Category: Science Fiction - GRANT LEISHMAN

the fortune follies by catori sarmiento

7/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Fortune Follies by Catori Sarmiento takes us back in time to a very different version of life after the Second World War. The author has created a totally different backstory to the defeat of the Japanese. Instead of dropping two nuclear bombs on Japan, the Japanese army was defeated by a mechanical army of soldiers created essentially by one man, Robert Sinclair and his company Sinclair Industries. Sarah Igarashi, of Japanese extraction, along with her entire family were interred during the war, as a precaution but now she has decided to leave her poverty-stricken native Alaska and head to Seattle, where her cousin Penny, she assumes, is living a life of luxury on an inheritance that Sarah believes her family is entitled to some of also. When she arrives in Seattle, she quickly realizes the streets are not paved with gold and her cousin has no intention of sharing their inheritance with her. As a non-citizen of Seattle, Sarah has few rights and is forced to work long, hard hours at Sinclair Industries, for minimal wages, just to survive. Against a background of gangs, the Japanese underworld and a massive earthquake that strikes Seattle, Sarah must somehow find her place and her way in this alien environment.

I felt the premise for The Fortune Follies was unique and interesting. The idea that America post-war would become a repressive, almost fascist society was interesting. The struggles of the non-citizens in Seattle, as opposed to those who had citizenship resonated with me as being not too different from the problems faced by undocumented immigrants in the US of the twenty-first century. Author Catori Sarmiento takes us inside a dark, Japanese underworld and a city ruled by gang violence and the ever present, overarching spectre of Sinclair Industries. The writing style, was at times, beautifully descriptive, however the scene changes were often abrupt and unsignalled, which as a reader had me struggling at times. The POV’s change constantly between Sarah and her cousin Penny, which was fine and gave variety to the story. The two principal characters were well-drawn as almost opposites, despite them being cousins. I particularly enjoyed the tension and interactions between Sarah, Penny & George (family) in contrast to the warmth and friendship between Sarah, Ruth and some of the other rebels (comrades). All in all, an interesting idea and one worth delving into.

You can find The Fortune Follies by Catori Sarmiento, here on Amazon:

the mars one incident by kelly curtis

4/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Mars One Incident, author Kelly Curtis takes us to an earth in the distant future, 2635. Humanity had made the decision some time ago that it was technology that was creating the angst and conflict in the war and it was decided to ditch all technology and cap the earth’s population at 13 Billion people. Most people on earth, in their blissful state, have no idea what those charged with protecting them are sometimes required to do. One of earth’s Guilds, that which is responsible for keeping earth safe from aliens and ensuring that rebels determined to reintroduce technology into humanity do not succeed, is paradoxically allowed to use and embrace technology, albeit sometimes scavenged technology from other planets and systems. Captain Alma Johnson is the youngest person to ever be appointed to a Starfleet command and is determined to prove her worth to all those who doubt her capabilities at the young age of 26. She is sent out on a mission to track down one of the rebel ships believed to be trying to bring technology to earth but she is not totally aware of all the backroom politics that may be taking place on this utopia non-technological earth.

The Mars One Incident is a fairly straightforward science fiction story that predicates an interesting proposition – that the use of technology is responsible for all of humanity’s woes and that by eliminating it we could reach a utopian state. Author Kelly Curtis has realized that to eliminate all technology would potentially be disastrous should there be internal dissension or indeed, external threat. The paradox of using technology to ensure there was no technology was not lost on me. I was impressed with the character the author has created in Alma Johnson. She is strong-willed, intelligent, and driven but it soon becomes very apparent that she also has a conscience and indeed an empathy for those who wish to bring technology back. I particularly enjoyed the way the author highlighted her frustration at being almost an “outcast” in a society that she was risking her life to protect. It makes you wonder if perhaps even today’s policemen have similar feelings. I noted that this is a debut novel for Curtis and also the beginning of a series featuring Alma Johnson and her crew. She has laid the groundwork with her interesting premise and first novel so I look for her to build on this work in upcoming sequels, perhaps a romance with her first officer might be on the cards.

You can find The Mars One Incident, here on Kelly Curtis' Amazon page:

victoria by john molik

26/8/2019

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.

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

never the twain by t.e. hodden

20/8/2019

As a regular reader of Tom Hodden's books over the years, if there was one word that best summed up Hodden's approach to writing, that word would be - quirky. Not for him, the straight-forward narrative adventure or romance, he always needs to "quirk" it up a bit and Never The Twain is no exception to that. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back to Hodden's literature because he challenges me, as a reader, to think outside the box, consider other possibilities, other perspectives and different paradigms.

Tanner is a typical, quiet, shy, non-achiever, happy in his life and his routine, especially "Friday Movie Night", as owner and executive chef of a small restaurant, whereas Adam, his rival for Callie's affections, is the polar opposite. Mega-wealthy, self-indulgent, self-assured and also deeply in love with Callie, Adam is everything Tanner is not. Tanner's world is ripped apart when Callie breaks off their burgeoning relationship to return to her first love, Adam - but there the fun begins.

In two slightly different multiverses, Callie and Tanner play out differing scenarios. In one Universe, Tanner is killed by a hit and run driver and in another, Callie dies by drowning. What really causes problems for the pair, though, is when Callie finds that by using a new drug, called Drift, she is able to actually merge between the two Universes. What will happen when Alpha Tanner and Beta Callie meet up again in one of the parallel universes? Certainly, sparks will fly!

