Isis discovers is something other than a menacing entity. The human-like creature offers Isis assurance that he is not a figment of her imagination. Unwilling to accept his avowal, Isis sets his words to con...test by asking the entity to prove himself - a dare, he readily welcomes. It is in her dreams that Isis innocently stumbles upon the silent existence of the divine lineage of those that man has long forgotten. In a quaint town, deep in south Texas, this story leads Isis onto the path of impermissible love and captivating life-changing truths. Isis Martin's journey is sure to leave any reader ravenous for more.

Review 6 out of 5

Isis Martin is having nightmares and is unable to sleep properly due to the fear created by a growling beast. She decides to confront her fear and finds herself facing a human-like creature. He assures her he is real and she challenges him to prove it; he does. When Isis meets David, sparks fly!

I LOVED this book! From the first page I was hooked! I couldn't stop reading. I felt for Isis as she tried to cope with the lack of sleep. Then she meets David. Oh, David! I just love this character! I won't say much about him, as I don't want to put spoilers in. I feel to do so would spoil the enjoyment of this story for the reader. Suffice it to say, I felt like swooning during some parts of the book! The ending has a magnificent twist, which I didn't see coming. My first thought was "WOW!!!!". I had to read it again to make sure I had read it correctly. My second thought was, "OH, NO!!!". Now I can't wait to find out what's going to happen in this trilogy! - Lynn Worton

Stained by Ella James

 

Book Review of Stained by Ella James

After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia’s home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dan...gerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.

Review 5 out of 5

When a fire set by a half-demon destroys her home and kills her foster parents, Julia finds herself alone and scared. Whilst hiding, she meets Cayne. Cayne is a hunter and has been chasing the half-demon down for his own reasons. They join forces and begin hunting the half-demon together.

I loved reading this story. Julia's character has been through the wars. She is an orphan who has been in a lot of foster homes. She finds a family worth staying with, only to have them cruelly ripped away by a fire. Cayne is a mysterious, enigmatic character. He is a bit of a loner and is not happy to take Julia with him, but he knows that the half-demon will not let Julia live.
Ella James has created a world that is scary, but believable. Her characters go through a gamut of emotions; and I went through the emotions with them.
I recommend this book to everyone who likes to read YA paranormal adventure/romance. I'm definitely reading the next book in the series, Stolen, which is due for release in February this year. - Lynn Worton

 

Here is a link to her FB page if you should be interested and really, you should be.

http://www.facebook.com/ellajamesbooks

Book Review of Starcrossed by Josephine Angeline written by guest reviewer Lynn Worton

 

Book Review of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Destiny brought them together. The Gods will keep them apart.

When shy, awkward Helen Hamilton meets Lucas Delos for the first time, she thinks two things: the first, that he is the most ridiculously beautiful boy she has seen in her life; the second, that she wants to kill him with her bare hands.
...
An ancient curse means Lucas and Helen are destined to loathe one another. But sometimes love is stronger than hate, and not even the gods themselves can prevent what will happen next...

Review 6 out of 5

Helen Hamilton lives on a small island in Nantucket where nothing much ever happens. So when she hears that there is a new family moving there, she is curious about them. But when she meets the Delos family for the first time, she is consumed by rage and tries to kill Lucas. Trying to understand her reaction to the Delos family, Helen begins to delve in to her family's past and the mysterious curse that surrounds her.

I fell in love with this book! I had heard it was good, but I didn't realise how good it was until I read it. Helen is an awkward, shy 16/almost 17-year-old teenager who sort of reminds me of me at that age. She has one best friend, Claire. I just love the camaraderie between the two of them. But when Helen meets Lucas, sparks don't just fly, there's a brushfire! Lucas's character is to die for! He's gorgeous! I wasn't sure how Josephine would bring these two characters together, but she did it with panache. I loved the way she managed to make the story so believable, it's as if the Gods from Olympus are actually still alive and well. I can't wait to find out what happens next! I have already pre-ordered my copy of Starcrossed: Dreamless, which is due for release at the beginning of July. - Lynn Worton

 

Guest reviewer   - Lynn Worton

 

Little Orphan Anvil by Joseph Beekman!

