Category: Science Fiction

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.

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

12/11/2018

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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.

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Oblivion: Ad Magnificum Volumina by Jordan Farrell

7/11/2018

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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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star song by thomas maCY

15/10/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In Star Song, author Thomas Macy takes us on a journey across the galaxies to a new home, forty-one light years from earth. A group of committed Christians have discovered and utilised the power of Dark Energy and use it to travel, at almost the speed of light, to Gillead, a moon, with qualities similar to earth. Determined to begin a new society, without the demons form earth, this clandestine group travel the massive distance in just over a month, whilst forty one years have passed, on earth. Simon’s girlfriend, Nora is part of the “chosen” group, but Simon believes she is entangled with a Christian cult and while trying to rescue her, unwittingly stows away on the spaceship, as it blasts off from earth. With little hope of ever returning, Simon, Nora, their friends and the ubiquitous Elders, who run this community, must not only face the challenges of living on a new planet, but also some of the same forces that caused so much strife for them on Earth. Transplantation, it seems, has not conquered the human frailties of ego, the thirst for power, and the desire to be an individual, in a collective society. The dangers of space travel and colonisation of a new world will bring the inherent risks of loss, home to this hardy band of explorers.

Thomas Macy has brought us a thrilling sci-fi adventure, in Star Song that does a wonderful job of explaining and analysing some of the base behaviours that make us inherently human but also make us inherently unique, as individuals. With a nod to “Lord of the Flies”, I thoroughly enjoyed the factions and differences of the many individuals that went on this trip. Although couched as a Christian book, it is important to note that, at its core this is a science fiction, action/adventure and can be read as such. The author has chosen to put a Christian slant to it and that is just fine. It, in no way, overpowers or diminishes the story of a group of space travellers/colonisers seeking a new beginning away from the prejudices and destructive natures of their previous societies. I particularly enjoyed the discussions centred around the type of society the colonisers were seeking to develop for themselves. The old adage of “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, kept coming to mind when addressing the Elder David and the differences between his visions for the community and other settler’s views. The love stories were beautifully handled and the tragedies, incurred by the settlers, were both sad and poignant. This is a wonderful sci-fi adventure and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to all.

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New Horizons: (Host Saga #4) by Michael J. Farlow

21/9/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 by Michael J. Farlow continues the space adventures of the Galactic Force headed up by Commander Van Childs. The Galactic Force is a collection of like-minded humans and Zarminian’s who are committed to building and equipping a battle fleet capable of defending Earth and Zarminia from a planned attack by the bellicose and dangerous Arkon, who have designs on universal domination. The Earth Federation, the Zarminian’s and the Galactic Force have combined to face the threat that is posed. New Horizons is a space ship left to the Galactic Force by the mysterious Host people, who wanted to give them the opportunity to have the necessary technology to defend themselves against the Arkon. With the production of new battle cruisers and other armaments being hampered by both internal sabotage and piracy of supplies, the Galactic Force is engaged in a furious race to discover and catch the culprits. When it becomes apparent the Arkon timeline for invasion is much shorter than the Galactic Force had anticipated, there is a frantic rush to complete and man new ships of war plus to find any other assistance that may be available, out there, in their defence of their freedom.

This is a classic, low-tech science fiction novel, which makes for an easy read without the necessity to try and understand fanciful technical issues beyond our imaginations. I like my science fiction to be action/adventure with a minimum of science, so New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 fits that bill admirably. Author Michael J. Farlow has created an interesting set of characters that no doubt run through the full set of Host Saga Books. Although I have yet to read any of the others, it’s worth noting that is definitely not a necessity to enjoyment of this particular episode. It is stand-alone and the author has done an excellent job of sprinkling the narrative with hints and clues as to what may have happened before. Without giving any of the plot away, I particularly liked the exposition by Van Childs and the other defenders, to the Host Ambassador and Admiral, as to what it was that made humanity and indeed the Zarminians willing to die rather than sacrifice their freedom or control over their lives. I thought the battle scenes in this novel were extensive, well-described, and exciting. It was easy to place oneself at the controls of one of these space fighters and feel the power of the weapons and the fear they induced. All in all, this is an excellent sc-fi read and I can highly recommend it.