I thoroughly enjoyed Hodden's take on a inter-multiverse relationship and although at times I struggled with who was actually who and in which Universe they currently existed, that is one of the joys of reading Hodden's work. He makes you think, he makes you concentrate and he tells a ripping, good yarn.

If you like quirky, if you like something a little different, then Tom Hodden is the author for you. He has a massive portfolio of essentially quirky and oddball stories. Why not try diving into one today - I did and I've never regretted it.

You can find Never The Twain, along with the rest of Tom Hodden's extensive portfolio, here on Amazon

cosmic swan by bill copeland

20/8/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The world is in a state of panic. Massive earthquakes are wracking the planet and it seems to originate deep under the Himalayas, where the Pacific plate crashes up against the Asian plate. In Cosmic Swan by Bill Copeland, USGS (United States Geological Survey) geologist Mark is dispatched to Tibet to try and figure out just what is happening underneath the Himalayas. Once there, Mark discovers a strange, but beautiful woman, high up in a cave on Mt Kailas, Kusoom. Kusoom is the leader of a religious cult gathered on the mountain to protect and ensure the safe birth of an alien creature, the Cosmic Swan, whose egg was buried deep in earth’s magma, some billions of years ago. Initially dismissing Kusoom as just another religious fanatic, Mark soon comes to realise that there is indeed something growing deep within the bowels of the earth and it is close to breaking out. What Mark doesn’t understand is he is about to learn of a potential extinction threat for earth and he will embark on a journey across the galaxies searching for a way to save his beloved planet.

Author Bill Copeland has presented us with a fanciful scenario in Cosmic Swan that allows the reader to embark on an adventure across interstellar space with Mark and his compatriots. The premise was an unusual and original one and the reader is quickly caught up in the race to save the planet. The author’s writing style is clipped and simplistic, with short, pithy sentences which leads me to believe this story would lend itself more to the teenage Science Fiction market rather than the adult one. The end was too abrupt and unexpected for my liking which leads me to believe there is more planned in this series. I did enjoy the relationship that developed between Mark and Kusoom and kept wondering when it would transform into as full-blooded romantic relationship. This sense of heightened tension certainly added well to the narrative. If I had one complaint about the writing style it would be the author’s tendency to overuse the main character’s name, as opposed to a personal pronoun. I did become repetitive at times and showed characteristics of a high-school essay – “Mark did this, then Mark did that and then Mark did this, again.” That apart, it was a novel read and as I said perhaps one more aimed at high-school students rather than adults.

You can find Cosmic Swan, along with Bill Copeland's other books, here on his Amazon page:

dart by dale renton

22/7/2019

Reviewed For Readers Favorite by Grant Leishman

New Hope, was in many ways, an anachronism. The settlers of New Hope had left Earth centuries earlier yet as soon as they landed, a schism appeared between the two groups of settlers. In DART by Dale Renton we meet Darthanil Black, a Former and previously First Blade to the ruler of New Hope, Analine Wills. Now, framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Dart is on the run and that running takes him straight into the arms of the second group of settlers, those known as the Sylth. The Sylth have rejected the Former’s embrace of Artificial Intelligence and have instead made their lives as an integral and symbiotic part of the plant and animal life of the planet. Living close to the core of an active volcano, they are protected from attack by the Former’s. When Dart’s life is saved, sort of, by the beautiful and enticing, Sylth maiden, Amarth, Dart knows he is entering a battle for control of their planet. Everything lies in finding the two keys that will give ultimate power to the possessor.

I do like a good science fiction story with a moral message and DART by Dale Renton, is exactly that – a good science fiction tale that embodies a strong moral message for us. I liked the idea that even leaving Earth and settling on a new planet didn’t change the basic philosophical split between the two groups of settlers – one group wanting to use the Artificial Intelligence to terraform their new planet into a carbon copy of the world they’d left behind, with the other group, innately suspicious of AI and wanting to adapt to the environment of the planet they’d arrived on. The slide back into “middle ages” technology because of the separation of the two keys was what made the story even more interesting. I loved the relaxed, easy style of the writing of the author, plus the constant conflict and struggle between those that want to preserve and those that want to mould their new world with technology. The concept of AI and the potential it has to go “rogue” is something we are at the point of addressing currently and that’s one of the reasons I found this such an enjoyable read. The hatred between the two groups on Sylas was palpable and it wasn’t hard to draw some corollaries with happenings today. The scintillating wit of Dart was definitely a highlight of the read and I commend the author for his clever use of sarcasm and scorn to get his point across. I thoroughly enjoyed this witty, clever, and action-packed science fiction romance and can highly recommend it.

