The Vine Witch: Luanne G. Smith #bookreview

Synopsis: Elena Boureanu, a witch from the French countryside, has spent the last seven years cursed and living in the body of a marsh creature. After using sheer wit to break the spell, she is determined to find the wretched witch who ruined her life. When she returns to the vineyard she calls home, she finds that Chateau Renard has been sold to a handsome but non-believing lawyer from the city, Jean-Paul Martel. He is quick to express his distaste for the practices of vine witches, but Elena soon forces him to see the realities around him.

While Elena strives to return to her normal life, someone or rather some witch, seeks to destroy her and the vineyard she so lovingly coaxes to life. As she attempts to rid Chateau Renard of the hex paced on it, a string of murders plagues the small town, and the blame is quickly placed on her. Elena is determined to prove her innocence, rid the town vineyards of evil, and seek revenge against the one who cursed her. In her relentless pursuit, she learns about her shocking past and many unknown facts about the people closest to her.

My Review: This debut novel from Luanne G. Smith was a fun and exhilarating tale set in the beautiful countryside and vineyards of the French countryside. The crowd of characters, from a frog to monks to an ancient Beirhexe witch, are likable and interestingly different from the common tropes in fantasy. From the very first page, which was thoroughly strange and intriguing, readers are  captured by the story. Smith chose such a fascinating place and time to spin the historical fantasy tale of these wonderful characters.
This story could be described as a fairy tale for adults, because it has such a magical allure. There is a thin line between good and evil, which has the reader hovering on the decision of which characters can be trusted. With an abundance of twists and turns, the tale leaves the reader guessing and also eager to read on to find out the answer to all the mystery. There is something to love for readers of several genres including fantasy, mystery, and even a little romance. Overall, I loved the story and would be sure to pick up any future titles, including it's sequel The Glamourist, by this talented author.
While the story and plot was excellent, I felt there was some what of a disconnect with the characters. I didn't feel any real connection with them and was left wanting to know more about their personalities. Some of them seemed very one dimensional and lacked complexity. For example, I couldn't really get a feel from Jean-Paul as a person, I only know that he had some inner turmoil about his beliefs. Grand-Mere has so much potential as the little old grandma of the story but her character was also a little flat. I wanted to hear more about her. Since the story was told in third person omniscient, there was great potential for the reader to hear the thoughts, feelings, and more personality from the characters.  I also couldn't follow the growth of the romance between Elena and Jean-Paul, because it seemed as if it was nothing then it was something.
With all that being said I really did enjoy it and think that it deserves a read and I would definitely recommend it.

My Review: 3.5 stars

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Publisher: 47North
Publish Date: October 1, 2019

About the Author:
Find Luanne G. Smith on Amazon, Goodreads, and her Website 

Scarlet Huntress: Leann Mason #bookreview

Synopsis: After the death of her grandmother, who was killed by wolves, Allya is placed in the care of a family led by the patriarch named Seth. She soon realizes this family is actually a coven of shape-shifting witches who will torture, abuse, and eventually attempt to use her as a human sacrifice in order to complete a sacred ritual. Reigning in her inner strength and will to survive, Allya manages to stop the ritual, kill one of her captors, and escape from the tormented life she has been living since her childhood.

Now lost in the woods with little more than the clothes on her back, which happens include a striking red cloak, she finds herself under the protection of a lone wolf. She is eventually led to Grimm Hollow, a town full of magical creatures, and under the protection of a spell to keep the evil forces out. Through the help of a Shifter, Allya learns skills to defend herself, and prepares for a mission of revenge. She will discover secrets about herself and those around her in her attempt to untangle the mystery of her life. In the end, she will complete a journey of self-discovery and triumph, as her character transforms from being hunted to being the Scarlet Huntress.

My Review: Scarlett Huntress is a dark and thrilling re-telling and extension of the beloved Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Full of magic, witches and warlocks, wolf/human shifters, and even a little Native American lore, this tale is sure to capture the attention of the lovers of fantasy and fairy tale re-tellings. In the story, the main character Allya makes a smooth transition from being a scared, timid, and abused child, to a strong, well-rounded, and powerful woman that readers will love. She has a snarky attitude and a relatable, sarcastic inner dialogue that a reader can identify with, appreciate, and even get a few laughs out of.  The story is only loosely based on Red Riding Hood, so there are no boring moments where the reader feels as if they have heard this before. There are several unique and mind-boggling twists to Allya's story that send the tale off in a new direction.

