GRANT LEISHMAN
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  • ABOUT
  • MY BOOKS
    • THE SECOND COMING
    • RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST
    • HOLY WAR
    • JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN
    • PARANORMAL ALLEY
    • TORTURED MINDS
    • THE PHOTOGRAPH
  • ARE YOU AN AUTHOR?
  • MY BLOG
  • Be A Part of the LIMITLESS Anthology
  • BOOK REVIEWS
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • CONTACT & LINKS
  • AFFILIATE - Rachel McGrath
  • THAT'S LIFE
    • FOOD - PINOY STYLE
    • THE GREAT BEETROOT HUNT
    • GETTING AROUND THE METRO
  • PHILIPPINES
    • PLACES TO VISIT >
      • BORACAY
      • OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
  • SPORT
    • NEW ZEALAND SPORT
    • PHILIPPINE SPORT
  • TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
    • THE SECRET
  • GALLERY
GRANT LEISHMAN

echo island: be prepared by gary travis

1/10/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Echo Island: Be Prepared by Gary Travis is an action/adventure, dystopian novel that focuses on a group of survivalists who are preparing for the worst. Dillon Prescott, an ex-Navy Seal, is in class at College in California when a massive earthquake strikes the Palo Alto region. Rushing home, fearing the worst, Dillon discovers his parent’s house has been totally destroyed, burying his mother and father. Thankfully his young brother is still at school but when Dillon finally manages to dig his father out of the rubble, he discovers his mother is dead and his father needs urgent medical assistance and an amputation of one of his legs. He texts his Seal buddies who swiftly arrive to assist him. After the younger brother Jack sells an invention to GE, the Prescott’s find themselves immensely wealthy. Determined not to be caught out by natural disasters again, the Prescott’s go full-on survival mode and purchase an island in Maine where they will set up an invincible fortress and a self-contained community for themselves and their friends. They will first have to deal with a corrupt and over-zealous local sheriff who wants the island for himself and is determined to send these interlopers packing. Once they become aware that evil forces somewhere are actually triggering these natural disasters, for their own financial benefit, Dillon and his team understand just how important their sanctuary will become in what looks like being a near-extinction event.
 
Echo Island: Be Prepared is an exciting, action-packed, roller-coaster of a ride for any reader. The survivalists, who have special forces soldiers at their core are experienced and well capable of building an impregnable fortress there on Echo Island. Author Gary Travis has unpacked a set of characters who although stereotypical of special forces personnel are indeed endearing and likeable. They don’t take any crap but that being said, they have hearts of gold. I have to admit though, I did get a little tired of their endless “hooyahs” eventually but it didn’t detract from the story too much. For lovers of a little romance there’s plenty of that here and the relationship between Dillon and Lauren was well written. The writing style is fast and frenetic as befits a thriller as well as being incredibly easy to read. I was thrilled as I get to the end of the story and realise that it wasn’t necessarily, actually, all over and that the door was left wide open for a sequel. I am particularly excited about the prospect of Dillon and his team attempting to take down the forces that caused this mass-extinction event. This appears to be a debut novel from Travis and I would have to say he’s done an exceptional job first up. I look forward to more from this author and can definitely recommend this tale for those who like their action, fast and frenetic with plenty of human values thrown in for good measure.  


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You can find Echo Island: Be Prepared on Gary Travis' Amazon page: 

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victoria by john molik

26/8/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Victoria by John Molik takes us to a dystopian earth, some four-hundred-odd years in the future, where humanity is struggling to survive, with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence). A massive solar Micronova in the twenty-first century had almost wiped out all life on Earth but the few survivors, aided by AI have rebuilt a world based on the precepts of Artificial Love. Everything is transparent now, nothing is hidden and humanity’s baser instincts are kept in check by a force of artificial, genetically enhanced beings who police this brave new world, along with a system of chemical suppressors and rote-sayings that keep the humans under control. Not all humans, however, have adapted to Victoria’s “perfect world”, though and deep in the Cheyanne Mountains a group of rebels known as MH (Metal Heads) who have had their brains encased in metal to avoid Victoria’s transmissions designed to make human’s compliant, plot her downfall. MH’s wish to worship their own deity, as represented by the martyred, Rodolpho and want nothing to do with the idea of the “electronic beasts” controlling their lives. When Victoria proposes to pass the “animal rights act” which would essentially put all animals on the same footing as humans, it proves to be one step too far for the MH’s who launch a terrorist attack on the capital city of Astana. Victoria must call on her loyal scientist Claressa and her boyfriend Pierre to try and thwart the MH attack and preserve her “perfect society”.
 