You can find DART, here, on Dale Renton's Amazon page:

star child awakening (the zenkoti fables #1) by petra landon

22/7/2019

I’ve long been a big fan of both Petra Landon’s science fiction and fantasy novels, so when I became aware that Landon had started a new science fiction series, I was excited and first in line to receive a copy and read it. I wasn’t disappointed; Star Child Awakening (The Zenkoti Fables #1) was everything I had become used to in Landon’s writings – fast, exciting, full of mystery and intrigue, with a very human element thrown into the mix to soften the, often, weird characters. It, like so much of her work, is a real triumph.
When Novi, a young woman living on a remote mining outpost planet, sneaks aboard a docked star ship she is thrust into a world that she had longed dreamed of. Despite her modest upbringing, Novi has always been a dreamer and her dream was to travel the heavens. When she realizes she is now a stowaway on Ilar’s Justice, under the command of the greatest renegade and freedom fighter of all time, Ryfkin Soren, she understands her life is about to change forever. Ryfkin Soren and his band of freedom fighters are notorious throughout the galaxies as the only people to take on and defeat the mightiest and ruthless army in the Universe – that of the Guild Coalition.
When Novi is discovered aboard Ilar’s Justice she quickly realizes that the crew of renegades are not necessarily as scary as she had expected and indeed are tempered with compassion, friendliness, fun, and a heart for justice. She quickly finds herself drawn to the entire crew and determines to find a way to join them and be a part of their quest. Novi will discover, on their voyages, that she is much more than she initially believed herself to be. She will begin to understand that she has a part to play in this battle for justice and defeating the coalition. She is on a true voyage of discovery as she attempts to find out who she really is, where she really came from and what her future role is to be.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about Landon’s stories is that no matter how weird or outlandish the characters may be, she always manages to infuse them with a sufficient amount of humanity and emotions for us readers to identify and empathise with them. As a character, Novi is the perfect blend of wide-eyed young girl and excited young woman embarking on a mission to discover herself. I really loved the youthful enthusiasm the author managed to inject into her character. The other principal characters in the story, especially Ryfkin Soren, all had endearing features about them that made their crew into one of the most feared and legendary groups in all of interplanetary space. I’ve always loved the simple, readable style Landon brings to her books and this one is no different. It reads like a “boy’s own” adventure story from my childhood but with many powerful, female lead characters that reassert the belief that women heroes are every bit as powerful and relateable as their male counterparts. Although not specifically broached in this, Book 1, I can see some amazing opportunities in the future stories for Landon to weave some romance, in the inimitable way she does, into the next adventures.
As a book clearly designed to set up the future Zenkoti Fables franchise, Star Child Awakening definitely hits all the right spots. We know Novi is on the cusp of discovering something vitally important to her future but also to the future of her new comrades and the inter-galactic community as a whole. I, for one, am extremely excited to see where this story goes next. Not usually a big fan of cliffhangers, I do love those that Landon leaves us with because I always know the next iteration of the story will be coming soon and it invariably will improve and expand on the current tale.
If Science fiction is your thing, or more importantly, if well-written, clever social commentary, delivered as part of an overall plot, and fast-paced, exciting action is your thing then you won’t want to miss Star Child Awakening (The Zenkoti Fables #1) by Petra Landon. I highly recommend it – roll on book two of this series.

You can find Star Child Awakening, plus all of Petra Landon's fantastic collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy, here on her Amazon page:

primeval origins: rise of serpents by b a vonsik

3/7/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents is the third book in the Primeval Origins series from Author B A Vonsik, which ask the burning question; “what if all our legends and myths about man’s creation are true?” Rise of Serpents takes us from the near future, 2030’s, when man is not only experimenting with genetic enhancement but is also openly embracing the idea of cybernetics, also known as transhumanism, back to the origins of humanity when Gods and Ancients strode the world with their power and domination over all living things. Two men Rogaan, the half-Tellen, searching for his father who is held captive and Aren, the Evendiir are thrown together as allies, on a mission that perhaps neither of them fully understands nor grasps the enormity of the foes they will face. Both of them are more powerful than they realise and they will need to be as they come face to face with some of the most powerful beings and creatures of these ancient times. They must face and defeat those that seek what they possess, including the most feared of them all, the one who calls himself The Vassal. The legendary Shunned, Luntanus Alum is holding Rogaan’s father prisoner and it will take all of the pair’s Agni magic to find a way forward.

This story is definitely one for the reader’s who seek true epic fantasy. Author B A Vonsik has created, in Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents, a world in which all of our most fantastical nightmares and legends about the past and the origins of humanity have come true. Evil Gods and powerful, magical rulers hold sway over a cowering populace. Simply put, this is the eternal battle of Good vs Evil played out on an epic stage across epochs. I haven’t read the first two volumes and, in many ways, I wish I had as I felt overwhelmed and a little lost at times as the characters, familiar to readers already, no doubt, emerged and took their place in the narrative. The author has a superb and engaging style which keeps the reader riveted and turning the page. The fight scenes (and there are plenty of them) were incredibly descriptive and realistic. One could almost hear and feel the magical power in the air. I particularly enjoyed the relationship and angst between Rogaan, his “former” friend Pax, and Pax’s sister Suhd. More than the epic fantasy, for me, this was one of the main cores of the story, along with the developing friendship between Rogaan and Aren. If epic fantasy is your thing then I have little doubt this book will sustain you and give you plenty to think about, even if it left me a little bereft of understanding.

