Category: Dystopian - GRANT LEISHMAN

the last defender: a novel by travis pearson

2/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Last Defender, A Novel, author Travis Pearson takes us to an almost dystopian world where a political ideology has taken over the country for the pursuit of their own individual goals of power and wealth. The Socialist, using the country’s deteriorating situation and high unemployment, lies and tricks the electorate to elect him and his party to power. Once in power they ruthlessly set about their plans to rule the country solely for the purpose of their own self-aggrandisement. Businesses are nationalised and management replaced by those who are part of the regime. Brent Stevens, one such manager, once a proud researcher for the good of humanity is replaced and demoted to a worker on the factory floor. Continuing his research at his home laboratory, Brent discovers a power, utilising electricity that will give him a decided edge when it comes to protecting those he loves. As he watches helplessly the systematic destruction of civilisation he looks for the little opportunities to strike back when he can. When Brent’s beloved Lori is threatened by the new regime, Brent knows he must act and act now, before it is too late.

The Last Defender, A Novel, is an interesting take on a society that has become complacent in its democratic institutions and allows itself to be manipulated by a power-crazy megalomaniac to surrender virtually all, of its freedoms (sound strikingly familiar?) Author Travis Pearson gives us a protagonist who turns from the mild-mannered, scientist/researcher into the avenging angel of all of society’s ills. I balked a little at the chief antagonist, the mysterious and enigmatic Socialist. Although it could be argued the tactics employed to subvert democracy were socialistic in tendency, there was little doubt the Socialist’s actions were those of a megalomaniac Fascist in the mould of Hitler, especially the experiments in re-education. That aside, this is a simply written, fast-paced read that does keep you interested and turning the pages. The stereotypical use of Mexican names for the members of the resistance Cartel was a little gratuitous but nonetheless, since these guys were fighting for the average, oppressed citizen, this can be forgiven. If you like novels that draw parallels from both history and the current times we face, you’ll certainly enjoy this one, which kept me interested till the very end.

You can find, The Last Defender: A Novel, here on Travis Pearson's Amazon page:

genesis z by everist j miller

19/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Genesis-Z by Everist J Miller takes us to a dystopian world where the Zombie Apocalypse has already happened and humanity has won, at a terrible cost, though, to society. Following the Zombie War, all talk of Zombies, even the use of their name is forbidden. Now, the authorities have come up with a scheme to use Zombies to benefit society. Called “volunteers” the Zombies are fitted with skin tight uniforms and masks to hold their rotting flesh together and a headset that allows the humans to control them and instruct them in laboriously repetitive and boring tasks. The volunteers will do the manual work of rebuilding that humans just simply don’t want to be bothered with. On one particular building site, “volunteer” Ray is trialling a new prototype headset that will increase the volunteer’s abilities to actually think somewhat and not have to be under the constant direction of a supervising human. But, have the developers opened a Pandora’s Box from which there is no turning back? When psychopath Doug decides to take advantage of this new technology to reignite the Zombie War that he misses so much, all hell is set to break loose.

What I did like about Genesis-Z was its slightly different approach to the Zombie Apocalypse arc. The idea that volunteers could be used as cheaper, more reliable replacement workers than humans, despite the fact that there was not enough work to go around, as it was and many were living in absolute poverty and desperation, I found to resonate. I’m not sure if author Everist J Miller was trying to draw the comparison, but I couldn’t help but note the similarity in the opinions towards the volunteers as we see today, towards undocumented or illegal immigrants. “They’re stealing our jobs!” versus, “but you don’t want to do those jobs anyway.” I did find the dialogue a little contrived and repetitive at times, especially the stock-standard phrase of the psychopath, “my friend” which definitely did begin to grate by the end of the story. However, if you want an action-packed, Zombie-style adventure, with a bit of a twist from the usual, then this is just for you. I do warn you though; this story is not for the faint-at-heart. The author pulls no punches when it comes to direct and, at times, disgusting descriptions of the volunteers and their habits and conditions. If you love that sort of thing, you’ll lap this up.

