Tag: action thriller

Forbidden by F. Stone REVIEW

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews2 Comments

A shocking massacre. One witness. A complicated conspiracy.

This next incredible book I had the pleasure of reading is a high octane action-adventure story set in a future where the middle east has united under one nation, and one woman learns that the lines between friend and foe blur easily. This novel is called Forbidden by F. Stone and here is the synopsis:

Year 2047, City of Samarra, capital of the Republic of Islamic Provinces & Territories

Fifteen American travelers have vanished. Surrendering to Mayor Aamir’s demands, a devout Muslim and police captain becomes the reluctant keeper of his city’s bloody secret – and the witness, Eliza MacKay. Captain Sharif is horrified to discover that if he exposes the cover-up, his family will suffer dire consequences.

The CIA has the lying Sharif in their cross hairs. Sharif’s only hope is to prove his country’s government is free of guilt. Secretly, he hunts forensic evidence. Cryptic messages, backstabbing informants, and corruption threaten Sharif’s resolve to see justice served. When he discovers the shocking truth, he and MacKay become the targets of a ruthless killer.

Sharif is tortured by his attraction to the impetuous Eliza MacKay. In spite of her struggle with PTSD, he’s drawn to her vivacious personality. Islam forbids the intimacy he craves. In desperation to save Eliza, Sharif plots an act most forbidden and fatal.

This was a fantastic thriller! The story was incredibly unique, as we got an in-depth glance at the influence and power that the Muslim faith has on people. Not only that, we got to see how the religion is incorporated and infused into society as a whole, and the complications that arise in both social and political situations as a result of that faith. We also got an incredible cast of characters, venturing into the complicated lives of a police captain at war with a complicated conspiracy and with himself and his beliefs, as well as the tormented past of Canadian paramedic trapped in a country fraught with danger. The unlikely duo must look for clues to help save themselves and the captain’s family, who are put in the cross hairs of the conspirators in mysterious ways.

The story was well written, with little grammatical mistakes and an even paced narrative that made the story gripping and engaging. The cover promised intrigue and mystery, and the unique setting gives a glimpse into the world of the middle east respectively and showcases how every religion and nation is filled with complications and hardships.

Overall this was a fantastic read that fans of the thriller genre will not want to miss. Author F. Stone is a fantastic writer with a firm grasp on the genre, and the story ends in a way where you as the reader feels an overwhelming need to read yet another installment. If you haven’t yet, be sure to pick up your copy of F. Stone’s Forbidden today!

Rating: 10/10

Interview with Author Kfir Luzzatto

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

 

I guess that writing has always been in the offing for me. My great-grandmother was a well-known author in her times and my father was a prolific writer. I started to try my hand at short stories in my early teens, but then very judiciously stuffed all my (horrible) work in a drawer, never again to see the light of day (except every now and then, when I want a good laugh). Then, one day in 2001, I woke up knowing that I had to write the story that had been taking shape inside my head and wasn’t letting go of me. That’s how my first full-length novel, Crossing the Meadow, came about. At that point, I knew that not writing, was no longer an option for me.

Crossing the Meadow

2) What inspired you to write your book?

 

My latest action thriller, Exodus ’95, blends my love for thrillers, and for the places where I grew up (Italy) and where I live now (Israel). It was relatively easy to write because I know the places where the action takes place in the book and have met people who remind me of some of the characters. The idea of turning the biblical narrative of the parting of the Red Sea into something relevant to our days was also an idea with which I had been toying for some time.

Exodus_95

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

 

The book is pure entertainment, with no deep message—except that it wants the reader to see how different people may be from what you know them, and how they may grow when facing an abnormal situation. Our neighbor may be much less boring than we think, and at times, deadly so.

 

4) What drew you into this genre?

 

The real answer is that the characters did. I started out writing light, non-gory horror, but then I lost control. What happens is that you start thinking of a setup, then you meet your principal characters and get acquainted with them, and all of a sudden they grow a mind of their own and your plot goes in an altogether different direction than you originally planned. I think that with thrillers it comes very naturally to “listen” to your characters and to grow together with them into a story that you really enjoy writing. Other genres require more adherence to a detailed plot, which is fine in many cases, but not as fun as re-plotting on the go.

 

5) If you could sit down with any of your characters and ask them a question, what would you ask them and why?