You can find Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents here on B A Vonsik's Amazon page:

Re: Camelot - The complete edition by e. c. fisher

27/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

E. C. Fisher has brought the Arthurian legend to life in a new and different way in the novel, Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition. Young Arthur is unaware he is a direct descendant of the great King Arthur of Camelot. After Arthur’s parents are killed in a car crash when he was just twelve, a miserable aunt sends Arthur off to a boarding school where he is lost and alone, his only solace the books and stories his mother used to read to him, so assiduously, of Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur and their adventures. Obsessed with everything Arthurian, Arthur wishes for nothing more than to be transported from his hell here to the days of legend, a legend he somehow feels intimately connected with. On the planet Avalon, trouble is brewing. The sleeping black dragon is awakening and about to spread its evil across all of the land that was once Camelot – unless, a young man can be summoned to save the world, a young man capable of drawing Excalibur from the stone, of reuniting all of the sacred weapons and defeating the evil that threatens to destroy Avalon. Could young Arthur be that man?

Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition is certainly a unique twist on the old Arthurian story. Author E. C. Fisher has created a whole new world in which Camelot once existed and although now fragmented, can be unified again by the right person. I loved the unique premise and it is not one I have found in my Arthurian readings to date. It is always difficult to take a legend such as Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which has been so written about over the years and give it a new and fresh twist. Fisher does this well and the descriptions of the planet Avalon and its environment are well done. Arthur and indeed the main characters of the story, for me, were a little superficial and their treatment and characterization not in-depth enough for my liking. That may be a feature of the author’s desire to have such a large ensemble cast but nonetheless apart from Arthur we really did not get to know the other characters in any real depth. That being said, the story is one that rollicks along at some pace, with plenty of action and fight scenes in the narrative, along with some budding romances between the characters. I suspect this is squarely aimed at the young adult audience and the speed and unique qualities of the story will doubtless appeal to them. I did particularly like the lack of gender bias the author built into the story – automatic rights of accession regardless of gender and, of course, a female Merlin all go a long way to address the need to be gender equal in today’s world. Well done to the author for that.

You can find Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition by E. C. Fisher, here, on Amazon:

fear justice (the fear chronicles book 1) by C.C. Bolick

29/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) brings us a fast-paced, young adult, spy thriller from the pen of C. C. Bolick. Seventeen-year-old Rena Mason has one thing on her mind; graduating her senior year at high-school, getting a full scholarship so she can study aeronautical engineering and most of all, getting out of the hick Florida town she has lived in since she was six-years-old. Rena used to love their life there but all that changed three years ago when they were involved in a car accident that saw Rena’s beloved mother killed. With her father taking to the bottle, Rena was forced to grow up way too soon and assume full responsibility for looking after her little brother. Little did Rena realise the appearance of a new boy at school would change her life forever. When her father is kidnapped by terrorists, Rena needs to confront the idea that her father had a secret existence and life before they moved to their tiny trailer-home in their small town. When it seems the terrorists are actually after her, Rena starts to understand that she may be much more than she originally thought, also and that her mother might not have been just the loving housewife and mother she had always known and missed every single day since her death.

C. C. Bolick has produced an extremely readable and exciting action thriller that is tailor-made for the young adult audience it is undoubtedly aimed at. Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) is doubtless the start of what promises to be an exciting series featuring these young “secret agents”. I would probably describe best this story, as a cross between Men in Black and X-Men. The idea of a super-secret government agency tasked with dealing with aliens and those humans with enhanced powers, either genetically received or by accident is certainly one that has been done before but I found Bolick’s slant on the story to be refreshing and novel. I particularly liked the developing relationship between Rena and Travis. The idea that they are falling for each other and yet are not able to actually touch each other; skin to skin, is intriguing and opens up all sorts of possible story arcs in the next book in the series. I also found the “super power” attributed to Rena to be odd and unusual enough to lift the story above the run-of-the-mill young adult thrillers. Rena is a superb character with strength and vulnerability that shines through in every page. If you like action-packed, aliens, paranormal, and a whole helping of romance, this is definitely the book and series for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am about as far from a young adult as it’s possible to get.

You can find Fear Justice here on C. C. Bolick's Amazon page, along with the rest of her extensive portfolio:

karrin: warrior woman (Excalibur saga book 4) by sahara foley

24/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In this, the fourth book of Karrin: Warrior Woman, Excalibur Saga, by Sahara Foley, we find human Karrin, alone, abandoned on the planet Switch, with only her two-tailed, monkey-like friend Brownie for company. Karrin has been alone ever since her rescuer, hero, and true love Ispepyein leader, Lurga Pukani had seemingly abandoned her some three years earlier. When Brownie continually disappears from time to time and returns with “gifts” for Karrin, she is intrigued as to where they come from. Following Brownie on one of his sorties, Karrin discovers the massive wreck of a cargo ship. Discovering nobody aboard except the ship’s artificial intelligence along with a cargo of a powerful, radioactive silver substance, she discovers that the Calens are coming for her and intend to destroy her. Regaining her Ispepyein Warrior Child mantle and her confidence, Karrin is determined to fight to the end like a true Ispepyein Warrior. She may die but she will take as many of them with her as she can. So begins an adventure through the galaxies, the Universes and the dimensions that will see Karrin and her forebears locked in a battle for survival for not just themselves, or their species, but for the whole of their Universe.