You can find Genesis Z, here on Everist J Miller's Amazon page:

Setting the Record Straight: The True Story of How I Stopped a Murderous Tyrant and Saved the World From Nuclear War by V.W. Shurtliff

2/1/2019

Setting the Record Straight by V.W. Shurtliff is a young/adult dystopian story that follows the adventures of fourteen-year-old Thomas, his best friend, thirteen-year-old Veronica and Thomas' big, red dog, Elmo as they battle the evil scientist Gibion and his Gibionite followers who plan to destroy the United States and democracy, believing that dictatorship is the only way forward for society, with, of course, the evil Gibion as the dictator.
When Thomas wakes up one morning, little does he realise his life will change forever. With his parents missing and a dying man lying in his living room, who tells him to flee for his life, Thomas barely escapes their family home before it is blown to smithereens. After he links up with Veronica, the pair, plus the dog begin a frantic adventure to destroy the Gibion control centres before he has the opportunity to take over the Government and forever destroy the American way of life.
Setting the Record Straight is a tale right out of my childhood, "Boys' Own Annuals". It is fast, furious and always exciting. The teenage pair and their dog are thrown into situations few adults could cope with and yet they handle them with courage, aplomb and certainty. There is no shortage of action in this story and young adults who love action adventure will doubtless lap it all up. I did enjoy the ancillary character of Dr David who brought some sanity and commonsense into every situation.
This is a fun read and exactly what it purports to be, an action adventure for young people. I can definitely recommend this read to its target audience.

You can find Setting the Record Straight, here on V.W,. Shurtliff's Amazon page:

rise of howlers by bob bannon

18/7/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rise of Howlers by Bob Bannon is a dystopian young adult novel, set on the high seas. Around ten years previously a massive meteor shower struck the earth and along with almost wiping out civilisation, much of the earth’s land mass was forever altered and inundated with seawater. Seven-year-old Nick Moran was one of the lucky ones who survived the initial meteor shower and the subsequent virulent infection, by sheltering in a purpose-built bunker with his family and their friends. Now seventeen, Nick has lost his family to the infected humans, colloquially called “Howlers” (similar to Zombies in many ways) and now lives with other survivors, aboard a cruise ship that sails up and down the American West Coast, calling into towns and villages, from time to time, to refuel and stock up on whatever they can scavenge, always on the lookout though, for the vicious and deadly howlers. When Nick meets and saves young Harper Chin from an attack by howlers, the attraction between the youngsters is immediate and a friendship, with the beginnings of a romance begins to flourish aboard the Swan of the Seas.

Although Rise of the Howlers is targeted as a Young Adult novel, I found it readable and enjoyable as very much not a young adult. The universal themes, of friendship, love, family, self-discipline, and cooperation are applicable to readers of all ages. Author Bob Bannon’s writing style is relaxed and simple, making the book extremely readable, effectively read in just a single sitting, by me. The pace, given that much of the action revolves around battling Zombie-like creatures is naturally fast, but what I particularly enjoyed was that Bannon took the time to develop the inter-personal relationships of some of the characters on board the ship. The highlight of the story, for me anyway, was the sweet, developing relationship between Nick and Harper. Both of them had suffered great losses and serious pain in their short seventeen years, but they had finally found each other and were slowly opening up and sharing their innermost thoughts, which was excellent. I think Bannon did a wonderful job of balancing the action, with the softer, sweeter moments of the story. Although a standalone novel, the author did leave the door open to a sequel, which I sincerely hope is in the works. This is an excellent story for all lovers of the horror/dystopian genre, with a hint of romance thrown in, for good measure.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Bob Bannon's Rise of Howlers.

prime vector by diana a. hicks

7/6/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Humanity has finally found the way to immortality. But, there are consequences to being immortal. In order to obtain this immortality, you must be subjected to the virus Ukruum and require regular booster shots to maintain your immortality. This is the premise of the dystopian, science fiction novel, Prime Vector by Diana A Hicks. The virus must be grown, along with the Ukruum plant, in order to keep supplies of the virus constant. The plant itself destroys the soil it grows in, so when earth was virtually destroyed by the plant, a group of scientists terraformed Mars and set about growing the product there. It soon became apparent, however, that immortality must be limited to just a few and the Immortals, through their Forever Queen and the QEC Army, would control and subjugate the rest of humanity to maintain their immortality. Catita John always thought she was just the unlucky younger sister of QEC Commando and Immortal Ry John, but when she sees her sister murdered (something which shouldn’t happen to an immortal) she vows to track down the killer. When she meets Tek, the son of an original immortal scientist, the sparks fly immediately and it is clear their destinies and the future of Mars and Earth will be inextricably linked to them.