The supporting characters are also very interesting and many play significant and fascinating roles in the story. For example, Hunter, who teaches Allya everything she needs to know in order to mount her defense against the coven, is a strong-willed and loyal servant to the town of Grimm Hollow. This story is a great example of how a character can undergo growth through their steadfastness to a cause. Growth doesn't have to mean a fundamental change in the character.

The only part that is a little underplayed is the experience that Allya had with the coven and back history of her family. Describing this more would contribute to an understanding of Allya's current mental state and explain some of her actions better. The backstory of both Allya and her family could be a novel in itself and would be an excellent prequel to Scarlet Huntress. This is the first installment of the Tales of Grimm Hollow series, and Mason has set up a nice ending that should lead smoothly into an excellent second book.

My Rating: 4 Stars

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Amazon Available October 29, 2019
Author's website: www.leannmason.com

Author: Leann Mason
Publish Date: October 29,2019

The Wrath of Raghnall: Shauna Richmond #bookreview

Synopsis: Lord Theodore Olden counts it a blessing when his old friend Bjorn the Brave arrives at the celebration of his eldest sons betrothal. Soon after his arrival, demons from Bjorns past come back to haunt him. To this day, he knows not of who murdered his family, with only his daughter spared from the attacks on his house and a son who is seemingly back from the dead. Both houses encounter a plague of demons that were thought long gone in their quest to get to the truth and to restore Bjorns family to their throne. For their involvement with the Vikings, bandits and mercenaries attack house Olden, leaving the house divided between their loyalties to their ally and protecting their own family. The family of cursed Vikings must find a way to beat the odds once again and to recruit new allies to take back what was stolen from them.

My Review: This debut novel from Irish author Shauna Richmond is sure to capture the mind of any medieval fantasy reader especially those who are interested in Viking lore, magical creatures, and gruesome warfare. The most important thing I found fascinating about this book is that the characters are so unique and do not fit into the typical character cliches sometimes found in fantasy works. We have Freya who has inherited a kingdom but not in the way a swooning innocent princess may have. Then there is Finn, second born to the House Olden, who isn't interested in conforming to the mannerisms expected of those with royal blood. We even have Theodore, Lord of House Olden, who is a fair and just ruler and remains unbiased in the matters of nobles vs. small folk.

This atypical characterization keeps readers interested and avoids the boredom that usually comes with the repeated character tropes found in fantasy. In addition, having a strong female protagonist is exciting especially for female readers. Richmond has also done very well to create characters with both deep emotions and complex and often traumatizing pasts. This makes the reader identify with the characters easily. The world Shauna has created is full of new magical creatures and evil entities, both human and non-human.

The novel is fast paced, not overwhelmingly, but has just enough action to keep reader's engaged and eager to follow through to the next chapter. The author employs several interesting twists throughout the story that will rouse the excitement of readers and keep them coming back for more. The story ends with an unexpected revelation that promises for more to come. We, the readers,will eagerly wait for the continuation of this story in the future works created by Richmond.

My Rating: 5 stars

About the Author:

Shauna is a first-time author who took time out of her career to pursue motherhood and to chase her dreams of telling her own stories and seeing them in print. Her first book came to her as she was battling her own demons of depression and anxiety. Writing became an outlet that helped her through the dark times and to overcome the struggles she had dealt with. 

You can find links to purchase The Wrath of Raghnall and social media links for Shauna Richmond below. 

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Beta Read and Author Spotlight: Jason P. Hein author of The Varsian Kingdom #betareader

I am pleased to say I had the privilege of being a beta reader for Jason P. Hein, author of  an epic fantasy series named The Varsian Kingdom. This four book series is an adventure that is sure to please. After reading the prequel, The Legacy of Ravenbane, I can say that Hein definitely has a knack for writing fantasy. The book is filled with the fantasy creatures we love and hate, as well as legends, battles, and even romance. The characters are beautifully charming and will stay with the reader. In fact, I am so enthralled with these characters that I plan to continue to read and finish the series. The story includes a masterful description of how The Varsian Kingdom came to be as it is in the series, as well as an explanation of the origin of the dark and light forces the land harbors. I can say that I was thoroughly impressed with the story and can't wait to read the next four books to continue on this adventure. I wish Jason the best of luck with his career as an author and he has my full support on any future endeavors.

