The Problem with God takes an interesting premise: what if we could prove the existence of an afterlife. Should we share it with everyone? If you think about the ramifications for our world—as the book stimulates you to—you may come to the conclusion, as characters in this book have, that things are better left as they are. When someone does try to share such proof with the world, certain people from the Catholic Church and the Mormans take notice and make moves to intervene. The story revolves around a Jesuit priest, who rescues a woman from the river after she fell/was pushed off a bridge, and the woman, Grace, who has returned to earth after death to try to destroy the evidence. She must find a way to die again so that she returns to the same realm she was in, not a random one as is possible. In order to do this she needs to pass through a physical gateway and when someone bricks up the one she was planning to use, she has to go to New York to find another. The priest, Julius, … [Read more...]
Want something really different? Sequela by Cleland Smith
Sequela by Cleland Smith is a strange book, creepy, thought-provoking and potent. It has a unique premise and makes an insightful and scathing comment on the power plays of the business world. In a nutshell, it's about a scientist literally prostituting himself for big business. The author creates a world where the city centre is separated from the rest of London. The city is the playpen for the ambitious, the power hungry and the wannabes who are willing to trade sexual favours for advancement. In this world, that is the norm rather than the exception, and wearing (showing) sexually transmitted viruses indicates that you have ambition. Scabs supposedly makes you desirable. The plot had me guessing, not knowing where it would go next. It wandered a little early on, but strengthened when the viral terrorism began. Though the world is different, the behaviours and motivations of the people are the same as those we see around us every day. Power, money, religion, prestige, fame and … [Read more...]
A truly stunning book: Kaleidoscope by Kevin Berry
Sometimes you can tell from the beginning that a book is going to be awesome. Kaleidoscope by Kevin Berry was one of them, and it was primarily due to the strength of the author's voice. Chloe leapt off the very first page like the vibrant and delightfully individual character that she is, and her unwavering honesty and cheerful acceptance of her various 'conditions' made her highly endearing. This book follows on from STIM, but you don't need to have read it first. The central character in STIM is Robert, Chloe's boyfriend, and near the end of that book, they experience the earthquake that shocked Christchurch, New Zealand, in September 2010. Kaleidoscope is narrated by Chloe, a bipolar Aspie (person with Asperger's syndrome), and near the beginning of this book, she and Robert experience the more disastrous February 2011 Earthquake that demolished Christchurch's central business district and killed over 100 people. The earthquake and the difficulties it imposes on the people of … [Read more...]
An Excellent Young Adult Fantasy: A Review of ‘The Stone Lions’ by Gwen Dandridge
The Stone Lions is an excellent young adult novel set in Spain in the early 1400's. Ara is a twelve-year-old Muslim girl and daughter of the Sultan. She lives with her cousin Layla in the Alhambra Palace, a place of great halls and courtyards decorated with beautiful tiles. Protective magic is woven into the symmetry of the mosaics, but the Sultans advisor is using his magic to break key symmetries and weaken the palace so the infidels/ book lovers/. Christians from the north can take over the Kingdom. Ara and Layla discover the treachery and with the help of a Sufi mathmagician take it in hand to fix the broken symmetries and try to find solid evidence of the advisor's treachery to submit to the Sultan. The story is unique in that it is both highly educational and entertaining. In order to fix the magic, the girls must learn about symmetry and that is their first step towards becoming a mathmagician - I love that word and the concept of maths being magical that goes with it. Not only … [Read more...]
Gritty reality and magical fantasy: Along the Watchtower by David Litwack
Along the Watchtower is a combination of fantasy and contemporary fiction that tells the story of an Iraqi war veteran's physical and emotional healing. Parallel to the story of Frank defeating his inner demons in a hospital in America is that of a dauphin's trials in a fantasy world. Prince Frederick must pass a series of mystical trials before he can become King, and if he fails, the Kingdom will loose its protective magic and fall to the enemy. In the fantasy world, magic is real, but Frederick does not have any to help him; he must overcome his trials - which cannot be won by sword or dagger - by himself and not fall prey to the assassin who thrives on despair. Frank does not have magic either, but he has Becky, the physical therapist with the magic hands and cheerful, ever-hopeful personality. Frank has a similar goddess to help him; his is in the form of the gardener. The mysteries that Frederick must solve are metaphors for Frank's psychological conundrum, so when Prince … [Read more...]