 

I sit down with them, all the time! But I don’t ask them many questions; rather, I let them move around and do things while I play the observer. So, if I could sit down with the protagonists of Exodus ’95 and ask indiscreet questions, I would certainly try to find out how their relations changed from a pure business association into much more, and what was the turning point for each of them. I sometimes wonder whether they managed to fool me and started having feelings for each other while I wasn’t looking.

 

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

 

Facebook, no question about it. I’m sure that other sites may be helpful too, but I have experimented with others, like Twitter, Pinterest, etc., and I simply don’t have the time (or the patience) to follow best practices. Facebook comes more naturally to me, as I feel that you can really get to know people and interact with them in a personal, non-phony way.

 

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

 

Developing a writing career is a slow, painful, disheartening and unbelievably exciting endeavor. If you decide to become a writer, prepare yourself to a long and hard course. You need time aplenty to develop your craft, to understand what really works for you, and to find your readership. If you are ready to go for the long haul and understand what you’re getting yourself in for, go for it, because there is no greater satisfaction that I can think of. But if you expect your first (or fifth, or tenth) book to become an immediate bestseller and mint money for you, find another hobby, because you are in for a heartbreaking experience.

 

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

 

I am halfway writing a dystopian novel and I’m having a ball with it. With my grandchildren’s help, I’ll release it by next June. If they stop helping, probably by next March.

 

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The Azrael Initiative (Kayla Falk Series, #1) by K. Hanson Book Review

Reviewers Note: “I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.”

Delving into the complicated world of terrorism, this upcoming book from author K. Hanson, The Azrael Initiative (Kayla Falk Series, #1), is a
relevant look into the fight against the terrorist organization ISIS and the way in which we view the Muslim community as a result of this terrorist
organization. Here is a synopsis:

Best friends Kayla Falk, an engineering student, and Olivia Bellamy, who is studying nursing, are nearing the end of their college career when
terrorists attack their university. Through a combination of cleverness, bravery, and luck, the two manage to foil the deadly plot. A mysterious
man from the United States government, Mr. Hightower, sees their potential and attempts to recruit Kayla and Olivia for a program to take on
ISIS. They initially refuse, but another terrorist attack that strikes close to home pushes them to change their minds and join the Azrael
Initiative.

After several months of hard training, the two women are dropped into Al-Raqqah, the capital of ISIS, in Syria. Once there, they must blend in
with the locals as they strike from the shadows to kill ISIS leaders, destroy their facilities, and free captives. As Americans deep within
enemy territory, they know that they will be killed if discovered. As women, they also know that they would suffer before death. Walking the
line between vengeance and justice strains their relationship. As they work to resolve their differences, the symphony of brutality around them
ultimately pushes them closer together and forges them into the warriors that they were meant to become.

Read the first three chapters: http://www.khansonbooks.com/first-three-chapters-of-the-azrael-initiative/

You can now pre-order The Azrael Initiative at http://www.khansonbooks.com/pre-order-the-azrael-initiative/

If you receive this novel in a giveaway after pre-ordering it, you can simply cancel your pre-order.

This was a fascinating and interesting read to say the least. As someone who is personally invested in making sure no one group is categorized
as evil simply because they share the same religion or skin color as a terrorist organization, I found this to be a great read that delved into
that complicated world that we find ourselves currently living in. Showcasing the struggle of both those affected by terror attacks around the
world and those trapped under the tyrannical rule of the ISIS organization in places like Syria was a powerful use of imagery in this story,
and helped further the plot significantly. The twists and turns this story takes are heart-pounding to read, and the close-knit relationship
between friends Kayla and Olivia is palpable to read.

Now I only have one little criticism for this story, and only because I think it will help the author as they move forward with this important
series, (i look forward to the next entry in the Kayla Falk series)! While reading this book, I did notice that the book in certain passages
suffered from a case of show versus tell storytelling. What this means is that rather than showing the reader certain things through storytelling,
the author had instances where they would go into too much detail, (whether through dialogue between characters, or descriptions of scenes). I
understand this struggle more than anyone as I have written several stories that I later realized had a show versus tell problem. My recommendation
would be to allude to things more and leave some things to the reader’s imagination, rather than going into too much detail. However this
was not a problem, but rather a minute detail that did not take away from the overall narrative at all.

Overall, this was a fun, intense and important book that needed to be told. It sets up a complex world that mirrors our own world in an intense
way. With a shocking twist ending that promises more story that needs to be told in the next book, this is a must read for anyone who enjoys
action books with a strong moral theme. I give this book a 8/10 rating, and highly recommend you guys pick up your copies when it comes out on
March 3rd, 2017!