About the Author:
Growing up on a secluded farm in the panhandle of Oklahoma, Jason P. Hein developed a unique point of view and literary sense as a young child. With few friends and little to entertain him, his imagination ran wild! With iconic names such as C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien as literary inspirations, epic tales began to unfold inside the confines of his mind. These stories soon became the backbone for a rich fantasy land, now known as "The Varsian Kingdom."
As years and education expanded his mind, so they expanded the Kingdom of Varsia. With the launch of "The Varsian Kingdom Series" Jason is now offering his world for the exploration of intrigued minds and fantasy readers alike!

You can find Jason's social media and links to purchase his books below:

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Roland's Path: R. J. Hanson #bookreview

Synopsis: Roland, a seventeen year old boy from among the race of the Great Men, is tasked with supervising three prisoners in his father's jail. When two of those prisoners escape, Roland and his childhood friend Eldryn embark on an adventure not only to capture the escapees but also to gain the elusive approval of his father. The third prisoner, labeled  spy and cut-purse, convinces Roland to use his assistance in tracking the others who have escaped. The trio then commence a whirlwind adventure through the land beyond the borders of their home of Galhallad. Chance encounters with giants, elves, and ogres will threaten to deter them and end their mission. As ominous evil lurks beyond every turn, both in the real world and in the mind of Roland, he must control his emotions and concentrate on the task at hand to be successful.

My Review: Roland's Path is not only a fantastical tale of adventure in fascinating new land, it is also a coming of age story of two friends who capture our hearts. As Author R.J Hanson reveals in the blurb, the tale is woven from his true experiences during years of role play gaming with friends. Many gamers have often thought that our character's experiences would make a great book. From the moment we meet the two main characters Roland and Eldryn we are drawn to their down-to-Earth simplicity as well as their complex internal emotional strife. We can easily identify with Roland's constant desire to impress his father, and Eldryn's acceptance of taking a backseat ride to Roland's adventures. The characters are unapologetically raw and plausible; we all have someone in our lives that we can correlate them with. Hanson has shown his knack for letting the characters develop through their story rather than forcing their traits into wordy paragraphs of description upon our first encounter.

This is the first installment in the Heirs of Vanity series and Hanson has revealed a second and third book that will continue the saga of the life of Roland. Being his debut novel, the prose is understandably unrefined. It would be pleasing to see it elevated in the coming installments to raise it up a level and place it among the ranks of other famous epic fantasy novels. There is a great potential for Hanson to pull a best seller out of this series. Roland's world, the Kingdom of Lethanor, is well thought out and beautifully illustrated at the back of the book but more visual world building throughout the book would give the reader a better sense of the environment. It must be noted that the action/fight scenes in the book are both thrilling and suspenseful. Hanson undoubtedly draws on his real life experiences as a law enforcement officer to drive his impassioned mental illustrations of the scenes. His vivid descriptions of weaponry and armor and the characters riveting emotional responses paint realistic battle scenes. All true lovers of fantasy will appreciate and indulge in this series.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Author: R. J. Hanson
Published Date: March 22, 2019 Roland’s Path (Heirs of Vanity #1)
by R. J. Hanson
Genre: Fantasy/ Epic Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult/ Adult
Release Date: 22 March 2019

Blurb:
When two servants of evil escape during young Roland’s watch, he is driven by his own shame and vanity to take up his axes and track them down himself. Raised on the rural edges of Gallhallad, can he survive the dangers and complexity of the road ahead?

With the help of his lifelong friend Eldryn, the Cavalier hopeful, and an uneasy bargain with a dagger wielding cutpurse, Roland pursues a wizard of unknown powers and a woman of uncommon beauty and skill.

Will Roland’s vanity not only doom him, but a kingdom he hoped to one day serve as well?

In Roland’s world of Stratvs, vanity has a high price. A price paid with the blood of the innocent and the guilty. Around him, swords once pledged to justice rust on the altars of the self-righteous.

You can find Roland’s Path on Goodreads

You can buy Roland’s Path here on Amazon

About the Author:
RJ Hanson has been a cop for over two decades. In that time, he accumulated a number of real-world experiences that have served to give him a unique understanding of the human condition and a perspective that gives his writing an honest grit. He has also benefited from years of training ranging from interview and interrogation techniques to hand to hand combat to SWAT tactics. RJ is a certified Firearms Instructor and Linguistic Statement Analyst. He currently serves as a Lieutenant in the Criminal Investigations Division of a small Texas police department where he specializes in crimes against persons.