I like my Science Fiction to be less technically driven and more emotionally driven. Karrin: Warrior Woman, Excalibur Saga Book 4, is just such a character driven story. Sahara Foley has written a tale of adventure, love and survival that transcends the setting of Science Fiction. The author introduces some weird and wonderful creatures into her world but always underlying everything is the deep love and affection between the characters, despite their many physical and emotional differences. I think I was particularly drawn to this story as it used the notion of panspermia (seeding of life) as one of the basic precepts of the story. I love the idea that perhaps all life in the Universe has originally come from some powerful, supreme race that has seeded the galaxies and created many diverse and fascinating life-forms – humanity included. I particularly loved the relationships developed and nurtured in this story, especially between former enemies and also between races seemingly so different yet still capable of feeling powerful and abiding love for each other. I haven’t read any of the earlier books in this series but that wasn’t necessary. The author was extremely adept at dropping gems of information into the narrative that explained what had gone before and why a character now reacted the way he/she did. This was a wonderful read and one I can highly recommend not only to all Science Fiction fans but also to a wider audience. Ultimately it is a beautiful love story that happens to be set among the glories of the Universe.

You can find the entire Excalibur series here, along with all of her work, on Sahara Foley's Amazon page:

deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1) by karen janowsky

21/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As they say… “…and now for something completely different.” That is exactly what Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory by Karen Janowsky, brought me. This book took me completely by surprise with both its premise and its development. Major Daniel Hecht was somewhat of an enigma. A sickly, weak, American Jew who was captured by the Nazis in 1938, Daniel was subjected to horrific experiments by the Nazi overlords who were working on a formula to make the “perfect” soldier. When Daniel was finally freed by a group of partisans, he was used and abused by the American armed services for his special abilities. Then, right in the middle of the war something odd happened and Daniel was thrust through time to 2012 where he was again recruited by an organisation who wanted to use his special talents along with some other “super heroes” to keep the forces of evil at bay. When Daniel, an awkward introvert meets Nina, a new recruit, both instantly know there is something special between them. Despite neither having memories of the event, they are sure they have always known each other, and that there is a special bond between them. Daniel, Nina and the rest of the rag-tag super heroes set about to try to stop the collection of ancient artefacts that together could create a super weapon for the forces of evil.

I absolutely loved this book. The premise was so outlandish and the story so personal and real you, as a reader, could not help being drawn into the jumbled world of Daniel and Nina. Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory is an enigma in itself. Somehow author Karen Janowsky has managed to combine an action-packed narrative of super-heroes with a sweet, beautiful love story that plays out between Daniel and Nina. Both characters are so incredibly naïve as to the ways of the world that at times you really want to shout at them… “for God’s sake, just do it.” The writing style is relaxed and comfortable. I was able to read this book in a single setting. It is one of those stories you just simply cannot put down because you are always searching for the next step, the next move in the relationship. The erotic writing in the book is a very small part, but an extremely powerful part. I felt the author handled these scenes with such tenderness and care that it was an absolute pleasure to read. If you love good Science Fiction or Fantasy with plenty of twists and turns, or if you just love a ripping good adventure yarn with plenty of romance, you will love this book. I did and I can highly recommend it.

You can take a look at Deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1), here on Karen Janowsky's Amazon page:

the black widow connection (blue star book 1) by tk rising

3/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As a book reviewer, it’s not often I’m lost for words (in a good way, I hasten to add), but The Black Widow Connection (Blue Star Book 1) by TK Rising has had that distinct effect on me. What I thought was a simple story of an abused and beaten down, by society, woman, suddenly morphed into something totally different that threw me for six and had me thinking deeply about philosophical insights into our purpose of being. Tracy Kirin had a tough life. She was abused as a child, by her father and neglected by a mother who knew about the abuse and did nothing. She drifted through her life, forming only partially meaningful relationships, drifting from job to job, never really putting her roots down anywhere, always tormented by unexpected tragedies and weird dreams. She is determined not to repeat the sins of her parents but is unable to ever feel “at home” or “comfortable” anywhere – and then she dies. I’m not even going to hint at what happens to Tracy after she dies as I’d hate to spoil the surprise for future readers but suffice it to say, it surprised, shocked and stunned me.

The Black Widow Connection (Blue Star Book 1) is right up there among the oddest and yet strangely most satisfying books I’ve ever read. Author TK Rising’s imagination and interesting theories (if that’s what they are) make for fascinating reading in the second half of the book. The whole premise of the book turns upside down in part two of the story and it is that premise that makes this story such compelling reading. Having written off the character, Tracy, as a hopeless and incapable woman, suddenly the reader is introduced to a new woman, one who has the ability to make a massive difference in the future of humanity and life on earth. This juxtaposition between live Tracy and dead Tracy is what lifts this story out of its sad and listless beginnings. A very readable story suddenly becomes a totally compelling tale after 50% of the book is read. I salute the author’s bravery and note that this is merely the first of a series of Blue Star Books. I can only say, I am compelled to read on and see what happens next.

You can find The Black Widow Connection along with the rest of TK Rising's portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

until the ice cracks (the eldisvik novels book 1) by jan turk petrie

31/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Until The Ice Cracks brings us something a little different, in a police-style murder, mystery set in the Icelandic town of Eldisvik. Author Jan Turk Petrie takes us forward in time to 2068, where civil society has somewhat broken down and major cities like Eldisvik are sectioned off into different zones, depending on their safety for citizens. The orange, red and double-red zones are definitely not the place to be for sensible, law-abiding citizens. The red zones are patrolled by a mysterious group of special police, known as decoys. These decoys have had their DNA altered somewhat and are in command of special Fox Vixens who regard their human as their alpha. Little is known of the decoys but when one appears to go rogue, Inspector Nero Cavallo and his team must track down and destroy the rogue decoy before panic strikes the Free Zone. Cavallo is secretly a telepath, which gives him a distinct advantage in his detective work. Bruno Mastriano is also a telepath but he has been kidnapped by a ruthless gang determined to utilise his special powers to their advantage. With the Governor under immense pressure to achieve results, Cavallo must move quickly but it seems to Cavallo there is more going on here than just one rogue decoy.