The premise behind Victoria is interesting and particularly relevant now as we move into a period of relying more and more on AI to assist us in our daily lives. As AI becomes more “sentient” and able to make decisions independent of humanity, what does that mean for us as a society? I think author John Molik explores this concept exceptionally well. The idea of an “extinction event” that tips the balance in favour of AI control is also something that many people consider a real possibility in today’s world. It wasn’t to much of a stretch to draw parallels between the MH and the Luds, to today’s climate of differing religious fundamentalism. I guess, mainly because I’m a New Zealander, I was pleasantly relieved to discover one of the survivalist colony was in New Zealand and the familiarity with the locale certainly enhanced my reading enjoyment of this story. The author’s style is simple and straightforward and his descriptions of the new technologies that have developed were easy to understand and grasp, even for this scientific-simpleton reader, which is always the sign of a good author. I particularly did enjoy the human emotions and desires that manifested within Victoria and the responses of the humans to them. It was easy, at times, to forget that she was just a collection of AI, as she clearly showed many human characteristics. Overall, this is a very readable and potentially prophetic story that will find a large fan base amongst dystopian and science fiction fans, both.


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You can find Victoria, along with the rest of John Molik's portfolio, here on his Amazon page: 

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rage: Australian ya post-apocalyptic drama (seventeen series book two by suzanne lowe

23/8/2019

4 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Rage: Australian YA Post-Apocalyptic Drama (Seventeen Series Book 2) by Suzanne Lowe takes us into a dystopian environment, in part, in homage to Lord of the Flies, in Western Australia where the world is now populated by children. The mysterious KV17 virus, eighteen months ago had wiped out the entire adult population (everyone over the age of 17). Left to fend for themselves the young teenagers and children attempted to keep life operating and survive in the harsh environment that was the Western Australian outback. Lexi and Hadley, two sisters who had lived in Perth, had escaped the crime ravaged and vermin infested city to travel to Jasper’s Bay, a small rural town where they hoped they could link up with other survivors and somehow rebuild their lives. In the first book of this series there had been a violent confrontation between a bully-gang and the ordinary children that had resulted in deaths and the realisation that the now mutated KV17 virus would also infect those children when they turned 17, not killing them but altering their brain chemistry to make them emotionally unstable and dangerous. In this forbidding backdrop Lexi, Hadley and their friends have to try to eke out an existence whilst always be cognisant of the dangers of wild teenage enemies and equally, dangerous friends.
 
I found the premise fascinating and this is what drew me into this story. Could a group of children form a cogent society once all the adults had disappeared? William Golding suspected not, what would author Suzanne Lowe make of the opportunity? In Rage: Australian YA post-apocalyptic drama (Seventeen Series Book 2) she presents us with a wide variety of differing characters that generally ring true to form; from the “black sheep” of the family in the guise of the evil brother Kevin, to his brainless sycophantic girlfriend Cindy, right through to those characters determined to make the most of an impossible situation. I found the story to be well written and the flow and tempo to be totally appropriate to the setting. I particularly enjoyed the clear emotional connection between Braydon and Lexi and wanted very much to see with this would lead. The author’s target market is clearly the YA market however, this did not stop this sixty-year-old from, thoroughly enjoying the read. The author clearly knows her environment and this shows through in her work. As a New Zealander, the Aussie slang was second nature to me but even for others it just adds authenticity to the work rather than distracting from it. Lowe did an excellent job of filling in the backstory as we went along, so this can be read as a stand-alone book. The ending (although I’m not personally a fan of cliff-hangers) did nicely set up book three and I look forward to reading it.   