In his youth he worked as a cowboy having grown up on a small ranch in north Texas. At the age of 16 he was selected for the TAMS (Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science) project at the University of North Texas where his young eyes were opened to the world.

In his spare time, RJ studies medieval combat and military tactics as well as arms and armaments of various cultures and times.

RJ and his wife, Michelle, live on a small ranch where they maintain a modest heard of cattle, two dogs, a variety of barn cats, a peacock named Henry and a peahen named Margaret (aka Ferd).

You can find and contact R. J. Hanson here:
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Embracing the Looking Glass: Amy Koto #bookreview

Synopsis: Returning to Wonderland was never part of the plan, but destiny calls from beyond the Looking-Glass. Kallie Bennett thinks that she has left Wonderland behind, as she tries to move on with her life, but her curiosity continues to stir, luring her back there. Luring her back to Ches, the vampire who changed everything for her. In Embracing the Looking-Glass: Book Two of the Dreaming of Wonderland series, Kallie quickly realizes that Wonderland is at war. Queen Hartley has launched an attack, but a rebellion is forming. Kallie realizes that her return to Wonderland has become something more than chasing after the unknown. It’s her destiny and it’s up to her to tap into her inner strength to help Wonderland and defend the magical community before it is destroyed by darkness. Kallie will do anything to protect Ches, but at what cost? As much as she wants to believe that true love can conquer all, sometimes there is more at stake, but is she truly ready to sacrifice any chance at leading a normal life? How far would you go for the one you love?


My Review: Since leaving Wonderland at the end of book one in the Dreaming of Wonderland series, Kallie is plagued by day dreams about her beloved Ches. She feels as if he is calling her back to Wonderland and that there may be an even greater threat posed to the magical land and its inhabitants. We can sense the urgency in Ches' please to her from beyond the looking glass. The plot quickly thickens when she realizes that threat and begins to act her part in the revolution against Queen Hartley.
We are introduced to a few new characters that are reminiscent of old fairy tales. Finally, we are given some insight into just how these characters came to be in their current state. Their back stories are very interesting and toss a nod to other fairy tales that we grew to love as children. The best part about the second book is that it gets quite a bit darker in the battles between good and evil. It is pleasing to see that Kallie has matured and grown into herself in many ways as she is forced to take a major part in the revolution.
Some of the story is a little wordy and one may find themselves having the urge to skip forward to more significant scenes, but in the same vein as the first book the plot quickens when the action begins. The reader will really feel the emotion when both Kallie and Ches are forced to make a decision that will keep them together but not in a way that they wanted. This leaves an opening for a third installment in this series which I am sure will measure up to the first two and be another enjoyable read.

My Rating: 4 Stars

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Author: Amy Koto
Published Date: June 5, 2019

The Art of Dying: Derik Cavignano #bookreview

2019 American Fiction Awards Winner in the Horror: General Category

Synopsis: After the mutilated remains of a mob foot soldier are discovered, Detective Ray Hanley thinks he has a simple case of revenge killing between the Irish and Italian mafias of Boston. However, when another gruesome body surfaces he realizes that this may be the work of a psychopathic serial killer who tortures and displays his victims all in the name of art. As Ray juggles family drama, mafia retaliation, and police corruption the clues become increasingly clear and lead him down the path of the killer. He will soon be submerged into the sick and twisted world of the killer and have to pay a hefty price both personally and professionally to bring the killer to light. Will his sacrifices be enough to ensure that justice is served?

My review: This is a captivating thriller, packed with violence and gore, which will have the reader glued to it's pages until the end. Cavignano takes us on a whirlwind chase following Detective Ray Henley in his search for a demented serial killer who uses his victims as a form of art. The witty banter, and good cop/ bad cop charades draw the reader into Hanley's world and suddenly in the next chapter they are in the den of the killer and reading about his visions for his future victims. The descriptions of the killers "artistic process" in creating each of his displays allow the reader a glimpse inside of his psychotic mind. Anyone who is a fan of Silence of the Lambs will succumb to the fascinating tale spun in this book.