Certainly, Until The Ice Cracks was a change of pace for me, as a reader. The exotic location of Iceland, with its short days and long, cold nights, if nothing else, made the story more interesting than your average futuristic police drama. Author Jan Turk Petrie clearly knows her Nordic setting well and the story is both realistic and believable. The various arcs weaved their way through the story well and the author did a good job of keeping them understandable and relatable. Despite being set forty-odd years into the future, the technology and science of the period was not greatly different from that of today, although definitely more advanced of where we are placed at present. In many ways the formal zones within Eldisvik are reminiscent of that which already exists within some of our inner cities. Clearly there are parts of the city that no law officer wants to patrol and when they are required to enter these zones, they do so fully equipped to handle anything. I found the story satisfying but the ending, which is a cliff-hanger and no doubts leads into the next book, less so. This is a personal choice thing. I know some readers like a cliff-hanger to excite them into their next purchase but personally I do prefer a conclusion, at the very least, to the arcs I have been following and invested in throughout the book. That being said, this is still a good, solid read and yes, I would like to read the next book so I can find out what happened.

You can find, Until The Ice Cracks, here on Jan Turk Petrie's Amazon page:

journey to the west valley wall by mark l. lloyd

8/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In Journey to the West Valley Wall, author Mark L Lloyd has cleverly combined two stories into one novel. Jack Van Horne is a successful Science Fiction writer. Both his first two books based around the character of Sage Sauer’s space adventures have been best-sellers with both novels being made into blockbuster feature films. Despite his success, Jack is wracked with self-doubt and the crippling effects of agoraphobia and fandom pressures. He rarely leaves his apartment these days and is unable to write the much anticipated final book in the Sage Sauer series. Crippled by fear and uncertainty, Jack finally experiences an epiphany when he is forced, by circumstances, to run for his life, along with his twelve-year-old niece as they try to escape a raging forest fire. We follow the trials and angst of Jack, in his crawl back to something resembling normality, as well as those of his space hero Sage Sauer, as the third book begins to come together.

I thought the premise of two stories into one, in Journey to the West Wall, was a clever technique employed by author Mark L Lloyd and he made it work extremely well. The character of Jack Van Horne was eerily identifiable by fellow authors who have all gone through those mental demons, although not as badly as Jack, usually. He was a character that evoked extreme emotion in the reader, ranging from deep sympathy and sorrow, right through to intense anger at the man’s stupidity and inability to cope, at times and yet always tempered by a feeling of sadness that despite his clear brilliance he must suffer so much. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Jack and his niece. The parallel story of Sage Sauer was equally compelling, especially for Science Fiction fans. The journal of his adventures left the reader wanting to know more about the character and the processes by which humans had survived or modified in the world of Sauer. It left questions in the readers’ minds and that’s a great thing to achieve. This is an excellent story and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Journey to the West Valley Wall, along with the rest of Mark L. Lloyd's portfolio, here on his Amazon page:

a place to stay forever by mark l lloyd

29/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The year is 3289 and although man hasn’t quite achieved immortality, he’s a fair way down the road, with the use of the Stasis Deep Sleep System, invented and marketed by LaPorte Industries, which allows people to survive for aeons. With a new body and a new consciousness, participants in the scheme are able to travel to the perfectly rendered, fake town of Penticton, where they can live a new life until they again get bored, at which time, they can then just start all over again. In A Place to Stay Forever, author Mark L Lloyd takes us inside his vivid imagination, as he posits where mankind may be heading. La Porte Industries are notoriously secretive about their product and the experience is bound by an unbreakable set of rules, which participants breach at their peril. When Miranda Sage and the crew of the Misfit are woken from Stasis Deep Sleep (SDS) after something hits their spacecraft, they discover an anomaly in the SDS system, which Adayln a crew member is determined to explore and discover what secrets LaPorte Industries are hiding from them all. With Miranda and Emily, a reporter, they find themselves travelling back in time to the Penticton of 2005. It appears they have opened a veritable Pandora’s Box.

A Place to Stay Forever is unlike any science fiction book I have read before. The premise is intriguing and author Mark L Lloyd keeps the reader continually thinking and wondering about the science and the adventure these characters are on. The whole time-travel and time-travel paradox problem becomes an issue for the adventurers, but is well handled by the author. The characters are well drawn and although initially I found myself confused over who was who in this storyline, it soon became apparent, as the story unravelled. I appreciate the author didn’t allow gender to be an issue for the characters with all of them seemingly having been both male and female in one of their iterations of Stasis Deep Sleep. I felt the plot and the science mechanisms employed in the story made it difficult to keep the story at the level of the layman, but Lloyd was able to do so, which I was grateful for. This story was possibly a bit deep in imagination and science fiction for my usual tastes, but the emotional depth of the characters and their relationships made it very readable and enjoyable for me. I can definitely recommend this as a read for anyone who wonders what the future may potentially hold.