You can find New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 by Michael J. Farlow, here on Amazon:

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Spirit of Prophecy: Paranormal and Sci-Fi Crime by j.j. hughes

19/9/2018

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Spirit of Prophecy, a debut novel by J.J. Hughes was a stunningly unexpected surprise for me, as a reader. What I initially thought was a serial-killer hunt turned into so much more than that.
When Olympic Three Day Event Gold Medalist Juliet Jermaine's prize horse Gothic is killed, along with its young stable-hand rider, in an apparent road rage incident, the search is on to find the killer. Was Juliet the target of the attack or was it indeed just a simple case of someone losing their rag over horses riding on the roadway?
Enter psychic detective, Rosetta Barrett, who although working for the British police is actually, also a member of a top-secret research foundation that studies all sorts of paranormal, extraterrestrial and psychic phenomenon, world-wide. Rosetta is convinced that their is a long-past karmic link to this murder and believes she can unravel the mystery that happened so long ago to an Apache Indian, whose ripple effect is still acting on our world in 2021.
What follows is a classic "whodunit" mystery that delves into all things wiccan, psychic, paranormal and extraterrestrial, all wrapped around the exclusive and wealthy world of three-day eventing, along with the rogues that inhabit the world of horse breeding.
J.J. Hughes has produced an incredibly fast-paced and exciting debut novel that not only offers mystery and mayhem, but also give the reader pause to think about values, about relationships and about the impact of karma on our individual lives. What I particularly liked about this book is that it didn't allow the writer's obvious passion for these esoteric topics to impact too greatly, on the process of telling a good story. There is plenty of romance and no small degree of twists and turns to keep the most ardent romantic mystery reader engaged, but the addition of the psychic detective Barrett and her fascinating organisation, EPIS, lifts the story to another level and engages not only our imaginations, but our thinking brains as well. I doubt one can give a higher accolade to the writer than to say she has scored a bulls-eye on both aspects of this story.
For me, the number one criteria in rating a story that is clearly intended to be part of a series, is - will I read the sequel? With Spirit of Prophecy the answer is a resounding yes. In fact I'm on tenterhooks waiting for the sequel to come out. The characters she has created are fascinating and there are so many questions about Barrett's alter-ego, as a psychic investigator that beg to be answered.
Hughes has written a winner for her first novel and has ridden a faultless, clear round, in my opinion. This is clearly a new author to follow, with interest.

You can take a look at this superb book Spirit of Prophecy on J. J. Hughes' Amazon page:

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aeon rises by jim cronin

15/9/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Skutarans were a warlike group of aliens at the best of times, but when one of their most eminent scientists, Keldon Ankara is publicly humiliated and disgraced by the ruling council, for the direction of his research, he determines to escape and use that research to build an invincible army to return and vanquish the Emperor and rule, himself. Relocated on Earth, Ankara has a plan to infiltrate the brainwaves of millions of earthlings and raise an army to return and claim his homeland. In Aeon Rises by Jim Cronin, Justin Madrid, is a normal earth teenager (or so he thinks), in all respects; a typical geek who longs for acceptance amongst his peers, but cannot, for some reason, participate in the video and internet games so popular with those his age. His blinding headaches and nausea, when he looks at a computer screen are a big cause of concern for him. Justin must soon understand that he is not who he always thought he was, as he, his best friend Kevin, and a beautiful, young, Zarminan alien Myah will be pitched into a battle to save millions of earthlings from the evil machinations of Keldon Ankara.

This is not the first Jim Cronin book I have read and Aeon Rises continues a fine series of excellent science fiction stories from this author. What I particularly like about this author is that his science fiction is never way too outlandish or technologically complex for mere mortals such as myself to understand. Cronin instead focuses on the characters, their relationships and their trial and tribulations. In Aeon Rise, he has created a wonderful trio of three young characters who many will find the ability to identify with. Our hero Justin is a typical geek and along with his best friend Kevin they can quote almost any line from a series of genre films e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings etc. etc. When you throw in the idea of Justin having to deal with discovering his true identity and also the beautiful, romantic possibilities of the young Zarminan, Myah, you have all the elements of a wonderful young adult, science fiction tale. The idea of the triad bonding opened up all sorts of possibilities, for the future, for the author and I, for one, hope he chooses to explore these in his next books. This is a highly recommended read, from me, for basic science fiction buffs and young adults, alike. I loved this story.