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You can find Rage, along with the rest of Suzanne Lowe's portfolio, here on her Amazon page: 

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Three sisters: a tale of survival (three sisters trilogy #1) by Nikki Lewen

12/8/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Three Sisters: A Tale of Survival (Three Sisters Trilogy Book 1) is a deep dive into a dystopian world that may not be too far away. Author Nikki Lewen imagines an earth that has been struck by three tragedies, two natural and one very much of man’s own doing. When the world is hit by three almost simultaneous giant tsunamis (the tri-nami), billions of people and massive land areas are submerged underwater. What follows, as the survivors attempt to rally, is an enormous earthquake along the San Andreas fault line that changes the land that is left, dramatically. Of greatest concern to the survivors, though, is the marauding presence of an ex-military group called the “Splitters” who have split from and effectively taken over control of what was left of the military and the country. They survive by reverting to the old Viking methods of “raping and pillaging”. No pocket of survivors is safe from these vile, despicable, ex-soldiers. Sadie Larkin headed home to her parent’s mountain retreat before disaster struck but soon found herself left alone, as first her father and then her husband was taken from her. Resourceful and the daughter of a survivalist who had planned for such an eventuality, Sadie had lived alone, with no contact with anyone for over a decade when she discovers her old boyfriend, from college, almost dead at the hands of the Splitters, during one of her daily checks of her property. For the first time in many years, Sadie has to think of someone else’s welfare other than her own and so begins the adventures on this remote, (now an island) section of what was once Northern California.
 
I am a fan of dystopian fiction and author Nikki Lewen has written a realistic and believable tale in The Sisters: A Tale of Survival (Three Sisters Trilogy Book 1). I was initially intrigued by the premise but Lewen’s writing style quickly dragged me into the story and kept me bouncing along with her plot, the new revelations, and the new characters. Sadie was a perfect character for the role – strong, independent and resourceful (a female McGyver, if you like) but she also was softened by a tender side that had not seen much light over the previous decade spent alone. The scenarios painted in the novel were totally believable and, of course, as with most dystopian novels it was fascinating to watch how quickly the thin veneer of civilization fell away to be replaced by man’s basest instincts. There were still humans who cherished their humanity, though and this certainly helped to soften the violence and casual disregard for human life portrayed by the Splitters. I particularly enjoyed the way the author handled the rekindled relationship between Sadie and Caleb. It would have been so easy for her to fall into the cliched and expected with this but I felt she handled it beautifully. As this is the first in a trilogy, the author has definitely succeeded in investing her readers in the characters. I really care about what happens to these five main characters now and although I’m not a great fan of cliffhanger endings, it does make it almost certain I’ll be reading book two just to find out what happens next. A thoroughly readable and exciting novel that I can highly recommend.  


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You can find Three Sisters plus the second book in this trilogy on Nikki Lewen's Amazon page: 

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blood of mystics (age of mystics trilogy book #3) by chris walters

22/7/2019

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​Blood of Mystics by Chris Walters is the third and final book in the trilogy of the Saga of Mystics series. Although I’d read the previous two books, that was some time ago and initially it was a case of settling in and reacquainting myself with the characters that I had come to love and enjoy in the first two stories. Author, Chris Walters has done his readers a favour by including a list of all the characters from the three books, at the end of each book and if you happen to read any of the books standalone (which you can do very easily), I would recommend you read the character list first to gain an insight into the people that make up this dystopian journey.
 
Blood of Mystics is set some three to four years after “the event” that changed the world forever. When all technology failed on Earth due to some sort of EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse), humanity was thrown into chaos and the thin veneer of civilization quickly cracked and splintered. Small groups, determined to carry on and survive began to form but at the same time, extreme groups of would-be rulers and dictators also sought to gain power and dominion. Throw in a fanatical group of religious zealots claiming “the event” was punishment from God and you have all the makings of an excellent dystopian story.
 
The group of survivors led by Kyle Ward and centred on a fortress known as The Bluffs are going to have to deal with a renegade of their number, Jack, who has managed to perfect the art of reanimating dead corpses and using them as soldiers and as his intelligence eyes and ears. Allied with “the event” was the rise in mystical powers such as healing, controlling light, controlling the weather, fire, and other abilities. These people, now referred to as mystics, will have a major impact on the upcoming battles and quest for survival as humanity tries to return to normal and create a civil society again.
 