A Place to Stay Forever hasn't yet been released as this review is being written, however, you can check out the rest of Mark L Lloyd's work, here on his Amazon page:

Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 (Silver Tears Series)by Daniel J. Strait

21/1/2019

Reviewed For Reader's Favorite by Grant Leishman

Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 by Daniel J Strait will take you on an epic fantasy journey through the author created worlds. This is the third book in a series that ultimately aims to discover and unite the five members of an ancient and mythical prophecy. In Vazdrag, three of the members of the prophecy are together; Nakiata (A Shadow of Thought – ‘SOT’ Master), Dravone (A Morphan – similar to a werewolf) and Ka’tia, their latest addition who is a Warrior Princess from Zondura. Together the trio seek the next member of the prophecy by entering “Black Doors”, which will take them to other worlds and galaxies. This particular Black Door on Zondura, however, has the trio lost and seemingly travelling in circles. Eventually, though, they emerge and will form alliances with various creatures, offering help in exchange for further information about the Prophecy.

Daniel J Strait has taken considerable time and effort in this series in creating worlds and creatures that are unique to him, as a writer and I would congratulate him for that. The read is interesting and exciting at times as the trio battle to overcome the obstacles, deceptions and warlike characters placed in their way on this journey. The latent sexual tension between the two female characters (Nakiata and Ka’tia) and the single male, Dravone was palpable and at times riveting. For me, this was one of the highlights of the writing, since, for me, character often trumps adventure. For lovers of the genre, however, there is plenty of action, along with great character development. Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 is a good, solid read and any fan of epic fantasy is bound to enjoy it. I’m sure, like all good series, reading from the start is desirable, but this can be read as a standalone. I am intrigued enough to wonder how Book Four will develop as the team look for the next member of this prophecy. It’s a recommended read.

You can take a look at Vazdrag plus the rest of this series, here, on Daniel J Strait's Amazon page:

challenges of the gods by c. hofsetz

28/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Challenges of the Gods by C Hofsetz is a fantasy/science fiction adventure that takes us into the author created world of Pangea, Pangea exists in the minds of its inhabitants and can only be visited when asleep. Here, in this quasi-heaven exist the Gods and their messengers. When Mike discovers himself in Pangea, he is confronted with the realisation that his beloved Earth planet is under threat and he has been chosen by the Messengers to be the one to ensure that his planet and civilisation endure. Unfortunately, in order to achieve that, Mike must destroy another Earth planet and its population that exists in this multiverse and is the equivalent planet to his own. Somehow Mike must battle his moral qualms and act decisively to save civilisation, but what he doesn’t bank on is his inherent morality and the relationships he develops on this new world, to interfere with his decision making.

The basic construct of Challenges of the Gods was uniquely exciting to me, as a reader. The initial little twist that was revealed over Mike’s origins was enough to suck me into the story completely. Author C Hofsetz has created a twin reality, that at times threatened to spill over into confusion. The idea of one mind, with two different bodies, depending on where Mike was, had the potential to be confusing to the reader, but I thought the author did an excellent job of keeping the narrative on track and the reader informed. The character of Mike was well written and his relationships and interactions with his friends Ravi, Jane and the others was the key to a good story and a thought-provoking read. Many of the issues faced by Mike were not dissimilar to those being faced today, with blind obedience to a cult-like personality figure being uppermost of those. I thoroughly enjoyed this fresh and exciting read and can highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy and science fiction.

You can find Challenges of The Gods by C. Hofsetz here, on Amazon. It appears to be his debut novel, which makes it all the more impressive.