Prime Vector is exactly what it sets out to be; a dystopian, science fiction story with a heap of old-fashioned romance thrown into the mix. Given that the story is from romance author Diana A Hicks, this is hardly surprising. Hicks has a style that allows the reader to make assumptions and draw their own conclusions about the plot, many of which will prove to be false. She has an expert ability to throw red-herrings into the mix that come back to surprise and trip up the reader. I particularly liked the slow release of information that had me guessing right until the end. Her two principal characters Cat and Tek were beautifully well drawn and their relationship was sizzling right from the very first chapter. Again, Hicks had the ability to allow her characters, Cat especially, to recognise the emotions she felt for Tek, but to still question their validity and their appropriateness, especially given their relative positions in the state of the story. I appreciated the fact that the author left a small door open at the end for the possibility of a sequel, should the desire take her. As a straight romance writer, I always find it pleasing when an author stretches herself and tries something new, as Hicks appears to have done here. Prime Vector is a fast-paced, rollicking story that action, science fiction, and romance junkies will enjoy. I certainly did.

Although Prime Vector is not yet for sale on Amazon, you can take a look at author Diana A. Hicks' other works, on her Amazon page:

the m strain by bradley michael

18/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A rogue scientist has manufactured his own deadly virus to sell to the highest bidder and when terrorists get a hold of it, we know the world will soon be in serious trouble. This is the premise behind Bradley Michael’s dystopian novel, The M Strain. When a thief steals the virus and becomes infected within its deadly grasp, in his death throes he crashes his car into a tree in the front of the unsuspecting Taylor residence. Before they know what has happened, Homeland Security have whisked them off to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) in an attempt to control the spread of what may be the most deadly virus in mankind’s history. Agent Johns from Homeland Security with his crack team will seek to find and recover the missing vials of virus before they can be unleashed on an unsuspecting world.

The M Strain was a relatively short, yet still satisfying read of the potential that exists for something, be it pandemic or deliberately released disease to decimate the world’s population and leave civilisation teetering on the brink of collapse. Bradley Michael has a simple, straightforward writing style that is easy to read and certainly the story is action-packed and moves at an excellent pace. There is no indication yet whether this is a continuing story, but there is definitely room for a sequel, given the ultimate ending of the story. Although I found the over use of real names as opposed to pronouns a little distracting at times, it wasn’t enough to limit my enjoyment of a good story that has the potential for an excellent dystopian sequel, which I hope the author is considering. A good, solid read is how I would describe The M Strain.

You can find The M Strain, here on Amazon:

convulsive - part 1 by marcus martin

9/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When first the International Space Station’s crew die and then all the earth’s satellites are wiped out, the powers that be realise something disastrous is about to strike Earth. With communications and power gone, the thin veneer of a civilised society rapidly begins to crumble, as the citizenry begin to do whatever it takes to survive. Add in a pandemic that is rapidly culling the earth’s population and you have the premise for Marcus Martin’s dystopian novel, Convulsive Part 1. Lucy and her partner Dan are better placed than most to survive. Dan’s father, who is high up in the Government had already warned him something was about to happen and Dan had wisely stockpiled food and supplies to ensure their survival. As the civil authorities in San Francisco struggle to cope with the overwhelming problems, Lucy and Dan must survive at all costs until Dan’s father can organise a way out for them and others.