Cavignano has a knack for creating well defined and multi-layered characters that are not just black and white like we see in many novels. In other words we are sometimes cross with the good guy for his actions, and likewise we sometimes sympathize with the bad guys. This is a characteristic that makes this novel both believable and fascinating. The Artist, a mentally deranged murderer, has a past that has driven him over the edge. And we get a really enticing view into his mind as he describes his plans of the murder of his victims. The switch from one chapter laying out the evidence and following Detective Hanley to the next being with the killer and describing his actions keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. With all of this,  the rivalry between neighboring crime families is just icing on the cake.

The ending is both shocking and unpredictable and well worth the wait. There were no significant delays in the pacing to slow down the development of the story. The infusion of carnage is spread out through the book rather than being in one crescendo of a bloodbath towards the end, as we see so often in other crime stories. This technique keeps us engaged and wanting more. Once we read the first scene with the killer, who is transforming the body of someone who wronged him into his sick version of art, we are hooked. This is the first book in the Ray Hanley crime thriller series so we expect to see more of the detective in the future.

My Rating: 4 stars

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Author: Derik Cavignano Author's Website
Published Date: September 20, 2019
Publisher: Self Published

We Are Monsters: Brian Kirk #bookreview

"We're sick. We're all sick. But we can be cured. And we can be kind. And we don't have to let our lives be ruled by the shadows of the past. Not if we act through love."

Synopsis: Sugar Hill mental asylum is home to tortured souls, the criminally insane, as well as elements of our worst nightmares. One of it's most notable residents is serial killer, Crosby Nelson. The knife-wielding terror is now in the hands of Dr. Eli Alpert and Dr. Alex Drexler, who do not always see eye to eye on their preferred method of treatment. One prefers a more holistic and natural approach drawing on the influence of Buddhist spiritualism, while the other is a front runner in the development of the latest drugs to treat patients of schizophrenia. Regardless of intentions, the line is crossed and patients are used in the testing of said treatments leading to disastrous results.  When a particular treatment is used, it backfires opening the patient's "third eye" and the inner demons pour out. But is it the patients or doctors who are harboring those inner demons? Once they are released the horror begins inside Sugar Hill and the sanity of everyone is questioned.

My Review: While a captivating psychological horror story, this novel is also a deep and multi-faceted examination of the issues that surround mental illness. We are all fascinated by mental asylums and the schizophrenic mind, and we all want to be taken on a psychological thrill ride but we never imagine that ride being within ourselves. It is a refreshing twist to see the staff at Sugar Hill asylum discover their own unknown inner demons while scrutinizing the ones of their patients. We also feel a sort of vindication because the terror begins after the doctors begin experimenting on patients. It is interesting that Dr. Drexler's aggressive form of treatment, as well as Dr. Alpert's laid back approach, have both compromised patient care. There is a fine line in medicine between too much and not enough when dealing with each individual patient.

Human emotion is such a deep and difficult subject to analyze, but Kirk does an excellent job of expressing the inner turmoil of the human psyche. No matter what walk of life we come from, we all have something from our past that changed us whether for good or worse. However, most of us ignore or bury those things and refuse to acknowledge the fact that the events made us who we are today. As the book illustrates, the inability to deal with these scars can lead some people to do unthinkable things. Knowing this, as a society, we make an effort to force people to "get help" from various levels of institutions. The methods by which that "help" is achieved are laid open for a deep analysis in this book. How far is too far? Who really needs help and who doesn't? Maybe some people want to stay in the world of their imagination. What exactly is normal?

Besides inciting the reader to ponder on the aforementioned issues, this novel is extremely well written. All of the characters, even those who play an insignificant role are well-fleshed and incite a large emotional response from the reader. They are relatable and totally plausible unlike those imaginative psychopaths in many horror novels. The reader can really understand and gather insight from the description of their pasts and grasp the reasoning behind their current positions. It must be admitted that there is some initial lagging in the buildup of the plot, but once the peak is met the pace quickens and the reader is taken on a real roller coaster ride of fear and emotions. The wording of the novel doesn't make it a difficult read but the depth of the subject matter involved may be something that new readers may find difficult to follow. Overall, it is a highly recommended read especially for, fans of psychological horror, as well as those interested in human psychology or in a medical profession. Being that this is Brian Kirk's debut novel it is assumed that his future works will be something to look forward to.
Note: Trigger warning for sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

