Category: Historical Fiction

demons at war: urban fantasy by p. a. minyard

8/8/2019

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Demons at War: Urban Fantasy by P.A. Minyard brings us a demon fantasy adventure with a twist. Set during the American Civil War, Daniel Parker is a Union Major, intimately involved in many of the battles taking place that defined that war. When Daniel comes face to face with a real, live, demon and is murdered at the battle of Antietam, by the demon, he finds himself in a unique situation. Rather than crossing over to the afterlife, Daniel is met by a guardian Angel, Bernard, who offers him an opportunity to return to normal life on Earth, as a member of the “Beloved” brotherhood and to do good for the Father by finding and eliminating demons on earth, who are way more prevalent than most of us would believe. Back home, Daniel’s parents, brother Jonathan and sister Beth, patiently await their dear Daniel’s return, always hoping he will survive this horrible conflict. So begins a journey that will take the two brothers through the hell of fighting demons, including the most powerful of them all, an evil, sadistic demon by the name of Benedict.

Demons at War: Urban Fantasy was something a little different, for me, from the usual demon fodder. By relocating the story back during the American Civil War, author P.A. Minyard gave the story some point of difference. I particularly enjoyed the interaction between the characters, especially Beth and her parents as they tried to come to terms, as so many families had to at that time, with the prospect of losing their son to this horrific war and eventually the possibility that they could lose both their sons. The relationships between Duffy and Beth, as well as that between Jonathan and Mattie rang true to the period and the culture of manners that existed in the 1860’s between the sexes. I also particularly enjoyed the emotions and pain felt by the Angel, Bernard over the grief he was causing to his charges and their family. That certainly softened the violent fight scenes with demons, which gave the story some real balance. One thing that I struggled with was the lack of indication when the POV (Point of View) and scene changed from one character to another. These sudden scene changes would often leave me temporarily confused. All in all, though, this is a very readable, demon fantasy story and with a few minor tweaks could be even better. I did enjoy the read and am tempted to read more in this series.

Demons at War by P.A. Minyard is not available yet on Amazon, as I write this but you can check out the rest of the author's portfolio on P A. Minyard's author page:

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a man called smith by tanya e. williams

30/7/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A Man Called Smith by Tanya E Williams takes us inside a dysfunctional, blended family in the nineteen fifties and sixties. John Smith was just a newlywed when he volunteered for service during the Second World War. Seeing action on the beaches on Normandy and beyond, John survives but is plagued with nightmares and survivor guilt when he returns home to his bride and daughter, in Cedar Springs, South Dakota. Despite John’s trauma, the future looks bright for these childhood sweethearts as they await the birth of their second child. When John’s wife, Violet dies in childbirth his whole world crumbles around him. Alone and bereft of the love of his life, John sends the children to live on the farm, with his parents while he tries to drag himself through his insufferable grief. When John meets Bernice, it seems like all his problems can be solved. She’s not Violet (but then nobody ever could be!) but she could be the wife and mother he and his children desperately need. What neither he nor his children realise is that Bernice’s first, second, and third priority will always be, Bernice. So begins a downward spiral that will see all the participants sucked into this dysfunctional family and trying desperately to survive the angst and abuse that come their way.

Author Tanya E Williams tells the story of A Man Called Smith, through the eyes of two protagonists and through two time periods. John and his daughter Calla recount what it was like to, first lose their wife and mother and then how John’s marriage to Bernice drove a wedge between Calla, her brother Jarred and their father. The three boys born to the second union would fare marginally better at Bernice’s wicked tongue and hands than would Calla and Jarred but nonetheless they would also struggle with their mother’s vicious temper, belittling, and sarcasm. The character of John was an enigma in many ways. He was a strong, resolute and proud man but the war had instilled in him a belief that fighting achieved nothing, so he was always slow to rock the boat, to stand up for his children against “mother”. As a reader one wanted to seriously kick the man’s butt and tell him to stand up to the vicious, old slag. I’m sure that’s the reaction the author was looking for, so kudos to her for that. The style is simple, readable and somewhat relatable, although John antipathy to arguing seemed to stretch the bounds of probability at times. I found the story was fairly predictable at times and seemed a little formulaic for my liking. That being said, there is much to be had from the messages imparted by the characters, especially about the nature of war, the complicity of silence and the sheer lengths people will sometimes go to, to achieve peace – whatever the unseen costs of those accommodations might be. I understand this is the third in a series of stories around these characters so it may be that a reading of all three stories would open up the characters more and allow the reader to fully grasp the dynamics of this strained family relationship.

You can find A Man Called Smith, plus the rest of Tanya E. Williams' work, here on Amazon:

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American Past Time by len joy

22/7/2019

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