You can grab a look at Aeon Rises (and I recommend you do) by Jim Cronin, here, on Amazon.

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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.

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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saving paludis by clayton graham

2/6/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Saving Paludis by Clayton Graham takes are far into the future and far out into the cosmos. Man has developed a device known as, an Einstein-Rosen bridge, which finally allows him to conquer the vast distances of the Universe. With this, technological advancement human-kind has spread out across the cosmos and conquered many planets, for their own resources, including Paludis. Paludis, which has mainly been used for mining bauxite, has now come up with a fantastic new invention, a sleeping pill that will allow humans to explore even deeper into the cosmos, whilst the pioneers sleep away the immense time and distance. When Earth is attacked and the source of the attack is pinpointed as Paludis, the logical assumption is that this is about control of the most important discovery of the generations – the sleeper. Nobody suspects the subjugated and technologically deprived natives of Paludis, the Muskan’s, to be responsible for the attacks on earth – but could they be?

I found Saving Paludis to be good, solid, Science Fiction fare, with some interesting and relevant comments to be made on issues such as inter-species breeding, man’s natural arrogance, and indeed man’s inherent greed and sense of entitlement. Perhaps it's just me, but I could almost picture some of the characters wearing a MEGA (Make Earth Great Again) cap, I thought Clayton Graham presented us with a fast-moving, action-packed adventure that shied away from being too technical, or too geeky, which is exactly how I prefer my Science Fiction. At its core this novel is an action/adventure and as such had a complicated and twisty plot that at times threatened to drown the reader in its intricacies. The fast-paced nature of the story left less room for character development than I would have liked, however I accept that is the nature of the beast. If you are a fan of Science Fiction, of strange worlds, with fantastic inhabitants and aliens, then Saving Paludis will be a really satisfying read for you. It is nothing pretentious, just a good old-fashioned space adventure, set on a foreign world.

You can check out Saving Paludis, as well as the rest of Clayton Graham's work, here on his Amazon page.

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a girl named cricket by peter j. manos

16/4/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Cricket and her family, escape their dying planet, to travel across the cosmos, seeking a new place to live. Eventually they crash land in the Mojave Desert of California and near the tiny desert community of Prickly Pear. During the many millennia of their epic journey through interstellar space they have been in suspended animation and their bodies have been transformed from their Lizard-like originals to human form. Cricket, is a typical teenage girl – angry and rebellious about the subterfuge her parents used to trick her into leaving their home, she is determined not to fit into the small community of Prickly Pear. In A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos we see the Sminth family slowly warm their way into the hearts and minds of the Prickly Pear residents, despite the almost unanimous opinion that these newcomers are probably Russian spies come to spy on nearby Andrews Air Force Base. Throw in a renegade bikie gang terrorizing the small town and we have the makings of an exciting Young Adult adventure.

Approaching A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos, from the perspective of his intended audience, i.e. young adults, this story is a lot of fun and told with considerable humour, irony and a touch of pathos. I particularly enjoyed the characters, who were typical of the inhabitants of any small town, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Both Tom and Cricket came across as troubled characters who were just seeking their identity in a world neither felt comfortable with, although for very different reasons. This is a fun story that also manages to poke the borax at some of the current day happenings, which it does with gentle humour. The constant reference to “aliens” as referred specifically to undocumented Mexican workers was a clever construct by the author. I think this book really does hit the mark for its young adult audience. It has romance, action, and that innate fear of authority that often can drive rebelliousness in teenagers. It is an excellent read that I highly recommend.

You can find A Girl Named Cricket by Peter J. Manos, here on Amazon:

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the mercenary (the war chronicles #1) by petra Landon

14/3/2018

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Reviewed for Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

The Mercenary, by Petra Landon is the first book in a planned series based around the characters we find in this story and their adventures through space, as they fight for the freedom of their people and the Alliance. As a standalone novel it is a success and as an introduction to a different world, with many weird and wonderful races, it is equally a huge success.

Saakshi, the main character in this story is a former Budeyan rebel, who had been imprisoned by the occupying, Ketaari Imperial Forces. When her prison contract is sold to Pik, a trader on a distant space station, she finds herself waiting tables at his bar and as always, scrabbling to survive and keep her dignity intact. The Budeyan people, although now subjugated by the Ketaari, were once a proud, technologically advanced, race, who were deeply respected throughout the Universe. When a handsome, Hadari’Kor Mercenary starts frequenting Saakshi’s bar and showing an obvious interest in her, Saakshi’s life will change forever.