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Author: Brian Kirk
Published Date: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Flame Tree Press

Dorothy and the Glass Key: Christopher J Finn #bookreview

Synopsis: Dorothy and the Glass Key is the sensational and other-worldly tale of three children who find keys that act as portals into another alternate reality. This reality seems like a temporary hiatus from their trauma plagued lives. We have an American named Dorothy whose mother died in a fire in the 80s, Ragesha in a tumultuous pre-uprising India of the 60s, and Charlie struggling in post war London of the 40s, yet their paths all converge in another time and place when they are all 14 years old. While the boys use their keys comfortably and travel through the worlds freely there is something different about Dorothy's relationship with her key, almost like it rejects her. Maybe the problem isn't with the key but with Dorothy herself. 

The temporary respite they find in their separate world is soon destroyed by the presence of a soul sucking entity who feeds on their pain by absorbing their memories potentially leaving them as a vacant shell of their former selves. Dorothy soon realizes that she must stop this threat and launches on a campaign to save the boys, but it will come at a severe cost to herself. Her fight with this evil force will leave her currently in a vegetative state and housed at an upscale rehab facility in the hands of Ellen, the administrator. Ellen is tasked with bringing Dorothy back to reality with the help of a mysterious benefactor. Once Ellen learns the whole story of how Dorothy came to her facility she begins to realize that all these characters and worlds, including herself, are intertwined in a way she could never imagine. 

My review: In his debut novel, Christopher J Finn spins a remarkable tale that prods the mind into pondering the vague line we place between fantasy and reality. Dorothy and the Glass Key forces us to confront the struggle of children dealing with post traumatic stress, and the human tendency to find something to drown the pain. Predominantly the story deals with the issues of these children but there is also an undertone of the same struggle among adults. Dorothy is the victim of an alcoholic father whose actions lead to the disturbing death of her mother. Charlie is an innocent casualty of the Blitz of London, who's father was killed in the battle and mother turned to alcohol to soothe her pain. Ragesha, an Indian boy surviving the death of his father as a result of disputes prior to a rebellion. All these children have one thing in common. All have found a key that astoundingly transports them to another place and time where they can all be together as children in a seemingly perfect world. 

Through their journey they encounter increasingly dark forces and eventually realize that the evil plaguing their new world is slowly devouring their very essence. With this analogy we are reminded that in our lives the temporary bandages we use to mask our traumas are doing the same. The characters presented are a mirror of the reality that so many people face in the world. We are so eager to escape to some other place where these thorns do not exist but we don't always realize that these experiences make us who we are. This book goes so much deeper that just the fantastic tale of these three children. 

A unique twist is presented when Dorothy has a different reaction to her key than the boys, or rather the key reacts different to her. In her story line a moment in time, a chance encounter, can have such an intense effect on the future of her existence. This shows us that every moment of our lives whether good or bad serves its purpose in the end. Finn presents this story with an excellent prose which flows smoothly and examines such intense issues without becoming too verbose or difficult for the reader to process. The ending is not entirely a cliff-hanger but the revelation leaves the reader both astounded and in eager anticipation of a continuation. It is clear that Christopher Finn will soon be a well-known author in the fantasy genre.

My Rating: 5 Stars

About the Book:

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Publishing Date: August 28,2019

Publisher: Austin MacCauley Publishers LLC

The Search for Alice: Amy Koto #bookreview

Synopsis: We all come to a point in our lives where we feel like we should chase after our own white rabbit. For Kallie Bennett, this moment seems to slap her in the face. Trying to find her place in life as a confused teenager is complicated by the fact that she has an alcoholic and often abusive mother. Her escape from this reality is brought about by her own chase of the white rabbit; both literally and figuratively. She is plunged into what seems to be the Alice in Wonderland story straight from the old tale,  but we are soon exposed to several interesting and often dark twists. Kallie leads us through her tale where we are introduced to a handsome and sensual vampire, a witch-queen with a desire to cut off heads, and party-goers in a smoke induced stupor. Kallie must navigate this world of good and evil in order to find out how to defeat the Queen and get back to her own world. Her struggle will awaken something within herself that will enable her to overcome the battles of her life in the real world. Every choice she makes will come at a cost and in the end she may have to leave the one whom she loves the most.