Convulsive Part 1 is the first part of a serialised set of novels, so as a standalone book fails to answer any questions, but sets up, very well the continuation of the story, for the next installment. Although I’m not personally a great fan of this style of serialisation, author Marcus Martin does an excellent job of building the action to a crescendo and leaving the reader wanting more, which at the end of the day is the whole point of this type of story. I liked Martin’s writing style, which was simple, straightforward and rapidly moved the action along. The characters, could well have been more deeply explored, especially the two principals Dan and Lucy, as well as their relationship, but at the heart of the story is the dystopian battle for survival and on that level, the author did a very good job of carrying the reader along at a steady clip. This is a good beginning to a series and I see Convulsive Book 2 is already available, so readers who enjoy this first part, will not have to wait to see what happens next, which is always a bonus.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out Convulsive Part 1, plus all of Marcus Martin's work, here on his Amazon page:

chaco by peggy a. wheeler

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Our planet is constantly at risk of bombardment from outer space. In Chaco by Peggy A. Wheeler that scenario horrifyingly comes to life when a massive solar flare sends out electro-magnetic pulses that render all technology on earth useless. Anything that relies on computer technology is essentially gone and people must now learn to survive in the harshest of ways. In the wealthy suburb of Green Lake, Southern California, Chaco Rodriquez worked as a gardener, cum handyman for the rich Walker family. Chaco was, however, much more than he seemed on the surface. An illegal immigrant to the United States, Chaco was a PHD graduate in physics from El Salvador, who had fought for the revolutionaries in the Salvadoran civil war and then fled to the US when he became the most wanted man in El Salvador. When the solar storm strikes earth, all hell quickly breaks loose as civilization and the civil society quickly deteriorate and it becomes every man and woman for themselves – a real battle for survival. Chaco will attempt to lead the Walkers, their son Jude, his wife and their two children, along with the Walker’s next-door neighbors, the Pennymoons, eight hundred miles through the most difficult terrain to a self-sufficient community where the Walker’s daughter Fiona lives. It will be a journey of horror and hardship, like no other, as the loose band of friends seek to survive the harsh Northern California winter and the violence of their fellow man.

The premise of Chaco by Peggy A. Wheeler, that of a massive solar storm rendering earth’s technology effectively useless is one that is a genuine and real threat to our civilization. This made this dystopian story even more poignant and pressing than may otherwise have been the case. I did feel some of the characters were overdrawn a little, almost to the point of becoming caricatures. That was certainly the case with the Pennymoons, with the husband Rocky and his red-necked, racist attitudes towards Chaco and his wife Margo, with her down-on-the-farm, Texas drawl and dirt-poor self-sufficiency skills. That having been said, it was hard not to like Rocky, the man who would shoot his mouth off at a moment’s notice, but truly had a heart of gold. I particularly liked the character of Jude (the Walker’s son), who allowed the author to have a frank and knowledgeable discussion about the problems of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among US veterans. The character was deeply troubled and symptomatic of so many returning veterans in society who struggle to deal with the horrors they have witnessed. This is not a read for the faint of heart. There is significant, graphic violence as well as death and heartbreak, but equally there is a real triumph of the indomitable human spirit and the will to survive. This is a good, solid dystopian read.

You can take a look at Chaco, as well as Peggy A. Wheeler's considerable portfolio of work, here on Amazon:

miguel traveler #1: the man from texas by daniel mcfatter

17/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands, is his new mother. Once, violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.

I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Miguel Traveler #1 by Daniel McFatter - you won't regret it!

Visions (almana book 2) by julayn Adams

30/1/2018

Visions (Almana Book 2) by Julayn Adams is the second of a planned trilogy following the adventures of Almana an Angel who is sent to a dystopian earth to try and help humanity recover from its ails. Heaven has almost given up on humanity, but Almana (Ali) still believes there is enough good in humanity for them to overcome the evil. She fell in love with a human, Cam and their souls were entwined, but when Cam was killed, Ali had to face the bleakness of a life without her soulmate.

Ali and her friends live in the forest, hiding from the evil ruler of Los Angeles, Equis, who they fear will one day send his Armageddon army against them. Ali and her friend Alexa dream of taking back Los Angeles from the evil that has befallen it and restoring humanity to a loving, caring community. For now, though, survival is the key and Ali, with help from her brother Patrick will do their best to ensure their community survives and flourishes.

It is some time since I read the first book in this series, but I remember it well as it made a significant impact on me at the time, as Julayn Adams' debut novel. I know I tend to repeat myself a little, but watching an indie author grow and develop throughout a series, is one of the most rewarding things about being a reviewer. Almana was a good debut novel, but Visions, its follow-up is simply superb. Adams' writing has tightened and credit to her editor, the editing is faultless in this book. The characters that I grew to love and identify with in Almana are all back in Visions and we have a whole new cast joining the band of survivors which adds diversity, interest and significant conflict. I love watching Indie authors get even better and Adams definitely has, with visions.