Zoran, the Hadar’Kor Mercenary and Saakshi’s saviour from Ketaari harassment on the Space Station will forever change her life and so begins a complicated and at times, fraught relationship between two separate races across the Universe. It is this relationship and Zoran’s intense feelings for Saakshi, plus the enmity between the Ketaari Empire and much of the rest of the galaxy that provides the excitement, conflict, drama and passion of this story.

Landon has done a superb job of drawing her two main characters. Saakshi is a fierce and strong young woman who through circumstances is forced to seek help from a stronger, more powerful male, in Zoran. She doesn’t quite know how to handle Zoran’s intensity and his total commitment to the people he loves. She dares to dream of a different future, but is always saddled by the pain and angst she had already suffered at the hands of the Ketaari. Although the two characters are extremes in many ways, Landon gives their story a realism and induces the reader to openly root for the pair.

The book is an incredibly easy read and the writing flows beautifully. I am not generally a science fiction buff, but for me, this was more than science fiction – it was true romance that just happened to be set in space. I was impressed with Landon’s ability to write the steamy, sex scenes that, although infrequent, were definitely a highlight of the read. The idea of two separate beings, from different worlds, mating and experiencing the joys of sex was part of the attraction. But the emotional, romantic, connection, as well as the potential for misunderstanding and confusion, between the two parties, I felt was fully portrayed by the author. The scenes themselves were hot, exciting and very realistic, giving the author full poetic license to depart, albeit briefly, from the standard, space battle scenes of many science fiction stories.

This isn’t the first book of Petra Landon’s that I’ve read and I can guarantee it will not be the last. As a reader I like Science Fiction that is not too heavy on technological wizardry, but more focused on character building and relationships. The Mercenary fulfils this brief perfectly for me and as the set-up for a series of books it couldn’t be a better start. Five big stars from this reviewer.

Do pop on over to Petra Landon's Amazon page and check out The Mercenary, as well as her other works. It is well worth your while to check this author out.

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dawn of affinity by v. j. deanes

28/2/2018

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Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The year is 2029 and although it is still illegal to clone humans, this didn’t stop a dedicated band of scientists from doing so some years ago and continuing to create and protect several growing communities of clones. Scientists at Wyndall Life Sciences Centre are at the cutting edge of gene technology and are world renowned for their contribution to human advancement and the fight against disease, but this has always been a front for their real purpose; creating a population of clones to eventually integrate with humans – the next evolutionary step. This is the scenario presented to us by V J Deanes in Dawn of Affinity. There are small rural communities across the country that have become the cradles for these clones, Hadley Crossing is one such community. Kalan Mars discovers not only does he have an exact double somewhere in the country, but that he, himself, may be a clone. When the Society for the Elimination of Artificial People (SEAP) seek out Kalan to eliminate him, he finds himself on the run for his very life.

This is the second book I’ve read recently that looks at the merging of humanity with Artificial Intelligence and asks the big moral question; is this playing God? Is it right? Dawn of Affinity by V J Deanes is an interesting glimpse at what the future might hold. Despite many forms of gene manipulation being considered to be unethical and illegal, are we being naïve in assuming it is not happening? I found the story of Kalan, and the dilemma he faced; was he a clone or was he human? to be very compelling. Deanes also made the reader look at the possible consequences of the public knowledge of this cloning and what it might mean to the general population, which I felt was very useful. The idea that clones could one day fully integrate into society and in fact they were the next evolutionary step to creating smarter, more advanced and more adaptable humans was also clever. As a thriller, the story did its job also as the characters sought to uncover the truth about the work at the Wyndall Life Sciences Centre. Dawn of Affinity is a good read and well worth the effort.

Do pop on over to Amazon to check out Dawn of Affinity on V. J. Deanes' Amazon page:

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afterlife code by j. M. erickson

28/2/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Afterlife Code by Joseph M Erickson is a short Science Fiction novella that explores what may well be the next technological breakthrough for mankind; implanting code within the human brain to control and eliminate undesirable elements that can affect normal brain function. Dr Melanie Sage is a brilliant, young mind who has an electronic implant to assist her to overcome and cope with her autism. She develops a code that can be activated by her smartphone to enhance her implant. Problems occur when she activates this code in the presence of her therapist, Robert Cobb, who also has a brain implant to help him to cope with his Traumatic Stress. Cobb’s implant is an older implant without shielding and when Melanie touches her therapist it completes a circuit that throws them into a series of parallel universes and different versions of their lives. What they learn on this journey will ensure what they will make of their future.