My Review:  The Search for Alice, first in the Dreaming of Wonderland series, is a refreshing retelling of one of the best classics we know. Alice in Wonderland has captured the hearts of many children and no doubt this retelling will do the same for those children who are now grown up. We can look at the main character, Kallie Bennett, and reminisce about our own challenge to find ourselves in a confusing world. We have all been in her shoes at one point in our lives. We can see that Kallie, like many teens, is at a huge risk of shutting herself out of the world and falling into depression and despair. She is alone, confused, and not necessarily the most popular kid in school. More than just a fairytale retelling, this story is a retelling of the struggle of a teenage introvert. Further along, the tale mirrors issues a teenager has faced or will face in their navigation of life including addiction in family members, shady love interests, and risky party environments.
     Initially the book moves slowly and seems to follow the story line of Alice in Wonderland a little too closely but once the new characters are introduce one is quick to notice their differences as well as confirmation to the original characters. Once it picks up the pace we are quickly surrounded by some rather sinister plotlines. Interestingly, Amy Koto has added evil twists and characters that we have come to know in dark fantasy such as vampires and witches. This makes the tale feel a little more risky than the original cartoon fantasy we knew as a child.
     Overall, the book does have a few moments in the plot that seem to drag for a few pages but it is quick to pick up the pace again. Characters are interesting but could use more development which I hope to see in the second installment of this series, Embracing the Looking-Glass. Kallie gained a newfound confidence in the first book and I am sure this will be developed in the upcoming. This was a very enjoyable tale and has taken a well deserved spot in the Young Adult Fantasy niche.

My Rating: 4 Stars

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Author: Amy Koto
Publish Date: July 14, 2018
Publisher: Independently Published

Zodiac Academy: The Awakening, Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti #bookreview

Synopsis: Twin girls Tory and Darcy are tossed from family to family in the foster care system after losing their parents to a house fire while they were babies. Just as they escape this system after turning 18 they are greeted by a shadowy stranger claiming to be a Professor and informed that they possess magical powers. Deciding that they have nothing to lose, the girls agree to attend a university in another realm, Solaria, and soon learn that the are the rightful heirs to the throne. But everything is not as cut and dry as it seems and they are forced into a battle of good and evil.
My Review: Anyone who was captured by the Harry Potter series as a child and has since grown up will be similarly entranced with this series. This is the slightly risque, dark, and mysterious compliment that we have been waiting on to continue our dive into the world of fantasy and magic. The added twist of including the astrological aspects like star signs makes it more interesting and gives a refreshing change from other academy focused novels. Everything is there that we expect from vampires, werewolves, and dragons to more mysterious creatures that we don't hear about often in fantasy novels like hydras, sirens, and medusa. Zodiac Academy is pulsing with all kinds of creatures who are ripping at the seams with unbridled power and desire. Literally feeding off of each other and in a constant struggle to maintain power all the characters have quite an interesting stake in the whole story.
We are first introduced to our main characters, twins Darcy and Tory, who are living in our normal world until they are suddenly thrust into the world of magic and told that they are rightful heirs to the throne of a mythical world called Solaria. Opposite them in the struggle of good and evil are The Heirs, who are the sons of the currently appointed rulers. The Heirs are four exquisitely handsome young men/creatures who are bursting with power and masculinity. Throughout the book we are presented with characters with mysterious traits who are eventually revealed as creatures such as sirens, vampires, and even a pegasus. There is such a mystery surrounding which of these creatures are good and which are evil that we are constantly left on the edge of our seat as we watch the twins navigate their world. As we watch Tory and Darcy attempt to master their powers, accept their fate as rulers, and also figure out just what kind of creature they are we become more attached to them and their distinct personalities.
Towards the ending as the negative powers circulating become more evil and deadly we are shown that Solaria is in such a dangerous situation that it needs Tory and Darcy to rise to the occasion and accept their throne. But there are those, like The Heirs, determined to get them out of the Academy and it seems like there may be some darker and more powerful players standing behind them. The big questions we are left with is just who is good and who is evil and also just what kind of creatures are Tory and Darcy themselves. This book moves at a fast pace and is rather easy to follow but the reader must pay attention to the switch in point of view between Tory and Darcy throughout the book. Overall this was an excellent read, hard to put down, and surely every reader will be hungry for the next book of the series.

My Rating: 5 stars

About the Book:
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Author: Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti
Publish Date: August 2, 2019