There are some neat little twists and turns in this story, that I particularly enjoyed and the book sets the scene perfectly for the final installment in the trilogy, Insurgence, which I am waiting for, with bated breath. Having written a trilogy myself, I know how hard it is for the author to sustain the tempo right to the end, but thus far Adams is showing every ability of being able to do just that. Julayn Adams has rocketed toward the top of my favourite indie authors with Visions and I have every confidence she will bring the series home, with a bang, with Insurgence. Great stuff!

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Visions by Julayn Adams. I would strongly recommend you read Almana first, as Visions flows on perfectly from Almana. It's well worth taking a look.

gold shadow (bronze rebellion #1) by l. c. perry

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Two young women, from opposite ends of the polar spectrum are set to collide in L. C. Perry's Dystopian Fiction Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1). Eighteen year old Ebony, born a slave, has only ever known the horrors and struggle for survival underground as a slave in the root city, yearns for one thing only - to end it all and to take some of the accursed overseers with her. Princess Irene, surrounded by luxury and treated with deference by everyone, whose only focus in life is her Coming-Of-Age celebrations and to meet the man of her dreams and marry him, so he can rule and she can live the pampered life she is so used to, as Queen. Princess Irene has no clue of the way in which her country is structured; that it is slaves who allow the wealthy to live the life of luxury they do. She blithely believes her Mother and Father rule with a gentle and loving fist. This is a dystopian America, some time in the future and two very different young women will determine its future direction.

L. C. Perry, in Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1) has given us a fascinating vision of what a dystopian America could look like if democracy was swept away by a form of monarchial feudalism. The authors ability to contrast the two vastly different lifestyles and makeups of these two women gives the reader a hint of how clever and skilled a writer she is. On the one hand, we have Ebony whose entire life has been dedicated to following orders, to never answering back, to never making connections with others and most of all, to hiding her beauty from the cruel and merciless masters. Contrast that with Irene, who is the archetypal spoilt, little, princess whose every though is self-centred and vapid. Perry does a marvellous job of serving up both sides of this coin. The book is easy to read and will definitely appeal to a young adult audience, but is equally suitable for all adults. I think the biggest compliment I can pay any author writing the first book in a series is that I want to read Book two and find out what happens to these characters I have invested in. I can say this about Gold Shadow. As the beginning of a series, this book has hit the mark - bullseye. Great job L. C. Perry.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out Gold Shadow, plus the full selection of L. C. Perry books:

the wanderer and the new west by adam bender

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is a dystopian view of an America that many may well see as a path the country is already headed down. Federal rule has virtually ceased and all power lies with the States - no longer is it the United States of America. Even the individual states have virtually given up trying to rule and law is implemented at the behest of corporations, one of the greatest of these being the Breck Ammunition Company. Into this lawless environment strides the impressive Wanderer. Nobody knows who he is or where he came from, but his mission, it seems is to protect the innocent and to fight injustice. With his trusty sidekick, Kid Hunter, the Wanderer joins forces with wannabe journalist Rosa Veras as they attempt to "clean up" the New West.

I came to this book expecting to be reading a Western, but was more than pleasantly surprised to discover this is so much more. Set some time in the future, in a world not too dissimilar to where we currently find ourselves, the values and importance of the free press and of morality shone through this story. The characters themselves, especially Kid Hunter and The Wanderer are necessarily caricatures of the old west's most famous gunslingers and fighters of injustice. I found myself incredibly caught up in Rosa and her group's fight to expose the evil and corruption inherent within the corporation and to bring some justice to the State of Arizona. The story was reminiscent of the old westerns I'd read as a child, without becoming overly soppy. The humour was genuine and some of the banter between the Kid and the Wanderer, truly inspired. I couldn't put this book down and read it quickly and easily. An excellent story - The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender; I recommend it highly.