What I particularly liked about Afterlife Code was its relevance to current science. I felt like I was reading a novel that touched on the cutting edge of scientific research today. This type of AI / Human interface is already being researched and experimented upon. What Joseph M Erickson asks is; what are the possible results of this experimentation? Will we open up a Pandora’s Box by linking ourselves to artificial intelligence? The whole idea of multiverses and alternate states of reality is very much a hot topic among quantum physicists and this whole area gives the novelist much scope for imagination. I found the book easy to read, if a little short for my liking. I especially enjoyed the conclusions that Cobb and Sage drew as it conforms to my general thinking about the purpose of life and the eternity of our existence. I would love to have seen more development of the characters, but this was a novella with the main focus being the concept and I felt that was developed very well. I would read more of this author’s work.

You can check out Afterlife Code and all of J M Erickson's other books here on his Amazon page:

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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.

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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eloah: no hell by lex allen

24/1/2018

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Eloah: No Hell by Lex Allen is the second installment in his Eloah trilogy that brings us the idea that Jesus was not the Son of God at all, but just another human visitor from a technologically advanced parallel Universe. When Eloah first trod the earth 2,000 years ago, his teachings of "The Way" could be written down on a single parchment document. In fact, it was a magician, Simon Magus who founded the Church in Rome and began the 2,000 years of lies and deceit that followed. Eloah, has now returned to our Universe to try to correct the wrongs perpetrated by two millennia of deceit and to halt the almost inevitable march toward nuclear annihilation that humanity seems set on. With his modern day disciples and his magical, mystical, powers (advanced technology) Eloah will try to convince the Pope, and World Leaders that the whole basis of their religion is a fraud. Not only are earthly powers forming against Eloah, but so are numerous other visitors from alternate Universes, who see Eloah as a threat to their perfect lives on Earth.

The second installment in this trilogy did not disappoint in any way. I love a good, biblical-based story, as much as the next man (having written three of my own) and Eloah: No Hell continued to expand on the twists and turns taken in the first book. The writing is fast-paced and at times almost breathlessly so, but there is still time for Allen to develop his characters. Some of the more minor players look to have the ability to play a big role in the third and final installment and I look forward to seeing the author develop these more in Book 3. Not being a biblical scholar myself, but still well versed in the basic biblical stories and a history buff, I found Allen's grasp of both the region and the Church, in particular, to be excellent. He has done his research well in my opinion.

Eloah: No Hell does what many second books in a trilogy fail to do - it moves the story forward and sets up for a fantastic finale, which I am sure will come in Eloah: No Religion. I can't wait to get my teeth into that. Good job Mr Allen.

Absolutely, shoot on over to Amazon and check out Eloah: No Hell by Lex Allen, as well as the rest of the trilogy and his full portfolio of work.

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the separation by thomas duffy

21/1/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Imagine, for a moment, a world where the sexes are separated at birth and brought up apart, never knowing the existence of the other sex until after they graduate college, at around age 22. This is the scenario brought to us in Thomas Duffy’s science fiction novel, The Separation. The United States Government has decreed that because of the rising crime rate, high unemployment and massive rate of teenage pregnancies, the economy is suffering immensely. To fix this, all babies will be taken away from their parents at birth and raised separately in “boy States” and “girl States” – never the twain to meet. Finn was taken to a “boy state”, where he was raised by child minders and taught in boy only schools. Finn graduates from Harvard, a mathematical genius and begins his successful career, as he has been groomed to do. The problem is, Finn is not only horrified and disgusted when he learns the truth about the sexes, he cannot accept that this is the way it should be.