Romantic suspense reviews: Shattered Blue by Jane Taylor Starwood
Shattered Blue is a classic romantic suspense story, and if you like that combination of genres, then you'll probably like this because it has all the necessary elements - an attractive woman, a hot guy and a psychopathic would-be rapist killer. Just when said hot guy and attractive woman get together, the psychopath enters and threatens to rip their happiness from beneath them. The tension builds through memories, dreams, clever foreshadowing and a series of suspicious events that culminate in a life threatening situation for both lovers. The pacing is good, it keeps you reading but still allows time for character development, and the plot, though nothing new, is solid. The characters are well-drawn and complex. Shane is an artist with a history she is hiding from, and Matt is an architect in the process of selling his business to his hard nosed ex-wife. Despite many reasons not to, they fall in love pretty much instantaneously. It surprises them both, but they're old enough to … [Read more...]
Brilliant, thrilling & heart-breaking: Corridor of Darkness: A Novel of Nazi Germany
I didn't plan on reading this book, because it's not really my kind of thing, but the author offered it to the Awesome Indies reviewers free in return for an honest review and when I heard that it was pretty good, I thought I'd take a look. Before I knew it, I was almost half way though the book and I didn't stop until the first bit of torture. That reminded me why I don't like to read thrillers. And the brutality and prejudice growing in the German population reminded me why I don't like to read about the rise of Nazi Germany. I decided to stop reading at that point, knowing there would be worse to come, but the next day, I realised that I couldn’t bear not knowing what happens to the characters, so I picked the book up again and read until I'd finished. The fact that I did that is a tribute to the skill of the author. Given my general predjudice against thrillers, it wouldn't have taken much for me to set it aside, but I didn't. The book hooked me and didn't let go. Even at the end … [Read more...]
Diamond Peak Series Book Tour: An awesome review of Stalking Shadows.
Here's a review of Stalking Shadows that really made my heart sing. This is the best reward for an author; readers who love what you write. Not everyone does, but those that do make the struggle worth while. Kayla says, among other things: 'Wow! I have to say that although I really, really enjoyed reading Lethal Inheritance, book one in this series, I think I enjoyed the sequel even more. That isn’t something that really happens for me that often and it only makes me wonder what more could come in the rest of the series.' Pop over and see Kayla's wonderful book blog and read the rest of the series. http://caughtbetweenthepages.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/blog-tour-stalking-shadows-by-tahlia-newland/ Don't forget the Special Series Seal If you buy book one, Lethal Inheritance, and send the receipt to [email protected] before the 15th of December, I will send you book 2, Stalking Shadows, for free and enter you in a draw to win the rest of the series. You can also pick up two … [Read more...]
‘The quality of the writing style rivals the works of masters like Tolkien.’
So says Tammy Dewhurst who gives a perceptive (and 5 star) review of book 4, Eternal Destiny. According to her, my series now belongs in the 'books like Tolkien' category. Awesome. Read the full review. "This is a tough story as is befitting a novel about the life and death of humanity. Newland doesn’t give her young adult audience a break and while young readers may not get the message and depth of symbolism immediately the story will stay with them. I truly enjoy young adult authors who don’t consider their audience lacking in intelligence. She treats her audience with respect and gives them a wonderful tale that challenges their ideas and perceptions." I like that about my writing too. The cutest review ever is from Coffee to Words. You really have to visit the site and see the awesome animations she put in her review of book 1, Lethal Inheritance. The reviewer says: "It’s exciting and uplifting, thrilling and thoroughly positive, and it shows huge challenges and how … [Read more...]
Action packed YA superheroes: ‘Super Nobody’ by Brent Meske.
It was clear from the first sentence of this book that the author knows what he's doing. Super Nobody grabs your attention straight away and holds you there in a fast moving action packed story about super villains, superheroes and a not-super reluctant teenage hero. There's a few YA superhero books about, but this one has a particularly real central character who isn't so super and not such a hero, at least to begin with. The story begins with Michael being bullied. It seems a normal enough situation, but things soon start turning very strange. Kids are turning into Actives, the name for super beings, and soon everything goes pear-shape. Michael may be a nobody, but he's just the kind of nobody the town needs to save it from a madman, or is he? If plan A fails, there's no plan B. Mr Meske doesn't just deliver a great action story, he delivers on the characterisation as well. Michael, Charlotte and his mother are very real people, and Michael grows through his experiences as … [Read more...]
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