Review: Call of the Herald by Brian Rathbone

Title: Call of the Herald

Author: Brian Rathbone

Format: Kindle (E-book)

Read: Dec 19-26, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes.

Summary: "Echoes of the ancients' power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war" This quote summarizes this story quite well, and is the blurb on Goodreads.

Review: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author for supplying this book to me.

Epic fantasy is something that I enjoy greatly. This was definitely one of the books that will make it on my favorite fantasy lists, I'm not sure which list it will end up on, but it will end up there. Mr. Rathbone's writing makes me feel like I am reading something by Tolkien or Terry Brooks. It has the feel of Lord of the Rings, Shinnara and even touches of Paolini's Eragon saga mixed through it. It was comfort read for me, because I enjoy all three of these series and to find someone that has combined them so well, has made me quite pleased.

This particular novel is comprised of three stories, where you are emersed in Godsland and weave the story of Catrin Volker, revealed to be the Herald of Istra, as well as the stories of her companions and Guardians.

Catrin's story is mesmerizing, and I find myself addicted to the weaving of her tale. She is a teenager when the discovery of her newly awakened power sends her on a journey, the end result of this journey – to save all of Godsland. You are immediately drawn into the story and Rathbone's writing keeps you lodged within this world he has crafted. Occasionally, there are touches of speech that is too modern for the time period crafted, but they are few and far between and easily passed over when they occur.

The story is highly detailed and at times can get difficult to follow, but it is that level of detail that makes this epic adventure all the more impressive. The points of view shift through out the story, and and there are times when you need to stop and think to remember where a certain character fit into the story, but ultimately everything is well written, well composed and an engaging and fantastical read.

I am eager to sink myself into the next book in this series, The Dawning of Power has certainly become part of me. Will Rathbone continue Catrin's story, that has yet to be seen, but the door is indeed left open to the possibility of it occuring. You will find yourself becoming attached to the characters much like I did.

Review: Reflection by Jessica Roberts

Title: Reflection

Author: Jessica Roberts

Format: Kindle (E-book)

Read: May 25-26, 2012

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes.

Summary: Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards.

Review: I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book is highly enjoyable, and I couldn't tear myself away from the pages, which is why it ended up taking me a little less than a day to finish (I think I'd probably finished it in about 12-hrs give or take breaks to deal with that pesky thing known as life).

The story is cleverly written and you live Heather's story with her – trying to connect the dots to untangle what is real and what is part of the coma-created dream life. The most heart-wrenching part of this story is Heather's struggle to figure out if her first love was reality or if it was another result of that coma-created dream.

You will suffer the trials and tribulations of Heather's journey, empathize with her as she struggles to separate dream from reality. You will find that in the end, Heather's journey has only begun. I won't give away spoilers, but I will highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a captivating story.

Review: Don't Ask, Don't Tell by T.R. Stoddard

Title: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Author: T.R. Stoddard

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: July 18-20

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: YES!

Summary: Freshman journalism student Rachael Ainsley goes undercover at a Moorevile High, in the Bible Belt portion of the nation. As High School Senior Cassie Rae, she befriend the gayest boy in the school, to begin her tell-al expose, and hoping to drastically alter the Gay Rights Movement. Will Rachael meet her deadline, or will she be exposed before she has a chance to do some good?

Review: While Rachael is looking for a good story, she is also looking to make a difference with her writing. A chance to make a difference comes when a high school near her hometown begins instituting a “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy. The policy at Mooretown High is designed to discourage any of the students from pursuing, or even admitting their true sexuality.

Rachael takes the undercover identity of Cassie Rae, in hopes that she can not only get the article she wants, but can drastically change the policy that has been implemented in this school. The faculty have taken the policy to extreme measures, ensuring that those with “gay tendencies” also end up in a place called Reformation Hall. Rachael is one of those that is sent to this place, and she befriends many of them.

This is by far different than T.R. Stoddard's usually darker passages, but it is no less riveting and is most definitely going to keep your eyes glued to each and every page. Zane and Vinnie's story and struggle is heartbreaking, and you will find strength in Rachael's will to help those around her who are suffering because of the intolerance of those around them.

Thank you so much T.R. Stoddard for allowing me to read and review this fantastic book!

Making Connections Blog Stop: The End Begins: The Nine By Jeffrey Zewig II

Kinda fell off on this one (then again had some issues that kept me otherwise occupied :( so this is late - forgive me Tana!!)