The premise behind The Separation is an interesting one and Thomas Duffy explores many aspects of the moral and social dilemmas of what the State has done. His main character Finn is extremely intelligent and, as such, questions the way things are – the status quo. Although the writing is somewhat simplistic at times, the interest is maintained by the many moral questions Finn raises in his mind and then seeks answers to. Finn, as a character is well-developed, but some of the supporting characters came across as rather flat and almost like cardboard cut-outs. The story is very easy to read, as the writing is simple and straightforward, although the dialogue did seem at times to be too simplistic and too clipped to be realistic. All in all, a good premise that has been thoroughly worked by Duffy and an interesting read that raised questions in my mind, as a reader.

You can check out Separation and all of Thomas Duffy's portfolio here on Amazon:

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shiva xiv: Shiva xiv #1 by lyra shanti

19/1/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

From the moment of Ayn’s Royal birth his future was predestined. Ayn was the reincarnation of the great Adin and would save his world from turmoil, disease and war. In Shiva XIV: (The Shiva XIV Series Book 1), by Lyra Shanti, we meet the young boy who will grow up to be King. Not everything is as it should be though and Ayn is torn by doubt and uncertainty as to whether he is indeed a God. Born with an unusual sexual orientation, the boy is constantly torn between his devotion to his teachers and mentors, his duty to his country and his desire to be simply a boy. On Ayn’s fourteenth birthday he is due to be crowned and recognised, by his people, as a King and a God, but on that day, all hell breaks loose at the castle and Ayn, along with his new friend Zin make an escape from the certain death that was awaiting him, to begin an adventure through the galaxy.

This is the first in a series of books focusing on Shiva XIV by Lyra Shanti and she gives us ample opportunity to meet, understand and invest ourselves in the young characters, especially Ayn and Zin. As Science Fiction, this story appealed because it made no pretentions of being overtly technical, it just happened that the coming-of-age story was set on another planet among different species. This made it extremely readable for those of us who like Sci Fi, but sometimes get lost in the author’s overactive imagination. There are a couple of aspects that I particularly liked about the story. The backstory of Ayn’s sexuality was only briefly touched on in passing in this book, but I am sure future stories will focus more on whether indeed, he is male or female, or both. This aspect of the story is particularly relevant in today’s confusing sexual world, for young people. The second thing I loved about Shanti’s writing in Shiva XIV was the deep emotions she evoked in her characters. They were not afraid to show their emotions and “wore them on their sleeve”, so to speak. The character of Pei is fascinating and I’m sure will be explored even more in future episodes. As the start of a series, I would have to say this looks fantastic and well worth getting into.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out the entire Shiva XIV series as well as Lyra Shanti's full portfolio.

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project amber: the Milestone incident by carl lakeland

18/1/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Don’t worry about aliens coming to earth – they’re already here and they have been for aeons. They look like us, they talk like us and they’re almost impossible to distinguish from us. This is the scenario presented to us in Clive Lakeland’s, Project Amber: The Milestone Incident. When a successful, young television journalist, Angel has the temerity to ask the U.S. Secretary of State about the visit to Australia of an nuclear powered carrier, all hell breaks loose for this young woman. Unbeknownst to her, Angel is someone special and has been groomed all her life for the new role she will undertake as a member of Australia’s elite Secret Service (ASIO). Set principally in the outback of Australia, Angel will join forces with an elite team to try and stop the destructive events that are unfolding around the world that could easily see life on earth, as we know it, end. She, alone, has the ability to stop Project Amber and Operation Milestone from devastating our world in a nuclear holocaust.

I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to read about another country’s Secret Service, rather than the USA. It is clear that Clive Lakeland has done his research well in Project Amber: The Milestone Incident. From his descriptions of the facilities at Pine Gap and Nurrangar, right through to the weaponry used and the attitudes and beliefs of these dedicated elite forces, it all rang very true for me. As an ex-pat New Zealander, it was refreshing to read some good old-fashioned “Aussie” banter, with its unique phrases and expressions. The story is super-fast and action-filled, quite often, literally, leaving the reader panting for breath. I found the premise of aliens always living among us to be believable and even the seemingly impossible “magic” to be acceptable and this is a credit to Lakeland’s skill as a writer. I was intrigued to read the short excerpt at the end of the next book. It looks fascinating and I will be checking it out when it becomes available. The ability to prime a reader for the next book in a series is critical to authors and Lakeland has done that well. It’s an excellent fast-paced, science fiction thriller for fans of the genre.