You can check out The Wanderer and the New West, plus the rest of Adam Bender's portfolio here on Amazon:

the chaos of change by j.t. riggen

29/10/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Chaos of Change by J T Riggen is a political thriller set, perhaps not too very far in the future. The citizens of the United States have had enough of the Federal Government. They no longer believe that the Federal Government is working for their best interests. The country has effectively split into four factions; the Northern Alliance, made up predominately of states on the north eastern seaboard of the US; The Southern Alliance, which tends to follow the makeup of the Civil War confederacy; the Western Alliance, mainly California; and finally a small group of Federal Government people, led by CIA Director Shane Ripley, who are determined to bring normalcy back to the United States. Ripley and his team, recruit Thaddeus Jackson, the estranged son of a former President (now the leader of the Southern Alliance) to try to be the diplomat that stops all out Civil-War from developing.

In The Chaos of Change, J T Riggen has brought to life a scenario that seems frighteningly familiar to those watching current events unfold in the US. The cultural schisms we currently see occurring in US society may indeed lead to the type of scenario outlined in this story. This is a fast-moving, action-filled novel of politics and war that is easy to read and identify with. It is worth noting, for potential readers, that this novel is merely the first of what is no doubt planned to be a series on this subject. As such, the ending does leave the reader (a) wanting more and (b) waiting for the second book in the series. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing at all, but readers should be aware. The characters in this book are as interesting, as they are diverse as are some of the technologies the author has come up with, to give the story some future aspect. I enjoyed the read and, if only for the parallels to today’s America, I would definitely recommend it to lovers of political thriller and intrigue.

Check out Author J.T. Riggen's full portfolio here on Amazon: amzn.to/2xw4hRv

bringing magnolia home by kitt hill

9/10/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

What would you do if you woke up one morning only to discover that everyone (or almost everyone) in the world had disappeared while you were sleeping? This is the dilemma faced by Magnolia (or Maggie, as she prefers to be called) in Bringing Magnolia Home, by Kitt Hill. When Maggie prepared herself for work that morning, she had no idea that today would change her entire life forever. It wasn’t until she was sitting at the bus stop and she met Grayson, that the reality of the situation began to dawn on her. Where was everyone? What had happened to the world whilst she was sleeping? So began an epic journey across country as Maggie and Grayson seek answers to what had befallen the world, as well as looking for other survivors. I mean, if two ordinary people like Maggie and Grayson had survived, surely there had to be other ordinary people, like them, who survived also?

Without giving any of the plot away, it is fair to say that Bringing Magnolia Home by Kitt Hill is not everything it initially seems to be. There is a hidden depth to this story that only reveals itself as the tale continues. I liked the character of Maggie. She represented, for me, the bulk of us ordinary people who live in their own little bubbles, taking little or no notice of who or what was happening around them. Until, that it, something momentous happens and suddenly they have to be more aware, more outgoing and more understanding of others. The cast of characters that surround Maggie in this story are, if not caricatures, very strongly drawn to represent the different factions in society. We have the lesbians, the black doctor and the racist redneck, showing us both sides of the human character. I found Bringing Magnolia Home, a good solid read, with an interesting twist.

You can check out Bringing Magnolia Home by Kitt Hill here on Amazon:

the waning moon (eleanor Morgan #2) by Amy Cissell

6/10/2017

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Magic has almost disappeared from our world due to the influence of first the industrial revolution and then the technological revolution, but unknown to most of us mere mortals, magic creatures; werewolves, shifters, vampires, witches, and Fae, still live amongst us. Eleanor Morgan is a Fae Princess whose task it is to open the gates and allow magic back into our world to try and restore the balance to earth, destroyed by humanity’s relentless drive for power and technology. Assisted by her mate, a werewolf called Isaac, a witch called Florence and a rather gorgeous, ancient vampire by the name of Raj, Eleanor must fight off those determined to stop her opening the magic portals. In the Waning Moon by Amy Cissell, Eleanor will attempt to open two more of these portals. As each gate to the magic world is opened, more and more of man’s technology will die, leaving humanity struggling for survival in a world without electricity, communication and the comforts of the modern day world.