the starfarer (the araloka chronicles book 2) by petra landon

12/11/2018

Reviewed For The Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

I’ve said it in the past, but it bears repeating that; one of the most rewarding parts of being a professional reviewer is the opportunity to watch an author grow and develop within his/her genre. This is certainly the case, for me, with Petra Landon. The Starfarer (The Araloka Chronicles Book 2) is now the fourth Landon book I have read and I continue to watch her story-telling skills evolve and improve. Within her four books, we have two very distinct and different genres, the first being fantasy, with the Saga of the Chosen series and the second being Science Fiction in the Araloka Chronicles. While on the surface it might seem like they are two very different genres, the reality, on closer inspection, is that they are not. Landon writes about relationships, especially relationships between different and disparate people, including inter-species. This is what ultimately ties her four books together. The core of her writing is about love, commitment and the underlying ideals that underpin humanity. In two of her novels she has chosen to clothe these ideals in a background of fantasy and in two, in a science fiction background. For me, as a reader, this just makes her books more interesting and displays her innate story-telling ability.
In this latest iteration, of the Araloka Chronicles, we meet a new character along with many of the characters we met in the first of this series, The Mercenary. Star Captain Zh’hir Mu’raat is of the Ur’quay species. Once renowned and feared throughout the galaxies as one of the foremost space-travelling and honourable species, inexplicably several centuries ago, the Ur’quay chose to cut themselves off from the rest of the cosmos, in order to preserve and purify the Ur’quay line. This decision has been a disaster for the people of Ur’qia and now, short on food and facing extinction, as a species, Zh’hir has been sent out to find food sources and most importantly the fuel Ur’qia needs to survive – the ubiquitous skoal. When Zh’hir arrives in the Araloka sector of the universe, a sector his forebears were very familiar with, he discovers the sector at war with the evil Budh-Ketaari Empire, bent on galaxy domination. Linking up with the Kampuchan Alliance and the Hadari’Kor mercenary Zoran, Zh’hir is determined to use his people’s advanced technology and history of warfare to rid the galaxy of the Budh-Ketaari Empire.
When gathering samples of stoal on Terra-Agri-5, Zh’hir inadvertently collects more than he bargained for, in the form of a beautiful, young terran woman by the name of Sila Gatherer. The attraction between this young woman and the massive, Ur’quay warrior is instantaneous and it soon becomes obvious that Sila, as a person, is much more than they initially thought. Sila holds some secrets, within her, that will open Zh’hir’s eyes as to the wrongs perpetrated by his own forebears, centuries earlier.
I found The Starfarer (The Araloka Chronicles Book 2) to be a fantastic read, full of adventure, action and thrills, all tautly pulled together by author Petra Landon. A few things lifted this book up above the rest of the science fiction market, for me. The first of those is the underlying themes that run through the threads of the story. It is rare to meet characters such as Zh’hir and Zoran who are so beautifully drawn and also remarkably faithful to their morals and their beliefs in what is right or wrong. Warriors and fighters they may be, but they governed their lives and instincts by their respective “codes”. The camaraderie of the two vastly different, but ultimately similar forces, the Hadari’Kor and the Ur’quay was wonderfully crafted by the author.
Counterpointed against the violence and the battles was this dual love affair, between species, that occurred between Zoran (a Hadari’Kor) and his love, Saakshi (a Budheyan) along with Zh’hir and his passion, the young terran, Sila. I thought the romance and love scenes were incredibly sensitively written, sensual, without being smutty and just added to the entire story beautifully. The allegory from this story of the inter-species relationships, for me, was the idea that no matter what your culture, your skin colour, your religion, your creed, your physical characteristics; love is always love and love trumps all of it. I really appreciated that in the story.
The other underlying theme that resonated with me, especially in today’s increasingly separatist and isolationist world is learning the lessons the Ur’quay people had to learn the hard way – that separating yourself from the rest of the universe (read humanity here) is ultimately a self-defeating road. I almost expected Zh’hir to produce a cap from centuries ago that read – “Make Ur’Qia Great Again”. The author may or may not have intended that to shine through her work, but for me it definitely did.
Petra Landon has thrilled me again and I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future. I like my science fiction with lots of story and a minimum of confusing technology and technical expertise. Petra Landon’s Araloka Chronicles fills that requirement perfectly. I hope there are further sequels to both the Araloka Chronicles and the Saga of the Chosen, as I am still excited by both of these sagas however I am also anticipating where Landon’s muse might lead her in the future. I have no doubt it will be successful and highly readable. Make no mistake Petra Landon is one of the top indie authors, in my opinion, in the marketplace today, for sheer readability and excitement.

Definitely do head on over to Amazon and take a look at The Starfarer here, on Petra Landon's amazon page, where you'll find her full portfolio.

Oblivion: Ad Magnificum Volumina by Jordan Farrell

7/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author Jordan G Farrell takes us, his readers, on a fantastic journey through both time and space, in his epic science-fiction adventure, Oblivion: Ad Magnificum Volumina. Husband and wife, Justin and Jessica Forsythe are important people in the settlement of Gabrellium, a human outpost on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Earth had long been destroyed by man’s folly (the purge) and those few survivors set out millennia ago to find habitable lands to develop in and flourish. Justin is the head of security and responsible for protecting the ice-workers who are required to terra-form the massive ice coating that covers the surface of Europa. It is within these ice structures that humanity now survives. Jessica is a scientist responsible for many of the cutting-edge developments on Gabrellium. When the impossible happens and a baby is naturally born to a people that, for millennia now, have produced offspring by atomic printing them, Justin, Jessica and the settlement’s leadership are clearly concerned. This single event sends them on a search for the truth that will ultimately make them rethink everything they’ve ever believed in.

I love science-fiction and usually I prefer more of the fiction, with only a background of the science. In this case, Jordan G. Farrell has brought something unique and splendid in Oblivion: Ad Magnificum Volumina. The story itself is fantastic enough on its own, but what I found, as a non-physicist (in fact a total science dummy) was that even the complicated science seemed to make some sort of sense to me, which is as big a tribute as I could pay to this or any author. What I would usually skim over, with most of it flying over my head, I found myself reading avidly and trying to assimilate the science behind it. But, this is much more than just a science-fiction adventure, at its core this book is a scathing examination of humanity, its excesses, its self-destructive bent and its sheer bloody-mindedness. Much of the story is action orientated and reads almost like a “boy’s own” adventure story, which is marvellous and yet lurking in the background are deep philosophical arguments that the reader cannot help but get drawn into. This is one of the best science-fiction books I have read in a very long time and I cannot recommend it highly enough to, not just fans of the genre, but to all action/adventure junkies and those that like a bit of deep-thinking “meat” in their reading. My biggest pleasure was to see that Farrell left the ending open for the possibility of a sequel. I look forward to it and hope he writes it.

You can find the superb Oblivion: Ad Magnificum Volumina by Jordan Farrell, here on Amazon:

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