You can find Project Amber: The Milestone Incident on Carl Lakeland's Amazon page:

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un-holy grail by keith holmes jr

16/1/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

It’s 2068 and still people are searching for that most elusive of all relics – The Holy Grail. In Keith Holmes’ book, Un-Holy Grail, we meet Jonathan Cain who is an experienced and wealthy Grail Hunter. The opportunity to find and, of course, drink from the Grail Cup, hence gaining immortality, comes around only every ten years when the majestic and mythical Grail Tower appears somewhere in the world. The last time the tower appeared Jonathan was just a mere teenager, when he, his father and his brother went in search of the elusive Grail. The trio were successful in their quest, but his brother and he drank from false Grails and although they received Grail powers, they did not find the ultimate prize of immortality. Their Father, however, appeared to drink from the true Grail and is now lost to them. When the Grail Tower is sighted in Soltania, just off the coast of Florida, Jonathan heads out for another wild Grail adventure.

Un-Holy Grail is a relatively new genre, called Lit-RPG. Although classified as Science Fiction, the story Keith Holmes unveils for his readers is very reminiscent of many of the video game stories I have watched my son play in the past, even down to the magic of the players, diminishing each time they use it. While this is not necessarily my genre, as a reader, there is plenty of non-stop action here to keep the most ardent Lit-RPG reader fascinated and engaged. I did find the constant changing of perspective, from chapter to chapter (all in first person), to be a bit confusing at times and I had to keep reminding myself who was speaking at any given point. This did detract from the flow of the story I felt, but definitely not from the action and battle scenes, which were numerous and vividly written. The characters were many and varied – all with weird and wonderful powers and weapons. The author’s imagination was clear for all to see in this story. A solid and at times enthralling fantastical, future read for fans of the genre.

You can check out Un-Holy Grail, here on Amazon:

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ravenhill court by david r. beshears

15/1/2018

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Ravenhill Court by David R Beshears is the second short story/screenplay adaptation, I’ve read of his in the last couple of weeks and certainly this author is growing on me. In this story, a middle-aged Ben Foster returns to the world of his childhood, Ravenhill Court, a middle-class, suburban, Californian cul-de-sac. All the houses in the street are abandoned, the weeds grow wild and doors hang open or are long gone. Ben opens his friend’s Peter’s journal from 1964 and his mind travels back to when it all began; when four young teenagers discovered that their world was not what it seemed to be and they themselves were not what they thought they were. Ben, his sister Julie, best friend Peter and Louis, are caught in some sort of dimensional shift that they don’t understand and don’t know what to do about. The Professor, who lives down the street will provide them with a clue as to where to start looking and so, their incredible adventure begins.

As I read Ravenhill Court by David R Beshears, I couldn’t help but think of that wonderful movie, The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey. There was certainly an element of The Truman Show shining through this work – not everything is as it seems. One thing that struck me about this book was the dialogue between the young friends, which was witty, cleverly written and totally appropriate for the age and the period. I almost found myself back in 1964 and thinking about how I was way back then. I could certainly identify with Ben, Julie, Peter and Louis. I particularly enjoyed the Professor. Perhaps it was one of those days when I couldn’t help but see this story as a screenplay, but I also kept thinking of the brilliant Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future franchise. The plot was cleverly woven and the young adults certainly had some questioning to do about who they were, what they were doing, and what their place in this Universe was. This is an excellent science fiction/fantasy story, particularly suitable for the young adult market, but equally applicable to all ages. Clever, witty, and sometimes, dark humour, will always have a place on our bookshelves.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Ravenhill Court plus David R. Beshears full and extensive portfolio.

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challenges of the gods by c. hofsetz

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

Oblivion: Ad Magnificum Volumina by Jordan Farrell

star song by thomas maCY

New Horizons: (Host Saga #4) by Michael J. Farlow

Spirit of Prophecy: Paranormal and Sci-Fi Crime by j.j. hughes

aeon rises by jim cronin

prime vector by diana a. hicks

saving paludis by clayton graham

a girl named cricket by peter j. manos

the mercenary (the war chronicles #1) by petra Landon

dawn of affinity by v. j. deanes

afterlife code by j. M. erickson

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

eloah: no hell by lex allen

the separation by thomas duffy

shiva xiv: Shiva xiv #1 by lyra shanti

project amber: the Milestone incident by carl lakeland

un-holy grail by keith holmes jr

ravenhill court by david r. beshears

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