I’m not a regular reader of fantasy, werewolves, and magic, but Amy Cissell’s The Waning Moon certainly captured my attention. I found the humour and gentle sarcasm of the characters right up my alley. By writing this in the first person, through Eleanor’s eyes, the author has given us entry into her mind, her thinking and her turmoil with the task she is entrusted with. I found this totally refreshing and exciting. For me, the best character had to be the thousand-year-old vampire Raj. His constant innuendo and double-entendre kept Eleanor on her toes and me, as a reader, totally engaged with the story. The Waning Moon is the second in the Eleanor Morgan series and I think I can pay Cissell no greater compliment than to say reading this book inspires me to read the first book in the series and to continue with the entire series, as it is completed. This is a winner and one of the best in its genre, I’ve read of late.

Be sure to check out Amy Cissell's first two books in the Eleanor Morgan series, here on Amazon.

eloah: no heaven by lex allen

26/9/2017

There's nothing I love more than a good, historical conspiracy theory to get my teeth into and when it is one that has biblical connotations, so much the better. That's exactly what you get when you dive into Lex Allen's fantastic trilogy Eloah. No Heaven is the first in the series and I read it voraciously from cover to cover. I am excited to discover where it leads us next and what exciting adventures and puzzles the unlikely disciples will embark on in the two remaining stories.
In No Heaven, Jesus has returned to earth to prevent a nuclear conflagration that is brewing between the world's major religions. Religions that were founded on tissues of lies relating to his life and works when he last strode the earth 2,000 years ago. Jesus is furious that his actions and teachings have been so corrupted by the Christian Church, by Judaism, and by Islam. He is determined to produce the evidence that will allow him to show the world what phonies the religions are and the belief in an omniscient and omnipresent God really are.
Linking up with a declared atheist Jack and a religious scholar who long ago lost her faith, Beth, the trio must avoid the many people hunting them who for various reasons want Jesus either shut down or turned to their advantage. They must uncover the evidence buried so many years earlier that shows the truth of Jesus' first visit to Earth.
The author takes us on a fast-paced journey through fantastical situations, back to the dawn of time and forward to the present day. This story is reminiscent of some of the best biblical conspiracy theories I've read, from the likes of Ken Fry and Dan Brown. I would highly recommend this read to anyone who loves a great action/adventure/mystery. Roll on books two and three, I say. Great job Mr Allen.

You can check out all of Lex Allen's portfolio - the full Eloah series here on Amazon

revolt (resistance #4) by tracy laWSON

14/9/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Beware, Big Brother is watching and in Tracy Lawson’s Revolt, Big Brother is personified by Madalyn Davies, Director of the OCSD, the Government organisation set up to control terrorism within America. But, as the saying goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Davies has used her position to further her own personal power goals and the big project – to ultimately link all citizens of the United States to the OCSD network is progressing well, with the initial target being the linking, watching and total control of the nation’s children. Fortunately, there is a resistance movement and with a number of the resistance high up in the OCSD office as well as a sympathetic ear in the White House and Congress, all is not lost for the resistance and for freedom. Problems also exist within the resistance though, with mistrust of loyalties and of motives running high. Put all this together and you have an explosive recipe for excitement.

I understand this is the third book in a series focusing on the OCSD and the Resistance’s fight against the loss of the citizen’s freedoms at the expense of some “possible” terrorist threat. I liked that this book, Revolt, was able to be read as a stand-alone story, but it definitely piqued my interest to discover how the current situation had developed. The writing by Lawson is crisp and clean and the characters easy to identify with. The parallels between the situations described in the book and current day events were not lost on this reader and that just made the read more interesting and exciting. There is plenty of action for fans of a fast pace, but Lawson also allows time to draw believable and real characters. If you love action adventure that borders on today’s reality, I have no doubt you will enjoy Revolt by Tracy Lawson.

You can check out Tracy Lawson's extensive portfolio, here on Amazon:

token huntress by kia carrington-russell

24/7/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

It is now the year 2341 and humanity has all but destroyed the beautiful planet known as earth. No longer are humans the dominant life-force on this planet. In Token Huntress by Kia Carrington-Russell, they are usually mere impotent bystanders to the battle that rages between the vampires and the hunters. Hunters have evolved from humans and are programmed to protect that species from the predations of the vampires, which requires them to ruthlessly kill all vampires they encounter. A young huntress, Esmore, the most skilled in her Hunter’s Guild is promoted to the role of leader, the Token Huntress, even above those older and more experienced than herself. She leads by example, determined to destroy all vampires, but an encounter with a handsome and strangely compelling vampire, Chase, will change her world forever, as she begins a voyage of self-discovery into what is her true self.