Walters has a style that is readable, relateable and almost conversational. Despite the fantasy elements of the story, perhaps best exemplified by the dragon and the new group, the Angels, known as the A-Team, readers never feel they are past the bounds of believability and, for me, this is the hallmark of an excellent fantasy author. Walters also uses this story to highlight and celebrate the differences in us that make us human, as a counterpoint to those that would demonise these differences. It doesn’t matter whether the characters are gay, totally different in appearance (i.e. Cliff Ko as the demi-human dragon), or incredibly powerful and scary, the author manages to infuse them with qualities that allow us, as readers, to love them and empathise with them. I have followed the development of both the author and the recurring characters throughout this trilogy and must comment on the growth of the writer as the series developed. One thing that did stand out to me was the idea that nobody is irredeemable as we saw through the development and rehabilitation of previously evil characters.
 
This was and is an outstanding dystopian tale with an overlay of fantasy. In my opinion this is an exceptional read and one I’m sure all lovers of good writing will enjoy. I think the whole series has been a triumph and I look for much for from this talented author in the future.      

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You can find Blood of Mystics, along with all of Chris Walters' exceptional works, here on Amazon:  

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unmarked by kate hansen

14/7/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Elisha Dullard is just a typical twenty-something young woman wrapped up in her own world of singleness, friends and shopping, in the very close future. In Unmarked, Kate Hansen brings us a simple, uncomplicated and frightening view of what that dystopian future could look like. Elisha loves the freedom and lack of worries her single life brings her but at the edge of her consciousness she feels the world changing around her. Her best friend Emily keeps trying to warn her that things are changing; the banks and the big corporations are consolidating their power and that very soon they will have no choice but to do things their way – online. Cash is disappearing fast from the economy and before long everything will be conducted online. But, for Elisha, the epiphany occurs when Emily relates a tale from the long, forgotten and mostly ignored Bible, from the Book of Revelations. When Elisha sees the prediction in the Book of Revelations coming true, she realizes humanity is in for a desperate struggle for survival and she will be caught up in it. With Emily brutally murdered by an ex-boyfriend, Elisha must face the coming trials alone, that is, until she meets the perfect man, in Michael.
 
Unmarked is a frighteningly, realistic take on where the world appears to be headed. Author Kate Hansen, brings us an unvarnished, largely unemotional, tale that is starker because of the way she relates it. I particularly appreciated the fact that Hansen resisted the temptation to take the fanatical, moral or religious high-ground in this piece. By making her hero a down-to-earth, somewhat scatterbrained and essentially “normal” young adult she told the story through eyes that any reader could identify with. I particularly like the allusions she made comparing what was happening now with similar instances in humanity’s history. The old, chilling, saying; “the veneer of civilization is dangerously thin,” kept coming to mind as I read these pages. Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the story was the ability to see the direct parallels to the dystopian world the author created, happening right now, here, today. That was frightening, in its own right. This is a fantastic, very simple, story of what can happen when good people do nothing and extremely well told by author Hansen. I can highly recommend this read to all, not just dystopian fans.      


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You can find Unmarked, here on Kate Hansen's Amazon page: 

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the last defender: a novel by travis pearson

2/3/2019

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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.       


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

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genesis z by everist j miller

19/2/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
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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.      

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

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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

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​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.

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

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rise of howlers by bob bannon

18/7/2018

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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.

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

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prime vector by diana a. hicks

7/6/2018

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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.  

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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: 

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the m strain by bradley michael

18/5/2018

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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.      

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You can find The M Strain, here on Amazon: 

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convulsive - part 1 by marcus martin

9/5/2018

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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. 

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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: 

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chaco by peggy a. wheeler

1/4/2018

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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.     


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

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

17/2/2018

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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.     

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

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Visions (almana book 2) by julayn Adams

30/1/2018

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​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!    

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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.   

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

5/1/2018

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​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.

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

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the wanderer and the new west by adam bender

29/12/2017

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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.        

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

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the chaos of change by j.t. riggen

29/10/2017

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​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
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bringing magnolia home by kitt hill

9/10/2017

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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.  

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

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