Quick Reviews - November 2022
TammyJo Eckhart
Fantasy
4 Stars
Blurb: A Sumerian child named Ningai survives the murder of her entire family and cries out to her people's gods, who answer her prayer in an unexpected way. Now, as the first of the Akhkharu, the living dead, Ningai embarks on a journey across the millennia to rebuild what she lost. The best of her offspring must maintain some shred of goodness to prove worthy to their Child-Mother while fighting the deadly impulses of their kind. Join their journeys across time in a series of interconnected stories from the earliest cities to a brutal future where humans are mere pawns in the hands of near gods. Like all of us, Ningai and the best of her children will stop at nothing to protect her family. Can they succeed before they lose what's left of their humanity, or will all of humanity become enslaved to the Akhkharu forever?
Review: Cleverly devised vampire story that weaves a good plot with interesting background detail
Joan Marie Verba
a fantasy short story
4 Stars
Blurb: A story of magic and triumph over hardship, with a shocking ending. At 6300 words, this story is a perfect short read.
Marlys, excited about being accepted as an apprentice sorceress, is astonished to find that the other apprentices bully her mercilessly. No matter how hard she tries, no matter what she does, she isn’t good enough. Worse, no one seems interested in teaching her sorcery. Can she become a sorceress despite this, and, if given the chance for revenge, will she take it?
Review: A fun short read with a nice twist at the end
Timothy S Currey
Fantasy, Short
3 Stars
Blurb: Two killers, a deadly mission, and an innocent child.
Amelia & Athers had worked together well countless times. This mission was just like any other. But what happens when a trained killer like Amelia comes face to face with an innocent child whose father she must kill? Well, she must look deep down and muster the will to do what is right... begrudgingly.
Review: A short introductory story that doesn't really have time to develop. Interesting concept of an assassin with a heart
Giving Up The Ghost
Dean Rasmussen
Horror, Ghost, Short
4 Stars
Blurb: A gripping paranormal thriller to rattle your nerves…
A protective nurse pays a visit to an elderly dementia patient as a hurricane arrives, but discovers she can't leave after getting caught up in the patient's delusions.
Review: A creepy ghost story that takes place during a hurricane
Christie Logan
Rom-Com
3 Stars
Blurb: A contemporary riff on Puss in Boots featuring a fake relationship, a cinnamon roll hero and a very snarky cat.
They call me Boots. I’m a cat with a problem. See, I used to live in a mansion where I spent my days lounging on velvet pillows. But fate played a dirty trick and landed me in a dinky apartment with this guy Caleb Miller. He’s okay for a human, but he’s not rich. If I ever want to get back to the plush life I had before—the life I deserve—I’ve got to come up with a plan.
That’s where Victoria LeRoi comes in. She’s got plenty of money but no luck when it comes to love. Caleb’s been carrying a torch for her since high school. When he agrees to play her fake boyfriend for an upcoming wedding, I’m one happy cat. All they have to do is fall in love and my plan’s a success. They get each other and I get to live in the lap of luxury again.
If only they don’t let their fears get the best of them. If Victoria’s creepy ex-boyfriend and her snotty cousin don’t tear them apart.
Humans have a terrible way of messing up a cat’s purrfect plans…
Review: A fairly short cute modern romance story about two people brought together by a cat. The main characters are lovable, as are the animals, and the story moves along at a good pace. Typical Rom-Com style that is a fun read without any real shocks or surprises
Skinner's Rules
Quintin Jardine
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
2 Stars
Blurb: The book that launched a legend: the first novel in the acclaimed Bob Skinner series.
Review: The book starts off well with a serial killer on the loose in Edinburgh and a dubious suicide in Glasgow but rather than stay in the realms of a good murder mystery the plot takes a disappointing turn into international politics and intrigue featuring spies and assassins.
The characters are a bit one dimensional and I found myself not really caring about any of them.
Joe Ed Morris
Historical Fiction, Thriller
3 Stars
Amid a revolution, archaeologist Christopher Jordan and ancient manuscript expert Kathryn Ferguson travel to Syria in search of the original scroll of Marks’ Gospel. Paralleling their quest is the story of the evangelist’s escape with the scroll from the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., his struggles to complete the manuscript and his journeys and efforts with the daughter of Peter the Apostle to protect and save it for the ages. For both couples, time is running out and enemies are closing in.
Richly evocative and fiercely moving, this literary thriller explores the hard questions: Did Mark intentionally omit the resurrection story, leaving it shrouded in mystery? Or did it become detached and lost forever?
Discover the answer in The Lost Page.
The story was told in two separate tales set 2000 years apart which followed a modern day quest to find the original gospel of St. Mark whilst simultaneously telling the story of Marks final years completing his gospel.
I found the lead characters two dimensional and the supporting cast a bit derivative.
The story lacked any jeopardy and only got at all exciting near the end. It read more like a travel guide of the Middle East crossed with a bible study class.
It’s not supposed to be a Dan Brown wannabe but a little bit more action and the odd plot twist would’ve elevated this to a more thrilling read.
Would be a good read for anyone with an interest in the New Testament and it does at least give a bit of the flavour of the area in the years following the death of Jesus.
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