Excerpt of The End Begins: The Nine:

The early morning light of Cass’s fourth day in Jurgin almost blinded her. It was the second day having taken on an overnight shift and the hours were worn on her face. Children with large backpacks passed her, smiling and waving. Some of her other neighbors acknowledged her with a wave, though they seemed to still avoid her despite having blended into their population quite well.

From the street, Cass entered a small diner, very homely and inviting even with a small layer of noticeable dust. Once inside she noticed her other co-workers sat in a booth not far from the front door. She quickly turned away and sat in her own booth. The waitress was quick to come by to take her order. The male co-workers from the other side of the room tried to grab her attention, but she paid little attention and was thankful when her food arrived.

This diner she’d visited since coming to Jurgin specialized in hearty meals of bacon, eggs, and sausage, though she defied the usual for hash browns and eggs. The food was quick to come and she enjoyed the taste and though she only nibbled at the meat, she gorged herself on eggs, potatoes, and toast. Already the feeling crept in that she was losing herself in the local community’s filth at times.

As she tore into a strip of bacon, her glance shifted to the floor, a discarded newspaper sat under her feet. She brought it up to the table when a long article on the side of the newspaper’s face with an image of Skylar and some other Tro-Dey’s greeting the locals of that area the picture was taken, that had a name she had a hard time saying.

Cass scanned the plain-faced type font of the article, which at first caught her off guard to how similar it was to her own. She learned it was an interview given by Skylar, their acting representative, during the Nine’s first visit to Washington. They were interested in expanding their influence to the country in light of the issues the ravaged country had.

The young woman sank in her chair in anguish as one of her co-workers, a six-foot-something rotund man with large, black, and round glasses came and sat at her booth. She didn’t respond to his presence.

“What you readin’?” he asked.

“Nothing in particular,” she lied. He leaned on the table toward her.

“Look, Jass. Let’s face it. No one around here has taken to you too well. I know you’re not from around here and so do most of us. All I’m saying is, you hang with the right people, and things will go easier for you. Just trying to make your life a little easier. I’m sure you can appreciate that, can’t you?”

Dwelling in her personal hell, her vision locked on the paper until the fat man swiped the newspaper from her.

“Are you listening, Jass?” he asked.

Cass shot up from the table. “My name is Cass! C-A-double-S!” Her diamond blue eyes narrowed at him. “I’ve had enough of your insistent meddling in my affairs. I am not going to,” she searched her mind a second for the right word, “fuck? You? Okay? Get found? Lost? Go away! Leave me be,” she threw down some flamboyant currency on the table and left for the door.

The man, with the paper in hand, stood from the booth. Before she made it to the door, two men, the fat man’s lapdogs from his booth, had the door blocked.

“Let me pass.”

“Jass,” the fat man gingerly called to her, “It would be in your best interests if you…”

The moment the fat man put a hand on her shoulder, she kicked into the side of his knee. He yelped an octave higher while his mass crashed to the ground with a loud thud. As the young alchemist’s attention returned to the two men at the door, her face connected with the fist of one of the lapdogs. Disoriented, the other shoved her into the diner’s counter.

As they advanced on her, she groped the counter for a weapon.

Steak knife. Dirty but sharp, she thought, but the lap dog’s greedy hands pinned her against the counter with their strength.

The fat man wobbled to his feet with a face red with anger. She felt his next course of action was going to be a violent one.

There were no options now; she had got in over her head.

Cass willed energy into her hands until they were a hint of red, then grabbed the closest man that held an arm and burned them. He released her, cursing while the skin on his forearm blistered instantly.

When the other tried to restrain her, she landed a quick jab that left knuckle marks in their skin, then released the energy housed in her hand and shot a small fireball into his face. The second lackey was down for the count, their skin was red, blistered and cracked.

But the fat man would not be detoured, and lumbered after her. She brushed her hands as they turned blue against her clothes. Energy crackled along the veins of her hands as she drew it from her torso and double-fisted him in the chest.

The sudden impact knocked the glasses off the large man’s face as he stumbled across the room and crashed into a table while he went into cardiac arrest. The other lackey, with forearms burnt, backed away. Cass stood, bleeding with her power, triumphant.

Then came the stares and shocked faces of the witnesses around her.