It can be quite difficult for an author to come up with a new spin on the classic good versus evil concept around vampires, but in Token Huntress, Carrington-Russell does this wonderfully well. What I particularly liked about this story was the author’s ability to show how easily the lines between two different group can become hardened and entrenched, simply be what we are told from birth. Esmore finds out, despite her misgivings and life’s mission to destroy vampires, that all in not necessarily what she had been led to believe in Vampire society. I loved the developing relationship between Esmore and Chase especially the way Chase toyed with her emotions, knowing that deep down Esmore knew she was supposed to hate him with a passion, yet somehow she knew she couldn’t. I really enjoyed this fresh, innovative story and was pleased when it became obvious we would hear more of Chase, Esmore and their clan. An excellent read for lovers of the genre and for all readers.

You can check out Kia Carrington Russell's full body of work here on Amazon.

supernormal (subnormal #2) by stuart kenyon

11/7/2017

Supernormal, by Stuart Kenyon, is the second book in the Subnormal Series focused on a dystopian Great Britain. I'm reading the series in chronological order and I would definitely recommend that readers do that, as Book Two flows on very nicely from where Book One finished off.
We rejoin our unlikely heroes, after the fall of the evil Lambeth Government. Unfortunately, the demise of the Unity Government was the presage to a nuclear war with Russia, which devastated several Great Britain cities and killed untold people. Following a civil war between the rebels and the Government, order has been restored and Britain is slowly, inexorably clawing its way back to normality.
It's 2020 and our Asperger's Syndrome sufferer Paul Kelly is living the quiet life now, with his late brother's wife Jenni and her autistic son Ally, when evil starts to rear its ugly head again. A new terrorist group called the Revelationaries, who espouse similar philosophies to the toppled Unity Government is hell-bent on destruction and it seems only the tattered remnants of the "SubNormals" can stop them.
This is a thrilling, fast-paced story that brings us naturally to the third book in the series, which I am so looking forward to reading. I loved SubNormal, but Supernormal was another step up in my opinion. The writing was crisper, tighter and the action furious, without losing that wonderful character development that Kenyon did so well in SubNormal. As with the first book, the star of this book is definitely Paul Kelly, whose foibles and structured lifestyle give us, the reader, a fascinating glimpse into the world of someone who thinks differently to you and me.
I can highly recommend this excellent book and this series. It is a frightening peek into what the future might hold for us, if "good men do nothing". A great job Mr. Kenyon.

You can check out Supernormal here on Amazon:

rebel lexis (rings of Polaris Book 1) by paul alan

18/4/2017

Rebel Lexis is a Dystopian novelette, that did capture my imagination. At just 118 pages on Kindle, however, I found it way too short for my liking. There simply is not enough opportunity to develop the characters and especially the dystopian world, the story is set in. That having been said, I enjoyed this read very much. The concept, of love between a human and a synthetic human (robot - call it what you will) was too fascinating to allow me to put the book down easily. This was the fascinating aspect of the book, for me.
It was a well-told story and although I'm aware it is part of a series and written to a trend of short, sharp, stories, for those with short attention spans, I still prefer my reads to have a lot more meat on their bones than was evident in Rebel Lexis. We join Jason Bjorn, a spaceship captain for the Polaris Corporation (Which these days rules the world) as he undertakes some very illegal black market smuggling to allow him the lifestyle and DNA upgrades he covets. Caught in the middle of a potential rebellion, Jason and his synthetic partner are soon fighting for their very existence.
This is a gripping, fast-paced story, which had me wanting more. Of course, there was no more to be had in this short book, however, it is fair to say I am intrigued enough by what I read in this book to continue reading about the ongoing adventures of Jason and his beloved SYN, Rebel Lexis. An intriguing read and for dystopian fans who like Science Fiction added to the mix, this may well be the book and the series you've been looking for.

You'll find Paul Akllan is a prolific author. To check out Rebel Lexis and his other offerings, visit his Amazon Author page, here:

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