Gun Kiss

I received an ecopy of Gun Kiss from author Khaled Talib for review.

Wow! This is an action packed book. Semi-spy meets Hollywood mega-star (How is part of the plot).

Very high body count. Graphic violence perpetrated by a truly deranged bad guy. The action just never lets up, and this may be the knock against the book. Too much nonstop violent action can lead to a kind of fatigue in the reader (it did in me). 

The scope of the story covers the world and does tie the story together well. The various story lines are intertwined effectively. 

The romance in the story does not get the attention it deserves in my opinion. It becomes secondary to the violent action when it is more integral to the tale. This made the book a bit unbalanced.

I did over all enjoy Gun Kiss as shoot 'em up action and the negatives I share here were mostly easily overlooked. However there was one point I couldn't get past, and I break my own rule because this is a bit of a spoiler. Toward the end of the story our author attempts to introduce a story line of racism and social justice that just doesn't fit the story as constructed. It was off-putting for me. Not because of his message, but that it was such a jarring distraction to the story.

Gun Kiss by Khaled Talib is over the top action, and if that is your bag, you'll like this book. Enjoy!

Mike

Winell Road

I won a print copy of Winell Road by Kate Foster in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Winell Road is a middle grade book about life on a truly weird street. 

Our young hero Jack lives on Winell Road, populated by more strange people than any road should. We see how his twelve year old mind processes this strangeness. 

There are lots of twists and turns. People go from being friends to suspects and back again at a dizzying pace.As in any good middle grade story, Winell Road operates with the premise that Jack is the only person who sees and can resolve what is going on in his neighborhood. The "secret" of Winell Road is amazing in scope, and a fun mystery to be solved.

Winell Road by Kate Foster is a fun middle grade story for all ages. Enjoy!

Mike

The Streets of Nottingham

Author Auckly Simwinga provided an ecopy of The Streets of Nottingham for review.

The Streets of Nottingham reads like a retelling of a mythological story. But since I can't say which one, and no one has told me this is so, I accept it as completely invented by the author. And inventive it is. 

A true quest story (the best kind), our hero Adam is off to Nottingham to find a healer who knows he's coming but isn't waiting for him, in the city that doesn't exist. How's that for a quest?

He embarks on his quest with no more knowledge than that to go on. The obstacles he encounters are monumental at times. Obviously he perseveres (otherwise we wouldn't have a book). Being a fantasy reader, the story didn't necessarily surprise me, but I can't say it was predictable either. It was a fun ride.

The Streets of Nottingham is a action filled fantasy quest adventure, a heartwarming love story with mythic underpinnings. Enjoy!

Mike 

Ebba, the First Easter Hare (Spring)

Ever have to try to explain to a child why the Easter Bunny brings eggs?

Ebba, the First Easter Hare by Leen Lefebre tells the story. It is a dark and foreboding world Ebba inhabits. As you would expect, she is a truly good hare (the story differentiates between hares and rabbits). Our heroine (hareoine?) is on a quest to find a place of light. 

Ebba, the First Easter Hare is not light fantasy in my mind. It is a bit more dark than I would have expected. But it is a great story non-the-less. To explain about the eggs would be a spoiler, so no. During her quest, Ebba learns about the larger world and meets other inhabitants all while trying to live her motto: Never show fear.

Looking up the author Leen Lefebre, I found she lives in Belgium. This may explain my one negative, the book is a bit choppy, like (surprise) it was translated from another language. Minor complaint, and readers will enjoy having an answer to "that question". A quick read that I got to enjoy right at Easter.  book

This book operates on several levels; a children's story, a morality play, a philosophical exploration or just a fun read about a hare. You can choose for yourself. A fun story. Enjoy!

Mike

Footsteps in the Dark

I figured out how to include the cover of the books I review! Better late than never I guess.

 

Author Carlo Armenise provided a print copy of Footsteps in the Dark for review.

This book is like a step back in time for me, back to the original Twilight Zone. The stories here follow that format beautifully. Zoners (if no one has coined that term yet I will) will love it.

A collection of eight stories presented as "steps" are a walk through the "bizarre and unusual". My imagination immediately formed a picture akin to the Zone and my inner voice became that of Rod Serling. 

This is not to say that Footsteps in the Dark is a mere knock-off of the original. These are new and inventive works by a seasoned story-teller. I make the comparison only to give the flavor of the book. 

Step Seven caught my attention as the main character is a psychologist. I was yelling at him throughout. You'll have to read it to see why. 

Each story is it's own short passion play focusing on the characters flaws, quirks, passions and foibles. Though short, we quickly become intimately connected. 

A great group of stories presented in an attention grabbing format. Footsteps in the Dark is a great way to spend a couple of hours. Enjoy!

Mike