Little Orphan Anvil

By Joseph Beekman

A Mystic Press author and graduate of Media Arts in fine arts from the University of Arizona (1994), Joseph writes books and screenplays, and is an avid supporter of animal rescue and protection. He is an avid fan of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and mythology, as well as a big fan of history, music, and the arts. Two books authored by Joseph Beekman are "A Tail Spun" and "Little Orphan Anvil" - both books are Mystic Press Publications (Feb. 2012) and are fantasy/science fiction based stories. Also available is a self-published, short collection of poems titled "Shades of Fate". Joseph currently lives in the "Wild West" of Arizona.

Show More

Little Orphan Anvil is a multi layered story. Structurally and grammatically this story is expertly written. 

I'm unsure as to what market age the book was aimed at.  I am however convinced that children of all ages would enjoy the basic story line.  It’s the adults however that will see more in this story. 

The cultural clash between old and new, between magic and industrialisation, between belief and hopelessness, and several other aspects run through this story with effortless clarity and to the more critical reader religious undertones in the story will become apparent.

I believe that this is one of those unique stories that would leave the reader with an impression that can relate to the readers own personal experience.

In essence this is a story about a little robot droid, orphaned by a storm, a little boy and his dog, orphaned by a war and an old man orphaned due to his belief system.  As these three meet up with an escaped orphan a family is made.  One that works as well separated as it does a unit.  For me this 66 page read was an exploration into that one common denominator between all of us, hope.

I loved the story and plan to read it again soon.  This time without the eye of a reviewer but of a person who adores well written stories with meanings deeper than which is obvious on the surface. 

I would definitely recommend this book to all who have an hour to spare.  It will enrich every reader's life; of this I have no doubt.

I give this book an easy 5 star rating.

When you want to know more here is his facebook page link ;

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Orphan-Anvil/213455242000232

Teeth and Talons a Horror anthology by Samantha Combs

TEETH AND TALONS

A Horror Anthology by Samantha Combs
Copyright © 2012 SAMANTHA COMBS
ISBN:
Cover art designed by Paragraphic Designs

Well I love a challenge and this is my first ever anthology. This is thus a true challenge. So I spend an entire minute figuring out how does one review an anthology. At the end of that minute after considering hunting down other such reviews on the internet I decided I'll take it a story at time. Then I will do a synopsis of the entire anthology. Here goes. Hope you like it.

The Ink Man
The Ink man was in intricate story which surprised me in its richness and character building.
It was refreshing to read a short story that was so rich in character development and in setting both mood and location in order to ground the reader.
The story itself was also unique and spoke to perception of self and others. It's in the miscalculation between being able to discern between friend and foe that the true horror of the story is hidden. I loved the layered aspect and stand in awe of the author that could accomplish so much in so little pages without ever letting the reader feel as if they are not part of a real story unfolding.
I take my hat off to the author for accomplishing so much with this story. Apart from being a technically brilliant story it was a really enjoyable read to boot.

The Robbery Countdown
This short story was a fun read, not much time or space to work in any character development but the reader will be left with the sense of no bad deed ever goes unpunished. After all, being evil does not guarantee that you are the worst possible thing out there. I really liked the dialogue between the shop owners in this story and was giggling to myself as I read it.

Rock and Roll All Night
Aah, my favorite story in this anthology. All is not what it would seem and as with The Robbery Countdown being evil does not guarantee that you are the hunted and not the prey. I really liked this story and especially liked the casual way in which the twists were introduced into the plot.
The Chair
Really liked this story as well and really loved the end. In this the lesson might very well be that you should not push people to far, it might so happen that they come upon something that will push back for them……..

I love Samantha Combs' writing style. It is clear, concise and technically correct. If any grammar or spelling mistakes were to be found in this anthology then I missed it while being enthralled by the stories.
But no amount of technically proficiency would make me enjoy this book as much as I did without a very generous share of talent. This girl can write people.
I have seldom come across an author with her talent for economizing language without compromising on the story line. The horror aspect dawns on the reader with time. As the stories keep playing off in my head I realize that I should be wary as well as to what I accept as being a truth……..

I can't think of a single market that would not enjoy this anthology even if horror is not your preferred reading material.

I give this anthology a 6 out of 5 rating. I will definitely recommend it to all and gift it to a friend with anticipation as to hear their opinion and takes on this story.

Thank you Samantha for trusting me enough to write a review of your work. I hope I did not disappoint

Find out more about this awesome author at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002376799728

I cant wait to get an opportunity to read her spell series........ wink wink Samantha